Her flesh sizzled and mixed on itself, becoming a smoothie of flesh, bones, organs, and blood, yet, she still felt pain—she was still conscious.
'I am Olivia. I am Olivia. I am Olivia. My brother is Kisabe. He is 10 years old. I am about to be a mother.' she repeated these few words over and over in her mind, to not be consumed by pain—to not lose herself.
Her mind drifted back, trying to remember what had happened, a desperate attempt to endure the pain in some other way.
Her consciousness began to disappear when she tried to remember the most recent incident, so her mind drifted even further.
"Where is my Johan? I know he will never betray the Aurelian Empire! He will never leave me alone… I know…" Acier tightly pulled the right ear of Olivia, the ear slowly turning bright red, wincing with pain.
But the pain was the least of her concerns. That thing… that power was to be kept confidential at all costs, so she couldn't really say much—
Just endure the pain.
'It will be over soon, just let her vent…' she sighed to herself. *'Thankfully, Lady Acier saw the Aether seeping from Selene. She won't bully her at least…
She's not a weak woman like me…'* her eyes grew heavy, tired from moving all around without rest.
She was already 3 months pregnant. Rest was a requirement at this point, but it was impossible. 'I just have to endure…' she repeated it again.
Acier's sharp golden eyes narrowed, instantly sensing something wrong with Olivia, "Is everything… alright?" The words escaped on their own, her voice cracking between words.
Olivia's eyes widened. Momentarily, she forgot what she was thinking about, looking up at Acier's beautiful yet tired face with disbelief in her eyes.
Sensing that, Olivia immediately schooled her expression.
Acier let go of her ear. Olivia didn't say much, just stayed still, not knowing what words would make sense.
But, just as she found some words—
Tham! Tham! Tham!
A loud knocking sound rang at the large wooden door. Two knights in golden armour instantly moved to open the door, their guards raised. This was a tense moment for House Matilda after all—
Their Patriarch, and their strongest fighter, had literally betrayed the Aurelian Empire.
Three white-haired figures instantly pushed past the two guards like they were cattle and moved inside the lavish living room, their expressions filled with panic.
Acier schooled her expression to a firmer one, running a hand through her violet body-con dress to settle the fabric tightening. Her dress gave an understated allure to her curves.
"I don't know anything more than you…" Acier spoke through clenched jaw, her voice a low whisper, sensing the panic on the intruders' faces.
A man in his twenties wore a midnight blue overcoat, traditional of House Matilda's main family, followed by a wise-looking forty-year-old man in the same coat, who had a beautiful white-haired woman by his side—
In a green skirt reaching her black heels and a golden blouse tightly knotted, making her already massive breasts look even bigger.
"It's not that, I heard… they're coming after us…" the young man spoke through gritted teeth, his nostrils flaring with anger at his uncle.
"This is not the time for anger, Daniel. You're a viscount… act like one." the man behind instantly reprimanded the young man, giving an apologetic and consoling smile to Acier.
"It's terrible, honey, but I know brother isn't the one at fault. This must be some kind of misunderstanding!" The busty woman closed in, tightly embracing Acier in a firm hug. Acier hugged back promptly.
Breaking the hug off, Acier asked Daniel, "Who are they? They can't come after a great royal family like this. We own all the banks, and Johan quite literally managed all the money of the Aurelian Empire…
They need House Matilda. I know Leonard won't be that irrational." Acier, suppressing all her emotions, analyzed the situation thoughtfully.
Johan was the treasury minister of the Empire. House Matilda was owner of all banks in the Aurelian Empire, and some neighbouring ones, necessary for the economic balance of the Empire.
All industries, from food to transport to military, depended on them indirectly.
Acier turned her gaze towards the handsome, wise man behind the young man, "Brother Theo…"
As if understanding the question, he seriously nodded, "Normally, this should be the case… but." He shook his head gently.
Diana's pupils dilated, clutching the hem of her green skirt. Her face twisted with fear, sweat gathering on her brow, "Dear…" she pointed her right finger outside.
"I am Ethan D. Alexandrea, Divine General. On the orders of the King, House Matilda—including every knight, servant, main family, branch families, vessel families—are to be under arrest." A man in a black robe and hood covering every part of him, excluding his red lips, spoke in a robotic voice.
"I am Revanta, under the orders of the Pope Astreus. The Church is responsible for interrogation. Comply if you don't want anyone to get hurt." A purple-haired girl, barely twenty, licked her pink lips like a lioness salivating upon spotting prey.
She wore a deep red witch outfit with a wide, pointed hat tilted to one side, a gold band wrapped around it.
The tight bodice showed a lot of skin, especially around the chest, and was shaped to hug her body perfectly.
A short black cape hung over her shoulders, more for style than warmth. She had thigh-high boots and matching gloves, with black straps holding up her stockings.
A small spellbook-like tome hung by her side, strapped across her waist.
"Do you have an arrest warrant signed by both the King and the Pope?" Theo, the only one still calm, asked the important question, stepping in front of his small family.
"Yes, yes, you can't just arrest us! I own this Empire, you know it. I swear we have nothing to do with that traitor and his sister!" Daniel barked, stepping beside Theo.
"At least explain the situation first… what even happened!?" Acier tried to plead, her voice soft.
"Ahh," Ethan groaned, annoyed, throwing a yellow paper folded multiple times to the ground, like someone had been making origami dragons with it.
His hand retreated back into the black cloak; he didn't even register Daniel and Acier's words.
Theo hurriedly bowed to pick up the paper, and quickly skimmed through it. A deep frown manifested on his face.
'There is no proof or reason… just a simple—
House Matilda, under suspicion of treason.
Leonard Von Fitzgerald
Astreus'
It was unjust, unfair, and unethical. But, he didn't say it out loud. Alas, he wasn't naive enough to believe the world was anything other than unjust.
He raised his hands in surrender, his expression unreadable.
Olivia, on the other side, frowned, her heart trembling with unease. Since she was just a teen, she had always seen the unshakable, unbeatable Johan destroy everyone targeting him, completely.
There was not a doubt in her heart that, if he was here, they both would be sent crying back to the King, and the Pope—and even those two wouldn't be able to do anything about it.
Suddenly her thoughts broke as she caught a glimpse of Acier's poker face breaking.
"No, no, you've to explain to me first!" Acier's voice grew from pleading to desperate.
She rushed towards the man in the black cloak, trying to pressure him into answering.
He looked young, and if they just talked for a bit, she believed she would have a chance to get information out of him.
"No, sister, stop!" Theo's voice was a little too late. Acier was already on the ground, her head bleeding from the center. Her face blank, confused.
No one knew, or saw, what happened. She was just on her knees the next second.
Ethan's lips curled up in a smile, enjoying her expression.
Tears streamed down Acier's face. Olivia instantly rushed close to her, checking her injuries.
"...You, you can't just attack the Matriarch of House Matilda, even if she was the one who betrayed the Empire herself… you're just a soldier…" Purple veins appeared on Theo's forehead, his face contorting in anger.
Acier couldn't hear it. Her head rang with a high-pitched tone, a bump forming which she rubbed to suppress the pain, only painting her hands in blood.
She threw away Olivia's arm that was caressing her face, crawling towards the man.
"Please! I won't tell anyone… just tell me what happened to Johan… I beg you." She bowed, her head touching the feet of the hooded man, her back arching high.
"No." Ethan said simply, his eyes still under the hood, so no one could see his expression.
"You!!" Acier yelled in rage, her head spinning like the world was coming to an end. Johan's handsome face, white hair, and the soft smile that only she ever saw, appeared.
An old memory played in her mind:
'I can't become a mother, Johan… it's okay if you want to remarry now…'
The words escaped between creaks, her eyes filled with unshed tears, as she was about to lose Johan one more time again, just like last time.
Johan's hand moved. Acier flinched, but all she felt was a femininely soft hand. Johan just stayed, his hand feeling the warmth of her face.
Heuh!
Tears escaped. She lost all strength, leaning her head against his chest, being tightly held by Johan.
"I love you, Acier… don't worry about Hier. We have Selene. Just treat her like your own daughter…"
The sweet memory ended as quickly as it had come, her heart tinging with regret.
'Selene… I am sorry…' But no one heard it.
Then—
She bit.
Like a wild dog driven to madness, she sank her teeth into the Divine General's boot—not for strategy, not for victory, but for sheer, animalistic resistance.
Leather scraped against her teeth. She could taste blood coming from her gums. The foot pressed down, grinding into her jaw, but she refused to let go.
Her jaw screamed. Teeth cracked.
But Acier held on.
It was pathetic. It was futile. But it was everything she had left.
Ethan paused.
For a breath, everyone stilled. Even the air seemed to hang, as if the world itself was holding its breath at the sight of this broken girl biting down on a god-like man.
"Acier… what are you…?" Theo asked in a dazed voice, while everyone present stared at the matriarch of House Matilda in such a position.
Even in their wildest imaginations, they couldn't picture the always strong, arrogant, cunning princess like this.
"Now it's just getting boring…" Revanta spoke, her voice lost. These words were the last everyone present heard.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Every last knight, maid, all four members of House Matilda, and the butler collapsed to the ground one by one, falling headfirst.
Revanta clenched her fists tight, blood seeping from her palm as she looked at the miserable face of Acier, covered in a mixture of blood, snot, and tears.
Looking at her face, Ethan smiled curiously.
'Even witches have feelings…' he suppressed the urge to laugh out loud.
Witches were basically long-lived elves corrupted by dark magic—cast out by elves. They were classified as demons.
'But it actually makes sense. A man like Astreus would never choose a random witch as his subordinate. He saw the real her, and chose to overlook the fact that she was a demon—even making her a Cardinal of literally a church…' Ethan sighed regretfully.
'Alas, you will be the one to torture them…' he silently prayed for Revanta in his heart.
"Huh? Where… am I?" Olivia groaned the words instinctively, her expression filled with panic as she realized her position.
She was bound to a tall wooden stake, each limb pulled in a different direction—her right arm stretched high and tight, the left tugged out to the side, legs spread unnaturally wide, her ankles tied down so firmly they dug into her skin.
It wasn't ropes yanking her apart, but the way she was tied made it feel like her whole body was being pulled to pieces. Her back arched slightly from the strain, and every small movement made the bindings creak against her flesh.
And worst of all—she was completely naked.
Her irises moved upward, and she caught the golden pupils staring at her like they were trying to eat her every part. Her body trembled violently, her face darkening.
The room was covered in thick darkness, with just those glowing golden eyes visible.
"What's the meaning of this… Leor?" she spoke through gritted teeth, tears covering her face.
Leor appeared beside her, leaning over her, touching her belly. "I can kill her… with just a flick…" his grin widened, rubbing her warm waist with his right hand, brushing his fingers against the soft flesh.
Olivia's gaze lowered, her pupils contorting in disbelief.
Thammm!
Suddenly, her 'eyes' shot open, and she stared at her surroundings fanatically, as if checking if Leor was still there.
She wasn't remembering—not exactly. It wasn't a memory. It felt like she was living it again, but not by choice. Just another passive side effect of the corruption.
Her surroundings pulsed blood-red. The glow bled through her flesh, her bones, her very organs—if they were even real anymore. But there was no pain now. Only a dull soreness, as if her body remembered what her nerves could no longer feel.
Maybe because she wasn't a body at all.
Just a mind. A soul. A floating sliver of consciousness, sealed deep inside a well of gravity so dense it felt like the universe itself was pressing inward.
And yet… she was calm.
Her face softened. Her thoughts slowed—as she understood where she was, and what had happened before.
And her 'heart' shuddered.
Not from fear.
But from hope.
She was waiting. Waiting for him. For Johan. To save her.
And to save… their daughter.
A.N.= FUCK! So many words, I am breaking every rule of writing a webnovel. But you know what, fuck everything. I don't care, writing this was the happiest moment of my month. Ha, so much dopamine, at every word. Thank God I am alive! Wohoo! Worth spending 6 hours on 1 chapter. Acier is just a girl, leave her alone!! She's perfect the way she is!