Chapter 7

As I had once told Yuri, I had never really held much interest in more ‘explicit’ and adult things.

I thought I never would but, perhaps, from a young age, I had held interest but not known how to properly express those feelings.

The elation I felt imagining my training and shaping of Yui speaks to a larger, underlying truth - I cannot help myself once I get those feelings.

When I first met with Yuri, I immediately wanted to lock her away and make her mine and mine alone. The knowledge that no one else could see or hear her meant that Yuri could only ever be mine; it was a delightful idea.

Yui was far too adorable to let anyone else have.

If Lady Victoria truly held those desires and I awakened her to them, she could be mine, in body and spirit.

If I failed, I could discard her and work to bringing about Lord Michael’s ruin. Maybe she would come crawling back when-

“Raena, are you okay?!”

“Huh?”

“Look!” Yuri pulled on my hand. “You’ve bitten your nail so much it’s broken!”

Wow, she was right.

Absentmindedly, I had been biting away, not realising just how badly it had gotten.

It was a jagged cut, unclean, improper for any noble woman, worse for the lady of a duchy. My image reflected that of my family’s.

“What’s wrong? Does it hurt?”

“Just a little bit,” I lied. “It’s fine, I can bandage-”

“Hmmm!” She held out her palms and a small amount of forest green light emerged, wrapping itself around my nail.

It didn’t restore the damage, but it did numb the pain.

“…Thank you, but since when could you use healing magic?”

“I-I might’ve been practicing while watching you and Yui, but I can’t use that much,” Yuri said.

“It should improve if you practice more. Ah, I wonder if there’s any magic to let you become bigger?”

“Why would I want magic to make me fat?”

“Not that kind of big.”

“Oh. Oh!” Yuri cried out in excitement. “I didn’t even think about that! That’s a great idea!”

“Well, it did come from me, after all, so it’s to be-”

“Yes, yes, you’re so smart.”

“Speaking of, I had an idea on how to handle the Lord Michael situation.”

“Already?!”

“But.” I put the tip of my pinkie onto her head. “I’ll need to handle this alone.”

“Why?”

“Yuri. Please, trust me on this.”

“But why can’t-?”

“Because I want you to investigate Lord Michael while I speak with Lady Victoria. If we play this right, we’ll have Lady Victoria as a valuable ally and help reach the good ending too. However, we need more information first.”

“So, I investigate him while you investigate her?”

“Exactly.”

“Alright,” Yuri said. “When are we doing this?”

“Tomorrow.”

To strike when the iron is hot.

***

I sent my letter to Lady Victoria of my intentions to visit in the morning.

It was rash, abrasive and very rude, but Lady Victoria wasn’t in a position to deny me.

If she did, it would become a scandal.

I wonder what Yui would think of this?

I chuckled bitterly, knowing that I was planning to do far, far worse than barge in uninvited.

The carriage pulled up outside the marquis’s house and a knight helped me down.

“Return close to 8 tonight.”

“Yes, my lady.”

***

“L-Lady Raena honours us with her presence,” Lord Highland said, dabbing his handkerchief to his sweaty forehead. “I-if you had given us more-”

“Today is not an official visit,” I cut him off. “I am here to see my friend and nothing else.”

I wasn’t going to give him what he wanted.

This was not a visit as the future Armina Duchess but rather one friend visiting another - or so it would appear on the surface.

I still, in some part of my mind, knew what I was about to do was risky and it could spell my doom way earlier than Yui said it would.

However.

“Leave and I don’t want anyone to disturb unless we call for them.”

I could barely contain my excitement.

No matter the consequences, I had to do this.

Per my orders, Lord Highland, the maids and the knights left - and then, I waited.

I waited and waited, each moment near everlasting as the anticipation grew and I waited for her to arrive.

I ran through all possible scenarios about what was coming, and I nearly started to chuckle uncontrollably.

Come already, Lady Victoria!

Hurry before I-!

“My apologies for the delay, Lady Raena.”

Finally.

I smiled a little bit too devilishly based on her reaction.

“It’s okay. My apologies for the unannounced visit. Please, take a seat.”

She did so across from me per normal etiquette, but I would need to find a way of closing that distance.

Now, the dance begins.

“So, might I ask what brings you here today?”

“Can a friend not visit?”

“No-no, they can, but-!”

“Is what I’d like to say, but I was recalling our last conversation, and I wanted to check if you were okay.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it too much, my lady. It’s nothing I can’t handle.”

“I’d like to believe that, but your comments about Lord Michael had me worried about your safety. Possessiveness is not an inherently bad thing, but it can quickly become an unhealthy trait that ruins both of your lives.”

“I-I don’t think-”

“You said it yourself,” I cut her off. “Lord Michael likes to hold a monopoly on all things he desires. If he has been threatening or abusing you, then-”

“It’s not like that, Lady Raena!” She stood up and nearly slammed her hands on the table but caught herself before she did. “I don’t know what kinds of misgivings you’ve been having since yesterday, but it really-”

“Prove it.”

“Huh?”

“Prove it to me,” I said sternly.

“Ha-? How would-?”

“When was the last time you saw Lord Michael? I know from my own training and combat experiences how long it takes for bruises and cuts to heal. If he-”

“Lady Raena. I’m starting to get angry.”

I stood. “Are you now? Why I wonder.”

“B-because you’re baselessly saying-”

“Is that the real reason?” I took a step forward and she flinched. “Hmm.”

“W-what?”

“Are you perhaps-?” I moved and she took a step back. “Scared of me?”

“N-no, of-”

“Then, are you scared of something?”

I drew closer and she withdrew the same distance, but I could tell - it wasn’t a bad situation for either of us.

The air was peculiar, but Lady Victoria was faltering.

She didn’t know what was happening, not fully at least, and she was drowning among emotions.

“Lady Victoria.” She jumped a little and nearly ran out of places to retreat. “Is it possible that I’ve deeply misunderstood the relationship, or perhaps the dynamics, between you and Lord Michael.”

“L-l-like I’ve been saying, I-!”

“Tell me.” I moved two steps closer, and Lady Victoria backed into a wall.

So, I swooped in.

I almost ran up to her, took her wrists and pinned them above her head with my left hand.

“You actually like this sort of thing, don’t you?”

Ah, there it is - the slight crack in her armour.

That’s it - Yuri was right.

Lady Victoria was startled and blushing a little, but she was trying to regain her composure.

“What are you-?”

“Shush.” I put a finger to her lips, making her composure falter again. “Don’t try to deny it. I did find it strange how open you were about Lord Michael’s obsessions over you, but now it makes sense.” I smiled impishly. “You actually want him to treat you that way. You enjoy this type of thing, don’t you, Victoria?”

Ah, how wonderful.

Just by dropping the honorific she turns as red as a rose.

I wonder is it more shame or excitement that is dyeing your skin so beautifully?”

“L-Lady Raena, this is-?!”

“Don’t deny it.”

I lent in and took her-

Yuri.

I stopped before our lips locked.

Why-?

Why did I think about Yuri right before-?

“Please, trust me on this.”

I nearly bit my lip, but I endured and kept my smile locked on my lips. I wanted to lean in and steal Lady Victoria’s first kiss, but-

I couldn’t do it.

I exhaled and stepped away from her, releasing my tight grip of her wrists.

Lady Victoria was stunned still, her eyes slowly reopening to see that I had let go of her.

She looked a little disappointed, but she also looked confused - at least she was not angry.

“This is what the reality of your fantasies look like,” I said, trying my best to calm myself down. My excitement was still high and a part of me wanted to still go ahead with my plan, but then I kept seeing Yuri’s face, and Yui’s too.

How much would I disappoint them if I did this in the wrong way?

“I’m not saying that it’s wrong to have these fantasies, but.” I gave her a thin smile. “Would you really be able to love Lord Michael if he did such cruel things to you, without making sure you were safe?”

“…I…I-”

“Never really thought about it?” She nodded meekly and slid down onto the floor. “I…I just…I don’t know anymore.”

You aren’t the only one.

I crouched down beside her and began to lovingly stroke her hair.

“It’s okay, it’s a scary thing. You said that Lord Michael really loves you, but he might end up growing too fixated on you. Imagine if he started restricting your freedoms or whom you could spend time with? What if he started hitting you and making you bleed and bruise? I know you have these desires, but you need to make sure your partner understands and respects your boundaries - okay?”

She gave me a small nod.

“I can’t say for certain if Lord Michael wouldn’t do that but, for now, perhaps it might be best to have someone to practice with? Someone you can trust, someone who’s a good friend and who is willing to help you embrace your fantasies in a safe way?”

“…Is that why you came today, Lady Raena?”

I nodded. “If you would like, I’d be your partner to practice with. What do you think?”

Her answer was to bow her head to me.

“Very well.”

***

We spent the rest of the day talking about our own fantasies and desires, and surprisingly I felt like we grew closer as friends.

I did think about trying for a kiss again, but I decided not to.

Their faces kept reappearing, though Yuri’s appeared more than Yui’s.

Why, I wonder.

Why did today play out as it did?

I had resolved myself; I had planned to potentially risk destroying my life to pursue this relationship with Lady Victoria, and then - I threw it all away, because of Yuri.

If Yuri was telling the truth, my life was meant to be one of tragedy because of my adopted little sister.

I was to be the antagonist of the play that was her life, yet now, here I was, very close with my sister and I was working towards a different life than the one Yuri had foretold.

…Maybe it was more than just my life’s journey has changed because of Yuri.

“Maybe I’ve changed too,” I mused, giggling a little more happily than normal.

I guess the little fairy means more to me than I thought.