A/N: Hi, it's me again! Thanks for your review, JusaLove. I hope you'll like this update.
Later that afternoon
Erschelle was overwhelmed with anxiety as she observed her servants leave the room, leaving her alone with her father, Rung. Erschelle's mind raced, uncertain of what would occur next. The abrupt departure of her attendants and the melancholy expression on her father's face increased her anxiety.
"Erschelle, my dear daughter, there are matters that must be discussed within ourselves without the prying ears of others." Rung said in a slow yet authoritative tone.
"His Highness, Prince Jellal, had instructed me not to leave her highness alone at all times, Your Grace." He replied to his subtle gesture.
"Did I ask for your words? How can a mere-" Rung asked, causing Erschelle to dismiss his words.
"Leave," Erschelle instructed as she composed herself, seemingly at ease as she sipped her tea.
"I will summon you if I'll need your assistance." She said in the coldest voice she could've ever had. The silence stretched, Cedric's mind filled with a whirlwind of thoughts as he had witnessed that face again.
"If you need anything, you can just call for me, Your Highness." With a deep breath, Cedric bid his farewell and exited the room.
After seeing Cedric exit the room, Rung's gaze is now fixated on Erschelle. Rung exhaled and took a sip of his tea again before clicking his tongue.
"Quit acting now." He said. Her eyes widened as she heard his words.
"Erschelle!" he exclaimed, causing her to chuckle and smile wickedly.
"You're not an easy one to fool, Father." She said as her demeanor changed. Erza's thoughts were shrouded in obscurity as if the ruse dominated them. Words are spewing forth as if she's been wanting to say this for days. Her smile conveyed a sense of contentment as if she had anxiously anticipated this moment to reveal her true intentions.
As he observed his daughter's smile, Rung experienced an uncanny and disquieting sensation that sent tremors to his core. The contrast between her earlier disquiet and her current malicious grin caused an unsettling atmosphere.
"It was not my fault why the black market has been annihilated," she said as if reading his thoughts.
"How did I know?" she asked as she grabbed the kettle to pour some tea into her cup.
Rung's shock was palpable. Erschelle's lighthearted laugh as she openly mocked his supposed incompetence. "If you did not approach Count Alanis back at the wedding, he won't suspect anything." She raised her voice an octave higher.
"You were acting hastily, and things aren't going as planned."
"And was acting this differently part of that plan?" Rung asked, now breaking his silence.
"Did you not promise that you will kill him that night? But do you remember what happened instead? You end up dying in his stead!"
"Someone knew about my plan. That fucking bastard had tried to assassinate me before I could kill Jellal!" Erschelle's voice is now audibly irritated.
"Lower your voice." He said.
"I cast a spell, and they won't hear it. Did you ever think so lowly of me? Unlike you, I won't be careless enough to make such a palpable mistake," she replied with a sigh as she massaged her temple.
The realization that the downfall and detection of the black market were all his doing was a bitter pill to swallow. "The only person who knew about the poison other than me and Ruvelise was the Empress." He replied.
"The Empress?" Erschelle's senses felt numb.
Of all people, the empress knows the plan. "Why did you not inform me about this one, Rung?"
"You said you wanted a poison no one has an antidote for. Only the empress has that, Erschelle." He replied, puzzled by his daughter's outburst.
Meanwhile, in the palace
"Oh, did I misspoke? Erza's one of the empire's subjects, and everything in this empire will soon be mine, Jellal. It was such a shame that a prince born out of a one-night mistake of the would-be worthy of such beauty." Alexis cocked his brows, mocking Jellal.
Jellal's irises blazed with wrath and outrage as he stood before Alexis. The crown prince's offensive remarks about Jellal's disgraceful origins struck a nerve and shattered his calmness. It directly attacked his integrity and reminded him of the bigotry he had encountered his entire life. Jellal's rage threatened to consume him as it flickered within him.
"Your Highness, Prince Jellal." Caleb spoke as he noticed the scarlet markings on her face showing up.
"It is rather shameful to think that the empire will soon be headed by an incompetent and weak prince like you, Your Highness. If you'll excuse us, I still have a long way to go."
Suppressing the surge of rage that threatened to overtake him, Alexis locked eyes with the Jellal. His voice filled with coldness. "Did you think highly of yourself, you bastard?" he asked, raising his sword to his neck.
"Do not test my patience, Alexis!" he exclaimed in a fury, dark magic enveloping him.
The air crackled with tension as Jellal's enchantment melted Alexis's sword. Alexis, unwilling to back down, employs his holy magic to cast a dazzling light in their direction. As tension reached its peak between Jellal and Alexis, their heated exchange of words was abruptly interrupted by the arrival of the king.
"Enough! This is not the time nor the place for such quarrels. We have more pressing matters at hand that require our attention and unity." As the emperor observed the scene and shifted his gaze between Jellal and Alexis, the room fell into a profound stillness. His austere expression disclosed his disapproval and made it abundantly clear that he would not tolerate such strife within the walls of his palace.
Jellal and Alexis exchanged tense glances but complied immediately, their defiance tempered by the king's authority. It served as a reminder that, despite their individual grievances, they were both subjects of the realm and subject to the king's rule. Jellal stifled his wrath by taking a deep breath and fixing his gaze on the floor as a sign of deference. Likewise, Alexis bent his head and reluctantly acknowledged the king's remarks.
"We have matters to discuss, Alexis. It was truly disheartening to see you quarrel on this bright afternoon. I had high hopes for the two of you. I expect both of you to put aside your differences and work together for the future of this."
Later that night
In the seclusion of his quarters, Alexis' wrath and exasperation erupted like a violent storm. The gravity of the situation, the thought of Erschelle marrying Jellal without his permission or involvement, gnawed at his very essence. Jealousy and resentment consumed him and fueled his destructive outburst.
"How could you do this to me, Erza?!"
With each object that met his dissatisfaction, the room seemed to tremor from the intensity of his emotions. Objects were flung against the walls and shattered, reflecting the tumult in his heart. The sound of porcelain breaking permeated the air, representing Alexis' inner turmoil.
"Why did it have to be Jellal, of all people!" He yelled as his mind continued to grapple with his anger and frustration.
"Jellal," her words echoed in their chamber. The sight of Erza's delicate form entwined with Jellal's, every kiss, every caress, every moan, and their bodies moving in sync. Her lips cried his name like a long-lost prayer.
"She should be mine!" he hissed. These images sliced through Alexis's mind like a searing blade, fanning the embers of his envy and resentment. Each imagined touch and whisper of their names to each other added fuel to his sense of betrayal, fanning the flames of his fury.
As the subdued illumination of the room cast long shadows, a shadowy figure stood before a board adorned with intricate details spread out like a crime scene map. The arrangement of photographs, documents, and interconnected threads portrayed a foreboding scene. It was a meticulously woven web of secrets waiting to be uncovered. The fingertips of the silhouette traced the threads connecting the various images of people on the board.
"In the end, everything points back to you, Erschelle." A voice said as it drew an ex-mark on her image.
"You are the real villain,"
A/N: By the way, I changed the rating to M; things might get messy as we progress through the chapters. Thank you. I hope you'll drop some thoughts.