What followed after Juliet's assassination attempt could only be described as complete chaos. While her mom had gone out the morning after the attempt with a face that promised infinite pain, she'd come back paler than Juliet had ever seen.

They'd promptly packed up everything they could, took everything of value from their residence and promptly fled the city. Juliet had tried to ask questions, but that was shut down by a fierce glare from her mom. She'd stayed nice and silent since.

Her mom had brought her to a store first, sold everything as quickly as she could and then promptly hopped onto the first available caravan and hightailed it outta there. Only then did her mom relax.

"... Mommy?" Juliet asked, purposely making her voice both scared and cute. Her mom sighed as she put her hands on her face.

"What is it, Juliet?" She asked. She was well aware her daughter wasn't normal by any standards, far too intelligent for her age, had skills that levelled up at an impossible rate, and, well, apparently survived the assassination attempt from one of the best assassins in the kingdom.

"Why are we fleeing? Why did someone try to kill me? Who is my father? Where are we going?" Juliet spews out question after question and only stops when her mom promptly shuts her up by slapping her hand on her mouth.

She exhaled loudly before answering her daughter. "You're a smart kid, Juliet. I haven't been very honest with you, and I'm sorry for that. I know you can be mature about this, so take this with a grain of salt. You weren't planned, hell, I was going to kill you after you were born."

Juliet blinked for a couple seconds, then let out a small "Oh...". It sounded incredibly vulnerable even to herself, and despite everything, despite having the mind of a full-grown man who'd already faced difficulties of his own... It hurt.

"Let me explain, dear. I was forced to change my mind when I found out who the father was. You see, I worked as the head maid of the castle. I kept things tidy and neat, but my status was still low. It wasn't uncommon for me to be raped at least once every month, if not every week, basically always against my will, but what could I do? It was only a matter of time before I got pregnant, and I hope you can understand why I wasn't very happy about having you..." She trailed off a bit lamely as the carriage had a harsh couple bumps, rocking them on their seats.

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Juliet was looking down, digesting the information. She'd expected things to be bad, but not this bad.

Her mom sighed. "You're only 5, I only planned on telling you this years from now... But, I will need your full cooperation now, okay?" She said seriously, even as she squished Juliet's cheeks playfully.

Juliet giggled a little, trying to shake off her mother while repeating yesses continuously. Eventually, her mother let go, allowing for Juliet to quickly retreat to the other side of the carriage, although this time with a very small smile, her mind temporarily distracted from the heavier topics.

Her mom sighed as she continued, but not without first making sure nobody was listening. "Anyways, I was forced to take a paternity test, and it turns out, your father was Duke Halbert Von-Kristerford, the brother of the king. He's your father, but he never even showed up. I don't think he knows you even exist." She said bitterly. "Anyways, there was a law passed by the previous king stating that no child of royal or high noble blood could be aborted, so I had no choice but to conceive you."

Talking about one's birth was always a very weird affair, and for Juliet, it was no different. She felt incredibly awkward, fidgeting through the whole conversation.

Seeing this, her mom put up another bitter smile. "Sorry, I'll keep it simple. I received a royal commission from the king for your 'instruction'. If you ask me, he just wanted to have a potential claimant to your father's title in his pocket..." Her eyes were distant again, but she quickly recovered. "A-anyway, I was told to leave by one of the king's informants, since your brother, the heir to Duke Halbert's title, received news of your existance... I don't think they should bother us now that we're out of the capital, but I'm not sure..."

Juliet sat quietly as her mom explained, mostly letting her monologue. It all made sense, in retrospect, but that didn't make it any easier.

"Mom..." She called and hesitantly tugged on her sleeve. Her mom returned from whatever daydream or memory she was in and looked at her with a questioning "Hmm?"

"Do... D-do you not want me?"

Juliet somehow suprised herself yet again with how much weight that question carried. She faintly understood that the body would influence the mind, so it made sense for her to sometimes feel more childish... But, she felt as though all of her trust and feelings were placed in this single question.

Her mom smiled the warmest smile she'd ever seen on the woman, gathered her up in her arms and brought her up to her so that Juliet's head was resting on her shoulders. "Of course I do, you're my little light in a world of darkness. I love you, July. I don't care if you have some weird skill or were born abnormal, you're still my daughter."

The nickname was new, and it smelled of warmth. Juliet was content to sit there, basking in her mother's embrace for the time being.

And if the tears there were streaming down Juliet's face were noticed by her mom, she didn't point it out as Juliet tried to burrow her face as deep into her mother's shoulder as possible.