And there stood Raven, face to face with Aiden, both encircled by the dark woods. Raven bore wounds all over her body, the result of her apparent fight with Aiden.
"Why do you do this? This isn't like you, tell me, Raven..."
Aiden looked at her sorrowfully as he brandished his sword against her, while Raven glared back with utter fury. Before her stood the man she had loyally served, who now accused her of a crime she never committed. She felt no need to explain herself, for there was none; she was innocent. And no matter Aiden's actions, she would never confess to a crime she hadn't done. Aiden lifted his sword again, but this time, he began to chant, and a magical circle glowed at the tip of his blade. Raven simply lowered her hands and stood still, allowing the chains emanating from the circle to bind her wrists. At this point, there was no reason to struggle; she had been fighting for too long and was tired of it. The chains blocked her power; several soldiers emerged from the trees, seized her, and dragged her to a cage where she was locked up. Exhausted, she just closed her eyes, and when she awoke, she was in a dungeon, her hands still tied, unable to use her magic. A man stood before her; his face obscured by the shadows, she could only make out his mocking smile, one that suggested he took pleasure in seeing her in this state.
"I told you, Raven. I told you that you should have been mine..."
The man approached and grabbed her by the throat, but just as he was about to squeeze, Raven heard a soft voice calling her. Opening her eyes, she saw Vivian sitting at the side of her bed, looking at her with concern.
"Raven, are you okay? You looked so distressed."
"Yes, I had a nightmare, but I'm fine."
"I didn't sleep well either. I'm still scared of what I heard."
"Don't worry, everything will be resolved, and it will all end up being just a scare."
Raven patted the girl on the shoulder and got out of bed to get dressed. It was already late, and surely Vivian had been waiting for her to have breakfast.
At the palace, the emperor summoned Aiden to discuss the empress's conversation with him, expressing her dissatisfaction with the idea of him taking Raven as his wife.
"Father, it's likely the empress knows who is spreading these rumors and is supporting them. If she came to tell you all this, she might even be the one making everything up."
"You are accusing your mother of something serious, Aiden."
"I know, father, but all this is because I do not want to accept the girl she chose for me, and I think you'll agree that this girl is not the right one."
"Who is it? Your mother has met with many."
"It's Baron Rose's daughter. You'll agree, it's not appropriate for that man's daughter to assume the role of crown princess."
"I cannot allow such a thing; Baron Rose is a man of excessive ambition. And with things as they are, we cannot afford to have his daughter in a position of power."
"Exactly, father. I know our relations with the country of Ammos and Baron Rose, who is related to a Duke there, are not on good terms."
The emperor fell silent; what his son had said was true. If the baron's daughter entered the palace as crown princess, the baron could leverage it for greater access to the palace. No, it was not advisable.
"I will speak with the empress. For now, Miss Green remains your best option. She has no family; that's an advantage."
"Father, I want her not just for that – I know she would make a good crown princess."
Perhaps they don't love each other as the tales suggest, but he knows Raven is a better person than Daisy. If only he had realized this earlier without having to relive his life to see clearly.
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