Location: Magda's Chambers
Magda's chambers were a sanctuary of quiet simplicity, her reserved personality reflected in the muted elegance of the decor. The scent of lavender lingered faintly in the air, mingling with the rustle of pages as Magda leafed through an ancient tome on magical theory.
She sat by the window, the light of enchanted orbs casting a warm glow over her jet-black hair, neatly braided over one shoulder.
The sudden knock at her door startled her. Magda looked up, surprised when Flora stepped inside without waiting for an answer. Flora's golden hair gleamed in the soft light, her green eyes sharp but tinged with an underlying distress.
"Flora?" Magda said, closing her book and rising to her feet. "What's the matter? You look troubled."
Flora shut the door behind her with a forceful push, her movements hurried and tense. "Troubled doesn't begin to cover it," she said, crossing the room in a few quick strides. "Magda, this marriage bill... it's a disaster waiting to happen."
Magda tilted her head slightly, her crimson eyes narrowing. "You're worried about the bill?"
"Of course, I'm worried!" Flora exclaimed, throwing her hands up. "If it passes, your marriage to Micheal could be annulled. Do you even understand what that means? The Emperor is willing to sacrifice you—for what? A principle?"
Magda's expression softened as she stepped closer. "Flora, I don't think you're seeing the whole picture. This bill isn't just about me, or you. It's about protecting young women—women who have no one to fight for them."
Flora's green eyes narrowed. "That's easy for you to say. You have the Emperor's protection, his resources. You've never had to worry about being sold off to the highest bidder!"
Magda's shoulders tensed, but her voice remained calm. "You're wrong, Flora. I've lived that fear."
Flora blinked, her anger faltering. "What are you talking about?"
Magda gestured for Flora to sit, her own movements measured as she perched on the edge of a cushioned chair.
"Before papa found me, I lived as Magda Featherfield. My mother was gone, and the Featherfields—who would have been your cousins if things had been different—saw me as nothing but a burden. I'll never forget the day they tried to sell me to a rich merchant. I was fifteen."
Flora's face paled. "What happened?"
Magda's crimson eyes darkened with the memory. "The Academy scouts came that day, begging Steffan Featherfield to let me go with them. For once in his life, he stood up for something. He let them take me. If he hadn't, I don't know what would have become of me."
Flora's voice softened, her anger giving way to unease. "But you still ended up in an arranged marriage."
Magda nodded, her voice steady but tinged with resignation. "Yes. When the Emperor found me, I thought my life would finally be my own. But he had his reasons, and I understood them. Still, it was a disappointment—a reminder that even as the Emperor's daughter, my choices were limited."
Flora's eyes filled with a mix of shame and guilt. "I didn't know..."
Magda reached out, placing a hand gently on Flora's arm. "Flora, I understand why you're upset. This bill might complicate things for us, but it could save countless others from the life I almost had. I can't fight against that."
For the first time, Flora felt the weight of her sister's words. She had come to Magda with anger and desperation, planning to turn her against Raphael, but now she saw her sister in a new light—not as an opponent, but as someone who had faced struggles she could barely comprehend.
"I'm sorry," Flora said softly, her voice trembling. "I didn't realize how much you've been through."
Magda's expression softened into a faint smile. "You don't have to apologize. We're sisters. We should be able to talk about these things."
Flora hesitated before returning the smile, her green eyes glistening. "You're a lot stronger than I gave you credit for."
Magda chuckled lightly, her crimson eyes warming. "And you're stronger than you think. We're more alike than we realize."
The room fell into a comfortable silence, the tension between them dissolving into a shared understanding.
For the first time in years, Flora felt a sense of closeness with Magda—a bond that went beyond their shared connection to the Emperor.
The sound of the door creaking open broke the moment, and both sisters turned to see Micheal stepping inside. His sharp blue eyes swept over them, his platinum hair gleaming in the dim light.
"Am I interrupting something?" he asked, his tone light but curious.
Flora stiffened slightly, her earlier vulnerability replaced by a guarded posture. Magda, however, smiled faintly. "Not at all. We were just talking about the marriage bill."
Micheal raised an eyebrow as he leaned casually against the doorframe. "Ah, the infamous bill. Seems to be causing quite the stir. What's the plan?"
Flora crossed her arms, her voice edged with lingering frustration. "Do you even have one? Or are you just here to watch the chaos?"
Micheal's lips quirked into a faint smile. "I have a plan—or rather, the start of one. Let's find a solution that works for all of us. We're in this together, whether we like it or not."
Flora hesitated, her green eyes narrowing slightly. "And why should I trust you?"
Micheal met her gaze evenly, his tone steady. "Because, Flora, I want the same thing you do—to protect Magda, and to make sure we all come out of this intact."
Flora glanced at Magda, who gave her a reassuring nod. Slowly, she allowed herself to relax, her walls lowering just enough to let Micheal in.
"Fine," she said finally, her voice softer. "But don't make me regret this."
Location: Raphael's Study
Magda didn't bother knocking as she entered Raphael's study, her crimson eyes sharp with determination. The door creaked open, and Raphael, seated behind his desk, glanced up from the parchment in his hand. A flicker of warmth lit his crimson gaze, softening the sharp features that commanded fear and respect across the Empire.
"Little dove," Raphael greeted with a smile, setting the parchment aside. "You've come to grace me with your presence. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Magda crossed the room, her steps purposeful but unhurried. "I need to talk to you about the marriage bill," she said without preamble, folding her arms as she stopped before his desk.
Raphael leaned back in his chair, his long raven-black hair cascading over his shoulders. "Ah, the infamous bill. Tell me, is it Micheal's sulking or Flora's fretting that sent you here?"
Magda's lips twitched with the faintest hint of a smile, but her expression quickly turned serious. "Flora is worried—and so am I. This bill could annul our marriages. Don't you see what that would mean for her? For me?"
Raphael tilted his head, his crimson eyes studying her with amusement. "And what's so terrible about that? If your marriage is annulled, you can have an even grander wedding when you're twenty-one. Imagine the spectacle—a ceremony befitting the Emperor's daughter and her Merchant Prince."
Magda scowled, her crimson eyes narrowing. "Papa, I'm serious."
Raphael chuckled, the sound warm and teasing. "And so am I, my little dove. But fine, let's talk seriously." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "The bill isn't about you or Flora. It's about protecting those who can't protect themselves. Surely you, of all people, can understand that."
Magda's posture softened slightly, her arms falling to her sides. "I do understand. But Fredrick is thirty this year. His clan won't let him wait much longer for a wife. And Flora... she's terrified of losing everything."
Raphael's expression darkened, a flicker of guilt crossing his face. "Fredrick's age gap with Flora has always troubled me," he admitted. "But it's not my place to make that decision for her. She's made her choice, and I won't take it from her."
Magda hesitated, her crimson eyes searching Raphael's face. "Then what do we do? How do we help her?"
Raphael's gaze softened, his tone quieter now. "Flora's marriage won't be affected if it's legitimized before the bill passes. A consummated marriage is beyond the reach of the law."
Magda's cheeks flushed, her composure slipping for a moment. "Papa!"
Raphael's lips curved into a faint smirk, but the warmth in his eyes remained. "I'm just saying, Magda. Sometimes the solution is simpler than you think."
Magda shook her head, exasperated but unable to suppress a small smile. "You're impossible."
"That's why you love me," Raphael replied smoothly, leaning back in his chair. "Now, go. Stop worrying about Flora. She's stronger than you give her credit for."
Magda hesitated, her crimson eyes lingering on Raphael. "And Micheal and me?"
Raphael's expression softened further, his tone playful again. "If your marriage is annulled, I'll throw you the grandest wedding the Empire has ever seen. Gold-plated invitations, a feast that lasts for days... Micheal will be lucky to survive it."
Magda rolled her eyes, but the corner of her lips quirked upward. "You're impossible, Papa," she said again, turning toward the door.
"Don't forget it," Raphael called after her, his voice tinged with affection.
-----
The study grew quiet after Magda left, the faint hum of enchanted lamps the only sound in the room. Raphael sat for a moment, his crimson eyes gazing absently at the papers on his desk. Then, his right hand trembled slightly, and he clenched it into a fist, the tremor subsiding with the motion.
The room grew darker, the light of the lamps dimming as a shadowed figure stepped into the study.
"You called for me," the hooded figure said, their voice low and steady.
Raphael looked up, his crimson eyes narrowing slightly. "You're late."
The figure shrugged, their movements fluid but deliberate. "You're lucky I came at all. What do you want?"
Raphael leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "Magda may soon face challenges she cannot handle alone. You must protect her."
The figure's posture stiffened, their tone growing sharper. "You know I'm not ready for this."
"You will be," Raphael replied, his voice firm. "But for now, lie low. Observe. Act only when necessary."
The figure crossed their arms, their tone slipping into a grumble. "You sound like a bad tutor."
Raphael's lips twitched into the faintest smile. "And you sound like a reluctant student. But you'll do what's needed."
The figure hesitated, their hooded face tilting slightly as if weighing Raphael's words. "What if I hear something I don't like?"
"Then you keep quiet," Raphael said sharply, his tone leaving no room for argument. "This isn't about you—it's about Magda. Remember that."
The figure said nothing, their presence lingering for a moment before they disappeared into the shadows as silently as they had arrived.
Raphael sat alone once more, the study returning to its earlier stillness. He stared at his trembling hand, flexing his fingers slowly until the tremor subsided.
"Soon," he murmured to himself, his crimson eyes narrowing. "Soon, it will all fall into place."