The characters from the game belong to Capcom. Some OC's and story background belong to me.

A/N: I'm not english native speaker, so you might find some typos or grammar mistakes, I do apologize for that.

Christopher Reed was determined to prove his marriage as the new situation between him and Katarina was delicate. Both were important figures in the kingdom and the example was supposed to come from them.

That time, marriage had a different context, especially for the nobility and aristocracy, as their possessions was a determinate important subject. All of her family's possessions would be his and all his possessions would be hers.

There were several criteria, which decided whether a match was 'appropriate'. Contemporary moralists recommend that the couple should be of similar age, background, financial circumstances and religious beliefs. Concord in manners and interests was beneficial as well. The husband and wife should like and respect each other—even love each other—but they should beware of mere sexual fascination and look for inner qualities. The widespread opinion was that love came after the wedding.

Generally, traditional church law placed great emphasis on the sacredness of marriage and on its inseparability. Divorce in the modern sense of the word (i.e. termination of a valid marriage with the possibility of remarrying) was not recognized.

A substitute option was declaring the marriage invalid (i.e. stating that the bond had never been a proper marriage); to do this, it had to be proved that the marriage was defective in some way. The most common reasons were the infancy of the couple at the time of the spousals; permanent impotence or frigidity or the discovery that the couple were in fact relatives. Declaring the marriage invalid gave both partners an opportunity to remarry. Another alternative of escape from an unhappy marriage was a legal separation 'from bed and table'. This procedure was possible in cases of proven adultery or extreme cruelty. However, the disadvantage was that the marriage bond remained undivided and the separated partners could not marry again. The third option was a procedure called divortium a vinculo matrimonii, an act very close to divorce, which could only be achieved upon the decision of the Parliament. Needless to say, it was a very protracted and expensive procedure.

The law of marriage in Bohma had changed significantly compared to other European countries; somehow, it seemed more advanced for that time.

Despite divorce was a new word for them, but possible in Bohma. It would take a long time and money, so the faster way to get rid of the married status was by invalidating the marriage certificate/spousals. That could be done in good terms with the other spouse, or by proving fraud and there were specific reasons to determinate it, or by the death of the spouse.

Christopher's case was fitting the separation 'from bed and table' as Angelique had never been introduced as his legitimate wife. For Christopher, somehow, that was a good thing considering he could not get married to Katarina; that was the law!

However, the despair had taken on Katarina as she rushed again to the Stafford's in hope to solve her matter accompanied by a royal witness and Christopher. She hoped her presence would threaten them and they wouldn't lie before her.

Stafford's Manor

Christopher yelled Angelique's name by the land's entrance. Soon after, the stepmother opened the door and invited them in.

"Where's Angelique?" he asked in despair

The woman looked down covering her face as she looked down, "I'm afraid to break the news that Angelique is deceased. Christopher we are very sorry for the loss and apologize for not had contacted you before as she was isolated because of…her illness…" said the stepmother pretending a saddened demeanor

"What? No!"

"She didn't resist to her illness." the father confirmed his wife's statement

"No… This can't be true!" inconsolable Christopher whispered in denial as tears cored his face and a horrendous ache filled his soul. He hurried through the chambers calling her name, he couldn't believe the news. All places proved to be empty. He rushed to her bedchamber, breaking the locked door.

In there, he saw all the portraits and paintings she had created. For his ache to hurt even deeper, he saw the large object turned to her bed. Stepping closer to it, he uncovered it.

"My dear, my love Christopher,

This painting of you is one of the things that keep me entertained when I'm away from you. It's a way for me to feel you a bit close to me, watching me.

I have studied all the details of your face, your handsome face and I tried to be the most realistic as possible, so I took a long time working on it.

I wanted to keep it in secret so I could give to you on your birthday as a special gift. By the way, this will be the second birthday we will spend together, huh!

I'm so excited for that! Especially now that I have my father's consent for our marriage and it's just a matter of time until we will be husband and wife, and live at least, the happiest days and years of our lives in our cozy cottage!

I still cannot believe I'm finally reaching the treasure of the end of the rainbow...!

I had already lost my hope and had accepted the dark future… so you came with your light and restored my own faith. The faith in me. The faith in us!

So I pray… and thank God for putting you in my life to teach me and show me how to grow, how to love, how to be stronger!

You are the best thing that ever happened to me and I wish that I can make you feel the same way I do. That I make you happy, that I make you satisfied with your new lifestyle, that I make you feel loved…

And someday our love will be multiplied when we start our own family and have beautiful children!

I'm really looking forward to all those plans we have made…

I'm still paralyzed in that lake moment, do you remember?

I'm still there…

I will always be there!

For now, just accept this little gift. There are more in my bedchamber!

With all my love,

Angely Reed

Ps: I love when you call me Angely. So I decided to sign all my works as Angely… Angely Reed as my true future name!"

Christopher cried even harder as he read the letter she had written for him and the painting was supposed to be his birthday gift – his painting. Damn birthday! He so wished he could forget that day, that night!

Remorse grew stronger in him. He shouldn't had waited so much! He should've had come earlier to be with her in her final days.

Under an impulse, he took all her paintings, letters and personal belongings. He was decided to keep all of it with him. All that was left of her. Her memories.

(*)

Katarina smiled in delight inertly and taking advantage of Christopher's focus in the objects going up and down the stairs, so she called the stepmother for a private conversation to compensate them with money and jewelry without witness.

"I must repeat that I have never been here before!" Katarina spoke in a threatening tone as a cynic smiled formed on her lips

"Of course milady! My lips are sealed and thank you very much for closing the business with me as both parties have gotten satisfied with the results"

Both women smiled sealing their deadly alliance.

None of the Stafford's opposed to Christopher's act. The stepmother even thanked inertly as for her those paintings were all a bunch of trash and soon she was going to dispose of all of it. The father secluded himself in the library.

Katarina waited in the carriage, patiently. Thinking about her next steps.

(*)

Amelia Stafford entered the library when Christopher and the others were gone.

"Why did you lie to her?" the man questioned with a concerned expression

"Because somehow is the truth! Angelique doesn't have any other place to go and she's too poisoned to believe that she can go after Christopher since he has used and abandoned her! You have taught her a very good lesson and she will not dare to step in in his life again."

"I just wish that woman will never find out the truth…"

"She won't find us! She gave a very good payment that we can live happily until the end of our lives! We can sell this manor and earn even more and move to another village as you are retired now… Plus, if she wanted Angelique out of her way, she should've had done it herself! After all, she has the better resources, right?"

Some time later

It was still early dawn, the sun hadn't even risen. Angelique knew the usual time the nuns used to get up and start their chores. She waited for the right day. For the right time. She had observed their routine. The routine in the convent.

Several weeks had passed since Angelique had the confirmation of her pregnancy. She still could not believe it, totally. There were still few times that she caught herself thinking. Thinking a lot on her child. On her future. On Christopher. They were a family now. Even though apart.

So she waited for the right time. She waited until she could feel better from the sickness and recover from her wounds. Her trauma. She was a mother now. She was stronger. She had to be stronger. For her and more importantly, for her child.

And for their sacred love, she was becoming a stronger woman. Yes, she could now see herself as a woman. She was in the end of the 18. Her child would be her 19th birthday gift. A gift Christopher and the man of her life had given her.

So she waited. Days. Weeks. Taking notes of every schedule and gaps for her to run away. That was her only option. She wasn't going to give away her child, her piece of love. A piece of herself. A pierce of Christopher. No she wouldn't!

She wasn't like her father. She was different. She was the opposite. She would take full responsibility of the child she was bringing to the world. No matter if they said it was a sin. Being a mother wasn't a sin! Being responsible wasn't a sin! No shame!

During that time, she was learning a new way to see life. to make plans. Nothing now was about her. And her strength came from the little being growing inside her belly as if it was a light of hope give her courage and inspiration to fight the evil world around her. As if it was her guardian angel. Her little angel.

Christopher taught her to believe in herself. She believed him. She believed his promises, his dreams. He had always fulfilled his words in a way or another, but he did. She had faith on him. He brought the faith back to her. A faith she had lost when her mother passed away, her defender. She got lonely. She got down. She didn't believe she deserved good and better things.

And her child was teaching her to be a fighter. A defender.

She still had faith that Christopher would be waiting for her. That was his message when he didn't return when he was captured by the royal guardians. That was all she knew. Was it true or not? Only time would tell. She would only know the day she passed those gates and left that prison to go on his meet.

And the day had arrived.

Tick-tock, tick-tock

She could hear the clock. She could hear her breathing. The hours, the minutes, the seconds before her freedom. A tough freedom. Escaping the prison would start a commotion and as an ordinary young woman, pregnant and alone would only elevate the challenge to be on her own until she reunited with Christopher once again. Once and for all. So they could be and raise the little family they were expecting. That was their plan while at the lake moment, wasn't it?

She passed the gates without being noticed and ran across the forest to stop anyone from spotting her, caring a bottle of water and some fruits and wearing the only piece of clothing she had, her ripped dress when she arrived in the convent. She walked nonstop. She knew there was a nearby village that she would reach faster if she were on a horse. That wasn't the case.

She was scared? Damn sure she was! But somehow, she felt braver. Something gave her strength, faith or whatever that could be called so she could continue despite her fear of animals or thieves. That was her only option.

However, morning sickness still hit her hard in the mornings, the tiredness and the mix of feelings might had taken her harder that day and a sudden sickness took over her as she reached the commerce. Walking in a dim alley, weak and dizzy and out of food or water, Angelique succumbed to the sickness and fell on the ground.

Passing by there in a non-ordinary occasion, a woman in her mid-forties spotted the young redhead on the ground. Immediately, she let go of the big fabric bag she was carrying and rushed to the aid of the mysterious girl.

A man of average looks and apparently in his mid-twenties followed the woman carrying other loads. Without thinking twice, he let go of them and rushed to help the woman.

O'Gregon's Manor

And the wedding preparations started. Christopher was declared a widower and was given permission to marry Katarina and take responsibilities for his sensual adventures with the noblewoman, after all, it wasn't a just one time fact.

Katarina was in her bedchamber with her sister Elizabeth whom she had chosen as her maid of honor and Pierce as the best man. She didn't have planned that with anticipation, but that fact had a delightful detail: to torture Pierce a little bit as he would watch her marry Christopher and make him swallow his words.

Elizabeth opened a medium-sized wooden box. In there, there were the O'Gregon jewels, the finest ones. Among them a fabulous collection that had graced the throats and wrists and fingers of generations of O'Gregon women. Just last month at a charity ball, Katarina had wore the stunning heirloom emerald necklace and matching earrings worn by a O'Gregon duchess, that genteel paragon of beauty and class. She swallowed, that necklace alone could secure a jewel thief a luxurious retirement – if he could remove it from the O'Gregon estate.

Yes, she had blue blood. If she had ever wished, she could've had been a queen.

Katarina closed her eyes and tried to imagine how stunning and fabulous she wanted to look like in her wedding, especially with the man of her wishes, Christopher Reed, the most disputed bachelor in the kingdom that didn't belong to the royal family.

She wanted it to be the most important event, the most sumptuous, the main topic of the kingdoms, of the court.

Back then, white gowns wasn't the trend for marriages and Katarina didn't wish for that either. She wanted to shine, she wanted a lot of glow, so she picked a long and luxurious golden gown with pearls and jewelry. She also wanted to make sure all the guests would have the time of their lives, eat and drink a lot. Dance music, have fun – feel free. Probably her wedding was one of the most expensive in all over Bohma, if not the most expensive one due to all the details.

"Ugh, I cannot breath with this stupid huge belly!" the brunette murmured

"Don't speak like that! It's your child and it's not even that apparent like you think" Elizabeth replied as she helped her sister getting dressed

"It is not evident? I look huge and fat! I was not supposed to look this ugly in my wedding day!"

"The wedding was prepared very quickly…considering all the details…"

"But the stupid belly is growing faster!"

"Don't call it stupid"

"I call it whatever I want. It is my child!"

The blonde woman let out a sigh, "I feel sorry for this child to be growing inside you and feel and absorb all this…negativity…"

"You can take it for you if you want when is born…" Katarina shrugged looking at the mirror as if she didn't care

"What?" the blonde girl widened her eyes in puzzlement. Did she hear it correctly?

That moment, the bedchamber's door opened as their mother entered to inform them about their delay and that Christopher was already waiting in the chapel.

(*)

"My wedding day… my second wedding day… I shrug.

Despite all the rush and simplicity, the emptiness of my first marriage, all we had to do was to sign the papers. I felt happier. I was happy while living hell. I was marrying the woman I love-d. Nothing was planned, there was no party, not even a honeymoon… My wife fell sick before we could enjoy our time as husband and wife. There was no honeymoon… There was no live happily forever… but there until death do us apart…

My lovely wife… my angel… my Angely.

There is not a day, a minute, a second I don't think of you. I hope that wherever you are up there, you forgive me for having failed with you. For having bumped our plans. For not fulfilling our dreams. The dreams of happiness and a family in the cottage… But I promise you that I will always be in that moment in the lake when we still lived the sweetness of our love.

I hope you forgive me for being a man. A weak man… and now even mourning you I wed the beautiful noble. I wed my obligation. My duty.

But I still so wish it was you here walking the aisle carrying my child. Our child.

We'd be radiant and crying tears of joy. Not the tears of goodbye.

Once again, I beg for your forgiveness, as I have to let go of you as I have to say yes to my sin and to the wife I don't love.

They say that in arranged marriages love comes after, is built with the years… but I don't believe that. I believe we just love once and I have found my love in you.

But I will love my child and the only reason why I am passing over me, passing over my grief, passing over my feelings.

For this child, I hope you can forgive me.

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A child I'm not even sure is mine…"

Unknown Location in the neighborship of Bohma

"Where am I?" Angelique questioned as she regained her conscience looking to the sides, trying to recognize the place as she sat up on the bed

Soon after, she saw a woman entering by the door who smiled kindly at her carrying a tray

"Thank goodness you are awake"

"Who are you?"

"My name is Margareth. My son and I found you unconscious in a nearby alley. How are you feeling now?"

"Tired…"

"Hungry and thirsty too?"

"Yes"

"I guess I had a good timing. I brought this for you"

"Thank you…"

"So, what's your name?"

"Angely…" she replied taking a big bite of the bread. She was really hungry.

"It's a pretty name"

"Thank you"

"Where are you from?"

"I need to go to the court…"

"The court?" the woman spoke analyzing the young girl. From her appearance, she couldn't tell the girl was a noblewoman.

"Yes. I need to see my husband. He serves the king"

"Well, all of us serve the king…"

"Yes, but I meant that he lives there, in the castle as his personal knight"

"Oh…" the woman made a face

"Mother"

The women heard a male voice by the door

"Oh, you're awake" he added as he spotted the young redhead

"This is my eldest son George. He's the one who helped me carry you home"

"Oh, thank you George and nice to meet you" she spoke with a light smile

"No problem, nice to meet you too…?" he left in hang

"Angely"

"Are you feeling better now, Angely?" he asked

"Yes and I don't even know how to apologize for all the trouble I have caused and how to pay for the shelter and food…"

"You don't have to do any of that. You needed help and we helped you"

She gave a soft smile

"By the way, she needs to go to the court. Do you know any shortcut? You could make her company so she won't wander out there alone and pregnant." the mother said and pointed her head at the young girl's belly

"Are you from the court?" he asked in surprised

"No, but my husband is… he works and lives there" the redhead said

"No, there aren't any shortcuts. We are 4hours distant from there, but the sun is almost setting. The road is dangerous, especially because of the big event of tomorrow. All the nobles and their families are coming to the event, so the roads are full of thieves waiting for them, even though there is a large amount of guards too."

"Oh, really? Is there any royal event or something?" the woman asked

"No. It's because of the wedding of a noblewoman from a very important family and very close to the king's"

"Oh I see… the richest pigs spending the poor's money on their whims…" the woman commented shaking her head in disapproval

"Yes, that's true fact." He gave a shrug and turned to look at the redhead girl, "So my advice to you, Angely, is for us to go tomorrow in daylight."

"Thank you George. But I don't want to give you any more trouble than I already did…"

"No trouble at all! It's dangerous a woman and pregnant walking alone, not to mention if you feel sick again… you'd better have someone to watch out for you"

She smiled faintly. She really didn't want to cause all that trouble.

"Well, now I have to go. My wife might be worried about my delay. Early tomorrow, I will be here" the man spoke saying his goodbyes for his mother and Angely.

The young redhead didn't have any other option but to obey to their suggestions. They were doing a big favor for her and she was grateful for that.

Since she started her endeavor, the wheel of fortune seemed to be on her side for some instances. She managed to escape the convent. She had the help of Margareth and George. They gave her shelter, food and new clothes. Margareth proved to be a woman with a big heart and somewhat lonely. She was a widow and had two sons, both already living in their own places and married.

She found out the woman had been married to a Marquees, but preferred to stay away from the court or any of that cycle. She preferred to raise her children in a "normal environment", away from the delusional circus of the court and teach them the value of labor and moral codes.

Despite her previous title, Margareth had a simple demeanor and a simple life. Her house wasn't big, nor small. Although, enough for and for the eventual visits of her relatives. From her way of being, no one could tell she had a title although she was respected among the villagers.

In the morning, Angelique and George headed to the court. In the village in the surroundings of the castle, Angelique could see the agitation, the commotion the so called wedding started. George was going to accompany her only until a certain point, but gave her instructions to not mistake the way.

They walked among the crowd in the central plaza and passed by the church where royal weddings were celebrated. The location was really full. Villagers, curious people, guards, fine carriages, horses surround the church's entrance.

Angelique looked to the church's direction in curiosity as she noticed the agitation of the people opening space for the newlyweds on their way out. The bride and her sumptuous golden dress, looking radiant, holding a bouquet of flowers to cover the visible belly bump – probably pregnant – and the groom at her side.

She blinked several times. Her vision was blurry. The sensation of sickness starting again as her heart pounded inside her chest. Blurred vision as the tears cored incessantly. Her eyes could not be mistaken. The serious groom was… Christopher. Her own husband or so called husband.

She finally recognized the radiant bride. Her unique and genuine beauty could not be mistaken. The woman Christopher seemed to run away.

A heavy sensation took over her body and dizzyness seemed to start. A very bad sensation that she could faint any moment as the weight of deception, frustration, anger took over her mind, her spirit, her memories. Ah her memories! The bitter memories! And all the talk her father and stepmother had lectured her the day they found her at the Peasant's land. The day she was beaten in all the ways, almost losing her child, for had run away with the man she fell in love and gave the all of her. Broke all her chains for the man who left her and now was marrying the beautiful noblewoman he said he couldn't stand.

Liar!

She had given him her virginity, her genuine feelings, her innocence, her life and then was abandoned by him.

Asshole!

She still carried the scars from all the beaten, the curses and had just made the ultimate act by escaping a safe place for sake of their child. Maybe she should've had accepted given for adoption if she knew the truth before.

No! Get away evil thoughts. No! She could never abdicate of her own flesh. It wasn't just that man's blood coring inside of her. It was her own blood too! Actually, it was all about her now. She was the one preparing the child. Giving it shelter. Life! despite all the negativity around her, that child gave her light. Gave her strength. Courage. Braveness! That growing child gave her hope. Gave her a reason to smile and not feel lonely anymore. Her child was the balm in the hell.

Bastard!

Somehow that stupid royal knight managed to annul their union. Or was bigamy allowed in the court?

It was evident his now wife was pregnant and for a longer period than the redhead was! Of course that was possible! Christopher had all the time and space to live his life alone and go wherever he wanted to go without anyone knowing it.
Now, it made sense why the noblewoman was seen at the Peasant's Village… they were together there! They had conceived while he used to tell her how much he loved her and told all those plans and lies… pink future! How stupid she had been for believing that man!

Bastard…

Now that was her child's title…

Her child!

Only hers! Now he had no rights any longer. He made his choice and married the beautiful woman, the one who has always been of his level and position in society. The one who belonged to his world.
The beaten had taught her a great lesson and not to be a fool anymore. Her father and stepmother's words echoed, screamed in her head as she watched the newlyweds kissing in public to demonstrate and prove their union.

Her heart nearly stopping, her soul crashing into tiny pieces.

Their words made so much sense now. Ah if she had listened to their lecture before the runaway or even before that… way before that…

That man had only used her. That man had only lied to her and took advantage of her immaturity. Of her inexperience. He had what he wanted and walked away. He broke her and walked away to never get back.

And she believing he was really waiting for her… what a stupid and foolish she had been for believing that! The truth was that he had said that to hurt her. To stage her disgrace when she got there and would been made a fool in public. A public humiliation. That was his plan!

Things didn't go as he planned. She didn't go to court and he would never know she had been there. He would never know she carried a piece of him.

She caressed her belly and she watched the noble couple enter the carriage.

She was leaving behind the moment in the lake. She was leaving behind all the lies. All the memories. She was leaving her old fool self along with the carriage that rode away.

All she had now was the lesson and the hurt… and her child.

That man had no rights anymore. That man now was only the man she had saved from drowning about two years ago. That was their story. That was the sin. He was the sinner.

From now on, she was going to find out who she really was. She could no longer be Angelique Stafford after been banned from the family from all her stupid sins.
Being Angely didn't seem to be the right thing anymore.

Who was she now?

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Disrupted.

Castle of Bohma, Night

"Where do you think you are going?"

"To my bedchamber" Christopher replied with a shrug

"It is our honeymoon!"

"We had the honeymoon long ago…" he replied with a cold tone

"Christopher, you are my husband now! We cannot sleep separately!" she almost yelled

"Yes we can! The king does it…" he shrugged

She smirked with a yell, "To have his mistresses!"

"There is no rule for married couples to share the same bed and don't expect me to do it. You got what you wanted, you married me. But don't insult me for thinking that I'd love you. You're a smart girl and you know the real reasons why this marriage happened. I'm your husband legally and I will be in the public's eyes but I won't be in the practice. I love Angelique and my soul is still married to her.
I know you have needs between your legs and you may have your adventures, but just be discreet, as you know, it will be your reputation in the dirt and not mine!
Now excuse and have a good night"

"You son of a bitch!" she yelled throwing her jewelry on him

Christopher ignored his wife's outburst. He knew she'd go bitchy about it. He knew she'd go bitchy tomorrow. And the days after tomorrow. He was already ready for that. He just didn't care anymore. After losing Angelique, he had lost everything.

Now he only had the child Katarina was expecting. That was the only thing he cared about.

Although, there would still have a long path until his life could make some sense again when the child will be born.

So far… Katarina could go bitchy whenever she wanted. She should've known it better…

That was the sumptuous start of their married life…

Thank you Pin for the review! :D

So the transition starts now. The first transition of time.

We have seen everyone's side in the story about the same matter. Each one has their own truth. The wheel of time continues turning.
They made their choices, or some have been forced to... but it's done!

But what goes around comes around and that's a fact.

Thank you for reading so far, for the support and for those who also reads my other works. Thank you!

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Stay Tuned...