— I'm back here again... — Hildegard said as she turned to look at the tree of light. — The Paths.
Many of her doubts were answered as the memories from her predecessors surfaced on her mind during her short but eventful tenure. She saw the blond girl carrying a bucket in the distance.
— Despite everything that happened, Paradis is ours. I just want to sleep and never wake up...
— There is but one problem you forgot to address, my dear daughter. — Said a very familiar voice.
It was Anders Fritz, her father and previous Founding Titan. Sobbing like a child, she fell to her knees.
— Father... The crown is too heavy... How could you stand it?
— War is peace. Thus was the belief of those who came before us. — Anders answered as he knelt to caress his daughter's face. — Look behind you.
Hildegard turned her head only to see a line of people whom she felt she had seen before. They were the previous kings and queens of Eldia.
— Increasing our territory, displaying our might, reducing powerful cultures to nothing, or subjugating them... They cower in fear as we do as we please. That is what appeases Eldia. — Anders stated in a melancholic tone.
Her father showed her another person: Jurgen Fritz, next in line for the possession of the Founding Titan. Hildegard found strength to stand.
— The ones who were, the one who is, and the one who will be. Will you let fate run its course or fight against it? — Anders inquired.
Hildegard suddenly woke up in a bed surrounded by servants. Some of them hastily left the room once her eyes opened. "Was that just a dream?" — She thought.
— Praise Ymir! The queen is well! — One of them exclaimed.
— I told you titan shifters need only time to rest. — A female servant stated. She then addressed Hildegard. — We live to serve you, my queen. You need but to ask if need be.
— I thank you all, but I'd rather be by myself for some time. You may go now.
They left the room with concerned looks. Hildegard recalled the moment in which she transformed them into titans to attack Sigrid and Hodritz.
— I'll have to ask about those of them who died. They deserve proper ceremonies. — She said to no one in particular.
"What now? Since Paradis is technically under the Bjorn clan's jurisdiction, should I let Hodritz and his relatives sort everything out?" She tried to get up to look out a window, but her body felt heavier than usual. Thinking she was not yet completely recovered, she looked back at the bed.
— Even if my body is exhausted, there's no time to rest. Arnulf and the woman who threw a dagger at me... We have much to talk about.
...
— Chieftess Cliodhna of the Fomhóire... — Arnulf said while entering the temporary prison prepared for her. — We need to talk.
Sören and three other men went along with him while others guarded the outside. Cliodhna, sitting on the ground, raised her gaze with disdain.
— Where's the girl who took my arm?
— We thought it better to leave her out of this. You two bear animosity towards each other and it would get in the way of our conversation. — He answered.
— Demons... Monsters... We never stood a chance...
— You can insult us later. Now you will answer some questions. The queen was kidnapped, taken to a remote location, tortured, and forced to transform, killing her favourite slave and three red-haired men in the process. — He paused for a second after finishing the sentence.
— What do I have to do with this? Red hair is not exclusive to the Paradisians.
— The queen confirmed the language they spoke among themselves was the same as you speak with your people after hearing some samples from Paradisians during our stay in this island. The question is, did you ever send agents to Eldia?
She did not answer.
— What about your cooperation with the Marleyans? Can you tell me about it?
She remained silent. Sören was visibly restless.
— Listen, Arnulf. Her brother already answered those questions. We are wasting time with her.
Arnulf analysed Sören's face and said without taking his eyes off him:
— She is the one who sent spies to capture Hildegard. Don't you feel at least a bit furious at her?
— Yes, they did sever her fingers and kill her friend, but they're already dead. I'm sure the chieftess did not order her agents to torture Hildegard.
— Does this mean that... — He approached Sören and pointed a finger at his face. — You have forgiven Cliodhna? Or that you think her actions were not as dangerous as they could be in the end?
— Well... "Forgiveness" is certainly not what I think about when the subject is Paradis. How much more can Cliodhna suffer, even after everything she did to us? Her homeland was conquered, her people have submitted to us, and they will mingle with the people of Ymir as the generations pass. — Sören paused as Arnulf looked deep into his eyes. — It seems pointless.
Arnulf scratched his chin and remained motionless for a few seconds.
— Unnecessary suffering! Those are the proper words... — He suddenly exclaimed while stopping on his way towards the door. — Yet she was the one who bit the hand that was willing to help her. Like a coiled snake, ready to sink its fangs at anything that comes close. — We're done here, men. The queen will decide her fate.
A courier appeared just as he opened the door. Arnulf looked at him unsurprised, as if he knew someone would come for him.
— Lord Gerber, our highness summons you. — The courier said while bowing in respect. — She stated you must meet her as soon as possible.
— We'll see each other later, Sören. Hildegard surely has much to talk about with me.
"She finally woke up. I should see how she's doing." — Sören thought. He looked at the cloudy sky with a slight smile, again feeling relieved that the Paradis crisis was over.
...
Sigrid nodded as Hodritz finished explaining what had happened the day before. Her mind raced thinking about all the implications a second attempt at the queen's life could have.
— And this sort of thing only happens when I've had two or three more cups of wine... — She massaged her temples with closed eyes. — What will Jurgen make of this? This will rile up the nobility even more about the non-Eldian question... Both the ones within our empire and those around the borders.
— How about some buffer states? Puppet states? Put one of our own to rule the beasts and perhaps control the situation.
— I need time to think, my friend. Our government being decentralised sometimes has its setbacks.
A smiling Paradisian woman appeared by the open door. She held a cup in each hand. Her smile faded upon looking at Sigrid.
— Remember Saoirse? I'm thinking of taking her to the mainland with me.
— I don't bother remembering a barbarian's name. — Sigrid answered dryly. — Didn't you say that non-Eldians are beasts but a moment ago?
— A woman is a woman and a man is a man, no matter the race. — He lightly tapped her shoulder and gestured towards the door. — Go on, then. We'll see each other again later.
— Disgusting... Be sure to cleanse yourself after this... unholy act.
Stomping her feet, Sigrid left the room. "The noblemen have such a sickening habit. I can't even think straight at this moment." She came across Sören after quickly going down a flight of stairs.
— Brandt. Good day. — Her greeting was dry.
— Good day, Tybur. Why such haste?
— It does not concern you. Now leave me be, I'm not as free to loaf as you are.
Sigrid tried to move out of the way, but Sören had no intention of letting her leave. He positioned himself in front of her.
— You certainly have much to do after attempting to attack Hildegard.
She sighed in annoyance.
— So naïve... This case is already closed. Do you think the council will believe her claims against me? "Oh, council, Sigwid twied to kill me because she hates me!" — She mockingly said with a high-pitched voice.
— I protected her and will testify against you, snake.
— Such is the worth of the queen's lapdog's testimony. Who else witnessed the battle besides mindless titans and dead Marleyans? Accusations without proof or witnesses mean nothing.
Sören clenched his fists. This fight was over even before it started. Sigrid shoved him to the side and walked through.
— If I am the snake, you are the rat. Go back to kissing your queen's feet, boy.
Sören had his suspicions about a conspiracy against Hildegard, but he became sure of it after this conversation. How could he expose them? How could he protect the queen?
...
— Great gods of heaven and earth, I have assured the continuity of our people's existence. Even under a foreign god's rule, even enslaved, we will continue to live and worship you.
Darragh prayed to a stone idol while a woman and two boys watched from a distance. Recognising them with a glance, he walked in their direction with a warm smile.
— You're not welcome here here. — The woman said. — Why pray to our gods? Darragh, you have forsaken them.
He approached them with open arms expecting a hug, but the woman recoiled, defencively embracing the children with her arms.
— Be grateful that you are alive. I did what had to be done. — He answered.
— By betraying your own sister? By pulling the strings behind our backs? You are a coward! You venomous snake... You speak and poison drips from your tongue. Agent of the Eldian devil goddess herself, you no longer belong in this island!
One of the children tried to leave the mother's arms to no avail. Her grip was too strong.
— Luchtaine! Do not touch that man! — She shouted. — You and Labraid have no father anymore.
— I won't even be allowed to touch my own children... Even if this fight has brought me no glory, I am sincerely glad to know that you and our sons are alive.
The boys cried silently so that their mother wouldn't notice. Darragh turned around and left the place of worship as his former wife threw insults at him. Indeed, to betray his sister and to let the remaining Marleyans die was the greatest sacrifice. The Fomhóire would continue to exist and could perhaps thrive, although not under Cliodhna's rule. Paradis would finally be introduced to the world and learn many things from different cultures. The island was spared being trampled by titans. It was hard to believe his people preferred to fight an unwinnable battle and die.