The characters from the game belong to Capcom. The 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.

Lake Manor

"Angely?"

"Pierce!"

"What are you doing here?" he asked in surprise

Angelique looked briefly to the side, thinking of an answer. Immediately she spotted the lake behind him, "I heard about the lake and I came to see it… I needed some inspiration"

"Oh… it's a beautiful lake, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is!"

"I hope it has inspired you enough as you have invaded a private area"

She laughed in distress, "It wasn't my intention… I didn't know the lake is private…"

"Not the lake. The manor"

"Oh, right! You're right… I… I just wondered who lived here as I got thirsty and…"

"Nobody lives here"

"So how can it be private?"

He laughed in distress, "It's a long story… I just came to check the manor…"

"King's order?"

"More or less…"

She laughed slightly, "Why all the mystery? It's not like I'm going to tell anyone such secret…"

"It is a secret!"

"Oh…alright. Your secret. I'm sorry…I didn't want to sound nosy"

"You are nosy. Can you explain to me how you unlocked the doors?"

She swallowed hard. She had to think really fast to give a plausible answer. Inhaling and letting out a long sigh, "I'll tell you the truth…"

"You'd better or I shall arrest you…"

"I had a friend that was part of the family that lived here…"

"Angelique?"

She nodded, "Yes… Angelique Stafford… she gave me a copy"

"When?"

"A long time ago…"

"Before she died?"

Angelique widened her eyes, "She died?"

"Yes, didn't you know it?"

"No! When?"

"Oh that was a long time ago… nine years ago more precisely"

The redhead remained motionless. Sinking in the news. Was that what Christopher made up about her so he could marry Katarina?

"Is that what he told you?" she asked shaking in distress

"Her father? Yes. He confirmed her death to a royal witness"

Of course he did. He banned her from the family! No doubt, he'd consider her dead. Actually, he had yelled that to her face.

"So why are you here? Were you friends with the family too?"

He cleared his throat, "That's the part I can't tell you"

"Why not? You're already telling me! Just finish it… I promise I'll keep my lips sealed!"

"Nosy!"

"I just want to understand what happened to my friend… I think I deserve to know that. It doesn't seem logic you being here if you weren't friends…."

Pierce grinned. The duke seemed thoughtful as he walked to the side with his hands on the sides of his waist, "Speaking about merit… I think it's about time we having this conversation… no one around…"

"What do you mean?" she asked apprehensive

He turned to her, "It's been a while since I have been thinking about it"

"About what?"

"You"

"Me?"

"And your relation with Christopher" he stepped closer to her, "Angely Reed… or should I say Angelique Stafford?"

She swallowed

"It's quite intriguing combining all the little evidences and fitting them into this puzzle…"

"I don't know where you want to go with this… If you have something to say, just say it"

"I don't like prolonging myself, it's not a trait of mine but as a royal officer it's my job to know how to read people, presume what they're thinking, feeling, to decipher the reasons behind their actions. It's part of the strategy and for that it takes time to study properly"

She remained in silence listening to him attentively

"I have been observing you since you came in to the castle. Since the first day, I thought you were familiar. It took me a while to examine my memories. Six years ago, a redhead girl, you, came to the castle looking for Christopher. At that time, he had already been relocated to Baveen. I didn't tell that detail for personal reasons and as you didn't ask further questions either, things remained that way until you were hired at the official painter of the royal family. I recognized your alias name, Angely Reed, to be the same name of Christopher's presumably dead first wife. Presumed I say here as I stand before her, before you… A redhead, green eyes, painter and has the keys of the Lake Manor, is it too much of a coincidence?"

Angelique inhaled and let out a sigh. She was aware she was a bad liar and it would be pointless to try to deny that right now, "So why did you keep your silence all this time?"

"For the same reasons I did in the past and I don't think you really want it out either as I have noticed you tend to avoid Christopher or am I wrong?"

She remained speechless, looking away.

So Christopher believed she was dead all this long. He believed her family's false statement after all they had been through together. He should've known better. He should've known they could be lying. He should've known…

"Do you intend to keep things that way?"

"Yes, especially because there are children involved. They don't need unnecessary pain when the adults involved have moved on with their lives"

"For nine years Christopher believes I'm dead. He has a stunning wife and has ascended in life"

"Though he never forgot you, reason why I'm here… watching for his memories – his sweet memories"

"Not sweet when they're all a bunch of lies! Faded illusions!"

"Is that how you feel about it?"

"I don't have to give you explanations"

"Absolutely! I was just saying it…"

"So we remain like that. the children don't need to suffer"

"What about Oliver?"

"What about him?"

He gasped, "They get along. Father and son get along…"

"George is the father!"

"Step-father… Oliver was the reason you came to the castle six years ago"

"You should've had told me I was dead! That would've had prevented this conversation or any trouble as I would've had changed my name!"

"You can change your name but not your past. You cannot change it's Christopher's genes in that boys' veins!"

"So what? I thought you wanted to keep all in secret!"

"So what? I'm the one your manors' maintenance and away from intruders! I'm the one watching for my friend's grief! I'm the one who lost the woman of my life because of you!"

"Me?"

"Yes, you!"

"Christopher buys the bullshit and I'm the one to blame?"

"Yes, you are!"

"Why?"

"Because you're the one who walked away!"

"I didn't walk away!"

"Yes you did!"

Angelique started feeling pissed and to stop that confrontation she tried to pass by him

"Don't be a coward and listen to me…"

"You listen to me!" she raised her voice, "I'm not coward. He cheated on me! He made me a fool! He believed my family's lie even knowing they never cared for me! They were against us! He should've known I could still be alive, but no! He didn't even bother to look for me! He preferred that whore!"

"How dare you call her like that!"

"I do call her whatever I want because that's what she is, a fucking whore! A monster of mother! She's lucky I don't tell the world how much of a bad mother she is! I feel so sorry for Maddy that you have no idea how much my heart is still bleeding for her plead! For her I'm here, willing to face that asshole! And you – the duke and so called friend – you're no better than any of them because you are her accomplice! You know Maddy suffers and you don't move a finger to protect her like she deserves! If the love of your life is that stunning bitch, you two are perfect to each other! So now get the hell out of my land, your business is done… Ah and tell the grand duke to watch out better for his daughter and don't let her alone with that witch!" she yelled out and slammed the door on his face

Ah she so needed to take that all from her chest. So many years she kept that all inside of her. she so needed that vent! She was aware that duke was married to Elizabeth, such a loving woman, but she could not tolerate that man defending the other bitch and even blamed her for his dump. The brunette bitch… apparently a woman who had men crawling to her feet. And it was a truth as she had head of stories about her past. People's talk. She also had noticed how some men desired the grand duchess. A grand bitch!

Angelique was tired of people doing and telling her whatever they wanted as if she was nothing nor had feelings too. She was not a scared child anymore, nor the unprotected teenager. She was now a woman!

(*)

Pierce let out a heavy sigh as he felt the wind of the slammed door on his face and the loud noise in his ears. How daring was that girl!

She was nothing sweet like Christopher used to say. She was spicy, temperamental and bitter like him, or even like Katarina. Maybe Christopher had a taste for rebels.

How irritating that girl was! She had no right speaking with him that way.

All right, he had no right in throwing his frustrations on her either, and that was the reason why he respected the closed door. Still she had gone too far speaking that way about Katarina. Though, he could understand. She was jealous. He had been jealous himself too, several times. However, what she had spoken about Madeline got him worried. Thoughtful. Reflexive. Several minutes had passed. He knocked politely on the door.

"Go away!" the girl yelled out from inside

"I want to talk to you in peaceful terms"

"I have nothing to talk to you"

"Yes you do… about Maddy"

Sometime later he heard a click on the door. He opened the door slowly.

"Before you throw anything at me, I want to apologize for all those things I told you. I had no right to say those things…but you went too far as well…"

"I don't take it back! I said no lies"

"You said no lie but…" he made a pause, "Never mind… I just want to talk about Maddy"

"She said you're her godfather"

"That's correct"

"And that you and your wife know she's not happy"

"We try our best to watch for her but she lives in Baveen with her parents. We don't spend much time with her as much we'd like…"

"I know it's a delicate situation but it's a little girl's safety we're talking about! I have seen the terrible drawings and paintings she creates. Her sad eyes, her scared demeanor…the bruises… She's even learning how to be an accomplice to Katarina's lies by saying she got hurt playing… is that how you love and care for that innocent child?"

"We're not her parents…" he spoke with a saddened voice

"But you are close to her father, the man she truly trusts!"

"She told you that?"

"She told me things and I made the picture, but I don't think I misjudging"

"You're not, but it's Katarina O'Gregon we're talking about. She gets all she wants!"

"I don't think Maddy asked for that cruel mother, no matter what her name is!"

"And what do you want me to do?"

"Talk to Christopher! Tell him to watch out better for Maddy! If Christopher is somehow a part of the good man and defender I met… I know he will go against Katarina O'Gregon! And he seems to be the only one that woman seems to obey…"

"Yeah, but for how long? Katarina has changed significantly!"

"But her children are in danger, especially Maddy who seems to be her punchbag! Is that what you want for her?"

"You and Christopher share the saving spirit…"

"I'm a survivor Pierce! You have no idea what I have been through and especially in Maddy's age!"

"You can relate to her…"

"And that's why if you don't do anything… I'm willing to break my silence and face Christopher and Katarina. One thing is for certain, I'm not scared of any of them, much less of Katarina! She has a reputation and she lives for it… she preaches for family care and women's rights, such a scandal could be bad for her status…"

"That could be your death penalty too! I don't think you want to leave Oliver orphan…"

"Surely not! And that's why he is the secure option"

"Katarina cannot know about Oliver"

"And I don't intend to! Maddy is the subject"

"But if you talk to him, he will figure it all out and that would be a tremendous scandal!"

She nodded in agreement, "That's why I'm humbly asking you to talk to him…expose things to him, I'm sure he will listen to you!"

He swallowed thoughtful

"And if you care so much about Katarina…maybe you'd want to save her from herself…"

They exchanged gazes, then he nodded in agreement.

Castle of Bohma, Early Morning

"Christopher, are you there?"

The soft knock on his door and hissed whisper startled the grand duke as he had been standing by the window thinking of Cathlyn. It was as if his thoughts had conjured her up.

He opened his door a fraction and peered out, nothing that there was no one else about, "Yes? Is something amiss?"

"Er, no, not exactly, but I… I'm afraid I need your help. Could you possibly come into my chamber for a moment? Without anyone seeing you of course"

Christopher wanted to say no as he definitely didn't want to go anywhere near her bedchamber, but if she genuinely needed help, how could he refuse?

"Give me a minute and I'll be there" he replied gruffly and shut the door on her while he went to pull on his boots

Damnation, what was she up to now? For two years, they had shared mutual attraction, however both respected their marriages. For two years she had catch a cold, as he remained firm, although now that she was a widow…

Her door was slightly ajar so he entered quickly and shut it before anyone else appeared on the landing. He turned around and was astonished to find Cathlyn standing on the chair, "What the hell…? I mean, beg your pardon, but what on earth are you doing?"

The woman giggled, a delightful sound that almost had him reaching up to put his hands round her tiny waist and lifting her down into his arms, "I'm sorry, it must be a bit odd… but it's necessary. I need your help to pin up my hem. Would you mind? I simply can't manage it on my own, at least not if it's to be straight and I did find any maiden to help me. I'm not that important here…"

"Oh, I see. Well, I can't say I've ever done it before so it may not be any straighter, but I'll give it a try"

"Thank you. Here, take these" she bent down to hand him a paper full of pins, which the dressmaker must have included when she bought the dress

Christopher saw now that she was wearing a black silk and it seemed to fir her perfectly everywhere else, hugging her delightful curves. He looked away from those, tempting as they were. Her stunning figure was one of the reasons he had spent any time at all in Katarina's company – and Cathlyn's apparently – for some time. And look where that had led him…

"So you've managed to alter it?" he asked, kneeling on the floor beside her and grabbing a handful of material

"Yes, I had no trouble with that. It's just the hem, which I can't reach myself. No, wait, not like that. like this, if you please" she showed him how to fold the material up twice and make it even, or as even as he could possibly manage, which probably wasn't perfect

Christopher worked his way round the bottom of her gown, getting more than one glimpse of her slim ankles and dainty feet. She was only wearing stockings, no shoes, and seeing her like that felt incredibly intimate, even though she was fully dressed and no skin was on display. He shook his head at himself. He must be going soft in the head if he was admiring her feet now.

"So you're moving to Arthena next weekend?" she asked randomly

"Yes. I will"

"I miss there. I wish I could go back and live there again, but women don't have that much of permission to do whatever they want, not even as a widow…"

"You really like that place?"

"Yes, don't you?"

"Not really…"

"Why not?"

"I don't know… I just don't like it"

"But you have a land there, don't you?"

"Yes I do, but I never really lived there… until now"

"I see… Is that the reason why you're seem sad lately?"

He let out a sigh, "That too"

"What else does concern you? If you want to talk…"

"I love talking to you Cath… you and my late wife are the only ones that I have been able to open up to…"

"I'm glad to know I can be a good shelter for you…"

"Yes you are!"

She blushed, "So what else is of your concern?"

"Don't tell that to anyone, but I'll go on a march to Edonia soon"

"A march to Edonia?"

"Yes"

"So that's why you're moving to Arthena…the boarders…"

"Yeah something like that… and there it is, all done" he declared and stood up. Without thinking, he reached up his hands and lifted her off the chair, setting her down right in front of him. Her chest brushed against his, sending a frisson of desire shooting though him. They were standing so close he had a sudden urge to kiss her perfect lips. He took a step back in order to put some distance between them. This wouldn't do.

"Thank you, but would you mind doing the other one as well, please?"

"What?"

Christopher had still been trying to conquer his desire to kiss her and at first, her question didn't penetrate.

"The other gown, the woolen one – it needs to be hemmed up too. Will you help me?"

Cathlyn was looking up at him with those extraordinary eyes, like silvery diamonds, and although he knew it would be better if he left right now, he found it hard to refuse.

"Very well" he said

"Then close your eyes for a moment, please"

He did as she asked, but as he listened to the shushing noise of the silk material when she discarded the first gown, he had to clench his fists to stop himself from peeking. He had seen her in her shift once before and had no trouble recalling what she looked like, but he had dearly like to see her that way again. He shouldn't. He mustn't. I must stay strong!

So far, she had stuck to her word and made no demands upon him. He couldn't afford to compromise her any further than was necessary. But dear Lord, he so wanted to kiss her.

Cathlyn leaned against the door after she had bolted it shut behind Christopher's retreating back. She found that she was shaking, just from having been in the same room as him. And that moment when they had been standing so close, she had thought he was going to kiss and… Lord help her, but she had wanted him to. She was in a bad way. But if nothing else, this proved that she really did love the man and so wished he could set him free from Katarina.

She put her forehead against the cool of wood of the doorframe. Sadly, he was married and devastatingly handsome. She was suddenly extremely conscious of his glance at her as she turned to face him.

She didn't even have the chance to react as he leaned forward and kissed her. It was deliberate – his soft mouth had been aiming for hers, no doubt about it. She froze, unable to move so much as a muscle while his lips caressed hers. It felt wonderful, this small touch sending waves of awareness right down to her toes, but she didn't reciprocate. She couldn't; didn't know how even if she had want to. Which she most certainly didn't, right?

But she did.

Dear Lord, she was allowing him to kiss, which was tantamount to an invitation to… she drew in a sharp breath, "Christopher!"

He held up his hands in a gesture of peace, "I'm sorry. I know… I shouldn't have done that, but it was just too tempting. Please, forget that happened"

She glowered at him. That was easy for him to say. He probably went round kissing women all the time even been married so one more wouldn't make a difference. In fact, she knew from experience that he did. But it was different for her. How could she be able to forget it?

Disappointment flooded her. So this was what she had condemned herself to with her actions – being kissed by a man who didn't mean anything by it, who thought her fair game. She crossed her arms over her chest, belatedly realizing that her shift may be somewhat see-through, and waited to see what had would do next.

"Really, I apologize" he said, walking away, "I'll go back to my chamber"

Not wasting any more second, she stepped away from the door and allowed him to leave.

He walked hurriedly through the corridor. He couldn't stop himself from remembering the feel of her luscious mouth against his. Seemingly innocent, yet tempting beyond belief. He had wanted to do it again. Pull her into his arms and hold her close. Stroke her velvet skin and bury his fingers in her lovely hair… what an imbecile.

No. what was he thinking? He was married. To Katarina! Obviously, they had ups and downs during those 9 years of marriage and they were going through another down moment currently due to their divergences of opinions about Albert and few other subjects.

The first time he had seen her was when they bumped into each other one day in the castle of Bohma. Her husband was still alive. It seemed ridiculously cliché, falling in love at first sight, but once he set eyes on her, he completed forgot both were married, forbidden people.

And that was it – forbidden. They were forbidden to each other. They weren't free. They were wrong.

He opened the doors realizing he opened the wrong doors as he entered the art gallery of the castle. Walking slowly he observed every painting of the royal family. Recent works. That traces, so familiar to him. So faithful to reality. He walked until a particular one, the ink still seemly fresh. He frowned, confused. Intrigued.

"Angely Reed…" he whispered reading the signature. Such a familiar calligraphy, "That can't be…That's impossible!" he spoke to himself intrigued

Until that day he had never had the time to pass by the castle's art gallery...

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