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A/N: WI-FI or Data Connection recommend playing the audio above
For the sake of the narrative """" will be used to indicate Mirror's dreams regarding a few memories of her youth.
_______CHAPTER TWENTY_______
HATHOR
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"I have a chance?" the little kinou asked his grandmother with a hopeful attitude to which case the older amazon nodded "When will I become a Bersilion?" he added and she gave him a smug chuckle "When you have proved your worth to my cause."
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""I held hands tightly with the kinou known as my father as we walked down a room full of tough-looking amazons staring down at us like we were mere dirt in their presence, there was a throne at the end of the room where a redheaded amazon sat, her legs propped up by the right armrest and she appeared to be lazily drinking liquor from her golden chalice ignoring our presence "Grandmother," my father got down on one knee to pay his respect to the amazon he addressed as his grandmother, I mirrored his actions to avoid any misunderstandings of my manners, she gave him a bored look upon his greeting "Is she the daughter of yours that possesses the most selfish talent?" she asked plainly, her deep blue eyes staring at my small figure beside father "Yes, grandma." Father replied without lifting his head up, something that I found odd as he never yields to anyone before but why was he yielding to this dull-looking amazon? questions filled my scape.""
Milady shot up awake in the middle of the night from her dream, looking over her shoulder Zero stirred in his sleep from Milady's sudden movements upon the mattress. She turned her head to the side staring at the heavily curtained windows, pushing herself over the edge of the bed getting up carefully as to not bother Zero who she gave a light peck on his temple, before looking down the floor was emitting a thick mist from the cold song when she wore her fluffy slippers on. Salt's bed was placed near the still burning furnace so she can doze off peacefully without the cold bothering her. Milady's last civil talk with RHEA's tyrant emperor can be only described as nothing but belligerent, she added some more firewood into the furnace looking down on it Milady was lost for thoughts whilst watching as the fire ate away the resource provided by nature. The room was silent beyond repose and solely the crackling blaze could be heard battling the foggy floor
Huh, it sort of reminded me of Arcade all of a sudden she thought to herself. A few photos of Riona and their original team were standing on top...detaching herself off to walk in the direction of the windows parting them slightly the falling snow could be seen out in the dark night, three moons illuminating light above. Milady hugged herself as she stared out the window without reason time slowly passed by the longer she watched the snow pile up out the balcony, "Hathor." she called for me "Is something bothering you, Milady?" I dawned my human form beside her "No, not at all...this silence just feels nice. I don't think I ever had a moment like this to myself for a long time." her words were sincere but the tone of her voice can be easily depicted as nothing but blandly disconsalated to someone with a highly trained sense of hearing "I agree, it is nice." before she sat down by the cold floor Milady flicked her fingers to remove the frigid time that has been graced on it "Hathor," she called for me hugging her knees close to her chest, long locks of her raven hair falling down to hide her features that Zero has greatly fallen for "Yes, Milady?" I crouched down beside her.
"Stay with me until I fall asleep."
"Of course Milady."
I draped an arm over her shoulder blades pulling her close as I sat there by Milady's side till her eyes gave up from drowsiness, it looked as if I was her mother giving her angsty teenage daughter emotional support. When Milady was young, she was always taught by Raios to keep quiet and never talk to anyone whenever she was experiencing any kind of sadness as a form of coping mechanism, and it worked out well as it allowed Milady to not put up any rash decisions during her hermiting given that she is left alone with her thoughts. But it became sort of hard to implement when she was studying in Ephedia--as Hibiki would not stop bothering her soul until he saw a smile become present on her lips, the orangette kinou can only be described as someone, who is...extremely full of lively annoying energy during his teen years that it was hard not to get infected by it.
Over the course of one month, Milady has sort of gotten used to Salt visiting her daughter with Sting on a daily basis, sometimes the little Meraki even tried to plead with Milady to come with her in which case her owner kindly declined, "Papa?" Fuzuki paused from patting down the snow dog that she was making with the blonde kinou out in the palace gardens, which was copied from Salt who is sitting on the side with Fuzuki's nanny *What is it, sweetie?* he showed her the written text to proceed with her question at hand "When will Mama come to see me?" that was the hundredth time she's been asking him that question this month, after he promised the little raven girl that Milady would be seeing her when she's not busy with her work anymore, but one month has passed and there was still no sign of Milady, lying to his daughter every time she asks and it was beginning to dread on his tongue *She will soon.*
"Okay..." Sting wanted to tell Fuzuki the truth but doing so would only make her hate Milady beyond repose, he watched her place the buttons on the snow dog's face "What does mama look like?" she asked curious to know *Well, for starters you got her beautiful wavy black hair,* Sting took in one of Fuzuki's dutch braids "Really? So I look like her Papa?" she beamed grabbing his hand excited from the newfound information *In a way, yes, but you inherited most of my features.* he pointed at himself "Is she pretty?" but Fuzuki was more interested in knowing more about her mother *Everyone is pretty sweetie.* if only he could talk that sentence would have sounded credulous "Papaaa, mmmm." she pouted *Alright, she is pretty.* he gave in "What's Mama's name?" the little girl ponders *Cyrene Mirror Verity.* by saying Milady's last name had him annoyed as it was the last name of the kinou that killed him back then "What is she like?" she jumped up and down which her father found adorable *Her features are both alluring and fierce at first glance, she has a deep voice, and your Mother can be, quite stern to those that serve under her.* Sting felt weird typing such a description of Milady now that his romantic affections towards her have faded to gray.
"And?" Fuzuki added, the glimmer in her eyes evident *She's Strong.* and that's rooted in Raios' manipulative parenting "And??" Sting fights the urge to smile at her cuteness *Tall...?* he spouted the most obvious detail about Milady "How tall is she Papa?" she took hold of his arm shaking it *Exactly eight feet tall.* now that he thinks about it further, Milady is significantly on the same level with Arcade and Zero when it comes to height whereas the remaining three, those being him, Hibiki and Arcana are on the smaller side of the spectrum "Will I also be as tall as Mama when I grow up?" she was fascinated by the idea *Hey now, don't be excited to grow up yet, you're still my little girl.* Sting ruffles her soft wavy hair an action that made her braids bounce and her giggle
"Oh, thank goodness I found you!" Odette's cheeks were red from all the searching she has been doing here outside but mostly the flush of color was due to the cold "Your Grace, Young Miss," the greenette handmaiden bowed down greeting them "Sorry to interrupt Your Grace, but can I please excuse Salt? hence Milady wants her back for her timely afternoon snack." Sting gave a thumbs up indicating that she can take the said Meraki, who happily jumped off from the bench strutting to Odette's direction "Green-haired lady," Fuzuki called Odette's attention who was still fazed by how the little raven girl up grew vastly into a preschooler in just a matter of weeks thinking to herself that she was just cradling this little girl and now she's able to talk and walk on her own "Yes Young Miss?" she crouched down to Fuzuki's level "Your my Mama's servant right?" Fuzuki looked at Odette with innocent eyes.
"Yes, I am Milady's handmaiden."
"I want to see my Mama, can I come with you? please?"
The raven girl asks, tugging the thick skirt of Odette's uniform "Uhhh, I...I..uhh, Your Grace?" Odette gave a worried glance over Fuzuki's shoulder to the blonde kinou that was still standing beside the snow dog he and his daughter made, his brows furrowed and his lips forming a straight tight line, heavily concerned about what will happen if Fuzuki suddenly met Milady for the first time "Young Miss, I know you want to see Milady, but she is busy during this time of the day--" Fuzuki's nanny intervened as an aid to Odette but her words were cut short by the young girl "I don't have to talk to her, I just want to see Mama." she pouted looking down at her boots and puffed her cute cheeks. Sting sighed, giving in to what Fuzuki wanted since if it's only a glance she wants then there's nothing wrong with that *Alright, let's go.* Sting showed Fuzuki his permission to which case she smiled widely in joy thanking him dearly.
On their way back inside the palace, Fuzuki couldn't suppress eagerness whilst walking hand in hand with her adored father. Odette on the other hand was nervously carrying Salt in her arms upon leading the way to Zero's study, apart from the palace staff, and a certain tyrant, no one else in RHEA still has the knowledge that Sting had raped Milady and the result of that is Fuzuki. "Milady, Your Highness it's Odette, I have returned with Salt." the greenette handmaiden knocked on the door's surface waiting for permission "Come in!" Fuzuki felt butterflies flock her stomach upon hearing the voice of her mother for the first time in her life, Papa was right her voice is deep, she thought to herself upon the opening of the door she saw an amazon that fits the description of her father "Mama!" But before Odette could step into the room Fuzuki exclaimed running inside first out of pure instinct something that astounded Milady and angered the busy bluette sitting across her. Fuzuki knows that she only promised to take one glance at her mother and that was enough, but she just couldn't stop the urge to run into Milady's arms and hug her.
Sting froze by the hallway beads of anxious sweat forming "Fuzuki...?" Milady looked at the young girl hugging her waist, Odette gave a nervous smile when her and Milady's eyes met a notion that she should explain herself upon why is Sting's daughter here "The Young Miss wanted to see you Milady, I couldn't refuse her request hence she pouted." it was like a gun was pointed at her with every factful words she spouted, staying true to what Milady had told her after recovering from her one-year-long illness. "Papa always told me that your time was always taken by work that you couldn't come and see me, so I came to see you instead!" Fuzuki leaned back to get a proper look at Milady's face, Zero can see that the little girl's pulse was rapidly beating from the joy of seeing her mother, and he'd be lying to himself if he said he wasn't jealous that Fuzuki was hugging Milady instead of Riona. "Would you quit standing out the hallway sunrays, thank you." Zero brought Sting back into his senses as the cold song seemed to have an effect on the way he stood still in front of the bluette's study.
"Oh hi, Sting."
*Hey,*
"How's your neck doing?"
*Good.*
"Great."
Their exchange of words was so awkward that the others cannot help but stare at them. The bluette kinou was the first to break the fleeting awkward silence before them "Why are you two here?" Zero asked from his desk his expression stoic, Odette proceeded on the other side of the room to give Salt her afternoon snack and Chase got back on his work *Fuzuki wanted to see Milady.* if only Sting could finally talk Fuzuki would be utterly confused as to why he was addressing Milady, Milady like the rest of us and not by her name "Good you are moving on." they stared at each other for a good few seconds but apparently Sting had to look away to type his response to the bluette kinou *It's for the betterment of my life.* The blonde looked away whilst Zero took some time reading the typed text "Finally Sunrays, you are using your brain properly." he leaned back on his swivel chair *Be thankful that I'm too lazy to type an insult Yugen.* the latter sneered "I am," Zero smirked.
Fuzuki looked over her left to see who was the person that her father is conversing with "Mama, who is he? Is he one of your servants too?" Fuzuki pointed at Zero, who almost choked on his own saliva upon hearing Fuzuki assume that he was just another Rhiannon that worked for Milady whereas Sting found it hilarious, who doesn't respond quite well when her significant other has been mistaken to be her servant of all things the idea was beyond repose absurd "What? no, he's not my servant, he's my hus--" she raised a brow at the little girl opting to tell her the truth "My name is Zero, I am the prince and sole heir to the throne of Lireo," Zero intervened Milady's words as Fuzuki is still too young to know the facts--which is Sting raped Milady and managed to impregnate her along with it, Zero forgave his blonde comrade for the grave mistake...but he never forgot.
"Zero? you're one of the people that Papa tells me so much about!" Fuzuki walked in front of the bluette's desk, her eyes beaming pure glittering innocence in them. "Oh really? what did he say about me?" he asked curious to know, in a way he expected that Sting would say...you know good things about him but upon hearing Fuzuki's next words it irked him "Papa said you're stupid." Zero shot Sting a quick death glare before humoring Fuzuki "Did he really say such words?" what did he expect? its Sting Muriel his best frenemy "Yeah, he said that you're really dumb." those words were testing his patience to their maximum, an annoyed chuckle escaped his lips "Did he now." the bluette seethed under his breath whereas it was Sting's turn to smirk at him.
"Yeah! And also he said--hhmmm!" Sting covered Fuzuki's mouth to prevent her from saying anymore that he's told her to Zero, *That's enough sweetie, hehehehe. That's between us okay?* her eyes scanned the text nodding once she understood, Sting dropped his hand back to his sides relieved. Hence if Fuzuki says another word regarding Sting's opinion of Zero the bluette will surely point a gun at his skull out of vexation "What about me Fuzuki? what did your father tell you about me?" Milady propped her elbow to the right armrest of the sofa an amused smile on her lips as she tilted her head to the side glancing at Fuzuki "That Mama was alluring, fierce, and strong!" the little girl ran back to her mother standing on the coffee table's side "Thank you, and I'm sure he said more than that." Milady offered her illegitimate daughter with Sting a cookie in which her eyes shined from receiving something from Milady.
"Uhuh!" she nodded swallowing the chewy cookie "And Papa also said that we have the same hair color! hihihi," she held one of her braids "We sure do, don't we?" Milady pats Fuzuki's head whilst holding the small cup of warm chocolate in her left "Mama--" Fuzuki was about to ask a series of questions to Milady but her words were cut short before she could even begin properly "MILADY ITS ME!" Ethan's shouted from out in the hallway "Come in!" barging in once he was granted permission to do so "Milady--ZUZU!!!" Ethan shouts running to hug the little girl that was half of his height "Ethan!" she returned the gesture back like they haven't just seen each other yesterday.
Zero periodically stares at the two kids, before going back to his work ignoring them fully "Here Milady." Ethans instructs handing the two stapled sheets of paper to Milady upon pulling halfway from the hug he and Fuzuki are sharing "Mama," she called in the midst of parting from the water-obsessed teen who went to the other side of the room getting himself a cold drink "Yes?" Milady acknowledges as she scans her navy eyes across the paper's second page "Could you also teach me? just like Ethan?" Fuzuki tugged on Milady's flared pants upon reflex she turned her attention at her giving a curt smile, temporality lowering the paper down on her crossed lean thighs.
"I'll have to ask your father about that suggestion," Milady takes up her eyes to the blonde kinou who wants to heavily oppose the idea hence Ethan turned out similarly like Milady under her unconventional vantage point, and he certainly doesn't want his own daughter to instill those kinds of crazed traits and ultimately tendencies. Sting still wants to firmly stand by the ultimatum Zero gave him back then, regarding Fuzuki's illegitimacy. Mind you, it was the bluette who solely said such words to Sting, Milady just went through with it hence it was easier that way. But if he does turn down the suggestion it would hurt his daughter's feelings "So Sting, should I...or should I not?" Milady drummed her painted nails on the armrest waiting for Sting's answer.
"Well Sting? I'm waiting." the tone of Milady's voice came out more of a command than the supposed patience she's displaying with her calm demeanor, Fuzuki admired her mother's intimidating presence, wanting to be that daunting too when she grows up, still knowing nothing about what made Milady that way "I'll think about it." was all he said regarding the topic "Just come by the library once you've made your decision." Milady offers Fuzuki another chocolate pistachio cookie to get her out of the daze "Does Mama love cookies?" crumbs of the sweet pastry clung to the sides of her lips "I like them," Milady spared a small glance at Zero who is extremely fond of them, "How about you Fuzuki? Do you love them?" Milady continues "Uhuh, it's my favorite now since Mama gave me two already." she smiled cheeks munching.
*Yesterday, she said that strawberry pop tarts were her favorite when I gave her one. Every food you give her will probably be her favorite.* Sting showed Milady what he typed regarding what Fuzuki likes "Huh...adorable." Milady lets out a half-suppressed laugh "Milady can I go play with Fuzuki?" Ethan asks upon returning back to the main room and by the moisturized look on his lips it's only safe for the blonde to assume that Ethan had almost emptied Zero's water dispenser "Yeah sure, you're free for the rest of the afternoon." Milady materialized me before her, Fuzuki was mesmerized by my glass appearance floating mid-air "Yes! Hear that Zuzu? I'm free!" he hypes up the little girl by shaking her shoulders and it worried the blonde standing behind them.
"Yey! Let's play hide and seek, tag, and hopscotch!" Fuzuki declares, eating the last bite on her cookie, and began counting all the games they'll be playing later on either inside or outside the palace "We'll play anything you want Zuzu!" he says before downing his tall glass of water "YIIIIEEEEEE!!!" the little raven girl cheers in anticipation "Just remember to take up on your daily readings on those books I gave you." Milady reminds Ethan, her nails clicking as she tapped on my glass form "Yes Milady, I'll read them before bed." Ethan waves his hands hence he forgot to read one last night due to playing holo games with Nox as the redhead was currently preoccupied with her newfound love affair with a certain bartender. Nox didn't mind, since it was good for her mental health, plus it also serves as her guilty pleasure from shoveling all those snow with the white-haired kinou.
"Mama, can you play with us too?" Fuzuki looks at her mother, who was too focused on scrolling through yore's that only she can see, it will only be visible to others if and once Milady allows it "Maybe some other time Fuzuki." Milady declined her offer without looking at the little girl something that Sting did not appreciate so much so that he cannot believe he used to love Milady "But Mama, you just said that Ethan is free for the afternoon that also must mean that you no longer have work." Fuzuki climbed up the sofa with Ethan's help crawling beside her mother "I still have to check on his other assignments and I need to--" Milady intends to diminish but her words were cut short by Fuzuki when she wrapped her tiny hands around Milady's left forearm "Mama, please?" Sting watched them closely, ready to save his daughter in case Milady says something that would disappoint her.
Her eyes pleaded, making her look like she's about to cry if Milady doesn't agree to want she wants "I'll see what I can do. In the meantime you four go on ahead, I'll call your father via galva later to join your little activity, sound good?" Milady proposed giving out a forced curt smile across her plump lips not really liking the idea that she was obligated to compulse "Uhuh thanks, Mama! You have made me so happy today, Oyu veloi." Fuzuki hugged Milady professing her wholehearted affection to her, something that caught Milady off guard as she's seen the possibility but dismissed it due to the ill fate Fuzuki will suffer "Uhhh...Vice versa." was all Milady had to say, hesitant to say the same phrase hence she doesn't want to put out a commitment she cannot fully dedicate herself into.
Fuzuki even gave Milady a kiss on her cheek before jumping off the sofa wobbling as her two feet made contact with the carpeted floor, Ethan carried her on his shoulders on the way out *We'll be going now Milady.* Sting and Fuzuki's nanny bid goodbye following after the two kids not forgetting to close the door behind them. Once they had left Zero's study, Milady unconsciously touched the ends of her hair whilst swiping through my glass form, something the bluette did not fail to notice. "Spend some time with her Mirror," Zero says from his desk with one hand placed under his chin "I don't want to get attached." Milady defends herself "It's only fair that she gets to spend some time with you before...she sleeps." Zero chooses his words carefully as the word death is bitter to them...Riona.
"Once she does, we won't be able to hide the fact anymore to everyone. They will start asking questions...intrusive questions." Milady paused from what she was doing, her eyes staring intently at my glass form "We can say that she's brought to life by blood." Zero suggested as it was only a reasonable explanation upon how did Sting manage to have a daughter without having a partner in his life "The timing isn't right, plus once they see her in a casket she's gonna look eighteen by then...and some of her features are quite similar to mine, people aren't dumb to let go of an issue once they see it." an opportunity to sully someone's name can often be entertaining to those who have nothing else to do but gossip. "Can't you just reverse her growth back?" Lireo's heir suggests. "I can, but her body won't be able to handle it anymore, she's too fragile."
Fuzuki's wobbling after she hopped off the couch was proof of it, her time is limited all Milady is doing is extending that limited span, and by doing so it is causing runs similar to a stocking "When she entered earlier, I was able to sense it in her pulse." Zero pushed his chair back getting up hence his posterior was beginning to go numb from sitting down on it since nine am, he walked over the balcony where a few junco birds are perched at the railings, cleaning their feathers before they take flight once again. "Will you be able to tone it down?" Milady turns her head to Zero's current standing point "Yeah, but it's gonna make her cry and writhe in pain." he says whilst undoing the messy folds of his long-sleeved button-up shirt re-doing them again after unfolding them, "I'll take up on what you said," Milady sighs taking her attention back on me. Zero pauses from what he was doing looking at Milady a little bit confused on which part of what he said was Milady talking about, she noticed this and the following. "I'll spend some time with her later and talk to Sting about you toning down her pulse."
she continues, tucking her soft wavy hair behind both of her ears, thinking that she should get another haircut as her hair is already reached near her knee at this point. An amazon's hair grows twenty inches per month just so you know "Whose pulse will we use on this?" Zero inquires hence he can only take either from Milady or Sting on this one "We'll use mine, Sting is still recovering from the injury I've inflicted on him taking a few pulses from him would only delay his healing period." Milady volunteers alongside it she called attention to Sting's healing thyroid "I doubt he'll even allow me to touch Fuzuki's hand in the slightest. After I tried to kill her." Milady chuckles at his words hence it was true "He'll have to compromise." Zero raises a brow at Milady's words upon finishing the folding of his sleeves "And if he doesn't?" He adds as it was a heavy possibility "He will." Milady says firmly as she speaks out her established plan regarding it for Zero to hear.
At exactly thirty minutes later Milady temporarily bid Zero goodbyes to quote on quote spend some time with Fuzuki. She made a quick trip back to his chambers changing into something that would be appropriate to protect her flesh from melancholia's breeze, in the midst of walking down the flight of stairs, Milady dialed the blonde's galva number, with Odette following close behind the little Meraki who's in a form of a chinchilla plopped up comfortably on the top of Odette's head completely stuffed from her merienda. It took a few rings and redials before he could answer hence he has to ask for Ethan's help who was in the midst of throwing snowballs at Fuzuki and her nanny.
"Hello, Sting?"
"Its' Ethan speaking for him!"
"Where are you at?"
"In front of the hedges Milady."
"I'll be there in a minute."
"Okay! byeeee~"
"Was that Mama?"
"Yeah, Zuzu,"
"Let's--" the little girl coughed from the cold snowflake that fell into her mouth, her nanny immediately went to her side patting her back to relieve Fuzuki of the itch in her throat, "Are you alright now Young Miss?" She asks the little raven girl who nodded in response, "Here," a hand holding a metal water bottle offered, looking up Fuzuki saw her mother "Mama!" she immediately hugged Milady's left leg "What about me Milady?" Ethan butted in, wanting water too "Of course, here." she gave him a separate bottle of his own to which he downed immediately, excusing himself for a while to get himself some more "Miss Odette are you alright?" Fuzuki's nanny asked the greenette who wasn't quite used to teleport from one place to another with Milady's talents "Sort of?...maybe? I'll be fine." she says assuring the younger servant, but her face looks like she's about to throw up in any second. Salt sleepily snuggles on top of her head.
"Odette take a seat by the bench and rest for a bit you need it." Milady addresses her handmaiden's nausea into account, helping Odette steady on her two feet "And you! help her." before calling forth Fuzuki's nanny to take over and watch Odette "Yes Your Majes--Milady." The younger servant complies almost addressing Milady as to what Raios wants her to be called. *Didn't think you'd show up.* Sting walks up to Milady a sarcastic look plastered on his features "Courtesy of Zero." she shrugged her shoulders before crouching down a bit to carry Fuzuki into her arms much to the little girl's joy, she snuggled on Milady's torso *Yeah right as if he'd do that.* the blonde kinou would have scoffed that sentence if he had his voice in control right now "I see, you still dismiss his apology." Milady was amused by Sting's bluntness the slight smirk at the edge of her lips proved it.
*He deserves it for trying to kill my daughter.* Fuzuki tried to read what her father had said but Milady covered her eyes only removing after she was done reading the typed text, a whinny pout emerged from the little raven girl "At least he said his peace, let's just pause that topic to that end for now. We can't discuss it further here." Milady pokes Fuzuki's puffed cheeks *Agreed.* Sting ruffled her hair, the bluette kinou was watching them like a hawk from the balcony of his study a little bit annoyed that he's hating his suggestion to Milady earlier "Mama, why is there a rodent on top of the head of your servant?" Fuzuki tug's on Milady's scarf to get her attention pointing at Salt whose sleeping on top of Odette's head. "That's Salt." Milady replies like it is the most conventional thing "Eh?! Salt? but Mama she's a dog." Fuzuki's mouth was left agape at the revelation of world win confusion that is washing over her.
Milady raises a brow at her hence she has been spending time with Salt for over three months now and she wasn't aware of what the little critter actually is, despite seeing her transform already *I forgot to tell her that Salt is a Meraki.* Sting quickly types on his galva showing it to Milady "Since your father here forgot to tell you, I'll tell you, my little baby Salt isn't a regular pet, she's a Meraki." Milady deflates her right hand to materialize me to show Fuzuki an image of Salt' true form, which is a calico Catfish "A Meraki? what's that Mama?" the little girl pushes herself a little bit away from Milady engrossed by Salt's true form, finding it cute "Meraki's are animals that can alter their physical forms to look like other animals." Milady brought her hand closer to Fuzuki showing another display of Salt changing her appearance into multiple animals.
"That's so cool! How do they do that Mama?" Fuzuki excitedly grabs my glass form that remained unmoved by her sudden gesture upon Milady's palm "They were taught by an amazon named Medea Kyle, how to use Fauna it is a type or as they like to call it a variation of the talent named Skin." a photo of a smiling amazon with braided lilac hair was displayed next and surrounding her were ten animals of different races "Can I learn that talent Mama? can I?" Milady's daughter with Sting cross-questioned as she was held spellbound by the idea of being to transform into different animals at will "Unfortunately, no," Milady shakes her head at the nonsensical proposition, holding herself back from laughing beyond repose, "Fauna is the only variation of Skin that can only be learned by animals, us Rhiannon's are forbidden to learn it." a smirtle etched upon her plump lips.
"Why is that Mama?" Milady wants to badly roll her eyes at the question but chooses to answer it nicely instead "Hence we are humans, not animals. Our DNA composition is far different than theirs." Milady explains whilst showing two images of a Rhiannon and a Meraki side by side for Fuzuki to get the essence of it "What's a DNA?" Fuzuki ponders tilting her head to the side her pointer finger placed on her lower lip "How about we save up that information for when you start going to Ephedia or if your father approves...perhaps you could learn that under the guidance of my teaching." Milady gives Sting a short daunting glance as she said it "Okay!" She agrees and Milady pats her head "What do you like to play Mama?"
Sting demandingly flicks his hand for Milady to pass Fuzuki into his hold instead of hers, hence he did not like the look she gave him regarding Fuzuki's education, in which case Milady gladly obliged to but upon handing her over Fuzuki throws a query "Huh?" Milady froze "Does Mama not play games?" Raios's maniacal voice echoed in Milady's scape upon that sentence"Laropmet Esaec." Milady paused the time surrounding her, after Fuzuki said such words hence a small whiff of her youth in Raios' upbringing tingled her scape "Milady?" I called to her "I'll be fine Hathor...I can do it." she placed a hand over her forehead, taking in balanced breaths "Yalper." Milady reversed time back to where Fuzuki asked what games does she like to play.
"What do you like to play Mama?" the little girl asks again completely unaware that Milady altered the profusing flow back to correct her mishap "How about we play hide and seek? You did say earlier that you want to play it." Milady dematerializes me from the plane of time "Rock, paper, scissors on gets to go first as yata." Ethan chimes in upon his return from the palace kitchen "I'll be you." Milady spoils the future she saw "Milady don't jinx me!" The water-obsessed teen exclaims. So they start the said rock, paper, scissors, and surely enough Ethan was indeed the yata just like what Milady predicted. Ethan faces the tree to count from one to ten as they hide for him to find or they can either come out from their respective hiding spots and race to the home base, which is the tree, whilst Ethan is out locating each of them from the tall hedges.
"Ten...nine...eight...seven...six...five...four...three...two...one--ready or not here I come!" Ethan yells as he pushed away from the tree, entering the hedge maze without an ounce of worry that he'd get lost or stuck hence he can always make himself lighter if he does. And before you think mortal reading this, that Sting didn't give Fuzuki a reminder before they split up--well he did and that is for Fuzuki to not venture deeper into the maze for her own good and she agreed. "Aha!" Ethan spouts as he jumped from the brush expecting to find Fuzuki but he only found two rabbits munching on the leaves. A frown graced his lips as he walked on to next where he thought they would have possibly hidden.
"YEY! I made it!" Fuzuki exclaims from the tree that Ethan marked as the home base, he ran back out of the maze and indeed found the little girl jumping up and down from joy that she was the first to make it back "That's minus one point on your chance of winning." she says "There are still nine points I can still win this." Ethan reminds her as he adjusted his jacket on from being disheveled out running back to the tree "Of course." Fuzuki smiles clinging to Ethan's arm encouraging him despite wanting both her parents to win against him "Now stay here and don't go anywhere, I'll find Milady and Sting." he tells the little rave girl to stay still and not go anywhere.
"Okay, good luck Ethan!" Fuzuki waves at Ethan as he ventures back into the hedge maze "Sting! Milady! where are you?" he calls out whilst skipping on his steps, a few turns, dead ends but still no sign of either Rhiannon's he's been trying to locate and hopefully find "Milady! Sting!" he yells again upon turning on his right stopping at another dead end. Milady, however, is getting impatient hence he passed by her hiding spot multiple times in a row now and he still managed to not miss her, "Just pretend you found me." Milady steps out of her hiding spot, something that astounded the little ravenette monster as she appeared behind him "Okay Milady, I ain't complaining about that, just give me a sec--I FOUND MILADY!" Ethan yells, a grin plastered on his face afterward.
"Now go find Sting." Milady chuckled patting his head as she walked past him to meet Fuzuki on the home base tree she's waiting at "Gotcha Milady,--STING! Come out, come out wherever you are!" he yells, a few of his tendencies slipping past along, the blonde kinou, however, has long moved out of hiding spot as he opts to outrun Ethan back to the home base. Milady and he even made eye contact on her way out but shrugged it off before proceeding to pretend she didn't just see him out maneuvering Ethan's tactics to win this game they are currently playing. Speaking of Milady's prodigy, upon turning on a corner he and Sting stopped in their individual tracks like deers upon running into one another "AHA! I FOUND YOU--STING COME BACK HERE!" the water obsessed teen calls from the top of his lungs when Sting ran for his life.
"Aww, Mama lost." Fuzuki says and frowned upon seeing Milady walk out of the maze defeated, she ran up to Milady to greet her "Shame right Fuzuki." Milady takes her hand as they walked back to the tree "Uhuh." she agrees, despite wanting her mother to win. They could hear Ethan's voice from the tree as they sat down under it, the yells contained fits of "CHEATER!" and "STOP!" again and again till Sting has temporarily lost Ethan. "Mama should we--PAPA!" the little raven girl wanted to say something but it was cut short to her exclaiming instead upon seeing her father run out of the maze out first than Ethan his breath quite ragged from all the leg work he's put on "Not fair! I almost had you then you ran." Ethan tantrums a complaint as he got back minutes later after the blonde who still won the game despite temporarily having a liability on his being whereas Fuzuki just giggles.
"You made it, bravo. And don't run too much that'd be bad for your healing injury." Milady congratulates the blonde kinou by clapping her hands *Did you just quote Panacea's words?* Sting looks up as he caught his breath back up into his lungs sitting down along it for good measure "Someone has to remind you." Milady knocks on his noggin something he shot her a glare for and Fuzuku just gave him a peck on his cheek to lighten his mood regarding the situation and it worked *Thanks.* he types down "Don't mention it. " Milady dismisses waiting a few minutes for Sting to calm down fully before beginning the game again but this time with her as the yata "Now let's restart this game, go hide or whatever, I'll count." Milady waves her hand at the three.
"Let's go Zuzu!" Ethan carries Fuzuki on his back as a heads up "Yeah!" she mounts, pumping her fists excited that her mother will be the one finding them this time. Once they've entered back into the maze Milady bluntly sits down by the tree crossing one upper limb on her voluptuous chest whilst the other propped up to appreciate her nails' growth, "Ten...nine...eight...seven..." getting back up on her feet once the number pointed at seven "...six...five...four...three...two...one...yey, ready or not here I come." Odette giggles at how enthusiastic Milady is about this "Hathor where is Sting hiding at?" she asked me upon stepping foot inside the hedge maze "Tenth left of the hedges Milady." I guided her into the maze avoiding any unnecessary dead ends to reach her goal.
"Good, he's quite far." Milady teleports one hedge far from the blonde kinou to make it seem like she was indeed looking for and did not cheat "Oh there you are, that was easier than I thought." with a simple movement of her fingertips, a time-bounded field was held up around them and the time outside has been paused in this present moment. Sting knew that this was no longer about the hide and seek game--he figured that out when Ethan purposely yelled he found Milady "This will be easier." Milady snaps her fingers instantly finishing the healing time of Sting's injury just like that, upon feeling it work the blonde took off the supportive collar wrapped around his neck "You should wear that again later on and talk via typed text still after we talk, as to not raise any suspicion," Milady points at the collar that Sting held in his left hand whilst the other massaged his neck "Then you can see Panacea later on and tell her I was responsible as to why you healed this vast. Follow whatever medication she says afterward. "
"I will, and you should have done that in the first place months ago." Sting rotates his shoulder as they feel kind of numb from the cold "You kind of deserve it and besides, if I did heal you earlier you wouldn't have moved on from me." Milady smirks at the fact, something that made the blonde give her a look in the midst of easing out the knotted muscle near his neck "What do you want to talk about?" such forthright words came out of his lip upon finishing up with the stretches "Zero." Milady spouts bluntly not breaking eye contact with the blonde kinou's being "Him again? Seriously?" Xeris' elite scoffs, looking to the side "You are already well aware of what I've been doing with Fuzuki's life span correct?" those words caught his attention back hence he got annoyed at how much his favorite kinou, childhood comrade, and long time rival is getting involved in every step of the way.
"Yeah, everybody in the palace is basically aware of that by now." he scrutinizes his eyes upon looking back at Milady. "Regarding Zero, however, all he will be doing is to tone down the excessive run in Fuzuki's lifespan and successfully transfer some of my pulses into Fuzuki to delay her expiration date." Milady crosses her arms below her chest completely bored whereas the blonde was standing straight with his shoulder back "You even referred to her as if she's mere food--despicable." Sting was not liking any single word that came out of Milady's lips hence he's perfectly knowable upon how the bluette kinou transfers one person's pulse to a recipient and he's not down to agreeing if it involves Zero holding Fuzuki on the plus side, he had quite the experience of being donated with a pulse and all he can say for that is that he was writhing in extreme fatigue a few days afterward.
"I've selected my words, Sting, would you rather that I not? And flat out say that she's doomed to die instead?" Milady began to drum her painted nails on her left elbow, her hip dipping to the side as one of her lower limb was extended a bit it seems like Milady was posing for a photo in her current stance "No." he admits to himself "See?...now continuing on, will you agree?" Milady shimmies her wavy ebony hair back with her talent "Hell no, I won't allow that pulse-sucking bastard to even touch my daughter." Milady spares him as look as he spouted those words "He almost killed her the last time around I won't allow it to happen a second time."
"I knew you would say that." Milady analyzes her hands before giving Sting her attention "Because you cheated. You always like to cheat Milady." he jeered the facts of her traits "It makes life fun if I can see the spoilers ahead of time, and some good credits to Hathor on the side as well." Milady chuckled rolling her eyes at the subject of seeing the future ahead "Cheating life is a gamble of unfairness Milady." he watches Milady's body language with careful eyes as this was her way of getting what she wants "What will it take for you to agree?" Milady cynically raises one brow at him "Nothing." he hissed at Milady as she walks around him "Oh?" now she was amused "Nothing. If means saving my daughter." the blonde was cautious "Our daughter--" Milady baits him with a ribbon that he immediately intervened to get.
"My daughter." Sting corrects Milady "Of course, your daughter, but do give me some credit for giving birth to her." Milady played along adding along with insisting on her point "Yeah, you did and never cared until now." he trails his eyes over the side where Milady decided to take a pause, tickling her fingers on the bounded field surrounding them "Aww, now that hurts don't you think?" Milady leans in placing a finger under his chin tapping it twice, intimidating the blonde kinou with her manic smirk and towering height "I'm still not agreeing." he grabs her writs throwing it aside standing his ground if only Fuzuki saw how they interacted at that moment she would have shamelessly assumed that they were going to kiss out loud "Here's what I have in mind, Zero transfers my pulse to Fuzuki in the throne room, where anyone powerful enough to hold him down would be present in attendance." she presented the table to him to reconsider his decision hence if he doesn't an early funeral may arrive on his doorstep.
Milady creeps up her hands on his shoulder blades whilst standing behind him the tone of her voice smoky "So, do you agree now?" a few locks of Milady's hair fell on her side making her face appear more attractive than it originally is "Get off me!" Sting vastly turned to face Milady, using a great amount of force to make a huge distance between them "What a pity." Milady snickers plastering a fake disappointed look on her features "I know what you're trying to do." he just noticed that his line of sight was almost blurry from what Milady was doing, he shakes his head to get the feeling off of him "Of course you do Sting. " the corners of Milady's lips twitched upward in a malicious way as she swifts back her long hair "You're using your talent to influence my choices, just like when we were teenagers."
"You are the smartest team member after all..." Milady rolls her eyes at the fact, Sting intently narrows his eyes on her as her lips continued to move out words "And do use that intellect more. It has the capable potential hence you have wasted enough of that from falling in love with me." Milady says both of her eyebrows raised and an enigmatic smile plastered "I will, and just make sure that you stay true to what you've planned out." Sting shoots her a baleful look upon getting back on his proper posture the haze full out of his system "Oh great you have finally agreed, looks like I don't have to force your hand after all." Milady brushes off the snow that clung to her attire upon falling down from the cloudy skies "You did." he spouts with gritted teeth "Yey me." Milady congratulates herself, smirking at the blonde before she snaps her fingers taking down the bounded time field around them.
"You might want to wear that collar again." Milady pats his shoulder on her way out "Oh and by the way, one last thing," Milady looks back at Sting who had his brows furrowed confused as to what Milady has to say this time "I found Sting!" she yells out loud, laughed to himself after Milady was out of sight and earshot as he completely forgot that they were still playing the hide and seek game with his daughter and the water obsessed teen raven. "There you are Fuzuki!" Milady plucks out Fuzuki from behind the hedges much to her disappointment under Milady's hold, hence she was about to run back to the home base and save herself from losing "And Ethan, don't you dare run!" Milady hollers at her prodigy who froze in tracks from seeing Milady walking over his hiding spot, plucking him out of there as well both children are hefted up on both of her sides like two sacks of potatoes.
The hide and seek game concluded after each one of them had a turn being the yata as Fuzuki wanted to play another different game, Salt woke up a few games later and joined in the fun. That physical activity continued on till the little girl was tried out to the point that she was already asleep in Sting's arms after dinner on their way back to her bedroom. Milady leaned in the doorway whilst Fuzuki's nanny changes her into her pajamas, Sting opted to tuck his daughter in but she sleepily mumbles "Mama," incomprehensibly, the blonde looked at Milady who was standing by the door "She wants you." he mouths the words whereupon Milady rolls her eyes in the midst walking over the side of Fuzuki's bed, "Let's just get this over with." which shifted when she sat on it, Milady softly pushed back Fuzuki's bangs out of the way to give her a kiss on her forehead upon contact the little raven girl drifted off into a deep sleep.
"Why'd you stay?" Sting says upon closing the door of Fuzuki's room "Because I knew she won't stop bothering you to have me by her side when she sleeps." Milady shifts her weight to the side as her stomach craved a tasteful snack "Thanks." he turned to face Milady "Sure, and you should probably go see Panacea now." Milady motions to the collar around his neck, which he reflexively removed upon the words deliberation "I'll see you around Sting." Milady waves her hand at him as she walked away but before she could truly leave the blonde kinou called for her one last time "Milady." she halted in her tracks, side facing him, her hair swaying beautifully upon the small movement "Mhm?" she raised one brow for him to continue on whatever he was going to say. "Thanks for today." they stare at each other for a good second "Yeah." was all Milady has to reply to his expression of gratitude and left in silence.
Weeks later, Fuzuki caught an unfortunate cold from playing outside too much so the transferring of Milady's pulses had to be postponed to a later date, something much to Sting's relief in a good way. Milady also visited her multiple times over the passing weeks of her healing time as per Salt's non-stop tugging (it's more of a biting scenario honestly) on her pants, the little Meraki refused to let go of her hold on Milady's pants even if she started walking servants who saw the display found it adorable beyond repose. Milady has been hearing a lot of complaints coming from Ethan daily about how Ignatius is severely lacking in her job of shoveling snow, helping the packaging of garments, making him roasted nuts every night, being someone for him to pick on, and another bunch of stuff that she usually does.
So Milady took it upon herself to meet this supposed lover she has had for months now and the redhead alcoholic was both excited and anxious about the whole idea but nonetheless, she was thrilled to have Milady meet her lover, the two amazons sat by a fine dining restaurant to wait for the kinou to arrive. Ignatius hadn't had tea for a long while and her face became downcasted as the bland taste of hot tinted water touched her taste buds, the employees and new customers practically avoid their table for obvious reasons, the waiter who served them tea earlier almost had a heart attack from the way Milady lazily sneered at him upon placing their orders down the table "Ignatius," Milady calmy says after taking a sip from her earl gray tea, placing it on the table gracefully "Yes, Milady?" she responds from running her gloved finger on the tea cup's rim "Take her off." Milady moves her foot to the side and Ignatius screamed upon seeing Salt angrily growling whilst her teeth clamped down shut on Milady's leg.
"AHH!--what the? she's been there the whole time?!"
"Yes."
The redhead eyes the little grumpy Meraki first before taking hold of her belly in which case Salt growled having Ignatius retract her hands back to her sides "She won't bite you." Milady assures Ignatius, but she was hesitant to believe it hence it totally looked Salt will bite her at any given moment if she dares to try and touch the chubby Meraki again "Use your talent, Catfishes like warmth." Milady exposes the fuzzy point of her pet to which Salt gave her owner a glare growling louder, Ignatius nodded instantly taking off her gloves clasping them together creating a minimal heat to calm down the fluffy critter "Baby salt~" Ignatius purred slowly reaching her palms on the Meraki who wiggled her body heavily avoiding Ignatius's hands "Grrr...--oow~" once caught she purred willingly letting go of Milady's leg.
"By the gods that actually worked!" Ignatius exclaimed whilst the little critter transformed into her original form and snuggled on on the redhead amazon's torso, a satisfied goofy smile was plastered all over the catfish's mouth "I told you so." Milady reached her hand over Salt scratching her chin to which she leaned in meowing along the way, the ring tone of Ignatius' galva interrupted their adoring of Salt, which she picked out of her pocket answering the caller id known as her lover, Milady poured herself another cup of the steaming tea, listening to Ignatius' response over the gadget "Hello?" she begins, proceeding to look out the window and the entryway of the fine establishment "Where are you?... Oh great! ...Yeah, yeah, okay bye!" she ended the call "Was that him?" Milady inquires as she crosses her thigh over the other.
"Yeah, he was actually the one who picked this day since it is his day off."
"The day you are mostly gone from the palace."
The redhead meekly scratches the back of her nape from the fact, hence Milady knows that her personage usually spends the night over her lover's house during this day of the week "Kaito!" the redheaded alcoholic joyfully yells to catch the attention of a kinou with silver hair, Kaito Yew huh, an interesting name and such profound irony, lovely Milady thought to herself upon getting a first-hand personal view on the kinou who was in his late twenties. Ignatius waves her hand over at him when their eyes met she temporarily gave Salt to Milady as she stood up from her seat running over to him "Sorry I'm late, I had to take my sister to our grandmother's house." he gives her a hug as a greeting "It's okay we didn't wait long anyway, just a fifteen-minute difference." it was a sixteen-minute difference her count caught short "Oh, by the way, this is Milady," Ignatius steps aside introducing Milady to her lover "Hello," she had her arms crossed on her chest with Salt comfortably climbing over her left shoulder blade to chill, the newly arrived kinou failed to notice the adorable animal "My name's Kaito, Kaito Yew, it is nice to finally meet you, Your Majesty, Tia has told me many great things about you." he bows down as respect.
"You too...I suppose you already know what my name is and do call me Milady."
"Certainly Your Majes--Milady."
"Good now that you're both acquainted let's have a seat and order food, cause I'm starving."
"Waiter!" Kaito hollers to one of the employees who instantly walked to their table handing out menus for them to go over "Uhhh, can I have these? and this one, and this one too, and two bottles of beer." Ignatius told the employees her order was mostly composed of pork dishes and one medium-sized bowl of atchara, and she rapidly typed it down her holo pad "I'll have a creamy tomato pasta, equally five slices of honey ham, dragon fruit cubes, and lemon water." Milady says to the waitress without batting an eye in her direction, the said waitress nervously typed on her holo pad taking the order, Milady folds to the next page where their available desserts are lined up "And three Leche flans." (crème caramel) the waitress turns to Kaito hence he's the only one who hasn't spouted his order yet. "I'll have uhhh... a chicken with lemon sauce...and uhhh a Caprese salad and sparkling water. Oh! and three martinis."
After the waitress was done typing down each of their orders she repeated them one by one to make sure that she didn't make any mistakes once confirmed that none were made she temporarily bid goodbye to have their meals be on the line up of being made tonight. "I don't drink." Milady says to Kaito after the waitress was out of earshot, "Tia did say that, but I wanted to make sure to find out if it was true, she told me a lot of things about you actually Milady." the silver-haired kinou pushed back all his nervousness aside in front of RHEA's most notorious royal blood convincing himself to think of it like he's talking to a customer at his workplace "A shame that none of my deeds are good." Milady chuckles finishing her cup of tea "Tia said that you've taken better care of her than her real family ever did." Kaito looks at his redheaded girlfriend who kind of felt shy upon hearing that fact she told him about two months ago.
Milady was somewhat caught off guard by such a point of view hence she never really saw Ignatius as someone she'd treat like a daughter. Far as Milady sees it the redhead alcoholic was a just employee she helped become someone that is well known to those who fear, fear. Ignatius noticed how Milady slightly shifted in her seat upon taking in that information "Meow!" the little Meraki saves her beloved owner from the awkward silence that was about to erupt. "That's Salt." Ignatius forgot to introduce the fluffy critter that was chilling on Milady's left shoulder "That was alive? I thought that was a scarf," Kaito says upon placing a hand above his chest almost having a mini heart attack, Salt just stared at him upon hearing that she was mistaken for a clothing accessory and she did not appreciate it in the tiniest
"Aww, she likes you," Ignatius coos whereas Kaito felt kind of weird from having a cat stare at him with its pupils dilating expressively. When Salt was sure that Kaito was paying great attention to her, she changed her form to that of a Pembroke Welsh Corgi astounding him beyond repose therefore he hasn't seen an animal use a talent before "What the fu--A cat?! now a dog?! Uhhh...? I'm not hallucinating right? that thing just turned into into a dog? Right? you saw that right?!" the confusion was playing all over the silver-haired kinou's scape, some customers even looked his way upon the sudden high pitched adrenaline of shock "She's my pet." Milady plainly replies without an ounce of context whatsoever leaving Ignatius to giggle "Salt is a Meraki, Kay." she playfully elbows her lover who had his mouth agape.
"Mer, Meraki..?? what the fuck is that?"
"A versatile pet."
Milady raises one of her eyebrows upon saying that, sort of disappointed that Ignatius dated someone who doesn't know how to use a talent.
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