Chapter XXII: Sin and Defilement (Part 2)

Rezef Genovia was warmly greeted by nobles from various esteemed families, each offering their respects and a range of extravagant gifts. Some presented unique and rare items, while others offered the most lavish and expensive treasures they could find. Among those who paid their respects was the Pope of the temple, who approached Rezef with a deep bow and words of reverence.As the formalities concluded, Rezef encountered his siblings. The third prince, Lucius, was known for his competence and diligence, despite his outwardly aloof demeanor. Beneath his stoic exterior, Lucius possessed a compassionate heart. In contrast, the fourth prince, Endymion Genovia, was notorious for his troublesome ways. His womanizing habits had often caused scandals, much to the dismay of the Emperor and the detriment of the Imperial Family's image. Despite his flaws, Endymion's bright and boisterous personality could be both endearing and exasperating.Lastly, there was Charlotte, the first princess and the youngest of the siblings. Innocent and pure, she was Frederick's favorite, and he had a particular soft spot for her. "Happy birthday, dear brother!" she exclaimed joyfully, her eyes sparkling with admiration.Frederick smiled warmly at her, patting her head affectionately. "Thank you, Charlotte," he replied.Endymion, ever the contrarian, complained loudly, "Yeah, yeah. Should I also greet you? Everyone else already has!"Lucius, appearing behind Endymion, rolled his eyes. "Even if you don't feel like it, you should still show respect to our elder brother, Endymion," he said pointedly, before turning to Frederick. "Happy birthday," he added with a respectful nod."Thank you, Lucius," Frederick responded with a gracious smile.Endymion scoffed and crossed his arms, only to feel a gentle tug at his pants. Looking down, he saw Charlotte pouting up at him. "Brother, carry me," she requested sweetly.With a resigned sigh, Endymion crouched down and lifted her into his arms. "Now, now, our princess is tired! Poor Charlotte! Maybe we should ask the great crown prince to stop his banquet and let everyone rest!" he teased, glancing mischievously at Frederick.Frederick, recognizing his brother's antics, chose to ignore the provocation. Lucius, however, shook his head in disapproval and gave Endymion a light smack on the back of his head, prompting a whiny protest. "You are too serious, Lucius! Brother Frederick didn't even react to my taunt!" Endymion exclaimed in disbelief."You're making a spectacle of yourself again, Endymion. Look at the nobles—they're judging you. Do you want to exasperate Father further and cause more trouble for him?" Lucius scolded, his tone laced with frustration.Endymion, unfazed, turned his attention back to Charlotte. "Look, little sis, Lucius is scolding me again," he said, hoping for some sympathy.Charlotte giggled and shook her head. "That's because he's right, big brother! Please don't cause any more headaches for Father," she pleaded, her tone gentle yet firm.Endymion sighed dramatically but couldn't help but smile at her. "All right, all right. I'll try to behave," he promised, his tone begrudgingly affectionate.Frederick watched the exchange with a mix of amusement and affection, grateful for the presence of his siblings on this special day. Despite their differences and the occasional conflict, moments like these reminded him of the unbreakable bond they shared as a family.As Frederick turned his gaze to Elysia, who was engaged in animated conversation with her friends, he felt the familiar presence of Rezef beside him. "Happy birthday, Frederick," Rezef greeted with a smile. Frederick glanced at him, scrutinizing the expression. Was that smile genuine?Meanwhile, Endymion leaned in to whisper to his brother Lucius, his voice tinged with unease, "Here comes the tyrant."Lucius sighed in response, completely resigned to his younger brother's antics. Back with Rezef, Frederick returned the greeting with a small, polite smile. "Thank you, brother."Rezef, sensing Frederick's discomfort, looked ahead before turning his gaze back to his brother. "You don't look happy. Is something wrong?" he asked, his tone probing.Frederick pressed his lips into a thin line, hesitant. "Well... it's just..."Rezef cut him off. "You should be happy. Whatever is bothering you should be insignificant today. This is your day. You are the star tonight, after all."Frederick mulled over his thoughts. It wasn't that someone had upset him; rather, it was the nagging worry that had taken root ever since Medea's warning about Rezef. He found it difficult to trust Medea after what she did to Elysia, yet he couldn't ignore the truth in her words. Frederick was no fool— he had noticed that this brother of his, had changed, and while Rezef's words could deny his intentions, his actions could not.Determined to address his concerns, Frederick decided to confront the issue head-on. "Brother, what do you think about Medea?" he asked, watching Rezef's reaction closely.Rezef raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by the question. "That shameless woman? Why are you asking me about her?"Frederick shrugged nonchalantly and sipped his wine. "I was curious about your thoughts, especially after she poisoned Elysia," he replied, glancing at Rezef to gauge his reaction.Contrary to his expectation of seeing Rezef's face harden, Frederick was met with a slight, almost disbelieving smile. What? he wondered, feeling a knot of unease tighten in his stomach.Rezef turned to him, a malicious glint in his eyes. "Are you suspecting me of something, dear brother?"Frederick froze, realizing Rezef had caught on to his suspicions. Rezef's response was evasive, a clear sign he was playing a mind game. Before Frederick could respond, the sound of the orchestra filled the hall, signaling the start of the ballroom dance.Before Frederick could respond, the orchestra began to play, signaling the start of the ballroom dance. Rezef leaned in and whispered darkly, "To answer your question, Medea is a twisted woman who needs to be put in her place."Rezef then moved away, leaving Frederick stunned. He wanted to stop him, to push further but was interrupted by Elysia's voice. "Your Highness?"Frederick turned slowly, seeing the love of his life smiling radiantly at him. "Let's dance together," she requested, her eyes filled with warmth.For a moment, the tension eased as Frederick took her hand, leading her to the dance floor. Yet, his mind remained troubled, the shadow of Rezef's words lingering in the back of his thoughts.Was it really true? That he indeed tried to take Medea's life?Elysia noticed his worries and called him softly, "Your Highness?"Frederick snapped back to reality, realizing they were dancing. He shook off his thoughts and focused on the moment, holding her close as they moved to the music. "My apologies, my love. There's just a lot of business consuming my thoughts," he said, his tone laced with embarrassment.Elysia leaned in, resting her head on his chest as she savored the moment. "Focus only on me, please," she murmured softly before looking back at him.Frederick smiled warmly, spinning her around gracefully. "Of course, you have my full attention," he said smoothly, pulling her close once more. The sound of romantic, melodious instruments echoed through the hall like a blooming flower. Frederick and Elysia's happiness was palpable, and those around them couldn't help but notice.He wanted this moment to last forever. He resolved that after tonight, he would reject Medea's offer and face his challenges on his own terms. He didn't want Elysia to feel uncomfortable or threatened by Medea. He needed no other woman in his life but her. He promised himself never to be tempted by someone who had almost ruined everything.As the night deepened, the banquet finally concluded. Nobles returned to their carriages to go home. Frederick ensured Elysia's safe departure, escorting her to her carriage. He kissed her forehead lovingly. "See you later," he said.Elysia smiled and nodded. Frederick signaled the coachman to prepare to leave, closing the carriage door. He watched the carriage until it disappeared from sight before calling for his loyal knight. "Summon Medea and have her meet me in my office. Make sure no one notices."The knight nodded and departed. Frederick sighed, adjusting his collar to breathe easier, then returned to the palace, heading to his office.On the other side, Medea and her brother walked to their carriage. She then suddenly recalled her conversation with Caelus and the intimate moments they shared earlier that evening. "Are you not worried he might decline again?" he asked, his tone laced with concern.Medea leaned against the balcony railings, resting her elbows there. She closed her eyes, a smirk playing on her lips. "Not at all. I have plans in place for that eventuality," she responded confidently, opening her eyes and turning her gaze to him.Caelus leaned back against the railings, crossing his arms. The moonlight highlighted his features, giving his face a peaceful glow even though he was alone with the devil once again. "You really spend a lot of time plotting and scheming, don't you? You seem to enjoy it," he remarked quietly, his eyes fixed on her.As they stood there, the soft, melodious sound of a violin, accompanied by various other instruments from the orchestra, reached their ears. The music was beautiful, serene, and... romantic? Medea took a deep breath, straightening up from the railings. "Are they dancing now?" she asked, her gaze still fixed ahead.Caelus nodded, confirming, "Yes, they are." He blinked twice before adding, "Wouldn't you like to join them?"She just huffed, turning to him with a sly smile. "And you? Would you join them?" she countered.The magician shook his head, a frown creasing his forehead. He sighed and looked away. "It's not my kind of thing."Medea chuckled softly at his response. "Exactly my answer," she said, her smile widening.Caelus, after thinking for a moment, shifted his position, leaning his left elbow on the railings to face Medea more directly. "However..." he began, his tone inviting her curiosity. Medea's eyes sparkled with anticipation, waiting for him to continue. With a serious yet gentle expression, he added, "I don't mind dancing if it's with you."Her eyes widened in surprise. She was utterly speechless; of all people, she never expected Caelus to say something so charming again. He wasn't the type to drop such lines, especially not him, a man completely oblivious to the art of wooing. For a moment, she struggled to find a response. It was infuriating, feeling so off-balance, a sensation that was entirely unlike her.Deciding to embrace the unexpected, Medea scrunched her nose and cleared her throat. "Fine. Let's dance," she proposed, looking into his eyes with hesitation. His amethyst eyes sparkled with a childlike excitement as he blinked."Really, huh?" Caelus asked, seeking confirmation.Medea frowned but took his wrist. "Yeah, really. Now, let's find somewhere more private. I don't want anyone seeing us and making a fuss." With that, she used her flickering powers to teleport them to a secluded spot.They arrived in a silent, serene place where a cold wind blew gently, and beautiful flowers stood still. The Bermuda grass beneath their shoes was steady, and they stood there in a moment of silence. Medea guessed they hadn't gone far from the palace since they could still faintly hear the music. As she surveyed their surroundings, she recognized the palace garden from her vessel's memories. This was the place where the real Medea and Frederick had once strolled together romantically."If I may," Caelus spoke, breaking the silence. Medea felt him move, and uncharacteristically, she flinched as he placed his right hand on her lower back near her waist. He gently pulled her closer and took her left hand in his, lifting it. "Place your hand on my shoulder, Medea," he whispered.Medea did as instructed, placing her hand on his shoulder. "Good. Now, follow my lead," Caelus said softly, beginning to waltz. They moved together seamlessly, perfectly in sync with the distant music, without stepping on each other's feet.Caelus swayed her gracefully, then held her waist as he executed a dip. He lowered her slowly and precisely, his gaze locked onto hers. At that moment, as their eyes met, he saw something in her red eyes that captivated him. Time seemed to slow, and Caelus suddenly heard the sound of his own heartbeat, 'thump thump,' echoing in his chest. Medea's gaze held a hint of surprise as Caelus gently pulled her back up, drawing her closer to him in a more intimate embrace. "How peculiar," he murmured under his breath, his eyes meeting hers once more.The moment stretched on, feeling like an eternity suspended in time.Eventually, without exchanging a single word but conveying a silent 'goodbye,' they slowly parted ways. Their movements were quiet, almost hesitant, as if unsure of how to navigate the unspoken tension that had arisen between them."Lady Medea."She turned, cutting off her thoughts completely with her brow furrowed. "Is there anything you need from me?" she asked in slight irritation.Meanwhile, Vincentius, who is inside the carriage, peeked out to see what was delaying his sister. He saw her talking with someone and decided to not intervene their conversation."His Highness requests your presence, my lady," the knight answered softly.Medea raised an eyebrow and scoffed, remembering that she had a deal to offer with the Crown Prince. "Oh, I thought he had forgotten our conversation." She smirked. "Very well. I'll go."Turning to her brother, she said, "It seems you'll be going home alone tonight. I have some business to attend to."Vincentius sighed. "Whatever it is, please come home safely, Medi."Medea nodded and closed the carriage door. The coachman set off, and Medea watched the carriage leave before addressing the knight. "Where is he?""In his office chamber, my lady," the knight replied.Medea stopped walking, causing the knight's confusion. "His office chamber? Wouldn't others see me?" she asked cautiously. Before he could respond, she disappeared in a blink.Before the knight could respond, Medea vanished, leaving him bewildered. "My lady?" he murmured to the empty space.Frederick stood by the large window in his office, gazing at the stars, waiting. His silent contemplation was interrupted by Medea's sudden appearance. "So, have you made your decision?" she asked, her tone dangerous."So, I guess you've made your decision?" she asked, her tone dangerously sweet.Frederick turned slowly, eyebrows furrowed. "How did you..."Medea rolled her eyes. "Magic, Your Highness. I teleported. Did you expect me to walk through the palace halls and open your door with everyone watching? I'd rather avoid any scandal."Frederick's mind buzzed with questions about her magic, but he decided not to waste time. With a deep sigh, he spoke firmly, "Whatever tricks you have, they don't concern me. I won't be accepting your offer, Medea. That's my final decision."