"These spells are formidable!" Carolina's eyes glowed excitedly.
She was thrilled to imagine how powerful she could be if she managed to learn this book!
Curses and spells that could bypass detection from even the strongest mage! Curse and spells that could hurt one's soul! Curse and spells that could mess around a person's destiny!
Truly formidable!
The siblings couldn't help but let out a sinister smile. In their hands, wielding this book, they will definitely cause the downfall of the Seirende Family and seize the empire for Vesala's honor!
They were about to keep the book in her space pouch, but the grimoire mysteriously transformed into a dark purple orb and settled into Carolina's body.
Mystified by the grimoire, the two exchanged looks and quietly set out to go home and strategize what steps they will need for revenge.
"We need to infiltrate the ranks in the palace so that we could gain significant political power for our revenge…" Maxim uttered in a low and serious manner.
Carolina lightly chuckled and said with her eyes smiling of evil intentions, "Infiltration is not enough! We will install the Vesala Bloodline in the Seirende Family!"
"You mean? You'll be an empress? That's impossible! You are technically banned in the palace grounds so how will you do that?" Maxim rebutted with a sense of loss.
"That is just an easy task! Didn't they say that the empress should be like the mother of the empire? Then I'll make every citizen know that I am worthy of that position!" Carolina said with bright eyes.
"But how? I am afraid that everyone would just say that this will just be an act for you to redeem yourself.." His older brother replied full of concern.
Carolina is his only living relative now that his father is dead. He couldn't bear to see her get ridiculed by the people.
Carolina smiled nonchalantly. Her eyes squinted childishly as she replied to her worried brother, "It just depends on how sincere I appeared."
"What if I surrender myself to the temple for a year? Wouldn't that be sincere enough?" She smiled bashfully, gently flicking her plum colored hair on the side of her shoulders.
"This.." Maxim's eyes lit up.
Entering the temple is basically a noble woman's ultimate sign of humility. A noble woman like Carolina, was born and raised to be served. However, when she enters the temple, she will be considered selfless and humble.
Letting go of the luxury to serve the Creator and his subjects for a year! What a selfless and beautiful cause!
But Maxim couldn't help but be worried about how her sister would survive in the temple.
"Carolina, are you sure about this one? Living in the temple will expose you to the harshest conditions, not fitting to your status.."
"What could a year of living with nothing compare to the day we see the downfall of the Imperial Family? Our father faced death, if we do not face any hardships then we won't be getting anywhere!" Carolina replied with intense determination and hatred in her eyes.
"Besides, isn't the temple the best place for me to practice the grimoire magic? It was secluded enough, and the people who we will be serving are those who are better off dead. Aren't they perfect to be my guinea pigs?"
A wide smile flashed on Carolina's pretty face. "One year is all I need. After that, we will move!"
Maxim contemplated deeply, rubbing his chin while tapping with his fingers in a rhythmic manner, "Uhn.. If that's what you think is the best option for you, then go. As for me of course, I am more than ready to take over our father's position. I will prepare the palace for you."
"When you come back, you will have a great power to back you up!" He said with resolve.
"Uhn! Let's meet again after a year.' Carolina said as she affectionately hugged her brother, who was the only relative she had now.
Together, they will seek revenge for their father and they will bring back the former glory of the Vesala Family. The Vesala Family had long waited for a millennium, the sweet revenge will happen on their generation!
They will ensure that they will witness the chaos the Vesala Clan will create in the palace!
And so the Vesala household announced Carolina's admission to the temple. Maxim on the other hand did his best to navigate the duchy with his skillful leadership.
It just took him a few months to gain approval of the nobles on the watch, six months to finally be recognized as a member of the council, and exactly a year to be a main figure his own noble faction.
Within this span of one year, he was able to also gain the prestige of the Vesala Clan back; it was further stabilized when he married to a daughter of another strong clan of casters, the Cross County.
With this, the Vesala's influence spreaded out to the empire, covering the east territory.
Carolina on the other hand gained a lot of praise by volunteering to get the toughest missions for the temple maidens. She bravely went to the areas that were devastated by plagues and famines. She also went to the most dangerous warzones where invasion attempts happen.
The two siblings managed to erase the tragedy that happened to their family. What's more, Carolina also managed to be bestowed with a blessed artifact for her virtuous work.
It was a main event to the capital, a noble lady that was previously subjected to trial, completely turned to her evil ways and managed to be bestowed by a precious blessed artifact. This artifact is a miraculous necklace that would be able to save the owner's life once.
Her homecoming was celebrated with a parade on the main streets of the capital. Wearing a pure white satin garment embroidered by green lining of leaves and vines. She looked like a living saint with her plum hair neatly resting on her poised back.
A rain of plum blossoms and purple petals showered her ethereal beauty, while she hears the cheer of the people.
"See this Valentin? I've become worthy of you now.." She said in her heart that is pumping wildly out of longing to see the Prince.
However upon her arrival to the duchy, she was devastated with a heartbreaking news.
Her beloved, her goal, her dream, Valentin actually announced the existence of his lover, a commoner bard, Tehila.
It was a fairytale for everyone, especially the commoners.
The noble ladies also opted to keep their mouths shut because of Tehila's unparalleled beauty. There were also rumors going around that their engagement will be announced a week from now.
Crash!
"What on earth are the emperor and empress doing? Didn't they think that it was a disgrace to take in a woman like that in the imperial family?" Carolina vented out her frustration, breaking a nearby vase on the wall. Her saintly image no longer exist.
"Relax, now that you are here, we can finally do our plan. But first, we should do something to delay that banquet. Then render the crown prince powerless to resist you as an empress!" Maxim comforted his frustrated sister.
Another sinister smile appeared on the siblings's faces. No one knew that these two caused the palace bells to ring mournfully three times in just three months.
In the first month, three days after the arrival of Carolina, the Empress died due to a dreadful nightmare.
It was so sudden and tragic, because everyone knew how the Emperor and Crown Prince dearly loved the Empress. Also, the Empress was loved by the people, making her be venerated almost like a saint.
In the second month, when the Imperial Family hadn't finished mourning, the first grand appearance of the Spectre happened, it caused a great war killing thousands of people.
The Seirende Empire was caught off guard, without a choice, Emperor Idelfonso marched to the battlefield, leaving his son to take on the duty to hold the palace down.
In the third month, another mournful sound of the bells rang throughout Seirende and everyone gulped in nervousness.
Almost immediately, a homing pigeon arrived in the palace carrying the news that the Emperor, an S class and rare constitution wielder was gravely injured after facing several S class mages from the enemy side.
The message doesn't end there, the Emperor has announced that the Crown Prince will immediately take the throne as he will use his remaining strength for a final face off on the Spectre side, sacrificing his body.
With this, the Crown Prince ascended as an Emperor with haste, however he is but a young emperor without his strongest backers. The nobles, led by the Vesala, smiled as this was the perfect opportunity to install Carolina in the palace.
Leveraging the power of the East territory as a bargaining chip. The powerless young emperor Valentin was forced to choose between taking Carolina as an Empress and having an army organized to back up and rescue the injured Emperor, or staying to lead the empire while leaving his father to die in the battlefield.
However, the Emperor still kept resisting. True to his love for Tehila, he chose to do his father's will.
This caused Carolina to engage in a more sinister plot. An unknown group of assassins abducted Tehila, threatening that if he didn't take Carolina as the empress, then he would have no choice but to marry her headless body.
Forced to a corner, Emperor Valentin had no choice but to agree to the demands of the abductors, but only if they gave back Tehila unscathe. If not, he would choose to marry a random princess in a nearby kingdom.
Although he knew very well who the perpetrator was, he was really powerless to take them on, now that he had hastily ascended to the throne without any solid preparation.
Finally getting what she wanted and genuinely detesting the idea of Valentin marrying another woman as an empress, she freed Tehila right away.
The day of announcement came, Carolina excitedly looked towards the throne as Emperor Valentin sat straight, calmly looking at his subjects. Her heart kept thumping wildly with joy.
After years of waiting! Finally! She will get Valentin!
However her rejoicing turned into rage when she finally heard Emperor Valentin's announcement.
He actually announced that on that day, he would be taking three spouses.
Carolina as the Empress, as it was part of the agreement during the blackmail.
For the First Queen, the daughter of the opposing noble faction, the Astaze March, Lucia Astaze.
And finally the Emperor's true beloved, known by every citizen of the Empire.
Every commoner's fulfillment of a fairytale, Tehila the bard as the Second Queen.
