Celestia's grip tightened around Selena's trembling hands as she said softly, "You can't betray him. You are not capable of it. I know who you are."
And just like that Selena finally broke.
Her face crumpled. Tears spilled from her eyes in rivers, not droplets.
"I–I'm not that good Selena anymore, Cels…" she choked out, voice shredding apart mid-sentence. "I.. I don't even know why I'm still called a Saintess. I don't deserve that title… not anymore."
Her words tumbled out uncontrollably, raw and cracked like a dam bursting.
"You don't know how disgusting I am," she whispered, hugging her own arms as if freezing. "I've been lying… lying to everyone my family… his family… to him… to the entire empire…"
She squeezed her eyes shut painfully.
"Do you know," she whispered shakily, "Razeal's mother still comes to see me every month…?"
Celestia stiffened.
Selena continued, the guilt choking her.
