"May I come in?" She stepped in without waiting for a response.

This was bad. Based on my memories, Alex seemed to have a terrible relationship with Victoria, and that was before he had entrapped her close friend in a cat-murder plot. It was true that I needed to talk to her about Sera, but I thought I'd have time to prepare.

"Victoria-"

"I would visit here often, do you remember? Back when Auntie was still alive." She traced her finger along the wall. "I'm but a year older than you, but the way you acted.. waddling up to cutely ask for displays of magic. It never failed to bring me joy." She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"Of course, once the war broke out we could no longer meet. I worried deeply. Yes, Elsher blood runs through your veins the same as I, and it was true that you showed a lurid curiosity far beyond your years. But, you were only a child."

"So, when the news broke of Auntie's death, you were the first person I thought of. I wanted to visit immediately, but the Capital was celebrating the end of the war. Still, I couldn't get you out of my head. Were you curled up in your room, crying? Were you wrongfully blaming yourself? Were you thinking of me, as I was of you?"

She stopped at the desk, looking through the mirror. "That's why I was so relieved when I saw you at the funeral. You walked up to me - no waddling - to shake my hand, and thanked me for coming. 'The gods have blessed him with resilience,' I thought. 'He is unbroken.'"

"For a long time, that's how I pictured you in my head. Firmness in your hands, and strength in your gaze. You had faced terrible tragedy as a child and had overcome it, emerging stronger. I was proud. We were family."

"In my affection, I ignored your transgressions. I glossed over the horrid stories palace servants would whisper with bated breath. I held myself back from interfering." She laughed hollowly, and turned towards me.

"What a fool I've been."

A drop of sweat ran down my back. I had no recollection of any of these events, since I had only recouped the last few hours before my transmigration. Still, it didn't take a Duke to see that she was pissed.

"Cousin.. if you are angry about what occurred with Sera, I promise I didn't intend for the situation to reach that far."

It was partially true. I didn't want to harm anyone. Alex, on the other hand, would probably be bragging gleefully right now.

"Angry?" She picked up a wooden cross off my desk. "I've had the last three days to be angry. No, Alexander. I'm grateful."

She was grinning. Why was she grinning?

"I'm grateful I can speak to you like this. Grateful that you've shown me how irresponsible I've been." A violet aura covered the cross in her hand. "Please, allow me to thank you."

A voice whispered, 'Duck.'

My body moved without thinking, and I crouched as the air crackled above me. I heard the sound of wood splintering behind, and turned towards the noise.

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Victoria stood hunched with her back facing me. Her arm pierced through the wall in a cross-shaped imprint.

With a violent pull, she yanked herself free. A hole gaped where her hand had been, chips of wood scattered on the ground. The cross was undamaged.

"Hey. Why'd you dodge? I thought you were proud of this."

Fuck. What was she talking about?

"The symbol of your house, no?" She held up the cross. "Stay still this time, let's show everyone your noble pride!"

The floor beneath her ruptured and she dashed towards me in a burst of speed. A purple haze smashed into my chest and I flew back, crashing into the wall.

All the air was knocked out of my lungs and I slid down to the floor. I heard the crackling of air once more, and I looked up to her soaring down towards me - I wouldn't be able to dodge.

Alex.

It all slowed down. Was this where I would die? Unable to convey my thoughts, punished for a crime I didn't commit. Victoria was smiling, a mad light dancing in her eyes. Purple threads of light reached out from the cross like the strings of a net. She was a reaper, coming for the soul who had defied death.

remember..

My body hurt. My chest was screaming from the effort of breathing, and something was broken in my back. I could hear my own heartbeat.. and something else.

Alex...

A crystal fell from the chandelier. Light bounced around inside a container - energy trapped with nowhere to go.

REMEMBER!

I felt it now. Millions, no, billions of vessels running through my body that carried an unknown, yet familiar energy.

I crossed my arms in front of me, and mana tore like lightning through circuit ways as it had for this body so many times before.

SMASH!

Victoria stumbled backwards as I stood up. A broken cross laid on the floor, cracked into pieces.

[3% Soul Assimilation with ALEXANDER LUNCAN!]

I spit out a disgusting mixture of blood and saliva. "Can you fucking listen to me for a second?"

She looked at me quietly. Everything hurt, but the pain was dulled by the energy coursing through my body. I stared at her. My vision was so clear.

"I told you, I didn't mean to endanger Sera."

"Lies. Your butler appeared too conveniently, and when she cried.." She glared. "You were smiling."

"My anger got the best of me, but I promise-"

She cut me off. "Sera has been imprisoned, did you know that? She has been taken to your family's dungeons like a common criminal, because you implicated me in your repulsive plot."

"I.." I faltered. It was true that Alexander was guilty. I had felt firsthand the utter hatred he held towards his half-sister, and even though anger had caused him to impulsively throw the cat, he would no doubt relish at Sera's current situation. I wasn't guilty, but at the same time, I was.

Victoria must've seen the indecision in my eyes, because she didn't say anything else. She set her feet.

There would be no more words.

And she leaped.

From her right. My left arm shook as it blocked the blow, and I grimaced. Then, a flurry of hits rained down onto me.

"You know!" My right arm this time. "I noticed that pool of vomit earlier, so I didn't expect you to be at your best condition."

"But still." Her fist slipped through my defenses and crashed into my stomach. "You're slow!"

I ignored the blood filling my mouth, and raised my arms again. I had learned how to use mana, but I had no clue how to fight. It was taking everything in me to block her attacks, and I was only barely managing. I took a step backwards to the door.

"When it came to Sera, you always had so much to say!" Another step back. "Why are you so quiet now!"

I was getting more sluggish, her punches landing more often. My mana was running out; the pathways felt strained, as if they were going to burn through my skin.

My back was almost at the door now, and I glanced down.

Finally.

As if giving up, I put my arms down and Victoria smelled blood. She lunged towards me.

For the first time since the beginning of the fight, I dodged to the side. Victoria punched the air, and her foot landed on the floor. Precisely, it landed on the ice left behind by the muscle-butler.

She slipped for just a moment, but that was all I needed. Heat scorched the circuits of my right arm as I channeled all the mana I had left, and swung.

Her eyes were wide open. Got her.

Then, her purple aura expanded rapidly and once more I was sent flying back into the wall.

The door opened at the same time as I coughed out blood, and a maid pushed through.

Elena's eyes sharpened. "Princess, what part of this is 'talking peacefully'?"