ᴡᴍᴍᴀᴘ: ℌ𝔢𝔯 𝔊𝔬𝔩𝔡𝔢𝔫 ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔦𝔫𝔰

Septem peccata mortalia: evermore

D+415

The beloved crown princess, the beautiful golden child, the light of the imperial family, and the single most precious treasure of the vast, all powerful Obelian Empire. 

Loved by all, both common and noble born, and on the fast track to getting rid of her only competitor(?) for the imperial throne. 

Her poise, being second to none-except for Claude- in the face of an adversary that was ready to be crushed from birth. And currently, that same revered person is spouting curse words in front of none other than the emperor.

"You damned imbecile! Can't you do anything right without me helping?!" Athanasia's face is red from the stress of yelling so loud. 

"Athanasia, sometimes your disposition may need a little improvement. Perhaps try basing it off of a model?" 

Claude watches Athanasia cough delicately into her hand, her face going back to its original fair complexion, asking him, "Like you, daddy?" 

"Yes, like me," he nods. She tries it again, knowing she'll have to use it sooner or later, and what better way to learn such etiquette than from the emperor, himself?

She looks at him, and grabs that feeling that lay deep down inside her, that hatred at Jennette for even daring to exist while she was alive- at daring to try and hope for love from someone, from Claude- how dare that bitch try and want something that would never be hers.  

Her teeth gritted at the thought of Jennette even standing next to Claude, at holding his hand when going down the stairs to a ball, smiling together- at the imagined illusion of the two together, just like- yes.

Just like how "she" had suffered the same fate at watching her true, real, blood-related bastard of a father take in another daughter, someone that wasn't even his own.

Like how "she" had been at how angry she had always for "her" when "she" had been pushed to the side. 

How even the maids dared to ignore her, how Lily had been the only one to protect "her" to love "her". 

How "she" had been the true heir to the throne, but "she" had been robbed of that, and more, time and time again. Everything was supposed to be "hers" but she had been too timid, too meek- to speak up. 

Jennette hadn't even been her real sister for god's sake, just a cousin- how did a cousin have more hold over the claim to the throne than a rightful blood heir of the current emperor?

No one had taken "her" side, but she would take her own side now. Claude was by her side now, he would be her rock, her shield, her father. She wasn't scared like she had been when she was meeting him for the first time. 

She was born anew. She was Athanasia de Alger Obelia. She was the little Sun of the empire. 

She didn't have to bow down to anyone- not like "she" had when "she" had lived with Jennette. This Jennette was different, just like she was. 

But this time, this time- Athanasia was ready for anything and everything that would come her way. Jennette's tricks and facade of love would have no impact on her surroundings like it had "before".

It didn't make any sense to "her", but she had never said anything to anyone, simply believing it was all because of love, and that love could choose the heir. "She" had been so wrong, oh so wrong about that. 

It was never really about love, it was about who would have more sway over the sitting sovereign, whether papa could have pushed past the black magic for whatever feelings he had left for "her", and "she" had not known of the filthy tricks Anastasius and Penelope had done.