"Esme, it's not funny."

  "I'm sorr- Hahahaha!!!"

  Picking out the peas in the dish-

  Hilda's fist rose.

  -I returned the peas to my pte.

  I was too tired to turn away Esme's wish to have breakfast together on my terrace. Lily, her personal maid, also came along. It was to be expected.

  What wasn't expected, however, was...

  "Little dummy, eat your vegetables or you'll stay a little dummy."

  Was the feisty little redhead with her hands firmly pnted on her hips. And the worst part of it all?

  She's dressed in an antique maid's outfit, and she has a real sword attached to her waist.

  A Sword Maid.

  My private maid;

  Hilda.

  ...Fuck.

  I was thinking that it's way too suspicious that everything after yesterday's parting led me to the Commander of the Sanctified Knights and his daughter, but for it to have been for this reason...

  That was mother's way of introducing me to her.

  How fantastic.

  Nom.

  Blegh-

  ...Peas still taste like shit.

  Everything was going wrong.

  Esme was here again, exposed to this creature's mess.

  Hilda had popped up out of nowhere as my Sword Maid, my private maid.

  And now I'm forced to eat peas.

  Fuck.

  "Lady Esme, please restrain yourself." Lily reminded from the side, but Esme's cheeks continuously quivered with unbearable amusement.

  "I, it's fine Lil- Hahaha!!"

  A vein almost popped on my forehead.

  "N, no one is watching! Pfft!!!"

  What's so damn funny?!

  Like yeah, I get it. This is probably half my fault for turning Hilda's brain into mush yesterday...

  But that doesn't mean I want her as my maid-!

  "Hey, little dummy, why'd you stop eating?" The hammer of justice slid into view from the corner of my eyes, forcing me to pick up my fork and continue poking away at the endless ndslide of vile peas.

  Eating with the mask on was a hassle, but with peas added on top of that...

  This is shit.

  ---

  "L, Lily, do you-" Esme held her stomach as she tried to stop herself from embarrassing her sister any further, "Do you know who this young maid is, per chance?"

  Lily, whilst sorting the ptes between the tray and the table to keep the dining experience orderly, pondered over Esme's question.

  "...I believe so, Lady Esme. You know the Commander of the Sanctified Knights, correct?"

  Esme nodded, "Yes, I do... Oh!"

  She looked at Hilda with intrigue in her eyes. "Is she his famous daughter?"

  "Correct, Lady Esme. She is Hilda Von Lamperard, the only daughter of the one who leads the Fgbearers of Light."

  "Yep! That's me!"

  The same Hilda in question proudly lifted her chest.

  "But eh? Why didn't you ask me?" Hilda nonchantly asked Esme with question marks pstered all over her face, "Why ask her...?" Her eyes ran across Lily's body. "...And not me?"

  Esme gestured for Lily to take over the expnation.

  "Sword Maid Hilda, it is disrespectful of Lady Esme to ask you to your face 'who are you?'. It may hurt retionships with the Sanctified Knights were she to disrespect the Commander's daughter."

  But this was Hilda whom Lily was expining this to, the daughter of a man who almost completely disregarded the value of this thing called 'etiquette'.

  "But Papa and I don't care."

  Lily was about to open her mouth to make Hilda comprehend Esme's stance on the situation, but...

  Esme chuckled and shook her hand, preventing Lily from speaking any further. She understood their stance on etiquette, so there was no point in continuing this endless loop of a conversation.

  On the other hand, Alora, the victim of these unfortunate circumstances, was still struggling to finish her pte of peas.

  Spotting this, Esme teased her with, "Alora, want some help?"

  "..."

  Alora's pale eyes gnced at Esme for a split second, then returned to the pte. "No thanks."

  Stab.

  She poked her frustrations out at the vegetables.

  'Adorable.'

  Esme tucked her face between her hands, gazing intently at the adorable creature before her.

  ---

  ...But I messed up.

  Right?

  I messed up.

  I did an oopsie.

  My heart tightened with abhorrent relief, relief that I was beginning to arrive at a very simple answer to a not so complicated question.

  Why did mother set this up?

  For what reason?

  A smile naturally arose on my face.

  Because I messed up.

  The smile deepened, sticking to my skin, etching onto my flesh.

  Because I deserve a...

  Liquid gently veiled my eyes, turning the world into a haze.

  ...Punishment for my mistakes.

  I giggled to myself.

  I rexed with relief.

  All my worries, questions and contemptions drifted off into the sunset.

  It was so simple.

  ...Thank you, mother.

  "Alora, what's wrong?"

  Picking up on my momentarily pse in crity, Esme anxiously called out to me.

  Shaking my head, "Nothing."

  I lied.

  And liars deserve punishment.

  That's why mother set this up.

  It's for all my lies, my mistakes, my transgressions-

  Punishment.

  "What a wonderful word."

  Didn't Alora state that punishment is wrong? Or bad? Something along those lines?

  Inwardly shaking my head;

  I should prove it to her, at some point-

  Rexed, I stretched my taut limbs whilst basking in the aurora's light.

  -That punishment is good.

  -----

  The Pace of the Domain of Light, located in the southern corner of Luminary City.

  The compound was vast enough to encompass a small city of its own; I had never spotted anything but the mountains and the ke for that very reason. With the terrace facing the southernmost edge of the Domain of Light, and with no way to leave the bedroom...

  This would be my first time seeing the real outside world;

  A flurry of countless noises;

  "Little dummy, stop staring." Hilda stood close behind; the ability to comment on each of my movements came naturally to her.

  But.

  Certainly.

  Luminary City is grand.

  As rge as New York City, Tokyo, London, Shanghai, Istanbul...

  All of them combined.

  That's the view presented before my eyes.

  A picturesque ndscape of beautifully designed architecture, greenery, and life; a bright city brimming with joy.

  This is its Domain, a nd that is, according to their information...

  Harbouring a vile secret.

  A secret that threatens her.

  "Why did you want to come out here, to the walls, anyways? There's nothing to do up here; it's boring." Hilda yawned with exaggerated movement, causing the sword attached to her belt to rattle with metallic cmour.

  "...Just looking."

  "Hmm..." Hilda rocked back and forth with boredom. "When are we leaving?"

  ...

  After just 10 more seconds.

  "When are we leaving?"

  ...

  After just 5 seconds.

  "When are we-"

  I shot my mouth open. "Now, we're leaving now." I was done; listening to her repeat herself like a parrot is too tiring for my ears.

  "Yay!" Hilda did a little hop on the spot; she was standing precariously on the edge of the wall, one little misstep would create a red pancake at the bottom of the wall.

  As for whether it'd be red from the blood or the crimson hair...

  Who knows.

  I'm not entirely sure about her strength.

  "Sword Maid Hilda, it is inappropriate for Lady Alora's servant to be acting in such a disgraceful manner." The dy who spoke out in this bubble of ours was Lily. She came along with us to monitor Hilda and teach her the methods of a maid.

  This was a rare occasion; according to Esme, Lily hadn't left her side since she was first given the position.

  "Hmph! Should you even be here, leaving the little dummy's sister alone?!" Hilda, as wild as can be, retorted to her mentor with sharp words.

  ...And then a fist rose.

  Thump!

  A bright red bump grew out of Hilda's head like a mushroom, leaving the silly girl dazed and disoriented.

  This time around, it was Lily's fist of justice that came crashing down mercilessly.

  "Calling your Master a 'little dummy' will not be tolerated." Even though Lily spoke those words with a stern voice, her palm reached for Hilda's bruised head and gently caressed it.

  Sparks of light erupted from the contact between the bump and Lily's fingers, the injury was gently soothed as it retreated into Hilda's head under the vigint yet curious eyes of the rambunctious monkey.

  "Yeah... Yeah... I get it..." Pouting, Hilda turned her eyes away from Lily's soft demeanour.

  So when someone treats her well, she can't retort back...

  That's useful knowledge acquired.

  And, speaking of useful knowledge, Esme was currently attending lessons bestowed by the Maiden.

  I vividly remember those fantastical lessons.

  The shes of red;

  The marks of blood that were forever etched onto this unpleasant self;

  Onto this perfect self.

  My fists crunched shut, my knuckles cracked, and faint wisps of bck flowed beneath my unhealthily pale skin.

  If she hurts her-

  ...

  No.

  Esme told me the lessons are great.

  Esme said the Maiden treats her well.

  She wasn't lying.

  Her eyes spoke of nothing but love.

  The Maiden isn't hurting her.

  Esme is safe.

  "Let's go now, little- Ahem! L, Lady Alora..." Hilda fiddled with her fingers, shrinking down onto herself thanks to Lily's sharp gaze.

  "Alright."

  Nodding, I turned and walked to the closest wall tower. The tall structures housed the wall's troops; it was their barracks, training grounds, and defensive point all at once.

  The stairs spiralled upwards and downwards, from the ground floor to the very tip.

  But I did pick up on something curious.

  Weapons.

  The only weapon I've seen thus far is Hilda's sword.

  The knights in the training grounds of the main mansion, the troops of this wall tower:

  I haven't spotted them armed with a single weapon.

  Only Hilda.