"How can you move on so easily? How can you sing without me? Did I ever matter to you?"
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Soon Ysolde and Ellowen reach the church.
The church wasn't grand, but it carried a warmth that made people slow as they passed. Its whitewashed walls and bell tower felt like an old friend waiting with open arms. From inside one could smell the faint scent of candles and flowers.
As they walked inside, a masked man stops them,
"Freeze and follow me. Otherwise prepare to face consequences"
The two paused and exchanged confused glances. The familiar red eyes and black hair... It was indeed Reignhart.
Ellowen laughs and points to him, "Try some better costume next time. Because this is not fooling anyone"
Reignhart pulls his mask down and winks at Ellowen, "I knew it would be hard to trick 'The Witty Miss Ellowen'"
Ellowen was dumbstruck. She was always the type of person whose blunt remarks chased away such flirters. Yet this man continued with his cunning compliments despite her openly rejecting his advances.
Ysolde chuckles as she greets Reignhart. Reignhart mentions he was the one managing the church ceremony so Ysolde would have to work with him for this occasion.
The three enter the church. Ysolde recalls a past memory,
Ysolde smiles as she talks with a man, "One day we would be wed here. Surrounded by our friends and our beloved audience"
The man sulked, "It would be lovely dear. However, I really wanted to give you a grand wedding. Someone like you deserves all the riches of this world"
Ysolde pinches his cheeks, "I already hold more treasure than I ever dreamt of. And no wealth in this world can rival it"
The two hug each other.
Ysolde can't help but feel unease. She still believed the words of that cloaked individual. Despite her feeling overwhelmed she could not let herself disappoint the people who are rooting for her.
She lighted patted her cheeks and braces herself.
Reignhart introduces her to the troupe she is supposed to be working with. She greets all of them. One of the men recognised her as the lady who sung at Duke Otheus's manor whose soothing voice had mesmerized everyone nearby. He stared at Ysolde quietly with a judging expression. Ysolde soon noticed him and felt unease however did not confront him as it was not wrong for someone to question a newly joined singer's abilities.
Reignhart claps to get everyone's attention and speaks, "Alright everyone let's start with the rehearsals"
The troupe takes their position with Ysolde at the centre.
The music begins to play. The music floated through the walls like a soft breeze, brushing against stone and soul alike, each note carrying a quiet comfort that wrapped around every heart.
Ysolde opens her mouth to sing but her words get stuck in her mouth, she started hallucinating him cursing her,
"How can you move on so easily? How can you sing without me? Did I ever matter to you?"
She starts sweating, tears forming up in her eyes,
"Sorry. I am sorry. I am really sorry"
The world around her was spinning, she felt nauseous, she felt like throwing up.
Then out of nowhere she recalls,
"I will always support you Ysolde"
She steadies herself, she embraces the pain, with tears in her eyes she begins to sing.
Tears shimmered in her eyes as she sang, each note trembling with the weight of her heart. Her voice, softened by sorrow, carried emotions that reached deeper than words ever could. The world seemed to still around her, holding its breath as her trembling melody continues. Every rise and fall of her song felt like a confession, a quiet release of everything she'd kept hidden. And in that fragile moment, her voice became both her wound and her healing.
When she was done, everyone around her clapped. With tears still falling down her cheeks, she gave a big smile and bowed before everyone.
The man who was previously staring intently at Ysolde walked towards her. He bowed to her and spoke, "I had come across several people praising your voice, even the Duke and the Duchess, yet I could not convince myself until I heard you myself. I am looking forward to work with you, Miss Ysolde"
Ellowen, who was watching Ysolde from a distant. breathe a sigh of relief. After Ysolde froze on stage Ellowen thought of rushing to her side and calming her down. But Ysolde composed herself on her own and delivered a brilliant performance. Seeing her friend slowly heal from her trauma filled her overflowing joy. It was like watching light return to someone who had lived too long in shadow.
Meanwhile Reignhart who was witnessing everything from behind had a suspicious look on his face.
Before anybody could notice him, he put on a smile clapped loudly and walked towards Ysolde praising her, " What an exquisite voice you have Miss. Now everyone I am afraid I have been summoned to the manor for some work so the rehearsals must go on without me". He then walked towards Ellowen and whispered to her, "We will meet again tomorrow princess".
Ellowen blushed heavily as the man winked at her and left.
But even she did not notice the grim look he had on his face as he left.
At the House of Otheus
Reignhart is talking to a masked man, "The coincidences were too precise to be mere chance. Why was his corpse brought by the knights? They are not the sort of people who would meddle in affairs of some random dead man"
The masked man answers, "Indeed. There is something very suspicious. Also...", the masked man turns around and gives Reignhart a photo, "The woman who was so devastated to the point of taking her own life became all lively in a single night"
Reignhart looks at the photo and mutters, "There is much to be discovered. For now, keep a close eye on her". With this he places the photo on the table and the two leave the room.
In the photo was a girl standing on the edge of a bridge with a cloaked man holding her shoulder.
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