1.13

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Four months later

"Do you promise, to protect your country with your blood?"

"I do."

"Lady Liliana Elina Reintheld, you will now be stripped of your title of old and be reborn into the title of Queen of Conrei. Do you accept?"

"I do."

A silver diadem was lowered onto curled dark locks, pushed down lightly by the bishop to secure it.

Liliana glanced at Aleric on his throne. His pink lips turned upwards in a small supportive smile.

"From this day forward, you are Queen Liliana Elina Reintheld. All hail!"

"All hail!" The crowd echoes as Aleric rises. He walks towards Liliana and outstretches a hand. Gingerly, she takes it and he leads her back to the thrones. She sits down in unison with him and the crowd sits as well.

A lot has happened in the past four months. After Conrei acquired Terria, Alissandra had become their ruler that very day, while still serving under the Conrein crown. Liliana had thought she would've been teleported or something out of this world, but 008 told her she resided there until 'endgame' occurred, meaning her death or something happened 'at corporate,' whatever that means.

'Think of it as a vacation,' 008 said. 'You can just relax and see if you can get any extra points.'

Two weeks after Alissandra became Terria's ruler under the Conrein crown, Aleric's father announced that he will step down from his position as King, due to being almost 70. He wasn't threatened, he just wanted to retire and live at the seashore in solitude. Two weeks after that, Aleric became King.

A month after Aleric became King, Liliana married Aleric. Two months later, here I am, Queen once more.

'You don't love him though, do you.'

Liliana glances at the handsome man next to her and he turns to her. A soft smile spreads across his lips yet it dared not reach his coal eyes.

'If I did, I'd only find myself heartbroken in the next world. We are a power duo, nothing more, nothing less.'

The two sat through the ceremony for a bit longer before they dismissed themselves at its end.

"Care to join me for a stroll, wife?" Aleric asks as a shudder runs up Liliana's spine. She'll never get used to being called that.

"Of course, husband."

He guides her and the two walk to their quarters in silence.

"Well, I do have a...surprise, for you," Aleric says, causing Liliana's heart to drop.

"Did you kill anyone?" Liliana asks, making Aleric laugh slightly. "No...unless you want me to."

"Ha ha, very funny. You know I don't like surprises-"

"This surprise is worth it," Aleric says, as the two enter the open garden in the courtyard. Butterflies flitted between lilies and daisies, before being hidden from the eye's view in the pink plum blossoms. A wind shakes a few petals loose, blowing past a woman in a white dress.

The woman turns, a faint smile on her face. Liliana smiles widely, picking up her skirts as she runs forward.

"Amelia!" she cries out, wrapping the maid in a tight hug. Amelia lightly squeals, "My lady! Please! The King is right there-"

"He has no real power anyway," Liliana laughs, loosening her grip as she leans back, looking over Amelia. The maid no longer seemed so tired and haggard looking after the events that happened four months ago. Right after Liliana gave over Terria to Conrei, everyone was ushered out of the hall so treaties could be written up.

Amelia and Liliana didn't even have a chance to say goodbye before the Florentines got booted.

"I heard that!" Aleric says from behind Liliana, but Liliana ignores him, continuing to chat with Amelia. Aleric scoffs lightly, leaning against a pillar as a faint smile comes across his face as he watches plum blossoms weave themselves into Liliana's hair.

"How'd you get here?" Liliana asks as Amelia smiles. "A certain someone wrote me a letter about you needing a head maid. I hope this time, I won't have to leave so soon."

"You won't, I promise," Liliana says with a laugh. "There's no imminent danger or any crazy people lurking around the corner."

Amelia's smile wilts slightly. "Katherine still hasn't been found, maybe there's a killer out there..."

Liliana's heart tightens at this. How she wished she could tell her, but would it be better for Amelia to never know?

"Hey, don't worry," Liliana soothes her maid, patting the girl on the shoulder. "She'll turn up soon."

Amelia gives a weak smile at this. "Yeah, I agree."

"Have you unpacked yet?"

"Not yet," Amelia says before a tight smile comes to her face. "I'll do that now so we can chat later."

After a quick hug more, the two parted ways, and Liliana walked up to Aleric who had a brow raised.

"What?" Liliana asks, putting her hands on her hips. Aleric peels off the wall, turning his back to Liliana as he whistles inconspicuously.

"I thought you had grown dull in your time here. Never have I seen you more invigorated than with Amelia," he comments idly, causing Liliana to frown as she walks forward, feet tapping lightly on the stones.

"We're quite good friends, that is all. Besides, I need to have more self-control over myself than in the days of old," Liliana chuckles, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear. "I just wish to be an exemplary queen for the people, that is all."

"You will be," he says softly as he cups her face with his palm. "You're still adjusting. Although you are a lady of noble birth, this is quite a large step up. Yes, you were Queen before. But, you were Queen for five minutes, which is the lowest time ever recorded."

Liliana scoffs lightly at his joke but doesn't respond.

"The crown is a heavy burden to bear," he says, falling into step with Liliana as they walk amongst the flowers, "but someone has to do it. I think, no, I know that you're the best that can do it, Liliana."

Liliana rolls her eyes lightly. "You don't have to flatter me just because we're married."

"I flatter you because I'm being honest. I haven't met a girl like you for a long time," he softly remarks, almost as if he was afraid to admit it. "No other girl will do what you have done and still remain sane. It's something I quite like about you."

"Falling for me?" she scoffs lightly, turning down the path and he smirks. "Far from it. I've never loved and don't know when I'll start."

Suddenly, her back is pushed against the bark of the plum tree. Plum petals scatter over her and Aleric, coating their world in a light pink color.

"But love has nothing to do with passion. Let's just say, I have a certain... ardor, for girls with long black-and-blue hair, and icy eyes as sharp as their wit," he flirts as he leans dangerously close to Liliana's face.

"So? What will it be?" he asks, voice with a slight gravel. "Be the dull Queen you've been aspiring to be for the rest of your life... or embrace the tension that's formed in the past year since we've acquainted?"

"I don't know what you mean," Liliana says flirtily as she crosses her arms and stares defiantly into his black eyes, seeing her own reflection in them.

"I think you do," he smirks. In the blink of an eye, he wraps wrapping an arm around Liliana's shoulder. She doesn't have time to react when he knocks her back bridal-style

"A-Aleric!" Liliana yelps, wrapping her arms tightly around Aleric's neck. "We're in the garden-"

"That can be changed!" he laughs, barrelling down the hall to their rooms. The guards merely sidestepped, not paying attention to their giggles nor the petals strewn about their hair.

Aleric kicks the door behind him shut, before sitting down on the edge of the bed, placing Liliana in his lap. Liliana flushes deeply and wonders what will happen next since the two didn't do anything on their wedding night. In the journey back to Conrei, the two slept on separate beds in the same room, just as how even now Liliana has a separate room connected to this one.

He wanted to make sure I wasn't traumatized from Reginald first. How kind.

Aleric snakes a hand to comfortably rest around her slim waist. "Do you want to see how deep this rabbit hole goes?" He asks with mischief evident in his eyes. Liliana pauses with no idea how to respond.

"The great Liliana backing down from a challenge? That's unlike you..." he trails off which causes Liliana to roll her eyes. "Trying to use reverse psychology won't cause me to jump headfirst into dangerous territory."

"You have so many times before..." his breath was hot on her face while his hands glided ever so slightly up her body. "Why not now? Are you afraid I'll bite back for real?"

"...yes." Liliana glances aside. A sharklike grin flashed upon his face.

"Good."

His hand glides up to her neck and pulls aside her waved hair, exposing a pale neck. With a flurry of light kisses, he trails down hotly to her ear.

"You're in for a ride, darling," he huskily informs. Liliana feels tingles from this soft spot on her neck and wonders what will happen next.

And then he bit down.

Liliana jerks up in surprise and pleasure and he uses this to flip her onto her back, her diadem flopping onto the comforter. Aleric hung over her with a mischievous smile. His once neat hair was now messy and freer than it had ever been, the crown long discarded on the floor by the bedside.

"I've always wondered if you taste as delicious as you smell," he admits with something burning in charcoal eyes. "I have since I met you."

Liliana's cheeks burned an even a brighter red as arousal beginning to heat up her body.

Slowly, almost teasingly, he pressed his lips onto her and expertly places his tongue in her. Not wanting to be a fish, Liliana kisses back.

Huh, he tastes like whiskey. Obviously, a bit of alcohol made the ceremony a little less boring.

"You're not too bad," he murmurs as Liliana recollects her past life. While she was still a virgin, she and her ex had done stuff, so she wasn't too inexperienced. And, with Reginald being as touchy as he was, this body had a bit of expertise at kissing back.

Liliana runs her hands up his back and pulls him closer to her. She runs her fingers through his silky hair, feeling as if soft feathers were underneath her touch.

Breathless, he pulls away with amazement twinkling in his coal eyes.

"Do you want to..."

"Continue this?" Liliana finishes for him. She shrugs.  "Depends. You'll have to rip this dress off me," Liliana responds coyly, looking up at him through dark lashes.

He smirks cockily. "That can be arranged."

=

Weeks of passion faded into months; eventually, another eighteen months passed as the two found new ways to deepen their passion every night. Conrei was flourishing, and all seemed to be going well.

"Darling." Aleric caressed her soft face in bed. "You make me feel... alive."

"Likewise," Liliana breathlessly responds as she feels herself begin to drop into sleep on his chest. He wraps a warm arm around her, pulling her closer.

His breathing slows as well as Liliana blinked one last time, dropping deep into sleep.

The feeling of someone shaking her shoulders jolted Liliana back to life.

"What?" Liliana asked groggily, expecting to see her husband. Alas, it was Amelia, once again with a frantic look on her face.

"We've got to leave immediately, my lady!" Amelia yells out, pulling Liliana up from her bed. Liliana looked over at the bed, expecting to see a sleeping Aleric, only to see him strapping on his boots.

"What's going on?" Liliana asks as Amelia rushes to a chest in the corner of the room, grabbing a large bag.

"People've invaded," Aleric responds, standing up. He was wearing a nightshirt with regular pants and boots, having no time to fully dress. Reaching behind the dresser, he withdraws a backup sword, holding it tightly as he steps quickly to Liliana. "I've got to go and protect my castle."

He leans downward and Liliana goes on her toes, their lips meeting for a moment halfway. Liliana pulls away, a determined expression on her face.

"Be safe and stay alive," Liliana orders. "Or else I won't forgive you."

A slight smirk appears on Aleric's face. "I will." The smile falls off his face. "Now, go. Amelia will take you in a secret passageway away from here."

Liliana nods, looking at Amelia over Aleric's shoulder. The husband and wife part ways as Liliana slips into a pair of winter boots. Amelia wraps a robe around Liliana's shoulders as she pulls a torch, opening up a stone door.

Quickly, Liliana hurries down the cold stone path as Amelia closes the door behind her after lighting her lantern. Liliana pauses for a moment, watching Amelia secure the door before turning back to her master.

Amelia holds out the bag and Liliana reaches inside it before withdrawing a long knife. Liliana looks up in silence at Amelia who merely pats her waist, indicating a knife on her own belt beneath the robe. Liliana puts her long knife in her nightgown pocket, noticing how its bulge had been covered up by the thickness of the robe.

Silently, the two rush down the twisting paths, hearing screams and roars of fury echo through the stone. At the end sat a wooden door, which Liliana pushed open.

Liliana and Amelia squinted at the sudden change in light, seeing purplish-orange hues on the horizon, indicating dawn was about to rise. Liliana stepped forward, noticing that they were at the edge of the garden. It seemed as if the exit had led to the gardening shed-

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Queen."

Liliana whirled around to see Alissandra slowly walking forward, a dark look on the sister-in-law's face.

"Alissandra, what's going on? Why are you not in Terria?" Liliana asks as Alissandra's brows furrow.

"Don't refer to me so amiably when you're married to that bastard," Alissandra spits.

Liliana's blue eyes widened in shock as she realized what was going on.

"What have you done?" Liliana asks breathlessly. A sly smile came onto the traitor's face.

"I did what had to be done. When there's a plague, you have to burn it out to prevent it from spreading," Alissandra comments, gaze flitting down at the two women. "Even so, I will give you a chance, Liliana."

Liliana's mouth went dry and didn't say anything, allowing the girl in front of her to continue talking.

"I will be Queen after Aleric has been disposed of," Alissandra says off-handedly as if killing her brother was not a big deal. "I will be a good leader. After all, I did help restore the Terrian economy after the whole meltdown of that country."

Liliana hated to admit it, but Alissandra did do a good job. However, it was because that scenario was framed from the very getgo. Alissandra was taking all the credit even though the entire war council and a series of economic advisors had to come up with a revival plan. The original idea originated from Aleric, after all.

"But if you were Queen of the entire empire, wouldn't you be spread too thin?" Liliana asks, emitting a chuckle from Alissandra.

"A good question. I must admit, other rulers would likely be spread too thin. But not me. By making more farmland out in small-town territories through moving those who aren't farmers to a bigger town, and 'rightfully' compensating them, the land out there will be sparsely populated. The bigger towns can be under governor control. I'll have everything under my grasp, then."

It didn't sound too bad at first, but it seemed almost too good to be true.

"Besides, my army will slaughter anyone in my way," Alissandra giggles. "It's not a big deal."

Alissandra looks back at Liliana with a serious expression. "But, I do agree with you. After a while, people may regroup and regather. I can't do it alone."

Alissandra extends a hand as the castle's towers behind her begin to burn.

"Join me and become my little Queen."

...

WHAT?!

"I'm sorry, what?" Liliana asks as Alissandra chuckles. "Please, you don't need to act so embarrassed about this. It'd be political only and others have done it in the past. You would be free to pick other lovers, as I will as well; or we could remain loyal, if that's what you wish."

Liliana's face flushes at this, causing Alissandra to get another sly smirk on her face. "You are of high pedigree," Alissandra compliments. "I've seen what you read. You don't bother yourself with poems of love, but increase your knowledge with stories of war. Your plan to manipulate the old King of Terria was quite astounding because it shouldn't have worked," Alissandra pauses. "But, you did make it work; even though you had to deal with a psychopath ranked second to Aleric."

I don't even know how Aleric could be worse than Reginald, but whatever...

"So, will you be mine?" Alissandra's hand outstretched further.

Amelia looked back at Liliana, wondering what could be going on inside her master's head.

'008, should I accept?'

'You've already met your goal, and seeing as Alissandra isn't starting a new country and you've already married into the Reintheld bloodline, you wouldn't get any more points.'

'Then why should I care? I can just run away with Amelia and start a life in the countryside since I've already passed my mission. Being Queen was too stressful, anyway.'

Liliana snaps back to reality. "I'm sorry, Alissandra, but I can't."

Alissandra's lips curl in disgust. "It's because of him, isn't it?"

"Not at all!" Liliana responds, offended that she'd reject the offer because of her political marriage to Aleric. "I don't love Aleric at all."

"But you've had intercourse-"

"We did," Liliana cuts off Alissandra. "And while it was... good, it wasn't...fulfilling. Your words of warning were always in my head. I don't love him."

Talking about having sex with her brother is kinda weird! Why would she even bring it up in the first place?!

Alissandra sighs in relief. "Good," the woman replies curtly.

Liliana straightens her shoulders. "Well, I wish you best of luck as being the next Queen. I know you'll do great. I hereby give my title as Queen to you...er, sorry, I don't have a crown or anything to give," Liliana says, awkwardly laughing at the end.

Alissandra gives a thinly-lipped smile. "Aw, that's sweet..." Alissandra says before a malicious look comes back onto her face. "But I don't need your acknowledgment to take what's rightfully mine. The offer was join me...or die!"

Alissandra's hands move back quickly, and Amelia's eyes widen.

"Watch out!" Amelia shouts, jerking forward with her back to Liliana. Liliana didn't have time to react as Amelia jumped in front of her, mousy hair a blur. Amelia inhales sharply, stumbling forward into Liliana's grasp.

Liliana glances up to see Alissandra holding a just-released bow, elbow lowering as an eerie grin spreads onto her face. Liliana looks slowly down at Amelia and gasps, seeing an arrow embedded halfway through Amelia's chest.

"Amelia!" Liliana cries out. Cradling Amelia's neck, Liliana squats down, holding Amelia in her arms. Liliana slowly lowers Amelia to the ground, feeling her hands tremble underneath the small girl, but not from Amelia's weight.

"No, no, no!" Liliana shouts out, voice wavering.

Amelia slowly turns her gaze to Liliana, bewilderment in her widened grey eyes.

"My...my lady?" Amelia asks, her voice trembling and her eyes watering. With a trembling hand lined with callouses and scars from years of service to Liliana, Amelia puts her hand on her chest. Amelia peels back shaky fingers away from her chest to see blood coating and gasps in sharp realization.

"It h-hurts-" she stutters, looking up to see a frantic look appear on Liliana's face.

"I-it's okay! It's not that bad, Amelia!" Liliana rushes out, reaching to grab Amelia's blood-coated hand, not knowing what else to say. "Keep it together! Everything's fine!"

Amelia weakly smiles, face now three shades whiter. "Y-yeah, I'm alright..."

Amelia coughs hoarsely and moves both of her hands back to cover her mouth. Blood spurts through the cracks of her fingers, splattering onto Liliana's face. Liliana could only watch in horror as Amelia looked up, true fear for the first time appearing in the maid's eyes.

"Amelia!" Liliana cries out. Amelia chuckles faintly, causing a bit more blood to trickle from her lips, "That'll be a tough stain to rinse out..."

Liliana chokes out a laugh, sounding more like a sob at the end.

"You've got your wits intact, meaning you can...you will stay alive..." Liliana croaks out, forcing a shaky smile to come onto her face in hopes of comforting the maid.

Amelia only looks at Liliana, already having reached a different conclusion.

Liliana gasps in realization, brows creasing together. "Amelia, this is an order!" Liliana begs, voice rising as tears begin to spring to her arctic eyes. "You have to stay alive! Please!"

Amelia's face was now deathly pale, but her smile was still full of life.

"I'm sorry, but this is the one order I can't follow."

Amelia lifts a trembling hand, barely cupping Liliana's cheek.

"Farewell," she says, voice barely above a whisper, the smile weakening. "I will always love you, my lady...Liliana."

The hand fell from Liliana's face back onto Liliana's chest, with the dead girl's eyes still full of admiration for her lady. Liliana's tears dripped down her cheeks, landing on the bloodstained nightgown of Amelia Florentine.

"Amelia, please," Liliana sobs. "Amelia! Come back please!"

There was no response from the girl.

"Amelia!"  Liliana screamed, throat aching from echoing the girl's name.

Dawn had broken, cascading Liliana's back in a golden light while falling into shadows upon Amelia's pale face. The warmth of the sun that shone like Amelia's smile now burned every millimeter of skin on Liliana. Liliana wished to scratch away her flesh in anger, but she set her thoughts to something else: revenge. Liliana lifted her head up in determination, hesitantly setting Amelia on the ground as she stifled the urge to just lay down and give up.

"You..." Liliana seethes, glaring at Alissandra with unbridled contempt, spittle flying free from her mouth in an unholy rage. "You killed her!"

"So?" Alissandra asks, a bored expression on her face. "She was just a maid. Either way, your antics were pointless and a waste of time. I dragged it out because I want you to know that her death will be in vain. You'll still end up dead at my hand."

"Amelia was my friend!" Liliana shrieked, running towards Alissandra with her fists drawn. Quicker than the eye could see, Alissandra lets loose an arrow, shooting it into Liliana's left shoulder.

Liliana stumbles back, clutching at the wound. Blood spurted out between her fingers and Liliana looks up to see a chuckling Alissandra.

"It has poisoned barbs on it. Just ripping it out would make your death even more painful," Alissandra cackles, an evil look coming to her eyes as she leered down at the raven-haired girl. "Have fun in Hell with your little maid."

Liliana clenched her teeth, dragging her feet forward at a more moderate pace with her head hung, black hair swinging side-to-side.

Alissandra rolled her eyes. "How pathetic, do I really have to kick a downed dog once more?"

Another arrow lodged itself into Liliana, this time on her right thigh. The girl gritted her teeth but continued to drag herself forward with a slow limp.

Alissandra took a step back, preparing another arrow.

"Die!" Alissandra roars, the arrow now ripping into Liliana's left side.

Liliana bites her lip to prevent a scream from ripping out to not give that girl the satisfaction of her pain. The poison and the pain coursing through her was absolutely excruciating!

Liliana's fingers lowed down to her left side, twitching as she limped forward at a sluggish pace. Alissandra reached back for more arrows only to see she had none left.

"Ugh, seems like I'll have to choke her final breaths out myself," Alissandra mutters to herself, stepping forward. With a tense hand, she reaches forward and pulls Liliana up by the collar, forcing Liliana's hateful arctic eyes to stare into Alissandra's soulless black eyes.

"Any last words?" Alissandra cooes, tilting her head to the side. Liliana laughs, blood spitting up from her lips.

"I'll see you in Hell, bitch."

Alissandra gasps in shock, but not from the harshness of Liliana's words, but from the long knife piercing into her gut.

Alissandra moved her hands away from Liliana to push the girl back, but Liliana merely pushed harder and upward, slicing through the diaphragm before piercing Alissandra's heart.

Alissandra's arms flailed to attack Liliana, but Liliana's face remained stoic as she pushed Alissandra's back against the shed forcefully; Liliana's arm was now so far up now inside Amelia's murderer that Alissandra was like a human puppet. Alissandra coughed blood directly onto Liliana's face, mixing with the dried remnants of Amelia's.

The last thing Aleric's sister saw was a grin that could scare all of Hell away just as Liliana pushed her blade back out of the skin through Alissandra's collarbone.

With the swift removal of her right arm, Alissandra slumped to the ground, blood pooling around the gaping wound in her torso.

Alissandra Reintheld was dead.

Liliana stared at the body of Amelia's murderer while feeling her right arm dripping with Alissandra's blood. Liliana slowly gazed at her right arm, beginning feel the effects of the poison run its course throughout her body.

Liliana turned and began to stumble back to Amelia as the knife drops from numb fingers.

'How am I still alive?'

'Your adrenal glands are pumping your human body with chemicals. However, within three minutes you'll be dead.'

A bloody laughs bubbles in Liliana's chest at the irony of this situation. After a moment of hacking up blood, it slowly drips down her chin as she limped towards the discarded body of Amelia.

'Good. At least I'm not dying by a car. This time, I'll have gone down swinging,' Liliana jokes. With just two more steps, she drops to her knees at Amelia's body, vision beginning to darken at the edges.

So, this was how it ended?

"Liliana!"

Liliana turns around, only to fall onto the ground, too dizzy to even function. Aleric's face appears above her, eyes widened and mouth agape in horror.

"Liliana! Please! You can't die now!" he frantically says, scooping her into his arms. Liliana's eyelids lowered, seeing scars and burn marks litter his handsome face.

"You kept your promise," Liliana murmurs. "You stayed safe. You stayed alive..."

"I won't be alive if you leave...come on," he pats her face lightly. "Look at me. Look at me!" Aleric roars, voice panic-stricken. He watches as her arctic eyes lazily open from beneath dark lashes.

"I can cure you of Alissandra's wretched poison. I can-"

"Shhh...Aleric, it's alright," Liliana hushes him calmly. "It's my time to go..."

Aleric still seemed intent on saving her, but Liliana doesn't want that.

Her time was nearly up. She was no longer needed in this world.

"Remember when we met?" Liliana asks, forcing the words to come out of her mouth to distract Aleric. Now, her whole body was numb and she had to force herself to keep her gaze focused on Aleric's face.

"Yes, of course," Aleric nods, a sad smile on his face. "How could I forget?"

"Maybe we'll meet one another again, under the light of the moon in a faraway garden... or differently, like on a sunny spring day," Liliana whispers, voice growing fainter.

"I'll be waiting for you there, as it was once upon a dream," Aleric promises, voice cracking as his eyes glittered with unshed tears.

"I would say goodbye, but that means we won't meet again," Liliana mumbles, voice barely audible. Yet, a glimmer flashes in her eye for a brief moment. He smiles weakly, barely able to keep it together for her.

"Our distance will make us ever the fonder," he slowly responds.

Liliana's ears pop and begin ringing, causing the girl to wince as blood clogs her ears, draining slightly. Aleric leans down and kisses her on the lips, not minding the blood, before raising his head a few inches above hers.

Liliana's eyes felt too heavy. Maybe she could close them for just a moment...

"Liliana?" Aleric asks. "Come on, open your eyes..."

Liliana struggled to open her eyes, but it was too late; her soul was already slipping away.

Goodbye, Aleric...

"Liliana, this is no time to joke-" Aleric says with a nervous laugh, eyes glistening. He waits a moment, but there was no response.

She was gone.

"Liliana, hey..." Aleric says, voice losing any traces of hope. His brows drew together. "Liliana..." his voice rose. "Liliana!" Aleric yelled, hoping his yells would bring his lover back from the dead. "Please! Please!" he begs. "This is too soon, we should've had more time, I-" he cut himself off as he choked for air before coughing hoarsely.

"Please..." he whispers, much softer this now as he cups Liliana's face with his ashen hand, smudging dirt onto her white skin. "I...I need you...please..."

He lowers his forehead to touch Liliana's, tears dripping down his cheek and landing on her as if it would wash away any of the blood that had dyed her skin scarlet.

"I..." he begins with a wretched sob. "I promise to you...we'll meet again...some sunny spring day..."