The group moved down a stone-laden path surrounded by neatly trimmed greenery. Victoria held Sera’s hand while Alex walked next to the pair, trailed closely by Elena and the Knights.

And there was Hallyne, struggling to keep up.

“Princess! I must..” he gasped for air. “..apologize for the poor welcome. Lord Luncan is away, and I hope my men, unworthy as they are, were sufficient for your Royal Highness..”

Victoria hummed happily, swinging her hand up and down.

“Ahh!” Hallyne trembled. “Thank you for your graciousness! Never was there a wiser Lady than your aunt, Lady Sylvia. To connect the Royal Palace and her Lord Husband’s home through a warp-gate, and to employ this lowly self for such a profound task! No one has had the foresight, the brilliance! Praise the Royal Family!”

“Thank you for your hard work, Hallyne,” Sera said. “Will you not return to your chambers for some well-deserved rest?”

Hallyne stopped. “Of course Little Miss, why, I shall return immediately!”

Alex watched the hunched elder scurry away in disdain. The man had been employed ever since he was a child, valued for his experience with spatial magic. ‘Still, what a fool,’ he thought. He remembered when Hallyne had once tripped down the steps from the warp-gate, black robe flying as he broke his arm. Of course, it had been summarily healed on the scene by his father, but it only confirmed it. Commoners had no place here.

They reached the end of the path, and began to walk up a sleek marble staircase.

“You should have him work as a jester in his free time,” Victoria said.

Sera frowned. “Don’t tease him, Hallyne’s just.. enthusiastic.”

“Oh don’t get angry Sera, I apologize. And it is true that if not for the warp-gate, I wouldn’t get to come here so often!”

“The two of you never fail to warm my heart.” Alex pushed open an obsidian door. “After you.”

“Tch.” Victoria walked through into a wide hallway, pulling Sera along.

Alex waited as the knights clamored through the opening one-by-one, sheathed swords rattling against their armor, and then swiftly went through before Elena could. He jogged leisurely, catching up to the pair.

“Tch.”

“Do you have anything you’d like to say, cousin?”

Victoria pursed her lips. “So Sera!” she forcefully exclaimed. “How have you been?”

‘Strong on offense, weak on defense,’ he thought. Alex walked beside them, idly listening to a story about a particularly difficult history tutor, until he heard what he was waiting for.

“And..” Sera hesitated. “I’ve gotten a cat.”

“A cat?” Victoria turned and stared. “Where from?”

Sera smiled softly. “I was walking near the gates around a year ago when I saw her. She had a small limp, and so I stayed to watch, but no one came to pick her up.”

“A stray then?”

“I suppose so. I ran to the kitchen for some scraps, went back, and placed them in front of her. It took a while, but thankfully, she started to eat.”

“That’s very kind, Sera.”

“I’m not sure. I didn’t really think about it at the time - my body just moved.” Sera stared forward. “She just looked so helpless. A broken leg. All alone.”

They arrived at the tea room. Paintings of beautiful, natural landscapes peered down on a polished wooden table that was surrounded by two, finely engraved marble chairs with snow-white cushions. A dim light shined through two crimson curtains, dust particles calmly floating in the air.

Victoria turned towards her knights at the doorway. “Stay here, I’d rather not have you all breathing down my neck.”

A blue knight stepped forward. “Princess, are you sure?” He glanced towards Sera. “Will you be safe with-”

“If I can knock you out of that shiny suit of armor you’re so fond of Sir Landry.” Victoria smiled sweetly. “I’ll manage. Stay here.”

Sir Landry turned beet-red, and stepped backwards. Imagine, the prestigious Seasonal Knights being treated like this. Alex laughed to himself. The private guard for royal heirs, famed for their mastery in the primary elements. They must bear some resentment towards their master,' he thought. In fact, he was counting on it.

The two girls entered the room, followed by Elena, and then Alex.

“Would you bring us some tea Elena?” Sera asked.

“Of course, Young Lady.”

Elena left, and three remained. Victoria glared daggers towards Alex.

“I’m not so uncouth to see when I’m unwanted,” Alex said.

“You’d surprise me,” Victoria muttered.

“However, Sera.” He turned towards her. “I admit that I am curious about your newfound.. pet.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Sera looked surprised and her eyes, for a second, glittered with hope. “I kept going back to feed her.” She shuffled her feet. “The chef knows, I told him. He cooked healthier food, to make sure it was animal friendly. And after a while..”

She took a deep breath, and pointed towards the table. A small, orange cat dozed off underneath, curled up in a small ball. “She warmed up to me.”

"Is she safe?"

"Yes, Sunshine's very tame." Sera's eyes opened wide at the slip of tongue.

Victoria turned towards her slyly. "Did you name her that?"

Sera nodded, her ears bright red.

Victoria grabbed Sera by the hand. "Well." Her eyes twinkled. "Can you introduce me to Sunshine?"

Sera beamed, the light illuminating her face. “Yes!”

The girls began to walk towards the table, but then Sera paused. She turned back. “Would you.. would you like to meet her too?”

Alex smiled. “Of course.”

They approached the table, their steps muffled by the carpet. Alex stared at the cat and right near its mouth was a sprinkle of white powder.

Sera bent down and picked the cat up gently. “She’s very tame. Here Victoria, just slowly pet-”

The tranquil air was pierced by a shrill screech, as it leaped out of her arms towards Victoria.

“Princess!”

Alex rushed in front of her, arm outstretched. Victoria jumped backwards, but it was too late. Its claws sliced downwards, leaving three scarlet lines in its wake.

The cat landed on the floor, and scurried to the corner. That’s when the knights came rushing in, loud steps rumbling the room.

“What happened!” The knight in green shouted.

Alex pointed at Sera. “Her damn stray..” A bead of blood dripped onto the floor. “It attacked the Princess!”

“No.. I..” Sera’s eyes shook.

“Alan!” Alex said.

A man in a black butler uniform stepped through the door, and bowed. “Yes, Young Master?”

Then, a light passed over Sera’s eyes. “You..”

“Seize the beast!” Alex shouted.

“At once.” Alan vanished in a swirl of air, and reappeared by Alex’s side, holding the cat by the scruff of its neck.

“We’ll be treating this as a plot against the Royal Family. If I hadn’t been here-”

“Alex..” Victoria growled.

She began to walk, but was quickly held back by the knights who had moved behind her.

Alex glanced towards her. “Please, for your own safety Princess.”

A faint glow manifested around her fist. “You bast-”

The knight in brown grabbed her arm. “I’m afraid we cannot let you interfere, your Highness.”

Perfect. Alex stared at Sera, standing by herself now. Did she really think that he hadn’t noticed her sneaking out towards the castle gates? It had almost been childsplay, having Alan learn details of the princess’ rendezvous, and adding an inflammatory element to induce aggression in that vermin.

He stuck his arm out. “Do you see this? How will you atone, Sera?”

“Alex..” her eyes seemed to plead.

“My name,” he hissed. “You don’t get to call me that.”

She put her head down. “Young Master..”

Cutlery crashed onto the floor, and Alex heard a sharp intake of air behind him.

“Alan.” Alex kept staring at Sera. “If the maid takes a single step into this room, kill her.”

He didn’t have to hide it anymore. The utter repulsion he felt towards this half-demon scum that had burrowed its way into his home. Who had murdered the greatest Archmage in the past century, and proceeded to mock her by stealing into her household. And the way that her eyes had been full of hope, inviting him to mingle with that.. he looked at the creature, and felt pure disgust.

“Give it,” Alex ordered abruptly.

“Young Master?” Alan questioned slowly. This wasn’t part of the plan, but Alex didn’t care.

“Do I need to repeat myself?”

Alan handed over the squirming cat, and Alex roughly grasped it around the neck.

“Now that I look, I can see why you like it so much. Weak. Crippled. A stray.” He looked at her. “It doesn’t belong.”

He turned towards Alan. “My sword.”

“Alex!” “Young Master!”

Alan’s eyes spread wide, and he opened, then closed his mouth. “Yes Young-”

“Brother!” Sera cut him off, tears fully streaming down her face. “Please..”

Anger filled his body. He couldn’t understand it. Why was she so adamant, why did she cry? She shouldn’t feel emotion - she wasn’t human. Brother. Brother. Brother. His head pounded, like there was a battering ram at his skull.

“Don’t call me that!” Alex roared and channeled mana through his arm.

He hurled the cat through the air, and it crashed into the window, shards of glass tearing through splayed crimson curtains. It fell to the ground, and weakly tried to stand, then fell once more. Shattered glass and blood-red cloth. The noise in his head was unbearable now, like a dam about to burst. And then, Sera screamed.

[System Calibrating…]

I popped my eyes open in shock. I looked around. A beautiful, black-haired girl glared at me with hatred in her eyes, barely restrained by four knights dressed in the colors of a certain radioactive, crime-fighting group of turtles. A finely-dressed handsome blond stood next to me, this time staring with shock. And, in front of me was a red-haired girl who kneeled next to a.. was that a cat?

[Ding! User registered.]

A glowing, blue screen hovered in front of my eyes now, and I read through the text.

[Name: Alexander Luncan]

[Titles: Heir to the Luncan Ducal House, Little Bastard, and Animal Beater]

[...]

[User has 1 message awaiting!]

[Ah, I forgot to mention but be prepared for when you land, you’ll be in for a tiny bit of]

[trouble! Well.. I’m sure you can handle it! Don’t forget to have fun : )]

[Xoxo]

[- Goddess]

A loud boom echoed in the room and a wave of light shot out from the girl.

“Ah, fuck-”

My vision turned black.