Chant Of The Twilight

Chant XXVIII

Chapter 28: Where Salvation Rests

Ilang sandaling natahimik ang lahat ng nasa opisina ni Marquis Facto. They waited for the priest's respond.

Maya-maya ay bumuntong hininga ang High Priest at nilingon ang tatlo.

"That child... Her face is familiar," usal ni Dante.

"Are you talking about Achlise Darcey, Your Holiness?" tanong ni Marquis Facto.

"Yes. The moment I saw her for the first time, I immediately recognized her. I am certain... That amethyst and eyes full of courage and magenta hair... Hindi ako maaaring magkamali."

Naglakad papunta sa sofa ang High Priest. Hinawakan niya ang figurine ng babae na nakapatong sa gitna ng coffee table.

"What do you mean, Your Holiness?" tanong ni Marquis Facto.

"That child... She is Melisandre's daughter."

Umawang ang bibig ng Marquis. Nanlaki pa ang kaniyang mga mata nang mabanggit ang pangalang matagal nang ibinaon sa hukay ni Emperor Rhysand. The name that is considered a curse to Rhysand's ears.

"By Melisandre... Are you referring to the Enchantress of the Late Empress?"

Inangat ng High Priest ang kaniyang malamig na tingin sa Marquis. Agad na napaiktad ang Marquis at napatakip sa kaniyang bibig nang mapagtanto ang sinabi. Napabuntong hininga na lamang muli ang High Priest.

"Yes. The Enchantress that caused the current Emperor's infertility curse," the High Priest revealed.

Napasulyap si Dante sa mag-amang Facto na tila pinoproseso pa ang kanilang nalaman.

It is understandable that they didn't know that fact. Melisandre never showed her true appearance to other people aside from me, her family... And the Late Empress.

Noong una kong makita ang batang iyon ay agad ko siyang namukhaan. The familiar aura of an Enchantress could also be felt in that child. Katulad ito ng kay Melisandre.

Maybe... That is why she was able to conceive Rhysand's child. Dahil ang tunay na ina ni Achlise Darcey ang nagbigay ng infertility curse kay Rhysand. There might be some kind of exception towards Achlise Darcey because she is Melisandre's flesh and blood.

But more than this fact... We can use this to our advantage.

"Kung si Achlise Darcey lamang ang dahilan kung bakit mabubuwag ang lahat ng plano natin, then... We should get rid of that woman," muling sabi ng High Priest sabay upo sa pang-isahang sofa.

"Pero heavily guarded ang palasyo. The Emperor is also too overprotective of her and the Prince. Infiltrating that place to assassinate Achlise Darcey is a suicide," pagrarason ng Marquis.

"Why should we infiltrate the palace when we can cause something that would cause her to be kicked out of the palace or cause her death?"

"P-Pero paano, Your Holiness?"

Ipinatong ni Dante ang isa binti sa isa pa. His broad shoulders are overpowering the aura of anyone in this room. He looked like he can turn everything around by just a snap of his fingers. The wise man that he is can be seen in his domineering gazes and sharp tone. 

"That's why I revealed Achlise Darcey's birth origin. We can use that to set her up. What could be the most painful thing to happen to the Emperor? Right now, I'm guessing... It'll be his beloved woman's demise."