The Eastern Duchy of the Kingdom was home to the most Serene beachside and plentiful forests, kes, and rivers. It boasted the rgest agriculture industry as well as the rgest fisheries, and a close second to the south in mineral trading.

  The Grand Duchy also owns a rge portion of the Middleworld’s trading system across the entire Empire as well as internationally. This nature of the East makes it the business hub of the empire home of the many schors of the art of trade.

  This lends itself to a competitive environment that makes any noble who decides to settle in the East either turn themselves around or sink themselves in.

  House Lewis has always been one of the families that y on top of the mold. One of the closests aides to the Grand Duchy and a most loyal cortege to Ramirez. It has been a long standing tradition for the Heir of Lewis to serve the Duchy for some time before taking charge of the March. However, Asher Lewis was different for he had served the current young dy much longer than any of the previous heirs of the Marquis have done.

  “Asher.” Asher's father, the current Head of Lewis, Samuel Lewis, spoke as they sat alone at the dinner table. “Keep your back straight, such basic manners should be obvious to you at this point.”

  “Apologies, Father.” Asher kept his head down as he silently and unenthusiastically ate his food.

  “We will be meeting the next Marquess to sit beside you soon.” The Marquis spoke. “When you meet her, maintain proper conduct, and do not bring shame to our name.”

  “Understood, Father.” Asher clenched the knife and fork in his hands. He winced at the thought of being married to a woman he's never met before, especially since his heart still longs for another.

  Yet…there was no way he could disobey his father. The man who raised him, and fed him, and gave him a roof to sleep under. He had to repay all of the efforts he was given. That was his duty as a son.

  “Asher.” His Father spoke up again. “I understand that you still carry with you some nostalgic desire towards the Knighthood of Ramirez.”

  Asher remained silent.

  “I trust you will decide by yourself to forget such nonsense and quell your reservations towards the Lady of Lebedev from the South.” The Marquis split the meat in his pte with precision and pced it delicately in his mouth. “A connection with a top magnate in gemstones would only lead to a more profitable venture towards your future as the Head of Lewis.”

  Asher couldn't agree. He didn't want to disobey the honor he held for himself in his heart. A part of him believed that he didn't deserve this—but a part of him also didn't want to trouble his father.

  “Remember your mother, Asher.” Only a few words from his father was enough to send his spine crawling.

  “I–I understand, Father. I will meet with the Lady of Lebedev soon.”

  “Do not call her with such formality.” His Father finished his meal and stood up to walk towards him, pcing a cold palm on his shoulder. “She will be your wife after all.”

  “Of course, Father.”

  “Your marriage shall take pce in a few years time, whether or not you are prepared for such.” His father leaned in closer. “Your Lady of Ramirez will be invited so don't fret.”

  Asher squeezed his hands tighter. He held back his pain and anger and everything he has ever felt.

  That was his duty as a son.

  “Yes, Father.”

  He heard the slow clicking of his father's feet as the doors out of the dining room opened and closed shut.

  “My Lady, I wish to see your face again.” He leaned his forehead in his arms. He felt that he needed to cry but his pride as a Lewis prevented him to. “I want to feel the warmth of your hand, the strike of our bdes when they meet, the ughter that parts from your lips that only seeks to make a day any more brighter.”

  “Lady Alejandra, How I long for you so.” He stared towards the empty bnk ceiling. “I hope you're doing well in your ventures, whether or not I am by your side.” He whispered to himself.

  “I am but a man in search of soce and not a damsel seeking safety in distress.” Asher grimaced. “If I was but a woman to love and your heart a man to conquer, would it be unmistakable to seek for your elysium?”

  There was no answer for his questions within the dimly lit dining room.

  “Does my pride as a Knight mean nothing in front of my name as a noble?” He pursed his lips and stared at the food id before him, barely eaten and apart. “What use are my hands if not to serve you? What use of my heart if not to love you?”

  “Why should it be forced to another when yours is the only one it wants to tie itself to?” His tears tried everything to push itself back. “Lady Alejandra, does Asmodeus despise me so? That I can't even love you under the guise of a caring friend. That I can't even admire you merely as your Knight?”

  Asher stood up from his seat and eyed the door outside. A painful ache in his heart, a memory of a Father's embrace, and a broken portrait lose forever to heartbreak.

  “I will make you proud, Father.” Asher’s voice was shaking and trembling. “I will make you smile once more.”

  Far from the Lewis March in the East an elf was removing her suitcases from a worn carriage, an older gentleman of the same race stood next to her, meticulously eying his pocket watch.

  “Oi, Bou.” A dwarf stepped out of the carriage carrying an enormous amount of crates between his arms. “Ain't ya pops gonna help with ol’this?”

  “You know he’s weaker than a deer’s calf. He’d be crushed to death by a small suitcase.” Bou, an orange haired young female elf, chuckled as she helped the Dwarf settle down the load he was carrying.

  “Apologies, Dear Friend. I am simply clocking in the amount of time it took for us to get here!” The older male elf yelped excitedly, pushing his gsses up the bridge of his nose. “Perhaps it may add to my research after all!”

  “How in the hell does workin on ya timebob help ye with those books of yers?” The Dwarf rolled his eyes and Boudicca only patted his shoulder.

  “Don't get so agitated, Cavael.” Boudicca sighed. “Let's just get this to the inn and then we can rex for a few days before heading back.”

  “Heard yer ol’buddy Nabel is comin in’ere to drop off some big catch eh?” He finished setting down the boxes and leaned in on one of them. “I reckon both of ya haven't settled your qualms yet haven't ye?”

  “He didn't bother coming to the shop after the fight? How am I supposed to talk to him?”

  “Well ye were the one to tell the boy to not come back weren't ya?”

  “Well you had nothing to say back then as well didn't you?” Bou argued further. Her blue eyes gring intently at the dwarf. “Plus, weren't you the one who always told me to keep him out? There we go. He’s gone! Shouldn't you be happy?”

  “C’mon ssie. I didn't mean to kick’im out for good. Ya know that.” Cavael sighed.

  “Because of him, we made a show out of important nobles of the North as well.” Boudicca grumbled. “You don't know how much it hurts the business if he keeps doing that. That girl with the ice sword would have ruined us had we messed up.”

  “Well she didn't, did she?”

  “Cause she was nice.” Bou gred. “Imagine if she weren't?”

  “Listen’ere ss. Do you really not want to see that boy again?” Cavael approached her and the tough facade the elf was holding seemed to waiver.

  “If he doesn't apologize then I’ll never talk to him again.” Bou took her stance and the Dwarf could only sigh.

  “Alrightie’en, let's get these suckers off at the inn and take a break shan’t we?” Cavael picked up a couple of their products. “Get your dad, ss.”

  “Dad!” Boudicca called and the male elf who had found himself preoccupied with the fruit stalls jerked up.

  “He’s a lot isn't he?”

  “You tell me. It's like I'm the parent sometimes.”

  The three of the lot began to make their way across the busy street that was…particurly more busy than usual. They had to squeeze in as crowds gathered in certain areas and a few of them even began to surround them.

  “Yo Elfie!” A stranger called from afar. “Is that Demon Meat?”

  “Uhh yeah?”

  “Oh crap, who’s buying it?”

  “Smithson’s Inn…? What's the matte—” Before she could finish her follow up question, the stranger had already vanished.

  “Weird.” Cavael started sniffing the air, Dwarves had a particurly good sense of smell after all.

  “Peculiar indeed.” Bou’s dad added. “From my observations around and talking to the people, it seems there’s a distinct ck of supply regarding Demonic Beasts recently.”

  “Can’t be right.” Cavael scrunched up his eyebrows. “Demonic beasts are like the pgue, ye keep finding 'em wherever ye go in the wild.”

  “That's how it should be but…” He walked up to a stranger and began to converse with them then swiftly returned back to the other two after having gotten his needed information. “It seems the shortage has been happening for around a week or so now?”

  “Ain't the kid supposed to be bringin in prime game?” Cavael asked.

  “Which in of itself is a bit strange to be honest.” Boudicca stopped walking. “I mean, why would a new hunt suddenly be news around town.”

  Cavael realized what she meant. If the rate of the hunts had been like usual, Nabel’s party hunting down a demonic beast shouldn't be as big a surprise as it usually would.

  “Dad, can you get more information?” Boudicca asked her father who was intently staring at his pocket watch.

  “Ah! Yes honey! Wait…” He walked up to another stranger and began to talk a whole charade before returning once more to the two. “It appears that Nabel’s party had been the only group to return with a hunt this past few days.”

  “Speaks of their skill at least.” Boudicca bit her lip. “Do we know where they are?”

  “Not at all.” Her Dad spoke matter of factly.

  Cavael could tell the young girl was getting worried so he cheered himself up to alleviate her worries. “Hey now, Bou. Don't ya know that boy is quite the strong one.” He nudged her shoulder. “He can take down demonic beasts on his own no worries.”

  “I know but still…”

  “When the kid gets back—maybe ye can finally talk wouldn't you say?” Cavael suggested.

  “You're right.”

  “Now let's get’ere stash at the inn.” Cavael smiled mischievously. “If some good ol’prime meat is rarer than gold nowadays it's about time we upcharge the price don't ya think?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m saying we sell a little higher than usual.” He grinned and Bou scoffed at his suggestion.

  “Are you serious?” She gred at the dwarf once more. “The Smithson’s trust us with our prices, we can't just sell it to them for higher out of nowhere?”

  “Well they'll find us trusting them more if they buy it from us at a fair market price.” Cavael shrugged and ughed.

  “Why are you like this?”

  Cavael only ughed as they approached the inn.

  Somewhere else in the North, two people in a vintage office continue their conversation.

  “Mistress, What do you mean the Kingdom is working with the Devils?” Hesser grit his fists . “That's impossible—it took the entirety of both the Kingdom and the Empire's support to help the hero vanquish Exal, the Demon King.”

  “The Kingdom is scum, what do you expect from them?” Maddison paced around the room with a furious look in her eye.

  “This is—preposterous! Why would they–?” Hesser who stood up from his seat in panic now sat back down with a tired indignation. “The Devils have caused countless deaths across the Middle World, and unnecessary pain spread across generations—what has driven them this far?”

  “I—” Maddison stopped herself. Hesser had a point. It took almost all of the Kingdom and Empire's resources just to defeat the Demon Country in the North.

  Why would they suddenly switch their game and collude with the said monsters that once terrorized them as well. It couldn't be just pure pettiness towards the Empire. The Kingdom knows what it's risking by conspiring with the leftovers of the Demon King’s army.

  To do such a thing would not only risk the Royal Blood’s standing among people but also the actual state of affairs in their Nation. It makes no sense to take such a risk without significant reason.

  “What could be their reason…?” Maddison pondered and her back fell on the wall as she tried to think but no matter what, she couldn't wrap in her head a good idea as to why they would they do such a thing—

  Are they turning their back on the Goddess?

  “Elijah!” Maddison clicked her tongue and out her shadow, a young man slowly rose from the bck void.

  “Yes, Madam.” Elijah knelt and waited for orders.

  “Investigate this theory, find out what could possibly the Kingdom want, to the point that it makes them side with Demon Country.” Maddison commanded and just like that, without another peep, Elijah melted back into the shadows.

  “I do not doubt your judgment, Madam but…” Hesser's gaze was weary. “For once, I’d like you to be mistaken.”

  “If this conspiracy proves to be true…” Maddison purses her lips. “There is a far more dangerous worry than the war.”

  There was another wave of solemn silence that filled the office room. Maddison’s tapping on the wall was the only sound that reverberated as the two individuals thought long and hard about their next move.

  “Report any unusual activity to me immediately.” Maddison uncrossed her arms and prepared to leave as the door swung open on its own. “In the meantime, I’ll return to the capital to finish up the business against the copycats.” She began to walk out when her subordinate once more id out her name.

  “Wait, Madam!” Hesser called before she could slip away. “According to Katherine, our pns with the cartel surrounding the East have been safely greenlit—we’re now only waiting on the safe access through the trade routes.”

  Maddison stood like a statue by the door frame, unmoving, and refusing to turn back towards him. Her fists clenched and her heart shook.

  “Dispose of the Eastern cartel—we have no use for them anymore.” Maddison waved her hands dismissively.

  “Excuse me, Madam?”

  “They've engaged in sve trades and have come as obstacles to us in the past—it’s only right to dispose of them before they stab us in the back.” She reasoned.

  Hesser hesitated, her words made sense and there was a valid rationale around each statement, however…

  He could clearly tell there was something more behind it. This dismissive decision wasn't based on logic, it was based on her emotions that she only validated with reason.

  “Madam…What of the Daughter of Grand Duke?” His voice was of a serious tone and the pressure immediately increased tenfold. Hesser could feel his knees turn weak and a sudden inclination to kneel and beg for forgiveness.

  “What of her?”

  Hesser choked but he managed to keep his footing. He decided to test his Mistress if she still held absolute neutrality towards her methods to achieving goal. “Shall we dispose of her since you now deem her useless?”

  Just like that a sudden thwack of force struck him right in the chest and sent him stuck on the far wall behind him. Blood left his mouth as he struggled to breathe. Something was keeping him pinned on the concrete wall and floating in the air.

  “You will do nothing of the sort.” Maddison's voice was smooth. It was a side of her Hesser has never seen before. She turned his gaze towards him and crippling fear overwhelmed him like no other. “Shall a single hair of hers be cut by the Underworld, I will tear down this entire section and make anew my own.”

  Hesser gulped, she wasn't lying.

  “Do. You. Understand?” She spoke every word with emphasis.

  “Of course, Madam.” He fell down with a thud, his knees smming on the messy office floor beneath him. The shockwave of the force and the impact of said force had sent papers flying everywhere.

  “Good.”

  Hesser may have agreed to her conditions but he has seen her grow up and he watched her get hurt. He watched her slowly turn into the cold heartless girl she is now. He watched her put everything aside for her dream after Jamie had abandoned her. He watched the shine on her eyes vanish into the void.

  He allowed himself a few words. “You've gotten soft.”

  Maddison who walked through the scattered sheets paused.

  He continued his few words. “You may think of yourself as a monster, an outcast, a witch, or even an irredeemable shame.” He looked at her with care in his eyes. “But you're still a young girl with a human heart.”

  Maddison said nothing and walked out of the room.

  Not a few seconds ter, someone came knocking on the door. It was one of their members who came to report something. “Uhhh…Sir?”

  “What's it now?” Hesser id his back on the wall as he sat on the wall, his office still incredibly messy.

  “The White Cats have arrived.”

  As the Underworld makes its move against the Kingdom, a party of five is currently dealing with its fragmented forces.

  The dust settled from the crash as Nabel’s bde made contact with…air?

  No. It wasn't air. It was more like a shimmer or a piece of fine gss so thin you could barely make out that it's there.

  Whatever it was, it was tough enough to withstand a full force attack from Nabel’s thunder magic, a strike he didn't hold back any strength for.

  “How–?!” Nabel grit his teeth as his sword rattled along the invisible barrier.

  “Magic.” The man grinned and suddenly the barrier enrged itself and pushed back on the elven male so hard it unched him backwards towards his party.

  His feet regained their hold on the ground as he skidded on the dirt, using friction to slow down his momentum. “Brace yourselves.” He addressed his friends. “That man is an Adjudicator.”

  The rest of his team shifted in their positions. A tense heaviness weighed down on their chests. They won't just be fighting any normal skilled knight. They would be fighting someone with Magic born from desire, a magic more powerful than those born from elements.

  There was a calm in the air between them as the man stared them down and they stood there waiting for his move.

  He reached down towards his pockets…

  Nabel twitched, prepared to deflect any oncoming attack…however, all that came out in his hand was a cigar and lighter.

  “You all really brought this upon yourself.” He chuckled. “I wasn't assaulting that elf—Hahahaha!” He ughed. “It was a joke! Learn to take one.”

  “Then why was she hurt!” Alina scowled, she pointed towards the Unconscious elf id beside them. “Her—her legs were spread and her—it was—it was vioted!” There was a spitefulness with each tone she spoke.

  “Fair not—I didn't use it myself.” He shrugged. “We merely needed women that could carry the child of a demon. So we—well pushed some of their seed inside her.” He took out a rge syringe like shape out from his coat.

  “What…” Hotaru looked horrified.

  Alina gagged and Lee clenched her shield hard. Bruce gnced back at Nabel who's eyes pointed towards the ground.

  “We may be involved in sve trade but this wasn't one of those occasions.” He sighed. “We've tried human, dwarf, all types of beastmen, even the orcs and ogres. As, Elves seem to be able to conceive Demons the best.”

  “You’re—you’re worse than scum.” Lee’s expression was a contortion of anger and disgust. “Why would you side with demons!?”

  “AHAHAHA!” He ughed hard, the sve trader could only find amusement towards their terrified expressions. “All is fair in love and war missy.”

  “Are you done speaking?” Nabel stood up, his feet crackling with electricity and the hair all around him lifting from the static shock. His once exhausted body pushing itself once more.

  “Nabel…don't be rash.” Lee tried to pull him back but she was suddenly shocked by the sparks that burst from him. “Ah!”

  “He’s mad…madder than any time I’ve seen him.” Bruce panicked and then turned to look at the rest of their party. “We’ll just have to back you up huh, Nabel?”

  Nabel turned to smile at him and he nodded. “You always know me the best, Bruce.” He teased as, in a blink, all that stood before them was a puff of dust.

  A massive explosion boomed out of nowhere as the cracking of thunder snapped all around the vicinity. Nabel’s sword, once again being blocked by the barrier made by the Sve Trader.

  “Blocked again.” The scum spoke with confidence.

  “If my sword can't break through your barriers…” He swiftly stepped out of the man’s range. “I’ll just have to strike so fast, you won't be able to make them in time.”

  “Bring it.”

  Nabel struck forward again and the man managed to block his powerful attack once more.

  There was an issue, however. He had completely clocked that Nabel was the strongest one amongst the five of them that were here and because of that he had completely dismissed the existence of the other four.

  That was his mistake.

  An arrow struck him right at the back of his knee.

  “Aagh!” He screamed as Bruce grinned bouncing from treetop to treetop.

  “And a strike!” The short man ughed as he ran on the branches

  He tried to turn towards the archer's direction but he couldn't take his eyes off of the elven male beside him as another swift strike from the thundering sword was barely blocked by his barriers.

  “Hotaru!” Lee screamed as she rushed forward, shield up, smming into the man with powerful brute force. Only she ended up smming into a barrier instead.

  Lee didn't think she was gonna be able to hit anyways, she was far too slow for that, she only really needed to provide an opening for her faster allies.

  Due to the barrier being focused on Lee, Hotaru sneaked in from his left and unsheathed a knife, with which she managed to stab directly to his side.

  “You only deserve the worst.” The bear woman grit her teeth as she dug her bde deep into the side of his abdomen.

  “Gragh!” Blood spilt from the Sve Trader’s mouth.

  He was dying. He was going to lose. How were they doing this?

  He was strong?

  He should be stronger than all of them!?

  How was he losing!?

  “I saw through your Magic with the few attacks I made against you.” Nabel’s spiteful smile creeped in his face. “Whenever you activate your barriers, you are always facing my direction. So I had a thought—what if we attacked behind you while you were facing someone else. Basic right?” He cockily ughed.

  “You bastard!” The Sve Trader spat.

  “You thought you were fighting me?” Nabel dashed around him and as Lee and Hotaru provided another opening he managed to swoop in and, with a thundering roar, cut the man's arm off. “Wrong. You were fighting us!” He finished it off by sshing down on his ankle sending him to his knees.

  “NOW ALINA!” All of them yelled, as Lee charged forward once again, Hotaru snuck up at the side, Bruce sent multiple arrows, and Nabel prepared to unleash another strike.

  They had given the sve trader a simple choice.

  How was he going to die?

  “BURN TO DEATH YOU WORTHLESS FUCK!” Alinas screamed with all her gut and stomped her staff on the ground.

  A thundering pulsating bst of fme rained from the sky as symbols formed and sered down at his location.

  “AAAAAAAAAAGH!” The Sve Trader screamed as he felt his flesh melt and the burn of the fmes slowly tear every single part of his body.

  “He can't block everything can he?” Nabel mumbled as he felt the Magic of the barriers slowly dissipate in their surroundings.

  The rest of them took a step back to gaze at the charred corpse in front of them.

  Alina had the strongest attack from the group but she had to take a long time channeling, he would've died anyway had he chosen to block it as their four other attacks would've hit him instead.

  “Phew.” Alina slumped from way behind them. “We did it guys!” She raised her hands in the air along with her staff as she celebrated calling everyone over.

  She then started dancing like a dumbass as Hotaru rolled her eyes at her.

  “Why are you always embarrassing yourself?” Bruce ughed as he sat at the top of one of the giant trees.

  “Shut up, shortie!” Aline gave him the middle finger.

  Bruce looked offended at her. “Dumb hopeless broad!”

  Lee ughed at the rest of them. She leaned down to help Nabel up. “Let's go? There should still be people inside that cave.”

  “Right.” Nabel smiled and stood up, he was kneeling down from all the exhaustion, but a shiver ran down his neck.

  He took a gnce back and it was already outside squirming like a monstrous beast. A body of gigantic serpent had burst out of the cave at a speed even Nabel’s eye couldn't catch.

  What just happened?

  Nabel swore there was nothing there before?

  How did it move that fast in silence?

  Wait—

  It was already beyond the three of them, it’s head was already past them…it was already—

  Nabel snapped his head towards where Alina stood…

  Where Alina once stood.

  Half of her body was missing.

  The remaining half fell ft on the dirt alongside all the blood that spilled out.

  Her staff was snapped as it id beside her.

  Looming over her body was the head of the giant snake that had, in blinding speed, devoured half of the female elf’s body. One of her hands is still peeking out of its lips.

  It had only been in books. In fact, nobody believed it still existed. After all, it should've been sealed all those years ago.

  Favaros, Exal’s Serpent Familiar.

  It's here.

  …

  “”DUCHESS!” A voice rang in the cold office. “I beg of you! Listen to me!”

  The Northern Duchess leaned on her seat as she eyed the blue haired dark skinned man that stood in front of her. She knew who this was—and it could only mean bad things.

  “Oathskeeper…” Amelia grimaced. She had only read of him in the books. He had been described as someone with handsome androgynous features and the capability to bring forth ambiguous prophecies. The previous Dukes and Duchesses spoke of his appearance only when something truly big was about to happen.

  In previous cases it either meant miracles…or something worse than she could even think of.

  “Indeed.” The Oathskeeper eyed her, as if scanning and evaluating her. Amelia was wary of this man, he held no killing intent—in fact he held no intent at all—like he was just a doll. “I have come bearing news, Your Grace.”

  “May I ask a question?” She waved her hand off first. “Why do you always appear in the North and nowhere else—in fact why not appear in the Grand Cathedral in the South. The Priests would appreciate you, o’ messenger of the gods?”

  The Oathskeeper didn't break eye contact. “Your family…has always been the bearer of prophecy.” He expined. “And it shall continue to be so.”

  Amelia could immediately tell she was not going to get a proper answer for her question. She noticed she had the silver wolven sigil on his coat, something you can only receive from the highest authority in the north. The Duke or Duchess.

  Which means…he had received it before from a previous head of Azarol.

  Because of this, Amelia took notice of his words. They carried a basis within them as her ancestors deemed the man trustworthy.

  “Speak your riddle then, immortal one.” Amelia raised an eyebrow, her tone clearly showed her unamused attitude. “I will decide from your words whether or not it is fallible.”

  The Oathskeeper rolled his eyes and paced around the room. “A hero has arrived in the North. A hero who will end up defending it from the Demon’s resurgence.”

  “W-wait—Demons!?” Amelia stood from her seat. “The Denon country has long since been vanquished–only their mindless beasts remain!”

  The Oathskeeper didn't answer her query and merely continued the prophecy. “Lest they stand strong and proud the world shall turn to darkness.” He turned his eyes and stared directly into the Duchess’s eyes. “Shall they fail, the void will consume all.”

  There was a deafening silence that hung in the room.

  It took a few seconds and the Oathskeeper started to walk out of the office.

  “H-Hold on there!” The Duchess yelled after him. “At least expin what you had just said!”

  “There is no expnation.” He reiterated. “However, I will say one thing—if you want your family to survive—make them strong enough to.”

  Just like that he left.

  Not a single other word.

  Amelia fell back to her seat dumbfounded.

  She had only arrived back at her castle after a pleasant conversation with her niece—then she was greeted with an audience with him.

  What was she supposed to do?

  A bst of information was just given to her without any context.

  A hero had arrived in the North…?

  Did he mean Alejandra?

  Is her niece prophesied to be the one to save the whole North. Not just that, the whole Middleworld?

  That burden.

  Does it really belong to such a young girl?

  “Amelia?” A voice came from the doorway. It was Hana, her secretary.

  “My Hana? What would be the matter?” Amelia faked a smile.

  The pink fox woman walked up to her and stood beside the Duchess. “You seem to have a lot on your mind.”

  “I could never hide it from you.” Amelia’s face scrunched up as multiple thoughts filled her mind. A looming sense of doom in her chest was sinking deeper and deeper. Something big was brewing.

  “You shouldn’t even try.” Hana teased.

  “Noted.” Amelia smiled back at her. Being around her always seemed to lighten the stress of being the Northern Duchess. What would she do without her?

  “Anyways, I have some news.” Hana scooted over and sat on the Duchess's p.

  “What may that be?” The Duchess leaned her tired head on the pink haired fox woman's chest.

  Hana smiled. “Millo’s come home.”