A diner in the mansion is quite a treat to everyone in the household to behold, as everyone gets to see a loving sight of the two people bearing the name of the Crestfallen being at one table, exchanging endearing comments to one another.

It’s been quite a long time after all since we have served another person within the household, so everyone is naturally truly delighted with the new addition to the family.

A small family that is only composed of a single daughter and a mother.

The daughter is a bit witty and mature for her age, while the mother is a childish doting woman.

Their simple exchanges are truly a sweet sight to see for the love they hold for one another is quite evident in some simple interactions.

Even though most of the interaction always starts with the mother pestering the child with love and the child merely getting embarrassed in the process, nonetheless it is still a sweet sight all in all.

So it was truly a shock to see what had transpired for over a few weeks now in the household.

A thick awkward silence is filling the once joyful dining hall, the clattering of spoon and fork was the only thing ringing through the ears of everyone nearby.

No one had said anything for the past half an hour nor would someone dare.

And I could understand why.

At the left end of the long table, the duchess of the household sat, eating quietly while darting her eyes from time to time on the far end of the table where the ‘heir’ of the household is.

Said ‘heir’ on the other hand sat on the far right side of the table in total silence with focus pointed only on the plate laid before her.

Not even bothering to make eye contact with anyone, as she probably knows most of the servants are evidently all glaring at her.

Which they are, As at this point, everyone in the household is already well aware of what had happened.

The child being the so-called ‘ungrateful child’ of the Crestfallen who barged into her mother’s office and decided to throw insults at her disregarding every effort she had built up.

And to that I can’t deny, after all, I was there firsthand to see it, the daughter barging into her mother’s office berating her shortly after.

But even still I couldn’t really see myself ever hating this child despite what she had said and done.

As in the end, I am fairly aware of what she is angry about that completely sent her off to that hateful tangent.

Though I myself cannot agree with the way she had phrased things, her anger and frustration on the other hand are totally valid.

For even I couldn’t even begin to refute the words that came out of her mouth.

I know that we should always side with our master's opinion by default but cases such as this, are one way to break that faith that I held on to dearly.

And that case to be exact is Sara’s destructive and selfless way of doing things.

Something I found so frustrating and revolting for the longest time that I could remember.

And something we have already discussed so many times already as well.

Arguing whether we mere servants have the right to stop the duchess’s way of doing things, a self-sacrificing lifestyle that is too much to just stand and watch even with my loyalty.

But in the end, every time I confront her concerning this issue, it always ends with just more argument, and I having no choice but to back down to not further escalate the situation.

At some point after so many arguments and failed attempts, I’ve finally given up on convincing her to stop and just decided that I will only now watch her from behind, only stepping in to keep her from going too far.

A..pathetic decision…I know…

….I’m well aware of how pitiful the choice that I have made is more than anyone.

I mean I’m supposed to be her friend yet I’m unable to even do something as simple as break her away from that damn promise she made.

Inadequate and Useless are what I am for giving up, I know that full well.

But what else could I do?

She’s too blinded and hell-bent on keeping her promise to Sir Arthur—The one she loves the most and the person who gave her everything she has.

So what rights do I have to stop her from accomplishing the only thing she is keeping as a memento from Arthur?

Answer is...

None…I have none…

I’m merely a servant nothing more.

I’m just a mere servant.

I should have no will other than to respect my master's wishes, as their will is our will as well.

It’s my job which I should carry out with utmost care and efficiency; a job completely devoided of my personal feelings.

…..

That is what I’ve been telling myself for a long time.

A lie that became a truth after so long of force-feeding it into my mind.

……..

Yet somewhere deep inside my heart still yearn for the cruelty that she is putting in herself to stop.

I thought the lies I have fed myself has numbed my senses but I guess I shouldn’t have spoken too soon.

I guess that is the true reason why I couldn’t hate this child as well despite everything she had said, as in the end what she did was something I wished I had the courage to do so long ago.

Confronting Sara.

I guess that’s why I didn’t refute any of the words she had said as well, merely listened as everything goes down.

But I guess I had put too much of my trust in her as I forgot how harsh that child's words can be at times.

I’ve been exposed to it more than anyone after all, as I am both her caretaker and teacher for the most part.

And I could assure anyone that this child does have knives for teeth sometimes.

So this should have been something I should have fully expected and prepared for, but I guess I’m really lacking in so many things.

As something such as this should have been at the forefront of my mind, yet it all slip by my thoughts, leaving me entirely.

Useless.

However, despite this large blunder on my part, it still doesn’t take away the evident fact that she might be able to break that harmful mindset that Sara has.

I know what I’m doing is beyond stupid, after all, I’m basically trusting a 4-year-old child to somehow destroy the toxic mindset that Sara possess for over 6 years already.

It’s beyond stupid and just plain insane no matter the angle you look at it.

But call it gut instinct or something else entirely, but something just tells me that this child is different than anything I have seen or even encountered before.

—That, if there is someone who could possibly accomplish such a feat then it would be her.

With her wits and cunning nature, I’m fairly certain if someone can do it then it would surely be her……

But again just as things are already not going well another problem has arisen.

Since as of right now the relationship between the two seems to be slowly deteriorating due to that argument.

I thought after the confrontation they had that they could be used this as a bridge to finally talk to one another.

A way to finally lay out your thoughts and feelings in front of one another, yet such a thing didn’t happen. Instead, it only got worse.

Sara becoming more and more of a mess both in her mental and physical state.

While the daughter appears to be uncaring about the whole situation, drawing her in a bad light more than ever.

I wonder what is she even thinking right now.

Is she planning something or does she just don't know what to do?

Did I overestimate her or am I just worrying too much?

It’s already been a few weeks since that argument happened yet still there is still not a single move from her.

I’m slowly feeling that I made the wrong choice in putting my trust in her but my gut feeling is still coming in strong, telling me that this little girl is truly an anomaly.

As the more, I try to understand her thought process the more it will just drag my mind to confusion.

A slow descent to madness for the lack of a better phrase.

….Fine, Guess I’ll wait a bit longer.

“Thank you for the food.”

Suddenly breaking the deafening silence of the dining room the small child wiped her mouth clean before jumping down from her chair and exiting the dining hall not even passing a glance to anyone.

No one really tried to stop her nor did anyone follow her as everyone's loyalty lies with the duchess herself.

Something I could totally understand.

But still, I’m quite disappointed with the way my colleagues are acting towards this entire incident.

Undisciplined and Unrefined. Qualities that are unbefitting of a servant.

If Suru would be here right now she would have thrown a tantrum already towards everyone due to how cold they are treating this child.

After all, it’s one of the first rules you have to learn in being a servant; That you shouldn’t bring your own emotions into the job, as it could mess everything up.

So as much as you hate the person you are serving, You shouldn’t even try laying a hand on them.

I tried following such a rule before but I guess I failed as well.

But still, at least mask your emotion instead of laying it out in the open for all the people to see.

Holding back an imminent frown from forming on my lips, my eyes' changed focus from the little child that have disappeared into the hall to a certain wolf standing elegantly as ever in the far corner of the room.

Merely watching everything unfold with that ever-present empty gaze and that forced smile of his.

Something he had learned to use quite a few years back which I wish he didn’t.

Noticing both my eyes on him, I quickly eyed him to go after the child seeing he have nothing to do but just stand there.

Contemplating for a moment he mumbled something before he exited the dining hall as well, probably following that child.

“Raiden…” I mumbled in return as he disappeared into the hall watching closely as his back get farther away from my view.

I guess even a Luminary isn’t immune to guilt and painful goodbyes as well.

Letting out a tired sigh, I closed my eyes for a second before returning back to my usual working self, ordering everyone in quick succession.

And in mere seconds upon hearing my voice everyone has broken out from their trance and began cleaning out the table in an orderly manner.

‘I’m supposed to be just a maid yet I feel like a mother of this entire household as well.’ I thought absentmindedly as I led Sara out of the dining hall.

This conclusion I have made and the choice that I have taken are probably going to cost me a lot in the process.

But honestly, at this point, I don’t mind even forging a pact with the devil to do something about this situation we all have found ourselves in.

I just hope things will get better from this point forward.

Because honestly if it does not then I really don’t know what I'm even supposed to do.

We are all running out of both time and options after all.

Walking alone in the empty hall I couldn’t really stop myself from pinching the bridge of my nose, as I feel like the stress inside of me slowly piling up to a degree that I couldn’t really hide so easily.

As if the constant attacks from the Batrol in the forest is not enough problem for me to deal with, I had to try and do something about this family as well.

This family which I have sworn to protect that is slowly crumbling from the inside and out.

God, I really don’t need any more problems than we already have at the moment but here we are I guess.

Letting out another deep sigh my brows furrowed in return as a certain memory passed my mind synonymous with the word ‘problem’.

“Lorelain Crestfallen..…” A mixture of curiosity and wariness accompanied the name that had just exited my mouth.

I’m not really sure why but ever since that little girl has learned how to speak and walk my instinct had not stopped blaring; Telling my whole body that I should be wary of her for some reason.

A feeling I haven’t really felt for a long time from someone, especially from a child that isn’t even 10 years old for that matter.

That is why I really couldn’t even begin to explain how truly odd this feeling is right now.

It is as if this little girl that shouldn’t even know what violence is in the first place, was somehow leaking pure terror & danger that shouldn’t be present in a child in the first place.

Especially those eyes of hers that seem to lack any shine a child should have.

Those pair of red orbs that do not even carry any semblance of life inside it, a look of total defeat sculpted on her face as if she has given up on everything.

That is what I always see when I look at her from afar.

The feeling worsens when I talk to her close-up as the details of the sorrow in her face and the emptiness that accompanies her hollow voice rung and bounces inside the walls of my mind in repeat like a broken record.

‘Just why does she have that face in the first place?’ Was the only thing I could ask myself for the duration of every interaction we have ever done.

After all, how could I not, when I have to look at that face of hers every time.

A face reminisces of soldiers after the war, a face that is only filled with hopelessness and pure despair.

A face I’m well acquainted with.

I’ve seen it so many times already. Sometimes from my family, mostly from my enemies, and at rare times even from my friends.

So as much as I hate to admit it I know I can’t be wrong.

But how did she even become like that?

I mean I’m definitely sure if something happened that could have caused her to make such a face then I should have heard it by now.

But none. For as long as I could remember there is nothing that could have possibly caused her to become like this.

Which makes this makes this situation all the more bizarre as there is definitely a reason why she looks like that but the question is what is that reason and when did such reason happen.

I mean there is should be a reason, right?

I mean changes as drastic as this one shouldn’t be just caused by any simple whims, right?

….Well, there is definitely an underlying reason for her to make that face, that is something I’m certain about with my whole being.

….But what could ever be that reason is beyond me.

The reason for her to make such a defeated face is probably only known to her and her alone, something I and everyone will never understand or even know.

Damn, I guess She is truly an enigma in & out. And quite possibly the oddest one I have ever encountered at that.

And that is quite a telling statement.

After all, I’m not really that new into the world of eccentricity. I mean I am a part of the most well-known group of Eccentrics after all; The Luminaries.

So I could confidently say that I’m no novice to outlandish personalities.

Yet something about this girl just feels off, if you could even call it something simple as that.

I can't really put my finger around it but every time I’m near her even just a few meters my instinct always flares up yelling inside my body to run away as soon as possible.

An outlandish thought that even I myself am baffled by.

After all, there is literally no reason that could valid the fear that I feel every time I’m around her, yet I still do.

Just what could warrant such a dreaded feeling to emanate from such a little girl?

Honestly, this is the second time I was baffled this much by a single person.

This little girl honestly reminds me of a certain annoying drunken elf, due to how incomprehensive they both are in my eyes.

Only left for them to be a mirror of one another is if the Little Lady would suddenly become an alcoholic person and started messing with me for just the hell of it.

Suddenly shuddering at the unlikely thought of such a thing happening I instinctively straightened my posture.

“What a nightmare would that be.”

As I continued pondering various thoughts within the spaces of my mind I soon reached the door leading towards Arthur's office that is now the Little Lady’s room.

A quite fitting new usage of it, I guess.

It’s not like it’s going to be used by anyone in this house, after all. So it’s probably the only utility it will ever have.

As since Arthur’s death no one had even stepped a foot inside of it and had only been revisited and cleaned after such a long time due to the Little Lady’s antics.

So it’s fairly obvious that everyone would probably soon barracked this entire place if it weren't for the Little Lady’s odd curiosity about it.

Now standing silently in front of the large wooden door another tired sigh escaped my lips.

‘I wonder what Arthur would have done in situations such as these..’

Clenching the doorknob tightly, I slowly twisted it open bracing myself for anything unexpected that could greet me on the other side.

And unexpected it is, as the moment I opened the door a strong and somewhat foul fragrance invaded my nostrils.

The fragrance lingering in the room is a bit similar to that of an Alchemy station you could find about anywhere, That strong smell of chemicals mixed with different materials is something you definitely would not mistake for something else.

Quickly pinching my nose for the sudden scents entering both my nostrils my focus shifted from finding the source of scent to trying to find the Little Lady.

Though panicking a bit my emotions quickly subsided as I found her in the next second; Sitting at a small table at the far end of the room, sipping tea while she holds a stack of paper in her hand.

Her focus seems to be undisturbed despite my presence, She just instead continued sipping her tea quietly.

Seeing her completely disinterested and uncaring face, I have decided to be the first one to strike up a conversation.

“Ehem! Excuse me, My Lady…”

In the next instant upon hearing my voice, the little lady's attention quickly returned, a look of confusion evident on her face as she slowly turned to face me.

Did she really not notice my presence until I finally spoke?

The answer is clearly written on her face but still, I didn’t really sneak my way here so was she really that deep in thought to not even hear to door open?

Hmm...I wonder what is she thinking that took her whole focus away from everything around her.

“Oh, Didn’t notice you there, My Apologies. How long have you been standing there?”

Seeing the silence between us the Little Lady didn’t waste any more time and quickly started a conversation.

“Not that long actually.”

“Oh, Is that so. Then did you need something from me?”

“Yes, Actually but that thing could wait much later. The first thing that should be taken care of is this scent My Lady, Did you cause this?”

Still covering my nose with my hand, I closed the door behind me as I finally entered the room, examining every little detail about it that could possibly be the cause of that strong chemical scent.

And thoroughly looking around the room it seems that nothing has been changed.

The ornaments, shelves, chairs, and closets are still in the same place as I last remembered them, not a single thing is moved nor added.

I didn’t really see the Little Lady as someone who is a materialistic person so I guess this is expected—But….

Slowly my gaze gravitated from the empty shelves and unto the floor and finally to the Little Lady herself.

As dozens of books and papers varying in different sizes—littered all around her as if some sort of decoration. Some of the shelves are emptied as well their contents fill the tables nearby.

It’s honestly quite a mess of a place but still not that surprising as I’m already aware of the current state of this room due to some of the maids in the mansion bickering about how messy the Duke's room has become.

So I’m well aware that this room will be a mess, But I didn’t expect it to be this messy.

Did she perhaps read all of this?

I highly doubt that but somehow if it’s Her that we are talking about, then there is probably a high chance that she did.

Still holding my nose I patiently waited for the Little Lady to answer, and after what seemed to be a minute of collecting her thoughts, she spoke in that same quiet yet stern tone of hers.

“I merely spilled something, Do not concern yourself much of it.”

‘Lies.’

Though there isn’t any indication for what she said to be a lie, It is still a lie nonetheless.

As the scent filling the room isn’t really gathering up in one place nor does it appear to be something you would smell from something that has been spilled.

Instead, it is probably brewed or sprayed and is definitely intentional by nature.

Add the fact that the scent becomes more pungent around her body, One could guess that she probably had come in contact with the scent itself just now since I didn’t really smell anything similar to this in the Dining Hall.

So the most likely explanation for this scent, Is that the Little Lady is trying out Alchemy for some reason and just hid it a few seconds before I entered the room.

‘God, What a dangerous hobby to start.’

Having the intense urge to let out a sigh or just pinch the bridge of my nose, I somehow still stopped myself and retain my pride and dignity.

So do I out her lies or do I not?

The answer should be fairly obvious, As what kind of sane person will let a child continue trying something so dangerous.

But again my gut instinct along with my own mind are all telling me that I should leave her be.

An odd thought to have but….

Might be worth the effort.

So with my mind clear of confusion, I straightened my posture as I retreated both my arms by my side.

“Is that so then do you mind if I ask you a question?” I queried in thought as I remembered the last parting words she have given me after her fight with her mother; that being, (Then is taking orders from me one of your orders?).

It’s definitely something that caught me off guard that time but I still reluctantly nodded to her question.

But after a while of just pure silence from her after that question, I can’t help but be curious if that question is just a throw-away comment or is actually a warning of an upcoming order from her.

So I have to know now or else I might stress more about it later in bed.

Waiting in silence for her permission for the question, the little lady taps her chin for a second before her focus returns.

And in the next instant suddenly tossed the stack of paper she had been holding on to this entire time.

Albeit confuse by the sudden action I nonetheless cached the paper with ease.

Upon confirming the safety of the papers in my mind I return my gaze back to the Young Lady with a questioning look and as if she had read my mind she suddenly answered back.

“Weren’t you here because you’re wondering if I will be giving you an order?”

Bewilderment quickly rose up in my chest as she answered the question that I haven't even asked yet.

“W-what? How did you—!”

“Doesn’t really matter. But in that paper is all orders I want to be executed, It’s not yet done so if you have any questions feel free to ask me.”

Quickly cutting me off as if my words mean nothing, The Young Lady returns back in sipping her tea as her focus wavered away from me.

Seeing she doesn’t wish to converse with me anymore I had no choice but to change my attention from her and to the papers at hand. And with confusion still in my eyes, I have begun reading through the file at hand.

First started reading just one page, then two pages, then three pages, then four, then five, then six…... The number goes on for a while until finally stopping at 20 pages in total; all of the text written back to back.

And all of it stating different scenarios and orders on what to do with said scenarios.

From absurd solutions to witty ones and some petty ones all written with maximum efficiency and accuracy at every step.

‘Is this what she was doing for the weeks that she has been ignoring everyone in the mansion!?’

What kind of absurd situation is this?!

All of these solutions required extensive knowledge from politics to wildlife, So presenting even one solution already can take so much of one's effort.

And this girl managed to create a dozen of solutions and a few backup plans as well.

Hell, I even read one of the few solutions to the lack of money is by selling organs of bandits or even selling them as slaves.

Just how in the world did she even think of solutions such as this?!

This is just beyond absurd at this point and just downright terrifying for a 4-year old such as her to know this kind of stuff.

Just what in the world is she?

Could she really be one of them?

A mix of bafflement and terror swirls in the pit of my stomach, a feeling I haven’t felt for a very long time.

After all, how could I even feel something such as fear?

I’m a Luminary. There is not much in this world that could bring me this kind of fear; other than fellow Luminaries, Spiritual Beast, and just endangerment of my allies.

Yet this girl's entire existence brings me that fear that I have completely forgotten.

Staring at her small visage in complete silence, A sigh escaped her mouth as her face turned to my direction.

A small tinge of boredom or maybe just tiredness is etched on her but was quickly reduced to nothing but a blank slate in the next second.

An eerie expression that is similar to that of a human trying to be a mannequin.

And with a flat tone, she asked, “Is there any problem with the notes?”

It’s suffocating.

Her voice which is not even that deep nor intimidating suffocates my entire being.

Honestly, if it weren’t for the fact that she is a few feet away from me, I probably would have been unable to mask my emotions like this.

‘Just what is she?’ I thought before I shakily opened my mouth to answer the question that have been on my mind for quite a while.

A question I know the answer to yet couldn’t fully accept.

“A-are you the one that wrote everything that is in here?”

“The author doesn’t really matter does it?”

“No it does, My lady. Especially if it’s about you....”

Stressing that last part, I could feel a hint of annoyance in her red velvet eyes.

An annoyance that slowly developed into a glare as I continued, Not heeding the warning to push any further laying inside those velvet eyes of hers.

“So my lady please answer my question, Are you the one that wrote these?”

Silence.

A long silence fills the room, and bullets of sweat built up on my forehead as I waited for her obvious answer.

And…

“Yes, I did.”

There it is, the words I truly didn’t want to hear.

Frankly, I would have accepted it if she said that it was given to her but for her to claim that it was written by none other than herself is just plain ridiculous.

“S-surely you jest since this—”

Trying to reason with her claims, my words were quickly cut off by her reply; cold and forced.

It was undoubtedly aggressive by nature that I even Instinctively motioned my hand to my side; a place where my sword should be but my hand met nothing as I left my sword in my room.

“This is getting tiring.”

Tiring?

Still, a bit unnerved by her sudden irritation I tried to keep my composure and listened quietly to what she had to say.

“I’m well aware of the contents I have written and how absurd those contents are and how ridiculous that it all came from a child's mind, but as things stand now I doubt that the Crestfallen would even exist to experience the downside of my plans if it happens to fail.”

“We are already out of options, the populace working for us are declining rapidly with crops and jobs not tended by anyone, the income of the household has been in a downward state as of recently, the back money of the family is already being used by mother to stop the inevitable so....”

“What more could we lose from a plan this risky and untested?”

“Mind if you tell me that, Sir Raiden?”

Cold sweat formed at the back of my neck as we began a staredown, with the little girl staring straight at me with anticipation present in her eyes.

Similar to that of a guard questioning a criminal as to where his companions are.

Nonetheless despite the suffocating feeling, she has been emanating I stood my ground and faced forward hiding the terror I am feeling.

“We can—” And swallowing my fear I Slowly opened my mouth intending to refute the young lady's claims but trailed off as I thought more and more about her question.

What could we lose If this plan does fail?

Is there anything that we have that is too valuable to lose?

Fame, Wealth, Power, and Influence are already lost so taking risks will not damage us that much considering we are already at the bottom of the abyss just waiting to be dragged down even further to the place that even the sun cannot reach.

But at that point, we probably have been either executed for treason or absorbed by another noble family.

So that means...

“…..do...nothing…?”

As much as I hate to admit it we honestly could do nothing other than wait for our evident falling.

A scary thought but it is still the reality about the entirety of our situation.

A reality that we have to confront and overcome in order to continue to live and move forward.

“Well, at least you are self-aware and not blind to the situation like the others. So I guess I’ll give you that.”

The little lady mumbles under her breath unaware of the keen hearing I possess, or maybe she is aware but couldn’t really care.

“Then I suppose you understand that we have nothing to lose with these plans, am I not correct?”

“Then I’ll be waiting for the results.”

Clasping her hand she leaned back to her chair stretching her arms around before starting to read another book on her table, uncaring of my presence.

Letting out a sigh I gave a bow before walking away from the little girl.

I want to question her more about everything she had written but I doubt she’ll take it kindly if I try to push any further.

Maybe I’ll try later down the line

But this cemented the thought that most maids have, that she really does plan to replace her mother as a duchess when she is finally at the right age.

This being the first step, that she would use to probably slowly gain more and more fame and slowly gain the loyalty of everyone here as well.

Truly ambitious despite her age yet still felt normal considering her father is revered as a genius at the age of 8.

‘I guess they’re truly father and daughter.’

That is what I wanted to say in this scenario but….she is different from Arthur.

Vastly different that it’s a bit unnerving to compare them between each other.

If Arthur is the sun then this little girl is probably the night that will swallow every light.

Just how did this thing come from Sara & Arthur?

With that passing thought, I took one last look at the Little Lady before making my way to the door.

Clasping the cold metal knob of the door I opened it slightly before being stopped by a sudden timid voice coming from behind.

“Ummm…...one more thing actually.”

Caught off guard by the sudden apprehensive tone of voice she now had, I turned and stared at the little girl on the other side seemingly clenching her dress with an unsure look.

“What is it, my lady?”

I asked in worry as the sudden change in demeanor is just a large change from the authoritarian presence she was giving off for the longest time.

“I-i need you to keep my involvement with these plans a secret from my mother.”

She said as she looked down in shame?

I’m not really sure as her snow-white hair hides her facial expression like a blanket of snow but with the tone of her voice you could fairly make out what she was feeling.

Seeing I have no choice from the sudden request, I wholeheartedly agreed with her proposition as I too do not want to explain her involvement to Her Grace.

“Yes, Of course.”

Giving another bow I took my leave, closing the door behind me with little to no sound to not cause any more disturbance.

Letting out a weary sigh I looked down at the papers in my hand.

She’s planning to hide her involvement from the duchess, I wonder why.

Leaning my entire body on the door I have just closed, I tapped my chin in thought.

I thought I have understand her a bit but clearly, I’m still so far away from understanding her at all.

She is still an oddity in my eyes and probably in everyone’s eyes as well.

I guess this confirms that she is truly one of them.

“Hah…”

Letting out a deep breath I slowly regained my bearings as I made my way to the Duchess' room.

Not even bothering to let my mind wander to any topic concerning the Little Lady.

I’m going to die of exhaustion because of this family.

Nonetheless, this is part of my promise so I will not yield nor fail.

Not again, at least.

Not again, Will, I fail to protect a loved one.

For It’s a promise with a friend that I will see through to the end.

Slumping down on the hard table the girl's head collided with the book she was reading.

“Done.”

She mumbled to herself as her eyes slowly got heavier by the second.

She hasn’t gotten enough sleep for the past week after her bold ramblings in front of her mother after all.

As she had decided to put every strength and knowledge she possess to formulate dozens of solutions to the problems that have arisen in the domain.

So it’s fairly obvious that her body is nearing its limit.

She didn’t know anything much about the basic stuff about this new world so she had to start from scratch.

Which leaves her no choice but to read through dozens of books about monsters, potions, food, crops, and trading routes that could possibly aid in formulating multiple possible ways out.

An action that took the majority of her time and strength.

As after dozens of hellish days later of nothing but reading and racking her brain for every possibility that could be used, her strength has now left her body entirely.

Leaving her mind limp on the table along with every muscle of her child's body.

But nonetheless, she still comes up with a 20-page thesis all containing a long week's effort of nothing but researching and reading.

Ecstatic at first and about to brag in front of the servants and everyone who had been bad-mouthing her for the past weeks.

And showing it to her mother that has been sulking for a long while now, proving to her that she does not need her pity or care.

That she is useful and not something that needs to be protected.

But soon she realized how shallow and stupid all of her reasons were for doing this.

‘Why did this situation even come? ‘

‘Didn’t I agree to just watch till my age could be taken seriously?’

‘Am I that petty that I did all this bullshit to just show off?’

‘Have I finally gone senile that those few words set me off like this?’

These questions flooded her mind along with the worries of her past.

Always asking and wondering why she had got so angry and derange upon hearing her mother's proclamation.

Was it that stupidity and naivety of hers that had set her off completely?

Or Was it the selfishness of her wish to keep pushing on despite the others' pleas to not continue any further?

Or was the problem just really her and nothing else?

Is she really the one taking it wrong here?

She wasn’t really sure.

She doesn't know how to answer this question that has been plaguing her mind for a long while now.

Tried searching for it somewhere in the deepest archive of her mind and found not a sliver of an answer she was satisfied with.

The books she holds on to dearly and closely offer nothing as well, leaving her more lost and alone.

She hates her.

That’s just the case.

A simple blight and hatred.

Plain and simple.

Right?

No...

She knows it is far from anything simple.

As hate was not the only thing brewing inside her distorted mind.

It was not a single emotion.

It was a sea of nothing but different emotions, crashing and rising inside the walls of her soul.

Just waiting patiently for the evident tipping point to finally break out, leaking its contents to everything nearby.

It was already difficult enough to handle a single emotion, let alone multiple.

Disgust, Longing, Hatred, Nostalgia, Fear, Love, and Agony.

These emotions swirl into a catastrophic monster that is slowly eroding her from the inside.

Cruelly breaking her piece by piece, as she couldn’t do anything other than, wallow in silent despair.

She’s conflicted—her mind couldn’t process the emotions that have been brewing inside her.

Confused whether she loves her mother or hates her—whether her longing for that same warmth or revolted by it entirely.

It was beyond comprehension for her rational mind to even think clearly—It was scary....nauseating…and….

Lonely…

This feeling…its beyond worse…As her whole body shuddered and twitch with every simple movement.

She felt like vomiting and gagging every content in my stomach as her heart wandered off to the darkest part of her psyche and emotions, While her mind on the other side tries to push back down the feelings she has been masking beneath a layer of deceit.

It’s disgusting.

She can’t breathe.

She wants to breathe, but somehow her lungs aren’t working.

Nothing is working.

It is as if she is drowning beneath the deepest part of the ocean, with her entire lungs already filled with water.

Clutching her chest as her mind entire a panic frenzy, she began pounding it repeatedly hoping for her thoughts to somehow stop and her life to seize alongside it.

But it didn’t work.

Nothing is working for her.

Panic soared along with that realization and with it were more distressful memories & thoughts rushing in flooding the little girl’s mind and heart in the process.

Thud

Before she knew it her body had fallen out of her table and was now walking towards her cabinet in a trance of thoughts.

(I always love you.)

Lies

(I’m only doing this for you.)

Lies.

(I will always be by your side!)

Lies.

(It will be fine, you’ll be fine.)

Liar.

(I want you to be happy.)

Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies.

Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar.

‘Ori You Liar!’

‘Mother you Liar!’

‘Every last one of you is a Liar!’

LIES!!

LIES!!

LIES!!

LIAR!!

LIAR!!

LIAR!!

“ALL OF YOU ARE LIARS!”

Letting out a shriek the girl fell to her knees as she stumbled on her cabinet in the far corner of the room, hidden away by multiple stacks of books.

“Liars. All of you are liars.”

Muttering over and over again to herself with a manic expression on her face, her breath grew restless as her trembling hand slowly reached inside one of the already open cabinets.

“Lies. I’m...n-not going to believe….a-any of you.”

Slowly tapping inside the shelve her hand shuffled and twitch as it stroked the wooden boards inside.

“I-I’m going to….”

Rummaging for what seemed to be a minute or so, Her breath suddenly grew heavier than ever as her hand finally came in contact with the object she has been finding.

“G-going…to...”

Retracting her hand slowly out of the cabinet, a slight shine was cast upon her face; a reflection of the sunlight peeking inside the room bouncing to the object on her hand and into her face.

“Lies, Y-you...all lied to me.”

She mutters as she finally took the object out of the cabinet entirely.

It was a knife.

A kitchen knife with a wooden handle.

An object that shouldn’t be here yet it was.

An object the girl now clenched tightly as if some sort of relic that she loves and hates at the same time.

A mixture of hope and despair filled her entirety from just a simple look at the object.

“Hahh...Haah..”

The girl sucked in the air through her gaped mouth with tears running down the side of her eyes as if some fish out of the water.

“I shouldn’t...I really shouldn’t.” She muttered repeatedly as her arms slowly drew the knife closer to her thigh.

“But…you lied…Y-you…all lied..”

Despite the tears and constant muttering of refusal for what she was about to do, her body and eyes all tell otherwise as they flicker with anticipation for what is about to happen next.

“Haah…Y-you promised…Not to leave...”

Audibly breathing at this point she slowly and gently began pressing the knife into her left thigh.

Its thick sharp edge bit by bit creates creases on her fair tender skin.

She didn’t want to do this.

She wants to stop, yet something inside of her wants that relief she had forgotten for so long leaving her in a tug of war between her own desires and what is right.

Which a battle she had lost in the following second.

As feeling the pressure building on the specific part of her thigh, her desire to do the deed had shot up and gotten the better of her, leaving her to just close her eyes to save herself from the sin she was about to commit.

In the next instant with just one swift motion of her knife—She sliced.

————Shick.

She had sliced through her skin like butter.

Red liquid soon followed from said action as she hissed in pain with tears still continuing their flow on her face.

The aroma of the crimson ichor that had just exited her body was quickly swept away merging with the chemical present in the air, unifying into an intoxicating smell that had slowly grounded her thoughts back to rationality.

The pressure and thoughts inside her body had begun to settle down as the crimson liquid ran down her thigh, the suffocating memories and tension were swept along with it.

It was messed up.

She was messed up.

She knows what she was doing was wrong.

That if she was caught doing something like this, then surely she would be labeled as messed up in the head….which she was in all honesty.

But..what else could she do.

This is the only way she knows how to let all her stress and emotions out, when she couldn't deal with them anymore, dulling them out with that all familiar intoxicating pain.

The pain she liked more than anything else.

That sudden and short-lived rush from the knife meeting her pale skin—cutting through it.

The rush that releases all her pent-up frustration and pressure in an instantaneous burst.

That rush that she couldn’t enough of.

That rush that grounds her thoughts back to her own control and reaches.

...Maybe she is a broken and disgusting freak. A person who had given up on everything and beyond total saving.

But none of it matters at that moment, as the only thing in her mind was to get that rush again and to numb out the remaining thoughts plaguing her mind.

“...Haah….ahh..”

Still holding the knife in her hand, she shuddered as the gratifying feeling bubbling inside her was soon replaced by the tingling pain on her thigh.

Now feeling nothing but the pain from the self-inflicted wound, She sucked in air through her teeth as she began to raise her knife again.

There...was still so much pressure and thoughts clogging her mind.

She needs more of that pain to dilute them out tuning them back to silence entirely.

And so in another swift motion—She cut again.

And again.

And again.

And again.

And………….

—She was now calm.

She was in pain, both mentally and physically exhausted as well—But she was still calm.

Her labored breathing returned to normal even though her hands and shoulders twitches ever so slightly.

Her tears have seized flowing as well, leaving only a dry trail mark on both her cheeks, waiting for someone to see and pointed out if not wiped off.

But she was still calm. Calm more than ever. Calmest she had ever felt since she had died.

The calm stemming from her bloody thigh and the knife in her hand, the piercing pain-numbing through her senses distracting her mind from forming any thoughts.

“I’m sorry...I didn’t want to…”

She mutters as she opened both her eye, taking in what she had done to the promise they have both made.

A promise she had broken out of weakness.

“Damn it....”

…….

………..

[--I just want to sleep and never wake up once again…

I just want to run away.

Run away from everything and go back to those times when I was happy just being under your loving gaze.

I wanted to go back.

……

………..

But I can’t…

I can’t as you’re not there anymore.

Every time I turn to look back, you're not there anymore.

No one is.

I was all alone on this throne made of silver and gold.

Being nothing but just a living memento.

Everyone is gone and it was because of me.

You have sacrificed yourself for my dream.

A foolish dream of a foolish child.

A dream I have failed to protect in the end.

I have killed you.

And I have killed that dream.

In the end, I am truly beyond pathetic.

A cursed child that doesn’t know anything other than destroying everything she has.

A cursed child that should have never been born.

A cursed child, bearing the name, Eris—Eris Scotus.--]

Reaching the Duchess room I let out a deep brooding sigh as my mind prepared itself for the confrontation that I will no doubt have to face once I set a foot into the room.

“I really don’t want to do this…” I muttered in a groan as I clutched the cold knob of the door, twisting it open and walking into the fray with almost glasswork determination.

‘But here we go...I guess.’

Entering the room my sudden presence was quickly met by a startled Sara and an annoyed Rita.

“Pardon my intrusion,” I said with a bow as I saw the annoyance within Rita’s glassy serpent eye.

She Is someone who is a stickler by the rules even in these scenarios, What a chore to work with.

She really ought to lay down and rest once in a while for the betterment of her well-being, after all her work is the most tiring out of all of us.

As not only is she the only one who could handle the Duchess's emotional outburst but she is her Personal maid as well; tasked with handling almost everything this domain has, leaving her hand full with all these problems & responsibilities.

Honestly, I can’t say that I don’t empathize with her situation as back when I was still a knight, there will be times when I would go on for days without sleep and rest just to continue fighting.

But seeing she’s still handling everything strong then I suppose my pity will just sully her determination.

“Took you long enough.”

She said while raising a brow, clearly displeased with my delay.

“My apologies, it took me a while to deal with the Little Lady.”

Clearing my throat I uttered a half-truth lie so as to not divulge the conversation that I had just ‘dealt’ with.

After all, one of my orders from the Little Lady herself was to not utter a word about her involvement.

An odd request, but an order nonetheless.

“R-Raiden, How was she?”

Suddenly as if summoned by the mere mention of the Little Lady, Her Grace chimed in with a tone laced with apprehension.

A tone we have been hearing for a while now, which honestly something we couldn’t really blame her for.

I mean she did get mentally attacked and kicked by her own daughter of all people.

The person she holds in her heart closer than anyone and even higher than Arthur in my eyes.

So no one could really blame her for such a reaction.

“She was fine for the most part, So you shouldn’t concern yourself much with her, My Grace, She told me the pass the message that she’ll have a talk with you after acknowledging her mistake.” So I lied.

I mean saying that her daughter didn’t even mention anything regarding the incident would just fuel her distressful state, even more, kicking her down even lower in the process.

So I lied.

I lied for the sake of both sides.

“I-is it really true? Lore doesn’t hate me?”

“Of course not, My Grace.”

“I-i’m glad.”

Suddenly collapsing back to her seat, a contented smile was etched across Her Grace's face as she took in the lie I had just uttered.

…It’s not like I want to lie, the situation at hand is just forcing me to.

But…seeing her face like this honestly made that lie a bit bittersweet.

Relaxing my face upon seeing the tears of joy rolling down her cheeks, my eyes slowly gravitated unto a certain snake now coiling its tail around Her Grace, caressing her small yet large figure with it.

“See I told you she doesn’t,” Rita said in a voice of reassurance as Her Grace just nodded.

Well, that’s a nice backup from you of all people.

Did she actually believe my lie as well or was she just backing it—.

Suddenly tensing up as I watched both of them from afar, my eyes were met by a sudden piercing glare from Rita.

Oh, She definitely knows I’m lying and just backed it up.

And slowly while she caressed Her Grace back she mouthed with a stern look, ‘Let’s talk about this later.’

Ah—.

I guess, my work is not done even after this huh.

Standing at the other side of the table I couldn’t stop a smirk from forming on my face as I looked at the now diligently working duchess.

Just a few seconds ago she had the look of pure distraught and horror, but now her face carries a look of pure relief with a tinge of fatigue.

She was truly an easy person, to say the least.

Just a simple word that her daughter doesn’t hate her anymore could send her into a blissful state.

Even if that word would be a lie, she would still accept it as if it were the truth as long as it come from her family and trusted friends.

What a naive woman.

A naive woman that I just took advantage of once again.

I didn’t want to lie to her but with things standing now I doubt the plans I was given can be put into action without the duchess's mind in the clear and at the same time I have to somehow mend their relationship as well.

So it’s just a two bird one stone tactic.

Though saying that doesn’t really alleviate the guilt….So I just have to succeed in this task to make up for it.

Straightening my posture I sat in silence as I waited for the right time to bring up the domain problems or more so chimed in when brought up.

Right timing is the key to conversations and diplomacy after all.

Rita right now seems to be just arranging stacks of paper while from time to time will ask the duchess if she’s feeling unwell which she always replies with a smile (I’m fine, I can still work and finish all this stuff by dinner.)

Smiling through the mental toll and physical fatigue that accumulated over the past years as if it was nothing.

I really don’t know if I should be worried or be proud but maybe a little bit of both.

Rita though not evident like the rest of us is also not faring well as she had been pulling straight all-nighters more than anyone dealing with the domain problems as well.

None of us have really slept for a long amount of time for the past few years in general, so there is that as well.

I can probably go on and so does Rita but, Her Grace probably can’t.

She’ll probably fall from exhaustion and stress if this continues.

So before that happens I have to take this plan into motion and succeed as well.

“Hmmm....with the crops & worker shortage along with the ever-growing amount of beasts in the territory, it would be hard to make it through this year.”

The first one to break the silence was Rita, who quickly took the initiative and mentioned one of the biggest problems we have at our hands at the moment.

A shortage of both manpower and resources stemming from the suddenly dangerously unusual amount of Batrol in the forest; a monster we have to deal with every time spring hits.

This wasn’t the first time this happened as every spring Batrol mating season rolls closer as well.

A time when these violent creatures who tend to shy away from a huge populace suddenly get the urge to spread their hunting ground out in the open to hunt bigger prey; an action that is commonly done in order to impress the females in their community.

Of course, this resulted in us, The Crestfallen who governed this whole place having to actively hunt them down when that time comes; In order to both capitalize on the abundant marketable materials from their bodies and to ensure the safety of the people in the village.

A routine of song and dance we have been doing for years already, So it shouldn’t have become a problem for us this time just because we didn’t have enough funding.

But it still did, despite our experience with them for years we still couldn’t win against them.

And it’s all due to a simple reason—Their numbers.

As for some reason their numbers that are already high by default suddenly skyrocketed over the past years, a sudden phenomenon that left us baffled and unprepared since this was the first for their numbers to suddenly get this high out of nowhere that it almost feels like someone set it up.

But we didn’t have enough time on our hands to even think of it back then as we have to deal with two big problems now; Being the sudden egregious amount of Batrols and the constant assassination attacks.

A deadly duet that inevitably became the reason why we have been pushed off the ledge and into where we stood now.

A fading family that will slowly be buried into obscurity if nothing is done.

...Well, ‘If nothing is done.’

“That is true the workers can’t do their job without any precaution as well. Raiden could deal with them but I doubt he could deal with them all on his own, Protecting and Hunting are hard tasks to fulfill especially at the same time.”

Replying with a steady composed tone in her voice, The duchess silently spun her pen as she furrowed her brows, formulating a possible way to deal with our predicament.

“...I don’t think we could hire another mercenary group to deal with the beast as well due to lack of funding.”

This was another one of the effects of the Batrol's attacks on the villages under us.

With their attacks always spread out into an inconsistent pattern I had no choice but to be always on the move, never stopping to fight, yet there will always be places my blade couldn’t reach even if I wanted to.

As in the end, I’m still a single person, it’s far from possible for me to be at every place at the same time.

It’s plainly impossible.

And so what happens to those villages I couldn’t reach, is only gonna be gruesome fates under the teeth of those beasts, An end civilians such as them shouldn’t succumb to.

An end that people like me should be able to stop….yet even with the title of Luminary Of The Blade, I still couldn’t.

I couldn’t save any of them.

I always fail to reach there in time.

A failure that slowly led our inhabitants to begin leaving and going into other domains in search of safer homes and more stable jobs that could support them and their families.

An action that gave rise to the supply scarcity as there are so few people working that they can’t keep up with the demand.

…Honestly, this situation could have been fixed with the money from the Crestfallen savings but due to that tragedy 6 years ago that started all of this problem in the first place, A large portion of the Crestfallen money was gone, either turned to ashes or was whisked away by our enemy.

Truly the worse of the worse, a situation beyond comprehension.

Accidentally letting out a sigh, the attention of both Her Grace and Rita was now shifted upon me,

Damn it, I didn’t mean to do that.

But I guess this is another way presented to me by fate to start the Little Lady’s plans, So I’ll take it for what it’s worth I guess.

Seeing their faces as they wait for me to say something back I mentally breathe in and out, soothing my nerves to start talking.

I have rehearsed some of the important bits on the little lady’s notes on my way here so I should be fine.

Bracing myself one last time I opened my mouth and laid the first groundwork for the plan Lady Lore has come up with.

“My Grace, how about putting every remaining inhabitant in one place? Preferably the village located near the river bank.”

Earning a confused look from both of them, I shifted uncomfortably in my seat from the attention I am receiving.

I’ve never really liked being the center of attention in the first place.

“Sir Raiden, please explain.”

Rita inquired with curiosity.

“Well you see with the Batrols always on the offensive and I being on receiving end of their onslaught, I rather have the remaining people being in one place than all over the place.”

“Well that is certainly a fair point, then we should create arrangements for that immediately.”

Hearing the approval from the Duchess I inwardly smirked as things seems to be going great so far, just need to add this last spark to ignite it all.

“I would also like to add this…”

Pulling a red vial out of my vest, I carefully put it in front of the table for everyone in the room to see.

“And this...?”

Cocking their head sideways the duchess and Rita stared at me in pure confusion.

Remembering my line from the papers, I started Phase 1.

“As of now all of us here are well aware of the current problem and it’s the current lack of personnel resulting in crops and animals being tended less and less. That is why healing potions could help us out of this predicament.”

Yes, I really didn’t think it was also possible but it seems that I was wrong.

As written on the notes was a solution for the lack of crops due to lacking manpower, And that solution was the use of potions.

Healing potion to be exact.

Potions that are used by medical personnel and mostly soldiers at war, and it does exactly what it said.

Healing anyone who drank it, or more specifically it works more like a booster rather than an instant solution.

It mostly boosts the productivity of the body which results in the body healing much quicker than normal.

So it was a surprise to me that it can also be used in farming as well, using the potions as some sort of fertilizer resulting in the time that crops take to grow themselves getting significantly shorter.

Proven as well by an experiment conducted by the Little Lady, a tomato that usually grows after 6 to 8 weeks grew in just a little over a few days after dozing it with a glass of potion and taking 2 weeks with a small vial.

So if used on wheat and more crops it will most likely shorten its growth time as well.

Or so she said since with lack of time she couldn’t take the time to try to use it on wheat so we just have to hope that it would shorten the usual 8 months growth to about 4 to 3.

It’s a gamble but a gamble I’m willing to take.

“I know you’re confused so let me explain, after conducting experiments for the past months I have found out that using a healing potion as a fertilizer greatly reduces the amount of time it takes to grow crops. Like the usual wheat for example that took 8 months at maximum will be reduced to a mere 3 to 4 months depending on how much you used.”

Following through with the script I have given I continued on forward, lying my way through the two woman’s watchful eyes.

“So if we used these potions I’m quite certain that we will have a higher quality and faster-growing wheat that will probably push us through this year and more so in future years as well.”

“S-sir Raiden, are you sure of what you had said since listening to your explanation is just outrageous at best.”

Asked shakily the Duchess as she stared at the vial in complete disbelief, While Rita just tapped her chin carefully examining the vial on the table with sometimes eyes darting to my direction.

“Of course but as amazing as it sounds that it feels unreal, It is still undoubtedly true.” Though rather unnerved by Rita’s eyes seemingly scrutinizing every fiber of my being I still stuck with the script.

“This could possibly change the whole industry if more people found out, what you have given right now is a groundbreaking discovery if proven true Raiden.”

“I doubt that…” I mumbled.

“Eh? What do you mean by that?”

Hearing my purposefully offhand comment, I quickly rehearsed the second verses in the script in my head as things are actually going just as planned.

Honestly, this is starting to become undoubtedly eerie and creepy that everything is playing just like the Little Lady had written.

But I guess if we want to survive and return back to the light, We have no choice but to rely on every method possible.

Even if it meant allying ourselves to the unknown.

“What I mean is that it’s probably an already known discovery but just kept hidden by other nations to monopolize for themselves and the most likely candidate for this is either Torde or Solis or maybe even both.”

—Is what the little lady said considering her discovery as she thinks that she wasn’t the first to know about it and probably someone had already monopolized it considering no one really knows it was a viable option.

And the most likely candidate to know about this fact would be Torde for being the largest supplier of crops, importing so much different plant supplies in such a short amount of time that is deemed impossible, and Solis for being pushed back so much that they probably used everything in disposable and probably accidentally discovering it in the process.

“That….actually explains a lot…” Concluding by Rita, Seeing their face scrutinizing the truth I had just dropped my momentary breather ended as the Duchess quickly fired off questions towards me without any second thoughts.

“But still that doesn’t make our current predicament any much easier as the inhabitants might either leave or die from starvation before we can even harvest the crops we have planted.”

That is true, investment in certain things means nothing if you would be dead before you could even use them.

But just the first problem, this one has a solution to it as well.

A solution I really didn’t expect could even be an option, but here we are I guess.

“I have another proposition on that Your Grace, As this potion has another use that we could undoubtedly capitalize on in our current situation.”

“And that is?” Narrowing her eyes on me I gulped as I felt intimidated by Rita’s presence for a second before regaining myself back again.

Can’t she just relax even for just a second?

“Well….we could use healing potions as well to make the Batrols meat edible, effectively making them a source of food.” I stuttered my reasoning out of my dry mouth.

The beast that is dwelling in the forest of the domain are monster named Batrol, Batrols are large monsters that are 6 feet in height and 8 in width, they take the form of a large wolf with the head of a bat along with their arms and leg akin to a chicken anyone that had encountered them without any fighting prowess had never seen the light of day ever again.

I got trapped into one of their underground nests once and had nothing to eat but their meat for a month or so and It was nonetheless a grueling experience.

Their meat is soft but it smells horribly like a turd and waste mixed into one and it tastes bitter as well, it is beyond inedible for the common folks who are more accustomed to eating normal food in everyday life.

So it was a horrible surprise when I read that they will be our source of food, for the time being, at first I was stomped but the more I read the more I understood.

Marinating the meat with a healing potion and honey for approximately 24 hours removes the smell entirely and replaces the bitter taste with sweetness making it more edible and tasty than most food, and the worry of poison is also gone as the healing potion probably removed any toxicity that the meat possess.

“Are you sure about it?”

Crossing her arms the Duchess asked in confirmation, still a bit hesitant about the idea I have presented.

Quite expected after all it’s basically common knowledge that Batrols meat is one of the most disgusting meats that has ever existed and is not really that great of a meal due to its smell and taste.

But I’m here to persuade Her Grace to entertain the Little Lady’s whole plan not the other way around.

So I replied with a confident tone, “Of course, I have already listed how to cook them and you need not be worried for the safety of anyone as I have made a plan on luring them out as well.”

“So please do trust me about this, My Grace.”

Bowing my head I anxiously waited for her decision.

I have laid the first phase of the plan but everything will all be for naught if the Duchess doesn’t even take it into consideration.

Still bowing my head, chirps of birds and the ticking of the clock reverberated into my ears, it was too quiet. I feel like my eardrums will pop out of my ear at any moment.

Bullets of sweat slowly trailed off from my forehead down to the table.

I have crossed over thousands of battlefields but negotiations and mind games are still a type of battlefield I don’t really enjoy being in.

It’s too taxing on both the mind and the body, sapping all of the strength entirely in such a short amount of time.

“What about the potion in question? Where do you think we are supposed to get the money to buy these healing potions that we would be using.”

Hearing those words my head snapped upwards, staring in complete disbelief at her for a moment.

There it is, The last piece of the plan, the last step on this staircase. All I have to do is nail this and all will be fine.

Snapping back to reality I lowered back my head back as I answered her question or planned to answer her question, though this time my tone lowered and was reduced to nothing but a whisper.

My confidence as well flickered from being a bright sun to nothing but candlelight in the night, leaving my heart in a constant tug between two reasons I couldn’t choose.

But I’ve already got this far, no use turning back now.

“I have already found a dealer that sells it cheap in bulk and as for where we will get the money....”

This is it…

The deciding factor whether this plan failed or not.

“My Grace, if you would be kind enough please consider selling relics that the Crestfallen own.”

Opening my mouth, I have said it. The words that I need to say had finally rolled off my tongue and entered both my ears.

An action I’m sure I have definitely done as seconds after my request Rita’s voice struck like thunder in the middle of the night.

“Raiden, What the hell are you saying!” Rita shouted with vigor clearly frustrated and disappointed by my sudden proclamation. But nonetheless, I have to push on, this is our only chance and probably our last.

“Please consider it My Grace. Right now this domain doesn’t need relics and statues that nobody could eat. What we need instead is money that we could use and the only way we could get it as quickly as possible is to sell off some of the relics the family of the Crestfallen owns. Of course, I’m not saying everything but at least enough for us to have the head start needed to initiate this plan of mine.”

“I know this all may sound bold and disrespectful but what this domain need isn’t mementos, statues, and antiques but food and money that would fill the belly of our remaining residents.”

“So please My Grace!”

A long silence soon followed, I was prepared to be cast out by the duchess but still stood my ground waiting for her decision.

“Can you promise for this plan of yours to work?”

Eh, Did I hear that correctly?

Did I actually manage to pull through?

Slowly looking up I can see the duchess's face a bit disgruntled, I know how much she respected the Crestfallen so all of us know how painful this decision is for her to make.

So that is why I can’t fail—No I will not fail!

“I swear by my title as the Luminary of the Blade and as the Personal Butler of Crestfallen that this plan will work!”

Solidifying my courage and will to see this plan through I stood up and kneeled with my right leg in front of the duchess.

Seeing my resolve she tapped my shoulder ushering me to stand up and with a smile she said.

“Then I would be waiting for the results, Raiden.”

“You would never be disappointed, My Grace.”