I.

The night after her start, Madoka began to look after Princess Fiara who pretended to not have ever said anything odd to her the next morning. Madoka did not question it further. Waking early and getting her cleaning done, she steeled herself for what was to come next. Waking the princess up and getting her dressed.

Surprisingly, she was already changed, but struggling with tying her corset.

"Why the hell do they shove kids in these things," she muttered as Madoka would quietly help her.

"Watch your language," Madoka gently said.

It would go on as a sort of ritual each day, with Princess Fiara finally giving up and letting Madoka change her.

Madoka found the job of taking care of Princess Fiara to be quite an ordeal at first. In the first year looking after her, she tried to blame Madoka for an incident involving the destruction of an expensive clock. Madoka was terrified, at first, of the King's reaction. To her surprise, the King had not believed Princess Fiara from the start, laughing as she pouted. She was swiftly sent to her room afterwards.

After that incident and seeing how well Madoka controlled Princess Fiara, the King himself eventually allowed Madoka free reign in disciplining his Daughter. He was fully used to his daughter's antics, while Madoka was merely warming up to them. Was Princess Fiara not her own age? How did she come to be like this?

She was unrestrained, a beast on the loose screaming down the hallways with stolen treats, calling her and her fellow maids the "Feds." Madoka would chase after her.

Other times, she would play pranks on her Brother during important meetings. He had a fear of serpents and she took advantage of it by making toys shaped like them. He had the patience of a saint and his Father's kindness, merely sitting her on his lap while handling affairs.

When the guards spoke of how difficult it was to find her, Madoka had mapped out the Princess's eight hiding spaces already, only to find that she had two more spots that she would hide in to avoid meeting suitors.

"I'm only 12!" she shrieked. "The hell is this? Haven't you prehistoric savages heard of consent?"

"Watch your language," Madoka scolded her, for she and her Brother Prince Fiara were the only ones the Princess would listen to. "You are a woman, a Royal Princess at that. These men are going to rule countries in the future. Must I remind you of your station?"

"Jeez, Madoka," Princess Fiara would whine. "For my soulmate, you sure are absolutely militant. What about you, don't tell me YOU would want to get married to some slimy adult or a little boy!"

"I am a servant," Madoka reminded her. "I have no such place in life for anything else."

"That's not fair! You can't pull that card on me!"

Months later, Princess Fiara's manners improved. Madoka had refined her into being able to gracefully eat without causing trouble. The King even praised Madoka on how swiftly she managed to turn his Daughter around. What truly caused Princess Fiara to turn around was dancing.

Madoka did not know how to dance and Princess Fiara hated dancing with her instructors. She had the mind to cut them off, when suddenly she got an idea. Madoka could tell from her mischievous countenance that she was in for a troublesome day.

"I'd rather dance with Madoka!" She pouted, pointing directly at her maid.

"M-me?" Madoka was taken aback. The instructor loved it and clapped. And so Madoka learned to dance with Princess Fiara as her partner. Madoka had something stir in her heart, an odd freeing emotion she has never felt while in the Princess's arms. She truly was having fun, as the Princess was speaking about.

She would look forward to dance practices with her every day, refining Princess Fiara even more for her role as a future Queen. It was after several sessions that the princess would listen more intently to Madoka's instructions, becoming ladylike and graceful.

A strange conversation happened by Madoka while she was dancing with Princess Fiara. She was finally coordinated enough to move in perfect rhythm while speaking softly without falling.

"It's just like the movies, don't you think?" Princess Fiara quipped. Madoka said nothing, for confusion was written on her face. "Of course, you don't know what a movie is. Maybe one day, you'll understand the secrets I will tell you."

"I," Madoka held her tongue. She rarely did speak what was on her mind. Most of what she spoke of were lines that the Head Maid herself disciplined her long ago. Now, she used them to discipline the Princess.

"Speak what's on your mind to me," Princess Fiara said with a smile. The Instructor clapped and they shuffled positions. Madoka twirled her in her arms, then gracefully returned back to her first step.

"I wish to know more about you, Princess Fiara," she nearly choked on her words. Her, a mere servant, asking that much from a Royal? "I want to understand you better."

Princess Fiara closed her eyes, as if she was waiting for Madoka to say that for a very long time. "Very well. Come to me tonight."

She smiled a beautiful, radiant and blissful smile. Madoka was about to warn her, but she tripped and fell on her bum.

II.

"Ahhhhh, I don't want to do it! I can't do it! I'm going to pop, Madoka!" Princess Fiara complained. "Pop! I say!"

"Sit up straight," Madoka said sternly. The princess flailed her arms as Madoka curled her hair. It was long and beautiful but it needed to be ready for the ball tonight. "Sit down. Down."

"Nooooo!" Princess Fiara pouted and wailed. "Unhand me you brute! Off with your head! Guards! Off with her head! Git, git!"

Madoka ignored her, forcing her arms down with one hand causing the princess to squirm. The guards stationed out the room started to laugh, but the princess started her woes again.

"Ow! What are you, an inquisitor? Why can't I get free?" The princess struggled against Madoka's calloused grip. Years of cleaning has formed these hands, Madoka calmly brushed her hair while the princess feebly wiggled. "Nae wah! You're a damn pillar! Some kind of secret wrestler!"

A few hours later, Madoka successfully fit the immature princess into her ball gown dress.

"Woah," She gasped. She twirled when she saw herself in the mirror. "I'm... pretty? How'd you do that?"

Madoka sighed. She was pretty when she was not flailing like an uncivilized brute and she had the nerve to call her that.

"I don't know why I need to be there with all the adults," she complained, feeling the seams that covered her breasts. "Also what are these supposed to do? I don't even have boobs! Wait, Madoka! You have boobs! How do you get them? It's not fair!"

She poked Madoka's left breast and giggled, but a stern look and a slap to her hand made her stop.

"Jeez, you need to open up a little. You're my soulmate," Princess Fiara sighed as Madoka wiped her hands. You need to act your age, you are 12, Madoka thought as she prepared to guide her down to greet her Father. Madoka has gotten comfortable with talking formally with the Royal family and has learned a few things about them.

Princess Fiara stepped down from taking a position of power, or so she said. The Prince, as kind as he was, was a prodigy and the complete opposite in behavior and manners as his sister. The Queen passed away giving birth to their daughter, but neither the King or Prince have addressed any complications and grieve mutually for her. They also did not blame Elise for her mother's death. The King truly is a kind man, especially when it comes to dealing with his daughter's antics.

"Aghh, Madoka save me!" Princess Fiara clung to her maid. Madoka marched her down the hallway with the other servants. "Why don't you take my place instead? We can go into this room and switch really quickly!"

"You're going to have to go by yourself, your Father is waiting."

"Come on," She scoffs. "It's not like I even want to..."

Princess Fiara stopped walking, her voice trailing off.

"Come along. You know you cannot skip this time, Your Highness," Madoka said, thinking that she was pretending to be sick for an opening to run. However this time was different. She turned to see the Princess as white as a ghost and blurted her name out. "Elise?"

"No, no, no it can't be..." The princess's eyes became clouded over, her pupils becoming dilated and looking back and forth rapidly. She was unresponsive to Madoka. Then she vomited, stumbling into a table and knocking a vase over trying to catch herself. The servants immediately sprang into action while Madoka panicked. She has never seen her princess sick before. The sickness got worse, with Princess Fiara's voice becoming ragged as she cried and screamed.

"Guards, get the healers!" Madoka called out. "The Princess is sick again!"

III.

Madoka did not leave Princess Fiara's side after the healers came and went. The ball carried on and the news of her weakened health was kept under hush. Her absence was left unspoken about and Madoka served as she normally would throughout the night. However, she was worried for the Princess. It was a feeling like she has never felt before, an intense longing of its own.

The healers with magic said that this was her worst bout yet and it will take quite some time for her health to return, if at all. Meaning, their magic had no effect. Madoka did not understand how they knew this, but the King ordered her to stay with the Princess anyways. Madoka was born of the commoners, a talentless girl who could not sense the spirits or cosmos as one of higher standing could. No God ever touched commoners before. She knows she will always have to take orders from those who did possess magic. Magic rules this world. Magic and violence, she's heard the tales of battle taking place in faraway theatres and on the borders of this nation.

Madoka prayed to whatever kind God that violence could not reach here, despite knowing her prayers would never reach them.

The Princess was in such a weakened state she hardly had any room to speak. She remained bedridden and unable to eat by herself. That did not stop Madoka from keeping up her duties to serve the princess no matter what. So she would feed her, wash her the best she could, and lay her back to bed. It seemed to be a lot easier when the princess wasn't trying to run away. She didn't know what overcame her, but one day she sat at the edge of the bed and watched over the Princess. She truly was beautiful. Her breathing was steady, so Madoka chose to speak.

"I still wish to know you," She said softly to her. "May your great health return swiftly and the Gods smile upon you, Your Highness."

She was about to get up, when she heard a soft voice from the Princess. Madoka looked and saw the Princess trying to speak to her.

"D-Don't leave me," she whispered, tears leaking out her eyes. "Madoka, please d-don't..."

Madoka was halfway from standing before looking back at her. And what she saw was not a Princess, but a helpless young girl she had to help. She stood up and folded her arms.

"Now, look at you," she fake scolded the Princess. "I can't leave you alone with a mess on your face, now can I?"

A small smile formed on the Princess's lips, still with her eyes closed. It was like she knew she would have her way this time.

"You sit tight, Your Highness," Madoka said, taking a handkerchief and wiping the tears off her cheeks. Then Madoka got under the sheets and rested with the princess's head snuggled on her lap.

IV.

"You're built like a truck," the Princess told her. Madoka had no idea what a truck was, so she thanked her. The Princess giggled and simply said she should loosen up. Again, she had no idea what that meant either. The Princess looked at her arms, then felt the maid's arms in the bath. "Your forearms and biceps are well toned. And your hands' grip muscles are incredible too. Do you know how difficult it is to wrangle out of your gorilla death grip, Madoka? Impossible!"

"I don't know what a gorilla is, Your Highness," Madoka moved her to the side. "But it sounds unpleasant."

"It is unpleasant!" the Princess complained. "It's not fair that I have these noodly arms."

"It's good to hear you in good health again, Your Highness," Madoka could not hide the sarcasm in her tone as she washed the princess's back. The Princess scoffed.

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"Why do I feel like you miss me being sick," she whined again. "I could have died, Madoka! What then? Who would take care of me then!?"

Madoka smiled at the comment, though the Princess could not see her. After some scrubbing, the Princess spoke again, splashing the water in disgust.

"I wish this water was warmer, if only Father would let me learn how to control magic. I could heat it up right this instant!"

Madoka sighed. She didn't even consider that as a possibility. She was happy that she did not know how to use magic. She already caused enough trouble.

"Your Father knows what's best for your health, Your Highness," Madoka said, reassuring her. "He might let you learn later."

"Father tells me it's some kind of curse," Princess Fiara went on. "But those aren't a thing in this world, are they?"

"I am but a servant, Your Highness," Madoka spun her around and began to dry her off. The princess shivered, but eyed Madoka up and down. "You know I don't have any knowledge of the arcane."

"You are beautiful," she commented, distracted by Madoka.

Madoka's cheek felt warm for a moment, so she turned away, ashamed that the princess laid eyes on her. "You should save all those comments for a suitor."

"Boo!" The Princess pouted. Madoka could melt in her eyes, even though she's seen them before time and time again. Perhaps this is why she gets away with the troubles she causes in her Father's palace. "I don't want to! Nae waah!"

"What have I told you," Madoka said sternly. "You can't get out of your duties, Your Highness."

"But what if I could?" The princess's face flashed with an odd sorrow. "What if everything changes?"

"Your Highness?"

"It's nothing."

V.

The evening of the next Royal Ball arrived. For Madoka, the past three weeks were spent scouring the place and keeping every speck of dust out of the ballroom. The Head Maid praised her prowess, though what kept her from truly relaxing was dreading the hours she would have to spend battling the princess into submission.

That girl - her dear Princess - absolutely despised gatherings, claiming endless excuses of why she did not consent to going to the party. Not that Madoka particularly knew what consent meant. Agency, one's own ability to deny things forced upon them, Madoka thought back to the words the strange Princess spoke of. She held a hand to her heart as sunlight covered her skin in the many colors split from the stained glass windows above.

She explained to the princess that she was given away by her parents as a servant since she was six one night and oddly Princess Fiara grew angrier and angrier the more Madoka elaborated. Was she mad for an agency Madoka knew she didn't have to begin with?

When asked what she would do if she was set free, Madoka had no idea that she was ever not free to begin with. Her maid duties were her life. She saw no other thing she could do in life. Princess Fiara told her that she was surprised by how well she acted but never judged her and said that Madoka had a hard life. She even tried to force Madoka to speak informally with her, since in her words they were "soulmates" but she refused.

Perhaps now, this is exactly why the Princess was strangely compliant to Madoka's every order.

Could it be that Princess Fiara softened up to Madoka? Madoka never felt like she was truly having a hard life. She was given food, shelter by the most powerful man in the nation's Palace. Could she even complain about that?

Princess Fiara uttered not a word when Madoka brushed her hair or fastened her dress. To say that Madoka wasn't exactly certain what the princess was planning on doing was an understatement. She checked the usually immature princess for anything she might hide and could potentially mess up. She heard a sigh pass from the princess as she tied the finishing touches on her dress.

"Are you feeling well, Your Highness?" Madoka asked, genuinely concerned.

"Heh," the Princess chuckled. "You must think I've been kidnapped by an imposter with how quiet I've been."

"I didn't say anything, Your Highness," Madoka smiled softly behind the Princess. She was looking at herself in the mirror, as she usually did after Madoka changed her, quite satisfied. "You have graced me with your accurate observations, Your Highness."

"Who taught you to speak like that? Certainly not me, for I, Princess Elise Fiara am quite civilized now," the Princess smiled. Madoka was about to protest, but the Princess's smile died quickly and she fell into her solemn state again. "It is that you say, I've simply accepted my fate."

Madoka could not help but guess that the fate Princess Fiara was talking about was not simply the ballroom. She, however, remained quiet and gently guided the princess down the hallway with the guards and her fellow servants. The very same one she chased her down many times, the one that she got sick in and nearly died from her curse. Princess Fiara's shoulders tightened in stress before the doors opened, but relaxed a small amount when she noticed Madoka by her side.

Was she bracing for a storm? Madoka could not help but wonder. Perhaps she was saving her tantrums for later?

"You will do just fine, Your Highness," Madoka bowed to her and rang the bell for the doors to open. A small reflection quivered in the Princess's eyes when Madoka said that to her. When she looked again, the reflection was gone and replaced with a determined stare.

"Now entering, Princess Elise Fiara!" An announcer shouted out. The nobility fell silent and bowed as Princess Fiara entered with a graceful smile and wave, just as Madoka taught her.

VI.

Madoka was off to her servant duties while the princess became the centerpiece of attention from the noblemen and ladies alike. She wished she could see the princess more, but she would only serve to hinder her glowing presence. In the small moments in between serving, she could observe Princess Fiara.

It was like she was a completely different person. Radiant and perfectly behaved, a true Royal Princess laughing with her guests. Madoka nearly tripped on her own cart when she saw the princess smiling directly at her.

"Ah, you, Madoka," came a familiar and powerful voice.

"Y-your Majesty!" Madoka seized up around the King who stood by the tables with treats on them. The main dishes were to be served soon. He smiled warmly at her.

"I commend your efforts in refining my daughter into who she is today, Madoka," His Majesty said, laughing. "You must be proud of this angel."

Madoka did not know what to say.

"I do not deserve your praise, Your Majesty," the maid nearly stammered as her heart beat against her chest. The King laughed even louder, resembling the princess's hearty laughter as well. "If I am honest, sir, I spend this hour worried that she might be up to something."

The King raised a wine glass and drank from it, eyeing a powerful look at Madoka.

"That makes two of us," he chuckled after taking a sip, before walking away.

It took a moment for Madoka's heart to stop pounding, while her servant friends consoled her from the terrifying encounter she was exposed to. Yet the lights lowered and music began, allowing Madoka to breathe and pick up dirty dishes for some much needed rest before the main dishes.

When she was setting plates down, she saw the crowd disperse into an opening. Madoka's heart sank when she saw who they were surrounding. It was the princess dancing with another man, using the same moves they spent months practicing. Madoka could not look away, instead clutching her chest above her heart. She felt ashamed for what she was feeling, but the feeling could not be shaken.

Jealousy?

How could Madoka, a lowly servant, feel jealousy towards a princess's dance partner? A man who was more powerful than she could ever be. She tore her eyes away, seeing the princess smiling and laughing in another's arms. The Head Maid saw this and sent her away, probably assuming Madoka was overwhelmed with pride for her dear princess. She retreated away before the hurt showed itself.

So she sat behind the walls of the Royal Kitchen and wept.

It must have been hours before anyone knew she was absent. She was just a servant after all. Madoka straightened her red hair out, the hair Princess Fiara always complimented and loved petting, and wiped the tears away the best she could. When she was about to sneak back into the ballroom, another cook stopped her.

"Don't go in there," he said. "The King's daughter has gone mad again!"

Pale terror shattered Madoka's broken heart. "Gone mad?"

"See for yourself," the cook cracked the door open just enough to see out to the commotion.

The princess was irate, more angrier than Madoka has ever seen before.

"He grabbed my ass, Father!" She screamed to her poor Father. His face was flushed with embarrassment. The nobleman was one of the more powerful ones and he was on the ground seeing stars after evidently crashing through a split table. "I demand... Justice!"

"Calm down, my Daughter," the King tried to control the situation, but fear struck his eyes. Madoka couldn't look away, but something was wrong with the princess. She looked pale and sick yet Madoka smelled something in the air.

Flames.

Flames burst through the table where the nobleman lay, but he quickly gained footing and fled in terror. The rest of the crowd was pandemonium. The King called for the guards who quickly subdued the screaming princess, with sorrow written over his face as they took her away.

VII.

Days slogged by, as Madoka was cleaning and doing her usual duties. She was nervous and knew they probably were going to take her away, but for now no sign or word from any guard. Or her. The princess's absence left something inside of her as unfulfilling. As troublesome as she was, the princess managed to allow Madoka to smile more often. Even the thought of her now made Madoka smile and then become saddened. It was one day when cleaning one of the tight spaces where the princess hid when she was younger, she heard a whisper.

"Psst!"

Madoka knew that voice well, and her heart lifted.

"What are you—"

"Save it, you!" The princess's head emerged from behind the sculpture. "Emergency meeting, please, I need you to come to my chambers tonight."

"Tonight?"

"Yes," the princess's eyes darted down the hallway. "Please, Madoka."

Madoka sighed and closed her eyes. "I will bring you tea. Now git!"

The princess smiled as if her prayers had been answered by the maid using her own strange words and ran back to her room swiftly. Madoka shook her head.

VIII.

As she requested, Madoka made her way to the princess's chambers, hurrying along. It has been days since she's seen her dear Princess, so Madoka took the risk. To her luck, the guards recognized her and let her through when they saw her cart with tea.

The beverage, apparently, was an idea made by the princess herself. Its popularity became widespread across the Palace, so the servants would prepare it for everyone. Madoka did not like the taste of it but was happy to serve it to the princess to make her happy.

She knocked on the door.

"Come in," the princess's voice beckoned her. She was standing at the windowsill when she first arrived those years ago. With a glance at Madoka, she smiled, making the maid blush. She looked as if she was not just locked away sick for some days. "Well, well, well. If it isn't the woman of my dreams."

Madoka always wondered why Princess Fiara said that to her. She often wondered how she got placed in this situation in the first place. Why was the princess so interested in me? She wondered.

"Sit! Sit!" princess Fiara pointed at a pillow on the ground.

"But, Your Highness," Madoka knew servants never sit before anyone. They hardly sit at all. Princess Fiara was having none of it, waving her off.

"This royal-maid relationship be damned. It was over the moment you stepped in the damn door," she laughs. Madoka did not. "If we are to have a go at this secret sleepover business, then let us be equals for a moment. Please, sit!"

Madoka reluctantly set the tray of tea on her cart and nervously sat down on the ground. The princess paced, looking at her and put a hand to her chin in thought.

"No, this won't do," she folded her arms. "Chairs. We need chairs."

She peered out her chamber's door, before pulling two chairs out along with hefting a table over to them from the hallway. She dragged them all the way to the windowsill. Madoka looked on with horror at the sight of her princess doing manual labor. Madoka knew it was wrong and would offer to do it herself, but she shook her head as if reading her thoughts.

All Madoka wanted to know is why? Why was she causing trouble for her Father? When will she end her foolishness?

"Okay, now sit," the princess said, satisfied with her work. She was out of breath from just moving a table. Madoka did not get to look after her when she collapsed after the King yelled at her. Madoka would have groaned audibly because she knew she would have to move the furniture back and clean them. Still, she sat. "I'm going to say things that are crazy and won't make sense at all, but I just want to vent, okay!"

"That does not sound like—"

"Okay? I'll explain everything," Princess Fiara repeated her request, with a renewed desperation in her voice. Madoka reached into her cart and placed the tea down in orderly fashion before her. Then she sat down again as if to brace herself. This calmed her down, so she continued. "I am going to drop a bomb on you, like, a big one. I am not Princess Elise Fiara. Yeah, sure I look like her and maybe I am her but still, I am not from this world. I'm Audrey Dalion from a planet called Earth. I feel like I'm in a videogame and I've been freaking out ever since. I think I was killed, and oh god, this just might be my final delusions compressed in slow motion before I.... Oh, you look like your head is going to explode. Just like my Father's."

She sighed.

"Are you feeling unwell, Your Highness?" Madoka asked politely. Of course, she expected nothing less than strange talk from her. "Shall I call the healers?"

"No, no, I'm already in deep shit as it is, Madoka. Are you crazy?" Princess Fiara sighed again, taking a sip of her tea.

"That's a lot, coming from you."

The comment earned Madoka a glare, but the princess smiled afterwards like an apology.

"I just wanted someone to lend me their ears. I feel a lot better saying that, you know? Now, onto the main reason I brought you here."

She leaned in, so Madoka had to lean closer.

"I can see the future," the princess said. Her dear princess was truly mad, but serious. "And everyone in this palace is going to die."

Madoka silently got up, unable to understand what became of her friend and dear princess. Has she truly become a witch?

"I know you don't believe me yet, Madoka," the princess spoke as she opened the door. "But you will see in time."

IX.

Days after that night, Madoka was working nervously when several guards Madoka had never seen before marched to her and restrained her. She knew since she was connected to the princess, she would be the first to go. She was dragged all the way to the Royal Court, the very one the princess almost set fire too. Madoka struggled as she was dragged along. Did they suspect her to be an accomplice? The thought of being beheaded was terrifying to her, made worse when she recalled her explaining what the concept was in a generous detail with a sickening glee.

Still, she was dragged to the court, only to witness the princess also in there standing before her Father, King Fiara.

"All of you standing before me, all of us are going to die!" The princess screamed, her voice ragged. She was being restrained by the guards, but she still persisted.

"O, Daughter of mine," the King held a hand to his head in a sad state. "How long must you suffer from these delusions? Has the Demon already taken over you?"

Madoka could only remain on the ground where the guards tossed her at the entrance surrounded by spears. The conversation between the princess, the Prince and the King continued regardless of her presence. Her head was low and she once again feared for her life. If she mentions Madoka at all, the King could easily blame her for poisoning his Daughter.

"He is plotting against you!" She tore her dress, ripping the seams of her sleeve so she could point at the Prince. "How can you be so blind? I overheard their conversations! Father!"

King Fiara looked angry for a moment, rising to strike the princess for her insolence, but the handsome Prince Fiara intervened.

"Father, allow me to speak before you do anything irrational," Prince Fiara pleaded with the King. Madoka was worried that the King might kill his own daughter right then and there. She has never seen the King this angry before.

His glowering countenance faded as the Prince's words reached him.

The Prince, even with these false accusations against him, still very much cared for his ailing little sister. Kindness truly ran through his veins.

"You traitorous...!" She screamed.

Madoka watched a guard restrain her again while the Prince barely contained his hurt.

"It's truly taking a hold of her, like the Healing Mages and Clerics say. The curse will consume her. Father," he spoke to the King, who nodded. "Perhaps we can take her to the farthest estate so that she may rest easily and eventually pass. I cannot bear to see her punished for something a demon did long ago. She is, after all, your own flesh and blood as my dear Sister - I..."

The King raised his hand, silencing the Prince. Even the princess remained quiet. Her life hung in the balance, Madoka's as well. What if she was killed? What would happen to her if the princess dies? For now, the beating war drums inside her heart pounded in procession of his verdict.

"Even with these horrible things she says against you," the King said solemnly. "You still choose her life above all. Truly, you are my son and she is also my daughter."

The court roared in disapproval.

"She is a witch! An evil spirit who wants to seed chaos in our nation!"

"Kill her! This one is evil! She has been tempted by an evil God!"

The King raised his hand. "My verdict is clear. She shall be taken away, far enough to not cause us grief. Dismissed."

The angry court dispersed, shouting insults and omens upon the princess. Relief fell upon the Prince's face as he heard the King agree to spare his sister. "Take her to the Northern Estate, so that she may rest and live out her life in peace."

"Thank you, Father," the prince bowed.

"You're making a mistake!" Princess Fiara screamed as they dragged her outside to a carriage, already waiting for her. The Prince must have planned for her survival and ensured a safe getaway. "He's going to kill you!"

"It is your act of kindness that earned your sister's life," the king sighed. "If only she was sane enough to recognize that... Speaking of that, you."

Madoka gulped as the King directed his attention to the young maid. The King dismissed the Prince, who bowed and strode out the hallway. The guards dragged Madoka before him and she fell to her knees, begging for mercy.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty!" Madoka cried in hysterics. "I did everything I could to help her!"

An old mage leaned towards the King and whispered something in his ears.

"No, I never suspected you, child. You don't have mana and couldn't sway the princess's curse," the King said gently. He was closer than she thought, the blurry view of his boot appeared on the edge of her vision. Madoka was crying still, but she felt his strong hand guide her face to match his eyes.

"It is not your fault, child. The princess, my beloved daughter, is cursed. The child I loved so dearly is slowly fading away into a husk. I did not want to end her life regardless, and even if my son did not intervene as he did I would lay my own life down to stop the order."

Madoka could not believe her ears. The King was also weeping for his daughter, as one deals with the loss of someone they loved.

"However, she had nothing but good things to say about you. This might be difficult for you, servant of mine, but I must ask of you to do me one further thing for her."

"A-anything, Your Majesty," Madoka blubbered. "I'll do anything you ask of me!"

"I would ask of you to look after my Daughter as you always have," he returned to his throne. "She would feel better with someone like you around her."

"As you wish, Your Majesty," Madoka bowed deeply, though she was on the verge of begging for her life hysterically. Her forehead pressed against the marble floor and the mention of His daughter were the only things that kept her from breaking into tears. The tips of the King's golden tipped boots still flashed in her eyes, adding to her pounding heart. For a moment, the silence hovered above her as if his magnificent presence still stood there. A gentle sigh was heard, and a drum was heard, signifying that the meeting was over. Madoka breathed in and out, relieved and dumbfounded on how she made it out of the throne room alive. She never wanted to set foot in that place again, kind gods willing.

She vowed to serve Princess Fiara, but she made a note to scold her for this entire ordeal the next time she sees her.