Chapter 17: Half-Truth Confession

*** WARNING: This chapter contains foul language and death talk.

***Alright Now Continuation Of Chapter 17...

"It's...stuck" (Aurora, said)

Aurora said with an embarrassed voice trying to hold in her laugh looking at Dorion's half-upper stuck face.

"..." (Dorion)

Dorion's red eyes looked at her with 'You think' eyes.

"Pfft" (Aurora, laughed)

It had been a long time since she has felt the urge to laugh.

She definitely couldn't help to laugh at Dorion.

'Shalala'

'Badump, Badump'

Dorion's heart began to beat faster at Aurora's beautiful laugh.

Her smile was too gorgeous that a sweat drop dropped from his neck afraid he might bleed again.

"Ah, sorry it's just you look funny" (Aurora, said)

She said as she whipped a tear of laughter from her eyes as she had taken notice of Dorion's sweat drop.

'I probably shouldn't laugh it looks like he's worrying he'll be stuck in there' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

She thought he looked like an embarrassed worried yellow cat.

"Ahem..I'll try to take it off" (Aurora, said)

She stopped making fun of him and concentrated on taking off the stuck helmet.

'Lift, Lift'

After various tries, she began to worry that it wouldn't come off.

She furrowed her brows as if stressed while her dark blue eyes made her face look more concentrated.

'Creak'

Her right leg lifted up on the bed to give her more momentum to pull.

'Lift, Lift'

She tried to lift it as her right leg was trying its hardest not to lift it up as the strength of her hands tried to pull out Dorion's helmet off.

Still, it remained unchanged.

'Oh no...it's really not coming off' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

Sweat drops started to drop from her face.

'...' (Aurora)

Aurora paused for a second to look at Dorion's eyes that only seemed to observe her silently.

Just being patient, like a cooperative husband.

As if he wasn't stressing that he was the person stuck on the metal helmet.

'He probably doesn't want to make me worry' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

'I have to take it off' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

She thought with guilt yet she did not give up.

What she didn't know was that Dorion was not calm to stress her it was because he seemed to be enjoying her trying efforts.

How concentrated her face looked trying to pull out the helmet.

'Lift, Lift, Clack'

"Ah!" (Aurora, yelled)

That was till Aurora cried in pain.

Because she tried approaching throughout the visor however the corner near Dorion's right eye had shut on her on her pink fingernail and had pinched really hard a bit of her index finger.

She unconsciously removed her right index finger and looked at the small red pinched mark and a tiny part of her top long nail chopped off.

Luckily she had long nails so she could easily file it down but the part that hurt was her index finger skin.

"!" (Dorion)

Of course, Dorion who heard her pained yell turned his immediate attention to her finger.

"Are you alright?" (Dorion, asked)

He asked a little agitated looking at her who was holding her index finger with her other hand.

'That hurt' (Aurora's inner thought)

'Turn'

"Yeah, I wasn't careful" (Aurora, said)

It was obvious it hurt her but her worry at the moment was Dorion.

She had been used to this pain, she had learned to push it away.

To her Dorion's situation was worse.

If that did not come off him he might just be stuck there.

"And now...how are we going to take that helmet off?" (Aurora, asked)

She ignored his question trying to brush it off.

"Lady at this moment what kind of question?" (Dorion, asked)

"You think I didn't see?" (Dorion, asked)

Dorion frowned with a displeased voice.

'Does she think of me as a careless man?' (Dorion's inner thoughts)

'Is it because I'm a tyrant that this lady believes I won't care?' (Dorion's inner thoughts)

'I can't believe she cares more about the helmet than her finger' (Dorion's inner thoughts)

"You just hurt your finger and you're worrying over a trivial thing that can simply be removed" (Dorion, said)

He continued to frown displeased.

"What? Trivial?" (Aurora, asked)

Aurora knew he was not mad.

She had now come to notice that he was upset she cared more for the helmet than her finger.

But to call his situation trivial she couldn't too help but feel displeased.

She frowned as she asked.

'I've been trying to take this helmet off and he's calling it trivial efforts?' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

'Besides...' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

"And what do you mean easily removed? Have you not watched me?" (Aurora, asked)

She couldn't help but feel a little annoyed.

'This woman really' (Dorion's inner thoughts)

'All come to show it's my fault for teasing her, I found it enjoyable looking at her but she looks already displeased' (Dorion's inner thoughts)

'However, even this expression I enjoy...' (Dorion's inner thoughts)

Dorion couldn't help to smile gently.

Because she tended to have an expressionless face, so for Dorion to get to experience every facial expression her face made alongside her beautiful dark blue eyes, it was as if each time he had opened a treasure chest.

"I carry with me a small screwdriver out of habit in my pocket" (Dorion, said)

Dorion pointed at his white coat resting on one of the red couches.

'Turn'

Aurora turned her face to look at the white coat and at him.

"...." (Aurora)

Aurora gave him a dumbfounded face.

"It should be on the right pocket" (Dorion, said)

Dorion added on with an unfazed face.

It seemed he had guessed that she was taken aback by why on earth someone had carried a screwdriver as a habit.

'...' (Aurora)

'Turn'

Surprisingly she had not questioned him and turned around to walk towards his white coat.

'Step, Step, Step'

Walking.

Dorion knew that her eyes not only expressed that but some displeasment as if it said 'You couldn't have told me sooner'

'Halt'

Stop walking.

'Rustle, Rustle'

'Grab'

Aurora was looking through the pockets till she found the screwdriver.

'Turn'

'Step, Step, Step'

Walking.

'Halt'

Stop walking.

She said no word as she got right to it.

'Screw, Screw'

She concentrated on slowly unscrewing the helmet.

'Screw, Screw'

'Lift'

Finally, the helmet had come off.

Her dark blue concentrated eyes had seemed to gain a relief moment.

But it did not last much as her eyes widen after she looked at Dorion's scratched red left cheekbones.

And the top right forehead was scratched red.

........

Both Dorion and Aurora sat in the bed in silence.

Dorion sat on the left side with two squared white patches from his helmet injuries as he looked straight at the clear glass box with the assembled again metal helmet resting inside the red velvet cushion.

The clear glass box sat on top of the table in between the red couches.

While Aurora stared at the metal helmet as well with a white-colored bandit wrapped in her right index finger.

"...." (Dorion and Aurora)

They sat in silence.

"Am I the most handsome man to you?" (Dorion, asked)

That was till Dorion decided to open his mouth with this question.

"..." (Aurora)

'This man...is this what he asks in this atmosphere' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

She couldn't help but feel a little concern for him.

However, her eyes did not move away from the metal helmet.

"You said you liked my eyes and my hair but my small little brother has golden hair like me" (Dorion, said)

He was too just looking at the metal helmet as his voice rather sounded as if he were just talking normally without no flirtation or no joke involved.

'...' (Aurora)

"Sigh" (Aurora)

She couldn't help to sigh.

In her eyes, Dorion was definitely more handsome than anyone however she didn't know if this man was questioning her with the intention to raise this man's narcissism or if he was insecure that the third prince had golden hair like him.

Or maybe this man was showing his childish side.

"Are you saying I'd like a child" (Aurora, said)

She said with a tone that definitely said she wasn't into children.

"Your the most handsome man in this empire" (Aurora, said)

She to reassure him or to feed into his narcissism.

Whatever he'd like to take.

"Of course I am" (Dorion, said)

It was definitely feeding into his narcissism.

"Not even that prick resembling her is as handsome as me" (Dorion, said)

He was clearly talking about Jerek now with a high proud face.

"..." (Aurora)

Aurora's eyes were expressionless as her eyes seemed to say yup definitely narcissism.

Of course not in a bad way, she didn't hate him like that but she did wonder if he'd be the type to look at his mirror reflection for a very long time.

"The empress..lady if I tell you will you believe me?" (Dorion, asked)

Aurora's thoughts came to a halt as she understood the reasoning behind this conversation.

Dorion had asked her with a voice that did not seem nervous nor alert rather it had a bitter taste but some calm to it.

This was the conversation she too was hoping for and he had just confirmed he was open to talk about it.

Aurora gently closed her eyes.

Dorion who understood her gesture continued on.

"Many years ago there was a beloved maid my mother cherished like a sister" (Dorion, said)

"However, that maid secretly hated my mother because my mother had everything she'd wished she had" (Dorion, said)

Dorion's red eyes glanced to the side peeking at Aurora who had opened her dark blue eyes and turned her head silently listening to him.

His red eyes turned back to look forward.

"And that maid's name was Paola, the current empress" (Dorion, said)

Dorion took a pause and spoke again.

"That maid had grew up alongside my mother so it was natural that my mother would take her to the Rhone Palace" (Dorion, said)

"Not long after I was born, I grew up happily next to my mother and my father but the day I turned nine years old that maid showed up with the second prince around my age claiming it was the emperor's son" (Dorion, said)

Dorion closed his eyes as if he were trying to restrain his anger.

"That maid confessed in front of my mother, I, the emperor, my grandparents, and some spectators" (Dorion, said)

"It infuriated everyone especially the emperor that had been drugged and abused" (Dorion, said)

"He..had no idea that had even happened" (Dorion, said)

Dorion said with a pause still closing his eyes.

"Till that maid showed up" (Dorion, said)

He slowly opened his eyes as he added on.

"He executed her, my mother that is" (Dorion, said)

'Turn'

He looked at the window with resentful red eyes gazing at the brightness of the moon.

What Dorion was telling Aurora was a well-known story in the empire however coming from different perspectives.

"From the start that maid's confession was done purposely" (Dorion, said)

Dorion continued to add on.

"She arrogantly confessed as if it was no sin" (Dorion, said)

Dorion greeted his teeth in anger.

"She said strange words and her blue ring and green bracelet glowed" (Dorion, said)

"There was a large dark grey cloud that surrounded the whole empire as the wind blew furiously" (Dorion, said)

"She recited unknown words like a chant and within minutes everything had changed" (Dorion, said)

"Everyone's memories swapped, it was as if my mother was the maid and the maid was the empress" (Dorion, said)

'Turn'

He turned to look at Aurora with red hurt angry eyes.

"Everything...newspapers, portraits...to everything that discarded my mother as the real empress" (Dorion, said)

"That maid had replaced my mother's image switching it for hers" (Dorion, said)

This was his perspective.

A perspective that a whole empire had forgotten.

Aurora's dark blue eyes remained unchanged continuing to show him that she was listing to him till he was done.

"The emperor immediately charged my mother for treason and exiled me to live in an abandoned annex" (Dorion, said)

Dorion closed his eyes gently.

"I spent long dumped when I finally got to see you again" (Dorion, said)

He opened up his eyes again but looked down at the red duvet cover with his red bitter eyes.

"I lived the rest of the years in the abandoned annex till I met you once again, I went to war, and now we're here" (Dorion, said)

"Every single thing that I have said to you lady, has not been a lie" (Dorion, said)

"Including that the lady and I have been met since small" (Dorion, said)

He finally looked up at her with firm red eyes.

"I don't know why that witch's spell did not work on me but I know for the lady to hear things coming out of a crazy man like me you wouldn't believe" (Dorion, said)

Dorion said with a confident face as if he was not telling no lie but Aurora knew that deep inside this man needed reassurance.

He tried his best to hide it but she had too felt the same as him when she wanted reassurance for it to never be reciprocated.

Her dark blue eyes did not move away from looking at his red firm eyes.

'Touch'

"Thank you for being honest with me" (Aurora, said)

She said with a calm voice as she placed her arm on top of his veiny hand.

Dorion's eyes widen at Aurora's touch.

He looked down at her pale hand she had placed over him and naturally looked up at her dark blue reassuring eyes.

"I believe you" (Aurora, said)

As soon as he looked up at her Aurora had spouted the words he wanted to hear with a face that reflected no doubt within him.

"!!" (Dorion)

Dorion's eyes widen more, even his mouth unconsciously opened as if surprised.

"The maid's spell did not affect me" (Aurora, said)

Aurora added on with firm eyes as if giving him special support, for Dorion to know that he was not the only one that had been unaffected.

However, the words that needed to come out of her mouth were painful, but he had to hear them.

"I was there the day of your mother's execution before getting caught by my father" (Aurora, said)

"He never permitted me to go outside for a year" (Aurora, said)

'Turn'

She turned to look straight forward still holding onto his hand.

"A year passed by...she was now the empress" (Aurora, said)

"So I rebelled once again and told that woman to her face that she was not the real empress" (Aurora, said)

She closed her eyes and let out a small bitter chuckle.

"Of course she hated me, maybe it's why she helped Adelina take credit for my power after saving the second prince...maybe that prophecy wasn't from the heaven's and maybe I wouldn't have been locked up and shunned" (Aurora, said)

This clearly meant that Aurora suspected the fake empress had something to do with the prophecy.

Aurora gently opened her eyes but they were still looking down with a heartbroken expression.

It was as if her heart throbbed even thinking about it.

"My father disapproved of me. Called me a liar, a jealous sister who craved Adelina's power...I know you saw me use it" (Aurora, said)

'Turn'

Aurora turned to look at him with studying eyes.

She knew he had witnessed her power back when she had saved the second prince who had fallen off a three landing unconsciously on the ground.

Dorion had hidden nearby and she had spotted him. There was no point for Dorion to pretend if now they were being honest.

"I'm afraid I was caught" (Dorion, said)

His bottom palm swiftly switch clasping her hand that was on top of his hand.

He said to her with a light chuckle.

There was no point for Dorion to pretend if know they were being honest.

However, Dorion had not been the only one to witness her divine power.

Adelina, her sister who was next to her had witnessed it alongside the fake empress who had watched over in the distance approaching them.

Dorion did not waste time and had ran away leaving Aurora, Adelina, the unconscious Jerek, and the fake empress to continue their play.

Dorion who was now gone, Jerek had woken up, and the fake empress who had noticed Adelina's jealousy couldn't help to take advantage of her.

The fake empress had claimed Adelina to be the holder of the divine power and the savior of Jerek's restored health.

This was the first time Aurora had manifested her divine power but in a state of panic and anxiousness as everyone pilled up against her words claiming it was Adelina's power.

As a small child who was already starting to be shunned by the world, it had traumatized her.

Aurora's word against the fake empress was futile.

Aurora was no other but the jealous sister.

"Dorion" (Aurora, said)

Aurora called Dorion's name with firm eyes.

"Yes?" (Dorion, asked)

He looked at her with his red eyes paying attention to her.

Aurora furrowed her eyes in suspicion.

"I have realized that Adelina and the fake empress have more of a complex relationship than it looks, the green bracelet the fake empress used just as you said when she recited the spell is the same bracelet Adelina possessive at the moment" (Aurora, said)

'I had noticed that when I saw that damn saintess in the banquet with that bracelet...and from the book I read, that information...' (Dorion's inner thoughts)

Dorion thought as Aurora added on firmly.

"And...there's something else" (Aurora, said)

She paused with a little hesitance swallowing nervously before continuing.

What she was about to say may have probably sounded crazier that whatever Dorion had said to her.

"I...don't think my sister is a human being" (Aurora, said)

She said with disturbed dark blue eyes.

..........

-Next Day at Chessuraus Temple-

The Rhone Empire's religion was one of the most influential structures in the empire.

The devoted servers of good they say.

They believed in the gods of the heavens and they thanked the goddess for blessing them with divine powers.

But overall, for the wonderful gift they had best pond on them, the saintess over the years.

In this case the next beloved saintess Adelina.

Saintess Aliana who was the most beloved of all naturally Adelina her daughter was equally beloved.

She was favored by all, the savior of the crown prince.

Adelina the saintess that had cured every injured be it a noble or a commoner she did not complain.

She manifested her powers at age six and a half and became the face of the Chessuraus temple at age twelve.

A truly kind soul had been born into this empire, everyone thought.

But that is exactly what she wanted everyone to believe as she kneeled down to pray in silence with her eyes closed.

She knelt down on the white marble floor that matched all of the Chessuraus temple walls.

The Chessuraus temple, a temple that demonstrated wealth and elegance.

She continued to kneel in front of the three-step altar looking up like a peaceful angel praying for the heavens raising her head to look up with her eyes closed as a rainbow-colored ray reflected on her face.

This was due to the large windows with a triangle tip and three smaller triangle-tip windows above.

The windows were made out of pastel light blue, light pink, and light purple colors that looked like a rainbow not only reflecting upon her face and the young man with golden hair and green eyes wearing an all-white holy Chessuraus temple knight uniform with golden embroidery matched up with the right sword on his right hip.

Third prince Lisandro Von Rhone, age seventeen.

Adelina's personal holy knight assigned guard.

He stood there silently with his hands on his back looking at the large windows.

Indeed this temple was quite beautiful.

The Chessuraus temple was a very very large temple with a small forest territory and the sacred lake of blessings.

It is told that if you ask for a blessing the gods would bless you.

The Chessuraus temple's other fame was the large water baptism or cleansing pool as so they called.

Where the saintess or a higher priest baptized or cleansed people of their sins.

These were only a few of the Chessuraus temple's sacred places.

But at the moment the Chessuraus temple altar was the number one sacred, in the presence of the saintess of the praying Adelina.

"Saintess Adelina!" (Priest Samuel, yelled)

"We have an injured!" (Priest Manny, yelled)

Suddenly two worried priests wearing white priest vestments came running worriedly yelling holding an unconscious hurt bloody man in the middle.

'Turn'

'Dash'

It did not take long for Prince Lisandro to take notice and rush out for aid.

'Step, Step, Step'

Walking

Lisandro walked carrying the man alongside the two priests while Adelina started at them.

'Halt'

Stop walking.

Lisandor and the priest had stopped right in front of her as he crunched down trying to sit up the man while Adelina still held onto her clasped arms praying.

'....' (Adelina)

Adelina, age twenty.

She switched her body away from the front of the altar stairs and directed herself toward the unconscious bloody man.

She rested her legs and sat down on the marble floor.

"Saintess this man got ran over with a carriage" (Priest Samuel, said)

Priest Samuel, a man with brown hair and black eyes.

An apprentice priest of age twenty-four said worriedly as he looked at the bloody unconscious man and at Adelina.

"He's really badly injured and he just lost his consciousness about two minutes ago" (Priest Manny, said)

Priest Manny, a man with dark brown hair and dark brown eyes.

Another apprentice priest of age twenty-five added on worriedly as Lisandro finally laid the unconscious bloody man fully on the marble floor.

"Dear good brothers, remain calm our gods won't take an innocent life away" (Adelina, said)

Adelina said as she smiled with a small warm smile placing her right palm on her heart to calm the priest's nerves down.

In their eyes, it looked as if she was truly a caring saintess.

'Nod'

Manny nodded as reassured.

"Your right beloved saintess we must have faith" (Priest Samuel, said)

While Priest Samuel said with hopeful eyes move by Adelina's recurring attitude.

Adelina continued to smile gently and looked down at the man.

'This smelly man's injuries are really bad...that will definitely require a good amount of holy power' (Adelina's inner thoughts)

'It wouldn't have been a problem before but that bitch is no longer in my grasp!' (Adelina's inner thoughts)

She tried hard not to greet her teeth in anger as she palace her hands on the man's chest a golden light emerged.

'If I had known that crazy bitch would actually marry that bloodthirsty bastard I wouldn't have suggested it in the first place!' (Adelina's inner thoughts)

'I was only trying to score more points with the emperor but if backfired...it was definitely a wrong move' (Adelina's inner thoughts)

'Everything became messed up as she left my power has decreased, father tends to daze off, even brother has been strange these days' (Adelina's inner thoughts)

'It's so annoying all my brother thinks about is her, he doesn't say it but I know it!' (Adelina's inner thoughts)

'Often I see him go into her room and sit on her bed with sadden eyes... that's my brother how dare she think she deserves his attention!' (Adelinas's inner thoughts)

She continued to cure the injured men as her thoughts became more angrier.

'I never should have given her the freedom she has now' (Adelina's inner thoughts)

'The empress was quite displeased with me, I thought I loose her favor...but I know she can't just get rid of me, she needs me' (Adelina's inner thoughts)

'I hate how she thinks she's higher than me...once I become the empress I will get rid of her' (Adelina's inner thoughts)

She glanced at Lisandro who had now stood up.

'This second prince...he's like a dog' (Adelian's inner thoughts)

She tried hiding her smirk.

'I can keep using him to my advantage even after I become the empress' (Adelina's inner thoughts)

She glanced back again at the man who was seeming to regain his consciousness

"Argh!" (Adelina, yelled)

She removed her hands in pain.

"Saintess" (Lisandro, said)

Lisandro raised his voice startled as he leaned down to check on her.

"Are you alright?" ( Priest Samuel, asked)

"Are you hurt saintess?" (Priest Manny, asked)

They too had asked with a worried expression.

'Does it look like I'm alright you stupid fools?!' (Adelina's inner thoughts)

"Sorry, I apologize it's just that lately, I haven't been feeling well" (Adelina, said)

"I have been suffering from a severe headache these past few days" (Adelina, said)

She looked down at the man and at them.

"He's out of trouble and should be waking up anytime soon" (Adelina, said)

She said as she got up weakly and touched her head in pain.

"I'll excuse myself early today" (Adelina, said)

She said as Lisandro held her left elbow to give her support.

"Of course saintess, thank you for your hard work" (Priest Samuel, said)

"Please rest well saintess" (Priest Manny, said)

The priest quickly said to her.

'How bothersome' (Adelina's inner thoughts)

"Yes, thank you" (Adelina, said)

Adelina said with an innocent face that obviously showed her pain leaving walking weakly while Lisandro still held on to the elbow to help her to walk.

.....

-Inside Chessuraus temple Adelina's room-

"Power, Power" (Shadows, whispering)

"I need power" (Shadows, whispering)

"Hungry, must eat" (Shadows, whispering)

She stood up in front of the vanity looking down trying to calm herself from the anger she was feeling.

"Give me power, I crave" (Shadows, whispering)

"Hungry, Hiss" (Shadows, whispering)

The shadows emerged from her green bracelet and surrounded her as embracing her.

"Eat, Eat" (Shadows, whispering)

"Hungry, power" (Shadows, whispering)

Adelina finally looked up at the mirror and she had black veins in her face as she looked at her reflection surrounded with black shadows.

She frowned in anger.

'I will get your blood no matter what' (Adelina's inner thoughts)

'If I must go to the empress for help then that's what I'll do' (Adelina's inner thoughts)

She looked at her reflection.

"Hehe" (Shadows, laughing)

"Finally, power" (Shadows, whispering)

"Food" (Shadows, whispering)

'You are nothing without me' (Adelina's inner thoughts)

She grinned as her black veins increased and the shadows laughed.

***SPOILER: Lisandro does not like Adelina, he knows she's a lotus bitch and he won't be her holy knight guard for long.

-Adelina's temple room: She does not stay there she sleeps at her house. Her temple room is for when she wants to rest or when she's required to stay at the temple.