Factures and Foraging : Vivian's dilemma

Location: Valenhart Estate, Flora's Chambers

Magda stepped directly from the chapel into Flora's chambers, where the soft glow of lanterns highlighted the delicate gold embroidery on Flora's gown as she adjusted it before a mirror. The anticipation of the wedding feast filled the room, humming with a vibrant energy. Turning to greet her, Flora's emerald eyes shimmered with warm gratitude.

"Magda," she began, crossing the room to embrace her. "Thank you for everything. For coming, for legitimizing the wedding—it means more than I can say."

Magda smiled, touched by Flora's sincerity. "It's my duty, but it's also my honor. This day suits you, Flora."

Flora hesitated for a moment before continuing, her voice quieter. "I also need to apologize. For standing with the Duke when he worked against you. I didn't realize it fully then, but now I see how wrong it was."

The confession struck Magda deeply. The atmosphere, already steeped in emotion, made her more vulnerable than usual. "Thank you, Flora. That means a lot," she said softly.

The tension in her chest eased as she took a breath, her crimson eyes glistening. "I just wish Micheal could be here to witness it."

At this, Flora's expression shifted comically into exaggerated disgust. "Now that we're feeling like real sisters, maybe I should use this newfound familial bond to push through the divorce bill. Honestly, how do you even put up with Micheal?"

Magda blinked, startled, before laughter bubbled from her. "You're impossible," she teased, shaking her head. "And Micheal isn't that bad."

"Isn't that bad?" Flora snorted. "Magda, he used to put insects in my shoes because he was jealous of the attention his Father gave me! Do you know how many times I found frogs in my wardrobe?"

Magda's laughter deepened as she leaned against a nearby chair for support. "Papa said something similar when I mentioned Micheal's childhood. He called him a brat too."

"For once, I agree with his Highness," Flora quipped, folding her arms. "Micheal's lucky he grew out of it. Sort of."

Magda rolled her eyes in mock annoyance but couldn't suppress her grin. "You're insufferable."

As Magda prepared to leave for the feast, Flora's tone softened again. "Magda, is it true? What people say about Steffan hitting you and starving you... when you were a child?"

Magda paused, her expression thoughtful. "Parenting in the countryside is... different," she said carefully. "But no, it doesn't bother me anymore."

Flora's face tightened with guilt. "I'm sorry you went through that."

Magda offered a faint smile, her voice steady. "Steffan wasn't all bad. He had moments where he tried, truly. He let me go to the capital and join the academy, even though it went against his family's wishes. In his own way, he tried to be a parent."

The two women shared a quiet moment, the warmth of their budding sisterly bond filling the room. As Magda turned to leave, she felt lighter, as though a small weight had been lifted. The path ahead still carried its challenges, but for now, she was grateful for this unexpected connection.

Location: Vivian's Tent, Imperial Camp

Ethan intercepted Magda just as she was leaving Flora's chambers. Magda had expected him to bring up Flora, but to her surprise, his concern was elsewhere.

"There's something wrong with Vivian," Ethan said, his tone calm yet heavy with tension. "She looks pale, and I can faintly smell blood on her. It's subtle, but unmistakable."

Magda's mind raced. She remembered how Vivian had favored her left side earlier that morning and how quiet she had been during the ceremony. "I'll check on her," Magda said firmly. "Ethan, are you going to the feast?"

For a moment, Ethan seemed torn. His emotions flickered briefly across his stoic face before he shook his head. "No. I'll head back to camp. Let me know if there's anything urgent."

Magda watched him leave, his steps purposeful as he headed toward the soldiers' quarters instead of the feast. Resolving herself, she made her way to Vivian's tent in the Imperial Guard's camp.

 -----

Magda pushed the flap of Vivian's tent open without knocking, her urgency overriding decorum. Inside, she froze at the sight before her. Vivian stood partially undressed, her back to the entrance. Dark bruises marred her torso, and hastily applied bandages hung loose, revealing poorly tended wounds.

Vivian turned sharply, her emerald eyes narrowing. "Your Highness," she said, her voice strained. "You need to learn to knock."

Magda ignored the rebuke, stepping inside. "What happened to you?" she demanded, her crimson eyes scanning the injuries. The dark patches on Vivian's skin and faint traces of fresh blood against the fabric of her gown told a harrowing story.

Vivian moved to cover herself, but Magda stopped her with a firm hand. "Let me see," she said, her tone softening but brooking no argument.

Reluctantly, Vivian sat down as Magda retrieved a first aid kit from a nearby shelf. With precise movements, Magda removed the haphazard bandages. The sight beneath made her inhale sharply.

The bruises weren't just the result of blunt force. Bite marks and small burns marred Vivian's skin, and as Magda cleaned the wounds, she realized the burns weren't accidental. She recalled her training—an aura user's saliva could carry residual aura. Soldiers who regularly used aura often left unintentional marks through close physical contact.

"Who did this to you?" Magda asked, her voice tight with barely restrained anger.

Vivian's jaw clenched. "It doesn't matter, Your Highness. My only concern is protecting you."

Magda paused, her hands trembling slightly as she applied antiseptic. "Vivian, I trust you. But if someone in the Imperial Guard is capable of this, they need to be dealt with."

Vivian shook her head, her voice cracking. "No one can know. It would jeopardize morale, and I… I can handle it."

Magda continued dressing Vivian's wounds, like how Calista had done for her three years ago, sometimes not asking can be the biggest consolation there is.

Tears slowly welled in Vivian's eyes, and before Magda could react, Vivian broke down, leaning into her. Magda stiffened momentarily before wrapping her arms around her, letting her cry. The weight of unspoken emotions poured out of Vivian in sobs that shook her shoulders.

Magda assumed it was the despair of facing an enemy she couldn't fight directly.

But Vivian's tears carried a deeper pain. She loved Ethan, and the knowledge that he could only express his desire when intoxicated tore at her. To Vivian, the sober Ethan was a noble son of Shelb, perfect and untouchable, while the drunken Ethan was a fleeting, a secret.

As the sobs subsided, Magda gently bandaged the wounds. "You're staying in my quarters from now on," she said firmly. "I won't let you put yourself at risk like this again."

Vivian wiped her tears, her voice barely a whisper. "Your Highness, I can't… I can't abandon my duties."

"Then consider it an order," Magda replied. Her tone was soft but resolute. "You're more valuable to me alive and well."

As Magda stood to leave, Vivian hesitated. "How did you know to find me?"

"Ethan," Magda said simply. "He noticed something was wrong and sent me to check on you."

Vivian's gaze dropped as her thoughts spiraled. The contrast between Ethan's drunken confessions and his sober detachment was stark. It felt like living with two different men. "It's like having a secret lover," she murmured to herself.

Magda paused at the entrance, her crimson eyes sweeping over the tent. Her thoughts turned grim. So many people around her were willing to risk their lives to protect her. She swore silently to herself to protect them in return, especially Vivian and Calista. Whatever dangers lay ahead, she would ensure they never faced harm because of her again.