A/N: I was inspired to do this particular piece because of the common view I hear of Almarde being such a great person. It's as though people are assuming that she is flawless, can do no wrong, and thus, she is more or less a two dimensional character serving no other person than to be Lyudes' birth mother and bring out a few "Aw!"s from us. It got me thinking…what if Almardes' intentions for being with Lyuvann weren't so pure after all? And so, we have this.

Please keep in mind that this is just another way of looking at things. It doesn't necessarily mean I'm right, nor am I trying to put down the whole notion of true romance between Almarde and Lyuvann.


The threat to Mintaka was over. The Imperials were safe. The Mourning Mistral was no more. The thought made me sick. The villagers and myself fought hard to protect Bein, but it was all in vain.

I tried to settle matters peacefully. I tried to negotiate with them. I pleaded with them to let me talk some sense into Bein. But my cries went unheeded. It didn't matter that I didn't approve of terrorism. I am Azhani, and that makes me a criminal as well.

For my efforts to find a peaceful solution the one in charge of this mayhem struck me down: Captain Lyuvann. Sagi and Milly may have been in charge of the investigation officially, but Lyuvann was the one who started the violence.

After the riot he was left injured. That was when I started to think up an idea for revenge. He had caused so much needless pain with his Imperialistic views that I wanted him to suffer for it. Even more, I wanted him to take all the credit for it.

As he muttered about in his fevered state I learned that he had a wife and two children. It was then that my plan came together: I would seduce Lyuvann and ruin his life.

I am not truly a seductress and had never attempted such a thing before. But as I nursed him back to health, I found it to be easy. He flourished under my constant care, and basked in my attention.

Lyuvann played right into my hands. As he whispered sweet nothings into my ear, I was elated. My goal was nearly complete. The irony of it all was that he told me he had fallen in love with my kindness, my gentle and forgiving nature. That was when I started to feel so guilty. I think he truly meant those declarations of love.

Word soon reached his family about us. People scorned him, albeit discreetly. Yet he continued to see me. I should've broken it off then, but I was unwilling to do so. His love was definitely real, and I hated how it was all based on deception.

And now I am carrying his child. I am supposed to leave Azha tomorrow so that everyone in Mintaka will think the baby is his wife's. My fellow villiagers disapprove of him being the father, but they are happy for me, believing that I truly love Lyuvann. They don't know the truth.

Now is my chance to ruin him by refusing to cover up for him. But…I can't do it. My hatred runs deep, but his love runs deeper. His devotion has left me without the drive to finish him off. His sincerity has melted my deceit, turning my false claims of love and adoration into truthful ones.

I will have Lyuvanns' child. And someday, I hope that he will learn the true power of love. I pray that he will learn it without weaving the same web of deception I had to.