[FLASHBACK - 19 Years Ago]
A woman in a brown hooded cape sprinted through the forest, turning her head—her green eyes that glimmered brightly against the moonlight. She panted every second as her legs kept running away. Then—
“Oh…” she cried, falling to the ground. She checked. A tree root. She got up and continued running. From something… from someone.
She couldn’t see what was ahead, but she knew she saw light… presence. Kind and warm presence. She pushed through the bushes and—
“Help me…” the woman cried. She hurried to the two presences she felt. Her hood fell… Persai. Her purple hair glided down gently behind her shoulders. She grabbed one of the presences’ hands.
“Persai?” a lady’s voice called.
Persai looked up, sobbing.
“Janelle… please, help…” Persai begged. She held her stomach, protecting the life inside.
The lady… the princess, Janellette, gulped as she stared at Persai. She held Persai and helped Persai up.
“What’s going on? Are you okay?”
“Someone’s after me… I need help.”
“What do you mean?” Janellette questioned.
“Eureon’s shadow told me that… Eureon’s dead…” Persai cried helplessly, thinking of Vrastos in the Void Dimension. Janellette froze. “And that… I need to run for my life because they’re coming for my baby.”
Janellette held her breath and looked at Persai’s stomach. Is this… what Lucentis has been planning with His Majesty? She tightened her jaw.
“Persai, do you remember where we would hang out when I ran away from home?” Janellette asked.
Persai looked at her, nodding hesitantly.
“Yes… I do…”
“Go there… no one will know. It’s been vacant…” Janellette stated. Then she leaned closer to Persai’s ear. “It’s purchased under my fake name. So you’ll be safe there.”
Persai’s tears streamed endlessly down her face. She closed her eyes and hugged Janellette.
“Thank you… I…”
“For all the years of being your friend, this is the least that I can help…” Janellette grieved.
Persai nodded and stepped away. She turned around, noticing a little girl.
“Who’s she?” Persai wondered.
Janellette smiled at the girl, then at Persai.
“This is Cindalle. The High Priest will soon name her the Saintess,” Janellette introduced.
Young Cindalle stared into Persai’s eyes. Green as a moss in the darkness.
“I see… Farewell, and stay safe,” Persai bid her farewell.
Janellette nodded and watched Persai run further away—
SCRUNCH.
Janellette turned to Cindalle and took hold of her shoulders.
“Cindalle, go hide in the bushes. Make sure to not step no matter what happens… okay?” Janellette warned.
Cindalle nodded hurriedly.
“But… who?”
“Don’t worry about her… For you, I think my sweet Gerald is a good match for you,” Janellette said with a smile.
Cindalle stared at Janellette and bit her lower lip. She rushed to the bushes that Janellette had told her—
“Where is she?!” a man’s angry voice exclaimed. Then the footsteps stop. “Lady Janellette… what brings you here?”
“Your Majesty… what brings you here in the middle of the night?” Janellette questioned.
The King of Galali, King Leroy Cardiella, smirked.
“Oh…” he said. Then he stopped and stepped towards her. He let out a laugh, searching around. His eyes quickly darkened as he grabbed Janellette by the neck, lifting her in the air. Cindalle gasped, covering her mouth instantly. “Where is she? Where is your friend who carries the Void with her?”
“I… I-I don’t know!”
“But I think you do… you have quite a history of knowing and protecting everyone you love. I allowed you to keep doing that until now… this is different.”
“L-let go!” Janellette suffocated.
Leroy grinned and pulled out his sword. Then he slowly pierced through her body as she gagged on blood.
“You were no match for my son… you have made him soft, unfit to rule… now pay that price,” Leroy claimed. After Janellette’s body went still, Leroy released his grip on her neck, dropping her on top of the pool of blood. Leroy wiped his sword with her clothes and walked away.
Cindalle fell to the ground, horrified. She crawled out of the bush and raised her hand over Janellette’s body.
“Lady Janelle…”
“D-Don’t waste your power on me…” Janellette’s dying voice said with a smile.
Cindalle shook her head, trying. Trying and trying…
Janellette grabbed her hand.
“No…” Cindalle cried.
“Gerald… would be the perfect pair for you.”
Then Janellette’s hand fell, her blood marking parts of Cindalle’s robe.
Cindalle froze, her skin turning pale. She looked at her hands and hyperventilated. No… no. You didn’t save me from the slums to die. You… said you would be my mother.
The bushes scrunched once more. Cindalle gasped, running to hide again—
“Where did Father go?” a voice asked before the presence was known… Young Lucentis. He froze and noticed a dead body.
“No way… Did His Majesty kill her—?” a bodyguard asked.
Lucentis pushed everyone back. He stumbled toward Janellette’s body and fell to his knees.
“Janelle… no…” Lucentis cried—
Leroy returned from the path he walked on.
“Stupid cunt!” Leroy yelled. Everyone darted their gazes at him. “If only she didn’t let Lady Persai escape.”
“That doesn’t mean you can kill her!” Lucentis screamed.
Leroy glared down at him.
“You’re weak and pathetic… your brother followed the Void Esper to kill him and bring his body. What have you done for us?” Leroy claimed. Lucentis gulped. “She made you weak and pathetic… Cardiellas are meant to rule and be worshipped.”
“But you let me marry her!”
“Because you impregnated her to force me… she is nothing but a barrier between you and the throne.”
Lucentis clenched his fists, and he tightened his lips. Leroy shook his head and walked away, returning to the temple. All of the knights followed him.
Cindalle stared at Lucentis, sympathy pulling her to her feet—
Lucentis stood and took a deep breath, staring at Janellette’s dead body. Hollow without sorrow.
“Serves you right…” Lucentis claimed. Cindalle was shocked. “If only I were able to attract Persai through you… Father would have seen me as a better candidate than Roman.”
Lucentis walked away without turning his head back.
[END OF FLASHBACK]
Cindalle held her glass cup of wine and stared out at the balcony. She sipped before she slammed the cup down.
“No wonder, you looked familiar…” Cindalle muttered, seething. “You’re that bitch’s daughter, who had Janelle killed.”
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