Queen of Etherealis

"Why are you doing this?" I asked Amelia, trying to maintain a dignified composure. My voice was feeble, almost a whisper, but I made sure she heard every word.

Amelia's expression shifted as she sensed the resentment in my tone. "Don't tell me you don't want revenge against Ludwig for how he treated you? Don't be absurd, Louisiana!" Her voice rose sharply, revealing her frustration at my hesitation.

I blinked, processing Amelia's words slowly. "But Ludwig didn't do anything..."

"He married someone else," Amelia interjected impatiently, her tone filled with frustration.

I bit my lip, feeling torn. "He had to save his kingdom, though..."

"Even though he knows that you are his Fate?" Amelia asserted forcefully, her voice filled with incredulity.

The words hit me like a shockwave. His Fate? I was Ludwig's Fate? His other half?

"I... I didn't..." I struggled to find my voice, unable to comprehend what I was hearing.

Amelia seemed to relish my confusion, her grin mocking. "Ah, I see," she taunted. "You didn't know. He never told you, even though he was well aware."

The weight of Amelia's words crashed down on me, my heart throbbing painfully in my chest, constricting my breath.

"You are Ludwig's fate, Louisiana," Amelia stated with grave seriousness, devoid of any humor this time, only harsh truth. "You are the half of his soul, yet he chose to marry another. Despite knowing it would hurt you deeply, he made that choice. Is that love?" Each word pierced through me like a dagger, igniting a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

"Me?" I blinked in disbelief. "How did you know that I am his Fate?"

Amelia's laughter filled the chamber, a mocking echo that seemed to reverberate around me. She regarded me with disdain. "Can't you feel it?" she taunted. "The pain you feel whenever you think of him with someone else, the longing to claim him entirely as your own—it's all proof of your connection as his Fate."

The floodgates of realization opened as I recalled moments of deep confusion and pain that had plagued me before. I remembered losing consciousness at Hiyasmin's, believing Ludwig and her to be in a romantic relationship. The intense agony I experienced when imagining him with someone else, the physical pain that felt like needles striking my heart—all of it suddenly made sense.

I couldn't comprehend why it hurt so much at the time, why my heart seemed to be torn apart. But now, it all became clear. I remembered instances when my body seemed to act on its own, driven by an inexplicable force. It was as if my entire existence was intertwined with Ludwig's, as if my life depended on his. The realization of being his Fate, his other half, filled me with a mix of understanding and overwhelming emotions.

"Ludwig k-knew?" I asked, still in disbelief. "Maybe you're mistaken. He doesn't know. Right, he doesn't. Because if he does, then… he wouldn't…"

"He would not what?" Asked Amelia with a raised eyebrow. "Would not marry someone else?" She scoffed. "Come on Louisiana, do you really think he cares about your feelings?"

The weight of Amelia's words bore down on me like a crushing weight, the pain becoming almost unbearable. It felt as if my heart was being squeezed, gradually suffocating my entire being. A wave of heat washed over me, leaving me feeling weak and drained. It was only then that I realized tears were streaming down my cheeks, my sobs escaping uncontrollably.

"You are his Fate, yet that bastard chose someone else because of her power," Amelia's tone remained indifferent, almost clinical. "She's a Princess, holding the Ones, while you do not. Ludwig is selfish, caring only for his own desires. He seeks power, and that's why he chose Amethyst over you, Louisiana."

I shook my head, trying to block out her harsh words while still struggling to cope with the overwhelming pain and anguish coursing through my body.

"No," I retorted with determination. "You don't understand Ludwig. He's not as selfish as you portray him. He's kind and selfless, always putting the well-being of his kingdom above his own desires."

"At your expense?" Amelia's question halted my words, leaving me momentarily speechless. "You're his Fate. You should be his top priority, above even the kingdom itself. Why can't you see his faults, his mistakes? Oh, right, you love him, and that's why you turn a blind eye to it all. How foolish of you, Louisiana."

Amelia drew closer once more, peering into my tear-filled eyes. "He left you, chose someone else, forsaking your spiritual bond. So why hesitate to seek revenge?" Her smirk held a cruel edge. "He deserves it anyway."

The conflict within me intensified as I grappled with Amelia's words and my own beliefs about Ludwig's character and intentions.

The pain radiated through every fiber of my being, spreading like wildfire to the furthest ends of my body. I screamed in agony as I dwelled on Ludwig's wedding with Amethyst, envisioning the family they would build together and the possibility of him finally finding love with her.

Amethyst was everything Ludwig needed in a partner—beautiful, powerful, and fitting for his royal status. Unlike me, who knew nothing but running away from their world, unable to contribute anything substantial.

Memories flooded my mind, each one a sharp jab of realization. I recalled the times Ludwig had hidden me away whenever important visitors came to the kingdom. Initially, I had believed it was for my safety, to keep my existence hidden from prying eyes. Now, however, I understood the truth—he was ashamed of me. He didn't want others to know that his Fate was someone weak and ordinary like me, someone who couldn't contribute anything significant to the kingdom, unlike Princess Amethyst.

Amelia's words pierced through me like sharp blades, each question cutting deeper into my already wounded heart. "If it's true that he didn't abandon you as you believe," she continued, her tone relentless, "then why aren't you inside the castle? Why did Ludwig send you away from the kingdom just before his marriage? Why were you conspicuously absent from the ceremony? Why were you kept so far away from him?"

The pain intensified, doubling with each question she posed. I couldn't contain the anguish rising within me. I clenched my teeth, biting down on my lower lip as if it could stem the tide of agony threatening to overwhelm me. My stomach twisted in knots, and each blow of Amelia's words felt like a physical punch to my chest, leaving me gasping for breath.

The words cut through me like a sharp knife, each one a painful reminder of the reality I faced. "Look at you, poor Louise," Amelia's voice echoed in my mind. "You're in so much pain, physically hurt because Ludwig chose someone else. He knew this would happen, knew it would hurt you deeply. He wanted to hurt you, to make you suffer, yet he still chose Amethyst."

The unfairness of it all weighed heavily on my heart. The physical pain I endured was nothing compared to the emotional agony of realizing that Ludwig could bear to leave me, to choose another over our bond. I had hoped against hope that he would come back, that he would save me from this heartache, that somehow we would find a way to be together. But all my hopes, wishes, and prayers amounted to nothing. After everything, I was left utterly heartbroken.

Amelia's words echoed in the chamber, a chilling reminder of the darkness she was willing to embrace. "Now, tell me you still don't want to come with me?" she asked, her tone filled with determination. "Ludwig deserves to die, Louisiana, for hurting you."

The idea of Ludwig's death sent a surge of panic and anguish through me. "No!" I exclaimed, my voice trembling with emotion. "No, no, no..."

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I cried out, unable to contain the turmoil raging inside me. "Yes, I'm hurt by what he did," I managed to say through my sobs, "but that doesn't mean he deserves to die..."

Amelia's expression twisted with disdain. "I see. Just like your father. You're soft."

Silence filled the space between us as I struggled to calm myself, my mind racing with conflicting emotions.

"You won't kill him?" Amelia's question cut through the silence.

I shook my head vehemently, my refusal clear and resolute. The mere thought of causing harm to Ludwig, despite the pain he had caused, tore at my heart.

Amelia's sudden change in demeanor and the anger in her expression sent a chill down my spine. I could sense that something was about to happen, and I braced myself for the worst.

"Leaf!" Amelia's voice boomed, causing me to flinch at the sudden loudness. It was as if her anger had awakened everyone in the vicinity.

Leaf swiftly appeared and approached Amelia, casting a disdainful glance in my direction along with an insulting smile.

Without hesitation, Amelia issued a command. "Cage her," she ordered, her voice filled with authority and malice.

Leaf grasped my arm forcefully, causing me to stand up against my will. With a rough shove, she propelled me toward a massive birdcage situated on the other side of the room, her actions filled with aggression and hostility.

The feeling of helplessness engulfed me as I tried to resist but found myself too weak to fight back. My limbs remained restrained, limiting my movements, and my body still ached from the wounds sustained during my struggles with Leaf and the Ghouls. The realization that Ludwig may never have truly cared for me only added to the soreness that permeated my entire being.

Leaf, growing irritated by my sluggishness, resorted to dragging me by my hair, causing me to wince in pain. Despite the physical discomfort and exhaustion, I didn't cry out or protest. I simply lacked the energy and willpower to do so.

As I was placed inside the birdcage, it closed shut behind me, sealing me in my temporary prison. 

Amelia's unsettling smile and casual mention of killing Ludwig for me sent a shiver down my spine. It was as though she viewed murder as a mundane task, and her words only added to the sense of dread that had settled within me.

"Whether you like it or not, you will help me become the Queen of Etherealis," she declared with a cold determination, her laughter ringing in the air as she departed with her cohorts.

Left alone in the darkness of my confinement, the silence weighed heavily on me. The absence of Leaf and the departure of Amelia and the Ravager left me feeling isolated and abandoned. The reality of my situation sank in, and a wave of loneliness washed over me, filling the void left by their absence.