‘This trip would not be a happy one. I've known that for a decade now. Although it's not like there's been much happiness in my life since the end of the war.

Unfortunately, as much as I hate dwelling on it, I can't think of anything else while staring at the endless expanse of stars and the shrinking Space Terminal, beyond thick pressurized glass.

So instead, I placed my hand upon it and gazed at the reflection instead.’

A slim and tall woman of twenty-seven years, posed elegantly in her four-inch, ankle strap boots. She was dressed in the finest maroon silk dress, with sheer lace resembling snake scales that gave glimpses of her unblemished fair skin.

Blonde hair like strands of gold, flowed in the breeze and shimmered in the light.

Accentuated by exquisite sharp eyebrows and soft eyelashes, were piercing, almond-shaped ruby eyes that made the many gemstones adorning her, pale in comparison.

Full, red lips and pink cheeks coupled with her unnatural beauty, meant that her smile could freeze people in place.

‘But that woman wasn’t me. Those eyes weren't mine. Nor were those lips. Neither were those breasts puffing out from my tight dress and those hips.’

She was the first wife of the Imperial Count Dahl.

Guila Celine Dahl.

The woman she had to become to please her powerful husband. However, despite her beauty and prominent position, it didn’t even matter. In fact that only made it worse.

“There she goes again, wandering unaccompanied." whispered a woman behind her.

"Even I am surprised that the basic modesty of a woman is beyond her." Continued an older male.

There was no real attempt to hide their voices and why would there be? This was a small viewing deck in Serenity's Imperial section, after all. There was no one here to defend her. Not like anybody in the galaxy would.

For she was both a traitor and a pariah. Yet despite all that, she held her head high. Not even granting their overt scorn a glance.

‘Why…? Even after becoming this shameful, I made sure not to wallow. I kept moving forward, even if it just ground me down even further!’

However there was a limit to her mask of indifference.

‘After everything I’ve had to endure - will have to endure, I just wanted one thing. A rope that wouldn’t be a noose around my neck! Just something I could hang onto!

As her thoughts stabbed deeper and deeper into herself, her lips started to quiver, she held her shoulders tightly and curled forward at the waist, putting her forehead against the glass.

‘I wanted you, who I've supported loyally and… even learned to love… to at least be loyal, as well…! So why?!’

Her mind may have been clear. But that clarity was a curse that brought with it a question that kept repeating, over and over again.

“... why?! Why?! Why?! WHY?!”

"Mistress…" A voice suddenly called out to her, so she straightened herself up once more and turned on her heels. Even without wiping her tears, she had no problem recognizing the accursed figure standing before her.

"...Master said for us to meet him at the Apiary for dinner."

Vulpine ears atop a head of long, shimmering magenta hair - as if to challenge her. Meekly staring up at her with soft round eyes of the same color, which contrasted her own resting glare. Even wearing an expression of shock.

"M-Mistress, did I do something wrong?"

This petite but toned, bronze-skinned girl wearing a short-skirt dress and pumps with a similar style to her’s was…

Guila Dahl's replacement.

"... Is that why you ran-" A palm was swung against her cheeks, nearly causing her to fall over.

The thing which didn't even look twenty - with her ears and tail straightened in shock… no… The abomination was staring at her, wide eyed and trembling.

"M-mistress… I…"

It was quickly slapped again, but this time with the back of her hand.

‘So what if my rings bruised her? I should be afforded this much leeway, shouldn't I?’

"... I'm sorry…! I… I don't know what I did wro-!?"

It finally flinched when Guila raised her hand for a third time. Seemingly having learned it’s lesson.

"I don't want to hear you speak."

The coldness of her own voice surprised her. Anger? Regret? Despair? What was it? She did not know. But she knew one thing, for sure.

She had to take it out on this thing.

She wasn’t even halfway done.

How else was she supposed to see him again, unless she did this?! Unless she…

Unless she…!

Then tears ran down the thing’s cheeks.

It didn't understand why it was being hurt. It came here because her husband told it to. He must've thought that it would be good for us to walk together. Didn't even think twice about it.

And now, it was on its knees, quivering like a newborn foal. It must be beyond terrified. After all, the woman she was supposed to serve was beating it and yet crying while doing so.

But there was no guilt.

She was justified in her rage.

She was…!

Her opened palms clenched into fists, as her long nails dug into her flesh. This only made the thing cower even further, placing both hands onto its mouth. The thing’s ears were now folded over its head and its tail was hidden away from her.

"... I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I won't do it again…"

As much as it tried to follow her orders, it couldn’t help but plead.

Only after seeing it like that, did Guila loosen her grip and take a deep breath.

‘I… I really am a disgusting tramp, aren't I? Is that why you never had a child with me? Then I can't blame you, can I?’

But what now? She couldn’t bring it to her husband with a swollen face.

She glanced at her periphery and a map appeared in her line of vision. There was a clinic on the way to the Apiary.

"Come on. Let's go." Her cold, trembling voice still hadn't gone away.

But even though it trembled like a newborn foal, it got up and followed behind her. Although, it was slouched and staring at its own feet.

‘Look at her.’ Guila thought as she glanced behind her. ‘Submissive and obedient. Yet also athletic. Not only that, but despite being just a few inches shorter, she seemed exactly like a frightened child. She was clearly the complete opposite of me.’

Custom made.

That was the explanation. The only one.

So maddening was that knowledge that she grabbed it’s hair and forced the thing to look up.

Mere inches away from her, was a face that didn’t want to be near her and eyes that darted away to stare at anything else. But even though it was getting hurt yet again, its lips were pursed tightly.

‘So diligent, aren’t you?!’

“You’re a toy!” She growled with hate and pulled even harder, forcing the toy to tip toe. “My husband had you made to do nothing but satisfy him, so you better do that as best as you can! Because I refuse you from the bottom of my heart. A test tube abomination like you, deserves nothing more than that! Is that understood, doll!?”

The toy closed its eyes, hugged itself and sobbed again. But that wasn’t an answer.

So she yanked it’s hair again.

“Y-yes mistress…”

“Good.”