Lance runs her left hand's nails down her lover's back while her right slips between Jessica's body and the mattress to seize her breast with a firm grip. Her jay arcs back and curls her toes while her legs open up.

Leomi has memorized each of these small signs, down to the twitch of a small muscle at the base of her fiancee's spine, and knows now is the time. She buries her face between the woman's thighs and starts making love to her sweet jay with her mouth.

It used to be a difficult task for the proud Lady to do this but it is now her favorite 'duty' as this woman's fiancee, predominantly because this is the most intimate act she can think of to bring the two together as one.

Jessica Freepath's tight flower tastes a touch sweet and strongly of iron, Leomi relishes this dew as she runs the tip of her tongue along her lover's slit as a finishing blow and listens with joy as her jay's ebullient scream overwhelms everything else.

“Uuihm! Irrhm!”

Leomi, feeling marvelous about herself for bringing her lover to orgasm with her mouth, delectably licks her lips. In this moment, untainted by the complications of their relationship, she feels right.

She experiences a rare moment of clarity as her lover loses herself in the throes of the pleasure she gave her and knows what it is she must do in order to play her part in their relationship.

Instead of speaking empty words to her jay, instead of stirring events so as to bring both Jessica and Elizabeth to see the expert she's found, she should simply await for the right moment to make her point through unambiguous action.

Yes, she thinks, this is how I keep her alive and safe. The terror of losing yet another member of her tiny family nestled within the deepest part of Lance's heart dissipates by a fraction at this decision.

Lance looks down upon the trembling bare back of the love of her life as she lays on her stomach upon the simple bed. She feels another burst of intense desire to dominate her but she manages it by gazing upon the name she engraved in her jay's flesh.

She controls herself, locking her urge in a tiny box to be opened during a chosen night of fervor where both profoundly desire it or when one rejects it fiercely but does it for love.

Leomi has found through experience that her tyrannic feelings are most satisfied and her emotions most intense only when events align just right. Jessica Freepath quiets down, giving the honorary Duchess a chance to open up a conversation.

Lance wants to talk about what the two will wear but knows she should speak of herself as her lover demanded so desperately not long ago. It takes a strong effort of will but she deeply feels her obligation to make their relationship work.

“I told you I tried very hard to resist brutally taking you in the ass, and it is true, but it is no longer a burden to keep this facet of myself in check.” Leomi timidly reveals, creating a sharp contrast with the harsh words describing the desire. “You've given me your very self and in so doing taught me to find gratification in doing the same.”

Jessica shifts to glance over her shoulder, laying on the half that her fiancee cut. The cute smile blooming on her scarred face seizes Leomi Lance's heart and the proud Noble can't help but want to say more.

“Being taken by you in the way I took you, it eventually gave me the perspective I needed to evolve beyond the selfish desires I once enslaved myself to.” She explains. “But...”

Lance pauses as she feels the revelation she is about to make will diminish her in the eyes of the woman, no being, she believes to be the strongest in existence.

“Go on, Leomi.” Her fiancee encourages.

In the end, the Lady follows not her cowardly instincts but the commitment she made to Jessica Freepath and Elizabeth Vil to marry them both. A promise that involves much more than she realized at the time she made it but would never regret making.

“Tragedy, losses, the accumulation is what finally shook me awake and gave me the will to be the woman I for so long dreamed to be.” The words pour out of Leomi straight from her heart. “That woman isn't who I thought she was but she will be even greater.”

“She already is.” Jessica whispers.

Her sweet smile and words cause Lance to feel her heart melt, which pleases the Noble as much as it irks her pride. Leomi slowly lowers her gaze down to her fiancee's womanhood and gazes upon the wet inner lips which remain just slightly open in an inviting manner.

“Insatiable.” Lance comments with a terse tone that causes her jay's cheeks to turn bright red.

“Aand... you ruined it.” Jessica admonishes.

“Did I?” Leomi whispers the question as she leans back down.

“Oh, oooh.”

--- --- ---

Lance walks out of their room with her white hair perfectly combed and squaring her sharp traits down to her jaw, a look her fiancee qualified as too uptight but said so with a kind smile to avoid hurting her feelings. Her dress is light blue with very discreet white lines.

“Hurry up, we're late!” Lance loudly calls back.

Jessica walks out of the room still somehow looking disheveled even if one ignores her messy hair crowned by a marvelous red tulip, and that is after spending a quarter of an hour on taking care of her appearance.

She is wearing a tight silver dress with elongated diamond-shaped black patches that frame her thighs just right as they extend from her knees to right under her shoulders.

What contributes the most to her eminently unorthodox look is the short broadsword on her left side hanging from a sturdy belt. Despite being invited in her quality of honorary Duchess, Leomi didn't protest because the weapon only enhances her fiancee's beauty in her eyes.

The two link hands and are joined by the golden jay who lands on Leomi's left shoulder as they head out. They make their way to a barrack where a squad of her Hospitaliers await in full gear but without wearing their tabards or any ostensible signs of their belonging to the organization.

Most are wearing simple iron helmets but the leading officer, Rowland, and another have full steel barbutas which covers their faces. Leomi applauds the precaution of the man to hide his identity while unconsciously assuming the Hospitalier was given one so that Rowland's doesn't look out of place in his.

Jessica, on the other hand, throws a pointed look at the Hospitalier and presses her lips together in a thin nervous smile. She winces internally as she glances down to that woman's chest and she realizes the ample breasts are being compressed by a band of cloth.

This Hospitalier ignores the look and joins the rest in the squad in saluting their Grand Commander. They then assemble as a unit around the two women to escort them with Rowland in the lead.

Kruzser is even more heavily patrolled than it was the day before and a few of the capital's large avenues are blocked by processions of Nobles leaving to return to their lands in fear that E.Vil will turn her eyes on them.

Yet the city's atmosphere at noon isn't dark but rather light. The largest portion of the population, the low born, are making bets so as to which Noble house will be running away next and how long it'll take the Exemplars to catch Elizabeth Vil.

More than a few workers have taken to eat at one of the inns or taverns near the capital's gates to laugh at the Nobles passing through. But threats lurk amid those quiet festivities.

Two heads rise when they witness Leomi Lance and her pet peasant crossing the street before them. The pair of veteran soldiers, who have enforced their Liege's authority their entire lives, wait for their two enemies to pass before drawing their weapons.

Their movements are so swift, their lion's steps so quick and precise that none of the Hospitaliers notice them slip through their ranks before it is too late. Yet, one woman caught the sound of steel sliding out of soft leather scabbards and drew her own weapon at almost the same time.

Jessica Freepath who was in the middle of taking a step shifts posture to stomp down instead. She pushes out with her back leg to spin on the spot and slash out at the same time. Her blade flashes towards the neck of one of the Hospitaliers.

The man, oblivious to the ambush because he is ahead of those he is protecting, keeps walking and thus the blurry point of the broadsword barely misses his jugular by a single centimeter.

The blade turns golden as it slashes through the air and cuts down into the first assassin's skull to sever the top of his head from the rest of his body. The second killer attempts to stab his sword into Jessica's chest because the woman is already shifting to thrust her weapon at him but receives a dagger in his back that triggers a paralysis.

Terror seizes the aspirant murderer but it doesn't last long as Jessica Freepath plunges her blade into his heart. He flips around as he drops and witnesses that the one who kept him from even injuring their enemies is a mere anonymous soldier he hadn't even taken as a threat.

The Hospitalier wipes her dagger on the dead man's clothes while Leomi turns to the bodies with a cold expression and disdainful eyes. The jay on her shoulder raises its tiny wing against her cheek in a protective gesture.

“Chirp.” The golden bird quips thankfully at the Hospitalier who nods to the bird in return.

Leomi finds it odd the woman would react to the flow bird since most assume it's a lifeless decoration no matter how it acts. She doesn't pay much attention to this as her focus is upon her fiancee whose hand she ripped from hers is now shaking as it holds a bloody weapon.

“You okay, my jay?” Lance asks.

“Hrm.” Jessica grunts. “I'm fine, let's go.”

Leomi knows that it isn't entirely true but doesn't push because they're already late and this latest kill is but a droplet in a deep well compared to the number of enemies Jessica Freepath has ended.

“You and you, stay here to deal with the imperials.” Lance orders the two at the back of the group. “You, good work and keep watching our backs.” She tells the one who stabbed the second killer in the back.

“Yes, Commander!” The woman barks as she advances to salute with a straight spine.

After Leomi nods, as she turns, she receives a painful impact to her shin that startles her. She glances around but doesn't find the one responsible so she concludes one of her guards slipped and lets it go.

Oddly, the small disruption to her train of thoughts focuses her back on the more important matter of her fiancee. She gently grabs her lover's wrist to guide the weapon she drew back in the scabbard so they can hold hands again.

While her lover's trembling doesn't go away, it lessens enough that it reassures Leomi but her fury towards Roskal grows in her heart because she ruined the perfect morning she worked hard to give her fiancee.

--- --- ---

The couple arrives at the crescent property of the Midnight Palace. One looks pristine while the other's silver dress is adorned by a few odd bloodstains that, along with the scars on her face, give her a savage appearance.

“What are we doing here?” Jessica questions tensely.

“It is neutral ground, meant to receive visiting Nobles from all corners of the Empire.” Leomi explains.

“I very much doubt there is such thing as neutrality within Nobility.” Her lover skeptically remarks.

“It's just lunch, we'll be fine and at worst you can save me.” Lance argues.

“Save you.” Jessica repeats as she perks up.

Leomi grins at her successful attempt but soon loses her smile as a plump figure exits the garden and heads towards them with a younger mustached man. She gives Jess a pointed glance to insist restrains from stirring trouble as she turns to make a slight bow towards the man.

She's met Duke Calmwater before and he rather unexpectedly offered a large amount to support her cause but she always felt something was off in his exuberance, as if the man doesn't really understand that her success would put people like him out of power.

“Good day, Duke Calmwater.” Lance calmly announces.

“To you as well, honorary Duchess Lance!” The man responds loudly with as low a bow as hers which is as generous as he could be apart from being the one to take the initiative to curb his back. “Is the peasant not going to bow? Jessica Freepath is it?” He asks with a touch of curiosity but not a hint of ill will.

The short woman straightens her spine as she narrows her eyes to throw a deadly gaze at the Duke. Golden energy pours out of her to seize control of the area in mere moments. She takes a single step and everything stills around her.

Not a leaf nor a grain of dirt, not even a breeze dares to rise as her heel falls upon the ground and causes an invisible wave to spread out towards the stout Noble. Duke Calmwater stumbles and grabs onto his companion to stabilize himself, causing the other Lord to turn red from the effort of sustaining him.

“What quaint behavior for a simple greeting!” He exclaims with dismay while taking out a handkerchief to pat his cheeks. “I truly hope rebels aren't all like this or speaking to them will turn to be quite a task!”

“You don't negotiate with rebels, Uncle, you hang them.” The other man cuts in with a disdainful tone that loses much of its bite because he is keeping a wary gaze on the famously rebellious peasant.

“Hang?!” The Duke erupts in surprise and horror. “Dear me, no! They're my subjects!”

The Noble's reaction confuses Jessica enough that she doesn't truly feel in the mood to begin a bloodbath. She still launches a murderous glance to the younger man who pales and takes a step to the side so as to put his uncle between him and her.

“Is your demesne experiencing turmoil, Duke?” Lance cuts in.

“Yes, that is why I came to you, honorary Duchess. You speak for the lower castes, do you not?” He questions with a slight frown that suggests he caught onto the fact he should have made this clear before. “Your Hospitaliers are dedicating to healing the spirit as well as the body, yes? You solve problems.”

“We do, although there are limits on what we can and will do.” Leomi prudently acknowledges.

“Very good, very good!” Duke Calmwater exclaims with a relieved tone.

“Uncle Duke, we have several urgent matters to attend to.” The nephew hurriedly intervenes.

“Ah, yes!” The large man cries out. “Other duties call me on this day but expect us to speak again soon!”

“I shall make time.” Lance replies.

The plump man nods with a bright smile and walks away. The nephew swiftly follows without showing any intention of sticking around the madwoman any longer.

Jessica Freepath and Leomi Lance's minds both catch onto the fact that both Lords are extremely different, each reaches the same conclusion that it is more than likely the mustached man has a stake in keeping his Uncle from interfering.

Had the two known more about the Duchy of Calmwater, where it is no secret that the Duke's nieces and nephews exploit his benevolence for their own gains, they would have realized that the rebellion likely occurred as a result of their abuses.

“How are you so optimistic towards Nobility when this man is likely among the best of them?” Jessica gripes at her fiancee.

“He isn't.” Lance denies with a sigh. “However, one of the two we're to have lunch with may well be.”

“How reassuring, one rare pearl among a horde of swines.” Freepath mocks.

“Do you want to take a moment to walk the gardens?” Leomi asks.

“I'll be a model of discipline, you don't need to worry.” Her fiancee replies.

“Too bad, it would have been nice.” Leomi murmurs.

“Later, you said we were late and I would rather get on with this sooner rather than later.” Jessica says.

The two leave their escort behind to enter the palace's lobby to find there are a dozen sofas across the walls and a fountain in the middle of two marble staircases, the one on the left is blocked by a red cordon.

Lance leads her fiancee to a hallway with dozen paintings representing past meetings of Noble houses delving on important events in the Empire. They arrive in a dining room where two middle-aged Nobles await.

One is Edusa's mother, Delia who is wearing an ample turquoise dress which must have cost a fortune, while the other is Lord Fallone who adorns a strict black military uniform over his burnt body.

His face is hidden by a thin white mask while his head and hands are covered by dark cloth. The man still uses his house's name, which is an issue for those of his relatives hoping to inherit the title because it leaves no doubt as to the man's intention to eventually reclaim his position as a Duke.

“Honorary Duchess Lance, we've not met but I shall be forward in thanking you for taking care of my daughter.” Lady Delia greets with a smile.

“Honorary Duchess Lance.” Lord Fallone croaks with his broken voice. “A half-hour has passed since the appointed time of our meeting.”

“Lady Delia, Lord Fallone.” Lance responds politely, causing Jessica to grit her teeth. “Complications arose but we hurried as my fiancee's garb can attest.” She utters with a sharpness to her tone and smile.

“Miss Jessica Freepath.” Delia speaks up, realizing the insult she's made by omitting the woman's presence and aiming to correct it by taking the initiative. “I hope you weren't injured.”

“It takes more than a few killers, or titled Nobles, to harm me.” Freepath replies with a cold voice.

“A peasant shan't be called a Miss in our customs, but I'll use the name you've given yourself to express due respect to a warrior of your caliber.” Lord Fallone says. “Welcome, Freepath, and know I shall find no offense in your bloodied attire in these times of turmoil.”