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.
Castle of Edonia, Royal Chambers
"Your Highness called me?" Pierce asked as he entered the chamber.
"Yes. I intend to move to this chamber soon, but first I want you to remove everything in here"
"I don't understand. The chambers seems in perfect condition…" he replied looking around
Katarina smiled cynically, "Nothing that was touched by the former queen can be considered in perfect condition. If I could, I would sterilize the rest of the air breathed in here by her."
"If that's the problem, may your highness rather stay in another chamber..."
She interrupted him, "No. I want to be right here... so that there will not have any doubts that the former queen will never return to Edonia and that a new empress has occupied her place!"
"In any case, your highness..." he insisted a little more, even vexed
"It is an order! You owe me obedience, Pierce!" she said firmly walking away
The man let out a long sigh as he heard the new self-entitled empress footsteps getting distant.
A couple of days later
The invasion was not all roses, people disliked their new self-entitled empress. The Bohman intruders.
"Two weeks of celebration..." Katarina spoke letting out a sigh
"And almost a thousand guests..." he lady-in-waiting added
"Who made that decision?"
"Charles…"
Katarina rolled her eyes exhaling, "It is not wise at all to celebrate this beginning in this way. Everyone here hates us!"
"I'm afraid that it is true your highness"
"That is not what I have to worry about right now. I have to prove to all that I will be a great regent for Edonia"
"And how does your highness intend to do that?"
"Very patiently, Lucy!"
Secret Garden, Castle of Edonia
"I cannot believe that the king of Bohma was capable of such folly. He should be one who should've had moved here and rule the two states, but no...Among so many nobles…"Jillian Valence, the noblewoman from the court of Edonia murmured
"Charles has been ill ultimately and everyone knows he always trusted Christopher…" Leonard Keane replied with a shrug
"Charles uses Christopher as his scapegoat, but in reality he's giving all the power to that…" she paused letting out an annoyed sigh, "He chose that woman... the most hated woman of the court..."
Leonard frowned in confusion, "Are we talking about Charles or Christopher now?"
"Both!" she almost yelled
He gasped, "She's smart…"
"A witch! She's not even that all she thinks she is. She's so dull..."
"Don't be unfair... Katarina is beautiful..."
"You have no credit defending her! You're a man and…!" She rolled her eyes leaving her sentence incomplete, "She's like burial cemeteries…"
"Burial cemeteries?"
"On the outside beautiful, but inside rotten dirty and abominable…"
He made a face not knowing what to say
"What's the use of being beautiful on the outside but being rotten on the inside? Physical beauty is all she has because in fact she is arrogant and snobbish... I don't know how Christopher chose her to marry!" she let out a sigh
"I think it was just the opposite. It was she who chose him to get married"
"It's unbelievable! One day she was just a bubbly and horny noblewoman and now she will sit on the throne... Ugh, I tell you, my sovereign she will never be!"
The couple heard a noise and stopped talking. They saw Katarina along her lady-in-waiting coming their way. Katarina appeared, interrupting the couple. Leonard bowed at the sight of her.
"Please. No need to be embarrassed. I understand that you have this opinion about me... but I believe that in time you will know me better and change the judgment you make about me today... At least I hope so." Katarina smiled slightly
The couple exchanged gazes in silence.
"Have a nice day," Katarina said as she passed them
Leonard revered in silence. Jillian remained still; looking to the side. She didn't feel like revering that intruder.
Leon laughed. He knew Jillian strong principles and how tight to them she used to be, even that at times she could be considered quite a petulant for not letting go of them. She disliked Katarina and didn't fear demonstrating that and she'd never apologize for being so real.
He liked that about her. He admired her for that. They had that in common – being solid to their principles. He just hoped Katarina wouldn't see that as a threat and take Jillian as her enemy.
Not that Jillian cared being called that either…
Royal Chambers, Castle of Edonia
"I have just got an idea!" Katarina said with an excited smile
"What idea?"
"I will personally distribute food to the needy" she commented with her favorite maiden
"I agree that it will cause a good impression on the people" said the lady-in-company
"But there will always be the ungrateful ones who will continue to speak crap of me behind my back like Jillian… and that is precisely the reason why I would also need someone of confidence, someone who circulates around the city, who sees how people react and, of course, keeps me informed" Katarina said thoughtful
"Perhaps that merchant, who came to the castle to get money from Leonard…" the lady-in-waiting suggested
"Yes, I remember that. Leonard's brother… Nicholas. Set a date with him here at the castle, all very discreetly" she ordered the maiden
Library, Castle of Edonia
Pierce Northman needed a moment for himself. Since the invasion to Edonia, whatever he knew of order was a mess. Katarina was focused in using all of her diplomacy and charisma to conquer people's trust and good visibility. Christopher handling the military affairs and the exile of the former royal family. Leonard and he dealing with the castle's security. Soon, Charles would make the official announcement of Edonia's territory being aggregated to Bohma.
He wrote letters to his wife Elizabeth to keep her informed and less preoccupied with that insanity that seemed to work, however, there was one letter that he kept to himself. The letter found in the Lake Manor. He still had that decision to make. So he watched the people who would be affected with its content.
"Dear Angelique
Dear Christopher
Or whoever reads it
A decade passed since that day…
My guilty conscience never rests and doesn't allow me to forget it.
A secret that I'm carrying to my grave and I shouldn't.
I can't…
So I'm writing this letter to release some of the guilt as my final days approach. This disease that is consuming my body yet my conscience has been in remorse since day one.
Since the day, my firstborn came to this world. That innocent ginger child. The sweet green-eyed girl and my blood: Angelique.
My daughter
I know I have never been a good father to you, perhaps I have never been a father to you. Always so distant and absent. At times aggressive.
I know I have been cruel to you…
I failed as your father.
I never forgot how you were conceived, my biggest shame and the cowardice of never taking the responsibility of my own actions.
I treated you like trash. As an enemy.
What an idiot I am!
Still… you grew up with a strong personality, yet you still didn't know it. So absorbed in your own world protected you somehow, but made you oblivious to your other talents.
Your shyness was just a mask covering the power you have. The strength you have. Maybe that changed a bit…or a lot… as I heard you ran away from the convent, alone… to fight for your child.
You did what I didn't.
Your stubbornness and your love for the child. The courage to take responsibility for your actions has made you a brave mother.
Not a coward like me.
I made you and ran away…emotionally and sentimentally, and often absent physically.
I'm not proud of myself.
I'm so ashamed for my cruelty with you and with my grandchild.
I was relieved somehow that you didn't lose your child because of me…because your screams never stopped echoing in my head and how much you protected your belly, unconsciously that you were defending your child while I…poured on you all my anger and frustration…
Dammit! What a monster I am! I could've killed both of you! Dammit!
And all in order of greed!
The witch of your stepmother threw a spell on me, blinded me!
All because of money! Evil money!
The evil in form of Katarina O'Gregon!
Her money only brought us disasters and pain.
Now you're an only child. I'm the last alive – for now – member of your family, besides your child that I pray every day to live on.
Amelia… I never heard from her in two years.
I tried to find you, but since the king declared you dead, it seems to be impossible to ever find you.
So I came to the Lake Manor and noticed how clean and well maintained it is. In hope, it's you…
I always knew you liked this place.
I've stayed here for a few days, but, no one came. It doesn't seem anyone lives here. There are no clothes. No paintings. No life.
I have been an accomplice to your disgrace…yours and Christopher's
He doesn't know what kind of wife he has!
I tried to talk to him, but I learned he moved to another province with his evil wife and their children.
A fake marriage!
He's a good man and doesn't deserve to live such a lie…like I did!
I so regret that…that witch's fine jewelry bought my silence! Bought her marriage and bought your disgrace, my daughter. My Angelique!
Please, forgive me!
You have all the reasons to not forgive me and honestly, I don't think I deserve it.
My disease is my punishment and a punishment I kind of embrace…for my cruelty and cowardice.
But I can't leave this world without letting you know the truth. I managed to keep one necklace with the O'Gregon's family insignia. That was part of the payment Katarina made with Amelia for their pact.
Afraid that Katarina could find out that we lied to her about your death, we sold our manor and moved to other provinces until we went broke.
I hope that with this evidence you may believe that there was a real pact between those women and I have been a stupid accomplice, but not anymore.
I hope this necklace proves her fraud and hope that way Christopher may prove and can annul his marriage to the evil Katarina O'Gregon.
Angelique, my beloved daughter. I know we will ever meet again…
And as I write this final letter, I pray for god to bless you, your child, your family, your path.
I don't pray for god's forgiveness as I have asked him for His punishment. He listened to my request. So I hope He will listen to me again and bless your life.
If there's any after life… I'll continue watching out for you and wishing that you and Christopher can live your love.
May god bless your love.
With all my love,
Your father"
Pierce let out a long sigh. The necklace was inside a little bag over the letter. He kept it in a secret compartment inside the wall in the Lake Manor.
He heard footsteps and quickly kept the letter in his suit's pocket and looked at Katarina who was smiling at him.
"Writing for my sister?"
"Yes"
"Again?"
"Yes, is there a problem?"
"No problem at all… it is just pathetic you trying to hide the letter before I could read…just like a young boy…"
"Whatever I write to my wife is not of your concern…"
"It is when I feel you like acting behind my back…"
He smirked, "What?"
"I know you Pierce…" she leaned closer to him and tried to touch his chest and reach his pocket, but he grabbed her hand and stopped her advance. She smiled with mischief, "I know you are hiding something from me! It is in your eyes!" she spoke with a mischievous tone
"I'm not hiding anything from you Kat, maybe my eyes reflect your own as I'm not the one who keeps secrets!" he replied not feeling threatened by her
She laughed, "Everyone has secrets and I will find out which yours is!"
He stood up from the chair and faced her, "My secret is your secret" and without a warning, he pulled her to him and kissed her
She was reluctant, but for a second she did correspond to his kiss. And when she corresponded, he let go of her and smiled with mischief.
.
.
.
After years, Pierce Northman learned how to play Katarina's game…
Lake Manor
Angelique, George and their children Oliver and Victor decided to spend some time in the Lake Manor. The redhead woman wanted her children to create memories in her favorite spot. That manor… the manor that meant so much to her. The manor that took her innocence away.
Willing to overcome her past, Angelique was ready to move on from her sweet memories with Christopher. It was about time to make that paralyzed moment at the lake to flow.
"It's really a beautiful and peaceful place!" George spoke mesmerized
"I told you so!" she replied happily
"I could live here forever!" he spoke admiring the lake and the nature around them
She smiled.
Forever… That's what he said. Christopher.
That's what they said. She and Christopher.
That's what he said. George…
She wanted to say that with George. But couldn't…
Yet…
"I will cook something for us. You watch the children" she said with a kind smile
A few days had passed since the Talbot's arrived at the Lake Manor. To create new memories. To create a new shelter.
Dang, it was so hard for Angelique the first night. Especially the night when George wanted to make love with her. It felt like Christopher was there. Watching them.
She was so nervous just like in her first time… somehow it was like a first time… But George did manage to ease her in all he could, besides not knowing why she was so nervous.
Just like Christopher, he also didn't know he was her first, although he could guess it.
Probably George could guess it too… the real reason of her nervousness…
He preferred to ignore it… just like he did in all those years with her. He ignored her feelings for Christopher. That was the only way he knew how to deal with that ghost…
They seemed to have success to bring life to that place again. Oliver loved playing in the lake. Victor was still too small to understand what was going on around him. He was a five months old baby. He was still starting his life.
Victor was the start of their new life. As a couple. As a family. At the lake.
But there was Oliver… The continuation of Christopher. And he was conceived at that manor.
The lake manor somehow meant The Start. The start of stories. The start of things. The start of cycles… New paintings.
And the end…
And the continuation.
One day, while George was watching the children, Angelique was cleaning the manor when she noticed a loosen brick in the chamber that once Christopher had stayed.
That manor and its secrets…
Even after spending so many years there, she still was oblivious to some of its secrets. She heard from her grandmother that there was secret passages in that manor but she never managed to find any. Not that she looked for either. At least, not with determination to find any.
In a sudden curiosity, she pulled off the brick from the wall and saw a small bag in it. She frowned and took the bag.
She squeezed it to know if there was something in it. There was. She opened it.
Her eyes widened, her lips parted in shock.
A fancy necklace with a green gemstone, emerald.
"K.O'G." she whispered thoughtful, quivering.
Angelique was so absorbed in her new discovery that she didn't even notice George was next to her.
"What's that?" he asked noticing she was holding an object
"I just found this… in that secret compartment" she replied pointing out with her head
"May I see it?"
She nodded in agreement
He frowned as he examined it.
"What face is that?" she asked studying her husband's demeanor
"I know that insignia O'G… and we also know its owner…" the man spoke reluctant to say that O'G. was O'Gregon.
Maybe he didn't have to…
As if reading his mind Angelique tried to disguise her saddened reaction, "This was Christopher's chamber…" her voice nearly escaped
George noticed his wife's sadness and could almost read her mind. Her frustration. Her disappointment. Her anger.
"He brought her here! I can't believe that bastard brought that bitch to MY house! To My bed!" she nearly yelled as tears formed in her eyes, "To my life…" her voice husky
George tried to embrace her in support, but Angelique was too upset to allow to be touched. Angered, she took the necklace from him and threw it from the window.
"He just used me! He lied to me all the long! How much of a fool I was to believe that man! That son of a…!"
Her legs failed to support her weight. She sobbed.
"I can't believe Christopher…and Katarina had been here!"
"It's not impossible as he had a lot of time alone…"
"In my house?! In my land?! In my bed?!" she yelled outraged, "He had no right to do that! Was that his plan? To marry me, kill me and then inherit my patrimony to give to her? Was that his plan?"
George shrugged not knowing what to say
"I so hate Christopher! I can't believe I wasted all these years picturing it all wrong! I saw him as a victim when he's a tormentor! My tormentor! I loved an asshole!" she spoke bitterly, "My son doesn't deserve that crap of a father!"
"Oliver is probably the only good thing that man gave to you…"
"And the only real thing! Olly is real and my love for My son is real! Christopher doesn't deserve Olly and if it depend on me Christopher and Olly will never know they are father and son! Olly will never be a Reed!" she shouted bitter
The couple turned their faces quickly at the door when they heard the noise of Olly's ball falling on the ground. Their faces went blank when they saw the shocked face in the boy's face.
"Olly!" George and Angelique screamed as they saw the little boy running away after hearing the shocking news. After learning the awful truth.
.
.
.
"A woman fits in many titles and roles in her lifetime. She is someone else at each stage of her life. She is a child. A woman. A mother. If she is a smart and blessed subject of god, she could even become a queen. An empress.
What matters is which title and role you see fit for yourself."
Thank you Pin for the review! :D
Last cover with Merve Boluğur as Katarina's current model for the 18th century
The pictures I use for the covers I take from the internet, but the collages are mine.