[Nerina P.O.V]

『Vows are made in whispers. In the quiet of the soul, in the stillness of night.』

『But vengeance… vengeance is a tale written in blood.』

It is an easy claim to say that time heals all wounds.

That with ample distance, enough years, and proper moments spent laughing under the warmth of the sun— the pain will fade.

That scars will become mere echoes of what once was, nothing more than ghosts of a life left behind.

But there are wounds that do not heal.

No—some wounds fester.

And there are memories so deeply carved into the soul that not even time may dull their edges.

People say that hatred is a heavy bind to bear. That it weighs you down, chains you to the past and makes you a prisoner to your own grief.

But I do not feel such weight .

I feel nothing at all.

And that is far—far worse.

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.

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The corridors of House Morwen are always alight with golden chandeliers, their soft glow illuminating the marble floors, the high ceilings, the ancient tapestries woven with stories of heroes long gone.

A home steeped in history.

A house built upon the weight of its own expectations.

Evelyn walks beside me, her fingers curled lightly around mine, her presence as gentle as ever. She hums as she speaks, voice light, careless— free.

Despite her stoic and rational mind, she could not deny the softness of her childish heart when it comes to people she loves.

—and the fact that I belong to such cherished people will always be my eternal pride, and my most haunting regret.

She does not know that I memorize each sound, each expression, each flicker of warmth she gives me—hoarding them like a starved beast, terrified that one day they would slip through my fingers once more.

Because I have seen a world without Evelyn Arkwright.

And I refuse to see it again.

So I took her hand and made our way to the library, clutching it for dear life like it was my lifeline.

And when we turn the corner— there she stands.

Seraphina Vael.

That unforgivable wench.

Tall. Steady. A figure carved from discipline and duty, her presence unmistakable.

The head knight of House Morwen, a woman known for her unwavering sense of justice, a woman who had once been Evelyn’s shield.

A woman who had failed— unforgivably so.

Seraphina Vael was once an honored knight, renowned for her unwavering sense of justice and loyalty to the Morwen family.

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She prided herself as the moral backbone of the guard squadron, the voice of reason in a world of shifting morals.

But in the end, her blind faith in an idealized version of justice led to Evelyn’s death—and for that, Nerina would never forgive her.

She greets us with a polite smile, her tone measured, composed.

"Lady Evelyn. Lady Nerina. A pleasant afternoon to you both."

Evelyn curtsies, a bit hesitant and conflicted as she scoured the woman's face.

"Good afternoon, Seraphina— Are you here to train?"

Seraphina nods, her expression firm.

"A knight must always hone their craft. Discipline is the foundation of strength."

In response to that—I tilt my head, my gaze unwavering as the bellows of my vile nature began to surface a barrage of curses underneath.

"That is an admirable belief, Commander,"

I inwardly scoff despite my voice flowing smooth, warm, pleasant.

"If it would not trouble you, I would like to train alongside you today."

Surprise flickers in her gaze at my 'sincere' request, before it is quickly replaced with approval.

"Of course," she replies, nodding. "A knight’s spirit is forged in hardship. I welcome any who wish to grow stronger."

Strength.

She speaks of it as though it is something pure. Something noble.

I only smile.

—festering the venom that threatened to escape my lips, waiting for them to ripe like fermented wine.

And then, turning to Evelyn—I take her hand one last time, my touch soft with an expression tender enough to melt even the coldest of hearts.

"Go on to the library without me," I murmur.

"I’ll join you soon."

Evelyn hesitates but nods, prompting me to swear an oath as if afraid to lose me should I not comply.

"Don’t push yourself too hard"

A promise I will never keep.

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.

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Training went as expected.

Seraphina was strong, disciplined, relentless.

She moved with the precision of a seasoned warrior, and each strike she delivered was fueled by the belief that she was upholding a creed— just and righteous.

She is everything a knight should be.

Everything Evelyn once believed in.

And yet—

She is the reason Evelyn died.

Not by her hand.

But of unrelenting failure.

So I met her blade with unwavering skill, my movements fluid, precise.

I let her see what she wanted to see—a young girl filled with promise, a knight in the making—someone who would uphold the very same ideals she so stubbornly clung to.

I let her believe in me.

And when she smiled at me, filled with approval, with pride—

I knew that, one day... I would take that very pride and grind it into dust. And then, I will shatter that hopeful, desperate trust.

Yes. Believe in me. Trust in me. Put your faith in me.

And when the time comes, I will be the one to break you.

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.

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When the training ends, I step away—leaving Seraphina behind as I wash the sweat and blood from my skin, letting the warm water cleanse me of the day's battles.

But there are marks no amount of water will wash away.

By the time I make my way to the library, the sky has deepened into hues of orange and violet. The sun is setting. The world turned quiet.

And there—beneath the shade of an old tree...

Evelyn sleeps.

Her book rests against her lap, her silver hair catching the last rays of light. Her breathing is soft, steady, peaceful.

I stop...

And for the first time in a long while—

I hesitate.

Thus, slowly— I sat beside her.

The garden is still. The wind is gentle.

And yet—

The silence does not bring me peace.

Because no matter how much I wish to forget—

The memories always come.

Blood. So much blood.

It stains the marble floors, thick and glistening, reflecting the dying light of the chandeliers above.

Evelyn lies motionless, silver hair matted with crimson, her skin pale, cold.

The screams— oh how they still make my blood run cold.

Her eyes—

Those beautiful stars of magenta no longer shine.

And this audacious wench—seraphina kneels beside her, hands shaking with lips parted in a silent prayer.

—her face pale, fingers trembling as she kept whispering.

'No. This… this wasn’t supposed to happen.'

But it had.

Because Seraphina had chosen her beliefs over reality.

And in that moment, Nerina had learned something far crueler than death— justice meant nothing if it was built on blind faith.

The woman does not weep.

But she should.

She should scream. She should wail. She should realize what she had done.

But she does not.

Because Seraphina Vael is a knight.

And knights do not break.

Even when they should.

So as the assassin struck, Evelyn died because no one would listen to her.

And Nerina had burned that image into her soul.

I would never forget— I would never forgive.

Because Seraphina had never acknowledged her mistake—instead, she drowned in her own righteousness...telling herself that she had simply been “deceived.”

But Nerina knew better.

This wasn’t just naivety—it was willful ignorance. It was hypocrisy disguised as virtue.

Seraphina had not been "deceived."

She simply didn't want to accept the truth— because it didn’t align with her version of justice.

And for that, Nerina would break her.

So I smiled—just as I had smiled that day when Seraphina looked up at me to plead for answers, for guidance.

Because one day —Seraphina would look at nerina like that again.

One day, once her justice had failed her, when her confidence had crumbled and after everything she had believed in had turned to ash—

Seraphina would reach for Nerina.

And this time, I would not be there to save her.

—Thus, the nightmare temporarily comes to an end.

I inhale, pressing my fingertips against my lap, grounding myself in the present.

Evelyn shifts slightly in her sleep, her small hand reaching out—her fingers brushing against the fabric of my sleeve.

My chest tightens.

And for a moment—I do nothing, I couldnt.

Then, carefully— I lift a hand, brushing my fingers over her hair to tuck a stray lock behind her ear.

She does not wake.

She trusted me.

And I will protect her.

No matter what.

Even if it meant destroying their belief in me and comitting even more unforgivable sins.

Seraphina Vael will believe in me.

She will place her faith in me.

She will trust me completely.

And when the time comes—

I will break her.

Not through death.

No.

That would be far too kind.

I will strip away her convictions. I will unravel the foundations she has built her life upon. I will show her that her justice is a lie—that her honor means nothing.

And when she is left with nothing—when she finally sees the world for what it truly is—

I will be there to watch as she falls.

And then— once I, the last crutch of seraphina's crumbling belief am punished for my sins...

That will be the final, cruelest cut.

The last piece of this story, of the fate I have already accepted.

I'll sink unto that abyss once more— so I do not lose more than I already had.

I pledge such an oath as I caress the fragile light that I had failed to protect— one of the many whom I could not shield from the unfairness of the world

Evelyn sighs softly in her sleep, perhaps because she vowed to do everything better this time around.

But there would be no need to sully her hands, as that duty lies solely on me.

So I close my eyes and smile.

Because vengeance has never tasted so sweet.

End of Chapter.