[attr="class","cordeliaimg"]

[attr="class","cordeliabt1"]LOVE ME MORE.

[attr="class","cordeliasimg"]

[attr="class","cordeliabt2"]PROVE ME RIGHT.

[attr="class","cordeliaf2"]The serene nature with which the robed man spoke feels out of place to Cordelia’s ears. It is an unexpected break from the overwhelming volume that the King talked in. But despite the newcomer’s light voice, the hall seems to have fallen into some sort of lull - all eyes are on him, and heads are outstretched as if hanging on to his next syllable. The only sound is the shuffling of the audience members trying to get a better view of the attraction. There is tension in the air - it is a feeling she knows well, but not from the other side on which she is standing now. She remembers when the world was at the click of her fingers. Oh, how long ago that felt now under this pressure.

The bound man is shoved, falling onto his stomach in front of the King - in front of her. His face evokes memories. They are different this time. Not fragmented episodes detailing murder and blood - not the loving embrace of a hated lover. This time, they are clear and discernible. It seems Cordelia has borrowed the memories of a certain advisor who had worked for the current King. Important facts and thoughts flood her mind, and yet, her body does not repel them like they did the other flashbacks. Instead, she feels a sense of duty, as if she has to carry out this person’s will as its inheritor.

The man on the floor is Duke Romeo. A well-honored subordinate of the King who has done nothing but bring glory to his name. To see him grounded like this must bring a lot of shock to the crowd - he was practically the visage of morality and virtue. At least, according to the new memories she had assumed. The white-garbed man continues his sermon, doing seemingly as much as he could to hide his animosity and intolerance. The audience gasps at the accusation, although not for very long - they do not want to miss a word. This was a historical moment as far as they were concerned. Cordelia feels an anger that isn’t hers well up - how dare they ruin the Day of the Dawn. Her task is clear now - to make the right choice is to carry on with her duty. How dare these mere worshippers attempt to bring shame to royalty.

However, with all her newfound information, she does not recognize the man leading the procession. Judging from his attire, he must be a rather high ranking official in the Church. Everyone else feels like they belonged to this time - this scenario. Why didn’t he? That was one of the few things keeping her grounded, to not fully sink into the mind of the King’s advisor - Cordelia blinks, trying to keep her train of thought.

The woman walks up with a face as innocent as a lamb. Yet, just by intuition, Cordelia can perceive there is something hiding behind those quivering lips. The King, seemingly recovering his composure, shouts down from his throne. “Lies! I know this man! He would never -” Cordelia walks forward, with the confidence - or arrogance - she had carried all her life. “If I may, your majesty?” she asks the King, who promptly quietens down and nods; her new memories had foretold her how compliant he was to his advisor.

There are three steps that lead to the floor of the hall from the level of the throne.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Cordelia makes herself known in the hushed hall with her echoed footsteps. She moves to stand at the side of the accused. ”Relations, you said? Would that not mean this affair was two-sided?” Her chin is raised upwards slightly, opposite to her pupils that now looked down from their elevated position. She was used to looking down on people. “If so, you would offer absolution to your priestess, but not our Duke Romeo?”

---

Notes:

Zenith of Eidos

[attr="class","cordeliacf2"][break]

level

1

stats

POWER 20 d
DEFENSE 20 d
SPEED 20 d
MAGIC 20 d
VITALITY 20 d
WILLPOWER 20 d
LUCK 0 F
[break]

stacks

n/a 0
[break]

abilities

off with their head
cooldown 0/3

items

- draconic leatherplate armor
- unnamed claymore

[attr="class","cordeliaimg"]

[attr="class","cordeliabt1"]LOVE ME MORE.

[attr="class","cordeliasimg"]

[attr="class","cordeliabt2"]PROVE ME RIGHT.

[attr="class","cordeliaf2"]She can already tell from his half-hearted gaze that his arrogance matched her own. It was one thing if he were to attack her argument - but to insult her character? Cordelia bites her tongue - her usual self, untainted by the advisor’s memories, would have lashed out right then and there. The strategic mind that she now temporarily possessed seemed to have much more capability of staying composed. ”I speak for the King - my words are his,” she says, careful to hide the hostility in her voice. The King behind her utters nothing to challenge that claim. “And when we are discussing matters concerning truth, that truth needs no-one to speak in its stead.” Almost reciting directly from the etiquette lessons she was forced to undergo as a child, her tone remains neutral if slightly abrasive.

Somehow, Cordelia immediately recognizes the letters’ material as they are being yielded to her. Royal parchment. It does not show on her face, but it instantly registers in her mind that Duke Romeo is one of the few with access to such fine paper. Correlation is not proof, though. Taking some time to inspect the envelopes, she lets the priest’s explanation by her ears. The members of the crowd gasp - to them, the Church was clearly at the advantage here. Any misstep she makes could ruin the reputation of the King for good. Under all the pressure, there is no other choice but to comply and read the letters out loud. As she raises the first one slightly, the audience goes silent again.


The writing is smudged, and scribbled out in some parts. The black ink follows tear stains down the page, partly obscuring some words. Thankfully Cordelia was still able to make out most of it. It seems the Church had picked out a letter that painted Duke Romeo in a bad light. All the people present surely must think him as a forlorn lover who refuses to let go. But the truth behind it must be revealed - if it exists.

She puts the letter back in the envelope and switches it with the next. Following a deep breath, she starts to read the contents of the message out loud.


As she continues to read the letter, a few things become clear to her, apart from the whispers of the crowd - the High Priestess’ letter comes out very forced and obstructed. The sentences written in neat handwriting are structured too irregularly to be just that. Of course, it could be owed to her religious upbringing and education. But Cordelia inspects the letter again in silence, and her eyes light up slightly.

The Church of the Lamb has overlooked a major detail. She is not sure if the man across from her has realized it or not. Deciding to keep the evidence to herself for now, she asks for a plea from the column of white-clad subjects. ”Free Duke Romeo to us for now and give us a night to convene for this matter - I ask for copies of these letters as well. Surely the Church does not prosecute on blind accusations? A fair trial would be in favor for both of our parties.” Her glare remains fixed on the leader, as if challenging him.

---

Notes:
If you didn't catch it, the first letters of Juliet's sentences form a word!
Zenith of Eidos

[attr="class","cordeliacf2"][break]

level

1

stats

POWER 20 d
DEFENSE 20 d
SPEED 20 d
MAGIC 20 d
VITALITY 20 d
WILLPOWER 20 d
LUCK 0 F
[break]

stacks

n/a 0
[break]

abilities

off with their head
cooldown 0/3

items

- draconic leatherplate armor
- unnamed claymore

[attr="class","cordeliaimg"]

[attr="class","cordeliabt1"]LOVE ME MORE.

[attr="class","cordeliasimg"]

[attr="class","cordeliabt2"]PROVE ME RIGHT.

[attr="class","cordeliaf2"]Something in the air shifts and Cordelia can feel it - The man must not be used to feeling vulnerable. She has the upper hand right now, and she knows it. Any slight trace of emotion on his face is worthless now in the face of justice. Although she does not know the whole story yet, she is sure there is more to be uncovered: the act of believing in one’s faith is not a deterrent to sin and lies. If anything, it is an excuse. The High Priestess clearly would have more to say on that matter - if only Cordelia got the chance to convene with her as well, everything would reveal itself neatly. But alas, they stood on opposite sides of the coin.

Just as she opens her mouth ready to respond to Zenith’s fit, he is interrupted by another from his parade. His rising irritation - at least that’s what that expression in his face was - seems to dissipate, replaced by a subdued stare. As he gives the ultimatum, Cordelia resists the change coming to her own face - she can barely hold her smile as he has no other choice but to relay the terms of his Pope. His own grin surely was just a facade. The only part that catches her off-guard is the threat to her own head. They seem to have not yet ruled out the possibility of the King’s men smuggling the Duke out to keep him safe. But if they really were listening, they’d know all Cordelia wants is a fair trial. Either they lacked trust in her spoken conviction, or something much more grim is at hand.

”I agree,” she responds, tone of voice showing not much more than duty required, ”Have the copies of the letters delivered by sundown.” She looks down at the kneeling Duke Romeo, his head parallel to the ground. If any truth was to be extracted, it was going to be from the husk of a broken man.

---

”Who is the High Priestess to you?” Cordelia asks directly, arms crossed. She had only been let into the Duke’s temporary chambers now. The letters arrived exactly at sundown, as if to delay her investigation for as long as possible. Looking at them again in a clearer headspace without the pressure of the surrounding onlookers, though, her suspicions are confirmed: High Priestess Juliet, whether by good intention or love, encrypted messages into the letters she had sent to the duke. Upon being given entry by the two guards, armed with swords that seem to have never been used, Cordelia wanted to begin the questioning immediately. However, that plan had to change. She is no longer looking at the Duke Romeo that was so dignified in her implanted memories - instead, she is looking at a soulless man. He isn’t crying - he is way past that. His eyes are aimless, the usual glow replaced by a dark, clutching void.

It takes a long time for him to answer, in addition to the time she waited to interrogate him as well. ”Love…” he says, the word trailing off like the nostalgia a heartbreak brings. Cordelia leaves it in the air, pulling a chair out and taking a seat by the candlelight. After realizing he would not be saying anything more despite his hanging mouth, she asks further: “In your letters you said you shared a kiss - did you make that up?” For the first time since the door opened Romeo turns his face up so that his eyes meet hers. His face is dark and callous, as if no longer interested in life itself. “No… We did kiss…” Like the words of a rambling drunk, they are slurred, and Cordelia could not tell if there was too much on his mind or nothing left at all.

Although there is barely any conversation being done, Cordelia knows from the exchanged letters that these two must have had some kind of relationship - one that could be called intimate. However, there is a sudden shift in Juliet’s tone in between one pair of letters - as if someone found something out. Someone was monitoring the letters, as was hinted in the most recent delivery.

”If you want this to turn out right, for both you and her, you will talk to me.” Cordelia orders, starting to lose her patience. She taps her finger on the nightstand beside her. Of course, this evokes no response from the Duke. His unwillingness to cooperate was going to be the downfall of both of them.

---

Notes:
Zenith of Eidos

[attr="class","cordeliacf2"][break]

level

1

stats

POWER 20 d
DEFENSE 20 d
SPEED 20 d
MAGIC 20 d
VITALITY 20 d
WILLPOWER 20 d
LUCK 0 F
[break]

stacks

n/a 0
[break]

abilities

off with their head
cooldown 0/3

items

- draconic leatherplate armor
- unnamed claymore