A Confession under Moonlight

Lily, or Valarie, didn't respond. She couldn't. She wouldn't have gone through the trouble of spelling out her name if she could just tell me. But things started to dawn on me.

This wasn't just a world that happened to be just like 'Midnight Lily's Bloom'. I was literally inside the game. And my sister of all people was the player.

"Valarie. If you're listening, it's me." I said. "I don't know how, or when, but I'm here. I made a wish to save Seraphine from her ending and somehow I ended up inside the game."

Instead of responding Lily decided to give me two more gifts: An opal and a knight's sigil.

This changed everything. With Lily on my side, I would be able to prevent the game's story from happening. I wouldn't have to fear her as the Saintess anymore. I would finally be able to save Seraphine.

"Ah, right, I almost forgot. You- I mean Lily, not the real you, are going to get assassinated soon. So we should probably act fast. I'm going to check on Seraphine, you can, uhm, I don't really know what the game will let you do, so just do what you think is best."

I didn't know what Lily would do next, and I can't even imagine how Lily herself feels about this development. Does she even have feelings? But I wanted to make sure Seraphine was going to be okay. If she was, I would be able to relax and figure this out properly. I left the gardens and went back inside to find her.

I found her in a corner of the ballroom, alone and drinking a glass of wine.

"Would Milady grant me this dance?" I said as I approached her.

Seraphine sighed. "Don't you have a partner already? Where is your precious Lily?" She was clearly upset.

"Please, I will explain."

She looked around, then took my hand. "You better."

We moved to the dance floor and joined the other dancers in a slow waltz. Seraphine held my hand and we began to move together.

"You seem to be back to her usual lies." she said, "You said you had no interest in her, and now here you are taking her to the ball."

"It may seem that way, but I'm only going to tell you the truth. Let's start with Lily. I do not have any romantic attraction to her; she's more like a sister to me."

"She doesn't seem to feel the same way. She's been after you since the day you met. But instead of telling her off you just let her get closer."

"We've actually just cleared that up while I was outside with her. She understands now that there will never be anything between us."

Our dance continued for a moment before Seraphine spoke again.

"So, if not Lily, then who? It can't be me. You've been lying to me ever since you arrived here. You're hiding something. Something big enough that you would take her to the ball over me just to protect it."

"If I told you, would you believe me?" I asked.

"Try me."

I thought for a moment. How do I explain my situation in a way she'd believe?

"Lily is the Saintess. The legendary Saint who will bring an end to the demon lord. And when she does, the world will turn on those that did her wrong, including you. I wanted to prevent that."

"What happened to telling the truth? How could you possibly know any of that?"

"I come from a world beyond this one. A world where this is all part of a grand story, one that ends with your execution." I explained.

Seraphine was silent. Then she chuckled. "You're unbelievable."

Our dance came to end, but instead of letting her go back into her lonely corner, I led her out onto the balcony. As upset as she seemed she still allowed me to bring her out here. At the very least, she was curious about what other fantasies I would conjure up.

"Seraphine. You once told me that I don't know you. But I do. I know you like birds more than any other animal, because they symbolize the freedom you never had. I know you never leave your room before you put on the mask, figuratively of course."

As I continued to talk, her expression changed. She looked surprised but also intrigued.

"I know you sometimes dream of being a faceless nobody, and that you're happy in those dreams. I know the reason you hate Lily, the real reason you don't even know yourself, is because Lily is genuinely happy with who she is, and you aren't. Because you can't understand how someone could be so content with life when you struggle so much."

She remained silent, looking into my eyes. I could see a lot of different emotions in them. Surprise. Curiosity. Anger...Hope.

"H-how do you..." she began.

"Like I said, you were part of a story where I lived. And I came to this world to save you." I spoke with passion.

"You're insane. To claim you're from another world? That's madness!" She said.

"Is it madness? Or is it love?" I said and without giving her a chance to counter I kissed her.

Under the moonlight our lips touched and at that moment I knew. This wasn't a lie to save her. I truly did love her.

After we broke our kiss, Seraphine's eyes were still closed, she was savoring the moment. Then she opened her eyes and looked into mine.

"Love, huh?" she said, "This...this is a lot to process, I'm sorry."

"You don't need to apologize, I-"

Our moment of peace was interrupted by a sudden commotion in the main hall. The clatter of armor was audible even from the balcony, and it came closer. The glass doors leading to the balcony were suddenly pushed open and armored guards came running onto the balcony. One of them pulled out a scroll and read out loud:

"Lady Seraphine Valtesse von Mireidyne, by decree of His Royal Highness, King Gilden Montclair XIII, you are hereby arrested under suspicion of treason. You will be brought to the palace and held until your trial. If proven guilty you will be executed."