It is said that with every morning comes a new sun, casting rays of light and hope over the places where darkness reigned during the night.
And Aelthrya blesses every creature that finds its way out of that darkness and into the light.
Rosetta hissed as Nolan forced her onto her knees in front of Ines inside the Imperial prison.
A ray of sunlight slipped through the window in the stone wall and fell across Rosetta's face.
She turned her head away with a scowl.
Ines's cold gaze never left her.
"Lord Nolan, you dragged her here?" Ines asked, looking up at him.
"All the way, Your Majesty," Nolan replied, glancing at Rosetta once. "She is alive, as you asked."
"But her arrogance hasn't lessened."
Ines hummed thoughtfully as she looked at Rosetta with an icy gaze.
"I should have let you bring her here the other way, it seems."
A chill ran down Rosetta's spine at the Empress's tone.
The Empress wasn't exactly known for being forgiving.
And judging by the state of her feet after the Duke of Zepher had dragged her all the way from the brothel, Rosetta had little doubt that Ines had no intention of showing her mercy.
'Damn it,' Rosetta cursed silently.
What was she even thinking?
She shouldn't have activated the fire spell so soon.
She should have allowed them to arrest her and waited until they lowered their guard before making her escape. No one would have expected an attack from a sixty-year old woman.
But...
Rosetta couldn't go down alone.
If she was going to be judged and sentenced to death, then she swore she would take the entire brothel down with her.
"Lord Nolan, leave," Ines said, looking at him.
Rosetta was snapped out of her thoughts by the Empress's voice.
Nolan glanced at Ines before bowing respectfully.
"If Your Majesty plans on killing her, I suggest I burn the body afterward. Let her know the taste."
"Not so soon."
Ines smirked.
"Death is too kind. But don't worry, I will keep your suggestion in mind."
"Very well, Your Majesty."
Nolan smirked.
"Blessings and glory upon the brilliant light of the Caelthra Empire, Her Majesty the Empress."
With that, Nolan turned and left.
The moment the doors closed behind him, Ines's gaze returned to Rosetta.
Rosetta felt her blood run cold.
"Your Majesty," Rosetta began, forcing confidence into her voice. "You must understand. What I have done was only to supply the Imperial Palace with the finest of the Flower Maidens."
"Is that so?"
Ines tilted her head slightly, a hint of amusement in her expression.
Rosetta clenched her restrained hands behind her back.
She had been the Madam of the Cerulean brothel for over four decades.
She knew how to recognize amusement.
And she knew when someone was pretending to find a situation amusing.
"Your Majesty must understand that my actions were for the benefit of the brothel," she continued, trying to coax the Empress.
"You are the Empress. Surely you understand that questionable things sometimes need to be done to keep a system running seamlessly, and—"
"Silence."
Ines raised a hand.
"To run a system correctly, you need to know the difference between right and wrong. Simply intimidating your inferiors will make them obey you out of fear, not loyalty. Fear will make them betray you when someone more powerful comes along. Loyalty lasts."
Ines looked directly at Rosetta.
"You ran the brothel on abuse, harassment, and fear so deeply rooted that your very name is enough to give them nightmares. You sold children. Worse, you sold corpses."
Her voice remained cold.
"Those are crimes the Goddess will never forgive."
Ines paused.
"And neither shall I."
Rosetta's face paled.
"I am having a difficult time deciding your punishment."
"Your Majesty!" Rosetta begged.
"This is unfair! I have served the Empire my entire life and produced the finest Flower Maidens from the Cerulean brothel. Is that not worth considering? Must Your Majesty punish me simply for shaping bastard children who were abandoned in front of the brothel?"
"You, too, are one of those bastard children, Rosetta."
Ines's eyes flickered upward.
Two guards entered carrying a tray of burning coal. They placed it beside them before silently leaving.
Rosetta stared at the glowing embers.
And for the first time, the confidence in her eyes disappeared.
"You see, Zarah told me you made her stand on burning coal as a child."
Ines stepped closer to Rosetta.
"I won't make you stand."
She paused.
"That's beneath me."
Rosetta didn't trust the Empress's voice.
Before she could respond, Ines seized her by the back of the neck and slammed her face into the burning coal.
Rosetta screamed.
Scorching heat seared across her face as the burning embers pressed against her skin.
She desperately tried to pull herself away, but Ines's grip was unyielding.
Rosetta could do nothing but scream as the heat burned into her flesh.
"Do you know why I called you here?"
Alexander swirled the red wine in his champagne flute before taking a sip.
"Your Grace, the poison plan is already under—"
Before Melody could finish, Alexander slammed his champagne flute onto the table.
"Is that enough?"
He finally looked at Melody, his expression filled with disapproval.
"Ines has begun making moves to shut the brothel down. This wouldn't have happened if you had been able to get the love potion to work."
Alexander sighed.
"Your failure is bearing its fruit right now."
Melody lowered her head.
She took a deep breath, her hands tightening around the skirt of her dress.
'You have to make His Grace succeed.'
Focus, Melody. Don't... don't feel bad.'
His Grace only means the best for me.'
A sharp slap suddenly struck her cheek.
Melody's eyes widened as she let out a sharp hiss. Tears immediately gathered in her eyes as she raised a hand to her burning cheek.
"Where is your attention?"
Alexander sighed as though she had inconvenienced him.
"Melody, go and do what I told you. Visit the infirmary. Keep up appearances. Don't act as though the brothel burning hasn't upset you."
He paused.
"All the other Flower Maidens are sobbing. I heard a maid say so."
Alexander reached into his clothing and pulled out a small glass vial.
He held it out to Melody.
She hesitantly took it.
"It will make it seem as though you're crying."
A crooked smile spread across his face, unnatural against his otherwise composed expression.
He cupped Melody's cheek with one hand.
"Do this and make me proud, Melody. Do what you were born to do."
His voice softened.
"Support me, the rightful ruler of the throne, in taking my place."
He leaned closer.
"Fulfill your destiny. Melody Zepher, I am counting on you."
He pressed his lips to her forehead.
Melody curtsied.
"Your Grace's wish is my command."
She turned and left, the vial clutched tightly in her hand.
The moment Melody disappeared from sight, Alexander's smile faded.
"You better succeed, Melody."
His eyes hardened.
"Or I won't hesitate to discard you as well."
Ines pulled Rosetta away from the tray of burning coal.
Rosetta's face was badly burned, the damaged skin still sizzling from the heat.
"Your Majes—"
Before Rosetta could finish, Ines slammed her face back into the burning coal.
Rosetta screamed.
Ines repeated the process until Rosetta could barely remain conscious.
Only then did Ines finally stop.
She released Rosetta and calmly dusted her hands.
With a snap of her fingers, she summoned a guard.
"Put her in a cell."
The guard immediately obeyed, dragging the barely conscious Rosetta toward the cell.
Ines turned toward the exit.
"This is it for today."
She paused.
"I shall return tomorrow. Keep the whips ready."
Without another word, Ines turned and walked out of the Imperial prison.