[5th Aprith, 32 A.P]

In the upper part of Royal Capital 'Chuti', is the royal castle. This castle was built long before the 'Peace War' and hence it's old architecture strikes quite a sharp contrast with the Noble mansions built around it, but that's what makes it stand out among the rest. A beautifully maintained and a large garden surrounds the Castle, and amidst this is a wide stairway leading to the castle's entrance archway.

Two girls were walking up this stairway, one had a bright, cheerful smile on her face and is wearing a gothic lolita dress of purple shade, she is roughly 5.4 feet in height. The one behind her had a stone face, showing no emotions. She is wearing a light leather armor engraved with Shade's Family coat of arms, she is 8.8 feet in height.

Upon reaching the top of the stairway, they encounter a person.

"Oh! you are here?. We were just talking about you, Lilith. And greetings to you too, Scarlet" A girl wearing a simple blue dress spoke first. Her Magenta eyes along with long blonde hair gave her an air of royalty.

Scarlet just nodded her head.

"Well, got an invite so it's not like I can refuse, right? Princess Rossella"

"My? you make it sound like father forced you to come here, and don't call me Princess. We are the same age and good friends, I think" Rossella showing a kind smile.

"Hahaha, bad habits, what can you do" Lilith laughed gently

"Hmm... Well anyways! Father called you, so better go there quick, we can talk later. Sherna, guide Viscountess Lilith to the throne room" Rossella told the maid tending to the flowers beside the archway.

The maid nodded her head and asked Lilith to follow her, Scarlet also following behind.

...

After walking for a few minutes they reached the door to the Throne room.

"Please, Enter. I will return back to my duties now" said the maid while bowing her head and went away.

"I wonder what they called me here for" said Lilith while tilting her head

"Enter, find"

"Hoo, is that so?"

"Yes"

"That was supposed to be sarcastic Scarlet! You were supposed to feel hurt!"

"Ok"

"Damn You! getting ahead like this"

'getting ahead? at what?' thought Scarlet

While the pair were having their pointless conversation, a girl called out to them, "Sister Scarlet! Sister Scarlet!"

"Hoh! well, if it isn't your fan, Scarlet" whispered Lilith

"Want, What? Princess Claudie"

Princess Claudie was running at high speed, even though she was wearing a dress. The dress didn't seem to hinder her movements and in a flash, she reached in front of them. Claudie had Magenta eyes, her blonde hair tied in a ponytail.

"Hello, Miss Lilith. Sister Scarlet! come with me! come with me, please!"

"No"

"Please? pretty please? Miss Lilith, please allow her to come with me" Claudie lowering her head to Lilith.

"Please! Princess Claudie! you are older than me, this is not right. Um, Scarlet, you can go with her. I shall meet the king myself. After you are done, just wait outside near the Garden's fountain."

"Ok"

"YAAAAY! Now! follow me, Sister Scarlet" Claudie grabbed Scarlet's hand and ran towards the exit.

"Hmm... what a lively Princess" Lilith told the guard standing near the door.

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'Felt great having a princess bow to me' thought Lilith

The guard sweating, for being around the priestess.

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.

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Outside the castle, in the royal garden, Scarlet and Claudie were sitting near a lake, feeding the fishes.

"Sister Scarlet, how are you doing these days?"

"Fine. Stop, calling Sister"

"I won't, I am 18. Sister Scarlet is 19, one year older than me and also the person I admire"

'What will you get by admiring someone like me? Even I don't admire myself' thought Scarlet

"Still, don't get. Why, me?"

Claudie placed her head on Scarlet's shoulder and spoke, "I don't want to be a Princess"

"Princess?" Scarlet confused

"I just said 'I don't want to be a Princess' you know" Claudie pouting her face

"Sorry. Cl-CLA-Claud-Claudie...Claud-Claudie...Claudie?"

"Hahahaha, sister, your conversation skills are still bad as ever, but well, there's an improvement from last time"

"Hmm"

"Well, like I was saying. I don't want to be a princess. I want to be a Fighter, just as strong as Sister Scarlet"

'She thinks, I am strong?'

"I want to explore this whole world, discover other continents, fight various creatures and then die amidst the wilderness. I have always admired Sister Scarlet's way of the sword. It's so elegant and violent at the same time."

"My, Sword Style?"

"Hmm, the moment I saw Sister Scarlet's sword during the royal tournaments. I immediately thought 'I also want to Swing a Sword'. It was like my soul was screaming at me 'Do not be Bound' , 'Be free and wild like that sword' and whatnot. Then that simple curiosity grew into an interest and then a goal. The core of the goal being 'I also want to fight like her' but then reality knocked me down."

Claudie felt warm in the eyes and laid her head on top of Scarlet's Lap, closing her eyes and started telling Scarlet everything. This was the first time, someone has started sharing their story with Scarlet. She didn't know how to respond, but she felt that if she listened to it carefully, she might be able to take the first step towards admiring herself.

.

.

.

On the other hand, Lilith was crouching in front of the throne, showing her respects to everyone present there.

'Why the fuck are all these bastards here?' thought Lilith

Inside the room, King James was sitting on the throne at the top of stairs, his wife Queen Jane sitting beside her. Below the king was sitting his three younger brothers and two younger sisters. Then at the bottom of the stairs were sitting king's two sons, his two daughters, Claudie and Rossella were not there.

On the sideways were many ministers gazing at each other and then shifting their focus on Lilith, among them were also one of the younger brother's two sons.

All of them had their eyes fixated on Lilith as if passing her final judgment. Lilith was nervous inside but she didn't let that show outside. Outside she was smiling and had a calm face.

'What do these fuckers want from me? It doesn't look to be anything good. Should call Scarlet back, in case I have to kill everyone here'

"Viscountess Lilith Shade, I appreciate you coming on the same day the letter arrived" king James spoke

"It's my honour"

"Good, Good. As everyone here knows that Miss Lilith Shade is a vital member of our Country. She's the only known healing magic-user. Born with this incredible gift, she decided to help people and to contribute to our society —"

'Get to the point already, you incestuous bastard' thought Lilith

"Of course, Alchemy is still used for healing purposes, but sometimes the material required is not so easy to get. To overcome this, Miss Lilith bestows upon us her incredible talent. She treats the poor free of cost and takes reasonable money from the commoners and nobles, again and again, she has proved her loyalty to our country and has proved her Magnanimity—"

'Doesn't seem like anything bad will happen, looks like there will be no need to call Scarlet' relaxed Lilith

"To reward her for her effort, I bestow her with this chest full of various treasures and —"

'Good, got some more money'

"Offer her a Marriage Proposal to the Son of Duke Nate"

'hahahaaha~ Marriage Proposal hahahaha~....... DIE! YOU BITCH!' thought Lilith, violently.

.

.

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Near the lake, Claudie finished telling her story to Scarlet

"I see"

"So, now you know! why I admire Sister Scarlet"

"Yes. What you, do know?"

"As I said, I am secretly training with a person, I finally got someone to teach me after all this time. He teaches me how to handle a sword and some basics of magic. After I have learned the basics, I plan on escaping from this castle and get lost in the wilderness outside."

'Why is she telling me all of her plans? must want something from me' thought Scarlet

"And so! I want Sister Scarlet to meet this person'

"Why?"

'How come she asked something so small like this? She could have asked something bigger'

"I want Sister to approve of this person as my trainer since Sister can't train me"

"Just that?"

'Is she also the same as the Master? She doesn't want to exploit or use me?'

"Huh? yeah... is it impossible?"

"No..."

'So she's really being genuine to me. I thought she was telling me her story to gain sympathy. I just listened to it for a selfish reason.'

"Yes! thank you, Sister Scarlet! so when are you coming? today? tomorrow?!"

"Let, ask Master First"

'and this ingenuine, selfish, and coward me, that she admires?......... No...She admires the brave and fearless front I show outside'

"Huh? is it important to ask Miss Lilith"

"Yes, she's Master"

'I should also try to be the 'me' she admires'

This was the first time someone other than Lilith was being genuine and honest with Scarlet. She thought in this world, there's only Lilith who she can trust and rely on, everyone else is just out to use and abuse her, but today a small crack appeared in her mindset 'Not everyone is bad like me'

Just like with Lilith, Scarlet started having a feeling to protect Claudie, to fulfill her every wish. In this world, there's only Lilith who has managed to penetrate her heart and settle deep within it and it seemed like Claudie is also making a separate space inside her heart.

In the past when Lilith managed to break through her barriers and proved to Scarlet that 'Not everyone is to be hated', Scarlet made a vow to do anything for those she can rely upon, for those who treat her genuinely, even if the cost is to be hated by everyone.