Flapping wings.

Each step resonates louder than the other, each smile shines brighter than the last.

Eyes open.

Their presence takes the breath away, their auras grasp the hearts with violence.

Infernal screams.

They leave trails of blood in their wake, their footsteps are marked with red and broken bones.

Guaranteed death.

There is nowhere to run. Hiding is not an option, praying for help is just naivety.

Cruel angels.

It is the end of a world, the renewal of another. The deads pile up and the light fades away.

Using the term "Angel" is blasphemy.

This world almost disappeared for their sole pleasure. While the title of Angel had been given to them…

Their wings are stained with blood and guts.

Chapter 1: An eternity would

not be enough

???: "S-Sit down..."

The man's calm voice gives her an order, so she complies. An oak stool had already been placed in front of the old man's bed, set up beforehand for this discussion. The woman sit down on it while lifting her handmaid's outfit and looking ahead.

???: "Seeing you sad... is not pleasant."

The man coughs in the middle of his sentence, forgetting to put his fist in front of his mouth. He is pale and time is etched into the features of his skin, his blue eyes have lost their beautiful color. White hair of old age hangs on his skull, moaning from pain, while in his mouth less and less teeth show. The seated woman gives him a small smile, but nothing that convinces the man.

???: "I'm sorry... to be in... *kof kof*... in such a state..."

Long sentences are no longer possible for him: coughing is uncontrollable. The woman remains at his bedside without moving, observing the face of the one she adores so much with sadness. She does not try to hide what she feels, but to drop a tear seems indecent; she must be strong in his presence. Her back is straight, her breathing calm and her expression honest. She wants to say what is in her heart, but she remains silent. The man gives her an awkward smile, but one she appreciates.

???: "Natasha... I wish... I wish..."

The woman puts a hand on the man's chest and looks calmly into his eyes. She has a new smile on her face, but the sadness has not disappeared from her red eyes.

Natasha: "Do not speak, Master Samus. I understand your words."

Samus: "But if I don't talk..."

He starts coughing and Natasha pulls her body back, removing her hand from the chest of the one who taught her. Seeing him in such a state saddens her, but she has been praying every day for the past few weeks that her Master will stay a few more hours. She is optimistic, but by no means naive.

Samus: "I wish... I wish I had been a better Master.

The woman shakes her head gently, still a small smile decorating her lips.

Natasha: "You are a perfect Master. I can never thank you enough."

She means every word: daring to lie to her Master would be worthy of a dagger in her heart.

Natasha: "You are so kind and despite what I am, my skin darker and my hair so white—

Samus: "I told you before, you're... beautiful."

The man touches her cheek with his cold hand, trembling from the disease eating away at his body. Natasha touches it with hers, not letting it go.

Samus: "Anyone who criticizes... *kof kof*... criticizes your looks... is an idiot."

He would have liked to shout these words, but his throat prevents him from doing so. Each cough causes his weak body to tremble and sweat drips from his forehead. Natasha removes her Master's hand from her cheek and stands up to get a cloth. Samus closes his eyes and tries to calm his breathing, but the pain gripping his chest is stronger. He knows full well that death is at his door, so he wants to end this discussion quickly. He wishes he could have chatted for hours with his handmaid... He wishes he could have.

Samus: "When I took you in, years before, I hesitated to leave you... on the street."

Natasha returns with a cloth that she has soaked in water and places it on her Master's forehead. Each of her movements is calm and restful.

Samus: "I told myself... I didn't want... *kof kof*... no Cursed in my house."

Natasha: "I understand."

Samus: "But... when I saw you..."

He pauses in his sentence and opens his eyes to stare into those of his handmaid. His words all come from his heart, he is honest and is happy to have these last moments in her company.

Samus: "I thought you deserved a home."

With a small chuckle, Natasha smiles as she listens to her Master's words. Hearing him speak makes her happy and what he says touches her deeply.

Samus: "Even though you're a Cursed... even though you're not really human and even... and even though you have a darker skin... *kof kof*... *kof kof*... than most people..."

Her Master gives her another awkward smile, but this time a small light comes on in her eyes. One that only Natasha can admire.

Samus: "I wanted you to be happy."

Natasha, this time, keeps her mouth open. The words of her Master cross her heart with joy, pleasure and admiration, but the sadness does not disappear. She lowers her head weakly.

Natasha: "... You have always been such an admirable, kind and funny Master. You always respected me as your own daughter and... You never abused me, you never tried to control or manipulate me... Even when you were feeling down and needed a woman by your side, even when you were drinking a lot and were not thinking straight... Never... never..."

Natasha tightens her Master's hand and purses her lips. Her words tremble more and more, her voice lets her weakness be heard by her Master's ears. She raises her head—

Natasha: "Why do you have to leave so early?!"

—and does not hide the tears that flow from her eyes.

Her emotions take over, her heart tightens and deep sadness runs down her cheeks. Her Master was struck by a disease that no doctor knows about, so no cure is available. He fought, again and again, each day catching the few extra minutes he could...

But death is stronger; it is even invincible.

Samus admires the beautiful face of his handmaid, flooded with sadness and feelings. He passes his hand on it, wetting it with her tears and apologizes again.

Samus: "Making you cry makes me sad... I am... pitiful..."

He coughs again, a little more violently than the last few times. While Natasha is a calm woman who knows how to control herself, she makes a small leap towards him to help him, but the man signals her to stay at her place. From her red eyes continue to pour the emotions that tighten her heart and her lips tremble in fear. The figure of her Master whom she loves so much is reflected in her eyes as in a troubled lake; she wants to take him in her arms, she wants to give him a part of her life and keep him by her side. When Samus stops coughing, he catches his breath and calms down. His sight blurs to the point where Natasha's beautiful face is only abstract forms and his ears ring unpleasantly. He opens his mouth: he must tell her before being mowed down by death.

Samus: "Natasha..."

She nods.

Natasha: "Master Samus..."

Samus: "You deserve... to live a good life."

Natasha: "..."

Samus: "Even if... *kof kof*... Even though I'm not here anymore... I wish..."

He shakes his head.

Samus: "No, I WANT... *kof kof kof*..."

He has forced his last word and starts coughing again

more, which bothers Natasha to the point where the tears start again. She has known for a long time that her Master was going to die...

But to see it in front of her eyes is unbearable for her, her heart cannot bear it.

Every time he catches his breath after coughing, he breathes less well. The sickness that has settled in his body is more and more audible and his eyes are gradually closing. He turns his head towards Natasha again, even though she is now just a blur of strange colors in his eyes.

Samus: "You know my son... *kof kof*..."

Natasha: "Yes, Milo."

Samus: "He will be... your next Master."

Natasha: "... I—"

Samus: "He's a good boy... He knows you... He'll know..."

The man wants to finish his sentence, wants to tell her everything he feels inside…

But his last move was to try to reach for the hand of his beloved handmaid.

He remains motionless. He no longer coughs.

But he doesn't breathe anymore.

He has a calm expression on his old face, he doesn't tremble anymore.

But he no longer lives.

Natasha remains motionless. She looks at her Master's body with sadness and finally bursts into tears again, this time letting her voice drop and screams her frustration, her disappointment, her emotions.

Natasha: "A-Aa... Don't... Don't die... Aaaa... P-.... Nooo..."

She holds her face in her hands and cries next to the now lifeless body of the person who had saved her. Her Master... whom she loves so much.

Natasha: "So I have to get to Ambleurs castle by three o'clock in two days, the nineteenth of May."

She looks up.

Natasha: "Is that right?"

A woman stands in front of her: she is Master Samus' coachwoman. Long blonde hair flows from her head, reaching to her lower back. She always wears a ponytail when driving a horse-drawn carriage and rarely shows a smile on her face. She nods before tapping a spot on the map with her finger.

Miranda: "Master Milo's castle is here. It won't take more than two hours by car to get there."

It is true that Milo is also her Master... Natasha thinks as she looks at the destination. The castle is further north of Ishtar, in the lands of Ambleurs. She hasn't seen many castles: she's stayed in Morneille most of her life and doesn't go out further than the gardens unless her Master asks her to. She looks at the map one last time and nods.

Natasha: "Okay. I'll do my luggages right now."

Miranda: "Natasha."

She stops in her walk and turns towards the coachwoman.

Natasha: "Yes?"

Miranda: "Milo is a fantastic man. Consider it an honor to be sent to his home."

Natasha does not answer her anything and continues her walk in the direction of her room.

She knows that Milo is a good man: he is her Master's son, after all. She trusts him and if she was sent there, it is because he will be kind enough to respect her.

But he will never be able to replace you, Master... she thinks as she opens the door to her room. She looks at her recently repaired dresser drawer and lets out a long sigh. She has been preparing for this moment for weeks...

And yet, her heart hurts so much.

Miranda: "We're almost there."

Natasha: "Okay."

In the sky shines strongly Adara, the star that illuminates the world of Taurus. Natasha observes the landscape from the window, letting the tremors of the car relax. Her former Master, Samus, hated it; Natasha loves it. If the car moves too much, she feels uncomfortable, but she has learned not to complain and to accept what is offered to her. For Natasha, life is beautiful and she is happy to still be here. Without her Master, she would have perished in the streets of the big cities... Natasha takes a deep breath before exhaling everything, asking herself many questions.

What does Master Milo look like?

Will he judge me based on my appearance?

Will I have to satisfy his desires ?

Does he really know me ?

What will he think of me...?

What if he doesn't like the fact that I'm a Kitta?

Who are the people who work for him?

Will I make it without Master Samus...?

And many more. Natasha is afraid of the future that lies ahead of her: she has always lived by Master Samus' side, so a new life seems impossible. She doesn't know if she will be able to keep smiling all the time. As a handmaid, she has to be impeccable and please her Master, even if it's a new one. Natasha loves this job and doesn't want to lose it.

Without it, she would have nothing.

Since she was a little girl, she has lived as a handmaid. She has worn a little more fancy clothes for some parties, but her long black and white dress is what she usually wears. It was designed by a famous tailor especially for her, since she is a Kitta... Natasha has always cherished this garment and does not want to get rid of it. If Milo, her new Master, should ask her to change...

Miranda: "Get ready to leave the car and make yourself beautiful."

Natasha: "Got it."

She dusts off her long outfit and smiles. Master Samus had explained to her what the world of handmaids is really like. Natasha considers herself lucky to have worked for such a man and hopes that Milo, his twenty-two year old son, is just as nice.

The reason Natasha is afraid to change her clothes is because of what Master Samus told her. Handmaids are girls, often young, who work for nobles or wealthy people. Most of the time, the Master takes advantage of their handmaids — most have more than one at the same time — in many different ways: asking them to do more work than they were supposed to, using them to satisfy their sexual desire, taking advantage of their bodies in other ways, beating them for fun,...

Natasha knows how lucky she is. Master Samus always respected her and did so until his death. He was sympathetic to each of his handmaids and never used their bodies in a selfish way. He always thought about their feelings first...

If you think about him too much, you'll cry, Natasha... thinks the Kitta. She takes her luggage in her hand and looks ahead.

Natasha hopes that her new Master, Milo, will not ask her to change her clothes.

She knows that most of the handmaids wear very short and skirted clothes to please the eyes of their Master. Some of them wear almost nothing and can't complain...

Being a handmaid is like being a slave.

The Masters are rich, the handmaids are poor. The Masters give the orders, the handmaids carry them out.

Natasha doesn't complain about her life and considers it to be a lucky one. Master Samus has never abused her and she is happy about it; nevertheless, she knows that she would not have depreciated to… "pleasure" him more.

The car stops and Natasha comes out of her thoughts. She has to accept it: her current Master is no longer Samus, but Milo. As a handmaid, she must understand this and respect her former Master's wishes. If he sent her to his son, it is because he must be a good person for Natasha.

She believes in it with all her heart.

She can't lie: she's afraid of the future. She trusts her former Master, so she will do her best. She has to show her best smile and help him with his tasks.

Miranda: "Get out."

The coachwoman coldly orders Natasha to get out of the car and the handmaid does not retort. She takes the door handle in her hand and lowers it, her heart beating a little faster with each passing second. She slowly opens the door and walks down the single step gracefully. She places her feet on the dirt floor and looks ahead.

???: "Welcome, Natasha!"

A man is standing a few steps away from her, in front of the white stone stairs. Behind him is a large castle exposing its beauty to the world, built at the highest point of the Ambleurs region. It is magnificent and has four large fortified towers with pointed roofs. The surrounding vegetation climbs on some walls, but Natasha understands instantly that it is not a lack of gardening: it is the style chosen by Master Milo and the members of the castle. The vines and other vegetation that entwine the building are cut at the level of the windows and do not go higher than the underside of the roofs. Built mostly of white or very light materials, the castle shines in Natasha's eyes.

It is even more beautiful than that of Master Samus... she says to herself. She is focused on the building, forgetting about the man in front of her who finally smiles.

???: "The castle of Ambleurs is beautiful, isn't it?"

Natasha lowers her gaze and observes the man with her red eyes. She recognizes this person directly, having seen him before in some photo frames.

Milo: "I'd say I'm proud of it, but it existed before I was even born, ahah!"

The son of his former Master, Milo.

His black hair in spikes is recognizable, carefully styled. A few red strands decorate it in front of his forehead, giving it a style. Natasha quickly notices his beautiful green eyes which radiate from the light of Adara. Around his neck floats a wide scarf that reaches his shoulders, a part of it goes down on his body and stops at the level of his buttocks. He is not dressed warmly, a simple garment sticking to his skin as a shirt. His pectorals are visible and his muscular arms are not even dressed. Milo wears a pair of pants that are too big for him, but still fit him well. A brown belt wobbly put around his hips allows the pants not to fall and on his feet are metallic colored shoes. He is taller than Natasha, but only by a little more than ten centimeters.

He is more beautiful than in the photos... are the first thoughts of Natasha when seeing him. With her luggage in her hands, she doesn't move from her position, the car still behind her. Miranda gets out and walks towards Milo.

Miranda: "Master Milo".

Milo: "Hi, Miranda! How are you?"

Miranda: "Samus' death still hurts me, but I feel fine. What about you?"

The man bows his chest while pointing at himself with his thumb.

Milo: "Fit, healthy, and a smile as radiant as ever!"

Natasha listens to them, still motionless and silent. She doesn't know what to say, so she prefers to be small.

Miranda: "Glad to hear it. I brought you your new handmaid, Natasha."

Milo turns back to the Kitta in the long black and white dress and watches her. He walks towards her with a smile and Natasha blinks before lowering her body.

Natasha: "My name is Natasha, I am your new handmaid."

She stands up and Milo stops in front of her. He places his hands on her hips and admires her.

Natasha is a beautiful woman with darker skin: Milo wonders if she is from Kerazu. She has white hair with a faint blue tint cut into a ponytail and reaching above her back. Even though it is in spikes, it is clear that Natasha takes care of her hair. Her beautiful red eyes quickly catch Milo's eye and he stares into them for a few moments. They radiate Natasha's seriousness and curiosity, their white Kitta-shaped irises add a touch of cuteness that pleases the man. They have a purple sheen and Adara's light makes them even more fabulous. Milo blinks his eyes and looks down. She wears on her body an outfit of a handmaid worthy of a good tailor, black and white are their colors. It stops around her knees and a little above her elbows. Nothing hides the top of her chest and a small part of her breasts, but nothing obscene. Her thighs are dressed in dark tights, which Milo likes very much. Her heels are a nice blue and don't cover much of her feet, but that's to be expected from a handmaid. Nevertheless, none of this is what catches Milo's eye. Even though her eyes are beautiful and her outfit pleases him, the first thing he notices is—

Milo: "Dad didn't tell me his handmaid was a Kitta!"

—her cat ears and her cat tail.

"Kitta". A race very close to humans that has little difference with the human’s race. Kittas have cat ears, including a tail of the same animal. They appeared centuries ago, although even today, scientists do not know how Kittas appeared. Since cats cannot give birth to humans — or vice versa — it seemed illogical that such a race could exist. Nevertheless, it is not something that surprises more than that: there were humans with attributes of other animals in the world. Scientists are still searching for their origins, but it is not something that is pressing.

Kittas do not have human ears and therefore hear with their cat ears. They have a more developed sense of hearing and some animal instincts, but nothing supernatural. Just like real cats, Kittas can purr when they are enjoying themselves or are really happy.

Although Kittas are not very different from humans, they are still seen as an inferior species. Most of them live in communities in villages scattered around the world. The unfortunate Kittas who are not in these communities are often handmaids, slaves, or used as sex objects by certain companies.

Natasha: "..."

She doesn't know how to respond to Milo's comment. Yes, it's true that she is a Kitta and Master Samus hadn't told many people about it. Nevertheless, he had always respected her... so would Milo do the same ?

Will he hate me, will he abuse me? Natasha feels her heart beating faster, she wants to take a step back. Milo squints.

Milo: "Now that I think about it... White hair with red eyes..."

He scratches his hair.

Milo: "Are you a Cursed too?"

Natasha: "... I am a Cursed, yes..."

She clutches her luggage and lowers her head. Natasha does not dare to face her new Master anymore.

Natasha: "I... I'm a Cursed, I'm a Kitta and my skin is darker. Y-Your father accepted me like that, so..."

Natasha: " I do hope you don't mind..."

She doesn't know if saying such words to her Master is allowed, respectful or even correct. Maybe she is vulgar and deserves a slap, but she prefers honesty. Her head still bowed, she avoids her Master's gaze and looks at the dirt floor. Milo says nothing, still standing before her. Eventually a sigh is released.

Milo: "I see. Lots of abnormal things about you at once, huh."

Natasha purses her lips and her emotions can be read in her facial features. Her hands are shaking as if she is cold, she still wants to move back a step.

Milo: "Natasha, look up."

The handmaid complies. Her heart beats faster than usual and her usual beautiful smile is not on her face. She knows that she is not making a good impression, that she is even vulgar towards her new Master. She has never been so foolish with her former Master and she suspects that she would get a slap in the face.

I deserve it, the way I'm acting... Her thoughts are not optimistic. She observes Milo's face.

A big amused smile decorates this one.

Milo: "You really think I was going to say that?!"

He starts to laugh, leaving Natasha perplexed. Her hands no longer shake, the shock of his answer having immobilized her. He shakes his head and then stares into the eyes of his new handmaid.

Milo: "First of all, I TOTALLY don't care if you're a Cursed."

He places a hand on his chin and admires the beauty before him with a teasing look.

Milo: "To be fully honest, I think it makes you sexier~"

The Cursed always have white hair with red eyes, although the white color can sometimes take on a certain other tone: Natasha's hair turns faintly blue, for example.

Milo: "No matter what anyone says about the Cursed, it's just silly prejudice and you didn't ask for it. So that's just something I like about you already!"

He snaps his fingers and asks Miranda to take Natasha's luggage. She stoops and does so. When she grabs the handmaid's suitcase, Natasha flinches and blinks. Milo grabs her chin and forces her to look him in the eye.

Milo: "Second, that you are a Kitta is anything but a flaw."

Natasha stares straight into his eyes; not out of defiance, but out of admiration. Her gaze shines so brightly and Adara is not the cause of it.

Milo: "Humans are so boring, don't you think?"

Natasha: "E-Eh...?"

Milo removes his hand from the handmaid's chin and takes a step back.

Milo: "Look at me. My human ears are anything but cute, I don't have a nice cat or animal tail that makes me S E X Y and I can't even purr. Humans are overrated, I would have preferred to be born as a Kitta."

He shows his ears, turns over while waving his buttocks in imitation of an invisible cat's tail and tries to imitate the sound of a purr. Natasha observes it with the half opened mouth, unable to close it again. His glance could not be attracted by anything else than this man.

Milo: "Third..."

This time, he takes a more serious look.

Milo: "Only jerks judge skin color."

Natasha opens her eyes wide and her jaw drops a little more. In her eyes is reflected the figure of Milo; of her new Master. The wind caresses her hair, making her big scarf dance. His masculine yet cute voice, his words that are not thought out in advance, but come from the heart, his excited gestures and his funny way of talking…

Natasha starts to laugh.

Milo looks at her, sees her start to giggle. She doesn't move around, she stays put and one hand hides her mouth. Milo watches her, examines her beautiful face. He's only seen her with a sad, gloomy look; now that she's laughing, she shines even more in his eyes. It's a cute, high-pitched, feminine laugh, but it makes him want to smile. Her closed eyes allow him to notice every detail that forms her beautiful lashes. Her smile is hidden by her glove-clad hand, but he hardly needs to see it to say:

Her smile is beautiful.

Milo admires her, amazed by her beauty. Yes, his new handmaid is a Cursed. Is a Kitta. Has darker skin. Doesn't show up with a big smile. Does not wear sexier clothes. Isn't that short.

Many Masters would not be convinced of such a handmaid. Many of them would not accept such a woman at their side.

Milo: "... Natasha."

She calms down and stops laughing, taking a deep breath. She excuses herself by running a finger under her eyes and nods.

Natasha: "Y-Yes...?"

She forgot to say an important word, but as she opened her mouth to finish her sentence, Milo was already in front of her. His steps were quick, his earnestness catching her throat. He says nothing and bends down a little so that their faces are face to face. He stares straight into her eyes, they don't speak. Natasha is speechless, unable to say a word. Milo touches his own right ear and fusses a little. He closes one eye and a grimace of pain is visible on his face. Natasha admires him, silent and motionless. He touches her neck and whispers to her not to move. She does nothing, says nothing, thinks nothing: she waits. Waits to see what Milo does to her. He fiddles with Natasha's neck a little, his breath caressing the back of her neck. She does her best not to move, but Milo's breath tickles her... The man finally pulls back and smiles.

Milo: "Here you go."

Natasha bows her head and touches her neck. She had always had a necklace around it, but she had never put anything on it. It was a gift that had been given to her by one of Master Samus' other handmaids on her seventeenth birthday.

Natasha: "What is this...?"

She notices that something has been attached to her necklace. She observes it: a form of crescent of Charon — moon of this world — with an Adara hidden behind it. She admires it for a long time and waits for his answer.

Milo: "This is what I have here."

Natasha looks up and observes Milo: he is pointing to his ear, where a jewel is hanging. She notices it immediately: it's the same logo as what she has on her necklace now. Milo then shows her his other ear…

Where he has nothing.

He didn't have to explain himself for Natasha to understand. Milo points his thumb at her chest and shows her beautiful white teeth.

Milo: "This logo is what represents my faction, the Milo faction!"

Natasha opens her eyes wide.

Milo: "Now that you have this logo on you, it means you're part of my faction-my family!"

She is speechless. In her eyes, stars shine, little sparkles that explode into glitter. Milo's reflection in her irises is blinding, his proud, smiling pose dazzling her. She is immobilized by his words, by the way he says things and the meaning behind his sentences. They don't know each other; but both wanted to know more about the other. Natasha closes her mouth and tears run down her cheeks.

And Milo takes her in his arms, gently, calmly, with care and respect.

Milo: "Changing Masters must be complicated, right?"

Milo: "My father... Samus, he was a good person."

Natasha: "Y-Yes..."

Milo: "You were so, so lucky to have someone like him in your life, especially as a Master. He's the one who educated me, who made me who I am... So, I know it's a lot to ask, but..."

Milo: "Just trust me, okay?"

Natasha nods, her throat frozen with emotion. Milo stood up to say those words. He stepped back from her a little to look at her fully, in all her beauty. He thanks her. The handmaid dries her tears and apologizes. Milo smiles at her and tells her that it's okay. He stretches and extends his hand.

Milo: "Shall I give you a tour of the castle?"

Natasha smiles back and accepts. She takes his hand, her tears dried and her heart beating in a calmer rhythm again.

She is already feeling much better.

They climb the steps one by one, no need to hurry. Adara shines on them, the breeze caresses them and the birds sing in the distance.

They arrive at the front door. It is large, imposing and made of a rich wood. It is already open and Milo offers Natasha to go first, which she politely refuses.

Natasha: "I shall follow you, I am your handmaid after all."

Milo wants to retort, but he finally smiles and agrees. With his hand holding Natasha's, he walks inside the Ambleurs castle and his handmaid's eyes open wide.

Beautiful and magical.

Of course, she is used to this kind of scene: she has lived almost all her life in a castle. She has been to other castles, even if rarely.

It is especially the immense fresco which decorates the ceiling of its beautiful colors which amazes him.

The mural represents hope, a bright future where peace is omnipresent. Wars and fighting had raged, but now it was over. People smile, hug and celebrate. A couple kisses, a child runs towards them.

The colors are diversified, but touch mostly on the warm palette. The sky is a beautiful blue, the few clouds do not carry rain, but hope.

This is the beginning of a magnificent future under the reign of a great King, a HERO.

That's what Natasha thinks as she looks at it. Milo chuckles when he sees her marveling like that, but he doesn't judge her: he too had been impressed by the mural.

Milo: "My father told me that it was a famous artist named Caprio who painted it, a few years before I was born."

Natasha turns her gaze to the walls of the room.

This is the main room, illuminated by Adara's light, glass windows are everywhere. A large chandelier hangs from the ceiling, unlit. The floor is paved with white marble, maintained as if it had just been washed: Natasha sees her reflection inside. The candlesticks placed on the walls, the long, big and beautiful colored carpet which sleeps at their feet…

Everything in this room amazes Natasha; everything in this room shows the richness of this castle.

Milo moves forward, his handmaid's hand still in his. He walks to the living room and opens the door. Large sofas, carpets decorating the room in beautiful colors and another magnificent chandelier. The windows of the room are bigger, letting more light through. It's possible to walk out of them and go onto the terrace, but Milo doesn't bother to show her that so soon. A radio sits on a large, smooth wooden table. There are cabinets at the back of the room, imposing and filled with objects and riches. The living room was lit up by Adara's rays and Natasha can't wait to take care of it.

They visit the big kitchen, where she would sometimes have to work. Milo introduces her to the cook named Sulman and Natasha stoops in front of him.

Natasha: "My name is Natasha, I am the new

Milo's handmaid."

Sulman: "Sulman Takkari, Milo's cook for three years now!"

Milo: "Already three years..."

Milo: "Natasha, do you mind helping—"

Natasha: "I'm a good cook, I don't mind helping. I'm better at desserts than savory dishes."

Sulman: "And I am the opposite, ahah!"

After this short conversation, Milo gives Natasha a tour of the rest of the castle, which takes a little over an hour. There are several bathrooms, each more beautiful than the last — especially the one reserved for Milo. A total of ten rooms, all with double beds, but all used by only one person. The dining room did not impress Natasha, quite similar to the one in her former Master's castle. Milo enjoys Natasha's cheerful look, he is happy to see her happy.

Ambleurs Castle, the building where Milo and his team reside.

Natasha: "I'm impressed with it."

Milo smiled.

Milo: "Glad to hear it! I feel very comfortable here, we are rarely disturbed, the fields are close and it's very big..."

This is where Natasha lives now. She is not complaining and would not complain: she is eager to discover more about this castle. The little secrets, its past and what will change with time. When she was still living with Master Samus, she used to have fun looking for evidence of the past, like the almost invisible hole in the ceiling of the fourth bathroom. She still does her job seriously, but when she can look for secrets while dusting, she doesn't hesitate.

Natasha: "I look forward to working here."

She is honest and her smile proves it. Milo admires her before offering to go to her room for a quick chat. Natasha accepts.

They arrive there after climbing a few steps and walking a short distance down the long upstairs hallway. Natasha's room is behind the door with the number "3". Natasha's luggage is already there, brought by Miranda an hour before. They enter and Milo sits down on the mattress, patting it beside him so she can join him. She complies and turns her gaze towards Milo.

Natasha: "What do you want to talk about, Master?"

Milo: "I was wondering what you knew about me, exactly."

Natasha: "What I know about you...?"

Milo nods.

Milo: "You were my father's favorite handmaid, someone he respected very much. He never told me too much about your looks, but I know a little about you mentally. He talked to me before about sending you here if he died, but I didn't expect the disease to take him so quickly..."

He sighs and turns his head to Natasha.

Milo: "Sorry, whatever."

Natasha: "I've already cried all my tears for Master Samus, don't worry."

Milo: "... I see... Good to know, I guess."

The man puts both hands behind him, using them to rest comfortably on the bed.

Milo: "I know he told you about me, but he probably didn't reveal too much, right?"

Natasha shakes her head.

Natasha: "What I know about you is that you are his son and a nobleman respected by your friends and those you meet. He has told me about you before when you were a child and had a dream of great importance, but never has he actually told me about you."

She rests her hands on her handmaid's dress. She appreciated when Master Samus talked about his family, but it was quite rare. She knew it wasn't because he didn't like them, but because he always preferred to talk about himself.

Master Samus is a self-centered person, but it suits him so well... Natasha thinks about him and smiles. The man next to her sighs and lies back in bed with a pout.

Milo: "He's always been like that, so it doesn't really surprise me... Always talking about himself, rarely about others, right?"

Natasha smiles cutely.

Natasha: "He's always been like that, yes."

Knowing that his son knows this part of Master Samus

amuses Natasha. Milo looks up at the ceiling and places his hands behind his head, using them as a pillow.

Milo: "Now that you are my handmaid, I think you should know who I really am."

Natasha's feline ears perk up and she listens intently. Milo finds it cute and thinks that he's lucky to have such a lovely young woman by his side.

Milo: "My name is Milo Sorrow, I'm twenty-two years old and six feet tall. I take care of my hair every morning and I have to redo my red locks quite often, even though I might not care for them. My favorite food is three ham lasagna and my favorite drink is water."

He starts to laugh, leaving Natasha perplexed. He pats his cheeks and apologizes.

Milo: "Sorry, sorry, I was going to make a long monologue talking about not very important things, but I will try to be more serious, ahah!"

What a special man. Natasha doesn't find it disturbing or annoying, she just knows she's going to have to get used to it. Milo cracks the back of her neck as she places a hand on her left shoulder.

Milo: "More seriously..."

Milo: "As I said, my name is Milo Sorrow, son of Samus Sorrow and Britanny Desmond. Thanks to my father, I am a wealthy nobleman who sometimes forgets to pay his taxes."

He sticks out his tongue while closing his eyes. He quickly regains his seriousness.

Milo: "I know I'm your Master, but... I think you've already noticed it yourself: I'm a funny guy."

Natasha: "That is not anything disturbing."

Milo: "I'm glad you don't mind, otherwise I think you'd hate working for me."

He gets up and sits cross-legged on the mattress. It's not his bed, but Natasha doesn't mind him taking his ease: he is her Master and head of this castle, after all.

Milo: "I don't know how my dad was with you, but I'm probably going to be pretty different. I can be serious, but I'm often NOT serious. I don't really act like a nobleman, I know, but I'd rather have fun than to be bored."

Natasha is not lying to herself: if she did not know

not already that Milo was the son of Samus, she would have found it hard to believe that he is noble.

All the nobles she has met are so serious, so square, so straight. To see Milo, a nobleman, act like this... amazes her.

Milo: "However, just because I am the way I am doesn't mean I accept being insulted or that I don't have a purpose in life… that is..."

Milo hesitates over his words. He looks at Natasha and sees his own reflection in her beautiful eyes. She waits for the next part, wondering what he means. Milo closes his eyes, chuckles and then sighs.

Milo: "You see, Natasha, I have a pretty ambitious dream."

Natasha: "So, what is your dream?"

As a handmaid, whatever his dream is, she has to help him achieve it. Her former Master, Master Samus, had a dream of making the people around him happy, even if it took money from him. Natasha had not been able to help him much, but she started to have a similar dream.

To protect, to help, to love his Master. To respect others and to give a smile to those who deserve it.

Natasha is only a handmaid, but she has rights. She is a Kitta, but she has a personality. Master Samus has always made it clear to her that even though she is a Cursed,

she is loved.

She wants to know Milo's dream, she wants to help him achieve it.

Milo: "I want to become the future King of Izarel, to become the King of this world."

On Natasha's face shows astonishment, in her eyes shock and on her lips surprise. She already knew before that her dream was ambitious, but what she just heard petrified her anyway. It's not something bad or even horrible, it's just a dream she never thought she would hear.

Natasha: "The... next King...?"

She had heard on the radio, a little less than two months ago, that the King of Izarel had been found dead in his room, old age being the cause of his death. Now there was no King to rule the capital of the world.

Milo: "You must have heard about the death of the former King, Julius, right?"

Natasha nods.

Milo: "It's been a little while since we all knew Julius was going to die eventually, so I allowed myself to have such a dream. It's big, ambitious and likely I won't qualify to be one, but I won't give up on it."

He clenches his fists repeatedly in front of his chest, his eyes watching them with determination.

Milo: "I trained so much, psychologically and physically... I learned so much and visited so many places just for this dream."

He turns his face to his new handmaid.

Milo: "When I heard on the radio that Julius had died, I doubled— no, I tripled my efforts."

Natasha scratches her cheek.

Natasha: "But don't you have to have a Recommendation to deserve—"

Milo: "I have one, actually!"

Milo puts his head close to Natasha's and opens the

mouth. He lifts his tongue and the handmaid opens her eyes wide.

A piercing in the shape of a seven-sided star, the shape of the "Recommendation".

He pulls his head back and looks proud.

Milo: "Three days after Julius' death, I was summoned to the capital and given this piercing. I can put it anywhere, it is now my priority. So if I get my tongue ripped out and it's stolen, the thief still can't pass the Test of Angels, ahah!"

Natasha: "W-Why hide it, then...?"

Milo doesn't answer and just shrugs. This is strangely unsurprising to Natasha and she lets out a small, amused smile. Milo lies down again in the bed, the mattress more than comfortable.

Milo: "In fifty-seven days, the Test of Angels will be open and I must take my chance. I must pass the Test and I will be able to become a Pretender to the throne... !"

Natasha doesn't know much about the Test of Angels or even how to become King of Izarel, but she does know a little about being a King or the Recommendations. So her new Master has such a dream…

Will I be able to help her...? Natasha is not sure. She is not very strong and fighting is not her specialty, even if she is agile. She squints her eyes.

Why am I thinking of fighting? She close her eyes for a few moments and calm down: learning about her new Master's dream had disturb her. To become King of Izarel, capital of Itsuna and of the world itself, is anything but easy. One must be physically fit, powerful, have a Recommendation, be mentally prepared and know about politics. The one time a King was incompetent, war broke out between five countries in less than a month. She has read many books about this famous war...

Milo: "I know it sounds stupid."

Natasha snaps out of her thoughts and opens her eyes again. She looks at Milo and shakes her head.

Natasha: "I don't think it's stupid."

Milo smiles and scratches his hair.

Milo: "Even if you don't think it's stupid, I'm afraid I can't do it..."

Milo: "But."

He stands up and stares at Natasha.

Milo: "I've trained, I've prepared. I've done everything I can to be good enough, so I'll make it. I have to do it..."

He clenches his fists, shows determination in his eyes and proves it in his voice. Natasha wants to ask him why he is so interested in the throne, but Milo speaks before she does.

Milo: "I talk about myself a lot, but I'll have to introduce you to my team! My faction! My family!!!"

He raises his arms, shouting the last words and laughing to himself. Natasha nods with a smile.

Natasha: "I'm looking forward to meeting everyone."

Milo: "However..."

He stands up and stares at Natasha.

Milo: "Would you like two, maybe three days off?"

Natasha questions him with her eyes, as Milo's question was not understood. Milo notices the look on Natasha's face and explains herself more clearly.

Milo: "Having to change places like that, having a new Master who is an idiot and tells you such a thing, having other people to work with and in a way a little bit different... I don't know what it must feel like, but I think it must be pretty disturbing, even unsettling, right?"

He puts his hand on Natasha's head and gently strokes her hair.

Milo: "I don't want to put you in an uncomfortable position. I don't want you to feel pressured or rushed. If you want, I'll allow you to not work too hard those first three days so you can get used to the place and the way I am, including our schedules, for a bit before I really introduce you to the others?"

He smiles.

Milo: "It's true that you'll only be here for a little less than two months, since we'll be leaving for the Test of Angels afterwards, but we'll probably come back after that and I still don't want to rush you. It's up to you."

Natasha doesn't really know her new Master, but she knows one thing:

He is Master Samus' son.

A smile as beautiful, but younger. He talks quite fast and a lot. He is friendly and thinks of others, even if it is only his handmaid.

Natasha already likes Milo.

She begins to think, not wanting to give too quick an answer. On the one hand, she doesn't want to start her job by taking days off. She still has to be a handmaid for those first three days, but she will have less to do and won't be introduced directly to the other team members. Natasha isn't sure that's what she wants... At the same time, she still has to get over the death of her former Master and she knows she'll have habits from before... She touches her skull, thinking and searching for a decision.

Milo: "Don't take it too hard."

Natasha: "No, I'm fine."

She turns her gaze towards him.

Natasha: "I think everything is going to be fine. The sooner I get to work, the sooner I'll feel comfortable here."

Milo smiles: he's totally happy with that answer; in fact, it's what he'd hoped to hear. He nods and strokes her hair one last time before taking her hand from her side.

Milo: "I see, so I'll just introduce you to Oshio and Sulman for now, you don't necessarily need to know Jiax, Harry or Chris... Oh, there's also Kenoze, but she's not home yet, so..."

He shrugs his shoulders.

Milo: "Well, you'll meet her later." Natasha: "Yeah."

Milo: "For tonight, I'll leave you alone, I really don't want you to work. Otherwise, the hours are from seven in the morning until eleven in the night. You get an hour break at every meal and if you want a snack around four in the afternoon, I'll allow it without a problem."

Natasha: "I never eat a snack."

Milo: "If you change your mind, don't hesitate. You don't have to help in the kitchen every day, but if you are asked, you accept. If you think you can't help, you learn the recipe and help out next time. Though, since we'll be leaving soon, maybe you won't have to do this..."

He rubs his chin and thinks about it, but changes the subject directly after.

Milo: "Oshio is my current servant, he will help you with certain tasks. He's closer to me, so there will be some things that only he can do, but never you will be left out."

Natasha: "I understand, I'm only new."

Milo: "Everyone should like you, don't worry. I'm telling you this already now, but it doesn't matter here if you're a Cursed, Kitta or darker skinned. If anyone judges you for what you are, you tell me and I will punish them. Don't hesitate to rat out anyone, I don't accept judgments on others' looks."

Natasha offers him an adorable smile, thanking him wholeheartedly. He makes a proud man's noise and accepts the thank you.

Milo: "First of all, can I ask you a few quick questions?"

Natasha: "Whatever you want, Master."

Milo: "Are you powerful? What Tempus do you possess?"

Natasha: "I've never needed to use my Tempus, so I'm not powerful... I'm agile, but that's it. My Tempus is of a water element."

Milo: "Hm, I see. Able to use it to wash the floor and stuff?"

Natasha: "Master Samus... Well, my former Master used to ask me the same question, ahah. My Tempus allows me mostly to protect myself or others, even though it's pretty fragile, so using it to clean... I can't."

Milo: "I see, I see! Do you have any allergies?"

Natasha: "None that I know of."

Milo: "Anything notable about you that you hate?"

Natasha: "Not really, if you ask me something I will do it. I don't feel very good if someone hurts me with words, like criticism of my looks, but nothing too serious."

Milo: "When you say anything, it's anything ?"

Natasha: "I might not go that far... I wouldn't want to hurt myself to please the other person or have someone hurt me. I wouldn't want to do certain things that are really… disgusting or horrible."

Milo: "I would never ask you such things, I just wanted to know the limit."

Natasha: "If you want to ask me if you can use my body, I won't refuse—-"

Milo: "I-I wasn't going to ask you! Your body is yours! Even though I have to admit I'm a pretty horny guy, I won't allow myself to have sex with another person if they don't want to...!"

Natasha: "But what if I accept?"

Milo: "There's a difference between accepting and basic wanting. W-Well, whatever..."

He sighs and asks his last question.

Milo: "I hope this isn't intrusive, but..."

Milo: "Do you know why you are a Cursed?"

Natasha does not answer directly. She stares at him, mouth closed and eyes unmoving. Waiting, waiting. She finally lowers her gaze weakly and answers.

Natasha: "... I don't know. I actually don't remember my parents or why I was on the street."

This is the truth. Her memories stop about ten days before she was found by Master Samus. She remembers some emotions she felt before, but nothing concrete.

Milo: "I won't ask you any more, I see, thank you.

That was it, if I think of anything else, I won't hesitate to ask you, okay?"

Natasha: "Of course, Master."

Milo: "Oh, also, I know it might be hard for you, but..."

He stands up and scratches his hair with an embarrassed smile.

Milo: "I'm not asking you this right now, but when we're with each other or with the team, could you call me "Milo" and be on first-name terms? I'll admit that it makes me uncomfortable, otherwise, eheh... B-But, take your time and don't feel bad if you still want to call me Master, eh!"

Natasha: "... I'll do my best."

Milo: "Thanks, you're the best!"

He gives her a kiss on the cheek, strokes her hair excitedly and leaves her room.

Milo: "I'll call you when we eat!"

He shouts his words to her while closing the door and leaves Natasha all alone. She lies down in her bed and closes her eyes.

Comfortable... Soft... Cozy... Fluffy. These are the words that cross her mind. She takes a pillow in her arms and sniffs it. It smells good. She thinks about the conversation she just had with her new Master and feels reassured.

Milo is a good person.

She is convinced of it. Friendly, caring and comical. She was going to have to get used to his personality, but Natasha isn't afraid: she'll get there easily. She can't wait to start her job and see what life at the castle was like. She wants to meet the others and find out what path her future would take.

After all, she is the handmaid of an attendant of the Test of Angels, a possible future Pretender to the throne and possibly future King of Izarel.

Natasha has a hard time understanding what this means. If her new Master becomes King, will she be abandoned? She shakes her head.

What are you thinking about? she asks herself. She needs to focus on the present, surely not the future.

The evening meal is delicious, prepared by Sulman, Milo's cook. When they have all finished, a surprise arrives on the table: a big cake to celebrate the arrival of Natasha. She thanks him with a big smile and everyone welcomes her.

An emotional moment that almost brings her to tears, but she holds back.

After the delicious meal, everyone goes to their respective rooms and Natasha gets a good night's sleep. She dreams about her day and her work at Milo's and even though she doesn't see him, she spends the night smiling in her sleep.

Waking up is not complicated for her. She quickly gets ready and dresses in her handmaid's outfit. As she dresses, she thinks of something she forgot to ask her new Master and hurries down the stairs. She arrives in the kitchen a few minutes early to find Milo drinking his morning tea. He turns to her.

Milo: "Oh, good morning, Natasha. How did you sleep?"

Natasha: "Good morning, Master. A good night's sleep and you?"

Milo: "I can't remember what I dreamed about... Probably about cats, since you're here now!"

The remark makes Natasha smile, but she quickly takes on her serious and worried look.

Natasha: "I had to ask you something!"

Milo: "Hmm?"

The handmaid lifts her dress a little.

Natasha: "You see, this dress was made for me and—"

Milo: "Oh, you can keep it."

Natasha: "—I'd like to... keep it..."

Milo is ahead of her question and sticks his tongue out.

Milo: "I can read minds uuuh!"

He starts to laugh and Natasha giggles at his joke. She thanks him with a big smile and Milo waves his hand.

Milo: "It's normal, it's normal! I admit I like shorter outfits, but it's also very cute. Plus, since you're a Kitta, you must have a hole in it for your cat-tail, right?"

Natasha: "That is right."

Milo: "I don't have anything like that here, so even if I wanted a shorter outfit, I couldn't ask you. If at any time you need to change your work clothes, don't hesitate to ask me in advance what you want, I have enough money to pay you anything."

Natasha: "Thank you, Master."

She bowed her head in politeness and walked out of the kitchen. Milo watched her leave with a smile and continued to drink his tea, cross-legged.

The 20th of May, the first day of working for Milo, is a fun day for Natasha. She meets Oshio, Milo's servant. However, the shyness plays on Natasha and she almost does not speak with him... Moreover, Oshio himself does not seem very talkative, so she prefers not to say anything.

At least he doesn't seem to judge me. Natasha is reassured. When they celebrated her welcome, no one criticized her, so she suspects that she is accepted

despite her looks, but part of her heart still has this doubt that makes her shiver. She doesn't want to talk about it, she wants to see with her own eyes how others see her. She is new here; she hopes to get along with everyone. She doesn't know the life they lead; she wants to be part of this new family.

She misses Master Samus, yes.

But Master Milo is already filling some of that gap.

It will take some time before she doesn't want to cry for her former Master, but she accepts it. If she has to live for a few weeks or even months before she is fully recovered, she accepts it.

Natasha has only been here a day, but she is already happy to be here.

The day passes with tranquility. She cleans the living room and discovers many treasures she has never seen before. She can walk a little on the terrace and observe with her eyes the fields that paint the landscape. She can enjoy the breeze, let her hair breathe and sway, and look at the blue sky that announces warm weather for the coming weeks. Few clouds, much clarity. Adara shines with her splendor, as does Natasha's smile. She gets back to work, her heart swelling with love and joy.

She helps prepare dinner and while they eat, she makes a little treat for each one. She doesn't forget about them and offers them, all smiling, at the end of the meal.

Everyone thanks her and Milo gives her a hug before going to sleep. When she arrived in her room, she undressed from her handmaid's clothes and covered herself with her pajamas that she had brought with her. Her luggage didn't have much in it, after all: her toothbrush, including her replacement just in case, two pairs of pajamas specially created for her, some underwear including her "equipment" at the time of her periods.

Thankfully, she had already had them before arriving at Milo's castle. Here, she has no clothes suitable for her, so she has to make do with her own until the day she goes with her Master to the tailor. Being a Kitta, her clothes must have a hole in the back to leave room for her cat tail. Otherwise, she would have to force it to point to the ground and that is unpleasant for her. Most dressmakers charge a little more for this kind of clothing, which always seemed silly to Natasha. She takes one of the six pillows on the bed and puts it in her arms, cuddling it with a smile. She likes to sleep this way, she wants a pillow in her arms! She closes her eyes, starts dreaming and looks forward to the next day...

She woke up at six thirty-two in the morning. Adara had risen a few minutes before her, his rays lighting up the land of Ishtar. She stretches, brushes her teeth in her bathroom and dresses in her handmaid's outfit. Natasha looks at herself in the mirror, smiles and carefully trims her ponytail. She touches her hair, paints her nails and walks down the stairs with grace and patience. A new day opens to her, the twenty-first of May.

Milo: "Hello, Natasha!"

Natasha: "Hello, Master."

Milo: "They're predicting a little rain within the week!"

Natasha: "A little rain would be good for the ground."

Milo: "Definitely."

This was their morning conversation. Like the day before, Natasha and Oshio don't talk much together, just discuss the tasks at hand. Having more knowledge about Milo and his faction, Oshio is the one who would go shopping. Also—

Oshio: "I don't have anything on whether you're a Cursed or a Kitta, but I think it would be a better idea if I went myself."

She nodded. She understands why Oshio had said that, and deep down, he is right: she knows. Natasha dusts, chases the rats out of the basement and checks the water level in the boiler.

She enjoys her tasks. She likes it.

Natasha does the laundry, does the dishes. Today she wouldn't have to help Sulman, but Milo asked her to make treats whenever she felt like it, because he had liked it so much. Natasha is happy to know that they loved it.

The castle is big, majestic. She loves it.

Lunch brings unknown flavors to her palate. She asks for the recipe and promises herself that she will make this one day. Natasha refuses a glass of wine, but accepts a small glass of champagne. She talks with Milo and before continuing her work, asks him:

Natasha: "Why do you want to be the next King of Izarel ?"

A question she had been asking herself since she heard it from him. Milo takes the last sip of his champagne and places the glass on the small table in front of him. They are outside, enjoying Adara.

Milo: "I have my reasons, but..."

He scratches his cheek, a smile forming on his lips. He's embarrassed to say it, but he likes to be honest.

Milo: "I think I can make the world a better place, with me as King."

Childish reason, but so pure. Perhaps naive, but so noble. Natasha smiled at him, a sincere smile.

Natasha: "I will do anything to help you reach your dream, Master!"

An honest tone, eyes that sparkle like champagne bubbles. Milo thanks her and wishes her good luck with the rest of his work.

Natasha: "Thank you!”

The rest of the day goes smoothly. Natasha notices that she has only spoken with Milo and Oshio, and very little with Sulman. Jiax, Harry or even Chris...

I only saw them when we were eating... she thinks. Natasha clutches the duster in her hand and nods her head blankly: she will talk to them tomorrow! If she wants to help her Master in his dream and be part of this family, she has to get to know everyone!

The evening arrives and they all eat together, as always. Nothing special happens and Natasha prepares her little strawberry and lemon bites for them again. The members of Milo's faction happily eat them and thank her for the little treat.

Natasha: "I'm glad you like it."

Every hour that passed brought her closer to them.

Every day that passed would bring her into their family.

Natasha went to her room after dinner and put on her pajamas. However, before she went to sleep, a thought crossed her mind:

What if I asked Master Milo if he would pass me his second large pillow?

She could see it when she dusted her room: Milo has a total of seven pillows, two of which are large and very soft. Out of respect for her room, she didn't touch them, but she wanted to so badly... She sits on the mattress and hesitates. She can ask tomorrow, but what's the point? Why not do it now and sleep with one of the big pillows already tonight? Milo is so nice to her, so she can ask: he's not going to complain about it. She nods and gets up before walking out of her room. Natasha doesn't make too much noise in the hallway and heads for the door with the number "1", where Milo's room is. She knocks twice, whispers:

Natasha: "This is Natasha, your handmaid."

And waits for an answer. She waits, again and again. A few seconds, a whole minute. She blinks, surprised to get no answer. She knocks again, but no answer again.

Is he already asleep...? she wonders.

Impossible... she thinks.

She saw Milo go into her room when she was going to her own, so the lack of answer means either he is sleeping already, or he can’t hear her. She doesn't want to bother him, so she turns away. She doesn't want to bother him, so she turns away.

......................

Natasha stops. She swallows and shakes her head. She takes a deep breath and sighs.

You want the pillow, so go ahead.

Natasha stops again. She clenches her fist and turns her head a little.

Or are you afraid for your Master?

She doesn't want to disturb him: he must surely be sleeping. It is his inner fear, his lack of security that speaks. Not having an answer from him doesn't mean anything serious, just that he is probably resting.

What if he is DYING, right now?

She wants to silence her own thoughts, but when her hand touches the handle of her bedroom door, a chill runs down her back.

If he is dying, you can SAVE him, you know?

IF YOU DON'T GO TO SEE HIM, HIS DEATH WILL BE

OF YOUR FAULT.

Natasha grits her teeth and turns around, faces Milo's room and squints. She's probably unnecessarily scared, but her heart is beating too fast.

Her inner melody is disturbed by her thoughts. Her thoughts are disturbed by her emotions.

She walks to the door of Milo's room, knocks without waking the others.

NO ANSWER, AGAIN.

Natasha feels the sweat falling from her forehead and closes her eyes.

She opens the door quietly and enters the room.

She takes one step, then another. The handmaid opens her eyes, looks ahead and observes Milo's large bed.

Where the two large cushions are, accompanied by five others similar to the ones Natasha has in her own room. The room is quite similar to Natasha's, the few differences being the number of pillows, the addition of a wardrobe and the arrangement of items on the bedside table.

Oh, and also—

Milo's corpse on his bed.

Natasha remains motionless. Frozen. Incapable of the slightest movement. Her eyes stare at the body of her Master. Lifeless, spiritless, breathless. No heartbeat, no blinking.

Soulless, only tinged with blood.

Natasha doesn't move, Natasha doesn't think of anything else but one thing.

What?

The sight is surreal to her. She can't see him well from where she is, but it's clear he's been killed.

Violently, fiercely.

It is not a body that she can save, nor heal.

Dead, dead, DEAD.

Her Master is lying in his bed, in the position of imminent sleep. But the only sleep he found was eternal. Natasha has a first reaction:

Trembling.

Her hands, her arms. Her feet, her legs. Her eyes and even her heart.

Everything shakes, everything screams.

She doesn't want to run away or scream. She doesn't want to come closer or cry.

She just wants to understand.

Why is he... dead?

She opens her mouth, but what to say? What to shout? What to whisper? Should she ask for help or should she—

But she stops thinking. In any case, her attention is drawn elsewhere. She looks down, her head following her attention.

Oh.

A blade crosses her body, painted with her own blood.

She is not in pain; not yet. She remains speechless, she does not understand; she does not understand anything. She doesn't have time to try to understand, to turn around, to scream, to cry, to tense up when the blade withdraws.

Someone pushes her and forces her to deposit her body on the ground with violence and ferocity. She wants to scream in pain, but her mouth is grabbed as if they wanted to tear it away. Her irises tremble so much that the sight becomes blurred.

Her blood running on the floor is so warm, so restful.

SHE IS IN SO MUCH PAIN, SHE WANTS TO SCREAM SCREAM SCREAM SCREAM FOR HELP!!!

Her heart is beating so fast, and offers such a beautiful melody.

THE BLADE PIERCES HER LUNG. IT TELLS HER TO SUFFER MORE, MORE AND MORE. SCREAM NATASHA, NO ONE WILL HEAR YOU!!!

Her breathing is anything but calm, she chokes, the hand blocks not only her mouth, but also her nose.

WHY DIE NOW?? BY WHOM??? WHAT ARE THEIR REASONS, DYING WITHOUT KNOWING IS ONE OF THE WORST DEATHS !!!!!

Oh, her eyes that stop shaking. Her body calming down and her beauty shining through.

She has no reason to scream in pain anymore.

Her warm blood still flows quietly, but her heat is no longer felt.

Her breathing took on a regular rhythm;

Or rather, it stopped.

So much pain, a death that grabbed her heart and showed her what it is to die.

In this castle, the dead. In this castle, the end of so many lives, of so many souls.

All because of THEIR fault. All this for ONE reason.

Natasha's soul is detached. Gone with so much pain, gone without being able to scream, shout or even cry.

So many regrets, so many regrets.

Everything is so black, everything is so dark and empty. Nothing is all there is, not everything exists. The physical doesn’t exist and thoughts, words and expressions have no place. After all, this place—

- .... A.... S... A........

A voice. Fine, soft, calm and relaxing.

- W.... Up... As...

Oh, your words don't reach anyone or anything.

- You... Aga... I.......

Despite your smile, despite your power,

- Oka... u a.... hat.... res........

words do not take place in DEATH.

- .......................................................................

A sound so soft, so quiet, so fine, so pleasant to hear. A last lullaby of life, a new song to remember in death. Where do souls go when they disappear from the world

of the living? This—

— 𝓘𝓢 𝓐𝓝 𝓐𝓝𝓢𝓦𝓔𝓡 𝓣𝓗𝓐𝓣 𝓨𝓞𝓤 𝓦𝓞𝓝’𝓣 𝓔𝓥𝓔𝓡 𝓚𝓝𝓞𝓦, 𝓝𝓐𝓣𝓐𝓢𝓗𝓐 !!!!

-

ç̸̧̥͓͚̺̪̬̩͛͌͋͗̌̒̄̚̕͜͠ ̶̺͖̝̗͐́̇͌̉͂̎̓̐͘"̶̥͈̟͉̠̗͔͕̓͜͝é̴̱̲̲̖̮̥͕͕̗͗́̀̈́͋͑͌̎͒͝'̷̟̖̗̼̙̌̉͂̈́̎̔͐̋͘̕ę̶̛̼͍̯͍̳̳̬̮́̆͝à̶̰͔̣̜̼̘͚̲͈̌͑̓̾͂̀̃͝ ̴̢̬̗̦̞̰̈͐̎͛͆͘"̷̥͋̿̊̌́̈ç̷̜͙̋̿#̷̧͎̞̦̩́~̶̝̆̒̅̆̆͑̅̆#̸̛̛̮͚̖̂̓̓̂̈́̋̈́͠#̶̢̛͓̜̺̤͚̱̲̘̋͐̀̍ͅ~̶̟̥͓͕̬̯̼͂̏̊͋̂'̷̺̤͍͕̰̮̟̞̬̐͆̓͌-̴̬̲͐͆̈́͛̓̆̊̅̄̅'̸̢̘̼͑͜"̶̣͎̪̖̟̲̙̼̽̐͜{̸̫̅̍̀́͜͝[̸͖͒̐̔͂͝#̴̢̝̂̓̓͗͒̓́|̴̨̙̙̭̗̜̺̽͗̉̀͛̈͘͠#̵̙̂è̸̡̲͕̹͂̓̏͜{̷͙̱̫͎̝̃̈́́̈́̾[̶̫̱͕͙͉̋è̷̳̩͙͇̙͓̱͙͓́̽̈́̌̄͜'̶̼̗͉̫̋̀͝͝_̵̨̼̺̦̾͒̏͠'̸̝͊\̸̰̙̹̓̏̊̋̄͊̽|̵͍̣̠͂̎̔̃̐͐͒-̵͎͖͑̅ͅ(̷̪̈́̈́͆́̎è̵̗̮̟́̋̍̆̋_̵̱̙̻̖̘̬̱̞̭̳̔{̷̖͉̜̪̪͚̍̅BACK ̵̻̱̗̫̙̾̅͆̄͑̕͝#̸̛̝̘͔̫̀̌̈́̑̐͐é̵̢̫̊̄̀"̵̨̦͕̤̭̤̩̎̿̈́̓̌(̶̻̠͔̣̣͕̩͙̹͗̇̓̔̑͌̀͆͜͝͝é̵̝̲͒̋͋̔͌͂͝"̴͙͕̘̖̰̖̌̒͗͛̊͠(̴̨̟͇̼͙̰̬̗͊̉͜~̸̪͙̱̠͆̿́-̸̻͎̺̾͛͋̆̚'̵̯̔̈́̀̊͆̅-̴̞̥̆̏̔̾͠ȩ̸̬̭̮͉̥̲͈̮͎̀͊͛̿è̷̜͉͛̔̿͐͘͠'̷̢̨̱̹̤̤̗̏̈͆͜͝ͅ_̷͖̥̲̟̝̇͛́̆͑-̵͇̼̅̆̓̍̑̏̚̕(̶̠̾̈͆_̸̛̦̭̦̱̤͕̥́̈́̔͛̈͆ͅͅç̴̢͙̲̹̪̦̳̮͒̀̑̊̕͜|̴͉͑̈́̓̏̈̓͐̄͝[̴̡̞̮̜̗̙̭͙͑̊͗͆̓͆̏͝ͅ^̸̻̓#̵̨̪͓̜̱̰͠{̵̰̝̼͍͖̼̞̞͛͗̈́͆̽͝é̵̯̝̥̲̏̈́̽̿͆̿͠'̵̧̭̦̪̜̤̲͖̞͗̓̎͋̏̓"̸̬̇̽é̷̡͎̭͖̪̥̯̠͔͌̀̽̂͗͜CAT{̵̢̧̝̯̽̿͐͜͝#̵̪̰͙̑͌|̵̳͚͇̙̹̤̳͍͖̈̈́̈́̈́̑̆́͑̕̕͜#̶̢̹͍̮̰̉̅̿́͋̋͘{̸̨̡̖̦̥̲͍̏̃́̌è̴̢̺̳̀̈́̊̾͒͗̋̚"̶͎̙̱̺̎̓̅̋̎̃̂͗'̶̡̛̣͍̩̱̱̖̼̪̰͆̎͌̌̕è̸̻̘̞̲̿͛̋̾̀͑́̇̾͝ͅé̸͈̝͍͎͛́͊͗̄"̴̟͒̏̃(̶̢̡̢̡̖̮͙̱͍͍̀̊̄̀̇"̵̧͖̜̹͉̼̟̿̀͝é̴̡̛͚̰̟͕̜͉͎̞̳̀ ̸̖̥̘̣̯̑̆̔ͅ-̸̲̳̖͙͈̯͆͌̇̐̿̈̃é̶̠̭̤̬̬͕̿̆̅́̈̀̀"̵̢͙̞̯̠̲̰̗̰̑̚-̵̨̛͔̩̻͈̪̫͐̈́̓̊͋͊͑͠è̴̦̘̹͙̹́̑͗̉̃̍͝"̷̩̊̎̅͌͒̽͗̚͠'̶̧̆̊̇͋̉̒͒̌̕͘è̴͍̰̥̠͉̓́͆͑̋̑'̴̨̖̺̬͂͑̓̾͂͗͝"̶̳̣̽̈́̒̊̓̌ȩ̸̨̨͓͉̬̀͒̑́̈́̕͜͝"̸̦̺͙̠̙̣̗̠̓̔͐̓̽͆͘͠'̵̛̲̠̿͐̏͊̎͠͝-̸͖͕̓̈̐͆̓̕͠"̵̠̓̇̏̅̂͆̓̒͑(̵̢͙̩̪̠̉̈́̿̑̈́̈́̄TIME

And these words...

Reach this young woman, this Kitta....

And took her hands, kissing her on the forehead with love, and compassion.

So, Natasha.

COME BACK.