The Blood On Our Hands

The loud chirping birds awakened me, and the wind rustled, creating a soft, cadenced whisper. I looked out the window to see Pavel at the pavilion, drinking tea alone. Before I could watch anymore, the door swung right open. 

It was Maribelle! She looked in a hurry and opened my closet, searching through the sea of dresses. 

"Fräulein! Fräulein! You're finally awake! The Count has been waiting for you for the past ten minutes!"

I looked at her confused and said, "Well, why didn't you wake me up?"

Maribelle looked around frantically in my closet before finding the right dress for me. She replied, "The Count requested that we wouldn't wake you up!"

That idiot! Why was he outside in the pavilion waiting for me, knowing I was asleep? I got up from my bed and took a random dress to put on. I didn't have time to brush my hair properly, so I was brushing my hair on the way to the pavilion. 

When Maribelle and I arrived at the pavilion in the garden, Pavel scanned me as if he were judging me entirely. 

"Liselotte, you look unacceptable for a lady."

Well, of course, I do. If only you didn't give that order to Maribelle!

I calmed down before sitting across from him and replied, "Why did you give the order to Maribelle?"

"What order?"

is he an idiot? I look at him as if I was talking to a child, he's playing with me, he's pissing me off.

"Why did you order Maribelle not to wake me up? If you hadn't, I would've dressed properly and looked acceptable by your standards."

Pavel glanced at me one more time before speaking. "If you had slept earlier last night, we wouldn't be in this situation, would we? This is a sign that you should sleep earlier."

Of course, he would do something like this.

I pouted and rubbed my eyes. Pavel noticed this and handed a cup of tea to me. 

"Drink this, Liselotte; It'll wake you up a bit. I understand you woke up in a hurry, but don't make a habit of sleeping late."

I drank the tea and then looked back at Pavel. "Why did you suddenly want to talk to me?"

"Is it so bad that I want to catch up with my only daughter?"

He does have a point. 

"Father, will you then enlighten me with a few questions?"

Pavel nodded and grabbed more tea to put into his cup. 

I wait a bit, thinking about how I will ask this, but I go ahead and be straightforward: "You gave me a dagger to carry while visiting the Empress Palace, right? I discovered that its name was the "Nyxian Envenomator," and apparently, the Empress treasures it. So, what is it?"

Pavel looked at me before chuckling a bit. "Nyxian Envenomator, it's merely a gorgeous dagger that was gifted to me from the Empress Dowager. But, since we're on the topic, I might as well enlighten you."

Pavel drank some more tea before resuming the conversation. "The dagger is gorgeous; that's why it is so desired in Eichenburg. Even so, there's another reason why the Empress might set her heart on having it: God's death."

I looked back at him, confused, and asked, "God's death? What does that have to do with the dagger?"

Pavel chuckled a bit before replying. "God is dead, and we killed him. So how can we cleanse ourselves of the bloodshed of the man who bears no sin? So, what means can we adhere to to purify our sins? What rituals can we do for God to forgive us? None, right? There are some rumours about the dagger though. Whoever bears will be blessed by heaven as the holy gates will open upon the beholder's arrival. It will clear any sin you have committed, making you the most holy person. It will grant any wish you desire. All of this sounds like some fairytale, right? But, I believe in it because the rumours are true."

Listening to the story gives me a sliver of hope but regret. Did I give away the gateway to my escape? I should've asked about the dagger sooner, then made my wish.

Pavel looks at me as he sees my reaction. "Liselotte, when you were just newborn, you had some complications as soon as you were born. You didn't cry. The doctors and I were so worried we even thought you had died. The Empress Dowager sought pity on our family and gave us the Nyxian Envenonmator. At first, I didn't expect it to work, but I was desperate. I prayed and prayed with my heart. Then, a miracle happened. You cried."