V.

"Raining, huh," Elise stood by the window. "Even in Summer. Wonder if those two moons mess with the rain in the atmosphere... How is this planet not all jacked up? Two moons should cause so many adverse effects and gravitational pulls on the tides and tilt of this planet...."

Madoka ignored the princess's strange musings. Her hands still felt numb from attempting to shatter the rock formations. The vibrations still made her grip twinge when she tried to hold her duster properly. She did not have enough "passion" for it, apparently. Her grunt was weak like the breeze; the remark brought about an odd sense of déjà vu to her. Leopride has made comparisons to her halfheartedness, the way her forms were just going through the motions without intention.

Was it really so bad to do so? For what purpose was she really supposed to serve with all this combat knowledge? Madoka couldn't fathom the political spectrum, no matter how many ways the princess explained it. To her, merely owning an axe was heresy for she was a slave who did not deserve to own anything. So it was a foregone conclusion that she would go back to being a slave once she returned to the palace.

Still, she had a desire: With or without passion, she would destroy those rocks. But could she really be half-hearted if she's come this far? Or is everyone else, Royals and Lords, simply blessed by their efforts that the paths they walk on are simply easier and far more rewarding?

Was it the hard mode that Princess Fiara mentioned?

The difficulty of life's circumstances were simply not in her control and therefore she was simply not meant to be this "woman of her dreams." Madoka was consumed by her doubts, the looming shadow of her princess's illness and curse. She stood up.

"Madoka?"

"I refuse," Madoka said, not finishing her sentence and instead, she picked up her axe. She will smash her frustrations outside. She did not know if Elise followed her out and nor did she care at that particular moment.

Thunder roared outside and rain splashed on her skin. A kind god's cold sweat, with lightning polluting the sky. Madoka lifted her axe, ignoring the pain from her previous attempts and the frustrations of her unanswered questions, and let her voice match the thunder's roar.

"Hrargh!"

Solid powdered into a dirt crater. A formidable pillar of magic stone into a crumpled heap of cracked pebbles. Each form she practiced these long and harsh months, tossed away for the moment of her pure but simple frustration.

"It was not enough, was it?" Madoka breathed. All rocks were shattered and Madoka's hands felt no different than before she cleaved each one. "Maybe I am not smart enough to ask the right questions. Maybe I am a slave and do not deserve answers."

"Is that so?" A voice rang out through the rain. The tall outline of a muscular figure approached her. Leopride came into her view, though he seemed different.

"Lord... Leopride?" Madoka wondered why he was out late. Perhaps she was hallucinating. Leopride did not answer, but instead raised a blade in his hand and tossed it over to her.

"I've waited long enough for you to break these," Lord Leopride said. His eyes glowed menacingly in the night. Madoka realized that both swords were not practice wood, but of real metal. "Now it is time to break you."

The unsheathing of his sword sent sparks flashing in the rain.

"Is this what you want?" Madoka's voice was but a whisper in the storm.

Madoka may have been broken in her confusions over the princess, but she knew she was not the same weak slave he had beaten tenfold into blues and blacks during the spring of colors. Her body remembered every wound he gave her. So you were pretending, Madoka mouthed inaudibly and took up the blade.

Let all the worry fall away like those rocks, Madoka gritted her teeth. Rain made it hard to detect the Cherish-man's presence. A mistake, she thought. Anyone could sneak up on her during weather and hours like these. The two regarded each other, Madoka waiting for his killing intent to rise like the old times. Her stance was ready.

Lord Leopride's eyes flared and had it not been for the training she did with Princess Elise's magic bubbles, Madoka could have easily been defeated by losing sight of him from his incredible speed. His first swing flashed by her, but she dodged it. He smirked and distanced himself to observe her. Madoka stood stark still in the storm. This time, she was the rock formation for him to shatter.

That's right, Madoka remembered. She is her friend, the reason she was doing all this training for. The princess is in her heart, no matter how much this man wants to tear it out of her and make it stop beating. The two eyed each other, knowing that the fight would be decided by one attack.

That's when Lord Leopride took a step forward and vanished. Madoka's eyes had deceived her - for he was just that fast. In a split second, everything she thought hinged between life and death. She sensed his bloodlust all around her ready to strike. So Madoka closed her eyes.

"I refuse," Madoka muttered once again. The sword in her hand was a bit heavier than a wooden one but it was nothing compared to the his gift she left lying in the grass amongst the shattered rocks. The bloodlust quickened, closing in on her. Her breath seized up, pulse pounding. Above her! She knelt just quick enough to provide the distance for her to raise her sword.

And so came the Cherish-man's strike like a lightning bolt. Madoka held firm against the flat of her blade as Leopride's sword beat down on hers. The flat sunk into her palm, making a horizontal bloody line across it. Madoka could care less about the pain if it meant she could survive.

His large form towered over her and his strength threatened to crash through her defenses and if he did that her heart would be next.

"I refuse to be half-hearted anymore! I will break through you!" Madoka let out a fiery roar, angling her sword and let Leopride's own sword careen off its blade to the earth. As she did, Leopride's force sent him downward — his heart stabbed right into Madoka's blade. "I don't care about anything you have to say about me!"

Madoka choked as Leopride gasped, the life escaping as blood out his mouth. He collapsed on top of her with both of their swords clanging against the earth.

"You are... worthy!" Leopride uttered. The duel was decided. Madoka was the true victor.

Madoka struggled to breathe beneath him, but then his form started to dissolve into a black mist.

"Was it an illusion?" Madoka asked no one in particular. She felt for the swords that were once in their hands, but they too were gone. Her palm where she reinforced her block against Leopride's strike was still bleeding, but despite all the pain she took it as a marking that her training was finally over.

She began to cry as the rain drenched her further, though she did not know why.

VI.

Elise looked at Madoka as if she saw an apparition float through the front door. She was soaked. "Madoka?!"

"Get. The. Healers," Madoka breathed as she clutched her bloody hand, feeling the sting finally inflicting her palm. Elise took the hint and ran with her to the soldiers.

"Ah, Madoka," Elise scolded her as the healer channeled into a strange object. Her eyes glowed as odd green strings of mana wrapped around her hand, sealing it as if it wasn't cut by a blade. They were mesmerizing and beautiful. "You need to stop making me worried!"

"Sorry, princess," Madoka hung her head. They were out in the hallway while Princess Fiara paced. Only a scar remained on her palm. Of the many that marred her hand, this one was the deepest. Elise held it up, inspecting it.

"This scar..." She looked at it, rubbing her hand. "Were you attacked?"

"N-No," Madoka lied. In truth, she was not sure if she fought an illusion brought on by her delirium or simply hurt herself breaking the rock formations. "I merely hurt myself by breaking those rocks."

Elise squeezed her hand. The tattoo was on her wrist, but slithered back up her forearm when Madoka noticed it. Her eyes lit up.

"You broke them?" She said excitedly.

"Yes, Elise," Madoka said. Although I was almost broken myself, she thought. "It is done."

"Well, woohoo!" She jumped up. Madoka was too exhausted to discipline the princess from making noise this late. "We can discuss what to do next since it's still night. You're crazy, Madoka!"

After the visit with the healer, Elise promptly sent her to her chambers and forbade her from leaving until the following morning when she got her. Madoka sighed in her bed. It was rare that the princess had a reason to scold her - she must be holding it over her head because of that. A small smile crept over Madoka, for she knew even if she fought an illusion her promise and willpower prevailed. A small victory that would etch itself in her mind.

Then she pictured the princess looking serious for once in her mind and she giggled quietly to herself. The princess was never so serious before and her scowl looked so silly. Perhaps she should be more mischievous just to see her be serious more often.

She dreamed good dreams that night, instead of having the usual nightmares of nobles.

"Good morning, sunshine!" Elise's voice came through Madoka's dreams to her. Madoka yawned, to see the princess smiling, sitting at the edge of her bed. She was dressed for the outdoors. Another maid must have attended her. Her carelessness frustrated her, for Madoka should have gotten to the princess first. "I have some good news. But first! Your hand!"

"Good morning," Madoka's voice dragged. "Don't you worry about my hand, princess."

"Bah! Nae waah!" Elise took her hand from under the sheets. She inspected it some more. "What an odd scar, it's almost like you withstood a strike with a sword."

"Can't say. I think I had a nightmare last night," Madoka was being truthful. "The formations are gone though."

"Hmm," the princess contemplated. "Yes, it is time to see Lord Zeron."

Madoka wanted to collapse back on the pillow.

"I thought you said 'good news,'" Madoka complained.

"It IS good news," Elise jumped up. "He is officially giving us the chance to do some exploring outdoors! And YOU get to ride a horse... with me of course."

Madoka failed to see anything good about riding a horse with her. Especially when her strength is considerably higher than the last time they did so. She worried for her arms this time around.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"We got to eat up, of course," Elise muttered to herself. "Such an arduous task of walking and hiking... and horses. At 3500 calories, no, maybe 4000 on the safe side. Jeez, this body is a damn bio-airplane powered by nothing but meat. Much different than a regular human-"

"Elise," Madoka stopped her from rambling. "Language."

"Huh? O-Oh you heard me," Elise turned. Madoka slipped her hand out of Elise's grip. "What is it, Madoka?"

"L-Let me get ready first," she struggled to unwind herself out of the sheets.

"Of course!" Elise twirled, a dance move they shared a while ago. She was still graceful and much healthier than even the last days of Spring. Has she been training without Madoka knowing?

Of course Madoka knew the answer.

Later, Elise dragged her to the healer mage again. The mage was a kind man, though his cloak did not have the insignia of the same kind as the guards. It matched Elise's Brother's crest. That meant that he was a part of his army. It was too much for Madoka to ask about, since perhaps this was Elise just using him for intel.

"It appears to be all fixed up, dear," the mage said. Madoka looked at her hand and back to Elise.

"Are you certain?" Elise triple checked.

"Hoohoo! You are loved, dear," the mage said. "Of course, Your Highness. This one's hand is healed by the kind gods themselves. And by you, of course."

"Whatever, thanks," Elise cut him off.

"Princess," Madoka said with a stern look. "Manners."

"Oh, no need for that," the mage waved Madoka off. "I am merely her servant, just like you."

Elise stormed off, giving a look to Madoka to follow her. Madoka had a question for him, however.

"What seems to be on your mind, dear?"

"It's the princess, actually," Madoka trailed off, thinking of that strange tattoo. "She has a marking on her left arm. It moves on its own and hurts Her Highness."

"Ah," the healer leaned back. "Those are the Marks of Ascension. A magical scar, really. It will heal on its own over time or when the princess finds inner peace."

"Madoka," Elise called out for her. "To me."

Madoka decided it was best to leave the kind mage and not test her luck. She bowed and exited.

"Awwhhh, Madoka," Elise rested her arms behind her head as they walked to the dining room. Madoka was accustomed to eating with her now but at first it was absolutely horrifying and absurd. "Don't ruin my good morning! I care an awful lot about you and you're spitting it back at me by talking with an enemy - er, stranger about my issues."

"F-Forgive me, princess," Madoka dropped to her knees. Elise simply sighed as she stopped at the door.

"It's just an expression, I think," Elise wondered to herself. "Get up, get up! We have to discuss this trip I plan on. Several, in fact. We're a few long months off from D-Day, might as well look into things."

As per usual, Madoka had no idea what she was talking about and followed her to the dining room.

"Brother's got his claws everywhere, even here," Elise had a dark and fierce look, her voice low. It was a side of her that Madoka never saw before. Madoka remained quiet as she ate, not even scolding her harsh language. "It's going to be a miracle if we pull this off and survive. For now, I plan on two different trips... Oh, sorry Madoka. I must have been thinking aloud again..."

"Pay me no mind, Your Highness," Madoka closed her eyes and ate silently.

A knock on the door was heard and a booming laughter came from behind it. Luckily, Madoka finished and simply placed her plates on a tray. An escape from this awkwardness was exactly what Madoka needed.

"Lord Zeron!"

The towering man entered and the princess got up and embraced him. Madoka simply curtsied and hoped to leave, cleaning the table as he stood laughing. "Where do you think you're going, little lady?"

The question froze Madoka in her tracks.

"I'll get these out of the way, sir," Madoka simply said, excusing herself. She would not take no for an answer when it came to her duties, however, to be spared from the added awkwardness of the whole situation was a helpful incentive.

"No, no, little lady!" Lord Zeron bellowed. "We have much to do!"

"Come, come!" Elise cheered. Well, Madoka thought. At least she appeared to be happier with Lord Zeron. She departed with them and left the tray behind.

Oh, kind gods spare me, Madoka prayed. She realized they were leading her out to the training grounds.

"You destroyed these by yourself?" Lord Zeron looked at the remains of the rock formations. They were conjured up by Lord Leopride's magic, Madoka simply sighed. She had left her axe outside here in the rain, but it remained sharp. She was beginning to think that this gift was much more expensive than what it appeared to be. "Impressive, little lady."

"P-Please," Madoka grimaced. "Call me Madoka."

Anything but the nicknames, she pleaded with her eyes. Zeron gave a chuckle. It was then Elise walked over with two wooden swords.

"You can fight with these, right?"

"Fight? Me? Of course," Madoka nodded with a small grin. She remembered last night. Plus, Elise was secretly annoying her with false "good news" and moodiness.

Elise was nervous at Madoka's sudden change of mood. Let her be nervous, Madoka could only shrug in response. The wooden sword's blade did not hurt when she placed it on her offhand, the scar seemingly not affected.

"I-I'm not going to hold back!" Elise said, assuming her fighting stance.

A few minutes later, Elise was knocked to the ground. Madoka had defeated her in one quick blow without even breaking a sweat.

"I'm better at magic anyways," Elise muttered. Madoka helped her up without saying much. When it came to weapons, her sword spoke enough. It was then when Lord Zeron took the stage holding a pair of real swords. Madoka had the feeling that he was waiting for this moment. After all, he has seen her form and her swordsmanship from the start of her training way back in Spring.

This conversation would be a lot more serious between Madoka and Lord Zeron. The question she had for him was a simple one indeed: Has he seen what she's become now?

"Ooo!" Elise said excitedly. "Things are looking serious!"

Lord Zeron laughed his usual hearty laugh, but Madoka stayed quiet as she took a sword from him. If she could only use her axe, although carrying it around might prove burdensome.

"You're immaculate! You've defeated my pupil," Lord Zeron praised her. "But please indulge in me in this last test for today, let my fears fall."

"Fine," Madoka grimaced. He was beaming with confidence, as a warrior who served the country for many years. What could a servant like her with mere months of training do to sway his raging currents? She may have slew an illusionary phantasm last night, but she knew she could not defeat a real man who was much bigger and stronger than Lord Leopride.

"Ready, Madoka?"

A nod barely moved her head forward, so he laughed and signaled Elise to start them.

"Go!" Elise cheered.

Lord Zeron towered forward, then came at her like a wild bull. Was he mocking her? Madoka wondered. She dodged his strike and while the impact of his swing had enough strength to sweep up a cloud of dust and left a cut mark on the ground, Madoka was already behind him with an attack of her own. With such slow speed, she was sure he was holding back quite a lot.

"I win?" She tapped his neck with the point of her sword. He was too tall to reach with her hand. Lord Zeron turned slowly and applauded her.

"Excellent!" Lord Zeron laughed. "I think it's time now. You are ready to take care of her out there, though these lands are quite peaceful I think now I can let you go with the princess."

"D-Don't joke around like that," Madoka protested. "You were holding back quite a lot."

"I am not joking," Lord Zeron rested a big hand on her shoulder. The weight of his arm made her have to focus to carry or else she would topple over. "Not many can withstand the weight of my mighty hand! Gwah, hah, hah!"

Madoka nearly decided he was simply lying and just gave in. She did not understand the insults and simply wanted to go along with it. She freed herself from his grasp and faced him.

"So," Madoka spoke to Lord Zeron much differently, surprising Elise. Her sudden switch from her usual formal speech to commoner's tongue made him finally drop the act. "Why were you holding back? Do you mean to insult me?"

"Madoka?" Elise looked at her quizzically.

"It was a test, Madoka. Not a fight to the death. I wanted to see what you would do," Lord Zeron explained, trying to ease her doubts. "The heat of battle is much different than mere practice fights."

"That doesn't explain much," Madoka crossed her arms. "Or help me much."

"I have given you all the help I could, given Her Highness's situation," He said, his tone serious.

Surely he does not believe in the princess's delusions, right? Madoka had a difficult time understanding why a man like Lord Zeron trusted Elise's words. Elise nodded vigorously. Still, Madoka protested.

"But—" She began, but Lord Zeron cut her off, kneeling before her. He still was taller than her, even with strong knees on the ground.

"Most would flee from an attack like that. You remained calm even in the face of my attack. One day, I trust you will be calm even when the trials of life strike you or the princess."

"Uncle Zeron is trusted by my father to help me and do what I need, okay? It's really not that complicated," Elise told her. "You can trust me, can't you?"

"I am your servant, Your Highness," Madoka bowed her head, realizing who she was speaking to. Something in her was changing, a wellspring of confidence flowing in her heart. She would have to stamp it out or else she could be killed. Or was she merely taking advantage of her situation being so far beyond the Palace walls? "F-Forgive me, princess."

"What for?" Elise muttered. There was something about the princess that was unrecognizable to Madoka at that moment. She seemed happy about Madoka's sudden outburst. "Raise your head, Madoka. Times are changing, but rest assured you are still the woman of my dreams and you shall not be helpless!"

"I have an old friend of you two," Lord Zeron grinned after the tension was lifted. "They will help you get to what the princess's, ah, nature walk."

Lord Leopride? Madoka shook her head. He would not help at all for whatever mad scheme Elise has waiting. A group of soldiers rounded through the gate, guiding their horses through. Madoka caught a glimpse of a familiar white haired mane. It was Ciara who seemed pleased to see the two girls. She neighed as the soldier bowed to the Princess and left the beautiful beast with the girls.

VII.

"Oh no," Elise cowered behind Madoka. "Not again."

She had to be marched up to the beast after some calming down and "forceful encouragement" from Madoka. They've ridden several times to the villages around the estate, but the princess would whine every time she rode on horseback. The beast was able to carry Madoka's sword and hatchet. Both weapons were shortened enough by Lord Zeron to be strapped at her hip with minimal effort.

"What are you scared of?" Madoka sighed, then pushed the princess's butt up on the saddle before climbing on. "These 'nature hikes' were your idea, Elise."

"I know, but like, listen," Elise whined, gripping tightly on Madoka's waist. "When did you get so sassy?"

Madoka shrugged and stroked Ciara's mane. She snorted as the two girls adjusted themselves on the saddle. Lord Zeron told them they could go anywhere on the Estate's borders. Madoka assumed it was just the walls of the estate at first, but the princess said even the villages and the forest between were on the estate's premises.

"Just tell us where to go," Madoka told the princess. She regretted saying us, as if the horse and her were the same. "But if you squeeze me any harder I might fall off."

The air is warm.

I will guide you.

I trust you.

Let's go.

Where to? Anywhere.

Madoka sensed Ciara's thoughts like they were one. She still did not ask about it, but with a kick from Madoka they were off.

"W-Whoops," Elise loosened her grip. "I'm surprised this animal listens to you, Madoka."

"I'm not sure what you mean," Madoka lied.

"I always wanted to hike in a forest when I was a kid," the princess went on. "There was this little park in the middle of the city that I would go to when my parent's home went nuclear, but even that didn't have many trails or stuff like that."

"Uh huh," Madoka said. The two rode out quite far, but it appeared the princess did want to go exploring in the forest. Though she knew not what she was talking about, as far as she could remember the princess spent all her time inside the palace walls.

There were so many duties she neglected to do because of the princess.

"Did you have a brother in your, ah, past life?" Madoka had trouble thinking of what it could be like having multiple lives worth of memories. One could do a lot of cleaning with their past lives, Madoka shuddered at that thought.

"Brother?" theprincess scoffed. "No, I was an only child. Thank god I didn't leave any of those behind. Here is good. We can leave the stupid horse here."

"Do we have to walk?" Madoka asked.

"Yeah!" Elise hopped off Ciara. So she is capable of helping herself off the horse, Madoka thought as she watched her. "It's going to be fun!"

Madoka halted Ciara and tethered her to a tree. "We'll be back... hopefully."

The horse neighed in response, chewing at the grass.

"There's a bit of a trail here," Elise said, waiting for her. Her attire was that of a simple traveler's clothing, unfit for a princess. Madoka wore a similar garb, but that was to be expected. She turned and narrowed her eyes at Madoka. Her look made the maid blush. Still, Elise maintained her gaze.

"Plenty of time for you to share your feelings with me."

"My... feelings?" Madoka placed a hand over her heart.

The breeze gently pushed aside the glittering green tree branches as the two began to walk.

"Yes, Madoka," Elise took her hand. Madoka felt the princess's grip to be solid, no longer wavering from being lifted. "You have doubts about me, might even despise me for how I've been making you do —"

"I'm frustrated," Madoka cut her off. A rare moment of rudeness and lapse in her judgment. She covered her mouth.

"Go on," Elise did not ask for an apology. "Consider this like the emergency meeting we had ages ago. We are equals. We will be equals. There isn't much I can do to prove this to you, but..."

She trailed off. Madoka was not a smart woman and never had many opportunities to express herself. Her feelings were as simple as mud at a riverbank.

"I wish I could understand you," Madoka continued, moving closer to her. "Believe in you, be of use to you, but I do not. I am not smart enough to see your greatest plans and you know that."

The princess flinched as if she got hurt but Madoka suppressed her desire to apologize.

"Even your Brother treated you kindly when you—" Madoka sighed. "I just cannot see what is wrong with what I am saying."

The princess scoffed at the mention of her brother.

"Or how you can believe in such visions," Madoka continued but stopped as she saw Elise's eyes darken. "I apologize, I shouldn't have pushed it..."

"No," Elise sighed. "I just can't help myself. These visions... I am a heretic in many ways, Madoka. Being in my presence is trouble but you know that, right?"

"You're sick," Madoka said. "I hate thinking of it that way. How it's all going to end. I—"

She did not complete her sentence.

"Do I look sick to you?" Elise snapped. Madoka could not answer that. Elise was much healthier than when she was in the palace. Madoka considered the fresh air that changed her but after seeing her training she changed her mind a while ago. "Don't answer that! I can at least believe that I can open a peanut butter jar all by myself now."

She flexed her arms in a joking manner.

"I'm sorry," Elise sighed. "It was a shitty thing for me to try and deflect with humor."

"You always do that to me," Madoka grumbled. "And Prince Fiara, too. It's no excuse to treat your brother with disrespect. After all he's done for you."

"After all he's done for me?" Elise shook a little, then increased with her emotions and broke away from Madoka. "He would have simply let Father kill me if it didn't ruin his reputation to standby! You don't know how he is! All this is his act and he's fooled even you! Hmph!"

With that, she ran off like the old times. Madoka quickly realized she made a mistake in upsetting the princess. Oh, kind gods, Madoka prayed for their forgiveness. She was sure she would not have any forgiveness from anyone if she lost Elise in the forest.

Madoka hardly noticed that they were, in fact, walking while they talked. They were quite deep into the forest by the time Elise ran off. She cursed herself. Why could she not track what other people were thinking as well?

The thoughts of other animals were fleeting so she could not track where she was exactly. Most were running from the princess as if she was a large predator. It made sense to Madoka, for the princess's magic powers were monstrous in her own eyes. She sensed Ciara's thoughts from far away but they were peaceful. Perhaps Lord Zeron was right in trusting them to be here, but he trusted the wrong servant. Madoka swore to herself again for being a burden.

Suddenly a scream pierced the foliage nearby. The princess was in trouble? Madoka sensed nothing out of the ordinary in the wildlife around her but trailed after the screaming anyways. She scanned for a sign of the princess within an opening. The forest branches were thick, but she caught a glimpse of blonde hair contrasting between the greens and browns of the trees. Madoka's heart sank as she pushed through the branches. The princess collapsed on the ground.

"Elise! Are you hurt?" Madoka rushed to her side, her axe ready.

"Madoka! H-Help me!" Elise clutched her maid's side. Was she attacked? Madoka squinted in the distance. Elise seemed like nothing happened, except she was a little dirty.

"What happened?" Madoka asked her. The tension was high. At any moment an attacker could show. There were no thoughts in the forest. There was only peace, which meant there was no attacker or a skilled assassin.

"A b-bug!" Elise pointed at a nearby branch. "What the hell is that thing! Get it away from me at once!"

Madoka's eyes darted across the branches. She has heard of many poisonous bugs but the princess seemed unharmed. Something moved on a branch, catching her attention. It was simply a fuzzy bug slightly darker than the branch it was trying to hide in. It opened its four jaws, trying to threaten Madoka. Its thoughts were primitive.

Keep away!

Don't kill me!

Back!

Stay away!

Ahhh!

Elise was pointing at it in horror. Madoka lifted it and placed it on a matching branch. The fuzzy bug scurried away, vanishing in the foliage without any further thoughts. She turned to the princess who was looking at her in complete shock.

"How are you not terrified of that!?"

"That's what you're afraid of?" Madoka asked her princess. Elise squeezed Madoka's waist and hid behind her. Madoka rolled her eyes. "I think that's enough outdoors for you, Your Highness."

Elise quickly nodded, quivering as Madoka guided her back to Ciara.

"W-What a terrifying creature," she muttered.

"It was terrified of you, princess," Madoka said, helping her on the horse's back.

"P-Please, call me Audrey— er, Elise," Elise's voice shook. "I'm not upset with you anymore."

"Anymore?" Madoka asked. The ride back home was quiet and peaceful, with Madoka thinking that perhaps the princess fell asleep. The poor girl went through quite an ordeal with a harmless fuzzy bug. Madoka smirked at the thought. Despite the headaches Elise caused her Madoka could not remain angry with her for too long. She felt a squeeze as they approached the Estate. "Princess?"

"I don't care about this dumb kingdom, Madoka," her voice was groggy. Madoka guessed she actually fell asleep or was talking in her sleep again. "Let it burn by my brother's hand. I hate him for what he does to you in my visions."

A terrifying feeling crept over Madoka when she heard what the princess revealed to her.

"What did he do to me?" Madoka asked. The princess made a muffled sound on Madoka's back. "Elise?"

"He stabs you in the heart," Elise murmured. "Before burning this place to the ground."