A few minutes later, at the garden outside the palace.

Straf forces his way through a tall hedge, leaving a Straf-shaped hole.

「Fuckin- Piece of shit- Gah, so fucking annoying.」

Straf grumbles as he shakes his leg out of a tangle of vines.

「Ah. There's the door…」

He utters out, frustrated but relieved. He places his hands in his pockets as makes his way to the large, wide windows and the glass palace door. He checks over his shoulder for pursuers as he walks.

「Straf?…」

A familiar voice calls out towards him. In an instant, his face twists into an extreme expression of apprehension, and his eyes snap to the voice.

「Lia!?」

He exclaims as he jumps back a step, holding his hands up and out warily towards Cycelia as she's sitting at a small table in the garden gazebo.

「…What are you doing here at this hour?」

She asks, tilting her head gently. Her emerald-green eyes shine in the red moonlight.

「I could ask you the same thing…」

Straf warily replies, looking into Cycelia's eyes. She looks down at the tea set on the table, and returns her gaze to him.

「I couldn't sleep, so I'm having a chamomile tea. It always knocks me out.」

Cycelia says, and softly smiles at Straf, tilting her head a little.

「…You're normal?」

He hesitantly asks, furrowing his brows lightly. Her head perks up in response, and her face goes through an expression of faint puzzlement, minor anger, before ending at gentle outrage.

「Norm-? …Should I feel insulted? Why would I not be? What are you even saying, Straf?」

She asks back, and pouts a little. Straf lets out a large, relieved sigh, causing Cycelia to grow a little confused again.

「Right, right… Of course you're normal.」

He replies, and places his hands in his pockets as he approaches the gazebo.

「Yes, why would I not be? Is something wrong, Straf?」

She asks when he walks up, and stops next to her table.

「Nope, that's good. It's great. You're the most normal girl I know, Lia. That's pretty rare.」

He says, looking at her with a fatigued smile. He then pulls out a chair, and sits down across from her.

「Huh?…」

《Why does that compliment feel like an insult?…》

Cycelia blinks at Straf, unsure whether to feel glad or upset. When Straf blocks the moonlight, her eyes stop shining like flashlights at him.

「Oranges, huh? 」

「Ah, no these are-」

He asks, grabing one of the fruits from a beautiful crystal bowl at the table, and bites right into it.

「…That's a Temurian oasis fruit. It's a delicacy, and is good for a very long time. I like a slice of it in tea, or a little of its juice.」

Cycelia explains, as Straf's face twists into quite literally a massively sour expression.

《It's a fucking fantasy lemon, but ten times worse!》

「Uh-huh…」

Straf nods, with his face still twisted as he battles the incredible sourness in his mouth.

「…I'm surprised you can just eat it, Straf. You could do that as a party trick, the maids would be amazed.」

She adds, tilting her head a little. He swallows the piece, and cringes heavily.

「Nah, I don't think they'd like it…」

He replies, looking at the half-eaten, deceitfully orange citrus.

《…Man, orange is my unlucky color.》

Straf thinks, and looks into Cycelia's emerald eyes.

「Ah! Would you like a cup of tea, Straf? I still have some in the pot. Here.」

She asks, and without waiting for a reply, pours a cup of chamomile tea for Straf. She sets it down on the table, sliding it along to him with the saucer, and smiles.

Straf warily eyes the tea, and glances at her gently smiling face. His eyes then turn to the false orange, and return to Cycelia's green eyes.

He lets out a sigh, and takes the cup. He lifts it to his lips, and takes a small sip.

「Isn't it good?」

She asks, and tilts her head with a smile. Straf raises his furrowed brows a little in response, looking down at the cup in his hand.

「It's alright, I guess. It's just chamomile.」

He shrugs, and ponders on the future of the half-eaten oasis fruit as he stares at it.

「Well…」

Cycelia shrugs too, still smiling as she lowers her head a little.

「Straf… Is it bad that I'm normal? Are you… Do you think I'm boring?」

Cycelia asks, twiddling with her thumbs anxiously. Straf side-glances at her, lifting his brows again.

「No, I said the opposite. I actually enjoy how normal you are, Lia.」

He says, and takes another sip, slurping loudly.

「Ah… So you really meant it?」

A broad, relieved smile appears on her face, and she begins playing with her medallion in her fingers.

「…Yeah? You were a runaway dragon princess when we met. I struggle to think of a more contrived, special snowflake character background…」

Straf replies, looking up at the gazebo's small, circular roof as he thinks.

「…But then, at some point, I realized you're basically just a rich girl who's not so rich anymore. And alone, and afraid.」

He shrugs, grimacing a little with his mouth as it moves left and right.

「Yes… You really couldn't have appeared in my life at a better time. I wanted to cry every night. I had no one to turn to, and my own people were set against me…」

Cycelia nods gently, lowering her head. She looks at the dim reflection of herself in her cup of tea.

「…Even if I were to explain the truth, no one would listen to me. The throne was taken by force, and force was the only way to take it back. And I had none.」

She quietly says, her eyelashes flutter as she blinks rapidly at the cup.

「I was about to run out of money, too. Simply put, I'd be in a very bad spot, even if I got away. My options would be either gathering mercenaries, and promising them titles…」

She lifts her sullen emerald eyes to Straf's bored face.

「…Or appeal to some lord for help. It's not unlikely for them to even consider aiding me, I'd have to marry some disgusting power-hungerer or his son, and bear him an heir first.」

Her fingers let go of her medallion to grip the tea cup. She lifts it up just below her lips.

「The mere thought revolts me. But that's assuming they wouldn't just seize me, and hand me over to the usurper for favors. It was a really dark time for me, Straf.」

Cycelia adds as she looks at Straf with a serious expression, then sighs, and takes a sip from her cup before setting it back down with a soft ceramic clink.

「Yeah. And I will shamelessly admit, that it was my pleasure to let you go back to your normal life, if only by a little.」

Straf scoffs, smirking as he shrugs his shoulders and his citrus hand.

「Straf…」

Cycelia quietly utters out, looking deep into his eyes.

「My harem is going to be happy, and I don't care how much state power is against it. People killed for less…」

He says, and looks at the cup in his hand.

「…Like tea. So I reserve the right to kill for your happiness, Lia.」

Straf adds, and grins at Cycelia.

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

Cycelia silently moves her dainty hand to her medallion, but places her palm on her chest instead, staring at Straf's face with her rosy lips slightly parted.

「You can stuff your face with pancakes, sausages, or anything else you feel like for as long as you want to, and I won't let anyone stop you… Except a doctor, I guess.」

He continues, leaning onto the table with his elbow, and takes a small tip of the tea, slurping it. Cycelia's face flushes red, and she looks aside with her lips pressed tightly together.

「I wasn't stuffing my face! I was just!… I finally felt safe around you, so I thought I could enjoy a little treat for once…」

She bashfully explains herself, fidgeting with her medallion.

「Yeah, and that's fine, Lia. You could have asked me to beeline for the capital and kill the usurper, but you wanted to spend some time in peace instead.」

Straf says as he looks aside, and grimaces with his mouth again. Meanwhile, Cycelia's eyes return to his face.

「Yes… It was a nice change of pace. To not have to run anymore, I mean. And we bought those medallions…」

Cycelia smiles at Straf, lifting her sapphire-gemmed medallion by its delicate chain, looking at his matching ruby-gemmed one.

「Yeah you wanted to go on a date more than you wanted to get the throne back, so…」

Straf scoffs, turning his eyes to her with a grin on his face.

「Da-!? Well, it kind of was…」

Her eyes go wide, and they escape Straf's gaze sideways as she taps her fingers together with a little pout.

「…You're basically a normal girl, Lia. You're not really concerned with all that statecraft bullshit, and you're not some haughty princess with a bloated self-esteem.」

He continues, and takes a slurp of the tea. Cycelia steals a quick side-glance as she's looking aside with a blushing face, and reddened ears.

「All that runaway dragon princess shit, and you're just normal. Not some warrior queen, or a shape-shifting dragon, or a deus ex machina machine…」

「Huh?…」

Straf says, and Cycelia tilts her head a little in confusion.

「…You're a normal rich girl who likes cute stuff, is afraid of things a girl would be afraid of, and struggles in an environment you weren't raised for. Even your room looks normal!」

He exclaims, chuckling a little with a grin.

「Does it?」

Cycelia asks, and takes a sip of her tea.

「Yeah!… If you take away a few swords, I guess. Other than that, it's a picture-perfect example of what I imagine a girl's room is like…」

Straf nods his head, still chuckling, and shrugs.

「…And I really appreciate that about you, Lia. Because oh boy, being normal is like violating this world's natural laws. You even become moody more normal than most.」

「Ehehe… That almost sounds like an insult… Again…」

Cycelia smiles and giggles softly with a tilted head as Straf delivers a dubious compliment, and throws the rest of the false orange into his mouth.

「You know, Straf… I'm wondering if you think my worries are normal, too…」

She says, as her shoulders slump with a gentle sigh

「Such as?…」

He asks, grimacing heavily from the citrus, and glugs the tea cup's contents. He sets the empty tea cup down with a loud clank.

「…To be honest, the thought that I might fail to live up to the expectations Albus had for me is keeping me awake…」

Cycelia replies, lowering her gaze to the table.

「…When my grandfather died, he stepped in to fill that role for me. He wanted me to go to the Academy of Magic and graduate, and I would have, eventually…」

She takes a large breath, and lets out a sigh.

「…I wanted to avoid disappointing my parents, so I studied everything they told me to. I'm admittedly kind of lazy, Straf. I'm only well-educated because of my parents.」

She lifts her head, and smiles lightly at Straf's face while he's wrestling with the sourness.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

「I don't want to disappoint Albus. I want to keep my promise. But I only know bare basics of magic, the things I'm required to know as a Redwing heir-」

Cycelia continues, but then her eyes widen. Straf swallows the piece of Temurian oasis fruit.

「By the way Straf, have you heard anything about the missing grimoire? Anything at all? Even the slightest hints of its whereabouts?」

「Nope.」

She asks, and he shakes his head, cringing heavily.

「I see… Well, anyhow…」

Cycelia nods her head, and continues.

「…I'm just worried I'll fall short of expectations. I have a lot of regrets, Straf.」

She shrugs, and sighs again.

「…I regret not spending more time with my family. I regret not listening to Albus more. I regret not paying more attention to politics. There's a whole list to go through…」

Her emerald eyes look deep into Straf's as she furrows her brows gently on her concerned face.

「I don't want to regret becoming a disappointment, Straf. I don't know if I'd forgive myself that. It'd be different, if Albus was still alive. I could apologize, then…」

Cycelia lowers her head, bites her lower lip, and clenches her fist.

「…Am I supposed to apologize to a grave if I don't graduate? Or worse, don't even get in?」

She asks, blinking rapidly at her own reflection. Straf sucks the air through his teeth.

「Yup… You're a normal girl.」

Straf remarks with his mouth scrunched to the side. Cyclia lifts her sad eyes, and the two lock their gazes.

「Failing to meet expectations is pretty high up on the ranking of normal fears, Lia. For just about anyone…」

He continues, and looks aside at the glass garden door to the palace.

「…Other normal fears include heights, spiders, old age, and perhaps unsurprisingly, death.」

He shrugs, turning his face back to Cycelia with bored eyes, and his lips pressed together tight.

「…You think so?」

She meekly asks with furrowed brows.

「I don't think so. I know it is. You're overthinking things, Lia. You're going to crush everyone at the stupid cliche magic entry exam, trust me.」

Straf shoots back a warm smirk, and stands up, placing his hands in his pockets.

「Go to sleep, Lia. You'll have an easier time tomorrow if you're well-rested.」

He says, and heads for the palace door.

「Right… Goodnight, Straf. I'll finish my tea and head back to bed.」

She smiles at Straf, and lifts the teacup to her lips, taking a small sip of the lukewarm tea. Without turning around, he returns a little wave with the back of his hand…

…

A little over an hour later, in Lily's room, at the bell tower…

With her hair down and wet, Lily stares at the red moon through the window with her glowing, sullen eyes, and a gentle frown on her face.

Knock knock knock.

「I said do not disturb me, wretch!」

Lily growls at the floor hatch in response to the knocking.

「Uh, but baroness… There is a man here to see you…」

The muffled voice loudly says through the closed hatch.

「What man?」

She asks with her brows furrowed.

「He said his name is Straf, and he said you'll-」

Clunk!

The floor hatch swings open, and the man below locks his gaze with Lily's sharp, glowing crimson eyes.

「…Want to see him.」

He utters out, frozen in fear.

「Out of the way.」

She growls at him, staring daggers. He shuffles aside, hugging the wall. Lily shoots downwards like a bullet from a slingshot, completely disregarding the ladders.

Thud!

She lands loudly on the ground floor with her boots, terrifying the bell tower workers having a meal at the table. She stomps over to the door, and swings it open.

「Straf?…」

Lily says, surprised and confused by his tight-lipped grimace as he stares down at her, but delighted nonetheless.

「Yeah, me. Can we talk, or are you going to clothesline me this time around?」

Straf asks with his fists on his hips.

「Uh. Yes, we can talk, come on in…」

She blinks twice, and steps aside to let Straf walk through. She points her clawed hand inside, and he walks in with a heavy step.

「Clothesline you?…」

Lily mumbles to herself with her brows furrowed as she shuts the door.

「Don't worry about it. Do we talk here, or?…」

「No. Come to my room, it's just below the bell…」

She shakes her wet golden head, and moves towards the ladder. The man from before is gingerly climbing down. Lily grabs his ankle.

「Eh-?」

Thud!

She violently yanks him down and throws him onto the wooden floor like a ragdoll.

「Ouughh my back!…」

He exclaims in pain as he writhes on the ground. The men eating watch silently in horror, frozen with their eyes wide open.

「Through here…」

Lily says, and begins climbing up the ladder. Unfazed by the vulgar display of power, Straf follows her, and they leave the whimpering man behind.

「Two girls' rooms, huh?… I'm moving up in the world-」

He chuckles as he climbs the ladder below Lily, with the frills of her long dress almost brushing against his face.

「Ah. I guess I already was in your room once, it's just didn't register to me that you're a girl.」

Straf adds, and is forced to stop as Lily's frills land on his face. He pulls away, and look up to see why she stopped.

Lily's glowing crimson eyes are staring down at him with a tight-lipped anguished frown on her face, poorly veiling just how badly she was hurt by his off-hand remark.

「Hmpf!」

She exhales out of her nose loudly, snapping her head away from Straf, and resumes her climb.

A few moments later, Lily climbs up to a floor, and Straf joins her in her bedroom.

Slam!

She kicks the door shut with a little cloud of dust rising from the floor.

「This is my room. It's not big, but I don't need a lot…」

She explains, and sits down on her bed.

「Wow, it's…」

Straf looks around with his hands in his pockets.

There is a dressing screen, a bed, and a chest of drawers.

「…A room.」

He says, sounding almost disappointed. Lily's room almost defines itself by the absence of any decorations, and appearing as if nobody lived there.

「Yes, what did you expect? That I live on a balcony?」

She scoffs, smirking a little as she tilts her head, while her glowing eyes stare at him.

「So, what did you want to talk about?」

Lily asks, and the two lock gazes.

「Listen, this is going to sound like a really stupid question, but…」

Straf says, rubbing his chin as he momentarily looks down at the ground.

「…Why are you afraid of being alone, exactly?」

He asks, looking into her glowing crimson eyes. She breaks the eye contact. Her gaze drifts away and aside to the floor.

「…It's a long story.」

Lily quietly says, frowning a little. Straf snaps his fingers, and points at her.

「That's great, because I need to pass some time, and out of all the predators that prey on men at night that I know of, you're the only one that I feel safe with.」

He says, taking a few steps closer.

「That sounds… Oddly specific. Did something happen, Straf?」

Lily asks, tilting her head with her brows furrowed.

「No, and that took a lot of effort.」

Straf replies, sticking his index finger out.

「…Huh?」

Lily narrows one of her eyes in confusion, and Straf sighs.

「Look, can you tell me, or do you not want to? I don't want to force you, or anything.」

He asks, spreading his hands with his mouth aslant.

「I can… Can you do me a favor, while I tell you a story?」

「Sure, what is it?」

With his fists on his hips, Straf shrugs his shoulders. Lily extends her hand with the『Ring of Storage』on it. A purple vortex resembling [Portable Storage] appears.

Lily reaches in, and pulls out a hairbrush. Her glowing, half-open eyes turn to Straf's.

「…Would you brush my hair? It's a bother to do it by myself.」

She asks, holding the brush out for Straf in her small, clawed hand.

「…One moment.」

He replies with his index finger extended, and sticks his face into the vortex.

As Straf looks around, slowly but surely, the air is being sucked out through his nose. The dirt below, if it even is dirt, is cracked from dryness, and stretches on forever.

The sky, if it even is a sky, is an ever-shifting blotch of purplish black. It undulates and shifts irregularly, appearing almost like oil slicks on water.

Gigantic, straight spirals like twisting like unicorn horns rise into the cloudless black sky, seemingly sprouting from the ground as if they were trees.

There is no sun, but everything appears well lit, yet dim. Almost like on a cloudy day, but there are no shadows to be seen anywhere. The odd landscape is uncannily flat.

Straf pulls his head out of the whirling rip in space, and takes a breath. He notices a new icon in the top right corner of his vision, and focuses his eyes on it.

「Straf?…」

Lily says, looking at him with her brows furrowed.

[Poison: Blatium]

[Intensity: 32%] [Status effect]

Target is poisoned by blatium.

When intensity reaches 50%, target will lose consciousness. Intensity slowly decreases over time.

Intensity of 100% results in death.

「What the fuck is blatium!?」

He exclaims, looking into the thin air with a greatly perplexed expression while Lily watches on, doubly confused.

「What?」

She asks, blinking her glowing eyes up at him. Straf looks down at her, and they lock gazes again.

「…Forget it. Give me that.」

He dismissively waves his hand, and takes the brush from Lily. He sits down next to her, and her swirling vortex closes, disappearing. Lily then turns her back towards him.

「So? Get started.」

Straf says, lifts a large portion of her still damp hair up from her back, and begins brushing it.

「I'll start from the very beginning, from when I first met my master…」

Lily peeks over her shoulder at Straf with her glowing eyes, and looks back down at the ground…