CHAPTER 3.5: THE AFTERMATH OF THE DREAM

**Maddie**

Every one of us inside the room was staring at each other after that dream-like episode. We couldn’t believe that one of the magic circles we made actually worked…well, almost. I could hold Kuro once again, though it’s only for a short period of time.

Still, that’s more than enough for me to continue.

“…”

Lily broke the ice, “That’s…”

Eris happily clapped her hands, “Lord Kuro…he’s still alive!”

“Of course! I’m the one who helped him escaped, after all!” Natasha proudly declared, “And there’s more to that man than you actually know!”

“Your Holiness, you speak as if you know him well from before!” Lily commented.

At that point, the Saint of Darkness fell silent. I noticed it as well; I tried peeking into her thoughts (as I always do), but this time, she closed her mind.

“…”

But well, never mind about that. Natasha’s thoughts were the last of my worries. I saw something alarming in that dream-like scene…

There’s a beautiful bear-woman beside him! And she kissed him just as I kissed my Kuro!

“…”

Peeking into his thoughts during that sequence, I saw everything that he had experienced in Ruro’s land so far. His hardships, his moment of confusion that led to him severing his right hand, and the betrayals he endured. And I could feel his desire to come back in one piece, to see me again. He even shed tears for me…

Those tears are for me. And me alone.

“…”

But…Ursura of the West Ursus? Who’s that bear-woman?

“Uhh…M-Maddie?” Lily’s voice interrupted my train of thoughts.

“Yes?”

“Are you alright, Y-Your Holiness?” Eris was trembling slightly; terror could be traced on her face.

“Uh, yes! I’m fine, why do you ask?”

“Maddie…” Natasha was chuckling and her lips displayed a sardonic grin, “I think you should chill down on that paint brush you’re destroying. We still have a long way to go, you know?”

“!!!”

The magic circle that we used to contact Kuro in a dream was now ruined; the paper where it was drawn was now full of holes and the paint was smeared all over. The brush in my hand was now unusable. But never mind that, what am I doing with my paintbrush?

“If you’re wondering about your brush, you’ve pressed it way too hard on the paper that it went loose,” the demon Saint explained after reading my mind, “You’re having dark thoughts about that beautiful bear-woman we saw entering Kuro’s room in the dream, see?”

“H-Huh?”

“Yep…you really should cool down, Maddie,” Lily patted my head, “Kuro’s been faithful to you ever since you were engaged.”

“And you’re not jealous, Princess von Leese?”

“Sh-Shut up—ah! M-My apologies, Your Holiness!” Lily was quick to repent on her words, “I mean, I just said that because of—”

“Haha! It’s okay, all is well! I’m not someone so harsh that I’d punish someone for saying something rude based on reflex.”

“T-Thank you, Your Holiness!”

“Heh, not that I could never understand why you guys are that close to Kuro,” Natasha’s eyes fell on Eris, “Even the kid’s head-over-heels on him!”

“I decided to offer myself to my lord,” Eris reiterated, “And please, I’m asking Your Holiness to not call me a child.”

“Haha! My bad!” the demon Saint then went back to me, “Anyway, Maddie, if you don’t want for some other cute bear-girl to snatch Kuro away from you—”

“He won’t!” I slammed my hands on the table where I’m working on.

There was a strange silence in the room as the others stared at me as if I said something weird. But it’s not weird!

I’m the first girl to capture Kuro’s heart, and it will remain that way!

“A-Alright, alright!” Natasha had an awkward smile on her face, as she raised her hands in surrender, “Well then, you better start working again on that magic circle you ruined. Let’s tweak some lines in there and see if it opens a crossing!”

“I-I’ll g-go get, uh…some more food at the kitchen,” Lily volunteered.

“I’ll come with you, Lady Lily!” Eris stood up and fixed the creases on her uniform.

“Yes!” I rolled up the sleeves of my gown, “I’ll do my best to rescue Kuro!”