‘This trip would not be a happy one. I've known that for a cycle now. Although it's not like there's been much happiness in my life since the end of the war. Unfortunately, as much as I hate dwelling on it, I can't think of anything else while staring at the endless expanse of stars and the shrinking Space Terminal in the distance.’

So she placed her hand upon it and gazed at the reflection instead.

A slim and tall young woman of nineteen cycles, posed elegantly in her four-inch, ankle strap boots. She was dressed in the finest maroon silk dress, with sheer lace resembling snake scales that gave glimpses of her unblemished fair skin. Blonde hair, like strands of gold flowed in the artificial breeze and shimmered in the light. This was further accentuated by piercing, almond-shaped ruby eyes, paired with exquisite sharp eyebrows and soft eyelashes. To which the many gemstones adorning her, paled in comparison. Finally, she had full, red lips and pink cheeks. When coupled with her seemingly impossible beauty, any smile she made would doubtlessly freeze people in place.

‘But that woman isn't me. Those eyes aren't mine. Nor are those lips. Neither are those breasts puffing out from her tight dress and those hips. She was the first wife of the Imperial Count Dahl.’

Guila Cassiana Dahl.

‘The woman I had to become to please her powerful husband. However, despite her beauty and prominent position, it didn’t even matter. In fact, that only made it worse.’

And… all that truly remained from before, were her long, pointed ears.

Inevitably however, she was also reminded of the towering visages that looked at her with disdain.

“There she goes again, wandering unaccompanied." A woman whispered from above.

"Shocking that basic modesty becoming of a woman is beyond her." Added another, while nodding to herself. "She really is good for nothing"

Then came the onslaught of murmurs from the dozen or so other passengers. It almost seemed like they were keeping their voices down for her sake, but in actuality, they were only making a display of how tactful and noble they were, to the others. The truth was that they wanted her to hear every word, every accusation; “Forever loose, even when draped in Imperial colors.” And their backhanded support. “We should introduce our daughter to her, surely she’ll be able to learn from her example.”

However, she couldn’t get angry about it. She couldn’t complain, and she absolutely could not clench her purse, since they were far too observant to miss such an obvious sign of weakness. She can only thank them for being merciful enough to leave it at words.

‘But I still have my pride….’ So she gathered whatever strength she still had left, and kept her back straight; eyes forward. Guila didn’t even grant them a glance through their reflections on the glass. Acting the part of a Countess… As her husband’s wife. But alone and under their constant gaze, that strength wavered. 'I have to leave.’

Unable to stomach any more of the situation, Guila walked off the viewing deck, still acting as expected of her position. Doing so actually elicited praise from the younger noblewomen, but even that remained barbed. Thankfully, none of them tried to follow her and soon enough, she was wandering aimlessly down the corridors. Tho she managed to keep her posture and expressions presentable, her mind was a mess and she practically deaf and blind to everything around her. That was, until she came across a small hallway, leading towards a metal door that was flush with the hull’s wall. She thought about it for a moment, then quickly scanned her surroundings.

Nobody was looking at her. Realizing that, the last of her noble facade crumbled down and she ran into the room, shutting the door behind her. Only then did she finally allow cold tears to run down her cheeks. “Do I really deserve this?” She knew nobody would answer. But maybe because that was the case, she was able to smile bitterly at her surroundings. “... now I'm hiding in a broom closet…”

‘This is my reward? After everything? Even though… Even though… after becoming this shameful, I made sure not to wallow. Even after I kept moving forward, despite knowing it would just grind me down further...! After all I’ve had to endure - will have to endure, despite everything!’ She hugged herself tightly, her long, coffin-style fingernails digging deep into her upper arms.

'… but I was willing to accept it all… all for just one thing!' Just thinking about it felt like there were massive hands around Guila's neck, choking her to death and it took everything to not sob, to not voice out and shatter what was left of her hard-won image. In fact, she did everything she possibly could to combat her trembling knees and gasping breaths. 'One! A rope that wouldn’t be another noose around my neck! Just-!’

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Now her lips quivered and her stomach twisted in agony. Standing became impossible, so she instead curled up tight and pressed her back against the door. Until soon enough, she fell to her knees, staring at the reflective ceiling. “...At least the closet isn't dusty yet.“ A wry grin formed from her trembling lips, somehow thinking it would help, but then it echoed back and just became another reminder of her current situation.

“... why?” As if exhaled along with that question, all physical sensation just faded away. Nothing felt real anymore, while she stared back at the emotionless, yellow-pupiled eyes that seemed to mock her with their glow. “All I wanted was for you… who I've supported loyally and… even learned to love… to at least be loyal, as well…”

Dazed, she kept staring, knowing full well the answer to her own question. Yet still too cowardly to do what she needed to in order to stop this pain. ‘Or…’ She stared down at the pendant which hung from her neck, nestled between her breasts. ‘... am I, really?'

Suddenly, a soft door knock stirred Guila from her blank gaze.

"Mistress…?" The soft, feminine voice yanked her back violently from the recesses of her mind. With more energy than she thought she still had, Guila sprang back onto her feet! “I saw you from the hallway and. I don't think we should be-"

'Shut up!' Guila turned on her heels and swung the door wide open.

“Ah!” The voice rang out again, followed by the sound of them stepping back. But even without wiping her tears, Guila had no problem recognizing the accursed figure standing before her. "...Master said for us to meet him at the Apiary for dinner."

Vulpine ears atop a head of long, shimmering magenta hair - as if to challenge the more subdued angle of Guila's ears. Meekly staring up with its soft round eyes of nearly the same hue, which contrasted her innate resting glare. Then it blinked, and put on a shocked expression.

"M-Mistress!? What happened? What’s wrong?" This petite but toned, bronze-skinned girl wearing a short-skirt dress and pumps, both in a similar style to hers was…

Guila Cassiana Dahl's replacement, Ariel Kireia Dahl.

"... please tell me, I’ll-" Guila's palm struck the Vulpina's cheeks with a resounding smack, nearly causing it to fall over. The thing that didn't even look twenty, stared at her, wide-eyed and barely able to keep standing; its ears and tail straightened in terror. "M-mistress… I…" She quickly slapped it again, but this time with the back of her hand. So what if her rings bruised it? She should be afforded this much leeway, shouldn't she? Guila thought to herself.

"... I'm sorry…! I… I don't know what I did wro-!?" It finally flinched into silence when she raised her hand for a third time.

‘Finally, it was learning!’

"I don't want to hear you speak." The coldness of her own voice surprised Guila. Was it all the anger? The regret? Despair? She didn’t know. But there was one thing she knew for sure. She had to take it all out on this thing and she wasn't even halfway done. ‘How else am I supposed to see him again, unless I did this?! Unless I…!’

'... hic..!" Tears ran down the Vulpina's cheeks. It didn't understand why it was being hurt. It came here because her husband told it to. He must've thought that it would be good for them to walk together, and didn't even think twice about it. Now, it was on its knees, quivering like a newborn foal. It was terrified. After all, the woman it was supposed to serve was beating it and yet crying while doing so. But Guila had no guilt. She was justified in her rage.

‘I am…!’ She clenched her hands into fists, purposefully digging her nails into her palms. As if doing so could help her deal with the frustration better. But more than anything, the action only made the thing cower even further, placing both hands onto its mouth. Its ears were now also folded over its head and its tail was hidden away from Guila.

"... I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I won't do it again…" As much as it tried to follow her orders, it couldn’t help but plead. Only after seeing it like that, did Guila loosen her stance and take a deep breath.

‘I… I really am a disgusting tramp, aren't I? Is that why you never had a child with me? Then I can't blame you, can I? But what now? I can’t bring it to my husband with a swollen face.’

Realizing what she needed to do, Guila turned her attention to her periphery and chose one of the widgets which were superimposed onto her vision. A short second later, a digital map appeared on the corner of her left eye. There was a clinic at the end of the hallway connected to this one.

"Come on. Let's go." Her cold, hateful, and trembling voice still hadn't gone away. But, despite being so terrified, the thing was easily able to get up. Although, now it was slouched and staring at its own feet. ‘Look at her.’ Guila thought as she glanced back at its much smaller figure.

Submissive and obedient. Yet also athletic. Not only that, but despite being just a few inches shorter, it was able to exude a youthfulness that she could never regain. It was clearly the complete opposite of her. Custom made. That was the explanation. The only possible one. So maddening was that knowledge that Guila grabbed its hair and forced the thing to look up. she leaned in with gritted teeth and glared into its desperately darting eyes. But this time, even though it was getting hurt yet again, its lips were pursed tightly.

The thing’s ability to adapt was almost admirable.

"So diligent, aren’t you?!” She growled with all the hate she could muster and pulled even harder, forcing it to tip toe; invigorated by the fact that nobody would be watching them here. “Never forget that you’re a toy! So you better devote your everything to that role! A test tube abomination like you, has no other purpose! Is that understood, doll!?”

It closed its eyes, hugged itself and sobbed again. Unfortunately, that wasn’t an answer. So she yanked it’s hair again.

“Y-yes mistress…”

“Good.”

But she didn't let go. Not yet.