I.

Madoka remained quiet as a maid could be in the carriage. That was the easy part. She realized the difficult part was trying to remain calm when she was sitting in the same carriage with not one but two Royals. They have rode for hours now and Prince Fiara never took his eyes off of Madoka. She kept to herself.

"It's been awhile, Brother," Elise said with a hint of disdain in her tone. Madoka elbowed her and gave her a stern look. Prince Fiara laughed. "Why have you not visited me! I've missed you!"

"I see the two of you are close," Prince Fiara laughed, finally looking at Elise. The sudden change in the princess's demeanor worried Madoka, but Madoka considered herself adept at understanding the mood in most social situations. She achieved this by just staying quiet. Elise, on the other hand, pouted.

"Pay attention to me more!"

"I apologize, dear sister!" Fiara clasped his hands together and pleaded. "It's just that Father has been keeping me away. I've been trying to change his mind, you know. That's why I am here, after all."

Madoka heard his words and could not help but wonder if he was lying. Perhaps the both of them were locked in a duel of wills and were just acting the part. The prince sat back.

"You've grown a lot," he said. Elise scoffed.

"Do you think Father will be fair to me, this time around?" She asked.

"The air around the Northern Estate has helped you a lot," he said. "You look beautiful."

"Hellooo? What about Father?" The princess waved her hands in front of his face.

"Perhaps if you were not so annoying," he chuckles. Elise hit his knee. "Is that all you can reach? Shorty!"

"Naee waah! Brother, that's no fair!"

For a moment, Madoka pictured them together again. The perfect siblings from a long time ago before they were 13. Madoka eventually tuned their back-and-forth bickering out. The air was colder now; turning the day to night as the sun's orange glow gave way to a velvety indigo cloak. Madoka's vision started to grow darker.

Was she getting tired? Madoka thought this was impossible. She blinked, hoping neither of the Royals were paying attention to her. Her vision did not improve. Whispers started to creep inside her ears.

Red string.

Cut.

Death.

Bring.

Come closer.

Take.

Madoka gasped, instinctively reaching for her ax. Her hands instead landed on the cushioned seat of the carriage. The whispers were unlike any other animal thought she's heard so far. They were oppressive and invasive, like her mind was succumbing under its weight.

"Madoka?" Elise asked. The whispers receded and her vision immediately went back to normal. Even her brother seemed concerned. Madoka shook her head and bowed.

"Forgive me," Madoka cleared her throat and apologized in reverent Noble. Remaining silent for this long seemed no longer feasible in this carriage ride. Elise gave her a worried look but continued to speak with her brother. Madoka was left to worry about the whispers returning.

Madoka wondered if they simply rode by whatever predator that gave those awful thoughts. She prayed to the kind gods that she could make it through the ride at least.

Once they arrived through the Palace Gates, Madoka got a small glimpse of the city. People of all ages were outside cheering for their arrival. People who knew freedom, Madoka could not help but wonder what that was like. When she passed through these gates the first time as a child, she had no idea who she was. Madoka figured after being broken and molded by the whims of this place she would never long for freedom yet to her surprise she felt restricted as the carriage stopped.

The sight of the Palace towering above her looked more beautiful than she remembered it as a child. That memory was suspended in her mind ever since she was seven. This time would also etch itself in her memory as well. Madoka stretched her legs and helped her yawning princess out, though she never took her eyes off the grand throne room. It was a place of power and Madoka decided she must pay it respect.

Several Palace soldiers approached her and bowed to the Prince and Elise. Madoka bowed back to them all as she should, remembering her training as a maid. She has not lost touch after all. A few nobles were gathered at the hallway where they first entered with some gesturing at Elise. Madoka instinctively started to press forward and guard her but Elise stopped her and smiled.

Madoka knew what that smile meant: They were going to be apart for the first time in many months.

II.

"You are to return to your duties here until Her Highness is free," a guard instructed her. Even though she walked and cleaned these hallways before Madoka missed the Estate's. Not that they required less work and were not as ornate as these Palace hallways but because she felt more free.

"Understood," Madoka curtsied. She was a slave never to be free as she was at the Estate. She knew better than to ask when Elise would be available to speak with again. She followed the guards when one of them stopped her. She chose to be this.

"Hey, I remember you!" The guard said. Madoka did not remember him although his face reminded Madoka of a squash. "You were the princess's slave!"

"Y-Yes, sir," Madoka confirmed. Squash-face laughed but then drew closer after looking around.

"Is she every bit of insane that they speak about here?" Squash-face whispered. Madoka was worried about those rumors. Things were much more scarier here than her time with the princess suggested. What should she say? Squash-face withdrew and patted her shoulder. "It must have been hard dealing with her. But now, you're here safe and sound! With us!"

"Oh, y-yes I suppose so, sir," Madoka said politely. The guard nodded assuredly before entering through the servant quarter's doors. Madoka wondered what became of the princess's Royal chambers but she hardly had enough time to think before her fellow maids surrounded her. They were asking her questions and showering her with awe and attention.

"What is life like outside the Palace?"

"Was it hard to live in such a drab place?"

"I hear monsters and Cherish people are nearby, that must have been terrible for you."

Madoka was apprehensive about answering. Sure, the walls shook when a rainstorm crossed over the Estate. She knew she did not have the time for idle chatter. There was a familiar shadow approaching, though it did not seem as tall as it once was before.

"Madoka."

Madoka heard the old maid's voice first. It was the Head Maid, of course.

"I am glad you are well," the Head Maid gave a rare smile, causing the other servants to murmur. She immediately turned to them. "Get back to work!"

The observing servants scattered.

"You have grown so much," the Head Maid embraced Madoka. "You look much better."

Madoka felt awkward in her hold but the old woman let go of her.

"But you mustn't let it get to you," she warned. "The nobles prey upon women your age. Keep your head down. Now what of the princess?"

"I do not know what will happen to her," Madoka said honestly. "There seemed to be business here for her."

"She hasn't hurt you or anything, right?"

The Head Maid held her shoulders and gave her a good look over as they took to the princess's Royal Wing. Madoka could not even begin to count all the exercises and strange things the princess put her through over the last months. She said nothing instead and shook her head.

"I'm glad," she concluded. "Now get some rest. I am sure the princess will still require your duties soon."

Madoka agreed and retreated into the quarters next to the princess's room. Everything seemed pristine and tidy, just as Madoka made it. As of now, Madoka did not know when the princess will be free or if she will be free at all. The twin moons above slipped light beneath the cracks of her door as her company.

As she took her dress off she instinctively reached for her ax and only felt her hip. That's right, Madoka thought to herself. Her ax was left at the Estate. The exercises and training were seemingly meaningless since she was simply going to be here performing her duties after everything is said and done.

After flopping on the bed, Madoka wondered if things would truly be over. Madoka groaned. Her restlessness was going to be the death of her. There was work to do early and she was awake worried about things way over her head.

She prayed to any of the kind gods out there that it was not over. Even the one in that forest, she prayed to that one even if she could not fully understand English. If Elise were to go away she would never be able to understand the gods, would she? The maid sighed and rolled over in bed.

I pray for you to be safe, Madoka silently stared at the moons. And I hope your visions are wrong.

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Later, Madoka did not need to be woken up because she did not sleep. Despite this, she still hurried along with her morning routine and exercises before rushing to meet with the maids for their assigned duties for the days.

In the palace, maids were to quietly and quickly clean. May the kind gods help them if a greedy noble took a fancy to one. Still, Madoka was ready to get back into it. She saw no sign of Elise but as she lined up with the other maids she knew she should toss the idea out her mind. Once she was out of the gathering with her assigned rotations she kept an eye out for the princess.

There was no shortage of things that needed cleaning, Madoka thought. Her hands swiftly remembered their cleaning, although with her newfound strength she found cleaning a lot easier than it was earlier in the year. Madoka also realized she must have been growing taller, since she could reach places like the top of Royal curtains with her duster without much trouble. She moved quickly to the other hallway after she was satisfied with the results. It was time to join the others to wash laundry.

The process was arduous. A large washroom sat below in the Palace's underbelly for this purpose. It was filled with bustling maids laying out various clothes, sheets and curtains seemingly every which way. It appeared to be a chaotic mess but it has remained the same as far back as Madoka remembered fondly.

The most difficult part was rounding up several maids to carry a large wooden tub for water outside. Madoka could lift it all by herself which shocked the servants. She smiled to herself since this could provide a distraction from her thoughts about the princess. However, that peace seemed to not last long when she heard a commotion brewing at the front entrance.

"Get outta the way!" Barked a familiar voice.

"B-But, Your Highness," another guard's voice came from behind the door. The servants and maids looked at each other and then eyed the door nervously. The chaos outside continued. "The sights in here are for slaves! They might make you uncomfortable—"

"Outta the way, you potato! An awkward car ride with Brother and a near death experience with Father cannot stop me!"

The door swung open wide and Elise emerged triumphantly. Squash-face crumpled to the ground beside her. It was evident that his resistance in letting her through proved futile.

"Now where is my maid?" Elise scanned the room before she locked eyes on Madoka, who dropped the large bucket onto the ground in disbelief. "You are really wet!"

Madoka was too stunned to speak. She thought the princess outgrew her antics but it seemed like she picked them back up right where she hid them before. Elise contemplated for a moment and a grin appeared on her face.

"BEHOLD! BUBBLE!" She shouted. A shimmer in the air manifested above the bucket Madoka dropped. A water orb floated over the bucket and began to fill it with soapy water. "WITNESS ME! WOO!"

"Elise Fiara," Madoka said after the servants gawked. The coldness in her voice froze everyone in the room. The bubble of water vanished. Elise shifted nervously with not a trace of mischievousness on her face.

"Uh oh," she said.

"What did I tell you about making noise?" Madoka grabbed her princess by the wrist and nearly dragged her outside. She did not care if the princess got soaked all the way to her chambers. Madoka swore she will clean the foolishness out of Elise once and for all.

III.

"Okay. Who knew you couldn't use magic in the Palace? Not me, that's for sure," Elise said, pouting. Madoka shot her a glare but stood there quietly, awaiting her princess's orders. Elise already received an earful from the maid for at least an hour after the magic incident. After Madoka's scolding, she heard the princess receive another earful from her Father. He promptly placed her back in Madoka's care and told her to remain in the Royal Library's study room for now until she goes to bed. Elise kicked her feet as she sat in an irritating rhythm.

"I get why you're here with me. But why is he here?"

Squash-face saluted. Madoka imagined him trying to read a book and could not stop her chuckle. According to Elise, the "time-out" had to take place in this room or else. Also according to Elise, Madoka still failed at basic reading comprehension. It was not like Madoka cared. The soldier cleared his throat.

"I am here by His Majesty's orders to supervise and escort you around," he said, dutifully. Elise snorted.

"I don't need you, potato-head," she said. She quieted down when Madoka gave her another glare. "I have her, you know?"

"Well, I—"

"I know! You two can do an arm wrestle!" Elise said. Madoka knew where this was going and she did not like it.

"Your Highness," Madoka stammered. "That's simply His Majesty's-"

"Well tell him to suck it!" Elise snapped. "I'm in time out already and I'm bored, Madoka! Bored! Now arm wrestle! Loser gets voted off the island!"

"What does that mean, Your Highness?" Squash-face asked. Madoka stifled a chuckle. She remembered when she had a difficult time finding the context in Elise's odd words.

"A table, dammit," Elise snapped. "A study needs one. Why does this one not have a damn table in it? Also I'll need you to get my book from my room, Madoka."

"Understood, Your Highness," Madoka began. "We don't need to arm wrestle for simple orders like that."

"But I'm bored!" Elise complained. "Arm wrestle on the chair! Yeah!"

Squash-face gave Madoka a worried look. Madoka shrugged. He looked no more older than her, despite his odd face.

"I am a soldier," Squash-face said. "I've trained for many hours with my captain."

"Only hours?" Elise scoffed. Squash-face furrowed his brow and looked offended as she challenged his manliness.

"Very well, then," he declared. Madoka rolled her eyes. The princess got off her time-out chair and scooted it for them. "Have at you, Madoka!"

Madoka held the soldier's grip and found it to be weak. It must be bad if a soldier is this weak, Madoka mused in her head. She did not realize that Elise already started the match and Squash-face was trying with all of his might to win. Madoka's arm did not budge. It looked like he was sweating. In one swift motion, she flung his arm down.

Squash-face lay on the floor with a look of shock on his face. How unladylike, Madoka thought as she wiped her hand off. And how uncomfortable.

"See?" Elise laughed. "Now get me my table, potato! It'll make you stronger! And Madoka, dear, get me my book!"

"As you command," Squash-face took the defeat well, much to Madoka's surprise. He got back up and left the room. Elise's expression changed in an instant. Madoka froze.

"Do you know how hard it was to get a one on one with you?" Elise said. The tone in her voice was suddenly serious and devoid of any of the immaturity it had in it from before. Madoka stood silently. "I've not much time left here so I need to explain some things."

"Like what?" Madoka spoke in English to show her solidarity. The princess relaxed a little bit and spoke in English.

"I've gone and mapped everything I could in this damn place," Elise said. "You won't believe how many useless places and rooms are in this palace. The important things is the exit routes and this place deep in the Palace's inner sanctums is a treasury."

"Treasury?" Madoka did not know what that word was in English.

"Like a room full of money! And also, uh, divine artifacts," the princess explained. "It's full of them too. Said they're for a prophesied Hero. Could you believe that nonsense? A Chosen One? Poppycock!"

Elise snorted. Madoka secretly could believe it. She knew that the kind gods exist so they could choose a Hero. She wondered perhaps that Elise could be the Hero for a moment but discarded that thought. Elise cared little for her own people and has stated she "hated this world." That did not sound heroic to Madoka.

"Anyways—"

Someone knocked.

"Excuse me," Squash-face arrived without a table.

"Where is the table, potato-head?" Elise demanded. "How hard is it to fetch me one?"

"There was a slight problem," he admitted. Elise rolled her eyes and gave Madoka a look. Madoka nodded without them communicating.

"I will help you," Madoka said, not hiding a sigh. The soldier bowed and clasped his hands in gratitude. "I have to get her book anyways."

"What a weak potato," Elise muttered. Squash-face bowed in appreciation.

Madoka retrieved the book and joined Squash-face at the bottom of the ornate staircase, Madoka noticed the soldier did not seem down at all despite the princess being hostile to him. She still felt the need to apologize.

"I apologize for the princess's antics, sir," Madoka said to him. "She's not normally like this."

"Oh? It's nothing," Squash-face laughed. "She's quite different from what I expected."

"What did you expect?" Madoka asked him. "It's quite difficult to understand her, sir."

"Please, no sirs. My name is Jacob," Squash-face told her. The two stopped at the table which rested at the end of the hallway. Two guards looked at the pair expecting to laugh at them as they struggled. "She seems fun to be around."

"Fun?" Madoka asked. She considered the concept of "fun" sounded like a waste of time. She had cleaning to do. That was as fun as it has gotten for her.

"Yeah, fun. Unpredictable, even," Jacob said. "I just met her and I like her. It's just that... I find it hard to understand Her Highness."

"T-That makes two of us, sir," Madoka admitted.

Squash-face and Madoka looked at each other then both shared a laugh at their common misfortune.

"You are my senior, though," he joked. "You will have to show me the ropes."

"S-Surely not," Madoka realized both of them were speaking in commoner. "How old are you?"

"Fifteen," Jacob said. "Been training since I was 13. I can't believe how tough you are! You flung me around like it was nothing!"

"Please," Madoka protested at his praise. "I'm almost fourteen years old. Don't praise me. It's embarrassing!"

"It's the truth! I'm jealous," the soldier admitted and glanced at the table. "It should prove no trouble for you and me. How did you get so strong, anyways?"

"Watch, this," Madoka simply shoved the book in his arms and rolled up her sleeves. Jacob and the other soldiers gawked at her. Madoka lifted the table easily with her well placed grip. She thought of something witty the princess might say in moments like these when the soldiers asked questions among themselves in amazement.

"How did you manage to lift it?!"

"Kind gods!"

"I do a lot of sewing," she remarked after thinking too hard and proceeded to carry the table up the stairs by herself.

"I-I'll get the other end! Hey!" Jacob followed her. "I'm supposed to help you, you know!"

Madoka did not need help. Jacob followed hopelessly as the other guards laughed at him. His face was red from embarrassment. She brought it to the top of the stairs and looked at him expectedly.

"There you go," she told him and took the princess's book. "You can move it to the room."

"T-To think you can just lift that so easily," he stared at the table. If Madoka paid any closer attention to his squash shaped face she swore it would have popped. "And I'm the soldier, here. No, I will catch up to both of you. I, as a soldier of Fiara, swear to you and Her Highness."

"No swearing, Squash- er, sir," Madoka said instinctively, propping the door open for him. There was something other than the scraping of wood on wood and clinking of Squash-face's armor that disturbed Madoka's hearing. It crept on her and blotted her vision. Madoka dropped the book.

Kill her.

Cut the string.

We know pain.

We will take it from you.

Kill her.

Eternal peace for blood.

Madoka stumbled and had to lean on the table for support. Elise rushed to her maid's side.

"Madoka?" Squash-face or Jacob also attempted to help Madoka but Elise's ring of magic revealed itself as fury built in her eyes. Madoka could see her and Jacob through her blurry vision.

"Back off," Elise stopped the soldier. He bowed and backed slowly. Elise's magic core faded as he exited, presumably to get a healer. She was telling him something but everything sounded garbled and like it was from the opposite side of a tunnel. "Madoka?"

"I'll be fine...!" Madoka gasped. She said that unconvincingly. Even the voices got louder in her head. Outside, there were people walking past the study speaking in hushed tones. The voices drowned out her senses.

Kill her!

Free me!

I will...

Madoka struggled more. It seemed the voices were growing distant from Madoka but she was ragged. Elise had her sit on the chair and from outside the door Madoka's heart sank. The person walking past the study glanced back in concern. It was Prince Fiara. He locked eyes with her for a second before continuing down the hall with several of his nobles out of view.

"Kind gods have mercy," Madoka breathed out a prayer. Her fears were coming to life before her eyes and she had no way of escaping. "It's..."

She could not finish her sentence.

"What is happening to you?" Elise's eyes were overflowing wells of tears. Madoka clasped her princess's hands. "Are you okay now?"

Madoka nodded. She was out of breath but felt the warmth of Elise as she embraced her.

"Sorry about your book, Elise," she mumbled as the princess kept up her embrace.

"Forget the book," Elise was still crying. "I told that potato to get you a healer. Sit tight, okay?"

Madoka made a muffled noise in agreement. Inside, her head was swimming in a chaotic sea of thoughts and fears. The enemy of her Highness truly was the Prince. The secret and the oppressive voices made her feelings drain into an abyss.

"Everything you said about him," Madoka whispered into her ear.

"Huh?"

"It's true, right?"

Elise pulled away from Madoka and stared at her. Her face was pale and she slowly nodded.

"Yes."