"My lady, the carriage His Highness sent has now arrived," my maid announced, and I gently lifted the sides of my dress as I descended the stairs, careful not to trip.
The discomfort of the heeled shoes and the corset cinching my torso was a constant reminder of how long it had been since I last wore the garments of a noblewoman.
The last time I did was during Azriel’s wedding.
Although I could manage to carry myself and move with the grace expected of a lady, these uncomfortable garments only served as a constant reminder of the life I was trying to reclaim – a life in the spotlight of high society, especially now that I was about to become an imperial princess.
While this new role would only be temporary, it didn't change the fact that I needed to blend in and appear faultless to gain the respect and support I needed to achieve my goal.
I needed to bear with this a little longer. All for some fool's sake. If Azriel hadn't put his life on the line, I wouldn't be going through all of this. It was too late to complain now, though. I was doing this voluntarily, anyway. I'd tolerate this for a year or two at most.
"Asha, I have a task for you," I said, my maid approaching as I called her name. I handed her Erinna's journal. "Bring this journal to Denver Adams. He's a translator who lives on Rouriella Street. Tell him I want it translated to our language, and I want to meet him privately once he's finished. Don't tell anyone else about this task. Is everything clear?" She froze in place upon hearing the order, as if I had said something she wasn't expecting.
“Understood, my lady. I’ll keep my lips sealed.” She assured.
"I heard you were Erinna's maid. The journal is hers. I'm not sure how much you know, but Riaveric asked me to decode what's written here. Well, then, I'll see you later," I said, taking the servant's hand to assist me as I stepped into the carriage.
As the coachman guided the horse towards my destination, I pushed aside the curtain covering the carriage window. Children of Greizenne were playing chase, their faces alight with happiness. Different shops lined the streets, their doors open, and some businessmen stood outside, inviting people to visit. A couple, presumably commoners judging by their attire, strolled leisurely together, their child walking between them, entertained by the sights of the town.
It felt like ages since I'd seen the lives of commoners – people who worked during the day and went home to their families, sharing dinner and stories about their day. It was something I'd never experienced. Even back in the place I once called home, I couldn't find peace.
Especially now. I hadn't had high expectations for the Evaristo family, but I had no idea things would be this chaotic.
A mad father mourning for her daughter.
A former fiancé who wants to have the family’s wealth and the reason behind Erinna’s death.
An anxious sister who knows about her father’s dark secrets.
A mother who’s tolerating her husband’s madness.
I could only hope that Erinna's journal would help them get rid of Aldrich so that the family could mourn and eventually heal from their daughter's unexpected death. It was the least I could do, considering they were letting me borrow their surname and stay in their home, even though they had no idea who I was or why Hervouet had forced them to adopt me.
The justice of Erinna’s death will be the key for them to be at peace. When that happens, I hope the viscount will manage to recover and let the dead rest in her grave, instead of keeping her rotting body at home.
I let out a sigh, closing my eyes as I tried to process all the madness. Before I knew it, we had arrived at the imperial palace.
Hervouet's aide opened the door, and Hervouet reached out his hand, offering me assistance as I stepped down from the carriage. I accepted his help, but deep down, I couldn't help but see it as a performance.
"I hope you didn’t wither in my absence. I’m glad to see you again, Thyra.” Hervouet lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it. Thankfully, I felt it less because of the gloves.
Gloves that appeared ordinary, but were designed to prevent me from destroying anything I touched. Having Azriel's powers poured into me meant I was becoming like him, at least in part.
"I'm flattered. I hope you didn't wait too long, Your Highness. Thank you for your hospitality." The formality made my skin crawl, especially with all those servants watching. I had to act as if we were a real couple, on good terms.
Hervouet offered his arm, and I took it, clinging to his arm even though I didn't relish the gesture.
“You’re such a bad actress,” he whispered. “You couldn’t even fake a smile at your betrothed.”
“You know well that I’m not good at expressing my emotions, making me become unpredictable, don’t you think? And I’m not even trying.” I smiled, but he couldn’t hide the displeasure from his eyes.
"This is the eastern palace, and this is where you'll stay once we get married. Though I'm aware that it's the least of your concerns at the moment." He lowered his arm, and I let go, feeling a wave of relief.
“I’m glad you know that. Perhaps you should lead me to the reason why I’m here in the first place.”
“I’ll lead you there by foot. Teleportation won’t be necessary, because Eviona left the palace earlier to visit Eurhyia with her mother.”
My body froze as I heard where Eviona went. “What? What will she do to Eurhyia? What do you mean that she's coming with her mother? I thought we agreed that I was going to meet the former empress today."
Different questions came into my head, but I can't lose my composure just because the kingdom I abandoned is mentioned.
Is Evrart aware that Eviona will come?
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Could there be a conflict?
What if Eviona finds out about Evrart’s mental state? It will be easier to invade Eurhyia once she finds out that the king is mentally unstable.
"Ah, I must have failed to inform you," Hervouet said, crossing his arms as he watched my reaction with amusement. "The former queen of Eurhyia, Corianne Eris Edevane, is Eviona's real mother. Don't you think it's funny how small the world is? Who would have thought that Eviona, my half-sister, was your stepmother's daughter before she married the late king of Eurhyia?"
Fragments of memories I had of Corianne flashed through my mind, making my stomach churn. All this time, I knew she was missing. But how could she be here in Marrossi, with Eviona, of all people?
“I’m at least glad that you’re not Corianne’s biological daughter. If that happened, you would be my cousin.” Hervouet babbled, and I tried to picture out the connections of each member of the imperial family, including my family.
That meant the emperor's daughter was Eviona because he'd had an affair with Corianne outside his marriage to Heloise, the former empress. Hervouet, on the other hand, was the son of the emperor's other mistress, whose name hadn't been mentioned.
Corianne's past had always been shrouded in mystery. But now...she was the former empress's sister. It was too much to process. But it probably wasn't something I should be worrying about right now.
"I would be lying if I said I'm not curious about the family history and drama, but Corianne and Eviona aren’t the reason why I’m here.”
"My brother is truly lucky, isn't he? He captured the heart of a headstrong lady, who can keep herself sane even if things aren't going her way. You wouldn't go for all this trouble if it wasn't for him. I must say, I’m a bit envious.”
I threw Hervouet a daggered glance, and he responded, “What I’m saying is, I’m not exactly valued or loved by anyone. Nobody gives a damn to the second prince who’s a mistress’ daughter. Which is why …” Hervouet leaned a bit closer to me, his eyes full of determination. “… I’m going to take what I believe is mine.”
──•~❉᯽❉~•──
Hervouet led me to the southern palace in silence. My head was filled with so many thoughts that I couldn't keep track of the path from the eastern palace to the southern one.
I stopped walking as Hervouet paused, and knocked on the last room in the second-floor hallway.
“Your Majesty, it’s me, the second prince,” he called, disregarding the idea of including me in his notice. “This is it, Thyra. The moment you’ve been waiting for.” He whispered.
“Come in,” a familiar voice responded, and Hervouet opened the door, revealing the spacious bedroom of the former empress – with her sitting on the couch and having tea by herself.
Her demeanor remained unchanged – her ocean-blue eyes, though calm, were watchful, like a predator surveying its territory. A faint smile played at the corners of her lips, a flicker of amusement that hinted at the sight of us.
I lowered myself into a curtsy, realizing that proper etiquette demanded it when addressing someone of her stature. "Greetings, Your Majesty. It is an honor to be in your presence," I said, the words feeling unfamiliar, as though I'd never uttered them before.
"Dearest, as you know, I'm no longer the empress, but I appreciate you still acknowledging me as such. Have a seat." I followed her instructions and sat across from her. She shifted her gaze to Hervouet, who was still standing. Without a word, Hervouet understood it was his cue to leave.
As soon as the click of the closing door echoed in the room, she broke the silence.
"It feels like ages since we last met, Thyra. I heard from Hervouet that you requested an audience with me. I'm sure he wouldn't have agreed without a cost." The former empress's insight was spot on. But how much does she know?
“Before I tell you about Hervouet’s conditions, I want to inform you first about what happened when Azriel and I disappeared.”
"Indeed. I've been curious as well. I was in terrible shape when my son left, and he showed no signs of return. You're the best person who can fill me with the information I'm looking for."
My fists clenched in my lap as I struggled to compose myself, trying to find the words to tell her everything without breaking down.
“Azriel…sacrificed his life to save me. The aquamarine Izavenes kidnapped me, and I poured out all my powers to break free from them underwater. According to His Grace, he swam to find me, and when I was brought to the surface, I was unconscious and close to death’s door. Azriel, on the other hand, created a Rhinecrest to seal me away from the world and recover," the former empress's eyes widened in shock as if she couldn't believe her ears.
“When I found myself in a realm I couldn’t identify, I realized that Azriel was also in the Rhinecrest, except that there’s something that separates us. I’m not sure what happened, but when I gave it some thought, it looked like his body created its own Rhinecrest to save him. But I was the only one who woke up.”
Tears streamed down my face, and I couldn't stop them, no matter how much I wanted to. My heart pounded, making it hard to breathe, and I trembled uncontrollably.
The former empress rose from her seat and pulled me into her arms, settling me beside her. She held me close, offering comfort and solace.
"Maids! Get me some water!" she commanded. The maids, ever swift and efficient, promptly brought a glass of water that helped calm my trembling, though not entirely.
"I'm so sorry, I'm truly sorry," I choked out. The former empress remained silent. "But I believe Azriel isn't dead yet, Your Majesty. His unconscious body is in the grand duke's castle. He's breathing, but he won't wake up. That's why I came here, because I know only you can answer how we can bring him back to life."
"I know it's easy to say, but don't feel guilty about any of this. Everything was Azriel's choice. I know he acted on instinct, driven by his fear of losing you, even if he wasn't sure how it would affect him."
The former empress gently released me as I calmed down, and I wiped away the last of my tears. Still, the guilt lingered, refusing to be so easily dismissed, despite her words.
“The Rhinecrest lengthens a person's life by removing the lifespan of the bearer with a greater amount of mana, which you call a life force. It turns an Izavene to be sealed inside its own Izavene stone, which is Alexandrite in your case. I suppose the grand duke saw you as a block of Alexandrite instead of a ring.”
"Yes, and he said that the alexandrite gem has a light within that he couldn't describe. He said the stone feels warm and alive." I responded, trying to picture what the Rhinecrest would look like from the outside.
But back then, while I was trapped within it, all I remember was the light, my floating body I couldn't touch, and the facets of the walls, all made of Alexandrite. Despite its purpose to restore the body, I felt nothing but torment because it's a place full of uncertainty, defying the laws of nature as I knew them.
My time there made me realize how vastly different the world of Izavenes is from that of humans, even though we're separated only by land.
"If being in the Rhinecrest means being sealed in my Izavene stone, then why was Azriel in it, yet his body remained the same, but unconscious from the outside?"
"Dear," the former empress began, "Do you remember when I said that you and Azriel are inseparable? The hand chain he gave you bound him to you in many ways. It's not because Azriel's body created a Rhinecrest of its own. At this point, the reason why Azriel's body remains unconscious is that he doesn't have enough mana in his body to wake up."
“Then …”
"The only way to wake him up is to find a red diamond Izavene who's willing to exchange their life for his. It has to be someone stronger than him."
“Just like … Hervouet and Eviona?”
"Precisely," she confirmed, but despite knowing the key to his revival, she didn't seem to like the idea. "However, let me give you this warning – even if Hervouet or Eviona were to become a sacrifice to awaken him, he wouldn't be the same Azriel you used to know."
I paused, trying to wrap my head around her words, analyzing how that could be possible. I know Azriel loves me, that he might be a bit jealous over trivial things, but I know him as a good person, someone loved by this nation. But imagining him becoming different from his usual is ... terrifying.
"When he wakes up, he will abhor you," her facial expression darkened, and she continued, "To the point where he won't be satisfied unless he sees you dead."
A part of me shattered, realizing the true cost of saving him. Is it truly worth it? Will I return to a life on the run, fleeing from his grasp? What kind of future awaits me if I continue pursuing my goals?
"Thyra, you have a choice. Either you kill him now to save your life, or you let him kill you later."