I do not own Odin Sphere or any of the characters depicted in this story (with few exceptions). That should be self-explanatory.

Chapter 10: The Welcoming Party

The attack on Ragnanival had not entirely gone as planned.

Virgil's new airship, the V.S.S. Valentine, was certainly proven to be a world-class weapon of destruction. Much to his grandfather's surprise, he had gone behind his back and confirmed the process that would make the Valentine the fleet's new flagship. King Valentine didn't really mind, however, as the awe-inspiring airship possessed tremendous firepower and near-impenetrable defenses – despite the unfortunate malfunctioning that had occurred during its siege on Ragnan territory. After nearly an hour of laying waste to the defenders of Ragnanival, Virgil received word of faulty bearings in the giant rotating propellers. Forced to turn back for immediate repairs, King Valentine found that Ragnanival was able to quickly regroup and again take control of the battle. With no other sensible choice available to him, he was forced to call for a retreat, dragging his battered forces back to Valentine while the Demon Lord's troops celebrated a miraculous victory.

In short, King Valentine was not pleased at all, and the news that he would soon receive would only further worsen his mood.

---

After days of traveling, Velvet and Cornelius had at last reached their destination, and not a moment too soon; the private execution was to be held the very next day. Cornelius himself had never been to the massive Valentinian capital, thus he was forced to rely on Velvet's sense of direction around the city.

"The palace is in the center of the city," Velvet pointed out as she turned toward Cornelius. "It's the largest building in Valentine. If we can get inside we should be able to find my stepbrother..."

"Your stepbrother?" Cornelius inquired curiously. He had only heard about her twin, Ingway, but he had not been told of any other siblings.

"His name is Virgil," Velvet explained. "I've never really seen him try to stop one of Grandfather's rampages, but I could tell that he worried about us... He's the only one in a position of power who could prevent the execution. Grandfather won't lay a finger on him."

"And you suspect he's in the palace?" questioned Cornelius, noticing that they were now approaching the castle gates. "Might you know where?"

"Hmm..." thought Velvet, recalling that on almost every instance she needed to speak with Virgil, he was in his chambers reading a nameless blue-covered book. "His bedroom in the west tower would be a good starting place."

There was only a single solitary guard watching over the palace gates. Velvet found it very unusual, but she couldn't stop Cornelius from attracting the guard's attention.

"Neither of you have permission to enter the palace," the guard explained sternly. Cornelius furrowed his brow and displayed the gold ring he wore, marking Titanian royalty.

"I am Cornelius, the prince of Titania," he boldly stated. "It is my humble request that I have an audience with Prince Virgil of Valentine."

The guard did not budge, but he did grin deviously.

"Your request is denied, but the both of you will be going somewhere all right," he cackled as dozens of additional guards surrounded them in an instant. "King Valentine had instructed us to capture Mistress Velvet should she ever return to this kingdom. As her companion, I don't see why His Highness would want us to set you free either!"

Velvet had nowhere to run this time. She could only shrink into Cornelius's arms as the guards closed in on them.

---

"Grandfather, this is past the line of decency."

Virgil had barged into the king's throne room out of nowhere, voicing his displeasure about the capture of Velvet and Cornelius. Truth be told, King Valentine was not in the best of moods to be dealing with his grandson's protests, but he defended his decision anyway.

"Virgil," he spoke firmly, "I told you. The Valentinian throne must be kept clear of impure bloodlines. With Velvet gone, that dragon's prophecy will be dead in the water at last!"

"She is your granddaughter!" Virgil argued. "Is it not human instinct to wish to return home? And what of the prince? Do you wish to drag Titania into the war as well?"

"Do you think they could stop us if they were?" countered Valentine with a laugh. "Once the Valentine has its repairs, it could be the only warship out there and decimate any army that opposed it..."

"My projects are not your toys," Virgil shot back, his voice growing colder. "If I find the Valentine fit for combat, I will decide what it shall be used for, and I alone. And what chance do we stand against Titania if you couldn't even finish off Ragnanival?"

King Valentine went silent, but he would not give Virgil any leeway regarding his two new prisoners. The Valentinian prince sighed in exasperation.

"How utterly merciless..." he hissed to himself as he stormed out of the chamber in a huff.

---

"Velvet... I'm so sorry..." the distraught Cornelius whispered, his face buried in his hands in shame. He only wished to protect her, and now it was his fault that they had landed in the Valentinian prison, completely at the mercy of King Valentine.

'None of this would have happened if we had stayed in Titania...' he thought as he felt Velvet's head rest gently against his shoulders.

"Cornelius, please..." she pleaded. "It's not your fault... You couldn't have known they would try to trick us..."

"I've gotten you... no, us, in so much trouble," he said sorrowfully. "I've put your very life in danger, and I've probably pulled my own country into this war..."

Velvet clung to Cornelius tightly, wanting nothing more than to ease some of his pain. The moment of silence was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps, followed by a faint click.

"What are you two doing here? You shouldn't be here."

Velvet looked up to see a cloaked figure standing at the prison cell gate. The scarlet hood was pulled over the person's head, concealing their face; though Velvet could recognize the style of the hood was similar to her own. As hers was decorated with golden stars, this person was wearing a hood adorned with gold crescent moons.

"Virgil...?" she whispered quietly. "Is that you?"

The figure let out a sigh before the hood was pulled back slightly. Virgil's amber eyes stared through the now opened gate, filled with doubt.

"Never speak of this meeting," he responded quickly and seriously. "I am releasing you by my own decision. Should Grandfather learn of this..."

Velvet cut Virgil's words off by helping Cornelius to his feet and leading him out of the cell, giving her stepbrother a hug before leaving.

"Thank you Virgil," she told him graciously. "Thank you."

"Please, leave this place immediately," Virgil whispered, turning his head away from Velvet. He dreaded having to see the horrors and pain she had experienced present in her eyes.

"Velvet, let us go..." Cornelius beseeched her, gently tugging at Velvet's hand. "Before we're seen..."

Velvet obliged and followed Cornelius out of Valentine's dungeon, as Virgil continued to stare down at the floor in disbelief at what he had done.