I know this kitten. It may have been two years, and the darling creature may have grown a little bigger and dignified looking, but this is absolutely a kitten I know! One I met wandering the Great Groves of Steel during my first sacrifice! They had been trying to climb the trees and failing, but trying all the same. And now that kitten is staring me in the face from across a hallway, tail swaying.

... And I'm supposed to be devastated, I can't simply wander over and play with the charming creature! "... Monsieur kitten, I'm sorry but I'm too old to play now. I'm an adult and-"

While I manage to stop myself walking to the cat, no force in the world can stop the cat from walking to me, looking right up at me with its beady eyes. It is determined, it has a mission to end the malaise that is attempting to tear me apart right now.

No... This pain is in service to Her Majesty, I cannot allow myself to simply ignore it! "Kitty, please, I can't play today. Surely there are better playmates, less shameful playmates you could find!"

The cat nuzzles my leg, purring all the while. One of the beautiful things about cats is that they do whatever they please, no matter what other people think, and that means piling on affection without a fear in the world.

It seems like a beautiful kind of grown-up to become... Dang cat. "... Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, you might get pilloried in the press for playing with a pariah like me. A threat..."

The cat walks just a little in front of me, turning back its head at me expectantly. A challenge! A chase... A childish game, the kind of thing I'd do back home with the feral cats.

... Maybe I'm not quite a grown-up yet. Or maybe this is simply the kind of grown-up I am.

I give chase, soon bearing a stupid grin on my face as the kitten speeds away. They're a fast little thing, jumping on tables and sliding through little gaps to build distance on me. I chase them through the remaining grand dining hall, the one which isn't now a slapdash court. I chase them past the throne room itself, from which whispering can be heard, the King doing 'politics' with some boring old men no doubt... And eventually, I chase the cat to the Royal Apartments, and into the arms of a strikingly beautiful woman who looks oddly familiar, but I can't quite place it.

At least, she seems somewhat familiar until she speaks, her voice less leaving her mouth than simply dissociating from its source. "... Did you find our cat, madam?"

I nod; it’s hard to form words in the face of someone so distant but somehow I manage. "Yes- Well, it's more that they found me..."

"I see." The closest thing to a hint that this woman is alive is her occasional doting on the kitten in her arms, their feline fluffiness apparently more powerful than the stillness of the grave. "Thank you, madam."

Somehow, I don't feel very thanked, even if I don't feel especially insulted. "I'm not much of a madam... Please, call me Serena."

"Very well, Serena."

The air is silent after that, apart from the slightly pleading purrs of the kitten in this woman's arms, clearly wanting more affection than it is getting. It seems to expect more, which is odd to expect from a corpse, but maybe this cat knows something I don't. I should have just left, but something about her stunned me into inaction, some familiarity…

And then I hear Malmo approaching, and it becomes absolutely clear I should have left when I had the chance. "Ah! Mademoiselle Pollineux! ... And Her Highness, naturally."

"General Malmo..." At least her utterly disengaged corpse-ness is consistent, and not just with me.

As General Malmo turns his attention back to me, I finally manage to process something rather important. 'Her Highness'. Her Highness, as in a Princess. As in The Princess of Avernia. As in our Princess! And he shows her so little mind as to be utterly disrespectful!

I give my full attention to Her Highness, bowing deeply and trying to sound as apologetic as possible. "Ah! Forgive my lack of respect, your Highness! I did not recognize you; I apologize in profuseness!"

Looking up, I swear I see her smirk a little, not so much at my bowing but with her eyes cast at Malmo, who I completely ignored in the same fashion he did the princess in our midst.

Malmo taps me on the shoulder, clearly impatient for my attention and believing himself a higher priority than Her Literal Highness. "R... Right. In any case, Mademoiselle Pollineux, I have heard you have nowhere to stay during your time in Alesia-"

Oh yeah, he absolutely betrayed me, didn't he? I consider throwing a punch at him. I vaguely consider beating him to death in front of the princess for him having become an obstacle standing between Her Majesty and I... But I know literally one thing about politics and that is to try not to make enemies. And getting back to Her Majesty's side would, depressingly, have a political solution, not a sensible one…

But even so, I'm angry, and in rising from my bow my attention does end up in his direction. "Yes, because of your testimony regarding the Battle of Canstatt, if the information I've heard is correct. You quite effectively denied me a place to sleep, General Malmo."

There is a brief flash of anger in his eyes, directed at someone not presently present in this random hallway. "I had hoped that certain people would show more discretion about that matter... Just know that the account was designed to elevate my own political career, not as a deliberate move to denigrate yours. You were merely collateral damage, which I do apologize for."

"So the moment I left Canstatt with the army intact you ran right to Alesia to give your account of things- Wait... Canstatt is almost 500 miles from Alesia. You gave your testimony only a day after the battle."

"I had thought it best to strike while the iron was hot-"

"How? How did you move 500 miles in a day? A carriage at full speed would take over two weeks to make such a journey, a lone rider maybe a week and a half. This... This is actually impossible, Malmo! How did you-"

"I am sworn to secrecy where that is concerned, I'm afraid. Both the method and the person responsible."

"Am I to believe the actual Gods conspired to let you make my life more difficult, then?"

He nervously chuckles at my little suggestion, which makes me at least a little nervous in turn. Trying to get back to Her Majesty's side through playing the political game is going to be a lot harder if the gods really are as opposed to me as it sometimes feels. And I simply do not wish to live in a world where Malmo of all people has divine favor.

He tries to restrain his telling little nerves and returns to his usual punchable smile. "Regardless of how it came about, I always have a place for a Pollineux at my manor in Alesia. And since you are in need of a place, I will happily send a servant for your things and take you there now-”

He's being pushy, probably because on some level he knows that I have no intention of staying with him. "Malmo, I haven't said yes."

"It's a no-brainer, Mademoiselle Pollineux. Sleeping rough on the streets of Alesia simply isn't an option, and you hardly have the money for a hotel or the like. And if the mob finds you, well... You are something of a media devil, they might just tear you apart."

"You are quite convinced yours is the only solution-"

"What other friends do you have, Mademoiselle Pollineux? Besides, your brother would never allow me to let you sleep in a park somewhere. Come along now, it's a nice manor, you'll want for nothing."

I'll want for death is what I'll want... Malmo doesn't seem to be budging, as if challenging me to punch him all over again. It does seem the only way out of this situation besides being forced into his home. He's forcing my hand, it's disgusting. And of course, punching him is only going to produce more column inches, the sympathetic General Malmo being slugged by a cowardly traitor. I can't win... I don't know why, but my eyes cast their way to Her Highness, begging, pleading for rescue. A stupid gesture on my part. Why would she help a woman she doesn't even know?

"Forgive me, Malmo, but Serena already has arrangements for her time in Alesia. Here. With me in fact." ... She speaks.

And Malmo looks utterly incensed, barely containing his sudden venom. "That is ‘General’ Malmo, your Highness."

"She'll be staying with me, General Malmo."

Now he looks about ready to throw a punch, apparently he's more comfortable bullying politically illiterate young women with no power and connections than actually being challenged. "Now your Highness, surely you've heard about the reputation of Mademoiselle Pollineux here. It would be rather dangerous politically to offer her a place. I myself am merciful and gracious, I am willing to accept the slings and arrows I might face, but the Royal Family... You need to avoid any bad press you can."

I can already see the headlines now. 'Wronged, betrayed General shows grace to cowardly rookie commander. General Malmo shows kindness to wayward child.' Some slings and arrows for our poor Malmo.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Her Highness almost smiles for a moment, a proud smile. "Which is why I felt it necessary to redeem her character in the eyes of the people. Serena here has offered to take personal charge of my security during her time in Alesia, free of charge of course. It will save public money on security arrangements and show the world that she is brave enough to protect someone she believes in. It's a rather dangerous job to be the bodyguard of a princess after all, especially in the face of the bad press you mentioned. Not something a coward would do, right Malmo?"

"General-"

"I believe she'll do great things for me, General Malmo. Though I'm certain she appreciates your offer, she did accept mine first. It would not do for her to go back on her word. Right, Serena?"

... I'm saved. I've actually been rescued! Like a princess in a fairy tale, except the princess is the one doing the saving, and no one's being stabbed! It's hard not to swoon just a little.

But I restrain my swooning until I can get Malmo far away from me. "That is indeed correct. After my mistakes at Canstatt I must atone, and Her Highness is so kind that she has given me the opportunity. Oh, but I do appreciate your offer of lodgings."

Malmo looks utterly crushed. He can't even work up the wherewithal to be angry any longer, he is simply lost. He nods, giving a valiant struggle to say anything before giving up and taking his leave. Sore loser, though that's to be expected from such a rotten winner. And a cheater at that.

And with him long gone I can finally start swooning. "Your... Your Highness, you saved my life!"

Is... Is that a blush on her face? "I can't imagine it was something so serious, he probably wouldn't have killed you-"

"I would have killed me! You seem to know him at least enough to know he's insufferably smug. It's even worse when you have something he wants."

"Sounds nice, being wanted."

Back to corpse-like... I think I understand this woman a little more, or perhaps I just feel a gratitude that must be expressed. I realize now she perhaps needs a little bit of rescuing of her own. And, well, in the fairy tales a princess is always saved by a brave and noble knight.

I'm no Pasche, but I can still get on one knee and play the role of a knight, like a character in a play, if it might make Her Highness happy. "He doesn't want me; he simply wants my name. But I can tell there's a 'you' that I want to see, and that I want to protect, your Highness. May I have your name?"

Her Highness looks at me with clear and obvious confusion, as if waiting for me to evaporate into smoke, or to suddenly give up the facade and betray her somehow. "... The floors here are a very uncomfortable place to kneel."

"Brave and noble knights do uncomfortable things sometimes."

"Serena, what are you doing?"

"... Being a brave and noble knight for you? ... I swear, It made sense in my head-"

Her Highness laughs, and as she laughs, I realize why she is so familiar, so beautiful! ... She has Her Majesty's laugh, and her eyes, and her… Proportions. I shake my head, that is the kind of Velvet thought that does not enter the mind of a brave and noble knight like I'm pretending to be! ... How did I not see it before, like mother like daughter. She rescued me, just like Her Majesty did.

And Her Highness smiles and laughs for me, just as Her Majesty did. "You’re a strange one, Serena. There are no brave and noble knights, you know. Not even in the days of knights and kings were any of them brave and noble... But it's a fun fantasy to have, isn't it?"

"To be a brave and noble knight?"

"To be loved by one... My name is Theophania, had my brother not been born and I remained the heiress to the crown of Avernia I might've been Theophania the Ninth."

"Well, Theophania, you have saved me. Future High Queen or no, I am in your debt, and would like to swear an oath to your service."

"... Serena this is a little much, we just met-"

"Hehe, play along, it'll be more fun that way!" I look up at her and grin, suddenly very aware of the kind of grown-up I am. "If you will accept this wayward girl into your service I promise she will serve you faithfully unto death, keep you safe from all harm, and always be on your side."

A little something breaks in Theophania, something that I swear I saw break for Renee back in the Grove of Velvet. That part of their respective heads that convinced them that nothing good happens, that no one good exists... She smiles widely, clearly very amused... And quite touched.

"Hehe, very well. I don't have a sword to knight you, buuuuuut." Theophania gently lowers the cat onto one of my shoulders, then the other, before gently laying it on my head. "Rise, Sir Serena, my brave and noble knight. I accept you into my service."

I rise to my feet, rather awkwardly seeing as there is a cat on my head, but this only seems to amuse Theophania more and I cannot say that is unwelcome. "Hehehe, I haven't read all too many fairy tales admittedly, but I imagine this is the first time anyone has been knighted with a feline."

"I've read all of them, this has literally never happened." She grins, doting on the cat again, showing them a lot more affection now that she wasn't so dead. "But I figure a cat's claws are sharp enough to be a perfectly reasonable sword replacement. And you can't back out now just because it wasn't a 'proper' ceremony, no givesies backsies on oaths!"

"As if I would ever abandon a woman's service for loving cats as much as I do." I reach up to grab the cat and give them back to Her Highness... She smells nice too, oh no.

She isn't precisely a portrait of Her Majesty, but they do share a great many features... If I had to guess, she might be a year or two older than me, which puts a smile on my face that some other ‘grown-ups’ can be like this. And it suddenly makes me realize just how old Her Majesty is, if even her daughter is older than I am... The fact that thought excites me is something else I will need to critically examine at a time that I am not in close proximity to Her Highness. It would certainly make my oath awkward if I... If I become her other mother, oh no, oh gods! Please let literally anything to stop this train of thought-

"Monsieur Bitey!" A young man who I have definitely also seen before rushes up to the two of us to dote upon the cat in Theophania’s arms, smiling widely. "I have been looking everywhere for you! None of the boring people knew where you went!"

Thank the gods for small mercies. And I do mean small, His Highness the Prince is still a surprisingly little thing. Even knowing he is fourteen I would've guessed he was twelve, if that. He doesn't cut a very regal figure, but he seems happy enough, which might honestly be more important.

Theophania relinquishes the cat to her brother, giving them one last pet on the head before turning her full attention to me. “Monsieur Bitey is more Charles' cat than mine, he utterly adores the fuzzy little monster. He says he can talk to it and I'm tempted to believe him."

This raises an eyebrow from me. Practically nothing is known about witch magic, how it comes to be or why it works, but there is exactly one definitive truth about it. Only women are ever capable of it. Which seems a cut and dry rule but it makes me wonder about Pasche. Would she be able to use witch magic, if only she were lucky enough to have it bestowed upon her? Is Charles the same way as her, and able to use it? ... I shake my head, the science of magic is already a stupid thing to say, let alone consider.

"Uhhh, Serena? Lutice is calling to you." Theophania flicks her fingers in front of my face, apparently my train of thought was long and intense.

"Ah! ... Present, Your Highness-"

"Good. We'll send someone for your bags then. Come along, I'll convince Mother to let you stay-"

"I umm... I actually can't... Malmo is right, no matter how you try to spin it, the press will spin it differently. If I stay with you I'm putting you and Her Majesty in danger-"

"Her Majesty?"

"... I can have no secrets from you, I swore an oath to her as well, back during my time as a student in the Military Academy. She is to me Her Majesty."

There's a strange little expression from Theophania, but I think it settles on being glad. "Hehe, you would be the first person to have no secrets from me... Not even Mother has no secrets from me..."

“O… Oh-"

"Regardless, I don't care what some overstuffed men in overstuffed chairs with overstuffed ink pots have to say."

"Neither do I, neither does Her Majesty. But the people with pitchforks and torches responding to those words? … I've seen what kind of monster an angry mob of civilians can be, and I can't simply fight everyone in Alesia to keep you safe. Staying away is my way of keeping you and your mother safe from harm."

"... None of the fairy tale knights had to deal with politics or journalists."

"I think that's what makes them fairy tales, Your Highness."

"Maybe that's why they're so dear to me..."

There is another silence, awkward in another way to the first... I think I would happily stay close to this woman, befriend her, maybe even share a bed and- Maybe not do EXACTLY as I would do with Lazierte but... Be friends regardless! But... I'm a threat... And now I have a whole other woman to try not to cry in front of today.

"I would not endanger someone I swore an oath to... I suppose your penniless knight will simply have to protect you where and when she can, from the shadows and from the streets."

"... You won't make it out there. Malmo is right, people are angry, and that makes public places scary places to be... No fairy tale knight was ever lynched, and I'd prefer mine not be the very first."

"I still have some places I could try... Maybe the military academy will offer me a bed. I am still technically a student even if I've been sent to war. Or if worse comes to worst, I'll simply find a way to keep myself safe. I may not have any money, but I do have a sword, and the knowledge of how to use it."

"... From the sacrifices."

"... Yes."

"I never could stand to watch them. Even if they're for 'my' God, I must confess I always look away before... You know." She plays with her hands, looking down a little. "An embarrassing admission for a princess, I must admit-"

"I also have difficulty looking too, even when I'm forced to perform them. I completely understand, Your Highness, and you'll get no grief from me for not wanting to watch people die."

She looks back up; it’s as if every time I open my mouth she becomes slightly less convinced that I am real at all. "... How are you like this, Sir Serena? How are you so... You?"

I shrug, trying not to think about that. "I don't know. Normal is a strange thing to me, and I'm not sure if it's just because I'm from Kerska or if... If I'm just different somehow. But I don't want to be a bad kind of normal. I guess I'm just not much of a grown-up, huh..."

"... I think that I would prefer a brave and noble young woman as a knight, than any number of cold, calculating adults."

"Well, that I can provide. But sometimes I have to do grown-up things... Like saying goodbye to a new friend, to keep her safe from me."

It stings to have to leave her then, not just for me I imagine... But I made an oath, and I must stick to it. I must keep her safe, I must deny myself her company. I'll protect her in my own way, from wherever I end up, be that the Academy dorms or the streets.

... Wait, I just made an oath to protect a woman I only just met. As a joke, but also for real. All of this while I am a social pariah, and I really should be trying to look out for myself... My knee hurts, that floor absolutely was a bad place to kneel.

I really am a very stupid kind of grown-up.