Lloyd

  ***

  In front of us Father sighed. It seems like news of our pn has already reached him. Was it a bad pn? No, not even in the slightest. I’m sure that many people would agree and even help with our pn. Father however, could only shake his head and sigh.

  “I know how you feel, however you can’t let your emotions take hold of you like that.” Father said. “I know of your dislike towards Lady Eytell, however this is not something you can do.”

  “It’s not like she’s even useful.” I tried to reason. “I don’t see what the big deal is.”

  Once more Father sighed. At my side, Lna gnced at me with worry. I couldn’t help but want to sigh as well. Our pn, which Father was so worried about, wasn’t that big of a deal. Sure there were ws about succession, but ws can be changed. It’s not like they haven’t been changed before.

  “Lady Eytell the the Duchess of the Eytell house.” He said. “You can’t change it just because you don’t like her.”

  “It’s not just us who don’t like her!” Lna said. “No one does! If you asked anyone what they thought about her, not one would say that they like her!”

  “She’s right.” I said. “If her own family don’t like her, why worry about it at all?”

  “You don’t understand…” Father sighed.

  I’m the one who wants to sigh.

  “Lady Eytell is a noble like any other.” He said. “She cannot be stripped of her title based on your opinion of her. What would the other nobles think if you did something like that?”

  “They’d be gd that she’s gone.” I said, with Lna nodding.

  “Maybe.” Father said. “And then they’ll think, ‘what if the Regents don’t like me or my heir? Will I be stripped of my title like her?’”

  “That’s different.” I tried to argue. “She’s different.”

  “Yes.” He nodded. “She’s a Duchess. If it can happen to a Duchess, it can happen to anyone. Who will be safe if not a Duchess?”

  ““…”” We had no answer.

  Seeing us like that, he nodded.

  “If you understand that, then abandon that idea.” He said. “There’s far too many consequences for you acting upon your emotions.”

  ““Yes…”” Me and Lna nodded.

  “Go now.” He said. “You’re holding training with the Saints again. Worry about that, and not of Lady Eytell.”

  The two of us left the room to go and prepare. Still, I couldn’t help but think that there was some way to get rid of her. We needed to if we wanted to defeat the Demon Lord after all…

  Evelyn

  ***

  Dark Magic can take a physical form, although only for a short time. It’s not strong enough to block a sword and at best it can slow down a punch. It’s just enough to cause someone unsuspecting to trip, but not much else. Well, I mean Angelica can nd on it when in bird form, but she described it as if she was sinking in syrup or something. So, it doesn’t help me much.

  That aside, I found myself in the street with a strange box sitting in front of me. What’s the deal with the box, well I’m not sure. Some guy said, “This is for you.” and left it there before running off. Angelica was following him in her bird form, she wanted to fly around today, to see where he was going. As for myself, I looked at the box curiously.

  “Obviously that’s a trap…” I muttered.

  It didn’t seem magical, but a certain mathematician taught me not to trust strange packages. Walking to the side of the street, I picked up a discarded broom and carefully pushed the package into the streets deep gutters. Luckily they were flowing, and the package was gently carried away along with some of the usual horse waste. Putting the broom back where I found it, I continued on my way. After all, according to one of my spying cameras, the Twins haven’t been in that cafe in a while. It’ll be nice to finally enjoy their tea again!

  Charlotte

  ***

  Another day has passed since our training began. Putting aside that once day where the Young Lord fainted, a week has passed, and once more I found myself returning from the Imperial Pace. Although I’ve been there multiple times, I can’t help but feel nervous there. As much as I hate it, I should get used to it. I am the Saint, and the Regents have their eyes on me. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were in talks with my parents to have me marry into their family. I have nothing against Lloyd, but I would really rather not marry into such a stressful position… Sighing, I looked out the window to the city just outside.

  The streets aren’t as crowded as they used to be, although they still seemed busy. You know, recently people have been moving into the capital given all the recent… “openings” in jobs and housing. I can’t say that I’m happy about it, but people are people. They’ll move to wherever they can see opportunity.

  I see lots of outsiders who looked a bit confused with the city, as well as people like Evelyn who wondered without concern what so ev- WAIT IS THAT EVELYN!? Pressing my face up against the gss, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Why is she walking around like that!? She has a carriage! I’ve seen it before, why isn’t she using it!? And where are her guards!?

  “EVELYN!” I called out, before opening up the small window to the driver. “Stop the carriage!”

  As we came to a sudden stop, Evelyn turned to me, with a somewhat stupid yet surprised expression on her face.

  “Lady Lottaway.” Evelyn said. “Fancy meeting you here.”

  “Don’t act all innocent!” I said, opening the door. “Hurry up and get in here!”

  “!” She looked frightened. “Y-yeah.”

  Looking like a puppy that was about to be scolded, she quickly made her way here and entered. Sitting opposite of me, she looked unsure of herself, as if afraid of digging herself deeper in trouble. We sat in silence for a moment before the carriage once more started moving.

  “So…” She managed to say. “How about the weather?”

  “Just what were you doing out there?” I couldn’t help but ask. “What could you possibly have been doing that requires you to walk alone?”

  “Oh you know…” She tried to brush it off.

  “No, I don’t know.” I said.

  “I was just…” Her eyes darted about as if looking for an excuse. “Walking…”

  “Walking?” I asked. “You were just walking?”

  “And visiting a cafe.” She hastily added.

  “Surely you got there by carriage, correct?” I asked.

  “Well…” She didn’t make eye contact.

  “Am I correct?” I asked in a stronger tone.

  “I mean it’s not far and I can use the exercise.” She tried her hand at smiling.

  “Evelyn.” I said.

  “I’m sorry.” She quickly apologized.

  Since when has she been so timid? Was she always like this? No. Evelyn is fierce and dangerous. She looks down on everyone and everyone always says to just agree with her to not invoke her wrath. Wait, am I not doing the opposite of that?

  I couldn’t help but look at her confused. Where is her wrath? Shouldn’t she be shouting at me for having the audacity of talking to her? Aren’t I in danger? Okay, you know what, let’s try to change the subject before she realizes what's going on.

  “Did you at least bring guards?” I asked, in a kinder tone.

  “I can take care of myself.” She said.

  “You are a Duchess.” I said. “What kind of Duchess doesn’t have guards with her?”

  “Me I guess…” She said.

  ““…”” The two of us sat in silence.

  Well, I think I’m safe for now. Still, I can’t help but wonder…

  “Why not have any guards with you?” I asked.

  Given what she told me, this isn’t the first time she went out without any guards.

  “Well I mean it’s not like anything is going to happen to me.” She said. “I’m not some helpless child.”

  “What if you got kidnapped?” I asked.

  “I’ll get myself out of it.” She said.

  “And what if you can’t?” I asked.

  “I won’t be missed.” She said.

  “!?” I couldn’t help but recoil.

  I’m sorry?

  “T-that’s not something to say lightly.” I said.

  “It’s the truth.” She sighed.

  “Surely you must be mistaken…” I said.

  “Yeah, well if you were to go out and ask, ‘what do you think of Evelyn?’ what do you think people would say?” She asked.

  “…” I couldn’t answer.

  “We both know the answer. No matter how hard I try, every time I make friends, something always happens and I’m back where I started…” She gave a sad smile. “You think I would be used to it by now. But…”

  ““…”” The two of us sat in silence.

  Did she… Was she always like this…? She looks… Tired…

  “W- well what about me?” I asked. “Nothing happened to me. I’m still here.”

  Looking at me, she gave that same tired smile.

  “Yep.” She nodded. “You’re still here…”

  Though she said that, I couldn’t help but notice the despair in her voice. Thinking back on it, I haven’t been a good friend. Every time I see her, I can’t help but shiver. She’s done so much to help me and even offered to try and sort things out with the Regents if they gave me trouble. But what have I done for her…?

  Looking back in the past I… What have I done…? I… I can’t remember… Back at the camp I… She saved me from that demon that tried taking over my body, but all I can think of is how she beat me up… Although the memory was hazy, I remember waking up in the infirmary, and she was there, looking at me with worried eyes.

  Looking at her now she… Yes, she may be taller than me, and more intimidating, and given the fact that she actually beat a demon out of me, not to mention those two wolves just before that incident, stronger. But she’s… No, we aren’t kids. We’re nobles. I’m the heir to my parents and she’s the head of her house. It can’t be easy for her. She’s only… How old is she? We’re the same age right? We must be. We shared the same css…

  School, huh? It feels like so long ago… Now that I think about it, why wasn’t I surrounded by people wanting to get close to me? I am the Saint, yet I don’t remember anyone bothering me, aside from the Regents that is. Well, no that’s not true. Evelyn bullied me… No, that’s not true… I remember walking to css with her… No one would dare approach her, and by association me. Was she protecting me? Was she always protecting me?

  “Well. I bothered you enough.” She said, standing up in the still moving carriage. “I should go.”

  “Wait.” I couldn’t help but stop her. “At least let me take you home.”

  “It’s a short walk.” She said, opening the door.

  Before I could say anything else, she stepped out. Although we were still moving, she nded perfectly fine. And, as if nothing happened, she walked away. The door closed silently as we drifted apart.

  Grayburne