Chapter 279: Before You Forgot Me [18]
Strength is a curse dressed as a blessing.
The weak may suffer, but the strong must watch. Watch as those they cherish wither. Watch as the world they swore to protect crumbles in their hands. It is not that they are weak. The truth is simply far crueler than that.
"Fate." Veronica muttered, glancing at the clouds floating just outside her window. "Such a convenient name for failure."
Those were Charlotte’s words.
Charlotte used to say them with a bitter smile, back when they were both young. Back when she never understood what those words truly meant.
Veronica recalled the night she spent with Charlotte.
- - -
The two of them were sitting at their usual favorite spot. The rooftop of the Blood Tower. Watching the night sky stretch endlessly above them.
The stars were all scattered like spilled silver. It all looks majestic.
It was the last peaceful night they ever had together.
"Why are you doing this?" Veronica had asked.
Charlotte did not look at her. She kept her eyes on the stars.
"Mmm? Because this is the only way."
Veronica’s hand tightened against the cold stone beneath them.
"This... will get you killed." She said, "No. I will not allow it. Let me help—"
"Veronica." Charlotte said softly.
She finally turned to look at her friend.
"This is the only way. Please do not ruin it. Okay?"
Veronica went silent.
"...."
She stared at Charlotte.
A smile sat on Charlotte’s face. But it was tiring. Her glossy lips looked slightly bluish at the corners, and huge dark circles hung heavy under her eyes.
It was very clear. She had not slept for many nights. She had put so much thought into this. Must have calculated every outcome like always.
This was not a sudden decision from Charlotte’s side.
This was a choice Charlotte had made a long time ago. And had been carrying alone ever since.
"Why...?" Veronica whispered. "Why are you doing this...?"
Charlotte’s smile widened slightly.
"Hehe... you will understand it one day."
"...Char—"
"It will be fine." Charlotte interrupted gently. "And besides, I have trust in You and Eula. Even if something were to happen to me, Eula is the type of girl who would follow ’him’ blindly."
Charlotte winked at her. She then turned her gaze back to the sky.
"And if you ever see her choosing the path I chose... you can stop her. Right?"
Veronica’s eyes widened.
She understood now. Charlotte was not just planning her own sacrifice. She was planning for everything that came after her. For her sisters. For the kingdom. For the World. And for a future she would never get to see.
Veronica’s throat tightened.
"I hate you." She said.
Charlotte blinked.
"Hm? Wait really—ooofff!"
Veronica dashed forward and wrapped her arms tightly around Charlotte. Pulling her into a fierce embrace.
"I hate you."
"Veronica?" Charlotte said, startled.
She hovered her arms awkwardly behind Veronica’s back for a moment. Then slowly relaxed. And hugged her friend back.
Veronica buried her face into Charlotte’s shoulder.
"Please." She mumbled. "Please let me help."
"You cannot." Charlotte said softly. "Please Veronica. Just leave me be and focus on your brother. I bet even Silvermoon would agree with my choice—"
"For you. I will go against her."
Charlotte shook her head.
"You know you cannot. That would bring an even bigger catastrophe."
Veronica bit her lips so hard she nearly drew blood.
She knew... She knew Charlotte was right.
That was the cruelest part of it all. Every word Charlotte spoke was correct. There was no flaw in her logic.
The strongest human of her era and she could not save one woman. Not because she lacked the power to do so, but because using that power would doom thousands more.
Charlotte pulled back gently from the embrace. She held Veronica by the shoulders and looked into her golden eyes.
"I will help you get ’his’ memories back." Charlotte said. Then she made one request.
"In exchange. Please." Charlotte said. "Take care of my sisters."
"..."
Charlotte didn’t stop there.
"And never go against Silvermoon. Save everyone. Save this world. You are our only hope here..."
Veronica did not like being ordered around by Silvermoon. She did not like the chains of duty wrapped around her neck. She did not like feeling helpless even though she held the power to fight against anyone.
It was so damn frustrating.
"...."
Veronica had said nothing that night. She had only held Charlotte tighter. As if holding her would somehow change fate itself.
It did not.
Charlotte died two weeks later.
- - -
Veronica blinked.
The memory faded, and a new fresh memory took shape.
Eula’s execution day.
Eula had been branded a criminal after her identity as the leader of the Twilight Order was exposed. And along with that, she was accused of attempting to assassinate the King himself.
That last part was not entirely false.
The King had been found half dead in his room. Guess Eula had beaten the absolute shit out of him before the guards managed to pull her away.
Veronica almost smiled at the memory.But that smile died the moment she remembered what came after that.
Eula was chained and dragged to the execution square, but her head held high even as her own father demanded her death.
And Veronica did nothing.
It still angered her. She had wanted to save Eula, had been ready to march into that square and freeze every guard solid where they stood. But Silvermoon had ordered her not to.
The goddess told her plainly that saving Eula would guarantee Leon’s death somewhere in the future. The threads of fate were tangled in ways Veronica could not see it now, and Silvermoon would not explain it further.
["never go against Silvermoon. Save everyone. Save this world. You are our only hope here..."]
"Tch." She clicked her tongue, looking outside the window. "Catastrophic, she said."
"My lady...."
Someone said from beside her table. Veronica didn’t look back, instead saw her reflection on the glass. She moved her eyes slightly and saw her dearest maid standing on the other side of the desk, holding her usual night tea and a pair of cold face towels.
She gestured to her to leave it on the table.
"..."
The maid didn’t argue and did as she instructed. She paused and glanced at her master, wanting to say something to make her feel better. But she knew her well. What she wanted right now was to be left alone.
That’s what she was usually like. The shut in tower head. The strongest human of this era. The eldest of the Valentine. And... the sister of the kingdom’s most wanted traitor.
As the maid gave up and was about to leave ,Veronica said.
"Do you hate me for this... Myra?"
Myra paused in her tracks. Her eyes widened.
"...?"
Myra turned around. She was actually startled just now. She had never in her life had expected to hear this.
Veronica didn’t turn around.
"Do you think I am selfish?"
She asked.
"No. Never!"
Myra hurriedly replied. Her voice slightly shook.
"My-my lady, why are you saying this? I could never ever think bad of you! You gave me this new life. You took care of me. You treated me like your own... a-and I-I thought of you as my own sister. I truly felt that."
Myra saw Veronica slightly smile from her reflection in the glass.
It was barely there. Just a faint curve of her lips. But Myra knew her lady well enough to recognize even the smallest expression on her face.
"Tell me Myra." Veronica said again.
"What would you have done in my place?"
"What do you mean?"
Veronica asked with her usual cold tone. "You know what I am asking."
"..."
Myra really does. But... she didn’t want to answer her.
And Veronica read her like an open book. "Hmm." She just sighed. "It’s alright. You don’t have to say it." Veronica’s eyes settled down on Myra’s fingers, which were curled tightly on the tray. "You may go now."
Myra wanted to speak, but she felt like it would be better to leave her alone. Especially after what she went through yesterday. At a time like this, she just wished Leon to be here. If it comes to be him, he could never let Eula die like that.
"...kuuk..." Just thinking back at that horrifying scene made Myra’s blood boil.
Just how cruel can a father become to their own blood? Blinded by power...
’A Demon...’ Myra thought, ’No... he’s worse than a demon.’
After Myra left, only Veronica left inside her office.
She looked outside the window. Just outside this window was supposed to be her favorite spot. She used to watch stars with Charlotte.
"I am sorry." he muttered again. "I can’t save your sister."
She had to choose this route. Otherwise every sacrifice they all had made would be in vain.
"...Leon... where are you?"
Zing–!!
A sharp hum cut through the silence.Her thoughts halted.
Veronica turned around, and found three near translucent figures appeared.
Two women, one an elf and another a beautiful girl with golden eyes.
’Golden eyes?’ Veronica thought.But before she thought more about eyes, her gaze fell on a young man leaning behind them.
He had grown a beard and hair, but there was no doubt.
"Leon..?"
