Alliana sat calmly in a cushy chair, sipping tea, looking at the two children. “So, why are you down here?” she asked with a calm smile, that made Olana and Alister shiver with fear. “Sorry Alister,” Olana whispered coldly without emotion before she began to sniffle, holding her hands up to her face. Alister was confused until.

“A-Auntie!” she whined pulling her mask and hood of her cloak off, her eyes now red and teary. “A-Allister pointed his wand at me and threatened to paralyze me with a spell if I didn’t show him the way out!” she cried.

Alister could only stare in pure awe. The sheer audacity of this child to without hesitation betray him and put on such an act. Where did the tears even come from!? “Wh-what!? Mom, I didn’t-” he quickly said, but Olana made a noise of fear from Alister's outburst and ran to Alliana… who promptly raised her free hand and sharply lowered it right on top of Olanas head. Stunning, and most likely leaving a bruise, Olana now holding her head in pain.

“I give your acting 7 out 10, the sniffling and appeal as ‘auntie’ were good touches, so were the eyedrops you put in yourself to make you start sobbing. Unfortunately, I can see the vial sticking ever so slightly out of your sleeve, and Alister would just try to fly over the gates before he threatened someone,” She said before continuing, expertly critiquing every part of Olana’s act.

“And lastly, Olana, you broke the rule. No throwing family under the carriage, Whether it is a brother, aunt, or cousin. The Severins will never abandon a family member, even if it means our death,” She scolded, Olana looking down sadly. “Honestly, how would your mother feel if she learned you tried to backstab your partner in crime without hesitation? Can you imagine the disappointment on her face, to learn her beloved daughter is one with no honor? No camaraderie or family bonds? Could you look her in the eyes as she asks why?” she asked, lifting Olanas' chin up to look her in the eyes.

Olana just weakly shook her head and sat down, it seemed she had taken some strong mental damage from Allianas's words. Alister was next, however, as her eyes locked on him. “Now Alister, I believe you were told to stay in the house and recover your soreness,” she said.

“Th-that's…. How are you even down here?! We took the only entrance,” Alister blurted.

Alliana just chuckled. “Dear, you took an entrance. Do you think a ducal house would have only one secret entrance?” she said as she raised her hand, showing the ring Blas always wore. “Ring of the family. Allows complete control over the mansion,” she commented.

“... Fuck,” Alister mumbled to himself as Alliana stood up.

“Very well, Come on. Let’s go. Olana, get up, you're responsible as well so you're following,” She told the purple-haired cow beastkin as she began walking down the corridor.

“Wait….wha?” Alister asked, following her, Olana trailing after.

“It’s clear to me that like your father, merely trying to keep you inside will only make you try to escape more, so we will simply keep you on a tight leash. I have work to do in the castle today. You want outside, so you two are coming with me to the castle,” She said as they got to the end of the corridor and opened it, showing a carriage waiting for them in a backstreet behind the entire estate. Wisteria was already sitting inside. “She told me to wait here… I see why,” she said, answering Alisters unspoken question.

As they rode the carriage Alister finally felt the need to ask, “Without hesitation, Olana, really?”

“Oh don’t be too mad Alister, if you weren’t family I’d give her passing marks. Knowing when to cut your losses and run is a very good skill, I've burned more than a few bridges by tossing some acquaintances in the way of investigators during a mission or two. More than a few times during my stay at the academy, I framed Relia for stealing and selling test papers from professors.” she chuckled.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“That’s…. Mother please don’t give Olana ideas, her eyes seem to be sparkling,” Alister muttered before the carriage suddenly slowed down and stopped.

Alister looked at his mother before he looked out of the carriage. “Mother, there are two strange people in front of the gate blocking the entrance,” He reported, Alliana joining him to look outside.

In front of the gate were two… eye-catching individuals to say the least. A giant of a man donned head to toe in shimmering dark green armor, carrying in his arms a tower of crates and boxes. Next to him standing at nearly half his size was… a harpy?

“Are those…” Alliana mumbled before she exited the carriage, Alister, Wisteria, and Olana followed after.

“Come on. We already told you our titles, can’t you let us in already, or are the knights of Mare this incompetent?” The harpy spoke, almost seeming to try and get the guards to lose their cool. Now that they had approached closer, Alister was able to get a good look at her. Donning a white mask that concealed her whole face, the harpy was coated in a layer of brown and white feathers, which grew larger when they reached her arms. Though they were less arms and more wings, truth be told. She seemed to be a military officer, as she had a vest on with an insignia of a gray wing on its back.

“As we said before, we can't let you in until they arrive to confirm your identity with you two removing your headwear,” The guard said exasperated.

“And I told you, we aren’t taking these off. Trust me, the big guy doesn't want to spook you. You might get so fidgety seeing our faces you’ll attack on sight, never stopped your kind before,” the harpy retorted, leaning towards the guard.

“...If her goal is to piss off the guards she's good,” Olana muttered, Alliana sighing and informing the three. “If those two are who I think they are, she might very well be trying to get the guard to attack first so they can just beat them up and walk in,” she said as she quickly walked up to the two, which had become aware of her presence.

“Duchess Alliana Severin of Mare greets two of the Four Bastions of Kitharn. Duke Ordak Meteo, Duchess Kriil Steelwing,” she said, giving a bow.

The harpy, whose name was revealed as Kriil, rotated her head a full 180 degrees, only highlighting her owl-like features. “Hmm? Oh, right. Duchess Kriil Steelwing greets Duchess Alliana,” she said, giving a bow after rotating her body to match her head.

“Hmmm, how was that? Ordak why didn't you bow?” she asked, turning to him.

The giant of a man named Ordak, looked at her. “I can’t, I'm carrying the boxes,” he replied, Krill just making a hoot of annoyance.

“Then set them down!” She shouted.

Ordak paused, before responding, “They’re for the Princess though,” His comment, however, did not seem to be good enough for Kriil, who flicked her wing, a glowing feather launching right into the eye slit of Ordaks armor. Alister instinctually flinched.

“That’s why I said we needed a wagon, but noooo! You said you could carry all of them. They’re in crates, Ordak, just set ‘em down.”

Ordak relented and set the boxes down, before pulling the feather out of his head, green blood dripping from it. “Fine, Ordak Meteo of the Jade Knights greets Duchess Alliana Severin of Mare.” He said bowing to Alliana.

“Green blood… are you-” Alister began to ask but Alliana stopped him.

“Guards, I can vouch for their identities.”

Looking at each other, the guards had no choice but to relent and open the gates.