Like a lost pup Alex diligently followed me everywhere I went. My privacy was an easy price to pay in exchange for a stable supply of elixir, I could finally continue my training again. Seeing the abuse that Alex suffered made me soften my guard against him, after that scene I no longer thought that he knew about his parents' plans. When he started observing me I always had Hann not too far away but I gradually started becoming comfortable around him again.

Alex watched everything I did carefully like there was some grand secret hidden in my simple daily routine. First, I'd wake up and go for a run around the inside of the city. Working out normally didn't mean much when I was just going to tear my muscles apart, running was just to keep fit and burn off fat.

Second, Hann and I went outside the walls and continued the Karkarin destruction training. I went up to a rock that seemed to be a similar size to Olma's training balls and ripped all of my muscles apart attempting to lift it. The first time Alex witnessed the workout he was beside himself with panic but Hann calmed him down. She had a similar response to the violent nature of my training the first time I told her about it.

Third, Hann would feed me an elixir and whatever meal she decided to prepare that day. She usually made some thick and meaty gruel-like gloop but occasionally we would have something nicer like a chargrilled warbler and roasted yam. After I was well fed she would head out to work, she took a job inside the city walls treating wounds. Hann never said why she changed jobs but it was obvious that she didn't want to leave me alone again.

Fourth, I would spend the whole day almost completely immobile. Usually, I would be dropped off at Smythe Manor to chat with the wives but sometimes I would just stay home and lay in bed while practising my singing. Alex constantly rattled off questions about my strange training whenever there was a quiet moment.

"Can you not do anything at all?

How long are you stuck like that?

Does that technique really work?

Why do you want to get so strong?

Why don't you just train normally?"

I didn't mind and answered his earnest questions to the best of my ability but I didn't expose unnecessary details. I did make sure to tell him to not copy my training but he didn't want to, the sound of my muscles snapping and tearing saw to that. My conversations with the pale woman were a lot more general while Alex was around but I still found value in our brief meetings. She was a font of novel knowledge and I loved hearing about how she experienced the world.

If I didn't have anywhere I wanted to be, the wives would often carry me to their favourite places in the dwell. The women had a ton of free time and few responsibilities besides 'comforting' Amadeus. Three of them were married for petty political reasons, to strengthen bonds, as a goodwill gesture and as a reward for providing assistance. As far as I could tell, only Lady Smythe was specifically chosen by Amadeus. Marriage seemed to be a tool more than a pact of love like my mother had once told me. Occasionally Alex would be beckoned over to lady Smythe for a hushed talk but they never spoke for long.

Just like that, a week and a half passed by in a flash. I was just about to be taken home by Hann but we were stopped in the doorway. Lady Smythe wanted to invite me to sing for a small gathering of her friends. I didn't want too many important people to see my face. All it did was increase my chances of being recognised by someone, it was unlikely but I didn't want to press my luck. Though I had reason to decline the invitation, I couldn't refuse. I was still waiting on the tutor and it wouldn't look good to say no to such a small request.

The day after next, I was escorted to the Manor and the wives got to work making me look 'presentable' as they called it. I was given a surprisingly plain red dress, gold makeup on my eyelids and a dusting on my cheeks. It wasn't just gold coloured but actually contained small pieces of gold dust, wasting gold in such extravagant fashion was idiotic to me. I had never seen or held a gold coin before but now I was wearing one, it was almost like a bad joke. It was life-changing money for some and it would be washed away come the morning.

The party itself was nothing special, I had imagined some extravagant ball but it was just a small get together. We sat around a table that was filled with thinly sliced raw and smoked meat, tiny fruits, soft and springy bread and a thing that I didn't recognise. There was a yellow chunk of something called cheese. It smelled rotten but was tangy, smooth and coated the inside of my mouth, letting the mellow flavour linger long after it was swallowed. I didn't recognise any of the seven women who were present and thankfully, they were more interested in asking others about me instead of talking to me. Alex was there too but he was busy looking uncomfortable, he didn't have much to say and his mother would boast about him constantly. I mostly just ate in silence while listening to the idle chatter. The food was delicious and I found the time passing quickly as I engrossed myself in trying different combinations of flavours together. My favorite being a slice of raw meat wrapped around a piece of cheese and a small but juicy piece of fruit.

As the meal drew to a close Lady Smythe drew the attention of everyone by raising her arm straight up and snapping her fingers twice.

"It truly has been lovely catching up with you honourable ladies but I'm afraid that we've let time escape us. It is time for us to depart but not before we hear the beautiful voice of the young prodigy Jo!"

She motioned for me to stand with a rising palm. As I stood up and surveyed the expectant faces I found myself paralysed by indecision. I didn't feel like singing songs of praise anymore which didn't leave me many options. With so many eyes on me, I found it hard to focus and my breath became uneven and shallow. I didn't know why but the attention was making me too nervous to perform.

"You may begin when ready."

Lady Smythe said with a slight hint of impatience. I didn't know what to do so I focussed on imitating Alex's blaring waltz. I closed my eyes and tried to blot out all distractions before singing my heart out. I wasn't stupid enough to start tending but that didn't stop me from copying the music as I heard it. It was a very long and slow piece that flowed beautifully when sung, once I thought that I had done enough I finished by fading to silence. When I reopened my eyes everyone who hadn't heard me sing before looked excited and impressed but I was more concerned with one person in particular. The pale woman had the strangest expression of all. Bewilderment. Like she had been woken from a deep dream, she blinked like she wasn't sure if this was reality. I didn't take her for the type to be so entranced by music but I supposed that song might have moved her human half. Lady Smythe looked elated,

"What a lovely and unique performance! Truly a rare talent, it's no wonder my boy took interest in this young lady."

The other women agreed with a couple cursing that their son missed out. Lady Smythe nodded to Alex and he walked close to me. I grabbed my hand and before I understood what was happening, I was swiftly spun around and dipped backwards. Without warning Alex moved in for a kiss and revulsion shot through me, the mere thought of kissing was repulsive. I felt the warmth of his breath on my lips and I had the urge to kick him to the floor, or hit him across the face. My arm tensed. My hand balled into a fist.

"NO!"

The shrill shriek drew the eyes of all onto the pale woman, something had badly shaken her. She was shivering slightly but quickly realised her mistake. Death glares were shot from all around as she chose her next words carefully,

"I mean, Alexander has yet to seal his vows with a high-born wife. It would be improper to have his first kiss stolen by another."

Most of the guests who were swept up in the excitement calmed down and sided with the pale woman.

"Indeed, such a fine young man shouldn't lower his standards in the heat of the moment. There will be plenty of time for young-blooded passion in his future."

A particularly loud-mouthed woman spoke, she was plump and wore a dress that was far far too small. I heard her voice a lot during the meal,

"Besides, Alexander has his pick of many beautiful brides. He should leave the low-borns for lesser peoples, like my nephew Calibero."

"Who would wed that… eccentric? Even in an arranged marriage, he would be lucky if his bride didn't take a dip in a raging river."

Another lady joked. That last comment began a chain of more and more people becoming the target of various insults both thinly veiled and direct. What was once a civil and friendly gathering turned vitriolic in an instant. I was glad about it. I used the distraction to push Alex off of me and get some distance between us. Any trust that was building between us had been shattered, unless I was forced to, I didn't want to deal with him anymore.