We walked through crowds of people and entered the thick glass dome without needing to join the long line. Just one of the many perks of being a first class passenger.

It was humid but not unpleasant.

The second thing I noticed after entering, was the distinct lack of any human sounds or smells. The dome completely cut off anything from the outside. Which meant, we were free to enjoy the rainforest as we strolled. If only there weren't any other people or families with their kids wandering about. At least, they were few and far between.

Singing birds, the rustling and scents of trees, the sound of boars, streams and so many more. Even though it was all controlled and treated more like a zoo than an actual nature reserve, I enjoyed it. So much that I completely forgot the emptiness weighing down on me.

It was a welcome reprieve from all the glass, metal and concrete.

He must’ve known that this would help calm me down. It’s only too bad he didn’t think of actually stopping me beforehand.

But that’s just how he is. So careless and yet, so attentive…

Ariel didn’t say a thing while we walked.

However, I could swear that she seemed ready to pounce whenever there was a squirrel or small bird nearby. She even stopped to stare at the capybaras next to the stream. If not for the fact that I was right next to her, the simple halfwit might’ve actually leapt at them. Then we would’ve had to deal with the security personnel.

I felt my eyebrow twitch while thinking that.

"What are you doing? We're already late because we had to head for the clinic." I half-yelled. But I smiled, after finding out that was enough to make her flinch and curl into herself. "Do I have to pull you by the hair again?"

"Mistress, I-!" She quickly stepped back and raised her hands atop her head. "I'm sorry mistress! I'm sorry, I promise not to get distracted anymore! Please forgive me!"

Well, well. Quite talkative now, aren't we? What exactly did that nurse say to her? I'm curious, but I don't like it. Was it because I was being nicer to her?

I really don’t like that.

"I thought I told you I didn't want to hear you speaking?" I spoke an octave lower, almost growling at her.

Even though she was supposed to be the one less-than-human here. The irony wasn't lost on me.

"Keep your words to the bare minimum unless I tell you otherwise, got it?"

"...yes."

"Good. Good. Just be the meek, quiet self you're meant to be. Follow orders properly, and I might actually be nicer to you. Now hurry up." How many times have I told her to do that in the past hour? I was getting tired of doing it.

"If you lag behind, or force me to call for you again, I will make sure no amount of makeup can help you."

At this point, I knew I was just being childish. But I wanted to do everything that I possibly could to grind down this halfwit, even further.

I'll only show some kindness when I have to. Just be glad that I'm even extending that much of the olive branch.

Soon enough, we finally arrived. The Apiary. I could finally make the map in my periphery go away. It was a one floor, open air restaurant, made primarily out of wood. There were around a dozen tables with most of them filled.

More tables were outside, and the entire restaurant was surrounded by a blooming sea of many different flowers. It was like an entirely separate ecosystem superimposed onto the rainforest, and the closer we got, the more prominent the sound of bees became.

He always had a good eye for aesthetics.

I couldn't help but smile. Because these brief but ever sweet moments where I can forget that abomination existed, were a blessing.

Unfortunately, that was all the reprieve, I was to be afforded.

"That's Count Dahl's estranged wife, is it not?" I heard an all too familiar voice. It was the same 30 year-old woman from before. Still blatantly gossiping, but this time without her husband's supervision. Instead it was a butler.

"I heard that before being wed, she was constantly sneaking into factories to sleep with the working men."

"Oh my! Typical Federation tramp, no sense of restraint nor chastity!"

"I feel so sorry for the great Count, being forced to take in such a shameful thing for a wife. Isn't that why she is yet to sire him a child? Oh my, now that I think about it, isn’t that also the reason the doll was finally made?"

"Because not even our machines can rid her of all the congenital diseases, right?"

"I thought that was just a rumor! But if my Lady is saying it, then it must be true!"

Five women, seated around a table in an outdoor cafe, with five more men around them, watching them.

Fifteen minutes was all I got. After a decade of constant emotional suffering. But I don't mind it one bit. Because that was more than enough time to make what I was about to do, completely worth it.

I walked up to the laughing woman and raised my hand.

Suddenly, they all went quiet and their butlers raised their brows.

A second of strained silence formed between all of us, before I threw a backhand with all my strength.

The five rings I wore on my right, were rubies and pink diamonds embedded in platinum and gold. Each one was worth exponentially more than the last. So when I felt her flesh resisting as I dragged my hand across her face - I felt an intense euphoria.

Or at least, I would've.

But this was a public place. Eyes were everywhere. And no matter how much rage I harbored for this whore…

I couldn't bring shame to my husband. If I lashed out here, I would quickly be apprehended and he would become a laughingstock - an impotent man that couldn't control his wife.

But I wasn't going to just keep accepting either.

This so-called noble who's never worked for anything and who's only value came from her husband, has been a pain in my side for far too long.

I just needed a second to think it over.

"Barrone-"

"Guila." But just then, a man called out to me. Even without saying it, his voice commanded me to turn around, while I could do nothing but comply and lower my head.

"Lord Count!"

"Count Dahl!"

"Your excellence, please pardon us!"

The synchronized sound of the men's salutes, preceded the women's panicked attempts to get up and show respect. To the point that they spoke over each other.

"I was wondering what took so long. Catching up with old friends, I see?"

"... yes, dear." I answered. "I'm sorry for taking so long."

"I don't blame you, Guila. But there is a lot we have to talk about. None of you mind, do you?"

"Of course not, Lord Count! We'd dare not keep you waiting any longer!"

I was only able to see his black suit pants and leather shoes when he approached closer, but I didn't dare to raise my head any further. Nor did anyone else here.

No. There was one. Of course, only the owner of the sickeningly familiar pair of magenta pumps and tanned legs diagonally behind him, wouldn't bow. She doesn't need to, right?

"You heard them." He offered me his left hand, adorned only by a solitary ring on his fourth finger. "Let us be off. A cold dinner is no dinner at all."

"Yes…" I reached for his wide outstretched palm with trembling hands. What exactly had that doll told him?! If she hadn't told him yet, then what if she took this chance to do so?!

What if there was still some rebellion left in her?

I should've just forced her to stay quiet! Why did I think I could keep it hidden unless I went that far at the very least?! Olive branch? Kindness?! It's bitten me in the ass, already!

"Guila." He turned around just as we were about to enter the restaurant. "What are you-"

His voice was cut off by a defeaning explosion which cut off all the lights. Tumbling trees, running soil, bleating animals, shattering glass and shrill screams. Everything around me trembled and shook. So I panicked and pulled my hands back to cover my head.

But then, everything around me rose up in a rapid blur. My husband's hand was getting farther away.

Ah.

So you can make that kind of face for me…

'It's okay.'

I only hope his eyes were better than mine. So that he didn't have to worry about looking for me.

Disappearing into a dark abyss, is exactly what a tramp like me deserves.

… you'd better not die, doll. What's the point of being a replacement, if you can't even outlast me?

Serve him as best as you can. He deserves nothing less.

*** *** ***

[Attention all passengers. Due to experiencing technical difficulties, we will weaken the artificial gravity to allow for faster rescues and recovery. Please do not be alarmed. It will be over very soon.]

With the noise canceling glass now out of the way, the flurry of blaring announcements could finally be heard. But even that felt quiet amidst the creaking and snapping of the vessel.

"... Guila…"

Yet despite all the chaos, Count Dahl remained still, staring into the lightless abyss of mangled steel and earth which his wife disappeared into. He glanced to his right and also found no trace of the magenta-haired Vulpina. Instead, there was a crack that led straight down.

The Nature Reserve had crumbled down in a rough crescent shape around him. Nor did any glass fall upon him. But when he finally felt a lot less pressure on his feet against the floor, he knew neither his wife nor his Vulpina had anything like the luck that he was blessed with.

"... I lost both of them…" The large, black-haired man muttered as he slowly rose to his feet - straightened his suit and patted down his legs. Then he turned around to see a large group beyond the ruined Apiary and approaching quickly.

It two-dozen other men in uniform attire, led by a mirror image of him.

The same exact outfit, the same sized gut that spilled over their belts, the same round, yet shapely face, but different hairstyles. The Count's was slicked back, while the other man's hair was combed upwards.

"Brother, why did this happen?"

"I'm sorry, I don't know either." The other man said, before catching a glance of the still-sealed viewing decks.

"But Serenity has been in warp drive for the past twenty minutes. I'm guessing the ship can't handle the stress."

"So it's the pilot's fault. Is this supposed to be some last hurrah for them, or a call to action?" The Count spoke coldly, with a glare that seared right through his brother. "Whatever it is, I want them dead and this vessel stopped, Hiiro."

"We'll all be dead anyway if this keeps going. But how do you intend to do it? Even if we retrieve our shipments, we can't arm our men. The release key went down with-."

"I have it." He clenched his fists before walking away from where Guila disappeared into. In his fist was an ornate, golden ring adorned with expensive pink diamonds.

Guila's wedding ring, in the same hand which held her just moments ago.

"You do?" The older brother paused agape, but soon gave a resolute nod. "Alright, then. Men, move out! For now, arm yourselves with anything you can!"