Lily's Point of View

In the end, I never found out what secret that Magdalin and Asher are keeping. Of course I asked both of them separately, but Magdalin said it was 'nothing' and Asher said it was a surprise for when we got back. I even tried to pressure him by narrowing my eyes at him, but he just gave an unaffected polite smile back.

While I am not against the two of them keeping a secret, it is odd that Magdalin would keep one with someone else... but, it also a good thing. She is getting more close friends.

Thus I decided not to bother them any further and just await the surprise. After all, it was supposed be to be a happy one.

"Lord Tepet," Princess Emilia calls out the window of our carriage. Usually he would be in a carriage of his own as we are heading to a party, but he insisted on riding among the knights just in case. Princess Emilia didn't speak against it.

Emilia directs her attention to Magdalin and I as Lionel rides up next to us. He's in formal wear, medals and everything. It's been quite a while since I saw him this dressed up. Still, it looks like he feels better after visiting his family.

The faint signs of lack of sleep are gone, and his eyes seem clearer now.

With a gentle feeling of relief I focus back at Princess Emilia, who is seemingly doing her best not to curl up on the carriage seat in her frilly violet dress, while looking rather uncomfortable.

"We have received a message from Headal. Apparently Princess Catarina of Crinia will be meeting us at the entrance."

...Ugh...

The author?

No wonder Princess Emilia looks so uncomfortable.

The last meeting at Ice Claw Keep was far from good. Catarina even spent most of that meeting insulting and taunting Lionel, so why would she come out to greet us?

I had hoped she would stay away, or at least formal by prince Jacques' side until the contract was signed, but I suppose she did have some fascination with me last time.

See, even Lionel grimaces at the thought. His shoulders even slump down and he lets out a visible sigh.

At the least, Catarina should behave until the contract is signed... but seeing how neither Helena of Jesmaine act with that sort of consideration, I get the nagging feeling that Catarina will not be able to contain herself either.

"And that Catarina used to be a man."

...what?

I stare at Emilia dumbstruck for a moment as she says that.

A man?!

No, wait. That would somehow make sense.

A male perverted author would make the school uniform that short and revealing without hesitation.

But, if Catarina, Helena and Jesmaine are like that... then what kind of person will King Landon be? And... what will I do when I meet him?

I feel my stomach knot up. I cannot think of a way to split that snake's guts from his body without risking the safety of the country, my family or my promise to Kenta as things are right now... but if he just once tries to harm Emilia, then I'll tear him apart. I reach for the pendant through the lace of the dress, clasping it tightly.

"Lily."

Lionel's call draws my eyes to him. His eyes have hints of a piercing worry, as though he is trying to figure out what is going on inside my mind.

"With that dangerous look in your eyes you might be mistaken for your brother."

...

I glance down to the pendant, and slowly release it together with a deep breath. Will this really go well? Lionel is fairly observant, but if I can't hide my spite to the point he feels the need to point it out, then how will I react when I meet King Landon face to face?

"I see. It is fine now."

I say that partly to convince myself, but also to promise it. Once it's promised to someone, it is easier to keep. Judging by the still remaining worry, Lionel doesn't seem convinced my by words, but his expression softens a bit.

"...good. We will be arriving in about ten minutes," Lionel reports to us, still looking a bit tense. He gives a slight bow to Emilia before speeding up to rejoin the knights ahead of us.

"Lily-sama?"

Magdalin puts one of her gloves hands on mine. Looking at me with even more worry than Lionel did just now.

"Asher and I might not be standing right by your side as Lionel-sama will, but if you need me I will be there immediately."

She looks up at me with such a determined gaze in her pale grey eyes. Whatever secret her and Asher are keeping, I wish that Magdalin will really, finally, find the love she wishes for.

I give Magdalin a soft smile.

"Thank you, Magdalin."

I should do my best to get through this. At worst I can take my anger out on whoever started spreading the rumor that Magdalin is a changeling.

-—*—-

We finally reach the Castle Duvin.

As you might have expected, this is a castle built for war. We had to drive through four gates before we finally reached the inner courtyard, each of which are heavily guarded. The Tepet knights riding along the carriage have been incredibly tense as well, so I suspect that the walls along the path have been quite heavily guarded as well. As in, if they wanted we would be like rabbits in a snare.

The carriage finally stops, and the door opens. Asher helps out Magdalin, and Darius helps out Emilia's lady in waiting...

I do not agree with using Darius as a guard, but if this goes wrong, then he may indeed be the only one that could get her out alive... maybe...

Lionel reaches his hand to be as I begin to exit the carriage. He is still tense. Of course, as Lionel is my escort I take his hand.

Now I think about it, I've never actually been escorted by Lionel before... nor seen him escort anyone either.

A sudden chilling feeling jolts through my body, and the hairs on the nape of rise. What is this? I glance around discretely.

Something feels wrong.

The Headal knights and guards are watching us, but they don't seem anxious or tense.

I direct my gaze to the castle.

Despite that, is it a trap?

Unsurprisingly, the castle staff are watching us from the windows. Even with the window reflections, you can see the bits of white on their uniforms.

"Do you see anything?" Lionel says under his breath after giving my hand a little squeeze.

I go over the windows again, but the unsettling feeling doesn't go away.

"...no."

I get out of the carriage properly and watch as Darius nervously tries to help Emilia out of the carriage. He ends up blankly flustered as Emilia decides that she doesn't want to let go of his hand, and orders him to escort her by holding her hand.

"Milady. The ghosts report that there may still be remnants of House Salender's spies among the servants."

Asher warns us, probably relaying the message from the ghosts hearing Lionel's words just now.

"...I see-"

"Lily-chan!"

...chan? Who is the idiot that clearly haven't a need for their eyes anymore?

Catarina bursts out the castle door with excitement gleaming in her eyes as she spots me. Unlike last time she isn't wearing armor, but instead a scarlet red dress cut so low you can see the beginning of the mounds of her bosom, and far down the valley between them.

She happily hops down the stairs with no regard for the movement of her female shapes, even nearly dashing up in front of me like a child that were receiving their first wooden sword.

"Oooo! As I thought, you look the best in a dress! Not in a simple dress like that though, well, not that it's simple, since there's a lot of embroidery and laces, but there is just not at all enough frills. I made you to look the cutest in really cute and frilly dresses, not something like this that's almost sleep and shows off how you don't really have anything in the right places-"

...don't you dare insult my clothing style when you yourself is dressed like a whore! You haven't even introduced yourself!

While her dress isn't covered in as many gems as Adela's dress was when I first got here, it is still a dress seemingly focused on displaying her body. Why would a former man choose that kind of dress?!

"Could you do a little twirl for me Lily-chan?"

Catarina's eyes sparkle. Meanwhile I feel my eye twitch. A twirl? A twirl?!

"No," I answer her promptly. I am not a doll for you to admire, even if you created Lily originally. Certainly she wasn't this bad last time?!... no, wait, she was. I vaguely remember her brushing off Jacques fine introduction and that same look on her face when she mentioned dressing me up.

Catarina looks visibly disappointed. Perhaps this will finally remind her of the order of things?

"Princess Catarina, we should head inside," Emilia notes patiently, while gripping tightly onto Darius' hand. She's even standing a bit up against Darius with a cautious look in her eyes.

With this Catarina glances to Emilia slowly.

"So she's actually real. I guess we did consider their existence, to think that that would actually make them exist though."

She looks Emilia up and down, then back to me with a somewhat sullen look.

"It's your fault, isn't it? That she's wearing a dress that isn't cute at all."

Cute as in covered with frills and ribbons?

"I had no hand in-"

"What?!"

Catarina cuts me off with widened eyes as she steps around me with that gleam in her eyes again... as she sets her eyes on Asher.

"Why is the prototype character here?"

I look back to Asher, while feeling momentary pity. As for Asher, he just glances to the side, completely ignoring her excitement.

"The project leader drew him up as Claire's childhood friend stereotype, but we never implemented him into the game or the story."

Again, she starts looking over him like he's a statue.

"Princess Catarina, these non-formalities should be continued after the contract is finalized," I remind her, while trying not to growl those words out.

Catarina stops with a slight jolt, then shrugs with a sigh before stepping back to stand in front of me again.

"I would've liked to talk more before going in, but I suppose business is business. Now, Lily-chan, let me escort you."

Catarina gives me a happy smile and reaches her hand out towards me, requesting the hand that is still, and has been in Lionel's with seemingly full confidence that I am going to take her hand.

Are you kidding me?

Who would take that hand?!