Fourteen years ago...
A nine year old girl a thirteen year old boy were watching an anime in television without the sounds turned on. Their eyes diligently followed the subtitles and they gasped in the fight scenes, their minds making up for the sounds.
They were siblings and both of them had hair as black as a raven's feather. The boy, Yuzan, was dressed in outdoor clothes, he was about to leave that day but his sister did not know that yet. Yuzan was not sure how to tell her.
The end credits for the episode appeared. His younger sister clapped her hands excitedly. She liked the episode and she wanted the next one already.
"Mia-chan, I need to talk to you," Yuzan said.
His younger sister looked at him curiously. She looked adorable with her long black hair in twin pigtails. She was also wearing a dress with lots of ruffles that made her look like a doll.
"Your Onii-chan has to leave this day," Yuzan said.
"Leave? Where?" His younger sister asked.
"Somewhere far away. Onii-chan has to study there for our family business," Yuzan said and patted her head.
Mia frowned. "When will you be back?"
"Onii-chan doesn't know. I'm sorry, Mia-chan," Yuzan said with a pained look.
He had a feeling that his parents would want him to stay in the US permanently as the future head of the business.
Mia looked hurt and confused. "Take Mia with you?"
Yuzan shook his head. "I wish I can but you know our parents won't allow it."
Mia teared up. "Mia will be alone."
Yuzan hugged Mia. "You'll be all right. Your Onii-chan knows you're strong. You're just like . . . the princess we were watching! Isn't she amazing? You're just like her."
Mia cried more. "The princess died, Onii-chan."
Yuzan scratched his head. "Ah, right. Hmm . . . just remember even if you think you're alone you're not. I know that someone will care for you and protect you even if I'm not by your side."
"Don't . . . leave, Onii-chan," Mia said between sobs.
Yuzan patted her back. "You can still watch anime secretly even if I'm not here. Just remember to turn off the sounds so they won't know, okay?"
Mia nodded, still crying.
Yuzan wiped her tears. "Maybe one day, you can make your own show and Onii-chan will watch it. In that way, we'll still be connected."
"Our parents won't like that," Mia said.
Even in her young age, she knew that their parents did not like the entertainment business. They liked products more than people. They liked money more than happiness. It was a wonder how they were able to make two kids. Perhaps making them was part of a business contract too.
"Yes, they won't," Yuzan smiled.
Yuzan knew of Mia's secret notebooks filled with stories she tried to write. Mia devoured stories and she liked making them too. It was too bad that she was born with parents who did not support her dreams. Heck, they even had to watch anime in secret!
Yuzan hugged Mia. "Believe in yourself. Oniichan looks forward to see who you will become."
Mia frowned. "Mia is Mia."
Yuzan smiled. "Yes, Mia-chan is Mia-chan. Don't forget that, okay?"
Mia finally smiled. "Onii-chan so weird!"
Yuzan laughed.
That was the last day the siblings were able to see each other in their original world.
*
*
*
Euphemia woke up with a smile. She felt better after crying last night and she even felt better after having a vivid dream of Yuzan.
Lucien left last night after seeing that she had calmed down already. Euphemia felt her cheeks go warm, remembering him hugging her.
He was just comforting her! Even Yuzan hugged her whenever she cried! Euphemia nodded to herself. That was it! There was no other meaning to Lucien's hug last night.
Euphemia rang the bell and the maids arrived. They helped tidy her up and she was dressed for the day. Euphemia chose a white and pink dress that reminded her of the princess in the anime that she liked.
Lucien was already at the dining room sipping a cup of coffee. He looked up when she entered.
"Good morning, Lady Euphee," he said with a smile. "Did you sleep well?"
"Good morning, Lucien. Yes, I did. Thanks to you," Euphemia said cheerfully.
Lucien must have remembered the embarrassing things he said last night. He covered his face but his ear was red.
"That's good to hear," Lucien mumbled.
"Is it all right if I do something else besides Saintess duties here in Aderlan?" Euphemia asked.
"Well, there really are not Saintess duties set in stone so I think there would be no issue," Lucien said.
"Do you have plays in Aderlan?" Euphemia asked excitedly.
"I'm not sure what you mean by plays, Lady Euphee," Lucien said.
"Actors and actresses? Theater?" Euphemia asked.
"I have no idea what those are, Lady Euphee," Lucien said.
Euphemia looked undeterred. "Thats all right. I'll just make one then!"
"Make what exactly, Lady Euphee?" Lucien asked.
"My own story!" Euphemia said.
She was going to fulfill her childhood dream. She wanted to try making her dream come true instead of dying without even trying.
*
*
*
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace, the knight that Euphemia had healed was looking for a way to escape.
After the Saintess healed him, he had noticed that he was not doing the commands being given by the Imperial Family like a puppet anymore. His mind was his own again but it would be fatal to him if they knew so he pretended that he was still under the influence of the slave contract.
He never signed a slave contract willingly. All of the knights thought it was just an ordinary contract with the Imperial Palace. When they finished signing it in front of the Queen, the contract glowed and magically transformed into a slave mark. All of the knights were branded by the said slave mark and after that day, they were simply puppets of the Queen and her son.
The knight quietly crept at the corridors. He had taken off his armor in order to move silently as possible. His only weapon was a simple dagger in his boot. He had to escape the palace so he could reveal its dark secrets to the world. He had to tell the Saintess of her power to save them.
He knew where his comrades were stationed so he was able to avoid being seen by them. There were people in the corridor he was about to pass through. From the pillar he was hiding, he could see that it was the crown prince and the High Priest talking to each other while walking. Behind the High Priest were other priests and behind the crown prince were his guards.
That corridor was the only way out of the palace that he knew of. It seemed that the crown prince was escorting the High Priest. They would be passing by the knight but the pillar would hide him.
The knight watched, silently waiting. He was so concentrated in watching them, he did not notice the presence of someone behind him until that person spoke.
"What are you doing?"
The knight jolted up and whirled to see who it was. It was the Empire's light herself, Queen Celestinia.
"Answer me," she said, her eyes as cold as ice.
"I was feeling unwell, Your Highness. I am simply resting," he said.
Should he make a run for it? But she would be able to command all of the soldiers to come after him and he would surely die. He should pretend that he was still under the influence of the slave contract.
The Queen looked narrowed her eyes at him.
"You're that knight, aren't you? You have been healed already," she said.
"Yes, the wound has healed already but I am still feeling lightheaded. I think it's best I rest in my quarters. Will you grant me your leave, Your Highness?" the knight said, trying not to appear nervous.
"No, stab your neck first," she said without batting an eye.
The knight's eyes widened in shock. His body did not move as fast as someone who was under a slave contract. He realized that he had not moved yet so he quickly took his dagger from his boot. He decided that he would make only a small wound and quickly lie down on the floor to conceal the wound.
He was about to raise his dagger to his neck when the Queen suddenly screamed.
"Help! He's going to kill me!"
Knights rushed from both sides of the corridor. The knight was trapped. The knights slashed their swords at his body. His dagger fell out of his hand. Blood burst out of him. He on the ground with a thud.
The knight gasped. The pain was excruciating. With the last of his strength, his hand looked for the dagger he had dropped. He wanted to kill her but the darkness took over him and he breathed his last.
*
*
*
The Queen was glad that she had arrived late for the discussion with the Holy Priest. She was able to find a traitorous slave who almost escaped.
She was pleased though. She learned something new. It meant that the Saintess had the power to break a slave contract. She would have to make sure that the Saintess would never heal a slave again. Perhaps the Saintess wouldn't heal anymore of her own volition after that incident in the throne room.
"Are you all right, Queen Mother?" her son asked, rushing to her side.
She caressed his cheek fondly. "It is in God's grace that I am unharmed."
The High Priest nodded. "God's grace indeed. Praise be, Light to the Empire's Sun."
"The Light shines upon you," the Queen said.
She turned to the knights. "Clean that up. You know what to do with the body."
The knights bowed and responded all at the same time, "As you command, Your Highness!"
She turned back to her son and to the High Priest with a smile. "Let us discuss somewhere else, shall we?"
Queen Celestinia was in a good mood. They were going to discuss how to enslave the Duke without the Saintess realizing.