Selene

5: Reine [EDITED]

His hands upon the Second Imperial Princess' injured head, the doctor could sense a Magic-induced shock. Helen Hikari had overflowing Magic that had burst out during her scream, leading to a mental injury – not too severe, however.

The Emperor's words ran in his ears: You do realize that Reine will forever remain that way, and no matter the circumstance in question, she will never hesitate to have even Helen's neck under the blade of the guillotine, right? Choose, Doctor, whether you pledge alliance to your Princess or your Empress.

But the Doctor would verify so personally – by no means could his Empress be so terribly blasphemous!

"My Empress," he said, daring to test his Empress, "I'm afraid the Second Imperial Princess might not recover fully—"

"What?" I asked, with chilling demeanor, still not over my humiliation in the Court. "What did you say?"

"T-The Princess may never recover..."

—Ah.

Usually my head would have exploded with thoughts such as: I can't lose Helen! The Emperor won't have more than two children, Selene won't be punished severely, and Helen may not even recover – deeming her unworthy for the throne already! Is Eric planning to bring in another Empress by having me disposed of? Or is Selene worth more than I had assumed?

But I had seen it now, and finally, I had grasped that Eric wouldn't even bother himself anymore – now that he had Selene in place. She was always the only chess-piece he'd use out of his army, his triumph card – his Queen piece.

They both were so capable in sword-fighting, their hands stained beyond salvation, that if they ever wanted, Hikari could be erased off the map.

It was a warning from Eric. I could almost feel his breath on my ear, his cold and hushed voice ringing out: Don't misbehave any further, dear Empress.

Yami was only trying to keep good relations with the citizens of Hikari. That was all remained of the Alliance.

Manipulating Selene, and in turn Eric, through Helen wasn't going to work anymore.

"—unless certain memories, that are affecting her mental well-being, are removed."

I did not notice the bait.

And, like a helpless butterfly, I was caught in the spider's sticky web, woven with pearl-like white, stronger than iron of the same dimensions.

But wasn't I always like that, playing myself into Eric's palms?

As Eric expected, and much to the Doctor's dismay, I did end up wishing for Selene to begone from Helen's recollections – wanting to remold the situation in my favor through Helen's amnesia. Alongside amnesia, if feasible, I ordered, have Selene displayed in a negative light.

I should have been more discrete with my words. But I was already a puppet in Eric's plans. I couldn't hurt myself any further, what even did my position mean anywhere? What remained to risk?

Nothing.

The matter led to a dispute, and the moment the Doctor dared to bring forth his imprudent side – Please stop dragging such young children into political affairs! Ma'am, you are the Empress of this Empire! You must do everything for the greater good for both Yami and Hikari, not just for power! – I blazed with anger, striking him down and having him executed.

He had interacted with dear Eric, no doubt, and I wasn't willing to have any traitorous followers.

Had I known, I would have at least tried to have the spider prey on my daughter dear first, but when she flew away from the lair of the spider... she struck a deal not only with the Devil – but his daughter as well.

Yet I laced my fingers in Helen's hair, as her memories were being apparently renovated with fake moments by Physicians too fearful to even speak, with surreal calmness.

It was brief, only a moment, but my body felt weary and broken, and soon I found myself into deep slumber.

If I can't execute Selene, then Eric would have to.

Upon waking up, I was informed about Helen's memories – customized with great amounts of Magic. It was a tricky matter, for removing memories meant her forgetting the procedure of summoning Magic – but it didn't hold much value to me, for she was a child who awoke her powers at the tender age of five.

—I was a manipulator, and Helen was my daughter.