There was a cold whisper in the darkness.

  Alejandra shifted in her sleep. She had just arrived in the North yesterday. She remembered speaking to her Aunt, the Northern Knights taking her luggage into her room in the castle, Teri and Soyeon both being assigned their quarters, and her bidding her Aunt a good night before she headed off to sleep.

  She remembered everything so there was no worry there.

  But for some reason…her entire head felt like it had just been shaken around violently. It was hazy and bleak and everything felt blurry. It was an extremely painful migraine that made it hard to even think straight.

  She shuffled in her bed.

  Something was missing… she could feel it… like she missed something crucial.

  In her head was a hazy bck mist, she couldn't tell if she was awake and hallucinating or asleep and simply dreaming.

  “I have such privilege to see thou again, Dear Master.” The same choir of voices from back at the Imperial Pace spoke to her.

  Then, like a horrible memory, familiar blue eyes once again shone through the hazy dark mist.

  “Who are you?” She could speak this time around. It was a miracle. Her echoed out through the sheer emptiness of the bck void.

  “Thou hast grown more powerful since the st time I’ve spoken to thee. Quite peculiar.” The mass of voices seemed to be smiling as Alejandra felt its eyes gaze holes into her body. “Thy Spirit is unruly and… disorderly.”

  “You didn't answer my question.” Alejandra tightened her grip. She took a step forward to approach the being beyond the mist but the creature ughed as she did so.

  Alejandra felt chills run her spine as the creeping feeling of dread infused completely into her body.

  “I would advise thee not to continue further, Dear Master.” There was a menacing tone to its voice. “Unless thou desire to lose thy body to mine soul once more.”

  “A-At least answer my question!” Alejandra faked her confidence. This was the first she had felt something this primordial in her mind. A feeling of fear so deeply rooted it cannot be compared to anything else, even against the gaze of death.

  “Dear Master, faith is one thing humanity naturally adheres to, be it one they desire or one they choose to deny.” It began to expin. “Faith is exceptional, for even if thou disregards its existence it will continue to exist in one’s life.”

  “S-stop speaking in riddles.”

  “Ahahahahah.” It ughed horribly. “Do not fret, I am neither Devil nor demon. However, shall your choices lead up to it… I can be sooo much worse.”

  “Th-that's not the point in my question!” Alejandra mistakenly took another step forward and in that instant, she felt like there was suddenly a hand that pierced right through her chest and was gripping her actual heart in its palms.

  “The Goddess shall gaze upon her subjects with pity but they will always revere her, whether or not she values their lives.” The being continued to speak. “Dear Master, Do you believe Asmodeus cares for her people?”

  “I-I—” She struggled to answer as the palm began to squeeze her heart. She was struggling to breathe. It was like her chest was tightening to a deadly degree. “Pl-please….gack!” Tears flowed down her eyes as she dropped to her knees. “I–I can't breathe–” She desperately cwed at her throat and her chest. “AAAAAAAAAAAH!” She screamed, the primal fear that built up in her body flew out in shockwaves.

  Alejandra was sure she was actually dying.

  “My Lady?!” A faraway voice called in concern.

  The young heiress’s eyes opened in an instant and she jolted up immediately. She pushed down her covers and tried to get out of her bed but she fell down to the floor. Her knees were shaking and her face was incredibly pale. “Haaah~ Haaah~” She breathed in and out loudly, to reassure to herself that she could.

  She found herself gncjng towards the freezing sword that was pced beside her bed.

  “My Lady, I’m coming in!” Soyeon rushed in with a wooden stick in her hands. “Get out you bastard!” She came in, eyes closed, hands swinging, followed by a handful of guards.

  “S-Soyeon.” Alejandra’s hair was disheveled, her night dress was falling off, and her face was tear stricken. “G-get me some water please.”

  “M-My Lady?!” She dropped her stick and started gncing around before remembering she was ordered to do something. “Oh! Ah! Yes! I’ll also fetch Teresa!”

  The guards walked over and helped sit herself back up in the bed instead of being left all over the floor. They then left in a hurry as she had to change into a more presentable outfit.

  A few moments ter Teri charged into the room and stared into her Lady. “Lady Alejandra—Soyeon told me she heard you screaming…”

  “Teri…” Alejandra smiled… She rubbed her forehead to ease the still remaining migraine but she was happy to see her closest friend come see her after that experience. “I-I’m fine.”

  “My Lady, may I sit next to you?”

  “Of course.”

  Teresa walked over and sat next to her in bed, she then took out a comb from her person and started brushing the Lady’s hair. “It's been a while since you've had nightmares, My Lady.”

  Alejandra blinked, how could she tell so quickly?

  Teresa read her expression and giggled. “I’ve been taking care of you for so long, My Lady. I’ve grown to be capable to understand each of your different circumstances.”

  Alejandra smiled and took a deep breath before beginning to expin what she saw.

  “It was…terrifying. I've never felt something so real before.” Alejandra expined. “I felt like I was actually dying.”

  Teresa frowned but continued to brush Alejandra's hair. “I see…”

  “It was…I don't know how to expin it.” She covered her face in her palms. The dream both felt vivid and surreal. As if it was both a false and truthful experience.

  “Maybe a walk would do you some good, My Lady.” Teresa comforted her. Despite being 3 years younger, Teri always knew how to help her in times like these. Sometimes Alejandra thought she was the older of the two of them.

  “MY LADY!” Soyeon arrived with a cup of water atop a silver tray. “I have brought water!”

  Alejandra saw the enthusiastic girl and couldn't help but smile. “Thank you, Soyeon.” She took the cup of water and drank it in one go. “Shall we get ourselves fixed? We have some business to attend to on the city streets.”

  The two maids' eyes shone in excitement. “I’ll make your preparations ready, My Lady.” Teri helped her up and into the mirror to fix her hair.

  “I-I’ll get the stuff we're bringing along!” Soyeon spoke up and rushed outside again.

  As Teri fixed her hair Alejandra gnced outside the window. There was a chestnut tree that had its leaves coated in snow. She watched it become too heavy and the snow plop down to the ground.

  She winced and turned back to face herself in the mirror. She was still the same person.

  “I wonder how Asher's doing?”

  “Shall we write him a letter?”

  “Let's do so together ter, Teresa.”

  “Much obliged, My Lady.” A bright smile formed on her lips.

  As the Heiress of Ramirez prepared herself to go out into town, a woman sat alone in her office sifting through papers and fixing some documents.

  “Your Grace, I have something to report.” One of the guards she stationed near Alejandra's room st night cam?e over. Amelia raised an eyebrow and gestured her hand for the Knight to come in.

  He walked towards her table and bowed his head down. “Earlier this morning, The Lady let out a blood curdling scream as soon as she woke up, her maids seem to have taken care of the issue, however.”

  Amelia frowned. “What did you do then?”

  The guard perked up and froze. “Uhhh— We simply helped the Lady back to her bed and left her alone.”

  Amelia sighed and stood up. “Where is my niece? I shall promptly speak with her.” She stood up but a gre came from another woman who stood beside the Duchess.

  “I’m afraid you will not, Your Grace.” The woman spoke with venom. “You have left me these paperworks for far too long. It is your turn to do your job.” She did not hold back her annoyance and the Duchess could only wince at her words. The guard shuffled his way outside, afraid of what's about to come.

  It was a dy named Hana, a full blooded fox beastman, and the Duchess' closest aide and secretary. “My Niece has gotten into some trouble, I must go and tend to her, Hana.”

  “You know what's in trouble, Your Grace?” She pushed up her gsses and dropped another set of documents on the table. “The granary houses have had issues with countless pests, the mines in the east side have had several demon sightings, and there's been an increase in the illegal harvesting of the Promethean Trees.”

  “I–”

  “Your Grace, in the name of the goddess, I will actually die shall you delegate any more of your work to me.” She id out in front of the bck haired woman.

  Even with her rge body, power, and authority… The Duchess can't find any way to win an argument over Hana.

  The Duchess sat back down with resignation. Hana smiled brightly and continued her work on the side as the Duchess did hers.

  Amelia took a gnce at Hana. She was an adult fox beastman, with her pink ears sticking out and her long pink hair falling graciously behind her. A tail was also wagging behind her waist as the clothing they have here in the North can accommodate such things.

  She wore light blue gsses and her face was plum and pretty. You’d hardly guess she was close to her 40s. She had started working for Amelia ever since Amelia became the Duchess.

  Because of this, there is no one in the world that Amelia trusts more than her. They've been with each other for about 20 years, so of course a strong bond would’ve been built between them working together so closely for so long.

  “Hana? What's next in my schedule after this?” The Duchess asked as she signed a few more of the documents on the table.

  “A meeting with House Cafe reting to a recent major issue, Your Grace.” Hana looked through the schedule and handed it over to Amelia.

  “Cafe? Alexander?” Amelia groaned. “This is going to be a pain in my ass isn't it?”

  “I’m not sure a noble like yourself should be so crass.” Hana commented and Amelia rolled her eyes.

  In an act of defiance the Duchess reached over and pulled on the fox’s long tail. Hana yelped and smacked her hand away as fast as possible. “Hahahaha!” Amelia ughed heartily.

  “Your Grace! I have told you many times that my tail is extremely sensitive!” Her face was beet red and her gre was immacute.

  “This is a lot more fun than those endless meetings. '' Amelia grumbled and leaned on the table staring at Hana. “What is that man going to compin about this time?”

  “With all due respect, Marquis Alexander is an honorable man.” Hana pushed up her gsses again to scold Amelia. “He’s been helping us maintain livelihood in the North for as long as I’ve held this position.”

  “I know.” Amelia stared out the window. “He’s always been a big weight off my shoulders because of that.”

  “So why are you—”

  “It’s the only time I can be an Aunt to my Niece.” Amelia had a difficult expression on her face. “I’d like to spend some of my time with my Alejandra while I can.”

  Hana frowned and walked over next to her. “You know, if you listened to Miss Roselia, you’d live a little longer.” Hana’s voice was parched, like she was holding back emotions.

  “I have…I haven't released my Spirit in so long.” Amelia grit her teeth. “I’ve been using it as sparingly as possible, that's the only reason I made it at my age.”

  “And yet you have no heir.” Hana teased.

  “I have no need for such…” She scoffed. “I have enough on my pte already, a husband would only add to my problems. I already have you here by my side anyhow.”

  “I feel sorry for whoever's the next Head of Azarol.” Hana smirked.

  “That's Carmil’s job in the future.” Amelia sighed. “She may not be able to use Spirit but she is still a considerably powerful knight with a skill in politics.”

  “I feel like Lady Carmil would rather have you continue longer as the Azarol head.” Hana reached over and patted the Duchess' head, an act most would not be capable of doing. “I, myself, would like you to stay alive a little longer too, Your Grace.”

  Amelia turned to face Hana, there was a yearning in her gaze as the powerful Duchess stared at her closest friend and ally. She then closed her eyes as she rexed herself into Hana’s head pats. “I’ll try to live a little longer…”

  “I will be here with you.” The Fox smiles and kisses Amelia’s hair.