Edward stood in the dimly lit chamber, his gaze fixed on the cracked orb resting on the altar. He had witnessed it all—the final moments of Lucas’s life through the orb’s fractured connection.
He used this orb to keep track of Lucas’s movements, he was not aware of them. He was not aware that it was Edward who granted him a second chance. He died as ignorant as ever.
"You begged," Edward said quietly, his voice laced with derision, as though addressing the ghost of the man who was no longer there. "You grovelled at my feet for more power, more time, more everything. And for what? To fail so miserably?"
He ran a finger along the cracks in the orb, his expression darkening. The object was more than just a relic of Lucas’s failure—it was a reminder of Edward’s own miscalculation.
He had expected more from the second prince and had believed that even a fragment of his former life’s ambition and hatred would be enough to push him to victory. Clearly, he had overestimated him.
He had witnessed it all—the final moments of Lucas’s life through the orb’s fractured connection. The vivid scenes played in his mind. He could almost feel the paralysing fear Lucas experienced.
Cassian’s unrelenting attacks, Adeline’s sudden intervention, and Lucas’s desperate yet futile attempts to survive.
The plan, Edward thought bitterly, wasn’t inherently bad. It had its merits—a straightforward approach that played to Lucas’s supposed strengths. But in hindsight, it was flawed. Reckless, even. Maybe, just maybe, if Cassian had been alone, Lucas might have succeeded. But Cassian wasn’t alone, was he?
Adeline was there.
Edward’s thoughts shifted, and his lips curled into a faint, bitter smile. Adeline. She was the unexpected variable that had turned the tides. Her lightning powers had been a revelation, sparking through the orb’s vision with a brilliance that caught even Edward off guard.
He was aware of it, but the sheer strength that she displayed... Hah, she even used an armour made of holy powers... How resourceful. It was unfortunate that he couldn’t use this orb as evidence. The memories of Lucas’ final moments were gone the moment he played them.
What a pity, he could have used this opportunity to grab Adeline once and for all.
Her determination had been palpable, radiating from her like a beacon. She had stood firm beside Cassian, not as a damsel in distress but as an equal, someone who could hold her ground in a fight.
It was impressive.
Edward couldn’t deny it. As he watched her through the orb, he had been forced to admit that she had changed—a lot. She wasn’t the same Adeline he had known in his past life. The vain, shallow girl who had once pathetically clung to Cassian’s side, begging for his attention, was gone.
Now, it was the other way around.
Cassian, the untouchable Crown Prince, the man who had always been aloof and indifferent, seemed to orbit around her like a moth drawn to a flame.
The irony wasn’t lost on Edward. Adeline, who had once been nothing more than a desperate shadow of herself, now stood at the centre of the storm, commanding attention and respect.
It was almost enough to make him laugh.
But Edward didn’t laugh. Instead, he frowned, his stormy grey eyes narrowing as a thought crossed his mind. This change—it wasn’t natural. He knew it wasn’t. The Adeline he had known in his past life couldn’t have become this person on her own.
No, someone was interfering.
His gaze darkened as he considered the possibilities. He didn’t know exactly who was behind it, but he had his suspicions. She. The one he hated. The one who always meddled in matters that didn’t concern her. She must have been the one who caused this change in Adeline.
It had to be her, there was no one else who could have wielded this much power. It was always her, even back then she dared to interfere between them. He lost his love because of her...
Edward clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. That person had no right to interfere, no right to twist the threads of fate to suit her own whims. And yet, despite his anger, he couldn’t deny that her interference had been... Useful.
Adeline, in her current state, was an enigma. A curiosity. She was far more interesting now than she had ever been in the past. Watching her through the orb, Edward had found himself captivated by her resolve, her strength, and the way she fought alongside Cassian without hesitation.
It was a pity, really.
Adeline could have been a valuable ally, perhaps even a friend if circumstances had been different. But Edward’s path was set, and there was no room for detours.
That meddling woman was an obstacle, one that he would have to deal with eventually. Still, for now, he couldn’t help but feel a sliver of gratitude toward her.
After all, she had delivered him the perfect vessel.
Edward’s expression softened, his thoughts turning to the one he truly cared about. His love. The person he had lost, the one he had sacrificed so much for. Adeline’s body was a flawless vessel, the ideal form to bring his love back to life. It was almost poetic, in a way.
Adeline having dual powers granted by that meddling woman was simply an advantage for him. When he brings his love back, she would not feel useless, she would not accept possessing such a body, but this could make the transition a bit easier.
A body that possessed both holy powers and lightning powers was a fraction compared to her true strength but it was as close as they could get. It was all for her...
He placed the orb back on the altar and stepped away, his mind already racing with plans. Adeline’s transformation had complicated matters, but it had also opened new opportunities. She was strong, yes, but even the strongest could fall.
Edward would bide his time, watching and waiting. He would strike when the moment was right, and when all the pieces were in place... When that moment came, he would take what was rightfully his.
No matter the cost.