Dominance of Veiled Heart

Chapter 20 (Part 1)

The festive air thickened around Tuk as the warriors roared with laughter, their cups brimming with the strange, cloudy liquid she’d concocted. What had started as a simple drink to take the edge off the evening had spiraled into something far beyond her intent. One sip from a curious warrior had set off a wildfire of interest, and now, the tables were overflowing. They drank her "shembot" like it was mere juice, slamming their cups down and demanding more with boisterous enthusiasm.

Everywhere she turned, someone new was shouting her name, their voices rich with a reverence that was both flattering and utterly overwhelming. The heat of celebration pressed against her skin, pulling her into the chaotic rhythm of the night. For once, she allowed herself to bask in it—the camaraderie, the mindless joy, the fleeting illusion of belonging. Laughter rang in her ears, and though her concoction had been an accident, she felt—just for a moment—like she was home.

Hours later, Tuk staggered outside, the fresh night air slamming into her like a wave. The world tilted dangerously beneath her feet, her stomach a churning sea of fruit juice and liquor. She barely made it to the nearest bush before doubling over, retching miserably.

"Blurghhh..." she groaned, her body convulsing with the force of it.

Collapsing onto the cool grass, she let her head fall back, staring up at the full moon with glassy eyes. Its silver glow bathed her in cold indifference.

"Hey, Moon," Tuk muttered, her voice thick and slurred. "You’ve been watching all this, huh? Just hanging there, all perfect... while I’m down here in this mess."

She waved a clumsy hand at the sky, a bitter laugh bubbling from her throat.

"I’m stuck in a palace full of shitty royalty and men, and you... you’re just... still there. Like nothing’s changed. Glowing. I wish I could be like that. Unbothered. Untouched." Her voice cracked, and she laughed again, though this time it was hollow, more frustration than humor. "But no. I’m here. With no way out..."

The weight of it pressed down on her chest, thick as tar. The laughter, the drinks, the fleeting warmth of the evening—it all meant nothing. Reality had sharp edges, and now, they were cutting into her, piece by piece.

Her rant dissolved into drunken rambling—about her life, about her debt, about the absurdity of it all. She let out a crazed laugh, the sound sharp against the still night.

"Look at me!" she cackled, slumping against a gold-adorned bench like a drunken queen upon her throne. "I’m like a queen sitting on a gold chair. Wonder how much I could sell this for... Right, I can’t even take this with me."

She laughed until her voice was hoarse, until the bitterness bled into exhaustion. The stars above remained indifferent, uncaring.

A familiar voice cut through the haze. "Tuk?"

She squinted, trying to focus on the approaching figure. The poised, elegant stride was unmistakable.

"Ah, our pretty boy head, Sire Leon!" she drawled, a lazy grin spreading across her face. "I’m just having a chat with Mr. Moon here."

Leon frowned. "You’re drunk."

Tuk mumbled something incoherent, eyes still locked on the sky. "But he’s not answering me..." Her voice was barely a whisper before she suddenly dropped her head onto the table with a dull thud.

Leon jolted. "H-Hey, are you okay?"

She shook her head, face buried in her arms. A shudder ran through her, and then—

"I miss my sister... Waaahhh!" Tuk's voice cracked as the sobs tore out of her, raw and unfiltered. Her strong exterior crumbled, the weight of everything she had been holding in spilling out in shaking gasps. "I just... I just want to be a stone..."

Leon hesitated, watching the way she curled in on herself, as if trying to disappear. His throat tightened. None of this was normal. None of this was fair.

He knelt beside her, voice softer than before. "Where’s your family? You could ask His Highness to let you visit them. Even just for a day."

Tuk didn’t respond right away. She stared off into the distance, her expression distant, haunted.

"I'm the only one here," she said finally, the words barely more than a breath.

Leon frowned. Something terrible must have happened. The loneliness in her voice was too heavy, too real.

"Did His Highness say something to you?" he asked, cautiously now.

She blinked, as if coming back to herself. The tears that had fallen freely moments ago seemed to retreat. A wobbly grin tugged at her lips.

"A lot... he said a lot, but... I forgot, hehe." The laugh that followed was empty, forced.

Leon smiled, but something gnawed at him. Something wasn’t right.

"You should go inside and rest," he said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I have to go now. I need to report to His Highness."

He stood, preparing to leave, but Tuk’s voice, sharp and suddenly sober, stopped him in his tracks.

"Report... about me?"

Leon froze. Slowly, he turned back to her. The drunken haze in her eyes was gone, replaced by something sharper. Something dangerous.

The warmth from before had vanished, replaced by an unsettling silence.

Their eyes locked.

"So you knew," he muttered, his friendly facade slipping away.