A/N: This story is rated M for reasons. Please be guided.
Erschelle exhaled a sigh of exhaustion, weighed down by her memories. In her mind, the night's events played out like an indistinct tapestry as she sat in reverie. Each memory elicited a wave of feelings, provoking confusion and apprehension in her heart.
Erschelle's irises dilated in horror as the spectral figure hovered over her, sending chills down her spine. Before she could react, a blunt force propelled her forward at an alarming pace down the balcony. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears as the world around her appeared to disintegrate into an outbreak of chaos.
"Damn," she cursed as she grasped urgently for something to hold onto, but her efforts were in vain.
Erschelle's body reverberated with the impact of the descent as she descended. Her limbs flared with pain, and darkness crept into her vision. The last image engraved in her consciousness was a reflection of the royal crest on the attacker's armor.
The memory of her death flashed before her eyes once more as she was lost in her musings. An abrupt dissonant sound disturbed the peace as her fingertips brushed the keys. A piercing and startling erroneous note infused the melody like a dagger. Erza's face contorted momentarily, and she let out a hiss that was a mixture of exasperation and dissatisfaction.
"You brought this upon yourself," she remembered her father saying as he hurled her off the balcony.
"Did he see through my façade earlier?" she pondered as she retreated from the piano and rested her head on her chair while continuing to play.
The thought of her father discovering her deception gnawed at her. She was unsure how Erschelle would handle such confrontation, but she was sure she had done the right thing. The weight of the truth threatened to overwhelm her, leaving her feeling vulnerable with the realization that she is indeed a villain herself. Or perhaps Erschelle had actually possessed her body at the time. In any case, she no longer knows what to believe; she is now persuaded that this woman's body had entirely different intentions despite the two of them bearing same visage .
"You're the real villain, after all, Erschelle." She said as she closed her eyes.
The only thing that exposed her disguise was the revelation that Erschelle was the one who requested poison from the empress. If Erschelle had conspired with the empress to assassinate Jellal because her family, including her father, supported the crown prince, it would make no sense for the empress to want to kill her.
"Why would the empress want to kill her, as the novel foretold?" The query reverberated in Erza's consciousness, its implications tormenting her. The pieces of the puzzle did not seem to fit together. She now knows the complete picture that eludes the novel's world, but it is still hard for her to comprehend why would the mastermind of all evilness, Erschelle Blanche, would be executed by her own allies.
"Just who exactly are you, Erschelle Blanche?" she questioned as she turned to look in the mirror.
Instead of seeing her own reflection, she observed Erschelle's gloomy and malicious grin. As if a mirage, it portrayed Erschelle's shadowy reflection while uttering words that sent shivers down her spine. "You have to kill him no matter what happens!" The sinister command echoed through the chambers of her thoughts, causing Erza to stumble backward, collapsing onto the floor. Erza's eyes widened in dread as she observed Erschelle's reflection in the mirror, and then her magic erupted uncontrollably, crackling with unrestrained strength. The mirror in front of her was struck by a surge of power emanating from her hand. Glass shards fractured into a multitude of fragments.
"Ho-holy magic?" she thought in disbelief while observing her shaky hands.
"You cannot return to the estate in such a state, Your Highness," Caleb said with concern in his voice.
Jellal stood amidst the aftermath of his confrontation with the ogre, the lifeless body crumpled at his feet. As perspiration rolled down his forehead, he loosened his grasp on its neck. This was the tenth ogre he had captured this evening. As he absorbed the dark magic that had emerged within the ogre, the crimson mark on Jellal's visage began to diminish and fade away. It was a necessary act, a means to control his own powers. However, each time he resorts to such measures, it becomes less effective over time.
Jellal's eyes reflected a mixture of frustration as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. He knew in his heart that there must be another method to channel his magic besides absorbing the dark energy of creatures such as ogres. It was a method he had yet to discover, and the weight of his actions weighed heavily upon him.
Jellal acknowledged Caleb's concern by nodding toward him as he acknowledged his concern. "You're right, Caleb," he acknowledged with a frustrated tone.
"I cannot allow her to see me in this condition. Damn, this curse!"
"That's why you should contain your emotions more," Caleb stated firmly, reminding Jellal of the events that had transpired earlier that afternoon. When Jellal discovered Alexis' unseemly interest in his wife, he became enraged. Jellal was well aware that Alexis was delusional, as he was driven by a sense of entitlement and the conviction that everything would eventually be his.
Caleb shook his head in astonishment as he observed Jellal's ongoing frustration. He recognized the gravity of Jellal's emotions but also the peril of allowing them to consume him. Caleb heaved a sigh and reached into his pocket to extricate a gem. Its core pulsates with brilliant light.
"This might help. This was a gemstone from the temple."
Jellal shook his head as he remembered his father's outburst: "I'm tired of resorting to these desperate measures already, Caleb. He has not yet fulfilled his promise."
"I don't understand why you had that curse when that dark magic was considered to be an ancient forbidden magic. As far as I know, the late archmage was able to kill the black wizard. But years later, after your birth, you contracted such a curse. It doesn't seem right from my point of view."
"Because the emperor was with them, it was possible that Zeref transferred the curse to him without his knowledge."
As he lit his cigar, Caleb responded, "Well, at least the temple and the tower are cooperating to find a cure for your condition rather than condemning it."
"You must have forgotten that the empress exists, Caleb."
"Ugh, that woman!" he hissed before he continued.
"Speaking of woman, aren't you suspecting Erschelle of using dark magic?" Caleb inquired intently, his tone laced with both curiosity and caution.
"What?"
"I don't have anyone specific in mind other than her, Your Highness. Considering her lineage and the potential influence of her father, it's a possibility that cannot be dismissed. Dark magic is formidable, and if anyone possesses the knowledge and capability to wield it, it would be no other than the late archmage's daughter."
"That's impossible."
"If that person who had cast an incantation on Bacchus was a normal mage, you could've easily countered such a spell." Caleb's words tasked like fine salt in his mouth; the idea of Erschelle potentially using black magic weighed heavily on Jellal's mind.
As Erza made her way to the library searching for knowledge about holy magic, her hopes were dashed when she couldn't find any books about that particular branch of magic. She longed for answers that evaded her logic, and her frustration gnawed at her. Feeling dissatisfied, Erza wandered into a secluded corner of the library, only to find Cedric arranging some ancient books.
Cedric greeted her and then urged Erza to return to her chambers. "Prince Jellal had just sent a word; the king had asked his presence for another day. You may now rest, Your Highness, Princess Erschelle," he said as he continued to peruse the volumes as if arranging them with a mystical pen.
"I am not here to inquire about him. I wanted to read a book about a certain branch of magic, but I could not find any reference to it."
"To which branch of magic do you refer, Your Majesty?"
"Holy magic." She replied.
"Those works of literature are exclusively limited to the custody of the temple or the archmage's tower. I'm afraid you can't find that here in the estate." He remarked as he continued scanning through the pages.
"What are these books for?" she asked as she couldn't resist inquiring about the books placed in this secluded section of the library.
"These are books of no value-" he paused as he saw her reach out to open one of the books.
"These are highly restricted books, Princess Erschelle," he said as he held her hand to halt her action. Erza's gaze fixed on Cedric's, isolating them in silence as Cedric's hold on her hand persisted.
"Fine," she responded as soon as he released her hand.
Despite her lingering suspicions about Cedric, Erza chose to disregard them for the time being. She was intrigued by the mysteries surrounding the secluded section of the library and the forbidden volumes, but she knew that if she prodded him for more information, she would appear to be eavesdropping for her father.
Erza allowed herself a brief respite upon returning to her chambers. The flickering candlelight created a contemplative atmosphere by casting swirling shadows on the walls. I'm exhausted by this. Erza contemplated before collapsing onto her bed. As she lay in bed, her thoughts were swirling. The return of the crown prince means that I have only a few months until spring - a few more days to resolve this problem and avoid death.
The following day
As the first beams of dawn illuminated Erza's room, she discovered a letter waiting for her on her nightstand. The exquisite seal bearing the emblem of the imperial family caught her attention immediately. With a mix of curiosity and anticipation, she broke the seal and unfolded the letter.
The contents revealed that every noble in the empire had been invited to participate in the winter hunt commemorating the crown prince's return. The famous northern mountain winter hunt was scheduled to take place exactly one week after the first snowfall.
Erza experienced a variety of emotions as she contemplated attending the winter hunt. On the one hand, it was an opportunity to witness the crown prince's return; on the other, it was a chance to interact with fellow nobles, forge connections, and gain insight into the social elite's trends. Erza could not help but feel a tinge of apprehension despite the event's allure, as she was uncertain how to behave like the genuine Erschelle in front of many people. She will expose herself to a large number of individuals who may have recognized her pretense's flaws.
Later that evening
Erza became increasingly frustrated as she encountered dead ends in her quest for answers. The library had none of the volumes she had hoped to find. Possibly suspecting her intentions, Cedric appeared to have already disposed of them, leaving her with no physical evidence to support her suspicions. She decided to refrain from directly questioning Cedric about the whereabouts of the books. She was aware that her inquiries could arouse suspicions and impede her efforts to uncover the truth.
As Erza's fingertips danced across the keyboard, she became enraptured by the entrancing melody and momentarily forgot her concerns. The music surrounded her, enveloping her in its harmonious embrace and filling the room. Erza sensed a presence next to her as she played, adding another layer to the melody she was creating. She opened her eyes to see Jellal standing there, his fingers deftly gliding over the piano keys. Erza's lips curved as she realized that Jellal had joined her in this impromptu duet upon meeting his gaze. She paused briefly, allowing the notes to linger in the air, and then resumed playing, effortlessly harmonizing with Jellal's soft melodies. Their hands moved in unison, weaving a musical tapestry that spoke eloquently about their relationship.
As the music ended, she turned her back to see him. Erza's pulse fluttered as Jellal's forehead contacted hers, and she felt the warmth of his close proximity. The air crackled with anticipation as Jellal slowly leaned closer to her lips but then abruptly halted, causing Erza's embarrassment to surge within her, her cheeks flushing with a mix of emotions. Having allowed herself to yearn for more, she could not help but experience an unpleasant feeling of disappointment.
"I apologize. I got carried away. I missed you," he said as he reached out to brush a strand of hair behind Erza's ear.
Erza's irises were brimming with determination as she met his gaze. Erza's silence heightened the tension as she did not respond to him. Erza's disappointment draws her heart, and she desires to sever her melancholy longing and desire for him. She crossed the line at that instant when she seized his other hand and kissed him on the lips. Jellal was stunned by Erza's audacious move, which ignited an atmosphere of ardent desire. Their lips touched during a tender embrace.
"No, I can't do this. Erschelle, you don't have to do this because your father told you so." He insisted, trying to back away.
"No, why do you always have to associate everything with him? Can't you see me for once as I am, Jellal?" She questioned, perplexed by his actions.
Jellal's initial reluctance vanished when he saw her dejected visage. God, he despised himself for giving into this intoxicating moment. As he seized her hand, drew her close, and captured her lips, the weight of his responsibilities dissolved into the background. Their kiss grew more passionate and urgent with each passing second. Erza's body instinctively retreated as the intensity of the kiss increased, causing her to stumble into the nearby piano. The jarring sound of the instrument's protest briefly interrupted the impassioned moment. However, the discordant note only served to heighten their untamed passion for one another.
"J-Jellal," she moaned between breaths.
Jellal's hands found their way to Erza's waist, pulling her closer as if unable to get enough of her. With Jellal's touch and caress, Erza felt so wrong doing this to Erschelle's body, but the raging passion of their love quickly subdued her thoughts.
As their lips finally parted, their eyes met in a moment of mutual realization. Jellal's gaze contained a mixture of desire, concern, and undeniable affection. Jellal's voice was barely a whisper as he asked her, "Tell me to stop, Erza." He pleaded with his sanity and desires hanging by a thread.
"Don't stop," she replied, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Her words lingered in the air, the significance of her proclamation resonating in their souls. The resistance of Jellal weakened, replaced by a desire that mirrored her own. He closed the gap between them once more. Intense desire ignited between them. With her arms draped around his neck, Jellal picked her up. Their bodies were on fire, and they felt the need to be with one another once more as if each contact could satisfy their own fervor. Jellal immediately ran his hands on her bosom, earning a passionate cry from the woman that he loved.
"Love me tonight, Jellal," Erza said before closing her eyes as she felt him tear her nightgown.
"You will be the death of me, Erschelle." He said as he kissed her forehead.
"Call me by my name," Erza said as her hands ventured to cup his face.
"Erza," he paused, gazing once more into her gaze.
"My scarlet." Their mouths locked jointly again as he let his hands caress her exposed breasts. She gasped into his mouth as he gently kneaded her soft flesh. He buried his face in her neck and left crimson markings wherever possible.
"You are mine."
A/N: JusaLove, thank you for your kind words. I will be posting more chapters soon. Thank you again for reading!