After their conversation, Dawn transformed into a phoenix, it was her ability granted by her union to Qazaethel, and also as the phoenix empress of Solkanaia. The transformation was a sight to behold—flames of gold and crimson licked at her skin, her form shifted and stretched until she emerged as a magnificent bird, her feathers are shimmering with an otherworldly light.
The heat of her fire did not burn; it warmed, it comforted, and it felt like coming home. She had not transformed since the wedding, had not allowed herself to explore this new ability that had been granted to her. But now, with purpose driving her forward, she embraced it fully.
She took Ruthina with her who also transformed into her rabbit skin, the golden rabbit’s form small and delicate compared to the phoenix’s grandeur. Together, they rose into the sky, two creatures of legend flying through the day. The guards below watched them go, their faces were upturned with awe, and Dawn felt a flicker of something she had not felt in a long time—pride.
Pride in who she had become. Pride in what she could do.
The flight was short but breathtaking. The palace grounds stretched beneath them, a patchwork of gardens and courtyards and gleaming rooftops. The wind rushed past Dawn’s wings, cool and clean, and she felt something inside her lift.
She had not flown since the wedding, had not allowed herself this simple pleasure. But now, with purpose driving her forward, she felt more alive than she had in weeks.
Ruthina clung to her back, her small golden form tucked against Dawn’s feathers, and she let out a small sound of joy as they soared through the air. "This is amazing!" She called out over the wind, and Dawn would have smiled if she could.
They landed on Eiravelle’s balcony and the door was open. As always. They saw that Eiravelle was sitting on her bed and was reading some books. The eastern palace was quiet, and the air was thick with the scent of old parchment and dried flowers.
Eiravelle looked up at the sound of wings, her eyes are widening as she saw the phoenix descend onto her balcony. The book in her hands slipped from her fingers, landing on the bed with a soft thud. She had not expected visitors. She had not expected anyone.
She had spent the past week pushing everyone away, building walls around herself, and she had convinced herself that no one would try to breach them.
But here they were.
Ruthina hopped and approached Eiravelle. Her small golden form moved quickly across the floor, her ears perked forward, her nose twitching. Eiravelle was startled when she felt something and saw Ruthina.
"Ruthina? Is that you?" Eiravelle asked, and Ruthina transformed into her human-like form.
"Hello, saintess!" She excitedly said, and Eiravelle softened.
"What are you doing here?" Eiravelle asked with a smile. It was a small smile, fragile and tentative, but it was real. ℯ𝔴ℯ
Dawn then transformed to her human-like form and entered cautiously. Her footsteps were soft on the marble floor, and she kept her distance, not wanting to startle the omega. "Eiravelle?" Her voice was warm but cautious.
She entered and saw Eiravelle, and smiled as she sat next to Ruthina. The room was large and beautifully furnished, but there was something about it that felt closed in, as if the walls had been drawing closer with each passing day.
The windows were shuttered, the curtains were drawn, and the only light came from a single candle on the bedside table. It was a room that had become a prison, and Eiravelle was its prisoner.
"Why are you guys here?" Eiravelle put the book she’s reading aside and focused her entire attention to Dawn and Ruthina. Her voice was steady, but there was a wariness in her eyes, a guardedness that had not been there before.
"We’re worried. We got the news that you refuse to accept visitors and that you refuse to eat whatever food that the royal kitchen is serving." Dawn said, she was clearly worried. Her brow was furrowed, and her hands were clasped tightly in her lap.
"Saintess, what happened? Is there something wrong with your baby? Or you don’t like the food in Palace?" Ruthina asked, she leaned forward and took Eiravelle’s hand. Her grip was warm and gentle, and Eiravelle did not pull away.
Eiravelle got used to Ruthina calling her saintess and she doesn’t react much from it anymore. She had stopped correcting the golden rabbit, had stopped trying to convince her that she was not what Ruthina believed her to be. It was easier to just let it be.
Eiravelle smiled and shook her head, "Thank you for being concerned, but I’m fine." Eiravelle said. The words were automatic, hollow, the kind of words that people said when they did not want to talk about what was really wrong.
Dawn and Ruthina glanced at each other and back at Eiravelle. They did not believe her. They could see the shadows under her eyes, the pallor of her skin, the way her hands trembled slightly even as she smiled. "Eiravelle, please tell us what’s going on?" Dawn asked, but her voice was leaving enough space for Eiravelle to choose, not to force her.
Eiravelle was silent for a long moment. She looked at Dawn, at the concern in her eyes, at the genuine worry etched into her features. And then she looked at Ruthina, at the golden rabbit who had crossed the world to find her, who had called her saintess even when she did not believe it. They were her friends. They had shown her nothing but kindness. And she was so tired of being alone.
"Well... I just... I really don’t like... I don’t know... I just feel this way." She said. The words came out broken, fragmented, the words of someone who did not fully understand what was happening to her.
She did not know how to explain the fear that had taken root in her chest, the paranoia that whispered in her ear every time she closed her eyes. She did not know how to explain that every time she ate, she wondered if it would be her last meal. That every time she slept, she wondered if she would wake up.
Dawn nodded in understanding. "It’s probably the baby that’s triggering all this mood swings of yours." Dawn smiled and gently touched Eiravelle’s pregnant belly. The touch was light, respectful, and Eiravelle felt something inside her relax, just a fraction.
"Saintess, can I bless the baby?" Ruthina asked, and Eiravelle’s eyes widened.
"Sure! Of course! That will be wonderful!" Eiravelle’s face lit up in excitement. The transformation was startling—the way her expression shifted from guarded to open, from tired to hopeful. It was as if someone had lit a candle inside her.
Ruthina smiled widely and leaned forward. She kissed Eiravelle’s pregnant belly and put her ear against it, her golden hair falling around her face like a curtain. "Hello, little baby. Just hang in there. Me and your aunt Dawn are very excited to see you." Ruthina said.
Eiravelle softened when Ruthina said that. The words were so simple, so pure, so full of love. She had not realized how much she needed to hear them until now.
Then slowly, Eiravelle felt light. The blessing is probably working. It was a warmth that spread through her body, a gentle glow that seemed to chase away the shadows that had been clinging to her heart. She felt lighter, freer, as if a weight she had been carrying had been lifted.
"Thank you, golden rabbit." Eiravelle said.
"Ruthina, if Eiravelle is already the saint, why do you still need to bless her baby?" Dawn asked.
"Because the baby is not automatically a saint too. And saintesses can’t bless their baby when they’re still on their omega parents’ wombs." Ruthina explained and transformed into a rabbit to settle next to Eiravelle.
"Please pet me!" She excitedly requested, both Dawn and Eiravelle chuckled and all Eiravelle can do is gently pat her head and pet her ears. The golden fur was soft beneath her fingers, and Ruthina made small, contented sounds as she was petted.
"Eiravelle, do you want some tea?" Dawn asked.
"Oh no. Your Majesty, you’re my guest, please—" Eiravelle wanted to stop Dawn, but the empress just smiled and shook her head.
"In this private room, I am just Dawn, your friend." Dawn said.
"And I am just Ruthina! Your golden rabbit! Hehe!" Ruthina said too as she snuggled her head on Eiravelle’s side.
"Okay... If it’s okay with you, Your Majesty." Eiravelle said, and her voice trembled a little. She can’t help but feel shy that the empress was serving her like this. It felt wrong, somehow, to let someone of such high station do something so menial.
Dawn went outside the room and went downstairs, then she saw Saye and smiled widely. Saye bowed and greeted her properly, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Please rise." Dawn said as she descended down the stairs and approached Saye. The servant straightened, but there was a nervousness in her posture, a wariness in her eyes.
"What’s your name?" Dawn asked.
"Saye, Your Majesty. My name is Saye." She answered.
"Saye, wonderful. I just wanna ask what kind of tea flavor does Eiravelle drink?" Dawn asked.
Saye thought about it. "Probably the mallow infusion, she drinks that a lot." Saye answered, and Dawn nodded and smiled.
"Do you mind if you teach me how to make it?" Dawn asked.
"Of course, Your Majesty. I could not bring myself to decline, could I?" Saye jokingly said, and Dawn nodded with a lighthearted laugh.
The kitchen was warm and quiet, the embers of the evening fire still glowing in the hearth. Saye moved with practiced efficiency, gathering the dried mallow flowers, the honey, and the small pot that Eiravelle preferred. Dawn watched her, memorizing each movement, each ingredient.
"Your Majesty, I’m glad Lady Eiravelle allowed you to visit." Saye suddenly mentioned as they walked towards the kitchen.
"I just got worried. Why does your lady doesn’t accept visitors and doesn’t accept food from the royal kitchen?" Dawn asked, and Saye was taken aback.
"She didn’t tell you?" She asked, then she started getting the ingredients ready.
Dawn shook her head. "About what?" Dawn asked back.
"Well, we visited the middle palace because Lady Eiravelle was invited weeks ago. But then... The concubines seem to don’t like her, and we barely stayed there." Saye explained as she started to make the infusion.
"And then, what happened?" Dawn asked, her voice sharpening with concern.
Saye paused and looked at Dawn. There was something in her eyes—fear, perhaps, or hesitation. She was just a servant. She was not supposed to speak of such things. But she had watched her lady suffer for weeks, had watched her withdraw from the world, had watched her waste away. And she could not stay silent any longer.
"It didn’t go well." Saye shook her head and looked sad. "They said something that made Lady Eiravelle paranoid. Lady Vespera said that her child may not take its first breath, or a lot of things could happen." Saye added.
Dawn was shocked to hear that. Her blood ran cold, and for a moment, she could not speak. The words echoed in her mind—her child may not take its first breath—and she felt a rage build inside her, hot and fierce and barely contained.
"How could she say such things? She knew the rules. It is forbidden to threaten another concubine of the sovereign, not unless it was the empress to leave such words." Dawn said, she’s clearly bothered by the admission.
"I don’t know, Your Majesty. I can’t intervene, I am just a servant." Saye said.
"But Lady Eiravelle held the favor of the Sovereign. Whoever held the favor of the sovereign is excluded in the rankings of the harem... This... This is outrageous!" Dawn was clearly unhappy about the revelation. Her hands were clenched at her sides, her jaw tight, and she had to remind herself to breathe.
"Your Majesty, that was the reason. It is because Lady Eiravelle held the sovereign’s favor." Saye said.
That was the final answer Dawn needed. She understood now. The concubines were jealous. They were threatened by Eiravelle, by the favor she held, by the child she carried. And they had decided to destroy her, not with swords or poison, but with words.
They had whispered poison into Eiravelle’s ear, had planted seeds of doubt and fear, and then they had watched those seeds grow into a suffocating vine that was slowly strangling the life out of the omega.
Dawn nodded and sighed, "Leave it to me then." She said. Her voice was calm, but there was something dangerous in her eyes, something that made Saye shiver.
She finished making the tea, her movements were precise and focused, and carried the tray back upstairs. When she entered the room, Eiravelle and Ruthina were still on the bed, Ruthina’s rabbit form curled up on Eiravelle’s lap, Eiravelle’s fingers gently stroking her fur. They looked up when Dawn entered, and Eiravelle’s eyes widened when she saw the tea.
"You made it yourself?" Eiravelle asked, her voice filled with surprise.
"No, Saye helped me." Dawn said, setting the tray down on the bedside table. She poured a cup and handed it to Eiravelle. "Drink. It will help you rest."
Eiravelle took the cup, her hands are trembling slightly. She looked at Dawn, at the warmth in her eyes, at the gentle smile on her lips. And for the first time in weeks, she felt something other than fear. She felt hope.
"Thank you," Eiravelle whispered.
Dawn nodded. "You’re not alone, Eiravelle. You never were."