Chapter Text
How could it be?
How could she do this?
The skies were dark with clouds and the town was quiet. Only the rhythmic march of hooves and feet were not gloomy.
What they signified however, was more than gloom.
Rows of knights escorted a carriage with the Imperial crest to the entrance of the Solon Mansion.
The first to take a step out of the carriage was the proud, tall, and imposing emperor, Eros Orna Vasilios.
The cold wind blew his hair into disarray but the emperor smiled dazzlingly. He held out his hand to the other passenger.
A fair and delicate hand, a woman's hand, took Eros' offer.
Out stepped the beautiful and intimidating dark haired duke, Medea Solon, His Imperial Majesty's future empress.
The two exchanged smiles that no one could assume as fake or forced. They were a natural pair, both of intellect and appearance.
Both capable rulers who would never let injustice go.
Therefore it was unsurprising for the newly appointed cardinal, Perion Sov Vasilios, to be imprisoned and sentenced to death, after evidence of his plans of treason against the Emperor and the Pope was discovered.
The Emperor had just personally announced the news to the public.
To reassure the masses despite the gravity of the situation, he appointed Duke Medea Solon to be the leader of further investigation of the Temple and its constituents.
"Your Imperial Majesty, you didn't have to escort me back,"
Medea chirped, her demeanor the perfect mix of polite and provocative.
It made Eros chuckle.
As the best, he was also meant to have the best, and for women, who else in the empire was better than Medea Solon?
"We never know what may happen. After all, I just assigned you an important mission."
Eros brushed Medea's hair behind her ear.
Medea sighed, though the corners of her lips curved upwards.
"Of course. Rest assured, Your Imperial Majesty, I will have it done. Completely."
Eros smirked and leaned forward.
The mansion's doors opened just as Eros moved his mouth.
Serious and melancholic Dekis Solon, older brother of Medea Solon, stood at the doors.
"My sincere apologies for the delayed reception, Your Imperial Majesty. I was not aware you would visit."
Dekis greeted with a polite bow.
Eros dismissed him with a casual wave of his hand.
"I won't be staying."
Eros grinned one last time at Medea.
"I'll be seeing you later, Medea."
"Thank you. Take care, Your Imperial Majesty."
The Solon siblings stayed and watched until the Imperial carriage and its escorts were out of sight, only then did Medea let out a barely visible or audible sigh.
"Medi… welcome back."
Dekis hesitated.
Although, he could never guess exactly what was going through Medea's head, he knew Medea wasn't in a good mood.
A particularly strong gust of wind blew.
Medea let the cold numb her face for a moment.
The roar of the wind, the smell of incoming rain, and the rage in Medea's heart that would not curb was an obvious sign that the evening was not going to be pleasant.
"Let's go inside."
Medea turned around, face as cold as the wind of a storm.
The night of the announcement for the investigation of the Temple was stormy, as if God was angry that the people of the Temple were full of hypocrisy and dishonoring Him.
Or, that God was angry someone had the audacity to disrespect His Temple and believers.
Although the weather and everyone in the Temple was distressing, a hooded woman calmly made her way down the main temple's basement.
It was quiet and tranquil at the basement altar.
Quite unlike the world outside, and inside the heart of the woman who knelt down to pray.
"I'm surprised you managed to come here without being discovered."
A smooth and confident voice of a female noble interrupted the quiet.
The voice came from behind a pillar.
It was a familiar voice to the kneeling woman, even more familiar than her own at times.
It was the voice she wanted to hear at the same time wanted to stop hearing in her head, over and over again.
"Or maybe, I should be surprised you even came here."
The noble's taunts were met with silence.
Boots scuffled against the floors, clothes rustled… everything was loud in the underground altar.
The hooded woman shut her eyes closed as tight as she could, and tried to focus her mind on praying, on breathing, on the gentle sound of water dripping into the basin, anything but the person fast approaching.
"You gain nothing by coming here, Lady Callista."
The hood was pulled down from a head of shoulder length blonde hair.
Former crown princess, runaway eldest daughter of former Count Callista, and once beloved of the people, Psyche Callista, kept her head down and stayed kneeling.
Her clasped hands shook.
"...Then why were you here first?"
Psyche's voice trembled.
Partly due to anxiety, sadness, pain, but most mostly due to her anger and frustration.
She wanted to stand and grab the woman beside her by the lapels and shake her until she came to her senses.
But Psyche knew she couldn't do it. She wasn't even sure if she could look directly into the other's eyes.
"If there's nothing, then why are you here? On another one of your whims, or his, Lady Medea?"
Psyche wasn't one to verbally attack people. Neither did she want to think, much less talk about the man who's ruined so many lives, nor talk to the woman who said she would kill that man, only to end up going back on her word and joining him.
But Psyche was just so angry.
Medea let go of Psyche's hood.
"Address me as Duke Solon. Also basic etiquette should have taught you to face the one you're greeting, especially those of higher rank than you,"
Medea bit back in a tone full of cold majesty, something that would only happen if people were spying on them.
At least that was the case several months ago. Back when Psyche and Medea were close friends and allies.
"Ha! Haha...!"
Psyche buried her face in her hands, trying to push down her frustration and keep it from showing.
"...Then you shouldn't have called me Lady…"
Medea grabbed Psyche's shoulder and turned Psyche to face her.
Fiery green eyes glared up at the duke. The near snarl on Psyche's face was something that Medea had never felt directed at her.
"...right, Duke Solon?"
Cold met hot. Neither backed down.
Though there were deep nail marks on Psyche's temples and unshed tears in her eyes, Medea knew she couldn't let her guard down.
Medea sneered.
"I suppose since I found you in a restricted area of the Temple during an Imperially ordered investigation, etiquette is unnecessary."
Psyche thought she wouldn't be able to handle seeing Medea again, face to face.
She underestimated herself.
Psyche stood up and glared at the woman who loved her the most and hurt her the most.
"How could you side with Eros? You despise him! He views the citizens- everyone and everything but himself as trash. Don't you think he'll do that to you too?"
Medea stood a step lower, but her momentum wasn't inferior to Psyche's. They stood at eye level.
"It doesn't matter. More importantly, you shouldn't be here."
Leave .
The last word couldn't make it out of Medea's mouth.
That irritated Medea.
Foolish. Fool! Don't waste your time.
"Doesn't matter? Medea, he got Pell and a hundred others who did nothing but try to help people!"
No matter how cold and emotionless Medea made her face to look, Psyche was always confident under all of that, Medea cared .
The tight muscles in her jaw and around her eyes told Psyche that.
But Psyche couldn't understand why Medea would do this.
"You can't tell me that didn't bother you. Don't even try to lie."
Just as Psyche had searched her face, in one glance Medea had already taken in Psyche's state of appearance, movements, and emotions.
It was a subconscious habit. A tool for survival.
Something Medea both hoped she didn't have and was thankful she had for the moment.
Medea took all of Psyche in. Anger, desperation, something she both hoped for and wished would disappear, care .
Medea truly did not need to see Psyche still care for her.
She didn't deserve it.
"Whether it bothers me or not, doesn't matter. We made mistakes and the power of the Imperial family proved to be too much."
Medea feigned indifference.
Although, her eyes never left Psyche's.
"It's better for everyone if instead of opposing Eros, someone could simply keep him in check and keep damage to a minimum. I figured I was the best candidate."
"...That's not true. You know it's not. How could you even say such a thing when we both know you could lead the empire better without him, and do even better than all the previous emperors?"
Psyche rubbed at her eyes. Her tears haven't fallen, but they were blurring her sight.
It took effort, on Medea's part, not to reach for Psyche. Always a staggering experience.
Medea was never one to want physical contact.
Medea stayed her hands.
"...A civil war would break out. Many could get hurt. Is that what you want?"
"I don't want anyone to get hurt! That's why I don't understand why you're letting him stay on the throne."
"We were cornered. I took the path with the least casualties and better outcome in the long run. This is what you and Pell wanted me to do, right-"
Psyche grabbed Medea by the lapels of her coat, and snapped,
"Stop lying!"
Medea watched as Psyche grit her teeth and did her best to reel in her divinity.
Psyche's conversation with Medea hurt her so much, her divinity acted as if she was under physical attack.
Psyche held back her tears, but her voice cracked with emotion.
"...This is the worst. The absolute worst. Everyone's getting hurt because of him and for him, even though he doesn't care about anyone other than himself!"
Medea opened her mouth.
She wanted nothing more than to comfort Psyche, pull her in an embrace and tell her everything will be alright.
Eros will get what he deserves. He will die. The people will have a ruler that will treat them appropriately, and the empire will prosper. Many people will be happy.
It's a pity that Psyche can't be in the empire when that happens.
A pity that Medea won't be one of the happy ones, after she decided she'd take complete control of the empire.
Medea pressed her lips together into a hard line.
A pity.
"It seems this talk is pointless. My decision stays the same, and you refuse to believe otherwise."
Medea covered Psyche's hands with her own and pried them off her coat.
Regrettably, Psyche was never one to resort to physical confrontation.
She easily let go, and Medea had to release Psyche's hands.
That will be the last.
"I already told you to leave the empire and make sure the emperor of Vasilios never gets a hold of you. There is nothing and no one in the underground altar."
Medea fixed her clothes. The intent gaze on her face felt like hot needles.
Last time you will feel warmth.
"I'll take my leave."
Medea turned around without giving Psyche another glance.
The urge to stay, linger, and be in Psyche's presence a little longer had Medea blurting out,
"It's for the best that you heed my warning."
Enough.
Medea scoffed at herself, and made her way down the altar steps.
Medea's steps were neither slow nor hurried, not because she was calm or trying to appear calm. But because she was torn.
People usually say to follow your heart, or be reasonable and follow your mind. Only two paths, logic or emotion?
It made no sense then that Medea was driving Psyche away when both logic and emotion told her there was no need for Psyche to leave.
Eros ruined Psyche's reputation and framed her as a monster, an enemy, and a heretic.
Her reputation can be repaired once Eros is exposed as the real monster. And he will.
Eventually.
But the fact that everyone knows how destructive and powerful Psyche's divinity can be, will always make people wary of her.
Especially the nobles and anyone with authority.
Not to mention the Temple is overrun by corrupt priests, and the people's faith in the Temple has also decreased.
A sudden change of rulers and another purging will cause unrest across the empire. The masses will need reassurance, stability, and strength.
They would not consent to Psyche, a woman with strange powers, holding the highest authority.
Keep her close.
By your side. Always.
It is the best place- the only place.
Medea could force it. So long as she shows absolute power, no one will get in the way. Only-
"What if I don't want to leave? I want to stay and kill Eros myself. Will you take that choice from me?"
Psyche asked, tone hard but well modulated.
It was how nobles were supposed to talk. Threatening and arrogant, but civil.
Medea hated it on Psyche.
"Then I suppose you still need to work on your lying skills."
Medea didn't stop walking.
She could feel her emotions churning inside. If she stopped now, Medea was sure she would do something terrible.
Walk.
"Even you should know that the people adore the current emperor. Killing him is treason."
"I'm already an enemy of the state, if I kill him then I'm just doing as I should. Why should that be a problem?"
Medea paused at the bottom of the altar steps.
"Kill Eros, you free the throne. With the absence of an heir, and no collateral line, the next emperor would normally be chosen from the kings of the empire. Unfortunately, none of the kings have much power or presence due to Eros' schemes."
Medea laughed, though there was no trace of joy in it.
"Do you know what that means? As the highest ranking duke and the most capable …"
Medea turned around and looked up to a distraught Psyche.
"I can be the most powerful person in the whole empire! I can have whatever I want- take whatever I want. No one will stop me."
Medea gripped her hair, as if she wanted to rip out her own scalp.
"And do you know the first thing that I thought of, every time I imagined being emperor?"
The expression on Psyche's face looked so hurt and sad. There was no way Psyche didn't know.
The two have come so far, it was impossible for Psyche not to know what Medea wanted, and for Medea not to understand that Psyche yearned for the same thing.
But it was impossible.
Medea sneered,
"You don't need to hear it."
"Tell me. Why can't we, Medea, it-"
It happened so fast, Psyche only felt the impact and the pain.
Medea lunged over the steps and pulled Psyche down by the wrist.
No grace, no tact.
Psyche's entire body weight crashed against Medea. They stumbled, but Medea kept them both from falling.
Psyche winced as the world stopped spinning and her body's discomfort became more apparent.
Medea's grip on her wrist was strong enough to bruise. Psyche was helpless with Medea's other arm around her. Her feet didn't even touch the floor.
Medea held them so close together, it was difficult to breathe.
"It is a problem."
Psyche barely caught Medea's whisper even though Medea's mouth was right by her ear.
Past the pain in her wrist, waist, and chest, Psyche could feel Medea completely tensed.
Psyche looked up and met Medea's absolutely livid expression.
"You wouldn't be you, if you agreed to be kept a secret."
Medea pulled Psyche's wrist further back. Psyche held onto Medea's shoulder to slow the impact of her cheek against Medea's jaw.
"If I was emperor and yet unable to have you walk freely under the sky, then what was the point of gaining power?"
Psyche flinched as Medea tightened her grip even more.
"You have to leave. Don't force me to do something terrible, Psyche."
It was unfair.
How could Medea sound so pained when she was the one speaking harshly and pushing Psyche away?
Psyche wanted to butt her head against Medea's and knock some sense into her.
And yet, Psyche had to keep herself from crying.
"...Don't do this, Medea. When I told you I didn't want anybody to get hurt, that included you."
Psyche tucked her face against Medea's neck and pleaded.
"Stop hurting yourself, Medea, please!"
"Hurting myself?"
Medea rushed towards the closest pillar and slammed Psyche's back against it.
"Ah!"
Psyche yelped.
Any harder and Psyche would've broken a shoulder blade and a rib.
"I'm hurting you."
Medea gripped Psyche's shoulder and pushed her further against the pillar.
Although, Psyche wasn't as delicate as before, with Medea's strength even wood was like paper.
"Don't get confused. Regardless what you think I feel, I am hurting you."
Psyche tugged at Medea's sleeve.
Even though Psyche couldn't push Medea with her strength, if she wanted to, she could easily subdue Medea with her divinity.
But Psyche's divinity remained inactive. Psyche could not think of Medea as a threat to her.
How could she?
"...Medea- ngk..!"
Psyche shook her head, trying to get used to the increased pain in her shoulder.
Psyche spoke through gritted teeth,
"..are you really going through with this? Are you actually willing to-"
Medea slammed Psyche's wrist against the stone pillar, Psyche gasped.
Medea pressed forward until all Psyche could see was a pair of cold violet eyes.
"I will do whatever it takes to make you leave. I mean it."
Medea growled.
Psyche pursed her lips.
"...Even if it's a path you can't turn back from?"
"Even if I destroy all possibilities of fixing them, I'll burn all the bridges."
Psyche's green eyes turned glassy with tears.
It suffocated Medea to hurt Psyche.
She felt no anger, animosity, or even annoyance at Psyche, and yet Medea had to inflict pain upon pain on her.
It was nauseating.
"You're sacrificing yourself. M-, please don't."
Psyche closed her eyes.
She knew. Psyche knew it was impossible, Medea had already made her decision.
But the realization that Medea would go as far as to destroy their friendship just to drive her away was truly heartbreaking.
The pain it brought to Psyche's heart trumped any of the physical pain Medea inflicted on her.
"...You're so mean, Lady Medea,"
Psyche whispered, resigned.
Medea felt Psyche's pulse against her palm and her warmth. She knew exactly how much force was needed to break her wrist, her shoulder… Medea knew how quick and how little force was needed to knock Psyche out with the least pain and bruising.
Stop it.
Medea silently chided herself.
You have no right.
Medea's jaw clenched.
"Go."
Medea let go of Psyche's wrist, and placed her hand against the pillar instead.
"Don't get hurt. Don't get killed. But most importantly, don't get caught."
Medea spoke with as much apathy as she could muster.
Tears finally streamed down Psyche's face.
"You think Eros is your only enemy."
Medea's voice lowered to a murmur full of disdain and loathing.
Medea had long ignored the feeling of self-hatred, but on this night it overflowed. Like acid down her throat.
Don't touch her.
Don't say her name.
Don't even look at her.
Medea let her hands drop to her sides.
"But I'm worse."
"How could you say that?"
Psyche rubbed at her eyes, she tried to compose herself, tried to suppress her sobs just so she could beg Medea to stay.
But it was impossible.
Medea exhaled.
They were barely an arm's width apart, but the distance felt like a chasm no bridge could ever cross.
Medea took a step back and took all of Psyche in.
Blonde hair, flushed face, fair skin marked red with her handprints, tears … despite her better judgment, Medea knew that image would stay engraved in her mind for as long as she lived.
It would haunt her together with the rest of her memories of Psyche.
"This is your final warning. You will never see me again. Don't ever come within my grasp."
Medea turned her back towards Psyche and made her way to the exit.
Just before she slipped out of the wooden doors, Medea heard Psyche's hoarse and rueful voice,
"You're unbelievable."
The doors shut close and Medea ran.
Ran out of the Temple and into the stormy night, letting the rain drench her clothes and the wind whip at them.
She never thought she would do something so absurd as a duke, but Medea had to get away.
Those solid wooden doors couldn't have stopped her if she turned around.
Even as her face grew numb from the cold wind and rain, the longing to go back did not disappear.
It only grew stronger and hotter and more painful .
Medea wished that Psyche had punched her, or at the least slapped her, anything really, just so Medea had an excuse to imprison Psyche and hide her from the rest of the world.
But that was exactly why Psyche couldn't stay in Vasilios.
With the information Eros shared, Medea figured out how and why she and Psyche could switch bodies.
Medea visited the underground altar in the off chance God would strike her down for hurting His beloved child despite the knowledge she had.
The cross artifact used for the yearly prayer was one of the more powerful artifacts. It genuinely allowed the user to connect with the guardian deity. However, the strength of the connection was dependent on the user's and the guardian deity's existing connection.
For the average person that meant nothing, they might not even be noticed by the deity nor notice the deity's presence.
But for someone already blessed with divinity and possessing a kind and compassionate heart favored by the deity, it meant a miracle.
The artifact was made to connect hearts, with enough divinity, it could tie souls together as well.
Of course there were conditions that needed to be met for that to occur.
One. The user must have a strong connection with the guardian deity and enough power.
Two. There must be mutual desire to be fated together.
Three. It can only work if the parties involved were willing to lay down their life for the other.
Psyche had more than enough divinity to clear the first condition, and the circumstances at that time dealt with the second condition.
The third one was what drove Medea mad upon discovery.
To think she still had such feelings even though she thought Psyche was the reason for her misery at that time. It was distressing.
Medea was even more distressed once she completely realized what all of that entailed.
Psyche's healing only worked if she retained her kindness and if she wasn't plagued with negative emotions.
Fear, anger, hatred, those emotions triggered the other side of her divinity. And even that could disappear if Psyche lost her connection with the guardian deity.
And in the face of broken politics and prejudice, Psyche could lose that. Slowly but surely.
Medea didn't care if Psyche kept or lost her divinity. That wasn't why she loved Psyche.
But if losing her divinity meant watching Psyche lose heart over the world and possibly crush her confidence in herself, then there was no chance of Medea allowing that.
Which was another problem.
The stage Eros set, made the prejudice against Psyche impossible to deal with in a short period of time. It would take years, maybe decades.
Decades that would be tainted with the blood of all those who try to harm Psyche. And for certain, there would be many.
Psyche would hate it. She would argue with Medea, and suggest more humane punishment.
But in the time of strife and instability, people listened to power and might.
Medea would definitely make it clear that her Psyche should not be touched.
Therein lies the problem.
Even if Psyche did not condone Medea's actions, repeatedly failing to stop and punish someone's violent transgressions could lead to helplessness. Helplessness could lead to resignation.
Resignation to indifference.
Psyche is strong, maybe if it was before the events of Eros' plans four months ago, Medea would still be confident in having Psyche stay by her side at the top.
It's a pity, Medea has no choice but to use extreme means to get an end fair enough for the majority.
There was zero chance of Medea allowing some random nobodies to dishearten Psyche, and that meant she herself had no right to do such a thing.
Medea would rather drive Psyche away than be the reason she completely loses her divinity.
And yet Medea wanted to claw at her chest, scream, overturn the Temple's pillars, and destroy the entire Palace with her bare hands out of rage from the injustice of it all.
Too bad.
Psyche would hate that.
Too bad.
Someone so kind does not deserve to be put through such pain and chaos.
Too bad.
Medea couldn't prevent things from going to ruin so fast.