The days used to be short. But now, they were long and dreary. Or perhaps dreary wasn’t the right word. The days were simply depressing and discouraging. Ever since her betrayal was exposed, Lucianna had been confined to a room devoid of life and colour. There was only a bed, a table, a chair, and a partitioned privy, which she was grateful for. At least her captors were still willing to give her some decency. It was more than what she dared to ask for.

  Her room was not without windows, but given the state of her mind, she had long lost track of time. All she could think about was how to gain her host’s forgiveness and their empathy. She didn’t believe what she had done was wrong, but she also didn’t expect they would simply understand her desperation. In the end, she could wallow in self-pity in this small room, waiting for the dimming opportunity to rise once more.

  The sky was dark today. It was only morning, but the clouds had covered the sky, hiding the sun from view. It was going to rain, and it looked like a storm would come in tandem. She was never one to cry, even in times such as these. But the view of the grey clouds corrupting the bright morning sky was invoking a strange, mencholic feeling that compelled her to shed a tear. At that moment, she heard footsteps approaching the door to her room. She quickly straightened herself on the chair as the door gently swung open.

  “Good morning, Your Highness?”

  “Your Eminence?” Lucianna gasped and immediately rose from the chair. It was time for breakfast, but it was usually sent to her by a random guard. This time, it was the Priestess of the Lavans who brought her breakfast to her. As far as she was aware, the priestess was the leader of the entire Lavans, albeit not in an official capacity. She had spoken with the priestess a few times before. A humble woman she was, or rather, a humble girl. The priestess was older than her, but only in human years. She was still a year away from being of the marriageable age in Lavan’s years. “W-what brings you here?”

  Smiling, Iluna approached the princess and id down the tray of food on the table before sitting across from her on the bed. “How have you been?” asked Iluna.

  “I-I have been well…” Lucianna answered hesitantly. The priestess was without guards, which was strange given the status she wielded. It was either that the Lavans didn’t think much of her as a direct threat or that the priestess was more than capable of defending herself against the princess.

  “Ah, forgive me. That was tactless of me…”

  “Tactless?”

  “I want to lift the mood before moving on to the heavy subjects, but it would seem that I have only made it worse.”

  “You don’t have to be considerate of me, Your Eminence. I’m just a guest, a guest who has betrayed her host. Just tell me what you’re here for.”

  “In that case, I shall be forward with you. The council has to come to a decision of your fate.”

  Hearing that, Lucianna perked up and stiffened. She dreaded this day. She wasn’t so naive as to believe that they would keep her as their prisoner forever. They had no reason to, after all.

  “But before I tell you, I must be clear to you. Lord Henry was not involved in this decision. In fact, your betrayal did not bother him as much as we expected. He doesn’t seem to be in a hurry regarding your fate.”

  “Why are you telling me this?”

  “Because if Lord Henry's decision, his would take precedence over ours. As it stands, we have decided to exile you. You are to be banished from Ulrum, and never to return.”

  Lucianna shuddered. She wasn’t a sheltered girl oblivious to the ways of the world, but she was still just a princess. All her needs and necessities were taken care of by servants. If left alone out in the harsh and cruel world, she wouldn’t st a day. “W-wait! Please, wait!”

  Iluna blinked. “I wasn’t about to leave.”

  “No, I mean… Please hold off on that decision. Please let me speak to Lord Henry.”

  Iluna’s gentle expression hardened. “Though Lord Henry’s decision will take precedence, it doesn’t mean we have to wait for him to make a decision.”

  “I know! I know! But… just let me speak to him first!”

  “Do you think Lord Henry will save you?”

  “I don’t care about being saved! I just want to live! If you banish me, I will not st a day. It will be no different than sending me to my death!”

  “...It pains me to say this, but given what you have done, we have no obligation to be sympathetic to whatever fate befalls you.”

  “I know. I know… I completely understand, but please… let me speak to him… I can still be of use. I’m a princess… Or at least I used to be. I know people. I know things. I can be of great assistance. The corruption that befell my home and family is a threat. It will soon spread to the others. You can’t allow that. The others must be warned. They won’t listen to you, but they will listen to me.”

  “Your Highness, your usefulness was never doubted. It is your trustworthiness that is questioned here.”

  Lucianna fell silent. She had no retort. The priestess was right.

  “Most want to see you gone by tonight, but I am of a different opinion.”

  A hint of light returned to Lucianna’s face.

  “I don’t condone what you have done, but I do understand your desperation and plight.”

  “Does that mean…”

  Lucianna smiled and stood up from the bed. She walked to the door. Right before leaving the room, she gnced behind. “I will speak to Lord Henry.” And she was gone.

  ****

  “It’s raining,” Henry muttered as he gnced out the window of his room. He had pnned to do some hunting, but now that it was raining, his pns had changed. It wasn’t impossible to hunt in the rain. It simply took away all the fun and thrill. Prey would just huddle in a shelter, unmoving until he was upon them.

  Behind him was his bed, where Yu and the other girls were sleeping. It was morning, but they were asleep. That was a given, considering they had just sparred with him. They must surely be exhausted, especially Sarynn. Henry stared at her sleeping face with a wry smile and a difficult expression. He had confirmed it for himself; she was indeed pregnant.

  “...I’m gonna be a father… how did this even happen?” he mused. It was rhetorical. Of course, he knew how it happened, but he simply couldn’t believe it. Raising a child was a huge responsibility, one that he was not prepared for. He would be ready be a true leader of Ulrum long before he was ready to be a father. Sighing, Henry left his room with quiet steps, so as to not wake the girls up.

  The hallway was empty and devoid of guards, per his request. He didn’t have a need for guards. If there was someone or something who could overcome his senses, then the guards would surely be useless. Therefore, guards would be ornaments in his presence. He walked aimlessly down the hallway, following the path with loads of questions in his mind, but no one to give him the answers.

  “Oh, you’re here? How timely.”

  A sweet, sultry voice snapped Henry out of his daze. Before he knew it, he had somehow ended up in a different pce, although still within the area for guests. He had wandered quite a distance away from his room. “Kierra… what are you doing here?”

  The magus was standing outside the room, leaning against the wall with a book in hand. “Me? Why else would I be here? This is my room,” said Kierra. She was in a casual dress, though a little bit too casual. It was showing plenty of skin, leaving little to one’s imagination. Despite what she had just been through, not a single bruise blemished her smooth, pearly skin.

  Henry turned his gaze away before something within him took hold. His gaze fell on the sign above the doors. He arched an eyebrow in wonder. “This is the library for guests.”

  “Which I made it my room. Don’t worry, I have asked for permission. They were more than gd to have me take this room since they don’t get many guests, and even fewer would visit the library.”

  “Are you alright? Are your wounds all healed?”

  Kierra tittered. “Of course, they are.” She smiled and twirled on her heels.

  Henry’s gaze went wide. Kierra’s back was completely open as the dress was a halter-neck. He saw everything from the nape to the hip. Any lower and he would have a full glimpse of her shapely rear.

  “Oh? Like what you see?” Kierra teased, leaning slightly forward.

  Henry’s gaze was drawn to the deep valley that offered quite the view for anyone who dared to gaze. “As a matter of fact, I did like what I saw,” he said and pulled Kierra into his arms.

  “Heh?” Kierra made a weird sound.

  “If you’re tempting me this much, I can only see it as nothing else but an invitation.”

  “W-wait!” Kierra excimed in a fluster. “You got it wrong! I was just—”

  Henry didn’t let her finish and pnted his lips onto Kierra’s.

  She resisted at first, but after a few short seconds, she rexed and reciprocated the kiss, wrapping her arms around Henry’s head. She parted her lips and allowed Henry’s tongue to slip in. She shivered when she felt his tongue inside her, but she didn’t resist. She let him dominate her. The bliss she was feeling seemed to slow down time as she savoured every second of it, though it wasn’t slow enough. She felt his tongue and his lips leaving hers. “M-more,” she begged with gzed eyes, her hands gripping his shoulders.

  Henry smirked. “You’re very receptive. You’re accustomed to such advances, aren’t you?”

  Kierra turned gloomed and she cast her gaze down. “Are you disappointed?”

  “Hmm? Disappointed about what?”

  “Of me. You were right. I’m no maiden.”

  “Why would I care if you’re a maiden or not?”

  “I have spoken with Yu and the others. You were all of their first.”

  “Ah…” Henry frowned. Now that he thought about it, they were all virgins. He didn’t pick them because they were virgins, however. It was all simply a coincidence. “Well, you don’t need to worry about that. I’m not that picky. It was just a coincidence that they happened to be… maidens. That said, is that why you were so adamant in refuting me before?”

  “...It’s not just that. I’m not just a Magus. I’m also a freak.”

  “A freak? Like in bed?”

  “I-I… I like women too.”

  “Ah, that kind of freak.” Henry snickered. “Well, you don’t need to worry about that, too. I don’t mind.”

  “You don’t?”

  “Not at all. In fact, I would love to see you getting intimate and affectionate with the other girls, if they don’t mind, that is.”

  It was Kierra’s turn to frown. “Are you truly sure about this?”

  “Is it that surprising and uncommon?”

  “It’s more than that.”

  “It’s frowned upon?”

  “It’s a crime and more, the kind that gets you put on a stake and have the public toss rotten eggs and tomatoes at you, before whipping you to death.”

  “Whoa, that’s harsh. Is there a history behind this?”

  “No history, as far as I’m aware. People are simply very… intolerant of this.”

  “Huh… such a thing never crossed my mind. What about here? What about the Lavans? What do they think?”

  “I haven’t ask. I’m afraid to.”

  “Well, whatever their answer is, it doesn’t matter. I don’t care. Just know that you are safe with me. You won’t be persecuted for all these… nonsensical and petty things.”

  Kierra broke into a smile. “I’m so gd I chose to surrender, instead of killing myself when you caught me.”

  “Okay… now you ruined the mood.”

  Kierra giggled and stared at Henry seductively. “As if your mood can be ruined so easily.”