The silence of the royal section of the August Palace was unlike any other. Princess Hinesia Rameses walked through one of the long corridors. She paused before a waiting chamber, where a single Imperial Guard bowed and opened it for her.
Inside was a wide, elegant room. A fireplace burned quietly in the far wall, its flames twisting in slow blue curls. In the corner lay a lavish red couch, already occupied.
Verdamona was sprawled across the couch like someone who had forgotten how to breathe properly for days. Her hair stuck to her neck from sweat, her uniform (given to her by Xaessiarerich to represent Argemenes) was half undone at the collar. She was the image of exhaustion.
As Hinesia entered, Verdamona cracked an eye open.
"I came here earlier since the guards saw me as your bodyguard. Rome's a mess."
Hinesia walked past her. "It's not even the beginning of chaos, Verdamona. This is just the prologue."
Verdamona let out a long, humorless laugh.
"That's a comforting thought."
"Rest. You've been saving people for three days straight. If anyone deserves to collapse, it's you."
Verdamona sat up, rubbed her eyes, and gave her a lopsided grin.
"You act like I had a choice. Every time I tried to rest, there was screaming."
"You saved more than expected. I heard your name on the reports three times. The refugees adore you. I guess your a real hero."
Verdamona snorted, already sinking back into the couch.
"That's… definitely better than what they used to call me back in Reversa."
"Then keep it that way."
But Verdamona didn't answer. She was already asleep before Hinesia even turned her head. For a long moment, the princess simply watched her. Hinesia sighed and summoned her Masquerade Tablet. The screen flickered on, glowing softly in the dim room. The moment she opened Outerchat, a storm of notifications rolled in.
[Global Chat:]
Outer_98621: Italy's red dome's still up. Satellite scans show zero movement past the perimeter. Anyone hearing the death tolls?
Outer_44352: Over 300,000 dead confirmed. Rome's still standing somehow. I think the Imperial Guard are inside."
Outer_99144: No way they'll survive. The Faceless don't die. Remember the quest? Once they manifest in a Fluve Field, it's over.
Outer_55408: Glad I pulled my family out when I did. Sent them to the Bahamas last week. Sun, sea, and no red sky."
Outer_76894: Every Outer in the Roman Empire evacuated before the dome dropped. Smartest decision ever. I'm not dying for am apocalyptic world story event."
Outer_2010: Same here. Everyone's asking the same thing though. Is the Protagonist there? She didn't appear in the Duel of Champions, which means she's an Outer, right?"
Outer_4432: If she's there, she's probably dead. Since she didn't participate in the Duel of Champions and won for her Commoners, then she won't have help from the Imperial Guard. She's dead but I'm sure plot armor will save her."
Outer_81200: Imagine dying to a creature with no face in a world quest lmao.
Hinesia's lips twitched. It was equal parts absurd and irritating how the Outers talked casually, like observers of their own world, detached from its pain. She scrolled down further.
Outer_09977: They say the Empress made the August Palace open to everyone. Fluxers guarding the gates, scanning people like it's airport security. Never thought I'd see the Empire go modern. This didn't happen in the main storyline so it's obvious shes an Outer.
Outer_99001: Heard Princess Hinesia of Rameses got scanned herself. No way that's real, right?"
Outer_55408: It's real. There's footage. She actually did it. She's very beautiful in person too. No way she's an Outer. No one would risk staying there.
Outer_77832: Respect. She's braver than half the Houses combined. And she's beautiful. All we got are flashbacks of her but who knew it would be shown globally? Wonder how the communications are still up in Rome...
She let out a small breath through her nose.
"Smart idiots. They're lucky they ran."
She looked across the room at Verdamona, who was snoring softly, one hand dangling off the couch.
"You'd never run though, Verdamona."
Her thoughts shifted to Thales and Xaessia. Both were currently stationed in the mansion, reorganizing supply shipments brought by the House of Argemenes. The family had sent half their stockpiled food and medical equipment. It would take hours to catalogue. She leaned back in her chair and rubbed her temples.
"At least someone's keeping the Empire from collapsing."
Just then, the door creaked open. A tall Imperial Guard entered.
"Your Highness. Her Imperial Majesty will see you now. Privately."
Hinesia stood immediately, straightening her cloak.
"Understood."
The guard's eyes flicked toward Verdamona, still asleep.
"Should I wake your companion?"
"No. She's been out there for three days without rest. Let her sleep. Rome still breathes because of her."
The guard nodded respectfully. "As you wish, Princess."
Hinesia took one last look at Verdamona before leaving. She adjusted the hem of her cloak, squared her shoulders and stepped out of the room. The corridor outside was empty except for the distant hum of patrols and the faint echo of prayers being recited by Imperial monks in the lower halls. As she walked toward the grand chamber where the Empress awaited, Hinesia's expression hardened again. The warmth in her eyes was gone, replaced by the cold steel of politics.
°°°°°
The chamber was lit in gold and shadow. Between two towering effigies of long-dead emperors, Princess Hinesia stepped inside. At the far end sat Aurelia Aurea Augustus, the Empress of the Roman Empire. Her golden hair we unkempt. Her crown was lying carelessly beside a tray of untouched tea and honey biscuits. The mighty ruler of the August Palace looked… tired.
"You look like you're dying."
Aurelia didn't respond. She simply stared at the flickering flame in the teapot candle as if she'd been staring at the same spot for hours. Hinesia exhaled sharply and walked forward, her Egyptian ornaments clinking against her royal outfit. She dropped into the chair opposite Aurelia.
"Empress, if you're planning to die, you shouldn't do it like a coward."
Aurelia blinked. For a moment, silence ruled the chamber.
"What?"
"I said, if you want to die, do it properly, not by letting your empire crumble while you sit here pretending to be busy with tea."
Aurelia looked horrified. "Princess Hinesia—"
"Don't bother denying it. You're an Outer, aren't you?"
That word made the Empress freeze. Her pupils shrank.
"Don't give me that look. It wasn't hard to tell. Every decision you've made since the Duel of Champions started has deviated from the canon storyline. The real Aurelia Aurea Augustus would have purged the refugees to maintain order but you? You opened the palace. You showed mercy. You changed the script."
Aurelia's lips trembled. "How long have..."
"Since the beginning of June. You smell like one of us. You don't belong here. And before you panic, no, I don't care."
The Empress was silent for a long moment. Then, her shoulders slumped, as if the weight of centuries she didn't live had suddenly settled on her.
"You're wrong about one thing. I am Aurelia Aurea Augustus."
Hinesia tilted her head.
"The Outer is speaking, not the Empress. The real Aurelia is inside me."
"Inside you?"
"When I arrived here, she was inside my head. She wanted to end her life before the Faceless breached the capital. I didn't understand why. Maybe guilt, maybe fear. But when I made contact, I merged with her. She didn't resist. It was as if she wanted to disappear."
"So you're both living in the same body?"
"Yes. Though lately, it feels like she's slipping deeper."
For the first time, Hinesia looked slightly impressed. She leaned back and crossed her arms.
"You're a disaster, but at least you're honest. Too honest, actually."
Aurelia gave a small, sad laugh. "That's one way to put it."
Hinesia sighed, then flicked her fingers. A faint blue hieroglyph spun across her palm. The Ankh she drew pulsed with light, revealing faint threads coiled around Aurelia's form.
"There it is. The real Aurelia's soul is bound to yours. She's buried in guilt. What a fool. Killing herself would have doomed this entire Empire. What kind of monarch dies when her people are drowning?"
Aurelia flinched at that. "You think I don't ask myself the same thing every day?"
Hinesia didn't answer. She simply sighed again and reached for one of the untouched biscuits, breaking it neatly in half.
"You Outers really are dramatic. Anyway. I didn't come here to moralize. I came to make a deal."
Aurelia raised her eyes. "A deal?"
"Yes."
"And what do you propose?"
"You give me military command. In return, I'll stabilize the region, protect the civilians, and draw out the Faceless using something they crave."
"And that is?"
"Xana. I can lure them away from populated zones, trap them, and neutralize them. You don't need to keep burning soldiers for nothing."
Aurelia stared at her for a long while.
"You want absolute control?"
"Temporarily. I have no interest in thrones, only efficiency. You can keep the crown and the moral speeches."
Before Aurelia could reply, the temperature in the room shifted. The air darkened, the light bent and from behind the Empress, a shadow began to move. A second Aurelia stepped out of the darkness. Her hair was the same, but her irises were black as ink.
"So, you finally noticed me."
Hinesia didn't even flinch.
"Dark Aurelia, I presume?"
"Awfully perceptive of you, Princess of Rameses. You see everything, don't you?"
"I do. And what I see is a parasite hanging onto an innocent soul."
The shadow chuckled. "You speak like a priest, but you bargain like a devil. I like you."
"Good. Because devils make the best allies."