I gaze at the man and wonder how it could be that he broke so quickly. Desperation is not unknown to me but pride should have been ingrained into the man's bones since birth.

I could believe that the ambush he suffered was too much for a pampered Lord to endure but this one is an officer, even if one who deals with logistics rather than combat.

Logically, his position would require complete loyalty since he could bring Roskal's army to its knees with a single betrayal but, then again, Nobles don't have a reputation of logically assigning postings.

“Please, do not let Elizabeth Vil find out where my Duchess has taken refuge.” He mutters.

“We'll do what we can.” I agree with a snide smirk.

“Leave, tell the Justicier who it is Roskal means to kill and you will be given a detachment to ensure your safety.” Lance tells Olhiar.

The man makes a weak nod and slowly rises on his trembling legs. A couple of thoughts go through my mind as I watch him leave. First is that Wraith is the one who ambushed him. Second is that, no matter who set it, this is a trap.

“Let's talk concretely, what does most of Nobility want?” I ask Leomi.

“More power over policy for the Empire's assembly of Nobles.” She replies instantly.

“Cenwalh shares the ambition but on a more personal level but it isn't something he thinks is achievable right now.” I speak up.

“Yes, I've had the same thought.” Lance agrees. “The obvious conclusion is that Cenwalh told Roskal to strike a blow to the Emperor's prestige in Kruzser using this pretense but is in truth putting her at risk because she isn't on board with the chaos he wishes to unleash.”

“Not to mention removing her makes it easier for him to control her house's troops.” I add.

“Exactly.” Leomi confirms. “But why do you suddenly care about this?” She rightly questions as their goals have no bearing on my aims.

“I do not but Teva told me that Tsek attempted to contact Suxen and was caught, this added atop the fact Wraith turned on Roskal for being asked the same...” I trail off to let her reach her conclusions. Leomi blinks but holds back her questions.

“Cenwalh doesn't care if Duchess Roskal dies in the capital, he in fact hopes for her to meet her end in Kruzser.” She ascertains. “What a snake.” She utters with a disgusted expression. “The Emperor would have no choice but to kill her if she successfully infiltrated the Vault but wouldn't be able to reveal what happened to Nobility, meaning there would be an uproar against the apparently unjustified killing.”

“The plot is in no way subtle but it does not need to be.” I note. “Roskal may not have seen it but she took the precaution to put a layer of protection between her and the task yet it backfired because Wraith is no fool.”

Leomi nods but she does not seem to be invested in the conversation as her eyes remain fixed on me. She does not even seem in a hurry to leave the room to deploy troops to protect the supporters Roskal intends to kill.

“What happened with your writings?” She pointedly asks, hitting the core of the matter.

“Teva... betrayed my trust.” I spit out between grit teeth. “She stole my treaties and had Tsek take them out of Kruzser, naively without reading them first.”

Lance's eyebrows tighten as her palm flies to cover her mouth. Instead of gloating, my fiancee appears to feel pain on my behalf. It helps to witness this in her gaze and reactions but does naught to change the extent of my failings.

“She has left promising to fix what she has done but may fail.” I plainly tell my love. “I would expect to be declared an enemy of the Empire during our journey to Telnur, there is also a risk that my identity will be revealed.”

“I'm so sorry, Jess.” Leomi whispers.

“I should have expected this of humans.” I say with a grunt.

“Come here.” Lance replies.

She extends her arms with a soft smile that immediately seduces me into taking refuge in her grasp. I rise and nestle my nose between the tiny breasts which have been staring back at me. Leomi squeezes me against her chest while I bite down on her firm flesh.

“Aih.” She lets out a squeal.

I smile and grab her butt, feeling a bit more in control now but aware it is but a sweet illusion born in the palm of my hand. Her hands reach down and soon fall on my ass. Leomi shoves me hard against her body, almost lifting me off my feet.

“Where is the Little one?” I ask. I immediately feel her fingers twitch.

“In our room, I brought it back to keep an eye on it.” She replies. I nod and prepare to leave but she holds onto me. “You're not staying to put together a plan?”

“What need is there of my plans at this point?” I question. “I've failed, thus all that remains is for Elizabeth to end it. I will return when my minions have gathered and tell them what tactic to use to catch Wraith but that is it.”

“Everyone has blind spots, Jess.” Leomi softly remarks.

I split from her and shake my head as I make my way out. I love that she is trying to comfort me but the stakes I am playing with don't allow for sloppy mistakes, only victory is acceptable. Excuses do not save one from defeat.

She follows me, I find it a bit vexing but I'm thankful she didn't try to stop me. I return to our room and open the closet to find the chest containing the symbiont. Leomi's Vuskyt runic sword lies right next to it.

“What is it for?” I ask, unable to bear the mystery behind this weapon.

“A desperate occasion when all else has failed.” Leomi whispers in response.

“But...” I start.

“I gave my word to the Rykz I would not speak a word on it.” Lance cuts me off.

I scowl uneasily because my trust for Leomi is a fragile thing and I am raw from Teva's backstabbing but Celyz gave it to her so what is really at stake here is whether or not I trust my oak, and I do with my life.

I lift the chest's lid to find a lethargic Little one with its main body mostly buried in the soil while tendrils slither in and out. I sit down and extend my arm inside but leave it hovering.

The symbiont reaches out with a few of its longest appendages as if tasting the air. It soon perks up and swiftly takes hold of my forearm to unearth itself. Leomi makes a subdued gasp at its vivid reaction.

I smile as the Little one begins climbing my limb, going so far as to wrap a tendril around my neck to lift itself into my grasp. We share a tight hug that causes my kitten to let out a small whining sound in the back.

I ignore her overreaction as I start playing with the symbiont which climbs on my shoulders to wiggle around the back of my neck to fall back upon my chest.

I run my fingers over the thick brown flesh which has a rough texture layered over smooth patches, following its string-like muscles down to the thick wrist that no longer mirrors mine.

The hand it had is now unrecognizable, it is but an flatter extension of the limb with thick roots at the end. I wonder at the symbiont's shifting capabilities which gives me hope that it will be able to enhance my heart in such a way my body can withstand the strain of sustaining the Little one.

I pass my nail along the symbiont's joint which causes it to jerk up and wiggle as if tickled. It suddenly plunges a tendril in my nostril, causing me to jump up in surprise. The Little one shivers as if laughing at me so I prepare to take my revenge.

“This is unsettling, Jess.” Leomi grumbles.

“Didn't ask you to be here.” I note and realize too late how harsh it sounds. “My bad, I just haven't seen it in a while so this is nice.”

“It tried to take control of you.” She grumbles.

“So did you.” I reply with a chuckle.

“It's not the same.” She mumbles.

I smile and shake my head as I gently caress the Little one. I don't say it out loud but it must be obvious to her that the reason this soothes me is that the symbiont is one of my few links to Celyz.

“You know, I'm still not wearing any underwear under this dress.” I tease while one tendril probes my silver dress and slides along my right thigh's black diamond-shaped patch. “I could use some relaxation, or grant you some if you're tense.”

“Tempting, but not right now.” Leomi mutters. “Do you want to discuss Teva?”

She likely asked without thinking to take her mind off the Little one's playful behavior but it makes me curious to hear what she has to say. I want to trust Leomi because she's all I have right now, even though I know she can only disappoint because of our diverging beliefs.

This may be the best time to discuss it as well because I am in no state to fight with her so I will get to hear what she thinks without my temper interrupting her.

“We may as well.” I respond. “If you're to tell me she is naive and a bit of a coward, then I am aware.” I start so as to encourage Leomi to speak plainly. “She was my sunshine because of her empathy, because she cared for my well-being at a time when I felt the weight of the world against me.”

“I have no doubt her character is admirable, in habitual circumstances, but the woman lacks the morals and discipline a higher class of Nobility could guide humanity towards.” Lance softly tells me. “It isn't an indictment against peasantry but a statement of fact that you are an exception, the vast majority has never received the education to appropriately consider vast problems such as those Nobles are trained to solve from birth.”

“Bourgeois have not the exalted blood yet do just fine.” I quietly note, my voice sounding wrong to my own ears because of the fury her words lit up in my chest.

“You know I do not speak of bloodlines but knowledge which we both respect, of learning skills to deal with problems larger than oneself without losing one's morality.” Leomi explains.

“I am aware yet see not the need in tying this reform to Nobility.” I rebuke. “You could do away with the entire system and create a new unrelated one.”

“No matter what, Nobility is ancient and thus has strength of tradition that will facilitate changes.” Leomi argues. “Not to mention teachings are always stronger when held by families and taught as well as practiced from a young age.”

“You make a good point but forget that arrogance is also bred.” I counter.

“What fault is it to be proud of one's skills and accomplishments?” Leomi questions. “It only becomes arrogance when one falsely overestimates themselves.”

“It is disgusting, Leomi.” I plainly tell her. “I suffer your attempts at establishing superiority over me because we are one, it is a game between us that I love to despise where loss means receiving your tender embrace. I savor the conflict because it is enthralling to fight you when both victory and defeat scratches a primal itch in me but such a thing is private, it belongs to us and should not be the basis for a society populated by very different people.”

“Nobility has been the strongest force for unity in the past and it can become so again, why risk undermining everything keeping the Empire together for a vague promise that people will have more freedom?” Lance asks. “My plans for reform could use polishing, of course, but they are far more likely to succeed.”

“Of course they are if you don't give any other system a chance.” I snidely remark.

“By the Lake, I want to slap you right now.” She gripes and I hear articulations pop, likely from closing her fingers to form fists. “At least debate me seriously, put some emotion into it, why mock me?”

I turn to glance at her over my shoulder, causing the Little one to throw itself on my half-shoulder as if to imitate me. My fiancee uncomfortably shifts her weight on her other leg.

“Oh? It feels bad to be on the receiving end of disdain?” I ask without changing my tone in the last. “Wondrous how that could be!”

The corners of Leomi's lips twitch and fall. The discomfort and concern in her expression fades, her sharp but loving traits shift like the snap of a lute's string to show only righteous anger.

She snatches the Little one from my half-shoulder and pulls until its tendrils let go of me. She throws it back in its chest and slams the lid shut before grabbing me by the wrist to force me up and throw me towards the bed.

I don't put up any resistance and allow myself to tumble back onto the mattress, falling flat on my back. Lance's body language communicates her anger but there is something else, a hesitation that wouldn't be there if she had truly lost her temper.

Humans really disappoint. I do not know why I feel this and I don't try to find out. I lay as I am, impatiently awaiting her abuse so as to feel alive again. Leomi walks over to the small bedside table to grab a small pouch containing something hard which she throws on my chest.

“See if I can't fuck you into submission.” She utters between grit teeth as she climbs atop of me.

“Go ahead, try.” I reply, remaining completely immobile.

Lance presses down on me with all her weight and grabs my wrist with her left hand to pin it on the mattress above my head. The soft silky covers I lie on sharply contract with the roughness of her grip.

She forces her knee between my thighs, splitting my legs and causing my dress' cloth to slide up. Leomi then grabs the pouch to open it, taking out a thick polished steel rod with straps on either side.

She very evidently plans to screw me with it and it makes me experience a burst of excitement that causes my sex to moisten but just slightly, far less than usual which I find fitting because I am to be taken hard and without pity.

“Hrm.” My sister grumbles as she awakens at the worst time. “No more, I dreamed of what you two did during my rest and am not pleased.”

“This is a different kind of tumble.” Leomi says with a growl coming from the depths of her throat.

“It is not.” Liz dismisses.

“Stay out of it, Liz, this is between me and Jess.” Lance commands.

“My sister is heartbroken and I owe her reparation because she mended mine. You are not to interfere, Leomi Lance, as you will be but a tool in the process.” Liz throws out with a harsh tone. “I will nap until sundown, do not presume to usurp my role.”

My sister fades back to the depths of our mind without warning, leaving us both rather embarrassed and awkwardly stacked with no idea of what to do next. I close my eyes and sigh.

“She was lying you know, about your role.” I spell it out because it's all I can think of saying and don't want the two to fight later.

“Of course she was.” Leomi dismisses with a vexed expression. “It doesn't change the fact I can't touch you now.” She grumbles.

She rises up on her knees and very, very swiftly packs back the rod she took out. Leomi then throws the pouch on the bedside table and acts as if naught had just happened when looking back down to me.

“We need to come to a solution, we can't keep having this argument.” Lance says, no doubt partially to avoid questions.

“But we can't stop discussing it either.” I counter, knowing how important it is to confront ideology to debate because one of Nobility's main faults is a lack of debate.

“We indeed cannot.” Leomi agrees.

“We could agree to allow people to decide when the time comes.” I note.

“People are idiots.” She says with a grunt.

“Agreed, but it is only right to let them screw it up themselves.” I reply.

“How would it work?” She asks.

“I don't know.” I admit. “We can figure it out when the time comes.”

“That sounds incredibly irresponsible.” Leomi says with a thin smile.

“I'm not in the mood to make plans which will inevitably backfire.” I tell her.

Leomi's eyebrows tighten from worry at my remark. I take the opportunity of her distraction to jerk up and grab her waist. I shift to the left and slam her down on the mattress.

“Ey!” She yelps.

“Let me remind you that you have orders to give.” I whisper as I slide down her body and place my mouth over her private parts to start nibbling them over her light blue dress. “And no excuse to waste time here considering Liz came by to lift my spirits.”

“No, fair!” She protests with a jump to her voice because I chomped down. “Elizabeth told us not to!”

“All is fair in love and warfare.” I counter, knowing she'll pay the consequences and liking it.

I push down with my chin while almost reaching for her left breast which I squeeze. She quivers under these pressures while trying to crawl away from me on the mattress. I allow her to put some distance between us so that I can sneak my head under her dress.

“You have to put on a uniform before you go.” I tease.

The remark makes her pause which gives me the time I need to infiltrate her legs while Leomi weakly pushes on my shoulders with her hands, to no effect because of a lack of motivation on her part.

“Stop!” Lance demands with an authoritative tone.

I ignore her as I find her underwear. I bite down on the cloth and pull it off, uncovering a magnificent juicy peach ripe for the taking. I glomp down on her slit to lick her tiny inner lips which taste lemony.

“Ahwirh!” She yips, losing her grand bearing to turn into my lover.

She wraps her legs around my torso and pulls me in. Riip. Her dress tears from the forcefulness of her movement. I nibble on her delicate flower and lick her bud, causing her such pleasure her body arcs up.

“Take me! Harder!” Leomi screams at me. “Please.” She pleads.

“How eager, have some pride honorary Duchess!” I teasingly berate.

“Shut up and bite me if you have to!” Lance throws back. “Just don't stop!”

I smile and plunge back in to finish her off. It takes several twirls of the tongue and, indeed, a small bite on her outer lips. Leomi quivers violently as she reaches ecstasy and I keep her entertained with my mouth for quite a while until she lands.

We then hug and kiss, remaining in bed for a quarter of an hour despite all our responsibilities. To me, this confirms that we will be fine as long as we have each other in the end.