More parts that are tricky to write. Really, the Cornelia parts are the hardest so far.
Chapter 31 – An Ominous Offer (Pegasus Moon)
Edelgard sat in her royal booth at the Mittelfrank Opera House as she watched the actors below. Though most of the Opera Company had left Enbarr at the start of the war, new faces and some of the older divas remained, and were now putting on a performance based on the Martin Burnett novel, The Mask of the Phantasm. Edelgard had seen a play on it before, some seven years ago now.
As she looked at the actress who portrayed the masked vigilante known as Phantasm, Edelgard could not help but think of Dorothea, who had played the role back then. The disguised actress was now confronting the villainous Hamill, a crazed yet cunning assassin who had been responsible for the murder of Lord Beaumont.
Watching as Phantasm unmasked herself, revealing herself to be Lord Beaumont's daughter, Andrea, Edelgard found herself reminiscing to when she had been unmasked in the Holy Tomb. She could vividly recall the look of horror in Dorothea's eyes at the realization that her best friend was the Flame Emperor.
No, she thought. They weren't friends. Not anymore. They hadn't seen each other for over five years. Edelgard hadn't heard so much as a whisper about Dorothea's whereabouts. For all she knew, Dorothea could already be dead.
On the stage, the actress who played Andrea, who had just struck Hamill in his groin in self-defense, said, "You do not grin, Hamill. Does the thought of death not amuse you?"
"Me, my pretty?" Hamill said slyly. "Perish the thought of a chuckle from me!"
Hamill then threw a switch, causing a nearby suit of armor to come to life, releasing twisted laughter as it raised a blade and attacked Andrea. In the original story, the armor had been empty, but the play necessitated someone was in the suit. Andrea had little trouble dealing with the animated armor, but the distraction had given Hamill the chance to flee, laughing all the while. Andrea had to once again give chase to her father's killer.
The clacking of high heels caught Edelgard's attention as the play continued. She wasn't expecting any company, and the footfalls clearly weren't Hubert's.
Edelgard thought to reach for her blade when Cornelia said, "Ah, the Mask of the Phantasm. One of my favorite plays."
"Cornelia," Edelgard said, doing her best to mask her surprise. "I expected to meet you back at the palace."
"Well, you know my love of theater."
Cornelia took a seat next to Edelgard as the emperor turned her attention back to the play. Andrea had now fallen into another of Hamill's traps and was about to be cut to pieces by a series of whirling blades. Her salvation came when the masked hero, Duskwing, who was also Andrea's former lover, Wayne, darted onto the scene and jammed the trap's mechanisms with a steel bar. Frustrated, Hamill snapped his finger and fled further into his hideout.
As Andrea nursed her wounded arm, Duskwing said to her, "Lord Beaumont is dead, isn't he?!" Not waiting for her reply, he continued, "You first returned in secret to slay Woodchuck, so that your father could bear the blame if necessary!"
"They took all I had…" said Andrea. "My father, my life, even you… I do not claim my actions are just, or even rational, but I have nothing else…! So, either aid me, or do not interfere!"
"I can do neither! You know this!"
"We could have been happy together! Yet they tore us apart for their own greed and lust for power! They had to suffer the price!"
"But what solace could you hope to find in vengeance?"
"You would know the answer better than any other, Wayne."
Cornelia smiled at this and said, "Those aren't quite the right lines. But I can't blame them for getting some of it wrong."
"Perhaps they know," said Edelgard.
"I'm certain they do. Why use the original, outdated verse, when they could use fancier lines? Yet I enjoy a play more when the lines are… authentic."
"Is that so?"
"A shame I missed one of my favorite parts. The moment when Wayne dons the mask of Duskwing, and he becomes fear incarnate." Sighing, Cornelia muttered crossly, "That's another thing I have to blame him for…"
Edelgard said nothing to this and turned her attention back to the play as Duskwing fought his way through Hamill's various traps. Seeing the masked hero overcome such deadly obstacles was something of an inspiration to the emperor. No matter how tough things got, he never gave up, and he would never submit.
The two continued to watch in silence as the play drew to its conclusion. Hamill and Andrea had both seemingly perished when the villain's hideout was consumed by fire, with Duskwing only surviving by falling into an underground river. Battered and exhausted, he returned to the shadows, disheartened once more by the loss of his love, but ever committed to his goal of justice.
As the crowd applauded and the actors came forward to bow and curtsy, Cornelia said, "A question for you, El." Though Edelgard was annoyed at Cornelia once again using her parents' pet name for her, Cornelia ignored her scowl and said, "How did it play out when you removed your own mask, the mask of the Flame Emperor, in the Holy Tomb? Was it anything like this?"
Edelgard was a bit surprised by the question. After a moment, she answered, "I didn't remove it by choice. It was broken in the battle, which forced me to reveal my identity."
"But how did your friends react? Were they stunned? Appalled? In awe?"
"Dimitri wanted my head. The others were mostly shocked, I think. None of them had any notion before then that I could've been the Flame Emperor. But…"
"But what?"
Edelgard knew it wouldn't be wise to elaborate further with Cornelia. But despite this, the emperor said, "Professor Eisner and Dorothea… I think they couldn't really believe that I was the Flame Emperor. The Professor still thought I was responsible for Jeralt's death."
"And this Dorothea? Who is she?"
"She is… was, a friend of mine. Dorothea Arnault. People knew her as the Mystical Songstress in Enbarr."
"And how did you know her?"
"Why does that matter to you, Cornelia?"
"Edelgard, must you be so hostile? I told you before that I wanted us to be friends."
"I find that hard to believe."
Sighing, Cornelia said, "Because of how Thales and Solon treated you? Because of what they did to you? I had no part in that, believe it or not."
"Of course," Edelgard replied sarcastically. "You were too busy manipulating my mother."
"I don't expect you to believe me when I say this, but I truly did value your mother's company. Patricia – no, Anselma, had been wronged so greatly already, and it pained me when I was forced to deepen her tragedy."
"Don't act like you're sorry, Cornelia."
"Edelgard, you always assume the worst of me. Believe it or not, you and I share more in common than you think."
"Name one thing that we share in common, Cornelia."
Cornelia paused for a moment, and then said, "We both share no love for Thales."
Edelgard, not expecting such an answer, looked at the duchess in surprise.
"That man has been the bane of my existence ever since he took the title of Agastya. To say I despise him would be a terrific understatement."
"You hate him?" Edelgard asked in confusion. "Is he not your lord and master?"
"The two aren't mutually exclusive. Our society works far differently from the nobility of Fódlan. Those of us in the Highborn caste are bound by a Chain of Ascension, where one can only climb the chain by taking the position from whoever is higher than you. And sitting at the top of that chain… is the Agastya, Thales. And he's been at the top for over 500 years now."
"Five hundred?!"
"Yes. And over those five centuries, he's been challenged by no less than fifty would-be usurpers in ritual combat. Needless to say, no one has ever beaten him. It's a fight to the death, after all."
"And where you would sit in this chain, Cornelia?"
"Close enough to the top that I'd be expected to desire the number one spot, and Thales knows this."
"You mean to say he knows you want to usurp him? If that's so, why does he leave you alive?"
"Because of his arrogance, Edelgard. Thales has beaten so many contenders and ruled for so long that he thinks he's invincible. The fact is, if I didn't desire his throne, he would've killed me long ago. He has very little use for those who aren't ambitious."
"How very twisted."
"Yet that has been our way for generations. Whoever sits at the top of the chain commands the absolute obedience of our society, and Thales has held that spot for far longer than I can stand."
"So, why let him keep his throne? Why not use that power you showed me in Fhirdiad on him?"
"If only I could, El. But his Dark Gift comes with an infuriating immunity to mind control. And I can't simply get someone else to murder him for me. He has commanded our people for so long that they practically worship him like a god. For me to usurp him, I can't just kill him. I need to disgrace him, so that our people lose their faith in his rule. Just like you want to make the people lose faith in the Church of Seiros."
Edelgard said nothing to this, not wanting to admit Cornelia had a point.
A few seconds passed before Hubert entered the royal booth and said, "Lady Edelgard, I… oh, it's you."
"Hubert," Cornelia said as she rose from her seat. "El and I were just having a friendly chat."
"You were to meet with Her Majesty at the royal palace, duchess."
"Meeting her here was far more convenient. Or does that displease you?"
"After what happened in Fhirdiad, I have every reason to be suspicious of your motives."
"Oh, come now, Hubert. She was completely safe. I would never give Dimitri's lapdogs a real chance of harming her."
"It is not the followers of the King of Lions that concern me, duchess."
"That's enough, Hubert," said Edelgard as she stood up. "We should return to the palace."
"As you wish, Your Majesty."
Edelgard strode out of the booth as Hubert turned his attention back to Cornelia, who gave him a sultry smile.
"I do not know what game you think you are playing, duchess," said Hubert, "but should Her Majesty ever come to harm as a result of your schemes, I will ensure you spend your last moments regretting it."
"Oh, Hubert, dear boy…" Cornelia's tone changed from sweet to venomous as she said, "If I wanted to hurt her, I'd have done it long ago, no matter what measures you took to stop me. I could even force you to do the deed if I wanted."
"Do you really believe that? Her Majesty told me of your power, witch."
"Did she? Ah, I see. That charm on your neck is new."
Cornelia gestured to a strange amulet that Hubert was wearing. The medallion was enchanted to guard one's mind against magical attacks, including mind control spells.
"You will not find it so easy to control me, Duchess Cornelia."
Cornelia smirked, and then waved a hand at Hubert. To his surprise, he felt his throat freeze and attempted to speak, but no sound came from his lips.
"You assume that's the only trick I have up my sleeve, Hubert von Vestra," Cornelia said smugly.
Though he made no sound due to her Silence spell, Hubert scowled at the duchess as she waved her hand again. Feeling his throat unfreeze, Hubert gasped for breath and staggered back as he raised a hand at her, intending to cast a Miasma Δ spell.
He stopped as a blade touched the back of his neck from behind.
"I wouldn't try that," said Valeska.
Realizing he could not win, Hubert lowered his arm, allowing Cornelia to walk past him unhindered.
"Do not fear for Her Majesty, Hubert," said Cornelia. "I have no desire to harm her. And I would hate to have to harm you."
Doing his best to maintain his stoic countenance, Hubert asked, "What do you desire of Her Majesty, Cornelia Arnim?"
Cornelia paused for a second, and then said, "Her aid… in helping me climb the chain."
Hubert felt Valeska's blade leave the back of his neck as the two Agarthan women left him standing in the royal booth. He cursed himself for underestimating the duchess, realizing he had mistakenly focused far too much on her power of mind control. So often, Those Who Slither In The Dark relied heavily upon what they referred to as their 'Dark Gift', leading him to believe Cornelia would be far easier to handle if she couldn't control his mind. He had been wrong.
Scowling, Hubert made his way down to the carriage where Edelgard was waiting for him. As soon as the carriage was shut and began rolling on its way back to the palace, Edelgard said, "I take it Valeska had a good reason to put a knife to your neck?"
"Merely a disagreement with the duchess."
Edelgard's expression showed she knew Hubert was lying.
"Your Majesty, may I ask what Cornelia was discussing with you before my arrival?"
Edelgard sighed as she began to recollect the chat she had with Cornelia. Hubert was particularly interested to learn of the duchess's alleged hatred for Thales.
As their carriage pulled into the palace grounds, Hubert said, "How very interesting. This could prove quite advantageous to us."
"Hubert, you aren't seriously suggesting that I trust her?" asked Edelgard.
"Trust? No. But if those two were to destroy one another in their little power struggle, that could only benefit us."
"Perhaps. But Cornelia said she couldn't directly challenge Thales for leadership."
"Which begs the question: Why was she telling you all of this?"
"Isn't that obvious? She wants my help to kill him. The real question… is whether I should aid her. Would I simply be trading one tyrant for another? Or would we be better off if she was the one leading Those Who Slither In The Dark?"
The carriage stopped, allowing Edelgard and Hubert to step outside. As they made their way up the steps into the palace, though, they turned upon hearing Cornelia's own carriage arriving. The duchess was looking out of the window at Edelgard, giving her an inscrutable smile.
More intrigue, yes?
Sorry if you feel some deja vu from this. Though much of it was said in the last chapter, Cornelia does have to explain Agarthan politics to Edelgard in order for her to understand the duchess's offer. And while the games show Cornelia is supposed to be this sadistic, uncaring witch, that's not how I plan to portray Cornelia in my story. While she's certainly evil, she's not heartless. Really, portraying the Agarthans as cartoonishly evil diminishes them as villains, in a sense. But if you give them more facets, it makes them more interesting, don't you think?
I feel I should also touch on the various stuff that's been revealed in the Three Hopes demo. Who knew that Shez's presence could be such a game-changer? That said, I don't plan to introduce Shez or Arval into my story, as it's far too late for their presence and I already have my own plans. Also, the demo reveals that Cornelia's Agarthan name is supposed to be Cleobulus, but I've already set her up as Bias, so it's too late to change that. It's not a big problem, honestly. My own Cleobulus is doing well so far, wouldn't you agree?
That said, I may potentially introduce Claude's brother, Shahid, into the story later on. How, exactly? You'll have to wait and see. I don't actually have plans to pick up a copy of Three Hopes myself, as I've got too many other games on my plate, but I'll be checking out story clips on Youtube as they appear.
On a side note, I hope you enjoyed how I adapted Mask of the Phantasm's climax into the opera. That movie is one of the greatest Batman films of all time. And, like Cornelia, my favorite scene in it is when Bruce first dons his Batman costume. Alfred's "My God..." is so on-point there.
Next chapter is still going to feature Cornelia, and it's still gonna be tricky writing. Wish me luck. This Moon has been going on for a while.