A/N: @kingdomofdrawings YOUR BABY IS HEREEEEEE

You're gonna hate me tho 😣

{*-_+_-*}

"So you finally figured it out?" the shifter asked

"You killed my mother..." Emma snarled, grabbing it's jaw again, more violently this time

"As you did mine" it whispered in a low growl "and countless others"

"Hypocritical of you, considering the fact you have slaughtered countless villages, our orphanages are always full because of your kind" Emma tightened her grip on his jaw as she brought his face closer to hers, only being separated by the bars of the cell. Hell, if it weren't for the bars, she probably would've pounced on him

"Y- your Highness..!" One of her ladies in waiting rushed down into the cellar

"Rose!" Emma turned to the girl in the doorway

"Rose..?" The shifter whispered

"Norman..?" The girl gasped "Norman!" She exclaimed, running up to the cell and kneeling down to his level

"You know it's name?" Emma asked, getting the girl's attention

"She is my sister" Norman explained, making Emma turn to Rose with a shocked expression on her face, slight disgust and horror on her face

"Sister..!?" She snarled as she glared at the girl on the ground, who was frozen on the floor

"Y.. Your Majesty... Please let me explain!" Rose pleaded

"You have one minute" Emma demanded, her tone shifting from accusatory to one of a commanding ruler

"His... His mother took me in after they.. K.. Killed my parents..." Rose explained

"And who, pray tell, killed your parents, Rosemary?" Emma stared at Rose. Oh, my apologies, I forgot to introduce Rose! Rose, her full first name as Rosemary, was a shy, gentle, quiet girl that Emma took in after finding her wandering around the woods in the snow, seemingly searching for someone, when they were both thirteen. Now that they were 26, Emma made her the head maid and the second of her only two ladies in waiting

"The..." Rose choked "... The.. Shifters..."

"Exactly... Now..." Emma bent down and softly lifted the girl's head "I ask you how you can accept one of them as your... Sibling"

"Because he cares for me..!" Rose uncharacteristically burst out "he is my brother..."

"Ah..." Emma frowned before standing up straight again and turning to the guards "lock her up, along with her... Brother.. " she waved her hand nonchalantly as she walked towards the stairs as the guards obeyed their empress, Rose being silent as she stared at the woman she once considered a sister

"Emma.. Emma! Get your ass back here!" Ray called out behind her

"WHAT!?" She turned to face him aggressively

"Goddammit- THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN 'WHAT'!? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?" Ray yelled "WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU-"

"OH! I'M SORRY!! DID YOUR PARENTS DIE TO THE CLAWS OF A SHAPESHIFTER!?" Emma snapped, taking Ray off guard. Snapping like this was very out of character for her "DID THEY!? OH, THAT'S RIGHT!! THEY'RE STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE!!... That shifter is a Nightingale!... And now I have reason to believe she is a spy"

"Emma.." Ray murmured

"Shut your godforsaken mouth" Emma demanded as she turned back around "or I'll rip your tongue out of your face with my bare hands" she snarled before walking off into the spacious palace

🌺

A few hours later, Emma was sitting on her throne, fulfilling her duty as the Eagleite Empire's ruler. The doors flung open and an older woman walked in

"Your Highness" she called out, clearly distressed "forgive me for barging in unannounced, but I have received news that you have imprisoned my daughter"

"Daughter?" Emma asked "the only woman I have here does not have a mother, are you sure you aren't mistaken?"

"Yes, I am sure, her name is Rosemary" the woman said, catching Emma off guard "my name is Primrose" she introduced before Emma leaned over to the guard beside her

"Bring Rose to me" she whispered before turning back to the woman "my apologies, Primrose, but your daughter has been suspected of treason against the Empire"

"My daughter would never..!" Primrose defended her daughter

"I know... But she has admitted to having personal ties with a Nightingale shifter" Emma sighed, her voice laced with guilt "believe me or don't! You may ask her yourself" she uncrossed her legs as Rose was brought into the room by the guard from earlier and was slightly pushed over in front of the throne

"Rosemary!" Primrose called out, getting the young woman's attention

"Mother!" She exclaimed as her mother rushed over to her and hugged her

"Is it true? How do you know that shifter?" Primrose asked, concerned for her daughter

"His... His mother took me in after father..." Rose choked on her tears which made Primrose know exactly what she was talking about

"Oh, my darling..." The older woman quietly sobbed before she embraced her daughter as Emma watched. Guilt was getting the better of her for she saw herself and her own mother in the two

"Alright..." The gingerette spoke up "I'll release her on one condition... Exile"

"What!?" Primrose exclaimed as she turned to Emma

"If I leave a potential spy to run wild, it could mean the downfall of our Empire" Emma explained as she glared at the two "trust me when I say that this is mercy. She is suspected of treason against the Empire, which could end up in execution. She may live if she leaves the Goddess's domain"

"I don't think-"

"Its okay, mother, I'll be okay..." Rose smiled, still crying "is it... Possible to bring Norman?"

"Norman?" Emma lifted her head from her hand "who... The shifter?"

"Yes" Rose replied

"Hmm... No. Its too risky to release it" Emma hummed

"Him" Rose corrected

"Huh?" Emma looked at her confusedly

"Him. He's a boy" Rose explained

"Humm..." Emma sighed "whatever... Just pack your belongings and leave" she commanded, which Rose obediently complied. As Emma watched her walk to her room, she saw Gilda hiding behind a wall. For a minute, Rose conversed with the green haired girl, who's eyes widened and skin turned pale before turning her head towards the gingerette on the throne. All Emma could do was flash an apologetic look to Rose when she turned and faced her. After Primrose and Rosemary left the palace, Ray spoke up

"You are insane" he criticized

"As are you" she criticized back. She knew this was the best this to do, so, why can't she shake the haunting feeling of guilt?

🌸

The sun had set and the woodlands outside the Empress's bedroom window were engulfed in shadows as hues of oranges, pinks, yellows and purples danced around in the skies. Emma sat on her windowsill, staring down at the dark woods, unconsciously searching for Rose, the girl she used to think of as a sister

"I'm sorry... My dearest... Only sister..." She whispered, hugging her legs close to her chest as her face turned from regretful to stern "But this is for the good of the Empire"

{*-_+_-*}

A/N: Sorry this chapter might seem half assed, I lost motivation near the end and I'm starting to experience burn out again

See you next chapter!... When that comes around