Desire (2)
Artisia von Ravenica arrived at Lien's chambers on the eve of the trial. The church had been rigorously blocking any meetings with the Saintess, so it took until the dead of night to find a way through the stringent guards and slip into the room. Artisia's face was a tangled mix of undisguisable anxiety and joy.
If only Lien would testify.
If the Saintess herself denied that Elijah was the culprit, no one—not the Pope, not the church—could doubt his innocence. And the Lien that Artisia knew was someone who cherished her oppa with all her heart.
Kiiiek…
Artisia carefully pushed open the heavily reinforced door of the chamber. Lien sat blankly on the bed, gazing out the window. Moonlight streamed through the open gap, illuminating her hair. Her jet-black locks gleamed silver.
"…Lien."
Artisia approached the bedside and knelt. Lien slowly turned her head. Her expression was somehow vacant.
"Lien. Do you know what's happened to Elijah?"
Lien nodded. Artisia let out a quiet sigh of relief inside. It was already very late. She had to secure Lien's promise before the patrolling holy knight returned. There was no time to explain everything she'd uncovered.
"Then let's get straight to the point."
Artisia bowed her head, grasping Lien's hand.
"Tomorrow is Elijah's ratification trial. Please testify there. Say he wasn't the culprit, that someone else was."
Lien stared at Artisia in silence. Artisia's reflection shone in her amber eyes. A pitiful woman clinging to another's mercy to save the man she loved. Gazing at Artisia's imploring eyes, Lien felt a strange emotion stir.
Artisia pleaded once more.
"Please. You know it too, Lien. Elijah isn't the culprit."
Lien slowly opened her mouth.
"…What are you talking about?"
Her voice was cracked.
"Of course I'll testify. There's no way Elijah oppa would do something like that. Don't worry."
Artisia fell silent for a moment. Still holding Lien's hand, she let out a small sob.
"…Thank you, thank you so much, Lien. Really."
"No need to thank me."
Lien gave a short laugh.
"I can't just sit by while oppa gets slapped with such a filthy false charge."
Artisia wiped her eyes with her sleeve and, in a low voice, revealed her plan.
"…The imperial family can't intervene outright tomorrow. If I step in directly, relations with the church will hit a breaking point. So…"
She trailed off. Lien gazed at her steadily.
"…So?"
"…First, I'll declare the engagement broken. It was the Pope's direct ruling, after all. If I don't show that we're respecting it, the church will keep hounding Elijah."
The air in the room froze solid. Lien said nothing.
"Then I'll request your testimony. If the Saintess herself says he wasn't the culprit, the tribunal won't have grounds for punishment. That's… all I can do right now."
Artisia's desperate voice mingled with the moonlight and scattered. Lien stayed silent for a long while before finally speaking softly.
"…I understand. I'll do it."
Only then did Artisia exhale the breath she'd been holding.
"Thank you, Lien. I'll never forget this favor."
It was the moment Artisia rose in relief. Lien's gaze lingered on Artisia's white fingers. The engagement ring. A golden band delicately engraved with the imperial crest. The most precious token of promise in the world, one Elijah had slipped onto her finger himself.
Lien stared piercingly at the ring.
A promise, huh.We had one too.
Fortunately, Artisia didn't notice Lien's stare. But only for a moment.
"…Lien?"
Sensing something off, Artisia called to her.
"It's nothing."
Lien looked up and gave Artisia a light smile.
"I hope tomorrow's trial goes according to plan."
Artisia studied her briefly, then nodded and left the room. The heavy door closed, and a suffocating silence settled once more.
Left alone, Lien looked down at her own hand. Her empty fingers bore nothing. She turned back to the window.
The empire's courtroom was quite different from the church's in many ways. Golden tapestries embroidered with the crimson imperial crest hung on the walls. Warm light flowed softly from the chandeliers on the ceiling, illuminating the chamber. Judges in robes bustled about, discussing evidence and witnesses, and the presiding judge delivered fair verdicts according to imperial law.That was how I remembered it.
"…."
Before my eyes, people in robes scurried about. Some moved busily, others nodded and jotted notes. It was definitely similar to my memory.
Except for one thing: they all looked gray.
…A dream?
Then that means I'm still in the interrogation room.
I slowly lowered my gaze. The clinking chains caught my eye.
"Pha."
A faint metallic sound leaked from my lips. It felt strangely distant somehow.
Feels like a dream.
Or is it?
I don't know.
Where are Artisia and Lien?
Artisia… right. I was planning to visit her room after work.
…Work?
Has the night shift already ended?
My memories were hazy. Wait. Night shift? What night shift? Oh, right. I was on night watch today.
I slowly scanned my surroundings. My vision was blurry; I couldn't see well. Already night? How did time pass so fast? Then Lien must be asleep by now. Well, she's always slept a lot since she was little. But what are these people? Seems like they're saying something to me.
"…Din."
What're they saying? I can't hear well.
"…Elijah Verdin!"
Tang!
A sharp gavel rang through the courtroom. I blinked a few times, and my hazy vision gradually sharpened.
…Ah.
Only then did I snap back to reality. Maybe because I hadn't slept properly for days. My mind was foggy. I bit my lips hard. Blood seeped from the already split skin, and my head finally cleared a bit. My vision was still tinged gray.
The judge looked down at me, shaking his head. After checking some documents, he declared loudly.
"We now commence the ratification trial of Elijah Verdin."
I slowly raised my head. A robed man stepped forward from the right.
"Before proceedings, Her Imperial Highness the Princess requests to speak."
Click. Click.
Footsteps echoed on the marble floor, drawing closer. In that instant, color briefly returned to the gray courtroom. Thick silver hair gleamed under the golden lights. Ivory robes brushed the floor.
Artisia.
She alone seemed alive in this space. Artisia stopped before me. She turned her head briefly to look at me. In that moment, something flitted across her lips.
"…."
A smile? Comfort? It was too fleeting to tell, but somehow, a corner of my chest warmed.
Artisia faced forward again.
"I, First Imperial Princess Artisia von Ravenica of the Empire."
Her voice was flat.
"…hereby annul my engagement to Elijah Verdin, effective immediately. The imperial family will not interfere in this matter and respects the church's disposition."
The courtroom murmured. I stared at Artisia's back.
Ah, I see.
My mind understood. The imperial family lacked the power to oppose the church outright. Defending me rashly would endanger her too. Annulment? Fine by me. As long as Artisia was safe. Wasn't that what I'd wanted all along?
It was a perfectly acceptable outcome.
"However—"
Artisia continued.
…But was Artisia's hair always that grayish? And that robe looks off. The color's darkening bit by bit. Hm. Guess I'm not fully awake yet. Can't have this during such an important trial. Pull it together, Elijah.
While I thought that, Artisia didn't return to her seat. She stood tall before me and said in a low voice.
"—I request that we hear testimony directly from the victim, the Saintess."
In that instant, my heart skipped a beat. Then it pounded fiercely. Blood surged hot through my veins.
I looked toward the tribunal; the judge and church priests were conferring. Moments later, the judge nodded.
"Summon Saintess Lien to the witness stand."
I swallowed dryly. At the same time, a door opened on the left side of the courtroom.
"…Lien."
Pure white saintess robes. A pallid face. Each step seemed precarious, but it was unmistakably Lien. She's safe. Thank goodness.
As Lien walked toward the stand, her eyes met mine briefly. For a split second, a warm light from her amber gaze seemed to spread through the chamber. She must not have eaten well; her once-plump cheeks were hollowed. Her glossy black hair was dull and frizzy, her fair skin deathly pale. She looked heartbreaking.
Still, it was a relief. Now that Lien was here. If she just said it wasn't me, that I hadn't done anything to her. One word, and things could go back to how they were. I'd buy her favorite sweets, eat together. Go cherry blossom viewing—just the two of—wait, they're probably gone already? Whatever. She'd love any flowers. Artisia could join; the three of us viewing blossoms.
By then, Lien stood at the witness stand.
"…."
She gazed steadily at me and at Artisia before me. I nodded faintly.
Just tell the truth, Lien.
Suddenly, I noticed Artisia's hand clenched into a fist. She stared piercingly at Lien.
The judge asked.
"Saintess Lien. State who invaded your chambers that night."
Lien didn't answer. She hung her head, staring at the floor. Silence stretched long.
Lien…?
I looked at her puzzled. After more time passed.
Lien raised her arm. Then slowly, very slowly, pointed at me.
"…It was Elijah."
In that instant, my vision went pitch black. No sound, no light, no murmurs from the gallery. Everything vanished in a heartbeat. Pure darkness crashed over me.
Ah.
Another dream, huh.
What a cruel god, showing me dreams like this.
I blinked. Once, twice. My eyes stung. Lights poured from the ceiling, murmurs swelled from the gallery. Noises like drowning in water crashed in waves.
At the center. Lien's finger still pointed at me.
"…?"
I couldn't comprehend. Something was wrong. A mistake. Yeah, she must be mistaken. She lost consciousness that night. Last thing she saw was me, so… Or did the church pressure her? No, no one would dare with Lien.
In that moment, a flash in my mind. The culprit. Yeah, the real one's here. She's scared. Right, Lien? Tell me so. Look at me, Lien. Why that face? Why avoid my eyes? Hey? Answer me, Lien.
In that instant.
"Kuhk…."
Air choked off. My chest tightened. Heart stilled. Lungs shrank, blood drained dry. The scene before me tilted.
"…Elijah! Elijah!"
Someone calling my name faintly. And at the same time.
My vision blacked out.