Façade | Jerza

38 | The Marriage

From here onwards, this fic is a hard R-18. Please do not read if you're underage.

When the doors to Julius' office opened, he found a hesitant woman striding towards him.

He sighed. Suddenly he was nineteen and she was sixteen, back when he first captured her. When he forced her to marry his cousin and conceive a child.

Despite the passing years, the woman's beauty remained undeniable, her aging face doing little to diminish her allure. Her blonde hair was elegantly styled in a braided bun, not a single strand out of place. Her green eyes reflected a mix of surprise and dismay at the unexpected encounter with Julius. The high collar of her purple gown seemed to constrict her throat, yet she maintained a dignified poise, reminiscent of her younger self. Memories of her younger self flooded in when she made stern eye contact with the king.

She stood at a distance from his desk, silently waiting to be acknowledged, refusing to offer any pleasantries or greetings.

"Still as stubborn as always, aren't you Celeste?"

She pursed her lips, the intensity of her green gaze threatening to consume him, her unspoken words echoing like a silent accusation.

"Please, take a seat." He gestured towards the plush golden couches adorned with royal blue accents. He observed as Celeste obediently took her place, while he settled into a seat across from her, the fancy coffee table separating them, adorned with tea and sweets.

"You haven't aged a bit." Was all she could offer for small talk.

"Strange, isn't it?" Julius responded with a pause, as if lost in deep thought. "Living in the same castle, yet not seeing each other for seven long years. Time slips away faster than we realize."

Celeste huffed in annoyance, her patience wearing thin. "Anyone can appear youthful if they so desire."

"Then tell me, why am I the only one who doesn't seem to age?" his tone tinged with curiosity, but Celeste took his tone for what it was.

Condescending.

She would run her tongue, say something that would offend him. Then he would enjoy tormenting her over that. So she offered nothing.

"Nobody has mastered alchemy like myself, Celeste. I have taught my kingdom all there is to know it."

"I have been aware of that for quite some time," she responded, her voice laced with a hint of resignation.

"You seem...tired of rebelling against me."

"You play unfairly when you wage war. Of course I am tired."

"Right," he paused, as though in deep thought. "I thought this piece of news that I am about to share might light anew that fire of yours. A fire for vengeance, so you can fight for the throne."

"Your Majesty," she spoke earnestly, her tone devoid of any playful banter. "I must remind you for the umpteenth time that I have no interest in the throne."

"Not even if your son were to come back?"

"He's been dead for seven years," Celeste sighed, flexing her fingers underneath her white gloves. "Why torment me with such false hope?"

"I have no intention of tormenting you, Celeste. Jellal is indeed alive."

Celeste blinked multiple times, attempting to hide any tears that threatened to escape at the revelation. Julius may have played many mind games in the past, but this was not one of them. "How did you find out?"