Lady Heaven

We found ourselves in the parlor when an old lady in a red dress greeted us. Initially, I felt anxious, but that feeling was quickly replaced by delight, especially when Ludwig firmly held my hand.

I had once believed I was alone in the world, but now I realized I still had a blood relative. The woman before me appeared old, her long curly hair white, and her face adorned with wrinkles, yet she exuded a timeless beauty.

Her pointy ears wiggled in excitement as we approached. "My goodness, you look just like your mother!" she exclaimed, her purplish eyes widening as they met mine. "But with your father's eyes, and oh, those ears. Truly Elven. Magnificent."

Both Ludwig and I stood there, stunned, as the woman wiped away her tears with a handkerchief. We hadn't expected such a positive greeting and were unsure how to respond.

"I should've known you'd inherit your grandfather's gift! Ilia would be so proud!" she continued, still emotional.

I cleared my throat, feeling a bit awkward. "I'm happy to see you too," I replied softly, but she embraced me nonetheless.

Her hug was gentle and comforting. "You've grown so well," she said tenderly. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you."

I glanced at Ludwig, noticing the hesitation in his eyes. He seemed unsure whether to stay and offer moral support or to give us privacy for our reunion.

"I'm sorry you had to deal with everything on your own. I wasn't aware that Ilia would proceed with her plan to hide you in the human world to protect you from Amelia," she continued, her voice filled with regret.

"Ilia?" I asked, puzzled. "Who's Ilia?"

The old lady froze in her embrace, staring at me as if I were a magical anomaly. "Who's Ilia? You don't know Ilia? How? What happened? How did you forget your mother?"

I felt a surge of shock and confusion, causing me to stiffen, but Ludwig quickly came to my side, sensing my distress. "Amelia is not my mother?"

My grandmother's eyes widened. "Amelia? Your mother? My goodness, no, of course not."

Relief washed over me, and I saw sadness in my grandmother's expression.

Ludwig stepped forward, offering his hand to my grandmother. "Ludwig Ragnarsson, King of the Fire Fae."

My grandmother held Ludwig's hand firmly, her purplish eyes locked onto his with unwavering intensity. Her gaze seemed analytical, as if she were assessing Ludwig in that moment.

"I've heard many things about you, young man," she remarked, her voice measured.

Ludwig stiffened at her words but maintained his composure. "I would like to express my condolences since Amelia is your daughter, but you must understand that what I did was necessary. Your daughter murdered our King, stole our Ones, and kidnapped my Fate..."

The old lady burst into tears at Ludwig's words, causing him to stand straight and glance back at me. He leaned in close and whispered in my ear, "Now I'm really worried that you'll hate me for making your grandmother cry."

My grandmother cried silently, tears flowing with elegant sorrow. When she regained her composure, there was a sadness in her eyes.

"Forgive me for this. I can't seem to control my emotions these past few days. Perhaps it's brought on by old age," she said with a sigh. "It was all my fault. I wasn't there to guide Amelia as she grew up, and she lost her way."

I could see the bitterness in Lady Haven's eyes, but she quickly composed herself and flashed me a sweet smile, perhaps trying to ease the tension and foster a connection.

"I don't know why you can't remember your mother, Louise," she pondered. "Perhaps it's a byproduct of the Sealing Charm your father created, but Ilia, your mother, was a very sweet lady."

Lady Haven reached for my hands, and though I was still hesitant, I allowed her to hold them.

Her hands, though wrinkled, were soft and delicate as she placed them over mine, and together we walked towards the expansive garden.

"Ilia grew up under my care because your mother was an Elven. Meanwhile, Amelia was raised by their father, a Fire Fae. Despite being twins, they were vastly different," Lady Haven explained.

My jaw dropped in astonishment at her revelation. Amelia and Ilia were twins, explaining why I had assumed Amelia was my mother.

"While Ilia was gentle-hearted, Amelia was not. I always attributed it to her upbringing under her father, especially since he was a brave Fae knight," Lady Haven added, offering insight into the stark differences between my mother and aunt.

Every time we encountered servants in the hallway, they would bow to acknowledge us. I was still not accustomed to this level of deference. It felt strange to have people bowing to me, so I tried to discourage them from doing so, but they didn't seem to heed my requests.

"We weren't Fated, so we didn't stay together for long. That's why he ensured that Amelia was raised alone because they had the same abilities, while I returned to my own land and raised Ilia there on my own, as best as I could," Lady Haven explained.

There was a distant look in her eyes, and I couldn't help but imagine what my mother's life must have been like.

"I still visited Fortunalia, but not as frequently, especially when the Ministers started restricting my access. Each time I visited Amelia, I noticed her gradual change. As she grew up, she became greedy, craving everything," Lady Haven continued, her voice tinged with sadness.

Once we reached the lush garden, my grandmother settled on a nearby seat, and I followed suit, with Ludwig trailing silently behind us like a protective shadow.

"When you were born, a Seer foresaw that you were gifted with a rare Geass," she continued. "Amelia learned about this and suspected that you would inherit your grandfather's power."

There was a hint of disappointment in Lady Haven's tone, but she noticed my eagerness and curiosity, prompting her to continue her story. I hung onto every word she spoke.

"Your father, Nicolas, had the ability to perform Sealing Charms, but his father was an Abyssal Wayfarer," she revealed.

The mention of Abyssal Wayfarer struck a chord within me, as I realized it was the same as my own inherited ability.

"As an Abyssal Wayfarer, he had the ability to traverse different dimensions with his entire being. He could also exist as a wandering spirit," my grandmother explained.

I glanced at Ludwig, and his expression mirrored my own thoughts. It was reminiscent of the night Liam and he found me in the South. I wasn't physically present, but my spirit was.

"He could also create portals to the human world. Due to his power, he became a target for capture by the Aetherius, and sadly, he perished. We never understood why Amelia wanted to take you, but we suspected that she willingly joined their ranks," Lady Haven continued.

A servant arrived with tea, prompting a pause in our conversation as I absorbed her words under the morning light.

"Your father protected you with his life, but then he vanished. He concealed your essence to prevent Amelia from identifying you," she added.

Ludwig sensed my sadness as my grandmother spoke about my father, so he gently held my hands to comfort me. I was immensely grateful for his efforts in easing my pain. With him by my side, I felt like I wasn't alone in dealing with my emotions. I had him, always and forever, standing beside me.

Lady Haven's voice remained firm as she continued her narrative. "We didn't know how long the Sealing Charm would last, which is why your mother kept you hidden. Unfortunately, Amelia discovered you just as you were about to enter the portal. I wasn't aware of this at the time. I only learned months later that Amelia had killed her own sister. Thankfully, you escaped unscathed."

I felt myself become rigid in my seat as sudden clarity flooded my mind, connecting the blurry memories I had with my mother. The red dress, Amelia's face, the accident—everything started to make sense. I was there in that moment, the sole witness to my mother's death right before my eyes.

I closed my eyes, trying to push back the memories that were rushing in. Though my recollections were fragmented, I remembered enough details to piece together what had happened. In my memories, I saw my mother fighting with someone, and then the tragic accident that led to her death. However, as I delved deeper into my thoughts, a new realization dawned on me. There was something dark and ominous overshadowing her, a blackness tinged with the flames of Amelia's power.

The revelation shook me to the core. I knew Amelia was capable of cruelty, but I never imagined she could be capable of killing her own sister for her selfish desires. It was a sobering realization of the depths of her malevolence.

Different emotions surged through my heart and mind, but the dominant feelings were pain, regret, and a deep sense of loss.

"She killed my parents," I uttered through gritted teeth, anger palpable in my voice as tears welled up in my eyes.

Ludwig immediately embraced me from behind, offering comfort and solace, but the weight of sadness still weighed heavily on my heart.

"Louise, my Queen," Ludwig whispered softly. "Just let it out."

"She killed them," I cried out, unable to contain my emotions any longer. My shoulders shook with sobs, and my heart ached intensely from the overwhelming weight of the revelations.

"I wish I could take away your pain, Louise, but I don't know how. I wish I could erase what Amelia has done to bring you so much sorrow," Ludwig spoke softly, his words filled with empathy.

I held onto Ludwig's arms tightly, seeking strength from his comforting presence as tears clouded my vision.

Through my tear-filled eyes, I noticed my grandmother standing up and coming closer to me. As Ludwig released me, my grandmother embraced me, and together we shared a long moment of tears in silence.

After we had composed ourselves, I attempted to smile, trying to assure Lady Haven that I was alright, but her eyes still reflected sorrow.

"You mentioned that perhaps Amelia joined the group of the Aetherius," I said, seeking clarification.

She nodded with conviction. "We can't be certain because we lack evidence, but there's no other explanation for her actions," Lady Haven explained with a sigh. "I don't know if you're familiar with the Aetherius, my granddaughter."

My grandmother's eyes widened in surprise, and Ludwig's grip on me tightened as I spoke about Amelia and the Aetherius.

"I've heard about them," I interjected, cutting off any further explanation from Lady Haven. "And I know that Amelia has indeed joined them."

The mention of Amelia's involvement with the Aetherius seemed to ignite anger in Ludwig, a feeling I sensed through our Fate String, causing me to tremble at the thought of the Ravager.

"During my imprisonment, a Ravager visited Marina," I continued, recalling the unsettling encounter. "His eyes were different—one red, the other gold. I overhead that Amelia planned to offer me as a tribute to her allies, the Aetherius."

Ludwig's hand clenched into a fist, and his entire demeanor became rigid beside me. Lady Haven noticed the sudden change in the atmosphere, likely sensing Ludwig's anger.

The gravity of the situation sank in as my grandmother spoke, and I felt a surge of fear and determination. I turned to Ludwig and gently held his arms, urging him to calm down. He took a deep breath, and gradually, his fiery anger subsided.

"It seems the Aetherius had plans to conquer the human world by seeking the Transcendence, and when that failed, they intended to use you as a means to achieve their goal," my grandmother whispered, her disbelief evident in her tone.

A heavy silence descended upon us, each of us grappling with the weight of what had been revealed. Lady Haven's worried expression mirrored our own thoughts—this was not just a threat, but a declaration of war.

It was a relief to feel my grandmother's comforting embrace, her determination to keep me safe evident in her words. However, her resolve also made me realize the seriousness of the situation, filling me with a sense of apprehension.

We spent several more hours talking, delving into various topics. As the sun began to set, we covered a lot of ground, discussing my family history, including my grandfather, father, and mother. I also learned more about my grandmother's life and her current endeavors.

Despite the heavy revelations and the looming threat from the Aetherius, the time spent with Lady Haven brought a sense of happiness. She patiently answered all my questions, offering her wisdom and insights with wholehearted dedication.

It was a sobering realization to learn about the dangers of wandering as a spirit, especially considering the close call I had experienced when Amelia captured me. I was grateful to still be alive after that ordeal.

During our time together, my grandmother imparted a wealth of knowledge, and as the night grew deeper, we decided to rest. With Liam's coronation approaching in a week and Ludwig's upcoming mission to find and rescue Alexa, there was much to prepare for.

While I was eager to join in the efforts, I knew I had to be more cautious now that my life held such significance due to possessing the Ones. Any harm to me could have serious consequences for the kingdom, so I resolved to think carefully and act prudently in the days ahead.