The moonlight spilled through the satin curtains of the Empress's chamber as Zarah stood within it.
Her gaze drifted around the room. Though this was her third time here, she still couldn't help but stare.
The doors to the chamber creaked open.
Ines stepped inside, dressed in a simple black gown that, somehow, only made her beauty more striking.
Zarah curtsied at once.
"Blessings and glory upon the brilliant light of the Caelthra Empire — Her Majesty the Empress."
Ines's eyes settled on her.
Zarah wore a pale blue dress, her hair loosely pinned with a single lotus hairpin.
With a flick of her wrist, Ines signaled for her to rise before walking past her and taking a seat on the sofa.
Zarah moved to follow, lowering herself to sit at Ines's feet—
—but Ines raised a hand, stopping her.
"Sit here."
She shifted slightly, indicating the space beside her.
Zarah froze.
Her breath caught.
Sit beside the Empress?
And Ines herself had said it?
Had she misheard?
She drew in a slow breath and looked at Ines, who remained seated as though she hadn't just said something utterly absurd.
Carefully, hesitantly, Zarah moved and sat where she had been directed.
Her fingers curled tightly in her lap, her head lowered in a respectful angle.
For a while, no words were spoken, and a dense silence settled between them.
It felt like a coiled spring — tight, waiting to snap.
After a moment, Ines broke it.
"How is your foot?" she asked, glancing at Zarah.
Zarah blinked.
How did—
…No, that was a foolish thought. If Ines knew about her chamber, then of course she knew about the injury as well.
Zarah offered a small smile.
"It's fine, Your Majesty. Thank you for asking."
Ines hummed softly.
"Do you like the new dresses?"
"Yes, they are very beautiful. Lady Peirce has an excellent eye," Zarah replied.
Ines leaned back against the sofa, her gaze settling fully on Zarah.
"That's good," she said. "I'm glad you like what was given to you."
Zarah tilted her head slightly.
"How could I not appreciate what Your Majesty gives me?"
"It wasn't I who gave them to you directly," Ines corrected.
"But it was Your Majesty who ordered them to be given," Zarah countered smoothly. "So, in truth, they are still your gift — one I will cherish."
Zarah knew exactly what she was doing.
If she was going to speak about Celine, she needed the Empress in a favorable mood first.
A faint smile tugged at Ines's lips.
"You're rather grateful over simple things."
"Nothing from Your Majesty could ever be considered simple," Zarah replied.
"You're flattering me now," Ines said, waving a hand dismissively.
Then she reached out — slowly — and brushed a loose strand of hair behind Zarah's ear.
Zarah's breath caught.
Her eyes widened at the sudden touch.
"What is it you want," Ines murmured, her cold, ice-blue gaze softening just slightly, "That you sing my praises so sweetly?
Zarah looked at the Empress breathlessly, her fingers tightening around the fabric of her skirt.
She hesitated before speaking.
"Your Majesty… I do not believe it was Celine who trashed my chamber."
Ines met her gaze, one brow lifting.
"And why is that?"
Zarah drew in a steady breath.
"Celine is not like that. I won't deny that there is animosity between us — but this…" she shook her head slightly, "trashing someone's room, physically harming them — it doesn't suit her nature."
Ines's eyes narrowed, not in anger — but curiosity.
"You seem to know her well."
Zarah's gaze flickered briefly — to the hand still near her ear.
The faint scent of rosemary lingered, subtle yet overwhelming.
She forced herself to focus and nodded.
"We grew up together. Even if we were never friends… we understand each other's character."
Ines's fingers idly curled a strand of Zarah's hair around them.
Nolan's investigations were never wrong.
If she chose to trust Zarah's words and ordered a reinvestigation, it would imply doubt — doubt in one of her most loyal subordinates.
Her fingers tapped lightly against her lap before she exhaled.
"Personal feelings do not guide investigations, Zarah," Ines said evenly.
"All evidence points to Celine. Even your hairpin was found among her belongings."
As she spoke, Ines released Zarah's hair and reached beside her, retrieving the other lotus pin.
She held it out.
Zarah accepted it, her fingers closing around the delicate ornament.
A flicker of memory surfaced — last night, when Ines had returned the first one, now resting in her hair.
The familiarity made her chest tighten.
But Ines's words reminded her—
This wouldn't be easy.
"But evidence can be planted," Zarah said quietly.
She lifted her gaze to meet Ines's.
"I believe His Grace, Duke Zepher, is an exceptional commander. As Captain of the Imperial Guards, his judgment is undoubtedly sound."
A brief pause.
"But even the most capable can be misled… when the situation itself is carefully constructed."
Ines studied her, a hint of surprise surfacing.
So she had seen through it.
For someone to form such conclusions so quickly…
Zarah was far sharper than she let on.
"Then what would you suggest?" Ines asked, a trace of amusement coloring her voice.
Zarah hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Celine's maid… she would know where Celine was last night. And not only that — Celine's room is farther from mine. There are two guards stationed along the hallway between them. They would have seen if she passed."
She paused, gathering her thoughts.
"And even if that is somehow insufficient… or if they, for some reason, choose to lie…"
Her voice faltered.
She looked at Ines, hesitating.
Ines leaned closer.
Her breath brushed faintly against Zarah's ear as her voice lowered.
"Continue."
A shiver ran down Zarah's spine.
Her grip tightened on her skirt, her cheeks flushing as her voice trembled slightly.
"…Your Majesty could order a presence detection."
Ines raised a brow, tilting her head as her fingers brushed lightly down Zarah's cheek.
Zarah's shoulders stiffened. Her eyes fluttered shut.
"That is a good idea," Ines said.
Presence detection — using aura, artifacts, and blood — was a method employed by Imperial mages.
It had somehow been overlooked.
And yet, Zarah had suggested it.
Ines's gaze sharpened.
"How did you know of this method?" she asked, her voice dropping as her nails traced lightly along Zarah's throat.
A Flower Maiden was not supposed to know such things.
Zarah's blood ran cold.
She opened her eyes immediately, lowering her head with trembling hands.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty… I entered the Imperial library without permission and read about it there."
The lie came easily — but it had to.
How else could she explain knowledge from a world that did not exist here?
Ines studied her.
Then — her expression softened.
Ah.
So that was all.
She had suspected too much.
A quiet hum left her lips as her fingers drifted along Zarah's jaw, gently guiding her face upward.
Then she leaned in—
and pressed a kiss to her lips.
"You like reading?" she murmured.
Zarah's breath hitched.
"Yes… I am fond of books — I mean, reading," she stumbled.
"I'll have the presence detection conducted tomorrow," Ines said, one arm slipping around Zarah's waist, pulling her closer.
"On the bracelet. And the hairpin."
A pause.
"And you may read whatever you wish in the Imperial library."
Zarah managed a small nod.
Her body felt completely unresponsive under Ines's touch.
Her hand reached out blindly, gripping the edge of the sofa for support.
If she didn't hold onto something—
she might actually faint.
The prison walls were dark and damp, with only a single barred window set high above.
Moonlight spilled through it, falling across the motionless figure on the ground.
Then the clouds shifted—
and the light vanished, plunging the cell back into pitch darkness.
Her cheeks were wet with tears, and still they kept falling.
Her fingers curled into fists, nails digging so deeply into her palms that they drew blood.
A broken sob tore from her chest.
"What did I do to deserve this…?" Celine whispered.
"I didn't… I didn't trash Zarah's room… Why won't anyone believe me? Just because I argue with her — is that enough?"
Her voice cracked as her tears doubled, spilling faster.
"No… I don't want to go back to the brothel… I don't want to be banished from the palace…"
A shuddering breath.
"The Madam will kill me…"
Her cries echoed against the cold stone walls, swallowed by the darkness.
Outside, the clouds parted once more.
Moonlight returned — this time falling upon her trembling hands, smeared with blood.
Celine slowly lifted her head.
Her gaze fell on her palms.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then she closed her eyes and pushed herself upright, collapsing onto her knees.
Her body hunched forward.
"Oh Goddess Aelthrya… forgive me…"
Her voice trembled, raw and uneven.
"I know I haven't been good. I know I've done terrible things…"
Her breath hitched.
"When I was twelve… I betrayed Zarah. I told Miss Jennifer about her escape plan…"
Her fingers tightened against her chest.
"But what else could I do? They were always better than me… always above me…"
A choked sob escaped her lips.
"Just once… I wanted to be the one on top. I wanted to feel superior…"
Her voice broke completely.
"But I didn't do this… I didn't touch her room…"
"Then why am I being punished for it?"
"Where… where is my fault this time?"
She clutched her chest, bowing forward as her sobs overtook her.
"Please… save me…"
"I swear — I will change… I will be better…"
"Please… I beg you…"
"Goddess Aelthrya… please…"
Heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor, followed by the sharp click of heels.
Celine lifted her tear-streaked face and turned toward the bars.
A guard approached, holding a torch.
Behind him—
Melody.
Hope flickered weakly in Celine's chest.
Melody was here.
She would help her… wouldn't she?
They were friends.
She wouldn't let Celine be punished like this.
Celine stumbled forward, a fragile smile forming.
"Melody… I knew you would come."
She reached through the bars, grasping her hands.
Melody patted her hand once.
Then, slowly, she cupped Celine's cheek.
"Aw… look at you," she cooed softly. "My poor, dearest friend."
Her voice was sweet — cloyingly so.
Her eyes, however, held nothing but mockery.
She tapped Celine's cheek lightly.
"Were you waiting for me to save you… like the dog you are?"
Celine froze.
Her smile shattered.
"…Dog?"
She tried to pull her hand back — but Melody's grip tightened.
"Yes. Dog."
Melody frowned, as if genuinely displeased, and slapped her — sharp and sudden.
"Have some shame, Celine," she said coldly. "You commit something as vile as trashing Zarah's chamber, and you still act like this?"
Tears flooded Celine's eyes.
She looked up—
and saw it.
That smirk.
Oh.
So it was her.
So this was the truth.
Melody had never seen her as a friend.
Only someone convenient.
Someone disposable.
Someone to take the fall.
The realization hit harder than the slap.
Celine couldn't even speak.
Her throat closed, swallowing down her pride — what little remained of it — and the last fragments of trust she had clung to.
Melody sighed.
"What a shame," she murmured, almost wistfully.
She pulled her hand away.
"I thought I should at least come to bid you farewell… my dearest friend."
Then she turned and walked away.
The guard followed, taking the torchlight with him.
Darkness swallowed the cell once more.
Celine staggered back—
and slammed her head against the bars.
A broken cry tore from her throat.
If only…
If only she hadn't pushed Zarah and Iris away…
If only she hadn't been so desperate to prove herself better…
Maybe—
maybe she wouldn't be alone now.
"It's too late now… isn't it, Goddess Aelthrya…?"
Her voice trembled into nothing.
A thin line of blood trickled down from her forehead.
Outside, the clouds shifted again.
Moonlight returned—
falling softly over a girl with no one left to turn to.