Charlotte

You might think this is a filler chapter because, as the name suggests, this chapter is about Charlotte, and it is a filler. But this chapter contains important information necessary to the storyline, so please don't skip.

It had been weeks since Charlotte last heard from Astraea, and the silence made her worry for the princess. She desperately wanted to talk to David, the boy she had liked for years, but she remained at the palace, hoping to see both of them again. Her free time was consumed by watching the crystal ball, waiting for a call from Astraea. Although she could contact Astraea, she didn't want to disturb the princess during such an important time.

Charlotte still worked as a maid for the royal family, and Astrophel had yet to notice her existence. If he did, she knew she would undoubtedly end up locked in the dungeon and tortured for information. For now, laying low was her best option.

There was another reason Charlotte hesitated to leave the palace: someone close to Astrophel bore a striking resemblance to individuals she had encountered in her past. She wanted to confirm her suspicions before making any hasty decisions.

Years ago, while working at a baroness's manor, Charlotte had come across a peculiar group of people. They shared an unearthly beauty and had many traits in common: all were male, with long silver hair and clear silver eyes. If not for the subtle differences in their features—such as height, hair length, and lip shape—Charlotte might have thought they were all copies of the same person. Meeting them had dramatically changed her life.

Now, in the palace, one man possessed the exact features of that group from her past. If he was who she thought he was, someone else might be pulling the strings behind Astrophel, and all of this could have been her fault.

Trying to stay hidden from Astrophel while wishing to speak with Fray proved difficult since the two were almost always together. However, when Fray stepped out of the throne room alone, Charlotte seized the opportunity.

As she took a step forward, surprise crossed Fray's mischievous features. He glanced around before mouthing something to her. Charlotte, skilled in many fields, quickly deciphered his silent words. Yet, the message made her turn and walk away, the implications lingering in her mind.

Back in the servants' quarters, Charlotte flopped onto her hard mattress, staring up at the ceiling as she reflected on Fray's message: "Meet me by the stables." She glanced at the crystal ball, praying to the gods that Fray wasn't who she feared he might be.

Finding irony in her prayer made her laugh, but soon after, she sighed and closed her eyes, drifting into a deep sleep that pulled her into darkness.

When she opened her eyes, a smiling Astraea stood before her, and Charlotte immediately returned the smile, overjoyed to see her friend again after such a long time. But then, in a flash, Astraea disappeared, replaced by the group of silver-haired men.

"Is this what you really want?" The question echoed in Charlotte's mind. In the past, she had nodded to this question, but now, shaking her head, she desperately wished to erase that moment.

"Alright, but you need to go to Valens and do what we say," one of them instructed.

At that moment, Charlotte sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I change my mind! I don't want to do this anymore!" Yet in the past, she had followed their orders, unaware of the disasters they would cause.

The men vanished, and Astraea reappeared—this time with blood trickling from her mouth, surrounded by a group of faceless bodies, all drained of blood. "You did this to me." Tears of blood streamed from Astraea's eyes. "I thought you were my friend."

"I'm sorry! I didn't know this would happen," Charlotte cried. "Please forgive me." Though she understood this was only a dream, the words pierced her heart, forcing her to confront the painful truth: she might have been responsible for Astraea's suffering. Desperate to turn back time, she wished she had never left the manor that day.

Charlotte woke up panting, feeling dry tears on her cheeks and tasting salt on her tongue. Despite her fatigue, she got out of bed and washed her face in the small bathroom attached to her room.

Returning to her bed, she glanced at the clock and saw it was only three in the morning, leaving her with a few more hours before meeting Fray. She tried to fall asleep again, hoping for more rest, but the fear of experiencing another nightmare kept her wide awake.

After several minutes of tossing and turning, she succumbed to sleep. Her only conscious thought before slipping into the abyss of darkness was, I hope Fray isn't from that place.