A month later-
The cathedral stood in solemn grandeur.
Light poured through stained glass windows, painting the marble floors in shifting colors of gold, red, and violet. Incense lingered in the air, thick and reverent, wrapping around the hushed voices of gathered nobility.
Today was a sacred day.
A noble mass-held for the appointed blessed child of the Goddess Serafim.
At the altar stood the Pope, his voice steady and resonant as it carried through the cathedral. Beside him, Saintess Serena stood in quiet grace, her presence serene, her gaze lowered.
The imperial family sat at the front.
The Emperor, dignified and unmoving.
The Empress beside him, composed, observant.
And near them-
Rael.
Still.
Attentive.
Unreadable.
Not far from them stood Aziel, quiet as ever, and Marcus, who watched the ceremony with a detached sort of interest.
The Pope's voice rose.
"Blessed be the child chosen by the Goddess-"
A sound cut through the air.
A gasp.
Sharp.
Sudden.
Then-
A body fell.
White fabric fluttered like something weightless as Amaria's form dropped from the balcony above the altar, her body hitting the marble floor below with a sickening stillness.
Silence.
Then chaos.
"Lady Amaria!"
"Healers-quickly!"
"What happened?!"
Aziel was close behind, his composure cracking just enough to show urgency.
Serena rushed forward, kneeling beside Amaria, her hands glowing faintly as she checked for life.
"She's breathing-"
But unconscious.
Fragile.
Unmoving.
And then-
Someone looked up and gasped.
Another followed.
Then all at once-
Every gaze lifted.
And there-
Standing at the edge of the balcony-
Was Esmeralda.
Unmoving.
Calm.
Looking down at the scene below as if it were nothing more than a passing moment.
The image settled too easily.
Too perfectly.
Amaria had fallen-
And Esmeralda stood above her.
"...Did she push her?"
"She was right there-"
"There's no one else-"
The whispers came quickly.
Ugly.
Certain.
Rael's gaze locked onto her.
Shock-undeniable, sharp.
Aziel followed, his eyes narrowing slightly, not jumping to conclusions-but not dismissing them either.
The Empress stilled.
The Emperor said nothing.
Marcus watched.
Carefully.
Esmeralda met their gazes.
Unflinching.
Unafraid.
Unaffected.
And somehow-
That made it worse.
Below, Amaria lay motionless.
Above, Esmeralda did not move.
And in that moment-
Everyone decided what they had seen.
---
Moments before the incident-
The cathedral stood just ahead, its towering structure casting long shadows across the courtyard as nobles gathered in quiet clusters.
Carriages arrived one after another.
Silk brushed against stone.
Low voices filled the air.
It was an important day.
And everyone knew it.
Esmeralda stepped down from the carriage beside her parents, the Duke and Duchess, her posture composed as always.
Her gaze lifted briefly to the cathedral doors.
"...It's more crowded than usual," she noted.
"It would be," the Duchess replied. "The Church does not host something like this lightly."
"Especially not for the blessed child," the Duke added.
Esmeralda hummed faintly.
Of course.
Before she could say anything else-
"Duke."
A familiar voice called.
The imperial carriage had just arrived.
Emperor Henry stepped down first, followed by Empress Rosette, her presence immediately drawing attention.
The Duke inclined his head.
"Your Majesty."
The Duchess followed with a graceful curtsey.
Esmeralda did the same.
"Your Majesty. Your Grace."
The Empress smiled warmly.
"It's been a while, Esmeralda."
"...It has."
There was a softness in the exchange that hadn't been there before.
Not unnoticed.
The emperor glanced between them briefly before addressing the Duke.
"You've raised her well."
A simple statement.
But one that carried weight.
The Duke let out a quiet breath, something between pride and restraint.
"She's done more than I could have expected."
"Mm."
The Emperor's gaze shifted slightly.
Toward the cathedral.
Then-
Back.
"To think the engagement was once only a formality."
The Duchess smiled faintly.
"And now?"
The Empress's fan lifted lightly against her lips.
"Now," she said, her eyes flickering toward Esmeralda, "it seems far less so."
Esmeralda didn't react outwardly.
But she heard it.
Of course she did.
The Duke cleared his throat slightly.
"Their interactions have been... more frequent."
"That is one way to put it," the empress replied, amused.
The Emperor added, "My son has not opposed it."
That alone-
Was telling.
The Duchess's gaze softened.
"They seem to understand each other better now."
A pause.
Then-
"He's been visiting your estate more often than before," the Empress added lightly.
Esmeralda's eyes shifted-just slightly.
The Empress smiled.
"Oh, don't pretend you weren't aware, dear."
The Duke coughed quietly.
The Emperor looked mildly entertained.
"...It is a good development," he said. "Stability is preferable."
"Especially in times like this," the Duchess agreed.
The conversation settled there.
Light.
Measured.
But undeniably... different.
Because this wasn't just an arrangement anymore.
Not entirely.
Then-
Another carriage arrived.
The atmosphere shifted again.
Softer.
More attentive.
Amaria stepped down, dressed in white, her presence drawing immediate attention from nearby nobles.
"Lady Amaria-"
"She's here-"
"The blessed child..."
She smiled gently, acknowledging them with quiet grace.
Untouched.
Untarnished.
The Empress watched her for a moment.
"...She has a presence," she noted.
"She does," the Emperor agreed.
Esmeralda said nothing.
Her gaze lingered just a second longer than necessary-
Then shifted away.
"Shall we?" the Duke said.
The Emperor nodded.
Together, they began making their way toward the cathedral.
The doors opened.
And one by one-
They stepped inside.
Before the mass began, everyone was absorbed in their own conversations.
Esmeralda, however, felt as though she belonged to none of them.
Then-
A small tug at her sleeve.
She glanced down.
A child.
A servant, perhaps.
"Lady Esmeralda," the child said softly. "The Saintess Serena wishes to see you."
Her brows lifted slightly.
"Serena?"
The child nodded.
"She's waiting."
Esmeralda hesitated only briefly.
Then turned to her parents.
"I'll return shortly."
The Duchess nodded.
"Don't be long."
Esmeralda followed.
Through the side corridors.
Quiet.
Empty.
But somewhere along the way-
The child was gone.
She slowed.
"...Strange."
Then-
A familiar figure stepped into view.
Amaria.
Standing alone.
Waiting.
Esmeralda's expression shifted slightly.
"...I thought Serena was the one who called for me? Were you the one who called me, lady Amaria?"
Amaria tilted her head, her smile soft.
"No."
A pause.
"...But I do want to speak with you."
Esmeralda studied her.
Something felt off.
But not enough to walk away.
"...What is it?"
Amaria gestured lightly.
"This way."
She turned-
And led her toward the balcony.
The very one above the altar.
The corridor had been too quiet.
Even before she reached the balcony, Esmeralda already knew something was wrong.
Still-
She followed.
And found her there.
Amaria stood near the edge, the light from the stained glass catching softly against her white dress.
Waiting.
Esmeralda stopped a few steps away.
"...Say what you need to say."
Amaria turned fully to face her.
For a moment, she simply looked at her.
Then, slowly-
Her once kind, bright smile twisted into something sinister.
Though her smile remained.
The feeling behind it changed.
Not softer.
Not kinder.
Just... clearer.
"You know, lady Esmeralda, I want to tell you a story."
Esmeralda's expression didn't change.
"About?"
"...Once there was a little orphan girl," she began, almost casually, "who had nothing."
Esmeralda frowned slightly.
"No parents," Amaria continued, her tone calm. "No home. She moved from one relative to another."
A faint smile touched her lips.
"They would take her in for a while... then send her away."
Her eyes softened slightly-not with sadness, but with something distant.
"She spent more time on the streets than she did in any house."
Esmeralda said nothing.
"Then she prayed," Amaria went on. "Every night. She cried and prayed to the Goddess asking why she was given such a miserable life."
A pause.
Then-
"One day, like any other day, she was taken in again."
Her gaze shifted slightly, as if recalling something almost fond.
"This time, the family felt unfamiliar to her. They were kind to her. A proper family, she thought. A mother and father who treated her like their own daughter."
Esmeralda's brows furrowed faintly.
Amaria smiled.
"Their real daughter didn't like her."
Of course.
"She made it very clear," Amaria added lightly. "Small things at first like hiding the orphan's things... then not so small. A slap to the cheek, perhaps. A foot pressed to her face."
Her tone never changed.
As if she were recounting something trivial.
"But it stopped eventually."
Amaria's smile deepened-just slightly.
"She found something more interesting."
A pause.
"...A lover."
Esmeralda's gaze sharpened.
"And this so called lover of hers," Amaria continued, almost thoughtfully, "took an interest in the orphan the family adopted."
Not proud.
Not ashamed.
Just stating it.
"Even when she did nothing," she said, tilting her head, "it always looked like she was."
Esmeralda's expression hardened slightly.
"...You're saying-"
"I'm saying," Amaria interrupted softly, "that people see what they want to see."
A quiet statement.
But it lingered.
"Their relationship didn't last," she continued. "He wanted to leave the real daughter."
Amaria hummed faintly.
"Because he wanted the orphan's attention. Funny, isn't it?"
A small pause.
Esmeralda didn't respond.
"And then," Amaria said, her tone unchanged, "one day..."
She looked back toward the edge.
"...the real daughter hanged herself."
Silence.
The air stilled.
"She said she couldn't live without him."
Amaria's gaze lowered slightly.
"And the orphan..."
A faint breath.
"...felt happy."
Esmeralda's eyes narrowed.
"It was a horrible feeling," Amaria added. "She knew it was."
A pause.
"But it was also..."
Her lips curved just slightly.
"...thrilling."
The word settled between them.
Uncomfortable.
Wrong.
"After that, things became easier," she continued. "People gave her what she wanted."
Her gaze returned to Esmeralda.
"Eventually... she was taken in by someone wealthier."
A small smile.
"And now I'm here."
Silence stretched.
Esmeralda studied her carefully.
"...What's the point of telling me this?"
Amaria tilted her head.
For a moment-
She looked exactly like she always did.
Soft.
Gentle.
Untouched.
Then-
"The point is..."
She took a step back.
Closer to the edge.
Her smile widened.
"...I always get what I want."
Esmeralda's eyes widened-just slightly.
"Amaria-"
Too late.
Amaria stepped back-
And let herself fall.
No hesitation.
No struggle.
Just-
Gone.
But just before she disappeared from view-
She smiled.
At Esmeralda.