As the pounding pain intensified, Erza instinctively shook her head and raised her right hand to block the light, hoping to alleviate her discomfort. The blinding light reflected from the water had felt like daggers stabbing her eyes. With each throb, her thoughts seemed to grow distant and muddled. When she opened her eyes, she saw nothing but an empty void filled with darkness. She gently massaged her temples, trying to make sense of her surroundings as they appeared dark.

"We've finally met, Erza." a voice said from the blurred figure before her.

She staggered back, unable to ease the waves of discomfort through her entire being as the voice sounded familiar. As it moved closer, she stood her ground and warned it not to get close, as the figure got clearer as it drew closer.

"Aren't you and I the same, Erschelle?" the voice continued as her figure towered before Erza.

Her voice was not sinister; however, her presence made Erza's blood run cold. She staggered to her feet, bewildered as if seeing her own reflection talking back to her. Her voice visibly cracked as she uttered her name.

"E-Erschelle?"

"I see; you still haven't figured out things yet."

"Figured out, what? Figured out how you helped the empress scheme a vicious plot against Jellal and made his life a living hell? Did you have fun tormenting him that much?" she sternly replied as she glared at her.

"Did you not even consider his feelings at all?" she continued as she rose from her feet, trying to confront the owner of her current body.

"Did you really think that I am indeed the villain in this story? If I'm the villain, then nonetheless, you are nothing…" Erschelle hugged her form and whispered in her ear. "But a villain, too, because we are one and the same, Erza. I am you, and you are me." she continued.

"Nonsense!" she scowled as she pushed her away.

"I will never think of hurting Jellal, unlike you." Erza continued.

"Oh? How confident of you to say that? Did you really thought I was that shallow? I might say I'm pretty amaze by the fact that you did not even have an ounce of doubt on yourself. Can you perhaps tell me what was your reason for helping him? Can you still recall the exact reason why you desperately wanted to save him from that fate?" Erschelle asked, turning her back.

"The exact reason?"

"Yes, why would you save him?" Erschelle asked before disappearing into the thin air.

Those words now reverberated within Erza's consciousness. Her mind was clouded. I wanted to make him happy. I wanted him to avoid the tragedy he had faced because of losing Erschelle. She was certain those were the phrases that she had kept like an oath to herself. A pledge to save him from his plight. An oath like a cornerstone to ground herself and find clarity amidst the complexities of her thoughts and emotions. She knew she pitied his character when she had read the original novel, but the desperation of seeing him happy and longing for his affection was not something that she had in her perspective. It was right at that moment when she realized something was amiss. She recalled that it was peculiar for her, a stranger and a mere reader of the story, to be so attached to Jellal, a mere character of her favorite book. It was strange, as if she was merely a puppet, unknowingly fulfilling someone else's plot.

"Remember who you are, Erza Scarlet Belserion." a whisper echoed in the darkness.

Her eyes fluttered open, and her senses slowly returned to her. As the world around her came into focus, her eyes widened, feeling Jellal's subtle heartbeat on her head. Did I lose consciousness while running away from him? She asked herself as he carried her in his arms as he walked her through the halls back to their quarters.

"Please, don't say a word," he said as he felt her prying gaze on him.

As Jellal carried her into their bed, she avoided meeting his gaze. She gritted her teeth; even if she would not look into his eyes, she was sure it would paint such dismay and resentment for fooling him. Despite the stark contrast of her thoughts, she knew that despite it he would stare at her, worried. It was a familiar feeling, a connection that went beyond mere words. But none of those worries belong to me; it was all meant for Erschelle. She reminded herself as she felt him walk towards the door. The long pause stretched between them as she heard him stop in his tracks and take a deep heave.

"Let's pretend that this conversation never happened," Jellal said, looking back at her before closing the door.

Meanwhile, in the magic tower

In the dimly lit corners of the magic tower, Acnologia stood before a lacrima. He cleared his throat as he felt him leave his tower. He cast a spell, and the lacrima soon glowed, revealing the empress in the other line.

"Empress," Acnologia's deep voice resonated through the chamber.

"Did he bother you again?" she asked.

"The prince has just recently left the tower. He was indeed mad at me."

"He has a poor temperament. I hope you understand that he's just a boy."

"He should be acting more like his age. It is such a poor sight, seeing him complaining about the slightest inconvenience that bothers me. He was the one who initiated that I released the magic beast a few days ago, then comes back at me, yelling why he's not the one who took credit for it."

"Did he not mention Rung's daughter?"

"He did not forget to mention that. I just can't fathom how infatuated your son is with that woman's daughter."

"That bothers me, either. If we want to consummate the ritual, then we must do that at the coronation. Make sure he knows nothing about our plan." She said before cutting off their conversation.

As the communication came to an end, a subtle smirk creased upon the Acnologia's lips. His sinister laughter echoed through the dimly lit chamber. Plans? I wonder who really is the pawn in this game? He thought to himself as he moved the queen on his chessboard, exposing it to vulnerable against the pawn of the enemy's piece.

"You should've seen your son's stupid face."

A few hours ago

"It's all your fault. Erza's mana is unstable again because you did not listen to my plan. I told you that I would be the one who would take down that beast, yet your mages can't even deter Jellal from stealing the spotlight from me." Exasperated, Alexis vents out his anger on him.

"Really? Was it really my fault that you can't even dare to defeat the beasts on your own? In contrast to your brother, you never learned to control your magic."

"Do not compare me to that low-blooded filth; I am not the villain here. Was it my fault that my holy magic couldn't penetrate that beast?"

"It's not that it can't penetrate the beast. You just don't know how to wield that magic."

"What did you say?" Alexis raised his brows as he drew his sword against his neck.

"How can you wield such holy magic when it's not yours to begin with? It would've been far better if you wielded your magic instead of that stolen one." The archmage scoffed as he grabbed the blade by his hand, making it bleed.

"Nonsense!"

"Oh, it seems you really did forget how you killed the previous archmage's daughter because of that curse?" Acnologia asked the dumbfounded prince.

"Should I make you remember then?"

Fifteen years ago

He watched her as she taught the newly recruited mage the concept of magic. Engrossed in her lecture, she felt a gentle tug at the hem of her robe. Looking down, she saw her daughter standing there, her eyes filled with happiness seeing her mother. With a soft smile, Irene excused herself from the class, closed the book, and embraced her child.

"What brings you here, my dear daughter?" she asked, kneeling down to meet her daughter at eye level.

"I want to see Mommy; I already finished the book you gave me," she said, giving her the book.

"Wow, I did not expect my baby to be this brilliant, but as much as I wanted to play with you, mommy's currently busy teaching the other children, okay? Can you go with Acno in the meantime?" She asked to which her daughter nodded.

He felt uncomfortable as the child ventured in his direction. A seething fury burned within Acnologia's veins as he saw Irene's face smiling at her child. He guided her daughter toward the garden. Irene's been revered already as a war hero since she helped the emperor reclaim the Eastern continent and defeat the dark mage. It was the greatest feat she could bring to the empire, and tons of books had already carved her name, commemorating such achievement. His eyes were filled with disdain as he stared at the six-year-old child before him. A child that looks exactly like his master and also wields such powerful holy magic that even the temple covets. He couldn't imagine how this child overshadowed his worth. He will always be a shadow of his master and even to her daughter now. A bitter resentment grew within him, fueled by deep-seated envy.

The crown prince, immersed in his play in the lush gardens, suddenly felt a presence nearby. His curiosity piqued, he turned his attention towards the maze, its towering hedges concealing the other side of the palace. Curious, he darted his eyes, checking for any servants before sneaking into the labyrinth. As he ventured deeper, following the faint laughter, his eyes widened as he saw a young girl. Her scarlet hair flowed like dominoes, and her eyes gleamed with such brilliance that he had never seen before. Captivated by her enchanting presence, Alexis hid behind the bush and watched her as she made her way through the labyrinth.

"Wow," the scarlet-haired child exclaimed as she reached the center of the maze, adorned with an exquisite array of flowers.

He was too preoccupied to see her reaction that he was not looking on his way, tripping on a stone, exposing himself to her. She gasped as he fell hard to the ground. Panicked surged through him as he heard her blatant surprise.

"Acno!" the child called out.

"Wait," he called out, rising from his feet.

"I'm not some sort of stalker,"

"O-Of course, I know that." She commented as she watched him close the distance between them.

"H-how? Do you know who I am?" He stammered, not wanting her to know that he was the crown prince.

"You must be a noble judging the way you dress,"

"A-ah, I see. You must be?" he asked, slightly relieved that she had no clue who he was.

"I'm Erza. My mom lives there!" she pointed to the adjacent tower to his palace.

"Y-you are the archmage's daughter?"

"Sort of, and you are?"

"I'm Alexis,"

"A-Alexis? Oh, pardon me for not greeting you, Your Highness." She apologized and bowed before him.

"There's no need for that. Please be comfortable." He said as he extended his hand.

She smiled as her eyes reflected him, reaching out to intertwine hers with his. Her hands were slightly cold against his. Alexis squinted his eyes with their hands still clasped, feeling something burning within his entire body. Dark light glowed, brighter than daylight enveloping the two. He watched in horror as he noticed the black marks etching on his arms. As he opened his eyes, he was absolutely aghast. He quickly withdrew his hand from hers as he saw the greeneries wilting before them. His gaze swiftly diverted its attention to the girl as he watched everything disintegrate into thin air.

"E-Erza?" he asked, trembling as he watched her slumping to her knees.

In the crown prince's palace

"NO!" Alexis yelled in his chambers, remembering Acnologia's words.

"You originally possessed the black magic that he has. Thankfully, the previous archmage transferred your curse to the second prince. What do you think will happen if Jellal learns that you killed Erschelle before, and then the curse was supposedly yours? What do you think he'll do to avenge the mess you made his life into?"

"I know it. You damned bastard, you wanted to take Erza away from me. You wanted to make me look like the villain and then usurp the throne from me!" His hands trembled, his fingers curling into fists as his anger intensified.

"Don't worry, Erza, I will save you," he said, seething in anger as he saw Jellal's portrait in the corner of their family picture.

The dimly lit basement provided some comfort to Selene. Nestled in her cozy chair, she held a delicate wine glass, its rich crimson contents swirling gently as she took a thoughtful sip. Her eyes fixed upon the portrait hanging on the wall opposite her.

"What will you do now, Irene? The stage is set. Don't ever blame me for the things I'll do for my son." the empress sighed and closed her eyes, savoring the wine's flavors.

"A good mother will do everything to protect their child, isn't it? Too bad you're already dead. I wonder what could've been your reaction if you saw your daughter dying for the second time? Will you haunt me to my death until we see each other in hell?" She asked herself, lowering her sleeves and revealing the deep scar on them.

Fifteen years ago

Selene wrapped her arms around her son, pulling him close to her chest to provide comfort and reassurance. She gently stroked his back and whispered soothing words to calm him down. The marks on his body had long disappeared, but the traces of shock the incident had caused were still evident. The crown prince sniffled, his tears starting to intensify as he felt his mother's presence.

"But I k-killed her," he mumbled, feeling guilty for whatever had happened.

"Shh, enough. You did not kill her. I will make sure nobody will talk about what happened today. I will ask your father to keep everything a secret; I'll figure out how to make things better. Now, stop crying. You're making your sibling worry," Selene said, letting him go of her hug and then rubbing her bloated stomach.

"Erza's still alive?" he asked as he wiped his tears.

She nodded, assuring him everything was fine. After gesturing him to sleep, she watched him lay his body on the bed. His breathing steadied, and the sobbing subsided.

"Can I visit her tomorrow?"

She bit her lip and nodded hesitantly. Selene stayed with him until he drifted to sleep. Her lips quivered as she heard the commotion outside. She slipped out of his bed and went to see the chaos.

"Your Majesty! The archmage is here! She's demanding to see the crown prince right this instant," the butler told her as she walked through the halls.

"What?"

"Our mages are already dying downstairs. She's gone crazy. You need to hide before she-"

Both of their eyes widened as the sight of the scarlet-haired mage appeared before them as the dust began to settle down, revealing her daunting presence. The knights regrouped themselves, shielding the empress from the archmage. Fear made her body tremble as she heard the coldness in the archmage's voice.

"Where is the crown prince?" asked the scarlet-haired mage with a blank expression on her face.

Damn it. She cursed as she staggered backward. Her guards stood at attention, raising their weapons, ready to defend her. A long silence stretched into the atmosphere.

"Your Grace, please, let's settle this in an amicable way," the butler said, trying to calm her.

"Amicable? Will that amicable conversation bring my daughter back to life?" she roared, the halls illuminating because of her magic.

The knights charged at her with their magic swords. They attempted to overwhelm the archmage with a coordinated attack, hoping to subdue her before she could cause further harm to the empress as her sanity hung by a thread. However, the archmage was so powerful that despite their skills, she easily disarmed them with a wave of her hand, creating a spell deflecting the knights' attacks with ease. The butler tried to intervene using his magic, but it was pointless; his head rolled to the side, shocking the empress and making her fall to her back.

"Now, tell me. Where's your son?" she asked, pointing a magic sword against the empress's neck.

"Irene!" a voice called from behind, emerging from his own teleportation spell. "What on the earth are you doing? Can't you see, the empress is with a child? You can't be this serious." The emperor reprimanded them as he assisted Selene in getting up.

"How clumsy of you to chastise me for my actions? Your son killed my daughter. My only daughter! I will kill him. The price of life costs you a life, Faust," she exclaimed as she started to vent out her anger.

"You're not like this, Irene." He said, unable to fathom the madness in her words.

"I will burn this empire to the ground because of what happened!"

"I will find a way to bring your daughter back," he tried to console her as he grabbed the hilt of the sword.

"Y-You can't. Her heart had already stopped beating. I can't even use my enchantments on her. Y-your son killed my poor child." Her voice cracked as soon as she recalled how she cradled her child's cold body against her chest.

As Irene lowered her guard as she engaged in the conversation, the empress saw this as an opportunity to stab her with a light sword she created. Irene brandished her sword with lightning reflexes, parrying the empress's blow. Taking this as an insult, Irene lunged forward, raising her sword, aiming to return the blow to which the emperor blocked. Instead of plunging the blade straight into her heart, the emperor managed to deflect Irene's blow but ended up wounding the empress's shoulder, resulting in massive bleeding.

"Is this how you want to settle things, Selene?" she noted, disgusted, as she withdrew her sword.

Selene's heart skipped a beat; she felt suffocated by the tension and horror. She almost died if it weren't for her husband's reflexes. The stinging pain on her shoulders surged through her body. She felt the emperor's hand against her bleeding shoulders, trying to block the flow. A single tear grazed her eye as she felt blood pooling between her legs.

"What a shame," Irene snarled, walking away after seeing their horrified faces.

"Empress!"

As Selene wakes up, she finds herself in a dimly lit room, her eyes adjusting to the surroundings. As her consciousness fully returns, she realizes that she's not in her room; it was the emperor's chambers. To her surprise, the emperor clutches her hand tightly beside her. She tried to sit up, worried about her son's well-being, only to realize the soreness of her body.

"Don't move much," he commented as he let go of her hand.

"What happened?" she asked, puzzled, but later realized the events in her memories.

"You've lost her." He said as he watched her ball her hands against her stomach.

Her face turned pale. She clutched the sheets enough to make her knuckles white. Tears streaming down her cheeks, dampening the white sheets. No, that's impossible. My Cecilia, my daughter. I can't lose her! She thought to herself as her cries reverberated in the empty room.

"That's enough; your son needs you right now. I have transferred his chambers to the secluded tower in the southern wing of my palace."

"How can you be this heartless to your own wife and son? What have you done with that mage? Did you order your men already to kill her and burn her to death after what she did to me?"

"What do you mean? Aren't you the one who initiated the attack on her?"

"What?"

"What she did was to defend herself against your viciousness. Don't be that sensitive, Selene. It's just an accident, right? Just like how your son killed her daughter too?"

"That's out of context! Have you gone mad, Faust?"

"You said I need to justify the crown prince's impudent actions, right? Then that is the only logical way to acknowledge it; it was merely an accident, so don't cause a fuss."

"But Alexis did not deliberately seek her daughter's demise; was it even our poor son's fault that he was afflicted with the curse of the dark mage?"

"Our son? I'm not even sure whether you, the previous princess of the fallen kingdom of the Eastern continent, had borne me a child. The blood that runs in my family is of holiness, not of this wretched curse like that damned magician of your hometown."

Back to the present.

"I can finally avenge you, my Cecilia." She said, holding onto the tiny garments that once adorned her late daughter.

Tears welled up in Selene's eyes as she remembered the moments she had longed for her daughter. Selene couldn't help but feel the weight of her loss. Her daughter's life had been tragically cut short, leaving behind an emptiness that seemed impossible to fill.

"If you were able to revive your daughter back to life, Irene. I will ensure that this time, she will pay for the life you robbed of me."

A/N: I haven't been able to write for a while. I was quite preoccupied with work. I'll surely update this story if I'll buy some time. JusaLove, thanks for your continuing support. Thank you for reading this update; I'll see you soon.