ã€ŠVampire and the Dayspring Starã€‹


 Prologue â€” Thy Name Shalt Beâ€¦

    ¡°Fame? Glory? Power? Come on kid, I thought you knew me. I¡¯d rather live quietly with a happy family.¡±

    The clash of blades echoed throughout the baroque hall.

    His composed demeanor belied his fatigue. Beneath the surface, his breathing had become uneven and his mind began to wander¡ªa fatal mistake for one dancing at the boundary of life and death.

    Without even a moment to breathe, the vampire forced him to raise his broadsword once more to slap away the needle-thin sword thrusting and slashing at him.

    The fiend¡¯s audience hall was dimly lit, so merely following her movements was taxing his senses.

    They¡¯d been a party of four. He¡¯d met two of them in the human capital of Soldaga, and while crossing the endless green hills belonging to the Plainstriders they encountered their final member, a female Wizard by the name of Tatyana.

    They wouldn¡¯t have even reached the Shadowed Lands of Aphtangloa without her help, but¡­

    There was a lull in the fight as the monster fell back, allowing him an instant to compose himself and wipe the sweat beading beneath his dark black locks.

    Not because he¡¯d gained ground, but because she¡¯d chosen to back off for some reason; she¡¯d long since dictated the pace of the engagement, perhaps even from the very start.

    It was obvious that she was simply toying with him, but he was just fine with being underestimated.

    It¡¯d only take a single opening¡­

    The moment the party arrived in the capital city, Tatyana revealed her true colors, selling them out to the vampires in exchange for misbegotten promises of power and ascension. The madness in her jade eyes was seared into the back of his eyelids, bile rose in his gut as he wondered what fate befell her.

    The three of them somehow made it through the city, but Elham made the ultimate sacrifice to create an opening, allowing him and the Hero to infiltrate the Tyrant¡¯s Palace.

    Shaking away the image of the vulgar woman, he saw instead the scarlet glow of the devil¡¯s eyes, and then she vanished into thin air.

    The veteran knight roared in defiance as he threw his weight behind his hefty blade, carving a half-crescent through the air. The ringing of steel signaled the beginnings of a fresh rally.

    With only two members left¡ªhimself and Mizar, the Hero who¡¯d promised to bring peace to humanity¡ªthe odds were stacked against them to say the least.

    In spite of odds and vampire alike, they carved a path through the lower floors of the Demonic Tyrant¡¯s Palace. They¡¯d butchered their way to the teleportation array, but¡­

    In the midst of their duet, the monster planted her heel, pivoting for a feint but catching her foot on the fabric of the long crimson carpet. For just one instant, her scarlet eyes widened in surprise as her balance failed.

    He seized the opportunity with all his might.

    Unfortunately, the moment they arrived on the other end of the portal, guards began pouring out of every hallway and passage, quickly overwhelming them. As capable as the pair were, they couldn¡¯t hold out against the vampiric royal guard forever. They were both powerful fighters, but vampires were fundamentally stronger, and every guard who fell was seemingly replaced by two more.

    When they finally reached the Tyrant¡¯s throne room¡ªagainst all odds¡ªThe Hero entrusted his sword to the ex-lieutenant and sacrificed himself, turning his very body into a divine briarpatch to seal them inside.

    After that, well¡­

    She adjusted the angle of her sword and brought it straight through the center of his, trivially halting what he¡¯d thought was a decisive blow.

    The shrill cry of steel pierced his eardrums as her long scarlet razor split his claymore from tip to handle.

    Every step of the battle had been under her control from the beginning¡­

    Perhaps even before they stepped into her palace.

    ¡°It seems that¡¯s checkmate, Templar,¡± her voice languorously echoed through the hall.

    He¡¯d put his faith in his own blade, never drawing the sword supposedly gifted by the Goddess Herself.

    Perhaps that¡¯d been a mistake.

    Or perhaps, it¡¯d saved his life.

    He subtly reached for the sword concealed beneath his cloak with trembling fingers.

    ¡°Sorry, I never actually learned how to play¡ª¡±

    ¡ªBut frustratingly the vampire was eight steps faster, as the tendons in his arms and legs all succumbed to the sting of her blade in the same instant.

    Falling to his knees, he stared up at the leering woman in her silky white dress, ostentatiously adorned with twilight-blue frills and gold-threaded seams that glittered like stars. It must¡¯ve been worth more than his entire village, even after being stained by his blood.

    More embarrassingly, it was proof she¡¯d considered him so trivial a threat that she had no need for armor.

    Her snow-silver hair finished its rondo as she tossed the blood-red wing-shaped blade away. ?Though its tempered black grip marked it as orichalcum, it simply melted into flecks of dark blue blood and splattered against the obsidian stonework like paint.

    ¡°Oh, really? Then we must rectify that!¡± Her tone lacked the malicious bite he¡¯d expected.

    ¡°Sorry, don¡¯t think I can move the pieces anymore,¡± he couldn¡¯t help but laugh at the absurdity, flopping one of his useless arms, ¡°Unless you expect me to use my teeth, perhaps?¡±

    ¡°No, no, of course not,¡± she shook her head, placing a finger to her lips as she looked upward.

    It was an innocent gesture that would¡¯ve made him think she was an ordinary woman, if not for the sharp ears peeking out from her hair, and the even sharper fangs jutting out through her smile.

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.?She looked the same age as the Hero had, not a day over twenty-something, though he knew that her reign of terror started long, long before even his grandparents were born.

    After apparently settling whatever it was that weighed on her mind, she locked eyes with him like the predator she was, her slit pupils narrowing as the dim light the stained glass cast from behind highlighted only her silhouette.

    The monstrous waif of a woman steadily approached, her fangs gleaming as she leaned down in front of him. On his knees, he was only a head or so shorter than¡ª

    ¡°AAGHCK!¡± He yelped.

    She¡¯d bit him.

    Well, that was to be expected, she was a vampire. This was where he¡¯d meet his end, his soul devoured as sustenance, never to return to the Goddess¡¯ side. Such was his punishment for embarking on this reckless four-man crusade.

    It was hardly a fair punishment, but he¡¯d accepted this potentiality all the same; his only regret was leaving humanity in such a precarious position¡­ this should¡¯ve been their chance to fix all that, but the only taste in his mouth was bitter regret.

    If only they¡¯d succeeded, surely mankind would be able to prosper, surely¡­

    After three heartbeats, he wondered why he was still alive. The monster hadn¡¯t moved at all, her fangs were still embedded in his neck.

    After another three, an agonizing pain suddenly wracked his body, a flash sweat breaking out on his brow as he felt what he could only describe as molten fire spread through his veins.

    His vision blurred and his muscles spasmed, his body falling to the floor with a heavy clang as she drew away.

    What¡¯d she just do to me!?

    It felt like she¡¯d injected venom into him; his bones creaked, his organs prickled as if melting into soup¡ªhopefully not literally.

    ¡°Shhh, there there, it¡¯ll be over soon. Thou art doing quite well, indeed.¡±

    As the bizarre form of torture stretched on, his armor felt lighter, or perhaps looser. He wasn¡¯t sure if her words were supposed to be sarcasm; his body refused to obey him, he couldn¡¯t raise his head to read her expression; every single centimeter of his flesh boiled with raw anguish; his bones crushed together as though a golem were squeezing him; even his scalp felt as though it was crawling with hungry hornets.

    ¡°Ahh, right, we simply must cut thee free from that unsightly armor. Still thy body, ¡®twould be quite the waste for us to accidentally mar thy skin.¡±

    Alright, she¡¯s definitely fucking with me.

    Perhaps she¡¯d injected some sort of venom that¡¯d reduce him to a bloody puddle, for ease of drinking? Admittedly he knew little of how vampires actually fed, as before this trip he¡¯d only ever encountered them on the battlefield¡ªand rarely at that¡­

    With laughable ease, she split open and peeled apart his armor, pulling his sweat-soaked body out and holding him in her arms, his feet barely dangling off the floor.

    If she could manage that with her bare hands, then she really was holding back their entire duel.

    Wait, what¡ª

    ¡°My! Thou turned out even cuter than we could¡¯ve hoped!¡± She beamed brightly, making a face unbecoming of the elegant ruler of the world.

    As the haze of pain finally receded, he found himself able to focus once more.

    The room came back into painfully sharp clarity, the lighting illuminating the black and red throne-room with an eerie auburn brilliance he¡¯d somehow failed to notice¡ªperhaps because of how focused he¡¯d been on the Tyrant. His eyes briefly glanced toward the stained glass triptych in the back, where the light emanated from.

    Three exquisitely crafted, towering works of art filled the wall, more than a match for even the grandest of cathedrals to the Goddess back in the Kingdom. But instead of venerating Her Radiance, they depicted crowds kneeling before some sort of ruler, a world engulfed in calamity and flame, and finally, a resolute queen staring forward into the distance.

    ¡°U-Unhand me, you harlot!¡± he rasped. His voice felt rough, like the muscles in his throat had atrophied.

    ¡°My you¡¯re quite energetic, too!¡± her register had changed too, sounding much more cheerful and less¡­ noble. ¡°We had assumed you would pass out from the pain of our embrace, but here you are, kicking and screaming with all the vigor of a newborn babe!¡±

    She closed her eyes and smiled warmly, giving him a chance to kick himself free.

    But when he tried, he finally noticed how¡­ short his legs had become.

    ¡°What¡­ have you done to me!?¡±

    ¡°Why, whatever do you mean? Did we not just state that we embraced you?¡±

    As he wriggled free from her grasp¡ªor perhaps she¡¯d simply allowed him to¡ªthe grand reception hall stretched high above him, the furnishings all towering over him as he huddled near the shredded remains of his armor.

    Even the fiend herself leered down at¡­

    No, the throne room hadn¡¯t grown bigger at all. He looked down at his lithe arms, every trace of tanned muscle and scar having vanished from the now lily-white skin.

    As he staggered up to his feet, he felt his now-oversized tunic slip down one of his shoulders.

    He¡¯d been at least a head or two taller than the vampire before, but now he barely came up to chest-height on her.

    ¡°Answer the question, monster!¡± The more he spoke, the more he realized how¡­ cute¡­? His voice sounded.

    And at the same time, he felt something dragging on the ground behind him, sending a shiver through the back of his head.

    ¡°Hmhmhm, our daughter is quite adorably naive, isn¡¯t she?¡±

    ¡°You¡­ I¡­ I¡¯m sorry, what?¡±

    ¡°Surely you have all the pieces to assemble the puzzle, no?¡±

    Trembling slightly, as the words clicked into place within his mind, he turned his head around. Touching the ground behind him was a trail of pure silver hair.

    Looking down, he saw a petite girlish figure, his dirty green tunic loosely hanging off its frame.

    Pressing his legs together, he felt nothing.

    ¡°H-How¡­ W-W-Why!?¡±

    His head spun, the weight of what she¡¯d done striking heavier than any blow in their battle.

    ¡°Oh, you know¡­ It¡¯s getting to be that time for us, and just as we¡¯d surmised, you shall make for a most suitable heir!¡±

    He staggered backward, tripping over himself and gazing up in horror at the beast¡¯s cheery smile.

    ¡°Now then, let us cleanse your body and free you of those boorish threads. We have quite a wide array of clothing that will suit you to a T, o¡¯ sweet little Lycoris.¡±

    No longer able to face the weight of reality assaulting him from all sides, he finally collapsed, and darkness embraced him once more.

 1 â€” Clothes Make the Man

    ¡°Do you have any idea what you¡¯ve done!?¡±

    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t know, **** never¡ª¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t blame that lazy excuse for a father for your own ignance! You just ruined an entire harvest cause you sprinkled that shady stuff all over the corn! What¡¯re you gonna do when the whole town starts starvin¡¯ cause an eighth of their crop went bad!¡±

    ¡°It was supposed to stop the bugs!¡±

    ¡°And look how that turned out! Now we got no corn at all, ¡®stead of a few bad bunches.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll fix it. I promise! I¡¯ll talk to the person I bought the pesticides¡ª¡±

    ¡°Shut the hell up! The real pest here is you. You¡¯re lucky it didn¡¯t kill us all ¡®n zombify us or somethin¡¯! I can¡¯t believe this¡­ You¡¯re worthless, just ¡®s bad as your father! Get outta here! ¡®fore I beat¡ª¡±

    ¡°AAAAH!¡± A feminine yelp broke the silence of the peaceful bedchamber.

    Bolting upright, the confused ex-lieutenant gasped for air as he took in his surroundings, the furious face of his mother already a hazy afterimage.

    This wasn¡¯t his family¡¯s old home at all. Instead he was in a rather luxurious linen bed, soft purple sheets covering his legs with a matching canopy overhead.

    The room had a rather¡­ delicate atmosphere to it; the ceiling looked like pale gray marble, the walls were painted in a lilac hue, and the floor had been coated in a soft dark red carpet.

    Hanging from the ceiling was a strange fixture akin to the chandeliers he saw in noble households, but there were strange glass casings instead of candles attached to it.

    Against the wall to his right were curtains stretching to the floor, glass doors leading to an outside balcony just on the other side. Opposite them was a smooth rosewood door, likely leading out into a hall.

    He could probably escape from the balcony¡ªassuming the walls were actually scaleable. He did recall the spires of the capital towering overhead as they skulked through the city¡¯s back alleys. But¡­

    Lined up along the wall across from him was a lacquered mahogany dresser, a cabinet filled with glasses and bottles, and between them, a vanity and stool with a set of folded clothes atop it; in the vanity¡¯s mirror, reflected back was¡­

    ¡­The visage of a pale-skinned, silver-haired, pointy-eared and scarlet-eyed girl. Her hair was somewhat messy, its luxuriant strands pooling around her on the bed and half-covering one of her eyes in a loosely swept fringe. The reflected girl¡¯s vertically slit pupils widened in shock.

    Before he knew it, he¡¯d rushed over to the mirror and reached to touch the cold glass with a trembling hand.

    ¡°This is¡­¡±

    It was the face of the monster who¡¯d defeated him, the demonic tyrant who held the entire world in a chokehold.

    Except, younger. The youthful roundness of childhood had yet to fully leave her cheeks.

    And also, this was a mirror, which could only mean¡­

    ¡°No, no no no this can¡¯t be. How could this¡ª I¡¯m a human! A man! Not a¡­ a¡­¡± his voice trailed off, his throat gripped by panic. He couldn¡¯t bear putting it to words.

    Every syllable he uttered felt off. He spoke with the dull flatness a soldier would, but his pitch and register were undeniably higher and¡­ cutesy.

    Tearing his gaze away from the¡­ reflection, he looked down at the clothes¡­ and his face contorted once more.

    They were neatly folded and looked luxurious¡ªprobably, he couldn¡¯t make heads or tails what sort of material had been used¡ªbut at the very top was a small strip of cloth with a little bat detailed on the front, as well as some sort of¡­ padded cloth harness?

    ¡°Nevermind whatever this is, I can¡¯t wear these! This is¡­ clearly¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hellooo~ Do our ears deceive us, or is our darling little flower already up and about on her¡ª Oh?¡±

    The door to his room exploded open as the Tyrant herself barged in, red eyes wide with surprise as she saw his exposed figure¡­ huddled around the corner of the vanity, glowering up at her.

    His captor had changed out of her formalwear, now garbed in soft red-and-white checkered flannel pants and a loosely buttoned white top, a night-cap adorned with a fuzzy red ball with bat wings sticking out of it resting atop her head.

    ¡°What¡¯re you doing just barging in here! Die! But like actually, though!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s no way to talk to your mother, even if we did barge in on you in the middle of dressing yourself¡­¡±

    ¡°I was not¡­ was it your idea to put these clothes out? What are you thinking! What even is this!?¡±

    He shook the harness around by the strap, still cowering behind the corner of the vanity.

    ¡°That¡¯s a bra, dear. Do you need mommy to help¡ª¡±

    ¡°No! Don¡¯t come near me, you damned monster,¡± he shouted between heavy breaths. ¡°Get out! Don''t even think of coming back!¡±

    A small frown creased across the monster¡¯s lips, ¡°Oh, well, of course. You¡¯re hardly an infant, after all. We¡­ shall return later to check on you, and wait in our room until then.¡±

    She closed the door, an uncomfortable silence falling upon the confused man(?)¡¯s shoulders. A bizarre feeling struck him, as though he¡¯d done something wrong.

    He slowly stood back up, placing his hand with the bra atop the bundle of clothes.

    ¡°Did I¡­ actually just make her sad? No, don¡¯t be ridiculous, that thing¡¯s the source of all mankind¡¯s despair and suffering. It¡¯s just a trick.¡±

    His eyes slid back up to the reflection in the mirror. ¡°Grr¡­ why me!?¡±

    He threw himself back under the covers of the bed, sinking his face into the pillow.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    Exaltare Lilianna Majalis Aphtangloa was a woman who neither broke nor bent to the whims of others.

    She¡¯d overseen the expansion of their empire into the Whorling Bay¡ªconsidered the greatest territorial acquisition of the past five millennia¡ªand went on to revolutionize international politics with the creation of the Spire.

    While it sounded simple in retrospect, it¡¯d been anything but. Even the most progressive of the Seven Families balked at the notion of sharing power with the ¡°lesser races,¡± but Lilliana knew that the only way forward was to give them a voice.

    The mind would grow numb to fear and force if it didn¡¯t also experience relief.

    Besides, the other nations stood virtually no chance of outmaneuvering the Vampires, when their ambassadors hardly lasted a century. How could they possibly hope to outwit the eldest dwellers of the continent?

    Such was her pitch to the Seven; the leaders of Drimus were quick to fall behind her, being her original family, but the others¡­

    For decades, she argued with the remaining six, assuring them that having the majority meant there was little the other races could do even if they all banded together, while they protested that it would pave the way to future concessions. They weren¡¯t wrong, but they had forgotten how this all came about to begin with.

    And more to the point, their argument missed the fact that she intended to use the other races to work around the unfavorably positioned traditionalists.

    Perhaps they, in their ignorance, thought that the other members of their glorious empire could simply be browbeaten into keeping their heads down.

    Regardless, she¡¯d succeeded and the neutral territory and structure were established, and even the humans had a seat reserved for them¡ªthough it was never once filled.

    Imagine what the Seven would say if they learned what we have wrought this time¡­ hmhmhmm~

    It would be impossible to talk her way out of. Even though her daughter had turned out perfectly healthy, managing to inherit her blood more readily than any heir-potentiate produced by the Families, it¡¯d throw the entire Empire into anarchy if word of her origin got out.

    The accusation that she¡¯d created a ghoul to lead the world to a new era would already be more than enough to see her entire legacy tarnished and her head on a pike.

    But she¡¯d made her decision rationally, deliberating the matter for an entire sparring session. Her daughter had managed to survive a life-or-death examination, and had sharp instincts.

    Still, there¡¯d be quite a bit of scrutiny falling upon Lycoris, as the families tried to suss out where exactly she¡¯d crawled out from. ¡°Fortunately,¡± only her handpicked personal guard had encountered the pair of humans, and her daughter had killed most of them, somehow.

    And she still had another trump card to play, thanks to her daughter¡¯s incredible gift.

    She¡¯s quite the prodigy indeed, except¡­

    More troubling than any potential political fallout, was that¡­

    ¡°She really doesn¡¯t like us all that much¡­ Oh sister, what are we to do? Did we approach too strongly? Or was it simply unfortunate timing?¡±

    After plucking a bottle and glass from the cupboard, she sat down in her velvet chair, poured a quarter, and stared at the crimson ichor.

    ¡°Perhaps she was merely cranky after just waking up? She did spend almost an entire day asleep after we bathed her and tucked her into bed.¡±

    Normally such a task would be left to servants, but she had to move carefully, ensuring that word of Lycoris didn¡¯t spread before the embrace of her heir was announced. Not even her most loyal underlings, the ones permitted to serve in the private wing of her palace, could be trusted with this information.

    It was fine if they suspected something, so long as they didn¡¯t have any hard evidence.

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    ¡°After this glass¡­ We¡¯ll try with a different tack. That should give her enough time to settle down.¡±

    She chuckled softly at herself. She¡¯d chosen to walk across the thorns of this brambled tightrope, so why not relish these new feelings, rather than fear them?

    She was the Exaltare¡ªRuler of the vampires, and the world by proxy¡ªthere was nobody more wise and capable than her.

    Though she¡¯d finally encountered the one thing she lacked experience in, Lilianna would find a path into her daughter¡¯s heart, no matter what.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    ¡°¡­Maybe she really did leave.¡±

    He poked his head back up, a pair of fang-marks left in the pillowcase from his frustrated grumblings to himself. He hadn¡¯t actually gone back to sleep; he felt almost too energetic to remain lounging about, and his head ached from staying in bed so long.

    His eyes wandered over to the drawn curtains, and back to the clothes on the vanity¡ªthough he pointedly avoided the mirror.

    ¡°I can¡¯t escape while naked¡­ though, where would I even escape to? I doubt I¡¯d make it out of Empire territory on my own. Maybe if I could still get in touch with one of the allies we made along the way, but¡­¡±

    He reflexively peeked at his distant reflection out of the corner of his eye. Frustrated, he tossed the irritatingly comfortable sheet over his body and hugged his slender knees.

    No one would trust him as he looked now. Much as he hated to admit it, he looked just like that woman. Anyone who caught sight of him would either flee in terror, or cringe with disgust.

    Though, he was quite used to the latter from his childhood.

    His mother had been an abusive woman who refused to accept reality or try to change at all, and his father was an alcoholic who¡¯d beat him to take out his frustrations with his wife.

    He didn¡¯t like thinking about them¡­ perhaps it was just the nightmare he¡¯d had¡ªor the fact he¡¯d regressed into a petite little girl physically, without a trained physique to mask his insecurities¡ªbut he found his mind wandering back to the adults who¡¯d given him nothing.

    When his father passed away, he didn¡¯t bother going back to that woman, instead choosing to live as an urchin on the streets of the closest walled city he could reach. Once he was old enough, he applied to become a soldier and quickly distinguished himself through his fervent swordsmanship. But even after proving himself, the looks of disgust remained; the only difference is they were rooted in envy instead of contempt.

    Eventually he¡¯d climbed all the way up to the rank of lieutenant-commander of the Third Ray. But after getting closer to the royal family¡­

    He let his mind wander, thinking back to his comrades as he sat under the sheets.

    Elham, the cheerful redhead who never lost his optimism, not when facing a village ravaged by the Vampires, nor when concocting some horrifying catastrophe and calling it dinner. His knowledge of wildlife and nature was truly second to none¡ªwhich perhaps was part of the problem. He¡¯d loved to speak at length about the medicinal properties of herbs and how they were good for one¡¯s health¡­ except for the taste. His death was a loss for all who valued wisdom, or treasured kindness and empathy.

    Tatyana, the woman who on the surface seemed sharp, sensible, and determined; she¡¯d been respectful of the effort and dedication both he and the Hero had put into mastering swordsmanship, seeing a parallel to the years required to gain such a pool of magical know-how¡­ Perhaps it hadn¡¯t all been a lie, but he¡¯d never know, nor could he ever forgive her for Elham¡¯s death.

    And finally¡­ The Hero, the Goddess¡¯s chosen, humanity¡¯s savior. Mizar, the Stardust Champion. With humility even greater than his boundless strength, the man was nearly two decades younger than the lieutenant-commander, and yet was preternaturally gifted with both sword and magic. The Hero could effortlessly hold his own against him and Elham at the same time in a two-on-one sparring session. Yet he always claimed that his swordsmanship was inferior¡­

    I know he sacrificed himself to give me the chance to face that monster without interference, but why? Surely he would¡¯ve fared better against her than me, even if I could only hold out against the reinforcements for so long¡­ Why¡­

    ¡°Why did he sacrifice himself for me? Shouldn¡¯t it have been the other way around!? Wouldn¡¯t he have been able to destroy¡­ ¡­Come to think of it, I don¡¯t even know her name.¡±

    ¡°Lilliana,¡± came a voice from right beside him.

    ¡°HGBWAHF!?¡±

    He would¡¯ve jumped out of bed, if not for the sheets wrapped over and around him.

    The bedding stretched as he felt someone else sit down beside him.

    ¡°Our apologies for returning before you¡¯ve dressed yourself, but we were¡­ worried about you.¡±

    ¡°Worried? Heh, thought I¡¯d given you the slip and ran?¡±

    ¡°You were quivering. You still are.¡±

    He realized after she pointed it out that his knees were shaking.

    ¡°You needn¡¯t view us as a ruler, Lycoris. We are your mother. If something is troubling¡ª¡±

    ¡°Of course something¡¯s troubling me! And cut that shit out! You¡¯re not my mother, you¡¯re a monster. You murder humans for sport, keeping us caged like animals at the edge of a peninsula with no means of cultivating land or expanding our territory, leaving us no choice but to fight and kill just to see the next day! How could you ever understand the hatred that¡¯s built up over centuries for you!?¡±

    It felt as though she¡¯d begun to say something, but he couldn¡¯t hear it over the pounding in his eardrums.

    ¡°This room alone is probably worth more than the whole territory I was born in! And those machines I saw on the way here¡­ I bet they make life real easy for you, don¡¯t they? You¡¯ve probably never spent a day in your life wondering how many days you¡¯d have to fast, just to make ends meet! You¡¯ve never had to wonder if a horde of Sylphs or the Piscin navy will suddenly show up and pillage your town, killing everyone you¡¯ve known! Do you know how many people I¡¯ve seen broken and killed because of them!?¡±

    At some point, he¡¯d ripped the sheets off to shout at her directly, the vampire looking more solemn than surprised¡ªand yet, she seemed unguarded, somehow.

    ¡°What do you even want from me!?¡±

    ¡°To inherit our position, and guide our people to a brighter future.¡±

    The absurdity of her subdued reply rendered him momentarily speechless.

    Is¡­ she serious? But I¡¯m the enemy! Why doesn¡¯t she suspect that I¡¯ll just betray her and send them all into¡­ wait¡­ if I played along with her, then maybe I can dispose of the vampires. If I sacrificed myself and became a monster, but¡­ Can I really do that?

    He couldn¡¯t squander the chance Mizar had given him, the opportunity this beast¡¯s blunder had permitted him¡­ but the thought of himself as a Vampire was beyond revolting.

    He didn¡¯t even know the first thing about leadership, after all, he¡¯d lost his position for a reason¡­

    ¡°And you actually think I¡¯m capable of that!? ME!!? I¡¯m just¡­ one insignificant person. A guy who hates your kind with a passion, who thinks a ¡®brighter future¡¯ wouldn¡¯t have you fiends in it at all!¡±

    Feeling out of breath after shouting, he was off guard and failed to react as she suddenly reached out and grasped him, pulling him against her chest and putting a hand to his head.

    ¡°There are many things we would like to say, but¡­ most of all, We are¡­ no, I am sorry, my child.¡±

    His mind blanked, the warmth and the floral aroma of spring greenery suffusing him as her arms tightened protectively.

    ¡°What are you¡­ I¡¯m¡­ not your¡­¡±

    ¡°In truth, we have never once seen a human in person. We know of their plight, and of the reason they must be carefully managed.¡±

    ¡°What¡­? You have a human right here.¡±

    ¡°We meant what we said,¡± she demurely chuckled, lightly pinching one of his ears. ¡°¡­Is it the fact we chose your garments that you find them so distasteful? There are others in the dresser¡­¡±

    ¡°H-Huh? No! It¡¯s because I¡¯m a¡­ man, obviously,¡± he grumbled. ¡°Those aren¡¯t the kinds of things a guy should wear.¡±

    How could this Demon Lord be so kind? It made him want to bite her hand, but for some reason, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to force her away.

    ¡°Setting aside the subject of your narrow-mindedness, have you not peered at your reflection in the mirror yet? Would you not find it more appropriate to dress in a manner that fits your current form?¡±

    ¡°How can you just¡­ say that so casually!?¡± he groaned in exasperation. Perhaps he was being stubborn and childish, but this woman¡¯s logic made no sense.

    ¡°The Exaltare and her heir are always female. That¡¯s simply how it is, how it has always been.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t just turn someone into a girl and expect them to go along with it like it¡¯s nothing! I don¡¯t even know anything about your society in the first place!¡±

    ¡°Is it really so strange? Clownfish are protandrous, as are certain breeds of Sea Bream. I would find it no surprise if the Piscin are too¡­ though they might find that insulting, hm.¡±

    ¡°¡­A-Are you calling me a fish?¡± he couldn¡¯t stifle the bewildered chuckle that bubbled out of his throat.

    ¡°No. I¡¯m saying it¡¯s natural,¡± she patiently explained.

    Even though he wasn¡¯t tired, her voice carried a dulcet softness that compelled him to close his eyes and bury himself against her, like a siren¡¯s song. But he was a grown man! In his forties!

    On the inside, at least¡­

    ¡°Plus, how do you know you won¡¯t like something if you never try it, hm?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d argue there¡¯s nothing natural about this, monster¡­¡± he muttered half-heartedly, ¡°And don¡¯t talk to me like a child, I¡¯m¡ª¡±

    ¡°Not even a century young. And if you¡¯re going to act like a stubborn child, then why wouldn¡¯t we regard you as such?¡±

    Though her tone hardened slightly, she didn¡¯t let go of him. Repulsed as he thought he should feel by it, he felt¡­ safe in that moment.

    Like nobody could touch him, with the strongest being in the world protecting him. Nobody could judge him.

    ¡°¡­why me?¡± he muttered more pitifully than he¡¯d intended.

    ¡°That¡¯s quite a complicated question¡­ We are sure one day you¡¯ll have the answer you wish for, but for now, all we can say is that we saw ¡®potential¡¯ within you¡­ We know that¡¯s unsatisfying on its own, but one day you¡¯ll come to understand it as we do.¡±

    She slowly ran her fingers through his hair.

    ¡°If you try, at least a little¡­ we are sure that you will find common ground, that you¡¯ll see more than just a monster in the mirror. Perhaps you¡¯ll even find something to enjoy with all your heart. Being a sovereign doesn¡¯t mean all freedom, after all. We would go mad if we never had a single moment to ourself.¡±

    Lilianna closed her eyes and loosened her grip.

    But he didn¡¯t pull himself free.

    ¡°And of course, you can always come back to mommy. If you fall, we¡¯ll pick you back up.¡±

    She said nothing else after that, the rhythm of her heartbeat against his ear overpowering the distant rumble of clouds.

    He wasn¡¯t sure what to say in response. Nothing felt appropriate. He¡¯d done nothing but reject her, and while he didn¡¯t think he was necessarily wrong to, he still¡­

    He thought back to his parents, how they never once heeded the counsel of others, how they left each other and abandoned him to the wolves.

    Surely, he could be better than them. Wasn¡¯t that why he strove to become a knight worthy of respect? Why he personally tutored and instructed his soldiers? Why he entreated the King about his daughter¡¯s grief?

    Wasn¡¯t that the reason he joined the Hero¡¯s party, and fought for the future?

    Perhaps¡­ he could at least humor her, even if he couldn¡¯t reciprocate the creature¡¯s kindness or affection.

    And worst case, he could just fall back on that earlier thought, and destroy the vampires from within. Sacrificing himself for the sake of humanity¡­ perhaps that was how he would carry on Mizar¡¯s legacy.

    ¡°What¡­ did you call me again?¡±

    ¡°Lycoris Aster Aphtangloa, daughter of Lilianna Majalis Aphtangloa.¡±

    ¡°Right, then, could you help me into those clothes, Lilianna?¡±

    Lycoris¡¯ mother smiled softly, an ominous fang peeking out from under her lip.

 2 â€” Royalty 101

    ¡°W-Wait wait wait, this isn¡¯t some kind of trick mirror is it!? I mean¡­ I look so¡­ young.¡±

    The two of them were standing in front of a full-body mirror in Lilianna¡¯s study, as the woman had decided that the mirror in Lycoris¡¯ room was too small to ¡°take in her full grandeur.¡±

    He¡¯d thought he was just humoring the tyrant¡¯s request, but¡­

    Up from the deep blue footwear¡ªthat Lilianna had called mary janes¡ªrose a pair of silk stockings, stopping just short of a flared out skirt with bunched up blue frills on the underside, like an upside down rose bouquet wrapped in white fabric. It came together neatly just above the hips, adding an illusion of curves as it tightly hugged around the waist, the buttons and ribbons dotting it all similarly made of azure stone and fabric. Noticeably, there were small openings in the back, on either side just above his waistline. The dress¡¯ upper portion curved snugly over his shoulders, exposing his pale upper upper arms and a bit of his shoulder.

    Covering his forearms were a pair of detached sleeves, accented with more blue frills on both ends; they draped delicately down from his upper arms where more ribbons were fastened, flaring out at the wrists and fluttering about as he moved.

    His silver hair had been meticulously brushed and fastened with flower-shaped buns on either side, the excess trailing down to his waist in twin-tails. Lapis colored string had been used to tie them up, wrapped like annoyingly cutesy bows that gave the impression of wings.

    It was a more lavish outfit than anything he¡¯d ever seen in the Human Kingdom, perhaps even moreso than the attire of the Princess herself.

    It also felt smoother than anything he¡¯d worn, tickling his skin as he turned around and flapped his arms about.

    Most troublingly, he felt his heart race as he looked at himself¡­ ¡­herself? A dark hue appeared on his cheeks as he fidgeted in embarrassment.

    I am not enjoying this! He lied to himself.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t our dear little Lycoris just the most adorable flower?¡± The vampire¡¯s hands clamped down on his shoulders as she leaned over, an obnoxiously wholesome smile spread across her entire face. ¡°Truth be told, even we are a touch surprised. Your beauty shall most certainly be the talk of the Court.¡±

    ¡°Court¡­ I¡¯ve never really experienced it myself¡ªoutside of running guard detail, I guess.¡±

    ¡°Indeed, there are many things we shall have to educate you on before we announce you to the Seven Families.¡±

    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±

    ¡°Do not fear, for we shall give you suitable compulsory education so you¡¯re at least presentable.¡±

    ¡°Do I even need to be?¡±

    He looked himself in the mirror, exhaling at the thought of being paraded in front of a whole pack of vampires.

    It was a rather terrifying prospect, but¡­

    He looked at the other silver-haired person in the mirror and briefly wondered if ¡°mother¡± would protect him, or if she¡¯d cast him to the wolves the first chance she got.

    ¡°Of course. If our position were disgraced by your behavior, you would be cast out onto the streets, or worse. Now, on that note¡­¡±

    She stood up straight, her tone shifting as she forcefully straightened his posture with a loud popping sound from his back, ¡°Back straight, shoulders back, and chest forward. Posture shalt be the first of thy lessons.¡±

    ¡°Aghck!¡±

    ¡°Any time we catch thee slouching over the next week, thy punishment shalt be¡­ Hmm¡­¡±

    ¡°W-Wait, punishment? And what¡¯d be worse than being disowned!? Honestly, I think I¡¯d rather be executed¡­ Why should you care so much if I¡¯m kicked out, though?¡±

    ¡°Because thou art our daughter, of course. If thou findst that reason alone to be unsatisfactory then¡­ Our authority would be called into question for embracing one of common birth, eschewing our race¡¯s traditions. We would be stripped of our position as Exaltare, pending the Seven¡¯s investigation and sentencing, before a replacement would assume our position. ¡®Twould be no kinder a fate awaiting us than thee¡­ in theory, at least; in the history of our kind, this is technically an unprecedented situation.¡±

    The Exaltare spoke matter-of-factly, but what she was saying sounded rather¡­ extreme. Had she really done something so forbidden? All because he had ¡°potential?¡±

    Now that I think about it, I never really paid that much attention to politics before¡­ That¡¯s probably why I ended up¡ª

    ¡°In any case, thy punishment¡­ Ah, yes! We shall break one of thy fingers every time thy diligence wavers.¡±

    ¡°H-Huh!? Are you crazy!?¡± He gasped in exasperation, and in response¡ª

    ¡°We are quite sane, see?¡±

    Lilianna gripped her own finger and twisted, not even batting an eyelash as her pinky bruised purple; it looked frail enough that a light breeze might snap it off.

    ¡°What¡­ the hell? Are you alright!? Why did you¡­¡±

    His voice trailed off as he watched in equal horror as her pinky spun itself back into position, looking good as new.

    ¡°Such is the majesty of the Aphtangloa lineage. Our constitution is far sturdier than even the purest of the Seven¡­ truthfully, we might survive being decapitated, though it would undoubtedly be a maddeningly painful experience.¡±

    Acting as though she¡¯d merely swatted away a spider, Lilianna walked over to the opposite wall and back, looking down at him.

    ¡°We would like thee to repeat this motion. Practice walking in a straight line, until thou canst do it without thinking.¡±

    But he hadn¡¯t even been paying attention, still trembling as he stared at his own hand.

    When Lilianna¡¯s wrapped around and tenderly squeezed, he winced, trying but failing to pull away as she frowned.

    ¡°Lycoris, know that we would never inflict anything we consider genuine harm upon you. You¡¯re our precious daughter, after all.¡±

    ¡°I¡­¡± he trailed off, looking at their hands. Her fingers looked so slender, though he knew the destructive force hidden within them.

    ¡°Rome wasn¡¯t built in a day, we suppose¡­ never fear Lily, she will surely come to accept her inheritance in time. Just meet her halfway,¡± she mumbled to herself, before clearing her throat, ¡°Ahem¡­ Is there something else you¡¯d prefer as discipline?¡±

    ¡°Rome¡­? I, uh¡­¡±

    Her floral scent wafted over him as she gazed down earnestly, waiting for his response with bated breath. For such a fearsome ruler, she looked oddly wholesome.

    Just when I think I can let my guard down¡ª no wait, what am I saying? Of course I can¡¯t let my guard down around her! She¡¯s the enemy of humanity, my enemy!

    He shook his head, chasing away the feeling and recentered himself. Even if she was the enemy, she at least seemed willing to capitulate to his demands. He had to take whatever concessions he could get if he were to make it out of this intact.

    ¡°What if you just¡­ correct my posture instead?¡± he mumbled. ¡°Does it really make sense to break a finger to fix the spine?¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ is that how human nobility does things?¡±

    ¡°Err¡­ I don¡¯t actually know if they¡ª¡±

    ¡°Then if that is satisfactory for you, let us begin. Go on Lycoris, show us your walk. We shall give you all the guidance and advice there is to offer on this planet.¡±

    At her urging, he began walking, self-conscious of how he was moving¡­ which only made him self-conscious of how soft his clothes were again¡­ which nearly distracted him from keeping his back straight.

    He hadn¡¯t even finished a single lap across the stuffy, windowless room and he was already overwhelmed.

    ¡°Thy gait is too wide, and thou shouldst be placing one foot before the other at all times.¡±

    Freezing mid-step as Lilianna suddenly scolded him in her frigid ruler-voice, he shivered in fear as she rushed over and put her hands on him.

    Though instead of breaking anything, all she did was forcefully readjust his stance, moving his legs for him awkwardly as she rather literally made him feel the motions out of walking ¡°properly.¡±

    Wobbling a little as he struggled to maintain his balance, he attempted once more.

    He lost his balance and fell again and again, but never once did Lilianna do anything other than attentively adjust his pose when he wavered.

    Hot flashes of embarrassment spread across his face as he wondered what the others would think of him like this, walking in a manner that felt uncharacteristically dainty and elegant, the ruffles of his dress tickling his thighs as his hair lightly bobbed behind him. Even the way he moved and placed his hands apparently had to be carefully calculated, along with the angle of his chin.

    On more than one occasion, he¡¯d caught himself peering over at the mirror again as he walked, spiking his self-consciousness and deepening his sense of shame.

    But Lilianna never lost patience nor seemed to mind at all, even when he¡¯d called for a time-out to recover when his mind overheated from the sheer volume of sensation and information he had to process.

    If anything, she seemed as though she was savoring every minute of it.

    In that manner, he traipsed through his first day of etiquette lessons¡­

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    Lycoris woke the next morning with stiff shoulders and sore legs.

    Liliana had him spend a solid four hours doing nothing but walking, sitting down, and standing up, all of which had to be done with exacting precision.

    If he messed up at any point in the process, she¡¯d start him back over from the beginning and walk him through it once more, guiding him with her soft yet firm hands¡­ It was hard to believe that such a capable swordswoman could have fingers without a single callus on them.

    Or that she could even be capable of being anything even resembling ¡°gentle.¡±

    ¡­What am I thinking, it''s just an act. I saw what she wanted to do to my fingers!

    Loathe as he was to admit it, by the end of their training session he had definitely grown more accustomed to moving with elegance and poise. He couldn¡¯t deny she knew what she was doing, nor claim that she was bad at giving easy to follow instruction.

    Though, he still felt a shiver race through him whenever he thought back to how it felt to walk around in those clothes¡­

    As their private session dragged on, she ordered him to keep practicing and remain in the room while she tended to her affairs as Exaltare.

    It made sense, she was a ruler, so there was no way she could dedicate an entire day to just Lycoris¡­ But being trapped in her stuffy and dimly-lit study made him feel a little stir-crazy. So instead of obeying her draconian demands, he¡¯d taken the opportunity to look around. Regrettably, his plundering of her office¡¯s musty shelves yielded nothing but disappointment. He couldn¡¯t find anything like a map, or diagram of the building, or any records or books at all. The only thing of note that he¡¯d uncovered was a shelf with lined with reliquaries and other little knick-knacks, and a wine cupboard like the one in his room.

    He¡¯d even poked his head in the fireplace, desperate to find a secret passage or a button of some sort, but there weren¡¯t even ashes in it¡­

    When she returned, she asked him how he managed to dirty his clothing inside her office, to which he cleverly answered that he tripped and fell while practicing, and decided to rest instead of forcing himself to practice when his performance was worsening.

    As a fellow master of the sword, she seemed to understand that too much practice was just as bad as too little¡ªor perhaps she knew he was lying and simply didn¡¯t care¡ªand dragged him off to the bath instead, where she¡¯d forced him to¡­

    Eugh¡­ never going to go through that again if I can help it.

    He pulled himself out of bed, changed out of the silky nightgown and into a fresh set of clothes, feeling rather proud of himself for picking out an outfit that bore more or less the same general shape as the one from the day prior; though, above the bust line, the dress tapered upwards to the collarbone, where a choker with a winged blue rose proudly stood out. Most of the clothes stowed inside the dresser were some shade of white and blue, and it all looked remarkably expensive.

    He¡¯d skipped putting on separate sleeves, and the straps of his bra were visible, but surely that didn¡¯t matter¡­

    I have to wear clothes anyways, so why not make myself look presentable? And I¡¯d rather do anything other than have that woman dress me up like a little child again.

    ¡­Though, he¡¯d given up on the whole affair when he came crashing down from his definitely not enjoying dress-up, due to his failure to come even close to styling his hair in the same manner that Lilianna had before.

    Tying a knot shouldn¡¯t have been that hard, but getting it to stay in place and look nice and have both sides match was beyond him.

    Nor did he have any idea how she did those big loose loops with the ribbons, to say nothing of how frazzled his untamed hair looked.

    Clicking his teeth in frustration, he marched over to the curtains and pulled them back, peering out the glass doors for the first time since he arrived.

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.?He still hadn¡¯t given up entirely on escaping, though the idea became less practical every moment. Thinking back to the idea of being alone and unarmed in a country filled with vampires, in a body not even half his original size¡­ and he¡¯d somehow have to make it out of the palace first.

    Above were the everpresent dark crimson clouds that blocked out the sun, but below the capital city of Ljosdeyja sprawled outward like a sharpened forest of dark gray trees, made of unfamiliar stone. Some of the towering gothic-style buildings crept up almost as high as the balcony he peered out from at their absolute peaks.

    He couldn¡¯t even see the ground through the faint crimson haze that filled the air, much less the horde of vampires wandering its winding maze-like streets.

    Shutting the curtains and staggering backward, he collected himself as he forced a slow breath out.

    This was definitely beyond simply being ¡°on the third floor.¡±

    ¡°I know we fought our way to that ritual circle, but¡­ did it really take us that high up? Or is this a completely different section of her palace? Maybe it¡¯s a different building altogether, even¡­ Mmn, if only I could find the floorplans somewhere.¡±

    Being so high up made the pit of his stomach clench and his mouth dry out¡ªhe wasn¡¯t good with heights, especially after Tatyana had cast Fly to get the party over a bottomless ravine.

    Feeling a shiver run through his spine after recalling what happened when he¡¯d looked down into that void, he turned back around and paced back and forth a few times, catching himself reflexively slipping into the graceful mannerisms he¡¯d relentlessly drilled the day before.

    Unsure of what to do as his embarrassment and irritation rose in equal measures, he sat down in one of the lavish ornate chairs lined up against the wall and demurely crossed his legs, plopping his elbow on the armrest and his chin on his fist as he sighed.

    ¡°I wonder what the others would say if they saw me like this¡­ Tatyana¡­ well, I don¡¯t really care what she¡¯d think, at this point,¡± he half-snarled, exposing his fangs. Even just the mental image of the woman made him want to tear her throat out with his bare hands.

    ¡°Mizar would probably draw his sword on me immediately, grim-faced determination and all¡­ and then would probably fall over laughing after realizing who I was. I¡¯m not sure if that¡¯s better or worse than letting him cut me down. Ugh, probably worse,¡± he grumbled, chewing on his lip.

    ¡°And Elham,¡± he smiled, ¡°I can practically hear him saying, hand on my shoulder and all, ¡®I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll find some way to fix this, Sir¡ª¡¯¡±

    Lycoris stiffened, goosebumps breaking out along his arms.

    ¡°W-Wait¡­ what¡¯s¡­ my name? I¡¯m¡­ I can¡¯t remember. Did that monster do this!?¡±

    He gripped the armrests tensely, the wooden frame cracking as his knuckles whitened.

    ¡°Did I forget anything else? Anyone else? Mizar, Elham, Tatyana, Princess Fawaris, King Albireo¡ªkinda wish I could forget his face though¡ªuhh¡­ Knight-Commander Merak of the First Ray, Commander Alioth of the Second¡­ my commander, Talitha. Liesman of the Fourth, and the Fifth¡¯s Commander¡­ Dubhe. Well, that¡¯s all the Kingdom¡¯s major military personnel at least¡­¡±

    He counted through the list of people on his fingers, gradually easing his tension. There were other names he couldn¡¯t remember, other faces, but some of them¡ªlike his parents¡ªhe wasn¡¯t particularly broken up over.

    Plus, it¡¯d be normal to forget the name of a baker you only met a few times. He couldn¡¯t even really blame that one on Lilianna.

    But the fact that he couldn¡¯t remember his own name, aside from the one Lilianna had given him, was suspect. It was like a knife had simply scraped away the color, leaving behind a blank canvas that¡¯d been painted back over before he realized it.

    Worse still, he couldn¡¯t immediately tell if there was anything else he¡¯d unnaturally forgotten, if anything.

    As he began replaying his memories of their journey from the human capital, the door slowly creaked open.

    ¡°Lycoris, are you up yet?¡±

    Immediately, he tensed up, sitting rigidly with his hands in his lap.

    ¡°You¡¯re overcorrecting. To be caught vulnerable at all simply won¡¯t do,¡± she hummed, glancing towards him¡­ her eyes lingering for an uncomfortable amount of time.

    ¡°S-Sorry. Are you¡­ upset? What are you staring at?¡±

    ¡°Just the adorable face of our daughter~ ¡­But you didn¡¯t touch your hair, and your choice of garment¡­ well, that might still be expecting a little too much. We shall cover fashion dos and don¡¯ts another time.¡±

    ¡°I tried!¡± He folded his arms and sulked. ¡°Couldn¡¯t figure out how you did that hair thing though.¡±

    ¡°You could have at least brushed it,¡± Lilianna frowned, stepping into the room and walking towards the vanity. ¡°Come here dear, this too is something worth practicing. While it¡¯s rare for a servant to not attend to you, it is still a possibility.¡±

    When Lycoris relocated in front of the vanity, Lilianna had a wide smile on her face as she applauded the elegance he was demonstrating after just a single day.

    Not like he hadn¡¯t at least known how to behave around nobles before, even if knightly etiquette wasn¡¯t quite so¡­ severe. Or flowery.

    ¡°We are quite proud of you for stepping outside of your comfort zone of your own volition. Or perhaps¡­ you found it wasn¡¯t quite so uncomfortable after all?¡±

    ¡°No! I just,¡± he mumbled unconvincingly, ¡°couldn¡¯t stand the embarrassment of being dressed up like a child.¡±

    ¡°Hm? What was that?¡±

    ¡°N-Never you mind. So am I going to be doing more walking today?¡±

    ¡°Of course, practice will continue until it¡¯s second nature¡ªto the point where acting casual requires active effort on your part instead.¡±

    She brushed his hair in gentle sweeping strokes. A strange sense of warmth filled the air. He briefly wondered if this was how a mother would actually treat her daughter, before shaking the thought away in embarrassment¡ªand mildly irritating Lilianna while hurting his head, as he caused her to tug on his hair accidentally.

    ¡°Lycoris, you must sit still if we are to properly care for your hair.¡±

    ¡°Ow ow ow¡­ sorry I was¡­ distracted. I still feel pretty sore from yesterday, if I¡¯m being honest.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ then how about today we bring you to the training hall? It¡¯s important to know how to defend yourself after all.¡±

    ¡°Did you forget how we met?¡±

    ¡°Of course not, we remember quite well how you expertly danced to our every step.¡±

    ¡°Mrgh¡­¡±

    ¡°Worry not, we shall simply be practicing today, there will be no sparring.¡±

    Somehow, that only deepened Lycoris¡¯ frustration.

    ¡°Why would I be worried abou-ack! What¡¯d I do now!?¡±

    This time it was Lilianna who¡¯d tugged on his hair.

    ¡°Your mind was beginning to wander again. It''s time we show you how to style your hair, since you liked how we did it up so much before~¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say¡ª¡±

    ¡°Now now, no need to be shy. Pay attention.¡±

    Liliana walked Lycoris through the process, as calm and patient as before, guiding her daughter through each step and watching Lycoris practice with the other side until they perfectly matched.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    As they walked further and further away from his room, the hairs on the back of Lycoris¡¯ neck stood on end, while the tension mounted on his shoulders.

    It would¡¯ve been incredibly embarrassing to admit his nervousness, so instead he focused wholly on walking in a graceful manner¡­ despite the fact Lilianna was in front of him. Be that as it may however, he could practically feel her gaze upon him, as though she had eyes in the back of her head¡­

    They¡¯d traveled through a multitude of halls, out a large set of doors, past more strange iron doors¡ªafter Lilianna made him stay back while she cleared the way first¡ªbefore they traveled down at least one spiraling staircase, across a grand ballroom, and through another few halls.

    The entire time, Lycoris didn¡¯t encounter a single other person; he wondered if it wasn¡¯t because Lilianna was intentionally scaring off anyone who was in the way for his sake.

    The ominously silent tyrant made no attempt to strike up smalltalk as she led the way.

    He wasn¡¯t sure what to say either, admittedly; the trip felt more tense than when the Hero¡¯s party had to sneak through an abandoned mine to cut through a mountain range, all shivering from the cold and uncertain whether geolle poachers were waiting around the next corner to ambush them.

    All he had to focus on was the same pale ochre hallways and ornamental red carpets stretching onward, the bright lighting fixtures overhead doing nothing to create a warm or welcoming atmosphere like torchlights would.

    He¡¯d wondered what purpose the rows of presumably vacant rooms served, but just as he considered asking, the two of them stopped before a pair of ornate adamantine doors, their alloyed ash-gray bodies radiating an imposing aura.

    Whatever laid on the other side was obviously important.

    Lilianna brazenly approached, as only the rightful owner of this palace and territory would, and placed a hand against the doors. A pulse of magic rippled out, and slowly they slid into the walls as beyond, the room reinforced with yet more adamantine lit up, one ¡°lightbulb¡± at a time.

    He shivered from the sudden temperature drop as the two of them stepped inside. As the entrance sealed behind them, quartz glass display cases that stretched from floor to ceiling gradually filled with jade-colored light one by one, all manner of strange and unfamiliar tool placed on display.

    It looked like a treasury¡ªor perhaps armory would be more accurate. It certainly smelled like one, with the cold tang of steel filling his nostrils.

    The matriarch ignored the grand display of weapons however, gently grasping Lycoris¡¯ hand and instead leading him to one wall in particular where several weapons were arranged that he could only describe as ¡°bat themed.¡±

    All of them were made of polished orichalcum, their black luster glittering in the light, though the manner in which the sharpened edges of the blades had been tempered gave them a sinister scarlet gleam. And of course, they were all fashioned like bat wings or had a wing-shaped crossguard, or ruby eye-shaped pommels or some such.

    ¡°Please, pick whichever catches your eye, Lycoris. Eventually you¡¯ll learn the basics with everything, but every young vampire must start somewhere.¡±

    He resented her choice of words¡ªin particular the notion that he was a vampire¡ªbut, garish as their designs were¡­ he could tell they were well-maintained and expertly crafted, the lustrous black metal armaments inspiring equal parts awe and dread.

    Humans didn¡¯t even know how to properly smelt orichalcum, the only weapons made of the stuff they had were either plundered from plainstriders or piscin, manufactured by geolles discontent with the oppressive rule of the vampires, or were legendary treasures like the Hero¡¯s¡ª

    He spun around, looking around the room.

    Not there. Not there. Not over there.

    There wasn¡¯t any sign of Mizar¡¯s sword.

    In fact, when he turned back around to look at the assortment of weapons she¡¯d laid out for him, there weren¡¯t any swords at all.

    ¡°Where¡¯s his sword¡­?¡±

    ¡°We made sure to remove all the swords in advance. As we surmised, you immediately gravitated back toward the ¡®familiar.¡¯¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? Worried I might trounce you in a rematch?¡±

    The woman shook her head and exhaled. The gesture seemed almost exaggerated when she did it, as though exhaling itself was exhausting.

    ¡°Hold out your arm for us, dear.¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    He did so reluctantly, unsure what to expect. Her tone didn¡¯t sound particularly upset, but still¡­ was she going to scold him for talking back to her¡­?

    But all she did was adjust his ¡°grip¡± as though he were holding a blade, and then stepped back and drew her own thin sword from behind her head, like a magic trick.

    Holding it out above him, she lightly bonked his head with the flat of the crimson steel.

    ¡°Do you see the issue now, Lycoris?¡±

    Of course he did, the moment they were far enough apart for him to be in his previous striking distance, it became obvious.

    His reach had become downright diminutive compared to when he was a¡­ normal human.

    It¡¯d be a tough road re-learning how to use a sword¡­ and Lilianna had already grasped that and purposefully taken steps on her own to circumvent the issue.

    A shiver ran up his spine as he wondered just how wholly trapped in her web he was.

    He pushed the thought aside, examining the wall with disinterest as he idly wondered what option would get the biggest rise out of the vampire. Even looking past the overwrought designs, many of the weapons were completely unfamiliar to him. He wasn¡¯t even sure how to begin holding some of them, much less actually wield them.

    Something familiar but impractical¡­

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case¡­ this one, I guess.¡±

    He reached for a large curved scythe, though strangely the chine appeared sharpened as well, rather than just the belly. The crimson gem set over the blade¡¯s ring seemed to stare back at him, a stylized red and black wing curving from its opposite end.

    It looked heavy, unwieldy, and rather impractical¡ªespecially given that the snath had no proper grips for holding onto. An ideal tool for irritating the tyrant, but also,

    ¡°I used to be a farmer after all, I know how to use one of these pretty well.¡± Lycoris turned to see the reaction, but bewilderingly, she seemed ecstatic.

    ¡°Ah, the classic choice! And a wise decision after taking into account your issue of reach. Very good.¡±

    ¡°Wh¡­Huh? I mean, wait. Shouldn¡¯t you be¡­¡± he trailed off, wrapping his hand around the cold metal.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    ¡°I mean, it''s heavy, right? And why use a scythe over a halberd or spear!?¡±

    Though, when he pulled it off the wall, it was¡­ astonishingly light. And as he held it aloft, the blade clicked and slipped down, the heel shifting as it locked into place as a long-hafted battle-axe.

    ¡°True, mastering the scythe on its own requires far more precision and dexterity than a more straightforward weapon, but modern innovations have resulted in a weapon ideal for both crushing blows and slipping around an enemy¡¯s guard to reap their heads from behind. Many Exaltare past have used the classical scythe, though we were taught and raised using twinblades; thus, we never really grew close to the modern variant like our predecessor had.¡±

    ¡°But when you fought me you were only using one¡ª oh.¡±

    Lilianna put a hand to her lips, chuckling demurely while patting Lycoris¡¯ head.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry dear, we¡¯re sure you¡¯ll catch up to mommy one day. Shall we take your trick-scythe back to the training hall and try it out?¡±

    ¡°W-Wait, slow down. If you¡¯ve never used it before, then how could you actually teach me how to use it?¡±

    ¡°When did we say that? We know full well how to, but it simply isn¡¯t our forte. Moreover, did you not say that you had prior proficiency with it?¡±

    He exhaled in exasperation¡ªand quickly straightened back out as he caught himself slouching¡ªbefore bouncing the haft of cold metal in his hands. He¡¯d lost basically all his muscle mass, and yet despite its imposing size, the axe¡­ or, scythe, really was as light as a dagger.

    Is orichalcum really that miraculous? I guess it has to be. Makes sense they¡¯d make their weapons out of it, and why I was so outclassed against ma¡ª

    He vigorously shook his head, scrambling to think about his companions¡¯ names and faces instead. Even thoughts of Tatyana, Goddess purge her soul, were preferable to what he¡¯d almost stumbled into.

    Stay focused, Lycoris¡­ how are you letting her get to you this easily!?

    ¡°Lycoris?¡±

    ¡°¡­Y-Yes, let¡¯s hurry. We wouldn¡¯t want you to waste all your free time!¡±

    ¡°Did we not say we had extra free time today? Well as they say, no sense carving open a geolle to check their value, let us return to our private wing at once.¡±

 3 â€” First Blood

    ¡°Lycoris, a moment. We believe you¡¯ve trained enough for today.¡±

    ¡°Already?¡±

    It¡¯d been four days since Lycoris¡¯ ¡°education¡± began¡ªthough he hadn¡¯t really done much studying. At least, none of it really felt like studying, the word brought to mind musty tomes and frumpy old men giving lectures.

    Instead, he¡¯d just been practicing his etiquette through posture and movements, and otherwise training with his trick-scythe.

    It certainly felt light in his hands, but the first time he struck a training dummy with it, the mythril-plated mannequin crumpled and split in half immediately, as though struck by a knight charging on horseback.

    He¡¯d been utterly flabbergasted, but Lilianna assured him that it was genuine mythril, and also that this was normal.

    Apparently, orichalcum was actually incredibly dense, and he hadn¡¯t lost his strength at all even if he¡¯d lost his muscles. Which made an unpleasant amount of sense, if he thought about it.

    After all Lilianna had effortlessly matched¡ªno, if anything she¡¯d easily outmatched¡ªhis strikes when they¡¯d dueled before. And now he was like her¡­

    It¡¯d left a sour taste in his mouth when he first learned about it, but fortunately his tried-and-true stress relief technique¡ªrhythmically swinging a large weapon¡ªworked just as well with a massive scythe-axe as it had with his trusty sword.

    If he had to refine his posture, he¡¯d rather do it with a weapon in hand, and he¡¯d actually developed an appreciation for his new armament. The benefits of swinging a massive, incredibly heavy axe around were obvious, but its scythe mode was more practical than he¡¯d initially given it credit for. Because the chine was as sharp as the belly, it could serve as a slashing weapon with a thrust or tug, or a piercing weapon capable of striking from the side or other irregular angles to circumvent a shield.

    That said, he had a hard time imagining the kind of shield that could endure a full-force swing of this thing in axe form.

    Its ability to shift modes was keyed to the gemstone set in it, which activated when the registered owner released a pulse of mana. Luckily for him, despite his lack of education in any form of magecraft, he could still at least force his mana into his weapon.

    Strengthening a blade in such a manner was an invaluable part of any swordmaster¡¯s arsenal.

    At least, for ones of Mizar or his caliber.

    ¡°You sound rather disappointed,¡± Lilianna chuckled, in her usual demure manner.

    Today, like every time they came to the training hall, she¡¯d changed herself into a white tank-top and deep blue sweatpants with white stripes going up the sides.

    She always forced Lycoris to change into a similar outfit, though rather than pants, the ex-knight had been forced into azure athletic shorts, which left an uncomfortable amount of leg exposed.

    He bemoaned it at first, asking why she got to wear pants, but resigned himself to being toyed with as the tyrant¡¯s whims dictated since she never gave a proper answer. Nor did he even find anything resembling pants in the dresser she¡¯d set out for him, and the other cabinet simply held bottles of wine¡­

    If he ever did inherit her position, his first mandate would be getting him a comfortable pair of slacks.

    As his mind returned to reality after he¡¯d internally lamented his fate for long enough, his shoes squeaked with a pivot on the lacquered gray tiles, the snath of his scythe coming to rest against his shoulder.

    ¡°I¡¯m not disappointed, I just don¡¯t feel tired yet. That''s all.¡±

    Truthfully, he hadn¡¯t felt a lick of fatigue since his duel with Lilianna, nor did he ever run out of breath, even after swinging his trick-scythe around for hours on end. He did feel the occasional slight pang of thirst, admittedly¡ªbut he wasn¡¯t going anywhere near alcohol again. He¡¯d made a promise, after all.

    ¡°And thus we should move on to the next aspect of your practical lessons, before you feel any fatigue. Combat.¡±

    Her pupils narrowed dangerously as she looked at Lycoris, drawing one of her thin blades from behind her head.

    He¡¯d been wondering why she had also tied her hair back into a high ponytail today, rather than the usual floral bun.

    ¡°We¡¯re¡­ fighting?¡±

    His heel bounced in unexpected excitement.

    Wait wait wait, really!? Calm yourself, Lycoris, this is your chance!

    ¡°If you do not wish¡ª¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡± he replied with a little more enthusiasm than necessary.

    A crescent smile split the monsters¡¯ lips.

    ¡°Then the first move is yours to make. Come at us however you wish!¡±

    He kicked off the ground at her signal, charging right at her with his blade behind him, swapping it to axe form just before his upswing.

    If he could cleave Lilianna in half before she even took a stance¡­

    Still in her neutral position, she calmly took a half step back. Lycoris¡¯ weapon blew past inches in front of her, causing her shirt to billow from the shockwave. She took her turn by force, bringing her sword down in a much gentler, slower motion than he knew she was capable of. She was cautiously feeling him out, giving a surprisingly wide berth.

    He caught her sword with the handle of his weapon, swapping it to scythe form and dragging it horizontally, causing sparks to fly as his heart rate accelerated, his eyes fixated on her neck.

    He certainly wanted to kill this monster and avenge his companions, and free himself in the process.

    But another, much more potent, feeling bubbled up and pushed his vengeance to the wayside. Delight.

    Lycoris was enjoying this.

    ¡°Hohoh, You are quite the natural already.¡±

    The ruler of the known world laughed exuberantly, drawing her second blade and stopping the horizontal guillotine in its tracks with the toothpick of a sword.

    Then, she held her arms out wide as though she were going to embrace her daughter, only to lightly kick her away instead.

    ¡°Aghk! Hey, that¡¯s cheating!¡± the girl groused.

    ¡°Cheating? We do not recall establishing any particular rules or etiquette for this duel.¡±

    No sooner had she landed back on her feet than her mother was bearing down on her, swiping from both sides.

    I can follow her moves now!?

    Her heart skipped a beat in excitement.

    A quick twirl of her scythe quickly deflected both incoming swords, before she pivoted back to axe form with the blade held aloft, and brought it straight down onto her mother¡¯s head¡ªor where it¡¯d been a moment prior. The ground quaked, a tear in the floor splitting open from the force of her impact.

    Lilianna wove to the left and went for a syncopated strike¡ªone blade hiding in the shadow of the other¡ªbut rather than attempt to wrench her weapon out to block, Lycoris activated her trick-scythe again, using the momentum of the embedded blade¡¯s transition to throw herself into the air with the grace of a vaulting gymnast.

    As the young vampire sailed through the air, her hair billowing behind her, she let out a rather crass cheer.

    ¡°Lycoris, that¡¯s unbecoming of royalty!¡±

    Her mother darted back around with ethereal swiftness, dragging the full momentum of her charge into a graceful arc as she aimed her strike right where Lycoris was about to land.

    The Princess flashed her fangs as a joyously shrill laugh escaped her lips.

    Of course Mother would react instantly, she was the greatest force in the world. It¡¯d take more than just a clever trick to evade her. She dislodged her scythe from the ground, swinging it through the air with its tip angled directly at the Exaltare¡¯s heart.

    ¡°Who was it that said there were no rules here!?¡±

    Hanging in the air, her body perfectly responding to every impulse running through her mind, she felt truly liberated for the first time she could remember. A sense of fulfillment welled up inside her as she dueled with her mother.

    It was like she¡¯d become a perfectly-oiled killing machine, the thought of spilling Lilianna¡¯s blood sending a shiver up her spine.

    Forced to go on the defensive, the Exaltare struck the scythe¡¯s handle just below the blade, using the full force of both swords in an attempt to shake her airborne daughter¡¯s grip on her weapon.

    Instead, the girl swapped modes again, trapping the twinblades between her scythe¡¯s belly and snath, before using the force of her mother¡¯s own strike to twirl around in midair and wrench the paired swords away.

    She landed as she finished her graceful pirouette, rapidly swapping back to scythe form as her mother staggered off balance.

    ¡°Ahahaha! DIE!¡±

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    As it carved a full circle through the air, dancing along with her ponytail, the blade sunk right into the vampire¡¯s neck¡­ as she turned into pale smoke.

    Stumbling from the lack of resistance to her full-force swing, Lycoris¡¯ eyes widened in shock.

    ¡°Huh!?¡±

    Before she could regain her balance, the gleefully furious visage of her mother reappeared mid-punch, snarling in satisfaction as her fist sank into Lycoris¡¯ face.

    Pain flared out from her cheek as she was thrown through the air by Lilianna¡¯s follow-through, her grip on her trick-scythe loosening as she inelegantly bounced off the ground, before landing face first on the stone tiles.

    ¡°Blargh! Urrghh¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­Ah!¡±

    Lilianna blinked, and a heartbeat later was crouching over her daughter.

    ¡°Are you alright, Lycoris? We didn¡¯t go overboard, did we?¡±

    Lycoris¡¯ head spun and the rush of battle ebbed as her vision gradually came back into focus. Agonizingly tilting her head to look up, her mother¡¯s worried face peered down at her. Her face burned, her jaw felt stiff, and her head felt as though it were swimming through molasses.

    Her body refused to obey as she tried to place her palms against the tile. Realization set in that, if Lilianna had thrown a punch like that before, she probably would¡¯ve snapped Lycoris¡¯ neck.

    Slowly regaining control of herself, she pushed herself back up. The pain rapidly receded as she looked forward, seeing the trail of blood left behind from her graceless flight¡­ blue blood. Vampire blood.

    What was I just¡ª

    A shiver ran up his spine. He reflexively covered his mouth to stifle his scream.

    ¡°Lycoris!?¡± The Tyrant wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. ¡°Talk to us, what¡¯s the matter?¡±

    ¡°Why is that¡­ there?¡± he pointed to the bloody streak.

    He didn¡¯t want to hear the answer, he didn¡¯t want to ask. But his mouth moved on its own, forcing him to voice the question.

    And the damnably kind woman answered all the same.

    ¡°Our apologies, Lycoris! We got a little carried away. But that¡¯s all! We know you¡¯re a touch sensitive to injury, but it wasn¡¯t out of malice! We were caught off guard by your passion and¡­ We didn¡¯t mean to land such a serious punch. You aren¡¯t hurt, are you? A little blood isn¡¯t that big of a deal, we promise! An injury like this should only take moments to recover from, remember!?¡±

    ¡°Blood¡­¡± he mumbled, pulling his hand away from his lips.

    On those pale petal-like fingers was a small blue smear.

    A gasp ripped its way out of his throat. ¡°N-No! I¡¯m not¡­ I¡¯m HUMAN! Do you hear me!?¡±

    He tore himself away from Lilianna, staggering back and pressing himself against the wall.

    He¡¯d let himself get complacent, forgetting the source of his struggle as he became familiarized with his daily routine. He¡¯d almost begun to enjoy the time spent with his captor.

    The vampire before him sighed, a gesture he realized was rather exaggerated now that¡ª

    NO! No, no no no. Stop, stop! Don¡¯t think about it!

    ¡°Lycoris¡­¡±

    Don¡¯t call me that!

    ¡°The barbs of truth will only bite deeper, the further you push into that briarpatch of denial.¡±

    ¡°YOU¡¯RE the reason I feel like this!¡± he snapped back. ¡°You¡¯re the one who made me into¡­ into¡­¡±

    ¡°And we did not err in doing so. The daughter standing before us is proof of that.¡±

    She remained sitting, her back straight and eyes clear as she calmly endured Lycoris¡¯ harsh words.

    ¡°What does that even mean!? You haven¡¯t given any answers at all! You focus on presentation and ceremony and aesthetic and not at all on the person in front of you. You say you care, but do you really!? You¡¯re just like all the stories say; a self-centered monster thinking only of conquest and domination, your feelings a shallow mockery of human emotion! I bet you can¡¯t even begin to imagine what¡¯s going through my head!¡±

    He slumped down, feeling something hot rolling down his cheeks. His head continued to swirl, even though the impact of the blow had long faded.

    Lilianna closed her eyes, nodding solemnly. ¡°You are not wrong, we do not¡ªcannot¡ªfully understand how you feel. From birth, your life and ours followed vastly different courses. We were born and raised to one day accept this position, and were not embraced until our four hundreds. Meanwhile, you were raised in human lands through your infancy.¡±

    She stood up, folded her hands in front of her, and smiled.

    ¡°But we were excited, when we saw you¡ªand were concerned by your lifespan. We were certain you would accept reality when it stared back at you. But it seems we underestimated the severity of the situation, from your perspective. Is it so hard to believe we are capable of making a mistake?¡±

    ¡°¡­You still haven¡¯t¡ª¡±

    ¡°It is¡­ an issue, that the Exaltare never truly raises a child. There¡¯s much that we are still feeling out about how to treat and¡­ connect with you. The fact that humans imposed their biases upon you has certainly added quite a few wrinkles. Perhaps we should¡¯ve focused on helping you acclimate¡­ We thought that by starting with the physical lessons instead, it would help bridge the gap between your perception and reality. For that¡ª¡±

    He was about to respond, but his mind blanked as he witnessed the most powerful figure in the world lower her head before him.

    ¡°¡ªwe are deeply sorry.¡±

    Neither of them moved.

    In that moment stretching on for eternities, his tumultuous emotions gradually ebbed, and an intensely awkward feeling crept up his back instead. He couldn¡¯t place a finger on what exactly it was or why, but something about this felt inherently wrong to him.

    Nobody had ever deferred to him, not like this. And she was¡­

    ¡°U-Um¡­¡± he chose to break the silence first, ¡°You know it¡¯s not really any better if you just apologize and wordlessly stand there. I mean like, kinda makes me feel like¡­ well¡­¡±

    Something worth acquiescing to, something distinctly not what he felt like he was.

    But the flickering flame of fury inside him had winked out. His heart just wasn¡¯t in it to be mad anymore, like the kindling had all been removed from under a boiling pot and it¡¯d cooled off. The liquid inside congealed into a syrupy sticky mess, as he forced himself to wade through the swamp of awkwardness to speak up.

    ¡°I-It¡¯s fine, please¡­ you don¡¯t have to keep¡­¡±

    Slowly, she raised her head back up at his urging.

    ¡°Let us start with the basics, then. When embraced, the heir does not typically have her features change immediately. It is only when she accepts the position in full, and takes over for her mother, that her eyes and hair become as yours and ours are. Though, she does become female immediately, if she was not already. Historically it¡¯s popular for male heirs to be chosen, as it¡¯s far more apparent when they¡¯re selected as Heir-Significate.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps your features changed immediately because of your young age. Or perhaps it is something else¡­ but there is no doubt in our heart¡ªnor shall anyone who lays eyes upon you question¡ªthat you are the only choice to be our heir. Our daughter.¡±

    Crouched on the ground, his feet splayed out, he stared up at her in bewilderment as she began to explain vampiric society.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    ¡°Mizar, Elham, Tatyana, Fawaris¡­ Al¡­ Albireo! M¡­ Marek, Talitha¡­ ¡­Tch. Am I getting dumber? Why can¡¯t I remember their names!? Mizar, Elham, Tatyana, Fawaris, Albireo, Marek, Talitha¡­ ¡­ ¡­¡±

    Lycoris had decided to perform a ritual every morning, where he¡¯d recite the names of all the most important figures in his life first thing after waking up. Except¡­ The names and faces of the other Rays¡¯ Commanders were already growing hazy.

    ¡°But Ma¡ª Lilianna said that vampires have an eidetic memory. So why? Is it because I wasn¡¯t¡ª Wait, maybe because I really am still a human!?¡±

    He perked up in bed, smiling to himself¡­ before deflating with a breathless sigh.

    No, she made me promise to stop torturing myself thinking like that. Not like I can just¡­ do that, though. Mmrgh, at the very least I still have my human sensibilities. I still have the Goddess¡¯ love¡­ I¡¯m still a human on the inside! That¡¯s where it counts, right?

    Though, the sinister dark clouds kept Her Light from shining down upon this accursed land, scarlet outlines serving as the only indication vampires had to tell if the sun was even in the sky or not¡­

    Hanging his head gloomily, he stood up and made his way over to the vanity, dressing himself and tending to his hair as a distraction. Maintaining it was a frustratingly time-consuming process, but the idea of having Lilianna bathing and grooming him every single day was beyond mortifying.

    Once was already far more than enough.

    His cheeks darkened just thinking about it, leading him to chase the shameful memory away by focusing on the winged blue rose hair clip he¡¯d affixed to his hair, smiling in satisfaction.

    Today he¡¯d tried braiding his pile of hair into a half-up ponytail, but had nothing to hold it in place. So he fished around the vanity, pushing aside the pile of sealed containers he didn¡¯t recognize, and found a suitable hair clip.

    Apparently the winged blue rose was the heraldry of the Aphtangloa lineage¡ªgreatest of all vampire families and rightful rulers.

    He¡¯d picked it out just because he thought it looked nice, but the thought of showing off that he was Lilianna¡¯s rightful heir left a rather sour taste in his mouth. In spite of that¡­

    Who¡¯s actually going to care though? It¡¯s cute. So why shouldn¡¯t I use it? Not like it isn¡¯t made for me, after all. No wait, what am I thinking!?

    Lilianna had gone over the other noble families as well, but she didn¡¯t have any examples of their heraldry on hand so he had to make do with simply envisioning them in his mind instead.

    She¡¯d drilled it into him that blue was an important color, symbolic of life to vampires. It was standard for royalty to wear clothes of deep hues of blue accented with gold, though they were careful to avoid dipping too close to shades of black, which was avoided for most formalwear outside of funerals.

    The idea of a vampire funeral was somehow amusing to him, as though he couldn¡¯t fathom monsters like these feeling sorrow for each other.

    As logical as the thought process behind their clothing was, he remembered seeing a much more eclectic variety of colors and styles when the party was sneaking through the cities of their empire¡­ perhaps color coordination only mattered to the nobles and royalty.

    ¡°Hard to believe that was only a week ago,¡± he mumbled, staring at himself in the mirror.

    He didn¡¯t like looking at his reflection¡ªhe never really had¡ªbut that was why he¡¯d started forcing himself to. He¡¯d never take pride in looking like that tyrant, but he at least needed to learn how to conceal his disgust upon seeing his own face.

    Concession was a two-way street, and though he didn¡¯t want to admit it even now, Lilianna had given quite a bit of ground up for him.

    Though, whether it was truly for his comfort, or because she wanted to have an obedient pawn, he still couldn¡¯t say for sure¡­

 4 â€” Miss Maids Misleading Dismay

    Lycoris¡¯ days had already become quite busy.

    Etiquette and training, then washing up, study and rest. While there was no set schedule, and many days the Exaltare left Lycoris to his own devices mid-lesson to tend to her duties as ruler, the structure helped keep him grounded and sane through what was perhaps the most tumultuous time in his life.

    It was hard to top getting turned into a little girl by the enemy of the world, after all.

    Lilianna made for a far more engaging teacher than the dogmatic scholars of human civilization. Because vampires could perfectly recall any memory from across their entire lifespan, they typically eschewed things like textbooks in favor of spoken words. It suited Lycoris perfectly well; he never put an active effort towards learning how to read or write, outside of the minimum needed to perform his duties as a subcommander of one of the King¡¯s knightly companies.

    That said, vampires still produced literature, but the sovereign hadn¡¯t seen fit to supply any for him to read at the moment. She wasn¡¯t kidding when she said that she was going to teach him the absolute basics, which apparently even preceded reading lessons.

    It was quite engaging however. He didn¡¯t want to admit it, but he actually had fun when she¡¯d sit him down and explain the ins and outs of how the world worked. Since it was one-on-one instruction, there was no rush to keep up; any time he had a question, she was eager to answer it. And she was a far cry better than Elham at articulating herself, though it pained him to besmirch his deceased companion in such a manner.

    Her well of knowledge seemed truly bottomless. Not only was she familiar with practically any subject he could even think to ask about, she could fire off a highly detailed answer almost immediately. Even when she struggled to find a means of putting it in a way he¡¯d grasp, a quick look at her mysterious black glass slate gave her just what she needed, apparently.

    She explained things that were commonplace to vampires, like lightswitches and elevators and moving pictures, stores with ready-made clothing that one could just enter and pick something that fit their size and style, instantaneous long distance communication¡­ Though he¡¯d been incapable of wrapping his head around the idea that all of the knowledge available to vampires was trivially accessible from a magic slate that nearly everyone had, and that fit cozily in the palm of one¡¯s hand.

    Vampire society seemed¡­ leagues and leagues ahead of everyone else. It dawned on him exactly why nobody could even begin to contest them, even setting aside their superhuman capabilities and seemingly eternal lifespans.

    Humanity¡¯s stagnation frustrated him more than ever, now that he had an actual point of comparison. Not a single piece of technology he¡¯d learned of seemed vile or wicked, like the ruins of the past the Church preached about. If anything, it seemed to be a net positive for everyone involved. Did the Goddess really punish and destroy those fallen civilizations for such things?

    Was living a life of comfort really that hedonistic?

    Surely, the fact they were vampires couldn¡¯t mean that the technology itself was evil too. He¡¯d have to ask a priest, if he ever made it back to the Kingdom.

    ¡­If such a thing is even possible.

    But instead of lingering on the distant, improbable future, his efforts were better spent thinking about how to manage his time today instead.

    For today was the first day in two weeks that Lilianna had a full schedule, and couldn¡¯t spend any time with him at all until the late evening. Which left him with a day all to himself.

    She¡¯d woken him early in the morning¡ªearlier than he usually awoke¡ªand tearfully explained that she had no other choice, as there was some sort of celebration being held and her attendance would be expected.

    Yes, her eyes had actually welled with tears, even though she¡¯d managed to otherwise retain her composure. He almost thought he¡¯d hallucinated it¡ªthe scariest figure in the entire world, called Demon Lord by mankind, the one responsible for all their suffering and oppression, was moved to tears.

    Aside from his sleepy-headed astonishment, he wasn¡¯t too torn up about it himself, instead simply acknowledging that he¡¯d heard her while curling up under the smooth sheets.

    Despite his newfound (temporary) freedom, he wasn¡¯t sure what to actually do with himself. The idea of sleeping in never even occurred to him. After thirty years in the military, waking at first bell had been engraved as deeply in his soul as any of the Goddess¡¯s teachings.

    ¡­Not that vampires rang bells. Instead they used digital clocks, which displayed the precise time of day down to the second. It was frustrating that they even surpassed mankind in timekeeping.

    Stretching his arms and legs beneath the sheets, he stared listlessly up at the purple canopy of his bed.

    ¡°This would be the perfect chance to try and escape¡­ except I¡¯m not even sure where the front door is. Or how many guards would be in the way. And if I failed and raised the alarm, mother would¡ª¡±

    He smacked his hands against his cheeks, rolling over and groaning.

    ¡°Augh! The hell is wrong with me!? Focus, focus. Right, you forgot your morning ritual, Lycoris. Ugh, curse that old vampire for waking me up early¡­ threw off my entire routine.¡±

    Blaming the woman for all his woes, he sat up slowly and crossed his legs meditatively. He closed his eyes and began to picture the faces of those important to him.

    ¡°Mizar, Elham, Tatyana¡­ Fawaris, Albireo, Marek, Talitha¡­ People I won¡¯t forget, and people I mustn¡¯t forget. My friends, and those who hurt them¡­ Maybe I should add Lilianna to the list too, then.¡±

    His lips wryly curled as he thought back to the very start of their journey.

    It¡¯d all started in a bar, where he¡¯d been slumped over trying to forget how upset he was about¡­ about something, when Mizar approached him. He was certain that another bottle or two might do the trick, but the boy¡ªthe Hero was an adult even back then, sure, but he still had a lot of growing to do¡ªhad other ideas, and introduced him to Elham. He still remembered the cheery redhead¡¯s first words in the middle of the empty morning tavern: ¡°are you in need of detoxification, Sir?¡±

    That¡¯d certainly gotten many a laugh out of him and Mizar, though he¡¯d been a little peeved at the time. In retrospect, alcohol ended up causing far more problems for him than it solved, so the boys had the right idea. He¡¯d nearly ended up the same as his father¡ªthough decidedly less violent of a drunk. It was a thought that unpleasantly lingered in the back of his mind alongside a faint thirst¡ªa hunger, almost¡ªthat lingered even now. He owed Mizar for pulling him out of that spiral.

    Though, neither of them could have predicted the trajectory that his life would take instead¡­

    He glanced at the door, and the wicked-looking scythe resting against the wall beside it. It wasn¡¯t exactly breaking the mold, but maybe he could sneak off to the training hall to clear his head? Exercise always served him well, and he knew the way there well enough after visiting the place nearly every day in Lilianna¡¯s company.

    As he thought about it, another idea occurred to him. Perhaps he could skulk through the palace¡¯s halls, and try to find a way out. It always seemed disconcertingly quiet, though he couldn¡¯t tell if it was because nobody was permitted in this part of the palace or because of something else.

    If he accidentally strayed towards other people, he could always duck into a vacant room or down a different hall to avoid being seen¡ªhis ears were quite sharp now, in more ways than one.

    ¡°Heh heh heh, just you wait ¡®mother,¡¯ I¡¯ll wriggle outta your grasp one way or another¡­¡±

    Chuckling deviously, Lycoris crawled out of bed.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    Even though the red carpet and beige walls had become quite familiar to Lycoris, the oppressive silence weighed heavier without Lilianna at his side. Even though he doubted that she would mind, it still felt like he was doing something wrong.

    Well, my motivation is somewhat nefarious in origin¡­ kinda.

    He had a perfect mental map leading to the training hall, which meant that he could take a detour here or there to poke his head around, but¡­ most of the rooms he investigated were either locked, filled with strange devices or objects he didn¡¯t recognize, packed with expensive-looking artwork, or were empty and unfurnished.

    Bizarrely, he hadn¡¯t discovered anything that looked like a guard station or servant room. Though, he did find another bedroom that looked like his¡­ only twice the size and with a king-sized bed. There were potted flowers and ferns adding color to the lilac-colored room, an empty glass sitting alongside a wine bottle on the bedside, and a notebook and quill resting conspicuously beside them.

    He didn¡¯t dare step inside, a bottomless sense of dread filling him as he realized what room he¡¯d stumbled into. Even though there was nobody there, he slammed the door shut and hurriedly looked over his shoulders, his heart rate spiking as he gasped for air he didn¡¯t actually need.

    The only places he did hear anyone else were on the other side of a large set of double-doors, which he recognized from when Lilianna had taken him to the armory. He had no idea how to open up the door¡ªmuch less sneak past them¡ªwithout drawing any attention.

    Perhaps Lilianna already saw through me and posted these guards to make sure I don¡¯t wander out of this wing¡­

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Realizing it¡¯d been a fruitless endeavor from the start, he threw in the towel with a sigh and made for the training hall, deciding to vent his frustrations.

    He¡¯d been so distracted by his irritation and the lingering thought of having stumbled into Lilianna¡¯s chambers that he didn¡¯t notice the person inside when he shoved the door open with the butt of his scythe.

    £ª

    Athena Ochros technically belonged to the Seven, but she¡¯d been born with lowly blood, and the Ochros treated fifth-generation children like garbage.

    She¡¯d initially been sent by the Ochros family to serve as a potential mole, but Her Majesty Aphtangloa¡¯s policies were vastly preferable to those of her kin, so she felt little obligation to them.

    Instead, she¡¯d found an unexpected home among the Exaltare¡¯s staff.

    The Ochros family was full of hardline Traditionalists¡ªfor the worse more oft than the better¡ªand she¡¯d been pushed further away from their philosophies by her blood.

    Not that the Exaltare was a perfect shining beacon of modernity herself; she could be just as cruel when it came to domestic policy¡ªthe ghoul labor law debacle from twelve decades prior was a perfect example. The Sefer family came out of that one on such poor political footing that many speculated that the Seven might become the Six, while others wondered if it all hadn¡¯t been a ploy by Her Majesty to further consolidate her own power.

    From her perspective inside the Exaltare¡¯s palace, Athena could see that Her Majesty had almost intentionally curried favor with the Traditionalists, as though she were planning something big that¡¯d shake them to their core¡­ But that was all beyond the mind of a mere foolish servant like Athena.

    Her thoughts wandered through such idle hypotheses to fill the politics-shaped void in her heart, as she scrubbed the marble tiles within the Exaltare¡¯s private killing grounds. She¡¯d heard more than one whisper from the other servants of how particularly clumsy staff would be dragged to this place, crying and pleading, never to be heard from again.

    Her Majesty certainly has been making a mess of this place recently¡­ n-not that I have any right to judge!

    Such was the terror inspired by the current Exaltare that even one¡¯s blasphemous thoughts fled in fear. Like a trained reflex, she mentally corrected herself.

    Of course, had she uttered even one of these thoughts aloud in Her Majesty¡¯s presence, she¡¯d scarcely have a moment to regret it.

    But it was strange, why would Her Majesty destroy so many training dummies? It wasn¡¯t as though mythril was a particularly rare material, but¡­ surely she had no shortage of victims to torment instead? It¡¯d been weeks since the last time anyone was dealt with, there was nary even a trace of blood on the tiles¡ªaside from a few days ago when the room looked as though a second Exaltare had sprouted out of thin air and taken personal offense to the floor. Now that was a dreadful thought.

    Replacing the tiles had taken her nearly an entire day, they¡¯d need another dozen servants if Athena wanted to have any hope of cleaning up after a second sovereign.

    Her Majesty had been staying cooped up more lately, too¡­

    Now that I think of it, everything changed after that break-in¡­ I wonder which family was responsible for that? To lead humans all the way to the top of the Transfixion of Heaven¡­ I shudder to even think of what fate awaits the ones responsible, if they end up caught.

    She shivered, standing up and straightening her back out as she dumped the mop back into the bucket and adjusted her coveralls. Given how all-seeing Her Majesty was, it was probably more a matter of when than if.

    Fortunately, that had nothing to do with Athena. Her current job was hardly glamorous, but it paid well, and more importantly was safe¡ªso long as she stayed out of Her Majesty¡¯s way, at least.

    It¡¯s unthinkable but¡­ did those humans actually manage to hurt her?

    She didn¡¯t know who they were, but for a pair of humans to cut down so many of Her Majesty¡¯s personal guards, they must have been exceptional. To say nothing of those bizarre thorns that actually killed a member of the cleaning staff when they¡¯d carelessly gripped the bramble while clearing it out¡­ Could the Exaltare have actually been dealt a serious wound? Was she recuperating and venting her frustrations¡ª

    The door slammed open behind her, causing her to freeze in terror.

    Huh!? R-Right now!? But I thought she was¡­

    ¡°Ah.¡±

    ¡°M-My apologies, Your Majesty! I shall do anything you desire, please grant this humble fool clemency¡ªnot that you¡¯re obligated to, of course, and I¡¯ll do anything you ask of me regardless¡­¡±

    In a single, perfectly trained motion, she spun and prostrated on the spot, her dark blue fringe covering her eyes¡ªnot that she¡¯d dare to make direct eye contact with the Exaltare. Though, she still saw a brief flicker of surprise on the silver-haired woman¡¯s face¡­ ¡­was it just her imagination, or did she seem younger?

    An awkward silence hung in the air as Her Majesty stood perfectly still in the doorway.

    Was she expecting Athena to get out of the way? The intensity bearing down made the hairs stand up on the back of her neck. The thought of the tiles she¡¯d just finished wiping down being dirtied again, this time with her blood, filled the maid with a vexing blend of indignation and raw terror.

    After a long moment, her master finally spoke. ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡­Hm? Is that how she always sounded? No, wait, her pitch isn¡¯t the problem here!

    ¡°C-Cleaning, Your Majesty!! It was my error, I¡¯d heard you were attending a ceremony today and would be busy silencing the Idra and Mano families¡¯ pathetic feuding over lumber cultivation. I¡¯d foolishly assumed I could clean the training hall, so that it¡¯d be up to your standards upon your return!¡±

    ¡°Ahh¡­ I¡ª we see¡­¡±

    Was she disappointed? Angry? She wasn¡¯t betraying any hint of emotion in her voice, other than bemusement.

    Dangerous. She¡¯d somehow gone beyond merely disappointing the Exaltare and had bewildered her.

    ¡°Do you intend on staying there the entire time we practice? It would be rather difficult to avoid striking you like that.¡±

    Oh crap, is she saying she¡¯s going to cut me down!? Aughh, Athena you really screwed up this time! Have you learned nothing?

    Her relationship with Her Majesty wasn¡¯t bad, but she was hardly the sovereign¡¯s favorite. Still¡­ given how unusually casual her manner of speech was, it felt like she was mocking the foolish maidservant.

    She still couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something about her voice felt off, but this was no time to concern herself with such matters.

    Just, stay calm Athena, think! How do you get yourself out of this one? I can¡¯t just pass it off and say I¡¯ll leave after a threat like that! There¡¯s no way she¡¯d stand for such insolence at this point!

    ¡°Have you¡­ passed out? No, I¡ª we see you trembling on the floor still. What is the matter? Do you feel ill?¡±

    She sounded almost¡­ gentle? Her tone was far too familiar to be wasted on someone like Athena. Was this a comfort she reserved only for her victims in their final moments?

    She heard the matriarch pacing around on the ceramite tile, standing directly behind her.

    Eight hundred years is hardly long enough at all! I wanted to at least live long enough to marry my way into some other family!

    She felt something cold prod her in the back.

    ¡°Answer us. We¡¯re speaking to a person, not a training dummy, correct?¡±

    ¡°I-I-I¡¯m sorry, Your Majesty! I was merely too awed by your magniferousness to find any words!¡±

    She sat straight up, legs pressed together beneath her as she stared at the doorway. If she turned around now¡­ she would undoubtedly lose her head.

    Her Majesty may have been more progressive than most, but Athena was still just a fifth generation nobody abandoned by her family. If not for the connections that saw her in this position to begin with, she wouldn¡¯t even be fit to reside in the palace¡¯s garbage compactors. She had no special value to the Exaltare, her death would mean nothing.

    ¡°And¡­ that¡¯s all?¡±

    ¡°Gh¡ª! P-Please, state your wish, Your Majesty! This foolish insignificant servant shall gladly carry it out at once!¡±

    ¡°M-Mmn¡­¡± she sounded¡­ disappointed? Confused? ¡°Then go. Quit dawdling and remove yourself from this place. We wish to practice.¡±

    ¡°Huh? ¡­I mean, of course! Right away, Your Majesty! A thousand thanks for your benevolence and understanding!¡±

    Not daring to question why she was being shown such mercy, she grabbed her bucket and mop and rushed out, spilling a slight amount of water as she nearly stumbled over her numbed legs.

    £ª

    ¡°Hahh¡­ I sure hope she didn¡¯t get a good look at me¡­ she kept her face down the whole time but¡­ Ah, crap. I forgot to ask what her name was.¡±

    Lycoris let out an exaggerated sigh, sitting down on the floor and staring up at the ceiling.

    His nerves were shot after trying to imitate Lilianna, his hands feeling jittery even as they wrapped tightly around the scythe; the idea of having to replicate her attitude and poise left an anxious tension in his shoulders. He didn¡¯t think he¡¯d been remotely convincing, but the servant at least pretended to buy it.

    Perhaps the monster knew he would come here, with nothing else to occupy his time alone, and had intentionally set things up to test how he¡¯d handle interacting with one of the custodians?

    No, that doesn¡¯t make any sense, why bother testing me when she¡¯d be unable to gauge the reaction? Unless that servant already knows about me. I don¡¯t think Lilianna had lied about keeping me a complete secret but¡­ I didn¡¯t actually sound like her, did I?

    The thought of it left a sour taste in his mouth, the irritation at anyone finding him similar to that woman compelling him to jump up and drive the tip of his scythe through an innocent mannequin¡¯s neck.

    ¡°There¡¯s no way I sounded like her! I barely even remembered the overly-dramatic way she refers to herself! ¡­Stupid stuck-up rulers, why are they all like this?¡±

    He stared at the decapitated mannequin, putting a palm to his face as he felt his stomach clench. He already felt exhausted, despite having barely even swung his scythe once.

    I don¡¯t even feel like training anymore¡­ but I already kicked her out. Maybe I should¡¯ve just left and let her keep cleaning.

    He felt nauseous. And slightly dizzy. Was he coming down with a cold? Did vampires even get sick? He¡¯d never heard of it happening before, but it wasn¡¯t as though Lycoris had much experience with them to begin with.

    ¡°So much for a free day¡­ what do I do now? I wish Lilianna were¡ª¡± he winced, shaking his head violently. ¡°No, Goddess no! The hell am I saying!?¡±

    Irritated with both himself and the humidity in the training hall, Lycoris flopped onto his back and stared at the ceiling.

    ¡°Ugh, this sucks.¡±

 5 â€” Polydipsia

    Later in the evening, after Lilianna had found Lycoris spacing out on the training room floor and invited her back to her private study¡­

    ¡°So I, uh¡­ bumped into one of the cleaning staff¡­¡±

    He¡¯d decided it was best to come clean and admit to Lilianna the (partial) truth of what he¡¯d been up to, rather than keep it to himself and risk it blowing up in both their faces.

    Much as he loved the idea of dragging the tyrant down to Hell, over the past few weeks he¡¯d come to understand that any replacement for her would be¡­ even less friendly to humanity.

    Some of the Families had rather radical ideas about what to do with humans, if he could believe her words. Not that he didn¡¯t see any particular reason to doubt her; the look of revulsion on her face as she brought up things like lobotomization, indentured labor, and blood farms appeared far too genuine to be performatory. Plus, she¡¯d explained how she¡¯d tried to cripple those practices by implementing draconian financial policies.

    But it still didn¡¯t mean he had to like her.

    ¡°Did you cut them down?¡±

    ¡°H-Haah!? No of course not! Why would I do something like that!?¡±

    ¡°We were under the impression you held no qualms about cutting down vampires. Our palace is quite shorthanded for a reason, after all.¡±

    The woman smirked as she moved one of the white pieces¡ªa bishop cloaked in a luxurious coat¡ªacross the board.

    She¡¯d made good on her initial word and dedicated at least one full evening to teaching him how to play chess, but to a bystander¡­ it probably looked more akin to an adult picking on a small child.

    Though, in at least one player¡¯s opinion, that¡¯s exactly what it was.

    ¡°Grn¡­ I¡­ assumed it would only cause you more headache to keep her alive!¡±

    ¡°Is that so¡­ well go on, tell us what happened.¡±

    ¡°Er¡­ they mistook me for you, and then ran away like I was about to chop their head off.¡±

    Lilianna laughed heartily¡ªsomehow maintaining a regal dignity despite the gesture¡ªas she leaned back in her seat.

    ¡°Such an act would be far too wasteful and short-sighted. Indeed we may have the odd particularly worthless outlier disposed of¡ª¡±

    ¡°I knew you were a bloodthirsty¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªBut that is only, of course, to keep up appearances of an ill-tempered sovereign. A servant is far less likely to turn against a ruler who would butcher them for treachery than one who appears meek.¡±

    Lycoris frowned at the board.

    ¡°But an oppressive ruler is just as likely to be resented by their subjects, which would only foment unrest if not outright rebellion.¡±

    ¡°The carrot is as important as the stick,¡± she nodded in agreement, ¡°But where did our sweet little flower hear that nugget of wisdom?¡±

    He moved a farmer wielding a pitchfork¡ªa pawn¡ªup a square. He wasn¡¯t sure why, but he was certain he was losing.

    ¡°I know at least what qualities make for a good leader. Do you really think I¡¯m as ignorant as a child?¡±

    ¡°You can hardly blame us when we heard you cannot read.¡±

    ¡°Ugggh I can read, just¡­ enough for deployment orders, and materiel counts.¡±

    ¡°Hardly befitting a noblewoman.¡± Lilianna moved a white knight with great wings wrapped around it like a cloak next.

    He silently cursed himself for not seeing it coming¡ªhis pawn was useless now. ¡°Mrgh¡­ Is it that big of a deal? You said that we¡ª that vampires don¡¯t even write notes.¡±

    ¡°To be incapable of quoting the classics is to admit you¡¯re uneducated. We will not permit our precious Lycoris to suffer such humiliation.¡±

    As he moved his rook, Lilianna immediately checkmated his king with her queen¡ªa piece with a rather conspicuously familiar visage.

    ¡°Oh come on!¡±

    ¡°Perhaps you should try playing white? Going first does grant an advantage¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to play with the vampire pieces.¡±

    ¡°Such a petty child¡­ but such stubbornness is not without its charm. Perhaps we should hurry on to today¡¯s main topic¡­¡±

    The matriarch stood up from her seat, stepping around Lycoris and placing a hand delicately atop his head from behind.

    ¡°Wh-What? You¡¯re scaring me again.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing wicked, dear. Just one more subject to add to your repertoire. Today we shall begin teaching you magic.¡±

    ¡°Magic¡­¡±

    Now this actually piqued his curiosity.

    Not that chess hadn¡¯t proven engaging or novel, but it wasn¡¯t much fun being so completely outclassed by someone who was playing what felt like a solved game. If she wiped the floor with him any harder, that maid would be out of a job. He probably would¡¯ve had better luck if he tried distracting her and moving pieces around at random.

    But magic was a topic he¡¯d completely written off before.

    He hadn¡¯t discovered his potential until he was already well into his training as a knight, and by then he was too old to begin learning.

    Magic education required a flexible mind, took a great length of time¡ªindeed some people never seemed to stop learning new things about magic¡ªand required highly specialized knowledge, along with rather specific cleansing rituals to bring oneself closer to the Goddess.

    Lycoris wondered how vampires went about it, given their¡­ blasphemous nature. The notion of not following the Goddess¡¯ teachings and learning magic through dark means troubled him, but his circumstances did mean he functionally had limitless time to dedicate to the craft. Maybe he could find a path back into the Goddess¡¯ Light through the arcane.

    Plus, he was always curious about how magic actually worked, and Elham¡ªbless his heart¡ªhad only further confused the poor veteran knight when he tried to explain.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be so nervous, we won¡¯t demand you summon an avatar of death incarnate or anything so unnecessarily aggrandized. Manipulating the currents in your body is always the first step.¡±

    She slid her hand down the side of Lycoris¡¯ head and gave his shoulder a little pinch.

    ¡°Eep!¡±

    ¡°Now, follow along with our instructions.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re starting right now!?¡±

    ¡°Unlike most of our kin, we believe it best to strike while the iron is hot. Though fair warning, it will sting a little at first.¡±

    Her other hand came down on his opposite shoulder, sending a shiver down his spine.

    ¡°You¡¯re not really instilling any confidence here!¡±

    ¡°First, close your eyes and relax your shoulders.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t just ignore me! How am I supposed to relax when you¡ªow! Ow ow ow stop pinching!¡±

    ¡°Focus on your heartbeat, concentrate on the blood flowing through your veins.¡±

    He grumbled as he complied, closing his eyes and forcing himself to exhale slowly.

    ¡°You haven¡¯t stopped pinching, you know¡­¡± he groused.

    ¡°Shh, focus now dear,¡± her voice was a whisper in his ear, ¡°if you can¡¯t manage this much, you¡¯ll get nowhere.¡±

    ¡°Mrngh¡­ you¡¯re doing that thing again.¡±

    He didn¡¯t raise a fuss this time though, instead choosing to trust that she wouldn¡¯t intentionally inflict harm upon him. Their time together had proved that she was at least interested in protecting her future asset.

    ¡°You needn¡¯t breathe, it¡¯s a needless distraction.¡±

    ¡°So¡¯s your voice.¡±

    Gradually, Lycoris felt the tension vanish from his shoulders; Lilianna¡¯s hands gradually slid down his arms and cupped his small fingers; his mother¡¯s chin set down softly atop his head as her chest pressed against his back.

    The world gradually receded into the distance, the crackling of the fireplace and rumbling of clouds beyond the palace walls blurring into white noise, and then fading entirely. All that remained was two heartbeats in synchronicity, and his mother¡¯s voice.

    ¡°Are you focusing on your pulse?¡±

    ¡°Mmm¡­¡±

    ¡°Good girl. Feel it flow from your core outward. To your head, to your hands, to your legs.¡±

    She gently squeezed her daughter¡¯s hands, her sharp nails lightly pressing into Lycoris¡¯ palms.

    Her mother¡¯s voice felt oddly¡­ heavy, like she was listening while underwater. All the earlier frustration had burned away and left the little vampire feeling surprisingly calm.

    ¡°Now take your hands,¡± Lilianna slowly lifted her hands up, holding them as though cupping a bowl, ¡°and feel that flow outward, meeting in the middle. Completing a circuit.¡±

    She sank deeper into the soothing darkness, her sense of self melting into the currents flowing through her as she navigated the intricate winding channels.

    Her emotions bubbled up and away as she drifted through the stream, a faint blue light shining down from overhead, dancing as the waves rolled over her.

    Is this the Goddess¡¯ light¡­?

    Like a piece of aimless driftwood, she felt the current gradually push her forward and upward; some lingering part of her felt a twinge of nervousness, urging her to swim back down to the comforting sea floor beneath.

    But as that bubbled away too, she surged toward the glittering light above.

    A pressure built up all around, the thin foamy membrane at the surface stubbornly refusing her.

    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.?She felt herself press against it, a distant sense of irritation ebbing and flowing with the current as she gradually sank back down.

    ¡°Thou art heritor to eternity, none may deny thee passage.¡±

    A strange voice thrummed through her whole being, the gentle flow suddenly becoming discordant, as a violent whorl began to churn, with herself at its center.

    She swam back down to the depths, gathering up all the darkness around herself like a tidal cloak, before violently shooting toward the mocking film and stabbing through it.

    At the same time, she felt a sharp sensation in her palms, as her mother¡¯s voice gradually returned to her ears.

    ¡°Now visualize¡­ hm, perhaps a sphere? That¡¯s a fairly simple shape to begin with.¡±

    ¡°¡®Kay¡­¡±

    Shards of memories fell around her like stardust, as cold night air sent a shiver through her.

    The light had vanished when she overpowered it, and she drifted through darkness until her mind latched on to a familiar location.

    She thought back to the great castle¡¯s armory in the heart of the capital. The stale air filled her nostrils as she drifted like a ghost through its silent halls, naught but spiders having invaded its depths. Therein were useless stockpiles of cannonballs, collecting rust and dust while men fought on the front lines far away.

    As she stared at them, the depths of that man¡¯s foolishness stirred flickering rage and regret within her, but she focused on the shape of the piled up munitions instead. The slight imperfections and dents in the steel that comprised them came into clear focus, as though she were staring at them through a magnifying glass.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Lilianna sounded surprised, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ve never done this before? You¡¯re a natural! Go on, open your eyes. Carefully, though, keep your focus.¡±

    ¡°E-Er¡­¡±

    Pulled back into reality, Lycoris bashfully complied and slowly peeked with one eye, the other quickly following as they widened in shock.

    Between her palms was a coarsely-textured blue orb, rippling slightly as she stared at it.

    She saw her mother¡¯s bloodied fingers, softly rubbing the palms of her hands, wiping away the¡­ blood!?

    ¡°A-Aaah!?¡±

    The moment he slipped into panic, the blue sphere popped and blood splashed outward, staining the chessboard and his sleeveless summer dress.

    ¡°Are you alright, Lycoris?¡±

    She let go of his hands and embraced him from behind, squeezing softly as he stared at his palms.

    ¡°What¡­ did you do?¡± he growled, feeling his pulse spike as the blood splatters began to ripple.

    ¡°The trance doesn¡¯t work as well if you¡¯re fully cognizant of what¡¯s going on. And it¡¯s how everyone learns to first tap into their¡ª¡±

    ¡°I know how to use my mana! You¡¯ve literally fought me! Why are you always like this!? Why can¡¯t you just trust me and tell¡ª¡±

    ¡°Do not lecture us about trust, Lycoris.¡±

    He froze, the sudden souring of the tyrant¡¯s tone instilling a nightmarish dread in him.

    Ghk. I almost¡­ forgot who she was¡­

    ¡°Indeed we have fought together, and you¡¯ve suffered worse injuries while sparring, if one could even call this an injury. It is no form of punishment, but a necessary part to helping you feel the flow of your mana through your veins. Even if you¡¯ve applied it to your swordsmanship in the past, your body is different now. This is more alike to building a house rather than starting a fire; you cannot apply half-assed knowledge to something you¡¯ve never experienced in truth. You will start from the same foundation that all do.¡±

    ¡°A-Ah¡­¡±

    ¡°You have great talent, but it must be refined properly so that it might blossom in full. So, Lycoris, trust us.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m¡­¡±

    Not sure I can. How could I, when I¡¯ve only ever been subject to¡­

    ¡°Perhaps it was too soon for this after all¡­¡± Lilianna lamented, clearly frustrated.

    Somehow, that shred of genuine disappointment bit deeper than any ire she¡¯d expressed.

    ¡°W¡­ wait! It¡¯s¡­ I was, just startled. I mean who wouldn¡¯t be? With no explanation and suddenly having my hands stabbed and a big globule of my b¡­ blood, floating like that¡­¡±

    ¡°You need to work on your deceit as well, Lyco¡­¡±

    He couldn¡¯t tell what sort of face she was making, but the idea of letting her down bothered him. Even though he shouldn¡¯t have cared one lick what she felt, it was like a knot formed in his chest the moment he thought about it.

    ¡°I¡¯m serious! I¡¯ll keep practicing! We can add it to the rotation! I could use the change of pace after all! Er, but¡­ are you going to have to uh, stab my hands every time¡­?¡±

    ¡°At first. Eventually you¡¯ll be able to draw upon the ambient mana around us, using the supply within your body as a mere catalyst. But for now, it''s easiest to teach you by bringing mana out from inside.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­¡±

    Is this what Elham had to go through as well for the Church? ¡­Is that why he always had so much trouble explaining it?

    ¡°You needn¡¯t force yourself, sweet little flower.¡±

    He closed his eyes and held his hands over her own still embracing him.

    ¡°I said I was serious. You just¡­ have to stop surprising me. This is all hard enough already.¡±

    ¡°That may be a little difficult,¡± she mumbled quietly, ¡°but okay. Mommy will do anything for our adorable daughter~¡±

    In the dimly lit and quiet study, Lilianna rubbed her head against Lycoris, the small vampire curling up in embarrassment.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    ¡°Hey old man, you hanging in there? You don¡¯t look too great.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s just¡­ could really use a drink, y¡¯know? We¡¯ve been marching along this trail for a week already.¡±

    ¡°All we have on hand is water, you¡¯ll have to tough it out.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a number of budding saffron along this path, I could pluck some and boil an herbal tea to relax you!¡±

    ¡°Nah, nahh¡­ it¡¯s my own fault for letting it get so bad.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, perhaps you should take Elham up on the offer. If your sword arm ends up dulled, we¡¯d have a rough time fighting against bandits.¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t afford to start a fire right now anyways, we¡¯re in an open area and would get exposed in an instant.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ right. Excellent point, Sir ¡Á¡Á¡Á¡Á¡Á!¡±

    ¡°Quit calling me ¡®Sir.¡¯ I¡¯m no knight, not anymore. Anyway, some combat might help me keep my focus off of the withdrawal. We¡¯re near Sylph territory, yeah?¡±

    ¡°We are, but we should avoid provoking them. We can¡¯t afford to deal with being harassed by their hit-and-run tactics when we press out onto the Great Plains.¡±

    Lyco slowly opened his eyes, frowning as he wiped his hands with a small twilight-blue cloth embroidered with gold.

    He¡¯d been trying to focus, hoping to recreate what Lilianna helped guide him through before.

    Unfortunately, his thoughts were too scattered and aimless; they inevitably wandered back to his friends whenever he tried. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to jab his nails into his palms, the idea of it feeling like he¡¯d be giving up a piece of his humanity.

    Today was another day without the Exaltare present¡ªthey were growing more frequent. It made sense, she was the ruler of all vampires. No doubt there were a great many demands made of her¡­ though the idea of her sitting on a throne handing out edicts impassively felt incongruous with the woman she¡¯d shown herself to be in his presence.

    He¡¯d decided not to go out exploring, as he didn¡¯t want to risk another accidental encounter with a member of the cleaning staff.

    Instead, he sat alone on his bed, trying to practice his spellcraft, to no effect.

    Not that it could really be called that, when he hadn¡¯t even created a proper phenomenon even with Lilianna¡¯s assistance; the process had fallen apart right at the step where he¡¯d begin shaping his blood¡­ or, mana, rather.

    Flopping backwards, he stared up at his bed¡¯s canopy.

    I wonder what she¡¯s actually doing right now? She calls it ¡®court¡¯ but¡­ is it really the same as those stuffy ballroom parties the King ordered us to run security for¡­?

    He rolled around a little, feeling rather aimless with nothing but time and no Lilianna there to help him fill it.

    ¡­I don¡¯t miss her though! Honestly, I¡¯m savoring this moment of rest! I just¡­ dunno how to take a break, that¡¯s all!

    He¡¯d always kept himself perpetually occupied in his previous life; whether as a peasant¡¯s son, as a knight in the King¡¯s army, or as lieutenant-commander, he was always throwing himself headfirst into his work. And after he¡¯d lost his position, he filled the void with booze. He¡¯d been quite lucky that Mizar dragged him away from the bottle, sparing him his father¡¯s fate, but¡­

    Thinking back on it, even now he felt a pang of thirst.

    ¡°Actually¡­ I haven¡¯t had anything to eat or drink in like half a month. I hadn¡¯t thought about it until now but¡­ that¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s bad, right?¡±

    He sat back up, placing a hand over his stomach.

    ¡°I know I¡¯m a workaholic, but isn¡¯t this neglectful parenting? If she¡¯s going to act like my mom, shouldn¡¯t she at least feed me?¡±

    Though, after he thought on what he¡¯d just said, a shiver of terror crawled up his spine, his blood ran cold.

    ¡°M-Maybe it¡¯s better if she¡­ doesn¡¯t.¡±

    His mouth felt dry.

    That said¡­

    His eyes wandered over to the cabinet nestled between vanity and balcony.

    The rows of bottles had caught his attention on a couple of occasions, but he¡¯d always pushed the feelings of thirst aside¡ªa skill he¡¯d honed while traveling with the Hero¡¯s party.

    ¡­I was never really much of a wine drinker. Now that I think about it, why is this even in my room? She keeps calling me a child but leaves alcohol in here? I¡¯d have half a mind to teach her a lesson by example, if it weren¡¯t for the fact I know Mizar would be disappointed in me.

    He got up and shuffled over to the cabinet, opened the door, and stared at the bottles inside.

    ¡°Definitely wine¡­ but what year¡­¡±

    Lilianna had told him that Vampires kept track of the year by how long the current Exaltare had ruled for. If they were currently in the three thousand six hundred and twenty eighth year of Lilianna then¡­

    ¡°Th¡­ This bottle¡¯s over two thousand years old!?¡±

    He nearly dropped it in shock. The translucent mythril-layered glass bottle filled with murky liquid might¡¯ve been able to survive the impact with the carpet, but he¡¯d rather not risk wasting liquor over forty times his age.

    Though¡­ he was tempted to uncork it and savor the scent, as both a curiosity and a lesson for leaving something so valuable just laying around in his room.

    And he was incredibly thirsty.

    I haven¡¯t even had a glass of water since coming here. No matter how you look at it, that¡¯s not normal!

    He bit down on his lip. ¡°But I won¡¯t. I can¡¯t! I promised Mizar! B-Besides, all these bottles are at least this old¡­ actually, now I¡¯m kind of terrified at the net worth sitting inside this cabinet.¡±

    Lycoris slowly rolled the bottle in his hands¡ª

    ¡°EEEEEEK!!¡±

    ¡ªbefore jumping with a start.

    ¡°A scream!? Here!? But who, why? No, wait, I gotta move!¡±

    Acting on instinct, he charged out the door without hesitation.

    The bottle of blood rolled along the red carpet, still unopened.

 6 â€” Bark and Bite

    Lycoris dashed down the hall, bounding off the walls to take corners quicker; despite the fact he was less than half his old height, his speed had drastically improved, even without actively taking advantage of his new sizable reservoir of mana.

    He wasn¡¯t sure exactly where the scream had originated from, but with how fast he could cover ground he was confident he¡¯d find it before long.

    Whether or not he got there before it was too late for the desperate party¡­ he was less certain.

    The silver blur didn¡¯t have to travel far however, as he saw three figures right outside Lilianna¡¯s study¡ªthe blue-haired maid from the other day, and a pair of men cloaked in black. He assumed they were men at least, given their posture and build.

    One of them had pinned the maid against the wall and covered her mouth, while the other¡­

    Stared directly at him, his lifeless gray eyes widening in surprise.

    But rather than fear, his look of shock hardened into resolve, and he reached for a plastic black container at his hip.

    ¡°She''s here.¡±

    The other two both turned to look at Lycoris the moment he spoke.

    ¡°<ruby>Mmmr <rp>(</rp><rt>Your</rt><rp>)</rp> Mmmdghh<rp>(</rp><rt>Majesty</rt><rp>)</rp> </ruby>!?¡±

    The maid looked¡­ understandably bewildered, but the other two didn¡¯t seem to notice anything wrong with how she looked.

    Did Lilianna often moonlight as a little girl or something? Lycoris had no idea why they didn¡¯t seem the least bit surprised by his appearance. Or¡­ was he their actual target? Had the maid found them out? Was this a bid for power to try and undermine Lilianna?

    But more disturbing was the lack of guards rushing onto the scene. Athena had screamed loud enough for Lycoris to hear from his room, there was no chance they¡¯d have missed it.

    Don¡¯t tell me they¡¯re all dead¡­ or, are they with the ones in front of me, finally making their move?

    He didn¡¯t want to think about the possibility.

    Clearing his mind of distractions, he leaned forward and fixed his gaze on the black tube. It was clearly a weapon of some sort, but he wasn¡¯t sure what kind. His best guess was a knife of some variety.

    It¡¯d be a bad matchup for the intruder, given that he had far greater reach with his¡ª

    ¡°Ah¡­¡±

    I forgot my scythe!

    Internally cursing himself for his carelessness, he adjusted his stance and readied himself to intercept them barehanded instead. It wouldn¡¯t be the first time he¡¯d have to fend off an assailant barehanded like this, though he was at a disadvantage in reach, and wasn¡¯t wearing any armor. At least with his body¡¯s rate of healing, a knife wound wouldn¡¯t be particularly dangerous, but¡­

    ¡°<ruby>Mmmr <rp>(</rp><rt>Your</rt><rp>)</rp> Mmmdghh <rp>(</rp><rt>Majesty</rt><rp>)</rp> bbbhhjj <rp>(</rp><rt>please</rt><rp>)</rp> hhn<rp>(</rp><rt>run</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>!¡±

    ¡°Why the hell would I do that!? Also I¡¯m not¡ª¡±

    While he was distracted by the maid, the assailant darted forward; twisting the cap off with his thumb, he revealed¡­ a glowing golden piece of bramble, with black rubber tightly wrapped around the base of it.

    Mizar!?

    He held his ¡°blade¡± carefully, ensuring not to grip it by the glowing golden thorns, and thrust it straight into Lycoris¡¯ chest before the child could recover from the shock.

    But the instant the bramble-blade touched his clothes, it almost appeared to swerve away, like it had a mind of its own.

    Clearly not expecting his weapon to deflect off of Lycoris like that, the man stumbled forward.

    ¡°How¡­ How DARE you!¡± Lycoris howled in fury, taking a rigid knife-like stance with his hand as he thrust it into the black cloth just below the man¡¯s bewildered eyes.

    His fingers punctured warm flesh, and he ripped his claw through the fool¡¯s neck, redecorating the wall with flecks of crimson life.

    In the same breathless second, Lycoris grabbed the bramble-dagger out of his hand as he collapsed and bee-lined for the other assailant.

    Seeing Lycoris swiftly dispatch his ally, the other adult let go of Athena and reached for his own vial, leaving her clinging to the wall as she slowly began sidling away.

    Compared to Lilianna, he might as well have been a tortoise. Before he could even bring his anathamous dagger to bear, the little warrior jumped, carrying the added momentum into his thrust as he shoved Mizar¡¯s root up and through the soft tissue of the would-be assassin¡¯s chin.

    Before it¡¯d even pierced his brain, his skin began to smolder and turn black, his eyes rolled back in his head, and his body crumpled to the floor as Lycoris tore the other piece of Mizar out of his hand.

    While Lycoris still had his back turned, he felt something strike him in the back of his head, stars spinning in his vision as he rolled forward and turned around, hissing in anger.

    The first man¡ªhis breathing ragged as he clutched his neck with a hand dripping blood down it¡ªhad kicked him.

    ¡°Damn that maid for screwing everything up. It was going perfectly until¡­ Shit, the mission¡¯s gone off the rails now.¡±

    Complaining to himself, he pulled out a small metallic disc and pushed a button at the center of it, a purple sigil lighting up along grooves etched into it.

    ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ be sure to tear off a bigger piece for you¡­ next time, ¡®Your Majesty,¡¯¡± he sneered.

    His taunt worked perfectly, whether or not he¡¯d intended it to, as Lycoris howled and charged¡­ only to stop mid-sprint as he heard the loud metallic clang of a fire extinguisher smashing into the back of the black-hooded man¡¯s head.

    ¡°How dare you disrespect Her Majesty!!¡±

    ¡°Groark!¡±

    The man flopped face first into the soft carpet, twitching in place as red liquid spilled out from his throat¡­

    Something about it was¡­ enchanting. The little vampire¡¯s eyes narrowed as she honed in on the dampening carpet.

    That''s right¡­ I''m¡­

    Gasping for air, though she didn¡¯t need to breathe, Lycoris staggered forward and fell to her knees, reaching out with a trembling hand.

    She was so thirsty, so so thirsty. It was fine¡­ right¡­? They¡¯d tried to kill her, that made them free game, right? She had to eat, her body was at its limit, even if the recesses of her mind were desperately screaming at her to stop.

    But just as Lycoris touched her hand to the blood¡ª

    ¡°Your Majesty! Wh-What in the world are you doing!? You mustn¡¯t dirty yourself with ghoul blood!¡±

    ¡°H-Huh?¡±

    Lycoris blinked back to reality, as the maid had wrapped an arm around him and pulled him away.

    A dull pain filled his hand as he came back to his senses.

    ¡°Ah! Er! I mean! A thousand and one apologies!! Please forgive this humble fool¡¯s insolence, you may reap my life at your leisure for daring to lay a hand upon you!¡±

    ¡°N-No, I¡¯m¡­ er, we¡­ Do you seriously still think I¡¯m Lilianna?¡±

    The servant kept her gaze averted as she bowed, nodding feverishly.

    ¡°But of course! Only one among our kind has such magnificent locks of silver, and such divinely luminous ruby eyes!¡±

    ¡°Then what about how I¡¯m talking!? And the fact I¡¯m so short! Hmm?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ true. Oh, is this a test, perhaps!? You¡¯ve adopted a child-like form to test this humble Athena¡¯s capacity to¡­ Aghck! Your Majesty! Your hand!¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    He looked down at his hand, and realized he¡¯d gripped the bramble directly, the thorns digging into his flesh with how intensely he¡¯d squeezed down on it.

    That explains the stinging pain alright¡­ W-Wait, Mizar, what are you doing!? Aren¡¯t we allies!? ¡­No what am I saying, of course you can¡¯t tell, you aren¡¯t even conscious anymore. But what was that before¡­?

    ¡°We have to take care of this at once! Come with me! You may punish me as you see fit after!¡±

    The maid frantically grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him into Lilianna¡¯s study, plopped him onto her luxurious seat, and shuffled over to get a blue satchel from a cupboard near the floor.

    She moved quickly, putting on a pair of gloves from inside and pulling out some metal scissors and pliers.

    ¡°Can you open your hand, Your Majesty?¡±

    ¡°Errr¡­ Like I said, I¡¯m not¡­¡±

    He winced as he tried to move his hand. It refused his demands, his muscles locked up around the bramble. Spikes of pain coursed through him as he tried to flex his rigid fingers.

    ¡°N-No, it¡¯s stuck.¡±

    ¡°Okay. This may hurt a bit, but¡ª what am I saying, of course you know better than this fool.¡±

    She shook her head and stared intently, her pale golden eyes focused wholly on Lycoris¡¯ hand.

    Carefully, she pried the fingers apart one by one, as the trained ex-knight bit down on his other hand to stifle his screaming, his fangs accidentally puncturing his skin.

    His hand burned with excruciating, searing pain, as though someone had taken several hot pokers and jammed them into his flesh.

    The skin that¡¯d touched the bramble looked wrinkled and dried out like sun-kissed fruit, though unlike the man from before, it hadn¡¯t turned black or begun to smolder at all.

    ¡°Are you feeling okay, Your Majesty?¡±

    ¡°Do I LOOK like I¡¯m feeling okay!?¡±

    ¡°R-R-Right of course! Ah ahm umm¡­ okay, let''s take these and¡­¡±

    Frazzled by his shouting, she picked up the pliers and gingerly squeezed them around the bramble, gripping his wrist with her other hand as she wrenched the vestige of Mizar free.

    ¡°MMMNNNGGHHH!¡±

    Tears of pain welled up in his eyes, as he looked and saw small pieces still embedded in his poor hand. Some of the thorns had embedded themselves into his wrinkled skin¡­

    ¡°Hhh¡­Hahh¡­ it¡¯s still not over?¡± he felt slightly dizzy, his vision blurring.

    ¡°Your Majesty, please stay conscious! There¡¯s just a few more pieces to remove!¡±

    ¡°R¡­Right¡­ Okay¡­¡±

    She took a pair of tweezers out next, carefully pinching the blood-soaked thorns out and depositing them onto a small dish. Each one removed came with another jolt of pain, as he tried to wipe the blue blood from his other already-healed hand.

    Even after they were all pulled out, the sting remained as he flexed his tender hand.

    ¡°Hehe, as expected of Your Majesty, that cursed magic barely had any effect at all!¡±

    ¡°Watch your tongue,¡± he snapped back.

    ¡°Ack! M-My most tremendulous apologies! Please, take my head in exchange!¡±

    ¡°No seriously, do you just have a death wish? Or are you just that masochistic¡­ Ugh.¡±

    He wobbled slightly unsteadily, putting his good¡ªthough still blooded¡ªhand to his forehead and leaning forward.

    Is this¡­ my fault for getting complacent, Mizar? I¡¯m sorry, I just don¡¯t think I¡¯m cut out for slaying Lilianna¡­ She''s too much for me. In a lot of ways. Go easy on me, would you?

    As Lycoris sighed internally, Athena placed a mythril glass of scarlet liquid on the table next to him.

    ¡°Ah, no thanks I don¡¯t¡­ d¡­drink¡­¡±

    His heart beat again, faster this time¡ªfaster than when he¡¯d been fighting for their lives.

    ¡°Your Majesty seemed desperate though¡­ F-Far be it from me to presume anything but¡­ You have not been fasting, have you?¡±

    ¡°F-Fast¡­ing.¡±

    Even as his trembling hands cupped the cold glass, he understood what this was.

    He¡¯d been trying his best not to think about it.

    He¡¯d pushed his thirst aside, assuming¡ªor wishing¡ªit was just his old alcoholism rearing its ugly head once more.

    But he was at his limit.

    His head spun as he lifted the glass and tilted his head back, the sweet tang of life flowing down his gullet, nausea and delight mingling in his stomach as a deep and bitter sense of loathing welled up from inside him.

    After downing the entire glass, the worst part was¡­ he didn¡¯t even feel satisfied, not even remotely.

    Like a desert traveler having just found a micro-oasis, he didn¡¯t want to stop at just a taste.

    But his disgust welled up in equal measure, and he hurled the glass against the wall.

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    ¡°No¡­ no no NO NO NO! AaaAAAAH! WHY!?¡±

    He knew. He¡¯d known the entire time. That was never wine inside that cupboard, he¡¯d simply been deluding himself, wishing that it were the case¡ªthat he could claim it was just part of his promise to remain sober.

    But the truth was far worse; and the most horrible, cruel part was that he enjoyed how it tasted. It was a blasphemous ambrosia, satisfying his palate and slaking the hunger that¡¯d been simmering beneath the surface¡ªthe thirst he¡¯d been feverishly trying to suppress.

    All it took was a single glass in front of him to completely shatter his willpower.

    What good was he!? How could Mizar have trusted in him? He was worthless, he didn¡¯t deserve to be compared to his companions at all!

    I¡¯m not¡­ I just¡­ Goddess¡­ What do I do!?

    ¡°Y-Your Majesty!? What¡¯s the matter!?¡±

    ¡°Lycoris!? Are you okay? We¡¯re here, calm down!¡±

    The door slammed open, and the furious visage of Lilianna appeared in the doorframe, a blade already in her hand as she locked eyes with the maidservant.

    ¡°You,¡± she snarled.

    ¡°H-Huh!? Your Majesty!?¡±

    ¡°Wait!¡±

    Closing the gap in a heartbeat, Lilianna brought down her sword¡­ and stopped centimeters away from Lycoris, who¡¯d interposed himself between her and Athena.

    He still felt nauseous, sickened by what he¡¯d done, but he couldn¡¯t let the woman who might¡¯ve just saved his life¡ªwas it even worth saving his life?

    He couldn¡¯t let her die though. He¡¯d purposefully gone out of his way to save her from those two invaders, what purpose would that serve if he let Lilianna cut her down?

    She hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. She¡­ It was his fault for not being able to resist his own damned temptations!

    ¡°She¡­ s-saved my life, probably¡­ please, don¡¯t hurt her, mama¡­¡±

    ¡°MAMA!?¡±

    ¡°Lycoris¡­¡±

    Lilianna discarded the sword, letting it splatter into a puddle of blue liquid that slowly crept back towards her along the carpet, holding her daughter in her arms instead.

    ¡°That¡¯s the first time you¡¯ve ever called us that¡­¡±

    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry¡­ Mizar¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    ¡°Mizar¡­? Maidservant.¡±

    ¡°HHhaaah! Y-Your Majesty!¡±

    But why¡¯d she save his life? Why¡¯d Mizar save his life? Why was he still alive? It was all his fault. He shouldn¡¯t have drank that. He should be dead. Mizar should¡¯ve been the one to fight Lilianna¡­ if only he¡¯d been able to convince the Hero. It was all his fault.

    ¡°Please forgive my supreme discourtesy! I-I had no idea that you had a¡­ child. I didn¡¯t even realize¡­ n-no, what am I saying? You may do with my life as you please!¡±

    ¡°Enough with that. Explain.¡±

    ¡°At once!¡±

    It was all his fault. All of this was his fault. Why¡¯d he give in? Mizar¡­ Mizar. If only Mizar were here, if only Mizar had killed him! He had to die, he was a monster. His death was the only way humanity could be saved. Why¡­? Why? Why?

    £ª

    The mummified remains of the personal guard crumpled up outside of her wing had been the first strike. The hallway decorated with foul-smelling blood and two dead ghouls right outside her private study was the second. And she¡¯d heard Lycoris¡¯ wail of agony.

    By all accounts, this maid groveling on her hands and knees should be long dead, her soul suffering every form of excruciation the Exaltare was capable of performing.

    But Lilianna had spared her the torment, because her dear sweet little flower had begged her not to¡ªand called her mama, no less!

    The poor thing had curled up on herself after, her eyes darting around in clear panic. All Lilianna could do was hold her close as she sat down in her rightful chair, and give her daughter a warm lap to calm down on.

    At least it gave her plenty of time to hear whatever excuse this servant could concoct, and why Lycoris had spent the last vestiges of her willpower to beg for her life.

    She was¡­ Athena, if memory served. She remembered plucking her from the clutches of the Ochros family; they¡¯d foolishly tossed a perfectly good woman to the wolves simply because she hadn¡¯t inherited enough of their bloodline. Truly there was never any more proof that their Traditionalist line of thought had long since proven worthless.

    Of course she knew the woman had been sent as just another sacrificial spy, but she was the easiest one to turn to Lilianna¡¯s side yet.

    Honestly, you¡¯d think they¡¯d know better by now.

    Athena¡¯s explanation was roundabout and obnoxiously servile, though Lilianna knew there wasn¡¯t anything resembling ill will behind it¡ªonly terrified stupidity. Unfortunately for her, the boundless patience of the eternal ruler of the vampires was someplace else currently.

    ¡°Cease wasting our time, maidservant,¡± she snarled.

    ¡°S-Sorry! Um, I was about to dust your study when the pair outside the door snuck up on me, and started asking me where you were and if I¡¯d heard anything about your recent¡ª¡±

    The moment the doors to her private floor had been opened without proper authority given, she¡¯d known that someone had broken in. Nothing in this overly fawning maid¡¯s explanation was the least bit helpful, but fortunately it didn¡¯t need to be.

    Lilianna had already begun puzzling out what¡¯d happened on her own. The pair of ghouls were armed with anathema that could only have come from someone who knew about the forsaken briarpatch and where it¡¯d been tossed out, which was quite the small list given that she¡¯d covered up the details of what happened.

    Most likely it was the work of the Idra Family; it had their stench all over it, especially given that earlier today the ever-frustrating Desmond Idra had been particularly nosy about what she¡¯d been doing in the wake of the raid on her palace. The fact he attempted to keep her tied down in court when there was a break-in happening was the most shameless excuse for a coincidence there could be.

    And unfortunately, she couldn¡¯t use this against him, as admitting there¡¯d been a second break-in would naturally lead to questions about why and how. Her daughter wasn¡¯t anywhere near ready to fight off those snakes and vultures.

    But this maid was quite the natural at groveling and deference, somehow managing to fit in platitudes praising Lilianna while giving the the least explanatory explanation she¡¯d ever heard. It was a blessed miracle that more people didn¡¯t act like her around the matriarch.

    Lilianna probably would¡¯ve lost her mind a thousand years ago if that were the case. In that sense, her adorable daughter¡¯s little rebellious streak was the most charming breath of fresh air she could ask for.

    Though it would most assuredly make her job easier if everyone did as she demanded.

    ¡°¡ªand then you¡ª or, um¡­ Your Majesty¡¯s daughter¡­ Her Highness¡­?¡± The maid raised her head for just a moment, putting a finger to her chin as she puzzled out how to refer to Lycoris, before nodding and bowing once more, ¡°Her Highness came to my rescue, even though I had no need of it! I even asked her to flee, and yet¡­ Her grace and benevolence truly is second only to Your Majesty¡¯s own! But those men¡ª¡±

    While she had an idea of who was behind this, the fact a pair of ghouls had even managed to make it this far into her private sanctum was cause for alarm. They were no threat themselves¡ªthis maid should¡¯ve been more than capable of dispatching them on her own, even¡ªbut all signs pointed towards a mole who¡¯d let them in.

    Given how Lycoris reacted, and the fact they¡¯d accosted Athena, it probably wasn¡¯t the maid herself, but¡­

    If her daughter hadn¡¯t been unresponsive, she would¡¯ve simply asked her and avoided all this mess, as well as possibly gaining some insight into that ¡°Hero¡¯s¡± movements. Lilianna¡¯s instincts told her the two were connected, though she couldn¡¯t puzzle out how they were on her own.

    ¡°¡ªthen I bonked the other one on the back of the head! But the bramble ended up stuck around Her Highness¡¯ hand¡­ Oh! And the one I bonked had an emergency recall disk. I have no idea where they could¡¯ve gotten it from, or how they got the access codes to use it within Your Majesty¡¯s own home! But I swear that if I find the culprit, I shall deliver a most decisive judgment upon them in your name!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s unnecessary, Athena.¡±

    ¡°H-Haahh!!? Y-You¡­ know my name!?¡± The maid nearly passed out on the spot as the revelation rippled through her.

    Lycoris had remained quiet during the entire recounting of the tale, but Lilianna couldn¡¯t figure out what about the experience had been so traumatizing for her¡­ The fact she still couldn¡¯t get a proper read on her daughter was vexing beyond reason. She seemed to abhor violence and bloodshed, but at the same time delighted in fighting. She was repulsed by pampering, but still clung to her mother¡¯s warmth. And she hated being reminded of her femininity, but adored the clothing Lilianna had given her to wear¡­

    Perhaps it was a consequence of being raised by humans through her infancy¡­?

    She tenderly ran her fingers through the girl¡¯s hair, frowning privately to herself as she pulled her mind out of her wanderings.

    ¡°Of course we do. Do you think us senile?¡±

    ¡°N-N-N-No! Forgive me! Please, take my head if you m¡ª¡±

    ¡°Athena.¡±

    ¡°H-Hiieeek!¡±

    ¡°Continue.¡±

    ¡°R-Right. I brought her in here to triage her hand, and after dealing with the thorns offered her something to drink, as she seemed quite desperately thirsty¡ªshe¡­ um¡­ nearly drank ghoul blood¡­¡± Athena¡¯s voice trailed off for a brief moment. ¡°But I couldn¡¯t let her sully her pride like that! So¡ªstill thinking Her Highness was Your Majesty¡ªI poured a glass of your favorite nineteen eighty-three Bilet. She downed the whole thing in a single gulp¡ªmaking it feel like a bit of a waste admittedly¡ªand then began panicking the moment you entered the room! Then, after you quite understandably demanded an explanation, I began to¡ª¡±

    ¡°Enough.¡± The Exaltare pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a migraine begin its assault on her skull. Shaking away the irritation, she softened as she looked at her daughter. ¡°Lycoris, are you able to speak? We¡¯re right here, there is no need to fear anything.¡±

    Athena looked stupefied, but that was a triviality¡ªher silence would be forever assured after this.

    ¡°B¡­Blood. I¡­ I¡­ What have I DONE!? Mizar¡­ Mizar¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±

    ¡°Shh-shh dear. You dealt with those nasty ghouls, that¡¯s all. We¡¯ve been over ghouls before, remember? Their lives are worth less than paper. You needn¡¯t be so broken up over such things.¡±

    ¡°N-No¡­ I¡­ I¡­¡±

    ¡°Lycoris.¡±

    The maid flinched as her tone sharpened ever so slightly, though it wasn¡¯t directed toward her.

    ¡°If you can¡¯t speak clearly, how is mommy supposed to help you?¡±

    ¡°M-Mommy!?¡± Athena blurted out, immediately covering her mouth and slapping her own cheek in the next instant.

    But her daughter offered no reaction nor response, instead hiccuping out sobs as she clutched her head.

    She¡¯d never seen Lycoris so distraught before. Normally in the worst case, she¡¯d shout at Lilianna and throw a tantrum¡­ but she¡¯d always explain what was on her mind at least.

    The ruler of the entire world was at a loss. The sum of all vampiric knowledge and wisdom was useless to her. There was nothing in the history of all the past Exaltare that had even the slightest relevance to her. Nothing that she could even personally recall about the poor sobbing child was even remotely helpful.

    ¡°Lycoris¡­?¡± she spoke quietly, nervously.

    The irritatingly servile maid had gone completely rigid, face pressed into the carpet and hands covering her ears.

    Her daughter, meanwhile, simply shook her head and croaked out unnecessary sobs, repeating that same name over and over again as she hugged herself and trembled.

    But who is this Mizar¡­? One of her past companions? The ¡®Hero¡¯ who came alongside Lycoris to challenge me, perhaps?

    All three of them remained locked in that awkward limbo for an agonizing eternity. Athena silently trembled, not daring to make a sound. Lycoris writhed in agony, pressing her face into Lilianna¡¯s chest as she cried. And Lilianna scowled, her mood the foulest she could remember in three thousand hundred years.

    But instead of being furious at her elder sister¡¯s betrayal, she was livid at her own powerlessness to do anything for Lycoris.

    After remaining in that stalemate for far too long, Athena finally shattered the silence.

    ¡°Um¡­ Sh-Shall I at least dispose of this¡ª¡±

    ¡°DON¡¯T TOUCH HIM!¡±

    As she reached for the bloodied and repugnant bramble, Lycoris snapped back to focus, just to twist around and shout her down.

    The maid, looking at the end of her rope, gave up on trying to comprehend the situation and instead resumed groveling.

    ¡°Y-Yes Your Highness!¡±

    Lilianna frowned. These must be that ¡®Hero¡¯ Mizar¡¯s remains, then. If they were so close, perhaps¡­

    ¡°Lycoris, if you could calm yourself for but a moment, mommy has an idea,¡± she said sweetly.

    ¡°Huh¡­?¡±

    The girl turned to look up at her, cheeks flushed purple and stained with tears.

    ¡°Maidservant. On the third shelf to the right behind you, there is a small silver box. Within should be a locket. Bring it to us.¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes¡¯m!¡±

    She brought over the radiant platinum-blue locket¡ªlike rose-gold but sapphire and mythril¡ªand reverently offered it up to the seated mother and daughter pair.

    Snatching it out of her hands, Lilianna popped it open and tore out a photo stored inside. Such bittersweet sentimentalities were less important than her current affairs.

    Her sister would understand, and even if not, what did that matter to the two of them as they were now.

    Feeling a sharp twinge of pain as she touched the detestable bramble, she snapped a small piece off and placed it inside, licking her finger as she sealed the locket up by placing a minor spell upon it.

    Lycoris reached out to stop her, but froze when she saw what her mother was doing.

    ¡°Here, Lycoris. That man was important to you, right? Store your sentimentality for him within this necklace, so that you may recall those feelings when the occasion permits, and bury them when you must comport yourself as a ruler.¡±

    She placed the locket in her daughter¡¯s quivering hands, the girl quickly hugging it to her chest and shutting her eyes.

    It seemed to have some effect at least, given that Lycoris had gone silent and hiccuped quietly instead of loudly sobbing. She looked so vulnerable and innocent, leaning against her mother.

    Ahh¡­ even when sad, she really is the sweetest poison in the world. But there¡¯s still one loose end.

    Lilianna returned her attention to the maidservant, who froze in place with her hands still pressed to her ears.

    ¡°Nine fetters bind thee ¡ª Silence Stillness and Shadows await thee ¡ª Interlock | Subsume ¡ª Seven sanctions each imposed ¡ª Mine authority reigns absolute, Obey me.¡±

    Finishing the incantation to her spell, Lilianna placed a seal upon the servant¡¯s mind, mouth, and body. With this, she would be unable to speak or convey in any form what happened here. Of course, there were means of circumventing it, but it would stop the blundering maidservant from accidentally revealing something she would dearly regret.

    And if by chance she had betrayed the two of them, and was somehow in contact with a mage who had the power to undo a geas imposed by the Exaltare herself, her soul would devour itself, leaving nothing behind to reveal the truth.

    ¡°Y-Your Majesty!?¡±

    ¡°Athena. Thou shalt serve as Lycoris¡¯ personal attendant while we are otherwise preoccupied. Thou wilt speak not of the events transpired today, or any of thy duties to our Heir-Significate, save in our presence and with our approval. If thou findest this disagreeable, thou may separate thine head from thy shoulders at thine own leisure.¡±

    ¡°A-Ahha¡­Haa¡­Yes! I understand, O¡¯ Magniferous Exaltare!¡±

    She bowed deeply, and Lilianna felt a knot of tension untangle in her shoulders.

    This should satisfy almost all of the conditions she¡¯d shackled herself with. It followed Lycoris¡¯ request, it gave her someone to practice being in charge of, and it ensured a loyal pawn of hers remained in play and out of the way.

    All that was left was cleaning up the dregs, and cheering up her poor little flower.

    ¡°Now go. Clean up the hall. We have other matters to tend to.¡±

    ¡°At once!¡±

    As the maid scurried away like a frightened rodent, Lilianna pulled out her phone and glanced at it. After sending out several missives to the requisite parties to handle the ones responsible, she turned her attention to her daughter, tightening her embrace.

 Interlude â€” The Pale, The Many, and The Dregs

    Against all odds, Athena had survived at least four certain-death encounters in the span of perhaps thirty minutes.

    That was a new record.

    Ugh, what a fool I am. Failing so spectacularly four times in quick succession is nothing to be proud of!

    She frowned as she looked at the pair of corpses that Her M¡ªHighness had dealt with.

    As expected of the Exaltare¡¯s own daughter, she¡¯d dealt with them in incredibly short order while unarmed, even though she was just a child. It didn¡¯t even feel real to her¡ªthe Exaltare, having a true flesh and blood heir.

    At first when Athena saw the tiny figure, she¡¯d been so completely caught off guard that she forgot to draw her weapon. She¡¯d worried that something terrible had befallen Her Majesty, like a bizarre curse that shrunk her down into some diminutive form.

    Which would¡¯ve been awfully cute admittedly, but also extremely terrifying! ¡­Oh Exaltare, please ignore your foolish servant¡¯s thoughts! They are not worth your time!!

    ¡­Thankfully, the truth was something far more benign than that, even if it flew in the face of everything she¡¯d learned about their majesticient ruler. So much so that Athena wasn¡¯t sure what to do with herself after being slapped in the face by the reality before her.

    Or, behind me, I guess. She glanced back at the door to Her Majesty¡¯s study.

    She couldn¡¯t possibly overstate how truly amazing a woman the current Exaltare was, having done something none of her predecessors had ever managed. Many vampires struggled to bear offspring even at the best of times, and the problem only worsened the closer to the zeroth generation they got. The price paid by the Exaltare for being of purest blood was the complete inability to bear an heir, thus the process of selecting one from the Seven had come about.

    She wasn¡¯t even sure where Her Majesty could have even hidden the girl for so long. She didn¡¯t look particularly old, but she had to at least be sixty judging by how she conducted herself. Or she was a particularly capricious fifty year old¡­ She definitely seemed a little on the shy side. What an adorable little thing¡­

    ¡°As expected of Her Majesty, she¡¯s an incredible enough person to¡ªHhgdfgb!?¡± Her tongue suddenly twisted as she spoke to herself.

    Oh right, the geas. Good going Athena, no wonder she doesn¡¯t trust you at all! Still, how¡¯d she manage to keep a child secret for multiple decades with nobody any the wiser¡­ I wonder how she even managed to have one in the first place¡­ and who¡¯s the father¡­?

    With a forceful flap, she unfurled a large black plastic refuse bag, stuffing the still-intact corpse into it leg-first. The bodies had already begun to decay, as was the fate of all humans embraced and turned into ghouls.

    Athena would¡¯ve felt a modicum of pity for them, if they hadn¡¯t attempted to take Her Highness¡¯ life. These two got everything they deserved.

    But the way Her Highness stumbles over herself trying to act like Her Majesty¡­ Ahhh she¡¯s so adorable! Mhmhm, there¡¯s definitely no way she could be a day over fifty. And you get to tend to her personally, Athena! Don¡¯t screw this up now. This could be the opportunity of a lifetime!

    Finally, my dead-end life might actually move forward for the first time in¡ª

    The rollercoaster of emotion she¡¯d boarded didn¡¯t seem like it¡¯d be stopping any time soon, as the door behind her abruptly opened and shattered her reverie.

    ¡°Aghk! Y-Your Majesty!?¡±

    ¡°Toss this out too. And deal with the bodies by the elevator.¡±

    The Exaltare threw the bloodied scraps of the briar that she¡¯d extricated from Lycoris out the door, forcing the poor maid to dodge out of the way.

    ¡°Hahh¡­ it does mean I have to deal with Her Majesty Exaltare Lilianna more as well, though¡­ I¡¯m not sure my heart can take it; there¡¯s no way she doesn¡¯t hate me.¡±

    But she trusted me with her daughter¡­ perhaps it¡¯s because I¡¯m barely eight hundred myself, and she thought having a young and hip maidservant would serve Her Highness better? I couldn¡¯t possibly dare to imagine what Her Majesty is thinking but don¡¯t you worry Lycoris, big sis Athena will make sure you grow up just right and never want for anything a day in your life!

    Still, she wondered what exactly happened. She¡¯d fully removed all of the barbs, but the moment Her Highness finished gulping down her meal, she started panicking¡­

    Perhaps she was wracked with guilt over drinking one of her mother¡¯s personal favorites? That¡¯d make sense; though¡­ given how Lilianna was treating her, there¡¯s no way the terrifying ruler would have cared, much less inflict any sort of punishment.

    Even just bearing witness to that side of her felt¡­ blasphemous, as though Athena should¡¯ve been cut down where she crouched just for thinking about it.

    Tying up the bag around the corpse, she took an enchanted specially-absorbent sponge to the blood soaked carpet. It was thick and had soaked in, reeking unpleasantly of the foul taint all ghouls bore, but fortunately it hadn¡¯t started to dry out yet.

    Why didn¡¯t she just erase my memories instead!? I feel like I¡¯ve been cursed with the burden of knowledge! Aaagh, Your Majesty, why didn¡¯t you just kill me!?

    No, no no you can¡¯t think like that anymore Athena, Her Highness¡¯ wellbeing is your responsibility now! You can¡¯t screw this up!

    Plus, it could potentially be a foot in the door to get herself back onto the political floor. The thought of rubbing it in the faces of the members of the Ochros family that she was the personal handmaiden to the first true heir of an Exaltare in¡­ ever, was a delightfully sweet brew.

    ¡°Heh heh heh. Serves them right for abandoning me like that. Or maybe I should be thanking them? Since now I get to¡ªhhbllgbh!¡±

    After silently bagging up the pair of bodies, securely stowing the brambles in a hazardous waste container, and sponging the blood off the floors and walls, she wiped the sweat from her brow and began hauling the refuse down the silent hallway.

    It was a little disappointing she didn¡¯t get to dispose of the stupid fools who¡¯d dare tread upon Her Majesty¡¯s private sanctum herself, especially because it meant Her Highness had to suffer the humiliation of staining her hands with their worthless blood.

    Worse still, she looked like she wanted to drink it. It pained Athena¡¯s heart to think she¡¯d forgotten to even feed herself for long enough to feel so desperate, especially at her age. It must¡¯ve been hard on her, having her mother be so busy with her duties as a ruler.

    She could envision the Princess in her room, mournfully peering out the window or into the hall waiting for Her Majesty¡¯s return¡­

    I certainly won¡¯t let her starve, don¡¯t you worry Your Majesty!

    Arriving at the main lobby for the floor, she slapped a button to open up the maintenance chute and dumped the bagged corpses out along with the filthy cleaning gear. Wiping her hands, she turned back around to face the simple yet elegant gold-lined doorway to Her Majesty¡¯s private quarters, and looked at the shriveled up bodies of the guards laying on the cold beige marble tiles.

    There were obvious puncture wounds on an exposed patch of skin and¡ªgiven the relative positions of where they lay¡ªat least one of them had gone up to the ghouls when they arrived on the floor, while the other was closer to the door with their spear on the ground beside them.

    What sort of amateur gets done in by an assailant with a knife? I guess it wasn¡¯t really a normal knife, but honestly! Her Majesty¡¯s private guard should be of better stock than this.

    Though really, it was the fault of those worthless humans who¡¯d dared intrude upon Her Majesty¡¯s domain. They¡¯d cut down a vast number of soldiers, far more than any reasonable human should be able to¡­ but ultimately they weren¡¯t even able to lay a hand upon Lilianna.

    And their foolish crusade ended in obscurity, as Her Majesty had seen fit to not even announce what¡¯d happened, instead choosing to cite unrest among certain discontented nobles and let them point fingers at each other. It wasn¡¯t even a lie, either. Those humans had to have been pawns in some family¡¯s scheme, there was no chance they could¡¯ve made it this far otherwise, and another wave of intruders showed up right after.

    Serves them right! But¡­ I wonder if this will be a continued trend? Surely whichever of the Seven is responsible wouldn¡¯t keep trying to push their luck like this¡­ They¡¯ll burn through all their chips before they even take a hand off of Her Majesty or her daughter.

    At least, I hope so¡­ I¡¯d really rather not have to clean up this sorta mess every couple of weeks for the next few years¡­

    Grumbling and mumbling to herself, Athena vigorously scrubbed the main foyer, eager thoughts of her future job serving Her Majesty¡¯s adorable daughter filling her mind.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    Within vaulted white-walled halls lined with glowing gold, a man with similarly pale golden-wheat hair reclined underneath a low-frequency artificial sun as he sipped deep scarlet tea from an ornate cup.

    Emerald green vines crawled up latticed walls, and immaculately sculpted rose bushes covered in eternally-blooming whites, blues, and purples formed organized waist-high hedgerows.

    A fresh breeze¡ªcrafted by magic¡ªblew through at semi-regular intervals to stir the foliage, lending a fresh spring air to the indoor gazebo.

    The man¡¯s name was Cedric Idra, and while the Idra family had multiple elders serving as its oligarchs, he was the current speaker for the family. His position was about as lofty as one could hope for at his age, and well positioned to take a seat as one of the true leaders of the family¡ªand their society¡ªif he continued to play his cards right.

    However¡­

    He set the cup back down on its saucer and pinched the bridge of his nose as his attention was drawn to the push notification sent to his mobile, prompting an unpleasant frown to form on his flawless face. The fangs he¡¯d sent to nip at Her Majesty appeared to have failed spectacularly. Or so he could only surmise, as both of their signals had vanished at nearly the exact same time.

    It¡¯d cost a pretty penny to slip a pair of ghouls into the seat of the Exaltare¡¯s power, but he¡¯d thought they were well positioned to cash in one of their family¡¯s favors to the Vanas. The gluttons were easy enough to please, he could likely just send them another village¡¯s worth of human if he ever needed to grease the wheel again in the future.

    Cedric folded his arms and closed his rose-gold eyes, letting out a quiet hum. The Exaltare had begun acting queerly after dispatching the human invaders¡ªthe fruits of another of House Idra¡¯s many schemes.

    Though that made it sound successful, which¡­ he couldn¡¯t say was actually the case. They¡¯d certainly thinned out Lilianna¡¯s private guard, but he couldn¡¯t tell what they¡¯d actually done to the infuriating woman herself.

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    It was clear it had some impact on Aphtangloa, but he¡¯d sent the ghouls in to figure out what exactly occurred. Had she suffered a grievous wound? He was skeptical of the notion. She was a second generation child with a nearly four thousand year rule¡ªquite the respectable length to hold the throne for. Though, she¡¯d betrayed her Drimus roots and filled that time by introducing all manner of insipid new-age policy. Things like true land ownership rights for thin-blooded plebeians, taxation laws on workshops employing ghoul labor, and most damnable of all was that spire that served to give a voice to those lesser races.

    Even just the thought of how she¡¯d crippled Idra by further diluting power caused his blood to boil, the teacup on the table simmering.

    But she¡¯d ruled for almost four millenia, and was undoubtedly of exceptionally pure blood. There was no chance that mere humans could inflict a genuine injury to the heritor of the zeroth.

    If not injury though, what? A curse perhaps, placed by that vain and feckless ¡°Hero¡± in his last moments? The strange luminous magic vines barring the door to her throne room seemed to point towards that¡­ but his little pet seemed to think that the human died to create those.

    The only other possibility that stuck out in his mind was that she¡¯d chosen to capture one of them, and was dedicating every spare moment to interrogating¡ªor simply torturing¡ªthe human, at the expense of her duties as ruler. Though what information she would even seek from a lowly sack of blood, he couldn¡¯t begin to fathom. Nor did he care much to try; even the thought of that filled him with a deep disdain and revulsion.

    Regardless, he would have his answer eventually. It was simply a pity to be forced into making their desire that much more obvious. The Idra family would have benefited greatly if they¡¯d gained intel on just what their most Exalted Ruler was up to without requiring favors to be called in. Especially not with the man he had in mind.

    But he refused to suffer another setback like with that grotesque eyesore that she¡¯d erected the other century. If he wanted results, then there was no better positioned person to get them.

    He picked his smartphone off the table and pressed his thumb on the polished glass reflecting back his handsome visage, unlocking it via Face ID. Thumbing through the rows of various contacts, his fingers settled on a mint-haired man.

    Reclining in his seat as he pushed the call button, he began drumming his fingers across the table to a tune only he could hear. It was but one small part of a grand chorus, as for every individual plot foiled, two more would take its place.

    That was how his family retained their place as the grandest among the Seven, even with a woman on the throne who spat in the face every tradition their kind took for granted. Her stance had become quite clear after she secured enough power to throw her political weight around in the face of the three-pronged alliance of Idra, Ochros, and Vanas.

    Even more revolting, she was apparently quite popular with the common folk. When the Ochros had attempted to hurt her reputation by forcing some of the commoners into slandering her on social media, she¡¯d taken their lumps with a laugh rather than having them burned at the stake like her predecessors would have.

    That she would even throw away her pride in such a manner proved how little she deserved her seat, and yet the majority of the families thought that having a ruler so well-liked by their empire was a good thing.

    He blamed the Ochros for not ordering harsher censuring of her practices, but they¡¯d argued back that anything more would expose it as an obvious ploy on their part. At least he¡¯d been able to demand they make up for their blunder, which was the only reason he was even making this phone call right now.

    ¡®Speak.¡¯

    ¡°That is what I should be demanding of you, Tethos. The ghouls¡ª¡±

    ¡®Are dead, yes. I¡¯m aware. You needn¡¯t strain your ears for every changing of the breeze.¡¯

    ¡°You¡¯re sounding like a harpy.¡±

    ¡®And you¡¯re lucky I¡¯m too busy to pay a visit and rip your fangs out. So? What do you want? I¡¯m a touch preoccupied with burning bridges¡ªfor your sake, might I add.¡¯

    ¡°Are you still in contact with that one childling sent to the palace?¡±

    ¡®You can¡¯t be serious¡­¡¯ The man on the other end of the call sounded exasperated. ¡®The only reason we haven¡¯t disowned that bumbling fool is because the Exaltare has taken a personal shine to her.¡¯

    ¡°And that¡¯s exactly why I need to pick her brain. I don¡¯t care if she¡¯s willing, she surely must have stumbled across something. There are only so many Traditionalists that harlot keeps within her wingspan, and our mutual friend in the Vanas will likely have his head rolling before the week is over.¡±

    ¡®It¡¯s yours that will roll, if you make a habit of vocally denigrating Her Majesty like that¡­ what about that toy you acquired the other decade?¡¯

    ¡°Useless, outside of being able to appear beneficial to Her Majesty by crippling that group of humans before they could set forth in her keep.¡±

    ¡®Aren¡¯t you the reason¡ª¡¯

    ¡°Tethos.¡±

    The other party fell silent for a long while. Cedric took the opportunity to savor another sip of his tea.

    ¡®I¡¯ll see what I can do, but we¡¯re already skating on thin ice here. It wouldn¡¯t surprise me if she already caught on to our tail.¡¯

    ¡°I expect great deeds of you, Pale One.¡±

    An exaggerated, decorumless sigh came through the speaker. ¡®And may great rewards blossom forth, Infinite One.¡¯

    Tethos wasted no time in hanging up after their ritualistic call and response. Cedric stared blankly at his phone for a few moments, before opening up BlueStream and looking through some recent uploads.

    The commonfolk may have been too thin-blooded to understand the Traditionalists¡¯ wisdom, but on occasion their wit was at least worth entertaining oneself with. Especially when directed at the other families.

    Having overcome the minor bump on his road to glory, Cedric let his thoughts wander once more as he accented his tea with a side of junk food entertainment.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    Thomas Rhineheart had been a soldier fighting on the frontlines, for the glory of humanity. The vampires had sent a small detachment to cull their numbers, quietly purging¡ªor perhaps harvesting would be more accurate¡ªthose too far away from the capital to receive assistance from the King¡¯s five glorious Rays¡ªthe hand of the Goddess, the knightly order that shielded humanity from the fiends that kept them boxed in at the edge of the world.

    He had been, because the vampires had raided the town he was assigned to protect and saw fit to drag him back to their nightmarish empire of eternal night and darkness.

    As the bloodsuckers did with the civilians they abducted, they kept him alive and repeatedly harvested his blood, like cattle on a farmer¡¯s ranch. They even punctured his ear with a tag, though he had no idea what the square-shaped symbol on it was.

    He learned in his time at the ranch that the monsters spoke the same language¡ªas if out of spite toward the Goddess that watched over humanity¡ªthough he didn¡¯t particularly want to hear the topics they went over in his presence. It was mostly talk of which ones were on their last legs and should be shipped out to a ¡°glue factory.¡±

    He¡¯d been truly naive in every sense of the word back then.

    But his life had improved since those days. Not by much, but anything beat life as a domesticated beast.

    Even being a monster.

    He wasn¡¯t exactly sure why they chose him, given that he was just an ordinary man like any of the others they¡¯d captured that day; but when the vampire¡¯s fangs sank into his neck, he felt his painful past fade away as a new future embraced him.

    From that day forth he was servant to the Vanas Family¡ªroyalty! Or¡­ something close to it, apparently.

    Unfortunately, his masters¡¯ nobility had no bearing on his position or treatment.

    Despite his middle-aged physique, he quickly discovered he had twice the strength and endurance he once did¡ªbecause he¡¯d been immediately set to work in the mines for them.

    In essence, he¡¯d been upgraded from livestock to slave.

    The vampires had their own array of political bullshit that he found just as impenetrable as when human nobles mingled and schmoozed about, but one thing he did understand was that there were two main factions at play: The Progressives, and The Traditionalists.

    The house that owned him aligned with the latter, which perhaps explained his treatment.

    He had no idea how long a hundred years really was until he¡¯d spent that much time underground, the sun and sky a distant memory in his mind.

    He stayed sane by listening to the stories of fellow ghouls belonging to the Vanas, slowly accumulating knowledge and, gradually, he began to puzzle out the impenetrable tapestry of vampire society, as told by its leftover scraps.

    Thomas leveraged that, along with what he knew of supply lines, human resources, connections, and every other scrap of information he could drag out of his wizened brain to escape that hell¡ªto prove himself useful to his masters.

    They¡¯d been impressed, and eventually he found himself in the capital of Ljosdeyja, with the palace of the Exaltare as the towering centerpiece of the entire grandiose city. He remembered being awestruck the first time he saw all of those structures that thrust toward the heavens, hundreds of needles all straining against the fabric of the deep burgundy clouds that loomed overhead.

    His role was simple: get into the good graces of the Sefer family, as they held the most radical views on rights for ghouls like him, and feed the information back to the Traditionalists. It was an easy job, and he was eager to do it after spending an eternity below the earth. Especially given how much kinder the Sefer treated him. For the first time in a century he was even given a private living space, albeit a small one.

    On occasion his job even took him into the grand cathedral-like antechamber of the Transfixion of Heaven itself¡ªthough he was always accompanied by a vampiric representative. The current Exaltare was more willing to lend an ear than most, but that was like saying a battleaxe was more likely to leave an arm intact than a stone-spitting drake, so the representative from Sefer accompanied him for his own protection whenever he spoke about how ghouls suffered under the yoke of the Traditionalists.

    He meant a lot of what he¡¯d said, too; it simply rang hollow when he knew who his true masters still were.

    One particular day, however, a different set of orders came in.

    He was to escort another pair of ghouls into the palace. He¡¯d never met them before, nor had the Sefer representative.

    It was blatantly suspicious, all the moreso given what¡¯d only just happened the other week. But when he considered the abyss that awaited should he fail, he saw little harm in using his meager amount of political pull to let a pair of fellow ghouls in.

    What even was the worst they could do? Ghouls were incapable of using magic at all, and while they were strong and lived until their minds collapsed, they were basically mewling kittens compared to an actual vampire.

    So he let them in and quickly left, not wanting to be caught alone in the palace nor with the pair of cloaked travelers. He¡¯d asked them which house they belonged to, if any, but they said nothing to him¡ªnot even the smallest of talk.

    After parting from them, he mentally bid them good riddance. He had half a mind to complain to his contact in the Vanas Family, but¡­

    He was never given the chance.

    That same day, he was called back to the palace in the evening, a feeling of dread welling up inside him.

    When he walked through the towering doors, awaiting him was a firing line of soldiers, as well as a steel-eyed woman with short, blade-like ash-gray hair to match¡ªHer Majesty¡¯s High Executioner, Lesath.

    After four hundred and ninety five years, Thomas Rhineheart¡¯s strange twists of luck finally failed him; he was dead before his knees even touched the ground.

 7 â€” Twice Shy

    Gradually, the torrent of guilt and shame swirling within Lycoris¡¯ mind began to abate.

    All emotions faded with time, and she was a strong girl¡ªrather, he¡¯d been a strong-willed man.

    He¡¯d endured abusive parents, uncaring townsfolk, demanding instructors, jealous knights, and an oppressive king; he¡¯d suppressed his hunger as an urchin, he¡¯d killed invading sylphs, piscin, and vampires as a knight in the army; he even managed to fight and struggle all the way to the other end of the world, with the aid of three companions. All of the resolve and endurance that he¡¯d accrued had to have amounted to something.

    I¡¯ve certainly encountered more than my fair share of pointless violence.

    But that didn¡¯t excuse what he¡¯d done. He¡¯d crossed a line that he¡¯d never be able to take back. It was the singular worst sin, one all vampires were guilty of, that marked them as humanity¡¯s eternal enemy and monsters in the Goddess¡¯ eyes. He naively thought that he¡¯d be fine, that he could simply avoid consuming any¡­ blood. That he could somehow circumvent the craving long enough to overthrow Lilianna, or that Mizar would come back with a trump card and deal with the Tyrant. That he somehow hadn¡¯t actually become one of them, and he could hold on to some foolish notion of rescue or ¡°victory.¡±

    What an utterly naive delusion. Lilianna¡¯s too strong, I doubt Mizar would be able to bring her down even if he somehow returned to normal.

    He cradled the pendant against his chest, gently rubbing a thumb along its rim. His eyes burned and head throbbed from the tears he¡¯d shed until he ran dry, and his heart ached as he thought about what dwelled within the soft blue trinket.

    It was laughable, the pathetic state they¡¯d ended up in. Tatyana was gone, Elham was dead, Mizar was a shrubbery, and he¡¯d become what they all hated most.

    It¡¯s all that damned witch¡¯s fault! If only we hadn¡¯t invited her along¡­ if only I¡¯d paid more attention. If only I¡¯d been stronger¡­

    Was it really okay to keep existing, after what he¡¯d done? Would Mizar forgive him, calling it a lapse in judgment? Would Elham be his usual cheery self, perhaps offering an ill-timed fact about wild animal blood?

    He always could defuse tension, even if he ended up accidentally insulting someone without realizing it.

    Where did that leave Lycoris, though? What would he do now?

    The thought of simply¡­ giving in occurred to him, but he still had enough sense to wave it away. If he did that, then Mizar¡¯s sacrifice truly would have been for nothing. There was no chance of forgiveness if he did that. But perhaps, if he only drank enough to satisfy his most basic needs, and avoided consuming more than the bare minimum for survival¡­

    No, he couldn¡¯t accept that much either, even if the others might understand. There had to be another way.

    How many lives would I have to take before I¡¯d be free? No, in the first place I don¡¯t even know what freedom would mean anymore. Is there any way back from this?

    His head buzzed with confusion once more as he tried to push away the intrusive thoughts. He focused instead on the mental image of Lilianna¡¯s grimace, when she¡¯d gripped the painful bramble and tore off a piece, the tender and troubled smile she wore while placing it inside the locket after tossing the small photo of a rose-haired woman to the ground. What benefit did the woman stand to gain by injuring herself like that? There was no chance it could¡¯ve been just to make him feel better¡­ could it?

    She had to have some sort of angle here, something to teach maybe, or was going to leverage it against him somehow. She could be cold and calculating one instant, seemingly ready to toss him off a cliff if she thought it¡¯d help mold him into her image, and then impulsive and kind the next, doing things like¡­ this.

    What kind of monster loves so selflessly? I don¡¯t get it. I don¡¯t get what¡¯s going through her head at all.

    In the first place, even forcing him to become her heir had to have been an act of mercy from her perspective. Surely there were many other more qualified candidates. Lycoris still didn¡¯t understand why she¡¯d chosen him in particular.

    But the fact remained that she did spare his life; it was hard to believe, but if she was so merciful toward him, then perhaps he could trust her. That was easier thought than said or done, however; he wasn''t sure he could allow himself trust her, even if it might be correct to.

    He sorely wanted to believe that she was nothing more than an unfeeling devil, that everything about her was monstrous and barbaric and wicked¡­ but he¡¯d lost his moral high-ground the moment that glass touched his lips. His sin sat heavy in his stomach, pulling him ever further from the Goddess¡¯ light.

    What did he even stand to lose by asking her why she¡¯d made the choices she had? There was nothing for her to gain by lying to him about such a thing, surely.

    They weren¡¯t engaged in some mercantile relationship, trust had been freely given to him time and time again, yet he¡¯d remained walled off and reticent. He stopped slapping the olive branch away, but he¡¯d still chosen to ignore it every time Lilianna offered her hand.

    Perhaps it was time that he came clean to her¡ªor to himself, perhaps¡ªabout his family, about what he¡¯d been going through, about how little he understood her motives and actions.

    I¡¯ve embarrassed and shamed myself enough as-is¡­

    He wouldn¡¯t be so gauche as to deny the weight of even a single ¡°little cup of blood¡± on his psyche, but to have completely broken down and bawled like a child¡­

    The former knight had completely failed to suppress his emotions, the aftershocks of his panic and dread settling as mortification between his shoulders. How laughable that Mizar had entrusted the fate of humanity to someone who¡¯d broken down and cried like a little girl.

    What¡¯s a little more embarrassment on top, after already putting on such an immature display?

    There was nothing left to lose. Nothing that this monster¡ªor, mother¡ªcould do to him that wasn¡¯t already worse than what he¡¯d done himself. He couldn¡¯t remain the flawless mentor Mizar always looked up to. Perhaps he never had been in the first place.

    And, despite being a demonic tyrant¡­ enemy of humanity and oppressor of all life¡­

    Lycoris looked down at the locket.

    She¡¯s been nothing but kind to me.

    Slowly, Lycoris exhaled, and quietly laughed at himself.

    His body didn¡¯t need air anymore, but habits didn¡¯t change overnight, and he¡¯d taught plenty of recruits to control their breathing to temper their nerves. He looked down at his hand, the shriveled fingers and punctured skin already good as new.

    Monster.

    He wanted to run away, dig a hole in the ground somewhere, and then bury himself in it. But he held his ground against the storm of conflicting emotions battering him.

    With his mind wracked by embarrassment, hesitation, pain, sorrow and conflicting urges, Lycoris turned to face the woman pacing around the office and talking on her phone¡ªshe¡¯d carefully extricated herself from her seat beneath Lycoris when she tossed out the rest of the bloodied pieces of bramble.

    ¡°Can¡­ we talk, when you have a moment?¡±

    ¡°¡ªnevermind, we shall speak later, just handle it as you see fit.¡±

    Though Lilianna had been in the middle of speaking, she immediately cut herself off and tossed the cold blue slate aside. It made a cracking noise as it violently collided with the wall.

    She raced back over, grabbing another lavishly padded seat to face Lycoris, sitting straight with her hands resting in her lap and her sincere expression focused entirely on her child.

    ¡°You have our undivided attention, Lycoris.¡±

    Trembling and anxiously wrapping her hands around the pendant, Lycoris squeezed it as though hoping for Mizar''s confidence to bless her as she struggled to put thought to word.

    ¡°I¡¯m not really sure where to begin,¡± she eventually admitted. ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ you¡¯re¡­ mm.¡±

    ¡°Take your time, dear. We have as much available as you could want for.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ as good a start as any. Why are you so nice? What¡¯s your angle? I¡¯m just a pawn to you, to carry on your ¡®legacy¡¯ or whatever. So why do you look so¡­¡±

    Worried.

    In response, Lilianna almost let slip a startled guffaw, but contained herself and shook her head. ¡°What reason does a mother need?¡±

    Lycoris tilted her head, already unsure how to continue. The woman¡¯s rhetoric truly made no sense. No different from when they sat down on opposite sides of the chessboard, she couldn¡¯t fathom what angle Lilianna was trying to take here.

    ¡°You¡¯d still need a reason though, surely. What makes a mother different from anyone else?¡±

    ¡°Because I love you.¡±

    What.

    The statement rocked her to her core. Devoid of any sense of majesty or regal pride, Lilianna confessed in plain, simple words.

    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it?Lycoris stared at her, disbelief plastered all over her face. That couldn¡¯t be true. The woman seated before her was the direct cause of every problem she faced, the cause of all of humanity¡¯s woes, so why¡ª

    She forced herself to exhale again, pursing her lips after as though she¡¯d swallowed a particularly bitter wild herb.

    ¡°That¡­ doesn¡¯t make any sense to me, I¡¯m sorry,¡± she muttered.

    ¡°Surely you can understand the love a parent has for her child¡­ or are you asserting once more that I am not your mother? While I may not have given birth to you, I still have every intention to raise you with kindness and affection.¡±

    ¡°No I¡­ that¡¯s not¡­ You know, I¡¯m kinda old for adoption. I already got ¡®raised¡¯ once, besides.¡±

    ¡°And what of the one who did? Surely she also felt¡ª¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t! Don¡¯t talk about¡­ her.¡± Lycoris shivered. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t even have brought her up, stupid¡­¡±

    ¡°I apologize.¡± Once more, Lilianna bowed her head, a deep unease welling up inside the girl sitting across from her.

    ¡°No it¡¯s¡­ my fault. You didn¡¯t do anything wrong. I mean you have but¡­ ugh. You really are nothing like my parents. You don¡¯t even come close to them, I don¡¯t know what to think anymore.¡±

    Lilianna¡¯s shoulders twitched, her hands tightening in her lap as frustration began to work its way onto her brow.

    If Lycoris¡¯ instincts were right, or¡­ if she really could trust this woman, then it was genuine frustration, because she¡¯d fundamentally misunderstood what her daughter meant. But she still didn¡¯t understand the core of why Lilianna felt that way about her.

    ¡°Er, I should explain¡­ That¡¯s a good thing.¡±

    ¡°¡­Oh?¡±

    ¡°They were¡­ awful people. Barely even human. Er, though I mean¡­¡± She fumbled over her words, scratching her cheek. ¡°They weren¡¯t real monsters. I mean, not that you¡ª I mean you are but¡ª They just¡­ never really, felt anything toward each other, toward me. I guess. And all I felt toward them was¡­¡±

    Lycoris laughed nervously, hugging her knees against herself as she balled up and sank into the plush chair.

    At some point a fire had been lit in the hearth, though she didn¡¯t even see where Lilianna had gotten the wood from or when she¡¯d started it. The rhythmic dancing of flames drew her attention, the warm crackle of dry wood reminding her of all those nights she¡¯d spent camping with her party. Where the dancing embers would coax them into opening up and being ever so slightly vulnerable.

    Where she¡¯d learned where the two young men had come from, why they journeyed, and how they were shaped into who they¡¯d become.

    A floral scent gradually mingled with the woody and earthy aroma from the fireplace filling the air, which she quickly recognized as the same that hung on Lilianna.

    Lycoris¡¯d heard of agarwood before, but the thought that someone would simply burn it for a regular fire reminded her just how different Lilianna¡¯s standards were. Or maybe it was because she was making good on her word and ¡°sparing no expense for her daughter.¡±

    Lycoris chuckled to herself, staring at the flickering flames. ¡°I¡¯ve never actually talked about them before. Not even to the rest of my party. I don¡¯t like thinking about them. Honestly, I don¡¯t even know what became of my mother, after my father walked out on her. She grew more hostile with every turn of the sun, and¡­¡±

    She frowned behind her knees, fiddling with her fingers as more and more unpleasant memories began to resurface. No matter how much Lycoris had tried to drown out the images, she¡¯d been unable to fully kill her memories of that woman¡¯s screeching.

    ¡°One day, I couldn¡¯t handle the abuse and violence anymore, so I ran too¡­ chased after my father, until one day he died and I had nothing left. Not like I was torn up over it, he¡¯d become an unstable alcoholic, and I guess wasn¡¯t really any better of a person. The rest doesn¡¯t really matter, I joined the military and became a knight, then ended up following Mizar on his quest to slay you.¡±

    ¡°Is¡­ that so?¡±

    She could tell that Lilianna was hesitant to press her for details, but still wished for Lycoris to continue; Lycoris could see her fidgeting out of the corner of her eye. Maybe she was debating how to get military intelligence out of her, or maybe¡­ maybe she really just wanted to hear what her daughter had to say, but wasn''t sure how to take a gentle approach.

    But the woman didn¡¯t push for her to elaborate on her journey or details on the knightly order or anything. She simply sat with her hands folded in her lap, rubbing her thumbs together.

    ¡°That¡¯s why when I hear you¡ªExaltare, the scheming ruler of all vampires who has the world in the palm of her hand¡ªclaim that you love me, I just¡­ think it has to be part of some scheme. Nobody¡¯s ever told me that in my life, and now humanity¡¯s greatest threat goes and drops it in my lap for free!? It¡¯s like the punchline to a bad joke.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Lycoris¡­¡± Lilianna sounded almost choked up.

    Pulling her gaze away from the fire, Lycoris turned to see a teary-eyed face, her mind somersaulting as the image burned itself into her retinas. The most powerful creature on the planet, who had ruled for over three millennia, who would end a servant¡¯s life at the drop of a hat.

    She was crying over something as insignificant as Lycoris¡¯ feelings.

    ¡°I-I¡­ uh¡­ um¡­ huh?¡±

    ¡°Love isn¡¯t a bartering chip, to be earned or traded or swindled. Not between mother and child. It is unconditional. Even if not reciprocated, it is given freely and readily. It can take many forms, but every child is deserving of a mother¡¯s love. That is my belief. That is why I love you.¡±

    ¡°W-Wait¡­ but¡­ but I¡¯m not¡­ even¡­¡±

    ¡°If anything, after hearing your story, I consider myself more your mother than that swine who discarded a pearl more precious than any I can imagine.¡±

    ¡°C-Calling me a pearl is a little¡­¡±

    ¡°I have half a mind to send Lesath after her now.¡±

    Lilianna¡¯s knuckles whitened as she clenched her hands, a brief trickle of blue leaking out.

    As the twinge of pain brought her back to her senses, she wiped her hands with a cloth before dabbing her tears away.

    ¡°I¡­ think she¡¯s already dead though.¡±

    ¡°A pity, that. But just as well, I hope Hell does a better job warming her heart than the sight of my sweet little Lycoris.¡±

    ¡°You do remember that I didn¡¯t look like this before, right¡­?¡±

    ¡°Of course, dear. The thought that my love could ring hollow because of those worthless sacks of blood is¡ª I¡¯ll admit¡­ I did not expect hearing you claim it was just ¡®part of some scheme¡¯ to cut so deep. Do you really think me to be so callous?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she said honestly, affectionately rubbing the locket. ¡°The¡­ only person I ever really trusted was Mizar. And even then I never really opened up to him¡­ Maybe I just felt responsible for him¡­ I taught him how to use a sword, at least. I guess I felt proud, too, until we came here and¡­¡±

    ¡°Then perhaps you can understand where I speak from, and accept why I feel as I do about you.¡± Lilianna paused, before asking in a low tone, ¡°Do you blame me for what happened to him?¡±

    ¡°No¡­ yes. I-I¡¯m not sure. If it weren¡¯t for you, then we never would¡¯ve had to¡­ but he still made the decision himself.¡±

    ¡°You understand that if it weren¡¯t me, there¡¯d be another on the throne. If our kind didn¡¯t exist, there would simply be another ¡®threat,¡¯ sylph or geolle or otherwise.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay to be confused, Lycoris. Just know that even if you can¡¯t accept it, I¡¯ll never stop showering you with affection.¡±

    Even if she couldn¡¯t believe her, even if it was just part of some elaborate scheme or wicked web, Lycoris craved that warmth. She was tired and hungry and sad. She¡¯d gone through so much, both today and in the forty-odd years she¡¯d lived. Thinking about her past had uncorked all the pent up feelings she¡¯d shoved into a bottle fashioned by her survival instinct.

    ¡°I¡­¡±

    ¡­Just wanted a happy family.

    It wasn¡¯t fair, what she¡¯d had to go through. But who¡¯s fault had that been, really? Was it Lilianna¡¯s, for being the ruler of a distant country that culled humans like a gardener pruning a bush and harvesting its flowers?

    Was it her original parents, for conceiving and raising a child when they had no love in their hearts?

    Or¡­ was it the Goddess, for creating this world to begin with? Lycoris couldn¡¯t begin to fathom why a benevolent Goddess would create something like vampires, unless¡­ unless they weren¡¯t inherently demonic and evil.

    If humans were capable of stepping outside her light and sinning, then¡­ perhaps the Church¡¯s dogma was mistaken, and vampires were capable of goodness in equal measure.

    Maybe they¡¯d all been mistaken about Lilianna from the beginning. Perhaps she really, truly was a kind person at heart. Certainly, that¡¯s all Lyco had seen of her, aside from their first battle¡­ no, even that seemed more like just another sparring session in hindsight.

    Was that how she saw it?

    Lycoris fell quiet, closing her eyes and attempting to distance herself from the thoughts of her past, basking in the calm atmosphere instead. It only dawned on her then that she¡¯d forgotten to change out of her chemise nightgown, but it hung comfortably on her as she sank into Lilianna¡¯s lounge chair.

    A part of her wanted to stay in this ephemeral place forever, afraid of what it¡¯d mean once the two of them left this office. Her mother would go back to being the arrogant-sounding ruler, and she¡¯d go back to worrying over who she was, if she could still call herself a human. Not that she had ever stopped, it just felt¡­ less important, in the moment.

    The large cushioned seat was softer than any bed she¡¯d slept in before she arrived at the palace. While Lycoris had visited the royal castle before, back then she hadn¡¯t been given the luxury of reclining in any of the guest rooms. Perhaps the Princess, or her father, had been able to savor this sort of relaxation during their time off¡­

    She wasn¡¯t sure how much time passed while her mind wandered, she only only became aware of herself once more when she felt something brush up against her. Her mother had gotten up and moved over, smiling sweetly as she sat down in the same seat as Lycoris. It was a little cramped, but she was small enough now that the adult could snugly fit beside her.

    Lilianna draped an arm around her, tenderly squeezing her as she stared into the fireplace. The room wasn¡¯t cold at all, even in her pajamas, but that simple act filled Lycoris with an indescribable, intoxicating warmth.

    ¡°Thank you for sharing what was on your mind. Doing so must have been quite difficult, especially burdened as you were with fear and doubt.¡±

    ¡°Y¡­Yeah¡­¡±

    Though, there was still one thing left that she hadn¡¯t been able to bring up. One last thing, which had been what set her off and pushed her into this strange and vulnerable state to begin with.

    Transparent fragments twinkled in the firelight, gleaming in a corner of the room. A broken glass. Small drips of scarlet ichor trickled off the haphazardly stacked shards, like someone had cut their hand on the jagged splinters and created an odious, multi-layered waterfall that plunged into a shallow and sinful basin torn from Hell.

    The carmine light cast by the dregs of her drink sparkled like a cursed ruby, tempting her to reach out for its forbidden light.

 8 â€” The Inexorable Truth

    ¡°Good afternoon, Your Highness!¡±

    ¡°Mmhh¡­?¡±

    Lycoris slowly pulled himself out of bed, his eyes sore as though he were still exhausted, his mind grappling to piece together the nightmare he¡¯d just woken from.

    Though, it certainly ended peacefully, which was more than he could say about the usual nightmares that plagued him. Was he really that desperate to see Lilianna as a kind figure? How¡¯d his mind even cook up such an image?

    Focusing his attention back to reality, he stared at the woman standing before him in a classically styled maid uniform¡­ though it was accented with red rather than black. Her hair was dark blue, and her eyes were bright gold. She was the servant from his nightmare, who¡¯d¡ª

    ¡°You¡¯re real!?¡±

    He froze in shock. As though hoping to deny the truth of that nightmare, he put a trembling finger inside his mouth to rub one of the sharp little fangs. His hand was clean when he looked at it, but¡­ somewhere inside, he knew that was just denial at work.

    After all, the platinum-blue locket hung from his neck, its chains still warm from being tucked against him under the covers. As the realization that he¡¯d had such an intimate conversation with Lilianna in reality, and that everything she¡¯d said had been in earnest, settled into his mind, his cheeks burned dark purple. What had he been thinking!? Why did he show so much vulnerability to that tyrant!? Did he want to get taken advantage of!?

    But, would she really do that¡­?

    ¡°Y-Yes, I¡¯m quite real, last I checked¡­ Are you alright, Your Highness? Her Majesty your mother instructed me to make sure you didn¡¯t sleep all day. I must say, it caught me quite off-guard to see such a¡­ different side to her.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s not my¡­¡± He froze mid-sentence, and ran his hand across his face. The idea of rejecting Lilianna¡¯s selfless love felt unnecessarily cruel; inhumane, even. ¡°Which of us would be the monster, in that case¡­?¡±

    ¡°Monster¡­? Um, Your Highness¡ª¡±

    ¡°You can just call me Lycoris.¡±

    ¡°I could never! I-I am but a humble, foolish servant who has caused a drastic upset to Your Highness¡¯ daily routine with my inability to swiftly and silently deal with the intruders on my own! You may inflict any punishment you deem worthy on me afterward, but I must ensure that you are properly dressed and fed, so that you might at least salvage the latter half of your day. Though I know it is presumptulous to declare after causing you such grief with my lackadaisical behavior!¡±

    A part of him already regretted sparing this woman from Lilianna¡¯s hasty judgment. But, she really hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. She was just an ordinary servant cleaning the halls. He was no stranger to being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And as a true knight, he would always protect the innocent.

    Nevermind that the person he¡¯d saved was technically his enemy. Or, had been¡ªhe was no longer a knight in service of the King, and his adventuring companions were but memories. Did he really have an enemy at this point?

    Lycoris wasn¡¯t sure what to believe or think. They were monsters, cast out from the Goddess¡¯ light, worthy of being shunned, loathed and destroyed for devouring the souls of humans. But Lilianna was kind, and he hadn¡¯t lost his sense of humanity despite his purpose being torn away from him¡­

    His head spun as his thoughts spiraled, finding no exit to the maze despite the key to the door hanging around his neck.

    While he was distracted by his internal struggle, the maid fitted him into an elegant multi-piece dress covered in ribbons and tied at the back with a great big blue bow, complete with a garterbelt and tights tugging on his slender thighs beneath a flared out skirt with several layers of silken cloth.

    By the time he realized what she¡¯d done, it was already too late to object. Not that it looked bad on him.

    There was something like this in that dresser!? You know¡­ I never did ask Lilianna where all these clothes came from, or why they fit me so well.

    He sighed internally as he looked at the elegant image of a noble girl reflected back at him, while the maid dutifully combed his hair.

    ¡°Your Highness, how shall I style your hair? And how do you prefer to wear your makeup?¡±

    ¡°¡­My what? Er, listen you don¡¯t have to do all this for me. I can take care of my hair myself.¡±

    ¡°Oh my! Such a self-sufficient girl already,¡± the maid tittered, before her expression softened into sorrow, ¡°I¡¯m sure it must have been hard, having to handle everything on your own with Mama so busy all the time.¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t call her that. And for the record I¡¯m forty five years old! You really don¡¯t need to¡ª¡±

    ¡°Only forty five!?¡± Athena gasped. ¡°As expected of Her Majesty¡¯s daughter, your intelligence and eloquence are both truly beyond that of any normal child your age! Though I suppose commoner children would learn to take care of their own morning routines by now¡­ But you needn¡¯t worry about such things!¡±

    Ah, right, he slouched his head and shoulders as the maid began to play with his hair. At least someone seemed to be having a good time. I forgot¡ªor guess I didn¡¯t really believe in the first place¡ªLilianna¡¯s explanation about relative age. I wonder if it¡¯s a good thing that this maid doesn¡¯t know the truth¡­ I wonder what she¡¯d even say?

    Athena hummed an unfamiliar tune, bundling his hair up in a bun just like his mother¡¯s.

    ¡°What do you think? Makes you look like Her Majesty, right?¡±

    ¡°Eugh,¡± he reflexively grimaced. ¡°Pass. Next.¡±

    ¡°Hehehe, it does look a little too mature, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    Maturity isn¡¯t the problem here! I already look too much like her for my own mental wellbeing! He shouted within his heart.

    ¡°How about this, then?¡±

    Next she styled his hair by pulling it back and twisting the sides up into loose spiraling curls as they flowed together into a single side swept ponytail. It certainly looked¡­ regal, and wasn¡¯t as immature as the twintails¡ªthough he did like those flower ornaments Lilianna had picked out.

    Not that he¡¯d ever admit such a thing to any living soul.

    Something about having someone else play with his hair felt far more embarrassing than doing so himself. Maybe it was because she actually knew what she was doing, and was able to bring out some hidden charm he¡¯d missed in his new looks. As a human, he hadn¡¯t shaved it off entirely, but he¡¯d kept it cropped short enough that it wouldn¡¯t get caught on anything or in the way of wearing a helmet; as a result, having long hair and being able to play with it was a novel experience.

    But he felt just as flustered as the first day he spent in this palace all over again.

    ¡°Sure, whatever, it''s fine,¡± he said dismissively, covering up the embarrassment with feigned disinterest. ¡°I¡¯d rather not waste all day on this.¡±

    ¡°Of course! But first, your makeup!¡±

    ¡°Is this really necessary?¡±

    ¡°Mmm¡­ well you are quite the natural beauty, just like Her Majesty. Plus you¡¯re young, so we can go with just a little touch-up~ ¡­Oh, this jar isn¡¯t even opened?¡±

    She unscrewed the cap and looked at the contents with a frown.

    ¡°I assume Her Majesty never found time to teach you about makeup, Princess Lycoris?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not a¡ª no, thankfully she never bothered. Don¡¯t I look¡­ c-cute enough already?¡±

    ¡°Heheheh, oh it seems that Your Highness has a charming spot of naivete indeed! Just you wait¡­¡±

    A dangerous gleam sparkled in Athena¡¯s eyes. Lycoris wasn¡¯t even given a moment to catch his metaphorical breath before she set to work. His face was powdered, his eyelashes curled, lips glossed, brows styled and even for good measure, she painted his nails with a rather familiar shade of night-sky blue.

    ¡°Whoa¡­¡±

    When she¡¯d finished her craft and pointed his face toward the mirror, he could only gasp in wonder. The reflection staring back positively glowed, cheeks accented with a gentle blush, lips glistening in the light, eyelashes starkly contrasting the scarlet glow of his irises. Even the pointed ears and fangs he so detested only seemed cuter¡ªmore charming¡ªwhen paired with the radiantly youthful face.

    ¡°I¡­ look really pretty¡­?¡±

    ¡°Of course you do! Your Highness is Exaltare Lilianna¡¯s beautiful daughter after all! Go ahead and marvel at your maid¡¯s handiwork to your heart¡¯s content, while I pour you a glass for lunch!¡±

    ¡°Lunch?¡± he cocked an eyebrow, keeping his gaze half-fixed on the mirror as he turned toward Athena.

    As he watched her shuffle towards the cabinet, a sense of dread gripped his heart. The bottle that he¡¯d dropped when he rushed out earlier was still laying on the carpet. She crouched down, picked it up, and turned it over to look at the cork.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    She next turned her attention to the layered rows of bottles, her frown resurfacing as she set the ¡°wine¡± back in its spot on the shelf.

    The unease spread to his stomach as his gut tightened, his eyes briefly darting toward the scythe still resting against the wall. Could he really threaten Athena if she tried to make him drink blood?

    No, no. That was too extreme of a response; it¡¯d be no better than what Lilianna was going to do to her. He could just¡­ talk his way out of it. In fact, maybe the maid knew something about an alternative! She mentioned lunch after all, there¡¯s no way it could¡¯ve just been¡ª

    ¡°Princess, have you really not¡­ had anything to drink?¡± Athena shook her head, mumbling to herself as soon as she posed the question, ¡°No, that has to be impossible, what are you thinking Athena? There¡¯s no way she could survive without drinking anything. Her Majesty must be arranging meals together elsewhere¡­ Uhhrm, Does Your Highness have a preferred flavor? Personally I find Oray Reds to be a little heavy for¡­ lunch?¡±

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Her voice trailed off as she turned to look at Lycoris, who¡ªwithout realizing it himself¡ªhad backed up against the wall beside the door, his manicured hand fumbling around for the handle.

    Distracted as he¡¯d been by her impressive makeover skills, he¡¯d completely forgotten who he was dealing with¡ªwhat he was dealing with. The maid who helped him out of bed and fussed over every aspect of his attire and appearance was a vampire too; of course she¡¯d believe that committing such a sinful act was normal.

    But he wouldn¡¯t do it, not again.

    It was only a brief lapse in willpower that caused him to lose his self control before; after that, he knew better than to let his guard down. It would¡¯ve been so much easier if he could simply give up and drown himself in that hunger, but that would truly be the death of the man Mizar had entrusted the fate of humanity to.

    Lycoris wasn¡¯t sure if he could actually live up to that expectation. Maybe he couldn¡¯t save humanity by slaying the Exaltare, but he could at least save his own soul. That much would keep Mizar¡¯s wish alive in his heart.

    ¡°Your Highness, what¡ª¡±

    Lycoris¡¯ hand twisted the door knob, and he wrapped his other around his scythe, rushing out the door before the maid could squeeze another word in.

    He had no objective or destination in mind. It was simple panic propelling him forward. He knew he couldn¡¯t stay there, or else Athena would drag him further away from the Goddess¡¯ grace. Even just thinking about it caused his hunger to tug at the back of his mind, like a pitch black serpent desperate to sink its fangs into his rationality, its venom a temptation that he could scarcely endure.

    He felt hot tears of frustration slide off his cheeks as he sprinted as fast as his legs could move, the hallway blurring into a smear of white and red while he bemoaned his own stupidity and terror. Like a scared child, he¡¯d reflexively chosen to panic and escape the situation instead of remaining calm and carefully explaining. But his survival instinct¡ªif that¡¯s even what was pushing him forward right now¡ªtold him that she wouldn¡¯t listen.

    Undoubtedly the maid would say something unbelievable like ¡°don¡¯t be silly, Princess. It¡¯s normal to devour humans like the animals they are¡± and shrug off his anxiety.

    It was normal to them, after all. That¡¯s what made them monsters, blasphemous existences in the Goddess¡¯ eyes!

    Worse still, he understood exactly why. Even just the thought of how it tasted sent a shiver through him. His mind had sunk into a satisfied haze while he gulped down that glass. He knew that it was a sinful delight, that if he allowed himself to sink deeper into that indulgence, he¡¯d lose whatever was left of his humanity.

    He just had to escape to¡­ somewhere. Find real food and drink. If he lingered, then the last vestiges of ¡Á¡Á¡Á¡Á¡Á would evaporate like smoke.

    But that would be impossible in his current state. Even if he had a plan, Lycoris knew that if he escaped the towering palace, it¡¯d only be so long until his mother would catch up and reclaim him. And a part of him felt reticent¡­ to leave her side.

    Absent a conscious plan or calculated judgment, Lycoris found his legs carrying him down the familiar path to the training hall. The nostalgic tang of metal and sweat in the air was like a natural balm to the poor confused child¡¯s heart.

    Once inside, Lycoris fell back on the knight¡¯s old habit. He steadied his body and emptied his mind, holding his scythe like an excessively long sword and performed rhythmic practice swings. It was no different from when he¡¯d been the retired knight¡¯s disciple, when he learned to separate his mind from all the misery and abuse that¡¯d piled up on his shoulders and focused solely on his swordsmanship.

    But unlike back then, he felt hollow. His weapon was unusually heavy in his hands, as though fighting back against every swing he performed.

    In the past, each thrust of his sword was a step towards the future, a world that he¡¯d help shape and protect with his own hands. A step further away from the haunting memories of his parents. But now, he¡¯d reached the end of that story. He¡¯d lost his place among the Rays after doing the right thing, and he¡¯d lost his companions after trying to ¡°save the world.¡±

    Instead, he was burying his head in the sand and avoiding the obvious truth staring him down. There was no meaning to practicing like this if he didn¡¯t see a future worth being in. The only future he could imagine now was one where he would sink into the abyss as a monster.

    ¡°Your Highness!¡± Athena¡¯s voice called out from behind.

    Lycoris turned around, but cast his eyes toward the floor, unable to bring himself to meet her earnest and worried gaze. Coming here had certainly accomplished one thing at least. His panic had vanished, and in its place was a profound and hollow sense of dread.

    He wished he could ask Mizar what to do. What a stupid thought. He was supposed to be the teacher, the one with the answers. That was why Mizar had trusted him, wasn¡¯t it?

    But he could only think of two choices: Either end himself, abandoning Mizar¡¯s last wish and trampling on Lilianna¡¯s feelings; or disregard the Hero¡¯s sacrifice and throw the Goddess¡¯s teachings into the trash, and become the kind of monster he swore to slay. He didn¡¯t know if the Goddess would forgive him upon his death, but he knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to, and neither would his beloved pupil.

    But even if Lycoris couldn''t forgive himself, he couldn''t bear the thought of taking his scythe to his own neck. The thought of that kind woman''s face twisted in grief was too painful. He didn¡¯t notice when it happened, but Lilianna had already dug her roots into his heart¡ªhe''d lost his opportunity to take the easy way out.

    Dragging himself out of his own head, he sighed at Athena, ¡°Didn¡¯t I say to stop calling me that¡­¡±

    ¡°B-But, Your Highness is the Exaltare¡¯s daughter!¡±

    ¡°I guess¡­¡±

    ¡°If I may be so presumptuous as to ask¡­ why did you run away, Princess?¡±

    A tired half-smirk twisted on the ¡°Princess¡¯¡± lips. If destruction and damnation were the only options left for him, and he couldn¡¯t bear to be the one to destroy himself, then why not speak the truth? He could just reveal what a monster he''d become, and let others do the work for him.

    ¡°Because¡­ I¡¯m a human! Hmph, isn¡¯t it obvious? I know what you monsters keep in those bottles!¡±

    The maid tilted her head, confusion blossoming across her brow. ¡°Is this some kind of game?¡±

    ¡°A g¡ª no! I¡¯m human! And a man at that! Lilianna just¡­ arbitrarily decided all of this on her own! She ¡®embraced¡¯ me and turned me into this.¡±

    ¡°¡­ ¡­ ¡­Pff¡ª¡±

    Rather than showing shock or horror or even anger, Athena laughed.

    ¡°Snrk¡­ Ahahaha! O-Oh dear, hahaha! I¡¯m sorry, Your Highness¡ª hehe, oh no I shouldn¡¯t laugh but¡ª ahaha¡­ it¡¯s just too much! Oh¡­ Exaltare take my head for my indiscredulation!¡± She slapped her cheeks rather forcefully, her face momentarily bruising purple. ¡°I haven¡¯t heard such an absurd joke in my entire life. Her Majesty, making a ghoul of a human child, and calling them her own? Did you perhaps get that idea from one of those fangfiction sites?¡±

    ¡°From a what? No, I-I¡¯m being serious here! Listen, I realize it sounds preposterous¡ªat least, based on what Lilianna¡¯s explained¡ªbut I really did end up as a proper vam¡ª n-not a ghoul. Why do you think I freaked out when you fed me blood? And why I ran away when you were about to again! How much do you leeches even need anyway!?¡±

    ¡°Now now, Your Highness, there''s no need to go so far. Even as a joke, that''d be quite dangerous to say to the wrong person. And while being a picky eater is a bit cute and maybe an endearing trait for a child to have, I¡¯d prefer to avoid telling your mother that you¡¯ve been purposefully starving yourself. She¡¯d probably have to find you another maid after that conversation¡­¡±

    ¡°I am not being a picky eater! It''s not a matter of what kind of blood, I just refuse to drink it entirely!¡±

    ¡°But why would you ever refuse nourishment?¡±

    ¡°Because I¡¯m a human,¡± he repeated emphatically. ¡°Look, can¡¯t I just like¡­ eat food? You know, bread and water, maybe some jerky¡­¡± he murmured, squeezing the locket with his free hand. ¡°Even vegetables! Honestly I¡¯d relish some nice fresh cabbage. ¡­I¡¯m not a picky eater!!¡±

    Surely, surely there had to be another way. Yes, they were vampires, but they were all also surprisingly normal people. He''d come to that realization after hearing so much¡ªyet also so little¡ªabout their culture from Lilianna. The topic of food production never came up in Lycoris¡¯ conversations with his mother, but they couldn''t all be bloodsuckers. It sounded downright unsustainable given the sheer volume of vampires living in just this city, much less their whole nation.

    Lycoris looked up to Athena expectantly, hope sparkling in his eyes, but the maid mercilessly cut down his proposal.

    ¡°That''s not a proper meal, Your Highness. You know that.¡±

    ¡°No I really don¡¯t, apparently. That can¡¯t be the only way, right? Right!?¡± he whimpered desperately, fresh tears welling up and blurring his vision.

    ¡°This¡­ seems like it¡¯s a touch beyond just playing pretend. If I may ask, what brought on this sudden change, Your Highness? You¡¯re over forty years old, just what do you think you¡¯ve been consuming all this time? Why would you suddenly¡­ Ah! It must have those damned ghouls. I bet one of them put some dastardly curse on you, Princess! We need to bring this to Her Majesty¡¯s attention at once.¡±

    Does she really find the idea that I was a human that impossible? Surely she isn¡¯t that dense¡­

    ¡°Has there really never been a human turned vampire before¡­?¡±

    ¡°Nope!¡±

    Her response was so instantaneous, Lycoris was momentarily struck dumb. Athena took the chance to grasp the hand holding onto his scythe and began dragging him off.

    ¡°W-Wait! Let me go!¡±

    ¡°Nope! I¡¯ll be speaking with Her Majesty about this after, even if it costs me my life; I can¡¯t in good conscience allow a young girl to starve herself, especially not one so important and adorable as Your Highness!¡±

    Though vampires were naturally more physically fit than humans, he shouldn¡¯t have been any weaker than this maid. And yet for whatever reason, he couldn¡¯t free himself from her rigid grasp as she tugged him along. Maybe if it was Lilianna, he¡¯d understand the discrepancy, but what was up with this random maid!?

    If it weren¡¯t for the fact he was still holding onto the orichalcum scythe, he would¡¯ve thought that he¡¯d become an actual child.

    She wore a deeply grave expression, shutting down every attempt he vocalized begging her to stop. Even though she was supposed to be his servant, she refused to obey him as she hauled him back into his lavish room. Lycoris¡¯ heart ached as she dragged him in front of the cabinet. He shut his eyes as she pulled out a bottle, wishing he could cover his ears while she hummed a jaunty tune and expertly sabered the bottle against his scythe.

    As soon as the slightly acidic and fruity scent reached his nose, Lycoris whimpered.

    ¡°See? You¡¯re starving! Damn those ghouls for whatever it was they did to you!¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t get it, I¡¯m a human! I¡¯m not¡­ ah¡­¡±

    With his free hand, he reflexively reached out for the glass she¡¯d poured.

    ¡°But, why? I already¡­ drank before,¡± he muttered vacantly. ¡°Why am I still so¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s hardly any wonder. Every growing girl needs three square meals a day, Your Highness. I¡¯m not sure how long you¡¯ve been fasting for, but it really can¡¯t be good for your health and development.¡±

    ¡°Three!? Ahah¡­hahah¡­ahahahaha!¡±

    As the sheer absurdity of what she said sank into his bones, he felt something snap inside himself.

    Howling with pained laughter, he gripped the glass with enough force to crack it.

 9 â€” Thrice a Fool

    Sitting up straight in her throne, drumming her fingers against one of its armrests, Lilianna listened with displeasure as her loyal blade delivered a report.

    More and more lately, she¡¯d felt the doldrums of her job grating at her, every moment a reminder that she could be with her precious little flower instead. She recognized it as a problem¡ªshe couldn¡¯t very well hand the keys to the empire off to someone else¡ªbut that didn¡¯t make it any less obnoxious that this report really could have been an email instead.

    Lycoris had been surprised that vampires rarely wrote anything down in a permanent capacity, but their race lived long enough that they had all the time in the world to spend sharing information verbally instead.

    It only became a problem for the Exaltare now that she was in a situation where every second mattered. Her daughter¡¯s naivete and innocence would only last so long, after all!

    But she couldn¡¯t demand Lesath submit a written or digital report instead. Such an outlandish demand would raise suspicion for far too many reasons.

    And this was something important.

    Apparently a ghoul from the Sefer Family had brought the two intruders in. Naturally his life had been swiftly ended, and the courtier in charge of his visits to the palace was apprehended and brought in for questioning. But according to Lesath, the man was oblivious to this scheme and had never met the two ghouls who¡¯d accompanied his own.

    The fact he decided to let them in anyways was enough justification to strip him of his holdings, if not execute him outright. Given that, there was little reason to doubt the veracity of his words, but she still deemed it necessary to interrogate him personally.

    ¡°Is he still being held in one of the interrogation rooms?¡±

    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. Shall I have him brought before you?¡±

    ¡°Please.¡±

    ¡°At once, then.¡±

    The woman, whose countenance was sharper than a blade, stood up straight and pivoted on her heel, her short hair bobbing as she marched to the door.

    As she opened it, a familiar blue-haired and gold-eyed maid stood there with a troubled look on her face. Lilianna felt the temperature in the room drop as she completely ignored the Executioner and rushed into the grand reception hall.

    ¡°Forgive my supreme discourtesy, Your Majesty, but I bear an urgent report! ¡­F-For your ears alone.¡± She turned around to look at the hall filled with staring eyes all focused on her.

    Lilianna felt a twinge of anxiety, an emotion quite foreign to her these days. She mastered herself quickly, masking the unnecessary feeling with her deepening irritation. This was twice in the same day that her usual proceedings had been interrupted. Had this woman already failed Lycoris somehow?

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Hiieee! U-Um w-well, uh¡­¡± Athena glanced over her shoulder at the bewildered ash-haired butcher, swallowing her spit. ¡°It¡¯s about¡­ you know¡­¡±

    ¡°We understand,¡± The Exaltare snapped her fingers, ¡°everyone, leave. Immediately. Return only once we permit you to. Failure to comply will be treated as an act of sedition. We trust you to understand what to do to any dissenters, Lesath.¡±

    ¡°Ma¡¯am!¡±

    At her command, every single guard and courtier rushed out, leaving just her and the quivering maid. It was almost nostalgic, reminding her of a scant few weeks ago when she¡¯d first encountered her darling Lycoris in this very room.

    ¡°Speak. If it is serious enough to warrant interrupting our affairs, hold nothing back. We¡¯ll decide what we do with thee after.¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes, Your Majesty. It¡¯s about¡­¡± she looked around the empty room, before shuffling right up to the throne and muttering quietly, ¡°Lycoris.¡±

    ¡°Obviously. Cease stalling.¡±

    ¡°R-R-Right! My apologies! Um¡­ Well it turns out¡­ she¡­ she seems to have developed hemophobia.¡±

    ¡°What.¡±

    ¡°Hiiiieeee! I-I¡¯m being quite serious, I¡¯m afraid. She hadn¡¯t touched any of the blood left in her room, and after downing another glass she¡­ screamed again. I was forced to use a sleep spell on her and put her to bed. M-My infinite apologies! If I had known that¡¯s what had set her off before, I would have informed Your Majesticiousness of it immediately!¡±

    ¡°Is that what it was¡­¡±

    ¡°A-Also she was¡­ v-very insistent that she was a human. I''m not sure what sort of entertainment she''s been watching but surely that''s inappropriate behavior for a princess of her age, no? N-N-Not to say that Your Majesty has somehow failed to raise a perfectuous little girl! But¡­ I think she might¡¯ve been¡­ c-cursed by those ghouls.¡±

    Lilianna placed a hand to her head, brow furrowed in deep displeasure and pain. She hadn¡¯t even considered the possibility that Lycoris would starve herself for weeks on end. All her time with her daughter had been exclusively spent imparting every bit of knowledge she¡¯d need to present herself in public, and to one day take her position.

    But in hindsight, it was so painfully obvious that she felt just as foolish as the day her sister had swapped their seats at the selection ceremony. She could tell that her daughter had been looking more and more haggard, and had been growing fatigued quicker each day, but in her distraction she assumed that she¡¯d just been pushing Lycoris too hard.

    ¡°No, no they didn¡¯t lay a finger on her. How blithe we¡¯ve been¡­ that we would forget the simplest of lessons.¡±

    ¡°Y-Your Majesty?¡±

    ¡°It is nothing, watch over her. Do not pressure her. We shall tend to things once our work is done. The Sefer boy has much to answer for, and the Tamisrah wished to whine about the geolles or some such. Ideally we won¡¯t have to gather the entire council for that¡­ Spoil her as we would,¡± she flashed a sharp smile, cutting down whatever concerns Athena was about to give voice to.

    ¡°As you wish! Then, if that is all,¡±

    Athena wobbled as she turned around and rushed out of the room, leaving Lilianna scowling to herself once more. Lycoris must have avoided bringing it up for a reason, but just as with everything involving her little flower, Lilianna couldn¡¯t understand what was going on in her child¡¯s head.

    £ª

    Athena was bewildered as she wove her way through the crowd of whispering voices outside of the Exaltare¡¯s reception hall, making her way to the elevator. The thought never even occurred to her to change into street clothes before venturing out into the city below; she was too focused on Her Majesty¡¯s reaction to the news.

    She didn¡¯t seem at all shocked by Her Highness¡¯ behavior, but perhaps that was merely because she was still seated in a public place and couldn¡¯t risk causing a scene. Even if the hall had been emptied, there were no doubt spiders crawling on the walls attempting to pick up whatever morsels they could.

    Athena would have to stay on her guard, the true overseers of those ghouls could be anywhere.

    Her Majesty is so impressive though, she¡¯s always prepared for any circumstance! She must¡¯ve already foreseen this, otherwise why else would she say she¡¯d handle things? But if she¡¯d seen through this, why didn¡¯t she speak with Her Highness already¡­? Hmm¡­

    She definitely seemed as though she realized exactly what was going on with the Princess. Who was Athena to dare question Her Majesty¡¯s plans? Perhaps it was simply tied to Her Highness¡¯ education.

    But if that¡¯s the case¡­ D-Did I mess up somehow by feeding her!? No but, she looked so hungry, and Her Majesty didn¡¯t flay my skin for upsetting her efforts¡­ Mmmggh, I don¡¯t get it!

    She waited politely at the elevator for its passengers to disembark, following her usual unobtrusive servant routine as she covertly examined every single one, deciding to press the confused thoughts aside for the moment. Most of them were either lesser nobles or courtiers come to speak with each other in the privacy of Her Majesty¡¯s palace, but among them she saw a rarity: Stooping down to go through the elevator doorway, wearing an earthy brown toga over its gray skin covered in shaggy moss, she exchanged looks with a geolle.

    Everybody going about their business gave the towering golem a wide berth, though Athena knew it wasn¡¯t because of the imposing sight of its tusks sprouting from its mouth. They were simply a troublesome race to deal with, as conventional weapons bounced off their hide and they were quite resistant to magic.

    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    Not to mention, they didn¡¯t have drinkable blood flowing through their veins, making them useless to vampires outside of the ore they harvested and sold.

    Once she stepped inside and pressed the reflective metal button for the first floor, Athena resumed brooding. How could Her Majesty be so sure of the Princess¡¯ condition? Perhaps she already checked for curses after I left? But then where would her hemophobia have come from? Arrgh, great going Athena, one day on the job and you¡¯ve already botched it! This is why I was disowned, wasn¡¯t it¡­

    Athena frowned in the privacy of the elevator as she rode it down.

    On top of her mounting failures, she¡¯d been given quite a vexing task. She couldn¡¯t possibly know¡ªnor dared to consider, really¡ªhow the Exaltare treated her daughter in private. Even just thinking back to the two of them in an affectionate embrace filled Athena with an unplaceable anxiety.

    And yet, she¡¯d have to figure out how to ¡°spoil¡± the Princess.

    The only things she ever really splurged on were junk food and entertainment, and Athena was wary of showing the impressionable princess any form of media that might further endear her to humans, if even incidentally.

    She wanted to avoid anything that¡¯d mess up the Exaltare¡¯s curriculum for Lycoris, but had to do something for her all the same, without any knowledge of what exactly Her Majesty had planned.

    But Lycoris¡¯ own desperate and pitiful words resonated in her mind, and inspiration struck like lightning as she clapped her hands loudly in the small elevator.

    ¡°Of course! Hmm, I don¡¯t know if Her Highness will appreciate oily peasant fare, but¡­ the novelty of it might cheer her up somewhat at least. And surely Her Majesty will be okay with it just this once.¡±

    As the doors opened at the bottom foyer, Athena strode forth with renewed ambition and a determined smile.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    For the third time in the same day, Lycoris awoke atop his fluffy bed. He wasn¡¯t sure what time it was, but he was still in the dress Athena had forced him into, and had been sleeping atop the covers rather than beneath them.

    Noticing the slightly sweet aftertaste lingering in his mouth¡ªand smelling it in the air¡ªhe rolled onto his side and stared at the opened wine bottle on the bedside table.

    He should¡¯ve been disgusted, but after being browbeaten mercilessly by his own hunger and the maid¡¯s words, Lycoris was too mentally fatigued to envision the disappointment the Goddess and her followers would¡¯ve looked down upon him with. He wanted to curl up and fall back asleep forever. He wanted to go wherever his friends had gone.

    He wished Lilianna were there.

    Lycoris couldn¡¯t even deny it anymore; she was smart and wise, she was kind to him, and showered him with patience and mercy. Maybe that''s how an actual mother was supposed to be¡­ He wanted her to somehow fix all of this, even though it was all her fault to begin with. Lilianna was the only lifeline he had in this place.

    He couldn¡¯t leave, he had nowhere to go.

    He couldn¡¯t hide, for it was his own body that betrayed him.

    He couldn¡¯t escape, because he was too weak and stupid.

    This was the price for his foolishness.

    But even still¡­

    ¡°This sucks.¡±

    Three times a day? It was an untenable amount of blood, ignoring the fact that it was no different from how often the average human had to eat. Did they really source their entire supply from humanity? There was no way that could be sustainable. Unless vampires happened to have a starving peasant class as well¡­

    He thought back briefly to his old life, and imagined a dead-eyed field of humans instead of corn, swaying silently in the wind.

    ¡°Eugh.¡±

    He rolled back over, hiding from the container of dismal delights. Without anything else to do, Lycoris closed his eyes and began to think of his companions and their journey again, praying that wherever they were now, they¡¯d forgive him.

    His hands cradled the locket like a platinum egg. He prayed to the Goddess, begging for some way out.

    At the same time, there was a knock at the door.

    His prayer interrupted, he slowly sat up and looked at it. Probably just the maid again. Would she force him at scythe-point to down the rest of the bottle, perhaps?

    ¡°Come in¡­ I know you¡¯re going to anyway.¡±

    ¡°How do you feel, Your Highness?¡±

    Athena entered gracefully, carrying a large crinkly brown bag in her hand.

    ¡°Like a Grandwood Runner trampled over me. Like death warmed over. Like I¡¯ve been cursed by the Goddess for my sins.¡±

    ¡°A whowhat? The huh?¡±

    ¡°I thought the plainstriders were allies to the vampires.¡±

    ¡°Oh! Well, some are yes, but it¡¯s not as though I¡¯ve ever been out of the country. I um, don¡¯t know much about anything outside our borders, really.¡±

    She crossed over and pulled one of the chairs off of the wall, sitting down beside the bed. Making room for the bag by pushing the bottle and cracked glass aside, she began taking out several wrapped sheets of crinkly colored paper.

    ¡°¡­What¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°Well, I spoke with Her Majesty, and afterward decided that maybe what¡¯d fix you up is a nice treat!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not¡­ more blood¡­ is it?¡±

    ¡°Ancestors no! Her Majesty told me not to force anything upon you. Unless you want¡ª¡±

    ¡°NO!¡±

    ¡°R-Right, understood, Your Highness. Anyway I visited a restaurant and ordered some things to go. I thought it might be fun to try them! It¡¯s certainly popular, at least.¡±

    Lycoris nervously picked up one of the wrappings. It was still warm, like a baked sweet potato almost. He gently peeled away the paper; inside was a rounded loaf of bread with sliced vegetables and¡­ some kind of ground meat patty.

    In one of the other paper bundles were several thin strips of hot salty potato rations, coated in salt.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Hehe, Your Highness has never been outside of the palace, have you?¡±

    ¡°Not since I met Lilianna¡­ There¡¯s no blood in this, right?¡±

    ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be! Maybe there¡¯s still some in the meat, but I did make sure to ask first! I admit, I¡¯ve never actually bothered to try a burger myself. If it¡¯s no good, the fries are definitely blood-free though! The worker at the counter gave me a pretty weird look when I asked but I endured for your sake, Princess!¡±

    Athena unwrapped a second burger and bit into it in front of Lycoris, as though demonstrating it wasn¡¯t poisoned.

    ¡°Oh! This really is good¡­¡±

    Lycoris was certainly no stranger to meat, and it didn¡¯t smell like cooked human. At least, not like a human cooked inside a suit of armor by fire magic. He pushed the unpleasant thought aside and stared down at the burger with a hint of reticence. It was the first thing he¡¯d seen resembling actual food in weeks. And his own words of ¡°not being a picky eater¡± came back to him.

    Athena had certainly tried, that much was obvious.

    The innocent(?) princess timidly sank his fangs into the burger, the juicy, savory, and greasy flavors mixing together in his mouth. It was unlike anything he¡¯d ever tasted in his life.

    Unfortunately, it was plainly obvious as he swallowed it down that there was barely any sense of satiation for his appetite, but it was definitely tasty; he devoured the entire thing in a scant few moments, licking his fingers afterward.

    ¡°Princess! That¡¯s no way to behave.¡±

    ¡°Mm?¡± he looked up at her, sucking on a finger.

    ¡°Your mother entrusted me with your care, I cannot allow you to behave in such a slovenly manner!¡±

    She immediately took out a cloth and began wiping Lycoris¡¯ hands for him.

    ¡°E-er¡­ even in private, though? I know she said ¡®always comport thyself as a ruler must¡¯ but¡­ also why are you wiping my hands off!?¡±

    ¡°Because I am your servant!¡±

    ¡°¡­Does Lilian¡ª M-Mom have servants handle that for her as well?¡±

    ¡°But of course!¡±

    ¡°Huh¡­¡±

    Lycoris fell silent after that, trying¡ªand failing¡ªto imagine his mother making a mess and having someone clean up after her. The only way he could imagine she could ever be so clumsy is if she were spilling the blood of an enemy and it splashed onto her, or something of that nature¡­

    Pulling him out of the thought, Athena waved a small golden wedge in his face.

    ¡°Say ahn~¡±

    ¡°I am not a chi¡ª ahmph!? Mmh, don¡¯t tell me I shouldn¡¯t be eating on my own either. Not even the King was that vain.¡±

    ¡°King¡­? No, I just wanted to try that at least once! It¡¯s every servant¡¯s deepest wish to personally wait on their master in such a manner! ¡­I saw it in a movie.¡±

    ¡°How is the blood-drinking the most normal part about her¡­¡± he grumbled to himself.

    Resigning himself to the not-so-awful fate of being hand-fed by Athena, he let the salty warmth suffuse him, his spirits gradually recovering after his second real meal.

 10 â€” Negotiation Between Lilies

    ¡°Hey, Athena?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Highness?¡±

    ¡°Does Mom¡­ have any hobbies?¡±

    After they finished bonding over greasy junk food, Lycoris had propped the pile of luxurious silk-covered pillows against the backboard of his canopy bed and was resting with his hands folded over his lap, while Athena had chosen to pull up a stool beside the bed. He¡¯d tried to offer her a seat beside him on the bed, but she¡¯d gotten quite flustered and refused, and even rejected the notion of sitting in one of the proper chairs¡­

    The thought had occurred to him as he sat there staring at the image of the prim and proper little girl reflected back at him, wondering what he could even do to relax. He¡¯d never had the time for hobbies himself, but Princess Fawaris loved tending to and painting pictures of a small garden in the King¡¯s castle.

    But as for Lilianna¡­ he¡¯d never given it any thought, as he¡¯d spent forty-odd years seeing her as nothing more than an absolute evil to be destroyed. But she obviously had to fill the thousands of years she¡¯d been alive for with something.

    When Lycoris turned and asked the maid his question, she fell quiet as she puzzled out an answer. He was impressed that she didn¡¯t immediately spout servile platitudes, more than anything else.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ I¡¯m not actually sure. Even a woman of her outstanding caliber must have at least one or two¡ªaside from tending to Your Highness, of course! There¡¯s nothing she¡¯d rather be doing than spending time with you, I¡¯m certain of that much.¡±

    ¡°H-Huh!? Where¡¯d that come from, and why are you so certain of that?¡±

    ¡°As a vassal in Her Majesty¡¯s service, one learns to read her mood or perish otherwise! When she¡¯s impatient, when she¡¯s about to reach for a weapon, when she¡¯s liable to grab someone by the throat and¡ª¡±

    ¡°Why is every example so violent!?¡±

    ¡°*ahem* Though it is presumptuous of this foolish maid to voice Her Majesty¡¯s thoughts on her behalf, it was plain as day that she barely restrained herself from dropping everything to sprint to your side the moment I brought up your hemophobia.¡±

    Lycoris frowned in embarrassment, as his thoughts inevitably wandered back to Lilianna¡¯s words on love. ¡°I¡­ suppose she does seem pretty attached, doesn¡¯t she? W-Wait, you did what!?¡±

    That shyness was short-lived however, evaporating when he realized what Athena had said. The color washed out of his pale cheeks as dread supplanted embarrassment.

    Nothing good could possibly come of her tattling on Lycoris¡­

    ¡°It¡¯s a serious condition! I¡¯m sure Her Majesty will know just the cure for you though, Princess! At least, she certainly seemed to realize something in the moment.¡±

    Yeah, I¡¯ll bet¡­ he scowled internally. He¡¯d rather not linger on the thought of what his mother¡¯s idea of ¡°treating¡± his refusal to drink blood would be.

    ¡°So? Hobbies?¡±

    ¡°Oh! Right. May I ask why Your Highness is so curious?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s a little late to do any training¡ªplus I¡¯m tired¡ªso I thought¡­ maybe I¡¯d go for a walk and see what else is here. I¡¯ve only really seen a few rooms, and I¡¯ve never left Lilianna¡¯s private wing¡­ aside from that trip to the armory I guess¡­ This is the first time I¡¯ve ever really felt like I have free time.¡±

    ¡°Armory? A-Ah, but it makes sense Your Highness would want a change of pace. Hmm, but where could we¡­ oh! I have just the idea!¡±

    The maid¡¯s overwhelming exuberance¡ªrather than optimism¡ªinstilled only a foreboding sense of anxiety as Lycoris¡¯ stomach twisted in concern.

    Athena smiled brightly as she stood up and excused herself with a bow.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    The Sefer boy had proven more helpful than Lilianna initially expected.

    He explained that there were three ghouls involved, one of whom had found a home with the Sefer family after managing to win his way out of Vanas servitude, where he then served as an advocate for ghoul rights. It was immediately obvious to Lilianna that he hadn¡¯t escaped the Vanas, so much as they let him go¡ªshe knew full well the measures they took to ensure the obedience of their ghouls and lesser followers.

    Everything else he said was useless fluff that amounted to shirking personal responsibility¡ªshe ignored it all and ordered his immediate imprisonment. She¡¯d decide his fate later, depending on whether she needed extra bait to lure the Traditionalist family into overextending, or potentially to pressure Sefer if they were about to risk upsetting the established order with more unhinged and careless proposals.

    Regardless, the ghoul¡¯s custodian couldn¡¯t be let off easily; not just because his lack of foresight had put everyone in the Transfixion of Heaven at risk, but he¡¯d put her little flower in harm¡¯s way.

    Such a crime demanded merciless retribution.

    If she hadn¡¯t considered his potential use as bait, she might¡¯ve killed him on the spot.

    It seemed as though he knew that too, given his reluctant acceptance when she¡¯d ordered his incarceration¡­ though admittedly she¡¯d acted partially out of impatience. She wanted to hurry the day along so she could tend to her distraught daughter.

    But when a towering slate-gray figure covered in shaggy moss and sporting an earthy brown toga entered alongside the Tamisrah courtier, her optimism plummeted.

    He was a geolle. Their entire race looked like roughly hewn golems, with nazca line-like sigils etched into their bodies, and a set of four marble-white smilodon-esque tusks sprouting from their mouths; their arms were as thick around as Lilianna¡¯s waist and their legs rather squat, giving them a somewhat lopsided appearance not unlike a gorilla. She hadn¡¯t spoken with many of them directly, but knew enough to tell this one was male based on the fact he grew out the moss on his body, rather than his head.

    More importantly, she knew how¡­ abrasively stubborn they could get, especially when it came to trade. And they often displayed little respect for vampiric decorum.

    As complaints about Geolle price-gouging (particularly on precious minerals) began to flow from the Tamisrah¡¯s mouth like a river, Lilianna sank into her throne and rested her cheek against her fist, wondering if she could find some way to blow them off without causing any political fallout.

    The expressionless geolle had a ponderous rebuttal ready for every single individual point the Tamisrah made, and as he went through them one by one, she felt her eye twitch each time.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    ¡°And¡­ why exactly are we wearing these?¡±

    Athena had left Lycoris alone in his room, returning after several minutes with a pair of reflective white full-body suits. They were reminiscent of the skintight undersuits that frontline Vampire shocktroopers wore beneath their armor. Except the ones Athena had brought were clearly more than just under-armor.

    They were both obviously crafted with adults in mind, as the one she offered to Lycoris was far too big for him to move around in comfortably. The material bunched up around his elbows when he pulled the gloves tight enough to articulate his hands, he had to pull up the waist in order to move his legs, and the neckline of the suit hung loosely off of one of his shoulders.

    ¡°Because they¡¯ll protect us from the sunlight, of course!¡±

    They hadn¡¯t left Lilianna¡¯s private wing, but Athena had instructed Lycoris to put on the bodysuit all the same, which left him stomping awkwardly down the hallway as she cheerily led the way.

    ¡°Is every single vampire this blithe, or did I pick up a cursed relic at some point that doomed me to an eternity of getting the least useful answers to every question I could possibly ask about any subject? Am I fated to spend the next hundred years slowly going mad?¡±

    ¡°Hehe, Your Highness sounds just like your mother when irate.¡±

    ¡°Do you want me to take your head off!?¡±

    ¡°Augh! P-Please forgive this foolish maid for forgetting her place! No¡ª if my life is what you desire, I¡¯ll gladly offer it up for your sake, Princess! ¡­Though it would fill my last moments with deep regret to leave you in the care of someone else. Besides your mother, of course.¡±

    Lycoris let the suit flop down as he put the oversized gloves to his face.

    ¡°Just answer the question, why do we need these suits on? We¡¯re not going outside, are we? No, wait, the sun doesn¡¯t even shine on these accursed lands.¡±

    He left unspoken the part that actually bothered him, as his thoughts inevitably wandered toward the question of whether or not the Goddess¡¯ light would reject his cursed new body.

    If they really were going somewhere that would put them at risk of exposure to the light, he was thankful that the outfit would at least delay the answer until he could mentally prepare himself.

    If he ever could be prepared for such a thing.

    ¡°Your Highness is quite dedicated to that roleplay¡­ Hmm, I could answer that, but please understand that I have a very, very good reason for this, Princess. I¡¯d like to keep it something of a surprise.¡±

    ¡°Haven¡¯t you already ruined the surprise by saying that?¡±

    ¡°Hehehe, oh you¡¯ll see~ Would you like me to carry you? It seems like you¡¯re having a bit of trouble with your sun-suit.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d rather die,¡± he flatly replied, pulling back up his so-called sun-suit and catching up to her.

    With a hurt frown, Athena turned back around and resumed leading the way. The almost exaggerated way her shoulders sank annoyed Lycoris, though he couldn¡¯t decide if he was more annoyed with her or with himself for actually getting under her skin and¡­ hurting her feelings.

    Despite her obsequious tendencies, she¡¯d seemed surprisingly unflappable, and she¡¯d forced him to drink blood not once but twice. Surely that much deserved at least a little payback, but¡­

    Why am I even feeling bad for her? Ugh, it¡¯s all this stupid tiny body¡¯s fault! If I was my old size this wouldn¡¯t be so cumbersome¡­

    ¡°Why¡¯d you make me get changed before we arrived at¡­ wherever it is we¡¯d need these sun-suits anyways?¡±

    ¡°Ghk! U-Um, I thought it might help Your Highness acclimate to walking around in one!¡±

    ¡°Athena,¡± he raised his voice, angling his head and folding his arms in the haughty and annoyed pose that his mother had meticulously taught him how to hold, ¡°I realize that I likely come across as a precocious¡ªand perhaps naive¡ªchild,¡±

    The maid rather tactfully avoided expressing her opinion.

    ¡°However, I am still your¡­ master. I demand honesty from, um, a-all those beneath me. If you can¡¯t even manage that much, then I see no reason not to have Mother dismiss you from your position. ¡­Preferably non-fatally.¡±

    ¡°Your Highness¡­¡±

    The maid paused at the end of the hall and turned around to look back at him, her eyes sparkling with tears. The way she clasped her hands together as she looked down at Lycoris in the comically oversized sun-suit brought a sudden pang of self-consciousness to his pose and behavior.

    ¡°Wh-What is it? Did I say something weird?¡±

    ¡°N-No! Anything but! I was just momentarily taken aback at how much like your mother you were behaving. Though I really shouldn¡¯t be surprised, she did raise you after all. Oh! I should reward proper behavior, um¡­ Right, well, you caught me. I was hoping Your Highness might ask me to carry you like a princess.¡±

    ¡°It''s only been like three weeks though¡­ wait, what did you say?¡±

    ¡°U-Um, oh, hey, look! We¡¯re here~!¡±

    Athena expertly evaded the young princess¡¯ fury by diving around the corner and rushed up to an adamantine door, with a mana-signature panel where the doorknob would normally be.

    Other than that, it looked like a perfectly ordinary door, not nearly as grand as the ones Lycoris had seen when Lilianna took him to the armory. He looked up at the maid, still frowning and wrinkling his eyebrows expectantly, waiting for her to explain why one door at random seemed so much more high-security than all the rest.

    Completely ignoring his gesture, Athena put her helmet on and clamped the seal on it, before assisting Lycoris in doing the same and then putting her hand over the panel. It lit up as a beam strobed over her palm, and the door opened with a gentle hiss after a short alert countdown.

    Inside, Lycoris saw¡­

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    ¡°The price we charge for untempered quartz is exactly within our metrics for base operating costs. If we didn¡¯t upcharge, there¡¯d be no profit in selling it in the first place; we wouldn¡¯t be able to reinvest in tunnel maintenance or the development of new deep vein mines. Please understand, many of our cities are beginning to exhaust their mines, and can scarcely feed their children. We can only dig so deep before we reach the Ancients¡¯ ruins.¡±

    The geolle¡ªwhose name was¡­ Drekk, if she had been paying attention properly¡ªhad argued back and forth with Selene Tamisrah for at least a solid eighty minutes now. Lilianna had spent that time considering her vast repertoire of spells to find one that might let her escape this tedium, but his mention of children tugged her back to reality.

    For the first time since the criminally unhumorous comedy duo entered, the Exaltare lifted her head from her palm and sat up, fixing her scarlet gaze on the geolle.

    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious! It¡¯s quartz, the stuff is everywhere and your rates are highway robbery! And that¡¯s before tariffs factor into it. And I¡¯m sure Her Majesty is fully aware of the lack of¡­ exclusivity that your cities¡¯ mines have demonstrated.¡±

    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.?¡°We¡¯d have to charge even more if we were to cease selling to the Sylphs and Piscin!¡±

    ¡°That isn''t what I am speaking about. Look here, Your Majesty.¡± She produced a written missive¡ªclearly not vampiric in origin¡ªand handed it over to one of the guards, who brought it to Lilianna.

    ¡°Wait, what is that¡ª¡±

    With her mind still on what the geolle had said about their young, Lilianna glanced down at the sheets of coarse parchment paper. Though once she read what was on it, her attention shifted wholly to the paper.

    They were instructions, shipping routes, and records of the sale of untreated orichalcum to Human settlements. It was practically an open admission of sedition.

    Her eyes looked up from the parchment, settling not on the geolle but the vampire.

    ¡°Why was this not the first thing to be brought to our attention?¡±

    ¡°M-My apologies, Your Majesty! If it wasn¡¯t for this brute attempting to dodge the issue for so long¡ª¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the one who started off talking about improper quantities of elbinaut ore being imported,¡± the geolle said reproachfully.

    It was difficult to read his body language and expression, given their quite literal stone-faced nature, but the way he clenched his hands gave away his awareness of what exactly these papers were.

    ¡°I felt it was important to¡ª¡±

    ¡°Silence!¡±

    Though the room had already been quiet, at her command it fell oppressively still. Not a single soul remained standing on two feet. Save for the geolle, who tumbled onto his backside and sat with a stupefied¡ªpresumably¡ªlook, every other person within the grand hall knelt reverently facing the Exaltare.

    ¡°We appreciate the attempt at stringing them along, Tamisrah,¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your understanding, Your¡ª¡±

    ¡°However we are a busy ruler, with many, many matters that require our specific attention. Geolle.¡±

    ¡°Y¡­Yeah?¡±

    Though lacking the same decorum as the vampires, Drekk still bowed and trembled in terror as her focus shifted toward him.

    She could have him killed, his city caved in, and let that be warning enough to the rest of his race. But she was feeling uncharacteristically charitable today, and would rather not have to leave the capital for an extended period of time. Especially not when Lycoris was having issues with eating.

    Lilianna stood up from her throne, thrust forward with her arm, and proclaimed, ¡°A disciplinary force will be sent to thy own city¡¯s mines, and a second division to thy capital. Should anything come to light that corroborates this tale of mineral goods being handed over to Humans between now and their arrival, thy home shalt be reduced to mere pebbles and used to repave our garden. Long have we shown a gentle hand to thy kind, but our patience is not boundless. There will be no third offense. Tamisrah.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty!¡±

    ¡°Gather thy fellow councilors, we shall leave the matter of who forms this disciplinary force to you. But ensure the Sefer appoint the overseer. Do not fail us.¡±

    With her ultimatum declared, the Exaltare vanished from the room in an eruption of scarlet flame, leaving behind the missives on the throne¡¯s armrest.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    A world of flowers stretched out along rows upon rows of raised planter beds.

    Lycoris was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of color as Athena pulled him into the room before the door automatically slid shut.

    The indoor greenhouse was almost as spacious as the training hall Lycoris frequently spent his days inside. He wasn¡¯t quite sold on why the training hall had to be as large as it was when only a single person¡ªor, two people now¡ªever made use of it, but when that much room was being put to use on such a vibrant arrangement of various types of flora¡­

    ¡°Fawaris would love this¡­¡± he mumbled inside the suit.

    ¡°Your Highness?¡±

    He found himself absentmindedly wandering down the line of planters, covered in lush greenery punctuated with meticulously sorted and matching bright colors blooming all around. It was reminiscent of the royal gardens of Traskia, though instead of carnations and azaleas, there were roses of every hue, neatly sorted by gradient within one planter; another held an assortment of daffodils, irises and orchids, all meticulously arranged to catch the eye; bright red daisies lined another, while pastel-hued hydrangeas formed a cul-de-sac at the far end of the chamber, a simple wooden chair and side table resting in their center.

    The entire space was brightly lit by overhead lamps, and as Lycoris walked through the bountiful garden, a thin haze of mist began to descend to delicately water the plants.

    He moved to take his helmet off, wanting to take in the aroma of the flowers as awe overtook and quashed his sense of reason and caution.

    Before he could undo the clasps on his helm, Athena¡¯s hands tightly grasped his own and dragged him back to reality.

    ¡°Your Highness! You must keep your suit on while the lights are on!¡±

    ¡°Eh? But I wanted to smell the flowers. I¡¯ve never even seen some of these before¡­¡±

    Lycoris¡¯ eyes wandered over to the nook with hydrangeas in it, noticing an empty glass tumbler resting alongside a leather-bound book on the table. He couldn¡¯t make out what the cover was, but it didn¡¯t look like anything heretical at a glance. Just a quiet place to read.

    It reminded him of a moment long ago, before he¡¯d lost his position in the Rays but after he¡¯d taken Mizar as his pupil. The two of them had paid a visit to Castle Draloth at the King¡¯s behest, and while waiting for the reception hall to be prepared for His Majesty, the two of them had stumbled across Fawaris reading a leitnovel in a guest room.

    She¡¯d been hiding from her instructor and sought a moment of solace, and that was when Mizar first met her. Lycoris could tell even back then that the two had clear chemistry¡­ even if the young hero completely botched his first impression.

    A wry smile creased across Lycoris¡¯ lips as he recalled the way she nervously chuckled in confusion, and when Mizar boyishly asked his teacher for courtship advice later on.

    He certainly didn¡¯t have anything to offer there, much to the hero¡¯s dismay. And ultimately, that seemingly fated meeting was why¡­

    Lycoris chased the thought away, turning back toward the maid as she idly trimmed one of the plants.

    ¡°So¡­ Mom¡¯s hobby is¡­¡±

    ¡°Growing flowers. Though, Her Majesty is often too busy to personally tend to them, so the process is mostly automated¡­ and I come in and do pruning now and then.¡±

    ¡°Why would she take up such a hobby if sunlight is so dangerous¡­? I mean, it¡¯s very pretty but¡­¡± he looked at the rows of lights hanging from the ceiling, confusion overtaking him as he considered the implications.

    ¡°I would never dare to presume Her Majesty¡¯s thoughts, but¡­ perhaps it¡¯s because flowers are beautiful. And as I said, it¡¯s a very hands-off process.¡±

    ¡°Even going as far as to imitate Her radiance¡­ Is this what Her teachings were cautioning against? To think that vampires could even create an artificial environment that mimics nature¡­ Though I suppose they¡¯ve done the same with the perpetual clouds overhead.¡±

    It was undoubtedly blasphemous, but at the same time, his mind leapt back to the gratuitous number of servants dedicated solely to tending the King¡¯s gardens.

    He¡¯d asked Princess Fawaris just what the point was back then, too, when the King himself never actually came to admire the flowers. Her response had been¡­ something. A symbol of his position? That sounded right¡­ The Princess enjoyed the flowers though, and would often invite the knight to show off her favorite newly sprouted blossoms now and then.

    She certainly knew a lot about different types of flowers. It¡¯s a shame she never had the chance to meet Elham, I bet the two of them would¡¯ve been fast friends.

    He smiled as he wandered around the garden, letting the mysterious nostalgia wash over him as faded memories of a sunlit past drifted alongside. If only he could clamber out of the suit, it would¡¯ve been perfect¡ªhaving to stomp around inside the muggy pile of sagging cloth was an incredibly awkward, distracting, and generally miserable experience.

    Lycoris would even prefer wearing ceremonial full-plate, at least that had been fitted to his body.

    Athena expertly faded into the background, letting him get lost in the foliage. His commander had often summoned him for meetings in the royal gardens, though whether it was mere habit or if she had some ulterior motive, he never found out.

    For a moment, he thought he heard the tiny voice of the Princess as she ran up and tackled his waist from the side. But when he turned around, there was obviously nobody there.

    She¡¯d barely been seven years old the first time they met, but with how he looked now, she¡¯d probably treat him like a little sister¡­

    ¡°Not that they¡¯d let me anywhere near Traskia, much less Castle Draloth, now,¡± he sighed.

    He was starting to get tired of hauling the sun-suit around, but just as he turned around to find Athena, the lights dimmed as a filtering layer of glass slid over them.

    Instinctively, he unfastened and doffed the helmet, shaking his hair loose from the suit as he let it fall down around him. He barely had to unfasten the zipper to step out of it, though he still frowned as he noticed the wrinkles that¡¯d formed from the awkward scrunching of his dress.

    Immediately he was assaulted by the fragrant aroma of flowers, and at the same time a soft pair of arms wrapped around his shoulders from behind.

    ¡°Huah!?¡± He nearly jumped out of his skin.

    ¡°Did we not say that thou must always be prepared to conduct thyself with grace and poise?¡±

    ¡°L-Lilianna!? What are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°We should be asking you that, dear.¡± She placed her hand atop Lycoris¡¯ head, squeezing him against her with the other. ¡°This is our private garden, though it seems a much sweeter flower has found her way into it. Lured by a devious maidservant¡¯s surreptitious whispers, perhaps.¡±

    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±

    ¡°And we''ve heard rumor that this adorable little flower is as dishonest as ever. Not that there isn¡¯t a certain charm in that, when not over dire matters. We are glad to find you in fair spirits, Lycoris. After the servant informed us of your condition, we grew quite concerned.¡±

    ¡°Conditio¡ªah. Right.¡±

    He¡¯d gotten so lost in the past that he nearly forgot. He wished he had.

    Lycoris looked down at his feet and fidgeted with his hands, unsure where to put them with no weapon to hold. He eventually settled on gripping Lilianna¡¯s arm, his tone apologetic and shy as he continued.

    ¡°I was so wound up before that I forgot to bring up the whole reason I even lost my cool to begin with. I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    ¡°We are not without fault or flaw either, and we are here now, dear. If you wish to speak on it, you may.¡±

    He failed to wriggle his way out of her grasp, craning his neck instead to look around for his maid. He didn¡¯t see her anywhere¡­ though the flowerbeds were a little bit on the taller side, relative to Lycoris, and dense enough that he couldn¡¯t see through them.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Athena?¡±

    ¡°Out of earshot. It was¡­ bold of you to confess to being raised by humans. There¡¯s certainly no need to explain why you mustn¡¯t do so again, we presume.¡±

    ¡°¡­Is there really nothing else I can eat or drink?¡±

    Lilianna remained silent for a long moment, an assortment of complicated expressions drifting across her face before her grip tightened around him. As though she were protecting him from something, or like she was afraid of something.

    Lycoris couldn¡¯t place why, but every time she held him like this, it calmed him down. Even though he was still terrified of the idea of spending the rest of his life drinking human blood, paradoxically, he felt less scared after asking her.

    Choosing her words carefully, she finally spoke. ¡°There is¡­ no way around it, unfortunately.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­¡±

    The tension left his shoulders, his body trembled, tears began to well up of their own accord.

    ¡°But perhaps we can still help. What about it bothers you so? Unfamiliar with Human custom as we are, we did not presume that the mere act of drinking blood would be¡­ met with such revulsion.¡±

    ¡°I mean¡­ it¡¯s human blood. It¡¯s why we¡­ Why humans fight to stop you all from destroying our homes and harvesting us like¡­ like we¡¯re just animals.¡± He should¡¯ve sounded angrier, but his weariness had returned in force. ¡°The Goddess says that you consume our very essence, trapping our souls until you¡¯re slain and our kin are free to return to Her side.¡±

    She gave him a pitying look, like a soldier incapable of telling someone their relative would never return home.

    ¡°There are many truths to this world that are unpleasant to hear. ¡®Twould be far easier if they hadn¡¯t instilled such foolish notions within your head¡­ We do not cull humans merely to reap their blood, but¡­ It sounds as though you would be fine if it were not human blood?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯d be easier to tolerate.¡±

    Not even Lilianna could contain the sudden shock of laughter that brought about. ¡°Hahahaha, really now?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t laugh! I¡¯m serious,¡± he frowned.

    ¡°Most people would have the exact opposite response, dear Lycoris. Animal blood is considered commoner fare, and heavily treated with chemicals to make it palatable. We¡¯ve never partaken ourselves, but it''s apparently deathly bitter when consumed raw.¡±

    Wait¡ª

    His heart skipped a beat.

    ¡°¡ªyou mean I don¡¯t have to drink human blood!?¡±

    ¡°We won¡¯t have our daughter consuming peasant fare, Lycoris.¡±

    ¡°N-No wait, please! You can¡¯t be serious!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re quite serious, dear. We see no reason for you to cling to such petty paralogisms.¡±

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t¡­ want to eat people¡­ What¡¯s so hard to understand about that?¡±

    He looked down at his feet and clenched his hands around her arm, tears pattering against the ground as his nails dug into her skin. She neither winced nor recoiled, showing no reaction if his vice grip was hurting her.

    His voice had become a pitiful, hoarse whimper.

    ¡°It would¡­ I¡¯d become a monster, the Goddess would never forgive me. If She even still does now¡­ Please, I¡¯d rather do anything else, just¡­ please¡­¡±

    ¡°Such cruelties they¡¯ve imposed upon our daughter.¡± She rubbed the side of Lycoris¡¯ head, turning him around to hug him properly. Her eyes wandered over to the bright violet dahlias just behind him. ¡°It will undoubtedly invoke suspicion to bring animal blood into our palace¡­ and you might hate how it tastes besides. What will you do then?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll tough it out. I¡¯ve put up with worse.¡±

    Lilianna sighed, realizing that he likely wouldn¡¯t budge on this now that she¡¯d brought up the possibility. ¡°In that case, for now, we¡¯ll accommodate our capricious child¡¯s picky tongue. But know that this is a temporary measure. You will eventually need to push past those dogmatic biases¡­ but we do not wish to torture you to tears.¡±

    In the quiet garden, the only sound beside Lycoris¡¯ thumping heart was the distant sound of shears, snipping away in the background. Around them, the audience of flowers silently stood by and watched the proceedings. At last, the knot of anxiety within him truly abated.

    Gradually, he brought his own arms up around her and, for the first time, returned her tender embrace with a timid squeeze.

    ¡°Thanks, Mom¡­¡±

 11 â€” Mind Over Matter

    After perhaps the worst day of his life in many ways, the next few passed with blessedly little fanfare. His schedule remained mostly the same, save for the fact Athena greeted him each morning and insisted on handling his morning routine.

    He couldn¡¯t help but notice that every dress she picked and outfit she coordinated for him was so frilly that he could barely tell where the ribbons ended and the clothing began, rather than the simpler and more subdued style he would¡¯ve chosen¡­

    And while she didn¡¯t ever vocalize it, he could also tell the maid was both confused and concerned by his choice to willingly drink animal blood. Every time his face wrinkled from the sourness, he could see her biting her lip, fidgeting with her hands and averting her eyes.

    It tasted noticeably worse than the human blood he¡¯d sampled before, but it at least sated him. He avoided thinking about it as best he could; the idea of enjoying a cold glass of crimson liquid each morning still repulsed him fundamentally, even if he didn¡¯t feel like he was committing a mortal sin.

    He didn¡¯t like that his mother had called it a temporary measure, either, but that was a problem for future Lycoris to deal with.

    His most pressing concern was spellcraft training with Lilianna. While Athena tended to just about every whim and need he had¡ªand several more that he didn¡¯t¡ªshe left matters involving Lycoris¡¯ education and rearing solely to ¡°Her Majesty¡± to handle.

    Not that said education was proceeding poorly, but the rather visceral way he had to draw out his densely mana-infused blood was forcing him to confront his new inhuman regenerative capabilities.

    He¡¯d accepted in his mind that he was a human-turned-vampire¡ªsomething that was apparently impossible, according to Athena¡ªand that there were at least¡­ one, or maybe two, vampires that weren¡¯t that bad¡­ in some ways. But it was like feeling bugs crawl over his skin any time he was actually reminded that he¡¯d become the very enemy he¡¯d sworn to slay.

    Lilianna¡¯s presence at least helped. She remained patient, and any time Lycoris seemed as though he was going to lose his composure, she¡¯d call for a break to ease his nerves, rationalizing and reminding him that this was all perfectly natural. Even if he had no reason to doubt her, it still felt wrong, like his body was defying the rules the Goddess had put forth.

    But ultimately, it was just stubbornness that kept him from accepting himself¡ªherself.

    As a consequence, he was stuck at an impasse when it came to applying magic. No amount of theory could help him get over the hurdles he¡¯d created in his own mind, after all.

    ¡°Let us pause here, Lycoris. We can tell your mind is beginning to wander.¡±

    For practice, she¡¯d have him draw out his mana and make it into simple geometric shapes. The idea was that if he could rapidly change his blood¡¯s form without conscious thought or hesitation, he¡¯d be able to focus more on altering its other properties, like temperature or weight.

    And from there it would continue branching out into more abstract forms as the focus shifted to mana within the blood rather than the physical manifestation itself, like how Lilianna had placed a geas upon Athena.

    ¡°Magic is all about imposing your will on reality. If your mind falters¡ª¡±

    ¡°Then I won¡¯t be able to produce any phenomena, I know. And I know full well how important fundamentals are as a basis to build off of¡­ but do I really have to go through this every time?¡±

    He rubbed his palms, which felt a touch sore after having his mother prick them with her fingers for the Nth time. She¡¯d been incredibly gentle¡ªtoo gentle, really, given who she was¡ªand made sure to numb Lycoris¡¯ hands for him before every session.

    Though he still managed to horrify himself once when, disregarding her advice, he opened his eyes and saw what happened while she was taking care of ¡°cleanup.¡± The image of his blood flowing back into his hands was something he could¡¯ve gone without ever seeing.

    ¡°Oh dear, our darling daughter is feeling a touch of childish impatience already? If only we had our phone ready to take a photo¡­¡±

    She placed a soft kiss on his head as he shrunk inward in embarrassment. He distracted himself by wiping his hands down with a cloth, staring into the bowl sitting between the two of them that served to catch his blood after each round of practice.

    ¡°It¡¯s not impatience¡­ I just hate that you have to stab open my hands every time. Can¡¯t we move on to the next step or something? I can make whatever shape you want me to, and I¡¯d like to have something I could practice on my own, too.¡±

    Lilianna hummed thoughtfully. ¡°That¡¯s part of the issue, dear. Your hesitation is keeping you stuck inside of your shell. We¡¯ve done everything we can to make the process as painless as possible, but at some point you have to accept yourself. There is technically nothing preventing you from progressing on your own, now that we¡¯ve given you the tools to practice with. You simply need the will to ¡®pierce the veil¡¯ on your own.¡±

    ¡°I dunno if I can,¡± he muttered nervously.

    He already knew everything that she said was true, perhaps even moreso than she did. It brought to mind Princess Fawaris¡¯ naggings for some reason, when she asked him why he joined the knightly order of the Goddess¡¯ Rays, instead of¡­

    Instead of¡­

    ¡­Why can¡¯t I remember?

    ¡°Perhaps you are simply in need of a more tangible goal, and an extra tool? Technically, we are jumping ahead quite far by doing this, but¡­¡±

    She drew Lycoris¡¯ attention back as she tensed one of her hands, before plunging it into her other palm with a sharp thrust. Lycoris winced, resisting the compulsion to shout in concern and look away. He had seen endless horrors on the battlefield, so it really shouldn¡¯t have bothered him as much as it did¡­ but his worry for Lilianna vanished when he realized her hand hadn¡¯t gone through the other end. It was inside her palm.

    Slowly, with the flair of a stage magician, she withdrew a glittering dagger made of carefully sculpted sapphire, small woven mythril-silver threads wrapped around the base as a handle.

    ¡°This is how we stow almost all our most important belongings. As we have been instructing you thus far, the first step is regulating the flow of mana within your blood. To aid in that, we¡¯ve been performing a spell on you with a limited hypnotic effect. Overreliance on it would only prove detrimental to your development, but¡­ so long as you use it sparingly, we shall lend you the aid of this enchanted dagger.¡±

    Unfortunately, her words went in one of Lycoris¡¯ ears and out the other; his eyes were fixated entirely on the artifact in her hands. ¡°H-How did you¡­¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve spoken before on how our blood is akin to liquid mana. Stowing physical matter as a mana-based concept is a trifling affair, once you¡¯ve grasped the principle. Where did you think we were drawing our swords from?¡±

    He stared at the dagger in pure awe, like a child that¡¯d seen their first ever magic trick. There wasn¡¯t a speck of blood on it, nor did her hand bear any sign of injury. It was beyond simply instantaneous healing; she had reached inside of herself and pulled the knife out like she was simply taking something out from one of her pockets.

    ¡°A word of caution: this magic is many layers more complicated than what you already struggle with, we do not expect you to succeed right away. The initial goal is to break down those mental barriers you have trapped yourself behind. Needless to say, once you¡¯ve reached the point that such a spell is trivial for you, there will no longer be any need for us to coax your mana out from within your veins.¡±

    ¡°What¡­ happens if I fail to cast the spell, though?¡±

    ¡°Naturally, you¡¯d simply stab yourself in the hand.¡± There was just a hint of nervousness in her voice and on her face as she carefully elaborated, ¡°W-We understand your disinclination toward what you perceive as cruelty, so know that we are not forcing anything upon you. If you do not wish to attempt this, we will continue to teach you at a pace comfortable to you.¡±

    Lycoris looked up from the glittering trinket to meet her gaze, and answered by reaching forward and grasping the dagger. It felt warm in his palm, as though already suffused with his body heat, and it cast pale blue spots on the opposite wall as its crystalline geometry refracted the ambient glow from the fireplace.

    It was clearly an expensive ornamental piece, but its edge was as sharp as finely honed diamond.

    ¡°I¡¯m not really keen on the idea of self-mutilation¡­ but you wouldn¡¯t make this offer unless you were certain I¡¯d succeed, right?¡±

    ¡°In accepting the challenge, in a sense you already have.¡±

    The two of them shared a timid smile, uncharacteristic of the mighty ruler, and Lilianna carefully explained the process by which Lycoris would have to learn.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    Lately, Athena felt eyes on the back of her head¡ªeven moreso than usual. She didn¡¯t know who, or why, but whenever she was outside of Her Majesty¡¯s private wing of the palace, it was an ever-present weight bearing down on her back.

    Rather than let it get her down, Athena took it as a sign that she should spend more time with Her Highness Princess Lycoris. Not that she really needed additional motivation.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    Though she would never speak it aloud, and felt terror even thinking about it, it was obvious that the Princess desperately needed someone¡¯s aid with her morning routines. The girl had never once even touched the supply of makeup that Her Majesty had left for her, she only did the most perfunctory job of tending to her hair, and while Her Majesty had found a solution to the girl¡¯s hemophobia, Lycoris still seemed reluctant to take her meals without Athena expressly serving her.

    Not that Athena didn¡¯t understand. Even she couldn¡¯t stomach pure animal blood. At least it wasn¡¯t raw¡ªanimals were woefully unclean after all, not that humans were entirely without their blood borne illnesses¡ªbut every time the Princess choked it down, the maid felt a pang of concern.

    When she¡¯d spat it back out the first time she tasted it, Athena had made the mistake of suggesting going back to human blood instead¡­ It truly was a miracle that her head remained affixed to her shoulders. Even remembering the look that Her Highness had shot her way sent a shiver of terror through her body¡ªshe truly was the Exaltare¡¯s daughter from tip to toe. Though, the fact Athena still drew breath was proof of the boundless benevolence she carried in her heart as well.

    Maybe that was the cause for her human-centric behaviors¡­ Maybe she¡¯d read something penned by a desperate ghoul, and her merciful heart took pity on the misbegotten fool.

    If that was the case, then there was no need for Athena or Her Majesty to worry over it. Those feelings would no doubt fade with time as the girl grew up and her mind matured.

    Aside from having to corral Her Highness into wearing attire suitable for a princess and sitting still while having product applied to her face, Athena¡¯s job was remarkably easy compared to her former cleaning duties. Lycoris didn¡¯t seem to have much in the way of desires, though it was painfully obvious that she wanted to venture beyond the safety of the palace wing she was restricted to.

    Any time she¡¯d asked about going out, Athena had been forced to inform her that such a thing would remain impossible until Her Majesty announced her official position as Heir-Significate, which served as a decent enough excuse to try and get Her Highness to act more proper! She may have behaved with precocious maturity in some ways, but quite a bit of her bearing and speech was decidedly not appropriate for a princess.

    If she truly wanted more freedom, she would have to present herself as a proper princess first.

    All that said, she was an astonishingly punctual girl, waking up before Athena even came to knock at her door at eight in the morning each day; when asked about it, Lycoris had told her that she was something of a restless sleeper, and spent her early morning hours on some sort of routine.

    Athena worried over the idea of Lycoris not getting enough sleep each night, and she wasn¡¯t much reassured by the girl¡¯s response of ¡°I¡¯m fine, really! Please don¡¯t say anything weird to Mom.¡± when asked if she needed help sleeping. But she chose to avoid pressing the matter, given that Her Highness¡¯ schedule was already fairly relaxed.

    The girl mostly spent her days either training, practicing her speech and posture when she thought Athena wasn¡¯t looking, or laying about pining for her mother¡ªthough she seemed quite shy about how much she missed her. It was still plainly obvious to Athena, with how much the girl cherished the locket her mother had given her.

    She didn¡¯t really seem that attached to technology either, which was a shock to Athena. When she found out that Her Majesty hadn¡¯t even supplied her with a phone, she was momentarily flummoxed as to why the Exaltare would restrict her in such a manner, but Lycoris seemed anything but bothered by it.

    Her Highness was truly a bewitchingly mysterious girl, in each and every aspect Athena could think of, from her origin, to her habits, to her manners.

    ¡°However, she seems to have quite the soft spot for foodstuffs. These pastries are supposed to be popular with young girls, I¡¯m sure even the bloodless variety will be a treat for¡ª¡±

    ¡°AAGGGH!¡± A terrible, guttural wail came from Lycoris¡¯ room.

    ¡°Your Highness!?¡±

    Athena nearly dropped the box in her arms as she dashed up to the door and shoulder-checked it open. Reaching for one of the knives tucked under her skirt as she burst in, she frantically cast her eyes around the room.

    Nothing was out of place, nobody was there who shouldn¡¯t have been, but Lycoris was doubled over in front of the vanity and biting her lip.

    Athena rushed over and crouched down, dropping everything she¡¯d been carrying as she put a hand to the girl¡¯s shoulder. She was trembling slightly, and stabbed through her palm was¡­ One of the Empire¡¯s national treasures!?

    ¡°Huh¡­ Where¡­ What in the¡ª¡±

    ¡°A-Athena? Ah, right this¡­ probably looks pretty weird, doesn¡¯t it?¡± the little vampire chuckled shyly. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to succeed on the first try but¡­ Nnggh¡­ Aa¨Caahaaoowwie.¡±

    She whimpered while slowly pulling out the Lunar Tear from her hand. Her injury closed instantly, the athame soaking up her blood and emitting a faint sparkle from within its crystalline center.

    ¡°F-Forgive my ignorance Your Highness, but why did you do that?¡±

    ¡°I was just working up my courage and¡­ following Mother¡¯s instructions.¡±

    ¡°Her Majesty¡¯s¡­?¡±

    Even though she¡¯d been gasping for breath¡ªfor some reason¡ªa moment before, Lycoris turned to Athena with a serene calmness in her eyes. She sat with her back straight as she rehashed what she and her mother had discussed regarding her training in spellcraft.

    ¡°I¡¯m not the sort of person to practice pointless self-mutilation or flagellation, Athena.¡± She stared rather pointedly at the maid.

    ¡°O-Of course! I would never dare to assume that¡­ O-Oh, I see,¡± she paused, realizing that¡¯d likely been a comment on how eagerly Athena offered up her life on an hourly basis. ¡°*ahem* R-Right, well¡­ There¡¯s quite a few rumors about what sort of power is locked in the Lunar Tear. I¡¯m surprised Her Majesty simply handed it over to you.¡±

    ¡°It has a name? ¡­Mother worries quite a lot over me, I¡¯m sure she wouldn¡¯t do so without having thought it through. Besides, it should be much easier for me to practice like this.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s bizarre to hear you be so frank, Princess¡­ would you like to take a break?¡± Athena¡¯s eyes wandered to the box of pastries she¡¯d hastily set on the ground.

    ¡°No, I¡¯ve only just started practicing. I don¡¯t want to waste the resolve that brought me this calm. Do as you wish, so long as you avoid disrupting my concentration.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ I mean, yes, Your Highness!¡±

    Athena slipped her knife back alongside its companions in her garter belt holster, and then checked the box of pastries with a troubled frown, ensuring that the sudden movement hadn¡¯t damaged any of them.

    She¡¯d been wishing Her Highness acted more proper only moments earlier, but this felt¡­ like the wrong way to get there. There was just something unnatural about the way Lycoris looked and sounded, like the dagger had cut away part of what made her so special, part of who she was.

    The girl¡¯s dedication was admirable, at least. Athena had never studied much in the way of magic outside of the compulsory education she was given in school, and yet the Princess was eager enough to homeschool herself through whatever means she could manage.

    Properly placing the package of pastries on the small end table beside the bed, she folded her hands and stood nearby in somewhat awkward silence as she watched Lycoris¡¯ brutal and methodical practice¡­

    £ª

    Lycoris returned her focus to her hand as she wiped it down with a cloth, before reaching for the dagger and turning it over and around. She was no stranger to enchanted artifacts, but the cruel calmness this item brought about with a ritual offering of her blood could be likened more to a curse than a boon if misused.

    She could reason out why her mother had seemed so nervous, but the woman¡¯s fears were unfounded. Her current trance felt the same as whenever she ventured onto the battlefield, the magic granting her mastery over unnecessary thoughts and feelings. It was like she¡¯d suddenly realized that a glass of water was neither half-empty nor half-full; the only thing left was the fact that ¡°half its volume was liquid.¡±

    She almost felt like laughing at herself for how shy she¡¯d been about her new form. There was nothing she could do at this point if the Goddess had already decided to abandon her, and Mizar and Elham were both gone. There was nobody around who knew who she¡¯d been or could judge her¡ªLycoris was the Exaltare¡¯s daughter now, after all. She should have felt liberated with the ties to her past relationships and responsibilities severed. Without those threads to restrain her, she should¡¯ve been able to easily discard her emotional baggage as well.

    Except in her case, the liquid half-filling her glass was her emotional baggage. Without the rationalization behind them, there was no meaning for her actions, nothing to commit her life to, no reason for her to learn or even do anything. In her emptiness, she was left wondering if any of that baggage even mattered. Was it just an excuse? Had she actually changed at all from the soldier who came here to¡ª

    Lycoris shook her head, focusing on the glimmering dagger instead.

    If she was to be less than a blank slate, better to spend the time she¡¯d earned on something she knew would be useful to the sentimental human in her. It wasn¡¯t as though she¡¯d become a wholly different person, the same core principle still spurred her into action. She¡¯d simply gained the ability to set aside her fear and hesitation.

    Lycoris needed to prove to herself that this wasn¡¯t a curse, but a blessing. She needed to prove that accepting who she was now wouldn¡¯t erode her morals, nor his.

    She stared at her open palm with a muted sense of trepidation, like a frenzied animal buried beneath the dirt but still trying to howl in vain. She may have been in a much more potent version of the same trance-like state her mother eased her into for training, but it still hurt when she stabbed herself. Even if it¡¯d heal up immediately, or presumably be completely painless if she performed the spell correctly, she wasn¡¯t the sort of person who enjoyed the sensation of pain.

    Right, she was still the same person she always was. Freed of distraction, all she had to do was commit her focus to the task at hand and push everything else out of her mind. Just like always.

    ¡®Do not think of the blade in your hand. Think of it as an extension of your body, the same as your skin, your muscle and bone, your very blood. Let it melt into your palm and return to where it belongs.¡¯ Her mother¡¯s words echoed in her mind.

    Lycoris closed her eyes and focused on her heartbeat, on the blood coursing through her veins, on the sensation of the air against her skin¡­

    ¡­and slid the knife in once more.

 12 â€” Misguided Mind, Missing Maid

    Lilianna had given her daughter an impossible task and a dangerous tool.

    Even hours later, she still worried that it¡¯d serve as too strong of a crutch, and leave Lycoris unable to call upon or master her powers without it. If that was the case, she¡¯d surely be demotivated having to start over with the basics¡­

    Her motive was unrelated to the spell itself, it was just a visible goal post. The art of blood conversion required one to master tapping into their natural flow of mana, being able to draw it out as well as return it to its source, and converting matter into a metaphysical state so that it could mingle with the mana already in one¡¯s blood.

    They were all concepts beyond Lycoris¡¯ immediate sphere of knowledge, and in that sense¡­ Lilianna may have lied when she said she knew her daughter could succeed.

    But the point was to help Lycoris overcome her unnecessary fear of herself. In that sense, all she had to do was use the dagger¡¯s power even just a single time and she¡¯d naturally begin to understand and accept her body.

    The reason she¡¯d chosen the Lunar Tear in particular wasn¡¯t because she wished Lycoris to rely upon it every time, but to eventually realize that she didn¡¯t need to. If she could just move past relying on hypnotic effects, Lilianna was certain her daughter would advance by leaps and bounds.

    As confident as she was in Lycoris, Lilianna still couldn¡¯t shake her motherly concern that her daughter might misinterpret her intent, or worse still, wouldn¡¯t be able to muster up the courage at all. She knew how hard on herself Lycoris could be¡­

    It was strange, though. The girl had brought out a softness in her that she¡¯d long since forgotten existed, and Lilianna wasn¡¯t yet sure if that was a good thing. There was no doubt that it posed a risk to the ruler, but¡­ Was it not what she and her sister had quarreled over so many times?

    As she passed by the pair of guards stationed in front of her private halls, the two of them winced in unison and stiffened their posture ever so slightly¡ªshe must¡¯ve been scowling more than usual.

    She waited just a second on the other side of the door, hearing them sigh in relief but say nothing to each other, before rushing toward her daughter¡¯s room. Though she mastered herself enough to not run down the halls, she couldn¡¯t deny the almost youthful exuberance welling up inside her at the thought of being able to see her daughter¡¯s face, rather than the angry expressions of the Exalted Council as they quibbled over which families¡¯ armies would be tasked with the Geolle issue.

    The mother in her would rather not plunge her daughter into the deep end immediately, but the matriarch couldn¡¯t help but run the numbers on whether to push up the announcement of Lycoris as her Heir-Significate.

    It would lessen the impact of any news of Geolle sedition that¡¯d inevitably leak out, but she wanted to protect the girl from politics for as long as possible. Especially because at least one of the Seven Families would expect her to play a major role in bringing the Geolle to heel, even if she was just a child.

    Lilianna knew all too well what those at the top of the Drimus Family¡ª

    ¡­Why is the maid standing in the hallway?

    A frown played across her face as she saw Athena standing beside the door to Lycoris¡¯ room, hands over her apron as she restlessly fidgeted. Had the girl sent her out as a punishment, or for privacy, or¡­ had something happened to her little flower?

    ¡°Athena.¡±

    ¡°Y-Y-Your Majesty!? Welcome back!¡± Without hesitation, the maid snapped to attention and bowed deeply as soon as Lilianna dragged her head back down from the clouds.

    ¡°Is Lycoris alright?¡±

    ¡°Um¡­ well¡­ I think so. I haven¡¯t heard any screams or gasps of pain in the past several hours, but she shooed me out when I asked if she wanted to break for lunch¡­ M-My apologies for such incompetence! I am fully aware that it is a maid¡¯s duty to serve her mistress, even when she refuses¡ª¡±

    ¡°Nevermind that, step aside.¡±

    The maid visibly recoiled from her touch, as though afraid she might spontaneously explode because of some horrific spell at the Exaltare¡¯s disposal. But Lilianna had more important things to do than humor her death wish.

    ¡°Lycoris¡­?¡±

    She opened the door slowly, failing to mask the tension on her face as she peered inside at her daughter.

    Lycoris stood by the dresser, knife in hand and bloodstains splattered all over her dress. She turned slowly to Lilianna when called out to, a slightly vacant smile on her face as if she¡¯d been interrupted in the middle of a conversation.

    ¡°Hmm¡­? Oh. Hello Mother. Is it that late already¡­?¡± She turned to look at the small digital clock on the bedside end table next to a bakery box. ¡°¡­Why are Vampire clocks so hard to read time on,¡± she frowned.

    ¡°Are you alright, dear?¡± Lilianna mastered her tone, stepping cautiously into the room while gesturing to Lycoris, ¡°You appear to have made a bit of a mess.¡±

    ¡°Hm? Oh, oh yes! Look, look!¡±

    Lilianna nodded and closed the door behind her¡ªright on the face of the maid peering around the doorframe nervously¡ªbefore taking a seat on the edge of the bed.

    Though the blood gave the girl an unsettling air, her high spirits and bright, innocent smile brought composure and relief to the ruler¡¯s face.

    ¡°¡®Tis a surprise to see you in such high spirits, Lycoris. Should we assume that you¡¯ve settled your feelings?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­ um,¡± her smile faltered a little as she shyly looked away and poked her fingers together. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about all that, but¡­¡±

    She sat down at her vanity, turned around to face her mother, cleared her throat, and closed her eyes. Her hesitation and anxiety were still plainly obvious to Lilianna, as she could see the girl¡¯s hands trembling, but she chose to not remark.

    Lilianna watched her perform her usual unnecessary ritual of slowly breathing in and out to relax herself. Just when she had half a mind to chide the girl for it, for the first time in two millennia, Lilianna¡¯s eyes widened in shock as Lycoris swiftly cut the back of her hand and plunged the dagger into her own hand in a swift, decisive motion.

    Save for a trickle of blood left on her palm, the dagger was nowhere to be seen.

    Her technique clearly needed improvement, but the fact remained that she¡¯d just performed a spell that the supposedly wisest figure in the world had assumed would be beyond impossible for her.

    ¡°I did it! It¡¯s pretty hard to do, but I can manage it maybe three in five times now. W-With the dagger¡¯s power, at least. ¡­I¡¯m lucky this wasn¡¯t one of the tries where I botched it¡­ that would¡¯ve been embarrassing.¡±

    Lycoris rambled on slightly, clearly attempting (and failing) to mask her excitement with humility. Though the enchantment should¡¯ve lasted even after she stowed the dagger, her inner feelings had clearly overpowered it.

    ¡°Honestly having an audience made me worried I wouldn¡¯t be able to do it, but¡­¡±

    ¡°We¡­ you¡­¡±

    Lilianna stood up and embraced her daughter, picking her up and squeezing her close.

    ¡°Uwah! M-Mom!?¡±

    A torrent of emotion washed over the Exaltare. She should have felt nothing but pride for her daughter¡¯s outstanding accomplishment, but¡­

    Her heart tightened as she realized that she¡¯d erred by giving her daughter that treasure. Not only had Lycoris taken the wrong lesson from the dagger¡¯s power and failed to break free of the ¡°humanity¡± that held her back, but she¡¯d also clearly leaned far too heavily on it as a crutch. Which meant her daughter would need her help all the more.

    Still, she ought to reward her daughter¡¯s efforts and accomplishments. It¡¯d be unjust to scold Lycoris for something that wasn¡¯t actually her fault.

    ¡°You¡¯ve truly surpassed our expectations, Lycoris. Truly.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°That you are able to perform so complicated a spell without a proper grasp of the fundamentals is a¡­ miraculous achievement. True that any child of ours would boast great talent, and you had the assistance of an enchanted relic, but mastering it even to the extent you have in a single day is akin to having plucked the moon from the sky!¡±

    ¡°But¡­ I thought you said I¡¯d be able to do it.¡±

    Lilianna sat back down on the bed, resting Lycoris atop her lap.

    ¡°That is¡­ Our objective was to help you overcome the fear and self-loathing engraved in your heart.¡± She gently held Lycoris¡¯ hand, wiping the blood away with a finger. ¡°Though, you¡¯ve made undeniable progress on that front too.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­¡±

    Lycoris glanced away, clenching her other hand against her chest. She looked upset, but didn¡¯t say why. Not that Lilianna couldn¡¯t guess¡ªshe¡¯d taken a risk and misled her daughter.

    She needed to prepare Lycoris to rule, and keeping her sequestered from the world would only grow harder with each passing day. If she couldn¡¯t even accept herself, how could she win the acceptance of others?

    ¡°We know it was underhanded, but we meant it for your benefit! We didn¡¯t wish to push it on you if you weren¡¯t willing to accept. We felt your frustrations with being unable to study on your own, we wanted to help.¡±

    ¡°Y¡­Yeah. I understand. Even though I can¡¯t always follow your logic, I know that you¡­ care. Not that I really get why but, yeah. It¡¯s okay.¡± Lycoris flashed a sheepish smile, her eyes still betraying a hint of concern. ¡°By the way, do you¡­ need this thing back?¡±

    The young vampire stood back up, pointing at her palm with a hint of trepidation.

    ¡°Like I said, it¡¯s¡­ um, a lot harder to take it back out. Probably since the enchantment fades as soon as it leaves my hand.¡±

    Against her better judgment, Lilianna shook her head. ¡°No, you may keep it. Consider it your reward for surpassing our expectations. However¡­ do not rely on relics overmuch, lest you allow them to lead you into a pitfall. Though I suppose you already know that, as you can¡¯t use the Lunar Tear to take itself out, after all.¡±

    Lilianna followed her daughter up to her feet, placing a hand atop her head and tousling her hair.

    ¡°Now then, no doubt you¡¯re quite exhausted after that breakthrough, how about we clean you up and celebrate your accomplishment?¡±

    ¡°I can do that on my own,¡± her daughter grumbled. ¡°But I am pretty famished¡­ I was so focused on this spell that I forgot¡ª Athena! Where¡¯d she go? I think she brought something¡­¡±

    The girl wriggled away from her mother¡¯s clutches once more, moving over to pick up a pale white box that¡¯d been neglected on her bedside table.

    ¡°I feel a bit bad for shooing her out, is it alright if we share this with her? ¡­I wonder what¡¯s even inside.¡±

    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it?¡°But of course, she is your servant, after all.¡± Lilianna chuckled demurely and went over to sit at the table near the balcony. ¡°We shall wait here while you fetch her.¡±

    ¡°Er¡­ Right.¡±

    She watched her daughter poke her head into the hall, still holding onto the large pastry box¡ª

    ¡°Athena¡­? Hm, where did she go?¡±

    ¡ªbut the maid had already disappeared.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    The next morning, Lycoris finished his morning ritual and sat on his bed, looking around somewhat awkwardly. Normally Athena would¡¯ve barged in and forced him into some intricate overdesigned outfit covered in ribbons and frills by now¡­

    She certainly wasn¡¯t someone who seemed reckless enough to be tardy, the very thought of that would probably drive her to beg Lilianna for a swift death.

    ¡°She does seem sort of emotionally delicate¡­ But would she actually skip work over something like that?¡±

    Yeah right. She¡¯d sooner swallow poison than risk disappointing Mom or myself.

    The guilt over dispassionately kicking her out of the room was only brought into starker relief by the lack of her sunny presence. It felt odd to think of a vampire as ¡°sunny¡± but, despite her incessant deathwish, Athena was decidedly one of the most cheerful people Lycoris had ever met, barring maybe the Princess.

    And while he may have been in a trance, that didn¡¯t excuse his behavior. Even someone suffering from a curse still owned their actions once freed of it.

    That¡¯s what he believed.

    He wandered over to the vanity and plopped onto the stool, staring at his frumpy bed-headed self and pouting. As annoying and embarrassing as it was to have someone else constantly dote on him, she did really know how to bring out his charm; she was a master of coordinating his clothing with seemingly no effort; she could do up his hair how he liked twice as fast as he could; she even knew how to make his face positively glow, while he had no idea which cosmetics were even which.

    ¡­Wait, what am I thinking about!?

    Lycoris sighed and picked up the brush, starting the arduous process of taming his flowing tresses.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    ¡°Lycoris?¡±

    ¡°Y¡­yes, mother?¡±

    ¡°Did you perhaps¡­ handle your own makeup, today?¡±

    ¡°Guh¡­ I-It¡¯s not what it looks like! I was just¡­ curious, since Athena made it sound pretty important.¡±

    ¡°And what did she have to say about this?¡±

    In one of the halls near his room, Lycoris stood awkwardly in front of his mother, hands scrunching the hem of his skirt as he was forced to confront the abhorrent truth of his life choices.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen her all day. I was hoping you might know where she was¡­ you¡¯re the only person who¡¯d be able to order her around after all.¡±

    ¡°She is your servant, dear. You have just as much authority over her as we do. How odd, she¡¯s nothing if not punctual. For her to miss an entire day of labor¡­ Perhaps she sent notice of an emergency, though our imagination fails to conjure up anything that would demand greater attention than our darling little flower.¡±

    Lilianna reached for her phone, the ever-curious Lycoris subtly circling around and arching up on tippy-toe to sneak a peek at the screen. His mother had shown him her phone on a couple of occasions, but she¡¯d never really gone over its function.

    All he knew was that it was a device capable of accessing the repository of all vampiric knowledge, and could serve as a long distance communication device. That alone already made it a miraculous object, so he¡¯d been reticent to even ask to lay his hands upon it.

    ¡°If our daughter¡¯s taken such a personal interest in cosmetics, then we shall have to make time to teach you the basics. ¡®Tis a shame that the maid happened to disappoint the moment we began to trust her.¡±

    ¡°Why are you writing her off like she¡¯s already dead!?¡±

    ¡°Either she faces a situation that threatens her very life, or she will face our wroth the moment she dares show herself to us once more.¡±

    ¡°Ghk!¡±

    The sudden intensity behind his mother¡¯s words reminded him of just what exactly her position was. As he willed his trembling arms to cease shivering, Lycoris felt truly grateful that they were on the same side¡­

    What happened to her being my enemy? He wondered, looking up at the woman frowning down at her phone. She tapped away at it with a thumb, humming thoughtfully to herself.

    ¡°The second floor of the Volpini Building, specifically their realty office. Could a maid of her caliber truly be abducted so easily? We doubt that she would visit such a location willingly, given our geas upon her.¡±

    ¡°How did you find out where she is?¡± Unable to bear it any longer, Lycoris finally asked about her phone. ¡°Is that one of the enchantments on your artifact?¡±

    ¡°Ah, right. Our apologies, dear Lycoris. Here, look at this.¡±

    She held the phone out to him, showing the surface which had a rather colorful depiction of¡­ some sort of abstract painting. There were gray squares, yellow lines, and a green and blue square right nearby, along with a pulsing blue dot and several dull reddish brown ones.

    And there was a lot of text.

    With his brow furrowed in confusion, Lycoris turned from the device back to his mother¡¯s compassionately smiling face.

    ¡°Um, it¡¯s very pretty but¡­ What am I looking at?¡±

    ¡°A map of the city.¡±

    ¡°¡­Oh! It¡¯s so colorful, I didn¡¯t even realize¡­ so then these are the roads, and buildings, and these green areas would be¡­¡±

    ¡°Those are parks. The little red dots are all our hand-picked staff, and the blue one is Athena, whose location we¡¯re currently investigating.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never even heard of magic of this scale. Is this some legendary artifact you uncovered?¡± he asked quietly, unable to hide the child-like awe in his voice.

    The longer he stared at it, the more details became apparent to him, and he even saw some of the little reddish dots moving around. It was downright miraculous¡­ and a little terrifying that she could so casually track all those beneath her with such precision.

    Lilianna¡¯s lips curled in unabashed amusement at his amazement. ¡°Hmhm, in a manner of speaking, perhaps. But this is extremely mundane, as far as modern society is concerned. ¡®Tis simply tracking a small device implanted under the skin. Through that, we know where every member of our staff is at any given moment.¡±

    A somewhat troubling thought occurred to Lycoris as she explained, and he resisted the urge to pat himself down or check for any scars¡ªnot that there¡¯d be any. While struggling with the sensation of ants crawling under his skin, he nervously voiced the question he wasn¡¯t sure he even wanted answered.

    ¡°Do¡­ I have one of those things too?¡±

    ¡°Of course not!¡± She sounded slightly offended. ¡°You are our beloved child, we would never do such a thing!¡±

    ¡°¡­what if I tried to run away though?¡±

    ¡°Why on Earth would you ever want to do that?¡±

    ¡°Er, because you¡¯re the¡ª¡±

    He paused, realizing how little conviction he felt in his words.

    Enemy of humanity? Cruel and wicked tyrant?

    Sure, she could certainly behave¡­ callously. Both Athena¡¯s fearful overreactions and the moments when Lilianna¡¯s calm facade cracked were in line with how he envisioned the Tyrant to be. But Lycoris had never been the target of any mistreatment; she was nothing but caring to him. At times, she could be a little rough¡­ in particular while sparring, but if anything, she was a little too over-protective.

    When compared to the King who paid mere lip service to the Goddess, who kept his own daughter locked within the castle walls, who refused to even give her the freedom of seeing anyone that he didn¡¯t personally approve of, who only cared about cementing his own legacy and building up his accomplishments¡­

    Shouldn¡¯t he be the one Lycoris directed his ire toward? Wasn¡¯t he the despicable one, here?

    ¡°Lycoris?¡±

    ¡°Ah! Huh?¡±

    ¡°Did we upset you? You trailed off and began to scowl.¡±

    ¡°No, sorry. I got lost in thought about something unpleasant. Um¡­ what¡¯s going to happen to Athena?¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ a good question.¡± His mother looked at her phone as she began to walk down the hallway. ¡°The simplest solution may be best. We need do nothing, our geas on her remains and if they attempt to remove it, she will perish. As it stands, she will simply be discarded for being useless to them.¡±

    ¡°Isn''t she supposed to be my servant? Why not go rescue her!?¡±

    ¡°Lycoris, we know she is your first servant, but this is a lesson you must learn eventually: their lives will always be worth less than yours. We speak not just of you as our daughter, or your life, but your appearance, position, and conduct. We speak as a ruler, who must always carry oneself with dignity and grace, who must always present oneself as powerful and above such matters. To risk resources and personnel on a single compromised servant sends a dangerous message to all those watching us.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡±

    Unbelievable, it''s absolutely unconscionable! thought Lycoris. A life was a life, to sacrifice someone for the sake of some greater purpose¡­ He immediately pictured the bloodstained Elham, holding a hand to the gaping wound on his hip. The boy had put his faith in the two of them, and chosen to sacrifice himself to lead their pursuers astray.

    His wound hadn¡¯t been that bad, they could have saved him. If only Lycoris had been able to use magic back then, if only Mizar had been willing to¡ªno, that wasn¡¯t fair. They couldn¡¯t spare the time on Elham at that point anyways. The priest made the decision himself.

    But an unpleasant taste lingered in Lycoris¡¯ mouth. He had no doubt Athena would also choose to sacrifice herself for his sake, but that didn¡¯t make it right. He didn¡¯t want to see any more lives given up for his sake.

    He pulled the locket out and gazed down at it. ¡°Is one life really worth more than another?¡±

    ¡°Not just anyone can lead a country, or an army.¡±

    Debatable, given that he¡¯d been in charge at one point.

    ¡°And no life is more valuable than that of our daughter¡¯s. We would move Heaven and Earth if it were your life in danger,¡± her mother answered resolutely.

    ¡°O¡­Oh.¡± Her complete lack of hesitation left him speechless.

    Once more he felt at odds with how much his mother cared for him. There was nothing that made him special, aside from his resolve to help anyone he could. In that sense, saving Athena was the best choice he could make. Not to mention, if she was actually kidnapped, it obviously was his fault she became entangled in this.

    There was no way he¡¯d be able to live with the guilt of knowing that she¡¯d lost her life because of his existence. Though, he didn¡¯t know what condition she was actually in, or if she was even in any actual danger¡­

    ¡°Is there any way we can cheer our little flower up?¡±

    ¡°Are you sure rescuing Athena is off the table?¡±

    ¡°We think it best for you to learn to accept necessary losses, Lycoris.¡± The woman gently placed her hand atop his head. ¡°Our apologies.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡± he grumbled wordlessly to himself, the gears in his brain beginning to turn. ¡°How about teaching me how to use that¡­ uh, what¡¯d you call it?¡±

    He pointed at the phone in Lilianna¡¯s hand, looking up at her with an innocent smile.

    ¡°Hmm, are you sure you would rather not learn to apply cosmetics properly?¡± she gave him a wry grin.

    Fresh embarrassment spread across his cheeks. ¡°Buegh, I already forgot¡­ M-Maybe we can do that later? I¡¯m really curious about that artifact.¡±

    ¡°Very well then, but we should still clean up your face before going over smartphone usage and safety.¡±

    ¡°Y¡­ Yeah. That sounds good.¡±

    In the back of Lycoris¡¯ mind, a reckless scheme was taking shape.

 13 â€” Little Princess VS Big Screens

    After meticulously observing his mother¡¯s habits and daily routine for two days, Lycoris finally felt ready to commence his plan.

    Admittedly, it wasn¡¯t a good plan. His objective was to sneak into her room when she wasn¡¯t looking, figure out where Athena was by checking the phone, and then try to reach her before Lilianna found out and dragged him back to dole out punishment.

    Choking down the barely-filled glass of sheep blood, Lycoris coughed and dabbed at his mouth with a cloth as he looked over from the dresser to the cupboard. One shelf had been replaced with animal blood, while Lilianna insisted on leaving the more "palatable" sort untouched, in case the taste ever proved to be too much for him. It was certainly repulsive, and he drank as little as he possibly could, but it was better than the alternative.

    He scrambled over to the mirror and touched his fingers to his lips, checking to see if he¡¯d accidentally smeared his lip gloss. ¡°Hmm, nope. Seems like I¡¯ve at least gotten used to¡ª Oh Goddess, have I really gotten this accustomed to makeup already!? I mean, it does make me look cute, but¡­ why did I even waste time putting it on today? I¡¯m gonna be hiding my face.¡±

    For the day, he¡¯d chosen a simple ensemble consisting of a long-sleeved white blouse and a knee-length white skirt. Lycoris had intentionally avoided the color blue to make sure he stood out as little as possible, but it looked a little plain on its own, so he permitted a thin blue ribbon fastened into a shoestring tie around the collar. The buttons and seams on the blouse looked like woven gold, but he just had to hope that nobody noticed.

    ¡°Why couldn¡¯t she put anything like normal clothes in my dresser. I¡¯d kill for a simple tunic¡­¡±

    Lycoris gently patted the loose bun he¡¯d fastened his hair up into, feeling the wings on the Aphtangloa-crest hair brooch he¡¯d used to hold it in place with. Considering how assured Athena had been that he was his mother simply by looking at his hairs and eyes, the brooch would obviously be an issue if anyone noticed it.

    However, it''d be hidden alongside the rest of his distinctive features, as he¡¯d taken out the knife that his mother had given him and, after using it to stow his trick-scythe inside of himself¡ªa rather arduous and uncomfortable process given its size¡ªhe modified a spare set of violet bed sheets from one of the service closets in the hall. The shawl he made wasn¡¯t exactly pretty, but it¡¯d do the job.

    With how much shorter he¡¯d become, it¡¯d cover his brow and hide his eyes as well from any curious-minded adults.

    I guess I should feel grateful for being so petite now¡­ Though now that I think about it, Mom¡¯s not exactly too much taller than me, is she?

    With his disguise secured, and his route¡­ kind of planned out, he just had to get his hands on his mother¡¯s phone. Thankfully she never seemed to use blood storage to tuck it away, perhaps because the enchantments within it were so complex that keeping them intact would be too difficult.

    Thankfully, that meant he had a clear window to pilfer it. Whenever she grew tired of handling deskwork, she¡¯d always check on Lycoris before returning to her room, rest in there for a bit, and then head over to the baths to unwind.

    After assuring Lilianna that he was just fine¡ªand forcing himself to still the embarrassed flutters of his heart when she complimented his progress with foundation and blush¡ªhe pulled his hood out from under the sheets and put it on before rushing off towards his mother¡¯s bedroom.

    As he waited inside of a storage closet near his mother¡¯s room, the young recusant began trying to remember the route that he and Mizar had carved on their way in. Lycoris had yet to actually plan how to get out of the Transfixion of Heaven once acquiring Lilianna¡¯s phone.

    He probably couldn¡¯t take the same tack that they¡¯d taken on the way in. Or at least, it¡¯d upset his mother even further if he cut down the rest of her guards. Plus, as he struggled to remember that adrenaline-soaked blur of combat, he could barely even remember which identical-looking halls they¡¯d run through, or where they¡¯d be in relation to his current location.

    Not to mention, killing several servants just to rescue one felt¡­ backwards.

    When did I start worrying about the lives of vampires? He mentally sighed, hugging his knees in the darkness.

    There were more risks to his plan than just its haphazardly stitched together nature. If she somehow noticed him and he got caught, Lilianna would undoubtedly drag him off for an embarrassing mother-daughter bathing session.

    He couldn¡¯t afford to let that happen, for multiple reasons.

    If he were particularly unlucky, it¡¯d be one of the semi-uncommon days that she¡¯d stop by his room a second time and ask if he wanted her to help wash his hair¡ªto which he¡¯d obviously say no. Even if she did that however, he¡¯d probably still have enough time to at least sneak inside and check her phone.

    But she¡¯d immediately be on the prowl for him, which would make stealing out of the palace all but impossible.

    Who would¡¯ve thought her overprotectiveness would prove just as troublesome as her strength and authority? ¡­I still don¡¯t get why both she and Athena obsess over soaps and lotions so much. What¡¯s wrong with just scrubbing the dirt off and running some water over to rinse it away?

    As he let his mind wander through inconsequential thoughts, his ears perked up as the nearby sound of the door creaking open alerted him to Lilianna¡¯s presence.

    ¡­Hopefully she wouldn¡¯t notice that he was right nearby. He genuinely wasn¡¯t sure if she was secretly omniscient.

    If that were the case though, why would she bother having a tracking app on her phone?

    He shook away the thought as he heard her footsteps cross right in front of him. He swallowed his spit and reflexively went to hold his breath when her footsteps approached, remembering that he hadn¡¯t been breathing for the past several hours anyways. He only needed air in his lungs if he wanted to actually speak.

    Burying his lingering disgust, he waited for the sound of her steps to fade down the hall. Ever-so-silently, Lycoris poked his hooded head out of the closet and checked if the coast was clear.

    Seeing nobody around, he darted into Lilianna¡¯s room and was immediately awash with a sense of wrongness. As if merely walking inside without permission was illegal.

    Quashing the feeling of being a naughty child, he looked around and spotted her phone, haphazardly left on the nightstand beside an open book and mostly-empty glass of bloodwine.

    An unpleasant feeling twisted inside him as he stared at the glass. Not because he was still thirsty¡ªhe¡¯d purposefully handled that issue beforehand¡ªbut it was an unpleasant reminder of what his mom really was.

    At some point, he realized he didn¡¯t want to confront that aspect of her and had chosen to push it aside instead.

    After a moment, he came back to his senses and forced his attention away from the glass, focusing on his actual quarry instead.

    Naturally, the phone was locked. Lilianna had taught him about security passcodes and mana signature recognition and all that, but he didn¡¯t really understand how it all actually worked; he just had to cross his fingers and¡ªfor once¡ªhope that he was similar enough to her that it¡¯d grant him access.

    Lifting the phone, the screen automatically lit up as a tiny strip of text at the bottom appeared, along with an icon of a padlock coming undone. He couldn¡¯t read what it said before the message disappeared, but miraculously¡­ or perhaps bizarrely, the phone acquiesced without him having to do anything.

    Did¡­ I break it somehow? Uh oh, if she finds out¡­ Focus, focus Lycoris. You¡¯ve got more important things to do first!

    Shaking away the tension, he did as Lilianna had shown him before and performed the same series of gestures to bring up the¡­ ¡°app¡± as she called it, capable of tracking her servants'' whereabouts. Only, once he did so, he was faced with the realization that he had no idea how to spell Athena¡¯s name.

    He wasn¡¯t completely illiterate, his job as a commanding officer meant that he¡¯d dealt with written reports before, so he knew the alphabet at least. But he¡¯d only learned the bare minimum to handle those reports, and while Lilianna had brought up the fact that he¡¯d have to learn how to properly read and write eventually, she hadn¡¯t exactly given him a crash course yet.

    And of course, he¡¯d never actually seen Athena¡¯s name written out.

    ¡°Just try sounding it out, Lycoris,¡± he mumbled to himself, ¡°Her name probably isn¡¯t that weird. Let¡¯s see¡­ A-¡±

    Unfortunately, typing in the first letter brought up a large enough list that the phone froze for a second. There was no chance he¡¯d be able to go through the entire list in the time he had.

    ¡°Eugh¡­ let¡¯s just keep going, umm¡­ ¡®th,¡¯ where¡¯s the thorn key¡­? ¡­ ¡­ ¡­Weird, I don¡¯t see it at all¡­ Am I misremembering what it looks like? No, that can¡¯t be it. Mmrgh¡­¡±

    With impatience mounting at his inability to find the right letter, he decided to change tactics. He tapped the little map icon and began dragging his thumb along the city streets, hoping to find where Athena¡¯s signal was.

    Hopefully, she¡¯d be in the same place as before. His mother had called it a¡­ Volpini Building, or something like that.

    Before long, his anxious swiping revealed the shape of a familiar looking park, and a building with a matching name. And sure enough, within the structure was a small reddish colored dot.

    When he tapped on it, a pop-up appeared with a photo of Athena and a scrolling profile with¡­ a remarkable amount of detail. Not that he could spare the time to read it all, but it didn¡¯t matter¡ªhis objective was complete.

    ¡°Yes! Now I just have to get there before they move her¡­ and before Mom comes back.¡±

    He refused to entertain the possibility that the only thing waiting for him was her corpse. There was surely some means of detecting if the tracked individual was still alive, otherwise her database would be filled with a bunch of dead guards.

    Unless she¡¯s managed to replace them all already, that is¡­

    Giving the glass of wine a final frown before turning away, the devious little child crept back out of his mother¡¯s room and scampered down the hall.

    Things had gone smoothly so far, but he knew that no good plan survived contact with the enemy. He just had to hope that his next obstacle wouldn¡¯t immediately try to report to Lilianna.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    Just outside the ostentatiously gilded double doors stood a pair of guards. There were two stationed there at all times, ensuring that nobody got in¡ªand presumably to ensure that Lycoris couldn¡¯t get out.

    He could tell that one of them was crouched down, while the other was walking around stretching his legs. No doubt they almost never saw anyone pass through, and consequently maintained a fairly lax attitude when not expecting Lilianna to approach.

    That suited his purposes perfectly.

    Cautiously, he pulled down his hood and adjusted his bob slightly to ensure not a hair was out of place. If his assumption was correct, the pair of guards would simply assume he was his mother, just as Athena had. That¡¯d give him plenty of time to deal with them.

    ¡°¡ªdo you mean?¡±

    ¡°I dunno, like¡­ every time she comes back, she¡¯s got this slight smile on her face, her shoulders are more relaxed¡­¡±

    ¡°Shit man, she¡¯s probably just glad to be done working. I know I get that way when I¡¯m off my shift.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but¡­¡±

    ¡°Plus I mean, there¡¯s all that crazy stuff happening lately. Who¡¯d expect not one but two break-ins?¡±

    ¡°Hey, you know we¡¯re not supposed to¡ª¡±

    Boldly, Lycoris reached forward and pulled open the doors, clearing his throat loudly.

    ¡°*ahem* And what, might we ask, are you two chatting about?¡±

    The pair of guards immediately fell silent. He couldn¡¯t see through their reflective helmets, but he could still tell they were reacting with horrified shock.

    One of them was in fact crouched down, while the other was leaning against the walls with his arms folded.

    Or at least, they had been, before he walked out and glowered up at them. Somehow, imitating his mother felt almost natural. He wasn¡¯t sure if he should feel proud or repulsed by that, but this wasn¡¯t the time to worry over such things.

    Both of them snapped to attention and saluted him, the respect and fear in their gesture sending an intoxicating shiver through him.

    ¡°N-N-Nothing, Your Majesty!¡±

    ¡°We were just¡ª¡±

    ¡°Lazing about. In front of our private quarters. Which suffered a recent break-in.¡± He felt rather self-conscious of his voice, unsure whether to try and intentionally deepen it, or to lean into the sonorous songbell tone it had now. ¡°Surely we needn¡¯t remind the two of you as to what fate befell the guards at that time, no?¡±

    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.?¡°N-No, Your Majesty!¡±

    ¡°Our deepest apologies for allowing our focus to waver for even one millisecond!¡±

    ¡°R¡­ Right¡­ Then, shape up, you two.¡±

    He gave them a hard, lingering stare, before starting to march down the hall toward the opposite doorway, walking past the cold metallic elevator doors to his right.

    ¡°Um, Y-Your Majesty?¡±

    He replied without turning around or breaking his stride, ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t take this the wrong way, but¡­ why are you so¡­ um¡­ small?¡±

    Lycoris winced, slowly turning around to face the two of them. In truth, he¡¯d expected them to comment on it. He was noticeably shorter than Lilianna, after all. Part of his reason for choosing the brooch he had was to hopefully convince these two that he was his mother.

    He took a deep breath, and stared daggers into the guard. ¡°That¡¯s none of your business.¡±

    Answering for his companion, the other stumbled over an apology. ¡°I¡¯m deeply sorry for his unprofessionality, Your Majesty!¡±

    ¡°As you well should be. Now cease bothering us.¡±

    In a huff, he marched off through the door opposite them, heading down the hall and clenching his hands in irritation. It¡¯d only partially been acting, he really was slightly irked at being so-literally looked down upon.

    Hopefully he¡¯d put on a good enough performance that they wouldn¡¯t suspect anything, at least.

    Once he realized that he¡¯d been marching forward without express purpose, he stopped and looked at the rows of doors. He¡¯d truly entered unknown territory now, as his objective was to figure out how to get out rather than to the armory that his mother had guided him to before.

    Deciding to simply check the doors one by one, he managed to find a long, twisting spiral staircase down after a few minutes.

    He pressed himself against the wall after taking a single peek over the guardrail, his vision blurring briefly as the knowledge of how high up he was came rushing back in full force.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. You¡¯re alright, Lycoris. Deep breaths, take it one step at a time.¡±

    Though, he didn¡¯t actually need the air.

    Carefully pulling up his hood and making sure that his hair was as hidden as could be, he began making his slow descent, keeping his ears peeled for the sound of anyone else entering the stairwell.

    Thankfully, nobody else seemed to be making use of it during his slow descent.

    Lycoris hadn¡¯t checked when he first started descending the stairwell, but when he glanced at his mother¡¯s phone to see if there was a map of the palace¡¯s layout somewhere, he noticed that it¡¯d been at least half an hour since he first pilfered it and started his grand caper.

    He was still in unfamiliar territory, but he had to be getting close to at least somewhere that¡¯d have recognizable landmarks¡­ hopefully. Once he got far enough down, he recognized the floor tiles near the Exaltare¡¯s throne looking similar to the kind these halls had. He''d taken to poking his head out the door every ten or so floors, hoping to find something that could help guide him.

    Eventually he reached the bottom of the stairs and had no choice but to venture into the hallway beyond. Marching quickly along the empty corridor, he soon heard the sound of people talking from the other side of the door.

    The moment he got his hands on the door, he froze. Assuming that it wasn¡¯t just an entire assembly of guards and servants, this would be the first time anyone not belonging to Lilianna¡¯s personal staff would see him like this.

    Granted, he specifically wore a disguise to keep himself hidden, but if anything that just made the anxiety worse as the realization that he¡¯d be perceived by a metaphorical (and possibly literal) army of vampires sank in.

    On top of that, he wasn¡¯t sure what sort of reaction the crowd would have to a random girl walking out of the hallway and joining the crowd, nor did he have any lines prepared if someone decided to approach and ask.

    The thought of turning back briefly crossed his mind, but he chased it away by focusing on Athena¡¯s plight. Her life was far more important than saving face or soothing his social anxiety.

    Sucking in a breath of air to psych himself up, he straightened his back, relaxed his shoulders, and pushed his chest forward as he once more adopted the proper regal posture that Lilianna had drilled into him. Confidently opening the door, he walked out in a faux-casual manner.

    Several faces in the crowd naturally turned to look at him, but nobody raised an alarm or shouted anything; if they were making remarks about him, he couldn¡¯t hear. Purposefully keeping his hood drawn low over his brow and his gaze pointed at the floor to avoid anyone noticing his scarlet eyes, he shuffled through the large hall as he made his way for what looked like the exit.

    Nobody stopped him, but unfortunately when he made it to the exit he only found another open hallway with beige tiling and more of those cold metal elevator doors. Somewhat nervously, he made his way to one and sized up the door, looking at the shoulder-high panel to the side that seemed to be related.

    It looked similar to the display on his mother¡¯s phone, and reminded him of the door to her greenhouse that Athena had accessed before, but he had no idea which of the little apps to press to make the doors open for him.

    Just as he was about to give up and try pushing the little pictures at random¡ª

    ¡°Hello there little lady, need a hand?¡±

    ¡ªA warm, gentlemanly voice shocked his shoulders into stiffening, as he tightly hugged his makeshift shawl around himself as though he¡¯d been caught in the middle of stealing a loaf of bread.

    ¡°U-Uhm¡­¡± he stuttered.

    Calm down Lycoris, just think about what¡¯d sound the most natural here. Maybe I can tell him I got lost? ¡­No that wouldn¡¯t fly, this is the Transfixion of Heaven! They don¡¯t just let people wander in here! ¡­Probably. Do I say I got separated from my friend and need to get down? Hmm, but that¡¯d give away that I don¡¯t know how to use the elevator maybe¡­ is it a bad thing if I¡¯m honest about that? I guess I do look like a child. But would such an ignorant kid be allowed¡ª

    ¡°Is this your first time here? You look a bit nervous,¡± the man interrupted his train of thought.

    Lycoris refused to meet his gaze¡ªobviously; he didn¡¯t want to expose his Aphtangloa features. Instead, he shyly nodded his head and stared at the man¡¯s burgundy pants and polished leather shoes.

    ¡°Y¡­Yeah. I had some business, and need to get back down now but¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t exactly a lie, at least.

    ¡°Well then, shall this humble aide serve as your escort?¡± The man spoke with the slightest hint of amusement. Like he was playing around with a child.

    ¡°H-Huh!?¡±

    Anxiety gripped Lycoris¡¯ heart as the man genuflected before him. He quickly turned his head away before the nobleman could look into his eyes, though he at least noticed pale mint-colored hair on his head.

    The stranger only held that pose for a moment, before quickly standing back up and pressing two different images on the panel without waiting for Lycoris to give a proper response.

    Once the doors parted with a slightly cute chime, he stepped over and gestured inside like a chauffeur, standing halfway into the elevator.

    ¡°No need for such concern, I¡¯m headed down as well,¡± he added.

    ¡°O-Oh, thank you¡­¡±

    Lycoris shuffled into the elevator, keeping his gaze pointed at the wall as the man stepped in beside him.

    ¡°You said you were heading to the bottommost floor, Miss¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­Ah? Oh, um, yes.¡±

    After a moment of awkward silence, the elevator¡¯s doors closed on their own and it began its descent. Despite the fact that the stranger¡¯s posture was relaxed and casual, Lycoris felt an overwhelming pressure in the secluded space. Hoping to calm himself down, he forced his attention away from the other occupant and stared at the furnishing inside.

    The floors were more beige tile, though unlike the marble halls, it was some other slightly bouncy material. The lower half of the walls were covered in carved dark red wood, and above was reflective burnished gold plating starting at waist height¡ªor chest height, for Lycoris. There was a light fixture in the ceiling, as well as a speaker that was playing unfamiliar music.

    They really don¡¯t need live musicians to play music, huh? A luxury within a luxury¡­ but I guess recordings would make it much easier to capture a performance for later.

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe I¡¯ve had the pleasure of making your acquaintance, Young Miss,¡± perhaps seeing Lycoris look around anxiously, the man decided to break the ice, ¡°My name is Tethos Ochros, if you would grant me the honor of hearing yours.¡±

    ¡°Huh!? Oh, I¡¯m Lyco¡ª¡±

    He froze in the middle of exposing himself, realizing he¡¯d been caught off-guard thinking of inane nothings. He clamped his mouth shut and pressed himself up against the wall, pointedly keeping his head turned away from ¡°Tethos.¡±

    ¡°Just ¡®Lyco,¡¯ is it? Your mother must be quite proud of you, for bravely coming all the way to the upper floors of the Transfixion of Heaven for an errand.¡± There was no trace of sarcasm in the words he spoke, instead just¡­ simple kindness towards a child.

    ¡°Aha ha haha¡­ yeah.¡±

    Proud? She¡¯s gonna be mad as hell if she finds out I stole her phone and¡ª Wait, did he say Ochros? As in like, one of the Seven? Oh crap.

    ¡°Te¡ªL-Lord Ochros, um¡­ M-My apologies, I didn¡¯t realize¡­¡±

    The hooded child began to bow, before realizing that his mother never actually taught him anything at all about how to properly show deference. He couldn¡¯t very well just take a knee like he would¡¯ve as a knight.

    Not to mention, the very thought of it caused a sense of revulsion to well up in his gut.

    Why did it have to be someone so important!? Am I cursed? I¡¯m definitely cursed. Curse that Tatyana, there¡¯s no way that one of her spells didn¡¯t curse me!

    ¡°No no, pay it no mind, Miss Lyco. You¡¯re doing quite admirably despite your nervousness.¡±

    ¡°Is¡­ it really that obvious?¡±

    ¡°Ahaha,¡± his laugh was almost obnoxiously cheerful, like the nobles she knew all-too-well. ¡°You haven¡¯t looked at me even once yet, my dear. I¡¯ve no reason to pry, but it¡¯s written all over your face¡­ Or well, presumably so.¡±

    Well sor¨Cry for not wanting to expose the fact I¡¯m Lilianna¡¯s daugh¡ª so¡ª ¡­Whatever!! Why am I even getting so worked up? I¡¯m a grown-ass man! Just cause I¡¯m unarmed, half his size, and need to avoid having my identity uncovered doesn¡¯t mean I should be feeling this anxious, right?

    ¡°What in the world is wrong with me¡­?¡± Lycoris sulked.

    In response, the man replied calmly, ¡°I¡¯m sure even at your age, you¡¯ve plenty of worldliness. But you needn¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m not like those of my family that think blood is the be-all and end-all, in so many ways¡­ if you¡¯re shy about the hue of your hair, rest easy. In here, we are just two people sharing a quiet reprieve. Moments like this are rather rare, and should be savored.¡±

    Tethos spoke like an adult trying to reason with and calm a child, which only made it all the more frustrating that he was right. Except, to Lilianna¡¯s progeny, this was anything but a calm and quiet escape from the harshness of reality. Especially with the mint-haired man squinting down at his reflection in the gold-plated elevator.

    ¡°If only it were so easy to ignore our differences,¡± Lycoris sighed.

    ¡°Mm, too true,¡± the mint-haired man quietly agreed, before deftly pivoting to a new topic, ¡°Did you by chance hear about what happened the other day?¡±

    ¡°The other¡­ There¡¯s been quite a bit of commotion lately, hasn¡¯t there?¡±

    He chose a purposefully vague response, avoiding the fact he knew exactly what had happened¡ªand who the intruders had been.

    Not that he knew or cared to find out what the names of the ghouls had been. They were simply pitiful monsters who sold their souls for power and met the end they deserved.

    ¡°It¡¯s been quite the dreadful thing, hasn¡¯t it? I¡¯ve heard whispers that Her Majesty¡¯s grip on the Royal Court has been shaken. It sounds as though people are starting to lose confidence.¡±

    ¡°R-Really¡­? That fast?¡±

    He didn¡¯t have a great grasp on the speed at which things moved in the political world of vampires, but everything that Lilianna had taught him gave the impression that they were far more deliberate and careful with things, matching their gratuitous lifespans.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s an unprecedented affair! To have our ruler¡¯s seat of power breached twice within the same month is most assuredly due cause for alarm. Honestly, I¡¯m a little surprised they¡¯d be willing to let such a young child in after that. Who can say if the danger has truly passed, after all.¡±

    Lycoris could feel the man¡¯s gaze attempting to pierce the lilac veil he¡¯d covered himself in, idly wondering if the discoloration of his reflection would be enough to throw him off. He hadn¡¯t commented on it so far, at least¡­

    ¡°Y-Yeah, I told my mother that it wasn¡¯t safe, what with the humans and all¡­¡±

    ¡°Really? Humans?¡± The man put a white-gloved hand against his chest in shock. ¡°I¡¯d only heard they were rebellious ghouls, seeking vengeance after Her Majesty decried the Sefer¡¯s latest push for labor laws.¡±

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t that a whole decade ago¡­?¡±

    ¡°Something as major as an infiltration of the Exaltare¡¯s seat of power would take at least that long, no?¡± He¡¯d stepped closer to Lycoris, leaving the child-sized vampire feeling all the more pressured. ¡°Not that it amounted to much, I heard they used some forbidden magic and murdered a great number of the Exalted Guard and then hid inside the palace for several weeks, before being caught and ultimately disposed of.¡±

    Seriously? But Mizar and I¡­ I guess we didn¡¯t exactly go about it subtly, but did they really cover it up by calling us rebellious ghouls? We¡¯re not ghouls! And Mizar would never fight for the sake of those monsters!

    He clenched his hand tightly around his locket, trembling with barely-contained indignant rage at the thought that their attempt at saving humanity from vampiric tyranny was covered up with something so tepid. It was as though they were dragging Mizar¡¯s name through the mud.

    Lycoris couldn¡¯t let that go, his impulse to defend his friend overriding his reason. But just as he was about to open his mouth¡­

    The elevator dinged with another cutesy chime, and the doors gradually slid open once more.

    ¡°Ah, it seems we¡¯ve reached our stop.¡±

    The tension he felt from Tethos vanished in an instant. Snapping back to his senses but still incapable of controlling the roiling emotions inside him, Lycoris hurried out of the elevator to escape, without even a wave goodbye.

    Blending into the crowded lobby area to escape the curious nobleman¡¯s leering gaze, he made his way towards the towering front doors, eager to head back outside for the first time in weeks.

    £ª

    ¡°Well well well, I hooked quite the big fish now, didn¡¯t I? Here, I thought there was something odd about her, but the fact she knew about the humans¡­ And she¡¯s only a child?¡±

    The minty-haired man grinned like a devious fox as he straightened the jet-black tie, standing out against his white gloves and shirt.

    He briefly contemplated following after her, but intuition told him that would be unnecessary. Tethos already knew exactly where she was going. It was far, far too strange to be mere coincidence. She could do whatever she wished with the thin-blooded maid. That piece of bait had already far surpassed his expectations.

    ¡°But¡­ where did you crop up from, and who are you really, my little silver-petaled ¡®Lyco?¡¯¡±

 14 â€” Little Princess VS Big City

    For the first time in nearly an entire month, Lycoris tasted the crisp night air of the streets. And yet, he felt anything but relieved.

    Beneath the dark black clouds and towering spires that stretched upward like fingers reaching toward the heavens, countless vampires bustled through the town. The ocean of pastel hair tones caused a deep unease to well up within Lycoris. He lingered at the top of the palace¡¯s stairs, hesitant to join the flow of traffic.

    It wouldn¡¯t have been the first time he had to sneak through the swarm of monsters while trying to conceal his identity, but¡­ when he and Mizar infiltrated the capital, they¡¯d mostly stuck to the sewer systems and only surfaced to skulk through the odd alley or two when absolutely forced out of the winding tunnels.

    Gripping the locket to remind himself Mizar was still right by his side, Lycoris shook his head and brandished his emotions as a riding crop to force his legs to march down the steps. The vast sea of people flowed past him like a massive school of fish. For once, he was glad to be so much smaller than the adults around him. It certainly felt easier to avoid standing out when he wasn''t a head taller than everyone else.

    When he took a moment to look up at one, the steely dark structure shot up from the ground like a massive rectangular mountain. Though, instead of cave entrances, it was smattered with reflective glass paneling instead; each building appeared large enough to house hundreds of thousands of vicious nightstalkers. Just how many floors did each have, and what did they all contain¡­?

    At the foot of several of the structures Lycoris walked past, flashing lights and signs pulsated like the obnoxious bioluminescent frills of a Piscin; they all seemed to advertise the services offered within, but it was with such a dizzying assortment of colors and sounds that when mixed into the cacophonous background noise of the people marching about, it all made Lycoris¡¯ head throb.

    As he sifted his way through the crowd chattering like any town''s populace would, Lycoris could barely see the vampires around him as anything but ordinary people.

    Granted, the clothes they wore barely resembled the tunics and dresses fashioned in the Kingdom of Dauwen. Lilianna had already told him about synthetic fabrics, mass-produced using fibers harvested from plants, minerals, and materials from several types of monster; they were designed to be both durable and long-lasting daily attire that anyone could afford and wear.

    Just hearing about it, however, hadn¡¯t prepared him for how strange their attire looked. In that sense, maybe it was a blessing that all of his dresses at least matched what he knew of noble attire¡­

    Those walking right beside or past him occasionally gave Lycoris the curious glance, but fortunately they didn¡¯t seem particularly interested in the hooded child as he wobbled forward unsteadily. For some reason, he felt short of breath¡­ or rather, there was a tightness in his chest as his head began to spin.

    Catching himself just as he nearly lost his footing, he staggered up to one of the buildings and leaned against the glass window. The dizziness only grew worse though, the sounds and lights grew louder and brighter, the whispering voices pressing on his ears as he realized he''d singled himself out from the crowd.

    If he got exposed here¡­ In a city completely filled with vampires¡­ He¡¯d¡ª

    No, calm down Lycoris, why are you getting so terrified? Your disguise is solid, and even if you¡¯re uncovered, they¡¯ll just think you¡¯re a vampire!

    But his heart refused to relax. He didn¡¯t want to admit it, but the time he¡¯d spent inside the Transfixion of Heaven was more laid back than any part of his life he could remember.

    Compared to the quiet halls and luxurious rooms, the outside world reminded him of the harsh reality that he¡¯d fled from. After sampling the luxuries offered to those with power and status, Lycoris was terrified of losing that peace.

    What am I thinking!? I can¡¯t just¡­ I don¡¯t want this, I don¡¯t want to stay here! Isn¡¯t my goal to destroy these creatures? Why am I so afraid of losing something I don¡¯t even want?

    The overwhelming noise of his surroundings and inner turmoil continued to build, nausea mounting inside of him until he felt as though he were about to pass out, when¡­

    ¡°Excuse me, little miss?¡±

    Someone called out to him. His gut clenched as several worst-case scenarios immediately began racing through his head.

    Shaking them away, he turned to look, but kept his gaze lowered at her feet, staring intently at the ankle strap sandals she wore instead. Much as he didn¡¯t want to react to being called ¡°little miss,¡± it¡¯d look stranger if he didn¡¯t when explicitly approached.

    ¡°Y-Yes?¡±

    ¡°Are you feeling sick? You¡¯ve been leaning against that wall for a little while now.¡±

    The woman crouched down, putting her hands over her knees and trying to meet him at eye-level. Naturally, he immediately turned his gaze away, a flicker of pink and white crossing his vision¡ªthough it was just her shirt and pants.

    ¡°N-No, It¡¯s alright. You can go,¡± he muttered noncommittally, his vision still slightly blurry.

    Irritatingly, she didn¡¯t relent. ¡°Did you get lost? Why don¡¯t I help you find your family? Oh! Or we could go to the guard station, I bet they¡¯d help.¡±

    She sounded genuine, but going to the guards was the exact last thing he wanted to do.

    But he didn¡¯t immediately refuse, as the novelty of someone approaching him in such a kind and temperate manner was mildly baffling. He¡¯d always been ignored or had aspersions cast at him as a street urchin. And the notion that vampires¡ªof all creatures¡ªwere capable of such kindness was beyond just baffling.

    Lilianna was the exception, surely.

    And only towards Lycoris.

    Either way, he had no need to find his family. The little vampire knew exactly where his mother was, and if she caught him out right now¡­

    A shiver ran up his spine as his eyes naturally wandered toward the towering Transfixion of Heaven. Seen from ground level, its name fit the colossal building that pierced the scarlet clouds looming overhead, its peak hidden from those who dwelt within Ljosdeyja.

    As the woman waited patiently for his response, he furrowed his brow. His mind was still abuzz with incessant and unnecessary thoughts, making it rather hard to think up an excuse on the spot.

    Opting for honesty would probably be a bad idea. A realty office didn¡¯t sound like the sort of place a child would go on their own, especially in the evening. He wasn¡¯t sure what sort of place it was, or what they sold or produced, but it¡¯d definitely be bad if he said he was headed there to rescue someone.

    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ meeting up with someone.¡±

    He knew how lame it sounded, but he desperately wanted her to leave him alone. She certainly wasn¡¯t helping with his discomfort.

    ¡°Really? It¡¯s awfully late, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re going home together. I¡¯m just going to where she is.¡± He felt his irritation rise above the sea of swirling emotions. Why won¡¯t she just leave me alone!?

    ¡°Seraphine? What are you doing?¡±

    Another woman¡¯s voice cut above the din as Lycoris felt his gut plummet further down. A second person meant twice as much chance to be exposed¡­

    ¡°Oh Emma, c¡¯mere. You¡¯re a nurse, right?¡±

    ¡°Sera,¡± the other one sighed and briskly walked over, ¡°You can¡¯t just randomly accost children on the street. I¡¯m sorry, miss, she wasn¡¯t bothering you, was she?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s okay,¡± Lycoris replied instantly. Wait, agh! I should¡¯ve said yes! Me and my dumb knightly etiquette!

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t look too well¡­¡±

    ¡°I told you I¡¯m fine. Just a little¡­ dizzy.¡±

    ¡°Mm¡­¡±

    Emma crouched down beside him, putting her cool hand to his forehead as he squeezed his eyes shut. He couldn¡¯t stop his body from trembling. He felt like he was going to puke.

    ¡°Hmm, she does feel a little warm. And she¡¯s shivering. Why don¡¯t you sit down with us for a bit?¡±

    ¡°I promise we won¡¯t bite~¡±

    ¡°Sera!¡±

    The redhead shot a glare at her companion and gently grasped Lycoris¡¯ hand before he could refuse, placing the other against his back to support him. The last thing he wanted to do was have random civilians accompany him, but the more he stood there the worse he felt.

    He knew that it wasn¡¯t safe to let a stranger drag him off, but¡­ he was confident he could at least fend off a random woman, if it came down to it. The uproar it¡¯d cause would be another matter, though.

    Holding his head with his other hand, he let Emma lead him toward a bench next to a planter overflowing with ferns. At least it was somewhat sequestered, even if it was still awfully noisy in the city.

    As they sat together, Emma slowly rubbed his back. He couldn¡¯t tell if it was because of that, or just because he was properly sitting in a quiet place, but the overwhelming dread and dizziness started to fade.

    At the same time, the other woman sat down opposite her, sandwiching him between them. The unpleasantly familiar scent of alcohol reached his nostrils. She¡¯d clearly been drinking.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°Sorry Emma, I know you got work in the morning~¡±

    Setting a small pink bag in her lap and unclasping it, Emma sighed, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I know you were just being a nosy little bat.¡±

    Sera stuck her tongue out playfully and chuckled, ¡°Ehehe~ I can¡¯t help it when I see a cutie in distress.¡±

    ¡°Uh-huh. Here,¡± Emma pulled something out of her bag and handed it over Lycoris¡¯ head, ¡°Your breath stinks, you¡¯ll make her feel worse.¡±

    ¡°Hey!¡±

    ¡°Anyways, what¡¯s your name?¡± She turned down to look at him, though he kept his gaze firmly fixed on his own lap.

    ¡°¡­Lycoris.¡±

    After a moment of thought, he decided to simply tell them his full name. They didn¡¯t radiate an aura of menace like the man in the elevator did, and even if they were somehow agents acting against Lilianna¡­ it wasn¡¯t like simply knowing his full first name would mean anything to them. Technically, nobody even knew he existed still, since the only witnesses had been silenced.

    Still¡­ they seem almost too nice. Is it just because they¡¯re drunk? Or perhaps they have an ulterior motive¡­

    ¡°Lycoris huh¡­ An adorable name for an adorably shy little flower,¡± Sera happily hummed.

    He blanched in response, shyly mumbling, ¡°P-Please don¡¯t say that¡­ it¡¯s embarrassing enough when Mom calls me that¡­¡±

    ¡°Ahaha, only proving my point. So, where ya headed, Lyco?¡±

    ¡°Erm¡­ I dunno if it¡¯d be a good idea to say.¡± He fiddled with his hands in his lap.

    ¡°Huh? Why not?¡±

    The conversation was helping him pull himself back together, but it was pretty awkward being unable to look at the person he was speaking to. Maybe he could at least get away with letting them see his eyes. Lilianna had only stated that ¡°Red eyes and silver hair¡± marked one as Aphtangloa.

    ¡°Well, because I don¡¯t know who either of you are. From my perspective, a pair of total strangers just dragged me off.¡±

    ¡°The lovely lady on your other side is the angelic Emma, and I¡¯m Seraphine. You can just call me Sera though. There, now we¡¯re not total strangers~!¡±

    Emma let out a long, tired sigh, ¡°Just how much did you drink?¡±

    ¡°Come on Emma, it¡¯s not like we¡¯re planning to kidnap her or something.¡±

    ¡°Says the woman who wants to adopt every child she sees.¡±

    They certainly didn¡¯t behave like noblewomen. Or at the very least, not like the noblewomen Lycoris was familiar with. Given how Lilianna had been educating him, there probably wasn¡¯t that much difference between Vampire and Human nobles.

    ¡°I do not! ¡­Only the cute ones. And she already mentioned she has a mom.¡±

    ¡°Like that¡¯d stop you.¡±

    ¡°Listen, I just don¡¯t want her walking alone at night. It¡¯s already past seven!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Lycoris interjected, hoping to cut the argument off at the pass.

    ¡°Even if you say that¡­¡± Seraphine started.

    ¡°She¡¯s just going to follow after you anyways,¡± Emma finished. ¡°She¡¯s a worrywart.¡±

    ¡°Guh¡­¡±

    Lycoris¡¯ shoulders slumped as he felt something buzz in his pocket. Withdrawing the phone from it, he felt an appreciation for the technological advancements of Vampire society once more.

    It was far more convenient than having to carry around a bunch of pouches or loose objects.

    Something had appeared on the display beneath the time, but he didn¡¯t really want to spend the time trying to read it when he felt the curious stares of the pair of women over his shoulders. He wished he could bring up the map to check his destination, but so long as those two were with him, he assumed it¡¯d be a bad idea.

    Normal people, even vampires, probably didn¡¯t have the ability to track hundreds upon thousands of people¡­

    ¡°Oh wow, that¡¯s quite a nice phone. Is your family well-off, Lyco?¡±

    Quickly tucking the phone back away, he turned to glare up at Emma. ¡°W-Why would you need to know that?¡±

    The woman was struck speechless however, as her topaz eyes widened.

    Ack! Crap! He quickly looked away and clutched his head. Don¡¯t tell me my cover got blown by the very first¡­ second person I talked to!?

    ¡°Emmaa.¡± Seraphine leaned over and nipped at her ear, causing the other woman to yelp in surprise.

    ¡°Ah! Sorry, I was just taken aback by how pretty Lycoris¡¯ eyes are.¡±

    ¡°Oh? I wanna see, I wanna see~ Look at me Lyco~¡±

    ¡°N-No, I should¡­ probably get going.¡±

    Lycoris hopped off of the bench and looked around. It only sank in then that he couldn¡¯t even see the only landmark he had to work off of, as they¡¯d walked him out of line of sight of the Transfixion of Heaven.

    As he thought to distance himself to take out his phone, Seraphine followed him off the bench and bent down right in front of him, staring into his eyes.

    ¡°Oh! You weren¡¯t kidding Emma, they¡¯re so pretty¡­ You¡¯re a real charmer, aren¡¯t you Lyco?¡±

    He turned his head away again, pouting and squinting his eyes shut. ¡°I dunno what you¡¯re talking about!¡±

    ¡°Red eyes are really rare, Lyco. They say that people with eyes like that are related to the Exaltare¡¯s lineage~¡±

    ¡°H-Huh!?¡±

    ¡°Come on Sera, don¡¯t put weird ideas into her head. There¡¯s no proof of that.¡± Emma lightly bopped her on the head before holding a hand out to Lycoris. ¡°It just means you¡¯re special, is all. It¡¯s not something to be shy about.¡±

    Ahh¡­ she totally misunderstood the situation. I guess that means I¡¯m safe?

    Without thinking, he accepted her hand and nodded. ¡°That¡¯s what Mom tells me.¡±

    ¡°Hnngh, she really is too cute¡­¡± Sera exclaimed from behind.

    ¡°Now then, where are we taking you, Lycoris?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to the Volpini Building¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh! I know where that is, I¡¯ve been there before. There¡¯s a really famous winery on the first floor, though it¡¯s a little rich for my blood¡­ Pretty sure it¡¯s part of the Drimus corporation¡¯s chain¡­¡±

    ¡°Corporation¡­?¡± He blinked his eyes open, meeting the redhead¡¯s emerald eyes with a quizzical look. ¡°I thought they were a noble family.¡±

    ¡°Well, yeah I mean if you wanna call ¡®em that. They all got businesses they run though, it¡¯s how they stay on top of society. Money is power and all that.¡±

    ¡°Hey hey Emma, that cafe I was talking about is on the way, do you wanna stop by? We can treat Lycoris.¡±

    ¡°Hweh!?¡± His heart skipped a beat as he realized he¡¯d accidentally gone along with their silly conversation. ¡°W-W-Wait, but I really have to go quickly¡­ I don¡¯t wanna keep her waiting.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, was that your mom messaging you a little bit ago?¡± Emma looked down at her.

    Sera squeezed her other hand and crouched down, raising a finger. ¡°Why don¡¯t you message her back and ask?¡±

    What!? I can¡¯t do that! First of all this is her phone! Even if it wasn¡¯t, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re even talking about!

    Lycoris shook his head, quickly changing his mind. ¡°U-Uh¡­ A-Actually, she was saying that she¡¯ll be a little late, so¡­ it¡¯s probably okay.¡±

    Already feeling regret over his myriad decisions, he allowed the pair of women to drag him off to this cafe¡­

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    The seat of the Exaltare was a demanding position, but it was only after taking it upon herself to personally teach and raise an heiress that Lilianna truly felt the weight of all that the position demanded of her. While she wished for all the time in the world to give her daughter a proper education herself, she knew that was unreasonable. At the very least, she wanted to impart the baseline of what¡¯d be required to function in society, and was hoping Athena would¡¯ve been able to assist with that. But even that was proving to be a challenge.

    While she¡¯d expected her darling little daughter to have some growing pains as she adjusted to her new life as Heir-Significate to the Exaltare, Lilianna hadn¡¯t expected her to be so fussy about everything. At least they¡¯d been able to compromise about blood, even though seeing Lycoris put herself through that was just as hard on Lilianna.

    And with the potential threat of a Geolle uprising at perhaps the worst possible time¡ªsomething Lilianna couldn¡¯t write off as mere coincidence, given how the Traditionalists had been acting as of late¡ªshe found herself dragged into and bogged down by meetings and bureaucratic work more and more.

    Ideally, announcing her heir would shake the families up enough to disrupt their carefully laid plans, but¡­

    No, we should be trying to relax right now, not brooding over work.

    Sulking and sinking into the steaming hot water of the much-too-spacious private bath, causing it to overflow onto the granite tile of the ostentatiously decorated room, she blew bubbles and hugged her knees.

    If only Lycoris weren¡¯t so stubbornly shy. Lilianna wanted to relax and spend some time doting on her daughter, not just to make sure the girl was taking proper care of her skin and hair, but also to soothe her own fatigue and stoke the embers of her heart.

    Plus, she was almost positive those miserable humans never actually taught her how to properly tend to her hygiene. Even just thinking about the way she¡¯d describe the pitiful sacks of viscera that dared call themselves her parents made Lilianna¡¯s blood boil.

    ¡°Mmrrgh¡­¡±

    Having gotten too heated for the bath as she wandered through her own thoughts, Lilianna stood back up and wrapped herself in a towel. There was no point in trying to force something that wasn¡¯t going to come naturally, even when it was something like relaxation.

    Perhaps I can sneak a brief visit with Lycoris before I discuss the espionage detachment with Lesath. I hope she hasn¡¯t been skipping meals again. Maybe she¡¯ll let me play with her hair a little, she seems to enjoy having it styled¡­

    In the middle of dragging herself back toward her own chambers, Lilianna opted to make a slight detour.

 15 â€” Little Princess VS Big Parfait

    Walking hand in hand with a pair of attractive young women <i>should</i> have been a dream for Lycoris. It was the sort of thing Mizar would joke about when describing the reception they¡¯d receive as heroes¡ªthat Lycoris would undoubtedly have all sorts of women fawning over him with his rugged features and scarred physique.

    ¡­Except he was roughly half their height, they were both vampires, and¡­ he was a little girl now. He was <i>also </i>a vampire, technically, but he was trying to ignore that detail as much as he was trying to hide his silver hair. He¡¯d lucked out with them thinking little of his eyes, but no doubt if it were paired with his hair, it¡¯d turn coincidence into pattern, and he couldn¡¯t afford that.

    <i>Why didn¡¯t I just try running away? Now I¡¯m stuck with these two heading to whatever a cafe is. Even if they called the city guard, I probably could¡¯ve outran them¡­ Hell, I even know which sewers to hide in, technically! Augh, I¡¯m so dumb!</i>

    As he shadowboxed with himself inside his own head, he stole a glance up at the blonde woman, Seraphine.

    She¡¯d been energetically swinging his hand back and forth as she walked, humming a tune as they marched through the bustling streets. Her youthful energy was somewhat endearing, but his arm was getting sore.

    He turned to the less intoxicated of the pair, the redheaded Emma, and sheepishly smiled. ¡°Um¡­ Emma?¡±

    Lycoris gently shook his hand free from hers in order to point at the one Seraphine had in a deathgrip, hoping she¡¯d pick up on his intent.

    ¡°Ah¡­ Hey, Seraphine.¡±

    ¡°Mmm~?¡±

    ¡°You might wanna tone it down for the little miss.¡±

    Seraphine blinked twice, before letting go of Lycoris and rubbing the back of her head. The subtle scent of fresh apples lingered on his hand.

    ¡°Ahaha, my bad. Forgot I wasn¡¯t holding onto my dear Emma.¡±

    ¡°Honestly¡­¡±

    ¡°Are you tuckered out after all this walking, Lyco?¡±

    ¡°Hm? No, I''m fine. Though I am kind of wondering¡­ how much further is it?¡±

    ¡°Wow, what a little trooper. Here I thought your legs would be jelly, considering¡­ er.¡± Seraphine cut herself off, scratching a flushed cheek.

    ¡°Considering¡­?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Don¡¯t take this the wrong way but uh¡­ I mean you seem kinda like a noble daughter. That''s all.¡±

    Lycoris froze, the other two walking another couple steps before turning around to look at him.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°H-How did¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, was I right? Ahaha, well¡­ it''s pretty obvious, between the clothes you have on and the way you walk. You sorta just radiate that ¡®old money¡¯ vibe, ya know?¡±

    <i>Was I really walking like that? I thought I was acting casually¡­ Ack, what if they put it together with the eyes and¡­ wait, why would a noble be tired after a short walk? Aren¡¯t they supposed to be vampires?</i>

    Lycoris frowned as he puzzled over the newly discovered conundrum. He¡¯d assumed all vampires were superhuman powerhouses, capable of leveling mountains and razing entire villages.

    But¡­ it did make some amount of sense. If every single one of them was capable of such feats, then there¡¯d be no reason to fear and revere the Exaltare. And there¡¯d be nothing stopping them from wiping out all of humanity in a single fell stroke.

    Maybe he and Mizar really <i>could</i> have staged a direct assault on the capital, if vampires were mostly just¡­ normal.

    Maybe Elham¡¯s sacrifice had been for nothing after all¡­

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for her behavior, Lycoris,¡± Emma said.

    He must have been frowning pretty deeply. He shook away the depressing thoughts and forced a composed smile instead. ¡°No it¡¯s alright. I just thought these clothes would be pretty¡­ subdued¡­¡±

    ¡°Subdued? The trim on your dress looks like pure gold.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ I guess, but¡ª¡±

    He wanted to say ¡°this is the most subdued thing I could find,¡± but if anything that would probably deepen the hole he¡¯d found himself in.

    Though, from his perspective, the fluffy intricately-woven white turtleneck, light brown ankle-length skirt, and thick dark brown boots Emma wore were far more elaborate and fancy than a bit of gold leaf.

    ¡°¡­Actually, that¡¯s not a bad point. Your outfit looks really amazing from my perspective, Emma!¡±

    She smiled politely in response, giggling with faux-demurity, ¡°Oh? Why thank you!¡±

    ¡°Hey, hey, what about my clothes, Lady Lycoris~?¡±

    ¡°¡­Please don¡¯t call me ¡®Lady.¡¯¡±

    It bothered him just as much as whenever Athena called him ¡°Princess¡± or ¡°Your Highness.¡± The maid would probably throw a fit if anyone tried addressing him as anything <i>else</i>, but she wasn¡¯t here, and this was his first chance to be treated remotely normally in months.

    ¡°Aww¡­ <i>*hic*</i> She hates me!¡±

    ¡°I do not! Y-You look nice¡­ Just, please don¡¯t treat me like a noble daughter right now, ¡®kay?¡± He scrunched his face up in a nervous smile.

    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am!¡± Seraphine shot a surprisingly crisp salute, though her pose differed from what he was used to in the Goddess¡¯ Rays.

    Ironically, he was more accustomed to this than being treated like royalty¡ªthough ma¡¯am instead of sir was a bit¡­ ¡°Ahaha, I¡¯m not your C.O. either.¡±

    Seraphine playfully stuck her tongue out. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you know what that means. Anyways come on, the shop¡¯s right over there!¡±

    She grabbed Lycoris¡¯ hand firmly and tugged him along, quite easily forgetting all of her earlier talk of nobles. With Emma following behind them, the trio entered the warm wood-tiled shop with tall planter-covered partitions separating several cushioned seats. There were a myriad of aromas in the air, some bitter, some sweet, but the quiet atmosphere was a welcome reprieve from the noise of the city, even if he¡¯d managed to tune it out.

    It looked like there was a bar counter as well, with a glass display to the side, but it didn¡¯t look like they had any bar seating¡­ so he wasn¡¯t sure where exactly they were supposed to sit or what to do. Hoping that the pair of women would regard his ignorance as normal for a ¡°sheltered noble child,¡± he allowed them to drag him towards one of the booths.

    After gently pushing him onto the slightly sticky not-quite-leather cushion, Emma sat down right next to him¡ªmuch to her partner¡¯s dismay.

    ¡°No fair, why do you get to sit next to her?¡±

    ¡°The fact you even have to ask that question is answer enough. Here you go, Lycoris.¡±

    Emma handed a stiff folded-over piece of paper to Lycoris. Inside were several artistic yet realistically rendered depictions of drinks and sweets¡ªat least one of which he recognized as one Athena brought by¡ªaccompanied by short paragraphs of presumably descriptive text.

    Not only did he not know what at least half the words they used to describe the confections meant, but the longer he sat there, the more pressure he felt from the pair of eyes on him.

    ¡°Know what you wanna get yet, Lyco?¡±

    ¡°Oh, uh¡­ I can¡¯t re¡ª I mean, I¡¯m not really¡­ sure. Plus, I didn¡¯t bring any money with me. I was just going to meet up with Mom, after all¡­¡±

    <i>I can¡¯t tell them that I dunno how to read this! What kind of noble scion can¡¯t read a menu!? Come to think of it, why wasn¡¯t that one of the first things Mom put on the list to teach me¡­ </i>

    ¡°Sera already offered to treat you,¡± Emma turned to smirk across the table, ¡°right? That <i>is</i> why we¡¯re keeping her tied up here, after all.¡±

    Seraphine nodded eagerly. ¡°Of course! This place just opened and they¡¯ve already got a ton of positive reviews. I¡¯d be remiss <i>not</i> to treat such an adorable little princess to her first parfait.¡±

    ¡°P-Princess!?¡± He spoke perhaps a little louder than was proper for the quiet cafe¡¯s atmosphere. ¡°I, I mean¡­ How¡¯d you know that I¡¯ve never had a parfait before?¡±

    ¡°You were practically burning a hole in the menu with your eyes.¡±

    ¡°Psst, Lycoris, you should pick this one,¡± Emma leaned over to mutter as she tapped one of the images on his menu.

    Lycoris squinted at it, sweat beading on his brow as he scanned the name as quickly as possible. ¡°The¡­ strawberry dee ecks?¡±

    ¡°Ehhh? But this place¡¯s been pushing their black forest currant as a specialty,¡± Seraphine pouted. ¡°Plus, that one¡¯s pretty expensive¡­¡±

    Stolen novel; please report.?¡°We¡¯re not going to feed her <i>alcohol,</i> Seraphine. And she¡¯s a nob¡ªer¡­ a prim and proper little girl. Meaning it wouldn¡¯t do to hold back.¡±

    ¡°Fine¡­ you¡¯re placing the orders though.¡±

    ¡°Alright alright, ya big baby.¡±

    Seraphine opened up a small handbag and casually tossed a card onto the table, which Emma scooped up along with their menus as she slid out of the booth and headed to the counter.

    ¡°Sooo Lyco~ What¡¯s life like as a noble?¡±

    With her opportunity secured, the slowly sobering blonde immediately ducked around into the open space right beside Lycoris, looming over her with a broad smile as she began her ¡°interrogation.¡±

    He didn¡¯t see any particular harm in giving a truthful answer, as he politely began to explain, ¡°Umm¡­ well, I spend most of my time practicing social etiquette and how to present myself properly, or doing combat training¡­ Oh! Recently I¡¯ve started practicing magic more, and Mother helps me study when she has time for it.¡±

    ¡°Whoa, seriously? ¡­Did you say combat training?¡±

    ¡°Er¡­ y-yeah. Isn¡¯t that normal?¡±

    ¡°Hrmm¡­ I guess us commoners <i>do</i> have mandatory service time. I don¡¯t remember seeing any rich folk alongside us at boot camp though. I assume they were all given like¡­ officer training or something. I never really thought about it before, I just assumed they were too important.¡±

    ¡°Mm, well the nobility in the Kingdom served as army commanders, so its not that big of a stretch to think,¡± Lycoris mumbled to himself.

    ¡°By the way,¡± Seraphine glanced down at Lycoris, putting a hand on his hood, ¡°you said you practiced social etiquette, but <i>everyone</i> knows it''s rude to keep a hat on inside!¡±

    He quickly moved his own hands up to clutch his hood. ¡°Th-That¡¯s just¡­ I-I don¡¯t want to stand out. You know?¡±

    ¡°You already kinda do though¡­¡±

    Lycoris fumbled over himself as he desperately tried to come up with a reason to keep the hood up, but nothing came to mind. He briefly considered giving up and just letting her find out. He wasn¡¯t good at lying after all, and the truth would probably be just as unbelievable. He nervously peered up at her lavender eyes, wondering what to do.

    He wasn¡¯t sure if he could trust her. He wasn¡¯t even sure who exactly his mother¡¯s enemies were to begin with.

    <i>Wait, but Mizar and I were¡­ er, I mean we </i><b><i>are</i></b><i>¡­ no but¡ª</i>

    As Lycoris averted his gaze, trying to figure out how to navigate the mental obstacle course he¡¯d set up for himself, Seraphine gently tugged his hood down and smiled.

    At least, until she recognized what she was looking at. Her eyes widened in bewilderment, her mouth agape as she appeared to fully sober up in a single second.

    ¡°Ack! W-Wait, I can explain, please don¡¯t¡ª¡±

    ¡°Seraphine! You stole my seat! You¡¯d better not have been doing anything weird to Lycoris.¡±

    But Lycoris didn¡¯t get the chance to finish, as Emma returned at that moment.

    The blonde in question winced and turned around, covering Lycoris with her back.

    ¡°No, no no we were just uh¡­¡±

    ¡°Come on, get up.¡± Emma looked entirely unamused, beckoning with a hand.

    ¡°S-Sera wasn¡¯t doing anything weird.¡± Lycoris chimed in after securing the hood back over his head.

    Emma raised an eyebrow as she peered around Seraphine, but relented and sat in the seat opposite the two of them.

    Though, the ensuing silence was deafening, as Lycoris fiddled with his hands in his lap and stared at the table.

    Seraphine similarly scratched her cheek and looked away awkwardly, leaving Emma squinting across at the two of them.

    ¡°¡­Alright, <i>something</i> obviously happened. I¡¯m not that stupid.¡±

    ¡°W-We were just¡ª¡±

    ¡°Lycoris was telling me what ro¡ª noble life is like!? Haha¡­ hahaha¡­¡±

    ¡°A-Although I think Seraphine got the wrong impression, h-haha¡­¡±

    As Lycoris looked up at his accomplice(?), she trembled in terror.

    <i>I¡¯m not even trying to sound like Mom, and why would she go out looking like a child, without any sort of better disguise!? I mean¡­ I did the best I could but, surely Mom could do better¡­</i><i>

    </i>?<i>Oh, wait¡­</i>

    Struck by inspiration, Lycoris cleared his throat, causing Seraphine to nearly jump out of her seat.

    ¡°Erm, promise you¡¯ll keep this a secret, otherwise Mom¡ª Mother will get upset with me, but¡­¡±

    Looking around to make sure nobody else was watching, he briefly lowered his hood and exposed his hair to Emma, who¡­ had a remarkably similar reaction to Seraphine. The color drained from her face and her shoulders slumped, like a woman who¡¯d accepted that her life was about to end.

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    ¡°L-Like I said, it¡¯s not what it looks like! I¡¯m not¡­ you know¡­ Sh-She doesn¡¯t even <i>have</i> a mom! I think¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s true. But, isn¡¯t it a crime to imitate her? Even for a child, it¡¯s not something you should be¡ª¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not like this was my decision!¡± It really wasn¡¯t. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ a curse!¡± That¡¯s certainly how he originally felt about it. ¡°I¡¯d rather not look like M¡ª the Exaltare.¡± He¡­ wasn¡¯t actually confident in that, anymore.

    ¡°A curse¡­?¡±

    ¡°Y¡­Yes. I was made to look like this¡­ M-My mother, um¡­ She doesn¡¯t let me go out because of it, but I¡ª we didn¡¯t have a choice, today.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ see.¡±

    Emma still hadn¡¯t quite recovered from her shock, but Seraphine seemed far more accepting as she wrapped an arm around Lycoris, pulling her close and rubbing her head.

    ¡°Oh you poor thing! It must be dreadful to be stuck cooped up every day.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­¡±

    Lycoris looked away nervously as Emma¡¯s sympathy only elicited feelings of guilt in him. In truth, he didn''t exactly mind it. Life in the palace was rather comfy compared to constant drilling, or being on the streets in the cold.

    Fortunately, he was soon released from the awkward atmosphere when a waitress arrived with their orders, and Seraphine released him to focus on her treat instead.

    Served in textured glass goblets, all three were filled with creamy white mush with an assortment of different layered accoutrements stacked atop each. The one placed in front of Lycoris was particularly towering, with cream, nuts, fruit, more cream, and thick red syrup drizzled on top of the whole thing that ran down its sides and pooled at the bottom of the glass, with a proud crown of scarlet strawberries seated at the top.

    It certainly looked¡­ extravagant. Looking at the other two orders, he saw they were served in differently shaped glasses, but looked no less intricately arranged. While it was undoubtedly different, it reminded him of the teacakes Princess Fawaris used to offer when he¡¯d check on her¡­

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ like an edible sculpture?¡±

    ¡°Wanna take a photo, Lyco?¡± Seraphine pulled her phone out of her bag and waved it.

    ¡°Er, that¡ª¡±

    ¡°Sera, you can¡¯t be serious,¡± Emma sighed. ¡°She literally just finished explaining that she¡¯s not even supposed to be out in public, and you want to take a picture? What if someone catches sight of her¡­ you know.¡±

    Somewhat confused as to how a photo could expose the color of his features¡ªand further flummoxed by how a phone could <i>also</i> perform the same function as a camera¡ªLycoris opted to wordlessly nod in agreement with Emma as he picked up the long silver spoon.

    He was a little worried about the price, given the lavish presentation and how even the silverware looked immaculately crafted.

    ¡°Awww, don¡¯t you want a pic of Lyco¡¯s reaction though?¡±

    He turned to raise an eyebrow at her. ¡°Of¡­ eating a parfait?¡±

    ¡°Of eating your <i>first</i> parfait! It¡¯s like, your first step out into the world, towards independence or something, y¡¯know?¡±

    The vampire was simultaneously both more and infinitely less correct than she could have realized. It was certainly the first time Lycoris had left ¡°home¡± since being taken under Lilianna¡¯s wing, but he¡¯d long since accustomed himself to the wider world.

    Even if Vampire society was incomprehensible beyond his wildest delusions.

    ¡°Go on Lycoris, eat up before it starts to melt~¡± Emma smiled encouragingly.

    ¡°Alright¡­¡±

    Defeated, Seraphine set her phone down on the table and picked up her own spoon.

    Without a shred of hesitation, he stuffed a spoonful of sweet cream and tangy syrup into his mouth, the flavor deliciously melting on his tongue as a shock of delight raced over his taste buds.

    It was a strangely familiar flavor, the sudden chill making his head throb ever so slightly, while the sweetness of the syrup warmed his stomach. It was absolutely delicious, and somewhat filling despite its wispy and smooth nature. After suffering through meal after meal of harshly bitter animal blood and vacuous sweets, it was like a salve from the Goddess come to quench his soul.

    Briefly, he wondered why neither Athena nor Lilianna had thought to bring up such a miraculous foodstuff.

    Needless to say, he immediately abandoned the table manners his mother had painstakingly drilled into him, and devoured the towering parfait in record time.

    After he¡¯d crunched on the mixed nuts and started to scoop out the pooled syrup at the bottom, the pair of adults giggled.

    ¡°I think she¡¯s a fan, Emma.¡±

    ¡°Sure seems like it. I¡¯m starting to regret not letting you take a photo, hmhm~¡±

    ¡°I think her family would disown her if they caught her acting like this in public though¡­¡±

    ¡°Honestly it¡¯s the best endorsement I¡¯ve seen for ditching that artificially sweetened and processed wild animal blood.¡±

    ¡°¡­Mm?¡± Lycoris froze in the middle of a mouthful, his body instinctively trembling as his mind languorously stumbled toward understanding.

    ¡°And it¡¯s cheap too! I guess leave it to a Vanas family subsidiary. Betcha they got some secret to getting every drop out.¡± Seraphine winked and waved her spoon around.

    ¡°D-Drop¡­?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s ¡®cause they¡¯re old money, obviously. They got a lock on the entire industry, honestly it''s a miracle that they even decided to share their product with us ¡®commoners,¡¯¡± Emma sighed.

    ¡°Well, even if they¡¯re Traditionalists, it¡¯s not like they think non-nobles are less deserving of human blood.¡±

    ¡°Yeah but, you know how long it took for them to even open a¡ª¡±

    Emma stopped mid-sentence, cut off by the sound of Lycoris¡¯ spoon clattering into the glass as his eyes widened in shock and horror.

    The sweetness stuck to his teeth, a chill gripped his heart.

    ¡°Lyco¡­?¡±

    Their voices sounded so far away, his heart rate accelerated as a sense of nausea welled up in his gut, the cold spreading to his brow as sweat broke out across it.

    <i>Oh¡­ Right. That¡¯s why it tasted so¡­</i>

    Remembering just what sort of monsters the women were, and what he himself had become, Lycoris wobbled on his seat¡­

    ¡­And blacked out.

 16 â€” Little Princess VS Big Rodents

    ¡°We shall ask you this only once. Speak truth or die. Has anyone come through these doors since our return?¡±

    The pair of guards cowered before the woman a full head shorter than them. She¡¯d slammed the gilded doors open and demanded answers before they could even get their bearings and properly drop to their knees in fealty.

    Both of them had stiffened in shock and horror at the sight of the Exaltare appearing for the second time in a single day, torn between averting their gazes and showing deference to the full-figured version wearing naught but a bathing towel.

    ¡°Y-Y-Your Majesty!?¡±

    His companion immediately dropped to his knee and lowered his head. ¡°W-What he mean to say is¡­ you did, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Except, you were far smaller?¡± The first guard unhelpfully added.

    ¡°Did you teleport back, for some reason?¡±

    Lilianna¡¯s pupils narrowed angrily, her glare forcing the remaining guard to his knees as he became unable to support his own weight.

    Normally she only wove her mana to make herself appear more intimidating during Court sessions, but her fury at present was enough to make her consider willing the torrent of energy into tearing the men into shreds.

    That would¡¯ve been unproductive though. She¡¯d intentionally kept everyone possible in the dark about Lycoris to avoid letting the truth slip out. Killing them for the mistake of assuming her daughter was herself¡ªas strange an assumption as ¡°Lilianna is small today, for some reason¡± was¡ªwould be unproductive.

    Plus, it was just a touch flattering that Lycoris looked so much like her that the guards had confused them.

    She hadn¡¯t expected her daughter to actually leave of her own accord, however. It was somewhat disheartening, the flutters of joy quickly overwhelmed by a tight grip of concern. She thought that Lycoris had started warming up to her¡­ the fact she still had no idea what the girl could be thinking was equal parts frustrating and depressing.

    Her eyes wandered away from the pair of men toward the silent elevators, a frown creasing across her lips.

    Why didn¡¯t she come talk to us? Have we done something to offend her? We haven¡¯t been too pushy, we think. Perhaps it¡¯s because we haven¡¯t spent enough time with her? Mrgh, if only she¡¯d said something!

    To flee the safety of our quarters¡­ She couldn¡¯t have tried to leave the palace, surely. Someone would have noticed.

    ¡°Guard.¡±

    ¡°Ma¡¯am!¡±

    ¡°Describe to us, how did she appear whilst leaving? Was she distraught?¡±

    ¡°¡®Sh-She?¡¯ Um¡­ well, you¡ª or, she snapped at us for slacking off, and then started marching off in a huff. When Dahgere here asked you¡­ her, rather, why she was so short, she uh¡­ Yelled at us. So, I guess you seemed angry?¡±

    ¡°And she was unarmed?¡±

    His companion, apparently named Dahgere, seemed to have picked up on at least part of what was going on. ¡°I didn¡¯t see any weapons! I apologize for my abject failure to stop her!¡±

    ¡°Which floor did she go to?¡±

    ¡°S-She didn¡¯t take the elevator. She just went across to the opposite hall¡­¡±

    She must have followed the route we took to the armory. We never actually instructed Lycoris on how to use the elevators, so if she was pretending to be us, that would have given her away in an instant. But if she just went to the armory¡­ she''d need our assistance to open the doors. If she left, clearly someone at the front entrance would have seen her.

    ¡°How was she dressed?¡±

    ¡°I-In a white dress! And a purple shawl.¡±

    ¡°You had your¡­ I mean, she had her hair done up in your usual fashion.¡±

    ¡°We''re deeply sorry Your Majesty! Please, we truly thought it was just you!¡±

    ¡°Shut up Dahgere, you''re the one who wanted to¡­¡±

    Lilianna ignored the inconsequential words of the sniveling guards, and instead rushed back to her room for a change of clothes and her phone and¡ª

    ¡°¡­Where did it go?¡±

    She scoured her room, tore her sheets off of the bed, checked under it, looked in the bathroom, and only after stepping back out and staring at the glass of wine on the bedside table did she connect the dots.

    Don¡¯t tell me she took our phone and ran because she was upset that we drink human blood¡­ The matriarch put a hand to her forehead. No, no she¡¯s too mature for that. Hopefully. But if she does have our phone¡­

    Lilianna rushed back towards the exit as quickly as she could without actually running, and grasped one of the guards by the throat.

    ¡°Ghagh!?¡±

    ¡°Phone. Now.¡±

    Unfortunately, he passed out on his feet. Letting the limp man fall to the ground, she turned to see the other already on his knees, holding his phone out like he was offering up a sacred relic. She snatched it with all the decorum of a street thug and quickly accessed the emergency services on it, entering her obnoxiously long security key into the Tamisrah''s online Find-a-Phone service.

    How far did she get¡­? Please be safe, Lycoris.

    Her phone hadn¡¯t been turned off, thankfully, and was currently in a park situated on the border between the commercial district and the industrial block. It happened to be right next to a certain structure. One whose name had come up in conversation a few days prior.

    Volpini¡­ ¡­ ¡­!

    Without hesitation, the Exaltare dashed through the halls, into the stairwell and vaulted over the railing. With a simple snap of her fingers, she silently wove a spell to cushion her landing at the base with a pocket of air. Though she had no observers, she landed with dignity and grace, and sprinted out into the next corridor as part of the same swift motion.

    Even at this time of night, the main hall beyond was full of people discussing recent events and skittering about on menial business. The Transfixion of Heaven never truly slept, even if its Exaltare did on occasion.

    Forcing herself to slow her pace as she came upon the double doors, she pushed them open in a calm yet pronounced display, still radiating palpable fury. Save for the few who collapsed as soon as they felt the weight of her rage, the entire crowd fell dead silent and instinctively stepped back the moment their attention was drawn to her.

    She briefly scanned the attendants. None of the agents nor members of the Seven were present, which meant they¡¯d either already caught wind of Lycoris and followed after her, or were simply not in attendance.

    Lilianna prayed to the Ancestors for an infinitesimally small miracle that Lycoris was undiscovered and still safe. After weighing her options, Lilianna opted to ignore the crowd and simply marched towards the exit.

    Deathly silence followed in her wake.

    As she marched through the hall, all those around her bowed their heads in deference. There was no chance that this wouldn¡¯t spread like wildfire on news sites. No matter what she did, it¡¯d inevitably make waves. That was why she¡¯d told Lycoris to ignore Athena to begin with.

    But better she be the focus of their gaze than her precious little flower.

    She stepped to the side of the elevator hall and pressed the VIP button on the out-of-the-way service lift, opening up a panel to scan her manaprint, which granted her access to a small chamber beyond. Inside was a pulsating pale blue magic circle, runes delicately peeling off of the ritual site and drifting into the air, dancing around like motes of dust as she disturbed their presence.

    Unfortunately, it couldn¡¯t connect directly to the park, but there was at least a keyed destination within sprinting distance. After ensuring the destination circle was empty, she lightly tapped her foot and disappeared.

    £ª

    ¡°Aghck¡­ Auugh¡­ Why¡­?¡±

    The sweet taste of warm life filled her mouth.

    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing!?¡±

    Lycoris looked up from the boy¡¯s neck, blood dripping down her chin as her eyes narrowed at the interloper. As the voice of the new arrival triggered hazy memories, her jaw slackened as she dropped the priest with a sickeningly wet thud.

    Tightening his grip on his azure-bladed longsword, the blonde-haired and blue-eyed hero squared off, five paces away.

    ¡°M¡­izar¡­?¡± she whispered hoarsely.

    ¡°Silence, beast. How could you do that to Elham!? I¡¯ll kill you!¡±

    He charged forward, sword raised.

    Gripped by fear, she swung her massive scythe and cleaved him in two, shreds of scarlet drifting away and scattering into dust.

    ¡°A-Ah¡­ Wait! Mizar, come back! I¡¯m¡­ sorry¡­¡±

    She dropped it with a heavy metallic clang, clutching her head as she twisted herself away, only to come face to face with the radiant princess, her bright eyes shining like twin suns and tresses swaying like golden wheat as she slowly walked forward.

    ¡°How could you, Lycoris? He was your student! Your friend! I thought you said you were like an auntie to us!?¡±

    ¡°Huh!? ¡­I¡¯m¡­ pretty sure I said uncle¡­¡±

    ¡°But now¡­ look at you, why did you do that to Elham? To Mizar? How could you betray us!?¡±

    She shambled like a zombie, gripping Lycoris by the shoulders as her gaze burned into the vampire.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t¡­ it wasn¡¯t me! They¡­ I was tricked¡­ It¡¯s not¡ª¡±

    Fawaris cut her off, speaking harshly. ¡°Justice demands retribution, Lycoris.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡ª¡±

    But she didn¡¯t.

    Fawaris leaned down, biting into and tearing off a chunk of Lycoris¡¯¡ª

    £ª

    ¡°AAAAH!¡±

    Lycoris sat bolt upright, shivering and hugging herself as she looked up and saw a very surprised Seraphine looking down at her, while something tugged at the fabric of her capelet.

    ¡°Don¡¯t eat that, you dumb rodent! Here, look! Fresh greens!¡±

    ¡°Huh¡­?¡±

    Lycoris blinked and took in the unfamiliar scenery. Winding purposefully-laid cobblestone paths twisted through meticulously trimmed grass and around tall deciduous trees like rivers that met up at a large stone public square. At the edge of the paved stones was a grassy slope that led down into a small lake. This was neither the cafe, nor the darkness of that nightmare. It was just a slightly humid park, the summer air causing his hair to cling to his cheeks.

    Turning around, he saw Emma brandishing a bushel of plants as a wolf-sized, brown-furred rodent chewed on his clothing. He blinked, stupefied and still stuck with his heart racing in his chest as he took in his surroundings.

    They¡¯d appeared to be in a park, as it was unlikely he¡¯d somehow been transported to a forest outside of the city. Moreover, he didn''t recall seeing any natural forests this far east, and this didn''t exactly look natural, as he let his eyes wander up to the tall iron lampposts illuminating the paths.

    Another of the large docile rodents slovenly flopped over onto its side as it munched on fresh grass. A third let its dark gray lizard tail swish slowly as one of the other park visitors scratched behind its little ears, and a fourth clicked its buck teeth and sparked a small jet of fire as it looked on in envy.

    He¡¯d never seen such friendly dracybaras before. They almost looked endearing, compared to the variety he¡¯d encountered in the wilds.

    The ones he was used to were much more vicious. Their bodies were covered in venomous quills rather than soft fur, and they attacked anyone that drew too close to their nests or feeding grounds.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Lycoris. She¡¯s just getting a little too friendly. Dracybaras don¡¯t attack people.¡±

    ¡°Er, I¡¯m pretty sure they¡ª¡±

    Lycoris cut himself off before he could finish his thought. He couldn¡¯t say that he¡¯d seen wild monsters, considering the pair of women were operating under the assumption that he was a sheltered noble girl.

    Admittedly, it didn''t require that much acting on his part, considering how unfamiliar he was with what the two of them considered mundane.

    ¡°They¡¯re¡­ much softer than I imagined.¡±

    ¡°Are you alright, Lycoris? That was¡­ quite a scream.¡±

    Seraphine gently patted him on the back, the realization that he¡¯d been sleeping on her lap slowly sinking in as his face darkened. He hugged his knees and pressed his face against them to hide his embarrassment, but unfortunately it only gave time for the weight of that strange and awful dream to sink in instead.

    Nothing good would come from letting himself sink back into that quagmire. He tried to force the images of his friends out of his mind, instead focusing on his mission to rescue Athena. He needed to get his bearings. Hopefully he hadn''t wasted too much time.

    ¡°Just¡­ a nightmare.¡± He glanced around once more, then up at Seraphine. ¡°Where are we?¡±

    ¡°Pulia Park, it¡¯s right by the cafe, don¡¯t worry~ Emma and I brought you over after you collapsed. Are you sure you¡¯re okay¡­?¡±

    She gave Lycoris a concerned frown.

    In response, he simply nodded his head and stood up, wobbling a little on his feet. The dracybara that¡¯d been lured away from his clothing turned back around and stared blankly as it chewed on grass instead.

    He regarded the creature with some amount of trepidation, remembering the gouts of flame that Tatyana had barely held at bay with a wall of water. But as he had his staring match with the creature, he felt a hand gently push him forward, causing him to stumble toward the jumble of creatures loitering around the food-bearing Emma.

    As he approached, the rest of the rodents slowly lifted their heads to look at him. He raised his hand and waved nervously, though they didn¡¯t react.

    ¡°Here, give this to one. They love it when you rub their chins, by the way.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Oh, uh, okay.¡±

    Emma handed a bundle of leaves to Lycoris, as one of the dracybaras got up and wandered over to start munching it right out of his hands. Lycoris had never been great with animals to begin with. He had more than one sore memory about horses taking offense to him during his time as a knight.

    But the dracybara had no reaction other than a slow blink when he nervously reached forward to give its scraggly fur a pat.

    It was surprisingly warm, and unsurprisingly coarse. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t venomous.

    The reptile-adjacent rodent shuffled closer and bumped against him, its tail slowly tapping the ground behind it as it pressed back against his hand.

    ¡°O-Ohh¡­! I think it likes me!¡± He looked up excitedly at the women accompanying him, forgetting his earlier concern.

    ¡°Hehe, someone¡¯s little miss popular~¡±

    ¡°Hahh, Lyco¡¯s too cute, it¡¯s not fair! Makes me want to have a kid. Do you think her mom would get mad if we signed on as her guardians?¡±

    ¡°Sera.¡± Emma glared at her.

    ¡°I was joking! ¡­You know I know better than to mess with nobles.¡± Seraphine scratched her cheek. ¡°Besides, you can¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t agree.¡±

    ¡°Mmm, I know what you mean. I¡¯d love it if we had a well-behaved girl like her,¡± Emma sighed.

    Surrounded by the dastardly snuggly and soft animals, Lycoris quickly found himself trapped in a world of rapturous bliss. It was as though the creatures had evolved for the specific purpose of luring little girls into their lairs with their cuteness.

    It wasn¡¯t until several minutes of cuddly critter heaven passed that he remembered why he¡¯d even left the palace to begin with.

    ¡°Agh! What am I doing!? How long was I even out for?¡±

    ¡°About twenty or so minutes. We considered contacting your mom on your phone, but¡­¡± Emma trailed off, twisting her head away as a dracybara started bumping into her cheek.

    A quick flash of anxiety rushed through him as he patted his pocket for the phone.

    ¡°To be blunt, we didn¡¯t wanna risk pissing off your parents. Could get us disappeared after all, haha¡­ hah¡­¡± Seraphine cleared her throat rather pointedly.

    ¡°Ah, yeah¡­ that¡¯s¡­ I guess Mom might do that, especially if she knew you both uh¡­ A-anyways I should probably go! If I keep her waiting any longer then, well¡­¡±

    ¡°Good news is, it''s just right over there.¡±

    Emma dug her way out of the dracybara pile and stood up to gesture across the park toward the south exit, just beyond which was a street lined with unlit buildings. It seemed there were parts of the town down here that slept at night as well.

    ¡°I hope we didn¡¯t cause you to be late. Neither of us expected you to pass out like that.¡±

    ¡°What even happened?¡± Emma asked. ¡°You didn¡¯t seem to have had any sort of allergic reaction. As far as I could tell it was just shock. Are you sure you¡¯re feeling alright?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine. I should really hurry though.¡±

    He had no idea if his mother had caught on that he was missing. If he was lucky, she¡¯d have just gone straight to bed and not even noticed her phone was gone¡ªthough that was probably wishful thinking.

    And of course, it went without saying that he didn¡¯t want Athena to be stuck there any longer than she had to be.

    ¡°Thank you both for your assistance.¡±

    Though, they really only just wasted his precious time. He couldn¡¯t exactly blame them for that, from their perspective they were just safeguarding a lone child after all.

    He offered them a polite curtsey and turned around, trying his best to ignore the cuddly rodents pressing against his sides.

    ¡°Wait!¡±

    He turned back around, a confused and worried frown spreading across his face. ¡°Yes¡­?¡±

    ¡°Maybe this is a dumb idea, but,¡± Seraphine smiled, holding up her phone, ¡°wanna trade contact info? Maybe we could hang out again sometime¡­ after that curse gets sorted out, I mean.¡±

    ¡°H¡­Huh? Um, that would be¡­ uh.¡± He started to panic. What does she mean ¡®contact info?¡¯ Like¡­ my home address? But that¡¯s just the palace¡­

    Fortunately, Seraphine seemed to pick up on his hesitation. ¡°No good, huh?¡±

    ¡°N-No it¡¯s just¡­ I¡¯m not sure what you meant,¡± he mumbled shyly.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s just a phone address, for messaging and stuff. Want me to help walk you through the process?¡±

    ¡°Sera,¡± Emma warned, ¡°you know that¡¯s a bad idea. Getting involved with nobles is nothing but trouble at best.¡±

    ¡°But she¡¯s cute! I thought she might want to at least have a texting buddy while stuck at home.¡±

    ¡°Ahaha¡­ Um, my mom might get mad at me though, I¡¯d have to ask her first, I think.¡± Lycoris awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

    ¡°Then how about we do this.¡± Seraphine crouched down in front of him and spoke slowly and deliberately, ¡°five-eight, two-seven, three three six nine. That¡¯s my number. If you ask your mom and she says it¡¯s okay, feel free to add and text me. We¡¯ll be digital pen-pals~¡±

    ¡°Uhm¡­ five eight two seven three three¡­ okay. I¡¯ll try to remember.¡±

    ¡°Hope to hear from you soon then.¡± Sera cheerily patted him on the head.

    ¡°Right. Bye, then. Thank you for looking after me.¡±

    ¡°Take care of yourself, don¡¯t go causing any trouble for your mom that we wouldn¡¯t.¡±

    Turning his back on the women waving farewell to him, Lycoris was left with quite a bit to mull over as he walked through the dimly illuminated park.

    They were quite the nice pair of women, to the point that on multiple occasions he¡¯d completely forgotten that they were abominable creatures, their mere existence an affront to the Goddess. Neither of them really acted like they were cast out of Her light and wallowing in the shadows, waiting to feast on innocent humans.

    If they dyed their hair brown, hid their eyes and ears, and put on cotton dresses or tunics, they¡¯d pass perfectly as ordinary humans.

    ¡­That¡¯s a chilling thought.

    Setting aside the notion of vampires lurking throughout the Kingdom, he was left wondering if the two of them were an exception, or if that was how all the creatures he¡¯d been slaying his whole life behaved.

    Athena may have acted overbearingly servile towards him and his mother, but maybe when not in the presence of literal royalty, she was also¡­ normal. He¡¯d certainly met more than one human who had a bad case of nerves when dealing with nobles or knights, after all.

    As his footsteps crunched the gravel below, he looked toward the crimson clouds through the boughs of the trees.

    He¡¯d slain humans before too, but those that fell to his blade had obviously been wicked, rejecting the Goddess¡¯ light and defying the order of human society as they attempted to wreak havoc.

    Vile mages who¡¯d try to raise the dead, or empower themselves through human sacrifice, or who lied and stole and killed others for their own personal gain. Some were apprehended and faced trial, while others might¡¯ve been sent to the gallows.

    But both directly and indirectly, he¡¯d taken the lives of wicked humans.

    Given what Lilianna had told him of the nobility and the Seven Families, he¡¯d assumed that he wouldn¡¯t be able to trust anyone¡ªthat his belief the entire race consisted of nothing but backstabbing egotists was correct.

    But Emma and Seraphine were quite obviously just people.

    ¡°Are they really¡­ monsters?¡±

    They did drink blood, human blood, but that was simply how they were. Much as he loathed and wished to deny it, it really did taste better. If they were raised to believe that was normal, then obviously they wouldn¡¯t question it.

    Could it be possible to teach them the error of their ways?

    Was it really fair to label them as monsters without even trying?

    An uncomfortable thought settled in the pit of his stomach. He looked back down at the ground and began sprinting toward the row of darkened structures, hoping that he could outrun the ideas sprouting inside of him.

    Hopefully, confronting whoever had kidnapped Athena would be able to realign his moral compass.

    The dark and gloomy building loomed tall before him, a set of stairs nestled just between it and its neighbor that led upward like a lolled out tongue, guiding him up into the belly of the beast¡­

    With his thoughts wholly consumed by Athena¡¯s rescue, the strange encounter with Emma and Seraphine, and and a burgeoning sense of anxiety and confusion, he paid no heed to the figures lurking in the unlit first floor winery, staring at him through lightly tinted windows.

 17 â€” Little Princess VS Reality

    Lycoris cautiously walked up the stairs, hoping to give his eyes time to adjust to the darkness¡­ until he realized that it was unnecessary. He could see just fine even in low-light conditions now.

    Confirming once more on his mother¡¯s phone that Athena was still inside, he put his hand to the doorknob. As expected, the door was locked. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t have any lockpicks on hand, nor was he sure if door tumblers in Ljosdeyja would be the same as back in Dauwen. Considering how much more advanced everything else was in the Vampire city, he doubted his decades-old urchin tricks would work. Maybe Tatyana would¡¯ve been able to come up with a spell for it, but he never wanted to see her face again.

    Although¡­ I guess I¡¯ll have to if I want to make her pay for her crimes¡­ But now¡¯s not the time to get distracted.

    He put the phone away and shook off the simmering resentment clinging to his gut. Following his training, he emptied his mind as best he could in order to draw his scythe from within. Slowly, carefully, he¡­

    ¡­Stabbed himself in the hand.

    ¡°Ow!¡±

    He looked down in confusion. His nails had dug into his palm.

    He¡¯d failed.

    Taking a deep breath, he tried again. And again. And again.

    A couple failures was to be expected, but after several minutes, each failure caused his worry to creep higher and higher up his back. He stared at the door, momentarily wondering why he¡¯d even come out here. Every single part of this scheme had gone wrong in some way, past leaving the section of palace he¡¯d called home¡­ but he was standing right at the finish line all the same.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    The door was made of simple wood. It didn¡¯t matter if Lycoris was unarmed or not. He could tell there was nobody waiting on the other side; they would''ve come to check when he yelped in pain if there was. All he had accomplished was waste a bunch of time pointlessly inflicting pain on himself, when he could¡¯ve simply kicked the door down.

    His attempts to draw his scythe was just time-wasting, an excuse to keep him from pushing open the door. He was hesitating, just like before¡­ just like he always did.

    Shaking away the dark thoughts, he kicked the door with all his might, snapping it straight off the hinges and sending countless splinters tumbling into the unlit office.

    Inside, shelves were pressed up against the walls, all lined with rows of binders; potted plants sat tucked in the corners to add a touch of color; and the only light entering the room was cast upon the desks, sofa, and chairs, which had all been pushed toward the windows covered in cheap plastic blinds.

    However, one chair had been pointedly set in the center of the room; upon it sat a haggard looking woman, her messy blue hair hung in front of her drooped face, obscuring the details from Lycoris. She was wearing the same style of civilian clothing as Emma and Seraphine, though her well-tailored dress was stained with flecks of blood and grime.

    She didn¡¯t move or make a sound, even after he¡¯d loudly announced his entrance with the door.

    ¡°Athena!¡±

    Even after shouting her name, the woman didn¡¯t respond.

    Lycoris rushed over and immediately put a finger to her neck, checking for a pulse. If it was present, it was weak. He put his head to her chest to listen for her breath, but¡­ obviously there was none. His heart throbbed painfully, his over-taxed fatigued nerves fraying to their limits by seeing her in such a pitiful state.

    This wasn¡¯t the first time he¡¯d ever rescued a hostage, but in spite of his familiarity with the situation, he couldn¡¯t steady himself. He knew panic would do no good in this situation, but¡­

    ¡°This is decidedly not the time to be acting like a child. Come on Lycoris, get it together¡­ She¡¯s still alive, you can just carry her out of¡ª¡±

    ¡°Well well well, what do we have here?¡±

    Sauntering in through the doorway that Lycoris had "discreetly" opened, a lanky man garbed in rolled-up silk sleeves and gaudy finery leered at him, his bright yellow eyes illuminated in the darkness.

    Seeing him menacingly flash his fangs, Lycoris felt emboldened rather than unnerved. It was almost stereotypically vampiric behavior. This was familiar territory, a familiar enemy; something that he¡¯d cut down time and again.

    Lycoris stood up straight and locked eyes with the intruder. Though¡­ he was the actual intruder in this situation.

    No sooner did their eyes meet than the man¡¯s widened in surprise, his mouth hanging slightly agape.

    ¡°What¡­ do we have here?¡± he repeated to himself, sounding genuinely baffled.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong Alben, it¡¯s just a girl.¡±

    Another man entered and pushed past Alben, garbed in similar clothes but far broader in shoulder. In his hand was an L-shaped rod with glowing amber runes etched on a heptagonal barrel¡ªa vampiric firearm.

    Only, when he staggered a half-step forward in astonishment, Lycoris realized something strange must have happened. He reached up and lightly touched his hair, realizing that his hood had either slipped off when he kicked down the door, or when he rushed to Athena¡¯s side.

    ¡°¡®Just a girl,¡¯¡± Alben mimicked back derisively, ¡°the fuck kinda bait did we use to snag¡­ her?¡±

    ¡°N-No chance that¡¯s actually Her Majesty¡­ ¡­ ¡­Right? The fuck does she care about some random maid? And why would she come herself? It¡¯s probably a disguise, like that uh¡­ what those snakes do.¡±

    ¡°Aposematic mimicry¡¯s what you¡¯re thinkin¡¯ of.¡±

    ¡°Yea, thanks.¡±

    ¡°¡­Then who the fuck is she?¡±

    The brute raised his firearm toward Lycoris, sea-blue eyes narrowing. ¡°Let¡¯s see if she¡¯s willing to answer herself.¡±

    ¡°You know if she really is Her Majesty, you¡¯re fuckin¡¯ dead Renauld.¡±

    ¡°Shut the hell up, your ass wouldn¡¯t be gettin¡¯ out of this either. Besides, she''s tiny.¡±

    Lycoris¡¯ attention shifted to the rod, keeping a close eye on the runes. It looked significantly shorter than the type he was more familiar with, but he knew to feel for a pulsation as a sign of its magic activating. That was when he¡¯d have to evade.

    Should I try and pretend to be Mom again? They seem pretty suspicious though, what if they don¡¯t believe me? ¡­No, wait. There¡¯s a much more fundamental problem here.

    ¡°Did you do this?¡± he asked cautiously, stepping away from Athena while maintaining a fixed distance from the pair of monsters.

    Yes, monsters. That¡¯s what they were. And anyone who would do this to an innocent person deserved just one thing.

    Lycoris'' pupils contracted.

    The monster named Alben winced. ¡°Y-Yeah, what¡¯s it to you? Huh? Answer the man¡¯s question.¡±

    Death.

    That was what these two deserved. That was what they¡¯d earned. He would make an example of them.

    The pair of men stared in shock as they watched him shove one hand ¡°inside¡± the other as he grasped onto the image of his scythe. Envisioning out he¡¯d split them from crown to groin, he slowly began pulling his weapon out.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    ¡°Kid, I asked you a question.¡±

    ¡°The fuck¡¯s she doing, Renauld?¡±

    ¡°Hell if I know, looks like some fancy noble-girl magic-y shit. HEY, KID!¡±

    Renauld punctuated his shout with a warning shot, the heat from the mote of fire zipping right past Lycoris¡¯ ear as it struck the table behind him and sizzled out.

    Regrettably, hatred was a fickle and fleeting focus, and the loud rapport of the gun along stinging heat of its projectile startled him out of his momentary zeal. The tenuous shape of his weapon slipped through his fingers, the azure ichor splashing onto the ground.

    ¡°Hweh¡­?¡± Lycoris let out an awkward cry and took his own half-step back.

    He scrambled as he made to try again, but the only phenomenon he managed was a flare of pain in his palm as his nails dug into his already-mending flesh. He tried to find his earlier anger, but all he found was mounting concern as he suddenly found himself facing off against two foes more than twice his size, bereft of his weapon.

    To make matters worse, another pair of vampires entered behind Alben and Renauld upon hearing the gunshot, both seeming to have already grasped the situation. Most likely, they¡¯d been listening from outside.

    Lycoris reached for his hip as a nervous tic, only to find his belt, pouches, and scabbard missing. All his hand touched was the pocket with his mother¡¯s phone. As great of a swordsman as he¡¯d been, the knight required a sword to fight; or a knife; or, failing even that, a smokescreen of some sort to at least escape.

    His opponents were four armed and menacing vampires. Creatures born to kill and feast on humans.

    And Lycoris was just a single, unarmed¡­ little girl.

    Why can¡¯t¡­ I move¡­? Were they always that big? What do I do!?

    Her knees buckled as long-suppressed fear mingled with the panic crushing her heart. She¡¯d completely overestimated her own capabilities, again. She¡¯d only wanted to do the right thing. She wanted to save someone who¡¯d shown her kindness. Was that so wrong? Why was she punished time and again for doing what she ought to?

    To return kindness with kindness, contempt with compassion, and cruelty with justice was at the core of the Goddess¡¯ teachings. She hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. She was a capable soldier, once; she was a teacher; she was pious, she never strayed from her path.

    She just¡­ wanted to prove that she wasn¡¯t a monster.

    ¡°Fawaris¡­ M-Mizar¡­¡± Lycoris fell to her knees and hugged herself, hands wrapped around the locket.

    With her behavior having completely shattered any illusion that Lycoris was her mother, the four vampires grew emboldened.

    The leers returned to their faces as the situation fell back into familiar territory for them, the group fanning out around her as they marched around the office and looked around to see what she¡¯d done¡ªif anything.

    ¡°Ho¨Cly shit. Boss, get a look at this.¡±

    ¡°Eek!¡±

    Renauld walked up crouched down beside Lycoris, roughly tearing off the hair ornament that she¡¯d used to tie her hair up. It slowly draped down her back as he held up the glittering blue trinket.

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ the Aphtangloa Dynasty¡¯s crest. But¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey hey, doesn¡¯t that mean this thing is¡­ like¡­ worth infinite money?¡±

    ¡°But there¡¯s no way this kid is Her Majesty. Just¡­ I mean, look at her!¡±

    All three of the other men froze in place as they stared at the glimmering blue brooch. The one holding the nail bat walked over to Renauld and gingerly took the brooch out of the brute¡¯s hand, letting out a low whistle as he brought it up to his eye.

    ¡°It¡¯s authentic all right¡­ Not that anyone would be stupid enough to try and make a forgery of the Exaltare¡¯s property in the first place¡­¡± He placed his bat against Lycoris¡¯ chin and gently tilted her head up. ¡°What kinda dumbass kid would try cosplayin¡¯ as Her Majesty though? And where''d she even get something like this?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s been real tight-lipped. But it''s pretty obvious she came for the maid, yeah?¡± asked Renauld.

    ¡°You think Her Majesty has a secret kid or something? I mean, she does kinda look like her,¡± the unnamed knife-juggler suggested.

    ¡°Dumbass! Everyone knows the Exaltare can¡¯t have kids, that¡¯s why the Seven go through their hoity-toity selection ceremony during Moonsend every few thousand years,¡± Alben grumbled in frustration.

    ¡°Huh, so that¡¯s why we get that week off every year¡­¡± the knife-grunt mumbled in the background.

    ¡°You stupid¡ª I don¡¯t give you time off! You admittin¡¯ to skipping work?¡± The boss glowered at him.

    ¡°Ugh, none of you have any sense of culture.¡± Alben shook his head in dismay.

    ¡°Yeah? Alright then, sounds like our resident scholar just nominated himself for figuring out who the hell this kid actually is,¡± The boss shot back as he walked over to Alben by the windows, dumping the still-warm hair ornament in his hand.

    ¡°Heh. Sure thing boss. It¡¯ll be light work finding out if she¡¯s any more talkative than the maid.¡±

    Lycoris shivered as she looked toward Athena, her eyes drawn to the bruises and cuts all over her. Fear that she¡¯d suffer the same fate, and regret that she could do nothing to deliver vengeance to these beasts deserving of death, welled up inside her trembling body.

    But at least, perhaps, she could still complete her original objective and save the maid. Frail-hearted courage sprouted inside her chest.

    Wasn¡¯t this what she wanted? Didn¡¯t she want to find somewhere to escape this cursed existence?

    ¡­

    ¡°I-I-I¡¯ll¡­ talk. But,¡± Lycoris pointed toward Athena with a trembling finger, ¡°you have to promise to let her go.¡±

    All four men turned to her in surprise, perhaps having assumed she¡¯d passed out with her eyes open or something.

    Unfortunately, not a single one looked like they cared to entertain her words.

    ¡°Promise, huh? How about a different promise, girlie,¡± Alben walked over and crouched down, waving a pocketknife in her face as he growled, ¡°Tell us who you are, who sent¡¯cha, ¡®n who this maid is to ya, and maybe I won¡¯t carve out your pretty li¡¯l eyes. But don¡¯t go thinkin¡¯ for a second that you got any room t¡¯negotiate with¡ª¡±

    ¡°Wait, hold up a sec.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    The boss cut Alben off as he held up his hand, heading straight for the door. He¡¯d been looking out the window a moment ago. At the same time, Renauld leaned over one of the tables to peer through the blinds.

    ¡°Need me to go with?¡±

    ¡°Wait here. Seems we¡¯re real popular with the ladies tonight.¡±

    All of them shared a wide and wicked grin.

    Lycoris looked up and around nervously. Who in the world had come to¡ªa small gasp slipped out of her mouth.

    It couldn¡¯t be Emma and Seraphine, could it!?

    If the two of them had noticed that she¡¯d gone up some shady stairwell, and then a group of men followed¡­ Maybe they were coming to help?

    But they were just civilians! Sure Seraphine mentioned having soldier training but¡­ If they came here, Lycoris would¡¯ve endangered even more people. Though, she¡¯d already done that much simply by being around them in the first place¡ªto say nothing of the danger they faced knowing who she looked like.

    Interrupting her thoughts, Lycoris heard a choking gasp echo from the stairwell outside.

    Oh no! ¡°P-Please wait! Don¡¯t hurt them, please! I¡¯ll do any¡ª¡±

    She didn¡¯t even have time to finish pleading, as the limp body of the group¡¯s boss flew back into the room, landing atop the shattered splinters of door in a broken heap.

    The thug closest to the entrance turned to rush over to him, only for a straight sword to strike him square in the temple and gruesomely pin his body to the opposite wall. Lycoris immediately recognized the crimson winged tassel swaying from its pommel.

    But confusion quickly followed as she saw the figure holding the matching blue-rose tasseled sword. Instead of her mother, it was a woman with rose-gold hair and light pink eyes, in a dark black tracksuit with a newsboy cap perched atop her head.

    Her eyes burned with a cold fury. The moment she saw Alben crouched down in front of Lycoris, she closed the distance in a single step. Lycoris couldn¡¯t even follow the swing as her blade smoothly separated his head from his shoulders.

    A second step brought her in front of Renauld by the windows. Before he could even raise his firearm, two quick slashes tore into his bulk, and a graceful final thrust smoothly slid the blade up through his chin.

    The instant the gorilla¡¯s body could hit the floor, Lycoris felt a pair of arms wrap around her from behind.

    ¡°Are you unhurt, Lycoris?¡± Her voice was all-too-familiar, though it carried a slight huskiness.

    And, there was only one person who could do¡­ that. ¡°Mo¡­m?¡±

    But, if she came here, then surely she¡¯d be furious with Lycoris. The girl didn¡¯t even want to imagine what sort of punishment the Exaltare had in store for her. Sure, she¡¯d been patient and lenient with Lycoris¡¯ outbursts up until then, but this was far more serious than just a bout of culture shock. She¡¯d put her own life, and the possible future of the entire Empire, at risk.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, I just¡­ I didn''t mean¡­ I wanted¡ª¡±

    A gloved finger gently pressed against her lips. The woman slowly opened up Lycoris¡¯ hands, and in her palms placed the recovered hair brooch.

    ¡°Save your words, little one. My name is Rosa.¡±

    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±

 18 â€” "Rosa Drimus"

    Trembling in fear and her mind awash with confusion, Lycoris was in no real state to question the identity of her savior. The woman had called herself Rosa. Her faded pink hair and rose-colored eyes was familiar to the shaken girl, but she wasn''t sure where she would have recognized a vampire from.

    Lycoris attempted to stagger up to her feet, but flopped back down when her jelly-like legs refused to cooperate with her brain.

    The woman circled around and crouched in front of her, looking her up and down with a furrowed brow. ¡°Hmm¡­ You appear unharmed, fortunately. Come on, let''s get you home.¡±

    ¡°A-Ah, wa¡­ wait wait¡­¡±

    Lycoris fiddled with the brooch and turned her gaze toward the ground. She suddenly felt incredibly self-conscious about the length of her hair, as she felt it pull against her when she tried to move her head. It¡¯d gotten stuck under her backside when she fell back over, reminding her of at least one occasion where she¡¯d fumbled her way out of bed in the morning.

    While the girl was busy tripping over both her body and words, Rosa stood back up and retrieved her swords before leaning over Athena as she checked her condition, rubbing her thumb against the unconscious maid¡¯s cheek and lips.

    There were a million and one questions going through Lycoris¡¯ mind, but one thought in particular managed to force its way between her lips as the woman snapped the shackles off of the maid. She had to maintain some semblance of appearances, after all.

    ¡°I¡¯m not¡­ I mean, Lilianna isn¡¯t¡­ The Exaltare¡¯s not¡ª¡± she struggled to deliver the same half-baked excuse that she¡¯d used on the civilians.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Lycoris.¡±

    ¡°Ahm¡­ You¡­ know my name?¡±

    ¡°Twins are psychically linked, after all,¡± Rosa teased. ¡°Though, I have trouble telling what¡¯s actually going on in my sister¡¯s head these days¡­¡±

    ¡°T¡­Twins¡­?¡±

    Her reply slammed into Lycoris like a barrel of salted cod, rendering her speechless. Rosa didn¡¯t resemble Lilianna in the slightest¡­ aside from their jawline. And cheekbones, and ears¡­ and general physique.

    The longer she stared at Rosa, the less confident in herself she became. At the same time though, it gave her something halfway positive to contemplate. Anything was better than thinking about what almost happened to her¡­

    ¡°She never mentioned anything about a twin.¡±

    ¡°Really? We have been on poor terms with each other, but to not even tell her own daughter about dear Auntie Rosa¡­¡±

    ¡°You even know about that, huh¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s rather obvious, dear. You look just like her, and I don¡¯t just mean the hair.¡± She reached forward and gently pinched Lycoris¡¯ ear. ¡°Your ears curve ever so slightly downward at the tip.¡±

    ¡°Th-That tickles! Let go! I get¡­ I get it!¡±

    Lycoris squirmed away from her and slowly crawled up to her feet, bracing herself against the furniture in the corner. Her legs still felt weak, but at least she¡¯d gotten herself standing.

    ¡°Feeling a little better now, honeydrop?¡±

    ¡°H-Huh? I-I, um¡­¡±

    A shiver ran through Lycoris as she watched the woman closely. She wasn¡¯t doing anything particularly frightening, all she did was take a cloth to Athena¡¯s face as she wiped some of the blood off, but Lycoris¡¯ focus was on the pointed ears poking through her rose-colored hair.

    Sure enough, she had the same slight little downward arc that she¡¯d pointed out on Lycoris. Her mother said that a typical heir¡¯s hair and eyes would only change after succeeding the throne, so maybe¡­ Lilianna originally had pink hair and eyes?

    Lycoris tried to imagine her mom, only younger and wearing clothes like Emma and Seraphine, rather than as the imposing and majestic Exaltare¡­ Only to feel a bizarre sense of second-hand embarrassment as she ended up picturing herself with pink hair.

    At the same time, she thought of her mother in the same position she¡¯d once occupied. A vampire fighting wicked vampires, just as she¡¯d been a knight dealing with humans that broke the law and defied the Goddess¡¯ teachings.

    ¡­She hadn¡¯t considered until that moment if vampires even had a religion, or what they thought of the Goddess.

    Bad humans, good humans, bad vampires, good vampires¡­ frustration mounted as she realized that, on some level, a vampire was ultimately more similar to than different from a human¡ªon an emotional level, at least. Though she wasn¡¯t sure who to be frustrated with.

    Peeling away the labels she¡¯d put on them, all that Lycoris saw was people who¡¯d threatened her, scared her, reminded her of the men her original mother¡ª

    ¡°Ah!¡±

    Her legs gave out once more, but she was caught in Rosa¡¯s arms before she crumpled to the floor. The look of concern on her face really did remind Lycoris of her¡­ her real mother.

    If showing kindness was morally good, then Lilianna was far more human than the woman who had given birth to her. As were Rosa, Emma, Seraphine¡­ Maybe not Tethos, he seemed more than a little shady.

    ¡°Still shellshocked, huh?¡±

    Rosa softly sat Lycoris down and knelt in front of her. Taking the brooch back out of her hands in order to tie her hair for her up, she stopped as the girl reflexively pounced forward and buried her face against her chest.

    She placed a hand delicately atop Lycoris¡¯ head and slowly patted her, awkwardly but carefully tying her hair into a loose bun. She pulled the hood back over the girl¡¯s head as well, hesitating for a moment as she looked down at her silver hair.

    ¡°How does one even go about punishing a girl like this? You certainly have your work cut out for you, Lilianna.¡±

    The woman sighed and wrapped her hand around Lycoris¡¯ head, holding her still in the dark room, the quiet dripping of blood rhythmically pattering in the background.

    Lycoris kept her face hidden, concealing the embarrassment she felt at acting so immaturely to a total stranger. Her head was a mess, she couldn¡¯t tell if she was still only pretending to be a child, or if her heart and mind had succumbed like her body, or if the distinction even mattered anymore.

    Lilianna had given her a taste of the sweetest nectar, which only became a poison in her heart once it mixed with the terror of death. She had been fine with throwing her life away, until she realized she¡¯d never feel the warmth of her mother¡¯s love again.

    When she eventually managed to pull her flushed cheeks away, the woman¡¯s sharp tulip eyes were staring toward the window, rather than her. Without even waiting for Lycoris to ask, she scooped the girl back up into her arms and pressed her face into her shoulder.

    Lycoris heard voices from the street outside, though she couldn¡¯t make out what exactly they were saying. They sounded urgent, but not panicked. There was the sound of heavy footsteps approaching up the stairs, and¡ª

    ¡°They arrived quicker than I expected¡­ Allow me to carry you, Princess. We¡¯ll be taking a different way out.¡±

    ¡°Wh-Who did? Wait, put me down, I can walk on my own just¡ª¡±

    ¡ªa light breeze brushed against her back as Rosa held onto her newsboy cap.

    A shiver ran through Lycoris¡¯ body as momentary vertigo overtook her, and the chill of the night air sank through her clothes.

    Did she just teleport us? Without a ritual or incantation or spell circle?

    She looked around at the nondescript alley they''d suddenly arrived in, unsure where exactly it was. While unlit and unfamiliar, it appeared much like the ones she¡¯d skulked through alongside Mizar when they had to duck out of the sewers. Meaning that they were at least still in the capital.

    At the same time, another troubling thought occurred to her: if her rescuer turned out to be an even more powerful kidnapper, Lycoris had put herself completely at her mercy. In the most ideal scenario, she¡¯d been sent by Lilianna to bring her back, or even¡­

    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not secretly my mom?¡± Lycoris grumbled into her ear.

    ¡°Well, we are twin sisters,¡± she chuckled back softly, ¡°so I won¡¯t say no if you want to call me Mama instead.¡±

    ¡°N-No thanks. I¡¯ll pass.¡±

    ¡°But you did earlier,¡± Rosa pouted.

    ¡°That¡¯s ¡®cause I didn¡¯t know you weren¡¯t her! Not my fault you were using the same swords¡­ Wait, why were you¡ª¡±

    ¡°Speaking of ''mamas'' and such, aren¡¯t you supposed to be a princess, dear? You should be talking more formally, shouldn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Huh? Aren¡¯t you a noble? What¡¯s your excuse?¡±

    ¡°Because I¡¯m in disguise, of course~¡±

    Rosa winked at the sulking princess as she carried her out onto the main streets, where Lycoris recognized the familiar shape of Pulia Park nearby. That made sense, and was a bit of a relief. Teleportation grew exponentially more difficult the further one traveled; if Rosa had been capable of taking her even somewhere else within the sprawling capital with nothing but her own power, it''d make her one of the most terrifying and talented mages in the known world.

    The moment Lycoris turned her head to take in their surroundings, she heard a familiar pair of voices from behind her¡ªor rather, in front of them.

    ¡°Lyco!? Are you alright?¡±

    ¡°We saw the guards rushing towards the building you ran off to and got worried¡­¡±

    ¡°Gah¡ª!¡±

    Lycoris winced and began squirming in Rosa¡¯s arms. Worst-case scenarios ran through her head as she wondered how Lilianna¡¯s twin would react to other people knowing she existed. Assuming that she was coordinating with the Exaltare, that is.

    If she was lucky, Rosa would disregard them entirely. Though¡­ she would still probably tell Lilianna. And if she did¡­

    Quietly¡ªcoldly¡ªshe whispered into Lycoris¡¯ ear, ¡°Who are these two?¡±

    That¡¯s not a good sign.

    ¡°Th-They don¡¯t know anything!¡± After a slight pause, she added, ¡°Please don¡¯t kill them.¡±

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.?¡°They obviously know your name at the very least. I was hoping to get you back home without anyone approaching us. Hence the teleportation spell, ¡®Lyco.¡¯¡±

    The slight hint of irritation in her voice was like a warning siren in Lycoris¡¯ mind, eerily reminiscent of the way Lilianna would get whenever she tried talking back.

    Frankly, with how exhausted she already was after this debacle of an evening, it was a miracle Lycoris didn¡¯t pass out on the spot.

    ¡°Just set me down, I¡¯ll talk to them, okay? They don¡¯t need to know about us or Mom.¡±

    ¡°I reserve the right to handle them as I see fit¡­ as my sister would.¡±

    Delivering an ultimatum with rather foreboding implications, she acquiesced and gingerly set Lycoris down on her feet.

    Her poor legs had gone slightly numb, but she managed to stand on her own after wobbling a bit toward the pair of civilians, who were occupied with glancing¡ªor rather, staring¡ªat Rosa.

    ¡°Hi, you two¡­ sorry for¡ª¡±

    ¡°Wait a minute¡­ I recognize you!¡± Seraphine pointed at Rosa. ¡°You were at the park¡­¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Lycoris looked back at Rosa, a momentary flash of terror gripping her when she saw the shadow cross Rosa¡¯s expression. She had the same murderous mien was natural to Lilianna, as befit someone colloquially titled "The Tyrant" by humans. Maybe Lycoris looked that way herself when she got angry; she hadn¡¯t really considered it before.

    Emma scratched her cheek as understanding slowly dawned on her, placing her hand over Seraphine¡¯s and slowly pushing it down.

    ¡°Seraphine, don¡¯t point, it¡¯s rude. Are you a child? Lycoris, could it be that¡ª¡±

    ¡°S-S-She¡¯s the person I was talking about! Ahaha¡­hahaha¡­¡±

    ¡°''Talking about?''¡± Rosa growled.

    ¡°Oh! So you must be her¡­ mother.¡±

    Don¡¯t either of you have any sort of survival sense!? What¡¯s wrong with you? Are you blind? She¡¯s clearly furious!! Stop digging yourself deeper into a hole!

    As Lycoris mentally chided the pair of seemingly oblivious women, she turned back to give an encouraging smile and weak thumbs up to Rosa.

    Rosa, in turn, glanced down at her, face contorting as she clearly went through the mental gymnastics of deciding if she should kill the two of them.

    ¡°I am¡­ the young Lycoris¡¯ contact. Of House Drimus. I came to retrieve the Young Lady.¡±

    She offered a miniscule bow toward Lycoris, keeping her eyes locked on Emma and Seraphine.

    Only after she spoke did Lycoris realize that she¡¯d never asked Lilianna what house she originally called family. Assuming Rosa was being genuine, that is. Since she¡¯d only ever seen Lilianna¡ªand, begrudgingly, herself¡ªas Aphtangloa, it never really occurred to Lycoris that her mother had been a member of one of the Seven Families before.

    It was a little strange finding out something that seemed kind of private in such a roundabout manner. Lycoris was left wondering if it¡¯d be a sensitive topic to bring up, or if she should feel some sort of kinship herself to one of the Seven, considering her mother¡¯s potential ties¡­

    ¡­Wait, what am I thinking? They¡¯re vampires, of course I shouldn¡¯t! Besides, if I remember Mom¡¯s lectures right, the Drimus are all either opportunistic fence-sitters or warmongerers anyways!

    ¡°The honor is ours, Ma¡¯am! Come on Sera, quit staring!¡±

    ¡°Y-You were staring too! At least let me salute them instead¡­¡±

    Emma bowed deeply to Rosa, pressing a hand down on Seraphine¡¯s back to force her to do likewise. Grumbling, the golden-haired woman followed suit, bowing deeply before the two of them.

    ¡°I¡¯m, uh¡­ sorry, for worrying the two of you,¡± Lycoris apologized.

    ¡°Lycoris, they are commoners. Do not apologize to them.¡±

    ¡°Right! Sorry Moth¡ªurgh!?¡±

    It sounded so much like her mother¡¯s usual chastisement that Lycoris reflexively responded as though it was Lilianna speaking. Even though she¡¯d already been standing properly with her hands in front of her, she straightened her back ever so slightly more.

    Emma pretended to ignore Lycoris¡¯ slip up, though the girl could see her lips curl into a wry smile even while keeping both her head and Seraphine¡¯s bowed low.

    ¡°You more than flatter us with your concern! It is more than we deserve; we were more than happy to serve as a mere forgettable escort, and are delighted to find you in good health together with Lady Drimus. Please, excuse our needless interruption and we¡¯ll be on our way.¡±

    ¡°You are dismissed,¡± Rosa interjected, ¡°expect a summons to Her Majesty¡¯s Court at a later date.¡±

    ¡°E-Eh!?¡± ¡°Huh!?¡±

    ¡°Rosa, is that¡­ really necessary? All they did was walk me here¡­¡±

    ¡°And you recall the state I found you in, do you not?¡±

    ¡°But that wasn¡¯t their fault!¡±

    ¡°Can you prove that?¡±

    The woman¡¯s penetrating gaze felt like a spear through the heart, but Lycoris held her ground. She felt as if she had finally regained her emotional footing, or at the very least, found something she knew she couldn¡¯t back down on.

    She couldn¡¯t let these two suffer solely because their own concern for her had led them to cross paths. She knew that Emma and Seraphine had nothing but kind intentions, even if they¡¯d accidentally fed her Human blood. But there¡¯d been no malice behind that, they just wanted to cheer her up by showing a sheltered girl things she wouldn¡¯t have seen, and treat her to something that would be up to her standards.

    She recalled words that she¡¯d once imparted to someone dear to her; someone who she¡¯d once hoped would go on to save the world.

    Lycoris removed the locket from her blouse and squeezed it, mustering up her courage to rebuke Rosa,

    ¡°Trust is hard-earned, easily lost¡­ and once broken, twofold difficult to mend. By my name, I speak for the measure of their character and honor.¡±

    ¡°Lycoris¡­¡±

    Rosa stared at her silently, assessing her resolve.

    The pair of women at Lycoris¡¯ back were frozen with awe; though she couldn¡¯t see it, she could¡¯ve sworn she heard one of them sniffling.

    Eventually, the rose-haired woman smiled sharply. ¡°Easily lost, is it? It shall be up to those two to determine how their future goes, but in your honor, they¡¯ll be treated fairly. Your words have guaranteed their lives.¡±

    Her smile softened, and she offered her hand to Lycoris like a knight would to a noble girl. It was an odd feeling, being on the opposite end of the gesture for once.

    Not to mention, it was the most noble that Rosa had sounded all night, reminding Lycoris that the world that she¡¯d stumbled into wasn''t so different from the one she''d initially sworn to protect and uphold.

    ¡°Let us return you home then, Young Lady. It is far past your bedtime, I¡¯m sure, and there are repercussions indeed for your breach of conduct, noble though misguided your intent may have been.¡±

    Lycoris¡¯ face blanched.

    Oh crap. I¡­ forgot about Lilianna for a moment there. I don¡¯t know if she¡¯d actually kill me but I¡­ I¡­

    ¡°I¡­ can¡¯t feel my legs.¡±

    With her tension ebbing and flowing between the situation with the civilians resolving and her own plight returning, worry joined hands with exhaustion as her head swirled with fatigue.

    Lycoris tipped forward gradually, falling face-first into darkness as a familiar warmth enveloped her.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    With a heavy, out of character sigh, Lilianna slumped into her office desk. Even though she¡¯d finished her work for the night already, several ¡°urgent¡± missives had piled up all the same. What should have been tomorrow¡¯s problem instead became tonight¡¯s, as she needed something to distract herself with.

    Normally, she would have lamented the ever-growing pile of treatises that required her personal attention, wishing that the Empire¡ªand entire world beyond¡ªslept on the same schedule as her. Or that she could be the invincible, indefatigable figure that her daughter imagined her to be.

    But she was only mortal, like anyone else. She needed her sleep, she could be stressed, and she was just as prone to mistakes as any of her subjects. The consequences for everything were simply magnified exponentially in her case.

    And her daughter¡¯s.

    Lilianna had been utterly blindsided by how deeply her daughter cared for the maid. Sure, she was a rare diamond in the rough; durable, determined, and fully aware of her place in the world¡­ But she was still just one single maid.

    The truly baffling part was that Lycoris hadn¡¯t pressed her on the matter like she did  whenever something else clashed with her values. Instead she  ran off on her own, cavorted with random civilians and¡­ endangered herself.

    She wasn¡¯t sure what was more surprising; the fact her headstrong daughter had run away to pick a fight with a bunch of thugs, or the fact that she¡¯d been found on her knees terrified for her life.

    Just what could they have said or done to reduce her to such a state? Surely she could have slaughtered them all without batting an eyelash, there must''ve been something we''ve overlooked¡­

    Lilianna listlessly scrolled through messages as she focused instead on her own thoughts, her desire to tear those men limb from limb¡ªthough they were already dead¡ªrising with every passing second.

    Her daughter had been safely brought back and put to rest, having fallen asleep on the way home. It brought Lilianna little ease though, as she wondered just what exactly her daughter¡¯s goal had been.

    Her thoughts drifted back through the few weeks they¡¯d spent together, arriving at the very first time they fought, where she locked eyes with the half-hearted swordsman and recognized the spark within him. They¡¯d been the eyes of someone who¡¯d found a cause to lay down their life for.

    No¡­ they were the eyes of someone who had already died long ago.

    A harsh laugh cracked through the silent office, her hand slapping against her face as the painful truth impaled her with its barb.

    Over three thousand years, the current Exaltare had ruled for; she¡¯d seen all manner of faces, from dissenters and dissatisfied nobles that¡¯d challenged her. All of them had looks of defiance and passion, hope and conviction, or despair, grief, or madness. But not a single one of them had looked at her with grim satisfaction.

    It was revolting to even think about, her reflexive thought demanded that she prove that sight wrong. As though doing so would be revenge against those <i>wretches </i>that inflicted such a burden on her darling Lycoris, proof that they had been wrong. Not that she¡¯d ever cross paths with the likes of them.

    It was the same reason she had eventually accepted her lot in life and taken the throne to begin with. To prove that all those who came before her were fools, that stagnation would only lead to obliteration, that something had to change¡ªlest they all face a crisis greater than the one that led to the original Humanity Preservation Accord.

    And of course, though she''d taken the throne, she still wanted to be a mother.

    It was a strange miracle that Lycoris ended up being the one to stumble into her throne room. The results of a seed planted in ignorance and yet¡­ exactly what she needed. Perhaps her Ancestors really were watching over her.

    Though in practice, it didn¡¯t matter how thick or thin the blood flowing through Lilianna¡¯s daughter ended up. She¡¯d decided to shower the girl with love, make her feel like the most precious princess in all the world, and eventually pass the ¡°keys¡± to the Empire to her no matter what sort of blood ran through her veins.

    However, Lycoris¡¯ recklessness still exemplified the eyes she had seen through that helmet. She didn¡¯t doubt that the girl cared deeply and passionately for others¡ªelse she wouldn¡¯t have had the idea to run off to begin with.

    But she would not entertain the foolishness of a martyr. She had no intention to raise a child that thought so little of herself.

    Opening her eyes and realizing she¡¯d completely pulverized the stylus in her hand, Lilianna tossed the fragments and wiped the dust off into a trash bin with another sigh. Despite her hopes, she hadn¡¯t managed to get any work done. If she tried to force the issue, it¡¯d probably only lead to more work in the future as she had to clean up after herself.

    Abandoning the computer and stretching her arms, she instead got up to pace the halls instead, worrying over what to do when her daughter would awaken. There was no question that she¡¯d have to punish such absurd and reckless behavior, and that she would have to do something about how the girl viewed and treated herself.

    But how could she instill a sense of self-worth inside of Lycoris, while also punishing her, and without further scarring her already wounded heart?

    Being a mother¡­ sure is difficult. Perhaps we shouldn¡¯t have been so livid over your betrayal after all, Lilianna. Our shared wish was quite the foolish thing.

 19 â€” â– â– â– â– â–  || Lycoris

    ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡­ ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö. ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö??¡±

    A distant voice called out to her from the darkness, his light melting into smooth stones that paved a road twisting and winding through the nothingness, giving her ground to stand upon.

    She turned her head this way and that, hoping to find him, but everywhere she looked, all she saw were empty gray spires spiraling upward, covered in sinister yellow eyes instead of leaves. Scarlet liquid dripped from their boughs, forming a lake bisected by the cobblestone road.

    ¡°There you are, ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö. You¡¯ve ¡ª for ¡ª days! Had us all worried, you did. Tatyana thought that ¡ª of Whispers would be ¡ª you, but I knew ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö wouldn¡¯t let <ruby>himself<rt>herself</rt></ruby> die like that!¡±

    The confused girl spun to face the voice, but no matter what she did or where she looked, there were just more of the wicked ¡°trees¡± staring down upon her. Their gnarled roots stretched up out of the ichor and began to dig into the paved stone road.

    Slowly, the crimson tendrils crept towards her. She only had one option, one path. The girl turned around and began running, the road curving and curling into steep slopes and impossible loops as she fled, more stones forming the path with every laden step she took.

    ¡°It really is a shame ¡ª conspired ¡ª blade in your hand, ¡ª brush and palette, ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö. Your ¡ª more like a gentle willow than stalwart oak, hehe.¡±

    ¡°¡ª¡ª!!¡±

    She tried to shout, but her voice was unintelligible. The words she''d spoken on that day were no longer hers.

    But she recognized who that was, when it was. It was unmistakably the voice of Fawaris, from when she¡¯d encouraged ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö to try painting once. ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö had never taken her words to heart while living in the Human Kingdom, but the princess had been right.

    Her breath caught in her throat as she fled from the grasping tendrils¡ªthough whether they were crawling after her or dragging the path back into the gaping, gnarled mouth of a giant bloody tree, she couldn¡¯t tell.

    No matter how fast she ran, she never seemed to make it any further away. Her heart throbbed in her ears like the pounding beats of a grandfather clock.

    ¡°This is our instructor? He can¡¯t even ¡ª!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t recall raising such a pathetic excuse for a ¡ª.¡±

    ¡°Get out of ¡ª, you lush!¡±

    ¡°You useless ¡ª, ¡ª been ¡ª if you ¡ª!¡±

    ¡°What are you doing, ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö!? You¡¯re not supposed to be here!¡±

    A cacophony of voices filled her ears. The sky exploded into pastel tones and mosaiced shapes, like clouds made from crudely drawn flower petals.

    One by one, the petals flaked off and drifted downward like snow, the color draining from them as they dissipated like smoke just before touching the hellish lake, its blood-red waters ponderously rising with every tick of the clock.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you ¡ª! You could¡¯ve retired with ¡ª by now if you hadn¡¯t¡ª ¡ª.¡±

    ¡°Why go so far for others? You know that my life is¡ª ¡ª.¡±

    Each sparkling mote was a long-buried memory, the vapors rising from the lake reeking of alcohol.

    ¡°You could still¡ªIt¡¯s okay, ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö. I¡¯ll¡ªnot be able to¡ªpointers anymore, but¡ªthey¡¯ll¡ªtogether.¡±

    Mizar and Fawaris¡¯ sentences jumbled together and assaulted her in tandem; each word slammed into her mind like a hammer, the anger, joy, and sorrow in their voices like nails piercing her with guilt.

    Her knees buckled and she fell forward, gasping for air that refused to come as her hand clawed at the stonework path, struggling to pull herself forward as it dug through stone like soil and caused more scarlet ichor to well up like soggy soil after a storm.

    ¡°You and that dumb Mizar are both so¡ª ¡ª!¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°Thank you, my friend.¡±

    She wouldn¡¯t give up here, she couldn¡¯t let them down. She¡¯d failed them once before¡ªtwice before. There wouldn¡¯t be a third time.

    The girl scrambled back up to her feet and kept running, as land and sky traded places, crimson droplets falling from the eerie eye-tree filled lake above her and staining the field of flowers blooming around her. With every blossom tainted scarlet, an anguished cry or moan of pain burst forth, the weight of lives <ruby>already<rt>not yet</rt></ruby> lost hounding her.

    ¡°Come now ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö, what are you doing? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re goin¡¯ soft on me.¡±

    ¡°¡ª¡ª!!¡±

    Mizar was mistaken. He was far more capable than ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö ever could be. How couldn¡¯t he be, when ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö couldn¡¯t even¡ª

    ¡°Haah? ¡®Student surpassing the master?¡¯ Don¡¯t tell me ¡ª idle daydreams are still ¡ª ¡ª.¡±

    ¡°One more round, come on. I¡¯ll show you how much I¡¯ve learned! No more holding back on me now, ¡ª!¡±

    The falling lake had begun to stain her clothes and hair, dyeing her red as each droplet sapped her energy. The field of flowers had come to an end, and before her loomed everlasting darkness.

    From above, the trees reached toward her with their gnarled sanguine branches, bulbs sprouting on the tips that all glared at her with wicked radiance.

    Clutching her hands to her chest, the timid girl shook her head, screaming out voicelessly.

    ¡°¡ª¡ª!!¡±

    Since the day she was born, ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö had never been given a choice in how she lived her life. All she could do was run, survive, and fight to see tomorrow. She was tired, she wanted it to end. She wanted to curse whoever forced this miserable existence upon her.

    ¡°Curses? I can break weaker ones with the Goddess¡¯ power, but¡­¡±?¡°Curses? I¡¯ve had to deal with one or two before, but¡­.¡±

    ¡°¡°Best not to involve yourself with them, if you can help it. They¡¯re dangerous for a reason.¡±¡±

    But she could never do that. She was powerless to, and afraid of what consequences would await her if she tried, or who would even shoulder the blame for such a thing. And more than anything else, she didn¡¯t want to admit the truth to herself.

    Fame?

    Glory?

    Power?

    ¡°Is <ruby>he<rt>she</rt></ruby> really the sort of person to be motivated by such petty vices?¡±

    The grasping branches coming after her froze as a figure cloaked in shadows reaped them with a great crimson scythe, crushing the debris under its heel.

    Its form was obscured, but she could make out great shadowy wings spreading from its back. As it turned around, long flowing tresses of silver cast down from the top of its head.

    As it opened its eyes, twin motes of crimson burned inside its head. It wrapped  its wings around itself like a cloak, shielding itself from Her light. The blinding radiance destroyed everything that She cast it upon, leaving naught but cold oblivion in Her wake.

    ¡°Haha, of course not. ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö is a true champion of the people. There¡¯s no one I¡¯d trust more with the fate of the world! Honestly, <ruby>he¡¯s<rt>she¡¯s</rt></ruby> probably more deserving of this sword than I am!¡±

    ¡°The Goddess has put Her faith in you, though.¡±

    ¡°Then I¡¯m putting my faith in <ruby>him<rt>her</rt></ruby>.¡±

    ¡°Ah yes, the transitive property.¡±

    ¡°Who asked you to butt in?¡±

    ¡°And what is this property you speak of?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me they don''t even teach math in Dauwen these days!¡±

    Who cares about that?

    She raised up her hand, smearing away the light as she shielded her eyes from its stinging brightness.

    The sound of clacking heels echoed from the void behind her, drawing her attention towards a regal woman steadily approaching. She was clad in deep blue and gold, a single scarlet hairpin tying back her platinum locks.

    She was breathtakingly beautiful.

    Wasn¡¯t there something else that I actually wanted?

    The woman slowly offered her own hand toward her. The same hand that¡¯d unflinchingly been offered, time after time.

    She hesitated, hovering amidst the drifting nothingness, but the only things she feared were inside herself.

    Was there some reason I always had to suffer?

    The girl nervously reached out her own hand.

    Is craving happiness really that big of a sin?

    Tenderly, her fingers locked with the woman¡¯s, and as she was pulled into her warmth, the darkness surrounding them collapsed in on itself, replaced with rolling green hills and gentle white lily bells.

    All I ever wanted was a real family.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    Wincing, Lycoris slowly opened her eyes. Even though it¡¯d only been a dream, she still felt like she¡¯d just ran a marathon in ill-fitting boots. Perhaps because she really had been running away. From her parents, her ¡°enemy,¡± and herself.

    She¡¯d lost her armor first, then her hatred, and finally her blade.

    Having finally experienced unconditional love, her previous life felt laughably hollow in comparison. Like she¡¯d been a little girl piloting a person-shaped golem that whole time, rather than an actualized human being.

    Pushing away the nightmare, she looked at the ceiling and¡­ realized that the familiar purple canopy bed wasn¡¯t hanging over her. She hadn''t realized how accustomed she''d gotten to seeing it each morning until it was missing.

    Briefly, the thought occurred to her that the entire several months had all been an alcohol-induced fever dream. Somehow that felt far more terrifying than anything she¡¯d experienced in her nightmare just now.

    She raised her pale and lithe hand, looking at it as though examining a curious little bug before grasping a lock of silver hair and sighing in relief.

    Relief? Why do I¡­ I mean I don¡¯t! But¡­ There must be something wrong with me. Maybe I¡¯m sick. Th-That¡¯s probably what it is! I¡¯ve got a fever, that¡¯s why I had such a weird dream, and such strange thoughts. Yes, I''m just sick. I caught something weird while wandering the city. Maybe from those dracybaras!

    ¡­Can vampires even get sick? Come to think of it, I¡¯ve never really heard of one succumbing to anything other than the shining light of the Goddess or a hero¡¯s blade.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    Though, that was just in stories like the ones the Princess read. Lycoris had come to understand the far more banal reality during her little excursion. If vampires really were no different from humans¡­ as far as civilians went, at least¡­ then perhaps they could fall victim to illness too.

    She should have expected as much, considering how inglorious her former life as a knight was compared to those gallant tales of chivalry. Even after she¡¯d become vice-lieutenant, most of her days were spent drilling soldiers rather than doing field work, much less going off on adventures¡­

    And neither attempt she¡¯d made to save a maiden in distress had succeeded.

    Her thoughts shifting from princess to maid, she squinted her eyes shut as she rolled over in bed and pressed her face into the warm, lace-covered pillows.

    Wherever she was, the bed felt far softer and more comfortable than usual. It was hard to imagine a luxury greater than the bed placed within her room, but this one felt almost as if it was pulling her in.

    ¡°I hope Athena¡¯s okay¡­ It¡¯d be awful if I risked Mama¡¯s wrath and ended up not even actually¡­ ¡­¡±

    She trailed off, her face quickly reddening as her mind quickly shook off the sleepy haze hanging over it.

    W-Wait wait wait, Mama!? What the hell¡¯s wrong with me!? I-I mean, I know that she¡¯s¡­ But, what am I doing acting like a little kid? Gugh! Get a grip, Lycoris! What if you said that in front of someone!?

    ¡°Fear not, darling flower. The maid has already been returned to our palace, shortly after you were.¡±

    Her mother¡¯s voice reverberated through her body, as though the bed itself had spoken¡­ to¡­ her.

    ¡°HbwoorgyaAAGH!? W-W-W-Why are you here!?¡±

    Lycoris bolted upright¡ªor at least attempted to, though she found herself embraced by the linen-clad Exaltare and unable to pull away.

    After stroking her head and chuckling quietly to herself, Lilianna allowed Lycoris to sit up and look around in confusion.

    ¡°There is no land that may bar our entry, but would it not be most natural to find us in our own bedchambers in the early hours of the morning?¡±

    ¡°Then¡­ W-Why am I here!?¡± She wanted to draw the sheets up over herself to hide, but instead opted to grab a pillow¡ªan actual one¡ªto hug in front of her instead.

    ¡°We were hardly going to allow our dearest little flower out of our sight after her reckless escapade. And why would we not embrace her when she was bawling in her sleep?¡±

    Lycoris¡¯ voice dropped to a whimper. ¡°I-I was¡­ what?¡±

    ¡°It sounded like quite a terrible nightmare. Would that we could do more to soothe you than just hold you in our arms¡­¡±

    Lycoris felt her heart throb in her chest as the frustration inside Lilianna came out in her tone ever so briefly. There¡¯d be no escaping the inevitable consequences of what she¡¯d done. If she was lucky, she¡¯d at least have her life spared.

    Best to tear the bandage off quickly, and prepare herself for whatever punishment was coming.

    Tensing her core and sitting up cross-legged in her camisole, Lycoris tried to recall how she felt while apologizing to her commander, and spoke with a slightly trembling tone, ¡°My¡­ my utmost apologies f-for my behavior, Mother. I am aware that my actions were foolish, reckless, and put the entire Empire at risk.¡± Not that she felt torn up over the idea of the Vampire Empire collapsing. ¡°I overestimated m-myself, and ended up completely out of my depth. And, um¡­ had to be rescued by someone claiming to be your twin sister. I¡¯ll¡­ accept any punishment, or pay any price.¡±

    She bowed her head and closed her eyes, bracing herself for her mother¡¯s fury.

    But there was no lashing, gripping, or even movement on the ruler¡¯s part. Lycoris timidly opened her eyes after the silence dragged on further, curiosity getting the best of her.

    Lilianna was staring at her.

    There wasn¡¯t any surprise on her face, just displeasure and disappointment. When Lycoris met her gaze, she crossed her arms and put a palm to her cheek.

    ¡°Is that all?¡±

    ¡°¡­H-Huh?¡±

    The Exaltare inclined her head and spoke quietly, ¡°If that is the extent of your thoughts, then all you have accomplished is proving the adage that a fool and his head are quickly parted. We do not need to hear from you to know that there was no merit to your actions. We are more than capable of seeing that for ourselves.¡±

    She spoke calmly¡ªif callously¡ªlike this was any other lecture, but there was a slight hoarseness to her tone that Lycoris hadn¡¯t heard before. Though she shed no tears, the weight of Lilianna¡¯s anguish was as a particularly dense lump of raw mythril in her gut. It might¡¯ve been easier to bear if the Exaltare had just broken her fingers or slapped her or¡­

    Lycoris understood that wasn¡¯t the point, however. She realized what her mistake had been. Both of them knew an apology wouldn¡¯t undo the damage she caused. Lilianna was attempting to at least turn this into a teachable moment, rather than dole out a rote punishment after receiving an obvious apology.

    But that could only happen if Lycoris actually explained why she had done what she did, even if she knew it was a mistake already.

    ¡°I thought that if I were to lose the only retainer entrusted to me, it¡¯d demonstrate I¡¯m unfit for rule, and in such a case it¡¯d be better for me to either rescue her or¡ª¡±

    ¡°But you didn¡¯t rescue her. You failed, Lycoris. A pawn is merely a pawn,¡± Lilianna¡¯s brow darkened as she lowered her head, ¡°and to even consider throwing away your own life is the most foolish, idiotic, stupid and vile sin you could ever commit.¡±

    ¡°Wh¡­Wha¡­t?¡±

    It was the first time she had ever heard Lilianna speak of something even approaching virtues or sins. It was true that she didn¡¯t really want to die, but giving her life for the sake of another was the best way one could hope to die.

    ¡°If you truly wished to save her, if you genuinely believed that you were in the right, you would not have given up on convincing us. Did you not swear that you would trust in us, and allow us to trust you?¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Lycoris tensed up and raised her voice, ¡°The moment I tried to bring it up, you shut me down immediately. You told me it was a lesson in ¡®acceptable losses!¡¯ What was I supposed to say to something so inhumane!?¡±

    Lycoris was completely dumbfounded by her mother¡¯s words.

    No, not just dumbfounded, but insulted. Lilianna claimed that she lacked conviction in her own beliefs. That she didn¡¯t truly want to save Athena. She might as well have said that Lycoris didn¡¯t believe in the Goddess.

    The girl quivered in anger at the thought, but the woman remained calm.

    ¡°We do not recall you having any such difficulties voicing your complaints when it came to other matters.¡± She waved her hand, gesturing to the bottle and glass on the bedside table behind Lycoris.

    ¡°Because¡ª¡±

    ¡°You are being dishonest with us. No, perhaps you are being dishonest with yourself, too. In either case, we do not appreciate it.¡± There was a cold fury in her tone, threatening to freeze Lycoris¡¯ heart in her chest.

    ¡°Wh¡­ What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°You hold less value in your own life than that of a lowly maid.¡±

    The temperature of the room plummeted, leaving Lycoris feeling as though she were sitting atop a glacier rather than a warm and comforting bed. It was as though the very core of her being had been seen through.

    ¡°You have acted with reckless, selfish ¡®selflessness¡¯ at every opportunity presented. You chose to starve yourself, rather than seek aid or alternative ¡®til you could no longer conceal the agony you were inflicting upon yourself. You rushed off on your own, without even trying to convince us of her importance. You chose not to command the guards, even knowing that you could impersonate us. And you could not even bring her back. You would have lost your life, if not for Rosa. You are far, far too precious for that!¡±

    A single tear rolled down Lilianna¡¯s cheek, her knuckles going white as blue blood trickled from her hand onto the bed sheets. Her anger was palpable, crushing, suffocating, and¡­

    ¡°Ah¡­ B-But¡­¡±

    ¡°If you truly wished to save her, then why not wield every tool at your disposal!? Why jump to throwing yourself away!? Do not value my daughter so poorly!¡±

    Lilianna¡¯s shoulders trembled as her mastery over her emotions began to slip.

    The fury behind her words pierced Lycoris to her core, reminding her of memories she¡¯d desperately tried to suppress, the disappointment and fury of a mother all too unpleasantly familiar to her.

    But the basis for it¡ªno, the entire argument was completely inverted.

    And yet¡­ In the end, the words Lycoris spoke in response were no different from her childhood.

    ¡°I just¡­ wanted to help. I didn¡¯t want to be a bother. I¡­ I wanted to be useful¡­ I wanted to save her. I¡­ I don¡¯t wanna die¡­ I don¡¯t wanna be a monster¡­¡±

    Tears welled up in her eyes, as the distant, nightmarish past intertwined with the hell that she had crafted from her own inner demons. She didn¡¯t want to hurt anymore, she didn¡¯t want Lilianna to throw her away.

    Like a furious monohorn, Lilianna pounced upon Lycoris and pulled her close, squeezing her slightly too tightly for comfort. Lycoris couldn¡¯t place why, but she couldn¡¯t keep her emotions in check.

    Why am I crying? Why can¡¯t I calm down? What¡¯s wrong with me? Is it because I¡¯m a kid? Or is this how girls are? It was like this last night, too¡­

    ¡°Stupid, stupid, stupid child! Damn those humans! I¡¯ll kill them all for what they¡¯ve done to you! There¡¯s nobody more important than yourself, okay Lycoris? Engrave that upon your soul. That¡¯s a teaching more worthwhile than any bullshit dogma that fallacious ¡®Goddess¡¯ and its followers could impart! You¡¯re not a monster, you¡¯re my precious daughter, I never want you to throw your life away for anything, got it!?¡±

    Oh, right¡­ it''s because she loves me.

    Hiccups turned into sobs, and Lycoris clung to her mother, burying her face against that fragrant warmth. Having never experienced these sorts of feelings during her forty-five years as a man, she couldn¡¯t contain the overwhelming ache inside of her chest.

    Together with her mother, she cried loudly and ugly, like a ¡°little child.¡± In a display that¡¯d be the drama of a millennium if either of them were seen, both mother and child wept openly as they hugged each other. Lycoris¡¯ thoughts were a jumble of anxiety, confusion, and relief that her mother wouldn¡¯t abandon her over such a mistake.

    Once their eyes had run dry and all Lycoris felt was stinging rawness, Lilianna separated her from her chest and tenderly wiped the tears away. Her mother caressed her head, tracing her fingers through her hair with a shaky sigh¡­ before frowning.

    Even after shedding all her tears, Lycoris kept trembling. She knew that what she¡¯d done demanded some form of chastisement; her mind filled with worst-case scenarios.

    ¡°*ahem* Our apologies for shouting, Lycoris. It¡¯s clear that you¡­ understand where you have erred, but we still worry that your priorities may be skewed in other ways harmful to yourself. The price for recklessly acting on your own is naturally, the loss of freedom. Henceforth, you shall heed and obey our every demand; consider this a lesson in learning that we have nothing but your best interests at heart. Additionally, you are to remain in your room unless supervised by us or the maid. Until you have proven that you value your life and position to the extent that we deem only proper, these conditions shall hold. Understood?¡±

    ¡°A-Ah? W-Wait, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°No buts. We¡¯ve already been far too lenient, and that has only resulted in our beloved daughter endangering herself.¡± She paused for a moment, tapping her chin thoughtfully as she glanced toward the entrance to her room. ¡°We shall naturally supply you with a means of summoning your maid on the off-chance she isn¡¯t perpetually hovering right outside the door, despite our orders for her to rest.¡±

    Lycoris could¡¯ve sworn she heard a gasp of surprise from somewhere, the mental image of a startled Athena wrapped in bandages causing a laugh to bubble up out of her. If she was already healthy enough to be eavesdropping under the pretense of doing her job, Lycoris had little to worry about. Somehow, that¡¯d been enough to ease her concern over her mother¡¯s harsh¡ªbut fair¡ªpunishment.

    But she still had one more thing to say to Lilianna. Her excursion had made one thing crystal clear, and the end of that nightmare had felt¡­ prophetic, in a sense. Or perhaps a sign of her subconscious being more honest than she wanted to admit.

    ¡°Um, Mom?¡±

    She pulled herself back from Lilianna with some measure of reluctance, sitting a short distance away atop the luxuriously cushioned bed.

    While she still found it hard to feel anything but disdain for the monsters that¡¯d taken innumerable human lives, Lycoris at least wanted to return the feelings given to her. To repay kindness with kindness.

    Emma, Seraphine, Rosa, and her mother had all proven that vampires were just as capable of that as humans were.

    ¡°Yes, Dear?¡±

    ¡°I, um¡­ Thank you, for being so patient with me¡­ I¡¯ll¡­ do my best to live up to your expectations, as your¡­ daughter. I¡­¡± she choked up again and briefly fell silent.

    Though the path she once walked had come to its end, her life had not ended alongside it. Her mother truly wished to give her a future. She hadn¡¯t realized just how grateful she should¡¯ve been for that.

    Perhaps it wasn¡¯t the sort of family that she¡¯d originally imagined, but¡­ a lithe willow could bend and endure winds that would snap a rigid oak.

    So long as she allowed herself the same flexibility and accepted her newfound place in the world, Lycoris felt that she might survive the uncertain, tempestuous future awaiting her¡­

    ¡°I love you too.¡±

 Interlude â€” The Pipers Tune

    Athena frowned at the set of five matching knives, hanging from the keyring beside the coil of piano wire in her locker. They¡¯d been completely useless when she¡¯d gotten kidnapped, a blemish on her record that left her wondering if the Exaltare had her rescued just for the satisfaction of slaughtering the maid personally.

    She ran her finger across the full set, bringing the enchantment to life as they lifted off of the ring and hovered in front of her. With a simple mental command, they carefully drifted down and inserted themselves into a padded storage container.

    Tucking the wire into a compartment in her phone case, the plainclothes maid gave the empty locker a final look.

    ¡°It¡¯ll be strange, not using this room anymore¡­¡±

    ¡°No way.¡±

    An incredulous voice came from right beside her, the locker door slamming shut as a coveralls-clad woman with long pink hair sneered at her. More surprising than the presence of Saraya Idra was the fact that her two cronies were nowhere to be seen.

    Also, according to the schedule posted on the wall, she was still supposed to be on duty.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t expect you to be in dereliction of your duties, Miss Idra,¡± Athena tutted.

    The oh-so-great fourth-generation custodian scoffed, ¡°Unlike a certain <i>someone,</i> I get my work done quickly. But what is this?¡±

    She made a sweeping gesture with her hand at the pair of small cardboard boxes set on the bench, and the attache case that housed Athena¡¯s knives.

    Even though she was merely a single generation more ¡°pure¡± than Athena, Saraya loved to lord it over her at every opportunity, and always acted with haughty arrogance whenever she was in the Ochros dropout¡¯s presence. Nevermind that she acted just as servile when it came to her betters.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you actually got <i>fired?</i>¡± She couldn¡¯t mask the amusement in her tone.

    ¡°Of course not. Her Majesty hand-picked me to serve in her private chambers for a reason, Miss Idra.¡± Athena bent her knees and bowed her head. ¡°Good work is far preferable to <i>fast</i> work.¡±

    At first, her provocations bothered Athena, but after having her accomplishments and fealty acknowledged¡ªand being assigned to the darling little princess as a personal handmaiden¡ªit was laughable just how petty Saraya¡¯s attempts at harassment were.

    It¡¯d become obvious that the source of her anger was envy, like she was a schoolgirl bullying someone for getting better grades.

    Saraya¡¯s face briefly twisted in displeasure as she fell for Athena¡¯s provocation, though like any member originating from a noble household would, she quickly mastered her emotions and returned to her usual sneer as she deflected.

    ¡°Oh <i>please,</i> as if I¡¯m anywhere near as awful as those buffoons hired from the Harken family. Did you know they didn¡¯t even clean all the bloodstains off the tiles after the Executioner dealt with the traitor ghoul?¡±

    ¡°And who was responsible for instructing the lower floor custodians? I believe it was Miss Taiget¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m hardly responsible for what those two get up to, even if they cling to my coattails. Quit dodging the question, Ochros. Why are you packing up, if you weren¡¯t discharged?¡±

    ¡°I would sooner have Her Majesty take my life than <i>let me go,</i>¡± Athena huffed indignantly. ¡°If you must know, I¡¯m being relocated to the Exaltare¡¯s private wing, effective immediately.¡±

    Saraya blinked twice in response to Athena¡¯s rather casual revelation. ¡°Wh¡­ <i>What!?</i>¡±

    Athena sorely wanted to avoid explaining the reason why, considering how shameful it was that she¡¯d been caught off guard in the first place. That Her Majesty had to go out of her way to move Athena from her own home to a guest room in her private wing was both the height of shame and also far, far more than someone like her deserved.

    Though it pained her to do so, she¡¯d rather put on airs that it was a deserved honor in reward for her service. Preposterous as it was.

    ¡°It seems that I am being rewarded for my service and given a private room in¡ª¡±

    ¡°PREPOSTEROUS!¡± Saraya clenched her fists. ¡°You mean to tell me that a bumbling idiot who got herself abducted by a bunch of no-lifes got a <i>promotion</i> for it!?¡±

    Athena¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Who said anything about an abduction?¡±

    Saraya recoiled as though she¡¯d been stabbed, raising her arm defensively in front of herself.

    Athena glanced down at her attache case, her fingers twitching slightly as she considered humoring the other custodian''s gesture with an actual knife.

    ¡°If not that, then what? Are you telling me you just took half a week off for no reason? You? The person who¡¯s never used a single day of PTO?¡±

    ¡°Maybe I caught a cold. Saraya, answer me. Why do you think I was abducted!?¡±

    ¡°Even if you were vomiting blood, you¡¯d still try to come into work. As you so helpfully state at any possible opportunity, you¡¯d sooner die than fail to serve Her Majesty.¡± The pink-haired custodian turned away, hiding her expression from Athena. ¡°If you must know, I overheard it from Alicia. I didn¡¯t think much of it at the time¡ªjust that it was funny something like that could happen to you of all people¡ªbut¡­¡±

    She trailed off, letting an awkward silence fill the air as Athena took a near-silent step forward, thumb rubbing against the retractable steel wire''s compartment on her phone case. Saraya had given the name of one of her tagalongs¡ªAlicia Astrope. A lesser house beneath the sprawling Idra family.

    The maid had no intention of being caught off guard twice; she craned her ears, trying to hear if Saraya¡¯s ¡°friends¡± were in fact lurking nearby.

    ¡°Go on,¡±

    ¡°¡­Something serious is going on, isn¡¯t it? I know better than to pry into Her Majesty¡¯s affairs, but it''s clear she¡¯s protecting you from something.¡±

    Saraya spun on the spot to wag her finger at Athena, her eyes widening as she saw the maid inches away from her with the razor-thin wire in her hands.

    She raised her own hands in front of her defensively.

    ¡°What th¡ª Wait! Hold on a second! <i>I</i> didn¡¯t do anything to you! I wasn¡¯t even sure if she was telling the truth!¡±

    ¡°And where is Alicia now?¡±

    ¡°Like I''d know that! She got assigned to a different section of the palace this week. I¡¯m not gonna question the taskmaster <i>or</i> House Idra, even when they slip their forked tongue into the palace¡¯s managerial affairs.¡±

    ¡°Your disloyalty to Her Majesty has been noted.¡±

    ¡°Says the psycho threatening one of her palace workers with piano wire unprompted.¡±

    ¡°You just admitted that you had clandestine knowledge of my abduction, Saraya.¡±

    ¡°Who said you could address me like that!?¡±

    The two of them remained in that awkward pose, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with the wire in Athena¡¯s hands.

    After what felt like a minute had passed, Saraya slumped her shoulders and lowered her guard.

    ¡°Whatever, listen, I¡¯m just trying to keep my head low. It¡¯s clear that <i>something</i> is going on. If you want, I can ask Alicia about it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d prefer you didn¡¯t. I¡¯ll inform Her Majesty so that she may launch an investigation at her leisure.¡±

    ¡°Do you think she¡¯ll actually follow through with that, with everything going on in the Geolle Republic?¡±

    ¡°¡­You sound as though you have an idea, <i>Miss Idra.</i>¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ see if I can figure out who Alicia¡¯s been talking to. I didn¡¯t really take you for the type to get even though.¡±

    ¡°I have no interest in revenge, I merely wish to ensure the safety of Her H¡ªghbbnlnk!¡±

    Carelessly dropping her own guard, Athena¡¯s tongue caught between her teeth as the geas placed upon her prevented her from mentioning Princess Lycoris. Grasping her neck with one of her hands, the wire snapped back into her phone like a loosed tape measure.

    ¡°The hell? You alright there, Athena?¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes, I¡¯m fine. I was just a bit careless. Her Majesty has¡ªgghbllmprhph! ¡­¡±

    ¡°You are such a weirdo. Whatever, I¡¯ll look into it. Would probably be good to cover my own backside as well after all.¡±

    ¡°A prudent decision.¡±

    Athena turned away with a huff, scooping up the bundle of belongings into her arms. Convinced that her long-standing, self-proclaimed rival of sorts wasn¡¯t the one behind the recent events threatening Her Highness¡ªor herself¡ªshe began making her way toward the exit.

    ¡°Also Ochros,¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    Athena glanced back towards her with a slight twinge of concern. Saraya Idra was frowning deeply, looking away with her arms crossed. She was clearly upset, but eked out a begrudging compliment all the same.

    ¡°Er¡­ Congratulations, on your promotion.¡±

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    Tethos spied Cedric seated at the usual table in the far back, supping from a glass of Avnas Red as he approached unescorted. It was the Speaker¡¯s personal preference to be alone whenever possible, as he claimed attendants only ever distracted him from his brooding and scheming.

    The thought alone was enough to make Tethos'' eyes roll back in his head.

    Even though Cedric enjoyed his ¡°solitude,¡± he of course kept an entire restaurant worth of loyal pawns around as bodyguards¡ªor just bodies. They didn''t seem like they''d really amount to much if an actual fight were to break out, by Tethos'' standards at least.

    Tethos looked around at the people idly chatting and enjoying their evening dinners as he passed by, letting out a thoughtful hum as he listened to the obviously scripted conversations. They might as well have been reciting Lorem Ipsum at each other.

    ¡°Ochros,¡± Cedric called to him as he drew close, smiling affably and extending a hand towards the chair opposite him. He naturally remained seated the entire time.

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.?¡°Your Grace,¡± the green haired man doffed his bowler hat and bowed deeply, before taking the offered seat.

    ¡°To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?¡±

    A waitress in deep purple colors briskly walked over to their table as Cedric snapped his fingers. The blood she poured from the bottle already resting beside the table resembled a murky swamp in the moody candlelight, matching the burgundy suit Tethos favored.

    ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t mean displeasure?¡± He picked up the glass and swirled it, but didn¡¯t take a sip. ¡°The reception here is so frosty I wasn¡¯t sure if I¡¯d mistakenly slept through ''til winter.¡±

    As he set the glass back down with a noticeable clink, an unnatural silence descended upon the restaurant, dozens of sharp luminous eyes briefly flickering in his direction at his perceived slight against their master.

    Cedric politely laughed it off and waved his hand before snapping his fingers a second time.

    At his signal, half the customers all stood up and left at once. The rest resumed their conversations, as though the threat had been just an illusion. The man loved showing off the power and status he held, to an exhausting degree.

    The blonde-haired man folded his hands together over the table and leaned forward, somehow managing to frown with a smile on his face.

    ¡°If you mean to suggest I should adjust my schedule to accommodate your sudden demand of my attention¡ª¡±

    ¡°I would simply hate to sour your meal,¡± Tethos shrugged his shoulders exaggeratedly.

    ¡°Then out with it, quickly. And be on your way.¡±

    It seemed as though Cedric was done putting on airs. He was quite obnoxious to hold a serious conversation with. The main reason Tethos wanted to avoid speaking over the phone was because he knew his <i>client</i> was prone to ignore substance in favor of the superficial.

    The other reason was that it was obviously impossible to tell who could be listening in on their chat otherwise. At least with a room full of Idra in his sight, he could mark obstacles to remove later, if necessary.

    Tethos drawled as smarmily as he could, ¡°Riiight, Your Grace is a busy man, after all. Which would you prefer first, the good or the bad?¡±

    ¡°You hold the information, Tethos. Do not spoil the main course by serving dessert beforehand.¡±

    ¡°The bad it is, then.¡±

    The ever-so-slight twitch of Cedric¡¯s brow was all the ¡°dessert¡± Tethos needed, personally. Nothing was quite as satisfying as getting under the arrogant prick¡¯s skin. Especially since he constantly acted as though his position as Speaker for the Idra meant he was somehow above reproach or ruination.

    It¡¯d be a delight to see his face once the decrepit vultures at the peak of the Idra had chewed him up and spat him out after having him play his final part.

    But Tethos was getting ahead of himself.

    ¡°It seems our little fifth-generation pup has been rescued.¡±

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    ¡°Well, either that or Who-Djini has come back from the dead as a woman of the Ochros Family.¡± Tethos nonchalantly shrugged. ¡°The city guards found her unconscious in Volpini Realty, along with four corpses, each slain by a blade. The door had been shattered and there were signs of a single gunshot having been fired, but otherwise no evidence of a struggle.¡±

    He rattled off the information with extreme disinterest, idly flicking his finger against the side of his glass like a bored child. The four men were all members of an entourage he masterminded, but their lives were so far beneath his that he felt nothing for their loss.

    Four random pawns for the lead of a lifetime was a trade he would make any month, year, or decade.

    ¡°So someone came to rescue her. And?¡± Cedric raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°You¡¯ll find that information doesn¡¯t <i>exist, </i>my dear Cedric.¡± He smiled thinly, resting his chin upon his fingers. ¡°There were no witnesses, no suspects, and if you ask the guards, they <i>saw nothing.</i>¡±

    ¡°But you just said that¡­¡±

    Cedric¡¯s eyes widened ever so slightly, as he leaned back in his seat and smiled. Indeed, he was no fool; he understood exactly what it meant that <i>only</i> Tethos knew about this. Or rather, Tethos and a pair of random civilian trash.

    That Her Majesty didn¡¯t have them immediately erased spoke volumes about the little puzzle he¡¯d been gathering pieces for.

    ¡°Our dear thin-blooded maid is far more important than either of us realized.¡±

    ¡°But why?¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s to say? Regardless, I chanced upon the information thanks to my position as adjudicator for Her Majesty. Apparently there were a pair of witnesses who met the one responsible.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡±

    ¡°The winds of change are blowing, Cedric. Our families may have endured since the beginning, but there will always be those who <i>become</i> history, rather than make it.¡±

    Tethos stood up from the table, sticking a hand in his pocket and beginning to walk away. He¡¯d said everything he intended to. It was up to Cedric to figure out the rest. It was more fun to watch the gears slowly turn in his head, anyway.

    ¡°There you go with those worthless comments about the wind,¡± Cedric sighed.

    Tethos¡¯ narrowed eyes darted across the crowd as he turned back briefly. ¡°You should heed my warning. If the Idra don¡¯t adapt, then you¡¯ll become just another footnote in our sprawling, foolish history.¡±

    ¡°¡­I and the Idra are <i>ever</i> grateful for your assistance, but don¡¯t you think it improper to leave out the most crucial detail?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m not sure who exactly came to her rescue. Though, I¡¯m quite curious how this year''s Moonsend will go¡­¡±

    ¡°<i>Really,</i> you? Here I thought ¡®Tethos Ochros had no personal interest in politics.¡¯ This would be quite the upset to all of noble society.¡±

    ¡°¡®The third son to Duke Ochros, who disavowed the courts and their droll parties, suddenly doing an about face and revealing that he¡¯d masterminded the whole affair and maintained a facade for one thousand six hundred and twenty three years.¡¯ Hahaha, that would be quite the tale. Fortunately for you, I still have no love for the Ochros.¡±

    ¡°Then why? The Idra would welcome you with open arms, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware.¡±

    ¡°Regrettably, I don¡¯t hold any fondness for <i>them</i>, either. You alone are the exception among our ''noble race'' worth my time. <i>For now.</i>¡±

    Tethos turned away and walked to the exit, not even bothering to reply to Cedric¡¯s usual call and response between their families; he was more than eager to bid farewell to the fake ambiance of the fake restaurant and its fake customers. He couldn¡¯t stand the airs that nobles loved to put on, much preferring the honest lives of the common folk.

    And he saw that same sincerity in the curious little girl in her lilac hood. Little Lyco would certainly prove to be a most interesting source of amusement to him. A girl with silver hair and ruby eyes sneaking <i>out</i> of the palace, in search of a maid that served in the Exaltare¡¯s private chambers could only mean one thing.

    Perhaps she could be the winds of change he and his true besotted so craved.

    ¡°I wonder how well you¡¯ll be able to stay on your toes, dear Cedric. After all, the Thief always comes to swipe the Hero¡¯s prize in the end.¡±

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    Leagues away from Ljosdeyja, in the distant south-eastern corner of Vampire territory that bordered the expansive desert wastes to the east and the edge of subterranean Geolle territory to the south, there sat a walled city controlled by the Drimus Family called Vetreyri. Late at night, in the unremarkable and cozy town, a young girl sat alone in her room. Doubled over her desk, her hands trembled as her knuckles tightened around the handle of a knife.

    Its edge was soaked with blue ichor, the rubber mat atop her desk similarly stained and obscuring the papers with complexly layered, drawn out magic circles beneath. Her skin burned, and the pain overwhelmed her, forcing her to drop the ritual tool in her hand after she''d made her final incision.

    The girl laughed unsteadily, her mess of carmine hair obscuring her vision as she looked down at her handiwork. She took a moment to collect herself, wiping the locks away and slumping her arm heavily onto the table. Taking a pinch of powdered Citrinate, she carefully rubbed it into the vein-like wound running down her arm.

    ¡°AA<i>AGH!¡±</i>

    She couldn¡¯t stop the gasp of pain from tearing its way out of her as the white-gold powdered ore fizzed on contact with her raw flesh, a reaction not unlike soldering taking place where it touched the self-inflicted wound.

    At the same time, it sealed the injury as though cauterizing it, and as the pain faded, the girl felt a surge of energy course down her arm like a lit fuse, touching each circle etched into her arm and causing them to light up in sequence. Once it reached the one at the back of her palm, a bright light engulfed the room and¡ª

    ¡°Raine! What are you doing in there at this hour?¡±

    Her ¡°father¡¯s¡± voice came from the other side of the door, causing Raine to slide her sleeve down with a jolt. She quickly flipped the mat over to conceal knife, papers, and bloodstains as the door creaked open and the dour face of Daren Lynnvel poked inside.

    At the same time, she stood up and folded her hands properly in front of her, careful to cover the right with left as she bowed respectfully.

    ¡°I am deeply apologetic for the unsightly noise, My Lord.¡±

    ¡°Hmph, as you should be.¡±

    He looked around suspiciously, but naturally found nothing out of place. Not that he actually cared about <i>why</i> she might cry out in pain in the middle of the night. Daren had expressed nothing but disappointment in the girl he¡¯d adopted, despite being promised ¡°potential¡± by the parents who¡¯d willingly sold her to the Lynnvels.

    Raine had no idea what her original parents had been thinking¡ªshe¡¯d been born to commoners and had virtually no capacity for magic, like all the rest. They¡¯d simply swindled this dumb noble and she was suffering the consequences.

    Though her resentment bubbled beneath the surface, she maintained a placid expression as the man invaded the privacy of her room and looked around briefly.

    ¡°¡­Right, get to bed at once. You¡¯ll need to at least look <i>presentable</i> tomorrow. We¡¯re having a meeting with the Meltants. If fortune favors us, we might be able to bind our families together and not even need to send you off to¡ª no, why am I wasting my breath on you.¡±

    He shook his head, not even waiting for her response before stepping back outside and closing the door. She released the tension that¡¯d pooled inside her with a sigh as she slid her sleeve back up, looking at the raw golden branches crawling down her arm. They¡¯d already mostly faded into the milky white of her skin, blending into all the other veins she¡¯d engraved. There was no trace of any of the circles tattooed into her skin either, though she could feel each and every one if she focused.

    She inelegantly flopped onto her bed, looking at the twinkling glow-in-the-dark stickers pasted to her ceiling. Only forty-nine and her ¡°father¡± was already looking to trade her for more power and status¡­ Nobles were truly awful, exhausting people.

    Naturally, Raine had no interest in marrying some random stuck up noble-boy who probably stunk of artificial flowers and¡­ <i>pine</i> or whatever. Which meant she¡¯d have to find a way to ruin whatever her father¡¯s plans were, but in a way that wouldn¡¯t reveal her true aspirations.

    Her own sights were set on the top-ranked academy within the Empire, where gifted noble children were instructed on how to properly carry on their parents¡¯ legacies, and where nearly every successful Heir-Potentiate to the Exaltare¡¯s throne had attended.

    Of course, what interested her more was how they touted themselves as the premiere academy in terms of magical research.

    Raine was just a child, and of common blood at that; that she''d discovered a means of collecting and harnessing magic within herself to begin with had been a miracle, but she could only get so far through her own efforts¡­

    The mere thought of the opportunity to attend such a prestigious school going to waste was enough to make her want to cry and scream, but she knew that would only risk bringing her father¡¯s ire down upon her. And she still needed to at least keep him from disowning her if she wanted any hope of going to that academy. Money alone wouldn''t get her in, the connections the Lynnvel family held were where their true value laid.

    As she contemplated how best to circumvent the threat of future arranged marriages facing her, Raine Lynnvel quickly and quietly fell asleep atop her bed.

 Interlude â€” The Dragons Bellows

    ¡°What are you doing!? Get out of my off¡ª¡±

    Such were the final words of Goraad Bleek, before the orichalcum bullet shattered his head and bored a hole through the bedrock wall behind him. His body slowly flopped forward onto his desk, shards of amethyst crystal spilling messily forward, the paragraph of his sad life of blind servitude ending with a louder bang than he deserved.

    Stepping into the room around the geolle holding the smoking handcannon, the poisonous-looking human clapped her hands beneath her cloak in delight.

    ¡°Congratulations, Ser Alden, your oppressive governor is finally dead, and with it the vampires¡¯ hold on this city has cracked. See how easy that was?¡±

    She¡ªAlden believed it was a she, at least; Human and Vampire males also had moss on their head, confusingly enough¡ªlooked like a bizarre mushroom, with her pitch-black cloak pulled all the way around, obfuscating her fleshy body beneath. The long equally-black moss, highlighted at the ends with bright violet like a venomous piece of cave lichen and capped by a miniature frill-adorned and pointy hat, rolled down the back of her cloak in loose messy waves.

    The woman reached her bone-white hand out from the void-like cloak and placed it on the barrel of the firearm, slowly lowering the weapon in Alden¡¯s hands. Her milky-white eyes gleamed like silver nuggets as she turned to look up at his face.

    That was the problem with humans, <i>and</i> vampires; they always looked at the face first, and the body second, and they never even bothered to look for how one angled their tusks when they did so! What was even the point of looking at the face to them? It made it impossible to deal with the fleshier races. He angled his shoulder at her and locked his jaw, hoping she¡¯d get the message, but she ignored the gesture and danced around in front of him with a sly smile.

    This human reeked of ill omens¡ªamong other, strange and oily scents¡ªbut they had only made it this far thanks to her. It¡¯d be poor manners for him to shoot her right now. Plus, the bullet he¡¯d just put into the governor''s head was worth more than a year¡¯s salary.

    Looking away from the irritating and fleshy creature, he turned toward his comrade in arms, who had a large mattock resting against his mossy shoulder.

    His right-hand man, and a solid reason why Alden chose to get the stones rolling on his insurrection in the first place. If the vampires had found out Darnyle and his miners were skimming precious metals to sell off to humans for military support, then their rebellion would have to progress all the quicker.

    ¡°Darnyle? Anything?¡±

    His companion, Darnyle, kept his eyes closed  as he focused instead on the minute tremors running through the earth.

    After a moment the man nodded in satisfaction.

    ¡°I do not feel any sign of the guards approaching, Alden. The human has kept her word.¡±

    Thankfully, this Tatyana girl was like a gift from Mother Terra Herself. He didn¡¯t dare ask her age¡ªhe doubted he¡¯d get a genuine answer regardless¡ªbut beneath her cloak she looked as mature as humans ever became.

    He turned back to stare down at her, fixing his eyes on hers as he slowly and thoughtfully rubbed his tusks together.

    ¡°So far, at least. Human, we can assume that you wove your magic, yes?¡±

    ¡°Mhmhm, of <i>course</i> darling~ not a soul could hear, or feel, anything that just happened on this floor.¡±

    ¡°And you are also certain the vampires will be here¡ª¡±

    ¡°Today, yes,¡± she sighed and shook her head, placing a hand atop her cloak. ¡°And before you ask: Yes, the Idra will be the first on the scene and will assume responsibility for slaying him, with the ¡®proof¡¯ you¡¯ve provided as all they needed to pin him as the mastermind behind the sales. Happy?¡±

    ¡°Hardly. We¡¯ve been forced to take great risks because <i>someone </i>was careless.¡±

    ¡°That we¡¯re forced to rely on vampires to free us from vampires¡­¡± Darnyle thumped the base of his mattock on the ground in irritation.

    ¡°Gotta crack some eggs to make an omelet, big boy~ Or¡­ some rocks for their minerals? But don''t forget, you aren¡¯t the only ones skating the ice with those nasty bloodsuckers.¡± Tatyana smiled sweetly up at them, but her eyes were looking elsewhere. ¡°We¡¯re in this together, Alden. I swear upon the Goddess¡¯ name that your people and mine shall one day be free of their yoke.¡±

    Alden folded his arms and angled his head, nodding in agreement and acceptance. He¡¯d spoken with more than one human¡ªnot that he would ever admit to any self respecting member of his race¡ªand every single one praised their sky-bound mother. It was because of Her that they¡¯d found common ground in the first place, the symmetry between this Goddess above and their own Mother Terra breaking the ice and allowing them to find purchase among each other''s cultures.

    Tatyana may have looked like a strange poisonous mushroom in her conical black robes and tiny hat, but her reverence was obvious.

    ¡°Then let us abscond, before they arrive and ruin the groundwork that we¡¯ve laid.¡±

    ¡°Ah ah, not just yet! We¡¯ve yet to plant the evidence! The Idra require a smoking gun, after all. And I don¡¯t mean the one already in your hands, aha ha ha~¡±

    Tatyana held out her hand expectantly.

    With a low rumble, Darnyle reached under his green tunic and pulled out some documents. The moment he did so, she snapped them out of his hand and began rifling through them, muttering to herself as she walked over to the corpse.

    ¡°¡­ ¡­ ¡­Speaking of, however, you may want to dispose of that gun somewhere.¡± She looked up from the papers, deftly slipping one of her own between the sheets. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure it ends up in the right hands.¡±

    ¡°If they¡¯re the first ones here,¡± Alden unceremoniously dropped the gun, ¡°They can handle it themselves.¡±

    In response, Tatyana merely shrugged and sighed.

    Once she¡¯d replaced the documents with forgeries and set fire to the originals with a snap of her fingers, the trio left the now-silent office. She drew a crystal-tipped wand with a flourish¡ªRubardium, meaning it would be most effective for etching runes of flame and shadows¡­ Illusion magic¡ªand waved it as she muttered under her breath.

    After examining and clenching her hand, she nodded to the two of them and the three left the scene, with nobody any the wiser.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    Boralus walked beneath the decorated eaves of his clan¡¯s camp, glancing up at the unlit lanterns. The chimes hanging from his great antlers jingled with every step he took like a fresh spring day¡ªthough it was already autumn. They¡¯d already reaped their summer crop and left the seeds for winter to flourish for the Grandwoods¡¯ return in spring.

    His eyes naturally looked past the decorations and toward the colossal hollowed out tree beyond, whose boughs blotted out the sky and whose peak was unassailable by any mortal creature. The Grandwoods had a tradition that whoever climbed the highest up its sides would be given the seat of clan chief.

    Already he saw the camps set up along the Great Hollow¡¯s sides, full of eager young men hoping to claim his position. He was unconcerned, however; most of them hadn¡¯t even brought enough supplies to make it halfway to his checkpoint.

    Remembering his actual purpose for rolling out of bed, he resumed his march toward the massive towering tree. Once he was out of his camp, his trunk-like arms and heavy footfalls attracted the attention of quite a few other clans¡¯ members, in particular the surreptitious glares of the skulking, bushy-tailed Fangchasers. They¡¯d always set up their camp amidst the roots, hiding away from the sun just like their steel-tree dwelling masters.

    Judging by the confident smirks on their faces, they likely had something cooked up for the clan conference at this year¡¯s Harvest Festival. They¡¯d steadily been gaining more and more influence among the clans ever since they swore themselves to the longtooths. It was no coincidence that <i>they</i> were the ones who represented the Plainstriders at that dreadful eyesore of a Spire.

    <i>?Do they really think that little tower could ever match the majesty of the Great Hollow?</i>

    Boralus sighed and shook his head, ignoring their gazes and instead pressing on to the tree¡¯s belly, the shadowed interiors chased away by ever-glowing lanterns filled with spark-beetles.

    The natural great hall where the conference of clans was held every year already had cushioning and blankets set out for all of the factions, though they were naturally still unoccupied, as it was days before the meeting would take place.

    He made his way to the largest cushion belonging to the Grandhorn circle and sat down with his arms and legs crossed. He looked around the empty hall and grunted in irritation.

    Perhaps the reason those Fangchasers had been staring at him was because this had all been a petty prank on their part.

    <i>?No, that can¡¯t be right¡­ There¡¯s only one person who knows I can read, and </i><b><i>she¡¯s</i></b><i> busy ruling her treetops to the west. Ugh, I hate this cloak and dagger business. Reminds me of those damned bloodsuckers. Why wouldn¡¯t they have simply spoken to me directly? Hrmph.</i><i>

    </i>?<i>Did I get here early? The letter didn¡¯t specify a time after all¡­ Not like I¡¯m a busy man right now, my part to play isn¡¯t until the festival kicks off.</i>

    ¡°Right he is, isn¡¯t he?¡±

    Boralus nearly jumped out of his skin as he heard a strange¡­ and <i>familiar</i> young girl¡¯s voice.

    He immediately turned his attention up toward where it came from, and his eyes widened in astonishment as he saw a scarlet blur falling from the darkness.

    He leapt up to his feet reflexively, and dashed toward the expected landing point.

    <i>?Not good, I won¡¯t¡ª</i>

    ¡°Make it in time? Nonsense, he¡¯s here early, he is.¡±

    The blur of red interrupted his thought, causing him to freeze in place as it slammed into the grassy floor face first. An untamed mane of fiery autumnal hair spread out over the impact site, covering the figure¡¯s entire humanoid body like a blanket of gold, orange, and blazing scarlet leaves; save, of course, for a thick crimson-scaled tail that protruded from the bottom of said mane.

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Normally, he would have rushed over to check on her. <i>Normally.</i> But the manner of her speech evoked a memory of awe deep inside him, and as the diminutive shape of a little girl slowly got to her knees and stood up, the massive bear-like man fell to his own hands and knees as a pressure like the sky collapsing pressed down on his back.

    It took all his effort to simply raise his head and look at the child-shaped thing. Her hair fell messily in front of her face, partially obscuring the sharp-pupiled golden eyes staring past him. She wore pure white animal pelts of some variety like an off-shoulder dress, a rope of ivy wrapped around her waist adding a sense of shape to her figure. Her skin was soft and smooth, save for the extremities, which were covered in bright red scales and tipped by sharply pointed nails. A pair of ivory-white horns poked out of her wild mane and arched backwards like a goat¡¯s, and as she smiled she revealed a row of jagged sharp teeth.

    The last time Boralus had seen her, he¡¯d been but a little cub, not even as tall as she was. Even now, with one of his arms thicker around than her entire torso, her presence made him feel as insignificant as a child.

    ¡°<ruby>I<rt>We</rt></ruby> should thank him for his punctual arrival, even if it means he saw <ruby>me<rt>us</rt></ruby> in a rather embarrassing state. <ruby>I<rt>We</rt></ruby> hate waiting around, don¡¯t <ruby>I<rt>we</rt></ruby>?¡±

    ¡°Was¡­ it you, who sent the letter?¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ Is that truly a pertinent detail? <ruby>I<rt>We</rt></ruby> hardly think so. The important part is he¡¯s here before <ruby>me<rt>us</rt></ruby> now, and has ears that can listen.¡±

    ¡°Th-Then¡­ To what do I owe the honor?¡±

    ¡°How much to say? Always the problem, it is. Saying too much ruins the suspense, but without a hint, he cannot play his part.¡±

    She innocently tilted her head this way and that, putting a finger to her lips at first, then scratching at her mane of hair as she became increasingly agitated.

    ¡°No, no no no! <ruby>I<rt>We</rt></ruby> can¡¯t do that! What <ruby>am I<rt>are we</rt></ruby> saying? ¡­Hm? No, that isn¡¯t any better. Ah well, the direct approach is always the best, it is. Except when it isn¡¯t.¡±

    Though he was struck speechless, Boralus sorely wanted to mouth off as the girl rambled endlessly to herself about nothing. But he knew how impossible such a task was. Not even the greatest of the Greatwoods had the power or resolve to do so.

    ¡°And he is wiser to not speak up regardless! For it is time for <ruby>my<rt>our</rt></ruby> bestowal of wisdom! Ahem, ahem. Though it will come to him as a great shock, within the day the flag he has planted on the tree¡¯s side will be claimed, and a new one inserted several hours above.¡±

    ¡°<i>What!?</i> But, there¡¯s no way that could happen! It¡¯s only just started!¡±

    ¡°<ruby>I<rt>We</rt></ruby> did say he would be shocked¡­ but he interrupted before <ruby>I<rt>we</rt></ruby> could say the most important piece: the one who accomplished that herculean task is Turbine, of the Fangchasers, kekekeke.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ but¡­ what? <i>Why?</i> They would dare to invade upon our ceremonies now?¡±

    She squinted her eyes shut as she cheerfully and helpfully answered, ¡°Yep~¡±

    ¡°How¡­ <i>dare</i> they!¡± He slammed his hand into the ground, tearing up a chunk of grass.

    ¡°He will use it to claim the position of leader of the Plainstriders, and from there¡ª Ah, no no, <ruby>I<rt>we</rt></ruby> nearly said too much again! There is nothing little Boralus can do at this point but lose all that he has built up.¡±

    ¡°Why¡­ Why even tell me this then!? There has to be <i>something </i>I can do!¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    She assessed him through narrowed eyes, her tail lightly thumping the ground behind her as it swayed from left to right. It felt as though she were expecting something from him, but he had no idea where to begin. His mind began spiraling as he accepted her word as unquestionable truth.

    Slowly, the thing walked towards him, every step constricting his heart tighter, as if to crush it. Pain and despair tore at him in equal measure, until a <ruby>frail<rt>mighty</rt></ruby> hand <ruby>softly<rt>forcefully</rt></ruby> touched his head. After ruffling his hair and flicking one of the ornaments, she turned back away from him.

    His vision began to blur as the pressure became nearly almost unbearable, her voice sounding like distant thunder and intimate whisper simultaneously.

    ¡°<ruby>I<rt>We</rt></ruby> know that once he has recovered from this, he will find the answer he needs. Boralus is <ruby>my<rt>our</rt></ruby> favorite of the Greatwoods, he is.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I know exactly what I gotta do¡­ Something even more impressive, more impossible.¡±

    Slowly, painfully, he forced himself to crawl a step forward, reaching his hand up in a final act of defiance.

    ¡°Why can¡¯t you ever just be straightforward, you stupid Dragon!?¡±

    He reached forward and gripped her tail, dragging her back with a yelp as he passed out on his knees.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    Another beautiful day graced the royal capital of Traskia.

    The sun danced and frolicked between the scattered clouds above Castle Pirleth, the flowers outside the window swayed in a gentle breeze, and the air was crisp and cool, but not unpleasantly so just yet.

    It would have been perfect weather for Princess Fawaris to invite guests for tea. She was sorely missing the company of student and teacher alike.

    It¡¯d been a few years since she last spoke with Mizar, and many more with his teacher. Her father, King Alibreo, had prevented her even from sending letters to the poor man, but she¡¯d heard from Mizar that he¡¯d sunk into a terrible depression ever since his failed attempt to win her an evening beyond the castle¡¯s walls.

    She¡¯d known better than to call her father¡¯s demands unreasonable. The lieutenant <i>had</i> broken the King¡¯s edict that she was to remain within castle grounds at all times. He said it was for her safety, but¡­ Fawaris always felt more like a prisoner. It wasn¡¯t even as though Vampire attacks ever reached as far down the peninsula as the capital, and they were far enough away from the eastern coast that the Piscin would never end up this far inland. The King¡¯s fears were completely unfounded.

    Feeling her mood sour, she lightly patted her cheeks and turned her attention back to the book in her hands. She wasn¡¯t particularly skilled with music, but she wanted to compose a piece¡ªor poem, at least¡ªfor the grand return of the brave heroes who had slain the tyrannical Lord of Vampires.

    Though it¡¯d been years since their departure, she had nothing but confidence that the Stardust Champion and his party would bring humanity their salvation. Even now, her heart yearned to greet the hero, and the thought of her <i>father</i> having no choice but to accept that Mizar had completed his unreasonable task brought a slightly dangerous and indulgent giddiness to her.

    ¡°Still¡­ it¡¯s difficult to put verses to their accomplishments without actually <i>knowing</i> what said accomplishments are, or how they achieved them. What to do¡­?¡± she hummed in light frustration.

    Autumn had already given way to winter, and all but the most stubborn of trees outside her window had lost their color and hardened themselves for the season ahead¡ªthough it never snowed this far south. Instead, the Goddess¡¯ tears fell as rain upon them, giving rise to stormy seas that aided in safeguarding their coasts from the Piscin and breathed life into their winter crops.

    Again and again, Fawaris found herself distracted from her reading, her thoughts consistently turning back to the ones that had brought color to her dreary life.

    Eventually, she conceded defeat with a sigh and closed the near-untouched tome, deciding that a walk around the castle would help sort her thoughts. She knocked at her own door to ask the guard posted outside to unlock it for her, but strangely, there wasn¡¯t any response.

    ¡°Hello? I would like to step out for a stroll.¡±

    After a few moments, she tried again.

    ¡°Hello? Is anyone out there?¡±

    Odd, her father had always kept a guard placed outside of her room ¡°for her safety¡± after she¡¯d nearly been ¡°abducted¡± that night so many years ago¡­

    Something must have happened if the usual guard posted was missing. Unfortunately, she didn¡¯t have a key, and the door was made of treated wood¡­ Far beyond Fawaris¡¯ power to break down.

    Panic briefly set in as she wondered what would happen if she was abandoned, trapped in here forever. Her claustrophobia quickly passed at least, when she looked at the window and realized she could escape through there if necessary. She¡¯d already debated internally before whether she¡¯d be able to take that route in an emergency, but never had any reason to actually test the theory. The window was fairly high up, and she wasn¡¯t exactly eager to test whether or not she could leap far enough to make it to the tree, or if she¡¯d be able to climb down it without falling and shattering her legs.

    ¡°Look at me¡­ making excuses already. If only I could work up the guts to talk back to Father. He¡¯s really taken things too far. This is just the sort of situation I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Your Highness!¡±

    A slightly odd-sounding voice cut her off from the other side of the door, filled with urgency and anxiety. The owner banged at the door, but didn¡¯t unlock it for some reason. She didn¡¯t recognize the owner either, but it had to be one of the knights in her father¡¯s employ if they were shouting at her in <i>concern.</i>

    ¡°I¡¯m here. Has something happened?¡±

    ¡°You must flee! The guards have gone mad and rebelled against His Majesty! I don¡¯t know what¡¯s possessed them, but they¡¯re¡ªAggh!¡±

    The speaker cut out with a terrific guttural wail, before the sound of something heavy thumped to the floor.

    As Fawaris¡¯ heart caught in her throat, she heard the sound of heavy greaves clanking against the ground. Then, the sound of  the lock slowly clicking open. Her body trembled as she stumbled backwards and fell to the floor. The door slowly swung open, and standing there was¡­

    <i>?Mizar!? It¡­ can¡¯t be¡­</i>

    Her voice was caught alongside her heart, unable to escape her throat as she saw the decidedly matured but unmistakably familiar hero.

    In his hand was a bloodied sword, and on the ground beneath him was a body in light leather armor, with a curved and spiked knife in its hand.

    Mizar¡¯s expression was cold as he opened the door, but the moment his eyes met Fawaris¡¯, some of the tension left his shoulders. He breathed a sigh of relief, but kept his hand on the doorframe as he looked back over his shoulder.

    ¡°Is¡­ Is that¡­ really you?¡±

    ¡°We can talk later, it¡¯s not safe here. Do you have anything to barricade the door with? Goddess smite King Albireo for having the lock on this installed <i>backwards</i>.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ um, there¡¯s a dresser but¡­ What¡¯s happen¡ª¡±

    ¡°Piscin have somehow infiltrated the guard¡¯s ranks. I don¡¯t have time to explain, but your father is in danger. The castle¡¯s been thrown into chaos. We need to find somewhere to hide you until the situation is under control.¡±

    She could hear the honest timbre in his voice, his sky-blue eyes locked with hers as they stared into each other¡¯s souls. When she nodded in understanding, he let out the breath he¡¯d been keeping held in relief. How very like him, to be almost childishly nervous in her presence.

    But this wasn¡¯t the time for either of them to feel relief.

    ¡°O¡­Okay. What of the others? Where is Sir Al¡ª¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s gone.¡± The boy¡ªman¡¯s voice suddenly turned raspy. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Princess. I¡¯m the¡­ only one left.¡±

    ¡°Wh¡­ What¡­?¡±

    She almost couldn¡¯t believe her ears. The man who¡¯d been more of a guardian to her than the King ever had was¡­ <i>dead?</i> There was a dissonance in Mizar¡¯s words, but she couldn¡¯t discern the truth past the terrified thumping in his heart.

    ¡°Yeah. I know. We can mourn later. What¡¯s important is your immediate safety, Faw¡­<i>*ahem*</i> Your Highness.¡±

    He spoke tersely, but still sounded just as nervous when it came to broaching barriers with her. The boy may have grown into a man during his journey, but beneath that shell was the same awkward hero she knew.

    ¡°Right. Then, let¡¯s go.¡±

    She forced herself to smile in spite of the dark news that suddenly assailed her, clinging on to her ray of light¡¯s outstretched hand. She was sure that with Mizar at her side, they could see the Kingdom through this sudden calamity.

 Interlude â€” The Witchs Smile

    Sitting quietly in the rear of the chariot¡ªcar, rather; vampires didn¡¯t rely on horses, and knew the ¡°proper¡± names for things besides¡ªTatyana crossed her legs, feeling the friction warm her silk stockings as she pouted down toward the magic dataslate¡ªsmartphone, in more boring parlance¡ªon the pleather seat beside her. It was a good reminder of just how far their civilization had come.

    Not that she was particularly chuffed herself. She had played a dreadfully long and careful game in order to worm her way deep enough to get access to those secrets, capitalizing on the ¡°Human naivete¡± that she knew the vampires believed she had.

    The Idra thought they were stringing her along with promises of ascension, but she had no desire to become a monster like them. She¡¯d already become something far worse, regardless.

    The woman closed her eyes and resumed her meticulous ritual, elegantly writing line after line with her crimson-inked fountain pen. It was quite fortunate that the car was such a smooth ride. Despite the lack of paved roads along their current journey, she barely felt the vibrations from the engine, much less any bumps from uneven terrain.

    She had to be able to read her handwriting again later for the magic to properly take effect.

    After she finished cataloging the prior day¡¯s events¡ªdetailed down to the exact hour¡ªshe opened her eyes once more and met the chauffeur¡¯s gaze, catching him ogling her curvaceous leotard-clad body.

    Or just glaring at her. He looked somewhat irritated, even if he was clearly staring at her chest until she snapped her small black book closed.

    ¡°Am I finally allowed to speak, then?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve finished now.¡±

    ¡°Tsk, impertinent human. Just because the Idra¡¯s Speaker has taken you to be his personal pet doesn¡¯t mean that you can boss¡ª¡±

    ¡°This again? How dreadfully boring. Do you not think I¡¯ve heard this very same line touted a hundred thousand times before?¡±

    ¡°And you still haven¡¯t learned your lesson?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m the one still drawing breath here, darling~¡± she chuckled demurely, looking out the tinted UV-shielded windows at the junk-filled wasteland beyond.

    "Wasteland." That was truly the only word to describe the scenery, as countless hundreds of thousands of years worth of debris and ruin had accumulated and worn down in the arid region. Devices that lost their purpose twisted and fused together into structures that¡¯d long lost any semblance of distinctive identity.

    The spires made of ruin¡ªreflecting the masters that¡¯d discarded these tools¡ªblended into the ¡°natural¡± chalk-gray stone beneath, forming bizarre forests and wide ravines, each pockmarked with cracked screens and bored-open orifices that led to sprawling wire-filled caves. Those naturally artificial caverns, small and massive alike, served as the nests for the lifeless creatures that inhabited these lands.

    There was no doubt in her mind that the "Goddess" had cast these lands out of Her sight.

    Perhaps something like "Junkyard of Mistakes" or ¡°Kingdom of Trash¡± would be a more appropriate name for this place, but anything that endured long enough would inevitably be reclaimed by the planet. The corroded machines had certainly taken the place of natural plants and fauna, featureless ruins that they had become.

    Massive, textureless pipes and wires snaked about and served as natural barriers guiding their car down a predetermined path. Though unpaved, the ¡°road¡± they traveled had at least been cleared open by the vulpine Plainstrider scavengers, at the behest of their Vampire overlords.

    It was a monument to the Whispers wandering these lands that no actual signs of nature had ever once even begun to take root, as though they reviled the very notion of color existing in their little corner of the world.

    ¡°So? You were speaking of¡­ suspension, was it?¡± Tatyana looked back at the grumbling driver, deciding he needed a little push.

    ¡°Ah, yeah! I bet even a human like you can appreciate the quality of these wheels. Those Tamisrah may be stupid toadies clutching Sefer coattails, but I gotta admit, their craftsmanship outdoes even the Geolle,¡± he immediately began rambling about the car, completely forgetting his irritation.

    What a simple fool, no wonder he follows the Speaker¡¯s every word, she thought to herself. ¡°Indeed, I¡¯m quite grateful to have been able to write in my diary without incident. It¡¯d take us far longer if we had to halt our journey each day.¡±

    ¡°Have you ever considered just¡­ not? I mean, s¡¯not gonna matter once you¡¯re a gh¡ª vampire.¡±

    ¡°Only the impatient count their chickens before they hatch.¡±

    ¡°Sure, but we didn¡¯t even do anything important today, just more driving through the wilds¡­ They¡¯ve really been having you go all over the continent for them though, haven¡¯t they? Just what are¡ª¡±

    ¡°If you were meant to know, you would have been told by someone more important than me, darling. And a ritual is only truly such when one follows the precise steps in the exact pattern each time. By slowly, repeatedly etching grooves into the tapestry of reality, a simple action can become a channel through which history flows.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like to break my habits, darling~¡± She tittered at his confusion and tucked her diary back into her ample cleavage.

    They¡¯d been traveling together for months now, and she¡¯d clearly worn the vampire down to the point that he no longer tried to pry meaningful answers out of her. He was likely just relieved that she never pushed him for information either¡ªeven though they nominally worked for the same man.

    It served her quite well, as it meant she had a perfect bumbling fool to lead her everywhere she needed to be, regardless of whether it was for her mission or Cedric¡¯s.

    Speaking of, we should be drawing close¡­

    She reached under her obsidian cloak and drew out a dark silk pouch, carefully stroking her thumb against the object contained within.

    ¡°Hang a left at the next¡­ Tree? Spire? Whatever you would call that big pillar up ahead.¡±

    ¡°Huh? But we¡¯re almost out of the wastes, that only leads¡ª¡±

    ¡°Boss¡¯s orders, darling. Moonsend is coming up, isn¡¯t it? I hear the Exaltare is preparing something big this year, so we¡¯ve been tasked with setting off some fireworks to cap the year off.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I like the sound of that.¡±

    ¡°Indeed, though something tells me the Whispers might take offense, so best to be quick on the transmission, hm?¡±

    ¡°Heheh, you can count on me, Yana.¡±

    She put the pouch back away and drew her robes around herself. Beneath them, she clicked the rubardium cap back on her pen and twirled the ¡°wand¡± between her fingers, staring past the reflection of her milky-white eyes to scan the mounds and hills for any signs of movement as they left the main road.

    Idly, she thought of her previous group of loudmouthed companions. It was a shame that she had to sacrifice such promising pieces just to win the trust of the greater nobles, but Tatyana had long grown accustomed to such bitter sacrifices. As if that wasn¡¯t the reason she was still here to begin with. And now, no matter what the tyrant had in store, the magician had carefully, methodically arranged the board to Check her.

    And of course, not even her current ¡°masters¡± were aware of the swarm of termites she¡¯d released beneath the game board.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    If someone had told Emma how her year was going to end, she¡¯d have laughed them out of her apartment and told them to submit their script to a film board.

    And yet, after she¡¯d stumbled across the lost little noble daughter, both she and her partner had been subjected to intensive¡ªand entirely off the record¡ªquestioning, and then put under near-constant surveillance.

    It was obviously to ensure that they didn¡¯t leak anything about Lycoris, but it was mentally taxing to deal with the constant pressure of having eyes on her back. Even though she had no intention of saying a word¡ªto the point that she remained silent during initial questioning, until an agent belonging to the Seven personally stepped in¡ªthe knowledge alone made her feel as though she were a single wrong sentence away from being black-bagged and simply vanishing from her family¡¯s lives.

    It''d certainly given her a newfound sympathy for the noblegirl. Just imagining the sort of life she must have lived, having to deal with that sort of attention and yellow tape all the time made Emma realize that perhaps, being a regular common citizen was a blessing rather than a curse.

    Seraphine seemed to mirror her feelings on the matter, as the bright-eyed girl had returned to her old habits of more sleepless nights, mumbling to Emma in bed¡ªwhere she knew it¡¯d just be the two of them¡ªabout Lycoris.

    They¡¯d both realized that the girl was clearly far more than just a regular nobleman¡¯s daughter. The Palace Court handling their interrogation was already a giant red flag, and the fact the Seven had stepped in to ensure smooth handling of the proceedings was¡­

    Well, if Lycoris really was a Drimus daughter, she was had to be a first generation child¡ªif not also an Heir-Potentiate in the making¡ªwhich marked her as someone Emma really wouldn¡¯t have gotten involved with if she had any idea at the time.

    And yet, all of her suppositions and theorizings had been blown out of the sky the moment she saw a small letter tucked under the door to her apartment when she returned home from work one evening. An actual letter was already a rare sight, even among commoners, but this one was foiled with mythril, and the ink addressing her on the front glittered like liquid sapphire.

    And the wax seal on the back bore the imprint of a winged rose¡ªthe Aphtangloa family crest.

    A part of her wanted to throw out the letter, say it was just a figment of her imagination, and pretend that nothing had ever happened. But Emma realized that such a choice would be just as dangerous as breaking the seal and seeing what was inside. Especially when she¡¯d only just stopped being a regular guest to the palace.

    Just what in the world did the Exaltare want with her!?

    She weighed opening it on the spot as she closed the door behind her, the quiet and cool ambiance of the apartment feeling almost ethereal as she glanced at the letter. It was like she¡¯d fallen into another dimension, her head swimming through the sea of possibilities.

    Unable to decide what to actually do with the letter, she opted to wait until Seraphine returned. Her partner was loud, eccentric, and prone to jumping on any opportunity she saw, but she was also deeply thoughtful and intelligent. Even if she rarely acted like it, she had been a military officer at one point.

    The time that she spent sitting on the sofa, staring at the letter on the table, was perhaps the most tense hour of her life. She didn¡¯t dare take her eyes off of it, out of an irrational fear that it¡¯d sprout wings and pounce upon her or something.

    ¡°I¡¯m hooome~! Hmm? Why are you just sitting in the dark, honey?¡±

    Even when the door slammed open and Seraphine called out to her, she didn¡¯t move from her spot. Emma hadn¡¯t broken eye contact with the letter once, aside from when she needed to blink.

    She heard the sound of shuffling footsteps and crinkling plastic bags as the long blonde-haired woman dropped what she was carrying and sat down beside her, wrapping one arm around Emma as she prodded her cheek.

    ¡°Heeey, anyone home?¡±

    ¡°Ah, hey¡­ Sera. Welcome back.¡±

    She finally snapped out of it, turning to greet her partner with a peck on the cheek.

    After shaking off the mental paralysis, she gestured to the table and pursed her lips.

    ¡°We got a letter.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    Seraphine tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. It wasn¡¯t exactly unheard of for someone to go their entire life without ever being on the receiving end of one, but her reaction was somewhat adorably naive.

    ¡°From Her Majesty¡¯s office.¡±

    ¡°WHAT!?¡±

    ¡°Do you think we should open it and see what¡¯s inside?¡±

    ¡°Of course! ¡­We might wanna turn the lights on though. Reading in the dark is no good for your eyes.¡±

    ¡°I thought I was supposed to be the nurse here.¡±

    Leave it to Sera to worry over the mundane rather than the fantastical.

    Seraphine¡¯s eyes lit up, her excitement easily plowing through Emma¡¯s reticence. Emma wryly smiled at the unflinching eagerness her partner displayed as she scooped up the letter, turning it around and waving it to admire the reflective foil sheen of the mythril in the fading light from outdoors.

    While she busied herself with oo-ing and aa-ing over the letter, Emma got up to finally turn the lights on. When she returned to the sofa, Seraphine was staring up at her like an excited puppy, holding it up to her with the wax seal facing her.

    ¡°So, what do you think¡¯s inside?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been dreading the answer all evening.¡±

    ¡°Pffft, if they wanted to do something to us, I doubt they¡¯d have sent a letter¡­¡±

    Without hesitation, she broke the seal and flipped open the envelope, taking out the gold-leafed paper and unfolding it. The ink printed on it was the same deep blue, and the letters flowed as beautiful, flourishing calligraphy.

    Seraphine cleared her throat as she scanned it briefly, before reading it aloud to Emma.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ ¡®Dear Miss Emma Gansly and Miss Seraphine Ethlow, I hope this letter finds you both in good health. I haven¡¯t heard anything about either of you over the past few months, which I can only pray means glad tidings rather than poor. For my part, I have been rather busy preparing with Mother, but I¡¯ve been in high spirits. As for why I had this letter penned and addressed to you, a fairly major celebration is coming up soon, and after seeking permission from Mother, I saw fit to invite the two of you as thanks for your kindness this past summer. She said you would only be permitted access to the regular banquet hall, but I¡¯d still love to find a way to see you both again. After all, I¡¯m not sure I¡¯d be where I am right now if not for that evening. Inside the envelope are a pair of pressed blue rose pins, which serve as an entry-ticket to the banquet. There¡¯s no need to RSVP. I don¡¯t think I¡¯d be able to receive any letters anyways. I hope you both attend, and hopefully time and circumstance permits us to see each other once more!¡¯ ¡­Best regards, ¡®Lycoris!?¡¯¡±Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    Seraphine looked up from the letter, understanding and astonishment grappling for dominance on her face.

    Emma could sympathize, considering the nature of the envelope, the badges inside, and the party venue. She felt a headache fast approaching, accompanied by a mildly troubling premonition. Like she¡¯d been handed a personal invitation to history in the making.

    ¡°Hey, Seraphine¡­¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re going, right!? You know, it would probably be dangerous to turn down an invitation from the Seven¡­ I can¡¯t even believe I¡¯m saying this, honestly! I wonder if Heir-Potentiates need Her Majesty¡¯s approval to do this sort of thing¡­¡±

    It seemed like Seraphine was thinking along the same lines Emma was.

    Emma looked from the letter in Seraphine¡¯s hands up to her face, continuing with her own question instead.

    ¡°Do you think that¡­ maybe she¡¯s¡­ related to the Exaltare after all? Somehow?¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ how would that work though? There¡¯s only ever one at a time.¡±

    ¡°I dunno! Weren¡¯t you the one who was talking about those romanticized fairy tales of a long-lost lineage dating back to Lilith or whatever?¡±

    Seraphine stuck her tongue out as her only response, playfully taunting Emma as she flopped backwards onto the sofa. Normally the girl would¡¯ve gone straight to clicking on the television to watch the news, but instead her eyes were glued to the letter as a warm smile lingered on her face.

    ¡°¡­I really wanted to see her again. I hope this means we actually get a chance to. I bet she¡¯ll look super cute in whatever outfit she has on! Do you think she¡¯s sorted that curse stuff out? I feel kinda relieved, and I didn¡¯t even realize I was stressed out to begin with!¡±

    ¡°Hmm. Still, she was escorted by a member of the Drimus family, so wouldn¡¯t that make her one of theirs? Making her formal debut into high society at the palace for Moonsend¡­ I mean, I know they have ties to Her Majesty, but isn¡¯t that kinda stepping on Exaltare Lilianna¡¯s toes? I guess if the stationary is from her office then they probably got permission¡­ but then¡ª¡±

    ¡°Oh who cares about that? It''s not like we can do anything about it! Besides, there¡¯s something more important we should be thinking about right now than whatever her identity is.¡±

    ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡± Emma sighed.

    Seraphine threw her arms around and hugged her, wagging the letter playfully. ¡°What outfits we should wear to the party!¡±

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    On the first of Moonsend¡¯s three nights of celebration, a banquet was always held in the upper halls of the Transfixion of Heaven. Gathered together were the mightiest residents of the remaining world, to celebrate the evening upon which they¡¯d first freed themselves from the yoke of humans.

    And in a much larger hall down below, dozens of guests, lesser nobles, and anyone else that possessed enough money and status to buy their way in, had gathered to celebrate and shake hands.

    The first-generation, yet untitled, Drimus sighed. She adjusted the shoulder strap on her carnelian cocktail dress, and glanced around at the others making smalltalk in the artificially warmed and brightly lit ballroom. She felt quite out of place in the white-walled hall filled with sparkling, freshly polished gold decorations, even though she¡¯d originally been born and bred for the express purpose of being a candidate for the throne.

    But it¡¯d been a very, very long time since she¡¯d been an Heir-Potentiate. Ever since her younger twin took the throne, Rosa had allowed herself to fade from the political stage. Much like her sister, she held little interest in becoming famous.

    Unfortunately, while she avoided the shackles of rulership, Rosa hadn¡¯t found any luck with her other pursuits.

    Perhaps that was a blessing in disguise, since if she¡¯d managed to birth a child before today, they would likely have ended up roped into the next Heir Selection Ceremony, that Lilianna was no doubt about to announce tonight. Three thousand years was already a respectable time for any individual Exaltare to hold the position, and it would be a while yet before any suitable candidates would be old enough for the throne.

    Therefore, it felt obvious to the elder twin that Lilianna would purposefully invite all the old former Heir-Potentiates to bring things full circle as she lit a fire under the Seven. There wasn¡¯t much other reason she¡¯d go out of her way to contact Rosa after so many centuries, after all.

    Though, it was still somewhat odd timing. Her sister famously loathed the Idra, and yet they were currently the best-positioned family to produce a quality heir. Rosa shuddered as she thought of what another multi-millenia stretch of Idra domination would do to society¡­

    To chase the thought away, Rosa turned her gaze toward the currently empty stage against the back wall, the velvet blue curtains laced with mythril-silver drawing her thoughts back toward the last conversation she had with her younger twin. She wondered if ¡°Lilianna¡± still held a grudge against her, if this invitation and timing of setting off the race for a new heir wasn¡¯t intentionally targeted at Rosa, like she was trying to say ¡°Oh dear, thou¡¯rt still without child? Allow us to present thee with a seat, so that thou mayest sit back and watch the proceedings.¡±

    Or perhaps she¡¯d decided to clear the awkward air between them that¡¯d stagnated over three thousand years, that she¡¯d been at least partially responsible for. Rosa wasn¡¯t the only one who¡¯d wronged her sister, after all. And there was nobody who knew each other¡¯s secrets better than they did, but Rosa still struggled to see just what her sister¡¯s angle was this time.

    ¡°A drink, madam?¡±

    Pulling her from her brooding in the shade of one of the hall¡¯s grand marbled pillars, a blue-haired servant humbly offered her a glass of wine from a tray.

    She accepted it and took a token sip. The sweetness pinched at her cheeks, but it couldn¡¯t coax a smile out of her lips.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°It is this humble servant¡¯s duty to serve, you needn¡¯t thank me.¡±

    ¡°Hm.¡±

    Rosa hummed thoughtfully, taking in the girl¡¯s measure. Her hair was fairly dark, and she¡¯d chosen not to use any form of dye or lightening¡ªan interesting choice for someone working in Her Majesty¡¯s service. Most would¡¯ve tried to obscure how thin their blood ran¡­ but the deep blue hue carried an almost auspicious message to it. Like she was destined to serve the Exaltare¡¯s lineage.

    Rosa waved the servant away as she ventured forth onto the ballroom floor, ignoring the gazes naturally drawn to her. She spotted, and began making her way toward, a familiar face in the crowd. Unfortunately, before she could reach him, the lights dimmed and the din naturally quieted to hushed whispers.

    A spotlight shone down onto the stage, lighting up the woman who¡¯d arrived before anyone could take notice. She was wearing a three-piece dress, the white blouse ending in sweeping sleeves, the deep purple skirt stretched down to her knees was flecked with sparkling gold stars, and finishing off the ensemble was a long flowing twilight-blue vest that extended all the way from shoulder to skirt tip, buttoned just around the waist. The Exaltare had chosen to cap off the outfit with black tights, shoes, and gloves, and sported the Aphtangloa family crest as her brooch holding a lacey cravat in place.

    It was a much more subdued outfit than Rosa was expecting. The sense of tension filling the air managed to even affect her as she looked up at her estranged sister. Lilianna hadn¡¯t done anything but appear there, but it felt as though she¡¯d carried the winter cold from outside in with her.

    Not to mention, the strangest part was the fact she stood there to begin with, rather than having someone else handle her introduction.

    The whispers gradually built in volume, until she cleared her throat and raised both hands.

    ¡°Good evening. We hope that our amenities have left naught to be desired by any?¡±

    She paused, allowing the polite murmurs of approval from the crowd to subside.

    ¡°As anticipated. Then let us not waste time. We have summoned you all here for an exceptional Moonsend Party, to make an important and momentous announcement.¡±

    The crowd nodded expectantly, collectively falling silent in anticipation.

    But¡­ rather than continue her speech, the Exaltare stepped to the side out of the spotlight, and nodded with a terse yet kind smile to someone standing behind the curtain. It was only when Lilianna drew the crowd¡¯s attention to them that Rosa even noticed, as murmurs and gasps rippled through the lot.

    It was no surprise why, either, considering¡­

    Garbed in an off-shoulder princess-line dress that stretched from silver-colored shoes sporting the Aphtangloa crest up to just above her bust line, where a bright white rose had been affixed to the garment, a silver-haired and red-eyed vampire child gracefully and unhurriedly stepped forward. She looked almost exactly like Lilianna, though her hair was longer and had been immaculately combed and treated to bring out its lustrous shine.

    Her garment was a deep blue, evocative of the night sky, and fittingly was dotted with sparkling mythril sequins that looked like twinkling stars, which faded toward a paler shade as it fell toward the ¡°horizon¡± near her ankles. Covering her arms were white ballroom gloves that stretched up past her elbows, completing the unmistakably regal ensemble.

    As she took center stage beneath the spotlight, she pinched her skirt and elegantly curtseyed to the speechless audience, her hair lightly bobbing like a curtain of clouds behind her.

    ¡°Good evening, attendees,¡± her voice was clear and resonant, she had a gorgeous youthful smile, and she spoke confidently, even though there was a hint of childish lilt beneath the surface, ¡°I am Lycoris Aster Aphtangloa, daughter of Lilianna Majalis Aphtangloa. It is a delight and an honor to have you all gathered tonight for my formal debut.¡±

    ¡­

    A deafening silence followed in the wake of her self-introduction, until the peace suddenly shattered as the entire assemblage began shouting uproariously over each other, forgetting all manner and decorum.

    ¡°Who let their child up on stage?¡± ¡°Did she say daughter!?¡± ¡°She looks just like her!¡± ¡°Where the hell did she come from?¡± ¡°Just what have you done, Lilianna!?¡± ¡°How old even is she?¡± ¡°She looks so graceful.¡±

    Even Rosa was shaken to her core, but she managed to tear her attention from the pleasantly smiling girl to the audience. Gazing out at the sea of purple-faced vampires bellowing in a mixture of anger, confusion, and delight helped put things back in perspective, though she was still simmering beneath the surface.

    She refused to believe that her younger twin could have somehow defied everything they¡¯d ever learned about the seat of the Exaltare and birthed a child. But this¡­ Lycoris was undeniably a child, and really did look just like a smaller duplicate of Rosa and her twin¡ªright down to the shape of her nose and length of her ears. If she dyed her hair and wore contacts, or used an equivalent form of illusion magic, it¡¯d be as though one of them jumped out of an old childhood photo album that was probably rotting away on a hard drive somewhere.

    ¡°Just what manner of farce is this!?¡±

    One voice cut above all the others, ripping Rosa out of her musing as the crowd quieted down.

    Standing alone in the center of the hall, with everyone¡¯s eyes on him, was a pale-gold haired man in a pure white suit. On the back of his coat was a bloody red palm outstretched, its five fingers each capped by a dragon¡¯s head. A member of the Idra family.

    The member, perhaps. He was the Speaker for the family¡¯s unseen elders, the paranoid oligarchs of the house who never dared reveal themselves, meaning he was close to being the most powerful man from the most powerful family¡­ aside from the Aphtangloa, of course.

    ¡°My, it¡¯s awfully rude to call a party hosted by my dearest Mother a ¡®farce,¡¯ isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Lilianna, explain yourself!¡±

    He completely ignored Lycoris, stepping toward the stage and thrusting his finger towards the Exaltare. The woman looked entirely unfazed, maintaining her dignified posture with her hands folded in front of her.

    ¡°We have no need to, our daughter already explained quite adequately.¡±

    ¡°What!?¡±

    Lycoris¡¯ pleasant smile faded into a slight frown, one of her eyebrows rising. ¡°And who are you anyways, to make demands of Mother?¡±

    ¡°You¡­ dare speak down to me? I am Cedric Saeltanus Idra, Speaker for the Idra family! I will brook no such ignorant insult to my name and position!¡±

    Her practiced frown wavered for a moment, as she turned to Lilianna with a look of mild confusion. ¡°Mother, does the position of ¡®Speaker¡¯ mean that he¡¯s simply the loudest member of the family? Why are we humoring this foolish outburst?¡±

    Rosa had to cover her mouth to keep the chortle from escaping her lips, and looking up at the stage she saw her sister barely contain her amusement as well, as the Exaltare forced herself to blank her expression while replying.

    ¡°Darling, it means that he¡¯s the one who speaks for the Idra family¡¯s elders.¡± She spoke far more familiarly to the girl than anyone else¡ªeven Rosa, these days. ¡°You must surely recall such a title from our discussion of the nobility.¡±

    ¡°I suppose I was just expecting more of such a position. They must be in quite dire straits if Mister Cedric is the only one they could find to fill those shoes.¡±

    ¡°How¡­ How¡­ How DARE¡ª¡±

    ¡°To lose your composure in such a manner is quite ill-fitting of a nobleman, Cedric,¡± the demure little girl¡¯s tone suddenly bit with a frigid chill.

    Mother and daughter alike had clearly rehearsed ahead of time for a multitude of possible reactions, but to see them so effectively get under Cedric¡¯s skin was bewildering. Though, Rosa herself had felt like the room flipped on its head the moment Lycoris announced her presence. She could sympathize with the man¡¯s excitement and confusion, if not his choice of tone.

    The young girl waved a hand toward the side of the hall, gesturing to the table laid out with drinks. As everyone¡¯s attention was drawn in by her display, Rosa noticed a particular green-haired figure with his bowler hat tugged low, a wide grin on his face as a youthful and short companion leaned over to mumble to him.

    ¡°Perhaps you should have a glass and calm your mind, before you further embarrass everyone present.¡±

    ¡°The only embarrassment here is you! How can we trust that you truly are her daughter!? Are you trying to say that Lilianna has figured out and done what nobody else EVER has before!? Is she going to pluck the sun from the sky next, perhaps!?¡±

    After being silent for so long, the crowd began muttering among themselves once more.

    ¡°He does have a point.¡± ¡°What if she¡¯s just dyed her hair?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s even the father?¡±

    Admittedly, Rosa was curious about that herself. Judging by how her sister was behaving, it was clear that she genuinely considered Lycoris to be her child. Some things were just impossible to hide from a twin, no matter how much practice and courtly etiquette one put on display.

    But that still left several questions unanswered¡­

    Lycoris put a hand to her chest as she lowered her gaze to the floor. Even her complicated frown was filled with childish sweetness. She was like a picture-perfect noble scion, capturing both the innocence of youth and the dignified regality one would expect from someone of her stature. Of course, there was still a roughness around the edges that would be one day be polished off with age, but part of the delight of raising a child was savoring those little imperfections and watching them become the perfect¡ª

    Wait, Rosa thought. Am I¡­ feeling jealous!? Of her!?

    She¡¯d realized that her fingers were twitching, her joints stiff.

    ¡°I suppose your concern isn¡¯t unwarranted. In that case, I suppose it all comes back down to but one thing in the end.¡± Lycoris shook her head, her disappointment palpable.

    She turned back towards her mother briefly, who nodded toward her with an encouraging smile. It really was strange to see the woman¡¯s icy demeanor so thawed. Stranger still was that nobody else seemed keen enough to pick up on the shift in her attitude around her child.

    After a dramatic pause, the little girl clapped her hands together, the sound echoing through the hall and all those present within. Bowing her legs like a ballerina, she shifted and pressed one hand into the other, and raised them over her head as she began to pull a long, pitch-black metallic object out of herself.

    Completely bewitched, Rosa and the rest of the crowd watched in awe as she slowly, gracefully withdrew an orichalcum scythe, its polished crimson-finished blade glimmering in the spotlight as she held it out to one side with a flourish.

    With a prideful smile that Rosa couldn¡¯t decide was sinister or sweet, Lycoris held the scythe bigger than herself behind her, and addressed the crowd once more, open palm extended toward them in invitation.

    ¡°I am Lycoris Aster Aphtangloa, daughter of and heir to the Exaltare. If any present takes umbrage with my existence, then step forward, and allow me to lay your concerns to rest.¡±

 20 â€” The Heir-Significate

    It had been over six months since she first came to the Exaltare¡¯s palace, and yet somehow, Lycoris found herself in the exact same situation as the day she first arrived.

    Weapon in hand, staring at a horde of vampires with someone she trusted at her side.

    Though, in this case Lycoris was (sort of) the master of the palace. She did her level best to keep her hands from trembling, forcing herself to look around at the crowd and meet the eyes of several members, as though asking if they had any intention to take her up on her offer.

    In truth, she worried the audience would be able to see through her feigned composure. She felt as if her heart was attempting to rip its way out of her throat and slap her in the face for being so reckless.

    Everything she¡¯d said after her introduction went completely off the rails had been a pathetic attempt at improvisation, but every time she¡¯d glanced back at her mother for some form of guidance, Lilianna simply nodded and smiled.

    As though trusting her with perhaps the most important moment of her entire life wasn¡¯t a horrible mistake. As though her mom was confident that she¡¯d actually win if anyone here did challenge her, when she¡¯d still never once even won a sparring session against the Exaltare¡­

    What was even the point of practicing all those scripts if none of them ended up being relevant at all!? Mm¡­ Well, no sense letting the meat rot if you¡¯ve already butchered the pig, I guess. Lycoris sighed internally, before glancing around at the now-silent room. ¡°¡­If nobody is stepping forth to challenge me, shall I take that as acceptance of who and what I am?¡±

    Those who met her gaze turned away, clearing their throats or whispering instead to their neighbors.

    As the tense atmosphere built, with Cedric¡¯s fury simmering and his hands clenching ever tighter, the crowd began to murmur, unsure how to handle such an unprecedented situation.

    Eventually, someone raised their hand to break the ice. ¡°My apologies for such a blunt question, Your Highness, but¡­ How old are you?¡±

    ¡°I¡­¡± she fumbled for half a second too long, not expecting her age to be what the audience was most curious about, ¡°¡­am forty-six at the eve of next year¡­ m-meaning, tomorrow. But what does that have to do with anything?¡±

    Once more, the crowd erupted into quiet murmurs.

    ¡°Not even five decades and she¡¯s debuting in high society?¡± ¡°How did Her Majesty even keep her hidden for so long?¡± ¡°How precocious of her to talk down to His Grace at that age¡­¡± ¡°Her birthday is tomorrow!?¡± ¡°Quick, get in contact with that artisan I was talking about.¡± ¡°Damn Exaltare, she definitely wanted to see us scramble about!¡±

    Her mother cleared her throat, silencing the crowd immediately. The ease with which she commanded the crowd left Lycoris feeling the tiniest shred of jealousy.

    ¡°We have decided to reveal our child¡¯s existence now, as it would only hinder her development were we to wait until a more appropriate age for her formal debut. Not to mention,¡± she smiled thinly, her leer causing even Lycoris to shiver slightly, ¡°We¡¯re well aware that many families were already considering future heirs. It would be quite a shame if those efforts went to waste.¡±

    The crowd remained silent, but Lycoris could pick out the suppressed looks of irritation on several members of the crowd¡­ to say nothing of Cedric¡¯s blatant fury. She¡¯d forgotten just how naturally intimidating a genuinely angry vampire was.

    Lycoris managed to stifle the nervous chuckle bubbling up in her throat just in time by daintily coughing into her hand.

    ¡°How¡­ How dare you make such a mockery of a cornerstone of our CULTURE!¡±

    ¡°Oh? Then¡­ Does that mean you wish to take up mine offer, Lord Cedric?¡± Lycoris smiled, her words faltering ever so slightly as she forced herself to look at him.

    She had no idea what sort of man he was¡ªother than brutish, loud, and rude thus far¡ªand was worried if she¡¯d be able to put up a decent fight. Lilianna would probably intervene before her life was endangered¡­ but it¡¯d be a blemish on her image as Lilianna¡¯s daughter, and a poor look for her initial appearance in Vampire society proper.

    ¡°What a joke,¡± Cedric scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re as appropriate for the position of Heir-Significate as I am errand boy delivering coffee beans to my estates. If you think a feigned smile from the Exaltare is enough to prove that you¡¯re her ¡®cherished child¡¯ then you¡¯re as naive as your supposed age would suggest. I¡¯ve as much reason to humor your words as I do my gardener¡¯s.¡±

    Her pupils contracted. ¡°Joke?¡± Her voice cracked ever so slightly. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s expected that you would insult me. I¡¯m young, there¡¯s much I still don¡¯t know. That much is fair. But, if you mean to say, that Mama doesn¡¯t love me¡­¡±

    Lycoris lightly jumped forward off the stage.

    ¡°Nevermind the duel,¡±

    The political posturing was all pointless fluff. What did she care if nobody took her seriously as an heir? It wasn¡¯t like she wanted to be the Exaltare. But¡­ to say that Lilianna wasn¡¯t her mother¡­ That all those emotions, that everything she¡¯d felt and learned from the woman was fake?

    Lycoris adjusted her stance, gripping the scythe with tightly clenched, white-knuckled hands. Anger bubbled up inside of her at the sight of his stupid pompous face, the rest of the room growing dim and quiet as her attention focused solely on the blonde bastard.

    ¡°Beg forgiveness on your knees, or die.¡±

    She dashed forward without waiting for his response. The partygoers in the way all but dove aside, giving her a clear path to the man.

    Cedric was, naturally, unarmed; there was no way anyone would be allowed to enter the party hall with a sword in their hand. Bereft of weapons and unwilling to forsake his pride, the man instead raised his right arm and braced it with his left instead of taking a knee.

    Lycoris giggled to herself at the idiotic display, rearing back and bringing her scythe right into it as she sought to carve right through his limb and neck alike.

    Only, her weapon quivered in her hands as it met resistance, a resounding clang! echoing through the silent ballroom.

    She¡¯d sliced through his jacket¡¯s sleeve and struck bare skin, but it was like striking pure adamantine as the reverberation numbed her fingers. A thin tickle of blue trailed down his arm and stained the blade of her scythe, and she had at least managed to knock him off-balance, but he remained standing. Both his arm and head remained firmly attached, much to her dismay.

    But she didn¡¯t give him time to retaliate, as her scythe blade snapped around his arm with a sharp clack. With his limb locked in place, she pivoted and swung the axe backwards, wrenching him off of his feet and arcing him through the air as she slammed him down back-first onto the cold marble tile.

    Though, instead of his body, it was the floor that cracked under the weight of the blow. He didn¡¯t feel any heavier than she¡¯d expected, but it was like his body was made of a miraculous, ultra-lightweight metal.

    Ironskin, then, she mentally assessed. She was familiar with the spell, and he had to be quite the strong spellcaster to stop Orichalcum from cutting him. Lycoris wasn¡¯t even sure if Lilianna could manage that feat.

    In that case, I''ll simply have to smash him into paste!

    With another click, her weapon swapped back to a scythe and she released his arm. Raising the weapon high overhead, she returned it to an axe and brought the executioner¡¯s hatchet down on his prone¡ª

    ¡°Lycoris, enough.¡±

    She froze as soon as her mother spoke, the edge of her axe hovering inches above Cedric¡¯s neck.

    Seeing an opportunity, the man gently brushed it aside and stood up, slowly drawing¡­ a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiping the blood off his arm. The man seemed entirely unfazed by Lycoris¡¯ assault, which only made her want to hit him harder.

    Though, he was finally looking at Lycoris now, rather than Lilianna. His pale golden eyes hardened in hateful respect, a small trickle of blood on his lips.

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re certainly as foul-tempered as the Exaltare, at least.¡± He wiped his lip with the handkerchief and dropped it on the wing of Lycoris¡¯ trick-scythe. ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to remember this. We¡¯ll have a proper duel another time, Your Highness.¡±A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    His ultimatum delivered, Cedric turned his back and walked away. The crowd immediately erupted into whispers.

    As her anger faded, a hollow ache took its place inside Lycoris instead, as she suddenly felt tremendously embarrassed for losing her temper and throwing such a childish tantrum.

    Perhaps Cedric had accepted her, but somehow it didn¡¯t feel satisfying. Like he¡¯d been the one who was throwing her about and not the other way around.

    ¡°She really is Her Majesty¡¯s daughter¡­¡± ¡°I never doubted it for a second!¡± ¡°To think she¡¯d actually attack the Speaker like that. What an outrage!¡± ¡°Do you think His Grace is alright?¡± ¡°When was the last time Her Majesty lashed out like that in Court?¡± ¡°Must have been at least a year ago¡­¡±

    She instinctively turned to look at her mother, but as her eyes rolled over the crowd she spotted a familiar blue-haired maid holding a phone up at her, like she¡¯d been¡­ filming!?

    Athena!?

    Lycoris locked eyes with her as she turned her head toward her mother, hoping to draw her attention to the maid, but the Exaltare had her gaze firmly fixed on the young princess instead. She didn¡¯t look angry, but it still made Lycoris wince.

    Taking that as her cue, Lilianna returned to center stage and spread her arms wide.

    Athena, meanwhile, turned the phone toward the Exaltare.

    ¡°As you all no doubt can see, our darling little flower has sprouted rather close to the hedge.¡± She paused for a round of polite chuckles, turning to face Lycoris. ¡°But, dearest, we would ask thou to refrain from attempting to murder the delegation. At least until thou inherit our throne, that is.¡±

    More (nervously) polite chuckling and applause followed in her wake, as Lycoris felt her cheeks darken.

    ¡°Be not too harsh on her, for she is indeed quite young still. But neither treat her as an ignorant child, for she is Heir-Significate.¡± A dark shadow crossed Lilianna¡¯s face, as a sweeping chill blew through the hall. ¡°Just as in times past, any affront to the Exaltare¡¯s heiress is an affront to the Exaltare. She is Aphtangloa, and though young, she bears the responsibilities that name comes with.¡±

    The entire time she delivered her speech, Lilianna kept her eyes trained on Lycoris exclusively. The girl had already heard this before in private, and was fully aware of how heavily scrutinized her actions would be at this party. But having something that felt private between her and her mom be orated to a crowd felt deeply embarrassing.

    ¡°But even more than that, she is our pride and joy, our daughter. ¡®Tis a day early, but tonight is still a night for celebration! So wipe that dour look from your faces, and revel in the merry atmosphere that should accompany such a joyful occasion!¡±

    Instead of erupting into applause, the entire audience remained in stunned silence even after her speech came to a close. The reason why was quite apparent, even to Lycoris. She¡¯d seen the expression on Lilianna¡¯s face plenty of times¡ªbut only ever in private.

    The Exaltare was smiling, her joy as bright as the full moon hiding behind the clouds high above the palace. There probably wasn¡¯t a single soul alive who had seen the current Exaltare appear so cheerful before.

    If any among the audience still held doubts¡ªstill believed Cedric¡¯s words¡ªthe face that she made while telling them to celebrate her daughter¡¯s birthday wiped them away like condensation on glass.

    With a slight hint of inelegant haste, Lycoris pinched up the hem of her dress and ran back to the stage. Before she could climb up, Lilianna dropped down herself and tenderly embraced the girl, pulling her flushed face close as she squirmed.

    ¡°M-Mom¡­ everyone¡¯s watching¡­¡±

    ¡°What shame is there in a mother embracing her child? Besides, was that not why thou wert rushing back to us?¡±

    ¡°Mmh¡­ I was just¡­ coming over to give you this¡­¡± She lied, lifting up the scythe with the bladed end pointed toward the ground. ¡°I thought people might be more amenable to talking if I can¡¯t just¡­ behead them out of nowhere. At least, not easily.¡±

    Her mother hummed, ¡°Mmm, a trifling detail, but very well. We shall hold onto this for now.¡±

    She¡ªsomewhat reluctantly¡ªreleased the girl from her grasp and took the scythe instead, leaning it across her shoulder like a club.

    Lycoris didn¡¯t pull away from her mother just yet though, instead whispering quietly up to her. She wasn¡¯t sure if there was much point in the attempt at subtlety, given how sharp vampiric hearing was¡ªand how fond of eavesdropping nobles purportedly were.

    ¡°Also um, why is Athena¡ª¡±

    ¡°Oh, thou noticed? Naturally, she is broadcasting thy debut to the capital and country. It¡¯s a public announcement after all.¡±

    Lycoris went rigid, her body trembling as she creakily craned her head upward. ¡°Y-Y-Y-Y-Y¡­ You¡­ I¡­ Th-Then all of that with the pompous¡ª¡±

    ¡°Dear, composure,¡± her mother calmly chided. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to behave as a Princess must, even if this party is a celebration in thy name.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes, Mother,¡± she quietly replied.

    With a relaxed chuckle, Lilianna gently stroked her hair, careful not to ruin the work Athena put in earlier.

    ¡°Now then, go and enjoy thy party, dear. Perhaps thou couldst even find those special guests of thine on the floor below? ¡­After dealing with necessary introductions, that is.¡±

    She withdrew her hand from Lycoris, looking up and prompting the girl to turn around, whereupon she witnessed at least half of those present regarding the two of them like nervous deer from the back of the room, while the bolder attendees had begun conversing among themselves and gradually making their way back into the center of the room¡ªthough, nobody stepped near the cracked marble tiles, treating them like a bad omen.

    Half-regretting her decision to hand over her scythe already, Lycoris turned to face the encroaching swarm of vampires, who no doubt wished to ingratiate themselves to the newly announced heir to the throne¡­

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    Clenching her molars and gripping her daughter¡¯s scythe until her knuckles turned white, Lilianna watched her daughter bravely march forth and wade into the thicket of politicians, swarming around like a pack of voracious Fangchasers that¡¯d caught the scent of fresh blood.

    She knew it wouldn¡¯t be easy to let Lycoris wander. Her daughter had no actual experience dealing with public figures, but she¡¯d have to practice somehow. In an ideal world, Lilianna wouldn¡¯t have her first experience be such an important celebration, either, but at least it was an environment she had full control over.

    The only reason Lilianna was able to resist the urge to hover over her child like a sky-jelly was the fact she¡¯d made such an impressive improvisation of her entrance. The two of them had gone over several possible scenarios, as Lilianna was well aware Lycoris would be received with some measure of skepticism. But since they couldn¡¯t predict exactly what form that would take, she¡¯d left it at an outline suggesting several possible courses of action¡­

    But little Lycoris had completely exceeded her expectations, and offered a direct challenge to those who¡¯d question her authority.

    It was more difficult to resist tearing up than she¡¯d ever admit. She even briefly considered creating and awarding herself a medal for not bursting into laughter at the sight of the Idra Speaker panicking while being ragdolled about. It was plainly obvious he was barely holding on, and Lilianna sorely wished to let her daughter take his head, but there were some lines she shouldn¡¯t cross so casually¡ªeven if her anger was more than justified.

    Lycoris¡¯ bullishness certainly marked her perfectly as her descendant, but her mother was more concerned if she would be able to act out the dainty civil graces expected of a young girl. Perhaps it was only natural that some things came more naturally than others. But while she was young, and some amount of carelessness could be excused, there were many subtle details in her posture and attitude that¡¯d speak volumes of how she had been raised.

    Remembering once more that this was the first time Lycoris would be interacting with strangers, Lilianna felt her heart begin to accelerate as she lost sight of her precious flower in the thicket.

    Not because she was worried how it¡¯d reflect on herself, but because the thought of those bloodhounds taking advantage of her child¡¯s good nature and naivete was enough to make her want to¡ª

    ¡°My, that was quite the performance, wasn¡¯t it? Did Your Majesty orchestrate the entire display? Or¡­ was that Her Highness¡¯ doing?¡±

    She blinked her emotions away as she turned with a blank-faced smile to the man who¡¯d approached her. Only one person would be so delighted at such a violent display against House Idra, and possessed such heavy dulcet tones.

    ¡°Duke Benet Sefer, to what do we owe this pleasure?¡±

    ¡°Please, ¡®Benet¡¯ is more than I deserve, Your Majesty.¡±

    Taking a deep bow, the light orange-haired man exposed the pitch-black roots of his hair, revealing his extreme age to the Exaltare. As he raised himself once more, he stroked his finger and thumb along the length of his neatly-trimmed beard, a composed smile on his face.

    ¡°Just because thou eschew decorum doesn¡¯t mean that we¡¯ll go along with thy whims, Duke Sefer.¡±

    ¡°Haha, truly the two of you are mirror images of each other. One can only wonder who could¡¯ve been brave enough to play the part of her father, or how you hid your pregnancy at Moonsend forty years and change ago¡­¡± He trailed off, turning his amber eyes toward the gaggle of aristocrats. ¡°Have you spoken with your sister yet?¡±

    ¡°She knows where to find us.¡±

    ¡°Ancestors, you¡¯re a stubborn one. Here I thought I was supposed to be the old mule, hahaha!¡±

    ¡°Dost thou wish to re-enact our daughter¡¯s performance with us so terribly?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid my hips couldn¡¯t handle such intense exercise. Plus, it wouldn¡¯t do to renovate the ceiling of the rooms below. I¡¯ll have to settle for asking for a regular dance.¡±

    She turned away from him. ¡°Thou wouldst find better luck with Duchess Rialta.¡±

    ¡°Regrettably, she¡¯s already been taken by Agave.¡±

    ¡°So we were not even thy first choice. How arrogant can thou be¡­?¡±

    The partygoers had begun to dance to the music, seeming to have forgotten their earlier tension as the custodial staff patched up the cracks from Lycoris¡¯ initial performance.

    Lilianna spied her daughter near the edge of the ballroom, looking clearly uncomfortable as she spoke with a member of the Mano family. If she remembered correctly, Frell Mano recently had a child too¡­ perhaps he was trying to set up Lycoris with a ¡°friend¡± already.

    ¡°Your attention should be on the Ochros, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t recall asking for unsolicited advice. And we¡¯re more than¡ª¡±

    ¡°Not dearest Rialta.¡±

    She pulled her eyes away from her daughter just as the girl wove a clever little illusion spell, causing the good Sir Mano to peer behind him, giving her a chance to slip away.

    ¡°Fresh information, then.¡±

    He offered his subtly-wrinkled olive-skinned hand to Lilianna. ¡°Shall we dance?¡±

    The Exaltare flourished her daughter¡¯s scythe with a twirl, causing it to morph into a cascade of scarlet petals as she gripped his hand.

    ¡°We dearly hope you know the steps to the follow.¡±

 21 â€” Left Foot Forward

    After slipping past the swarm of faces and names that¡¯d already jumbled together in her mind, Lycoris finally made it out into the connecting hall. Though it wasn¡¯t stuffy inside, she still breathed a sigh of relief as cool air blew through the hall.

    Though, the chill was a touch uncomfortable on her exposed shoulders.

    ¡°Once again, I find myself wishing I could just wear a normal dress,¡± she grumbled to herself, a nice pair of pants somehow the furthest thing from her mind.

    ¡°C-Congratulations, Your Highness.¡±

    She sucked her gut back in and stiffened her posture when the sudden words from behind caught her off guard.

    Pivoting on the spot, she frowned up at the guard mid-salute. He wore the same suit of polished coal-gray ceramic armor that was issued to every guard, his reflective helmet hiding whatever expression was on his face. However, as an extra accessory for tonight¡¯s celebration, they¡¯d been outfitted with luxurious indigo cloaks sporting the Aphtangloa crest.

    Technically, this was the first time that any of Lilianna¡¯s royal guard had learned of Lycoris¡¯ existence either.

    ¡­Aside from the pair that may have found out when she snuck out roughly half a year ago. She never did ask her mom what happened to them. Maybe Lilianna erased their memories or something.

    Though Lycoris couldn¡¯t see his face, her reflected frown on his mask was harsh enough that she thought she might¡¯ve gone a little overboard. There was no need to vent her frustrations on the poor guard, he was probably already nervous enough just speaking to her. No, she could definitely tell he was nervous, she could practically smell it on him.

    ¡°My apologies for speaking out of turn, Your Highness! It was just¡­ a magnificent showing. You put His Grace in his place quite handily.¡±

    ¡°You saw that, huh?¡± She tapped her chin, glancing toward the door she¡¯d just exited. ¡°As a show of benevolence for my¡­ debut party? Or whatever you¡¯d call this¡­ I¡¯ll pretend I didn¡¯t hear you admit your dereliction of duties to sneak a peek.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Your Highness!¡±

    The faceless guard saluted once more as she turned around and walked away.

    Lycoris felt a slightly conflicting mix of emotions as her private frown deepened. It was nice to be respected, and it was one thing when it was only Athena heaping praise on her for being capable of breathing, but the thought of having every single person she encountered act just as sycophantic while walking on eggshells was utterly exhausting.

    No wonder Lilianna always seemed so much more at ease to be with her in private.

    Now then, the main ballroom was supposed to be on the lower floor¡­

    That would be where her guests of honor were located, and frankly she¡¯d rather spend time associating with them than watch more nobles try to ingratiate themselves with her. She had no interest in their politics or gifts or words; to her, succeeding the throne from her mother was simply a means to end a tyrannical empire.

    I certainly don¡¯t need to befriend anyone if I¡¯m just going to cave the entire thing in on itself anyways. Though¡­ I know Mom will be disappointed when I¡ª

    Before she could finish her thought, a woman marched through the doors she was about to open. She was unaccompanied, and as she happened across Lycoris, her gaze sharpened like a drawn blade. More striking than her piercing eyes, however, was the pitch-black suit and white tie she wore, like she was attending a funeral rather than a party.

    Her dark ash-gray hair was cut into an angular bob, as sharp as everything else about her, and her posture exuded casual hostility.

    But what gave Lycoris pause and brought her stride to a halt were the steely gray eyes that¡¯d fixed themselves on the little girl, reminiscent of a certain witch. Whoever this woman was, she gave the impression of a mortal incarnation of death given human (vampire?) form.

    ¡°Congratulations, Lycoris.¡±

    Her voice was like a bucket of ice dumped over the Princess, who forced herself to blink to break her stare as she looked away.

    Lycoris felt compelled to curtsey, but refrained. The woman didn¡¯t treat her as a superior, but Lycoris wasn¡¯t sure what rank or position she held. Her mother had made it quite clear during her ¡°Princess Training¡± that there was none other than herself that Lycoris was required to show deference to.

    ¡°My thanks. Your name?¡±

    ¡°Lesath Unglaria. Executioner.¡±

    Lesath looked down at Lycoris with overwhelming disdain. Considering just how ¡°well¡± her debut had gone, Lycoris assumed that the woman was one of Speaker Cedric¡¯s followers. The name Unglaria didn¡¯t sound familiar at all, though. And even if they were privately fuming about her, the other nobles beneath House Idra that spoke to her at the party at least put on a pretense of deference towards her.

    It was as though Lesath was intentionally trying to be as unsettling as possible. Or, maybe that¡¯s how she naturally was. Perhaps Mother would know more about her, especially considering¡­

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware Executioner was a formal title,¡± Lycoris lightly chuckled, hoping to ease the tense air between them.

    ¡°It isn¡¯t. I kill in Her Majesty¡¯s name, that is all.¡±

    Lycoris¡¯ eyes widened slightly. ¡°My mother? I¡­ see. She hasn¡¯t really gone over every member of her staff with me.¡±

    ¡°It would be far too long of a list,¡± Lesath nodded.

    ¡°Um¡­ have we met before, then?¡±

    Lycoris was at a complete loss. Everyone else who worked for her mother was almost frustratingly sycophantic, as though spiting Lycoris would be equivalent to a slight against her mother.

    But this woman was spitefully curt. Maybe she was lacking in education on proper etiquette.

    ¡°I would hope not.¡±

    ¡°Right¡­¡±

    Lesath didn¡¯t seem to be one for conversation, either.

    ¡°Then, I¡¯ll be going¡­¡±

    ¡°Then go. My permission is unnecessary.¡±

    After turning around and walking away¡ªwith a brief awkward pause as she waited to see if Lesath would salute or bow or¡­ anything to her¡ªLycoris hurried away toward the elevators, almost tripping over the hem of her dress as she was distracted by the sensation of the Executioner¡¯s eyes on the back of her head.

    The woman was just that unnerving, which said a lot considering one of the two people she saw on a daily basis was the Exaltare, tyrant to humanity and all that.

    As she approached the elevator panel, she looked up at one of the ceremonially clad guards.

    ¡°I wish to go to the main ballroom.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡±

    Accompanied by their relaxing, cutesy chime, the elevator doors slid open when the guard operated the navigation panel for her.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    Calm live-performed music drifted into the hallway connecting to the grand hall. The last time Lycoris had been in this room was when she¡¯d popped out of a side corridor, and did her best to avoid standing out.

    She¡¯d do no such thing this time, instead she puffed her petite chest out pridefully and gracefully stepped forward. Her entrance was momentous enough that the entire room froze¡ªdown to the music temporarily halting even¡ªas her presence immediately drew the attention of every vampire present.

    ¡°Announcing Her Highness, Heir-Significate Lycoris has arrived.¡±

    One of the guards helpfully declared her arrival after the fact, ensuring that not a single soul was left unaware. Glancing to her side and doing her best to avoid scowling with displeasure, Lycoris nodded to the now-kneeling guards as she raised and lightly waved a hand to the crowd.

    How am I supposed to go find and blend in with those two now!? She groused internally, scanning the massive ballroom for any sign of them.

    There was an entire forest of hair tones filling the room before her, the greens and pinks and blues and golds all blending together into a pastel tapestry that would¡¯ve fit right at home among Fawaris¡¯ collection.

    They were all lesser nobles, meaning the overall hue was darker than those attending the party above, but it was no less beautiful of a display between the wide assortment of wealthy noble attire and hairstyles.

    As Lycoris walked forward, the crowd slowly pulled away from her, like the ocean tide withdrawing, or a shadow being chased away by candlelight.

    Should I just¡­ call out to them? Maybe that would attract too much attention¡­

    ¡°Please, do not mind me. Continue to enjoy the party. I did make the journey down to ensure everything was proceeding smoothly, after all.¡±

    Lycoris opted instead to mimic her mother, smiling amicably to everyone.

    But the reaction was completely different, as several of the attendants affectionately smiled at her as they cooed and giggled.

    Did I mess up somehow? Why are they looking at me like a puppy!?

    She pouted slightly as she continued forward, the crowd parting and spreading around her as they resumed their dancing and conversations, though the excited murmuring seemed to have shifted in topic to the girl wandering the hall.

    ¡°Excuse me, Your Highness?¡±

    Surprisingly¡ªor rather, irritatingly¡ªsomeone approached her and spoke up while she navigated the crowd. Lycoris adopted a polite smile and turned to the surprisingly portly vampire. Somehow, she hadn¡¯t considered they could be overweight or out of shape, but the man twirling a sky-blue moustache bowing to her demonstrated otherwise.

    ¡°Greetings, to whom do I owe the pleasure?¡± she answered in pitch-perfect politeness.

    ¡°I am Bartholomeu Vanas, Viscount presiding over the city of Delskaad. I must say, I¡¯m quite taken in by your beauty. You truly are the very image of your great mother.¡±

    Lycoris did her best to keep her smile from wavering as she responded, ¡°Why, thank you very much.¡±

    Ah great, another one. And a Vanas? What¡¯s he doing down here? I was hoping to avoid having to deal with the vultures¡­

    ¡°Pardon my rudeness, but I couldn¡¯t help but notice that you came to the main ballroom alone, rather than remain above. Perhaps it is presumptuous of me to ask, but would you care for a dance?¡±

    A¡­ what.

    Lycoris hadn¡¯t considered it, but this was a ball. It was only natural there¡¯d be dancing, there were people dancing all over, after all. But¡­ she had never learned how to dance.

    Whenever she was present at a party in the capital of Traskia, it¡¯d been as part of security. The only times she¡¯d ever been offered a dance was when Princess Fawaris would tease her, to which she¡¯d shoo the girl off to go find some noble eyeing her or something instead.

    In retrospect, that had been terribly rude of Lycoris; having taken Fawaris'' position, she didn''t want to deal with a bunch of strangers either, much less dance with them.

    She wasn¡¯t sure if there was any sort of particular etiquette for accepting or refusing dances either, though she vaguely recalled something Mizar once said about nobles having their first dance with their parents¡­ Which brought to mind an obvious question she¡¯d never considered before, How did Mizar even know that?

    ¡°Your Highness¡­?¡±

    ¡°A-Ahh, um¡ª¡±

    ¡°There''s the little princess! Over here Emma!¡±

    ¡°Sera! I know it''s loud in here but you can¡¯t just go around shouting and charging about!¡±

    Hearing the two familiar voices, Lycoris turned away from the uncomfortably sweaty man and looked toward the source of them.

    Seraphine, garbed in a lavender dress that matched her eyes and with her blonde hair tied back into a tight ponytail, was rushing straight at her. Emma, sporting a subdued red suit that made her hair look quite bright in comparison, was being dragged along with a rather disgruntled look on her face. But as she locked eyes with Lycoris, the redhead¡¯s expression softened.

    ¡°Sera! Emma! There you¡ª wait, you stole my line!¡±

    Lycoris¡¯ expression immediately brightened upon seeing the pair of them. Expunging the man stuttering and stumbling over himself from her mind, she rushed over to greet them.

    Although, they immediately tensed up and looked away as soon as she reflexively curtseyed before them.

    ¡°Hmm? What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Um, well¡­ You¡­¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re a princess, Lycoris! Or like, the princess! Hm, actually, has there ever been a princess before? ¡­You didn¡¯t say anything about it!¡±

    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.?¡°She obviously couldn¡¯t say that, Sera. And bow your head before Her Highness. And address her properly!¡±

    ¡°You two don¡¯t have to¡­ You¡¯re my guests, so¡­ Ugh here, just¡­ come with me!¡±

    Lycoris gripped their hands and tugged them forward to get the pair moving, as she made her way toward the drinks table where there would be fewer people staring at them.

    ¡°Erm, but uh, congratulations, Your Highness! You put on an amazing performance!¡±

    Lycoris paused mid-step and turned around to look at Seraphine with abashed concern.

    ¡°Per¡­formance? What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°I admit, I didn¡¯t expect you¡ªYour Highness to be capable of doing something like that after watching you play with the dracybara,¡± Emma muttered quietly.

    ¡°Doing¡­ what?¡± A bad feeling began to settle in the pit of Lycoris¡¯ stomach.

    ¡°What else? We¡¯re talking about when you swung the Speaker around like a stuffed animal that doubles as a stress toy, of course!¡±

    Seraphine gripped an imaginary air-scythe with her hands and mock-swung it around¡ªthough her form was atrocious.

    For the briefest moment, Lycoris felt as though the entire party had frozen, becoming hyper-aware of all the party-goers around that still had their eyes locked onto her. Glancing to the right, she saw a pair of nobles whispering to each other, who quickly averted their gaze and moved away as she caught sight of them. To the left, she saw another small group that were eying her companions, sipping their drinks just a little too slowly.

    Looking up, she saw a massive banner hanging over the hall that was currently projecting various scenes from the festival, along with some catchy slogans about Her Majesty Lilianna and her pride and joy, Her Highness Lycoris.

    ¡°Was¡­ I¡­¡± she mumbled, a deep sense of embarrassment staining her cheeks purple, ¡°being broadcast to the entire palace?¡±

    ¡°Not just the palace!¡± Seraphine cheerfully clapped. ¡°Her Majesty¡¯s Moonsend speech is always broadcast throughout the entire capital of Llosdeyja. And of course the live stream is available throughout the entire Empire for whoever¡¯s staying at home like a humbug rather than celebrating!¡±

    ¡°A-Aah¡­¡±

    Lycoris wobbled unsteadily, clasping her hands over her mouth before she made a noise she¡¯d regret in public. Emma helped support her with a hand, shooting a glare towards her partner.

    ¡°Just because I¡¯m usually on-call during the holiday season¡­¡±

    ¡°Ahaha, I don¡¯t mean you in particular, honey~¡±

    Emma sighed and shook her head, glancing down as she deferred to the highest authority in the room.

    ¡°Nevermind my partner, Your Highness, shall we continue to the drink table? Perhaps something to help calm your bout of nerves?¡±

    ¡°Ah um, well. *Ahem* Mother said I¡¯m not to drink any alcohol, as it¡¯d stunt my growth.¡±

    Technically, Lilianna had said nothing of the sort. It was just an excuse Lycoris rehearsed to get around the fact that they couldn¡¯t very well serve animal blood at the Moonsend banquet in the Exaltare¡¯s palace.

    Though, Lycoris also wasn¡¯t too keen on the idea of drinking alcohol in general. It might¡¯ve been fine, setting aside the strange issue of her possibly being underage by vampire standards, but her vow to Mizar was more important.

    ¡°Also¡­ I¡¯ve had some unpleasant experiences with alcohol in the past,¡± she added.

    ¡°In the past¡­?¡±

    Seraphine and Emma shared a look.

    ¡°Far be it from me to dare say I know better than Your Highness, then! But tonight¡¯s a special night, and it¡¯s also your birthday apparently!? I totally forgot! Or rather, I had no idea until Her Majesty brought it up¡­ Hmm, I wonder what we should do about a gift? Hey Emma, do you think they serve anything non-alcoholic here?¡±

    Emma rolled her eyes and grumbled, ¡°They¡¯re not going to have set aside kid¡¯s meals at the grand palace, Sera. Don¡¯t be ridiculous. Though¡­ I suppose Her Highness could simply order a servant to fetch something¡­¡±

    Lycoris couldn¡¯t help but giggle as the three of them moved through the crowd, making waves as those closest naturally separated and bowed or nodded to her, staring at the two commoners behind her with confusion or envy.

    Fortunately, having them serve as her conversation partners seemed to keep anyone else who thought about approaching her at bay.

    The three of them were able to reach the drink table without incident, though Lycoris saw the sky-blue moustached man from before glancing toward them with a look of vexation. Had he been following her? Before she could brood too heavily on the matter, her attention was pulled away when Seraphine picked a pair of glasses off the table and passed one over to Emma, who promptly downed the entire thing in a single gulp. Perhaps her nerves were even more shot than Lycoris¡¯¡­

    The bright red liquid inside glittered in the ballroom light, causing the young princess to choke down her thirst.

    ¡°By the way, who was that man you were talking to, Your Highness? He seemed kind of important.¡±

    ¡°Everyone here is important, Sera,¡± Emma sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

    ¡°Just some random guy trying to ingratiate himself to me,¡± Lycoris responded near-simultaneously with Emma. ¡°Mother told me to just smile and politely shoo them all away.¡±

    Seraphine peered around the hall from behind her glass. ¡°But Your Highness walked away from that guy mid-conversation. Is that really alright?¡±

    ¡°If he was down here, he isn¡¯t important enough to be worth speaking to anyways¡­ Er, I mean¡­ N-No offense, you two.¡±

    The pair laughed it off nervously.

    ¡°None taken, Your Highness.¡± Emma politely bowed. ¡°The fact you even thought to invite us is already more than mere commoners like us deserve.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve had to attend formal parties before, but never one in the palace! H-Honestly I feel sort of out of place here, haha¡­ But who are we to turn down an invite from the Heir-Significate herself!¡±

    Lycoris frowned, lowering her voice as she cautiously kept her eyes on the crowd around them.

    ¡°Do you really have to call me that too? Aren¡¯t we friends?¡±

    Emma offered a wan smile. ¡°We¡¯re already drawing an unnecessary amount of attention just by associating with you, Your Highness.¡±

    ¡°Then why not go all the way!¡±

    ¡°¡®Cause that¡¯d piss your mom off,¡± Seraphine flatly said, ¡°and I¡¯d be heartbroken if my darling Emma died before my eyes!¡±

    ¡°S-Sera¡­¡±

    The blonde laughed it off, dispelling the tension that¡¯d gradually been mounting between the three of them.

    ¡°Also, shouldn¡¯t you be trying to take advantage of this too, Your Highness? Like, y¡¯know, find some people who¡¯d want to throw their support behind you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d rather trust in people who offered me a helping hand without knowing my position. If I¡¯m going to have to play the faction game, I can¡¯t really make any headway at my very first event. It¡¯s just going to be a bunch of people trying to take advantage of me. Plus, Mam¡ª Mother never actually taught me how to dance.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡ª¡±

    ¡°Are you serious!?¡±

    Seraphine raised her voice a little too loudly, drawing the attention of several other individuals milling around the drinks table. Some of them had rather obviously approached after the trio moved over there.

    Lycoris put a finger to her lips and glowered.

    ¡°Shh, shhh!! Are you somehow drunk already?¡±

    ¡°Of course not, it¡¯s just¡­ unbelievable is all. Isn¡¯t that kinda important for nobles and stuff?¡±

    ¡°I had the same thought¡­ but, would it really be that weird for me to turn down everyone? I mean, I¡¯m a little child right now. Wouldn¡¯t it be weirder for me to dance with adults?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think either of us are really experts on noble balls, Your Highness¡­ But I can¡¯t imagine it¡¯d be that strange for the Heir-Significate to dance with people older than herself. I guess you are kind of¡­ really young though, no offense. Shouldn¡¯t you have asked Her Majesty about this!?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think about it! This is the first time I¡¯ve ever had to do something like this! And I wasn''t really thinking about being this far away from her side¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ true. But even if you decide not to accept anyone¡¯s solicitations, it¡¯d probably look weird not to dance at all.¡±

    As the two of them stewed in silence over the predicament, Emma stared on with a steadily souring expression. As the song playing ended and the next one began, she finally caved to the tension and spoke up,

    ¡°Oh fine, fine! I¡¯ll do it, then! Honestly, was this your angle to begin with, Your Highness?¡±

    ¡°H-Huh?¡± Lycoris looked up at her in confusion.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take the lead, and you can be the follow. I¡¯ll guide you through the motions and if you mess up, we can just pass it off as a bumbling commoner making a scene with the Princess.¡±

    Sera crossed her arms in front of her, spilling a bit of her drink. ¡°What? No way! You can¡¯t dance with the Princess! ¡­I wanted to,¡± she admitted after a beat.

    ¡°Pff¡­¡±

    Lycoris put a hand to her lips, stifling her chuckle.

    Even if it would¡¯ve been awkward and might have attracted the wrong sort of attention, Lycoris would have been perfectly content to stand in the corner of the ball sipping drinks with her pair of companions.

    Metaphorically, at least. She was still doing her best to avoid thinking about what everyone here was drinking¡ªor who.

    ¡°Well, If you¡¯re offering, it¡¯d be silly of me not to accept. While I¡¯d still prefer you not think of me as a princess, and treat this as an ordinary party, I guess it¡¯s somewhat unavoidable in front of a crowd.¡±

    She daintily held her hand up to Emma, who knelt down slightly as she took it.

    Emma led her out onto the dance floor and began to lead her in a proper ballroom dance. The sea of colors around them blurred together as Lycoris had no time to focus on who was looking at them anymore, her full effort spent on just trying to follow the tall woman¡¯s movements.

    While dancing with Emma, even moreso than when she¡¯d sparred with her mom, it came into stark relief just how short she had become. Emma had to keep her arms awkwardly situated by her hips in order to properly hold Lycoris¡¯ hands in position.

    And yet, in spite of that¡­ Lycoris¡¯ heart throbbed in her chest as she stepped in tandem with the steady beat of the music; the airy feeling as her dress swayed and brushed against her legs; the satisfying clack of her heels on the floor.

    This was actually kind of¡­ fun.

    It reminded her of fencing; the focused footwork came naturally; she could already envision the synchronized motion between her and her partner; the trust that Emma would be ready with the next step as soon as she took hers; the slight tug-of-war¡­ might¡¯ve been because she was messing up, but she wasn¡¯t tripping over herself.

    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ve never danced before? You''re better than Sera¡­ don¡¯t tell her I said that.¡±

    ¡°Maybe I have a hidden talent for it¡­?¡±

    Her hair twirled about as Emma began to take bolder steps, apparently confident that Lycoris would be able to keep up despite her short legs. They glided across the dance floor, blending into the crowd as they focused entirely on their own performance.

    As the song built up to its climax, Emma let go of Lycoris¡¯ hand and twirled her about with the other. Feeling momentarily dizzy, she let go with the other and let herself go with the flow as she held out her hands, coming to a stop with a wide smile on her flushed cheeks at the exact moment the song ended.

    But even when the music had ceased, her ears were filled with noise. After she came back to her senses and calmed down slightly, Lycoris realized she was in a clearing in the crowd, surrounded by vampires clapping vigorously for her.

    Some had even taken their phones out and had them pointed at her, while others cheered.

    ¡°Her Highness is so elegant!¡± ¡°What a darling smile¡­¡± ¡°Did you see who she was dancing with?¡± ¡°No, but they gotta be around here right?¡±

    Having become the center of attention once more, Lycoris momentarily froze like a deer before a hunter. Not because she was afraid of them, but¡­ she was rather embarrassed having been caught acting candidly.

    She grounded herself enough to at least regain her dignified pose, putting her hands together in front of her as she smiled¡ªwith just a hint of awkwardness left over¡ªat the crowd as she scanned around for signs of familiar faces.

    Regrettably, and perhaps expectedly, she found none. The audience gathered around her seemed as though they were waiting for something, maintaining their distance from her even as the applause gradually died down and the music resumed in the background.

    I¡¯m going to have to get used to this, aren¡¯t I? Is this why Mama gave me basically free reign tonight? I never was all that good at giving speeches to the troops¡­ Uhh, let¡¯s see¡­

    ¡°A pleasant evening to you all. I hope that you have all found the banquet enjoyable thus far. Mother has spared no expense for the sake of my first formal appearance, immature and inexperienced as I may be.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been great!¡± ¡°Her Highness is so modest!¡±

    Considering the reception she¡¯d gotten up above, and how she was received initially, she wasn¡¯t sure what to expect¡­ but the pendulum had almost exaggeratedly swung in the opposite direction. Worse, she couldn¡¯t tell if it was because they genuinely felt that way, or because they were privately terrified of her taking vengeance on them¡­ even though she¡¯d handed her scythe over to her mother.

    Thinking back to her mother¡¯s words, and how Fawaris or Albireo before handled these sorts of situations, she mastered her voice and began orating,

    ¡°I¡¯m flattered by your words. Your kindness is a balm to the worries I had over my initial reception.¡±

    ¡°Your Highness¡¯ grace is second to none!¡± ¡°Yeah, screw that Cedric guy!¡± ¡°¡­Er.¡± ¡°Ignore him, he was joking.¡±

    ¡°¡­ ¡­*ahem* Indeed, you all witnessed that somewhat embarrassing affair, didn''t you? I suppose I do take after my mother, and momentarily lost myself. Call it¡­ childish impulsiveness, I suppose¡­¡±

    A polite ripple of laughter ran through the crowd.

    ¡°But that is not who I am, or wish to be, in my heart.¡± She placed her hand over her chest, where Mizar would have rested if she hadn¡¯t been forced to leave her locket in her room. ¡°I intend to be a fair, magnanimous, and thoughtful leader¡­ W-When the time comes for me to take Mother¡¯s position, that is. It won¡¯t be for many, many years I¡¯m sure, but I hope that these words resonate deeper with you than my previous outburst.¡±

    ¡°Long live Her Majesty¡¯s daughter!¡± ¡°Ancestors bless our new Heir-Significate!¡±

    The crowd erupted into applause once more, as Lycoris began to wonder if maybe she was actually better at the whole public-speaking thing than she remembered. Maybe her practice with Lilianna and Athena hadn¡¯t been for nothing after all.

    She¡¯d have to apologize to the maid for reacting overly obsequious to her attempts at speaking formally, considering the crowd was almost putting her to shame.

    ¡°Ahaha, you¡¯re all too kind¡­ But it is past time I return to the upper floors, I believe. Thank you all for attending, and please, enjoy yourselves to your heart¡¯s content.¡±

    She wanted to return to Emma and Sera, and offer her thanks, but she had already probably pushed it. The fact Emma separated from her as stylishly as she had during their dance had to have been a message.

    Inclining her head ever so gently, Lycoris quickly pinched up her dress and turned on the spot, taking care not to move too hastily as she retreated through the crowd to the elevators.

    Fortunately, the audience not only parted to make way for her, but they allowed her to leave uncontested.

    Hearing the crowd resume their usual affairs behind her, she breathed a small sigh of relief.

    And yet, her heart continued throbbing excitedly the entire elevator ride back up.

 22 â€” Eight Thousand Meter Handicap

    The rest of Lycoris¡¯ evening passed without incident, though the girl found herself quickly flagging after returning to the upper floor ballroom, her earlier dose of adrenaline rapidly evaporating. Perhaps it was just because of how stuffy a room packed with nobles always ended up being¡ªthe perfumes or¡­ whatever¡ªbut she couldn¡¯t stifle a yawn as she waited for Lilianna to finish conversing with her current companion.

    She¡¯d been startled to see her mother actually dancing and talking to some of the other vampires¡ªincluding ones that¡¯d introduced themselves to her earlier.

    And of course, having their attention shift to Lycoris once more made her lock up and become a wallflower. Even though she¡¯d done fine speaking to the lesser nobles, the initial reception from the Speaker left her too nervous to strike up a conversation with any of the truly important and powerful people. To say nothing of her concern if she slipped up at all.

    Lilianna had quickly taken notice of her, however. After ending her conversation with Margravine Tamisrah, who was dressed in something closer to business attire than ballroom clothing, she approached her daughter to escort her back to the Elysian Sanctum¡ªtheir private wing.

    Lycoris was quite thankful to have an excuse to shuffle away from the son of Margrave Mano. Arnen Mano was one of the younger individuals in the upper ballroom, but still a full hundred years older than her.

    The idea that he was at least twice her age and yet spoke like a starry-eyed (if politely restrained) child to her about everything from their family¡¯s orchards to the purity of the latest batch of rubies they¡¯d just had shipped in¡ªwith a subtle nod asking if she had any interest in them as he brought up her lack of adornments¡ªleft Lycoris flummoxed.

    Of course, he withdrew with a polite bow and some vacuous words when Lilianna walked over, saving Lycoris the trouble of having to escape to her side. Leaving the party in her mother¡¯s company was mildly embarrassing¡ªshe was pretty sure there was no need for Lilianna to hold her hand¡ªbut at least it meant that she didn¡¯t have to worry about whether or not she was committing some sort of social faux pas.

    But when they reached Lycoris¡¯ room, Lilianna kept escorting her down the hall.

    ¡°Mm? Where are we going?¡±

    ¡°There was one more thing we wanted to show you tonight, my sweet little flower. Are you too tuckered out? Little Arnen certainly seemed enthused this year. Typically he tends to avoid speaking out. Perhaps he felt emboldened by how you handled Lucretia¡¯s uncle.¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. ¡­Though I wasn¡¯t expecting children to play politics too¡­ Who¡¯s Lucretia?¡±

    To Lycoris¡¯s surprise, Lilianna hesitated, a wry smile crinkling across her face. ¡°She is¡­ A handful. We are quite thankful that, though you¡¯re her junior, you are far more composed. But enough about that, We¡¯re sure you¡¯d rather be anticipating the first of three presents we have for you.¡±

    ¡°Present¡­? Is that part of the banquet?¡±

    Lycoris furrowed her brow as they continued down the hall, past both the training hall and Lilianna¡¯s private garden, heading further than Lycoris had any reason to go before. It reminded her of when Lilianna first brought her to the armory to pick a weapon.

    In a sense, that¡¯d been the second gift Lilianna gave her. The first was¡­ a little too embarrassing to admit, but as the still-novel warm feeling filled Lycoris¡¯ chest, she looked up at her mother.

    ¡°Well, no, but your birthday coincides with Moonsend. We thought it fitting to celebrate your birth across all three days of Moonsend. There¡¯s certainly no shortage of birthdays to make up for.¡±

    ¡°Make up for¡­ how?¡±

    ¡°Are you¡­ Surely you¡¯ve celebrated your birthday before?¡±

    Lycoris nervously shook her head. She¡¯d been invited to Fawaris¡¯ on occasion, before the King relieved her of her position, but she never had a reason to do anything special for her own.

    ¡°Do those wretched barbarians not even have such traditions!? No matter, it simply means our plans to make up for lost time are just that much more poignant.¡±

    ¡°You know, I¡¯m¡­ I used to be human too.¡±

    Lilianna gave her a placid smile, ¡°If you say so, dear.¡±

    ¡°¡­So, um. What¡¯s my present supposed to be?¡±

    ¡°A surprise, dear. You¡¯ll find out soon enough. And I¡¯m sure there¡¯ll be many more gifts arriving from the other noble families to celebrate your formal debut¡­¡±

    ¡°Did you pick a day near my birthday for my introduction on purpose?¡± Lycoris squinted up at her.

    ¡°It was simply the best opportunity, and a lucky coincidence besides.¡±

    Turning away with an innocent look, Lilianna stopped in front of another pair of gilded doors, though these had an access panel beside them reminiscent of the elevators¡¯. There were only two options, and an indicator of the current time on it as well.

    She placed her hand against the panel and allowed it to scan her mana signature, pressing the prompt with the little moon icon. The doors opened and revealed an elevator so basic, there wasn¡¯t any sort of ambient music playing from the speakers.

    ¡°What sort of gifts do they usually give to¡­ Heir-Significates?¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ Perfumes, jewelry, fine clothing, luxury liquor¡­ Things that are relatively safe to give without knowing the tastes of the recipient.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯d give alcohol to a child?¡±

    ¡°Hahaha, I see our daughter has come to terms with her tender age.¡±

    ¡°I have not!¡± Lycoris pouted in a decidedly child-like manner. ¡°I mean, rather¡­ They wouldn¡¯t have any reason to think I¡¯m not, though.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ typically the title is granted to heirs that are a couple hundred years older. You are the first genuine ¡®princess¡¯ in Vampire history.¡±

    Lycoris fell silent as she contemplated just how astounding of a fact that was. Vampiric history spanned a much greater length of time than Human history, given their longer lives and more advanced record-keeping. That said, she knew time eroded all things, and the further back one looked the more inaccuracies inevitably appeared. That was why the Goddess¡¯ teachings were so precious, as they¡¯d spanned beyond the lengths of known history.

    But still, the fact she was the first one¡­

    ¡°That¡¯s a lot of pressure to put on someone¡­¡±

    ¡°Never fear, Lycoris. Your mother is right here by your side. We would never think of making you walk such a road alone.¡±

    Lilianna squeezed her hand, and Lycoris leaned against her mother. It was strange, feeling so reassured by a few simple words. She wasn¡¯t sure if she¡¯d ever get used to relying on someone so completely. Not that she had been left with any other choice.

    Nor would she willingly make a different choice now.

    ¡°Life really is strange¡­¡±

    ¡°Nothing truly can prepare you for every twist and turn it¡¯ll take,¡± Lilianna agreed. ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s important to have those you can trust at your side. On that note¡­¡±

    Lycoris shivered as her mother¡¯s saccharine tone grew ever so slightly more serious.

    ¡°Outside of darling little Arnen, who did most of the speaking, we noticed that you didn¡¯t spend all that much time socializing.¡±

    ¡°Th-That¡¯s¡­ because of what I did to the Idra guy. I was worried how people would react. The reception I got on the lower floor was pretty positive, at least.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Do go on. Tell us about our little flower¡¯s first celebration.¡±

    Lycoris bashfully cleared her throat, starting off timidly. By the end of her recounting of how she¡¯d won over the audience, however, she was puffing her chest out proudly. It was something worth taking pride in, after all¡ªshe¡¯d managed to avoid fumbling over herself even though she¡¯d never danced before.

    As she finished, her mother let go of her hand to clap cheerfully, before scratching her chin.

    ¡°Choosing those commoners sends a rather particular message, but¡­ Hmm, I suppose it¡¯s not the worst position to take. Building popularity with the chaff means an in through the Sefer, and you¡¯ve already positioned yourself counter to the Idra. If we have you show magnanimity to them next, we can demonstrate that your stances are the same as our own. But that seems like a bit of a waste, when we could instead position you more favorably with the Progressives than ourselves. You don¡¯t have any particular expectations from or ties to Drimus like we do, after all. If we chip away at the Traditionalists¡¯ power bloc¡ª¡±

    When her mother began hypothesizing future political maneuvers, Lycoris felt herself deflate somewhat. It was, admittedly, a weakness on her part that she chose not to think too far ahead when it came to matters other than combat.

    ¡°¡ªbut that would mean Lucretia would be your best avenue¡­ No matter, that¡¯s a problem to solve next year. Do you see now why we didn¡¯t waste time on dance lessons?¡±

    Lycoris snapped back to focus, shaking her head. ¡°Not really¡­¡±

    ¡°Because it is already second nature to you, dear.¡±

    ¡°You could¡¯ve said something, though.¡±

    ¡°Do they not hold banquets in Human lands, either?¡±

    Her mother looked down at her with genuine curiosity.

    Something Lycoris learned over the past several months was that Lilianna truly had no idea what life was like in Human society. Lycoris had admittedly been averse to talking about it, but not just because her memories of her past had grown somewhat murky. Dredging up a lifetime of unpleasant and painful memories she¡¯d at one point tried to bury with the bottle was hardly something she wanted to do, even in the safety of her mother¡¯s presence.

    ¡°They do, but¡­ I only coordinated security. It¡¯s not like the guards here were doing any dancing either.¡±

    ¡°We would have them disciplined for doing so, yes,¡± Lilianna nodded in agreement.

    The conversation had naturally died down by the time the elevator reached its destination, a sudden alarm stifling the yawn Lycoris was in the midst of. Naturally, Lycoris¡¯ first instinct was to panic, but Lilianna placed a hand atop her head reassuringly as she operated the security panel once more.

    As the doors opened and a gust of freezing air rushed in, Lycoris flinched and hugged her shoulders.

    Beyond was¡­ a rooftop. There wasn¡¯t much in the way of decor, just tall dark-black gothic style railing around the edges and smooth concrete for a floor.

    But what captured Lycoris¡¯ attention wasn¡¯t the bland roof, but the sky high above.

    No gloomy clouds hung overhead. Instead she witnessed a long-forgotten blanket of twinkling and dancing lights, though many of them were either dim or absent, with the radiant moon hogging the sky.

    It looked slightly bigger than she remembered, or perhaps that was simply because they were that much closer to it than Lycoris had ever been before.

    ¡°Whoa¡­¡±

    She couldn¡¯t resist gasping in awe, as though this was the first time she¡¯d ever seen the night sky.

    One might argue that wasn¡¯t entirely incorrect.

    Lycoris almost immediately forgot the cold as she walked out, twirling around as she took in the sparkling stars that greeted her. It immediately reminded her of the times they¡¯d been able to camp on open ground and witness the night sky unmarred by the evening lamps of civilization.

    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.?She felt a slight twinge of dizziness as her attention was drawn back down to earth by the Exaltare¡¯s chuckle.

    ¡°Take care not to step too close to the railings, dear. They aren¡¯t kept properly maintained as this location is off-limits to all but ourself.¡±

    ¡°What happened to the clouds?¡±

    In response, Lilianna simply pointed to the side, and as Lycoris gazed out past the metal bars, she noticed lumpy black hills rolling all around them, lined with silver light.

    ¡°We¡¯re¡­ above them¡­¡± she muttered.

    ¡°Our palace is not called the ¡®Transfixion of Heaven¡¯ for naught, after all. This is the highest point in all the world, save perhaps for a mountain or two that we have not yet leveled.¡±

    ¡°Why would you do that?¡±

    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t do for there to be a taller structure, natural or otherwise, than our palace.¡±

    She couldn¡¯t tell if the woman was joking or not, but decided against asking if she¡¯d ever actually leveled a mountain before.

    It wouldn¡¯t have surprised her if she had at least ordered it, if not seen to it personally¡­

    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful¡­¡±

    If this was her gift, it was certainly a special one.

    ¡°Now then, as for your first gift¡­ We suppose we should begin with a demonstration.¡±

    ¡°Why do I get the feeling this is secretly another lesson?¡± Lycoris asked with a hint of suspicion.

    Lilianna smiled vaguely and reached behind her back to fiddle with her dress, unbuttoning some sort of flap or sleeve at her waist.

    In a rare gesture, she inhaled slowly and closed her eyes, and a moment later Lycoris gasped and tripped over backwards as she witnessed her mother in fullness.

    From her back, Lilianna sprouted a pair of sterling silver wings that caught the moonlight and glittered. Flexed to their full length, they were twice as long as she was tall, the scarlet interior making them look like a natural cloak, amplifying her already-imposing aura.

    With a mighty flap and great gust of wind, she nimbly leapt from the ground and soared over Lycoris, flying around above her as she twirled and rolled. She looked like she was enjoying herself.

    After stretching her wings, Lilianna touched down in front of her daughter once more, the moon high overhead casting her shadow across the small girl.

    But rather than feeling terrified, Lycoris was struck by how gorgeous her mother looked in that moment. Her wings spread wide, a serene smile on her face, Lilianna looked as though she knew exactly what her place was in the world. As though everything was simply in its correct state.

    Her wings fluttered and folded around her waist like a skirt as she stepped forward and knelt in front of her daughter, placing one hand atop her head as she grasped her wrist with the other.

    ¡°Our present for our precious daughter¡¯s forty-sixth birthday is the gift of flight. They say it¡¯s important to teach it early, or else you¡¯ll struggle to develop the proper muscle memory for it.¡±

    ¡°Fli¡ª I have wings!?¡±

    ¡°Any vampire with blood purer than third generation does; though, they do not form immediately at birth. While a faux-pas to unveil them in polite company, it is the simplest and purest sign of one¡¯s status as true nobility.¡±

    Thoughtlessly, Lycoris reached forward and gently brushed her fingertips against one of her mother¡¯s wings, feeling the fine hairs coating them. They were incredibly soft, like an adolescent rabbit.

    She gave in to the urge to pet them, pressing her hand into it as she slowly rubbed the furred wing.

    ¡°Can you¡­ feel them?¡±

    ¡°Of course, they¡¯re a part of our body, after all.¡±

    Lilianna chuckled at her daughter¡¯s naivete, startling her by flexing her wings out once more before scooping Lycoris up into an embrace with arms and wings alike.

    It was remarkably warm, like a blanket had been draped around her; the thought made her feel a twinge of embarrassment.

    While she was distracted by the sensation of a warm, living blanket wrapped around her, Lycoris felt her mother reach down and fiddle with buttons on the back of her dress as well.

    Suddenly, the folds on the back of all her clothing made a lot more sense¡­

    ¡°Would they really¡­ be grown in though? I mean, I¡¯ve never noticed them or anything. And it¡¯s¡­ only been half a year, so¡­¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re sure you¡¯re nervous, little flower, but it¡¯ll be as natural as blinking after you¡¯ve felt them once. ¡®Tis no different than riding a bicycle.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s a bicycle?¡±

    ¡°¡­Let us focus on the wings, for now.¡±

    Lycoris wasn¡¯t convinced, but she¡¯d come to know better than to question her mother. There¡¯d yet to be an occasion where Lilianna fumbled or found herself at a loss. Even when speaking about humans, her conjecture was uncannily precise with just a few details given.

    ¡°Then¡­ um,¡± Lycoris peered shyly up at Lilianna, ¡°what do I do?¡±

    ¡°Right,¡±

    Lilianna placed her hands on Lycoris¡¯ shoulders and stepped back, flexing her wings out once more, wagging one of them like an arm.

    ¡°Try to visualize an extra pair of arms around your lower back. Think of yourself stretching them out in the morning after waking up, and slipping them through the sleeves of your garment. It¡¯ll feel much the same as when we were first teaching you how to draw upon the mana in your body.¡±

    Lycoris nodded and closed her eyes.

    The comment about mana felt like a hint, even if it was something physical she was creating. Perhaps it was the same principle as blood storage, and extracting something from within herself. Except in this case it wasn¡¯t a foreign object, but a part of her own body.

    Though it reinforced the unpleasant notion of ¡°Vampire¡± in her mind, she couldn¡¯t help but feel her heart swell upon seeing her mother sail through the skies.

    Taking a deep breath, Lycoris tried to hold the image of her mother standing before her in her mind as she directed her focus to her back. She felt the mana in her veins, directing it toward her back, felt the pressure build¡­ until a sudden wave of heat washed over her as a slight feverish discomfort tugged at her mind.

    To continue her mother¡¯s analogy, it was as though she were trapped beneath bed sheets pulled too-tight around her, and she¡¯d only just realized it after waking up. The sense of discomfort only grew more pronounced, until she did just as her mother suggested, and ¡°stretched¡± her arms. A shiver ran up her spine as the heat inside her was instantly replaced with a frigid sensation, the expanded surface area coming in contact with cool air causing her to tremble.

    Without even thinking, Lycoris opened her eyes and hugged herself with a gasp, her own wings wrapping around as well.

    She blinked as her mother clapped in delight, feeling a hint of dizziness as she stumbled to maintain her balance.

    The sudden new sensation of an extra pair of limbs was profoundly strange. Like raw skin beneath a sore or around a wound, she was hyper-sensitive to everything they came in contact with.

    ¡°See, dear? It¡¯s a natural instinct, of course you¡¯d be able to do it. Especially since we¡­ had you tackle things backwards, in a sense.¡±

    ¡°Oohhhh¡­¡±

    Lycoris barely paid any attention to her words, instead looking down at her own wings. She ran a hand along the edge of one, trembling as she felt the newly created¡ªEmerged? Spawned?¡ªfluff against her fingers.

    ¡°H-How am I supposed to fly with these though? They feel so ticklish¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­You will get used to it in time.¡±

    Completely enraptured by the literal growth of a functional pair of extra limbs, Lycoris timidly stretched her wings out, poking and flexing and curling and flapping them like a confused fawn stumbling about. She found it rather difficult to imitate the gestures her mother had shown off, her hands bumping into her wings and her sense of spatial awareness and balance being thrown off. Even just folding them around in front of her like an apron was challenging enough.

    Still, she quickly began trying everything she could manage with them. Despite her earlier exhaustion, she¡¯d found quite a bit of energy tucked away alongside the new appendages.

    Lilianna watched on with an easygoing smile, seeming quite entertained by her daughter¡¯s confusion and amusement.

    ¡°We haven¡¯t even begun explaining yet, and already this is the most enjoyable this night has been since you flung that bastard about.¡±

    ¡°Huhwha?¡±

    ¡°Have you gotten used to them yet? We¡¯d like to teach you how to actually make use of them if so.¡±

    Lycoris frowned and raised an eyebrow up at her. ¡°Are you seriously asking someone who¡¯s lived for forty-six years almost if they¡¯re adjusted to suddenly sprouting wings?¡±

    ¡°Forty-six years isn¡¯t exactly all that long compared to four thousand one hundred and ninety-two, darling. We were a child once too, and though it was quite long ago, remember the excitement we felt in discovering new things; surely you would like to know how to make use of those lovely little limbs, no?¡±

    Lycoris hesitated, thinking about what exactly that sort of education would entail. She¡¯d gotten so excited, she forgot where flying was generally done.

    And where the two of them were currently standing.

    The girl hung her head, her wings drooping naturally beside her.

    ¡°Um, actually¡­ I¡¯m¡­ not sure how to say this. I don¡¯t wanna disappoint you, but¡­ I¡¯m¡­ kind of, bad with heights.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    A cold breeze blew across the rooftop.

    ¡°Even climbing trees is pretty tough for me¡­ Looking over the edge of castle ramparts often made me nauseous, too.¡±

    ¡°Th-Then how on Earth are you fine up here!?¡±

    It was the first time Lycoris heard her mother¡¯s voice crack.

    ¡°Mm¡­ Unless I really think about it, the clouds look more like muddy hills. I think it¡¯s more about being able to see the ground. Though, there was that bottomless ravine¡­¡± She shivered, thinking back to that horrible adventure beneath the surface. ¡°Is there nowhere indoors we could practice? Or like, maybe a field somewhere nearby?¡±

    ¡°We could forcibly vacate a park for a day¡­ but that would draw too much attention. What if we held you whilst flying? That is typically the first step regardless.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯d be any better. If anything it might be worse. What if you drop me!?¡±

    ¡°We won¡¯t. And if you somehow fell, we would catch you regardless. Your life will never be in danger so long as we are around.¡±

    ¡°W-Wait, put me down! I didn¡¯t agree to this!¡±

    Lilianna ignored her daughter¡¯s complaints as she reached forward and scooped her up, hugging her from behind as the girl squirmed around in her grasp.

    ¡°Lycoris, you¡¯ll be okay. We aren¡¯t going to drop you. Please, stop¡­ squirming around. You are making this quite difficult.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ mmgh¡­ nnn¡­¡±

    Lilianna had only just picked her up and was holding her up under the arms, but even just the thought of her mother suddenly taking off with her held like that was¡­ She¡¯d rather go through four back-to-back teleportation circles.

    It¡¯d probably be less nauseating than how she felt at the moment.

    ¡°Y-You know what, I think I wasn¡¯t made for flying after all! Can I put these away? Actually, how do I even put them away?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not even holding you above our head, dear.¡±

    After several seconds of flailing in place and flapping her wings like a startled pigeon, Lycoris finally settled down. She had agreed to follow whatever terms her mother set, knowing that she only had her best interests at heart, but¡­

    ¡°I thought presents were supposed to be nice! P-Please, I¡¯m scared¡­¡±

    Her legs had gone numb from trembling.

    Firmly defeated by her daughter¡¯s overwhelming fear of heights, Lilianna slowly lowered her back down into a calming hug. She slowly caressed her daughter¡¯s head as she stared up at the moon.

    ¡°We thought the scenery would make for a momentous backdrop for your first flight.¡± The disappointment in her voice was soul-crushing. ¡°Apologies, Lycoris. We were unaware you had such a phobia.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Mama. I didn¡¯t realize¡­ I should¡¯ve¡­ If I knew sooner I wouldn¡¯t have¡­ ruined your gift.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, Lycoris. You did nothing wrong,¡± her mother said softly. ¡°We shall find another means to teach you to fly, and help you overcome this weakness.¡±

    ¡°B-But¡­¡±

    ¡°At the very least, you still have the sight of the night sky and those wings. There will always be more opportunities in the future, dear.¡±

    Lycoris fell silent, her ear filled with the sound of Lilianna¡¯s heartbeat as she was held against her breast.

    Only when they entered the elevator did she find herself calming down at all, as stress, fatigue and relief freed her from the disappointment in her chest by pulling her consciousness under the blanket of comforting darkness, before her mother could even return her to her room.

 23 â€” Reset the Clock

    When she awoke, Lycoris felt oddly sore around her back, her eyes stung, and her head felt heavy. She momentarily panicked, thinking she¡¯d somehow slipped back into drinking again¡­

    But when she bolted upright, heart palpitating, she was greeted by her big comfy bed and its lavender sheets, in the safety of her mother¡¯s home.

    Though, the silk camisole she was wearing had hiked up her back for some reason¡­

    ¡°Agh!¡±

    When she turned around in bed, Lycoris banged her wing against one of the corner posts holding up the canopy, letting out a gasp of pain as her new appendages revealed their presence once more.

    And reminded her that she¡¯d soured the end of what should have been a perfect evening¡­

    Her mood plummeting, Lycoris reached for her precious locket tucked into her bedside table¡¯s drawer, flopped back down into bed with her nightwear still awkwardly positioned, and curled her wings around herself as she cradled Mizar.

    ¡°I wonder what you¡¯d say, if you saw them¡­ Would you laugh at me for having these while being so afraid of heights, or¡­ would you call them pretty?¡±

    £ª

    Athena had been¡­ remarkably not busy, despite it being the second day of Moonsend.

    Typically around this time, she¡¯d be busy coordinating with the rest of the staff to clean up after the party, ensure favors were distributed to all the guests, double-check that everything was in order within the palace, and ensure that Her Majesty¡¯s social media had properly uploaded all the content from the night before.

    If she had been given a proper military education, she probably would have been in charge of arranging the guards¡¯ shifts as well.

    Well, she still had to manage the social media account, and it was significantly more involved this year, considering she¡¯d been saddled with the task of posting the best photos of Her Highness Princess Lycoris. It had been a monumental undertaking, given how impossibly photogenic the girl was.

    But the rest of her normal work had all been outsourced to other members of Her Majesty¡¯s staff, which left Athena with a vast amount of free time to spend worrying over whether they were all doing a good enough job.

    Instead, she waited patiently outside of Her Highness¡¯ room, checking the time on her phone. Currently, it was ten till seven.

    Lycoris always woke up at almost exactly six each morning, even on the occasions when she stayed up past her bedtime the night prior, and would spend an hour in quiet meditation.

    It was a remarkable amount of discipline for a girl her age to demonstrate, and Athena felt some strange sense of second-hand pride. She wasn¡¯t Lycoris¡¯ mother¡ªshe¡¯d never dare to try and step on Her Majesty¡¯s toes¡ªbut it was a trait worth lauding all the same.

    Still, I worry she¡¯s pushing herself too hard, even after Her Majesty had that heart-to-heart with Her Highness about taking care of herself¡­ Maybe I should ask if she¡¯d like to sleep in, or otherwise just take it easy for her birthday.

    The Exaltare would be busy preparing for the roundtable conference at the Spire in a few weeks, and it sounded as though the matter with the geolles had only grown more complicated¡­

    At exactly seven o''clock, Athena softly knocked on the door.

    ¡°Your Highness, may I enter?¡±

    ¡­ ¡­ ¡­Normally, Lycoris would have responded immediately.

    ¡°Your Highness?¡±

    Athena quietly slid the door open and peered inside.

    For the first time since she became Lycoris¡¯ personal maid, she saw the girl curled up under the sheets, rather than sitting up with her eyes closed.

    ¡­Hehe, I bet the festivities last night really tuckered her out. I¡¯ll come back to check on her later.

    Giggling quietly to herself, Athena closed the door and decided to busy herself with a little cleaning instead.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    Lycoris woke up somehow more tired than before, but also quite relaxed. Her clothing still felt uncomfortable, and the numb tingling from one of her wings was probably what woke her up to begin with, but it seemed as though her body had decided on its own she needed the extra rest.

    When was the last time she had even considered sleeping in? She couldn¡¯t recall if there¡¯d ever been such a day in her life.

    ¡°Good morning, Your Highness. Did you have a pleasant sleep?¡±

    Athena always announced her presence before opening the door, but for the first time since they established their routine, Lycoris wasn¡¯t already sitting up and meditating.

    And Athena was already standing inside the room, waiting patiently near the door.

    ¡°Mmmmh¡­ wait, what are you doing in here already?¡± Lycoris grumbled, sitting up in bed and tenderly stroking her numb wing.

    ¡°Are you alright, Your Highness? ¡­You seem a little ruffle¡ªoh my¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I just¡­ had an eventful night with Mom.¡±

    The princess slowly sat up and rubbed her bleary eyes, the rubbing of her wings against silky sheets causing goosebumps to break out across her skin.

    Perhaps it was because she looked so unguarded, but Athena reacted with even more skittishness than usual.

    The maid cleared her throat and averted her gaze, ¡°M-My sincerest apologies, Princess! I didn¡¯t realize you had¡­ uhm. Shall we get you dressed?¡±

    ¡°Why are you acting like you just walked in on me in the middle of¡­ nevermind.¡±

    Lycoris stared at her for a long moment, before sliding off the bed and fumbling with her camisole. She frowned as she twirled about in place, not wanting to accidentally rip the thin piece of fabric by pulling too hard.

    ¡°Is it really that embarrassing to see someone else¡¯s wings? I thought Mom¡¯s looked really pretty.¡±

    ¡°No, Your Highness. It¡¯s not your wings but¡­ well¡­¡±

    Athena gestured toward Lycoris with a kind smile.

    ¡°You¡¯re exposing your backside.¡±

    ¡°Hgk!¡±

    Lycoris hopped around on the spot and covered her butt with her hands.

    A beat later,

    ¡°Wait, but you change my clothes all the time. Ah, right you already¡­ Athena, be honest; do I seem out of sorts today?¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ Well, pardon my honesty but you do seem a little more absentminded than usual, but also brimming with vim and vigor! Perhaps the extra sleep was just what you needed. And your wings do look adorable and magnificent. Not that I¡¯d expect anything less of the Exaltare¡¯s daughter! What¡¯s it like to fly around?¡±

    ¡°Oh, uhm¡­ I¡­ don¡¯t know.¡±

    Her arms fell to her sides as she hung her head, staring down at the carpeted floor. It was hard to bear the guilt stabbing at her. It technically wasn¡¯t even the first present her mother gave her, but it felt terrible to let her down.

    Perhaps it was Lilianna¡¯s loving acceptance of her flaw, instead of resentment or rejection, that left Lycoris feeling so much worse about it herself.

    ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡±

    ¡°I was too scared to try flying at all.¡±

    ¡°Ahhh. Well that makes a lot of sense, really!¡±

    ¡°¡­It, it does?¡±

    Lycoris looked up at Athena, blinking away the tears that¡¯d nearly started flowing.

    ¡°Well, yeah! I¡¯ve never flown before, the idea alone sounds absolutely terrifying! It¡¯s bad enough having to climb those tall ladders to dust the ceilings, I can scarcely imagine flying. What if I messed up and broke an arm? I¡¯d be worthless to Her Majesty and Your Highness, completely unfit for labor! You¡¯d have to fi¡­fuh¡­f¡­fire¡­ me,¡± she choked out, clearing her throat after. ¡°*ahem* Not that I even have wings. But still, the hypothetical of it is scary enough! There¡¯s no need to get so down over such a natural reaction, Princess.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    Athena took a knee before Lycoris, placing a hand on her shoulder and smiling softly, her warm gold eyes and gentle encouragement reminding the little princess an awful lot of a certain other princess¡­

    ¡°Now, before you catch cold, let¡¯s get you dressed for the day. It¡¯ll be noon before you know it, and I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t want to spend the entire day in your pajamas. ¡­Impudent as it is of me to say, but, perhaps you should put your wings away? It¡¯d make it easier to get dressed, and I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s not good manners to walk around with them stretched out like that!¡±

    ¡°I know that already. Mom made sure to tell me, but¡­ I ended up passing out before she could tell me how to¡­ put them away.¡±

    ¡°¡­Hm. That is an issue. She¡¯s in the middle of a meeting with the leaders of the Geolle investigation task force, it might be a while before we can ask for assistance.¡±

    Lycoris contemplated for a long moment while Athena set about making the bed for her.

    ¡°¡­ ¡­Actually, I might have an idea.¡±

    Over the course of her ¡°intensive¡± training to prepare for her formal debut into society, Lycoris had learned that not all vampires could perform magic the way she and her mother could. In fact, the specific art she was practicing¡ªstoring things within her own blood¡ªwas something that only particularly pure-blooded vampires could even attempt.

    Given that only said pure-blooded vampires possessed proper wings, Lycoris presumed that these abilities stemmed from the same root. She realized this had to have been what Lilianna meant about teaching her ¡°backwards¡±.

    Lycoris wryly smiled as she recalled the previous night.

    It would be nice if she could manage similar feats, twirling and spiraling through the sky, unconstrained by the rules governing everyone else.

    But of course, that¡¯d also mean being dozens, if not hundreds of feet up in the air¡­

    Lycoris shook off the hair-raising thought and instead focused on the disappointingly useless appendages, opting for the same metaphor that her mother had described, visualizing herself pulling her arms into her sleeves while simultaneously ¡°inserting¡± them back inside of herself like the knife she had practiced with before.

    There was a remarkably uncomfortable sensation, like she was sucking in her gut while someone was pressing their hands against her back. After the unpleasant sensation passed, there was a lingering sense of pressure¡ªor perhaps soreness¡ªon her lower back, along with the sensation of her nightwear sliding down.

    ¡°I wonder if I¡¯m finally starting to feel my age,¡± she mumbled, doing some light hip stretches.

    ¡°Does Your Highness have anything in mind for today¡¯s schedule? As I said, Her Majesty has already left for her first meeting of the day. She was in such a rush that she didn¡¯t get the chance to¡­ tell me what she intended for you today.¡±

    ¡°Now that you mention it, isn¡¯t it bizarre for her to be meeting with someone so early? Is it that big of an emergency?¡±

    ¡°Early¡ª Your Highness, it¡¯s almost noon.¡±

    ¡°Wh¡­What!?¡±

    Lycoris turned to look at the clock¡ªan analog one, at her request¡ªset on her bedside table. Sure enough, it was a quarter ¡®til noon bell.

    She¡¯d actually slept in for far longer than she realized. Perhaps that was why she felt so stiff¡­

    It was alarming to think that her diligence could slip so far quite literally overnight. But maybe that wasn¡¯t the worst thing¡­

    How often did I tell my troops that proper rest is important for staying in top form? And yet, I never allowed myself the same luxury¡­ Not that I really ever had much opportunity.

    Lycoris fell into thought as she held out her arms, wordlessly signalling Athena to assist in changing her into a surprisingly reserved one-piece dress. They¡¯d gone through the same morning routine so often that the maid had internalized her body language; as she sat down, back straight, in front of the vanity, Athena already had a brush in hand to tame her bedhead.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ I suppose now that the secret is out, I can wander the palace at my leisure, right?¡±

    She glanced at Athena¡¯s reflection in the mirror, careful to not suddenly jerk her head around and cause any unpleasant tugging.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare put words in Her Majesty¡¯s mouth. Doubtless she would still not want you to leave the premises, even in my company. But¡­ just walking about the palace doesn¡¯t really sound out of the question. However, if we¡¯re to present you in public, we¡¯ll have to fancy you up a little first!¡±

    It did also mean that she¡¯d have to be on her best behavior, and not do anything that would seem inappropriate for a princess, however¡­

    Lycoris sighed and plopped her chin onto her palm, drumming the desk with her fingers.

    ¡°There is something I¡¯ve been itching to do since the moment I accepted my role here, but parade grounds would technically be outside of the palace huh¡­¡±

    ¡°Parade grounds? What do you mean, Princess?¡±

    ¡°Like a castle courtyard. You know, like where soldiers go to¡­ train? Now that I think about it, this building isn¡¯t laid out to accommodate something like that. I guess the training grounds must be located elsewhere.¡±

    ¡°Oh! You mean a military base? I believe the closest one is to the northwest, in the Drimus¡¯ duchy. I definitely don¡¯t think Her Majesty would allow you to take a week-long trip up there.¡±

    She finished tending to Lycoris¡¯ hair, tying it up into her usual bouncy twintails and setting her favorite chrysanthemum hairpins in. Moving on to having her face powdered, the girl was forced to fall silent for a while to avoid a coughing fit.

    They¡¯d definitely gone through that song and dance enough times for one lifetime¡­ or¡­ two?

    So they do their training outside of the capital? That seems like a pretty big safety hazard, what if they were cut off from deploying to Ljosdeyja, what if something happened¡­ to¡­ Mama. I guess she¡¯d be the last person to require protection from Human infiltrators. Though if her knights weren¡¯t present and Mizar had been able to fight her like he was supposed to, then¡­ I wouldn¡¯t¡­

    Wait wait, why am I even thinking about that? Besides, with how many guards she has in her employ, there has to be some sort of facility inside the palace to at least house them, if not also keeping them sharp¡­

    Lycoris reached for the locket around her neck, only to realize that she¡¯d left it under her sheets¡­ which Athena had already tended to.

    She whipped her face around to look for it in a panic, and Athena let out a yelp of terror as she violently wrenched her hands away.

    ¡°Your Highness! I nearly stabbed your eye with the mascara brush. What¡¯s wrong!?¡±

    ¡°Ah, oops¡­ Sorry, I got distracted thinking about Mizar¡­¡±

    Her shoulders sagged as shame set upon her. She turned back around and fidgeted with her hands in her lap, feeling somewhat silly. She could just pick it up after. There was no reason to be so anxious about forgetting a small thing like that.

    ¡°Hmmn, that human again, huh? Pardon my prodding, Princess, but did you happen to encounter them during the recent incursion? I¡¯m not really sure how that would work, considering where your room is situated, but¡­ Perhaps¡­ they spared your life, plying you with romantic lies and gestures?¡±

    ¡°Hudgschbwat!?¡± Lycoris choked, her blush-covered cheeks darkening a deep purple beneath the thin layer of makeup.

    ¡°Oh dear¡­ Is that why Your Highness was so obsessed with calling yourself Human? A forbidden first crush¡­ I won¡¯t say anything to Her Majesty, don¡¯t worry.¡± Athena winked, apparently getting completely the wrong message. ¡°I¡¯m sure it goes without saying, but while a human might look cute¡ª¡±

    ¡°No! He¡¯s not¡­ I¡¯m¡­ He was my¡­¡±

    Lycoris floundered, realizing it would be pointless to try and explain that Mizar had been her student, and a miraculous figure besides, a veritable warrior-saint chosen by the Goddess Herself to bring judgment to the vampires. Or at least, he was supposed to have done that¡­

    Lycoris knew that Athena had long since decided ¡°Lycoris is Lilianna¡¯s daughter, a naturally-born vampire,¡± and no amount of explanation or circumstantial evidence would convince her otherwise.

    Instead, she fell quiet as her thoughts lingered on her companions. Normally, she would have spent her morning revisiting their long journey, ensuring that she hadn¡¯t forgotten anything.

    But after spending the morning sleeping, she wondered if her daily ritual wasn¡¯t just an overreaction to forgetting her own name¡ªsomething she hadn¡¯t felt particularly attached to anyways.

    Perhaps it was better to spend that time on something more productive. There¡¯d been no signs of her memories degrading any further after all, and¡­ as she thought about Mizar, a strange ticklish warmth prickled on her skin.

    Why did she have to make such a ridiculous assumption!? Honestly, this maid¡­

    Once Athena finished with her makeup, Lycoris pressed her lips together and examined her own radiant face in the mirror.

    It¡¯d taken an extra laborious amount of time, as she¡¯d forgotten to wipe off the cosmetics from last night. Thankfully Athena didn¡¯t give her an earful for it, maybe because she¡¯d been so tired that she actually slept in for once.

    After begrudgingly allowing Athena to clip sapphire earrings to her ears and cover her plain dress with a light blue vest and a shawl, Lycoris¡¯ preparations for the day were finished.

    At last, she could get some proper bearings in the palace that¡¯d become her home.

 24 â€” It Was Said Nary a Soul Could Provide Her a Decent Challenge

    ¡°You there, what¡¯s your name?¡±

    ¡°Bueh!? Err, Daryl. No, wait¡ª My name is Daryl Alkyne, Your Highness.¡±

    The guard standing watch by the main hall elevators all but jumped out of his armor, still adorned with the same flowing cape as the night prior.

    He offered a crisp salute, crossing his wrists over his chest and curling his hands up like claws¡ªor perhaps wings¡ªwhen Lycoris approached and asked her question. It was the same gesture that every guard had done up until now, so she could only surmise that it was the standard salute for Aphtangloa vassals.

    Lycoris raised an eyebrow and folded her arms expectantly.

    ¡°Sir Alkyne, then. Do you have any hobbies?¡±

    ¡°Hobbies¡­ Your Highness?¡±

    ¡°Reading, painting, you know. Leisure activities.¡± There was a slight hint of irritation in her tone that she couldn¡¯t bother to mask.

    ¡°Oh, no, no of course not! I would never think to waste time on such frivolities when the security of the Transfixion of Heaven is my duty!¡±

    ¡°Hahh¡­ I see.¡±

    Lycoris¡¯ shoulders slumped and she put a hand to her face, unabashedly displaying her disappointment. Outbursts of emotion were considered uncouth for the rich and powerful, but she could probably get away with it, looking like a child and all.

    Moreover, she should be allowed some disappointment, given that this was the sixth or seventh guard that¡¯d given her nearly the exact same response. It was completely unbelievable besides¡ªeven she had a hobby. It just happened that her hobby had involved practicing with a sword, and it was convenient to train other people at the same time.

    It wasn¡¯t work if she was doing it for fun.

    Her initial plan was to get to know the guards a little better, both to ensure that she would notice if they ever ended up replaced or compromised in some way, and also to establish a rapport with them as a senior¡­ well, she technically didn¡¯t hold a military position at present¡­ but the king, or exaltare, was the ultimate commander on any battlefield.

    And any good commander knew that forming a bond with their soldiers was paramount to ensure loyalty and honest communication in case trouble arose.

    Thus far, she¡¯d completely failed to get even a single one to open up to her. They all gave the same canned response of ¡°absolute loyalty to the Throne.¡± Needless to say, it was more than a little disheartening.

    ¡°They can¡¯t all seriously be this boring, can they? I mean¡­ even I used to have hobbies, sort of. No matter if it was just playing cards with the other guards on nightwatch or stacking stones, the soldiers were always doing something to fill the time. There¡¯s no way someone could survive such banality!¡±

    As she waved farewell with a smile and strode down the hall, Lycoris privately threw up her hands and grumbled to the maid just behind her.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure they do, but surely you must realize that they can¡¯t simply say such things to the Princess. Even I¡­ I-I, I mean I would never think of anything but serving both Your Highness and Her Majesty!¡±

    ¡°Even though it¡¯s obvious you¡¯re hiding something, I somehow find that to be the most believable thing you¡¯ve said,¡± Lycoris flatly grumbled, ¡°but what¡¯s wrong with trying to get closer to the people serving under me? How else will I know how to treat them, what I should take into consideration when selecting potential reassignments or promotions or platoon deployments? It¡¯s important to pair people with matching personalities!¡±

    ¡°P-Pair¡­ them? Your Highness, far be it from me to dare suggest that my opinion might outweigh your own desires, but perhaps it would be best to not try and ship the guards¡­ They do have families after all.¡±

    ¡°Once more, my attendant has said something utterly incomprehensible¡­ Don''t explain. I was talking about military squads! In case they have to be deployed in a battle!¡±

    ¡°¡­Why would Your Highness need to worry over such a thing, though?¡±

    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I? After all I¡­¡±

    Lycoris trailed off, stopping mid-step to put a hand to her chin. Why did she need to care? She had taken for granted that she¡¯d need to establish a rapport with the guards as quickly as possible, but¡­ it wasn¡¯t like the decisions on who to deploy in an emergency would fall to her anyways. Not yet.

    And if anything, Lilianna would probably seal her in the Elysian Sanctum while Athena stood guard outside.

    That aside, there was still one other important reason Lycoris could think of to get to know all of her would-be protectors: To prepare for the event that they became something other than her protectors.

    Establishing a bond would make it far less likely that they would ever turn traitor. Or, if things came to that, perhaps they would even take her side. She was hardly a stranger to the idea that a sovereign could have a difference of opinion with their heiress.

    ¡°¡­I still think it''s important to understand them, just in case something happens to Mother. I know that sounds impossible, but¡­ what if their interests were tested, or their loyalty or¡ª¡±

    ¡°Then they would be executed on the spot. The guards here have no choice but to obey Her Majesty¡¯s orders. If she commanded them to throw themselves off of the top of a building, they would obey without hesitating. It¡¯s pointless to bribe or tempt Her Majesty¡¯s guards.¡±

    ¡°Wait, what? H-How in the world does that work!? That sounds¡­ like wicked Vampire magic to me.¡±

    ¡°All guards in her service are put under a geas that ensures their loyalty when they¡¯re sworn in. It¡¯s not inherently harmful on its own, and when they retire it¡¯s lifted. There¡¯s nothing wicked about it, especially since they have to willingly agree in the first place! ¡­I suppose you haven¡¯t really taken any formal history courses, and Her Majesty hasn¡¯t seen fit to explain the attempted rebellion against Lilith Aphtangloa.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard the name before, at least.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s¡­ a lot of fanciful stories about her, but I¡¯ll stick to the historical accounts.¡±

    They continued walking down the halls, Lycoris attempting to establish contact with whatever guards she came across to little success, while Athena regaled her with a tale of a tyrant long-dead in between.

    Apparently, Lilith had once been a son of the Deyfros family, a former member of the Seven. Having been deemed the most suitable¡ªor rather, only remaining¡ªcandidate at the time, he¡­ or she, was chosen as Heir-Significate, and eventually succeeded the throne as Exaltare.

    The problem, however, was that the Deyfros were¡­ ambitious. Like the Sefer and Idra, they were one of the ¡°original¡± families¡ªwhatever that meant¡ªand they had dreadfully strong opinions on how the world should work.

    But after taking the throne, their formerly loyal pawn had a sudden change of heart, deciding that the methods they¡¯d used to seat her were too extreme, rejecting their plot to dismantle the other six families and become the one and only true rulers of the Empire.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    The Empire she inherited had grown indolent, and was ill prepared for the Deyfros family¡¯s schemes.

    They had already placed several key agents within other families, to prepare for when Lilith would have called upon them. Those agents had instead been repurposed to destabilize her reign, her former family trying to drive a wedge between her and the rest of the Empire, hoping she would come crawling back to them.

    And yet she stubbornly defied them, maintaining her power base by continually drafting vampires into Aphtangloa¡¯s armies to campaign across the continent, subjugating the Plainstriders and nearly reaching all the way to the Sylphlands.

    Her influence and might was stretched thin as a result, and the Deyfros saw this as their chance to snatch the palace and Aphtangloa lineage out from under her. It was a complete disregarding of tradition and shook the foundations of the Empire¡ªmuch like current events, Lycoris mused.

    Naturally, Lilith was wary of them, and ordered the arrest of any agents among the Seven that her intelligence forces had identified.

    But she¡¯d acted too late, as the Deyfros had already infiltrated the royal guard sworn to protect her.

    When she returned to the palace¡ªnot the Transfixion of Heaven apparently, but a much older structure in the old capital of Sonfeallan¡ªshe received a hero¡¯s welcome, many of the populace celebrating the success of her latest campaign.

    That night, Grand Duke Murond Deyfros confronted her in the midst of the party, Aphtangloa soldiers at his back as he decried her as a heavy-handed tyrant, painting her as the one attempting to oust the other families.

    Given that she had excised several of their key members, the other families backed him, failing to see through Deyfros'' deceptions and fully believing her to be as tyrannical and power-mad as the Grand Duke claimed. At his command, a thousand soldiers were given the order to betray and depose the Exaltare.

    Lilith Aphtangloa tore out her father¡¯s heart, and then in a single night, reaped one thousand soldiers with her fabled scythe, and fled the city after somehow destroying the palace with a firestorm grand enough to level the old capital, its flames hot enough to melt even the bedrock.

    ¡°Accounts on what happened after are scattered, and this is where fables and legends take over for actual history. Personally I think she pulled a star from the sky and dropped it on the city. The ruins at least look like a meteorite struck, and there are still a lot of unexcavated, strange minerals left where the city once stood.¡±

    The two of them had relocated to a small parlor meant for entertaining guests, as the girl had become enraptured by the maid¡¯s storytelling and wanted to hear the rest uninterrupted.

    It was a room as well-furnished as anywhere in the palace, stocked with its own (locked) cabinet of bloodwine even. There was an empty fire pit that looked long-unused, and some odd metal and glass objects that Lycoris didn¡¯t recognize, but Athena simply waved her question away and said they were for projecting images for meetings.

    ¡°So then¡­ What happened? I mean, I¡¯ve never heard of the Deyfros before, and obviously Mama is the current Aphtangloa, so Lilith survived, right?¡±

    Athena scratched her cheek thoughtfully. ¡°Well¡­ With the destruction of the city and the death of Grand Duke Deyfros, the other families declared martial law and appointed a temporary figurehead. After, the surviving members of the Deyfros family vanished one by one, as though the Ancestors were spiriting them away for the sins they committed. Then, the Vanas seized the opportunity and rose to fill the power-vacuum the Deyfros left behind. They were already kind of on the way up, given their control over the food market.¡±

    The term ¡°food market¡± caused Lycoris to blanch as she recalled just what their primary ¡°product¡± was. But she pressed on with her questioning.

    ¡°But what about Lilith?¡±

    ¡°Nobody¡¯s really sure. It wasn¡¯t until several years later that the truth of what¡¯d happened came out, and her name was posthumously cleared. Around that same time, a girl with silver hair and red eyes was discovered. She claimed to be the next Exaltare, chosen by Lilith herself, but nobody could verify that outside of her obviously carrying Aphtangloa blood.¡±

    Lycoris nodded thoughtfully, ¡°That¡¯s a pretty classic trope, the one chosen by the Goddess arrives to guide their people¡­¡±

    ¡°Goddess? I wouldn¡¯t go that far. Lilith wasn¡¯t exactly the best ruler. Quality of life was fairly poor under her, considering how focused on territory expansion she was and how all the family in-fighting disrupted the supply chain for the common folk. It¡¯s no wonder everyone believed she was a mad tyrant who slew all her guards and her own family¡­¡±

    ¡°But she was obviously betrayed!¡± Lycoris exclaimed, ignoring the fact Lilith was quite literally the sort of world-conquering Tyrant she¡¯d sworn to slay.

    ¡°Anyways, the next Exaltare was more or less just a puppet who held no power, given that she wasn¡¯t properly selected as Heir-Significate and the Exaltare¡¯s seat was at its weakest without even a single soldier to its title or city to its name. It was the one that came after her that held the reforms to ensure absolute loyalty of her guard.¡±

    ¡°W-Wait, but I wasn¡¯t properly¡­ Um, isn¡¯t this very very bad for me!?¡±

    If I¡¯m not taken seriously, then doesn¡¯t that mean those stupid seven families will just walk right over me? If they do that then there¡¯s nothing I can do for humanity!

    ¡°Hahaha, but you¡¯re Her Majesty¡¯s actual child by birth. It¡¯s a completely different situation!¡±

    ¡°How can you even be so confident about that¡­¡±

    ¡°Because you can stand side-by-side with her and declare it together. It is true that Lilith¡¯s disappearance and the surfacing of her heir was fuel to the flames of doubt, and legends quickly began spreading that she¡¯d found a way to break the cursed shackles upon the Aphtangloa bloodline and bore an actual child. There¡¯s still some crazy cults out there waiting for the day she¡¯ll ¡®cure us of our sun-sickness.¡¯¡±

    ¡°¡­I guess that¡¯s why blondie asked Lilianna if she¡¯d pluck the sun from the sky, then?¡±

    ¡°B-B-Blon¡­*ahem* It¡¯s a fairly common insult stemming from that, yes.¡±

    ¡°Haahh¡­ I hope that I don¡¯t end up causing as huge a shock to society¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, no doubt Her Majesty has already concocted a flawless plan to ensure your safety, Princess Lycoris. Besides, who cares if people have already started coming up with rumors about your connection to that old legend?¡±

    At least Athena seemed confident, even if Lycoris had found quite a bit to worry over in the retelling. And it was true that Lilianna had promised that Lycoris wouldn¡¯t face any unnecessary hardship without her.

    That last part was a little troubling, especially considering she had no idea which people Athena could be talking about. But rather than tear the bandage off, she decided to let the sleeping dragonewt lie, for the time being.

    ¡°Well, thank you for sharing that with me, Athena. I was worried that I¡¯d be charting completely unknown territory here, but it sounds like there¡¯s some historical examples I can at least learn from. Even if they may not be the most factual accounts¡­¡±

    ¡°Your Highness¡­ Y-Your words are far too compassioniderate for the likes of me! Please, do not waste any expense on¡ª¡±

    ¡°What¡¯d I say about putting yourself down like that? Come now Athena, shape up. ¡®Tis a time for celebration, so hold thy head high,¡¯ and all that.¡±

    ¡°Ack! M-My sincerest apologies, Your Highness! I¡¯ll gladly offer¡­ er, um, I mean¡­ A-Are you feeling hungry at all yet? Perhaps we should return to your room for a late lunch.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ Perhaps. I¡¯m not feeling thirsty¡ª or, ¡®hungry¡¯ just yet. Might as well keep trying to get the guards to say something while we make our way back. I¡¯m sure at least one of them will be willing to open up to me! There¡¯s no reason to be afraid of a little girl after all. ¡­Maybe I should try asking them in a cutesy voice instead?¡±

    ¡°But your voice is always cute, Princess.¡±

    Pinching the bridge of her nose, Lycoris let out an exaggerated sigh.

 25 â€” Carrot and Stick

    Unfortunately, Lycoris found no more success with the guards on her way back.

    Even when she tried sounding overly saccharine, putting on her best impression of an excited Fawaris, the guards simply shied away from her, in some cases physically turning away for whatever reason¡­

    When she asked Athena if other members of the custodial staff would be any more likely to talk to her, she shook her head sadly.

    At least she¡¯d met an assortment of guards and would be able to tell if they¡¯d been replaced by doppelgangers, but her sour mood made the looming self-flagellatory meal of plain animal blood even less appealing than usual. At least it served to keep her sane, a reminder that she was enduring this to¡­ some end.

    Originally, she wanted to take Lilianna¡¯s place, slay her or otherwise remove her from any position of power or control, and collapse her empire from within.

    But that¡¯d been a naive, childish delusion. Even the Exaltare wasn¡¯t so powerful that she could single-handedly bring ruin to their entire society. After all, they managed to survive a calamity like Lilith. Lycoris would have to go back to the drawing board for a plan to defeat the vampires, whatever it¡¯d even end up being¡­

    Lycoris had even accepted that even if she somehow could reclaim her human form, she¡¯d pass on it, telling herself it wouldn¡¯t solve anything. In reality, she just couldn¡¯t imagine breaking off her relationship with her mom.

    All of this left her feeling adrift and aimless, isolated. It was quite reminiscent of when she had been relieved of her knightly duties.

    And yet, in spite of her problems and current sour mood, Lycoris was finally happy. Or at least, content. Any time she closed her eyes, she could envision the warmth that came from being together with her mother instead of feeling terrified, afraid, alone, or powerless. That was something she couldn¡¯t have possibly envisioned before.

    All that said, she really wished she could find out if Princess Fawaris and the Order of the Goddess¡¯ Rays were faring well, or find some way to de-bramble Mizar.

    She wanted to find Elham¡¯s remains and give him a proper burial.

    She wanted to find and thank the strange hooded ferryman that helped them cross the bay to the island where they sought refuge from the Plainstriders chasing them¡­ Though they had to fight off a village full of surface-dwelling Piscin after¡­ Which led to an underground tunnel into Geolle territory, and ultimately brought them to the underside of the Vampire Empire.

    She wanted to see the strangely friendly and humane Sylvan adventurers that¡¯d first introduced them to Tatyana and warn them about what sort of person she really was.

    Speaking of, she dearly wanted to drain the blood from that abhorrent woman¡¯s body, drop by drop, watching her writhe as the life gradually flowed out of her and horror dawned on her that she was finally receiving the comeuppance she¡ª

    ¡°Princess Lycoris? Hellooo~?¡±

    ¡°Ah? Uh, hm? What is it, Athena?¡±

    Lycoris blinked back to attention, realizing that her heart had started pounding on the walls of her chest.

    Along with her mounting dissatisfaction with animal blood, she¡¯d found herself struggling more and more with the impulse to tear that harlot limb from limb any time she thought of her. Not that she could do anything about it. Lycoris hadn¡¯t heard anything at all about Tatyana since her betrayal. Maybe she was already dead.

    The two matters felt worryingly related. Or perhaps it was a mistaken correlation, or they stemmed from a similar source of frustration¡­

    ¡°Do vampires go crazy if they don¡¯t drink human blood¡­?¡± She accidentally muttered aloud.

    Athena chuckled quietly, giving her a pitying look. ¡°If you hate the taste so much, you don¡¯t have to keep forcing yourself. Her Majesty would be quite displeased to hear that you¡¯re suffering mentally because of this whole human-obsession¡­¡±

    ¡°No! No, that¡¯s¡­ not an option. It¡¯s just¡­ I thought I¡¯d start getting used to it by now, but if anything it feels like it¡¯s gotten worse lately.¡±

    ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Athena put a finger to her lips thoughtfully, casting her gaze toward the elevator ceiling. ¡°Well, Your Highness is drinking unsweetened animal blood, so it¡¯s no surprise the taste is starting to grate. Most commoners go their whole lives without a truly quality meal though.¡±

    ¡°So my mental fortitude is simply lacking then¡­¡±

    Lycoris sighed, fiddling with the buttons on her vest as she began mentally chastising herself. It shouldn¡¯t be hard if it¡¯s the standard! Was it because she was part of the Exaltare¡¯s lineage? Or was it because she¡¯d already had a sinful taste of what awaited her if she gave in?

    ¡°Well, like I said¡­ it¡¯s unsweetened. That¡¯s basically one step away from raw blood¡­¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t all blood raw?¡±

    When she looked up at the maid, posing her innocent question, the blue-haired woman looked as though she¡¯d been slapped in the face by a wet sponge. Or several.

    With a wry chuckle, Athena scrunched her eyebrows together.

    ¡°That¡¯s quite an adorab¡ª errr¡­ Unique question, Princess. All blood is processed and treated accordingly, to prevent pathogens from spreading and to improve the flavor and quality. Even human blood, to some extent. After that, it¡¯s either mixed with additives or left to ripen, depending.¡±

    ¡°Wait, so vampires never just¡­ bite down on someone¡¯s neck and go to town?¡±

    ¡°Great Ancestors! Just what in the world have you been reading!? And how!? That¡¯s not¡ª no, Lycoris. We¡¯re not barbarians, that¡¯s incredibly unsanitary! Plus, you could end up with a ghoul on your hands if you aren¡¯t careful!¡±

    A ¡°supposed lesser creature¡± as her mother had put it when Lycoris once asked. Lilianna explained that the resulting ghoul was only a vampire in the most technical sense¡ªnever considered one socially¡ªand at best equated to a common thin-blooded civilian.

    Something about that explanation didn¡¯t sit particularly well with the Princess, however. Why had Lycoris been so different, ending up a ¡°proper¡± zeroth-generation Aphtangloa like her mother?

    ¡°D¡­ Don¡¯t worry about it. I didn¡¯t realize it was such a taboo topic.¡±

    ¡°Ahaha, Your Highness is truly a mysterious and wonderfully innocent girl. So wise and composed, yet so very¡­¡±

    When Athena choked back the next word, Lycoris glared up at her.

    ¡°So very what?¡±

    ¡°Er¡­ N-Naive. Please forgive my indescredulous thoughts, Princess! You may sever my arm and use it as a back scratcher to teach me a lesson!¡±

    The elevator came to a stop with a light thump, and the doors opened with the usual cutesy jingle.

    ¡°We¡¯ve been over this Athena, no death or mutilation. I want my maidservant to stay intact.¡±

    Lycoris pouted as she marched out of the elevator, the pair of guards standing before the gilded doors to the Elysian Sanctum offering her a crisp salute. It was the same pair that¡¯d been there when she left just before noon¡ªCharles and Percival.

    ¡°Welcome back, Your Highness!¡±

    ¡°Did you enjoy your walk?¡±

    ¡°It did me some good to stretch my legs, but sadly that is all I can say for it. Has Mother returned yet, Sir Charles?¡±

    The guard to the left seemed startled to be called by name, fumbling over himself as he cleared his throat. All guards in the palace had the same attire on, but their difference in height and subtle nuances in how they stood¡ªposture, arm position, and how they gripped their ceremonial glaives¡ªwas still enough to distinguish between individuals.

    Especially given her remarkably eidetic memory.

    ¡°N-No, Princess Lycoris. I¡¯m afraid she hasn¡¯t returned yet. Shall I send someone to check her schedule?¡± He cast a glance toward Athena, standing at attention behind the little princess.

    ¡°No need, I was merely curious.¡± Lycoris held up her hand. ¡°Thank you for your service.¡±

    ¡°But of course!¡±

    Even though she wished they¡¯d be slightly more willing to open up to her, it was hard to deny the satisfaction that came with everyone obeying her so unquestioningly. It was a far cry from having to shout at the rookies to stay focused during formation drills.

    Though, they seemed no less nervous. Had that been why her and Mizar¡¯s ¡°siege¡± gone so effortlessly?

    As she stepped through the opened doors, she sensed Athena hanging back, rather than following right in her shadow as normal. Turning around, she saw the maid waving with a raised hand.

    ¡°Apologies, Your Highness, but there¡¯s something I need to take care of real quick. I¡¯ll be back to serve your meal within ten minutes, I promise! Else you may boil me alive!¡±

    ¡°R¡­ Right. Very well, I can wait.¡±

    Lycoris decided to spare her the indignity of a scolding in front of the two guards, and returned to her room alone.

    Once inside, she pulled the locket from under her blouse and tightly grasped it as she walked past the wine case, stopping right in front of the curtains. Her arms and legs were already trembling, but if there was one thing that Lycoris had always hated more than anything else, even before¡ªespecially before¡ªit was feeling like she was the weak link.

    She tugged the curtains back with her eyes squinted shut, and opened them to look out at the peaks of the other buildings far below. The sense of vertigo returned as she fought to keep her vision from spinning. The moment she thought of being on the other side of the window, falling through the sky, her legs began quivering and her heart rate accelerated as she tumbled backwards.

    She couldn¡¯t even bring herself to stand back up and go pull the curtains shut, turning around and crawling toward her bed instead.

    ¡°I¡­ know Mama said¡­ ¡®safe exposure is the best way to overcome fears,¡¯ but¡­¡±

    After pulling herself up onto the bed, she began mumbling privately to the locket, as she did whenever she was ¡°alone¡± with him.

    ¡°I know you¡¯d believe in me regardless, you¡¯d probably say something like ¡®My amazing Lycoris can do it! She can do anything, just look at how skilled I ended up at swordsmanship¡¯ or whatever¡­ Even though that had all been your own natural talent and practice.¡±

    She sighed and flopped backwards on the bed, dangling her legs as she held Mizar above her, slowly stroking the side of the locket as her trembling arms caused the bramble inside to rattle about.

    ¡°¡­I know. I won¡¯t give up that easily. You don¡¯t need to worry about me, so just focus on getting better. Hehehe¡­ haahh, what am I even doing?¡±

    Feeling a little better¡ªand slightly embarrassed¡ªafter speaking to her cherished companion, Lycoris hopped back up to her feet and glanced towards the window. With Mizar at her side, she knew she¡¯d be able to overcome anything.

    They¡¯d come this far together, after all.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    Lycoris slumped forward over the study desk that had been brought to her room a few months back, cheek pressed against the cold lacquered black wood as the room slowly rotated about.

    Athena tenderly rubbed her back, her other hand pressed against her cheek in concern. She had walked in to find Lycoris splayed out on the floor, in a decidedly undignified and mortifying position.

    Naturally, Athena had rushed over and gently shaken her back to her senses, and guided¡ªreally more like carried¡ªher over to the desk and sat her down.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be alright¡­ I just¡­ need a moment.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure, Your Highness? You were unconscious right beside the drink cabinet. Were you¡ª¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not because I was thirsty. I was¡­ training.¡±

    ¡°Training, Your Highness?¡±

    Lycoris turned her head to look up at Athena from her resting pose. ¡°¡­ ¡­ ¡­To overcome my fear of heights.¡±

    ¡°Ahhh¡­ I see.¡±

    Athena gave her an understanding smile, before rather pointedly getting up to close the window¡¯s curtains.

    After returning, she gestured to the pair of boxes resting on the table beside Lycoris. One was small and rectangular, the other larger and more square-shaped; both were bundled up in deep blue paper, and wrapped with reflective gold tape.

    ¡°Her Majesty ordered I pick these up from the palace kitchen and her office. I was going to apologize for being so late, but¡­¡±

    ¡°I managed to keep myself busy, it¡¯s fine.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s certainly one way to put it.¡±

    Lycoris slowly lifted her head off the table, examining the pair of gifts.

    ¡°These must be what Mom was talking about last night¡­ But there¡¯s two.¡± Lycoris frowned. ¡°Is one of them supposed to be for tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°Mmm, I think they¡¯re both meant to be opened today. Otherwise Her Majesty wouldn¡¯t have ordered me to bring them both! Why not start with the smaller one?¡±

    Athena held up the smaller box, offering it to Lycoris like a ceremonial treasure almost. She also threw in a little wink, which only made Lycoris more suspect.

    ¡°Why? ¡­Also, would it not be best to wait for Mom to return? It doesn¡¯t feel right to open these without her.¡±

    ¡°Wellll¡­ Mm. One of them is sort of time sensitive¡­ but you¡¯re not wrong¡­ Are you certain you¡¯re willing to wait, Your Highness?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    ¡°You aren¡¯t champing at the bit to see what they are?¡±

    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.?¡°Not really¡­¡±

    It wasn¡¯t like she¡¯d ever received presents before now. Even just looking at the nicely wrapped up gifts and knowing they were hers brought the girl a simple sort of satisfaction.

    Plus, she¡¯d been under the impression that the gifts were as much for the giver to enjoy giving as they were for the recipient to delight over receiving.

    Athena picked up the larger box as Lycoris smiled at them.

    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll put this one on ice to keep it fresh. Then I¡¯ll pour you your meal.¡±

    ¡°Oh, right.¡±

    Lycoris pursed her lips bitterly.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    Gathered around the long conference table were an eclectic group of vampires.

    At the head, with an irritated frown on her face, was naturally the Exaltare.

    To her immediate left was her executioner, Lesath, who had an impassive expression as always.

    On her other side was the stenographer, though his job was looked down upon by most of the members gathered around, seen as ¡°pointless busy work for the frail of blood.¡± Regardless of the dissenting opinions, Her Majesty always ensured his presence at these sorts meetings to maintain a smooth flow of information to the necessary parties.

    Various other important staffers and courtiers were in attendance, though their presence was either superficial or to gather intel for more important members of the Seven. The most critical attendees were the three men standing in front of the whiteboard, clad in their mythril kevlar and plate mail of thrice-tempered ceramic elbinaut.

    These three individuals had been chosen as the leaders of the Geolle Investigation Taskforce. And their teamwork thus far had been¡­ lacking, to put it mildly.

    The seventh son of Duke Sefer, the young Carlisto ¡°Firebrand¡± Sefer, slammed his gloved hand on the table, his messy bright orange curls falling over his brow as he leaned forward.

    ¡°The facts simply don¡¯t line up! The ¡®reports¡¯ that the squad brought back claim that Mayor Bleek had been in charge of smuggling ores across the bay into Human territory, but that¡¯s impossible! None of the geolle we apprehended¡ªall of whom readily admitted they worked as his close aides¡ªconfessed any knowledge of what was happening! Such a large-scale operation would be impossible for a single man¡­ or, rock, whatever, to accomplish in secret!¡±

    ¡°Need we remind you,¡± a stuffy, drawling voice spoke up from the table, ¡°that the Geolle are uniquely resilient against mental manipulation and interrogation.¡±

    The second soldier overseeing the operation, Douglas Mano, gently pushed Carlisto back and stepped forward.

    ¡°We accounted for this, yes. Even now we have individuals investigating the underground city, but almost too conveniently, every single illicit shipment had already been evacuated before we arrived. As though whoever was framing the mayor had already long gotten what they were there for. To say nothing of eye-witness accounts from unsuspecting residents claiming that there was no odd behavior on Bleek¡¯s behalf.¡±

    ¡°If anything, he¡¯s an outspoken critic of the civil unrest plaguing their people,¡± Carlisto added.

    ¡°All of that should be in the documents we sent to your terminals already.¡±

    Douglas forced himself to remain composed as some of those around the table touched the tablets in front of them for the first time. Everything they said thus far was clearly outlined in the report they had mailed to the meeting staff. Carlisto should have brought that up first and foremost, rather than waste everyone¡¯s time repeating it out loud.

    He wondered why the Exaltare had purposefully stuck the three soldiers together, when they had little in the way of cohesion; similarly, the staff in attendance all seemed so¡­ indifferent, her worst of all¡ªnot that he¡¯d ever say so out loud. Even thinking such a thing was dangerous enough before the mind-reader.

    ¡­Perhaps that rumored power of hers was the very reason why she had yet to even glance at the tablet before her.

    ¡°If any insurrectionists are still out there plotting against Your Majesty, it''s clear they caught wind of our coming and absconded before we could make our move. I posit that, rude as it may sound, there is a mole among your courtiers, Exaltare.¡±

    The third soldier spoke from behind, with his arms crossed and shoulder-length seafoam-green hair all but flowing in an imaginary breeze. He may have been Cedric¡¯s second cousin, but Malteus Idra was hardly second place when it came to filling Douglas with the urge to do whatever it took to avoid being in his company at any given moment.

    The Exaltare offered no response, save for tilting her head to the side.

    On command, Lesath opened a manila envelope and withdrew a set of documents, which she laid beside the untouched tablet before Lilliana.

    ¡°What are those?¡± asked Douglas.

    A slight smile curled at the edge of Malteus¡¯ lips. ¡°Forgive me, Your Majesty. It seems as though you are a step ahead of us.¡±

    Without even looking down, the irate ruler brushed aside the top five pages, drumming her fingers on the sixth buried in the middle.

    The way her eyes never left the three men across the table was¡­ unsettling, to put it mildly.

    ¡°It seems as though we have been taken for a fool.¡±

    The slight hint of delight on the Idra soldier¡¯s face vanished as her words washed over him like a bucket of ice water.

    She slid the paper forward onto the table for the entire gathering to read, and moments later gasps spread throughout the room.

    It was a list of luxury gems, alchemical reagents, pelts from underground beasts, and other miscellaneous goods being traded to Malteus Idra¡¯s personal estate in exchange for his silence.

    The man¡¯s face paled, shock and confusion spreading across it as he began stammering.

    ¡°What is the meaning of this!?¡±

    ¡°I knew you were a snake, Malteus!¡±

    ¡°Wait! W-Wait, wait wait¡­ I¡­¡±

    The other two immediately turned to glare at him, stopping just short of drawing blades.

    He scrambled, looking past the two of them, at the figure sitting silently beside the Exaltare. Everyone attending knew that none could stop Her Majesty¡¯s left hand, if ordered to bring death.

    ¡°I was the one who submitted these as evidence! Why would I implicate myself!?¡±

    ¡°Indeed, we wonder the same.¡± A cruel smile curled on the Exaltare¡¯s lips. ¡°Baladrian.¡±

    As she spoke his name, one of the men around the table stood up and adjusted his glasses, slicking his bright red hair back as he lifted his tablet.

    ¡°Her Majesty requested an audit of Count Idra¡¯s holdings, and over the course of the investigation it was found that all the items listed here were in fact sent through secondary buyers and back-channels to his estate. A formal search of the premises has yet to be carried out, pending the Exaltare and High Court¡¯s approval.¡±

    Murmurs spread across the table as Malteus clenched his fist, blood trickling down his lip as his fangs bit down in suppressed fury.

    ¡°Damn it, where the hell did¡ª Listen, I¡­¡± He forced out a calming breath, speaking deliberately, ¡°I have no idea where any of that could have come from. I have no doubt that Your Majesty is aware I had no opportunity to broker such an exchange. I¡­¡±

    He looked at Carlisto, letting his shoulders slump.

    ¡°Originally, that paper had Carlisto¡¯s name on it. I assumed that he was responsible for both this unrest and the recent turmoil in Her Majesty¡¯s abode.¡±

    ¡°You snake!¡±

    As befit his epithet, the fiery-haired man was on him in a second, gripping Malteus¡¯s uniform by the collar as he hefted him up.

    ¡°Give me one reason why I shouldn¡¯t cut your head from your shoulders this instant!¡±

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s as you said, something isn¡¯t adding up.¡±

    Having revealed his hand, Malteus looked relieved in spite of his position.

    ¡°The Idra were seeking to capitalize on this, further pressuring Sefer after the recent blunder in our abode, hm?¡± Lilianna unhappily drawled. ¡°That is quite the accusation to implicate thine own family of, young Malteus.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t go that far, Your Majesty,¡± Douglas interjected, standing in front of the other two as Malteus continued to dangle on tip-toe. ¡°True, he may have seen that and blithely thought it to be an opportune moment¡ªbut more likely he saw it as a damning smoking gun. If it was planted by the Idra, why change it at the last hour to throw their own under the bus?¡±

    Both of the other two looked surprised that Douglas was speaking on Malteus¡¯ behalf.

    Strangely, Lilianna nodded. For the first time since the conference convened, a smile played across her lips.

    ¡°Thou can cease with thine act. We presume thou already knew of this paper.¡±

    Douglas nodded. ¡°I snuck a look at it before Malteus handed it over. It¡¯s as he said.¡±

    ¡°When thy team investigated the scene, did the land reveal any secrets through your Recollective Calculus?¡±

    Douglas shivered, wondering just how far ahead Her Majesty had seen in the instant the puzzle pieces had gathered in her mind.

    ¡°No. The magic was muddled, the images completely smeared. I¡¯ve never seen anything like it. It was as though someone taken the ambient mana and moulded it like clay. Or, wiped it clean, might be more accurate¡­¡±

    Troubled whispers spread across the conference table, but Lilianna seemed nonplussed¡ªsave for the return of her foul grimace.

    ¡°Sloppy work, to simply wipe the scene clean rather than create a new one. That implies our little Wizard was in a hurry, or an utter amateur,¡± she mused.

    ¡°Our¡­ Wizard, Your Majesty?¡±

    Carlisto had dropped Malteus, both of them joining Douglas as the entire table¡¯s eyes fell upon their sovereign.

    Lilianna inclined her head slowly. ¡°Indeed. Now that we have properly unveiled our precious flower to the world, it is perhaps safe to reveal another piece of information. The first assault on our palace seven months prior was carried out by a Hero.¡±

    ¡°WHAT!?¡±

    Everyone present tensed up, a frigid heat filling the air as anxiety and anger swelled.

    Understandable, given that every time in history a heroic figure appeared, humanity always rallied around them and threatened to push back their borders.

    ¡°They were¡­ dealt with. We can assure you of this.¡±

    Sighs of relief spread about. Just as there were heroes who shook the world, there were plenty that amounted to nothing. It didn¡¯t make them any less of a threat, however, given this one had managed to make it undetected all the way to the Exaltare¡¯s very seat of power.

    Malteus clasped a hand to his face. ¡°Ancestors, you nearly gave me a heart attack. ¡­Er, apologies, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Hmm. We think you are all far too lax after hearing that. Perhaps an extracurricular history lesson is in order.¡±

    ¡°Your meaning, Exaltare?¡± Carlisto tilted his head.

    ¡°A Hero is like a weed. It spreads its seeds on the cold wind everywhere it travels, quickly digging its roots into the soil and sucking up the local nutrients. And it never moves alone, always gathering up a party of like-minded or desperate souls. What we dealt with was the Hero, but the rest remain at large. This¡­¡±

    She tapped her finger on the piece of paper.

    ¡°And the visual errors with Recollective Calculus point to two things. First, there are multiple agents still in play. Most likely¡­¡± She closed her eyes, as though recalling an old memory. ¡°A Rook¡ªor some other roguish archetype¡ªand a Wizard, as we already mentioned. They know our methods for investigating crime scenes, have information on the state of our family squabbles, seek to sow further seeds of discord, and are attempting to ¡®uplift¡¯ the Geolle to destabilize our empire.¡±

    She scoffed, putting heavy emphasis as she air quoted uplift.

    The topic seemed to have brought out something in her, as the Exaltare seemed simultaneously annoyed, furious, and almost nostalgic.

    ¡°Then¡­ You mean to say we nearly fell for their scheme?¡± Carlisto quavered in fury.

    ¡°Damned humans! They think they know how to pull our strings better than us? The Idra!? I¡¯ll tear their limbs away and watch them crawl in the dirt like the worms they are!¡±

    ¡°Now that you understand whomst our foe is, perhaps the three of you shall cease pointing blades inward, hm?¡±

    Lilianna¡¯s icy words immediately calmed their boiling hatred.

    Apart from the stenographer typing away, silence fell upon the conference room.

    ¡°¡­Apologies, Count Idra.¡±

    ¡°I as well. I should have gone to you first with those papers.¡±

    ¡°You can make amends on your own time,¡± the Exaltare hissed. She turned her attention to the entire table, ¡°It should go without saying that unity is paramount. We trust the three chosen by this committee to truly work together now, and expect that all present shall set aside personal grievances. As an added precaution, we shall seize the holdings of all members present in the interim, to investigate their origins and ideally catch this Rook by their tail. Naturally, they shall be returned at a suitable time.¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes¡­ Your Majesty!¡±

    Malteus'' face soured, but he reluctantly agreed alongside the rest of the table. Nobody in their right mind would dissent, given the situation facing them.

    Carlisto didn¡¯t seem any more pleased, but nodded with a tired sigh.

    ¡°Then until any new information comes in, we shall retire to our chambers. To think such dross would waste High Moonsend¡ªour daughter¡¯s birthday¡ªon this.¡±

    As the Exaltare aired her grievances to a captive audience, she stood up and began walking toward the exit¡­

    Until one of the staffer¡¯s phones began ringing.

    And then another.

    And then Douglas¡¯ joined the chorus. As he fished it out of his armor, he saw it was from his lieutenant back in the underground city of Den-Ghel.

    ¡°Douglas speaking. This better be urg¡ª¡±

    ¡®Commander! Thank the Ancestors the call went through. It¡¯s an emergency! There was a massive earthquake, part of the city¡¯s been buried in rubble.¡¯

    ¡°Were we attacked!?¡±

    ¡®We¡¯re uncertain, but a large amount of our task force was caught up in it, alongside several civilians.¡¯

    ¡°Investigate the cause at once! Find out if it was the work of an individual or a group!¡±

    ¡®Sir¡­¡¯ the voice on the other end of the line hesitated. ¡®That may prove difficult¡­¡¯

    ¡°Explain.¡±

    ¡®The Geolle are claiming that it was our presence that upset their Mother Terra, that we¡¯re the reason their tremor safeguards failed.¡¯

    ¡°Then get them under control! We can¡¯t risk a riot when there¡¯s a¡­¡±

    He froze, looking around the room and eventually settling his gaze on the furious, unpleasant scowl of the Exaltare.

    ¡®Sir?¡¯

    ¡°The ones responsible are still at large. Check for signs of magic, don¡¯t let anyone destroy the evidence! If you find any non-geolle you don¡¯t recognize, apprehend them at once!¡±

    ¡®Sir!¡¯

    He hung up the call and nodded at the other two, both of whom looked eager to rush out of the room.

    Douglas never could have predicted that he¡¯d be avid to work alongside a member of the Idra. Especially someone as smarmy as Malteus. And yet here they were.

    ¡°Your Majesty, leave this matter to the three of us.¡±

 26 â€” Red Velvet Surprise

    Lycoris rolled around on her bed in her loungewear, grumbling and sighing.

    It¡¯d been a few hours since her haphazard ¡°heights endurance training,¡± after which she¡¯d left again to take care of her actual training session that evening¡­ Sadly Athena never wanted to spar with her, for whatever reason. She¡¯d even already taken care of her bath and evening hygiene, during which she half expected her mother to surprise her by erupting from the bathwater like a lamprey-mouthed Piscin ready to pounce.

    Naturally, though perhaps not regrettably, there was no such ambush.

    ¡°Your Highness! You can¡¯t roll around like that, you¡¯ll mess up your hair!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m bored though!¡± She sat back up, her loose bun of hair sagging slightly. ¡°How much longer is Mother going to be busy?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t know. Are you¡­ certain you wish to keep waiting? After all, Her Majesty did say¡ª¡±

    Interrupting Athena, the door to Lycoris¡¯ room swung open. The maid froze in terror, but Lycoris happily bounded off her bed and rushed over to embrace her mother before even confirming who it was.

    Not that it really could have been anyone else.

    ¡°Oh! Goodness, were you waiting for us, little flower?¡±

    ¡°Ah, um¡­ I just¡­ I merely thought it was only sensible to wait for you before opening my gifts.¡±

    Remembering herself, Lycoris pulled back and cleared her throat.

    Lilianna looked uncharacteristically flustered.

    ¡°Is¡­ that so? We apologize for being busy for so much of your birthday. All the more so for making you wait.¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s okay! I made the decision to wait on my own; though, I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be gone so long. Did something happen?¡±

    Lycoris gently grasped her mother¡¯s hand and led her into the room, where she sat down in one of the spare chairs set along the wall beside her desk.

    Perhaps it was simply because Lilianna felt guilty over not being as present as she would have liked for her daughter¡¯s birthday, but Lycoris felt as though there was something weighing on her mother.

    The thought alone was enough to make her slightly anxious. Her mother would never normally show such a¡­ frail display, after all.

    Athena headed to the door at the same time, smiling with the same nervousness as ever when both mother and daughter were present.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go and fetch the ca¡ªcooling off present. Ahaha¡­ be right back!! Not that my presence is required for any of this! In fact, pay me no mind! Forget I said anything1¡±

    ¡°Hm? Yes, of course.¡±

    Even the Exaltare¡¯s response to Athena¡¯s anxious babbling seemed somewhat sluggish.

    She must have realized how she was behaving, as she forced the frown off her face and smiled instead as she watched Lycoris sit down at her desk.

    The girl briefly glanced at the present in front of her, before shaking her head and turning to look up at her mother instead.

    ¡°Is¡­ something wrong, Mama?¡± She almost couldn¡¯t believe the words coming out of her mouth.

    ¡°Hm? Oh, some troubling information came to light in our last meeting. Don¡¯t worry dear, there''s nothing that you need to¡­¡±

    She trailed off, staring directly at her daughter. Her frown gradually returned.

    Lycoris squirmed uncomfortably, unable to recall a time that her mother had given her such a look. Perhaps when she¡¯d found out that Lycoris had been starving herself, or when she¡¯d snuck out of the palace. Though, Lilianna had seem more upset than concerned after the latter.

    Lycoris reached for the wrapped rectangular present, hugging it against herself.

    ¡°Was it¡­ bad for me to not open my gift?¡±

    ¡°What¡ªno, no dear. We apologize.¡±

    Lilianna paused, looking¡­ torn about something.

    After a moment of awkward silence between the two of them, she finally asked the question that¡¯d been hanging on the tip of her tongue.

    ¡°Lycoris, you don¡¯t have to speak if it¡¯s uncomfortable, but we¡­ need to learn all we can of the humans you journeyed with. It is a matter of national security.¡±

    The young vampire tilted her head. ¡°National security¡­? Does it have to do with your meeting¡­?¡±

    Lycoris was stunned into near silence. It was the first time her mother had taken the initiative on bringing up the girl¡¯s life before becoming her daughter.

    How strange that the first day she didn¡¯t dedicate her morning to thinking of them was when her mother asked.

    Why now? Plus, there¡¯s¡­ only one left. And she was the one who betrayed us to the vampires in the first place! ¡­Did she double cross them or something? Wait, could it be that she wasn¡¯t working alongside Mama in the first place? But¡­

    ¡°It does, yes. Like we said, if it¡¯s difficult for you, then¡ª¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Lycoris spoke louder than she intended, squeezing the box against her as her hands tightly clenched. Her tone darkened, loose bangs drifting in front of her eyes as she muttered like a girl possessed.

    ¡°Tatyana is a horrible, awful traitor who deserves a brutal, cruel end. She sold us out. She¡¯s the reason Elham died; the reason why Mizar had to¡­ sacrifice himself.¡± She clutched the locket, a cruel gleam in her eyes as she looked up. ¡°Where is she?¡±

    ¡°¡­We aren¡¯t sure. What of the others? Is this¡­ ¡®Elham¡¯ someone good with subterfuge, by chance? Is there a chance that he might still be alive, and working together¡ª¡±

    ¡°None. He died in my arms.¡±

    Lilianna looked momentarily taken aback, before barreling past the awkward air. ¡°Then, is there anyone else that your party encountered? Someone who might be willing to help this Tatyana. For that matter, what can you tell us about her?¡±

    ¡°She called herself a Witch. She knows a lot about magic. And she sold us out to the vampires. The moment we set foot in Ljosdeyja, an entire division of soldiers ambushed us. We were able to deal with them all, thanks to Elham¡¯s divine magic and Mizar¡¯s¡­ well, he probably could have carved his way through an entire army on his own. Anyways, that was when Elham suffered a fatal blow protecting me. Even though he was the one who knew how to use healing magic¡­¡±

    ¡°I see, then she was the Wizard, Elham was the Priest, and Mizar obviously the Hero.¡±

    ¡°Err¡­ yes, but¡­ you¡¯re making them sound like characters out of a storybook.¡±

    ¡°Legends are carved into the grooves of history for a reason, Lycoris. As time passes, events repeat, and like a canyon, the same trodden paths eventually form a pattern that we learn from, lest we permit them to continue ad infinitum. To ignore that history and its patterns would be negligence of the highest order¡­ To put it simply, Heroes are dangerous.¡±

    ¡°¡­Dangerous¡­¡±

    It felt like a wedge placed over her relationship to Mizar.

    Conflicting feelings welled up inside of Lycoris. There was nothing dangerous about him. Aside from how recklessly he took his own body''s well-being at least, though Lycoris had nobody to blame but herself for instilling such an unhealthy work ethic into the boy at a young age.

    And naturally, Lilianna was no more dangerous herself. Well, perhaps she was in a literal sense, but she was a thoughtful and considerate ruler, who possessed a loving heart.

    Lycoris wished she could sit the two of them down together, explain that Lilianna wasn''t the monster they thought she was. That if anything, she was the one holding the real monsters at bay.

    Perhaps¡­ they could have simply talked it out, and come to terms?

    It was a naive thought, but Lycoris didn¡¯t want to give up either side.

    But, she didn''t feel comfortable telling her mother the same of Mizar. Maybe she was simply afraid her mother might impart some blasphemous knowledge, or otherwise drive down that wedge.

    Dangerous¡­

    ¡°To you as well, Lycoris. We would sooner wipe out the entire continent than ever let a hero threaten our precious little flower. But¡­ back to our original topic, you didn¡¯t mention any other individuals you encountered. Was there any who seemed particularly roguish? And, we don¡¯t suppose you recall any identifying symbols on the vampires who ambushed your group.¡±

    ¡°Umm¡­ I don¡¯t recall any particular heraldry¡­ And most of the people we encountered were isolationist. It¡¯s not like we¡¯d associate with a bunch of monsters that¡¯d try to stomp us out like the Plainstriders or Piscin¡­¡± Lycoris fidgeted nervously. ¡°Do you¡­ trust me, Mama?¡±

    ¡°Hm? Of course. Why would we ever have reason to doubt you, dear?¡±

    ¡°I mean, I was part of that group too¡­ What if I was secretly a plant to disrupt the Empire from the inside? What if I¡¯m that other person you¡¯re looking for!?¡±

    ¡°Are you?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Then there¡¯s no reason to worry about it.¡±

    Lycoris stared dumbfounded at her mother.

    It was like the concept that she could have any motive other than one that suited the Aphtangloa was a complete impossibility¡­

    ¡°¡­Plus, you made it perfectly clear that you would tear that Tatyana woman to shreds yourself if you ever got the chance. That degree of hatred is difficult to fake. Not that we would ever wish for our precious daughter to be weighed down by such unpleasant emotions.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ see¡­ ¡­¡±

    She fell silent, her arms loosening as she watched the somewhat squished present flop into her lap.

    Another thought, pointless as it was, came to Lycoris¡¯ mind as the strange awkwardness in the air only grew heavier.

    I wonder¡­ what role did I serve in the group? Why did Mizar even bring me? Why did he trust me with something so important?

    It was a question she had buried beneath her etiquette lessons and gradual acclimation to her new life, but one that had never gone away.

    She wondered if her mom would have any answers, but¡­ it felt somehow wrong to ask about a person that the woman didn¡¯t see her as.

    If anything, she¡¯d probably just say ¡®Why, you¡¯re the Long-Lost Princess, brought home after your forty-year sojourn¡¯ or something ridiculous like that¡­

    Lycoris chuckled to herself at the thought, shaking her head to dispel the gloomy mood hanging over her.

    ¡°Sorry, can we change topics now? I don¡¯t really know anything else¡­ I guess I could go down the list of every single person we met, but I don¡¯t know who would be willing to work with Tatyana. She kept a lot to herself.¡±

    ¡°Right, of course dear. We¡¯re sorry for interrupting our time together with work-related matters. You¡¯ve already been more than enough of a help. Besides, it¡¯s your birthday! We may be celebrating tomorrow as well, but today is the most special day of the three.¡±

    Lilianna reached forward to lightly tousle Lycoris¡¯ bundled up hair and give her ear a ticklish pinch, coercing the girl into wriggling about in her seat.

    Before she could get any more carried away, the door opened again and Athena marched back in¡­ Except the present in her hands had already been opened, revealing the small cylindrical cake resting inside. It was pure white and decorated with bright red frosted spider lilies and lettering, spelling out ¡°Happy Birthday, Little Flower¡± on it. It looked¡­ surprisingly reserved, compared to the literal golden foil used to tie the sapphire-colored box up.

    But that made sense, probably. It wasn¡¯t like gold was particularly edible, and wouldn¡¯t make for a good decoration on food¡­ Though Lycoris could recall some nobles swearing by ¡°enriching¡± their meals with the stuff regardless.

    It carried a lovely, sweet scent, and radiated a slight chill, a bead of condensation slipping down one smoothed side of it.

    Lycoris looked at it in awe as Athena set it in front of her on her desk.

    ¡°One birthday cake for Her Highness Lycoris, ordered as per Her Majesty¡¯s specifications! The kitchen staff were all more than overjoyed to bake it. Hehe, they even asked if they could see a picture of the Princess¡¯ reaction. ¡­Naturally, I told them not to get big-headed about it.¡±

    Athena beamed proudly, exchanging a surreptitious glance with Lilianna.

    The Exaltare nodded in response, clearing her throat to draw Lycoris¡¯ attention.

    ¡°There is¡­ one thing we have to tell you ahead of time, Lycoris. Because we went through the kitchen staff, they naturally used¡­ Quality ingredients. Meaning, human blood. We ordered it to be made for you this morning before work without thinking about the details.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°But it¡¯s your birthday today! It¡¯s supposed to be a day of celebration! You deserve to savor tasty food, enjoy good company and nice gifts, and maybe do something a little reckle¡ªer¡­ I mean uh¡­ Oh, yes! Her Majesty believes that Your Highness should cease torturing yourself. It pains her heart every time she sees you gag¡ª¡±

    ¡°Athena.¡±

    ¡°Eep! M-M-M-Muh-My most s-s-sincere apo¡­ apolo¡ª¡±

    ¡°Athena.¡±

    Lycoris barely processed what the two of them were saying as she stared at the cake, a slight wave of dizziness shaking the back of her mind. The scarlet flowers blooming on it suddenly took on quite a sinister tone.

    But it was a present for her.

    She had already completely botched last night¡¯s gift. And she¡¯d just finished having a rather heavy conversation already.

    This was supposed to be when things turned around.

    She didn¡¯t want to ruin another gift.

    But it was¡­

    A person. Someone had literally bled for this cake.

    But they were already gone. Throwing the cake out wouldn¡¯t change anything at this point.

    It would simply be spitting her mother¡¯s kindness toward her.

    It would be a waste. It could only bring more misery.

    ¡°I-I-I think you could indulge in¡­ at least a slice¡­ I¡¯m sure that human would allow you that much!¡±

    Mizar would?

    Lycoris¡¯ head spun as she stared at her namesake decorated atop the cake. It was almost taunting her, as if saying she¡¯d already murdered the ingredients for this dessert.

    It wasn¡¯t even like it was the first time she¡¯d consumed human blood.

    Lycoris bit her lip. Confusion and guilt battled inside her heart. She couldn¡¯t even tell why she felt so bad. Was it because of the concept of a life lost? Was it her worries over what the Goddess would think? Or did she really just so badly want to avoid seeing that sad look of disappointment on her mother¡¯s face again?

    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Would he really¡­ be fine with this? If I explained everything to him, told him how much I¡¯ve struggled¡­ would he say this is fine? Did he ever indulge in anything on his own birthdays¡­?

    It wasn¡¯t as though they had the luxury of celebrating such things on their journey, outside of an evening of cheering and maybe some extra salted rations¡­ and bitter tea from Elham.

    And if the Goddess really did forsake vampires for the sin of drinking blood, then Lycoris would probably already be¡­

    ¡°This was clearly a mistake. Our apologies dear, we should have foreseen this. Athena, take it away. Do not push our daughter any further, or else.¡±

    ¡°H-Hhhhiiieeee! Y-Yes Your Majesty!¡±

    Athena reached in front of Lycoris¡ª

    ¡°Wait.¡±

    Both the adults stopped, looking down at Lycoris as she clenched her hands tight enough to draw blood.

    ¡°Lycoris, there¡¯s no need to force yourself,¡± her mother spoke softly.

    ¡°It¡­ It would be disrespectful to the dead¡­ to let it go to waste. And¡­¡±

    The little vampire looked at her mom, wiping away the budding tears from her eyes.

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s a gift from Mama. So it¡¯s¡­ s-special. I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll taste good, too,¡± she added in a quiet mumble. ¡°Can you fetch some tableware, Athena?¡±

    ¡°At once, Your Highness!¡±

    ¡°Wait. Before that,¡± Lilianna held up her hand, ¡°we still have to sing.¡±

    ¡°¡­Sing?¡±

    Lycoris looked between the two of them as a knowing smile spread across Athena¡¯s face. The two of them inhaled in sync.

    Then, they began to cheerily sing a somewhat somber melody.

    ¡°May the sun stay far away

    From our grand and hallowed halls,

    Let this be a blessed day

    By Ancestors and family,

    For today is a special one

    Belonging only to you,

    Happy birthday, dearest Lycoris,

    May you live to see many more.¡±

    Lycoris fidgeted, feeling a ticklish sense of embarrassment at being the center of the ceremony. Her cheeks flushed a dark purple as shy warmth suffused her.

    It went without saying, but she¡¯d never been subjected to anything quite like it before; the closest was when she¡¯d received accolades for her service in battle, or when she was discharged¡­

    After they finished singing¡ªand clapping, on Athena¡¯s part¡­ until Lilianna glowered at her¡ªthe maid shuffled over to the cabinet to fetch some silverware, while Lycoris stared at her birthday cake.

    She¡¯d be lying if she said her heart was fully committed, even if she had already made up her mind.

    ¡°With how much you¡¯ve been putting that poor present through the wringer, perhaps we should have gifted you a stuffed animal instead. Would you like to open that gift now, dear?¡±

    ¡°Oh, right.¡±

    Lycoris looked down at the small, mildly abused giftbox and unwrapped it, revealing a smooth and oddly plasticky feeling box beneath. The front of it had a translucent window, through which she saw¡ª

    ¡°Ohhh! ¡­Here I expected it to be a piece of jewelry. Even though I¡¯d never seen you use one before¡­ I didn¡¯t think that you actually never owned one,¡± Athena called out from the corner of the room, peering back with a stack of plates in her hands.

    ¡°Silence, maid. You¡¯ve been far too loquacious today¡­ Lycoris, you need to grip the reins on your servant tighter.¡±

    ¡ªa cell phone. It had a sleek silver back, reminding her of her hair and wings. The metal felt cool in her hands, the smoothness of it making her cradle it gently, afraid that it might slip between her fingers and fall.

    After spending several minutes fumbling with the packaging and wrappings clinging to it, Lycoris poked its glass screen, only for nothing to appear or light up.

    Odd, isn¡¯t that supposed to bring the display up? Uh oh¡­

    ¡°Mmh¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­You have to power it on first, dear. Hold down the button on the side there.¡±

    When Lycoris did as instructed, the screen brightly lit up, and then settled on a picture of herself in the dress she¡¯d worn last night¡­ being held up under the arms and hugged by Lilianna as she had a delighted smile on her face.

    She remembered that moment, it¡¯d been when she first tried on the outfit a few weeks prior¡­ And there had been only one other person in their presence at that time.

    Lycoris¡¯ eyes briefly darted to the maid, then back to her mother, who gave her a gentle smile.

    ¡°Though, mouthy as she¡¯s being, perhaps her photography talents have earned your maid a modicum of preening.¡±

    ¡°When did¡ª How did¡ª I¡­¡± Lycoris stammered, her earlier embarrassment returning in droves.

    ¡°Your mother asked me to take photos of the dress fitting, and of all the ones I took, she decided to set that one as your background.¡±

    Lycoris looked down at it again, pursing her lips tightly.

    The picture did show the side of her mom that she preferred¡­ the happy and kind woman, rather than the harsh ruler. As she stared, it quickly became covered in text as her phone started buzzing rapidly, several messages suddenly scrolling down her screen.

    ¡°Wh-What!?¡±

    ¡°Ah, that is merely the leftover first time user settings. We already handled most of the setup for you. If you have any questions, we shall gladly assist.¡±

    ¡°More importantly,¡± Athena marched back over, setting down the stack of plates and silveware with a light clatter. ¡°It¡¯s cake time~!¡±

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    Late that night, after having devoured the lion¡¯s share¡­ or perhaps sovereign¡¯s share¡­ of cake, Lycoris laid on her bed and stared up at her brand new phone. It was a strange thing, holding such a powerful magic artifact in her hands, knowing it belonged to her. The only ones she¡¯d ever heard of in Human culture were relics recovered by adventurers and either proven safe to use by the Church, or stowed in a deep dark vault that none knew the location of. And naturally, those were extremely few and far between.

    Her mother had assured her that it was enchanted to resist mundane forces, so it wouldn¡¯t break if she dropped it¡­ but Lilianna did caution her not to squeeze it too tightly, as there was little that an Aphtangloa couldn¡¯t crush, apparently.

    Athena had asked if she had any particular design she wanted for a ¡°phone case¡± as well. Apparently it was some sort of protective shell, which left Lycoris confused as to the point of the protective enchantment if they required a secondary shield as well.

    In addition to a refresher course on personal security and privacy¡ªstuff like not answering messages or calls from strangers, and not giving away information while browsing apps¡ªLilianna helped Lycoris navigate her phone a little, taught her how to bring up the messaging app, showed her what the contacts list looked like¡ªand went through the list of contacts she¡¯d already added, including herself, Athena, and the guard captain¡¯s office.

    Athena had also made her take a picture of her birthday cake, to ¡°upload to show it off,¡± before realizing that it¡¯d mean making a social media account for Lycoris, which was something neither she nor Lilianna wanted to tackle just yet.

    It did make sense, it wouldn¡¯t be wise for her to reveal anything publicly she wasn¡¯t supposed to, though she was admittedly rather nervous trying to do anything on her phone without Lilianna present. Moreso because of how nervous she was that she might break something, rather than do something she wasn¡¯t supposed to.

    Well, I won¡¯t get anywhere just by staring at it. The best way to learn is through practice, after all! But Mama¡¯s retired to her room for the night and Athena would probably get upset at me for being up this late. I wish she¡¯d stop treating me like a child¡­

    She thumbed through to her contacts list, her mind wandering.

    It¡¯d be nice if I could just call up Fawaris¡­ Though the King never even let her carry a communication sigil around for emergencies. I bet he¡¯d flip his lid if he ever heard about something like a phone¡­ setting aside the fact there¡¯s probably no chance the Church would let them exist.

    Lycoris sighed, thinking about that particular wrinkle once more.

    I wonder how they even decide what technology is good or bad. Maybe they ask the Goddess somehow? But, surely She would realize how beneficial these ¡®phones¡¯ can be for ordinary civilians¡­ Oh!

    Immediately, a certain pair of women came to mind. Lycoris sat upright and made a new entry, adding in Sera¡¯s name and then¡­

    ¡°What did she say again? Uhmm¡­¡±

    ¡­Calmly closed her eyes, flopping her head back onto her plush pillow. With but a single thought, the moment from six months prior came back in full crystalline clarity, right down to the scent of the rodents crowding around them as Seraphine crouched down in front of Lycoris.

    ¡°Five, eight, two, seven, three, three, six¡­ nine.¡±

    After saving the number to her phone, Lycoris pushed the button next to it, though instead of bringing up the messages app, the screen changed and she heard a ringing sound.

    The ringing stopped quickly however, as the sudden sound of a familiar voice came through the phone, loud enough to startle Lycoris into dropping her phone¡­ right onto her own face.

    ¡®Helloooo~? Seraphine Ethlow here. May I ask who¡¯s calling?¡¯

    ¡°Blaarfgh! Owie¡­¡±

    ¡®Hmm¡­? Wait a minute, I¡¯d recognize that whimper anywhere! Is that you, Lycoris?¡¯

    Her voice didn¡¯t sound as crisp as Lycoris remembered, but it was definitely Seraphine.

    Lycoris scooped the phone back up, rubbing her nose as she sat upright.

    ¡°Yeah. Um, I know we just talked last night, but¡­ I was given a phone for my birthday, so I thought I¡¯d make good on that promise¡­¡±

    ¡®Ohhh¡­ wait. But you had a phone when we bumped into you, didn¡¯t you?¡¯

    ¡°O-Oh, right. That was¡­ Mom¡¯s.¡±

    ¡®Ahh of course, of course¡­ WHAT!? I¡­ Um. When I was part of the military there was a ton of red tape even on my stuff.¡¯

    ¡°I¡­ got into trouble for that, yes.¡±

    Lycoris tugged her sheets against her side and curled up against them like a blanket, masking her embarrassment from the empty room.

    ¡®Ahahaha¡­ I suppose The Exaltare wouldn¡¯t exactly put her own daughter in prison or execute her. Come to think of it, how should I refer to you, Princess? ¡­Royal Princess? Exalted Princess?¡¯

    ¡°Just, Lycoris is fine. Or Lyco even! Even being called ¡®Princess¡¯ is a little¡­ Mmh, well it''s complicated, to say the least.¡±

    ¡®Ehhh? No way! You¡¯re the Heir-Significate! By birth! Honestly I¡¯m kind of in disbelief that I¡¯m even having a chat over the phone with you! There¡¯s no way that I can just¡­ Call you Lycoris. Like in public, to other people. Honestly, it¡¯s kind of a miracle that nobody realized you invited us¡­ other than our landlord, at least.¡¯

    ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯ll ask Mom if there¡¯s some other formal title to use, but everyone has just been using ¡®Princess¡¯ or ¡®Heir-Significate¡¯ so far¡­¡±

    ¡®Okie~ Message me whenever you do. Oh! Speaking of, am I allowed to like, add you as a contact? Haahhh, I¡¯m kinda having a hard time calming down right now, haha!¡¯

    ¡°Mm, I know what you mean. Fawaris had that effect on me any time she inv¡ª ah.¡±

    ¡®Fawaris? Who¡¯s that?¡¯

    ¡°Nevermind! I mean, just¡­ Uh, just put Aster in for your contact list, I guess? It¡¯s my middle name s-so¡­ Ah, no stuttering or mumbling. Calm down, back straight¡­¡±

    Lycoris reflexively chastised herself and straightened her posture. Not for slipping and naming someone that no vampire should ever know the name of, but because her mother had so heavily drilled her the past half year that her ¡°Princess Training¡± became an innate reflex. She didn¡¯t force Lycoris to speak with the same archaic royal we¡¯s and thou¡¯s that she used, but there had been multiple lengthy sessions dedicated to public speaking alone.

    Considering how nerve-wracking her debut had been, Lycoris was infinitely grateful that she had as much practice as she did, even if she didn¡¯t think she did as good of a job as she should have.

    Sera, in her infinite grace, seemed to ignore the aside entirely. ¡®Hmm¡­ I suppose that¡¯s less obvious than ¡°Lycoris,¡± but it¡¯s nowhere near as cute, either! But, if Her Highness says so, I¡¯ll obey as a dutiful citizen!¡¯

    ¡°Ahaha¡­ At least you¡¯re not tripping over yourself like Athena does.¡±

    A part of her wished that she could remember her previous name. It would¡¯ve been a much more clever means of masking her identity, but¡­ perhaps it was better to distance herself from that¡­

    ¡®Athena? Where have I heard that name before¡­¡¯

    ¡°I guess if you already know who I am it''s okay to say; she¡¯s Athena Ochros, my personal maid.¡±

    ¡®You have a member of the Seven as a personal maid!? I¡­ don¡¯t even know where to begin with that!¡¯

    There was something oddly amusing about the exasperation in Seraphine¡¯s voice.

    Considering how overly servile Athena acted at every turn, Lycoris didn¡¯t even really think of her as a blood member of the Seven, but¡­ she was certainly well educated, and behaved with as much decorum as a noblewoman would when pressured to.

    ¡°Honestly, I forgot until you mentioned it just now. Nobles and royalty are still just people at the end of the day.¡±

    Even if they¡¯re vampires.

    ¡®Haha, leave it to the most powerful little girl on Earth to come up with a line like that.¡¯

    ¡°I am not a little¡ª Mmngh!! How¡¯s Emma doing?¡±

    ¡®She actually got called in for work a little earlier today, even though it¡¯s High Moonsend. Apparently there was a major incident and they needed all available nurses; they even teleported her out! I can give you her number, though?¡¯

    ¡°Sure, though maybe I should wait to call her until she¡¯s done handling the emergency. I wonder what happened¡­¡±

    How strange, Lycoris thought. It was (mostly) a perfectly ordinary conversation, the likes she¡¯d hear in any tavern or bakery. But just having a simple little conversation made her heart flutter with excitement as she fiddled with her sheets.

    Sure, Seraphine was a commoner and an adult and Lycoris was the heir to the empire and¡­ well, her relative age was a complicated matter, but she couldn¡¯t remember ever feeling so happy to just¡­ talk about nothing.

    ¡°Is this what having a friend is like?¡± she blurted out.

    ¡®Huh? What do you¡­ Aww, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve never actually¡­ actually that isn¡¯t all that surprising. Your Splendiferous Highnessness probably hasn¡¯t had much chance to speak to people candidly like this before now, have you?¡¯

    ¡°Please stop adding embellishments to my title¡­ You¡¯re starting to sound like Athena.¡±

    ¡®Hehe, given my relative position, that¡¯s more a compliment than anything. I¡¯m sure Princess Lycoris will make all sorts of friends in the future. You have a magnetic personality after all!¡¯

    ¡°I-I do?¡±

    Nobody had ever given her such an off-the-cuff compliment before.

    Her mom and Athena had called her cute, and the crowd had called her charming, but¡­

    ¡®You light up whatever room you¡¯re in! And I¡¯m not just saying that because you¡¯re the Crown Princess. Emma couldn¡¯t stop talking about you after we met¡­ though admittedly some of that was because of all the interrogation we went through¡­¡¯

    ¡°Ahahahah¡­ sorry for causing you so much trouble.¡±

    ¡®Nonono, it¡¯s fine~! We¡¯re both safe and sound, no harm no foul.¡¯

    ¡°Mm¡­ By the way, you said you¡¯re ex-military, right?¡±

    ¡®Yes¡¯m!¡¯

    Lycoris was curious how vampires trained their soldiers, and if they ever properly knighted any of them. After all, it seemed like the Seven had a fairly major chokehold on the land and its people, it was hard to imagine them divvying things out to vassals¡­ though, the Idra were apparently the largest for a reason. And it was harder still to imagine such large swaths of land being ruled by such a small governing body.

    It was a topic she could have easily brought up with her mother, but she wanted to get a more grounded perspective.

    The conversation continued long into the night, as the little princess learned of many strange differences between Vampire and Human society, and more surprisingly, how many similarities there really were between the commoners of both.

 27 â€” Happy_New_Year.exe has stopped responding.

    ¡°Hey Yana, did you hear the news?¡±

    As she was waist deep inside a metal panel, prodding the circuits and wires with her wand, an irritating gnat buzzed around behind her back.

    She cut one of the wires, causing several of the flickering lights to suddenly shift to a steady bright red hue and dye her silver eyes blood-red, before she turned around to glower at the idiot.

    ¡°¡®Yana¡¯ is a touch busy here, darling. If you¡¯re bored, why not go slice another guard or two apart? That sickle I lent you shouldn¡¯t dull no matter how much kevlar it carves through.¡±

    ¡°Thought you told me we¡¯re s¡¯posed to keep a low profile til the Whispers show up¡­ Are you sure they¡¯ll head this way when the fireworks go off?¡±

    ¡°Sure as the sun rises in the East. They just need the right bait, which is what I¡¯m trying to set up here, while fending off your incessant prattling.¡±

    Tatyana stuffed her head back into the panel, a small red laser firing from the tip of her wand and etching a complex arcane formula onto the circuit board.

    ¡°If you say so¡­ Anyways, apparently the Exaltare has a child. Like, a flesh and blood daughter! She¡¯s pretty cute too, but uh¡­ Don¡¯t tell the Speaker I said that. Anyways, she¡¯s only about forty-six, and her birthday is right in the middle of Moonsend! People are saying she¡¯s gonna be the second coming of Lilith or something crazy like that, but they¡¯re probably just reading too far into things, hahaha. Personally, I think¡ª¡±

    ¡°I require silence while working, you muscle-brain. How thick is your skull that you did not pick up on that? Unless you wish to randomly explode alongside this entire facility, you¡¯ll leave me to my work. I¡¯m dealing with some particularly volatile runes.¡±

    Ugh, vampires, I swear.

    It was a lie, but he was a simple enough fool to both believe her and let her insult slide, if it was such a supposedly dangerous thing she was handling.

    Of course, that didn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t focusing, overlaying already-established technology with extra magic circles and diverting the stream of mana without causing an array failure was a nigh-impossible art. Certainly nobody in the world¡ªaside from Tatyana¡ªcould manage such a feat.

    Perhaps the Exaltare could, if she dedicated herself to it, but she was far too busy for such deliberate, slow work.

    ¡°Exaltare, hmm¡­¡±

    Tatyana at least understood why the loudmouth was so excited. If what he was saying was actually true, the Exaltare had just accomplished something that¡ªeven by Her calculations¡ªwas completely, utterly impossible.

    As she whiled away at rewiring the aethermic engine¡¯s array, a nagging thought crept into the back of the Witch¡¯s mind.

    ¡­ ¡­Mid-forties, born on New Year¡¯s Eve¡­?

    For a moment, Tatyana felt as though someone had stepped over her grave.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    For the second time in two days, Lycoris found herself waking late in the morning, rubbing her eyes blearily as she felt Athena hovering awkwardly near the door. Slowly pulling herself up, she looked at the clock beside her bed.

    ¡°Mm¡­? Gah, it¡¯s already oh nine hundred!?¡±

    ¡°Our little flower appears to be making the fullest of her birthday triune, hmhmhm~¡±

    ¡°M-Mama!?¡±

    She nearly jumped out of bed when she realized it was Lilianna standing there, rather than Athena. But rather than one of her usual flowing multi-piece dresses, she was wearing¡­ gym clothes.

    And her wings were fluttering with what Lycoris could only describe as a hint of excitement.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Athena? And¡­ you don¡¯t have any meetings today?¡± Lycoris couldn¡¯t conceal the hopefulness in her voice.

    ¡°Technically, we weren¡¯t supposed to have any yesterday either. Most courtiers are with their families for the holidays, but some were called in for an emergency meeting as the investigators assigned to the Geolle insurrection brought an urgent report.¡±

    Lycoris stared up at her with a deadpan frown. ¡°So that¡¯s why you were asking me about my¡­¡±

    She hesitated, before saying the word on the tip of her tongue.

    Would they really still be her allies? After what she¡¯d done?

    She certainly didn¡¯t want anything to do with Tatyana, other than seeing her ruined, but she never really considered any of them to be her friends. How could she, when she had never truly opened up to any of them?

    I wonder, why was it so much easier to talk to Sera? ¡­Even if I didn¡¯t exactly ¡®open up¡¯ and say anything about my past before meeting Mama.

    That would have been a bridge too far. Just because Athena behaved like a particularly full sack of bricks, it didn¡¯t mean it¡¯d be safe for her to simply go around proclaiming to everyone she befriended that she used to be human.

    Especially considering the agenda they were pushing about her being Lilianna¡¯s daughter by birth.

    ¡°Is that Witch really trying to cause civil unrest? Actually, that sounds like the most heroic thing she¡¯s ever done¡­¡±

    ¡°Lycoris, this is your empire we speak of as well. And it remains uncertain that there even is any sort of ¡®resistance¡¯ at present. Though, that matter hardly concerns you for now, there¡¯s no reason to burden you with our job; if you must know, perhaps we can speak on it later. First, there¡¯s something far more important to take care of!¡±

    ¡°Is it¡­ a birthday sparring session?¡±

    Lycoris looked at her gym pants, slowly inching her way out from under the covers.

    ¡°Perhaps later¡­ we¡¯ll have to borrow one of the training halls used by the guards, as well.¡±

    ¡°I knew they had something like that here! ¡­Ah, *ahem* Why is that, Mother?¡±

    ¡°Because we have come up with the perfect solution to our poor little daughter¡¯s troubles with flying.¡±

    ¡°R¡­ Really?¡±

    Lycoris hopped out of bed and darted forward, arms pressed together in front of her as she looked up at her mom. Perhaps she should¡¯ve expected the Exaltare to have figured out an answer within a single weekend, but the excitement she¡¯d felt two nights prior reignited and mercilessly seared through her morning grogginess.

    Lilianna spread her wings out pointedly, arms folded as she raised her chin with the slightest hint of smug superiority.

    ¡°But of course, dear. Now let us get you changed into your gym clothes. Athena should be putting the finishing touches up as we speak¡­¡±

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Lycoris stared, nonplussed by the transformation the private training hall had undergone.

    What had once been a spacious, ceramic-tiled room filled with training dummies, now had dozens of mattresses lined up along the floors and walls, with pillows filling the gaps in the plush, padded chamber.

    It was enough bedding for an entire village¡ªperhaps a smaller scale city, even¡ªbut it¡¯d all been dragged up for such a trivial reason.

    Athena stood in the center with her hands on her hips, beaming proudly as the two of them entered and Lycoris began casting her gaze around.

    Even the ceilings had been padded, though Lycoris wasn¡¯t sure how exactly they¡¯d been fixed in place; probably frivolous and wasteful applications of magic. Fortunately the chamber was spacious enough that it didn¡¯t feel stuffy or claustrophobic even with all the additional cushioning.

    ¡°I had to stay up all night, but it¡¯s done, Your Majesty!¡±

    ¡°Good work, you may take your leave and rest now.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ W-W-Was I just praised by Her Majesty!? I¡­ I could never!¡±

    The maid immediately flopped forward, stress-testing the padded chamber as she slammed head-first into the floor and kowtowed before the royal duo.

    ¡°B-B-But also, I wouldn¡¯t wish to miss Her Highness¡¯ training for the world!¡±

    ¡°¡­Then if Lycoris finds it acceptable to have an audience, we shall grant you this privilege.¡±

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be the one ordering her around¡­? Oh well, it¡¯s not like I disagree¡­¡±

    Lycoris stepped forward and crouched down before Athena, placing a hand on her shoulder and giving it a soft pat, glancing over her own at her mom.

    ¡°Thanks for setting all this up¡­ But, um¡­ How is this supposed to help with my fear of heights, exactly¡­?¡±

    ¡°Because there is no need to fear injury from falling or flying too quickly. Though, we do need to put some finishing touches on, as if you¡¯re anything like us¡ªwhich we know to be perfectly so¡ªyour top speed would be enough to simply tear through the wall regardless¡­¡±

    A pang of concern settled into Lycoris¡¯ chest as she envisioned herself crashing headfirst through a wall, but quickly shook the thought off as her mother began weaving a sigil before her with her fingers.

    ¡°The soil gives way beneath thee ¡ª From starry sky to distant horizon ¡ª We lay thy weary head to rest ¡ª Thy walls shall be as a dragon¡¯s hide ¡ª Dampen | Solidify | Disperse ¡ª The Earth kneels to my command,¡±

    A ripple of power spread from Lilianna¡¯s outstretched hand as she finished her incantation, spreading out and soaking into the padding and walls of the room as her will imposed itself upon reality.

    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Every time Lycoris saw someone do proper magic, whether it was her mother, a court wizard, or even¡­ that other woman, she was impressed at how effortless they made¡­ well¡­ literal magic look.

    She felt its effects immediately, as the mattress beneath her feet became springier.

    ¡°There, now nothing shall harm our precious little flower. Shall we begin your lessons?¡±

    ¡°Um¡­ Sure, okay.¡±

    She couldn¡¯t completely shake her nerves, but the sight of Athena awkwardly bouncing her way toward the edge of the room brought a wry smile to her face in spite of them.

    With a steadying breath, she flexed and unfurled her wings once more, the process far easier now that she¡¯d already understood how it felt and what to do.

    Immediately, she began doing some warm-up stretches¡­ though she wasn¡¯t sure how exactly to stretch her wings, since they hadn¡¯t seen any practical use before.

    ¡°To start with, we shall merely carry you in our arms as we fly around, to give you an idea of how to fly.¡±

    ¡°A-Alright.¡±

    As Lilianna picked her up, Lycoris¡¯ arms and legs began trembling nervously.

    She closed her eyes, forcing herself to breathe slowly and mindfully.

    It¡¯s okay, Lycoris. There¡¯s nothing to worry about, Mama made it so we can¡¯t get hurt here, nothing¡¯s going to happen. She wouldn¡¯t even drop us in the first place! Just¡­ calm down. It¡¯ll be okay¡­

    She reflexively opened her eyes again the moment she felt her mom take off, a sense of weightlessness overtaking her as she felt her back press against her mother, the Exaltare¡¯s arms wrapped tightly around her waist.

    ¡°O-Ooooohh¡­??¡±

    Lilianna specifically avoided any dramatic maneuvers like she¡¯d showed off the other night, simply flying around in slow, steady laps. She even made a point to stay relatively close to the floor, no doubt for Lycoris¡¯ sake.

    It was still a little uncomfortable. Lycoris did not enjoy the lack of control she felt.

    But it was also¡­ a little thrilling.

    Her sense of excitement gradually began winning out, her¡­ instinct urging her to flap her wings, albeit somewhat hastily and awkwardly.

    ¡°See, dear? Isn¡¯t it exhilarating?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ definitely just as fun as it looked, but¡­¡±

    ¡°Hmhm, you¡¯ll feel better once you have more confidence in yourself. First, steady your wings, hold them out and let them catch the wind beneath. If you try flapping them randomly, you¡¯ll tumble and roll.¡±

    She couldn¡¯t fully chase away the sense of dizziness assailing her, but Lilianna¡¯s instructions gave her something else to focus on.

    Lycoris forced herself to relax her wings, gradually stretching them out to their full width.

    ¡°Good. Next, try flapping both as one. Just a single smooth motion. From there, try repeating it every time we do. Follow along with our rise and fall through the air.¡±

    ¡°Mm.¡±

    Lycoris nodded, doing exactly as her mother instructed. Her motions started out awkwardly, but it reminded her of when she first learned to swim, almost.

    And if there was ever somewhere that she felt most comfortable, it was practicing and flexing her muscles. It didn¡¯t even have the disadvantage of being highly conceptual and insubstantial like magic, even.

    Though after she grew accustomed to flapping her wings properly, the next step involved¡­ a somewhat troubling wrinkle.

    ¡°W-Wait, don¡¯t let go!¡±

    ¡°Dear, we¡¯ve padded the room. To say nothing of the fact that we¡¯re right here. Unless you think you can fall faster than we can fly?¡±

    ¡°N-No, but¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve followed our instructions flawlessly so far. Have greater confidence in yourself, as we¡¯re sure you do not believe our confidence to be misplaced, no?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ true.¡±

    ¡°Then, on the count of three. One¡ª¡±

    ¡°W-Wait a sec!¡±

    Lycoris wiggled about in her mother¡¯s grasp, though obviously if she slipped out it¡¯d be the same end result as if Lilianna let go¡­

    ¡°Two¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hang on, I¡¯m not ready!¡±

    She kicked her legs about and reached for her chest with her hands, but the locket wasn¡¯t there. Naturally, she had left him in Athena¡¯s care to avoid any risk of incidental flying projectile.

    ¡°Three!¡±

    ¡°Eeeek!!¡±

    Lycoris shrieked as her mother let go, immediately loosing her like a 30kg cannonball.

    She immediately began tilting forward as gravity reached its merciless hands up at her, all the earlier comfort and practice abandoning her at the most critical moment.

    The room began spinning as she reflexively tucked her arms and legs inward, curling up defensively around herself as she accelerated toward the padded floor.

    But before she could even test the springiness of the training hall¡¯s added padding, she felt a warm pair of arms wrap around her, slowing her descent as her mother caught her and touched down.

    ¡°Aaah¡­ Mmh¡­ I-I¡­¡±

    ¡°Shhh. Did we not promise that we would catch you? ¡­Nobody succeeds on their first attempt. Or perhaps we should say, it is better to stumble while practicing, as failure¡¯s a far better teacher than success.¡±

    Lycoris certainly didn¡¯t need her to explain that. Getting hit with a training sword hurt, but it was better than losing an arm on the battlefield because of a lack of awareness.

    Thinking about this padded training space in that manner, Lycoris gradually stilled her quivering hands as she let out a long, steadying sigh.

    ¡°Are¡­ Are we going to go again?¡±

    ¡°Only if our little flower is to try once more. We¡¯ll give it as many tries as it takes for you to learn to spread your wings on your own.¡±

    ¡°I suppose it will¡­ only get easier the more I try, right?¡± Lycoris gave her mother a timid smile.

    ¡°But of course, dear. Now let¡¯s right your posture and give it another go.¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes Ma¡¯am!¡±

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    While Lycoris was in the midst of doing practice laps around the room¡ªher form having improved significantly after several botched attempts¡ªsomething that none of the three could have expected occurred.

    The doors to the room burst open, along with the clatter of ceramic armor.

    In an instant, both the adults nearby had their weapons at the ready, though Lilianna was naturally quicker, her blade right at the man¡¯s neck¡­ as he prostrated himself on the floor before them.

    ¡°A state of emergency has just been called over in Kranes! Their cloud generator has malfunctioned, and the engines supplying the city¡¯s dawn-walls with power have also broken down! And¡­ Er¡­¡±

    ¡°Kranes!?¡±

    Lycoris cried out as she heard the man¡ªwhose voice sounded like Percival¡¯s¡ªshout the news.

    She immediately lost her focus, her wings catching the wind in the wrong way as she immediately began tumbling and crashing into¡­ or rather, bouncing off of the padded floor.

    ¡°Lycoris! Are you alright!?¡±

    ¡°I-I¡¯m okay!¡±

    Her mother caught her as she tumbled forward, before she could collide with the guard.

    The man didn¡¯t dare raise his head, his arms trembling as he kept his head pointed straight at the ground. Though¡­ Lycoris wasn¡¯t sure if that was because he was terrified of what he¡¯d stumbled on, or because of the news he had just shared.

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s where Emma was sent off to¡­¡±

    ¡°Emma? Who¡¯s that, dear?¡±

    ¡°N-Not to interrupt, but I haven¡¯t finished my report, yet.¡±

    The guard nervously lifted his head just enough to gaze at their feet, and in response Lilianna shot him a contemptuous glare.

    ¡°The only reason your head remains on your shoulders despite your interruption is because it would stain Lycoris¡¯ gym clothing, and the padding we¡¯ve installed. Out with it, quickly.¡±

    ¡°I was wondering why that was all being hauled in¡­ I mean! Right, Your Majesty! ¡­There was an earthquake reported to the west of town, its epicenter right in the midst of the closest Whisper hive. Preliminary reports say it was likely a heavy payload explosive that did it, as there was nothing in the way of aftershocks, however¡­ It stirred up the hive.¡±

    Lycoris shivered as she heard the name ¡®Whisper.¡¯

    Any Human knew them as the most horrific monsters a vampire could send their way, likened to shambling zombies or ghouls, only far less human; their construction was a blaspheme and their intellect abominable.

    Though, she later learned during her journey that they weren¡¯t actually under the vampires¡¯ control, but remnants from the mistakes of sinners past¡ªan admittedly strong point in favor of the Church¡¯s strict control and abolition of researching ancient ruins.

    Regardless of their origin or nature, they were decidedly unpleasant to fight, and decidedly hard to kill.

    ¡°A bomb¡­ Twice is a clear pattern. This is a rather blatant declaration.¡±

    Lilianna¡¯s eyes briefly wandered down to her daughter in her arms.

    The girl timidly shrugged in response. She didn¡¯t know of anyone who could have produced an explosion large enough to cause an entire earthquake.

    Her mother didn¡¯t seem keen to press her on it either, as she quickly looked back at the guard.

    ¡°Find Lesath, tell her to mobilize the imperial army and send the emergency response team out to Kranes immediately. You speak with our full authority when delivering this order.¡±

    Percival jumped up to his feet and offered a crisp winged salute with his hands over his chest. ¡°Yes Ma¡¯am! Are there any other instructions to give?¡±

    ¡°Our Executioner will know how to proceed.¡±

    After the guard rushed out of the room, Lycoris peered up at her mom with a curious look.

    ¡°Why not just¡­ message her?¡±

    ¡°Our ashen maiden has some difficulties accepting technology. She lives as ascetic a life as possible. It makes times like this difficult, but she is our¡­ my most loyal servant on this entire ball of rock.¡± Her eyes wandered up from Lycoris toward Athena.

    ¡°Sounds like she¡¯d fit right in with the clergy¡­¡±

    ¡°The what?¡±

    ¡°Er, nevermind.¡±

    That was a topic she desperately wanted to avoid bringing up to her mother. Something gave her the impression that it would lead to a conversation she would regret with every fiber of her soul¡ªor whatever was left of it, at least.

    ¡°I know I only just managed to start flying but, can I head back to my room early? I want to contact Sera and let her know what¡¯s going on.¡±

    Her mother blinked, and then understanding dawned on her. ¡°Ah! Those must be the two commoners you befriended.¡±

    ¡°Did you really forget their names already!?¡±

    ¡°We have many things to deal with, oh sweet little flower. There will come a time when you will have trouble recalling the names of every blade of grass beneath your feet.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    It was a rather tasteless analogy, and she didn¡¯t exactly want to bring up the fact that she already couldn¡¯t remember most of the names of people she¡¯d known in the past. It felt like admitting her mom was right.

    ¡°A-Anyways, can I go? We can practice more later, okay?¡±

    ¡°We¡­ suppose there are matters we should tend to as well,¡± Lilianna sighed.

    In spite of their conversation, she hadn¡¯t set her daughter back down yet, instead carrying her as she started out of the room.

    ¡°Wait, where are we going!?¡±

    ¡°Back to your room, of course. It seems as though things will become quite busy for us, shortly. We wish to spend every last moment possible with our darling Lycoris before then.¡±

    ¡°Mmgh¡­¡±

 Interlude â€” Fireworks and Blue Screens

    At the edge of Tenebreimen, the core of Vampire territory that existed before the Empire became an empire, there sat a town much like any other.

    Its buildings were humble, multi-story structures¡ªhardly comparable in height to the towering skyscrapers in the capital city of Ljosdeyja. Most weren¡¯t even as tall as the dawn walls that surrounded the town, shielding it from the horizon during the most dangerous times of the day. Trees dotted the labyrinth of single-lane streets, through which passed the occasional trolley ferrying passengers from one end to the other.

    Walking along the paved stone sidewalks were the Empire¡¯s citizens, though¡­ In a town so far from the core of the empire, the citizens were more varied than somewhere like the capital.

    There was the usual assortment of pointy-eared, dark pastel-haired vampires; but also scattered among them were animal-eared and fluffy-tailed members of the Plainstriders: Fangchasers. All those living in the cities of the Empire ¡°chose¡± to shave themselves, walking with bare skin beneath their clothing instead of maintaining their coats of brown, black, or grey fur.

    They were unique among the Plainstriders for integrating so wholly into the Empire, perhaps because they lived closest to¡ªand in some cases inside of¡ªthe junkyard wastes that separated the vampires from the rolling hills and grassy plains that the Plainstriders called home. That proximity meant they naturally interacted more with vampires, and fell under their rule in order to escape life in the wastes of scrap, while their fellow dwellers of the plains remained free from the tyranny of the rulers of shadow.

    Aside from the relatively human-looking individuals, one could spot the occasional hulking Geolle, but they were a rarity above the surface. Nearly all of them were travelling merchants or salespersons on behalf of some underground business venture rather than permanent residents, but some chose to live above ground.

    They lacked the same weakness to sunlight that vampires possessed, but most still apparently felt uncomfortable living above the surface.

    The streets of Kranes were alive with the sound of song, even late into the night of High Moonsend. For the three days and nights of celebration at the turning of the year, everyone saw fit to party to their hearts¡¯ content, and it was the perfect time for buskers to draw in crowds of couples and inebriated revelers.

    Stalls had been set up on the day prior, turning the town¡¯s streets into brightly lit festival grounds where one was spoiled for choice, whether it be food or kitschy carnival games. The town may have been anything but quiet, but the atmosphere was peaceful.

    Until the ground shook from a massive earthquake.

    The crowds suddenly fell silent as the lights decorating the streets went out, and a massive, horizon-covering explosion reminiscent of a firework ripped through the skies far to the west¡­

    After a beat, the populace realized that they were staring at the night sky. The shimmering moon loomed high overhead, half-obscured by the fading cloud cover.

    A second beat passed, and murmurs quickly gave way to excited, anxious shouting.

    ¡°W-Why are the clouds gone!?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know there¡¯d be fireworks¡­¡±

    ¡°Should¡¯ve brought my camera.¡±

    ¡°Is the ground still shaking for anyone else?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re probably just drunk.¡±

    ¡°This wasn¡¯t in the forecast though¡­¡±

    Just as panic began to overtake confusion, the town guard sprung into action. They calmly instructed the civilians to return to their homes while simultaneously launching an investigation into the status of the cloud generator, and why the alarm never sounded.

    Before they could get everyone out of the streets, the situation increased in complexity as the ground began to shake once more.

    Over the din of the chattering crowd and the guards barking out instructions, a low rumbling filled the air, and then¡­ a keening, metallic, electronic wail.

    £ª

    Beyond the dawn walls, a tide of steel surged toward the town.

    Gnashing gears forming rows of teeth, multiple limbs of iron digging up the ground as they charged forth, dangling cables like synthetic viscera, and a random assortment of accessories and extra appendages decorated the ¡°hides¡± of the Whisper horde that advanced toward the nearest source of ¡°noise¡± luring them in.

    Among the aberrant army, a towering figure wheeled through its compatriots and swung its massive artillery cannon to bear. It had no shells to eject, but it continued to follow its pre-programmed instruction set as it charged forward.

    Tearing the ground up as it leapfrogged up and down through the barren soil, a massive worm with a drill for a head snaked ahead of the pack.

    Buzzing fan blades spun as airborne creatures zipped erratically forward, iron needles and live wires swinging about like they were bizarre iron wasps or sky jellies.

    Countless smaller creatures trampled over each other as they swarmed to fill in the gaps. Whether they looked like bulls, spiders, apes, horses, or even freakish humans, mangled and cobbled-together creatures filled their ranks. The ones with vocal filters still intact repeatedly blathered lines from an age long past, advertising services that no longer existed, hyping up a future that had doomed itself to failure, or babbled incoherent phrases chained together in logical but meaningless patterns.

    The horde had no leader or sense of unity, but all of them followed a singular purpose that drove them to act according to each others¡¯ central logic.

    Nobody in the town was prepared for such a massive horde to suddenly move at once, and the walls had lost power¡­ meaning there were no automated defenses, no surveillance equipment, no proximity warnings.

    The guards had all been preoccupied escorting the civilians back to their homes or to shelter.

    The engineers were focused on the cloud generator¡ªthe walls would block the sun whether they were powered or not; their lack of power only meant the gates wouldn¡¯t budge and nobody could enter or leave.

    The people¡­ were naturally in no position to fight, as the vampiric citizens fled to their homes. The Geolle and Fangchasers had nothing to fear from the sun, and though dawn was still a long way off, the townsfolk were more afraid of their unassailable foe than the encroaching army.

    As the swarm reached the walls, only some of the populace had returned to their homes; stalls were closed up and left where they were parked, guards ran about arresting opportunists looking to pilfer whatever had been left unguarded.

    A resounding gong rang out as the massive wheeled artillery platform slammed cannon-first into the wall, unable to do anything other than use itself as a battering ram as it failed to break through.

    Instead, its cannon bent upward and came to rest against the wall, forming an impromptu ladder for the smaller creeps to crawl over it.

    The worm slammed its own face against the adamantine walls, sending sparks flying and filling the air with the keening cry of steel on steel as it slowly began boring a hole straight through.

    Unable to wait, smaller ones rushed into the molten gaps, immediately melting into slag as they became fodder for the drilling worm.

    By the time the town defenders mobilized in response, the Whispers had already breached the walls and flooded into the streets. Screams rang out as those closest to the edge, whether in their homes or on the streets, were caught by the hungering tide of metal.

    The larger monsters paid no mind to things like buildings, charging straight through the softer structures built out of treated darkwood or clambering over and surging around the ones made of sturdier stone or metal.

    The screams dragged the dazed townsfolk back into reality, the stragglers still outdoors finally fleeing as the situation dawned on them and the guard engaged with the horde. Enchanted glaive crossed with claw, and while the ¡°natural¡± weapons of the horrors weren¡¯t designed to puncture through the ceramic armor the guards wore, many were caught by unlucky strikes, or were otherwise crushed beneath the sheer mass of monsters pouring into the town.

    Simple fireballs exploded throughout the ¡°ranks¡± of the Whispers as the rearguard of the defense force lobbed volleys from the tube-shaped end of their glaive poles, but it was barely even enough to give time to evacuate civilians to the underground shelters further in.

    As the Whispers surged through the town like a tsunami, many of them ripped scrap metal off of the abandoned stalls and welded it over their bodies, covering up injuries and rejuvenating their ranks.

    The massive worm swiftly slithered towards their ultimate objective, but the sacrifice of a group of soldiers leaping into the murderous drillbit brought it to a grinding halt, as their thermobaric charges melted the gears powering it.

    The creature limply slammed its head against the facility gates, but with no way to fulfill its purpose anymore, it gradually fell dormant, its eyeless ¡°beak¡± dripping blood like a singular wicked fang on a serpent statue.

    In just over one hour, the entire town was overrun, fires spreading through the streets as Whispers roamed about. Some clawed at the doors to shelters or buildings that the citizens were hiding in, while others wove around the great worm and attempted to breach the facility housing the cloud generator¡ªmuch to the dismay of the engineers working to repair it.

    With their access to the streets cut off, they had no way to actually get the supplies necessary to fix the machine.

    To make matters worse, the Whispers had already either consumed or otherwise destroyed Kranes¡¯ aethermic generators, so even emergency teleportation in and out had become impossible, light fixtures and heating elements wouldn¡¯t function, and they were left relying on battery backups to power their tools.

    Hospitals were overrun with the injured and frazzled staff tending to them, the entrances having been barricaded or collapsed to prevent the monsters from breaking in.

    Nobody believed that any had been lucky enough to escape in time, given the state of the walls and how suddenly the monsters struck. Further complicating things, the Whispers¡¯ natural electromagnetic signals bled into every channel of communication, like a memetic virus infecting phone lines and radio signals, filling them with the vacuous cries of unliving, unthinking machines.

    The residents had no choice but to remain holed up, hoping and praying that their all-knowing Exaltare would somehow find out about their situation, and come for them.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    ¡°And his blood type?¡±

    ¡°Uncertain, sir. He didn¡¯t have any identifying information on him.¡±

    Inside a gloomy hospital filled with the cries and sobs of the injured, the humming of old clunky engines, and the distant rumble and grinding of the monsters beyond, the medical staff worked tirelessly to save every life they could, regardless of who it was or if there would even be a future waiting for them all.

    The man wearing a bloodstained white coat was Doctor Galahad Lynnvel. He¡¯d been a recent hire, and would have cursed his luck if he wasn¡¯t too busy to focus on his own misfortune at being sent out to the edge of the Empire.

    He and the nurse accompanying him were looming over either side of a sedated Fangchaser, bleeding from a nasty abdominal wound on his right flank.

    The poor man had been unlucky enough to catch some sort of serrated limb, but fortunately it didn¡¯t appear poisoned or festering. They¡¯d still have to give him a round of treatment for tetanus, regardless. Apparently he¡¯d been standing in the way trying to stop the Whispers from hurting a mother and her child.

    Generally speaking, nobles didn¡¯t look too kindly on the commoners, and that went doubly for the other races that¡¯d integrated into their society. But Galahad was a man who eschewed the beliefs of men like Uncle Daren, fully committing to his oath by caring for whatever injured person is put before him.

    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Run a sample over to the lab, then.¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes sir!¡±

    Both he and this nurse knew that the results would probably arrive far too late. Still, the nurse carefully collected the man¡¯s blood into a vial and rushed out of the room.

    In the meantime, Galahad busied himself by grabbing a sheet of surgical tape made from Deeprock Salamander hide and placed it over the wound.

    He had already ensured that the internal organs weren¡¯t actively leaking blood, twisted, or otherwise out of position. After holding it down, he grasped a small mythril rod, capped at one end by a bright glowing cylindrical gemstone. Pressing the heating element down and cauterizing the skin graft over the wound, he quickly substituted the ruby-tipped wand for an emerald one, weaving the spell to promote healing using the ambient mana in the salamander hide and the patient¡¯s body.

    ¡°From breath it is born ¡ª Through life it is borne ¡ª Till death does it mourn ¡ª May my chalice never empty ¡ª May my candle never snuff out ¡ª Grace us with abundance, Kind Ancestors of Nourishment.¡±

    Finishing his incantation, Galahad opened his eyes and carefully examined the sigils wrapped around the emerald wand tip. It was important to control the flow of mana so as to not overload the patient while promoting healing effects.

    Treating someone would be pointless if the treatment itself exhausted what remained of their life force. While non-vampiric races possessed less mana on average, bruised more easily, and could be taken down by less severe illness or injury, medical treatment remained largely the same for civilians of all types¡­ aside from the uniquely sedimentary geolles. And, obviously, there was a significant discrepancy from person to person, even setting aside matters of blood thickness, so doctors were trained with the lowest common denominator in mind.

    It was risky to go through the procedures without mana-enriched blood on hand for transfusion, so Galahad limited the man¡¯s treatment to life-saving triage only.

    After stabilizing the nameless Fangchaser, Galahad pocketed the pair of wands and hurried out of the room toward the next critical patient. Not all of them were resting in private rooms, but the ones in most dire condition were.

    Upon entering the room, he met with a bright-eyed, red-headed woman with an earnest but serious expression on her face.

    ¡°Ah, Doctor¡­ I¡¯m sorry, but he was already gone when I came to check on him.¡±

    ¡°I see.¡±

    He glanced over at the body¡ªa soldier, from the looks of things¡ªand saw no obvious signs of injury. The soldier had some pretty advanced techwear on; his jacket looked a far cry more advanced than the sort the townsguard were issued.

    A private bodyguard, maybe?

    ¡°Your name, Miss?¡±

    ¡°Emma Gansley, sir.¡±

    ¡°Right, is there any identification on him?¡±

    ¡°None, sir. I didn¡¯t see anything on his chart when I came in, nor were there any family waiting nearby or in the ward that could identify him.¡±

    The dark green medical scrubs clearly identified her as a nurse, yet she seemed anything but fresh-faced. This must not have been her first gruesome sight¡­ which meant she probably worked with the army before. Few civil nurses would be so calm during such a crisis.

    ¡°I see, gather a DNA sample and send it to the lab for identification. Preserve the body and then move on. There¡¯s still many lives we can still save.¡±

    ¡°Yes sir.¡±

    Emma and Galahad exchanged a serious nod and turned away from each other.

    Something wasn¡¯t adding up in his mind, but there wasn¡¯t anything inherently suspicious about the nurse herself. He didn¡¯t have time to inspect every single body himself, and felt he could trust that she had made an accurate assessment. It was obvious she hadn¡¯t panicked and missed anything, at least.

    He pushed the vague feeling aside, writing it off as not worth wasting his time on, and moved on to the next patient.

    But as he left the room, he was far too lost in his own thoughts to notice the patient sitting up from the surgical table¡­

    £ª

    At the same time, within the Count¡¯s office.

    ¡°What is the meaning of this, Bart?¡±

    Count Eltash slammed his hands on the desk in the dimly lit office, staring daggers into the bald, rotund man with a sky-blue moustache sitting opposite him. The crude shaderat-oil lamp sitting on top of his desk flickered from the impact, causing the shadows of the two men to dance on the walls and shelves of his office.

    ¡°Bart¡± naturally winced from the sudden noise, but quickly recovered and harumphed with his usual indignancy. He was stuttering quite a bit though¡ªprobably because of the army of monsters wandering around outside.

    ¡°Why are you g-getting huffy with me!? I should be the one demanding answers, h-here! Why can¡¯t I teleport out!? Why does your building have n-n-no power? And why in the world did your guards point their blades at me? Do they even know who I am!?¡±

    ¡°You know full well why we can¡¯t get anyone out of the town, Viscount. And just because the great Bartholomew Vanas is a personal friend of mine, doesn¡¯t mean that my guards could tell at a glance that you¡¯re the twice-removed second cousin to the Margrave, with third-generation blood that barely qualifies you as high nobility, and overseer of the city of Delskaad. At best, they would see a man of relatively little importance or power. And¡­ wasn¡¯t it you who told me he required use of a city in my territory for some insipid ¡®plan?¡¯ Presumably, the one that has currently knocked out all of the power.¡±

    ¡°How¡­ How d-dare you d-discredit me, you worthless¡ª You w-wouldn¡¯t even be living in Kranes County, much less ruling as its Count, were it not for the grace of the Vanas.¡±

    ¡°As if this slice of land at the edge of the Empire, on the border of the Wastes, is something to be delighted over. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to raise the value of this land!? Or how irritating it is to have to accommodate those worthless werewolves!?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s h-hardly my problem, now is it?¡±

    ¡°The only reason I haven¡¯t had you arrested is because it¡¯d be more effective to simply throw you out the window at the horde of corroded machines!¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize that things w-would go like this either, I¡¯ll have you know! I-I had no idea the Whispers would be here! Honest! M-M-My business is completely unrelated!¡±

    Count Eltash could tell that the Viscount was being truthful of that. But he was aghast at how stupid of a man Bartholomew could be; he had no idea what the Vanas were hoping to gain by drawing Whispers in to wreak havoc on his territory, or why he had to be here for it.

    But even though he technically outranked the rotund man sweating before him, he had to watch his words carefully. It was true that the Vanas was the reason why he¡¯d gained this territory, and they could just as quickly take it away, or take him away, if he got too pushy with one of theirs.

    The Viscount wiped his head down with a kerchief from his breast pocket, and took a seat in a plush leather office chair facing Count Eltash¡¯s desk. He seemed to compose himself somewhat, turning his head to look around the room at the shadows cast by the oil lamp.

    ¡°L-Listen, if I had known that it would be like this, do you think I would have risked my own hide coming out here?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡ª ¡­a decent point, actually.¡±

    Verndil Eltash put a hand to his chin and let some of the tension visibly fall from his own shoulders. He didn¡¯t let it completely go, given that there was still a very real crisis happening in his town, but at least the vein bulging in his forehead gradually faded.

    The silence hung in the air for a long moment, neither of them saying anything as they listened to the distant sound of grinding and moaning from the horrible twisted mistakes of the past outside.

    Eventually, the Count straightened out his slicked-back golden hair, looked down at his mug of now-cold coffee, and sighed,

    ¡°Why are you here? Weren¡¯t you just in the capital the other night?¡±

    ¡°Hmph. If you m-must know, there¡¯s an individual that I¡ª that the Vanas have decided to¡­ deal with¡­ That¡¯s why I brought these handymen with me.¡±

    With a snap of his finger, a pair of figures stepped out of thin air, flanking Bartholomew Vanas¡¯ chair on either side. Both of them wore skintight black suits, padded techwear jackets and shorts, and had knee-high buckled combat boots. Their faces were obscured by hoods pulled over their heads, a magical shroud of darkness preventing their features from being exposed by lamplight.

    Neither one had any obvious weapons on hand, but they oozed an aura of danger.

    Count Eltash winced as his heart rate noticeably accelerated.

    He¡¯d heard the rumors, of the Vanas Family assassins; but to actually meet with the boogeyman was far different than just hearing tall tales.

    Viscount Vanas stared at him, a slow smile curling on his lips as he gradually realized the pair of composed killers were having their intended effect, leaving Eltash to imagine just what exactly the stodgy and unpleasant man had gotten himself into that he had private wet workers at his disposal.

    ¡°Well, if I was your target, you¡¯d hardly have shown me your hand in advance. Even I know you¡¯re not that foolhardy¡­¡±

    ¡°V-Verndil, my friend. They lent me multiple, but I only truly need the assistance of one. Perhaps these two can help you handle your¡­ C-Crisis.¡±

    ¡°And the catch?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I think it goes without saying, but none of us were ever here. And¡­ you¡¯ll owe me a personal favor.¡±

    ¡°¡­Are you sure that you should just be loaning them out to me? For that matter, how do I even trust that you intend to actually help, when¡ª¡±

    ¡°O-Overwrite order seventy-three, transfer temporary authority to Verndil Eltash, the man standing before me.¡±

    Bartholomew cut him off, reciting something that sounded like it belonged in a spreadsheet or a piece of legal documentation.

    In the next instant, the menacing aura from both of the assassins vanished, and Verndil felt their hidden eyes stare at him in acknowledgement. He wasn¡¯t sure what exactly just happened, but there was a sense that he could trust they wouldn¡¯t suddenly teleport beside him and impale him now.

    ¡°What did you just do?¡±

    ¡°Trust, my dear Verndil. I want no part of this cah¡­ catastrophe, and would like a quick resolution to it. I informed you because of what I heard through the grapevine, and because there was some business I thought would be easier to handle with commotion from the¡­ what wording did she use¡­ ¡®Riotous New Years Bash?¡¯ Something like that. I want out of this dump just as much as you do, you know!¡±

    He glared as severely as he could across the desk. ¡°Don¡¯t think that this lets you off the hook, Bart¡­ We¡¯ll pick this discussion back up later, but our first order of business is the restoration of power and communications, if even temporarily, to get word out about what happened. Can the two of them¡­¡± he turned to look at one of the hooded figures, ¡°Can the two of you secure a source of emergency power and some transceivers? Ideally, we clear the roof of hazards and try to establish contact from there.¡±

    The pair of figures wordlessly nodded, and then immediately vanished from the room without a trace.

    A tremor reflexively ran up Count Eltash¡¯s spine. He didn¡¯t trust Bartholomew Vanas in the slightest, but for the moment, he had no choice but to use the man¡¯s horrors to deal with the ones outside.

    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll take that as a yes, then.¡±

 28 â€” A Little Princesss First Responsibility

    Lilianna sat in her office, having just ended a call with the Count of Kranes, who rather frantically explained the state of the town to her before the call abruptly cut off. It seemed that the ¡°Whispers¡± had already destroyed the majority of the critical infrastructure that led to the collapse in the first place.

    According to the Count, they were ¡°frenzied,¡± as though something had agitated them and drawn them toward the city, though he had no idea what could possibly have cause them to move in their direction specifically.

    Setting aside whether or not he was being truthful, Count Eltash described it as a large enough force to breach the dawn walls before the guards could even mobilize a response. At least the populace suffered fewer casualties than Lilianna had initially assumed, as they were already being shepherded indoors due to a ¡°malfunction¡± with the town¡¯s cloud generator.

    Most of the casualties were either those slow in getting back to their homes, looters, or soldiers tasked with fighting back impossible odds.

    There was a singular, obvious connecting dot in all of this, but Lilianna couldn¡¯t fathom how the dregs of that thorn¡¯s party could possibly have slipped into Count¡¯s home undetected. Verndil Eltash was a man who avoided playing games below the table to begin with, given how much of a headache managing Kranes County already was. As a Drimus, Lilianna knew quite well how taxing the management of the Empire''s borders was. He wasn¡¯t her first suspect, but she couldn''t completely rule out the possibility that he might have been involved with the Wizard. Though, even the mere notion that any noble family would be dumb enough to risk conspiring with a Hero and their ilk was¡­

    ¡°Not even the Idra would stoop so low. Those old bats would sooner take a stake to their own chests than ever speak to a human, much less humor one¡¯s wishes. But, there is no other way, meaning there must be somebody out there¡­ but who? Someone with eyes bigger than their stomach. Someone with power, but not enough for their tastes. Someone who would be willing to gamble on the risk, or is otherwise dumb enough to believe they could mitigate the aftermath, perhaps¡­¡±

    ¡°Mama! It¡¯s an emergency!¡±

    As the Exaltare mused to herself, her darling little flower burst into her office, a frazzled Athena following after her a few moments later. If a vampire could be out of breath, the maid probably would have been.

    The little vampire seemed anxious. Lilianna¡¯s pupils sharpened as she set down the register of nobles she¡¯d been pouring over and focused on her child instead.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, dearest?¡±

    ¡°W-We¡ªI mean Seraphi¡­ I¡ª E-Emma¡¯s gone¡­ missing. We can¡¯t get into contact with her!¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡±

    Lilianna raised an eyebrow. She didn¡¯t recognize the name, but her daughter wouldn¡¯t have brought an emergency to her attention¡ªknowing the present state of things¡ªwithout good reason.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    Several minutes earlier¡­

    ¡°Seraphine? Seraphine¡­ please pick up!¡±

    Lycoris held her phone anxiously, fidgeting with Mizar in her other hand.

    It was astounding how helpless she felt, unable to do anything with the tension filling her body. If she¡¯d still been in Dauwen¡ªand employed as a knight¡ªshe would¡¯ve been in the midst of leading the soldiers out toward the village being razed by whatever monthly nightmare the vampires threw their way this time.

    Instead, she was stuck pacing back and forth in her room, waiting on a ringing phone.

    ¡®Hey hey, Sera here¡ª¡¯

    ¡°Seraphine! Have you heard anything from Emma today?¡±

    ¡®Hm? No, why?¡¯

    ¡°Kranes is under attack!¡±

    ¡®What!? How? Who even¡ª¡¯

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡±

    Lycoris cut her off, raising her voice louder than she intended. But she immediately hesitated, worried how much to reveal.

    If she were still in Human society, the nature of their foe would technically be redacted information¡ªthe populace was better off not knowing of the horrors that threatened them, spreading information like that would only cause unnecessary panic.

    ¡°Just¡­ try to get into contact with her. I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t know if I can share what happened.¡±

    ¡®I¡­ see. Right, okay.¡¯

    Seraphine sounded momentarily stunned, before immediately hardening her resolve and hanging up.

    The way she immediately got her emotions under control reminded Lycoris that she¡¯d been part of the military before as well. Though Seraphine had made it sound like service was compulsory for all vampires, she definitely acted with as much sincerity as any career soldier. Somehow, it left Lycoris feeling emasculated¡­ well, she was a girl now, though¡­

    Reminded that panic would achieve nothing, Lycoris forced herself to calm her trembling hands, focusing her thoughts on how to proceed.

    ¡°I wonder, what can I even do to help¡­?¡±

    ¡°Is it truly necessary for you to do anything, Your Highness?¡± Athena spoke up, looking over from the table she was idly wiping down.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Her Majesty is already putting her full attention toward the situation. The soldiers are mobilizing in response. It¡¯s their job to clean up after whatever blunder caused such a catastrophic failure in the first place.¡±

    ¡°But Emma could be in danger for all we know! I can¡¯t just¡­ sit around. Do you know how worried I was when you were missing?¡±

    ¡°Y-Your Highness¡­ was worried over me?¡±

    Athena¡¯s eyes widened in shock. The maid was so stupefied by the notion that she completely forgot to prostrate herself as she normally would whenever Lycoris rendered such an ¡°accolade¡± upon her.

    ¡°Of course! I barely even know how a princess is supposed to take care of her own morning routines! And most of what I do know is from watching you work. I still don¡¯t really know how to coordinate an outfit as well as you or Mother¡­¡± Lycoris added in a slight huff.

    ¡°Technically, I handled Her Majesty¡¯s outfits as well, before being assigned as your personal maidservant, Princess. N-Not because she required the assistance, of course! She¡¯s simply far, far too important of a person to waste effort dressing herself and the like.¡±

    ¡°Really¡­? Then, what does she do now?¡±

    ¡°If I had to guess, she just uses magic instead.¡±

    ¡°¡­ ¡­Your job was outsourced by magic?¡±

    ¡°D-Do you see how worthless my services are now!?¡±

    Lycoris rolled her eyes and looked back down at her phone, hoping that the silence meant Seraphine was talking with Emma, and not anything else.

    ¡°It isn¡¯t about your services. ¡­And even if it was, like I said, I can¡¯t handle it on my own¡­ It¡¯s because you¡¯re you. You¡¯re my maidservant, and¡­ sort of like a friend, in a way. At least, you¡¯re someone I can talk to about things I can¡¯t with anyone else.¡±

    ¡°Your Highness¡­¡±

    Lycoris scrunched up her face as Athena collapsed upon her, hugging her leg. It seemed like an overreaction to something that was just a simple, shy little admission, but Lycoris did feel her cheeks warm up as she spoke the truth. And a touch of confusion, as well. The idea that her first real friends were vampires was¡­

    She didn¡¯t have a chance to finish the thought, or shake Athena off, as her phone began to ring again.

    ¡°Yes!? I¡­ mean, Princess Lycoris, speaking.¡±

    ¡®Lyco! I couldn¡¯t get in touch with her. She wasn¡¯t picking up, and none of the hospital lines I tried connected either. It¡¯s like the town completely fell off the grid somehow.¡¯

    ¡°Hospital? Is that the Church¡¯s House of Healing?¡±

    ¡®Healing¡­? No, Emma¡¯s a nurse, not a nun¡ªanyway, I couldn¡¯t get an answer from the town, but when I got in touch with someone in Condore, they said there were apparently several people caught in a subway accident. And moreover, it sounds like they¡¯re getting swamped with calls like mine. Supposedly Kranes¡¯ anti-sun measures all failed at once, and their transit network went haywire as well.¡¯

    Seraphine was clearly trying to maintain as level of a tone as possible, but Lycoris could hear the anxiety creeping into the edge of her words.

    There had to be something Lycoris could do. She was Princess of the entire Vampire Empire! The rulers of the world! If they were even half as imposing and terrifying as humanity thought¡ªwhich in some ways they were, but others¡­ not at all¡ªthen finding a single person should be a trivial task.

    ¡°¡­Athena?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Highness?¡±

    ¡°Do you know if there¡¯s¡­ any sort of¡­ I dunno, ¡®Exaltare Super-Scrying Orb?¡¯¡±

    ¡°An¡ª¡±

    ¡®¡ªExaltare Super-Scrying¡ª¡¯

    ¡°¡ªOrb?¡±

    Both Athena and Seraphine stared at her¡ªor at least she imagined Seraphine staring at her through the phone.

    ¡°Geh¡­ Listen! I just think, you know¡­ There has to be something I can do with my position! Aren¡¯t I the second most powerful person in the world!? ¡­Sort of¡­¡±

    As soon as she said it out loud, she realized how ridiculous it sounded.

    Even if it was the truth, Lycoris didn¡¯t feel like she held all that much power or sway. She certainly hadn¡¯t done anything in particular to earn it, wasn¡¯t sure she felt like she deserved it, and¡­ was a little afraid of the very concept.

    ¡®Princess, are you¡­ sure? I-I mean, I¡¯m honored but¡­ is it really worth spending that much effort on this? We¡¯re just¡ª¡¯

    ¡°Yes! Did we not just spend an entire night talking!? What kind of friend wouldn¡¯t do everything she could for someone she cared about!¡±

    ¡°We can¡­ ask Her Majesty for access to secure documents and records, and possibly advice as well¡­ but¡­ I¡¯m not sure that¡¯s such a good idea,¡± Athena half-heartedly mumbled, ¡°She¡¯ll undoubtedly be busy enough as is¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle it then! This is my idea, after all! I¡¯ll take responsibility.¡±

    Lycoris puffed out her chest and thumped her hand against it.

    Before Athena could even respond, she darted out of the door and began running down the hall.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    ¡°Hmm, records¡­ what sort would you be looking for? And what would you do upon finding what you seek, dear flower?¡±

    Lilianna inclined her head, her eyes glimmering as she stared straight through Lycoris.

    The girl refused to let herself be cowed by the gesture, even though the maid behind her was trembling on hands and knees. She knew exactly why her mother was so wary, it was her fault after all.

    If Lycoris hadn¡¯t rushed off on her own after Athena, the Exaltare probably wouldn¡¯t have been quite so guarded. But Lycoris had no intention of repeating such a reckless stunt. Even if she felt right at home on a battlefield¡ªor used to, at least¡ªit wasn¡¯t where she belonged at the moment.

    Lycoris had come to accept that, awkward as it felt, she had become too important to directly involve herself in a catastrophe.

    ¡®Is¡­ that Her Majesty The Exaltare¡¯s voice? Lyc¡ªPrincess, shouldn¡¯t we hang up first? For the sake of national security!?¡¯

    ¡°Of course not, you¡¯re the one who knows what I should be looking for! Or how to track down Emma, potentially.¡±

    Lilianna¡¯s pointed ears twitched. One of her eyebrows raised slightly.

    ¡°Darling, if you are to have a serious conversation with me, it would behoove you to first finish your business with anyone else. ¡­Though, at least whoever that individual is, they seem to have a decent head on their shoulders, for now.¡±

    ¡®Eep! I-I¡¯m going to hang up now! T-Take care Lyco, maybe ask about any records of teleportation circle usage!?¡¯

    With a rapidfire reply, Seraphine hung up on her end, leaving Lycoris stranded in front of the ultimate tyrant.

    A curled corner of the lip joined Lilianna¡¯s eyebrow on her expression of vague ire.

    ¡°¡®Lyco¡¯ hmm?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want my friends calling me things like ¡®Princess¡¯ or ¡®Your Highness¡¯ in private company. It¡¯s awkward enough thinking about myself like that already. Anyways, is there any way we can look into where Emma went?¡±

    ¡°You still haven¡¯t answered our second question. And, once we have time off from this incident, we¡¯ll be having a conversation about how to properly associate with friends. Especially given¡­ future prospects.¡±

    Her irritated expression gave way to a somewhat somber one as she flicked her finger across the screen of her tablet.

    Lycoris swallowed, reflexively gripping Mizar as she stepped closer to her mother¡¯s raised desk. She was short enough now that she could only just peer over the edge at the documents laid out on it.

    There were printouts of¡­ different goods listed out, if she was reading them right.

    ¡°When I find out what happened to her, I¡¯m going to tell Seraphine, obviously. I want to help however I can, but I realize that it isn¡¯t the sort of place I should blindly rush into. I dunno what¡¯s¡­ I am unsure what the exact state of things is, but the timing all feels¡­ far too convenient.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±

    Her mother stared down at her, the continued piercing gaze of the Exaltare causing the girl¡¯s knees to buckle and shake. Fortunately she was able to prop herself up with the desk.

    It wasn¡¯t the first time that Lilianna drilled into her like this, but that hardly made it any easier to endure. Lycoris had nothing to hide, though; she didn¡¯t have any reason to shy away from her mom¡¯s scrutiny.

    After what felt like an eternity of silence, a notification sound on Lilianna¡¯s tablet finally brought the flow of time back to the tepid office.

    Lilianna reached down and opened a drawer, withdrawing another tablet and slowly slid it across the desk toward her daughter.

    When she spoke, it was with the confident and formal tone that she addressed her subjects with.

    ¡°¡­Very well then. We shall permit thee to do thine own investigation. But before thou contact and share any information thou uncover with that¡­ friend, thou must impart thy findings upon us.¡± She leaned forward, a deathly serious glint in her crimson eyes. ¡°Dost thou understand, Daughter?¡±

    ¡°I do. Thank you, Mother. I offer my sincerest apologies for interrupting what is no doubt a busy and chaotic day for¡­ thee¡­?¡±

    Lycoris nodded slowly without breaking eye contact, sliding a hand forward and timidly grasping the plasticky feeling tablet.

    Lilianna¡¯s expression suddenly softened, reaching her arm past Lycoris¡¯ and gently stroking her head as she pushed her seat back to stand up.

    ¡°My, such a precocious little child~ Do not forget that this is the third of your birthdays, even if our plans for Moonsend Fading fell through. You are ever our first priority. Now then¡­¡±

    She sat back down, leaving a rather poignant amount of space between her and her desk.

    Though Lycoris couldn¡¯t see it, she knew the woman was patting her thigh.

    ¡°Come, sit. Let us handle our business alongside each other. It will be a delight to oversee our precious flower as she diligently works, hmhmhm~¡±

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    ¡°I found something! I think?¡±

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Lycoris cried out from atop her mother¡¯s lap, squinting down at the endless stream of access logs for the entire capital¡¯s teleport transit records. All it took was entering Emma¡¯s name into the search field and filtering it by date, but it¡¯d still taken her a few minutes to wrap her head around it all.

    She squirmed about as her mother wrapped an arm around her waist, leaning down and softly pressing her cheek against Lycoris¡¯ ear as she gazed over her shoulder.

    ¡°Emma Gansley, departed from the Intranational Teleport on Darkswallow Avenue at 5:53 am. Good work, little flower. Do you remember how to proceed from there?¡±

    Lilianna had taken a moment to cease staring at maps of Kranes and the overall Empire to teach Lycoris how to navigate the logs for the Empire¡¯s transportation network. They apparently tracked every ticket purchased and train taken, every opening of a city¡¯s dawn walls, and obviously, every usage of a teleportation circle.

    Lycoris wasn¡¯t sure what exactly a train was, but it certainly sounded like quite an invasion of privacy¡­ Though, at the same time she could see how it¡¯d be useful, given the exact situation she¡¯d found herself in.

    And presumably, the only reason she had access to it was because she was the Exaltare¡¯s daughter. It didn¡¯t seem like the sort of thing just anyone could look up, at any rate. Hopefully, at least.

    ¡°Yeah. I just push on this entry to bring up a list of connecting trips, and that¡¯ll show where she ended up.¡±

    ¡°But we already know where she went, don¡¯t we dear?¡±

    ¡°¡­O-Oh, right.¡±

    Lycoris deflated a little, looking away at the corner of the room where Athena had been relegated to waiting anxiously. In actuality, neither Lycoris nor Lilianna had given her any sort of order to standby, they¡¯d simply forgotten about her as they worked together.

    ¡°Instead, it¡¯d be best to look at the payment information for her trips, or her banking information. That is where you will find your paper trail, dear.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Oh, umm¡­ Then, I want to tap on this instead right?¡±

    ¡°Correct. As expected of our daughter, you are quite swift on the uptake.¡±

    Lycoris fidgeted as her mother heaped praise on her and squeezed her with the arm already wrapped around her side.

    Lilianna¡¯s lap was a remarkably dangerous place for someone so completely defenseless, but she couldn¡¯t deny the bubbly and ticklish warmth that came with allowing herself to be vulnerable toward her mother.

    Even if she¡¯d prefer not to be quite so infantilized.

    ¡°Mrgh, you don¡¯t need to hug me over every little thing¡­¡±

    ¡°But you¡¯ve come so far from being incapable of even read¡ª¡± Lilianna cut herself off, shooting a brief look at the maid. ¡°Well, your progress is quite astounding. Athena, pour me a drink. Anything is fine.¡±

    Lycoris still couldn¡¯t help but think that was just an excuse to shower affection upon her though.

    Not-so-wearily resigning herself to her mother¡¯s love, she resumed her investigation into Emma¡¯s fate. Whether it was good or bad, she found immediate luck as she look at the account that paid for her fare. The string of numbers tied to the routing number was meaningless, but when she traced back who that account belonged to, her blood ran cold.

    Bartholomew Vanas.

    Even though she¡¯d barely spoken three sentences to the man, she immediately envisioned the portly and somewhat timid figure who¡¯d approached her. And of course, how she snubbed him to hang out with the people she actually invited to the party.

    There was no chance that could simply be a coincidence. Lycoris didn¡¯t think much of him at the time, the name Vanas barely even registered to her, but that was still one of the Seven Families. Could it have been possible he was trying to get even with her? Because she snubbed him? Would nobles really be so petty? The Seven were undeniably prideful, but it was hard to imagine they would drag a single person into such a terrible incident just to spite Lilianna¡­ But Lycoris wasn¡¯t Lilianna. Perhaps he was counting on her just being a foolish child, unconcerned with the life of a single commoner. Maybe he just wanted to punish Emma for catching Lycoris¡¯ eye instead.

    Lycoris couldn¡¯t decide what was more infuriating, the fact that he had pulled strings to put Emma in danger, or the idea that he¡¯d done so out of spite for her. It felt as though he was trampling over Lycoris¡¯ pride. It felt like¡­ an unpleasant itch she couldn¡¯t scratch.

    What¡¯s more, there was something strange about the sequence of events, too. They had only met the night before last, and Emma was called to Kranes in response to an emergency yesterday¡­ except¡­

    Her attention snapped back into reality when the chilled, blood-filled glass clinked atop Lilianna¡¯s desk, and she raised her head.

    ¡°Ah?¡±

    ¡°Are you thirsty as well, dear? Athena, fetch her a glass as well.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. N-No wait, I mean, it¡¯s not that!¡±

    ¡°Hm? Would you like a sip from our¡ª¡±

    ¡°No! ¡­Besides, isn¡¯t that alcohol? I swore off liquor. M-More importantly, when did the situation in Kranes start?¡±

    Her eyes wandered from the glittering tumbler filled with red liquid up to her mother¡¯s face. She pouted slightly, watching Lilianna take a slow sip of her drink.

    The woman¡¯s eyes wandered from Lycoris down to her tablet, and she tilted her head thoughtfully. Then, she set her glass down and scooped up the register of noble names she¡¯d neglected in favor of her daughter, rolling her eyes across the list for a moment.

    ¡°Last night, at around midnight.¡±

    ¡°And there wasn¡¯t anything else wrong in town the day before, right?¡±

    ¡°It seems you have caught the beast by its tail at last.¡±

    ¡°¡­If you already knew then why didn¡¯t you say anything!?¡±

    Lycoris wrinkled her brow in irritation. She could¡¯ve saved hours of time if Lilianna had simply told her that. Or looked it up herself¡ªshe wouldn¡¯t have had to explain how to navigate any of the software to Lycoris in that case, even.

    Before her frustration could spill out from her mouth, her mother set the paper down and put a finger to Lycoris¡¯s lips, her other arm still wrapped around her daughter.

    ¡°Because we believed it to be more beneficial for you to go through the process yourself. ¡®Doing¡¯ is a better teacher than ¡®watching.¡¯ Moreover, your investigation revealed something even we had been troubled by before your arrival.¡±

    ¡°It¡­ did?¡±

    ¡°Indeed. This¡­ Bartholomew. Second cousin twice removed of Margrave Alobadene ¡®Nolunty¡¯ Vanas. He appears to be the missing link we were looking for.¡±

    Lycoris blinked. ¡°How so? ¡­I met him at the party, but I¡­ I, erm, brushed him off to see to my guests instead.¡±

    Her mother¡¯s lips curled into a wry grin. ¡°Our daughter has grown better at couching her language. At any rate, he is insignificant enough to slip beneath our notice, and appears to be just the sort who would do something stupid¡­ like cavort with a Hero¡¯s party.¡±

    ¡°What!?¡±

    Lycoris jumped out of her mother¡¯s lap and turned to stare up at her, her hands crushing the corners of her tablet.

    Her pulse quickened as she immediately thought of the only person that could imply. If Tatyana was somehow behind this catastrophe as well, and had gotten another one of her friends wrapped up in it¡­

    Her mother reached forward and gently pulled the poor tablet out of her hands, brushing her fingers across the cracked screen as she set it back on her desk.

    ¡°Ah¡­ sorry.¡±

    ¡°And he clearly knew of this in advance, given the timing. We aren¡¯t sure if he was the one making contact with the Wizard.¡±

    ¡°Witch.¡±

    ¡°The title itself is unimportant. What matters is if he has been compromised or not. There¡¯s any number of things he could have been tempted with,¡± Lilianna sighed.

    ¡°She has the temperament of a traitor, so I¡¯m sure there¡¯s probably not much point in trying to figure out what lie she told him¡­¡±

    ¡°Indeed, those are wise words, Lycoris. Unfortunately, it appears as though he has also gone to Kranes. Perhaps this Witch means to rendezvous with him using the chaos as cover.¡±

    The young girl felt her muscles tense, her legs urging her to rush out of the office right this second. If Tatyana really was in Kranes¡­ She could deal with three birds in a single strike. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up.

    And yet¡­ she didn¡¯t act on that impulse. She knew better.

    ¡°Mama¡ª¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Her mother turned from the beveled glass cup in her hand to glare at her. ¡°You are thinking with your heart, not your mind. The city is dangerous. Far too dangerous to allow you to travel to, even if it wasn¡¯t on the edge of the Empire. We will allow no such thing. As both the Exaltare and your mother, your safety is our top priority.¡±

    ¡°But¡ª¡±

    ¡°Lycoris.¡±

    ¡°Can I TALK!?¡± she shouted back, her little arms trembling as she endured the vortex of unpleasant emotion swirling within her. ¡°I never said anything about going there myself¡­ I know Tatyana. Maybe not well, but I¡¯m certain she wouldn¡¯t stick around to watch her handiwork. It¡¯s probably just a diversion, anyways. Why would she even kick a bunch of monsters toward a border town? What does she stand to gain from doing that? Where is she pulling our attention away from?¡±

    Lycoris forced herself to breathe, shelving the hatred for the woman as best she could and instead contemplating what her ulterior motive might be. She wasn¡¯t particularly aware of what the current political landscape was like¡ªespecially after her recent debut undoubtedly shook things up.

    The only thing she could remember her mother and Athena bringing up was¡­

    ¡°The Geolle Resistance,¡± Lilianna quietly muttered.

    ¡°She¡¯s probably already gone back underground. I doubt we¡¯d catch her just by looking.¡±

    ¡°We won¡¯t have to.¡±

    Lycoris glanced into her mother¡¯s eyes. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°We already have a lead, remember? We can trace this Vanas louse back to her, and close the net around them both. That may prove difficult though, given their¡ª¡±

    ¡°But what about Emma!? We can¡¯t just¡­ sacrifice her! She¡¯s my friend! And Seraphine¡¯s beloved!¡±

    Lilianna¡¯s lip curled ever so slightly, her stern demeanor fading for just a moment for some reason.

    She didn¡¯t quite know how to properly appeal to her mother¡¯s nobility, but Lycoris decided to capitalize on that chance and followed that itch nagging at the back of her neck.

    ¡°A-Also, I don¡¯t want that idiot to get away with whatever he¡¯s plotting! If he thinks that he can slight a member of the Aphtangloa just because I didn¡¯t say hi and dance with him¡­ isn¡¯t that reason to go forth and punish him immediately!? Plus I¡­ I don¡¯t want Emma to be hurt because of what I did.¡±

    ¡°Be that as it may, Lycoris, remember that they are common¡ª¡±

    ¡°Stop acting like civilians are less than human! You know I was no different myself!¡±

    ¡°But you were, you are.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ That¡¯s right.¡± Lycoris¡¯ lips curled in derision. ¡°You said I was special. That I could ¡®lead our people to a brighter future!¡¯ So why are you forcing me to make the same choice you would!? We know who did this, where a lead is. Let me make a difference somehow! I¡­ admit that I want to go there, but I know that being a princess comes with all sorts of risks and responsibility. I¡¯m not just going to run off on my own this time¡­ Didn¡¯t you want me to try my hardest to convince you, when I thought it mattered!?¡±

    ¡°We¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll stay here, if that¡¯s really what the situation calls for. But I won¡¯t stand for the idea that those ¡®commoners¡¯ are worth less than myself. They¡¯re my friends, not some toys to be tossed aside. They helped me when they had no reason to. Even when they realized I was potentially hazardous to even associate with, they didn¡¯t abandon me! And¡­ At the end of the day, aren¡¯t we all just¡­ just people?¡±

    ¡°¡®People,¡¯ is it¡­?¡±

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s why I think it¡¯s revolting that vampires drink Human blood. Nevermind the Goddess¡¯ teachings or anything like that! You wouldn¡¯t drain a random noble dry just because Vampire blood tasted better, would you!?¡±

    Her mother looked just as startled as when Lycoris had managed to actually land that very first blow against her during their initial training session. She opened and closed her mouth several times, as though she were actually at a loss for words. Like she didn¡¯t know where to even begin trying to refute Lycoris¡¯ argument.

    Eventually, she set down the glass and nodded at Athena, who quietly crept out of the room.

    The hairs on Lycoris¡¯ neck stood on end as the atmosphere in the room gradually changed, the shadows growing longer and the warmth of the firepit fading; but, rather than angry, her mother looked¡­ tired.

    ¡°Not a single soul would ever be so far gone,¡± she muttered to herself with a sigh, before clearing her throat. ¡°There are so many things we¡­ I wish to say. Too many for one conversation. Some are things I cannot say, even. But, there is a reason why it is taught that drinking the blood of other vampires causes mutation and disease. The very knowledge that such a thing is possible is itself dangerous, as it leads down an inevitable train of thought. And at the end, is the act of diablerie¡­ a taboo that must never leave this room. To ghoul a Human is to err, but to diablerize a vampire¡­ is to threaten the world.¡±

    There was a gravity to her words that caused Lycoris¡¯ knees to buckle, as though her mother¡¯s speech was exposing some primal fear inside of her as she fell to her hands and knees.

    ¡°There¡­ will come a time when we explain more. But not here. Not now.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Lycoris¡¯ head spun as she suddenly felt strangely ill, her heart throbbed painfully in her chest, she choked and gasped for air. And then¡­

    Her mother gently picked her up under the arms, and held her gently against her chest, calmingly rubbing her back. She had stood up at some point, but Lycoris wasn¡¯t sure when.

    ¡°There, there. We know that you didn¡¯t understand the weight of what you suggested. We¡ª I¡¯m curious to hear more of these ¡®teachings¡¯ those humans poisoned your mind with. Perhaps that is the source of our quarrels¡­ Could I trouble you to share with me? So that I might learn why my child is so wounded by what is only a natural course of evolution.¡±

    ¡°Mm¡­ Mnn¡­¡±

    It was the last thing she wanted.

    If she told her mom about the Goddess, about the Church, she¡¯d undoubtedly find some way to tear her faith apart. It was the only thing keeping her going. It was the unassailable final bastion of Humanity. The only thing helping her remember which way was up as she sank into the mud.

    Lycoris shook her head.

    Not here. Not now.

    Just as her mother had said.

    Lilianna sighed and sat back down, holding her daughter as she cast her gaze toward the ceiling.

    ¡°Very well. We won¡¯t put our darling flower in harm¡¯s way, but¡­ Perhaps you can accompany the Security Contractor as far as the neighboring city.¡±

    Lycoris looked up at her mother speechlessly, her eyes widening in genuine shock and awe.

    ¡°The Imperial Army is to gather there, you may serve as a figurehead to spur the relief efforts of Kranes. And¡­ ensure that blundering oaf doesn''t get away with besmirching our family name, Lycoris. We can assure you that he won¡¯t bring any harm to this Emma immediately. He is Vanas, and they¡­ prefer to repurpose dissidents and captives, rather than erase them. No doubt he intends to show her off to you after having done so.¡±

    ¡°¡ª!?¡±

    The girl gasped, a deep disgust writhing in her gut. She didn¡¯t know what her mother meant, but the way she spoke made it obvious that it was nothing she wanted to hear any details of.

    And she especially didn¡¯t want Emma to suffer such a fate. The fact Lilianna had been willing to allow such a thing in the first place was already worth rebuking, but Lycoris had neither the capacity nor drive to do so when she¡¯d already won a concession out of her.

    ¡°You will also have to take care to drink in private on your sojourn. We wouldn¡¯t wish for anyone to see our daughter force down untreated animal blood, after all.¡±

    ¡°I¡­¡±

    Lycoris tripped over herself as she recalled something from the day prior. A silver thread that she desperately wished to grasp, hoping it could pull her up into the light, out of the mire she was trapped in.

    ¡°Hm? It¡¯s okay, take your time, dearest.¡±

    ¡°¡­ ¡­Athena said¡­ there¡¯s processed animal blood that tastes better. That¡¯s used in, um, commoner fare.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of the Vanas¡­¡± Lilianna muttered to herself. ¡°Indeed, there are many additives poor for one¡¯s health mixed in, to help the sweetener properly blend into the mixture. It¡¯s a cost-saving measure to deal with the demand for blood¡­ We presume she didn¡¯t share what that ¡®sweetener¡¯ is.¡±

    Lycoris let out a forlorn whimper, ¡°It¡¯s not¡­ It can¡¯t be¡­¡±

    ¡°There is no point in impacting your health by giving you treated animal blood, when it would still mean feeding you Human blood, albeit diluted. After all, at that point, you may as well do what is best for your health and palate.¡±

    ¡°Then¡­¡±

    ¡°That said, animal blood obviously isn¡¯t a sustainable solution, either¡­ We worry it might stunt your growth. ¡­Though you certainly seemed fine while indulging in your birthday cake¡­ but that is another matter to handle at a later time. For now, collect yourself. We shall arrange transport for you and your friend. And of course, Athena shall accompany you as well.¡±

    Lycoris let out a deep, drawn out sigh. Her earlier outburst had sapped her energy, and Lilianna¡¯s explanation just now had been the finishing blow. She curled up against her mother, a gloomy pall hanging over her.

    No sooner did she clutch at that ray of hope than it vanished. The light had only been an illusion, blinding her before she was plunged back into the darkness once more.

    But at least¡­ it was warm.

 29 â€” Missing Puzzle Pieces

    That evening, Lycoris was dressed up in traveling clothes for the first time.

    She¡¯d been ignorant of just how much preparation went into a proper excursion, even setting aside obvious details like securing a route and escort. By virtue of how far north they were relative to her homeland¡­ previous homeland(?), the winters were far colder and required more layers of clothing.

    Athena had slid white tights up her legs, the fabric clinging weirdly around her waist as she wiggled about, and over her dress and shawl put on a deep blue button-up traveling coat. Finishing the ensemble, a silver-blue scarf with woven mythril thread imbued with a warmth enchantment had been wrapped around her neck and tucked under the coat.

    It was a stuffy outfit that felt harder to move in than she was used to, but she couldn¡¯t deny how warm she felt. Almost swelteringly so.

    Lycoris hadn¡¯t considered it until then, but the Transfixion of Heaven was always dry and temperate. There was no trace of a draft, even as high up as they were and in the dead of winter, and it certainly never felt humid or muggy like the capital city of Traskia often got during the late summer.

    It must have been some form of environmental control magic, but only select few rooms in the King¡¯s very castle had such luxurious magic placed upon them¡ªand possibly some nobles¡¯ bedchambers¡ªso to have an entire towering palace fully enchanted was a level of magecraft beyond the scope of Human imagination.

    Athena was in the midst of idly braiding her hair into a half updo, humming quietly as Lycoris stared vacantly down at the picture of herself in her mother¡¯s arms on the phone¡¯s lock screen. She rubbed her chin against the soft cotton scarf, feeling restless as she waited for her mother to arrive and escort her to the teleportation circle.

    Her luggage had already been packed, everything neatly folded and tucked into a rectangular wheeled bag with several compartments all over its front. She had no idea how it worked, but far more stuff fit inside of it than she had thought possible. Most likely, it worked like the containers that Witch employed¡­ or like her own Blood Storage ability.

    ¡°And, done! What do you think, Your Highness? Personally, I believe it makes you look quite regal!¡±

    Lycoris looked up at herself in the mirror, seeing her silver tresses braided around behind her head like a laurel, fastened at the back by the Aphtangloa brooch she¡¯d adorned herself with that evening so many months prior¡­

    A complicated feeling welled up in her gut, as she realized it was the exact sort of hairstyle Fawaris often sported. It felt wrong to see it on herself, but¡­ she was a princess.

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ lovely. But I¡¯m not sure it suits me,¡± she honestly stated.

    ¡°Oh but of course it does! You¡¯re always complaining about people looking at you like a child, and I think this fixes that nicely! Unless¡­ you¡¯d rather go with your usual twintails? I packed your favorite hair ornaments already, but we can take them out if you¡¯d like to make a swap.¡±

    ¡°Hmmm¡­¡±

    As she hemmed and hawed over it, there was a gentle knock at the door, and Lycoris turned her head just in time to see her mother enter with a reserved smile on her face. She had a small velvet box in her hands.

    Instead of immediately rushing over, Lycoris purposefully straightened her back and folded her hands over her lap, looking towards Lilianna with a sheepish smile.

    ¡°Good evening Mother. How¡­ do I look?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, like you¡¯re prepared to tackle a blizzard, we would say.¡±

    ¡°Ehhh? Nothing about¡­ looking regal or mature¡­?¡±

    Lilianna¡¯s demure smile widened as Lycoris admitted the real reason she asked.

    ¡°Indeed, you look like a model princess, darling. Though¡­ there is little you can, or should, do about your youthfulness. Though we suppose it is ever the hallmark of a child to rush toward adulthood, hmhmhm.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ That¡¯s¡­ Huhm. That¡¯s a good point, actually. I¡¯ve been so mired in getting back to where I was, I didn¡¯t even think about that. ¡­But aside from that, what exactly about me is so childish!?¡± Lycoris huffed.

    ¡°Hahaha, your big round eyes and soft little cheeks, your petite arms, your unadorned ears and brow¡­¡±

    ¡°Okay, okay! ¡­I get it. Hmph.¡±

    Lycoris puffed her cheeks out and folded her arms, turning away from her mom as she sulked.

    She pointedly ignored Athena¡¯s stifled giggling, knowing exactly what sort of self-flagellation would escape from her mouth if called out on it.

    ¡°But your hair does look lovely, dear. We think it quite suitable for your public appearance.¡±

    ¡°Actually, I wanted to ask about that, too. Aren¡¯t we just teleporting out to Condore? Do I really need to be so, um, suited up for that?¡±

    ¡°Things are never so simple for us royalty. You are a symbol of salvation and grace to the poor people of Kranes. It would be meaningless for you to visit without a suitably grand showing.¡±

    Her mother stepped over to where she was seated and held out the small box.

    ¡°This is the third of our gifts to you, and¡­ it comes with a heavy burden, unfortunately. However, it is also a symbol of our trust and, perhaps, might help you ¡®express your maturity¡¯ somewhat. ¡­And it will undoubtedly be of assistance while you are away.¡±

    There was a hint of weakness in her voice as she finished her explanation and Lycoris took the box. Pulling the lid off, she saw a luxurious platinum ring with a large round opalescent stone set in it, though a crescent slice of the side was shaded black. It had a lustrous rainbow sparkle to it, and seemed to radiate a faint glow¡­ but it didn¡¯t seem to bear any obvious enchantments.

    As she saw the ring, Athena let out a choked gasp and nearly tumbled over backwards.

    ¡°It¡¯s very pretty¡­ But, what is it?¡±

    ¡°Th-That¡¯s¡­ The¡­ Oh, I need to sit down I think¡­ My apologies, Your Majesty, Your Highness¡­ Punish me later.¡±

    ¡°Athena¡­?¡±

    ¡°This is the Moon Gem, Lycoris. A gemstone plucked from the ruins of the old capital, said to be a piece of the moon itself, given how it matches the current phase of the jewel traversing the sky above. It is the Exaltare¡¯s signet, given to the Heir-Significate as proof of their position. Think of it as a credit card with no limit or APR, if you show it to any business.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s a credit card?¡±

    Athena had collapsed onto a chair, and Lilianna¡¯s smile grew somewhat strained as Lycoris looked up at her with innocent confusion.

    She put a hand beneath Lycoris¡¯, slowly pushing the box and ring closer to her.

    ¡°Let us not dwell on that for now. The point we are trying to make, dear, is that the ring shall serve as all the finances you need to cover whatever expense may arise. But, try not to go overboard. We would rather not find that the entire treasury of Tenebreimen has been depleted by frivolous purchases. It would be quite inconvenient to mortgage the Transfixion.¡±

    Lycoris struggled to imagine what she could even buy that would cost so much.

    Still, she understood the severity of what it was, and closed the box with a nod of understanding.

    ¡°I¡¯ll safeguard it with my life.¡±

    ¡°We would prefer that you prioritize your life, Lycoris. Now then, let us be off. We shall see you as far as the car.¡±

    ¡°The¡­ what?¡±

    Lycoris looked up at her again, repeating her earlier gesture of innocent confusion.

    Lilianna gave her head a gentle pat, refusing to elaborate.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    In front of the palace at the bottom of the steps was a long¡­ carriage of some sort. It sat low to the ground, and at the front it bore a mythril insignia of a winged rose atop the hood. She found it hard to imagine anyone sitting atop that to steer it, it looked far too long. And there weren¡¯t any horses¡ªthankfully.

    Everything about the carriage was pitch-black; the metal making up its body, the thick and rubber wheels bolted on to it, even the windows were tinted a dark hue that blocked Lycoris from seeing what was inside. It looked like a coffin on wheels, an unpleasant omen.

    More imposing than the vehicle, however, was the massive crowd of people that¡¯d gathered in the streets and were cheering and flashing their phones at her, with a barricade and line of guards keeping them a fair distance away and off the streets.

    She looked momentarily stunned as she gazed out at the throng, but quickly recovered as she realized this was no different from her debut. It wouldn¡¯t do for Lycoris to show anything but perfection, like her mother.

    Moving somewhat stiffly, unused to acting gracefully while so bundled up, Lycoris carefully descended the steps, hand in hand with her mother, Athena following close behind.

    The wind blowing through the streets was bitterly cold. She was grateful for the extra layers, even though it was surprising just how stark the difference was. Lycoris knew it grew colder the further north one went, but she didn¡¯t get how so many people could bear this chill without magic.

    As they reached the bottom of the steps and approached the mystery carriage, she glanced around, looking for any sign of Seraphine. Lycoris had made sure to send her a message explaining that they were going to teleport to Condore, and to come meet up with them. She hadn¡¯t heard anything back yet, but assumed that her mother had made arrangements and let her twinge of concern settle.

    When they stepped up to the vehicle, the door clicked and swung open on its own, the dark crimson interior inviting her like the belly of an iron beast.

    Lycoris turned to look up at her mother as she let go of her hand, a sudden spike of separation anxiety setting in as the reality that she would be traveling far, far away dawned upon her. Her body moved on its own as she pressed herself against her mother.

    ¡°Hmhm, having second thoughts, little flower? Do not forget we¡¯re in public,¡± Lilianna muttered quietly, returning the embrace.

    ¡°No¡­ I¡¯m just¡­ just¡­¡±

    ¡°Fueling up for the trip? Try not to linger too long¡­ though admittedly, the crowd seems quite exuberant. You¡¯ve managed to build quite the reputation already, Lycoris.¡±

    There were plenty of cries from the spectators of how cute Lycoris was, how brave she was being, how they were certain that she would raise the morale of their troops and the like.

    Apparently word must have spread throughout the city already, though Lycoris wasn¡¯t sure how, given that she and her mother only found out that morning¡­

    With a final squeeze, Lycoris pulled herself away and forced a smile. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m off, then.¡±

    ¡°Stay safe, dear. Call us as soon as you get there, understood?¡±

    ¡°Yes Mother.¡±

    Accompanied by sniffles from the crowd, the Princess stepped up into the vehicle and glanced around the interior. The roof was lower than she expected, but Lycoris was small enough that she could still stand at full height inside.

    As strange and futuristic as the exterior was, it certainly had all the furnishings of a luxury carriage, with plush velvet red cushioned seats lining every side but the entrance, and plenty of leg room. Lycoris noticed that she could see out from the windows that had blocked line of sight from outside, along with a divider separating the seats in the back from a pair of men seated in the front, one with a wheel and the other speaking into a cell phone. She couldn¡¯t hear what they were saying through the divider, but they were both wearing sharp indigo-blue suits.

    There was a large iron box tucked behind one of the front seats, and beside one of the seats was another one of those panels like the ones beside the elevators, and what looked like a miniature bar counter¡­ And there were small fixtures set in the roof.

    With a dull thunk, Athena closed the storage compartment on the back and shuffled around to climb in behind her, prompting Lycoris to hurry up and take a seat.

    Only¡­ she wasn¡¯t sure where it was appropriate for her to sit, as Princess. Deciding it didn¡¯t matter for the moment, she sat down in the first spot available, opposite the door. After speaking in a hushed tone with Lilianna, Athena closed the door behind her and took a seat near the iron box and front of the steel carriage, right beside Lycoris.

    With Athena¡¯s delivering of a firm rap against the divider, the driver gradually impelled the vehicle forward, and Lycoris watched her mother wave goodbye as they started off toward the teleportation site.

    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Are you alright, Your Highness?¡±

    ¡°I am. Carriages always make me a little dizzy. I¡¯m surprised there aren¡¯t any horses pulling this one. Is it really powered by magic?¡±

    Lycoris decided that it would be better to focus on making smalltalk, than contemplate the feelings of longing in her breast.

    Athena quietly regarded her, rather than immediately answering her question as normal.

    Feeling her frustration begin to mount, Lycoris glanced around at the interior before looking back at her.

    ¡°Did I¡­ say something wrong? Athena?¡±

    ¡°Hm? Oh, m-my apologies, Your Highness! What was the question?¡±

    ¡°¡­Nevermind that, why are you so out of sorts?¡±

    The maid fidgeted with her hands, clearly hesitant to raise whatever was on her mind. It was the first time Lycoris had ever seen her appear indecisive like this.

    ¡°Do I have to order you to speak what¡¯s on your mind? I¡¯ll do so, if only so I can help.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ sort of what I¡¯ve been wondering about, Your Highness.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ take this the wrong way, Your Highness, but¡­ What is your real reason for heading out to Kranes County?¡±

    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±

    ¡°I mean, this Emma Gansley¡­ there¡¯s something more to all of this than just her, right? Or, I mean¡­¡±

    She fumbled over her words, almost getting tongue tied as she tried to put her thoughts in order.

    Lycoris frowned. ¡°She was one of the people who helped me out when I left to rescue you. Both her and Seraphine are people I consider friends, just like you.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it! That¡¯s what I mean! I understand why you would care so much for your mother, and vice-versa, but¡­ Your Highness doesn¡¯t act at all like Her Majesty when it comes to other people. Your Highness doesn¡¯t know things that children even half your age would, yet you hold an awareness of certain fields that eclipse many adults. Your Highness can be as fickle and emotional as a little child, befitting a girl your age, and yet sometimes you behave more properly and with greater patience than an adult¡­¡±

    A sense of danger crept up Lycoris¡¯ spine. She thought she could trust Athena¡ªno, she knew she could trust her. But also, the woman was making some very dangerous implications.

    It wasn¡¯t as though she had been trying particularly hard to conceal her identity from the maid¡ªif anything she was having an awful time trying to do the opposite.

    And yet, she suddenly felt extremely anxious as her personal attendant began putting everything into a neatly arranged list.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s¡­¡±

    ¡°You casually suggest things that sound like blasphemy and¡­ Well¡­ How do you know who that ¡®Tatyana¡¯ is? You sounded so confident, but I can¡¯t imagine¡­ F-Forgive me for even suggesting such an insolent possibility, but¡­ has Your Highness been speaking to such a dangerous terrorist behind Her Majesty¡¯s back?¡±

    Athena muttered in a hoarse whisper, questioning her own words even as she spoke them. It was clear she didn¡¯t want to believe it.

    It was also a horrendous, if not unreasonable, misunderstanding. The mere concept that she would even cavort with Tatyana, much less prioritize her over her own mother, was enough to cause the veins on the back of Lycoris¡¯ hand to pop up.

    Lycoris guffawed. ¡°H-hahah? No! I¡¯d never willingly associate with that bitch, knowing who she is now! I¡¯d sooner tear her throat out and break her fingers, lord over her crippled figure as she¡¯s unable to do the magic she¡¯s so proud of, and watch the life fade from her eyes as I slowly drag my scythe across her torso! Or maybe I¡¯d toss her into a pit of ravenous shaderats and watch them take her apart inch by inch after sewing her mouth shut and stitching her arms together. The fact she tricked us, lured us into a Vampire ambush, and killed our comrade and left Mizar and I alone to face the entire capital on our own is¡­ I¡¯ll¡­ ah.¡±

    She clenched her hands furiously, her shoulders heaving as she breathed heavily. Looking at her reflection in the tinted windows, she saw the horrifying visage of a furious slit-pupiled vampire. But she had startled herself because of what she said, not how she looked.

    ¡°Y-Your Highness¡­ and¡­ Mizar? That¡¯s the name of that human. The one you¡ª¡±

    ¡°SHHHH shh shh, don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t say whatever weird thing you¡¯re about to! I, um, he¡­ we¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡­ It couldn¡¯t be¡­ But¡­ Could it?¡± Athena muttered to herself, aghast.

    ¡°What. Spit it out,¡± Lycoris growled, ignoring how contradictory she was behaving.

    ¡°Well, um¡­ I-I-I don¡¯t know how it would happen but¡­ Um¡­ Was¡­ Your Highness raised outside of the Empire, in secret, hidden from the Seven Families to avoid being snuffed out in your infancy before you could protect yourself!? Like a little fruit bat hiding in an orchard, brought back by sympathetic humans who sought to reunite you with your mother, only to be betrayed by one among your number at the last minute!?¡±

    ¡°Wh¡ª Uh¡­¡±

    Lycoris stared at her blankly, the sound of the car near-silently rolling along the roads toward their destination the only reminder that they were even moving. The vehicle had remarkable anti-inertial properties, even Lycoris didn¡¯t feel ill sitting inside while it moved.

    ¡­But that wasn¡¯t what she should have been focusing on. Something far more outrageous had just been suggested!

    ¡°That would also explain why Your Highness has such reservations about consuming human blood! If you were raised by them, I¡¯m sure it must be hard to distance yourself from their faces whenever you feel hungry¡­¡± Athena shot her a pitying look.

    ¡°I¡­ That¡¯s¡­¡±

    It wasn¡¯t¡­ wrong, sort of.

    But it was quite obviously off the mark. It wasn¡¯t that Lycoris was a vampire raised among humans, but she was a human. It was like this maid would go through any sort of mental gymnastics to avoid the idea that Lilianna had embraced Lycoris like any vampire would to any human¡­

    At least, that¡¯s what Lycoris thought. But she was starting to doubt it herself.

    Had she been a human?

    She certainly didn¡¯t fit in with anyone in her village, she had to work harder, train more, than the other soldiers to keep up. Her memories were hazy, blotted out by alcohol, but there were things that didn¡¯t add up. She had absolutely been a knight, there was simply too much knowledge she possessed to discredit that, but aside from that¡­

    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I was a human, though¡­¡± she said meekly, as though trying to convince herself. ¡°I worked hard, I trained soldiers, I¡­ I was a washed up lush¡­ That¡¯s right! I was a middle-aged man! How do you explain that!?¡±

    Athena shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about, Your Highness. I¡¯ve never seen anyone but Princess Lycoris, the cute forty-six year old daughter of Her Majesty Exaltare Lilianna Majalis Aphtangloa.¡±

    ¡°That! Right there! I¡¯m forty-six! That¡¯s over the hill by Human standards! If I wasn¡¯t kicked out of the army, I¡¯d be nearing retirement age!¡±

    Wait¡­ why am I trying so hard to convince her of this? Wasn¡¯t I worried she was just about to put it together herself!?

    Athena put a finger to her cheek as she tilted her head, looking dangerously deep in thought. Nothing good ever came of allowing that maid to think.

    Lycoris scrunched her brow, worried what insane theory would come out of her mouth next. But instead, she seemed almost reasonable as she mused to herself.

    ¡°It does seem hard to imagine a vampire being able to live among humans undetected for nearly half a century¡­ And it¡¯s harder still to imagine Her Majesty even entertaining the notion of being separated from you for such a vulnerable period of your life. But you¡¯re undeniably her daughter.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ yeah.¡±

    They both fell into silence again, looking away from each other as the small cabin space filled with awkward tension. Neither of them could properly deny each other¡¯s theory; or rather, Lycoris would never deny Lilianna was anything but her mom, even if not by birth. While it didn¡¯t matter to Lycoris, she had undeniably fully inherited her mother¡¯s natural gifts. Nobody could argue against the Aphtangloa blood that now flowed through her veins.

    But that was why this whole situation was so confusing.

    ¡°¡­My apologies, Your Highness. It seems I¡¯ve once more caused undue stress by speaking out of turn.¡±

    ¡°N-No, it¡¯s okay. You¡¯re not¡­ entirely wrong, anyways. Even if there¡¯s a lot of holes in your theory, you were right about me living with humans until I met Mama. That¡¯s how I know who Mizar and Tatyana are, and why I¡¯m so ¡®uneducated¡¯ and¡­ don¡¯t like drinking Human blood. I guess it must be part of why I look pretty silly and childish to you, huh?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s admittedly quite a shock to hear¡­ P¡­Pardon me, Your Highness.¡±

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    Athena reached over and opened the iron box, taking a chilled bottle and glass out of it and pouring herself a drink, tapping a button on the panel beside her to cause the sofa to slide apart and reveal an ice bucket. She set the bottle in the bucket and took a steadying sip of blood, closing her eyes to collect herself.

    ¡°It would certainly be a scandal, but¡­ perhaps not one to end all scandals. The notion of a child being hidden in seclusion for their own safety isn¡¯t exactly untrodden territory after all. Being raised among the humans would certainly be beyond the pale, but¡­ it sounds like something out of a fairy tale, like the sort you¡¯d hear about Joras or Lilith or Quelann. I¡¯m certain Her Majesty would kill me for even finding such a thing out, though.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t let her! ¡­B-Besides, it¡¯s not like you¡¯re going to tell anyone, right?¡±

    ¡°Stake my heart and hope to die! I would never, not even under threat of death.¡±

    ¡°Do stakes actually work on vampires?¡±

    ¡°As well as they do on humans I imagine! Actually, that does make me curious. If Your Highness is willing to humor me, there are a few things I¡¯m curious to find out about.¡±

    Lycoris glanced out the window at the streetlights flickering by overhead, realizing that she wasn¡¯t sure how far they were actually going. Maybe she could refer to the map on her phone, but that seemed a little rude in the middle of a conversation.

    ¡°As long as we have time, I suppose it¡¯s okay¡­ Maybe I can ask you some questions too, to help fill the gaps in my knowledge that Mother hasn¡¯t tended to yet?¡±

    ¡°Oooh, that sounds fun! Anyways, first: how¡¯d you deal with the sun? Humans don¡¯t have cloud generators, right?¡±

    ¡°Er, no. We¡­ Or, humans worship the sun. It¡¯s the symbol of the Goddess, the guardian who shields them from the threat of vampires.¡±

    ¡°Oh goodness, how terrible!¡±

    ¡°M¡­mmm¡­ Well, there¡¯s good and bad people everywhere, I guess. A-Anyways, I didn¡¯t really do anything special to deal with the sun, it was never an issue for me¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ unbelievable!¡±

    ¡°Imagine how I must feel about all of this.¡±

    Lycoris chuckled nervously, feeling remarkably refreshed as she shared some of the things that had been weighing on her.

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t even begin to. It¡¯s no wonder you¡¯re so clingy to Her Majesty, mhmhmhm~¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not¡­ okay maybe I am a little, b-but¡­ well¡­ actually you¡¯re not wrong. Ugh¡­¡±

    ¡°So, if you didn¡¯t drink Human blood while living there, what did you do for sustenance?¡±

    ¡°Guh¡­ M-Maybe you could ask questions that are more, er¡­ cultural in nature? I mean, I drank a lot of alcohol and mostly ate bread, pork, and cheese¡­¡±

    She fiddled with her thumbs, feeling rather ashamed of how little she took care of herself in her twilight(?) years. To say nothing of how the questions Athena was choosing specifically brought to attention the conflict between their two theories. Or rather, her theory and the truth.

    ¡°Ancestors! No wonder you¡¯re so small. Poor dear. Are you sure I can¡¯t tempt you to share this bottle with¡ª¡±

    ¡°No! Hmph, have my words been flying in one ear and out the other?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, no but¡­ I mean it¡¯s not like you¡¯re really hurting anyone; this bottle will get drunk either way. Plus you won¡¯t get any bigger if you keep¡­ nevermind, how was it living as a princess in Human lands? I¡¯m sure it has to be completely different than it is here at home!¡±

    At home¡­ she says¡­ Lycoris sighed, thinking of the unpleasant village where she initially grew up. I guess, just going by lifespan, I¡¯ll probably spend way way longer in the Empire than the Kingdom¡­

    ¡°Um, well, I lived as a commoner. But I did know a princess!¡±

    ¡°What!? How¡­ How dare they treat Princess Lycoris like a common plebeian! We have to wipe them out¡ª¡±

    ¡°Wait wait wait! W-Wouldn¡¯t it, um, have blown my cover? Haha¡­¡±

    Lycoris was already feeling fatigued, but she continued to answer the question, going over the differences between her current life and what she recalled of Fawaris¡¯ daily routine.

    The questioning didn¡¯t end there, however, as Athena eventually branched out into asking what towns were like, what people did for entertainment, how they traveled around, what sort of problems they faced on a day-to-day basis, what their clothing was like, and just about anything else a person could reasonably think of.

    Lycoris never even had a chance to ask a single question of her own, given how excited the maid was to learn something she¡¯d probably never have a chance to otherwise, and Lycoris was begrudgingly happy to indulge.

    The rest of their ride to the teleport was filled with Lycoris sharing as much as she could remember about what Human life was like, while Athena listened with rapt interest, and occasionally offered her looks of pity or surprise.

 30 â€” Please Keep Your Hands and Feet Inside the Circle at All Times.

    When they arrived at the teleport, Lycoris was thoroughly exhausted from playing two hundred questions with Athena. But she had to snap back into Princess Mode, as the moment the door clicked back open she was greeted by another crowd of people all taking pictures and recording her.

    If it¡¯s going to be like this everywhere I go, I think I¡¯d almost rather stay holed up in the palace¡­ I bet Mama knows some sort of invisibility spell. Doubt she¡¯d teach it to me, though.

    She hadn¡¯t taught Lycoris much in the way of magic, after her little ¡°episode¡± with studying Blood Storage. Or rather, she had only continued to drill her on the basics.

    Pushing her internal grousing aside, Lycoris straightened her back out as she gracefully accepted Athena¡¯s hand and stepped out of the vehicle, offering a polite wave to the crowd before entering the building.

    Thankfully, the interior had been cleared out and public access was barred, so there wasn¡¯t anything to worry about in the way of sudden surprises.

    Aside from a pleasant one, waiting for them in the reception area.

    Leaning against a wall, checking her phone, was Seraphine. She¡¯d put on a beige pair of pants and wore a button-up white blouse beneath a matching beige blazer, with an inconspicuous newsboy cap and pair of sunglasses adorning her face.

    She gave off a completely different impression than the tipsy party-girl that Lycoris was familiar with. She seemed¡­ Sharp. Or at the very least, sober.

    As soon as she caught sight of Lycoris and Athena entering the lobby, she immediately put her phone away and walked over, taking a knee before Lycoris once she was exactly seven paces away.

    ¡°Your Highness! How pleasant to meet you once more, my apologies for getting here ahead of you, but I thought it¡¯d be best to avoid drawing attention to myself. And¡­ well, Her Majesty¡¯s guard decided to hire me to coordinate security while I was here.¡±

    Lycoris glanced around at the empty lobby. ¡°Are you feeling alright, Sera? There¡¯s nobody else here. You don¡¯t need to maintain appearances in front of just Athena and myself.¡±

    ¡°Ahaha, I¡¯m flattered by your words, Princess, but Her Majesty¡¯s ears are sharp indeed. I would never dare to demonstrate such flippancy toward you.¡±

    Seraphine raised her head to cast a rather pointed glance toward the maid right behind Lycoris, hauling their suitcases behind her.

    ¡­I wonder if Mama told her off after that phone call. Maybe I should apologize.

    ¡°R-Right. My apologies for putting you in such a precarious position, Seraphine. Have all the preparations been made already? I would like to arrive at Condore at once.¡±

    ¡°Of course, right this way, Your Highness.¡±

    She stood back up and bowed once more, before walking ahead of Lycoris as her guide. The clack of their heels across ceramic tile was the only sound echoing throughout the too-warm building complex.

    The place was filled with wide open foyers, screens indicating destinations and fare costs, and dozens of poles and ropes cordoning off reception counters that were unmanned. They passed through windowed halls guarded only by several strange steel machines, all of which were powered off and unmanned.

    The silence must have been getting to her, as Seraphine couldn¡¯t help but chime in while Lycoris was staring at the mysterious equipment.

    ¡°I will say, it¡¯s quite an experience getting to ignore all the usual red tape before teleportation. If it didn¡¯t involve such extraordinary circumstances, I could get used to this sort of luxury.¡±

    ¡°Red tape?¡± Lycoris glanced around at the corridor, but didn¡¯t see any sort of tape.

    ¡°There¡¯s typically long lines and lots of security at teleports. Otherwise it would be trivial to smuggle goods or people around.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ I suppose there would be no need for that when the security is keeping everything but us out in the first place. I wonder what it looks like normally.¡±

    ¡°When we get to Condore, you could always look up a video.¡±

    ¡°How many jumps is it going to be, anyway? Kranes County is pretty far northwest of the capital, I recall that much from Mother¡¯s map.¡±

    Athena increased her pace to walk alongside Lycoris. ¡°We¡¯ll have to go through five discrete teleportation arrays before we arrive in Condore, Your Highness.¡±

    ¡°F¡­Five?¡±

    Lycoris¡¯s gut twisted just from the thought of it. The only time she¡¯d ever been forced to go through repeated teleportations was when Mizar¡¯s party was fleeing from the Piscin into the tunnels.

    Tatyana had sent them all through back to back short-warps that were not only unpleasantly disorienting, but also nearly killed them all at least twice. Without a locked destination, it was possible they could end up inside of a physical object when re-materializing, which would naturally be instantly fatal. Apparently it was much more likely the further one warped, which had been why she claimed it was necessary to do so many in sequence, instead of just a singular greater one.

    ¡°Maybe it won¡¯t be so bad without all the adrenaline rushing through me while running for my life¡­¡±

    ¡°I already called ahead and ensured the sites we¡¯re jumping to are cordoned off to avoid any unnecessary surprises,¡± Seraphine explained.

    ¡°I don¡¯t suppose I¡¯ll be able to simply walk around town once we get to Condore either, will I?¡± Lycoris sighed.

    Athena chuckled softly and shook her head, ¡°Of course not, Princess. Setting aside how much commotion it would cause, if you wish to go anywhere, we¡¯ll have to establish a security detail first. Isn¡¯t that right, Miss Ethlow?¡±

    ¡°I would have to coordinate with the city watch in advance, yes.¡±

    ¡°Mmgh, I suppose it¡¯s inevitable when I¡¯m the Exaltare¡¯s daughter, but I feel like I can¡¯t even breathe! ¡­Well, you know what I mean. Even though I was admittedly stressed out and overwhelmed at the time, it was nice to be able to wander through the crowd.¡±

    Lycoris rather conveniently was setting aside the fact that she had been terrified out of her mind at being surrounded on all sides by vampires, at the time. She appreciated the irony with the situation reversed; she was no longer afraid of the people around her, but forced to be discreetly separated from them for her own safety.

    They passed through a mythril archway, the runes lining it pulsing lightly as they did. The ionized air beyond tickled Lycoris¡¯s nose slightly, the space around her somehow feeling less dense and suddenly much colder, even through her layers of clothing.

    ¡°Think of how Emma and I felt after finding out the truth, though!¡±

    ¡°Indeed, it is a miracle of Her Highness¡¯s making that your head remains attached to your shoulders.¡±

    ¡°Athena! Play nice. You¡¯re both my friends. If you act so wary of each other none of us will have the energy to get anything done.¡±

    ¡°My apologies, Y-Your Highness! I will strive to contain my impulsive tongue toward Miss Ethlow in the future!¡±

    Lycoris stared daggers into her maid. ¡°You make it sound like belittling people is a trained reflex.¡±

    ¡°Well, Lady Athena is high nobility, isn¡¯t she?¡±

    ¡°Please,¡± Athena chuckled demurely, ¡°I hardly qualify. My family cast me aside to a branch household the moment they realized how thin my blood was.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    ¡°Hmhm, it doesn¡¯t bother me. After all, it¡¯s thanks to that I was able to meet Her Highness!¡±

    At least the pair seemed to follow her instructions and ¡°played nice¡± as soon as she spoke up. Hopefully things would remain cordial without her having to babysit them.

    While they were both far older than her¡ªpresumably, she hadn¡¯t considered asking them their ages¡ªthe situation was quite reminiscent of when she traveled with Mizar and the others. Though, back then she had much more obviously been the quiet mother hen looking over the kids any time an argument broke out, being the oldest among their number¡­ At least, she always assumed she was.

    Unpleasant as Tatyana was to recall, she certainly had a "youthful" figure, at the very least.

    If Emma were here, we¡¯d even have the exact same headcount too¡­

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s my fault.¡±

    ¡°No no, it¡¯s a good thing that we met! Your Highness has been nothing but wonderful to me, treating me far better than I deserve as a mere servant to the Aphtangloa.¡±

    ¡°Not you! Er, sorry. I mean¡­ Because of my ignorance and carelessness, I¡¯ve put Emma in a horrible situation.¡±

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°Even if you think that¡¯s true Lyco, you immediately began putting your energy toward amending it. I¡¯m sure she doesn¡¯t blame you at all either. To say nothing of the fact that nobody would hold any expectation that the Heir-Significate should care one whit about a single random person. It does sound like your hands are kinda tied up by your mom though, huh?¡± Seraphine smiled wryly.

    ¡°Do not call Her Highness¡ª¡±

    ¡°Athena, what did I just say? You know, I can permit you to call me Lyco too, if you like~¡±

    ¡°Wh¡­ Buh¡­ I¡­ I could¡­ n-n-n-n-never! Her Majesty would¡­¡±

    Athena froze in place as Lycoris easily stunlocked her with a casual bit of teasing, allowing the girl to skip ahead in the narrow, dark stone hall, grasping Seraphine by the hand and smiling up at her.

    ¡°That¡¯s more like it! High morale starts from a place of close camaraderie! I¡¯ll be counting on the two of you to act as my eyes and hands, so you¡¯d better learn to get along and treat each other¡ªand me¡ªlike equals!¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­¡±

    Seraphine turned her head away, her cheeks darkening as she cleared her throat. It was the exact same gesture that the guards in the palace all did whenever Lycoris tried to get them to open up to her.

    Lycoris pouted.

    ¡°Hey! You were doing fine a moment ago! What¡¯s the matter?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t help it, you¡¯re just¡­ Too adorable, Lyco. Especially all dressed up like that. Her Majesty really is lucky to have such a cute daughter. Your charms are too powerful to leave unchecked like that.¡±

    ¡°Bhurgh¡­ D-Don¡¯t tell me that¡¯s why all the palace staff were averting their gazes from me¡­¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t learn to control that awesome power of yours, you¡¯ll give someone a heart attack one day. Especially as your feminine charms grow from cute little bud into gorgeous blossom~!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the sort of thing I¡¯d expect to hear from Mama¡­ Am I really that dangerous? ¡­Vampire stuff aside.¡±

    ¡°Ahaha, I¡¯m not sure what you mean by that, but I¡¯m sure you¡¯re breaking all kinds of safety laws already.¡±

    Seraphine scratched the back of her head, as the two of them entered a large waiting room filled with seats and more monitors, along with some kiosks lining one of the walls. Unlike the rest of the teleport, there were actually people here.

    Four people, to be precise.

    Two of them were wearing formal suits and had sunglasses on, and both immediately approached as she and Seraphine crossed the threshold into the holding area.

    The other two were a man and woman in custodial-esque clothing, though rather than a maid uniform, the woman was wearing a tightly fitting skirt and stockings beneath her blouse and jacket. They waited back by another strange machine, each bowing politely as they briefly made eye-contact with Lycoris and bowed deeply.

    ¡°Everything is ready on our end, Miss Ethlow.¡±

    ¡°Right, it¡¯s just the three of us and the luggage.¡±

    ¡°Understood. This way, Your Highness.¡±

    The long-eared men bowed curtly before Lycoris, before turning around and walking back toward the entryway on the far end of the room.

    By the time they made it to the pair of custodians standing by the large adamantine doors, Athena had caught up with them.

    ¡°Before entering the circle, please ensure that you turn off and remove any magical devices or pieces of clothing. If you need to change garments, there is a changing station in the restroom and freshly laundered frocks.¡±

    The female attendant spoke blandly, not even making eye contact with them as she looked down over her clipboard.

    Any time Lycoris could get away with not being given deferential treatment, she¡¯d take it at this point.

    ¡°Umm, I think it¡¯s just my scarf and phone, right Athena? Oh wait, what about our luggage?¡±

    ¡°Our belongings will be stored in a travel-safe container, Your Highness. Also, you will need to put on a special bangle. Considering the distance we¡¯re traveling, it¡¯s necessary for your safety.¡±

    ¡°M-My safety¡­?¡±

    Lycoris looked nervously between the staffers and Athena as the man in formal butler attire withdrew a small box from beneath a podium beside them. He opened it facing her, revealing rows of small silver bracelets with what looked like jet black nails with flattened tips lining them. They looked vaguely like some sort of torture device¡­

    ¡°Please take one and put it on your wrist, Your Highness. There will be some amount of discomfort, but bear in mind this is for the safety of everyone involved.¡±

    ¡°What am I missing here, Athena?¡±

    She complied at the same time as she posed the question to her maid. The bolts suddenly snapped down against her skin, sending a jolt of pain through her body as she nearly fell to her knees. The room briefly felt like it was spinning, but as her vertigo passed, she felt¡­ remarkably frail. Like her clothes had suddenly grown heavier on her body, or like she¡¯d become clumsier.

    Athena caught her before she actually tumbled forward, slowly helping her stand back upright as she deftly removed the scarf at the same time.

    ¡°Wha¡­ What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°These are devices meant to restrict the flow of mana. Think of it like a cork stopping you up, to make sure that you don¡¯t¡­ explode upon teleporting.¡±

    ¡°E-EXPLODE!?¡±

    ¡°Metaphorically! ¡­Though, it could potentially be literal too, depending on how big of a teleportation mishap it is¡­ B-B-But that¡¯s incredibly rare to begin with! And this is a measure to further minimize those odds.¡±

    Lycoris stared aghast, timidly holding the bangle with her other hand as she looked down at the nails firmly pressing against her skin.

    ¡°Huh, so that¡¯s why they always have high nobility come up to the front before everyone else. Today I learned¡­¡± Seraphine quietly remarked.

    ¡°Y-You¡¯re certainly taking this awfully casually, Sera.¡±

    ¡°Well, even I know to turn off and stow magic items before teleporting. Wouldn¡¯t want to accidentally end up as a pile of jelly inside of a wall or something!¡±

    ¡°Maybe we can just¡­ walk there¡­¡±

    ¡°Your Highness, you will be fine. Her Majesty wouldn¡¯t have given the go-ahead on this if there was even an infinitesimal chance of exploding.¡±

    ¡°Hhhhhh¡­ why do I feel like you¡¯re teasing me?¡±

    The three of them bantered rather frivolously while Lycoris adjusted to having her mana sealed away. The custodians and bodyguards purposefully kept their expressions blank as they went over the equipment performing final adjustments.

    Eventually, the man who offered Lycoris the hellish bracelet cleared his throat after tapping something into the keyboard. The large doors slowly slid open, as a sudden gust of air rushed out of the chamber beyond.

    ¡°The preparations are finished, you may enter at your leisure.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, we¡¯ll be on our way.¡±

    Athena gently grasped Lycoris¡¯s non-shackled wrist, guiding her through the doorway and into the large stonework chamber on the other side. All six sides of the chamber were made from smoothed cobblestone, fitted tightly enough together that there were no cracks or visible gaps. Painted over the floor, walls and ceiling were large bright violet rings of magic glyphs forming circles and geometric shapes, with several of the symbols peeling off and floating through the air lazily like motes of dust.

    As they stepped into the large ring on the floor, the entire array pulsed bright white before returning to its usual color, the shapes on the floor beneath them shifting as smaller concentric rings gathered around each of them, moving around as they did.

    The room looked big enough to comfortably hold seven or eight people standing at arm¡¯s length.

    Following behind the two of them, Seraphine wheeled in something that looked like a large black safe. The lid had been slid off, exposing their suitcases and devices inside.

    She looked around, raising her brow in bemusement as the large heavy doors sealed shut behind her.

    ¡°Oh wow, I¡¯ve never seen one of these this small¡­¡±

    ¡°S-Small? This is the largest magical array I¡¯ve ever seen. Though, I suppose the Kingdom at least had an alarm system in the capital that was capable of detecting¡ª¡±

    ¡°Your Highness,¡±

    ¡°Sorry. What I mean to say is, this is quite impressive, by my strangely warped standards.¡±

    Rather than question her meaning, Seraphine tapped the side of the black box. ¡°Last chance to store anything before it ends up getting blasted to who-knows-where!¡±

    Athena¡ªmuch to Lycoris¡¯s surprise¡ªsuddenly hiked up her skirt and pulled a concealed knife from her thigh. With a light toss, she flicked it effortlessly onto the suitcases, without even seeming to acknowledge what she just did, the fact she had a knife on her, or even what sort of magic property it might¡¯ve had.

    Rather than question it, Seraphine nodded and smiled, slowly covering the lid over their belongings.

    While Lycoris was in the middle of deciding if she should bring it up or not, Sera raised her hand to give a signal. The runes all around them pulsed, before ¡°falling¡± to the walls they originally peeled off from.

    Gradually, the air stiffened, as though it was becoming thicker and solidifying.

    ¡°W-Wait a sec, I¡¯m not ready!¡±

    Unfortunately, Lycoris¡¯s words fell on deaf ears as she realized the air had already grown too dense to convey her feelings.

    Awkwardly holding her arms halfway up to reach out to her friends, the girl felt a sudden weightless sensation, before everything abruptly flipped upside down and simultaneously coalesced into a single mote.

 31 â€” Just Out of Reach

    ¡®Sorry, but I can¡¯t disclose that information.¡¯

    ¡°Even though it¡¯s a direct request from Her Highness?¡±

    Seraphine tapped her foot against the ground impatiently. It was still difficult to wrap her head around the idea that she was friends with the Exaltare¡¯s daughter¡ªlike, on a first name, casual basis.

    Worse still, she couldn¡¯t decide where she was supposed to stand. Lycoris had told her to act like a friend to both her and an Ochros, but she¡¯d also make completely outrageous requests as though they were nothing; when she put Seraphine on speaker in the same room as Her Majesty, the woman thought her heart was about to stop. The girl lacked self-awareness to a dangerous degree¡­

    ¡®Her Highness was not the one who contacted me and asked for troop deployment status, Miss Ethlow. Please remember that you are no longer a part of the military.¡¯

    ¡°No longer calling me ¡®Major Ethlow¡¯ now that it¡¯d be inconvenient to keep the habit, hm?¡±

    ¡®I¡¯m the one filling those shoes now¡­ Ma¡¯am.¡¯

    ¡°Congratulations on the promotion, Major. Anyway, I¡¯m sure neither of us want to have to contact Her Majesty Exaltare Lilianna to get this information while she has so much else on her plate already.¡±

    ¡®Th¡­ That¡¯s true, however if it truly is a request from Her Highness, surely she could have asked directly.¡¯

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ well¡­¡±

    Seraphine glanced over toward where Lycoris and Athena were currently sitting, the poor vampire child slumped over with her hand pressed to her forehead while the maid soothingly rubbed her back.

    It was a nasty case of teleportation sickness, which was understandable given it was most likely her first time traveling through a teleport. The experience was probably extra unpleasant for someone of her power, considering the bracelet¡¯s effect.

    Seraphine could sympathize, given she felt the exact same way when Her Majesty had personally contacted her out of the blue to ¡°hire¡± her as a private contractor for Lycoris¡¯s security detail. It was completely outside of her usual scope, but who was she to tell the Exaltare that?

    Even while she tended to Her Highness''s wellness, Seraphine could tell Athena was on high alert, her eyes scanning the empty waiting area before fixating on the pair of hired security, the attendant, the teleportation array calculator, and finally on her in turn.

    There was no need to be so guarded, everyone present was personally approved by Her Majesty after Seraphine verified their backgrounds. But, she could at least admire the dedication the maid showed to Her Highness.

    Setting all that aside, she couldn¡¯t very well share the details with Captain¡ªMajor Kaldepo. Anything that might tarnish Princess Lycoris¡¯s image was obviously out of the question. She didn¡¯t need the maid¡¯s ominous glare focused on her to know that much.

    She stuck her tongue out at the maid briefly before turning away from the pair.

    ¡°She is presently indisposed. There was a slight mishap with the teleportation. She requested I ask you while tending to arrangements for our next jump.¡±

    ¡®I see¡­ Rules are rules, however. Perhaps we can send someone ahead to meet with Her Highness to discuss how to proceed once she arrives at her destination?¡¯

    ¡°Hah! As if I¡¯m allowed to disclose that. I¡¯d argue that¡¯s an even more important matter of national security.¡±

    ¡®Not like I can¡¯t guess, though¡­¡¯ the voice from the other end mumbled quietly.

    Sera shook her head. ¡°It¡¯ll be your funeral if Princess Lycoris decides to involve her mother in this.¡±

    ¡®Gh¡­ F-Fine, but it¡¯ll be on both of our heads if word gets out about this.¡¯

    ¡°Quit being so dramatic, Thoma. I am actually doing this for Her Highness¡¯s sake.¡±

    She sighed and sat down, whipping out a small notepad to jot deployment notes as he rattled off the current status of each platoon and estimated arrival time in the villages and towns around Kranes. It was almost nostalgic, in a way.

    Once he finished, she thanked him and quickly hung up without any particular fanfare.

    When she walked back over, Lycoris lifted her head, her expression rather distraught still. She¡¯d been okay after the first jump, but the second and third in such quick succession had taken their toll.

    Seraphine took a knee before her, lowering her head as she reported.

    ¡°It will be another twenty four hours before the first responders arrive, and three days after for the full army to assemble. All things considered, that is a remarkably swift rollout, given the inter-city infrastructure isn¡¯t equipped to serve military-grade vehicles. Treads tear up roads like nothing else, and maintaining roads outside the cover of clouds is a nightmare.¡±

    ¡°Three¡­ days, you say¡­¡± Lycoris rasped.

    ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking, but it¡¯ll be alright. I promise, Princess. Emma¡¯s been through worse before. I¡¯m certain she¡¯ll be okay.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ find that somewhat hard to believe.¡±

    Her Highness clearly knew little of matters of war. Compared to a real battlefield, a simple incursion from a disorganized swarm of Whispers was hardly anything to write home about. It wasn¡¯t exactly unprecedented for a town to have to fend them off, though all their security measures failing at once threw quite a complicated wrench into things.

    Emma had a good head on her shoulders, she knew how to go to ground, and even though she had an altruistic bent, she wouldn¡¯t throw her own life away just to save someone in the short term. At least, that¡¯s what Seraphine kept telling herself every time she caught her thoughts wandering.

    ¡°You should focus on your own present wellbeing, Your Highness. P-Perhaps we can find lodgings here in Wyvles for the night and travel the rest of the way tomorrow,¡± Athena suggested.

    ¡°It¡¯s really hitting you hard, huh¡­¡±

    Seraphine frowned, standing back up and fishing around in her coat pockets for a packet of coffee-flavored gum. Withdrawing it from her pocket and removing a piece in one swift motion, she held her palm out to Lycoris.

    ¡°I usually find chewing on something helps when I¡¯m feeling sick. Inner-ear stuff. And, don¡¯t worry,¡± she shot a look at Athena, ¡°it¡¯s both sugar and caffeine-free.¡±

    ¡°Her Highness has¡­ a very strict diet!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you put blood in the chewing tobacco too¡­¡±

    The former military officer quirked her eyebrow up, idly wondering what the problem with that would be. The Princess had a lot of¡­ eccentricities. It was part of what made her appear so dangerously approachable, admittedly.

    Oftentimes Seraphine would catch herself thinking about Lycoris like she were any other ordinary little girl. While that was more or less the reason she and her partner had ended up in this situation to begin with, she was grateful that Her Highness was so kind-hearted and willing to aid Emma.

    Blood, hmm¡­? Come to think of it, she passed out after having that parfait too¡­ But that should have been pure Human blood, rather than the cheap stuff. That was the cafe¡¯s entire selling point after all. Well, either way¡­

    ¡°No need to worry, Your Highn¡ªLyco,¡± Seraphine softened her tone as she knelt back down, placing the square of gum into the Princess¡¯s little palm. ¡°There¡¯s no blood at all in gum. It¡¯s meant to be chewed on and then spat back out, just to savor the flavor.¡±

    ¡°Is¡­ that so?¡±

    The girl regarded the square of gum curiously, as though she had never seen such a thing before.

    In all likelihood, she probably hadn¡¯t.

    After regarding it for a long moment, she popped it into her mouth, much to the dismay of the maid.

    ¡°Oh! Thish ish nothing like tobacco at all!¡±

    Athena bitterly smiled. ¡°Nicotine has been banned for several millenia, Your Highness.¡±

    ¡°¡­Nicowhat?¡±

    Seraphine decided not to ask the unspoken question on her mind. Her instinct told her nothing good could come from asking why the forty-six year old sheltered princess knew about tobacco but not chewing gum.

    Plus, Lycoris seemed to relax a little as she focused on the piece of gum. No reason to complicate matters further when they were already behind schedule.

    After several more minutes of their break, one of the attendants paced over and nervously asked when they were planning to proceed.

    Admittedly Lycoris¡¯s respite was costing the teleport a not-insignificant amount of revenue. Her Highness seemed like the sort who wouldn¡¯t be too happy to hear that, so Seraphine kept the particulars to herself as the group assuaged the concerns of the staff.

    The Princess gave Athena and Seraphine a nod, and after depositing her chewed up gum in a wastebin near the teleportation control unit¡¯s terminal, the three of them resumed traveling.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    While not as massively tall as the spires in Ljosdeyja, the multi-story structures rising up overhead toward the silver-lined nighttime clouds hanging high in the sky above were still breathtaking to the inexperienced Lycoris.

    The reflective glass and metal of the buildings gave them all a sleek, futuristic appearance, and if she stared hard enough she realized she could see people still at work inside some of them.

    ¡°I wonder if it¡¯s just because I¡¯m an Aphtangloa, or if it¡¯s because people aren¡¯t that big on privacy in Tenebreimen¡­¡±

    ¡°What was that, Your Highness?¡±

    ¡°A-Ah, nothing.¡±

    Lycoris quickly cleared her throat, turning away from the far-off buildings and focusing instead on the grandiose open-air foyer filled with transplanted greenery looming before her.

    The three of them had already gone through all their teleporting and¡ªafter another brief break for Lycoris to collect herself¡ªtaken another ¡°car¡± to the hotel they would be staying at.

    Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    The place was swarming with guards in either sharp drably-colored suits or full sets of armor, rushing about to maintain security. Occasionally, one would approach and briefly speak with Seraphine before rushing off.

    It all felt like overkill, but if it meant Lycoris could stay here and do something about Emma¡¯s predicament, she¡¯d get over causing a little disruption to the city¡¯s usual proceedings. At the same time though, she felt like it was a waste when all that manpower could have instead been directed toward the relief efforts of Kranes.

    ¡°Why are there so many guards here when unholy beasts are rampaging through a town less than eighty kilometers away?¡±

    ¡°It would be reckless for them to simply charge in half-prepared, Your Highness. Especially if they ended up stranded in Kranes themselves. Not to mention, they¡¯ve been dealing with the fallout in Condore as well. Word is they only just finished securing the tunnels.¡±

    ¡°Tunnels¡­ the sewers beneath the towns?¡±

    Lycoris was all too familiar with those, having snuck through them herself when their little party of ¡°heroes¡± had originally infiltrated the Empire. Far different in design from the sewers in Human society, these ones had tamed snake-like Whispers dashing through them, which Tatyana had ensured they never crossed the patrolling path of.

    She hadn¡¯t thought of it at the time, but in retrospect it was strange that the Witch had chosen to keep them safe all the way until the capital. Those tunnels could have been the perfect way to dispose of them¡­

    For that matter, why did she even guide us all the way there in the first place, if we were such a problem to her masters? Nothing about her makes any sense¡­

    ¡°No no, subway tunnels. There isn¡¯t much tactical advantage in cleaning out the sewers, the entrances to those are sealed off and typically kept under watch regardless.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m somewhat ignorant of the difference.¡±

    ¡°Ahaheh¡­ I suppose they might as well be the same to Your Highness, but generally the subways are kept safe and clean. Would be hard to send trains through them otherwise!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll have to tell me more about these trains once we¡¯ve rented out a room.¡± Lycoris nodded toward Seraphine before approaching the reception desk, ¡°Good evening, sir. How much is¡­ a room for¡­ three¡­?¡±

    Her voice trailed off as the man abruptly started trembling. The moment she made eye contact with him, the man scrambled to find a way to prostrate himself while still standing behind the counter. He settled for simply bowing at a direct ninety degree angle, his arms firmly locked against his sides.

    ¡°T-The entire top floor has already been reserved for Her Highness Princess Lycoris. Place your h-hand here to key the locks to your s-signature.¡±

    ¡°Um¡­¡± Lycoris glanced up at Athena, pursing her lips together.

    ¡°It is quite safe, Your Highness. Unless you would prefer that I handle the doors for you? However I wouldn¡¯t advise that, such a decision might compromise your personal safecurity!¡±

    ¡°N-No, not that. I mean¡­ I can¡¯t¡­ see over the counter¡­¡±

    The reception counter was just as tall as Lycoris, she could barely see the man¡¯s head over it as he bowed, much less what he was gesturing toward.

    The thought of Athena having to pick her up was mortifying enough that she considered taking her up on the offer and allowing her to be in charge of room access. But she also raised a good point. Athena had already been kidnapped once before, and they were dealing with someone who was willing to make personal offenses against Lycoris.

    ¡°Oh! M-My apologies, Your Highness. Perhaps I could pick¡ª¡±

    ¡°NO! Anything but that¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    The room fell silent, as neither the receptionist, the maid, the security advisor, nor any of the guards on the premises dared even exhale in the deathly silent room.

    Not that Lycoris couldn¡¯t tell what every single one of them was thinking regardless. No doubt it was all feelings of merciless pity and second-hand embarrassment.

    After collecting herself, Lycoris cleared her throat, ¡°I¡­ suppose there is no other way, however. My apologies for the outburst. You may¡­ lift me, Athena.¡±

    ¡°H¡­Huh?¡±

    ¡°I said it¡¯s fine! I will even spare you chastisement for the suggestion, as an extra courtesy.¡±

    ¡°I, er¡­ Your Highness, I um¡­ I was¡­ No, nevermind. It is not this maid¡¯s position to question her mistress¡¯s commands.¡±

    She knelt down to pick Lycoris up under the arms. The girl¡¯s face burned with embarrassment, but she powered through and set her hand upon the rectangular black panel.

    The receptionist kept his gaze averted until the machine made a little ping, at which point he focused his whole attention on the monitor behind the counter. After a few seconds of furious typing, he nodded his head, ever so briefly glancing towards Lycoris.

    ¡°Everything is all set, Your Highness.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, sir. Athena?¡±

    ¡°Your Highness?¡±

    ¡°How long do you intend to hold me for?¡±

    ¡°M-My apologies!¡±

    Lycoris let out a weary sigh, the all-too-brief yet frustratingly long journey and late night hours causing her mood to plummet faster than she was set back on the smooth reflective lobby¡¯s tiles.

    How dearly she wished to curl up under the silken sheets of her own bed right now¡­

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    Within a musty cellar, where the stench of mildew mingled with the sweet aroma of fermented blood, Emma slowly opened her eyes.

    She immediately realized her hands and feet were bound together when she tried stretching out. Her body was sore and stiff, she had clearly been stuck in this position for a while. The back of her head ached, and she had the hazy memory of banging it against something as a chloroform cloth covered her mouth.

    No matter how she assessed the situation, one thing was plainly obvious.

    She had been abducted.

    But why? She didn¡¯t recall making any¡­ enemies.

    No sooner did she wonder that than she realized the obvious. This had something to do with Lycoris.

    Her next question was who. It couldn¡¯t have been Her Majesty Lilianna, considering they had been permitted to attend the banquet in the first place. And neither she nor Sera spent much time chatting with the rich and fancy nobles; they spent most of their time at the party being a novelty.

    Perhaps it didn¡¯t matter who she was or who she had spoken to, which was nobody that she could remember. Her connection to Lycoris was probably all that mattered. That was the much more likely reason, as sad a truth as it was. Lycoris was a good kid, not the sort that should¡¯ve been burdened with a world of politics and intrigue¡­ But then, that was the life she had been born into, and none of them could do much other than steer their own ships down the currents that carried them.

    Why am I waxing philosophic right now!? There¡¯s more important things for me to be worried about right now, Emma self-derisively thought.

    It was easier to worry over others than herself, though. Especially when there wasn¡¯t anything she could reasonably do for them either.

    Her attention was drawn away from her thoughts when she heard the sound of heavy, awkward footsteps clonking on wooden floor panelling near her. She closed her eyes before the door opened and did her best to play possum.

    From the sounds of things, there was only a single person who entered, but they were talking to someone else¡ªmaybe on their phone¡ªand their voice sounded vaguely familiar, but Emma couldn¡¯t place from where. Judging by the slight slurring of their words, they likely had pronounced jowls and were at least marginally overweight.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe the state of this place! You¡¯re sure the cellar was secure?¡±

    ¡°Affirmative.¡±

    ¡°Hmph¡­ and what of the target, the¡­ woman.¡±

    ¡°Apprehended with minor injury. She is bound and unconscious below.¡±

    ¡°Good good. What of the Count?¡±

    ¡°He has ordered the pair under his authority to assess the state of civilians around the city. He has wisely chosen to keep them concealed.¡±

    ¡°Hmph, the man is as unimaginative as he is unambitious. Pour me a drink, would you?¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    The other person accompanying him had a flat monotone voice, and left no sound of footsteps nor even any vibrations on the ground as they walked alongside him. It almost felt as though they were floating, until Emma felt their boot brush right against her foot, causing her to twitch ever so slightly.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    She didn¡¯t open her eyes, but it sounded as though the figure pulled something off of a shelf and slicing through a glass bottle. After pouring it into a goblet, there was the sound of someone messily gulping down the glass, and then a relieved sigh.

    ¡°Ah, much better. What of the other two?¡±

    ¡°One of them has returned from the neighboring city. There was a new development to report.¡±

    ¡°Hmph, why can¡¯t they simply contact me on the phone? You lot do know how to use phones, yes?¡±

    ¡°Shortwave communications are jammed by Whispers and even our link is presently tenuous. I can attempt to contact them using the repeater the pair loaned to the Count established on the roof, but your safety is not guaranteed in that event.¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯ll wait till they return. No sense putting myself in harm¡¯s way for no reason. Tch, just what¡¯s so good about this worthless commoner?¡±

    Emma felt the cup he¡¯d been holding strike her against her back. She hadn¡¯t expected it, but managed to resist yelping in pain even as she felt her body throb and skin bruise.

    She didn¡¯t recognize his voice, but he was clearly some arrogant, pompous noble.

    ¡°Uncertain. If the Heir-Significate has assigned an unobserved quality to subject, only the Heir-Significate can properly answer Master¡¯s query.¡±

    ¡°Pah! What a load of rubbish. Clearly Her Majesty has left a critical gap in her child¡¯s education if she is so willing to disrespect me, a blood relative of the Alobadene Vanas!¡±

    ¡°¡­The Count is requesting your presence. Additionally, there is the matter the other operative needs to report.¡±

    ¡°Yes yes, I know already. There had better be some good news¡­ I¡¯m already sick of being stuck indoors. You know, if someone tells you that you can¡¯t do something, doesn¡¯t it just make you want to do it even more?¡±

    ¡°Negative. I cannot disobey orders.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not¡ª argh! Nevermind. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    The sound of footsteps grew distant as they once more ascended the creaking wooden cellar steps. Neither of them seemed to notice that Emma had been awake, or at least didn¡¯t seem to care if she was.

    Testing the restraints binding her hands and feet together, she didn¡¯t sense any way that she could wriggle herself free. It was dark in the cellar, but she didn¡¯t see any obvious sharp edges she could sidle over to either.

    I¡¯m inside the Count¡¯s manor though, from the sound of things. I guess that means I¡¯m not going to be in any immediate danger. Did I do something to offend the Count? No, that man was a Vanas. Why would someone so important be all the way out here, though?

    ¡°Hahh¡­ I really don¡¯t want to die here¡­ Wherever you are, I hope you¡¯re doing okay, Sera¡­¡±

    She spoke to the darkness, resting her head against a discarded linen sack.

 32 â€” Rigor and Relaxation

    The next day, Lycoris made plans to speak with the people overseeing the relief efforts. It only made sense to check in with the commanders as soon as possible, if she was going to be serving as the overseer to make sure things were proceeding apace.

    But Athena seemed reticent to arrange any sort of meeting, instead suggesting that they take a ¡°day to relax after the trip,¡± as if this was some luxury trip!

    As someone who naturally never took a vacation day in her life¡ªor former life, at least¡ªLycoris was going to have none of that, and ended up sincerely exerting her authority over Athena for the first time in who knew how long, forcing her to ¡°get in contact with the local constabulary and gather the officers assigned by her mother,¡± so that she might hear how they intend to handle the situation and offer her own counsel¡­

    ¡®We concur with the maid, for once. After such an arduous trip, would you not prefer to spend the day relaxing? You sounded quite¡­ fatigued, last night.¡¯

    ¡­And as arranged, she was in the midst of her bi-daily check-in with Lilianna.

    Lycoris gesticulated wildly at the three dimensional projection of her mother above her phone, set upon the table. It was quite similar to a spell she¡¯d seen used in the royal courts before, meant for negotiations and other important conversations where body language was just as important as vocal inflection. Except this was a far more advanced spell, having a perfectly crisp image, a full range of color, and uncannily fluid movement.

    Once again, Lycoris felt mildly annoyed by how impossibly advanced vampiric society was compared to the one she grew up in, but that wasn¡¯t what had her in such a tizzy currently.

    ¡°P-Put that conversation from your mind! I was just tired. And cranky. I¡¯m an adult, ¡®twould be silly to think that I start tearing up just because we¡¯re a few thousand kilometers apart¡­¡±

    ¡®But of course, darling flower. We would never consider sharing our adorable daughter¡¯s moments of vulnerability with any. They are for us, and us alone.¡¯

    ¡°Ghhnn¡­ A-Anyway, I¡¯m going to have a meeting today! I want to resolve this outrageous situation with the Whispers as swiftly as possible. There¡¯s no sense waiting around while people could be dying in that town.¡±

    ¡®If that is what you wish. Just remember¡ª¡¯

    ¡°I know. I won¡¯t go there myself. I¡¯ll leave it to the other¡ª to the soldiers. Not as if I¡¯m unaware how devilishly competent a detachment of vampires is.¡±

    The reason they were using this spell was quite simple.

    Lycoris wanted to at least see her mom.

    Lilianna had suggested they swap from standard voice communication to a ¡°video call¡± instead, so they could see each other and ensure both were well.

    Obviously agreeing in a heartbeat, Lycoris kept her reasons to herself. As she had just said, she was a grown adult¡ªby some sort of standard. It would be mortifying beyond belief to admit something like that out loud, even if her mother probably already knew the truth.

    ¡®Very well then¡­ We have business to tend to, so we shall leave it at that for now. Have a good day, Lycoris. Don¡¯t stray from the side of your guards in public.¡¯

    ¡°I know.¡±

    ¡®Be sure to consume three square meals a day. We don¡¯t want you going hungry.¡¯

    ¡°I know¡­¡±

    ¡®And ensure you don¡¯t drink anything from unattended or open containers. Not even your own supply of animal blood.¡¯

    ¡°Okay¡­¡±

    ¡®And don¡¯t forget to contact us again after your day is done.¡¯

    ¡°I will.¡±

    ¡®Alright. Good. Take care, we love you greatly.¡¯

    ¡°I¡­ love you too, Mom.¡±

    Lycoris choked back the croak in her voice as they bade farewell to each other.

    She spent a long moment staring at the darkened screen of her phone, her mind still painting the illusory image of the woman where she had been standing in the air moments before.

    The warmth in her breast that lingered even after she turned away was a curious thing. There was plenty that she had to be upset about, but that sense of love and acceptance was too rich an indulgence.

    It was almost enough to offset the bitterness of her breakfast.

    With a sigh of longing, Lycoris exited her room into the penthouse¡¯s kitchen, where she took one of the sealed jars of animal blood out of the chilling box and poured herself a meal.

    Hard to believe she really is a vampire when we talk like that¡­ I wonder if that¡¯s how families are supposed to be. Too bad that it means I still have to endure¡­ this.

    She sighed again, much less wistfully, and wrinkled her brow as she lifted the goblet of slightly viscous liquid up to her lips.

    Fortunately, Seraphine wasn¡¯t present in the grandiose living space of the penthouse suite, instead still resting within one of the other rooms on the floor, so at least Lycoris didn¡¯t have to somehow pretend her self-inflicted meal was palatable in the slightest. Small mercy, that.

    While Lycoris was in the midst of choking down a sip of her breakfast, the door clicked open and the maid entered with a cheerful greeting.

    ¡°Princess Lycoris, I¡¯m back with good news~!¡±

    ¡°Ghhhkk¡­¡± she croaked in response.

    ¡°Oh dear, I see you prepared your own breakfast today," Athena whimpered. ¡°I admire Your Highness¡¯s proactiveness, but¡­¡±

    ¡°*cough cough* But what about my request?¡±

    ¡°I conveyed your message to the city guard, the meeting is to be held this evening, as the commander in charge of the entire operation wishes to allow as many captains to arrive as possible. And she also¡­ well, nevermind.¡±

    ¡°Evening?¡±

    Lycoris pouted as she glanced toward the massive wall of windows, the city skyline hidden beyond the tightly shut metallic venetian blinds. She was certain the sight of gloomy crimson daytime clouds overhead was gorgeous to someone, but it simply made her head spin so she opted to keep the automated curtain closed instead.

    The room was divided into four main sections, with a great circular living space at the bottom of wide sweeping stairs, a large crescent carpeted walkway raised behind it, a connected kitchen unit, and hallways leading to private rooms on either side.

    Lycoris offered Sera one of them, but the woman had refused even before Athena sent a stern look her way.

    Honestly, Lycoris was more surprised that she hadn¡¯t joked about sleeping in her own bed like a big sister or something, given how often she talked up Lycoris¡¯s adorableness.

    ¡°It will only take an hour and change¡ªdepending on traffic¡ªto reach the meeting place. Meaning we have an entire day to plan out an itinerary. Her Majesty gave me a list of materials to ensure Your Highness covers, but was there anything you wished to do aside from daily studies, Princess?¡±

    ¡°Actually, there was one thing¡­ Well, it¡¯s more like a couple of things, but¡­¡±

    Lycoris wrung her hands together, feeling her face flush as she considered what she was about to suggest. It was the height of shame, but also something she had been thinking about ever since she first met Emma and Seraphine.

    ¡°Oh? Do go on, so long as it is within my power, I shall do whatever Your Highness wishes! ¡­A-Also as long as it doesn¡¯t endanger you, also¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re repeating yourself. Anyways, I¡­ want to go clothes shopping. For some¡­ normal civilian clothes.¡±

    She knew exactly what such a thing would entail, given her current form. It was utterly unthinkable to suggest. What sort of man would ever willingly go out and buy clothing purely for the sake of having cute casual clothes on hand!? But Lycoris couldn¡¯t deny that she wanted some outfits that looked more like what she saw civilians wearing around town.

    Her mother would probably disapprove of her wearing ¡°commoner fare,¡± but the clothes she had seen Emma and Seraphine in were still far nicer than anything she had ever laid eyes on in the Kingdom of Dauwen.

    ¡°Hmmm¡­ Her Highness isn¡¯t plotting something, is she?¡± Athena tilted her head, putting a finger to her chin.

    ¡°No! I just¡­ I think they look nice, and different. All the clothes I have in the palace are basically the same as what nobles and the like wore back home¡­ er, wore back in the Kingdom.¡±

    A wide grin spread across Athena¡¯s face as realization struck her. ¡°Ahhh, I see. You want to experience the culture of your birthright firsthand. There¡¯s no shame in that, Your Highness! I¡¯m sure there is a luxury boutique somewhere in the city that will have clothing both novel enough to satisfy you, and appropriately high-quality!¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be that fancy, Athena¡­¡±

    ¡°Hm, I wonder if Seraphine knows of any¡ª probably not, I imagine any suitable places would be outside her budget.¡±

    Lycoris let out a pronounced grumble as her maid calmly ignored her. At least she and Sera had quickly bonded, rather than remaining standoffish. Now if only they hadn¡¯t bonded over how precious and in need of safeguarding Lycoris was.

    Well, beggars take the loaf they¡¯re given I suppose¡­

    ¡°Speaking of, how about I go fetch Sera while you look a place up?¡± Lycoris suggested.

    ¡°Will you be alright on your own, Your Highness?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s literally just down the hall, Athena. Wasn¡¯t the entire point of the whole floor being reserved to ensure that nobody who isn¡¯t supposed to be here can approach me?¡±

    ¡°Well, yes, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. The elevators are locked to the floor below, and Seraphine ensured the staircases were blocked off as well.¡±

    Besides, she was the daughter of the Exaltare, and a former soldier herself! Sure, she had lost her nerve before, but that was just¡­ she had her concentration broken. It wouldn¡¯t happen again.

    It was just a bizarre coincidence, a reminder of something that had happened long ago when she had been a little kid. Being confronted with the same relative perspective had shaken loose things she¡¯d subconsciously buried. That¡¯s all.

    So long as she was mindful of it, there was nothing for Lycoris to fear.

    Ignoring Athena¡¯s needless worried fidgeting and shoving aside the hazy unpleasant memories, Lycoris hopped out of her chair and marched to the door. She had a warmly padded nightgown and slippers on, and her hair was undoubtedly still a mess, but it wasn¡¯t like she was going to be presenting herself publicly. She doubted it mattered to maintain appearances when it was only Seraphine. She¡¯d passed out in front of her before after accidentally imbibing blood, there was hardly any more dignity for her to damage.

    The top-floor hallway of the hotel was remarkably similar to the floor of the palace that she¡¯d come to call home. The walls were made of the same off-white plaster, there was the occasional potted plant adding some green to the decor, and the soft yellowish-white lights shone through fogged glass hanging overhead.

    The only real key difference was instead of plush red carpeting, the floors were all tiled stonework, with a thinner multi-patterned rug rolled out atop them. The thought of how long it must have taken someone to fully weave such a long and intricately designed rug made Lycoris¡¯s head spin harder than when she¡¯d accidentally looked out the windows of the penthouse living space.

    The smell was also different; instead of the familiar warm and soft woody scent that permeated the Elysian Sanctum, it smelled more¡­ chemical-y, like an alchemist¡¯s workshop that had just recently been through a deep cleaning after a particularly odorful experiment. It wasn¡¯t the most unpleasant aroma, but the accompanying chill made her nose sting as she walked past rows of identical doors, the numbers engraved into each one the only reminder of a distinction between rooms.

    ¡°Seraaa, are you up yet?¡±

    Lycoris knocked on the door to room 739 as she called out to the room beyond. Her hair brushed against her legs as she reflexively glanced left and right down the hall, the chill of the air causing a shiver to run through her.

    For a moment, she was worried she had the wrong room when there wasn¡¯t an immediate response, but after several seconds the lock to the door clicked open from inside and Seraphine poked her head out.

    ¡°Lyco? You know you could just open up and come in on your own, right?¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ Right, but that would hardly be polite! I wouldn¡¯t want to walk in on you while you¡¯re getting changed or anything like that.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not so shy that a little girl walking in on me nude would bother me, but thank you.¡±

    Sera stifled a yawn, smiling after a moment as she looked over Lycoris.

    There were clear marks of fatigue under her eyes, and she was wearing nothing but the tank-top and underwear that she had likely slept in. It looked as though Lycoris woke her up, even though it was fairly late into the morning. Or that she hadn¡¯t actually slept.

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    ¡°On that note, are you sure that you should be out wandering around?¡± she chuckled. ¡°You look like you just crawled out of bed.¡±

    ¡°Says the person in her underwear still. Aren¡¯t you cold?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve dealt with colder years than this. So, have you come to have me do up your hair today, in lieu of the maid?¡±

    ¡°H-Huh? No, of course not. I wanted to tell you today¡¯s plans.¡±

    ¡°¡­You could¡¯ve just texted me.¡±

    ¡°When we¡¯re only a few dozen meters apart?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯d still be quicker, you know~ Here I thought you¡¯d be excited to have any excuse to use your new phone.¡±

    Honestly, she was still having trouble grasping that she could just talk to¡ªeven see¡ªher mother whenever she wished, regardless of distance. Sure it wasn¡¯t the same as being in the same room, but perhaps it was a relief that even vampires hadn¡¯t found a way to transfer things like body heat and scent over the phone. The thought of completely replacing physical attachment with purely simulated phenomenon felt somewhat terrifying.

    Without realizing it, Lycoris hugged herself and shivered.

    ¡°Are you sure you aren¡¯t cold¡­?¡±

    ¡°Ah, um, no¡­ I was just thinking about¡­ stuff.¡±

    ¡°Hehe, thinking about your mom? I¡¯d recognize those baby myrh eyes anywhere. I wouldn¡¯t dare get between the scary mama bat and her little pup. I¡¯ll take care of some things on my end while you¡ª¡±

    ¡°Wait! Wait wait wait, first of all, I do not miss her that much. Second, I came to tell you what our plans for the day were so you could prepare accordingly. You¡¯re in charge of my security after all! And third, I already talked to her a short while ago. Also, most importantly¡­ are you alright, Sera?¡±

    She could tell that the woman was distracted, and it wasn¡¯t because she had only just woken up.

    If anything, it was probably the opposite. Seraphine was far too dismissive to be in a healthy state of mind. She didn¡¯t immediately pounce upon the opportunity to pick the pajama-clad girl up in a hug. She likely hadn¡¯t slept much, and there was one particularly obvious reason why that¡¯d be the case.

    ¡°Of course, Princess. I¡¯m just¡­ I¡¯ll be fine with some fresh air. You needn¡¯t worry¡ª¡±

    ¡°Well I am! And I¡¯m not asking as Princess or Heir-Significate or even your supervisor. Just because I look young, doesn¡¯t mean that I can¡¯t lend my shoulder or ears to you. They¡¯re a lot bigger now, even.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Your H¡ªLyco. I guess I can¡¯t help it, and I can¡¯t hide anything from an Aphtangloa, can I?¡±

    Seraphine stepped back, opening the door invitingly and turning around with a sigh. She was absentminded enough that she didn¡¯t even comment on the remark about Lycoris¡¯s ears being ¡°bigger.¡±

    While much smaller than the penthouse suite, the luxury room was still more impressive than even the greatest inn-room in the capital of Dauwen. And this was just a random city on the border of the Empire.

    Not that it was necessarily larger than an inn-room in the Human Kingdom, but it was absolutely better furnished, and with much higher quality goods.

    Lycoris walked in behind Sera, glancing at the somewhat disorderly room. It was impressive she had managed to make it look like a hurricane tore through in a single evening. Her clothes and bedsheets were haphazardly scattered about, rather ill-fitting the impression of a disciplined soldier Lycoris had originally gathered from her.

    Either her mental state is even worse than I thought, or Emma is probably the one who does all the cleaning in their house¡­ I hope she really will be alright.

    The woman flopped down onto the bed, resting her face in her palms briefly, before inhaling sharply and shaking away the fatigue clinging to her. After a moment of introspectively boring a hole into the floor with her stare, Seraphine slouched her shoulders and sighed.

    ¡°I know that she¡¯s fine, that she can see her way through a disaster like this without me there to babysit her, but not even being able to contact with her has me anxious. If it didn¡¯t mean my certain death at Her Majesty¡¯s hands, I¡¯d have half a mind to shirk my duties to rush off to Kranes right now just to make sure she¡¯s alright. Sorry, I know it¡¯s irresponsible to even suggest such a thing.¡±

    Lycoris sat down beside Seraphine on the bed. ¡°That¡¯s a perfectly normal reaction, Sera. I had the same compulsion when I first found out myself. Hell, it¡¯s¡­ sort of how we ended up meeting in the first place¡­ ¡®cause Athena was taken, and I kinda¡­ ended up going after her on my own. That¡¯s the real truth of why I was out on my own that night. I couldn¡¯t stand the thought of something bad happening to her while I sat idly by.¡±

    It felt awkward having to reach up to pat her on the shoulder, rather than how she vaguely remembered comforting those under her command.

    The woman looked down at her with a somewhat startled smile.

    ¡°Your Highness really is a good kid. I¡¯m a little surprised.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean!?¡±

    ¡°Hehe, just that I always figured noble children were all a little bratty and spoiled, and¡­ well¡­ I assumed you¡¯d be more reserved with your empathy, like Her Majesty. Especially after that display at your formal debut.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Lycoris trailed off, muttering quietly, ¡°just cause he was being rude to Mama. I¡¯m not normally like that! Especially not to my friends.¡±

    ¡°Right. Thank you, Lyco.¡±

    Seraphine reached over to ruffle Lycoris¡¯s already frizzy bedhead, looking more at ease already.

    The Princess reached up to take Seraphine¡¯s hand in hers, squeezing it emphatically in front of herself.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to thank me, it¡¯s like you said, Emma will be just fine. We still have plenty of time, that Vanas guy won¡¯t be able to easily slip out of the city while the Whispers are there, and there¡¯s no way the army wouldn¡¯t notice him either after all.¡±

    ¡°V-Vanas?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Seraphine¡¯s hand immediately went clammy in Lycoris¡¯s grip. Her face blanched. Her pupils dilated.

    Even though Lycoris couldn¡¯t read minds, her ears could pick up the rapid acceleration of the woman¡¯s heart in the quiet room. She looked like Lycoris just told her that Emma had just been captured by vampires.

    ¡­Well, technically she had, but not in the context Lycoris was envisioning. The unlucky souls who were captured alive in a village raid were presumed to be given a far worse fate than death.

    But this wasn¡¯t like that! It was supposed to be comforting, not terrifying! Nothing would happen to her before they could get to her. The point was Emma was safe in the vampires¡¯ hands, as strange and alien a concept as it might¡¯ve still seemed to the young princess.

    ¡°W-Wait, it¡¯s okay Sera! Like I said, worst case scenario, they have her captured and have to get her out of the region first, right!? She¡¯ll be okay! We¡¯ll save her! I¡­ promise¡­¡±

    Lycoris trailed off. From the depths of her mind, an unpleasant beast that had laid dormant began to stir, whispering into her soul.

    What if they couldn¡¯t?

    Was it really the worst case scenario that she had been captured? Wouldn¡¯t that be the best case, if anything?

    What if she was already dead? What if it was just a hollow promise? What if her mother had been wrong? What if this was all just a massive waste of energy?

    What if Lycoris had already failed again, before she even began?

    What can I even do, like this?

    Her hands lost their strength, as she let go of Seraphine and began feeling for the locket around her neck, seeking his assurance.

    ¡°Well if the daughter of the Exaltare says so, who am I to claim otherwise? Hehe.¡±

    Seraphine pulled her hand away from Lycoris, stubbornly placing it back atop her head.

    At the same time, something in the room began to buzz. It sounded like it was coming from¡­ a nearby chair.

    The woman quickly stood up and paced over, tossed the loose shirt aside, scooped her jacket up, and slipped her phone out all in a singular swift motion.

    After glancing at the screen for a moment, Seraphine turned back to Lycoris with a wry smile.

    ¡°It seems as though you¡¯re being summoned back. And my workday is starting already.¡±

    ¡°Ah, right I suppose¡­ we do need to get dressed still, don¡¯t we?¡±

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    The three girls walked down the street, with one somewhat out of place security guard accompanying them. His name was Patton, apparently. He hadn¡¯t introduced himself, but Seraphine informed Lycoris that he would be serving as their escort around town.

    Athena was certain that she would be enough to safeguard Lycoris all on her own, but Patton was there to serve as something between a guide and liaison, bridging the gap between Seraphine and the city guard.

    He wore armor similar to the guards in the palace, though he didn¡¯t sport a cape with any crest, and it was less plated and more padded. Like the difference between full plate and half plate, only it was whatever strange gray-black ceramic-like material they used instead.

    His hair was cropped short, and he wore pitch black sunglasses to obscure his gaze. He had a wire stretching up from under his armor into his ear, not dissimilar to a pebble-sized commstone.

    Though it was presumably far more advanced, like everything else about their society.

    Lycoris frowned up at the bright yellow and blue lights hanging over the street, indicating the flow of traffic. There were far more vehicles in Condore than in Ljosdeyja, but the street lights and extra space on the sides for civilians kept things moving surprisingly smoothly.

    It was a far cry from the streets in any Human settlement, where people had to shout from atop their wagons and carriages to clear the road ahead of them, or in the capital Traskia where the members of the Fifth Ray were almost entirely dedicated to handling zoning and traffic management¡­

    Though it also meant everything was significantly further apart, which meant a lot more walking, and all the accompanying awkwardness as the four of them waited at a street corner for the traffic to halt and let them cross while dozens of civilians gawked at them.

    Most at least moved along after getting their fill of the little princess, and some¡ªmostly the fluffy-eared ones¡ªdidn¡¯t even seem to care. None dared get within ten meters of them, thanks to a peculiar artifact that Patton had affixed to his belt. It painted a thin red circle on the ground around him, which paralyzed anyone that crossed the threshold.

    It seemed a little extreme to Lycoris, but it certainly did its job well¡­ and it didn¡¯t actually hurt anyone. Probably.

    It did make waiting at the crosswalk much more awkward, however, as the other people waiting to cross had to do so in the middle of the sidewalk. It also left Lycoris wondering what effect it would have on vehicles, if any¡­

    ¡°All of this because I said I didn¡¯t wish to ride in a car again. It¡¯s almost enough to make me feel a touch guilty,¡± she groused.

    ¡°Are you tired, Your Highness? We can return and travel by car instead if you so wish.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s an entirely new sentence, Athena. I¡¯m fine. I just¡­ worry for the people around us.¡±

    Lycoris cast a look at the people waiting awkwardly just outside the circle, who waved and smiled at her in response.

    ¡°You need pay them no heed, Your Highness. Your subjects exist to serve you, not the other way around. The state of their being should not even register on your radar¡­ ¡­I can explain what a radar is as we walk.¡±

    The signal lights changed as Athena preempted Lycoris¡¯s question, and they crossed the street as the bizarre lamppost opposite them beeped strange noises, sounding almost offended by their casual gait.

    True to her word, Athena began describing the principles behind a radar, though then she began to realize she¡¯d have to explain what radio waves were, and so on¡­ Ultimately, she chose to condense Lycoris¡¯s lesson down to writing it off as a form of magic that allowed one to send signals over a large distance. She didn¡¯t exactly have that much time to actually explain, as they reached their destination fairly quickly.

    That had been part of the reason they even decided to walk. The store Athena had picked out was only a few blocks down from the hotel.

    The actual storefront itself looked just like the one Lycoris stumbled over to on her very first night out.

    Mannequins stood in various poses just behind glass windows, all sporting colorful and stylish outfits and accessories. Beyond them were tables stacked with different sorts of garments, with even more pre-tailored outfits lining the walls and hung from racks.

    ¡°I understand that Your Highness is excited, but you shouldn¡¯t press your face against the glass like that.¡±

    ¡°Huhwha!? Oh, um. Right.¡±

    She pulled herself back as Seraphine chuckled quietly, though that was promptly stifled by a sharp glare from Lycoris¡­ who only did so after a sharp glare from Athena. It wouldn¡¯t do for the Princess to not be the one rebuking her servants, apparently.

    ¡°Can we just, go in then? Is the store prepared for me, or whatever the case may be?¡±

    Seraphine nodded. ¡°Yes, the store has already been cleared out for the duration of your visit.¡±

    ¡°Oh, then it wouldn¡¯t do for us to keep them all waiting!¡±

    A little embarrassed by her own bumpkin-like behavior, Lycoris cleared her throat and folded her hands together as she walked around to the doors, which magically slid open on their own at her presence.

    ¡°Oh wow¡­¡±

    The store beyond was even more magnificent than she could see from the windows.

    There were multiple walls covered in every kind of shirt, pants, undergarment, footwear, headwear, and accessory she could imagine. Brightly colored price tags indicated particularly popular items. Large banners dangled from the ceiling, advertising brand names Lycoris had no frame of reference for, but looked flashy and self important.

    As she glanced around with barely-contained excitement, a nervous sales clerk hastily walked over to her and bowed deeply.

    ¡°It is an honor to have you grace our store with your presence, Princess Lycoris. My name is Maria Boltonne, but you may refer to me however you wish. Is there anything in particular that has brought you to our establishment today?¡±

    Lycoris paused a moment before answering, looking around the store. ¡°I think I might browse, for now. Athena?¡±

    At her command, the others accompanying her stepped inside the store behind her, with Athena bowing down to whisper to Lycoris.

    ¡°The Boltonne Family owns a large portion of the textile industry. They¡¯re endorsed by the Ochros. I have never met Miss Maria personally, but I do recognize her name.¡±

    ¡°I checked with the family ahead of time, she is the genuine article,¡± Seraphine added, nodding toward the woman.

    The apparently not-a-sales-clerk nodded and stepped back wordlessly, looking between Athena, Seraphine, and Lycoris.

    Patton remained out front, leaning his ear into his shoulder and seemingly talking to himself.

    ¡°I¡­ see. Then if the store is safe to wander through, I shall begin looking around. Miss Ethlow, accompany me if you please.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡±

    Already, Lycoris could feel her legs trembling as exuberance overpowered her hesitation.

    She walked as quickly as she could while still maintaining an air of grace and dignity, plunging into the depths of the store. There was certainly no shortage of ground for her to cover, after all.

 33 â€” Rest and Recklessness

    ¡°What about this, Lyco? We¡¯re still in the middle of winter, so it should be seasonable for at least another three or four months. And as a bonus, there¡¯s even a couple in smaller sizes, and it has a much more ¡®mature¡¯ look!¡±

    Seraphine held up a gray ribbed sweater with what must have used up an entire barony¡¯s worth of silk in its weaving.

    Currently, Lycoris was nestled in one of the changing rooms on the second floor, with her friend rushing to and fro finding various things for her to try on, while Athena watched from a distance with a hint of trepidation, and the store owner wrung her hands together further back in the store.

    There was a veritable lake of different outfits she had tried on surrounding her, or perhaps a mountain range would be more accurate.

    Not for lack of finding things that were cute or comfortable enough¡ªthough Lycoris felt a renewed sense of shame while trying on the childish and girly outfits. She¡¯d long since grown accustomed to seeing her own body in varying states of dress, but wearing the Vampire equivalent of ¡°normal clothes¡± reminded her what that meant.

    Or perhaps it was because she had to put them on and take them off herself, rather than tuning it out while Athena tended to her like with the overwrought dresses covered in frills that her mother deemed suitable.

    ¡­Not that those weren¡¯t cute either.

    ¡°Hahh, what am I even thinking about?¡± Lycoris sighed, tugging the sweater over her head, careful not to mess up the braid or snag it on her brooch.

    ¡°Is something the matter, Lyco?¡± Seraphine called out in response.

    Seraphine had gotten quite good at picking things out in Lycoris¡¯s size after a bit of trial and error. She must¡¯ve had a keen eye for clothing. The sweater fit near perfectly, despite Lycoris¡¯s tiny figure. Admittedly, she wasn¡¯t sure if there even would be anything that could be described as ¡°adult¡± despite being small enough for her.

    That had been the true cause behind her suggesting this outing.

    Well, that, and she really did want to broaden her horizons in terms of clothes. That hadn¡¯t been a lie.

    Righting the sleeves around her wrists and smoothing down the soft fabric, Lycoris meekly stepped out of the changing room curtains and looked up at Seraphine.

    ¡°How do I look?¡±

    ¡°¡­Like you need a skirt.¡±

    ¡°I mean besides that! Hmph.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re remarkably bold for a little forty-something year old, you know¡­ Anyways, it looks good on you. How does it feel? Pretty sure the thread-count is higher than my entire wardrobe¡­¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±

    Lycoris gently brushed her hands down the front of the sweater, pressed them against it, and hugged herself to feel the softness against her skin. It was definitely fuzzier than the formal clothes she¡¯d gotten used to, and far, far more comfortable than the clothing she recalled from a metaphorical lifetime ago.

    ¡°It¡¯s really soft¡­ I mean, my normal clothes are pretty soft too. But this is a different kind of soft. Kind of reminds me of my wings, honestly¡­¡±

    Sera stared down at her as though she¡¯d just¡­ well, sprouted a pair of wings. ¡°You mean those are actually a part of your body?¡±

    ¡°Huh? Of course, I was actually in the middle of flight practice when I learned the news about Kranes. I didn¡¯t realize it was such a big secret¡­ I guess I was told not to bring them out in public.¡±

    ¡°Flight practice¡­ I¡¯ve heard stories of high nobility flying over battlefields, commanding from the skies, but I always just assumed they were using flying magic and the wings were entirely cosmetic¡­¡±

    ¡°Do you want to see them?¡± Lycoris smiled innocently up at Sera.

    ¡°HaaaAH? Am¡­ Am I allowed to?¡± The woman mumbled back nervously.

    ¡°Pff, it¡¯s fine, we¡¯re friends, right? Come here.¡±

    Lycoris beckoned Seraphine into the somewhat cramped changing room, before pulling the sweater off to avoid damaging it. Unlike her princessly attire, it wasn¡¯t designed with the ability to sprout wings in mind.

    After carefully folding and setting the sweater down on a bench¡ªher sincerity earning another chuckle from Sera¡ªshe turned around and closed her eyes, focusing once more on the somewhat mystifying appendages. The changing room suddenly felt quite a bit more cramped the moment she produced her wings and stretched them as far as the space would allow. She squirmed a little as the freshly sprouted appendages brushed against the walls, before mastering her control again and folding them around her waist. It really was just like stretching out her arms, only from her lower back rather than her shoulders.

    Seraphine¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment, and she reflexively raised one of her hands forward before quickly pulling it back.

    ¡°Ohhhh¡­ wow, they¡¯re so¡­ regal. Can I¡­ no, I shouldn¡¯t even ask, it feels wrong.¡±

    ¡°Go ahead, it''s fine to touch them.¡± After a beat, Lycoris added in a slight mumble, ¡°But they¡¯re pretty ticklish, so be gentle¡­ Hhk!¡±

    Lycoris stifled a giggle as Seraphine reached forward and gently stroked the fuzzy wings. Having someone else touch them felt even more ticklish than she had expected, making her wiggle about and blush. Though it was entirely innocuous, she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that she was committing some sort of social taboo.

    No no no, what am I thinking!? Come on Lycoris, they''re nothing special. Get your head screwed back on straight!

    Clearing her throat to indicate she¡¯d had enough of being treated like a dracybara, Lycoris pulled back and withdrew her wings.

    Seraphine instead gave her head a small pat as thanks.

    ¡°I think you have the sweater beat when it comes to softness. But what do you say, is it a keeper?¡±

    ¡°Mm, I think so. There¡¯s still a lot more I want to try on though! Honestly, I was pretty jealous of the clothes you and Emma were wearing when we first met, weird as that might sound.¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah, I do recall you mentioning something about our clothing¡­¡±

    ¡°Also, um¡­ I¡¯m not really sure what kind of rules there are for talking about this, but we¡¯re both friends, and girls¡­ technically, and¡­ I kinda trust you with my life. And, I do not wish to cause Athena undue distress, by causing her to believe she has erred¡­¡± Lycoris hummed nervously, reflexively slipping into a formal tone and ascending a couple octaves.

    ¡°Hm? What¡¯s up?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ my bra has been feeling a touch taut all day. Perhaps Athena simply fastened it on too tightly¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ Oh. I see.¡± Sera crouched down, putting a hand on Lycoris¡¯s shoulder as her voice took on a suddenly warm tone, ¡°Well, you are at that age. There¡¯s no need to feel ashamed. I¡¯ll go let Athena know, and she can get you sorted out.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Somehow, I doubt she¡¯d trust the store owner to take your measurements. Well, if she¡¯s your personal handmaiden, she¡¯s probably already a professional in sizing and mending garments anyway.¡±

    ¡°Huh??¡±

    ¡°Just sit tight right here Lyco, I¡¯ll be right back! Or well, Athena will be. I saw some button-up skirts that would look delightful on you! I¡¯ll go pick some out for you in the meantime.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡ª¡±

    Terrified at what Seraphine was attempting to worm her way out of, Lycoris¡¯s plea fell on deaf ears as the adult stood up and rushed out of the room.

    A moment later, she heard Athena practically scream bloody murder throughout the store.

    ¡°Maybe¡­ I should have kept it to myself after all¡­?¡±

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    ¡°Y-Your Highness, please don¡¯t rush ahead!¡± Patton called out from behind, ¡°We can¡¯t guarantee your safety if you run off on your own!¡±

    Lycoris ignored him, huffing as she tensed her shoulders and continued marching down the street at the very border of the protective circle, while Athena and Seraphine desperately tried to follow, toting an unreasonable number of bags each.

    She had opted to walk out of the store in a more casual outfit, pairing the light gray sweater with a short and frilly red skirt, and had chosen to undo her half-upbraid and instead put her hair back in twintails, held in place by ribbons that were stylized to look like scarlet bat wings.

    Even though she was happy with the outfit, Lycoris was in a bad mood.

    The fact that they still had several hours to kill before the meeting would take place was beginning to wear on her patience, now that she¡¯d accomplished the one thing she¡¯d come up with to distract herself¡ªand ideally Seraphine as well¡ªfrom the situation in the neighboring town.

    But also, Athena had forced her to confront a truth that she¡¯d been conveniently burying beneath all the cute and comfortable clothes. It was easy to ignore so long as she was a child, but the reminder that she would be growing up into a woman was a deeply complicated and confusing emotional affair even without the peanut gallery chiming in.

    She was torn between wanting to cling to her newfound youth as long as possible without having to face reality, and also wanting to be treated like an adult. She¡¯d accepted that she was a girl, but not everything about what that meant.

    ¡°I¡¯m perfectly capable of protecting myself,¡± she snapped back, twisting on the spot to wag a finger at him.

    ¡°Princess, there¡¯s no need to take your feelings out on the Captain. It¡¯s a good thing that, even in spite of dietary concerns, your body is dev¡ª¡±

    ¡°Athena! You will be silent!¡±

    ¡°M-My apologies!¡±

    Athena immediately set down her bags and prostrated herself in the middle of the sidewalk, while Lycoris sighed and turned away from both the maid and the surroundings to stare at the wall instead.

    Plastered up against it, tucked behind a sheet of glass, was a¡­ painting, of some sort. It depicted a man and woman looking at each other, hands interlocked. There was a massive explosion behind them, and what looked like a horde of demons flying from it. Below the painting inside the frame was the text ¡°Now Showing.¡±

    ¡°¡®Un-ever-soul Con-stant?¡¯ Is this advertising a festival of some sort?¡±

    Athena raised her head from the ground. ¡°¡®Universal Constant,¡¯ Your Highness. It¡¯s a movie poster.¡±

    When Lycoris pulled herself away from the picture, she saw more lining the wall, though there didn¡¯t seem to be any sort of coherent theme to them, aside from at least one vampire being front and center on nearly every single one. They also seemed to share a very similar color palette¡­ perhaps they were all painted by the same artist.

    ¡°I take it Her Highness has never been to the theater before?¡± Seraphine leaned over to whisper to the still-prostrated maid.

    ¡°The Princess has lived a very shelter¡ª¡±

    ¡°I have too!¡± Lycoris¡¯s ears twitched. ¡°I simply am unaccustomed to seeing paintings used as advertisements. I¡¯m more used to barkers calling out the latest play. Still, this is an awful lot of different performances to have in a single building. Just how many professional actors does the Empire have to think to spare dozens for a city on the outskirts?¡±

    ¡°Pff¡­¡±

    Seraphine choked back a giggle as Lycoris earnestly rubbed her chin, deep in thought.

    Athena stood up and shook her head, walking over to Lycoris after picking up the clothing bags. She shot a look toward Seraphine, a rare fanged grin creeping on her face.

    ¡°This is a movie theater, Your Highness, not an opera house. Would you perhaps like to see a movie while we¡¯re here? It should only take a couple hours at most.¡±

    Lycoris frowned deeply. The idea of sitting around, watching a movie while people were in danger didn¡¯t sit right with her. There wasn¡¯t anything she could do about that, however, and with no means of venting that frustrated energy¡­ perhaps attempting to distract herself wasn¡¯t the worst course of action. Plus, it¡¯d be another thing to keep Seraphine¡¯s hands busy and mind occupied.

    ¡°W-Wait a second, I¡¯d have to clear the theater, we haven¡¯t made any prior arrangements with the staff, and¡ª¡±

    ¡°Why not? This one looks interesting.¡±

    Lycoris feigned innocence while talking over Seraphine, pointing at a painting of a lone, pointy-eared and broad-shouldered man with braided blonde hair, brandishing an impractically large sword one-handed at a blazing orb of fire hurtling towards him.

    ¡°Hmmn? Why this one, Your Highness? I didn¡¯t think a sweet little girl like yourself would be an action movie fan.¡±

    ¡°Oh, uh, well¡­¡±

    She couldn¡¯t very well say that she only picked it out because the man reminded her of Mizar. Sort of. He definitely wasn¡¯t that huge, and he wore actual armor.

    But he was the sort of person who¡¯d try to cut a fireball in half. Would probably succeed too, knowing him.

    Either way, she¡¯d never hear the end of it from the maid who already took every opportunity possible to tease her about it.

    ¡°It just¡­ seemed interesting, is all. I don¡¯t know much about movies, but the dramas I enjoyed the most had plenty of soldiers and war in them.¡±

    Even though they were filled with inaccuracies and dramatizations. But that discrepancy was party of why she enjoyed them so. She was a former knight, after all.

    Ever Lycoris¡¯s champion, even while clearly against the idea of taking a sudden stop at the theater, Seraphine came to her defense while Athena frowned.

    ¡°And who says girls aren¡¯t allowed to like explosions?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m unsure if Her Majesty would wish for her daughter to watch something so violent.¡±

    ¡°Athena, Mother literally threatened to murder the guard who came to report the situation in Kranes right in front of me.¡±

    ¡°But she didn¡¯t!¡±

    ¡°What about when I tried to split that stupid¡ª when I lost my temper with the Idra Speaker?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, that was a magnificent display of a pompous parasite getting what he deserved for daring to speak out against Her Majesty and the Princess.¡±

    Athena nodded in satisfaction, giving a rare display of condemnation for someone far above her on the social ladder, while Patton and Seraphine both looked as though they¡¯d just sucked on a lemon.

    ¡°So, when is the next performance? I¡¯m not sure how long we¡¯ll be staying here¡ªhopefully not too long¡ªbut if it¡¯s tomorrow perhaps we can make time.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s out now, Princess. We could theoretically go in and watch it right now¡­ if we conveniently ignore the fact that I would have to call in advance to clear things with security.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re performing right now!?¡±

    Athena leaned in and subtly muttered into Lycoris¡¯s ear, ¡°Your Highness, it¡¯s a recording. There¡¯s no live actors in the theaters. Would you like to go see one right now?¡±

    ¡°Would we still have time to get to the meeting?¡±

    ¡°Of course, Your Highness. Its runtime is only eighty minutes.¡±

    ¡°Wait, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°Then I¡¯d love to!¡±

    Just as Seraphine was about to raise her voice in dissent, Lycoris turned to smile at her and Patton, hands pressed together just beneath her chin as she forced as much excitement into her words as possible.

    Whatever Seraphine was about to say, her objection had been successfully dismantled by the Princess¡¯s earnest smile. Lycoris did want to see what a movie was like, admittedly. But more important than that was keeping her friend from being stuck inside her own head. Lycoris was uncomfortably familiar with how unpleasant a feeling that was.

    Lycoris gripped both Athena and Seraphine by the wrist and dragged them along, forcefully supplanting her restless irritation with curiosity. But when she walked up to the entrance, she was quickly defeated by the pair of sealed glass doors.

    Awkwardly pulling the daisy chain along with her wrist, Athena guided Lycoris (and Seraphine) over toward the display terminal to the side of the entrance, where admission to the theater was purchased¡­ except Lycoris didn¡¯t see anywhere she could put any sort of currency.

    In fact, so far she hadn¡¯t seen any vampires use currency at all, though they¡¯d talked about money a fair bit. She wasn¡¯t even asked to pay for any of her garments¡ªprobably because they already knew that she was the Princess and who would be footing the bill. Or, more troublingly, they might¡¯ve been too afraid to even consider asking for payment¡­

    It left her wondering why exactly her mother had gifted her that ring, which still sat in its little box stowed within her penthouse suite room.

    ¡°¡­Oh wait that¡¯s right, I don¡¯t even have it on me. But, what do we do with this monitor? It¡¯s not like a person that we could hand currency to.¡±

    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Allow me to handle it, Your Highness. Consider it¡­ my treat, if you¡¯d like.¡±

    Athena walked up to the terminal and set down her bags, navigating it and entering a sequence of numbers onto the screen with practiced precision.

    Exasperated, Seraphine leaned over to hiss into Athena¡¯s ear.

    ¡°Hold on a second, we can¡¯t just go into the theater with Her Highness! I thought you were more concerned for her safety than I am!¡±

    ¡°I am, that¡¯s why I¡¯m purchasing every single seat for the showing. Luckily, nobody else has bought any tickets for it yet.¡±

    ¡°Wait what!?¡± Lycoris chimed in. ¡°There¡¯s no need to go that far, Athena.¡±

    ¡°But there is! After all, if we have every ticket, we need only post guards by the entrances to the theater room. And of course, I¡¯ll be at Her Highness¡¯s side the entire time.¡±

    She puffed her chest out proudly as she tapped a button on the monitor, causing a deluge of tickets to begin snaking out of a port beside it.

    ¡°Alright, then,¡± Seraphine sighed in resignation. ¡°Patton, can you head inside and¡­¡±

    ¡°Of course, Miss Ethlow. I¡¯ll¡­ take care of the arrangements.¡±

    Seraphine sighed and looked at Patton, who shrugged his shoulders and toggled off the device at his hip before tearing off one of the tickets from the chain and waving it before the doors to enter.

    Lycoris felt somewhat guilty, but at least the movie theater was being reimbursed¡­ and it sounded like people would still be able to see the other showings of the movie as well, so her visit wouldn¡¯t be that intrusive. Perhaps Athena had already considered her concerns when deciding upon this course of action. She was remarkably thoughtful of Lycoris¡¯s wishes.

    Although,

    ¡°Are you sure about this, Athena? ¡­At least allow me to reimburse you later, though I¡¯m not sure how exactly I would. Perhaps I could ask Mother for the aurelles.¡±

    ¡°The Empire¡¯s standard currency is argenta, Your Highness,¡± Athena whispered back once the other two were inside the building and out of earshot. ¡°And it¡¯s no trouble at all! I have little to spend my paychecks on anyway, so it¡¯s no burden on my budget.¡±

    ¡°What about your retirement, though?¡±

    ¡°Wh-What!? Your Highness, I¡¯ll serve you until the day my bones turn to dust! ¡­Or until you see no more use for me and¡ª¡±

    ¡°Okay okay, stop. I get it¡­ Thank you.¡±

    Lycoris sighed wearily while Athena rolled up the chain of tickets and stowed it inside of one of the shopping bags, but not before tearing two off for Lycoris and herself.

    Following what Patton and Seraphine did before, Lycoris walked up to the door and held the little ticket stub above her to hail whatever device or creature commanded the entrance. Whatever it was, her gesture worked as the doors parted for her, and she and Athena entered the somewhat stuffy building.

    The interior smelled of salt and butter; the floor was covered by a stained and bizarrely patterned rug that somehow felt rigid beneath Lycoris¡¯s shoes; there were potted plants arranged around stairs leading upward, and at the top was a foyer that branched out into several halls leading to different double-doored rooms, all with small panels over them showing the movies in each theater.

    Lycoris wandered her way up, feeling oddly tense despite the relative emptiness of the place. At least its immodest cheapness was a comfort, like a run-down but familiar tavern.

    Athena was less than enthused, however. She tutted and shook her head as she slid one of her feet along the carpet, frowned at the stains and grimaced at the chipped and discolored paint on the walls.

    ¡°Perhaps I should have ensured that the interiors would be up to snuff before allowing Her Highness to enter. This place is in no state to receive the Princess¡¯s attention! ¡­But forcing her to wait outside wouldn¡¯t do either, hmm¡­¡±

    ¡°Ooh, is that a snack bar? Excuse me, miss?¡±

    Drawn toward the concession stand by the bright colors and alluring savory scents, Lycoris ignored the maid¡¯s grumblings and wandered up to the counter, where a tired employee was leaning over the counter, propping her chin up on a palm as she yawned.

    As Lycoris approached, she slowly raised her head and perked up her ears, blearily blinking herself awake as the little girl stared up at her in slight awe.

    ¡°Hmm? What¡¯ll it be?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Lycoris didn¡¯t immediately respond, but not because of the flippant attitude that the service worker was displaying. She heard Athena rattling something about disrespect behind her, but her attention was drawn entirely to the woman¡¯s ears.

    Atop her head, a pair of fluffy dark brown triangles twitched.

    It wasn¡¯t the first time Lycoris had ever encountered features like that, but looking at the woman up close¡­ she looked so¡­ human. If it wasn¡¯t for the ears¡ªand tail¡ªLycoris would¡¯ve mistook her for a regular Dauwenian. Well, maybe if she changed her outfit too.

    ¡°You¡¯re¡­ a Fangchaser, right?¡±

    ¡°Huh? Uhh, duh. Are you gonna order something, kid?¡±

    ¡°K-Kid!? KID!? How¡­ How DARE you disrespect Her Highness Princess Lycoris in such a manner! Do you have any idea who you¡¯re speaking to!?¡±

    ¡°Huh¡­¡±

    The woman blinked the rest of her fatigue away, looking down properly at Lycoris, then toward Athena, quirking an eyebrow. After a moment, realization seemed to sink in as she looked back down at Lycoris again, and her body tensed up.

    ¡°O-O-Oh, fuck. Uh, shit, I mean, er¡­ Uh. Hi.¡±

    ¡°Watch your tongue! I should cut you down where you stand for your¡ª¡±

    ¡°Athena.¡± Lycoris glowered up at her maid, silencing her. ¡°My apologies for my maid¡¯s outburst. She can be¡­ overprotective at the best of times. I must say though, I¡¯ve never met a Fangchaser with such¡­ human features.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m more impressed you¡¯ve met any at all, honestly. Ahh shit shit, watch your stupid tongue, Helena.¡±

    The woman turned away and cursed at herself under her breath. Lycoris wryly smiled and squinted her brows, keeping a hand on Athena¡¯s arm to remind the maid to stay under control.

    With everyone so indisposed, she turned her attention instead to the large menu hanging on the back wall. Unfortunately the text was rather small, and while Lycoris could read now, that didn¡¯t mean she understood what exactly a ¡°popcorn¡± or ¡°corndog¡± was, or why there were little blood droplets next to some items and not others.

    Though, she could hazard a guess, at least.

    ¡°Do you have any recommendations, Athena? ¡­Stuff that would be safe for me to consume.¡±

    Lycoris put extra emphasis on the word, hoping her maid would pick up on her meaning. Setting aside the issue of blood-consumption, Lycoris thought back to her mother¡¯s words and realized it wouldn¡¯t do to accept anything that wasn¡¯t sealed up.

    The maid nodded, putting a hand to her chin as she looked at the menu.

    ¡°True, we can¡¯t get something that could be easily drugged.¡±

    ¡°Being a princess sure sounds tough¡­¡± The Fangchaser mumbled, having moved off to the side.

    ¡°There are ups and downs, as come with any position or lifestyle really. I wouldn¡¯t trade my mother for any other, however.¡±

    ¡°Ack, shit you heard that!? I mean, h¡­heheh, yeah. So, uh, what brings you to the theater, of all things? Y-Your Highness.¡±

    ¡°I wished to experience the novelty of a movie theater at least once. I have arrangements, but not until later in the day.¡±

    ¡°Well I, I hope you enjoy the movie, then.¡±

    ¡°My thanks. Also¡­ I realize I might have sounded a touch rude, but I truly meant my surprise upon seeing you. The only Fangchasers I have ever encountered were more¡­ animalistic.¡±

    Lycoris shuffled down the side of the counter toward Helena, peering up at her with genuine curiosity.

    At the same time, Seraphine finally returned with a look of exhaustion that matched the Fangchaser¡¯s before she¡¯d been abruptly woken up. She gave Athena a tap on the shoulder and took the bags from her, mumbling something while Lycoris was distracted with her own conversation.

    ¡°Haha, you¡¯ve probably just seen videos of the ones still living on the other side of the deadlands, I¡¯ll bet. We uh, well, lotta us kinda learned to shapeshift, or something like that, to fit your societal beauty standards better. Shaving¡¯s still a bitch though.¡±

    ¡°Ohhh¡­ I wonder if the principle is the same as my wings.¡±

    ¡°Sure, yeah! Probably.¡± Helena shrugged. ¡°Anyway, did you actually want something, or did you just come over to kill time before the movie starts?¡±

    ¡°Oh, right. Athena?¡±

    She tagged in her maid once more, whose death glare at the clerk grew more severe with every curse that slipped between her lips, to navigate the ¡°complicated¡± process of picking out some boxed candies that would suit Lycoris¡¯s taste. She also purchased a rather large bag of popcorn with a viscous, suspiciously reddish, liquid drizzled over it.

    After politely bidding thanks and farewell to the clerk, the two of them joined the others inside the proper theater, where Lycoris noted the four corners of the room filled with folding seats were guarded by theater security.

    Deciding not to comment, she took her seat in one of the slightly gummy but still softly cushioned seats, while Athena and Seraphine wordlessly flanked her on either side.

    The film proved to be interesting enough, reminding Lycoris of the stories Princess Fawaris sometimes shared of knights and heroes, though adapted into a performance and recorded. The props and backdrops used were far more elaborate than any performance she had ever been to, and the score playing was far more loud and bombastic than anything she had heard before then.

    Disappointingly, the protagonist was not actually all that much like Mizar. He was something of an annoying blowhard, rather than a quiet but earnest young man, and was constantly being reeled in by his companions rather than elevated by them. But admittedly, there wasn¡¯t much to it other than the heroic party of vampires¡ªa baffling concept¡ªfighting against an otherworldly horde of demonic invaders, finding themselves in tight spots constantly as they scurried about trying to douse every fire they could on their quest to save the world.

    And more unfortunately, Lycoris found it somewhat difficult to actually focus on the film, as her two guardians passed the troubling bag of popcorn back and forth around her to share it, and her thoughts continually wandered to the city in distress that they were supposed to be rescuing from demonic invaders¡­

    At least the crunchy candy Athena picked out was sweet and savory.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    After conquering the movie without incident, Lycoris¡¯s eclectic group still had another couple of hours left before the appointed conference. It was an awkward amount of time, not enough to bring their things back to the hotel and rest, but too much to head straight to the meeting location.

    I suppose some things will always be the same, no matter where or what I am¡­

    To fill the time, Seraphine had guided them toward a nearby zoo, presumably because Lycoris had enjoyed the dracybara so much before.

    Tragically, the cuddly rodents didn¡¯t live this far north, and apparently they were all presently hibernating for the winter anyway. It was the first Lycoris heard of dracybara hibernating, but she didn¡¯t doubt it.

    In front of her was a walk-in petting area filled with the Vampire equivalent of a horse, called a myrh. They were like a feathered combination of horse and raptor, with necks that were slightly elongated like a horse¡¯s, but tapered into a feathered bird-head instead. Instead of hooves, they had slightly chubby cat-pawed feet at the bottom of their four scaly, vestigial wing-covered legs, meaning they stood closer to the ground than a horse would, and the entire body of each beast milling about before her was covered in downy feathers.

    As herbivores, their rather reptilian-looking eyes were side-facing rather than forward, and their feather colors were mostly rusty hues of reds, browns, and oranges from the mana-infused resin in the bark they gnawed on.

    Honestly, they barely even resembled horses, so Lycoris wasn¡¯t sure why Athena drew the comparison for her sake¡­ All that had done was intimidate her out of the idea of getting up close with them, though it didn¡¯t seem like any of the myrh were afraid of her the way horses always were.

    Lycoris rested her arms on the railings, engaging in a staring contest with one of the critters in the pen. It was the most striking one in the pack, with lavender-colored feathers instead of the same earthy tones its kin possessed. Perhaps that was why it¡¯d drawn her attention as she spaced out. Something about the color seemed familiar, but she couldn¡¯t place why. Or maybe it was just that she felt a kinship with it, feeling like the odd one out.

    ¡°Do you want to go in and pet one, Your Highness? Normally I would advise against it, but we do have plenty of clothes on hand to change you into something clean afterwards in case you end up dirty.¡±

    ¡°N-N-No, I¡¯m¡­ I am fine observing them from a distance, I think.¡±

    Seraphine leaned over, mumbling teasingly, ¡°You know, there¡¯s also a breed that are much smaller, called pixie myrh. They¡¯re a pretty popular pet around the Empire~¡±

    ¡°Any household pets would have to be approved by Her Majesty beforehand.¡±

    ¡°I think a tiny horse wandering around the Elysian Sanctum sounds like a living nightmare¡­¡± Lycoris grumbled.

    ¡°I had no idea that comparison would cause such an intense reaction, Your Highness. I apologize for putting the thought into your head. They simply fill a similar role as beasts of burden. Myrh are much cleaner and calmer creatures than horses.¡±

    Seraphine blinked. ¡°Why are we talking about horses? Aren¡¯t those what humans ride around on?¡±

    ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°Er¡­¡±

    Maid and Mistress froze in unison, the squawks of myrhs and bleats of other nearby zoo animals filling in the silence in their conversation. The two of them looked to each other in perfect unison, at which point the maid regained her composure and put her hands on Lycoris¡¯s shoulders, spinning her around and scooting her toward the pen.

    ¡°Since we¡¯re already here, give it a try Your Highness, it would be a waste not to!¡±

    ¡°W-Wait, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re nothing like horses at all, there¡¯s nothing to fear!¡± Athena turned around to shoot a glare at Seraphine, ¡°She¡¯s terrified of the beast. Reminds her of humans, you see.¡±

    ¡°Is¡­ that so.¡±

    After stuffing Lycoris unceremoniously into the fenced enclosure, Athena took Seraphine aside to spin a yarn on the Princess¡¯s behalf. The group of myrh raised their heads and followed the new intruder¡¯s movements attentively. They didn¡¯t react with immediate terror, or urgently try to flee from her, which was¡­ definitely different from most of her interactions with horses.

    Nobody in Dauwen could explain why she had an aura of horse-fear, but it had been a source of constant frustration for her and her fellow knights. She didn¡¯t actually have any sort of phobia of them, it was simply such a hassle to deal with them that she grew avoidant of the creatures as an instinct.

    ¡°Easy now¡­ good horsey¡­¡±

    Lycoris cautiously approached the myrh she¡¯d been engaged in a staring contest with before, which ceased preening its lavender-colored feathers to eye her curiously.

    Carefully, she reached her hand forward. The creature tilted its head in response, pressing its neck against her hand and cooing. It was soft, and warm. It didn¡¯t try to bite or peck at her hand, it didn¡¯t whinny or try to kick Lycoris away, or buck her off¡­ not that she was trying to ride it.

    Almost miraculously, nothing went wrong as she stroked and scratched its neck.

    ¡°See? I¡¯m not scary, you¡¯re not scared¡­ why do I feel like I recognize you though? Have we met before, maybe?¡±

    ¡°Bwok.¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m not sure what I was expecting.¡±

    While patting the not-so-wicked monster, Lycoris tugged the enchanted silk scarf around her neck and shivered. Her new outfit was certainly chic and comfortable, but it didn¡¯t do enough on its own to chase away the cold breezes that blew by.

    Perhaps understanding her feelings, the myrh pushed itself against her to share its body warmth.

    ¡°Meeeehhhh!¡±

    Just as Lycoris relaxed her guard and stopped fretting, a loud bleating sound reverberated through the zoo.

    While she still had her hand against the myrh, there was a sudden commotion as a horde of silky fluff-balls suddenly vaulted over the fence and charged her position on spindly legs. They looked like bizarre balls of yarn, with eight shiny pitch-black limbs apiece, their faces buried beneath the strange fur.

    ¡°Look out Lyco, there¡¯s been a jailbreak!¡±

    ¡°H-Huh!?¡±

    The myrh already beside Lycoris remained laying against her, but the rest all backed away into the corner of the pen as the weird pillow-sized monsters swarmed around Lycoris and her new conversation partner.

    Her immediate response was to protectively hug the myrh, cradling its head against her chest as the mysterious invaders piled onto her, rubbing against and clinging to her like lint on a coat.

    ¡°W-Wait, stop! That¡­ tickles¡­?¡±

    Her panic subsided when they didn¡¯t¡­ do anything to her, other than swarm around and rub against her. But she was still left with several questions.

    Lycoris had considered herself to be fairly well versed in monster lore after journeying across the continent, but today had admittedly been a day of firsts, in far too many ways.

    ¡°What even are these things!?¡±

    ¡°Your Highness, are you alright!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine! They¡¯re just¡­ very clingy. *achoo!* ¡­and a little ticklish.¡±

    It didn¡¯t take long for the petting zoo staff to arrive and begin prying them off of her, though the critters were quite persistent. Some even wriggled their way out of the staff¡¯s grasp and rushed back over to press themselves into Lycoris again.

    Athena and Seraphine watched on from just outside the pen, the former fidgeting back and forth rather agitatedly at the sight of Lycoris half-buried by fluff. The latter was checking her phone, looking somewhat nonplussed by the entire situation.

    ¡°Athena, you are an Ochros, right? Says here that bolles are naturally attracted to high concentrations of magic. Maybe you should offer some help to the staff¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh! Hang on, Your Highness, I¡¯m coming!¡±

    ¡°No I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m fine really. Take your time¡­ well, don¡¯t take too much time¡­¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re terribly sorry about this, Princess Lycoris. One of the zookeepers left the hatch open while getting their food. Please, find it in your heart to forgive us,¡± an attendant prying one of the bolles off of Lycoris implored.

    ¡°No¡­ trouble at all. I was merely startled. Though I suppose I will have to change my clothes, now¡­¡±

    Why is it that now I¡¯m little miss popular with every beast under the sun? This would have been a lot more useful when I actually had to ride a horse around¡­

    Lycoris sighed to herself as the creatures¡¯ numbers continued to be slowly whittled away, Athena doing her best to attract them towards herself instead. In her excitement, she made quite a showing by launching a bolt of magic up like a signal flare, drawing even more attention from the other parkgoers.

    The little princess shook her head at the commotion, finding new ways to regret her decision to allow Seraphine to bring them here with every passing moment. Perhaps the meeting could¡¯ve been started early instead, or something¡­

    Once more sensing her vexation, the myrh gently brushed its head against her cheek.

 34 â€” Rounded Table

    Inside a large conference room that had been transformed into a military headquarters, with monitoring equipment tucked in one corner of it, maps pinned up against the wall, and a large holo-projection device set up in the center of the table, Patton heaved a sigh after dragging a large recliner into the room and setting it at the head of the table.

    It was an order from Lady Ochros, who had insisted that Her Highness¡¯s proper seat in the place of honor be suitably comfortable¡ªand suitably tall for her small stature (though she ensured that the Princess wasn¡¯t present while explaining this).

    The Princess was currently getting cleaned up and changing her clothes, after a mishap at the petting zoo where several bolles escaped and swarmed her. Normally, a girl her age would be absolutely horrified by the prospect of a massive swarm of arachnids charging her down¡­ but Her Highness was decidedly not normal.

    And not just because she was the first natural-born successor any Exaltare had produced.

    Patton had no idea what to make of her. She behaved just like any ignorant noble child her age, but she lacked the same cutting arrogance that was far too common among her class. And it felt like¡ªperhaps he was simply imagining things¡ªthere was something more to her. The Princess had to have been the one to light a fire under the army and rushed their plans to mobilize in response, rather than Her Majesty. After seeing how she behaved in public, the consideration she showed others¡ªif even just for posterity¡ªcemented Patton¡¯s certainty. He just didn¡¯t understand why.

    Which was exactly why he knew there had to be something deeper to her, a scheme he wasn¡¯t privy to. Or maybe it was part of some test from Her Majesty Lilianna, perhaps¡­ Patton could think himself around in circles, for all the good that¡¯d do him.

    Regardless, she would probably get her wakeup call about how the world worked and how the adults were already handling the situation. It¡¯d be hard to imagine anything else considering the woman in charge of cleanup. It spoke to how desperate Her Majesty was to smooth this over as swiftly as possible that she sent her own Left Hand to oversee the reclamation of Kranes. Or perhaps there was something nobody else knew, that only the Exaltare and Lesath were privy to¡­

    ¡°Well, if it¡¯s relevant for me to know, they¡¯ll tell me. Until then¡­¡±

    He looked at the throne and frowned. He didn¡¯t dare give voice to the thought, but his job certainly felt like it¡¯d become babysitter, rather than Commander of the City Guard.

    Just as he turned around to exit the room, the door opened. Staring straight at him, half a meter away from his face, was Lesath Unglaria. She had the exact same impassive stare from every picture he¡¯d seen of her, her steel gray eyes slowly focusing on the man in front of her.

    This was the first time he¡¯d ever personally encountered her, but Patton still reflexively shivered and stepped to the side. Nothing good could come from being in her presence for longer than necessary.

    ¡°My apologies, I take it you¡¯re here to prepare for the war council. I¡¯ll get out of your way.¡±

    ¡°Wait.¡±

    Tragically, before he could flee the room, the woman barked out a command. Whether he wanted to or not, his legs locked in place, though she had used no form of magic to petrify him.

    ¡°Y¡­ Yes? What is it?¡±

    ¡°What is that¡­ eyesore?¡± She pointed at the chair he¡¯d just brought in.

    He wrinkled his brow, forcing himself to look away. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ for Her Highness to sit in.¡±

    For just the briefest moment, he felt his heart stop as she looked back from the chair to him, as though her gaze alone had dug into his chest and tore the organ from his body.

    She didn¡¯t say anything, but he could tell that she was not pleased with that answer.

    Why on Earth does it have to be her!? And this is someone who personally bows to Her Majesty¡­ just how terrifying is she?

    It only made Lycoris¡¯ innocence that much more baffling. Or maybe that was the point, that she was free from Her Majesty¡¯s watchful gaze and could open up a little¡­ or, maybe that was a trap schemed up by the both of them. She did seem to take after her mother in a frightful number of other aspects.

    ¡­Did Lilianna have a secret innocent side, too?

    ¡°No that¡¯d be ridiculo¡ªI mean, um. Is there¡­ do you have a problem, with that?¡±

    ¡°¡­No. So long as Her Highness wishes so, it shall be.¡±

    She turned her ire from him back toward the chair, gazing disdainfully at it. If he didn¡¯t know any better, he¡¯d think that chair had killed her family.

    ¡°Then, if that¡¯s all¡­¡±

    He didn¡¯t wait for a response before rushing out of the room, eager to not be alone with the irate Executioner.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    Of course, that didn¡¯t mean he was to be free of her presence forever.

    He was attending the war council too, as the man in charge of Condore¡¯s guard. If anything, his role made his presence all the more important, worn down as he was after escorting Her Highness all day.

    Individually and in small groups, commanding officers from disparate but nearby regions gathered around the table. There were no assigned seats, save for the one reserved for Her Highness, but most tended to sit nearer to the still-vacant luxury chair. Naturally, the reason was because Executioner Unglaria was standing at the exact opposite end.

    She¡¯d made the room into her own den during the half hour or so before the meeting, gathering piles of crude documents and rolls of antique maps of the Empire. Lesath was known to harbor a near-religious distaste for technology, outside of mandatory societal necessities like transportation, so it came as no surprise she¡¯d be one of the few people in such a high ranking position to have ledgers in front of her.

    How Her Majesty put up with such a woman was anyone¡¯s guess, but it was clear she gave the Executioner quite a bit of favorable treatment.

    As the room filled, more and more chatter and side-conversations picked up as military commanders who hadn¡¯t met in years caught up with each other, sharing stories about their families and other meaningless, light smalltalk.

    Not that there was anything wrong with it, but it seemed less like a gathering of hardened soldiers preparing to address a crisis, and more like a school reunion. There was a distinct lack of urgency.

    Once the majority of the room was filled, a single voice drowned out the rest and silenced the crowd.

    ¡°*ahem* If everyone present has finished reminiscing, I would like to start and finish this meeting as quickly as possible,¡± Lesath sharply declared.

    ¡°But¡­ wait, where is Her Highness? Was she not the one who wished to hold this meeting in the first place?¡±

    ¡°There isn¡¯t much point in even having it if she isn¡¯t going to show up¡­¡±

    ¡°If Her Highness genuinely has something of value to add to the discussion, I¡¯m certain that it will not matter when she arrives to deliver it, as no doubt she perfectly understands how these proceedings go.¡±

    Lesath cut down their concerns with casual indifference, punctuating her statement with an almost uncharacteristic display of emotion as she rolled her eyes. It didn¡¯t take anything more than that to convince the generals around the table. Most present didn¡¯t seem particularly keen to be here in the first place, fully aware that this was just an event for Her Highness to put on airs and improve her image. When Lesath brought it up, they understood that she likely wouldn¡¯t even show up, and that the publicity of gathering them all here would be enough.

    But Patton wasn¡¯t so sure about that.

    ¡°¡­Right, then if there are no other objections, I¡¯ll start. At present, Kranes is without power, the town is completely isolated, and the sheer volume of Whispers present has guaranteed that communication is borderline impossible. Our current estimates put their numbers at roughly thirty thousand.¡±

    ¡°Thirty¡ª¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s almost double the town¡¯s population!¡±

    ¡°Indeed,¡± Lesath flatly replied. ¡°They were first reported by Count Kranes early yesterday morning, after invading the town the night prior on High Moonsend, right at the turn of the year. Estimated casualties so far sit at¡­¡±

    The Executioner droned on with information that her own direct troops had reported. Though she treated all of this as rote proceedings, the fastidious woman had wasted no time in ordering them to gather information.

    After several minutes of this, Patton looked to the door, wondering just where Her Highness and her maid were.

    ¡°Just what is taking them so long¡­?¡± he muttered under his breath.

    ¡°Hm, something wrong Olaeus?¡±

    His neighbor turned his bored look from the papers in his hands toward him. The man, whom Patton didn¡¯t recognize, didn¡¯t seem to enjoy the novelty of having to sift through his copy of the handwritten reports.

    Patton held his tongue, however; the Executioner¡¯s impassive gaze swept across him as she finished her sentence, like an instructor who knew what their students were already thinking.

    ¡°As you can see, there is little tactical advantage to conducting a siege. Given their sheer numbers, and their penchant toward dismantling machines to bolster their ranks, by the time we have enough soldiers to properly retake the town, it will be too late already. As overseer of this operation, I believe the best course of action is to continue observation with smaller squads and ensure the horde doesn¡¯t intend to migrate further inward, while moving to garrison the surrounding hamlets and holding fast for what Her Majesty determines to be the best approach for one single town. Whether or not it is worth taking such a protracted approach, or if it would be better to wipe the slate clean is for her to decide. Any questions or objections?¡±

    ¡°Who says hamlet these days¡­?¡±

    ¡°Do you have something to add, Sir Velose?¡±

    Her eyes immediately locked on to the person who whispered, as they shrunk inward and cleared their throat.

    ¡°N-No, Ma¡¯am.¡±

    ¡°Then, in that case there¡¯s no reason to¡ª¡±

    ¡°Waaaaaiiiittt!!¡±

    A familiar, yet rather inelegant, shout came from the hallway outside. And there was only one person Patton knew with hearing that good.

    The door slammed open, and in the doorframe stood a petite little girl in an outfit that looked like a wealthy person¡¯s idea of ¡°casual¡± clothing. She wore an off-shoulder milk-white blouse, with a dark crimson bow fastened over the heart, lace running down the front over her abdomen, which tapered off around the waist with a modest amount of frills. If it was stretched longer, it could¡¯ve worked as a one-piece dress. She wore silvery-white shorts beneath and had matching socks that stretched up to her thighs from the surprisingly well-worn dark blue Mary Janes on her feet.

    Despite the wealth exuded by her choice of clothing, Her Highness had little in the way of jewelry or ornamentation¡ªthe only piece of metal she wore was a mythril locket wrapped around her neck and tucked under her blouse.

    Princess Lycoris looked frazzled as she rushed up to the table, slapped her sleeve-covered wrists onto the top, and hastily swept her gaze over the somewhat startled commanders all staring her way. When her eyes met Patton¡¯s, she briefly blinked in surprise, before giving him a knowing smile and turning her attention back to the center of the table.

    ¡°My¡­ sincerest apologies for my uncouth tardiness. I was unfortunately accosted by a gaggle of beasts just before our appointed meeting time. As the one who called you all together on such short notice, it is quite an embarrassing situation to have put myself in. My apologies.¡±

    She chose her words carefully, forcing herself to speak slowly and clearly as she ever-so-slightly hung her head in shame, her twin bundles of hair sliding around her shoulders. Murmurs spread about the table, some mirroring Patton¡¯s sentiment that there was no need to go so far in apologizing. Others shrugged and grumbled about why such a meeting was called in the first place. And one, at least, glared across the table, a near-palpable aura of malevolence exuding from the lead commander of the operation.

    ¡°If you came just to apologize, you could have spared all present the waste of breath and let us leave earlier, instead. Perhaps you can take a seat in that little throne of yours while we finish wrapping things up instead.¡±

    Sharp breathless gasps flinched across the table, but the Princess shook her head, undaunted.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I cannot simply sit idle. How could I, in this situation? I came here to speak on the matter of Kranes¡¯ relief and the rescue of its citizens, and I see that pushing for this meeting was the correct decision.¡± She glanced around the table once more, fixing her eyes on a few individuals in particular. ¡°¡­The general attitude you¡ªthe¡­ generals¡ªseem to be treating such a crisis with is, bluntly, repulsive.¡±

    ¡°What!?¡±

    Several of those at the table sat up, clearly incensed.

    And yet some continued to pay her no mind, simply looking down at their phones.

    Those were the ones Lycoris kept her reproachful gaze on, ignoring the unpleasant glares from Lesath and the other generals. Given that most of them were from well-to-do noble families, it was rare that anyone ever talked down to them.

    ¡°Every hour¡ª every minute that we waste twiddling our thumbs, is who knows how many more lives lost in that town. The fact that thought alone doesn¡¯t impel you into action is proof of your languorous ineptitude. You!¡±

    She pointed a finger at a particularly broad-shouldered man, who barely fit within his tan military jacket and was leaning against his seat with his cheek resting on his fist. He sat up properly upon being addressed, and crossed his arms as he cocked his head.

    ¡°Name and rank, soldier.¡±

    ¡°Astarth Wyvles, the Margrave of Wyvles, Ma¡¯am. ¡­wait¡ª¡±

    ¡°And who is your second in command?¡±

    ¡°Colonel Felglan.¡±

    ¡°Before I started speaking, you were looking at your phone on the table. Were you in contact with them?¡±

    ¡°No, I was¡ª¡±

    ¡°Then why were you paying attention to your phone, and not the meeting?¡±

    Her Highness¡¯s sharp claws dug into the table, leaving small grooves in the polished wood as she hissed in barely-suppressed fury at the Margrave. Those nearest to her, Patton included, shrank back. He¡¯d known from the recording of her Moonsend debut that she could have a temper just like her mother¡¯s, but after seeing the sweet little girl all but frolic around town, playing with the animals, that broadcast had felt like a bizarre fever dream.

    It was like watching a feral animal trying to lecture rowdy students, to continue his earlier metaphor.

    ¡°Perhaps you¡¯d like to summon Colonel Felglan to take your place, since you seem so unenthused to be tasked with the job of saving our citizens?¡±

    ¡°Your Highness,¡± Lesath spoke up, braving the storm brewing across from her unflinchingly, ¡°would you care to explain why you called this meeting in the first place, instead of finding random fault with the officers your mother chose for this operation? Nobody present is enthused because none of us see any point to this. If anything, this is wasting far more of that ¡®precious¡¯ time.¡±

    As expected of someone who dealt with Her Majesty on a regular basis¡ªand likely Her Highness as well¡ªshe was completely unfazed by the girl¡¯s anger. If anything, she seemed a little irate herself, like a put-upon adult talking down to a child throwing a tantrum.

    ¡°Point¡­? What do you mean ¡®point?¡¯ There¡¯s people actively in danger! We need to bring our heads together and come up with a solut¡ª¡±

    ¡°Like the standard military doctrine we are already following for invasions, Your Highness? I understand you are young, and sheltered, but regardless of whether or not you raise a finger in aid, the situation would remain the same. No doubt Her Majesty feels the same way, but chose to let you learn that on your own regardless.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ no, she¡­ Mama wouldn¡¯t¡­¡± Lycoris¡¯s voice faltered under the relentless onslaught of wearily-spoken logic. ¡°I¡­ I know my mother. She wouldn¡¯t have made the request of me that she had if she didn¡¯t expect me to make good on my word.¡±

    ¡°And what request is that, Your Highness?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ can¡¯t say. It¡¯s a family secret.¡±

    Lesath snorted. ¡°Secret? There are no secrets between Her Majesty and me.¡±

    ¡°¡­What about me?¡± Lycoris raised her head, her scarlet eyes sparkling as they met the Executioner¡¯s steely gaze.

    ¡°¡­ ¡­ ¡­¡±

    For perhaps the first time in history, ever since she was first appointed as Lilianna¡¯s military commander and personal confidant, Lesath looked genuinely taken aback.

    She grit her teeth in barely-restrained fury, gnashing her fangs as she growled contemptuously, ¡°You¡­ are¡­ an ill-omened little¡ª¡±

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    ¡°So, what is ¡®standard military procedure?¡¯ I can¡¯t make any suggestions without knowing what you¡¯re already doing, after all.¡±

    ¡°Your Highness, what exactly is it you¡¯re hoping to accomplish here?¡± One of the others at the table spoke up, filling for Lesath as she fumed.

    After digging under her skin, Lycoris deftly swapped back to a calmer, more collected demeanor in contrast to the Executioner.

    She made the abrupt change in register and tone seem almost natural, the same casual innocence she displayed all day prior in Patton¡¯s company returning as easily as it had left. He shivered, wondering just how much of her attitude in public and this meeting had been an act, what the true face of Her Highness really looked like.

    ¡°To rescue the villagers trapped in Kranes, and ideally root out the horde of Whispers. Is that not obvious?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s absurd! You talk of reclaiming Kranes as though it were the same as plucking flowers.¡±

    ¡°Are you saying we cannot?¡±

    Another spoke out, emboldened by the other general, ¡°No, Your Highness, we are saying it simply isn¡¯t worth it. There are only seventeen thousand people¡ªor probably less, at this point¡ªliving in the town of Kranes. Sure, it¡¯s the capital of the County, but there¡¯s no sense in risking unnecessary losses to our ranks. It would be far easier to move the office of the territorial governor to Condore.¡±

    ¡°¡®Only seventeen thousand¡¯ you say? Only seventeen thousand!? Do you even know a hundredth of that number by name?¡± She turned on the spot, pivoting to snap her finger at the newcomer.

    ¡°I¡­ Perhaps, if I thought about it, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°Is not every life, is not every citizen in our Empire of equal import? Do not tell me a single invading force of Whispers is too scary to handle! They¡¯re monsters that border on mindlessness compared to¡­ compared to Humans! What would you do if a Human army marched in on the Empire? Just roll over and let them raise their flags in the Goddess¡¯s name, claiming the town for themselves!? ¡­Honestly, they might show more compassion for the civilians than you lot seem to be doing, at present.¡±

    Her Highness raised a good point, at least about the Whispers, but her awareness of the situation seemed rather naive.

    ¡°Unfortunately, things are a touch more complex than you might be assuming, Princess.¡± Patton finally raised his own voice, standing up and placing his hand over his chest.

    ¡°Enlighten me, then.¡±

    The corner of his lip quirked at her choice of words. ¡°As you wish. As you are well aware, the town is surrounded on all sides by walls one hundred meters high. These are currently without any form of power, meaning the gates installed in them cannot be opened. We would have to either scale them, use whatever opening the Whispers created, or demolish a portion of the walls with explosives in order to get our troops in. We wouldn¡¯t be able to get any heavy vehicles over the walls, obviously; and forming a large enough breach would take both manpower and time. Dawn walls were designed to serve as protection from invasion, in addition to blocking out the sun. Currently, Her Sinistrous,¡± he gestured toward Lesath, ¡°has already dispatched several of Condore¡¯s and a few neighboring regions¡¯ Fangchaser soldiers out to perform daytime reconnaissance on the area surrounding the walls, and to ensure there aren¡¯t any signs of movement from the Whispers. If they attempted to move on another city, it would be disastrous for us to be unprepared to intercept.¡±

    ¡°But they¡¯re gathering in Kranes, correct? And in large numbers?¡±

    Lycoris tilted her head and furrowed her brow.

    Patton nodded, glancing away toward the rest of the table as he wordlessly sought an answer for why she¡¯d be asking such a thing. Nobody else seemed to have any clue either, though he noticed the entire table had all sat up and were paying close attention.

    Even Lesath¡ªwho hadn¡¯t even bothered to sit down¡ªwas glaring right at him.

    Great. No pressure, Patton.

    ¡°That is correct. There are estimated to be thirty thousand Whispers inside of Kranes currently. We don¡¯t have an exact number, but it is likely only going to rise as they dismantle and consume the machines inside the town.¡±

    ¡°Hmm,¡± Lycoris hummed.

    She fell silent, looking deep in thought, but Patton wasn¡¯t sure he¡¯d said anything worth such deep consideration. At the same time, he felt a jitter of excitement in his gut, as though he expected the child of the greatest modern mind to produce just as miraculous an answer as Her Majesty would.

    And his expectations were not betrayed, in a sense.

    ¡°¡­Oh! Of course, that has to be what she did,¡± the girl suddenly blurted out.

    ¡°Could Her Highness deign offer us her insights?¡± Lesath grumbled.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure you all know that Whispers are attracted to potent sources of mana, yes?¡±

    Her Highness asked as though it were the most obvious thing in the world, but everyone at the table looked around at each other in confusion¡ªLesath included.

    ¡°They¡¯re attracted to machines, to reproduce and increase their wretched numbers,¡± someone corrected.

    Lycoris shook her head and wagged a finger. ¡°I don¡¯t know about all that, but I¡¯ve heard they¡¯re used against humans too, who lack anything even resembling an automotive vehicle. If they only went after machines, they¡¯d be useless as a measure against Human settlements. Really they¡¯re like any other monster in that sense. Or, well, some monsters.¡±

    She grumbled the last few words to herself, plucking a silken thread dangling from her silvery bangs.

    Murmurs of doubt and confusion spread around the table.

    Patton stared at the girl. He had never personally heard of Whispers being used against humans before, much less of this theory about their habits. The mechanical monstrosities were usually culled long before they massed into such a sizeable threat, or were disposed of by rather heavy ordinance, though such an option would reduce the town to a crater. At that point it¡¯d be a matter of building anew, rather than recovering anything.

    ¡°And what does every Vampire settlement have? No doubt with an incredibly complicated, juicy and appetizing magical array, that probably consumes an unreasonably large amount of mana?¡± The girl asked in a leading tone, looking ever so slightly smug about it.

    ¡°¡­The cloud generator,¡± Lesath quavered.

    Lycoris inclined her head. ¡°Exactly. I have no doubt that stupid, awful Witch snuck into wherever it¡¯s being kept and fuddled with it somehow.¡±

    ¡°Fuddled?¡± someone at the table muttered.

    ¡°Witch?¡±

    Lesath¡¯s eyes immediately narrowed once more. Then, briefly widened in surprise, and narrowed again, accompanied by clenched fists, raised hairs, and a scrunched up nose as she looked as though she were about to vault across the table and tear Lycoris¡¯s head off.

    Patton was clueless as to what realization she just had, but before he could even reflexively alert Her Highness, a sonorous female voice cut through the excited mumbling around the table.

    ¡°What Witch would this be, Your Highness? And pardon for the two-for-one, but you¡¯ve suggested a lot with no actual backing theory, how are you so certain that you¡¯re right? I believe that nobody at this table has ever personally set foot in a Human settlement. To say nothing of the fact that these are merely machines¡­ Constructs. They lack any sort of individual intellect, merely following the logic programmed into them. They¡¯re nothing like whatever monsters you might think lurk beneath your bed at night.¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m forty-six, not four.¡± Lycoris sulkily stared, sour-faced.

    The woman was Lucretia Dominus Idra, wife to Margrave Percivald Idra, brother of the current Speaker. She had apparently come in his place, as he was engaged in some other business that was apparently more important than responding to Her Majesty¡¯s summons. Idra¡­ really.

    Still, this was a bad position for Her Highness, she was already on unfavorable footing with them¡­ the Idra woman gave her a piercing stare, flicking her wavy lavender hair back dismissively before Lycoris continued.

    ¡°Actually, I know I called them mindless, but they do seem to grow more coordinated in larger groups. Sometimes even acting like actual deployed soldiers. Presumably, they linked together to go after this objective, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hmph, more unsubstantiated drivel. My question remains, Princess.¡±

    ¡°¡ªThat aside, the Witch I speak of is one that my mother, Her Majesty Lilianna, has deemed exceedingly dangerous. She is¡ª was, a member of the Hero¡¯s party.¡±

    ¡°Hero, you say?¡±

    Margrave Wyvles, the wide-shouldered man Lycoris had called out earlier scowled severely, clenched his hands on the table. Patton noticed the report scrunched up between his fingers, briefly lamenting the waste of plant life.

    Lycoris turned to nod at him, looking more like a trained orator than a prepubescent girl as she put a hand to her chest and continued.

    ¡°My mother and I have reason to believe that she is connected to this incident, as it follows in the wake of the subterranean quake in Den-Ghel; a targeted attack meant to destabilize relations between us and the Geolle. I can only assume she worked her magic on the cloud generator and turned it into a big juicy lure for the Whispers, and that¡¯s why they¡¯re still sitting in the town. Tell me, do they not usually disperse after¡­ doing whatever it is you suggested?¡±

    ¡°There have been remarkably few reports of Whispers wandering outside of the town,¡± one of the commanders mumbled. ¡°Even in the subway lines, they were almost entirely centralized beneath Kranes¡­¡±

    ¡°But what of their hives!?¡± another general shouted.

    ¡°Well, there¡¯s no shortage of scrap in the deadlands,¡± one of the scant few Fangchasers at the table mumbled, ¡°But if anything, this mana theory explains why they sometimes leave even when there¡¯s still plenty of metal left there¡­¡±

    ¡°Then there you have it. The fact the village is without power is all the proof I need to assume that was her plot. My guess is all the energy in town is being routed there, and repurposed to something other than making sinister clouds. If you find my wisdom dubious, you can always try luring them into a trap with some Chrysanthrite or Mythril. Or use me, I¡¯m apparently pretty mana-rich myself.¡±

    ¡°Your Highness, you can¡¯t possibly be suggesting we actually use you as bait to test your own theory,¡± Lucretia sardonically replied.

    ¡°Well¡­ no. Mother would be quite irate if I actually were to do such a thing. But I could at least volunteer my maidservant, if you sincerely wish to take me up on the offer¡­ I would rather not, though. Raw ore would serve just as well.¡±

    ¡°You want us to¡­¡±

    ¡°...Lure them out¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­By placing a pile of raw ore as bait like a CARCASS!?¡± Lesath finished.

    ¡°Technically, igniting it to cause magical burn-off would make it more enticing to them, I think. That is my suggestion though, yes. If we can place some near the breach they made to get into the city, it might be possible to sneak a small team in to begin evacuating civilians, and to attempt to dismantle whatever Taty¡ª That Witch did to the cloud generator. If we can remove that as an attractor to the Whispers, it should be much easier to lure them away. Either way, our priority should be ensuring the safety of the civilians and the restoration of the cloud generator as soon as possible. Regardless of their intellect or¡­ logic programming, they¡¯re no match for a genuine, coordinated military formation. Trapping them in a killbox should be trivial for our armies.¡±

    Lycoris glanced around the table once more, smiling cheerfully as she held her hands together in front of herself.

    It sounded completely obvious, coming from her mouth. Well, it was an obvious solution, given the intel she provided. But the fact that none of them had thought to even try something like that¡ªeven with other machinery, as they had all known the aberrant mechanical monsters would still be enticed by that¡ªwas¡­ shameful. The army existed to safeguard the assets of the Empire, to claim what their Exaltare wished to obtain, and to aid the people when they were endangered.

    For a little child to lay the truth on the table before them, and to have found a potential solution they could put into action, even with the small number of squads they had on hand¡­ no doubt everyone else sitting at the table felt just as shamed as Patton presently did.

    Especially Lesath, who was still glowering at the Princess like she wanted to rip her head off with her teeth. It was downright miraculous how unflinching Her Highness was. If Patton wasn¡¯t questioning whether or not this was all exactly according to her plan, he¡¯d think that she didn¡¯t even realize just how angry the Executioner was. She must have been used to seeing that expression. Or, perhaps she truly felt herself to be above such things, being the Heir-Significate¡­ or Crown Princess, as it were.

    ¡°Shall I assume your silence to be affirmation? I¡­ am uncertain how to proceed with making arrangements, do we hold a vote to see who agrees with pushing forward with this idea? Or, does it fall to the highest authority within the room?¡±

    Surprisingly, Lycoris glanced toward Lesath, acknowledging her position with a nod. Patton had assumed Lycoris would have defaulted to thinking of herself as the highest authority. Technically, being Her Majesty¡¯s daughter, she was.

    Lesath seemed equally caught off guard, but snorted derisively as she waved the matter aside.

    ¡°Very well, let us call a vote, as Her Highness seems keen on making this a show of Court, rather than military doctrine.¡±

    ¡°No, I was genuinely asking¡­¡± the girl mumbled beneath the din of votes being cast.

    Of course, the result was near-unanimous consent, with only the die-hard skeptics like Lucretia abstaining from voting. Ironic, given she was closer to courtier than commander.

    Whether it was solely because she belonged to the Idra and was making this into a matter of politics, or because she genuinely couldn¡¯t trust the forty-six year old girl, Patton wasn¡¯t sure.

    But after guiding the Princess around for just a single day, seeing her mannerisms, seemingly honest naivete, and noble core, he felt certain that she had told nothing but the truth. Even if she had been putting on an act, some level of four-dimensional chess, she was putting her faith in the military, almost like an ironclad soldier would.

    ¡°Then,¡± Lesath sighed, though she likely knew this would be the outcome, ¡°we shall begin making arrangements. Olaeus, contact the factories in Condore and see what we can scrounge up. Velose, I want you to forward this to the scouts we have in the field. Wyvles, contact the squads en route, see if they can bring any extra materiel with them that we can make use of for this¡­ ¡®plan.¡¯¡±

    All three saluted, and after giving Her Highness a final nod, Patton grabbed his phone and paperwork, and bowed out of the conference room.

    £ª¡¡£ª¡¡£ª

    Lycoris stretched her arms out, careful to keep the papers from slipping out of the file she had been given. It was a nice surprise to find out that the Executioner didn¡¯t use technology for everything, and opted for paper documentation like this. It was far more familiar territory for Lycoris, and while the technical specifications on some of it went over her head, she was quite at home reading over military paperwork and deployment records.

    She could also commiserate with the woman¡¯s intense distaste for how lackadaisical the commanders assigned to her were. Lesath may have seemed standoffish because of her foul mood, but Lycoris felt a kindred spirit in the no-frills woman.

    ¡­Even though Lycoris was presently covered in frills herself.

    Ideally, with a proper course of action in play, Lesath¡¯s mood would improve, and the morale of those under her as well. Happy soldiers made for functional soldiers, after all¡­ though Lycoris wasn¡¯t quite sure how she felt about the idea of improving morale for Vampires. It was probably fine, they were¡ªsort of¡ªher vampires now, after all. In a roundabout way.

    Plus, they were just taking back what was rightfully theirs, and not even from Humans.

    Ugh, why did I even bring that up as an example¡­ I guess it¡¯s not odd that I would know what a human is but¡­

    What was done was done, no sense worrying over such a thing now.

    What she should have been worrying over is whether or not she got the ratios right for the amount of ore to use, or whether the generals would question why she would know such specific details to begin with. It was odd that Lesath never brought it up, or even suggest that she might be wrong. She simply trusted that Lycoris knew what she was talking about. Perhaps that¡¯s how she got along with her mother, and was just passing the respect down.

    ¡­Wouldn¡¯t it be nice if that really were the case.

    Lycoris had a feeling it wouldn¡¯t be so simple. Even if she proved herself knowledgeable in military matters and earned some amount of respect, a single day and crisis wouldn¡¯t be enough to win over someone, even if they were doggedly loyal to Lilianna.

    ¡°Is something the matter, Your Highness? You¡¯re looking a little troubled. Did¡­ your meeting not go well?¡±

    Athena stood near the entrance, looking as though she were trying to impersonate the potted plant sitting on the opposite side of the double-doors from herself. It seemed she still felt guilty over almost causing Lycoris to miss the meeting entirely¡­ though she hadn¡¯t known they were cutting it that close.

    There was no sense in lambasting her over it, especially when Lycoris had already briefly given her an earful before rushing off.

    ¡°No, it went fine. Better than expected, actually. It seems we might be able to start getting people out of Kranes as early as the day after tomorrow, if everything goes as anticipated.¡±

    ¡°Really? That¡¯s wonderful news!¡±

    ¡°Where¡¯s Sera?¡±

    Taking the lead, Lycoris walked out of the door and toward the parked car waiting just outside the building. She looked around the car, but didn¡¯t see Seraphine nearby, or inside the door that swung open as she approached.

    ¡°She¡¯s filling in for Patton, apparently, and handling the city guard¡¯s shift. The woman is remarkably talented! If I¡¯m not careful, she might even replace my job!¡±

    ¡°I highly doubt that. Is she going to be gone for the rest of the evening?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯ll be rejoining us for dinner, which means we¡¯ll have enough time to return and take care of your needs first. Unless of course you¡¯d like to¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yes! No, I mean, I¡¯m fine. That works out well enough. I admit, I¡¯m pretty hungry after running around all day. Plus, I skipped lunch, technically¡­ Hopefully Mama won¡¯t be too upset with me.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll be understanding, Your Highness.¡±

    The two of them took their seats in the back of the car, and sped off toward the hotel, as Athena put her hand timidly on Lycoris¡¯s head. Like she was nervous to show the Princess affection, but wanted to show she cared anyways.

    Feeling worn out, Lycoris wordlessly leaned against her, looking forward to getting back and unwinding. Dealing with so many high-ranking generals and nobles had taken quite a lot out of her, even though she technically outranked them all now.

    At least, if the Empire was anything like Dauwen.

    Not that she never had to speak out as second in command before, but aside from maybe Patton, every single Vampire in that room outranked her previous military position. Overcoming such an emotional hurdle was borderline overwhelming.

    Hopefully, she hadn¡¯t left them all with too terrible of an impression¡­