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.
"There is certainly nothing more important in life than what we do at the present moment. A person's entire life consists of nothing more than one moment piled on top of another, over and over again. Once enlightened to this, the warrior has nothing else to worry about, because he realizes that he has only to live in the present moment with the utmost intensity."
Talbot's Manor
"My love, why didn't you tell us before about your pregnancy?"
"I wasn't sure…"
He caressed her belly, "You scared the hell out of us, little one! Yet, daddy loves you immensely already and I can't hardly wait to meet your pretty face" he spoke warmly
Angelique smiled at his gesture. Even after two pregnancies, she failed recognizing the symptoms of a new pregnancy. An unplanned pregnancy at that stage of her life. The second child she'd have with George. He was a good father and a good husband.
Husband? She had doubts of that since the day she and Pierce had a conversation about her current status. Despite the danger of be considered a criminal for living with a different name, Angelique became aware that her married status to Christopher was still valid as their divorce was justified under her death.
She was pretty much alive. Legally she still was Angelique Stafford.
Legally she was still Angelique Reed Stafford.
She hated not knowing how to classify her relationship with George, but she chose the omission in order of everyone's safety.
After twelve years apart, she learned how to live without Christopher, and enjoyed George's presence at her side for everything.
She wondered that was the same case for Christopher and Katarina, who had been together even before she stumbled into his life fourteen years ago.
Plus, she was aware that he loved Katarina as wife. She heard it loudly. She had seen them together in public and how proud he looked with the stunning brunette at his side, or the occasions they appeared in public as a family with all their four children.
Twelve years was too long to consider a "reconciliation". Too many people and children were involved.
The kingdom would be affected too.
And she hated causing trouble in anyone's life!
So she remained in silence and living her usual routine as a Talbot. Now with a new heir on the way.
And Christopher on the way too…
And Olly uniting them forever.
Now after that shocking encounter, she couldn't keep running away and felt the obligation to solve their situation amicably so they can resume their routines at the side of the people they chose and built a family.
Oliver should be the only valid bond between them and the last remain of their beautiful and unexpected story.
Castle of Bohma, Royal Bedchambers
"Your majesty. Her Royal Highness Katarina Reed O'Gregon just arrived in the castle and wants to see you. May I let her in?"
"Katarina…What in the world does she want here?" the convalescent sovereign of Bohma frowned thoughtful, "Is she alone?"
"Yes"
"Where's Christopher?"
"Making the usual rounds"
"Have they talked?"
"Not yet your majesty. He doesn't know she returned to Bohma"
"Who's watching for Edonia?"
The personal advisor of Charles shrugged not knowing the answer
"Tell Christopher to return to Edonia. I cannot allow there staying so vulnerable as all the three imposing figures have returned to town"
"As you wish your majesty… and what about Katarina? Shall I let her in?"
The sovereign inhaled deeply and let out a long sigh, "Yes"
The royal man sat up in the bed and rested his back on the pillows on the headboard, and took a sip of wine from the glass on the bedside table as he waited the ambitious brunette make her way in.
The strong footsteps on the floor from her high heels were a remarkable trait of hers. Her imposing figure in the long red silk gown full of ornaments and fancy jewels, and the red crown at the top of her head combined with her elegancy and imposing posture, and always so feminine, not to mention her remarkable cologne always reminded him of who he had lost for not had married her.
Her gaze always so strong and defiant made him sure that that woman was born with the sovereign mannerisms.
Her distinct beauty, unaffected by the aging combined with the maturity she gained from time, still affected him and that made her so unique.
Christopher Reed was definitely a lucky man, and also a strong one and not just in the battlefield. Dealing with a volcano like Katarina O'Gregon was not for any mere mortal. He envied his man of trust.
"Charles…"
Her gracious voice with her usual strong French accent caused him shivers, "Kat…"
"It breaks my heart seeing you so…so weakened"
"Only the illness to break down a man like me…a king"
"It is unfortunate seeing such a king so down…You should have had told me about your so delicate condition before. I hate feeling like I am paying a goodbye visit… especially for such a good friend of mine!" she spoke sitting at the bedside and took his grip, never losing eye contact
"You know I don't like breaking your bubble. You have done such a good work for both kingdoms that I didn't think I had the right to get you more concerned with a lost case like me…"
"You are not a lost case! You are a king! A brave man! And such a good man…You do not deserve such fate…"
"The doctors have done all they could… there are days I feel a bit better and others I ask for death to come right away"
"That would be so unfair and the most brutal thing you could have done to me if you died without letting me say goodbye to my old friend!"
"You don't deserve seeing me crappy…"
"I decide what I deserve"
"It has always been like that, isn't it?"
She grinned, "No one else better than me know what is best for me and what I deserve!"
"I never disagreed with that"
"Yes, and that proves that you and I always had a special connection. We overcame the odds and we have become a good team!"
"Yes, and Christopher had his participation too"
"I only choose the best of the best! He is no exception!" she spoke with a large proud smile as she stood up and walked in the direction of the wine bottle on the bedside table and took a glass for her
"And how are things between you two?"
She grinned as she walked, "Everything is great. We live in eternal honey-moon!"
"Ugh, I hate when you say that!"
She laughed as she took a sip of the liquid, "You asked…"
He made a face, "I didn't ask about that…"
She giggled, "Forgive me… sometimes I fail separating that content…"
"This is the only thing I don't like about him… he has the only thing I can't have…even being a king..."
She laughed with a shrug and spoke with a mock, "Sorry…"
He gave a shrug, "But I asked that only because I wondered why he and Pierce left you alone in Edonia…"
She made her typical Mona Lisa smile, "Wherever Christopher goes, Pierce goes along!"
The sovereign laughed, "That's indeed true!"
She moved the bottle. It was empty, "I need to leave you alone for a minute…"
"Why? Going after Christopher already?"
She laughed, "No. We need more wine!"
"Just ask the servants to bring more"
"No… I prefer choosing it myself. I will not take too long…"
Katarina headed to the wine house and picked the first wine bottle she saw. From inside her cleavage she took a small glass bottle and emptied the content into the wine bottle after checking the surroundings that no one would catch her. She stirred a little and returned to the royal chambers.
Charles had his eyes closed, a sudden wave of tiredness hit him.
Katarina not willing to disturb him, she left the bottle on the bedside table and left the chambers.
Northman Palace, Bohma
Christopher learned that Pierce had returned to Bohma and he spent his time with his family. Remembering the second in command had demonstrated to want to talk to him, he decided to pay the duke a visit.
The men were sitting in the veranda.
"Did you tell Elizabeth about…?"
"No…I still couldn't do that. It was a mistake and that won't ever happen again!"
"I'm sorry for putting you in such situation… I guess I wasn't thinking straight with the whole Angelique thing… my mind entered in a desperate mode to find her and wrongly needed to find a reason to mistrust Katarina, lower her from the pedestal she so much fought for and then I could put Angelique back in that pedestal…"
"Well… you got your evidence… she has a divided heart like you…"
"And you..."
Pierce shook his head in denial, "No…I did have a divided heart in the initial years of my marriage to Eliza. When I saw you, with other women and Kat so left alone and in that poor emotional condition made me have doubts if I had done the "right" thing in marrying her sister…I wanted to save her from you and I always had in mind that she had lost a devoted man like me.
But then I realized she hadn't been good to me. She didn't deserve me, my devotion. She always knew I had feelings for her and she took me as just a replacement. I was sure of that when you two got along and Lilly was born. You were so proud and happy, she was thrilled and you finally became an official couple.
While me…more and more I infatuated with Eliza's kindness, patience and devotion. The struggles we faced together as a couple made my love for her so strong that I had finally realized what I felt for Kat wasn't true love, but lust… that type of lust that is pure libido…and a libido that was only awakened when she touched me…"
"I know…I understand…"
"I don't love her Christopher. I don't see us together anymore and I admit that I feel better now without her. I love Elizabeth, the mother of my children and the true woman of my life! I don't want to lose that!"
Christopher nodded in agreement "Once again, I'm sorry for making you risk all that…"
Pierce nodded once and let out a sigh, "No…it's me who have to ask your forgiveness…" he said distantly as he gained courage to clear his conscience
"Forgive you for what?"
"Chris…there's something you should know…"
"So tell me"
He licked his lips and swallowed in distress, still hesitant.
"Just say it Pierce"
"Before I say it, I need you to believe that I never had the intention to hurt you nor anyone…At that time I believed that the decision I made was for the best for…everyone…but like I said before, there was a time I prioritized Kat's happiness with you…"
"What are you talking about?"
Pierce inhaled, "Angelique…"
Christopher frowned, "What about her?"
The second in command looked away. His hands in cold sweat, "She…"
"She's still alive" Christopher completed his sentence sharply
Pierce looked to the side in surprise with his superior's tone.
"I know she's still alive…I searched and found her…very much alive and…happy…" he nearly spoke with a mock
Pierce frowned processing the news
"She's 'married' to George Talbot, Olly is my son and she's pregnant of that marquees again… She has a happy family…Lady Talbot…"
"So you know the truth…"
Christopher nodded, "Yes…she has conveniently lived a lie. The Talbot's embraced her lie, George lied to my face so many times about Oliver's fatherhood… they're accomplices and they deserve each other! My only concern is Olly. He knows I'm his true father, but there's nothing I can really do for him as the Talbot registered him in his name…the only way I could fix that was by causing a big scandal and revealing their lie…so technically I have become their accomplice too and for now I'll keep things that way… for everyone's safety"
Pierce noticed Christopher seemed to be oblivious to Katarina's involvement in the story. From Christopher's words, he could assume that Angelique had omitted the part of Katarina as well.
Having a second thought after listening to the legal issues the whole truth could bring, he thought it was best to keep things that way just like Christopher had decided. The original Reed couple seemed to have demonstrated not to reconcile and somehow that was good. Bohma and Edonia were passing by a delicate situation with the illness of Charles, despite his wishes to pass the regencies to them, they knew that decision wasn't entirely defined.
Avoiding a scandal was a reasonable decision.
"So what were you saying about Angelique?"
"What you already know…"
"Was that the subject you wanted to talk about in the letter?"
"Hum…Pretty much…"
"I see… actually I still need to talk to her. We didn't have much time for a decent conversation, whether she like it or not, we have a permanent subject to keep the contact…"
"Olly!"
"Yes, and also we need to define our marital situation… as you may know, legally we're still married…"
"Right! But do you still consider a reconciliation with her?"
Christopher inhaled heavily and let out a long sigh, "I don't know…She treated me coldly and I saw her new life, she's pregnant again and I like Kat… I enjoy the life and family we built… Angely still has a very special part of my heart, but…we have so much to lose…the children… Too many people would get hurt…"
"And Katarina wouldn't accept that well"
"No she wouldn't! She'd get very pissed and the last thing I want is to piss her off"
"Agreed…"
"The truth is…if I had learned that until a decade ago, I wouldn't have any doubts to separate from Kat and get back together with Angely… but a lot happened in ten years and we have learned to live separately…and learned to love other people…"
Pierce looked down…A decade ago he prevented that to happen.
"Chris…"
The man looked at him
"I…I met Angelique ten years ago…"
"You what?" the man snapped
"But I didn't know she was your Angelique… she didn't tell me her name. She came to the castle looking for you, but I assumed she was one of your mistress of that time…I had recently knew Kat was pregnant with your child and you were starting your couple life… So I didn't ask further questions. I had only informed her that you had been relocated. She didn't ask to where or anything else, so I thought she wasn't the actual Angelique…"
"And only now you tell me that?"
"It's like I told you…I didn't make the connections…"
"You didn't have to make any connections. I was the one to make the connections!" Christopher stood up from the chair annoyed
"I'm sorry…I…"
"That's why you were asking my forgiveness! You just didn't count I'd break the news first!"
"I didn't mean to hurt anyone…"
"Not anyone, but Katarina!" Christopher shouted, "You knew how I missed my real wife! But no… you prioritized Katarina's happiness above anyone else's!"
"That was my mistake! I admit that! And I wish I could go back in time and makes things differently!"
"And then you want me to believe you don't love Katarina anymore?"
"I don't! Because if I could go back in time and tell Angelique where to find you or at least to tell you about the redhead's visit and let you assume who she could be!
And honestly, I was happy when Katarina almost couldn't marry you! When you broke the news that you were already legally married! And then I thought his wife doesn't seem so meaningful because you even slept with Kat and everyone saw that! You even admitted to me that she went south on you and I thought what would stop him to do everything else! If his love for Angelique was so big, he wouldn't have let that happen… So sometime later I saw the redhead but I didn't make the connection... and I was so wrong for not had done that! I was so wrong about Katarina and her power of persuasion! Today I understand what you passed that night! Now I know what it feels like to love someone else and struggle with Kat's touch and her persuasion in convincing a man's libido! She even managed to make you love her back!
So today I wish I could go back in time to make things right!And I wouldn't want to go back ten years, but twelve! I wish I could go back to the day in the Peasant's Village and not to have dragged you back to court! Because at that exact time I chose duty above my wishes. I knew I'd lose Katarina the moment you stepped back and all of this wouldn't be happening.
I have made bad decisions and I wish I could have the power to know the future so I could make wiser decisions! However, in the other hand…if I had done all that, what would've had been of our lives? Would I be capable of walking in your shoes? Would we be who we are today? Would Kat let you be happy with Angelique? And this seems to be the only answer I have correctly, that in both ways, Kat would always be around using her persuasion…
I'm sorry to tell you this but you like to think you'd never cheat on Angelique, but you did! You still didn't have the confirmation of her "death" when you let Kat do her thing on you… So what makes you think that you'd never cede to her persuasion even if I had done the "right" decisions?
So once again, I'm sorry…I couldn't predict the future… I guess the dowser was right… And now that I know it all, I'm going to do my best to make wiser decisions based on rationality and not under my feelings ever again!"
Christopher remained contemplative. No matter how hard it was to listen to Pierce's words. He said no lie.
He ceded to Katarina even before his world was crushed by lie of the Stafford's.
One thing Pierce was right, Angelique chose not to ask where to find him even knowing he had been waiting for her.
It wasn't Pierce's entire fault for his separation from Angelique.
Maybe their love wasn't just strong enough to battle the adversities together, as one.
Something he had only learned in all those years at the side of the smart brunette.
Angelique was pure, sweet and kind, but she lacked confidence.
That was the biggest difference between the two women who had his heart.
"You're forgiven Pierce…I don't have any right to judge you after all this long…"
"I just want you to believe that I had no bad intentions…"
"I know…I know you're a loyal man and true friend…I could never quest that about you."
"I know it must not have been easy for you to learn that and there's more you still don't know…"
"It hasn't been easy at all, just like I imagine it hasn't been easy for you to keep in silence all this long…"
Pierce nodded in agreement
"I know there are things I need to know, and those things is up to Angelique to tell me…"
"But I…"
Christopher checked his pocket watch, "It's getting late. We need to go back to the castle. Charles needs your signature"
"Alright…" Pierce sighed with resignation. He had told most of the things he knew. Yet, he wasn't still ready to say it all. More and more he mistrusted Katarina and to continue his investigation in her involvement with the Walker's. He thought it was better not to tell the second half of the letter Angelique's father wrote when he mentioned Katarina's name in their conspiracy.
Castle of Bohma
Katarina was searching for Christopher everywhere in the castle. The servants only knew he had gone to make the rounds. Her husband seemed to be in nowhere to be found.
And that made her jealousy mind to think the worst of him, wondering he might have been with Lady White.
With hurried footsteps, she decided to check the chambers in wonder to catch them in action. Knights chambers, art gallery and nothing. She headed to the library, a place that was in a more isolated area and a perfect place for privacy.
The door was partially open, and she could hear voices coming from inside. She placed her ear behind the door and remained in silence listening to the conversation after recognizing the bitch's voice.
"So that happened in his bedchambers?" a female questioned
"Yes. He was acting weird that week, so he didn't bother me entering his chambers…"
"Do you know why?"
Cathlyn gasped, "Christopher's problem have only one name…"
"Katarina?"
"Yes. She suffocates him"
"I will suffocate you bitch!" Katarina thought. Her blood was boiling, but she kept her silence and continued listening to them.
"Did he tell you that?"
"Yes, he once mentioned something on the matter a while ago… the truth is that she's an insecure bitch. She needs to constantly reassure in public her domain over him in attempt to keep female threats away from him…But a woman only does that when she's not secure that her man loves her, isn't it? So she keeps him in a tight leash because she knows his love for her is null when away from her…"
Katarina squeezed her hands and bit her lips. She held her breathe as her body trembled in anger. She was in the verge to lose her composure.
"Still he always comes back to her…"
"To keep the appearance…Ah and for the children. He doesn't want them to go through a scandal…"
"I see…and what happened after that? Did you talk to him?"
"Yes. For some reason he's still in town and acting weird…yet, he came after me to apologize and reconcile."
"So you're back together?"
Paaffff.
The women turned to the side in scare after hearing the loud noise of the door opening abruptly and the infuriated red demon coming their way.
Pushing away fiercely the female companion who fell to the ground, Katarina's attention dragged to the paralyzed mistress. Without any mercy, Katarina pushed her roughly to the ground and straddled her. Raising her hand up and loading all her accumulated anger into the palm of her hand, merciless she slapped the woman's face beneath her who turned her face to the side with the impact. With her right hand, with her left hand. With her right hand, with her left hand consecutively.
Staking her fingers onto the woman's hair and pulling her head with both her hands, Katarina raised the woman's head up and beat it against the ground a few times.
The female companion screamed in despair calling for help. Cathlyn screamed in pain.
"You damn bitch. Stay away from MY husband!"
The other female ran through the corridors screaming for help, "Somebody help! She's going to kill her! Somebody help!"
Cathlyn tried to protect her from the Katarina's infuriated attacks. Her face burned with the attacks of her hands, of her nails on her head. She tried to push the woman in bloody red fury away from her, but Katarina sat on her in a way she couldn't move her legs. She tried to scratch her, but the long sleeves protected the demon's skin.
Consumed by the fatal jealousy, Katarina cupped the woman's neck with her bare hands.
Cathlyn tried to react and raised her hands up to reach the upper woman's neck as well, but Katarina's pressure was stronger and all she could do was to remove Katarina's necklace and scratch her collarbone before her arms weakened and she was not being capable to breathe properly.
The women's hatred gaze met.
"Who is the insecure now?"
Cathlyn's vision started to darken. Her arms fell abruptly on the ground.
"You want a husband? I will send you to yours!"
"Katarina!" a rough male voice screamed
She released her hands off the woman's neck
"Let go of her!"
Katarina's breathe chocked as she felt the man grabbing her abruptly off the duchess. Other guards gave aid to the convalescent woman who slowly regained her forces.
The guard removed Katarina from the library while she recomposed herself. At the hall, Katarina pulled herself off him, "Let me go!" she yelled in annoyance
"I shall inform this incident to the representative sovereign"
"The whore is alive. Case is closed!" she protested
"You two have bruises"
"It was just a cat fight! That will not happen again!"
"I still need to inform the representative. It's my obligation"
Katarina inhaled and let out a long heavy sigh, rolling her eyes.
"Your majesty! Your grace!" the man bowed to the imposing men standing next to them.
Katarina turned around, disguising her surprise in the sudden presence of Christopher and Pierce.
Noticing the scratches on Katarina's collarbone and the bruises on her neck, and seeing Lady White being aided walking in the corridor, Christopher frowned, "What happened here?"
"Your majesty…Your wife attacked Lady White. For little she didn't strangled her."
"You did what?" Christopher gasped in shock
"She started it… I was just protecting myself" Katarina spoke coldly
"Liar!" Cathlyn protested, and coughed
"Admit you started it all, witch! You were cursing me, calling me names! You should respect me as your superior and my marriage!"
"You broke into the library!"
"The library is a public location! Anyone could have had entered and listened to you talking badly about me! It just happened it was me who listened to it directly! You were defaming me!"
"You were peeping us! You almost killed me!"
"How dare you! You want me to lie before God or everybody and admit I was simply peeping, well I was not! You want me to creep away and keep in silence your dirtiness? Well I shall not! Not in a thousand years. Not if you rack me to within an inch of my life. I am Katarina Reed O'Gregon; I am the representative sovereign of Edonia, Christopher's one true wife and mother of the heirs to the thrones, grand duchess of Bohma and beloved of the people, and beloved of a sovereign you have tried to bewitch with your cheap seduction game! I will not give my husband to you nor to anyone! I will always fight any whore who attempts to destroy my marriage; it is my right as a loyal wife and mother! As a lion who protects their territory!" she shouted
Katarina's voice echoed through the corridors of the castle keeping everyone obediently in silence for eternal seconds. She was not a woman to apologize for her actions; even less for the actions, she believed she was right.
Christopher remained serious, contemplative. A side of him did like Katarina's strength in defending them before everyone. She had a strong personality that matched his own stubbornness. She might not have been the most faithful wife recently, but her devotion to them all those years had more weight to prove her loyalty to their alliance.
He was aware he had been the unfaithful part in their story. He couldn't judge her and didn't even feel like rebuking her. Not in public. He was aware of the bruises on both women and was sure Cathlyn had lost the fight.
"Lady White, you're expelled from the court. You shall return to your land in Arthena."
"Christopher, she almost strangled me!"
"She's your queen. You owe her obedience and respect. You provoked a legal sovereign and the law of Bohma is clear about the harsh punishments in such accusations. You're spared because of my respect and affection for you. You're advised not to do so again. You will not be shown the same clemency a second time."
Cathlyn White didn't protest. Christopher was the new legal king and he had made his decision. He stood beside his queen. He stood beside his own interests. She had lost him to the dissimulated brunette. He chose the evil brunette.
Katarina kept her composure and serious demeanor, but inside she was laughing victoriously.
Did she hear correctly? A queen?
Unknown Location
"The tests with the animals have turned out to be a success! The parasite is effective." William commented
"Great! We need human volunteers to test it out!"
"Human volunteers?"
"Of course! We need to test the power of the parasite on humans and control their rebellion"
"And how do you intend to do that?"
"By presenting them a god! People are like sheep. They need a leader to blindly follow. The stronger the leader, the more followers he obtains!"
"Do you have anyone in mind?"
"I do"
"Who?"
"Christopher Reed…"
"Christopher Reed? I thought you were going to say Katarina"
Albert laughed with mischief and gasped, "She's the second in mind because I'm already testing her for something else…"
William made a thoughtful face, "Will you continue providing her the herb?"
"I will! She's providing us a good profitability. We still need her…"
"And if that doesn't work with him?"
"Then we have other options… such as Katarina herself. Her love for Christopher makes her weak. She hides herself behind him and certainly, I want to test her rebellion when he's gone…and when he's gone we can test both subjects in the same experiment. The power of the herb and the power of the parasite!" the man spoke mischievously
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Stay tuned!