Over 50 people were buried after the events of the Festival Massacre as Ophelia was brought back to the castle. She would lie motionless in an ornate bed, surrounded by her family and courtiers. Her once vibrant features were now pale and lifeless.
King Jubilius sat at her bedside, lowering his head with visible grief as he coughed from his illness. "Oh... Ophelia..." He held her cold hand in his own, feeling his shoulders shake with silent sobs. Tears poured down his cheeks while Sophie stood nearby; her eyes red from crying.
"My sweet baby... I'm so sorry... I shouldn't have left you..." She clenched her hands tightly together, feeling as if this was her fault. "How could I forget? You were only two days old... I should've known better, darling!" Beside her, Princess Alicia dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief as the room was heavy with sorrow.
The weight of Ophelia's death was an unexpected one, and the most devastating of them all.
"They're... shedding tears for me?"
After some time, Ophelia would finally return back to the physical world once again, however, she remained in her spiritual form, observing everyone at her bedside.
She felt an unfamiliar pang in her ethereal chest; it was surprise, and something else she couldn't quite name. Never once in her life has she experienced this before when she was known as Yuto. Her previous family may have cared and shown love for Yuto, but they never cried, yet here her new family was, genuinely devastated by her death.
"What is this feeling?" A bitter sadness overwhelmed her soul. She couldn't describe it in words, only... cry.
For the first time since becoming Ophelia, tears began to form in her eyes.
Glistening like tiny crystals, they fell silently to the floor, invisible to the physical world. The sight of her father's anguished face, her sister's devastating glare, and her mother's broken sobs stirred something deep within her. The evil she embodied clashed with these unexpected feelings, and she knew what it was.
It was Yuto Alltear, her previous self.
Ophelia slowly took a step forward, anxiety in her movements.
"I never thought... someone would care for me this much…" Her voice trembled with an unfamiliar emotion, until a cold voice echoed in Ophelia's mind, cleaving through her emotional turmoil like ice.
"How touching. But these tears aren't real, my dear Ophelia. They're just manipulating you, trying to get sympathy for their precious princess." The Lady of Chaos materialized beside her in a dark humanoid form, though a cruel white smile played on her lips. "Your father only cares about maintaining his kingdom's image. Your mother weeps for appearances. And Alicia... well, she's always been the honest one."
Ophelia's spiritual form tensed up at Agnes' words, darting her teary eyes between her family, searching for any sign of genuine emotion.
"No... you're lying," she whispered, though her voice lacked conviction. "They must care about me at least a little..."
Agnes walked beside Ophelia's spiritual form, whispering into her ear. "No more doubts, Ophelia. You know the truth. This entire world hates you, and these people are nothing but scum who deserves the worst."
The Lady of Chaos moved away from Ophelia, walking to her bedside. "People of this world are weak, clinging to their empty traditions and rules. Order, law, and balance, I hate all of it. Don't you agree?" Glancing at Ophelia's lifeless form, her eerie smile vanished. "Balance must sometimes be broken, and that is where you come in. You must bring Chaos, Ophelia! Show this world your hatred and get your revenge. It never loved you, so why should you love it back?"
Ophelia felt another side of her in conflict with her vengeful thoughts, making her struggle. She may have embodied evil, but Yuto and his moral values were still strong.
"Do not embrace your old morals. Take your revenge on those who wronged you. Bring true chaos to this world!"
The spirit of Ophelia wavered, caught between her doubt and Agnes' persuasive words.
Balling her fists, Ophelia's spirit straightened as her ethereal features hardened with resolve.
"Yes... of course, what was I thinking? This world doesn't care about me, and it never has."
She turned away from her family's mourning, focused entirely on the Lady of Chaos.
"I was born in a world that hated me, died in the arms of betrayal, and rose wearing a crown forged in fire... I don't need forgiveness, I must become the consequence."
Agnes's smile returned as she laughed at her comment.
"Pwa ha ha! Thatta girl!" The Lady of Chaos moved eerily, flickering behind Ophelia's spiritual form. "You must first complete obtaining all the Cardinal Sins, and then you must embrace your nature as chaos. You know what you have to do, my dear Ophelia."
Ophelia nodded her head, already convinced that what she was doing was justice.
"Naturally." Ophelia turned to face Agnes behind her, grinning. "Tanimoto's girlfriend, Annabel; I'm planning on taking her in my arms to further bring that scum into rock bottom. He will learn true pain, and understand what I went through when no one was there for me."
Agnes chuckled joyously, placing both hands on the princess's shoulders and leaning her face beside her.
"Yes... and that way, you'll awaken the Sin of Lust, and then shatter that old piece of Yuto that's stuck within you! Once you commit enough sin, the leftover goodness will vanish, and you won't have anything left stopping you." She cackled. "There is no need to worry about any other higher power ruining your plans; the Sisters of Fate can only watch as you take what is rightfully yours."
Ophelia nodded her head with a contented smile, understanding her nature.
"Then I shall take advantage of my existence as a Voidbound, it shouldn't be too hard to rule with an iron fist."
"Good girl... I'm hoping to see you rise to the top, but first, you must continue with your plans. Weaken their defenses, sow discord among the heroes. Make them doubt each other." Agnes proceeded to circle Ophelia's spiritual body, lowering her voice into a conspiratorial whisper. "And when they're at their most vulnerable... that's when you strike. The kingdom will be yours, and then you'll have all the power in the world."
By nature, Ophelia was unshackled by law and order, at least her nucleus was. She was a being that existed outside the dualities of reality as part of Chaos; Infinite and finite, love and hate, being and non-being, all of those binary systems mattered not to her true existence.
She was born to destroy. Born to conquer. Born to bring pain and suffering.
The entire script of the world, controlled by the Governing Order, had no weight upon her.
She was the perfect creation of mass destruction.
"Make me proud, and follow every piece of my guidance."
Ophelia lifted her brows in surprise at her last words, suddenly becoming regal and firm.
"With all due respect, Lady of Chaos, I will only follow certain pieces of your guidance, not every one. While your assistance is much appreciated, this is my moment to shine, not yours."
Agnes seemed rather taken aback by Ophelia's sudden change in demeanor, but she understood her nature.
"Ah, yes, of course my dear. You've been neglected all your life, it's only natural you want to be seen." Agnes cackled and would stop in front of Ophelia. "I'll let you handle things from here, but do remember... I'm always watching."
The Lady of Chaos would slowly vanish into dark particles of light, fading away from the bedroom and leaving the mourning family, and Ophelia's wandering soul.
"I suppose it's time I return back to the physical world. I've resided here in the At'ama long enough."
A steward suddenly entered the room, bowing respectfully to King Jubilius and Queen Sophie.
"Your Majesties, we've begun preparing Princess Ophelia's casket. The funeral arrangements will be ready by tomorrow morning, since the Festival is still ongoing." The steward spoke in a formal voice, though there was a tinge of sadness mixed in with his composure.
"My God..." Jubilius lowered his head in disbelief after hearing the steward, but accepted reality, "I see... thank you..."
Sophie clutched her husband's arm tightly as her face paled at the mention of a casket.
Alicia couldn't help but let out a soft sob while other courtiers lowered their heads in shame from behind.
"I'm afraid there won't be any funeral."
Ophelia approached her bedside, placing her translucent palm upon her physical body's chest.
Closing her eyes, she connected with her outer shell, merging her spirit back into its former foundation. Ophelia could feel her soul fade back into her body, reconnecting with her physical form.
All of a sudden, her eyelids fluttered… slowly regaining vitality.
"Oh my god!" Gasps of shock filled the room as the attendants were the first to notice Ophelia's chest rising with breath, and her eyes moving beneath their lids.
Color gradually returned to Ophelia's cheeks as blood flowed through her veins once more. Her fingers twitched, then curled into the bedsheets.
"O-Ophelia?!?" Sophie's hand flew to her mouth as tears of confusion replaced those of grief.
"What...?" King Jubilius lifted his head to see his daughter regaining consciousness, causing him to stagger backward, nearly tripping over his own feet. His face cycled through several emotions; shock, disbelief, and finally, acceptsnce.
"Ophelia...?" Trying to process what was happening, the king scrambled forward and gripped his child's hand, placing his palm on her forehead. "My sweet princess, can you hear me?"
"Sister..." Alicia's hand clutched her chest as her breathing became rapid. Taking a hesitant step forward, then another, she was drawn to her sister's bedside, watching her body regain life. "Sister... Ophelia..." She could feel her own voice tremble as her eyes darted between Ophelia and her parents, questioning reality.
"Mother, Father... is this real? I'm…"
Everything hit Alicia at once—she was far too stressed—her emotions overwhelmed her, triggering a vasovagal syncope, thus… she fainted.