…And the Conqueror rose above the ground, lifted by Ja’s power.

“Listen to my voice, it is accompanied by the Gods'! Listen to my words because they are key to reach the calm sea of Trayx! Our enemies are at our doors, bloodthirsty and vile, but you walk in the steps of the divine. Your glory is assured, our victory unavoidable! Follow your queen, my heart, the most beautiful and ferocious of us humans. Our Imperatrix! Follow her through the battle that shall overturn the war, that shall mark history forever!”

The voice of the hero echoed through the battlefield, without stopping, without weakening.

Millions of men and women raised their weapons, their eyes captivated by their sovereign who had appeared on top of the watchtower.

She was wearing armour, her green eyes were showing rage and hatred. She lifted both her daggers in the air, then, without a word, pointed them towards the wave of fanatics at the horizon, towards the Firantes who desired the end of mankind.

The army of women and men sang the song of the brave.

“Turn of the war”, Vanessa, Sacred Book of the God Ja and his apostles.

“Jarl?” The Imperatrix talked to the God-Touched in front of Nay. He immediately took a knee.

“Imperatrix. End pretends that she has forsaken the Firantes of the Unbroken ones. The intel claiming she was raised by Ra’fa Jarket and our former Sergeant-General are, according to her, true.”

“Preposterous. If Marke had discovered her that young, he would have executed her on the spot. Do you understand what they are trying to accomplish with this masquerade?”

“No, I hoped you would be the one answering that question, mother.”

Imperatrix Hyn expressed her annoyance with a disdainful sniff. She walked towards Nay until she stood right in front of her.

“Mother…” Jarl warned. “She is armed.”

“I’m not a cripple, I noticed…answer-me, End.

“You betrayed the clan.” Said Nay finally.

“Betrayed? No, they are the ones that betrayed us, me, Lebe, and all of their ancestors who broke out of the Gynaecium King’s grasp. They ruined the gift given to them, freedom, deliverance, and transformed themselves willingly in what they had once tried to fell. I am one of the only ones who claimed my disapproval, and they exiled me. But you know all of this, they convinced you my choices were evil, transformed you into a monster. Is this why you’re here, to assassinate me? You think that because I can’t kill you I can’t defend myself? Well, what are you waiting for, unsheathe your sword.”

The Imperatrix’s expression was pure anger, but still, her face stayed perfection incarnate. Her skin was the same pale colour as Nay’s, and she had high cheekbones that could have made her face angular, if not for her round cheeks, full lips, and oval chin. Her long dark hair, black as charcoal, was held in a complex bun reminiscent of traditional Jarulavian hairstyles. She wore a carmine robe, and nothing else. The clothing made her look ethereal. Despite all this, Nay couldn’t admire the woman in front of her. She was far too lost in the Firante Rreico and the violet eyes to see anything else.

The Imperatrix turned towards her son again.

“Is she simple of mind?”

“No mother, I don’t think so. I have the feeling she is honestly surprised by your origins.”

“Absurdities.” But the Imperatrix gave the young Legio a calmer examination.

“You are badly dressed, and your hair is a reprehensible mess.”

“I…you massacred your own family, and took the command of the army of their enemies.”

“Yes, that is what I have done. You are an extraordinary actress.”

Nay rose back on her feet and held herself straight in front of Imperatrix Hyn. The young Legio was at least four inches taller than her. Jarl tried to get in between them, but Hyn stopped him with a gesture.

“My name is Nay, I am Marke and Ra’fa’s daughter. I was an apprentice Virnyl guard until the awakening of my powers attracted an Angel in Gite. Commandare Darkstar decided that my death was a necessity, as he hoped it would prevent the monster’s arrival in his city, but my father saved me and they both…I left the city, met with master Vestigio, Sage Jormun. He told me you could teach me more, teach me about the shadows haunting me. I didn’t think I would ever meet you, but here I am. I am Nay, the last Master Legio.”

The Imperatrix had shown no emotion, neither on her face nor in her Rreico, during the young girl’s whole monologue. But when Nay talked about Legios, this was when the Imperatrix’s eyes widened.

“That is the lie too much, End. Legios have been founded to destroy us, Ves trained the greatest army, the greatest men for this sole objective. Marke letting you live? Unbelievable, but possible. That you received a Legio’s training and succeeded? No.” The Imperatrix backed off, and undid her hair, letting it flow freely to the back of her hips.

Nay felt the Rreico change, and she did not move.

“Mother…?” Jarl the Bohemian began.

The Imperatrix turned around, faster than a blink of the eyes.

A knife hidden as a hair-stick flew millimetres away from Nay’s neck, then stuck itself into the dark coniferous wooden door.

The Imperatrix’s eyes widened again. “So you are trying to die!?”

“No. You were not aiming at me.”

“By Trayx…you’re bluffing!” Emotions in the sovereign swelled, and she began twirling.

Her hair flew in circles around the woman dancing with death.

Nay couldn’t remember when was the last time she had been the witness of the Imperatrix’s dance and not the one doing it. What she knew for certain was that she had never seen the technique realized so perfectly. Every hip gyration, every step had been studied, worked upon to manipulate perspectives and confuse sight.

“Mother, No!” This time, Jarl the Bohemian stepped between the two women.

Nay dodged on the right at the exact moment when the Imperatrix’s fingers released the blade between them…but in truth, her hands were empty.

Jarl gave out a sigh of relief. “By Ja…”

“You should trust your mother more. Look at her, she knew where I was aiming, and dodged the attack…before I could even finish my movement! Its a Polssïnia Legio!” The Imperatrix started laughing.

The prince heir looked at the laughing sovereign, then the wary Nay. He scratched his head, embarrassed.

“You believe me now?” Asked Nay finally.

The Imperatrix made a gesture towards Jarl as she swiped off a tear from one of her eyes, and he offered her a chair where she sat on.

“You can leave us, Flamy, I need to ask a few questions to our guest. Nay, was it? And you have construction work to check upon.”

Apparently, Flamy was Jarl’s pet name, because he sighed, bowed slightly and said. “I’ll see you later mom.” Then left the room.

“Sit down, sit down, it’s not every day I get visited by another Leïn, even if she is technically the End. I thought I was the last to ever repudiate the Firantes.”

The young Legio sat down as ordered, a bit overwhelmed with everything that was happening.

The Imperatrix raised her voice. “Konnie!”

Immediately, a servant entered the room. “Imperatrix?” She asked as she bowed.

“Bring us drinks and snacks, it would be sweet of you.”

The servant left without a word.

“Impossible to have even a little privacy, but it has its uses in some cases.” The behaviour of the Imperatrix had changed completely. Nay felt like she was visiting Fredere's grandmother now. Hyn’s anger had vanished, replaced with a welcoming smile and warm Rreico.

“So, Marke took you in. News of his death saddened me, I liked him. How is Ra’fa?”

The servant knocked on the door, then entered with a cart filled with food and refreshments.

“What do you want to drink? I would recommend the mors iced tea, you probably don’t drink alcohol.”

Nay nodded, taken aback. The maid, a young frail woman with no particular features except her beautifully curled hair, put a glass containing orange liquid on the table in front of her, and a plate with some fruits and an almond pastry next to it. It was almond-based, or so heavily filled with cyanide only putting her lips on the crust would have ended her life in painful agony.

The young Legio didn’t think they would poison her now, but as she checked the servant out with more care, she noticed her pendant. It had a little sapphire dangling off it. She then realized the maid’s make-up was there to hide her cute features, not show them off. Nay gulped, now much less sure about the innocence of the little cake.

“I’ll take the same Konnie. And be careful with the pendant next time, she noticed.” The Imperatrix reprimanded her gently.

Nay saw the maid blush. “Yes, Imperatrix.” And she excused herself out of the room.

The young Legio looked at the most powerful woman in the world enjoy her almond pastry with a voracious appetite.

“My mother is fine, I think.”

“She’ll have to bring us her daughter back, your sister then? to the cathedral.”

“My sister cannot be a Touched.”

The Imperatrix raised an eyebrow. “Have you not seen her for a long time? You should be able to recognize God-Touched at a glance, no?”

Nay didn’t say anything. The woman in front of her played a game of Comptoy in advance. Not a few turns, a whole game, and Nay was unable to follow.

“I know about the Rreico.” The Imperatrix revealed matter-of-factly. “I have trained and participated to Vestigio’s training regiments, even if I never managed to master the arts of the Legios. Marke was especially gifted in its use, so it would surprise me to know you’re unable to differentiate a mage from a non-mage.”

Nay took a gulp of iced tea.

The taste surprised her so much she had to try it again. It was slightly bitter, then sugary, then bitter again, like a secret that only revealed itself one instant.

“There was something wrong with her power.” Nay didn’t know how to qualify what she had witnessed.

But the Imperatrix didn’t seem to need more than that: she nodded. “I’ll bring Ra’fa and her daughter here then. We’ll have a look together.”

“…Wouldn’t that pose a problem with the church?”

The Imperatrix smiled wildly. “Yes. Exactly.”

“Why…why are you trusting me? We don’t know each other.”

“You are a Legio. I have never met anyone evil able to feel the Rreico. It is the sight that gives humanity, that’s how Rö called it. What’s more, if you’re Marke and Ra’fa’s daughter, that would make me your godmother. They would never have been together without me, they couldn’t choose anyone else.

“Erm…” There were no lies in her words, but Nay felt something else. She pulled herself together, Ra’fa’s training coming back to her.

“You’re not telling me the whole truth.”

“Obviously, but that is something you should have kept for yourself. It wasn’t the right time to show your cards.” The Imperatrix scolded her as if she had used the wrong spice in a dish. “So, you’re the one who brought the angel to Gite?” There wasn’t anything accusatory in the sovereign’s voice, but Nay lowered her head.

“I…”

“Don’t worry. You’re not the one who sent it to kill everyone. Though it lets me understand what happened in his…the head of our enemies, and so prepare accordingly. I thought for a moment that the Carradins had found a way to partially control the angel and make it go where they desired. We’ve gained a few months.”

“Sent?”

“A conversation for another day. Now, tell me, how did you escape the clan? They would never willingly have let you leave.”

Nay’s throat went dry. “I…erm…the Firantes have been killed, Imperatrix.”

The most beautiful woman in the world winked in disbelief. “What?”

“Three angels, I think there were three of them, were chasing us. One night…they found us. I fled and hid in one of the many grottos around the canyon of Sables. Marke’s caravan arrived one or two days later. Of the Firantes…there was nothing left.”

The smile had gone from the Imperatrix’s lips. Her gaze unfocused, looking at the past.

“The massacre discovered by Vendrefrêt’s merchant caravan ten years ago?”

“Yes…the last Firante clan.”

“Ha…dead. What they all deserved…” The Imperatrix pressed her fingers on her eyebrows. “I’m getting old.”

Nay scratched her elbows with her hands. The Imperatrix’s Rreico was not expressing joy. “I'm sorry, but I do believe it is better like that. If they had been the ones to raise me…”

“Yes…Yes. But to lose your family…even a hated one. Even one that exiled you centuries ago…I'm being ridiculous. This Empire, I built it to show them. I brought it out of the dark ages, built it higher, with foundations so strong…I wanted to prove them wrong. That their extremist acts, their desperate attempts of absurd vengeance against the king of the Gynaecium, even though he was already dead, were doomed to fail. All of this, for what? They created the madmen that would finally destroy them. No, that is my responsibility, I suppose. In the end, they died without learning anything.”

“I…I don’t understand.” Confessed Nay.

“You know that the Firantes, the Leïns, are human women saved by Lebe?”

Nay nodded.

“They were saved...in body, not in soul. The great majority of us were filled with resentment, with hatred against those that had bred us like cattle. Those feelings were justified. But instead of justice, they were only satisfied by power. I, I fell in love. The Conqueror was my lover, a very, very long time ago. Rö the Conqueror, summoner of Angels, the greatest mage in history…until you. To be honest, he is weak compared to you.”

Nay trembled when she saw Hyn’s gaze on her. “Your enchantment does not only hide the true colour of your eyes.”

“Of course not. I was present when Gods of today were simple children growing into their powers. Even if I have none for myself, I do possess the knowledge of Firante magic.”

Nay didn’t feel the same evil aura she had on the sovereign, but it wasn’t a good feeling, nonetheless. “Are you doing sacrifices…?”

“What? No, not since a long time ago. An animal here and there, when it’s necessary to create a new enchantment for a recently discovered spell, but I’m not a Touched, or a mage, I don’t know which word you prefer to use.”

“I’m already surprised hearing you use the term mage…”

“Hah! I’m the one who invented the God-Touched. It is essential to strip the powerful of the pride their power brings. They cannot be left feeling superior to others. As a God-Touched role is a servant to the Gods, and as such to the people, it gives me control on the more ambitious amongst them.”

Someone knocked on the door.

“An instant please,” Hyn explained. “Enter!”

A woman in her thirties, dressed in military garbs, completely bald, probably as tall as Nay and with a large scar crossing the entirety of her left cheek, entered inside.

“My apologies, Imperatrix. I didn’t want to bother you during your talk with your guest but…”

“Don’t worry Garnet.” The Imperatrix gestured her to approach.

Nay felt the Rreico of the new arrival on her.

“Garnet, I introduce to you Nay, daughter of Marke. Nay, this is the current Sergeant-General.”

“Nice to meet you.” The woman stared at her a short instant, looking a bit surprised, then her expression became professional again. The medals on her costume testified of her rank, but Nay noticed she wasn’t armed. Despite this, her large muscles would have been envied by many men, and Nay had no doubts about the officer’s ability to kill.

“Same to you.” The young Legio responded.

“You can speak freely, my guest will stay here for a while, you don’t have to worry about leaks.” Hyn announced.

Nay immediately tensed up. For a while?

“Understood Imperatrix. The creature was seen in the Canyon of Sables, weakened. A guide has died during the observation, but Agathe and Pearl are alive and well.”

“Mhh. So we should not worry about the angel for a while. Good. Have you read Azurite’s report?”

“Yes, Imperatrix. I agree with your analysis.” The bald woman gave a quick look towards Nay.

Who was feeling the Sergeant-General’s Rreico and felt in complete agreement with her. The young Legio would also have liked not to be mixed in secret state affairs.

She felt more and more worried about her future.

“A year? Two years at most if they have more trouble than usual reuniting the clans. We need the railway project done before that. I want our troops in Gite securing the road for the workers. We cannot allow any setback. Our reserves here will be added to the jungle guards.”

The officer interrupted her. “Imperatrix, if I may?”

“Of course.”

“More men would be useless. The current problems with the construction work in the jungle are not bandits or wild animals. The problem is the Hymere itself. Giving higher payrolls to convince the workers to do their job despite the high risks is the only way to hasten the project.”

The Imperatrix massaged her temples, then her gaze fell on Nay.

“No. God-Touched can use the wall miracle to protect our workers.”

“It would require at least fifty Touched…the church would never allow so many of their members in such a precarious place.”

“They do it against the Trechuite pirates…but I suppose we cannot pay them as much as our esteemed merchants. I’ll convince the Archbishop.”

Nay didn’t like the current turn of events one bit. She drank more of the iced tea.

“In that case…our men will be able to stay here, help with the refugee situation if necessary. Should we warn the people?”

The Imperatrix shook her head left and right. “Not yet. You may leave, Garnet, but send Sapphire in please.”

The military officer bowed, then started to leave. She stopped a brief instant to examine the hidden dagger stuck deep in the door, then, with no comment, left the room.

Nay and the Imperatrix were exchanging looks, the most beautiful of women had a reassuring expression.

‘As if I would believe that.’ Nay thought sarcastically.

“What will happen to m…” She started before being interrupted by another new Rreico at the door.

“You called for me, Imperatrix?”

“Yes Sapphire, come on in.”

An old woman dressed in servant clothing entered the room. The first thing Nay noticed was that this woman wasn’t memorable at all. Her face and expressions were dull, her clothes were the same as the other chambermaid, and her all-around appearance was the perfect stereotype of the domestic grand-mother.

Her Rreico was the complete opposite of that.

Out of all the people Nay had crossed path within the Imperatrix’s chambers, not counting Jarl the Bohemian, this woman was the last one Nay would have wanted to fight against. Inside the grandmother's eyes was the certainty of her ability to kill Nay in at least ten different ways.

The chambermaid started cleaning up the Imperatrix’s mess without being told to. She grumbled: “You could make an effort. Every time!”

The young Legio watched, in turn, the old woman and the Imperatrix, suddenly quite worried about the future health of the servant.

But Hyn didn’t seem offended. She whispered a few words into the old woman’s ears, who nodded, then left, her head surprisingly still on her shoulders. She stopped a short instant before exiting the room to remove the dagger stuck in the door, grumbling once again in the process.

Once the chambermaid was gone, the Imperatrix spoke to the young Legio again.

“I apologize, Nay, but state affairs cannot wait.” It sounded less like apologies and more like a statement.

“…What’s going to happen to me?” Nay could finally ask what she wanted to say.

The Imperatrix sighed. “On this, I’m torn. You do understand I can’t just let you leave willy nilly to your death, don’t you?”

Nay closed her eyes for a second. “I am aware. But who is to say where I am the least in danger? And until when?”

Hyn seemed taken aback, and she kept silent as she drank some of her mors tea.

“I see. Considering your power, you could be considered partially eternal. It is true that at the moment, there wouldn’t be a more secure place than here. But what about two years from now on? Ten? A thousand? Vestigio’s advice could be useful, on this particular aspect, if his mind is not completely gone. I’ll send someone to get into contact with him.”

Nay blinked. “Imperatrix…”

“Call me Hyn. I’m closer to you as a family member as I am your sovereign.”

Nay gulped audibly. She now stood between capital offence and imperial disobedience.

“Hyn…I left Vestigio because…he’s…”

“Oh.”

Nay didn’t feel any sadness, but instead immense nostalgia in the sovereign’s rhythm of life.

She got on her feet and climbed the stairs of her room to gaze at the magnificent exterior view.

“I see. Everyone dies, in the end.”

There was a long silence, then the woman with hair colour of charcoal came back to sit down in front of the young Legio.

“We cannot count on his wisdom, then.”

“Before he died…he revealed some things to me…He told me you could help me with my magic. But also that confining myself made little to no sense. Exile in a cavern is only waiting for a cave-in to kill me. In his mind, if I didn’t live my life, I would not survive.”

“…I should have asked some Grive wine.” The Imperatrix complained. “He’s right, as always. If we take into account your life expectancy, your mental health is as, if not more, important than your physical health. No-one could claim to know about the subject better than him.”

Nay thought about her recurrent nightmares and dark thoughts. “We’re off to a bad start, then.” She said out loud.

Hyn started laughing. “If you can still say it like that, it means you’ve still got some chances. Mhhh…. I can’t let you leave the chambers, at least not immediately. I would like to work with you though, Nay. If you are truly a master Legio, your help would be most precious. In exchange, I could help you control your magic, at least partially. Maybe even find a solution to help you survive effectively in the future.”

“I…”

“Our collaboration would obviously change things about your friend Trinne’s precarious position, and help your mother and sister a lot.”

Nay gazed at Hyn. It made no doubt in her mind that the woman in front of her had all the cards in hands.

“We should be able to find some agreement.” Nay answered as if she had some control over the situation.

The Imperatrix smiled warmly. “Much better. You understand perfectly well what kind of position you’re standing in, but this time, you showed nothing of it. I don’t want to make you a prisoner, Nay, but an ally. The Empire is going to enter troubled times, the most it has been in since its creation, and I just want to make you into someone I can trust. You have the potential to become stronger than my son, and even before that, if we can just make you strong enough to defend yourself, there is going to be no reason for me to keep you between these walls anymore.”

“Master Jormun made me swear never to use my power.”

The Imperatrix nodded vehemently. “An especially good recommendation, that I would ask you to keep for now, whatever the cost. But Ves and Jormun have never been exceptional mages. There are alternatives we can find to transform the horror forced upon you into something a bit more constructive. Considering the danger of such research, it is evident we’re going to have to go slowly and meticulously. Which further shows how necessary it is for you to stay here for a while.”

Nay connected the dots between that and what the Imperatrix had talked about with the Sergeant-General.

“And who would be in charge of such research?”

“Me…and with a bit of finesse, the Archbishop of Ja.”

“You are the Imperatrix. You’ll barely be there. I’ll just be experimented upon by a mad priest.”

“My involvement in this is crucial, I’ll make the time, and the Archbishop will only know what he needs to know. He won’t take any inconsiderate risks.”

Nay noted that she hadn’t refuted anything about him being crazy.

“So be it. But I will be the only one following your orders. My mother, Trinne and Lisana have to be free. I want to be paid as well, to take care of my family if the need arises.”

The Imperatrix showed a crooked smile. “That’s less than my servant’s work conditions. They also ask for days off, extra payments, or refuse to wash my sheets when I decide to meet the stars. Are you sure you don’t want to think about it a bit more before accepting my offer?”

Nay had no idea what the expression ‘meeting the stars’ meant, but instinctively, she had no desire to know more about it.

“You’re mocking me.” Nay responded. Hyn knew that the young Legio had no way of pressuring her.

“A little. Your reaction is a bit disappointing.”

“I’m used to it. Trinne is much more annoying than y..” Nay held her tongue, too late. She had answered as if she had been speaking with her red-haired friend.

Hyn’s eyes sparkled in amusement. “I think our alliance will work. I’ll have to loosen you up a bit, but that’s normal, your behaviour is the correct one, in other circumstances. I could not allow my authority to be questioned if I was in enemy territory. Here though…we are the two last Leïns…” Her expression darkened. “The two last women saved by Lebe…Konnie!”

The young servant immediately entered the room.

“Imperatrix?”

“Can you bring our guest to her new room? She’ll stay with us for a while. You’re in charge of her.” She then turned towards the young Legio again . “We’ll discuss the details of our agreement later Nay, if you’ll allow it. I…I need a moment.”

The girl with cloudy eyes nodded.

They both left, leaving the Imperatrix alone in her chambers.

With a glance, Nay noticed that the servant seemed discontent with her orders, but the curly-haired woman guided her through the corridor in a very professional manner anyway. A few minutes later, they arrived in front of an impressive bedroom on the other side of the manor.

“You have toilets behind this door, they wash themselves automatically when you press this button. You can find a shower and a movable bathtub next door. I will ask you to be careful about the usage of warm water. The Touched responsible for the canalization’s enchantments is only there between four P.M and thirteen P.M. Before and after, the water is directly coming from the glacier outside. Don’t come and say I didn’t warn you. You have a wardrobe here filled with clothes, but as we didn’t have time to take your measurements they will probably fit poorly. Better clothes will be brought to you when we know your sizes. Your current appearance is…uncouth, and quite unacceptable in presence of the Imperatrix.”

If Nay had to exemplify the word disgust in the encyclopedia, she would have chosen the servant’s current expression.

“…I wasn’t informed of your schedule yet, and as such, I am unaware as to if you will be eating with the Imperatrix or other guests, but I will inform you as soon as I know. If you’re looking for me, I will be in the common room in front of the stairs, on this floor.”

“You don’t seem happy I’m here.” The young Legio cut to the chase.

The young woman bowed.

“My displeasure is towards me. You saw through me easily, which convinced our esteemed sovereign to place me under your service.”

Nay sat down on the double bed. It wasn’t sophisticated-looking like the Imperatrix’s, but it made no doubt this was the best mattress she had ever experienced.

“Why is your collar a sapphire if the Imperatrix’s jewel carrying that name is someone else?” Nay had left the Imperatrix’s room with so many questions that her curiosity begged to be quenched, at least a little bit.

“I…The Imperatrix used grandmother’s title? In front of you?”

The chambermaid was now looking at her completely differently. Nay felt her worry. Konnie was scared she had just been impolite to someone much more important than she thought.

“You don’t look related. Grandmother?”

“Biach.” The servant swore. She blushed. “Biach, I didn’t want to…”

Nay smiled. It felt good not to be the one completely out of her depths for once.

“She’s your master, you’re her disciple.”

Konnie gritted her teeth. “By Ja, stop. Please. I understand, I didn’t mean to disrespect you. But threatening me is useless, I’d rather be punished than used.”

Nay tilted her head, surprised. “Threaten you? That’s not what I’m doing. I just want to understand what I’m dealing with.” Nay stopped, recognizing the Rreico at the door.

“I cannot answer your question. I can bring your meals, dress you, wash you and help you with your bandages but…”

“That won’t be necessary.” Trinne interrupted her, having entered the room silently.

Konnie’s hand instantly went to a hidden breast pocket on her servant garb.

Trinne gave her a deadly smile. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

Nay was back on her feet, just behind the chambermaid.

“Oh. My apologies Duchesse, I didn’t hear you come in.” The curled-hair girl immediately apologized.

Trinne raised an eyebrow. “What? Oh, that? No, I’m talking about washing and dressing her.”

“Erm…”

“Trinne, don’t play games with the young Imperatrix’s jewels.” Nay said.

The young woman with red hair pouted.

“You were the one who started playing.”

“Except I didn’t do it on purpose.”

Konnie held herself straight, beginning to excuse herself out of the room to escape the two women.

“Konnie.” Nay stopped her. She felt that their relationship hadn’t started on a good foot, and if she had to stay here for a while, this would be a problem.

“Miss.” The servant turned around to face her. She was on edge.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable. My name is Nay, and I’ll be working with the Imperatrix for a while, so we’re probably going to see each other a lot. I understand you’re disappointed. You’ve just gone from taking care of the Imperatrix to taking care of a badly-dressed commoner. But I'd really like it if we could have a good relationship, at least as long as we have to work with each other.”

She held a hand out towards the chambermaid.

Konnie tried to decrypt hidden meanings in the Legio’s expression, but, seeing nothing but honesty, she decided to accept the extended hand. “I apologize once again for my rudeness, I will inform you of your schedule and help you with your bandages…” She then turned around back to Trinne. “Duchesse…” And finally left the room.

“Ha! Still going to try and nurture you back to health, despite what I said.” Trinne’s anger was fake. “Nice room.” She looked around the young Legio’s room for a while.

Nay examined her friend. She was clean and had put on some make-up. Her robe was simple but spectacular, completely white with motives of grey flowers that didn’t exist in reality. It ended just above her ankles.

“You’re so thin…” Nay noted.

“Mhh, thanks!”

“No, it’s almost worse than my mother. What happened to you, Trinne?”

Trinne stopped her exploration. She turned her head to face Nay’s eyes.

“I don’t want to talk about it. Do you find me ugly, now?” Her smile was impenetrable, but her Rreico expressed so much distress that the young Legio felt her heart clench.

“No. You are the most beautiful girl I know.”

“Ha ha! Didn’t you just meet the most beautiful woman in the world?”

Nay laughed softly. “I barely noticed her appearance, while I can only see you.”

Trinne’s expression softened. “Idiot.”

“Common disease in my family.”

“Let me help you with your bandages before your new maid does it.”

“You just washed, your dress is white and I smell like Gite’s moats.”

“So? Who do you take me for?”

“Gite’s Duchesse?”

“Exiled Duchesse of a city soon at war.”

“War?” Nay understood as soon as she asked the question. The conversation between the Sergeant-General and the Imperatrix. “Carradinoris is going to invade us.”

“They’ll try. In the meantime, let me take care of you. Tell me what happened.”

Nay looked at her friend. This was the first time Trinne had asked such a thing.

“Please.”

Nay sighed. She couldn’t say no to those eyes.

“I’ll take a bath. Help me out of my clothes, I’ll probably need to remove my cast.”

“They have shampoo and a jasminn odored soap, you’ll love it.”

Trinne clapped her hand together, her eyes full of excitement, which gave the young Legio the same feeling as when she agreed to a manic shopping trip with Veridienne.