"We've been waiting here foreverrr..." Groaned Renèe quietly.

"Reinel better have good information to make us wait so long, it's almost time for the rotation of guards," Leonard furrowed his brows, checking his black steel pocket watch that Snow gifted him.

"Hello, hello~," greeted a cheerful voice.

Leonard and Renèe's spine straightened, feeling a chill, they knew that voice...

"H-Harley... How are you?" Renèe greeted nervously.

Leonard froze, not being able to say a thing.

"You snuck in as guards yes? Come now, it's rude to keep me waiting," Harley smiled, though he was still in his fox form, he didn't look any less threatening.

"It's just temporary, we need to leave as soon as Reinel gets back," Renèe explained, Leonard was still paralyzed.

"Oh! What perfect timing! I'm here to drop this little one off," Harley smiled gesturing to Reinel who was still on his back, pale as paper.

"You can get off now, Rei," Harley laughed as Rei jolted up in shock then slowly got off.

"Well, I'd love to stay and chat," Harley said, looking at the three boys with a mischievous smile.

They held their breaths, "But my Whip needs me, pity isn't it?" Harley sighed as the three boys felt like they could breath again.

"Maybe next time, Harley," Renèe smiled, relieved.

"Count on it," Harley frowned.

"Tata~" he said, flying off.

"My brother might faint any second now so let's get out of here," Renèe said quickly, dragging Reinel off.

"Who wouldn't in the face of such a demon?" Leonard shivered.

-------------------

"I'm back~ oh, my darling whip~," Harley called as Snow yawned and woke up.

"Ah, Harley, what took you so long? You didn't scare Reinel did you?" she asked with a drowsy smile.

Harley jumped on her lap and laid there.

"Oh, how could I resist a bit of fun? He's so easy to tease," Harley laughed.

"And by tease, you mean voicing out every one of his intrusive thoughts, insulting, making fun off, and scaring him with?" Snow frowned.

"Jeez, he's just as scary as Jessica..." A voice shivered.

"King Minoru, hello!" Harley greeted, poofing into his human form.

"A transformation spirit is naturally fear inducing, they make no effort to get along with anyone and see everyone including themselves, as an object. Except their dear master," Father came in.

"You understand me so well, Victor," Harley smiled.

"I am the tool, and Snow is the holder, so I thought it'd be fun to call Snow the Whip," Harley laughed, laying an her lap.

"Jessica gave me a nickname as well, she calls me the Sword," Victor laughed.

"As much as I'd hate to interrupt a transformation spirit, the meeting has been set up, tomorrow morning starts our agreement," Minoru said seriously.

"Hm, I want to crush them," Harley said simply, smiling at the thought.

Snow lightly hit his head.

"Unfortunately our job isn't that easy, don't make it harder for your Whip," she huffed.

"Aww, you used your nickname!" He smiled lovingly, not caring about anything else.

"Despite being a transformation spirit He's rather clingy, no?" Minoru asked with a laugh, gesturing for a hug from the transformation spirit.

Harley obliged and Victor thought about it for a moment.

"Snow is still fairly childish, so it would make sense that Harley be a bit clingy," Victor smiled.

'But we know why, don't we, my Whip?' Harley asked telepathically.

Harley plays with more than just the mind he plays with the heart, and he does it quite well.

"Tomorrow right? I'm so sleepy, I don't know why," Snow yawned, pulling the warm thick blanket even tighter around her.

"Maybe it's because of your red moon, Aina gets unusually lazy when she has hers," laughed Minoru.

"That, and her spirits are still recovering. It's best that you rest when you can, Snowflake. We'll send you food and you can eat here," Victor kissed her forehead and stood up to leave.

"Night night, father," she smiled sleepily.

"Goodnight, Snowflake," he smiled back and closed the door.

"Oh, she's so cute!" Minoru gushed.

"I know she is, so contract or not, if she gets hurt, I'll have your head," Victor glared.

"Fair enough," Minoru shrugged.

"Do you remember the first time you visited Slade?" Minoru asked nostalgically.

Victor sighed, "How could I forget? The other princes were trying to take my fiancé away from me," he frowned.

"It's not like you ended up with Bellatrix anyway," Minoru stifled a laugh.

"Don't start." Victor snapped.

"... I miss king Cyron..." Minoru smiled sadly.

Cyron Emile Aurelia Sterling, Victor's father.

"I do too. I wish Snow could've met her grandfather... I think he would've loved her more than I do," Victor replied with a pained frown.

"I know how much you want to purge Slade by fire. But thank you for not doing it," Minoru put a hand on Victor's shoulder.

"My father killed your family so that we wouldn't have to spill the blood of the innocent, it would be a waste of his efforts," Victor nodded.

Cyron and Victor had killed the last royal family, leaving Minoru as the only heir.

Everyone had always believed that Minoru killed his own family for the crown, and that fear kept them in place, preventing them from fully taking him off the throne.

But truthfully, Minoru could do no such thing. He was soft, and now, with his own family to protect, his facade was starting to crack, and they could see it.

"It feels like I'm falling apart, Victor. They're inching closer and closer to my neck... I just want Aina and my children to be safe, an age of war is coming close, and my blood will be the catalyst..." Minoru shook his head.

Victor stopped in his tracks, "Sorry, you think I'd just let you die? Hell no. This mess is something you have to clean up, you can't just take the easy way out," he snickered.

"Uh-huh, like that makes me feel any better," Minoru rolled his eyes.

"About Snow... I'm still not sure about this contract... I thought she could change them the way you and king Cyron changed me. But she's in no condition to do such a thing," Minoru sighed, pulling out the earrings and gesturing for Victor to take it.

Victor shook his head, "Her decision is hers to make. I decided to help you, my father decided to help you, and now my daughter wants to help you as well. We nine tails don't like leaving problems to fester. It's just not in our nature," Victor smiled, walking past Minoru.

"But seriously, I'll kill you if they touch her,"

"Fair enough,"

-------------------

Tea time with the heirs of Slade... I find it harder to hide my emotions when I'm on my red moon, but it works well enough.

They haven't said a word yet. Each looking at only each other.

"So I've heard that the Princess is a swordsman, or shall I say swordswoman," Osamu smiled elegantly.

"Yes, but Emily is the better swordswoman," I said plainly.

"Please tell us more about miss Emily," Kiyoshi smiled in intrest.

But there wasn't a hint of intrest in his eyes.

I was about to speak when I was interrupted.

"So you've just gotten your red moon, correct?" Masaro said lightly, sipping his tea.

Everyone looked at him in shock.

I covered my mouth with one hand, trying hard to suppress my laughter.

But the more I thought of it, the funnier it seemed.

I laughed as all wide eyes were on me this time.

"Yes, very daring of you to ask,"

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°and cut!°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°