_______CHAPTER ELEVEN_______
HATHOR
Melancholia, the cruelest season of RHEA's bizarre ecosystem. A season that threatens people's lives if you dare oppose its yearly descent to gloom, and it's been two months since it started to cry, Lireo was the most affected tribe every winter while Helium was the least affected, it will approximately take one more month before RHEA's balancing tribe becomes engulfed by the freezing cold too, following customs no-one left the comforts of their homes valuing their lives. The calendar consists of 24 months, six months each for every season. Food supply must be heavily reinforced to that of three years as resources scarce in this type of weather, the items Hibiki and Odette bought were used by the pale-haired Queen after melancholia's first descent they served as a meter for each tribe on how much cold damage it is inflicting.
She checks each item daily to make sure that everything is going smoothly, therefore if one tribe suffers from the cold song they will be able to help them before they all freeze to death. Jellal has been silently watching the snowstorm rage from the windows of his chamber when a knock interrupted his train of thought "It's Ignatius!" the redhead amazon announced from the other side, waiting for the blue-hair kinou to answer before entering "Come in." he replied simply not moving away from his current spot, the door opened enough for her to enter closing it once inside "I've heard from Panacae that Milady will wake up soon" she sat down the on the chair looking at Milady's sleeping form, she tends to sleep more often than usual ever since melancholia came.
Milady's husband remained silent despite the redhead's efforts in trying to talk to him, getting wind that he won't utter any words Ignatius shrugged her shoulders and decided to just tell Milady about her life over the past month despite the fact that she's sleeping. Ever since Jellal woke up this morning he's been getting this unprecedented feeling of doubt like this occurrence has already preceded on somehow...but he wasn't sure of it and the sensation is starting to aggravate him to the point that it reminded him how it kind of mirroring Milady's actions whenever something irks her. Even Panacea earlier this morning noticed his mood when she was checking Milady's vitals. Momentarily the little ravenette monster came in yelling barging the double doors wide open "Is Milady awake yet?!" his excitement was off the charts, the sound of his voice was enough to make the redhead alcoholic irritated without even turning her head to look at him "And here I thought I'd finally be rid of you." a tick mark was evident on her forehead.
"HA! jokes on you loser--bleh!" Ethan yanked Ignatius's long curly locks and she screamed in pain "I'M GONNA STRANGLE YOU TO DEATH!" she declared while Ethan ran off "Catch me if you can stupid drunkyard~" the ravenette's giggling echoed around the hall as he ran away from the redhead's rage. Once the two of them were out, Jellal promptly closed the doors of his chambers to prevent the cold wind from getting into his chambers, glaring at how cold the knobs are when he touched them. When they were still training under King Loki's mentorship, the luxian anuva always regarded Milady as his weakest student no matter how much she tried to comply in all their training and it made him weary if she would even stand a chance against Raios for Helium's crown. The former King of Aulora was also well aware of Jellal and Sting's doubts about Ultear's sudden existence and pretended to be his usual self when around them to avoid any requisite suspicion.
*THUMP*
There was only one person in this era, whose heart beats one max per day and that was Milady. Jellal has started to hear it again after a year-long wait, hence he stopped feeling nor hearing it when Milady was stricken with the Meshuga spell, I also stopped interacting with anyone and levitating around Milady since the cold song's descent this year--for good measure. Up to this day, only Jellal and I have the knowledge of why Milady's heart only beats once a day...a solemn promise that must be taken to the grave, my previous wielders also had an irregular beat to their life span but it wasn't like Milady's no-one was like her and it was odd beyond eternal repose. Another knock came from the other side of the door, while Jellal was still standing in front of it, grimacing at the door separating them, notably knowing who is standing there "What do you think you're doing here?" the bluette kinou growled, "I am not allowed to visit too?" the blonde asked.
"Repeat those words again and you have the answer."
"I thought we're past that?"
"Are we?"
"Considering what you've put me through, yes."
"And they say you're smart."
"Get out of the way Yugen."
"Why would I? you might rape her again."
"You dare order me around?"
"Someone has to, Sunrays."
They argued back and forth, some servants whispered to themselves as they passed by the hall at the misconception that Sting was going crazy from talking to a door. Even the blonde had to admit that he was indeed looking ridiculous from what Jellal was doing and that was refusing to open the doors for him, flustered from embarrassment the blonde kinou forced the door open his unexpected reaction startled the owner standing behind it who vastly pushed the door--they looked like two children arguing over a piece of candy "Quit working out asshole!" Sting brusquely forced the door to tip open a little bit "Scrawny people remarks!" Jellal snapped back an insult. I know what you are thinking 'Why doesn't he just use the other door?' well? he can't Jellal locked it.
"Open the damn door, Yugen!"
"Make me jackass!"
Ooooh, Sting did dare, he managed to slip his hand over flashing a bright light enough to stagger Jellal off the door the two of them have been pushing back and forth for a good minute now, kicking the door open the blonde saw his frenemy rubbing his eye with his hand and using his right to reach the pulse pistol strapped to his thigh "You'll pay for doing that." taking hold of both firearms he used Sting's own pulse as ammunition. Irina was peacefully making her way back to her master's chambers down the third floor's hallways carrying a tray of tea and pastries then suddenly when out of nowhere, a flying flash of light came in running in grazing a good amount of her already short hair, she froze in place for a bit allowing the occurrence to sink in, staring at her accidentally chopped off hair on the floor below.
Turning at the window afraid of how much did it took off, the sight made her complexion turn pale on how wonky it looked, a frown etched on her lips but before she could truly think more about what to do with it a series of lights came in raging down her direction, making the tray she was holding be thrown out in fear of saving her own skin. The antagonized cries for help of Queen Minea's handmaiden echoed down the halls jolting Nox awake beyond repose from his room, at first he decided to ignore the constant chatter outside by placing a pillow above his head but it got louder and louder each second that passed by, out of annoyance of this disturbance he got up from the comforts of his bed slamming the doors open to find out who on RHEA is yelling at this hour--he was bombarded by the palace servants running around in a panic to fix the inflicted damages not wanting the cold to get in or else they'll all freeze to death.
"What happened?" the white-haired kinou asked one of the servants to fill him in the whole fiasco that is going on "Thank RHEA! you're awake Your Highness!" the servant in question cried tears of joy "What is going on!?" Nox cranked his neck on the side confusedly looking at the other servants "The Crown prince and Lord Muriel we're fighting over something--please Your Highness stop them!" melancholia's cold song came in hard breaking one of the windows batter from being repaired vastly "Prioritize keeping everyone warm first, then tend to the windows QUICKLY!" he commanded the servant who promptly nodded following the given order, the winter breeze was already greatly forming huge chunks of ice in the broken aperture. Nox closed the doors of his bedroom, in hopes that it will be enough to hold out the freezing chill as he hurriedly rummaged through his closet in search of a coat that is thick enough to withstand the song that came in.
Initially, RHEA did not have winter as a season when its founders cultivated it, so what brought it upon here to this day? well, the answer to that question is...due to a blemished soul of a mere child whose's emotions could shake up an entire planet simply by crying. Due to her inborn disease, she became the most favored child out of the three older siblings their mother had, the two girls did not take it to heart but the third child became maddened with emotional discontentment overnight when all that was supposed to be hers was given away on a whim by their mother to their youngest sibling. The third child longed for something better than the present situation, asking herself what did she deserve to earn such cold treatment from their mother? hasn't she worked hard enough? was she becoming weak? did she not represent the role of an obedient child properly? these questions of self-doubt echoed throughout her entire scape every time she sees their youngest sister.
(A/N: Ignore the last name written in the photo, cause I drew this before I changed their family's last name to Edurne)
Until it dawned on her, the realization she needed no--she craved desperately for something that will only benefit her and her only. One day the third daughter proposed an idea to their Empress mother, who at the time was being plagued none stop by her people's complaints regarding her youngest daughter's inborn disease ruining their daily lives--hence it is the middle of spring but the weather keeps on heavily shifting to the point that it ruined their crops and business'. She suggestively proposed that their youngest sister be put on probation after all the seasons have passed and to make sure that she doesn't erupt any emotional outbursts they should put a seal on her being for the betterment of everyone living in RHEA, of course, the idea was found to be absurd by those present in said meeting hence it was well known by the public, that the third daughter has a deep hatred towards her younger sister. So the idea was thrown into consideration and the people's anger only added more fire to the flame.
Seeing that the substitutes they've been providing the people weren't satisfying them, hence they have begun to protest with the following words "We never should have followed you here if this is what we get in return!" left with no other choice the Empress threaded on thin ice with her third daughter's proposal of imprisoning her favorite child at the last six months of the year. The plan went to fruition--the youngest daughter was given a seal (courtesy of Medea Kyle) on her being, the seal will only lose its effects once she enters her personal prison and the construction of this yearly prison was commenced bringing great amounts of joy to RHEA's citizens, they also started preparing years worth of supplies knowing quite well by now how destructive the youngest child is once she starts her emotional discourse. Once the underground prison was completed--its walls were said to be able impenetrable both inside and out.
The outside may look hollow and grim, but the comforts it provided inside was telling a different story--it bloomed a bright picturesque aura of peace, various kinds of flora grew like a Jaromir had been taking care of it, the water was clearer than positivity, the sun shone bright but it did not leave a feeling of heat to the skin, the clouds passed by beautifully, and food thrived beyond repose. It was a paradise for a prisoner...a false paradise for the blemished soul. As the doors closed gradually RHEA's Empress eyes were fixated on her absentminded daughter, a worried frown etched on her lips, her two sisters did not fail to notice this placing a hand on her shoulders reassuring that all will be well. The sound of the doors closing echoed in the entire planet, a moment of silence was held from the people outside awaiting the prison cells' response.
A vast chilling sensation of song rushed past them in an instant, as the seals' effects on the child's arm immediately stopped working and her bottled up emotions did what they do best--create a tribulation. They anticipated that it would be a quake, flood, wildfire, or maybe even a drought but instead, it brought upon unbearable winter that could kill you in an instant if you dare oppose its tantrums to gloom, and that's how melancholia was born. Lireo's entire tribe was built above that said prison, you can find the entrance of it under the royal palace that no one dared to even try to set foot in therefore it was rumored to contain terrific atrocities, stories have circulated that Queen Minea had turned the false paradise of prison into a graveyard for her eldest sister and family members.
Queen Minea caught wind of the fiasco her son and Sting had created and she was not happy about it hence she cannot command nor control the weather surrounding Lireo while melancholia is still at its peak of wrecking catastrophe "You two are grown-ass adults." the pale-haired monarch grumbled, impatiently drumming her fingers on the armrest of her throne, while Jellal and Sting kneeled with their heads low in front of her not speaking a word as she vents out her stress on them "And yet you still argue like a bunch of annoying children." she barely had any rest over the past month and its showing on her under eyes--the heavy eye bags and eyes threatening to close in restlessness. "What did you two fight about this time?" the pale-haired queen asked to get this over with "Despite being denied entry, I still forced my way into his chambers to see Mi--Ultear." Sting was the first one to speak out the truth and the way he addressed Milady by her second name in front of everyone pissed off Jellal "At ease, both of you. Is it true Jellal?"
"Yes Mother, it is." the crown prince of Lireo answered "Why?" Queen Minea asked sharply, the stress getting to her system "Why? Why!? because the last time he had this so-called visit to Ultear--he raped her!" the bluette was outraged by his mother's question "He's just visiting Jellal, I see nothing wrong with that and besides Sting wouldn't dare do such acts again--" the bluette cannot believe what he was hearing right now, upon how could his own mother side with the kinou that raped his wife because he's so wrapped up in the idea that Milady still loves him in a little way "Nothing wrong? do you hear yourself, mother?" Jellal scoffed looking back and forth Sting and his mother "It makes sense that you wouldn't understand anyway--since you liked being raped didn't you?" Jellal crossed the line this time as old memories of Queen Minea's long-deceased husband's abuse ran through her scape like wildfire.
"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT!" Queen Minea menacingly stood up from her throne enraged, her actions made Sting took one step back "Do you think I had a choice? Have you ever thought about that?" she flounced in her sons' direction "Mom I'm so--!" the bluette apologized but she cut his words short mid-sentence "Sorry? SORRY? HOW DARE YOU SAY SORRY AFTER ALL YOU'VE DONE TO ME!" the aura surrounding Lireo's monarch changed, she no longer viewed the kinou standing in front of her as her son--she saw the image of her asshole husband as her pent up stress clouded her judgment. "Restrain Her Royal Majesty!" one of the guards yelled as Queen Minea began to summon the cold song in "Call Sky this instant!" Irina yelled a command at one of the guards as their monarch lost control of herself.
~
The eldest daughter of Lireo's reigning monarch was one tough cookie, so the council wasn't able to bully her into doing what they wanted, but Minea? she was more similar to her mother, making her the perfect target for their personal entertainment. "You will cut your relationship with the Ambrose kinou and be in understanding with Yugen's second son." Belladonna Nimue's angry voice made Minea shiver in fear of her life, the Queen is not present yet therefore it gave them the advantage to bully the little girl into doing what they wanted and not what she wanted "You cannot decide whom she will be in understanding with." Minea's elder sister defended her, talents beginning to arise on her forearm "That choice is for hers to decide and not on you fools."
The pale-haired girl tightly clung to her sister saying "Mi, Mira, please." she begged her sister to hold back from doing any rational actions towards the officials of RHEA, Miracle tightly balled her hands into a fist ready to punch Belladonna Nimue in the face when suddenly the arrival of their mother was announced "Her Majesty, Queen Yuen Edurne!" the guards promulgated opening the double doors for their blemished monarch to walk in, making the Council put on their facade of plasticity.
The Queen's hair was similar to that of clear flowing water, her turquoise-colored eyes that could shake an entire planet calmly bore straight to her throne and the seal that decorated her right arm was proudly evident as her snow draping coat sprawled out behind her in every step she took. The only queen of RHEA whose fear is bravery itself. Once seated with comfort her handmaiden nodded to one of the guards who promptly hitted the marble floor with his spear, its sound echoing throughout the entire throne room, "At ease." her voice deep with calmness, Queen Yuen might look the part of a strictly composed monarch but deep down inside she's shaking in nervousness. "May RHEA be always in your favor." Grand Ma Doma sweetened her words as the entire Council followed suit of bowing down to Lireo's reigning monarch paying their fake respect to her.
"State your business here today Council officials." Queen Yuen opened the table for discussion, "We came here today to discuss matters regarding your youngest daughter's involvement or should I say a romantic relationship with the Ambrose Family's fourth son." Onyx Clearwater motioned to Minea who sat beside her eldest sister Miracle, no one knew that the pale-haired girl was having a relationship with Ambrose's fourth child hence they both feared something like this would happen and it did "Minea is it true?" Queen Yuen calmly asked her daughter, who just silently nodded her head a bright blush of color decorated her cheeks at the thought "This matter concerns us, Your Majesty don't you remember how it caused a massive scandal when the Ambrose family betrayed the throne of Lireo by refusing to be its leading duchy and instead migrated into Aulora becoming the red desserts leading duchy instead."
"I do not see how this will affect nor threaten Lireo's crown, hence Miracle is the crown princess of our tribe and not Minea, she is free to be able to choose whoever her heart desires to love." Queen Yuen pointed out but the Council was able to turn the tables out of the pale-haired girl's favor by bombarding the monarch of Lireo with jabs of alleged mishaps it might cost "But Your Majesty, just think of the public shame, this will truly cause a stir in the general public's eye." Violet Coast was the first one to reason and once she was done another one came from her fellow council member not giving Queen Yuen a chance to even finish her words.
"But-"
"What will your Empress mother think Queen Yuen? If she knew this kind of shame would taint the family name's reputation?" (Onyx Clearwater)
"I-"
"It would result in fits of gossip from the citizens on how could the second princess of Lireo be with someone who's a traitor to the tribe?" (Magenta Vastia)
"I'm-"
"It is a treason Your Majesty, we must do something to correct this mistake your own daughter has made." (Clete Eon)
"No-"
"Please Your Majesty a compromise must be done for this mistake, in order to keep the tribe's prestige in RHEA." (Imperial Topaz)
"My daughter-"
"Princess Minea must form an understanding with Yugen's second son, it would be better that way, Your Majesty." (Belladonna Nimue)
"Understanding?-"
"Belladonna is right, Your Majesty, Fernandez's second is a much better kinou than that Ambrose boy she's been blindly fond of." Peridot Neith agreed with Belladonna's words whereupon, Miracle was irked by how could they falsely say that Yugen's second son was a better candidate to be Minea's lover than Ambrose's fourth son because he's not--that bluette kinou was known by everyone to use and play with girls on a whim of his every carnal desire, well everyone but Queen Yuen hence she may be the reigning monarch of Lireo she is not allowed to leave the palace unless it was approved by all of RHEA's officials, the blemished queen is a prisoner of the own tribe she wholeheartedly governs it is like living under a rock, but fancier.
Having enough of their trashy attitude and plans in ruining the life of her little sister Miracle stood up from her seat yelling a disagreement towards this bullshit they wanted to pull right here and now "Do not listen to them, Mama!" the pale-haired crown princess caught all of their attention "Yugen's second son is not who they say he is, all he's similar to is nothing but a vicious rabid pack animal that likes to play with a girl's feelings once they've provided they're use to him." Minea silently agreed with what her eldest sister had to say hence it was true that kinou cannot keep it in his pants no matter how many efforts his family member had don to stop him from committing such a terrible sin.
The Council, or rather all of RHEA's officials are aware of how close Queen Yuen was to the late Empress and by using her name against the blemished monarch it was making her think twice whether or not she will stand up for her own child or do what her mother would've done if she was in this kind of situation, on top of that Queen Yuen was also unable to master a secondary talent due to her inborn disease thus making her the weakest one in comparison to the other Queens of RHEA when it comes to talent and physical capabilities but fear not in relation to intelligence the blemished monarch can outclass them all on occasions that her fearful mannerism goes away for a short period of time. The blemished soul amazon would always lean on others for support whenever she had her episodes.
The biggest person who will benefit from the situation is none other than Belladonna Nimue, hence if the crown princess of Aulora forms matrimony with the Ambrose kinou it will eternally be a life of luxury beyond repose for the selfish Council member. "So what is your decision, Your Majesty?" Grand Ma Doma pressured the blemished Queen to answer right away, but instead of answering she turned her attention to her youngest child "Minea do you love Ambrose's fourth son?" Queen Yuen asked the pale-haired girl who was surprised that her personal say was being put into validation "Of course she doesn't-!" Belladonna tried to intervene as she did not like how this was turning out but Miracle cut her words short by shooting her a deathly glare immediately making the Councilwoman shut her trap as Queen Yuen awaited her daughter's response "Yes, Mama." that was all the answer Queen Yuen needed to hear and to not agree with what the council suggests. Once the meeting was dismissed, Belladonna had her eyes lingering on the pale-haired girl annoyed by the results.
A week has long but passed after that meeting and Minea was happily skimming down the palace hallways alone, the cause of her joy was now she and the Ambrose kinou no longer had to hide their dalliance when suddenly someone grabbed her by the arm pulling her away from any possible eyes that might see her. "Hello princess." Belladonna tightly held the little girl's arm to prevent her from escaping "Let go of me!" the pale-haired girl tried to break away from the older woman's grasp "Uh-uh." the council official began and waved her pointer finger in front of Minea's face "You will break up with the Ambrose kinou or else I'll murder your pathetic mother and blame it on your elder sister." that made Minea stop squirming upon hearing such words come out of her mouth.
"N-no, you can't-" Minea's eyes started to water, from the thought of her elder sister being framed up for a crime that she didn't commit "Then you'll do as I say." Belladonna imposed a menacing aura to scare the little girl "No! I won't! Let go you're hurting me!" Minea used her talents on the older woman to make her let go but it only tightened to the point that it started to burn on her porcelain skin "Please let go of my arm." she started to cry desperately and it made Belladonna smile like a maniac "Do as I say, stupid girl-you already know the consequences if you don't." the little girl only managed to nod her head in response as the pain on her arm kept on building up the longer Belladonna is talking to her "Good then." the councilwoman loosened her grip on Minea's arm but held her face with one hand squishing her cheeks giving one last warning "Don't tell anyone about this got it?" Minea nodded "Remember what I told you...or else you'll see a dead body."
The following day Minea did exactly as to what Belladonna wanted, she cut ties with Ambrose's fourth son the moment they were both alone on a task given out by King Loki during their class...she sacrificed her own happiness for the sake of her family's safety.
~
"Uugghh." Queen Minea woke up from the comforts of the medical infirmary's bed, placing a hand over her head as her vision slowly settled back to normal "Good you're awake." Panacea spoke up from her desk writing down some of the supplies she needs to restock on her notes "What happened?" the pale-haired monarch asked sitting up from the bed "You started lashing out on Jellal, they called in Sky to try and stop you from letting in the cold-and when she did Jellal lowered all the pulse in your body leaving you to faint." Panacea narrated and once done she finally looked up from her notes "When I checked you Queen Minea, I felt that you saw your husband's image in Jellal." the pale-haired monarch massaged her temples hence she cannot remember a single thing from earlier this morning, seeing that Queen Minea was not going to response Panacea stood up from her swivel chair and walked towards Queen Minea's side.
"Minea," the old pinkenette began, reaching for the pale-haired monarch's hand stopping her from massaging her temples any further "Have a work-life balance okay?" a heavy sigh was all Panacea got from the pale-haired monarch of Lireo "Minea." the old pinkenette's tone became austere "I will." the pale-haired Queen replied weakly and it made the old woman smile a bit upon hearing her say that she will consider it. Panacea looked after Queen Minea and her eldest sister like they were her own after her youngest sister Yuen passed away. Obviously, the pale-haired monarch wasn't about to listen to Panacea when melancholia is raging just right around the corner but agreed to her simply but words only not by action "I'll be right back stay put." Panacea began as she smoothened the fabrics of her garb and began making her way to the double doors looking at Queen Minea last-minute giving her a stern to look to not dare move an inch out of her most needed rest, the sound of the doors closing was a clear indicator of that.
"Wow...could you two fight again?" Milady's little ravenette monster stared back and forth at Jellal and Sting his eyes gleaming with delight hence he was their only spectator earlier during their little 'argument' of sorts, whilst everyone is busy panicking trying to think of a way upon blocking out winter's cold deadly song. Ignatius promptly whacked Ethan in the head for daydreaming about such things to happen again "OW!--what on RHEA is your problem rotten liver!?" the raven-haired kinou yapped, rubbing the part where Ignatius hit "The problem is that you're stupid." she began and pointed at him "Didn't you already see how stressed Queen Minea has been ever since melancholia has started?" the redhead explained but Ethan just titled his head to the side confused. "Stressed? isn't being Queen easy? cause what Raios does all day is sit in his high and mighty throne--isn't that what Queen Minea does too?"
"How did you even know that?...didn't Milady had you live inside a phantasmagoria?" Sting asked the water-obsessed teen "Yeah, she did and people talk I'd be foolish not to listen to that." he shrugged his shoulders "Yeah, that's right you are foolish Ethan--GET THE FUCK OFF ME CRETIN!" Jellal turned back his attention to the pulse he's holding, whereas Sting held an ice pack on his temple that had a huge evident bruise, watching the two youngsters get on each other's nerves, hence he tried to restrain Queen Minea in her sudden outburst and his bluette frenemy has been remaining silent ever since that little incident happened "You doing okay?" the blonde asked without calling Lireo's heir by his hated second name--it was the first. Jellal remained engrossed on the pulse floating in his palms ignoring Sting's question mere seconds later he answered when Sting was about to insult him.
"You should ask yourself that." the heir of Lireo clenched his hand absorbing the pulse into his system, the action caused his veins to glow for a brief moment "You do realize that is the life span of your own mother." Sting looked sort of looked disgusted by what Jellal just did "Relax sunrays, I'll return it back to her it's not like I used it as ammunition." the bluette smirked at him hence he used Sting's own life span against him earlier making him lose "I don't understand what Milady sees in you." the blonde muttered to himself, but Jellal heard every word. "I taught her," Jellal spoke up "Excuse me?" Sting furrowed his brows at the tall bluette kinou "I taught her what love is." recalling the memory in his scape had Lireo's heir eager to Milady's recovery "Are you saying she doesn't know the concept of love when she arrived at Lireo to join our team?" the blonde kinou asked looking at Jellal.
"No, given that Raios is her father all Ultear knew during the time was rage. She was feed with grudgeful lies to take revenge for her father's own benefit." Jellal narrated "I never knew that." the blonde-haired kinou stared at the shiny marble floor "Because Ultear didn't love you-she never did sunrays." Sting was honestly fed up with everyone telling him that Milady didn't love him one bit, but this time he'll take it as the bruise on his temple is going to be a bother if he starts another heated argument with Jellal "I'll agree to what you said just this once." placing back his attention on the two lively youngsters "I never wanted to say this but...she's gonna want to talk to you once she wakes up." Jellal leaned his back on the fluffy warm sofa.
"I know." there was a hint of nervousness in the way he acknowledged Jellal's words and the beating of his pulse was an attestation of that "I can already tell her expression." the blue-haired kinou crossed his legs getting cozy on how warm the furniture is. Sting tensed up on his seat "Milady won't fire me." he truly believed in himself and it's kind of pitiful "I can't speak for her, but if I was in charge you'd no longer be sitting there right now." Sting clicked his tongue in annoyance "It's a good thing you're not--the joke's on you, Yugen." they were starting to get along in a way(?) and the blonde just had to pull out Jellal's despised second name.
"Excuse me? I helped you when you returned from the grave--so that gives me an ounce of right to kick you out." the blue-haired kinou stated in a matter-of-fact tone "I didn't ask for your help jackass." Sting dropped his hand to the side to bark back "Well I wasn't going to but Hibiki and Ultear practically dumped your wounded self on my front lawn-" glared at the blonde sitting next to him "Whoa okay, first of all, sorry I should have just died, secondly I never thought you cared about me and lastly it's fucking disgusting!" sarcasm is thick "I never cared about you asshole! you just got lucky that my mother isn't like Raios." Sting was about to yell back but the bruise on his temple started to hurt like a bitch so he back down irritated, like a child who's in the process of calming down from a tantrum.
A synced knock came in ringing from the door "It's Panacea!" the old Amazonian physician made her identity known, her arrival vastly put a halt on Ethan and Ignatius's theatrics "Door's open!" Jellal yelled allowing her entry " Your mother is awake." she opened the door just enough for half of her body hence she won't staying long after all. Jellal got up from the couch following Panacea to the medical infirmary to see his mother, once the door closed behind him Ethan plopped himself on the fluffy sofa enjoying every second of it whereas the redhead has to excuse herself as she got a call from Nox.
"Soooo it's just you and me, Sting! wanna play a game?" Ethan bothered the blonde who's peacefully trying to tend on the bruise on his temple "No Ethan please leave me alone." Sting shooed the little ravenette away thinking to himself how on RHEA does he still have so much energy in him "Why are soooooo booorrriiiing Stiiinnnngggg---arghhhh!" the raven-haired teen groaned "Ethan! Shut the fuck up!" grabbing the nearby pillow he throwing it at Ethan's face immediately regretting it right that second hence the raven-haired teen emancipated a pillow fight, one pillow even made it at Ignatius' direction knocking the galva out of her hands cutting her conversation short with Nox, irritated she aggressively grabbed a pillow and whacked Sting with it.
Hibiki heard the commotion from the outside as he was about to enter the room--upon entry, a pillow came flying in his direction "I CALL DIBS ON HIBIKI!" Ethan yelled claiming the orangette (who didn't even have a say in the matter) as his partner "No fair Hibiki's talent can practically yeet things without touching them! and the same goes for you water boy!" Ignatius protested vastly grabbing any pillow at sight "THIS MEANS WAR!!!!" Ethan yelled out a battle cry, attacking the alcoholic redhead. Hibiki laughed but it ceased when Sting started to throw pillows in his direction and due to the conversation being cut short Nox made his way up to the common room involuntarily joining in the fun as Hibiki did.
While all is well and good at Lireo the narrative in RHEA's head tribe was not going smoothly, Raios had finally caught his least favored child from escaping out of Zoldanga throwing her back inside her jail cell in line to be the next test subject for Raios' ambitions. Virgo was treated like a criminal overnight there despite being a princess--who is one of Raios' biological children. Virgo heard all the shrilling growls that Madeline yapped every day, she never even saw a glimpse of her mother Queen Evergreen once ever since she's been locked up in the grimy "How is that blonde woman even alive?" the pinkenette princess was woken up by the guards standing outside her cell gossiping, as she pretended to be still asleep "You consider that alive? she can barely stand up, I heard from one of the scientist's that the Emperor gives her human flesh for nourishment." the guard A
"What on RHEA...that's messed up, are you sure that's true?" guard B asked curiously "Obviously, I'm not joking with you dude, last night when I was on my night shift I and some other guards were tasked to watch Faust and the other scientist people throw out human organs into the trash." guard A recalled last night's events, it made Virgo flinch hence the feeling of dread lingered to her system when night time comes by--people are actually dying inside the laboratory and they feed it to Madeline "I need to see that." guard B spouted a terrible joke "Bruh...believe me you don't." guard A face's contorted disgusted the both of them stopped talking gossip and stood up straight beyond repose when Dobengal walked down the halls, checking to see if the hated daughter of his beloved boss is still alive and up for the changes that Faust will conduct on her.
The brunette's red eyes shifted between the two guards, raising a brow at their posture as if they're about to break a hip or something from standing too straight "Is she eating properly?" Dobengal asked the guard standing on the left his voice gruff "Y-yes si, sir!" guard B stuttered, as Virgo trash-talked the brunette in her scape upon how is giving her scraps of half-eaten food a proper meal "Good, make sure to give her proper hydration as well." they both nodded to the brunette kinou's orders who promptly left after looking at Virgo's sleeping form one last time on the cold hard floor. When noontime rolled around the pink-haired princess of Zoldanga got tired of sitting idly by the dark cold corner so she began to pace around the four corners thinking to herself that staying still like this wasn't going to do her any favors of possible escape--even going so far into risking her second attempted escape tonight regardless of what she heard from the two guards standing outside her cell.
She'll run out of the damned laboratory and won't running even if her feet before sore not until she reaches the borders of Lireo where she'll be safe from the clutches of her father's supreme rule. Virgo has never in her life wanted to see Milady so desperately and it makes her look like a fool since she swore to herself that she would never seek any kind of support nor help from her elder sister, and yet here she was needing Milady's help. For the past eight years, Virgo distanced herself from Helium where the kinou known as her and Milady's tyrant father resided over. She trained out of her talent's limits, studied half of RHEA's history, killed innocent people on a whim, and tried to conquer sleep. (the last one is the only part where she failed at) But did it made her happy by any chance? no, it did not, because she realized that no matter how hard she distanced herself from her father's expectations she still did ways to try in becoming his favorite too.
During that faithful sunny day, a vanguard from Helium came in knocking at Aureate palace saying that her presence was being summoned by the Emperor himself, Virgo thought that maybe Raios had finally seen her worth and decided to acknowledge her too but she couldn't have been more wrong her entire life--the only purpose he wanted her back was to conduct an experiment on her being and if she fails to pass such modifications then she'd be nothing but yet another trash to throw away in the garbage...completely forgotten. Any day now that could indeed happen, Virgo doesn't wanna end up incapacitated like Madeline she hasn't lived her best life yet, she has yet to experience what true joy is, all her life she's been locked up in the impossible dream of becoming something she wasn't.
She'll stow away her pride for now, if she wants a dignified peace she needs to break free. "Oi, Oi!" guard A woke up his workmate who was sleeping on the job "Argh! what?" guard B complained as he was woken up from his beauty rest "Keep an eye on the second princess, I'll be right back I need to piss." guard A strode away from Virgo's cell whilst the guard B dismissed his workmate's words and immediately went back to sleep, keys to her cell wasn't kept in the guards' care instead that kind of opportunity was given to Faust so that he can freely drag out any prisoners he'd like to modify. The sound of the creaking doors opening echoed a sign that the pinkenette princess had gotten used to hence it only meant that her daily nourishment was here, the servant saw first hand how Virgo's guard is sleeping on the job--it's not like she's going to tell anyone about it, citizens of Helium needed their daily Cyhea to survive.
Slipping the covered bowl of food on the small window bars, Virgo was skeptical about why the sudden change as the woman standing right outside her cell wasn't the same one that brought in her past nourishments, the pinkenette princess of Zoldanga was also unable to make out the woman's appearance as she hung her head low avoiding any sort of eye contact to be held between the two them. And what's more bizarre is why on RHEA does the bowl have a cover in it, Virgo usually receives stone-cold viaticums but this one was warm opening the lid she saw a recently cooked dish, using her talents on the sleeping guard to make sure he stays asleep for a while Virgo asked the servant "Who are you?" instead of a worded response the servant standing outside her cell smiled lifting her head--and used the talent called Skin Alter and it is the most commonly used variation of skin, her long magenta hair reached down her waist.
Users of this talent can shapeshift (limited to copying humans only), changing their form and appearance at will, maybe even transforming and reshaping themselves down to their genetic and cellular structure, they can also impersonate others with exquisite precision and enhance their own bodies for combat. Users with particularly flexible abilities can manipulate their form at will. Experienced users can even manipulate their DNA and completely change it on a molecular level whereas the limitation for young users of this talent is that they cannot shapeshift out their biological sex just yet, much more practice must be harnessed for it to be successful. Changing a certain part of your appearance is also applicable for example the color of your eyes, yes it might sound fun to switch up but doing so requires a lot of mana and if used incorrectly it can cause severe nausea. There are four variations of the talent Skin and those are Mystic eyes, Fauna, Amorphous, and Alter.
Skin fauna as the same suggest is only able to copy that of an animal, Skin amorphous deals with reshaping your entire being to that of an element, whereas the process of learning Mystic eyes is a painful one hence it offers improved eyesight (useful for those who wield firearms as a weapon), turns people into stone and etc you the works going into detail with each one, therefore, it will waste a lot of time to discuss. Going back to the narrative at hand the woman pretending to be a servant of Helium placed a finger on her lips for Virgo to remained quiet of her presence "How did you even get past my Father talents?" the woman did not answer Virgo's question as she searches through the pocket of her dress taking out a key, passing it to Virgo behind the cold jail bars separating them.
Looking down at the keys of her freedom "Why are you helping me?" another question, but this time the woman humored Virgo's uncertainly towards her kindness "Because you're my sister." after the words left her lips Dobengal and some minions came rushing in taking hold of the false servant's presence within the territory of their beloved vile boss, such loud commotion startled the sleeping guard out of his witts "SEIZE THAT WOMAN!!!" the brunette king's guard yelled an order but she simply smirked at their attempt, vanishing before they could even get a chance "FIND HER! SEARCH THE ENTIRE PALACE!!" they scrambled in their feet, Virgo immediately hid the key in her messy hair given to her by the woman claiming to her biological sister "What was she doing here!? ANSWER ME!" Dobengal drained the former sleeping guard half of his blood aggressively shackling Virgo's neck with a blood chain yanking her to answer.
"Why would I even tell you?" the pinkenette princess of Zoldanga refused to give out the answer Dobengal wanted out of her aggravated, he angrily commanded one of his underlings to take Virgo out of her grimy cell and have her modified this instant "But sir, His Royal Majesty--" hearing the protest he drained her next of all blood--the icky purple corpse fell down on the floor with a loud thud "Well!?" Dobengal's menacing glares made them burst down the jail doors forcibly taking hold of Virgo who squirmed and yelled to be left alone. Faust was flabbergasted on seeing Virgo being dragged into his laboratory without a heads up "Dobengal what is the meaning of this?" he removed his glasses asking the infuriated kinou "Queen Evergreen's other child managed to sneak in and talk to this failure." Faust turned his attention to Virgo who punched and kicked the people strapping her down to the surgical table.
"Does his Royal Majesty know?"
"No, I brought her here on a whim."
"Then I cannot modify her yet--!"
"Are you questioning my authority?"
"No! I just-"
"THEN DO AS I SAY FOOL!"
"Y-Yes ri, right away!"
Faust stuttered as he dashed away to fulfill Dobengals' angered demands "Prepare the hydraulic chamber!" the silver-haired scientist instructed his subordinate who promptly did as told. Panic rushed all over Virgo's system on how could she escape now "The chemicals are all filled and the tubes are connected, we are ready to begin sir!" one of Faust's assistants notified him "Good, put two shards of Diamond Fang on the first run." cracking his knuckles together warming up his talents--Humana Transfigure such talent grants the user to create a variety of perilous hormones that can alter the recipient's body in any way desired, being able to alter a person's limbs and torso into weapons or worse deformity. The changes infused within effectively allows the talent user to "remodel a human from the inside" on an abnormal genetic level these perilous hormones can also be used to freely alter the recipient's mental state.
Throwing his coat aside, tucking the sleeves of his shirt back, and putting on back his glasses Faust placed his thumbs on Virgo's neck and the rest of his fingers on her collar bone insinuating the work of his talents to begin altering the original structure of her body "Wha, What do you think you're doing...GET YOUR FUCKING HANDS OFF ME--AACKHHHHH" the pinkenette princess' own talent fought back against Faust's "Grab the tank, once her talent stops to fight back suck out all of her oxygen." Dobengal was carefully watching Faust's staff work amused upon seeing Virgo suffer when all he wanted was just a simple out of her. Queen Evergreen's other child was thought to have died long ago when Raios ripped out the fetus from her womb so he could finally marry her, but a few years later after Milady was born, the magenta haired girl was found out to be alive and is under the protection of her Father's elite family (the family of Queen Evergreen's first husband, the kinou Raios killed) the magenta haired girl, overnight became an up and coming runner up heir to Zoldanga.
Dobengal and the rest of Raios's minions had a hard time catching her--given that her talent allows her to copy anyone's face at will some members of the Evulka Veda and half of Giselle favors her 'candidacy' to be Zoldanga's crown princess while the other half vouches for Virgo. Raios refuses to co-exist with the mockery of his wife's past relationship so he had put up a large amount on her head resulting in everyone chasing after her wherever she might be such predicament left her mostly with no rest when she's not at the comforts of her elite family's care. Virgo's being stopped squirming on the table, seeing that his talents worked on her he had his staff removed the restraints strapped to her limbs, turning his back away from Virgo to check the chemicals, and once the staffs' skin made contact with Virgo's they passed out.
The sound of a body collapsing on the floor made Faust knit his brows together quickly whip his attention back at the amazon he just altered from the inside, Dobengal did not advert his gaze away from Virgo since the beginning and was confused about what just happened--since that wasn't supposed to happen "Back away from her!" Faust ordered as he picked up a scalpel poking Virgo's flesh with it "What did you do Faust?" the brunette kinou made his way towards the surgical table "What I usually do, Oi grab my things!" he answered the leader of the king's guard and at the same time yelling for his staff to bring his tools. Dobengal had placed his hand above Virgo's stomach testing if his hunch was correct on the matter, Faust who was still poking around Virgo's right arm took notice within his peripheral upon what Dobengal was trying to do.
"Hey, Hey, don't do that-!" the silver-haired scientist tried to stop Dobengal hence if he drains Virgo of all her blood he won't be able to modify her anymore, but his words were cut short by the brunette he's trying to stop "Relax, I'm just testing a hunch of mine." withdrawing his hand back to sides "What hunch?" the kinou scientist asked to be enlightened of his 'hunch "Her damned talent protected her from the inside, by creating a sensory link with anyone that dares touches her skin transferring the modifications unto them."
Looking at the person who's lying unconscious on the floor Faust tested Dobengal's words by having it yeeted into one of the chambers, once inside they had it closed shut filling it half with chemicals and water. Upon pressing the button to start the process--some of the modifications indeed transferred on. "Extraordinary," Faust stared at the result completely fascinated with it--he's always fascinated with everything he does anyway like he isn't doing this kind of thing for years "Grabe me a brand new prisoner to test more of this magnificence."
When Virgo woke up her whole entire body was missing clothing and a huge blanket was covering her, getting up from the surgical table she was met with darkness. There was no single staff insight but all the doors and windows were locked, placing a hand over her forehead realizing that none of her limbs were altered surprised her, underneath her skin, Virgo felt a barrier of sorts protecting her from the inside "Virgo." a soft-spoken feminine voice rang in the empty laboratory startled she whipped her eyes at every nook and cranny of the laboratory searching for the owner of the voice.
"Virgo." the voice repeated her name its eerieness crawling to her skin, the pink-haired princess froze sitting on the surgical table cautious that if she moved the somewhat voice might try to harm her "Use the key, your sister gave you." the voice instructed her "Who are you?" no answer was provided silence remained and Virgo tightly clutched the only thing cover her body "Use the damned key." the voice repeated slightly annoyed that Virgo isn't doing what she was told to do in order to get out, rummaging through her tangled locks Virgo pulled out the key given to her "Lay the cloth over the table open that cabinet on the left and wear the clothes you find there."
Once she removed the cloth a shiver of cold greeted her bare flesh making her act quickly due to it, opening the said cabinet that contained mostly lab gowns, gloves, scrubs, caps, and goggles "Now unlock the far east window and close it once you get out." following the directive voice of an unknown person is risky hence it might lead her into more danger than she's currently in but getting out the perilous laboratory is a must therefore if Virgo were to stay any longer she'd die a miserable death at the hands of her own father, speaking of Raios that ravenette old kinou is already well aware of what his least favored child has done unconsciously when Faust's tried to induce his talents on her system to modify her.
The small window opened with a soft click, Virgo had to squeeze her entire body out "Steal some shoes, you'll need them if you wanna run far...and also avoid getting caught by the guards patrolling around." ducking to the secluded corner when two patrollers passed by chatting about what midnight snack they should eat during their break, Virgo scanned her eyes within the area looking for an opening to get a move away from her current hiding spot "Dobengal is surveying the palace walls if he sees you can kiss freedom goodbye." the voice warned her, adverting her eye on the walls Dobengal was indeed making rounds his hands placed behind the lower of his back talking to a kinou discussing the new weapons that have been made.
"Can't you do something about him?" Virgo complained hence the earlier this day when she interacted with Dobengal the pinkenette princess ended up on a surgical table, like before the voice did not answer Virgo as its purpose was to only give her directions on what she must and mustn't do "Wait I think I heard something over there." Virgo pressed her body on the pillar as two amazon guards walked in her direction "Maybe it's just the wind?" the one holding a riffle wanted to ignore the thing her comrade noticed "If we don't check Dobengal will surely drain all of our blood." by the thought of it the amazon holding a riffle shivered and just went on with what her comrade wanted to check out "See anything?" the amazon holding krises looked left and right seeing no one "Nope, may its indeed the wind, let's go I'm starving."
"Told you so, how bout we..." they continued to chat and Virgo sighed in relief silently running out of her hiding place to a new one "Duck." the voice told her in advance as another guard passed by "Go to their sleeping quarters and steal someone's footwear from there, do not think about taking any of the guards down the body will be bound to be found when the sun rises and they will notice your escape." doing as told Virgo snuck in the soldier's sleeping quarters to steal a pair of footwear but the task wasn't all that eas hence a few were still awake "Have you heard about this new..." the pink-haired princess turned her attention to the footwear sitting down by the floor then back to the people chatting about random topics.
"My back is killing me from carrying those crates..." the amazon sleeping in one of the beds shifted over to the left side, placing a pillow over her head to void out the noise from her co-workers "Maybe we should take the conversation outside, so we don't bother the others." one of the chatty people suggested as their comrades agreed and left out the door giving Virgo the perfect opportunity to grab the footwear, tying the laces was a problem as she was on a rush to not be seen by anyone or someone "Come on." the pinkenette tied the first one done and was now on to the next "Wait guys I'll just grab my Cyhea, I'll right back." one of the chatty people came back to their quarters to get his stash of money, hearing the doorknob jiggle to be opened Virgo darted quickly--but silently out the back door before the kinou could even notice that she was there.
"That was close, now hide a guard is coming up on your six." the voice warned as the pinkenette promptly hid, catching her breath from being demanded to move so out of her regular pacing, moving corner by corner until she was only a meter away from jumping out the palace walls "When I tell you to run, run as fast as you can and never look back. Do you understand?" for once the voiced wanted her to respond answer but before she could even come up with an answer Dobengal saw with his own eyes the ill-favored daughter of his beloved Emperor as he was descending the stairs"Run." Virgo almost froze when her eyes met the brunette kinou's red orbs, she pushed aside the older kinou who was still in shock as she vastly ran up the stairs yeeting herself off the wall when she reached the top.
"THE PRINCESS HAS ESCAPED! I REPEAT THE PRINCESS HAS ESCAPED!" the amazon stationed at the wall pressed the alarm and announced to alert her fellow comrades-in-arms "Form a sensory link with that kinou meddle with his feelings and make him drive that viper pulse for you." deflating her hand to the side as she ran creating a sensory link between her and the targetted kinou, the core of her talent appearing on the back of her hand glowing neon pink "Drive now." every word Virgo spoke was like music to the kinou's sense of hearing--she meddled with his personal feeling altering them enough to seem like he'd fallen deeply in love with her do not fret mortal reading this hence the effects of Sensory Sentiment are reversible.
"Yes, Darling~" the way his sweetened voiced purr like a cat had Virgo cringe from the inside of her scape, the vehicle pulse with life as he jacked on the engine. Dobengal however had his talent climb out the palace walls like a monster who's hunting for a feeble prey--well in this cause the prey was the ill-favored second daughter of his served emperor, the citizens of Helium's capital city Leal, screamed in terror scarpering to their homes not wanting to be victimized by the brunette kinou's deathly talent "Turn left." Virgo repeated the words the voice told her as Dobengal knocked down a nearby infrastructure to nothing but debris "Jump, Jump!" Zoldanga's princess panicked as they neared a closing bridge upon orders of the kinou vastly chasing after them.
"Get out of the way!" Virgo screamed at the people literally had yeeted themselves out of the way, the vehicle speed was taking a bit of scratch on Virgo's skin whereas her driver was completely fine "Destination my love?~" the kinou asked Virgo as she struggled to cope with her skin taking rips here and there and Dobengal mere meters away from catching her like a fish "Lireo! the capita city Eirlys!" she had to yell her answer as the monster of trepidation behind them growled in anger "VERMILION!!!!!!!!!" the pulse provided was not enough, Virgo knew that what she was about to do was risky(her skin would rip to shreds), she slowly reached her right hand out on the kinou's wrist and her left on his chest...now the placement of her hand on his titties had him get the wrong idea on what Virgo was trying to do.
With the sensory link, Virgo was able to feel what was going through his system when she did that and it made her want to hit the kinou rapidly on the noggin for having such misconception towards her way of helping the situation they're in. Zoldanga's princess supplied the needed pulse for the vehicle and once her pulse was added onto the mix of rounds it zoomed out in a blink of an eye. It took them several days to finally get out of Helium and things were not going smooth for Virgo as the wounds on her limbs were stinging every time she moved, the kinou she kidnapped (in a way) helped her tend to her wounds and he'd cook their food. If it wasn't for the sensory link between them the kinou would have already left her there to fend all for herself. The cold winter song was getting to them and they're not even near Lireo yet.
They ditched the viper pulse later on when they were halfway out of Zoldanga, opting to ride a bullet train instead as melancholia is not helping, so a little context, half of Zoldanga is covered in snow while the other half remains sunny still. Pus was beginning to form out of her untread wounds as they cannot afford to buy any medication for it--first being that they had no Cyhea at hand and second being that if they dared to try step in the city proper Virgo would get sent back to Helium in their fear of Raios's making their unliveable lives even worse, they tried to find any stray guava trees but it seems luck was not on their side, as its extract will be able to dry out her wounds.
(A/N: I have tried this actually, basically you boil up the washed guava leaves, once done take it out of the boiler, let it cool down only for a bit and you smear the warm extract on the disinfected wound. It works every time I swear.)
And now it will only take them a day and a half to reach Lireo's capital city. Upon arrival at RHEA's third tribe, Kari (a city part of Lireo) was deserted of any citizens the thick layers of snow covering almost everything at this point, the thick coat they were wearing was useless as the cold got in without a hitch leaving Virgo to catch a fever. She pretended to be alright all the way as they walked in the deep snow without resting to stop because if they do they might get buried in the next snowstorm that is about to happen later on this afternoon.
"Your Majesty, we detected two human beings trekking the borders of Kari, and judging by their movements they seemed to be headed here at Eirlys." the forecaster reported to Lireo's reigning monarch as they monitored melancholia's daily activities "Show me the surveillance right now." the pale-haired Queen requested in which the forecaster promptly complied to tapping the holo screen where Virgo and the yet to be named kinou walked down the freezing cold "Is that?" the forecaster was dumbfounded on seeing Zoldanga's candidate for the throne is the amazon trenching the ice. "Dispatch a group to pick them up this instant, they'll freeze to death if they keep on walking through it like that." Queen Minea ordered, "Yes, Your Majesty."
The amazon behind the voice guiding Virgo to escape out of Helium was none other than her aunt, the very same person who took care of Virgo's other sister when she was pulled out of Queen Evergreen's womb Whina Ophelia the current duchess of the Ophelia family, a family that's part of the few that actually hate Raios to the bone. "Your youngest sister managed to escape safely but not unscathed." the magenta-haired older woman narrated to her niece as they enjoyed their morning tea together "That's good." Virgo's sister replied before taking a sip of her hot drink that was bale to warm her up during the cold songs playtime, "Do you plan to save your cousin too?" the duchess inquired in case it was on the agenda of her beloved niece, who held her teacup in her hands hence after the meeting held in Lireo was dismissed word got out fast regarding Madeline's relation to the royal family of Zoldanga "I wanted too..." she trailed off her fingers tightly held the teacup as her eyes stared down at the warm beverage, the duchess watched her silently awaiting her next words "But...becoming the enemy was her choice."
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