Loving Him Was Never Part of the Plan

Chapter 1 enemy (1)

•••••

Frank (ex captain)

General, I’m sorry! I-I really needed that money!

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Serious eyes, cold tone* You should not have betrayed us like this. I’m sorry it has to end this way

Frank (ex captain)

No! General, I-I don’t want to die! Please— *tears run down his face*

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Kneels down, staring at him from above* Do you think the people living in Yomadon’s kingdom wanted to die? Did you even think about that when you decided to hand over that paper?

Frank (ex captain)

I-I…!

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Raises her sword* I’m grateful for all your hard work. Goodbye, Frank—

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Kills Frank*

(Frank’s lifeless body falls to the ground)

Cedric Valerius (SC)

*Glares at the body for a moment, silent*

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Sheathes her sword* Let’s go back

Cedric Valerius (SC)

*Smiles, placing a hand on Arabella’s shoulder in a teasing tone* I knew you were a genius

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Brushes his hand away* Don’t.

Cedric Valerius (SC)

*Pulls his hand back, smirking* Sure, you’re the boss

Cedric Valerius (SC)

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

That plan—the one he sent— it didn’t reach Ginson’s Empire, right?

Cedric Valerius (SC)

*Shrugs* I don’t know, you’re the boss. You told me not to bother about it

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Glares* What?! You don’t know?

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

What do you mean you don’t know?!

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

Cedric Valerius (SC)

*Laughs at her reaction* Relax, I’m just kidding

Cedric Valerius (SC)

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Sighs* Don’t ever joke about that. Yomadon’s kingdom is in our hands. Remember that

Cedric Valerius (SC)

*Grins* Sure, sure, sure…

°°°°

[Tavern]

Evelyn Rosemont (SC)

*Welcoming tone* Oh God! General, you’re already back!

[Others cheer, lifting their beers in celebration]

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Nods* Yeah, it was quite easy to find him

Cedric Valerius (SC)

*Teasing tone* And I didn’t even do anything! Guess our General is just too good

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

Cedric, don’t overdo it. They already know you’re talkative

Evelyn Rosemont (SC)

*Laughs* Yeah, the more you compliment, the further you are from being General, Cedric

[Others laugh as well]

Lucien Everhart (SC)

*Smiling* Yeah, Cedric, just give up on trying to win over General

Cedric Valerius (SC)

Whose side are you guys on?!

Cedric Valerius (SC)

*Fake smile*

Evelyn Rosemont (SC)

*Winks* Of course, General’s

••••

•••••

chapter 2 : enemy (2)

••••

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Smiles faintly* Okay, that’s enough. Now… let’s talk about something more serious

Evelyn Rosemont (SC)

*Looking at Arabella* What now? I thought Frank was the end of it all… wasn’t he?

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Shakes head, face serious* No. Frank was just the beginning

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

I believe Ginson’s Empire is plotting something

Cedric Valerius (SC)

*Frowning, confused* Like what? An assassin? That’d be dumb

Evelyn Rosemont (SC)

*Nodding in agreement* Yeah, that would be dumb. It’d be like sending an assassin to a den full of assassins

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

I don’t know yet. But I believe they’ll try to take the countryside first. They’ve even stationed armies nearby

[The tavern falls silent]

Lucien Everhart (SC)

*In awe* Really? But… that wouldn’t be a smart move, right?

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

I’m not sure. We did win the battle at the—

members of Yomadon's assassin

*raising his beer* Yeah! We already won! Let’s celebrate our victory first!

[Others laugh, smile, and drink their beers]

Evelyn Rosemont (SC)

*Looking at Arabella apologetically* General, I’m sorry. They’re just so happy you caught the traitor

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Soft smile* It’s okay. Let them celebrate

[Evelyn smiles and joins the crew]

Cedric Valerius (SC)

*About to step away*

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Walks closer, whispering* Can I talk to you in private?

Cedric Valerius (SC)

*Smiles knowingly* Why not?

Cedric Valerius (SC)

°°°°

[Outside the tavern]

Arabella walks ahead, Cedric following a few steps behind

Cedric Valerius (SC)

*Speaks quietly* So… what is it?

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Turns around, meeting his eyes* I lied. They haven’t stationed any armies

Cedric Valerius (SC)

*studies her carefully* Then why did you—

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Whispering* Because I believe there’s an assassin among us

Cedric Valerius (SC)

*Startled* An assassin?!

Cedric Valerius (SC)

From Ginson's empire?

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Sharp glare* Shh. Lower your voice

Cedric Valerius (SC)

*Leans closer, whispering* So… Frank wasn’t the only one, huh?

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*nods* Yes, I don’t know who it is, but—

Cedric Valerius (SC)

Wait, You’re telling me this because… you don’t think it’s me?

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

I trust you, Cedric. I know you’re not the one

Cedric Valerius (SC)

*Sly smile* Good thing. If you suspected me, I’d be sooo angry *pretends to pout cutely*

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Rolls her eyes* Please…

Cedric Valerius (SC)

*chuckles* Yeah, yeah, too much

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Serious tone* Anyway, I want you to keep an eye on everyone. Be suspicious

Cedric Valerius (SC)

*Raises a brow* Even Evelyn?

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Nods firmly* Even Evelyn

Cedric Valerius (SC)

*Grins, teasing tone* Sure thing, boss

The two return to the tavern.

Evelyn Rosemont (SC)

*Hands them each a beer* Come on, join us, General!

She passes them their drinks before heading back to the dance floor with a bright smile

••••

Chapter 3 : Selene Moreau (1)

••••

Cedric Valerius (SC)

*Drinks the beer without hesitation*

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Eyes him carefully* You’re just going to drink that?

Cedric Valerius (SC)

*Nods casually* Why not? It’s not like she’d poison us in front of everyone

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Hesitates, then sighs* Yeah… right

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

(I’m being too careful… it’s not like she’s never handed me a beer before)

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Finally drinks*

The whole night passes in a blur of celebration. Later, Arabella walks quietly to her room

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Enters, removing her uniform sighs* Today was such a busy day…

She drops her clothes on the table, lying down on the bed

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Closes her eyes, trying to sleep—suddenly touches her throat*

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

(Why does my throat feel so rough?) *eyes snap open*

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Sits up, still clutching her throat* (Could it be a fever? Where’s the medicine…)

She stands, but her legs give out beneath her

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Coughs violently* W-why do my legs hurt so much— *coughs again, blood splattering her hand*

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Horrified* (Blood…?!)

Her nose begins bleeding, her breathing ragged and heavy

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

(No… it can’t be… am I poisoned?!)

Her body collapses to the floor, trembling

Cedric Valerius (SC)

Knocks on the door lightly General, can I have a word with you?

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Weakly raises a hand, struggling* C-Cedric—

Cedric Valerius (SC)

*knocks again, teasing* Hello? Anybody home? General~?

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

I-I— *blood spills from her mouth again*

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

(It feels like my heart is being pierced by a knife…)

Cedric Valerius (SC)

*Knocks, voice teasing* Hmm, General, did you already fall asleep? Hmm~ Then I’ll just go

Arabella Montclair (fl original body)

*Panicked, weakly reaching out* (No! Don’t go!) N-n—

---

°°°°

{Everything goes dark}

(It’s so dark… so cold… Could this be the afterlife? Am I… really dead? Poisoned? But who—Evelyn? Lucien?)

“What do you want?”

(Want? No! I don’t want anything for myself… I only want to protect my kingdom! If I’m dead, what will happen to Yomadon?! My kingdom—I… I want to protect it!)

“Hmm… you’re asking too much"

(What? Asking too much? You’re not a God, are you?)

“God? Pft—no. I’m ######"

°°°°°

[A sudden light floods the darkness]