A/N: It has been months since my last update and I am elated that I had finally posted another chapter. Thank you to those who had waited for my update and those who had just followed and faved the story.

Chapter 5

"How has that woman disrobed you of your prudence, Your Highness, Prince Jellal?" inquired the baritone voice of a man with silver red hair.

"Don't bother to pester me with such words, Caleb. I have no time for that." Jellal replied as he turned to see him.

As his vacant green eyes met his black ones, Caleb exhaled and adjusted his long hair as it fluttered in the gentle breeze before greeting him. He rose from his position and presented him with the ledgers.

"Is this the only thing you acquired after all those years?" inquired Jellal, dissatisfied by the little number of ledgers on his table.

"Three years was not enough knowing that I am investigating her family, Your Highness. Most of their dogs were disposed of after they had served their purpose to their master, Prince Jellal. You are familiar with how her family operates; they leave nothing but dust in the wake of those who had the audacity to oppose them."

"My efforts in sending you on this mission have been in vain, Caleb. It seems I was too lenient to you that you think so little of the request I made!" Jellal said while raising his voice and slamming the first ledger onto his desk. Caleb swallowed the lump in his throat and questioned him in a more serious tone.

"Do you really want to take her father down, Prince Jellal? It might've cost you your royalty if you dared to do so." He said as he used his magic to lift the curtain, covering the other papers on it.

"Did the emperor support them?" he asked as he rose from his seat, perplexed by the notion that his father had aided the infamous family of his wife.

The Blanche family was notorious for operating a black market throughout the kingdom, and Jellal knew that his father wished to eliminate Erschelle's family. It has been known that Erschelle's parents had helped the crown prince, Jellal's father, reclaim the eastern part of the continent during the war. Although his father was the main tactician of the war, it was the two mages, Erschelle's parents, who took the credit for the victory. After that event, his father developed extreme animosity against her family.

"It was considerably surprising that the man who ordered you to take down her family was also embroiled in abetting in their wrongdoings."

"Rung Blanche must have gotten into his nerves again to think that he wanted to eliminate his faithful dog."

"Not just his dog but also his entire family and that includes your so-called wife." He added as he lent him the last merger on his robe.

"What?" Jellal's face twitched as he scanned the papers.

"The item he gave you to keep your wife how you want may have been another leash he tied around you. Your fantasy will certainly be short-lived, and she will soon recall-" he said as he attempted to grab the newspaper from his desk but was cut short when he saw him glare at him.

"How did you know?" Jellal asked as he stood up from his seat.

"She reeks of black magic, so as you know". He responded as he rested his back against the chair.

When she noticed the scarlet blood on her palms, her lips quivered. When she felt her surroundings crush her into the void of nothingness, her thoughts froze. With her sanity hanging by the thread, she seized the blade that had been thrust into her abdomen, trembling as she turned her back on a fellow who had fallen. She cried as she brandished the blade to its side, yelling with rage, "It's all your fault!"

Erza jolted from her bed. As her perspiration brushed over her eyelids, it tasted like blades. She attempted to calm her heart by clutching her chest but failed miserably as it accelerated with every beat. To prevent herself from sobbing, she bit her lower lip, causing it to bleed. After tasting the metallic flavor of blood, her worried heart quickly calmed in response to the little discomfort in her body. After taking several deeper breaths, she released her grasp on her chest and turned her attention to her clean hands.

"What on the earth was that, Erschelle?" she asked as she turn her eyes sideways, exhaling deeply.

Later at breakfast.

"Erza?" Jellal inquired for a third time, disturbed by her distressed demeanor.

"Pardon?" she asked as she blinked twice before looking at him.

"Is anything wrong?" he inquired.

"No, it's just I'm not feeling well. The wind has been so cold lately as the winter's fast approaching. But you don't have to worry, I will be alright after taking some rest. I will be fine right before the hunting festival."

"If you're not well then it's fine to miss the festival, your health is my utmost priority." He said as he moved closer to her side.

"I'll be alright. I just needed some time to unwind some thoughts."

"Then I will assist you to your room,"

"NO!" she said indignantly, causing him to flinch.

Erza's heart sank at sensing his reaction, and she hurriedly bid farewell, stating, "I want to be alone. Please allow me to be alone for the time being, Your Highness."

Her last remarks left him speechless and stunned with surprise that she suddenly felt so distant. Was the potion already wearing out? He asked himself as he watched her recede from his sight. He tightened his jaw and rubbed his temples in an attempt to restore his stance. What am I going to do? He questioned himself in a bitter tone.

After rushing through the hallways, Erza collapsed on her feet, unable to fathom the actions she had taken some time previously. What did I do? She questioned herself, recalling the flashback she experienced before. The person she stabbed in her dream was her younger self, Jellal. She sighed forcefully and then clutched her chest. Who the hell are you, Erschelle? She asked herself appalled with the memories resurfacing into her thoughts. After a few more deep exhales, she regained her composure. Her senses were heightened as she heard footsteps reverberating down the corridors. Fearful of being seen in such a condition, she averted her head and searched for a haven. As soon as she saw that the library's door was ajar, she sprang to her feet and hid inside.

"Why are you hiding from your husband, Princess Erschelle?" asked a voice making her startled.

"Who are you?" she asked with her eyes widened in surprise when she realized she was not alone in the library.

Caleb grinned awkwardly before shutting the book he was reading. Her arrival struck him by surprise. He promised Jellal not to approach her because he feared he would not be able to conceal his open contempt for the red-haired lady.

"It's been a while, Princess Erschelle. It's a pleasure meeting you. I am Caleb, His Highness, Prince Jellal's royal knight and counselor." He replied nonchalantly as he rose from his seat, greeting her.

"Caleb?" she repeated as she intently inspected his form. She had a strong sense of familiarity with him, but she cannot recollect Erschelle's memories.

"Have we met before?" she asked causing his brows to twitch.

"Did you really lose your memories, Erza?" he asked sarcastically making her flinch.

"Seeing your reaction, it seems that you have finally regained some of your memories." He said as he drew closer to her and whispered something to her ear before locking the door.

The skies were dyed gray and were illuminated by the faint light from the moon, Erza stood frozen next to the mirror with empty eyes staring at her reflection. Her skin felt numb as the icy breeze caressed it. She could hear people from a distance calling her name, but she remained still, unaffected by their entreaties to open the door.

"Erschelle?" she asked her reflection as she remembered the conversation he had with Caleb.

How cruel the author could be? She sighed in disbelief as she finally learned that she was the daughter of the vilest man in the empire. "Well, a villain is befitting to pair up with a villain after all. But why did you lie to me?" she asked as she turned to see Jellal emerging from her windows.

"I did not lie to you."

"Then whitewashing my family's deeds was not a form of deceit in your eyes, Jellal? How dare you exploit my condition into thinking that I am worthy of all of this?"

"I just wanted you to live normally like how you had wished. I have no intention of hiding the truth and besides, why are you questioning yourself again? That's the problem, Erza! You keep on associating your father's transgressions with you where in fact you had not partaken in any of his wrongdoings. You are not guilty of his crime."

"But because of me, you've lost everything you have. You have let yourself be stripped of the right to inherit the throne and now everyone thinks of you as a villain because you had associated yourself with us! How can I ever tolerate myself to indulge in these things when I have caused you more than harm?"

"Then, will you abandon me again because of that? Why are you so selfish, Erschelle? Did you ever consider my feelings at all?" Jellal raised his voice an octave higher making her flabbergasted.

A/N: I will surely update this after a week or so because I'm thinking of having a vacation first. Thank you so much for your patience. I hope you let me know your thoughts. Thanks.