Year 2: Interlude 3

As her maids changed her, Rebecca stared indifferently at the sorting process in the courtyard before.

It was a scene she had seen countless times and it almost always played out in the exact same way.

At first, the people wouldn’t listen to the Awoken, someone would try to escape, blood would be shed, and then everyone became docile and obeyed without a second thought.

For Rebecca, who had seen far worse and had had a hand in far worse, it didn’t even stir her heart a little to witness the sorting process.

“Julia.”

“Y-yes, Lady Rebecca?”

With a small laugh, Rebecca gazed to her right at the maid and said, “There’s no need to panic. I just wanted to ask you something.”

“My apologies, my lady. How may I be of assistance?”

“What’s the situation like down in the tribute’s dorms?”

“It’s the same as ever, my lady.”

“Meaning?”

“When we do our nightly rounds, we hear a lot of crying, we hear a lot of raised voices, but then we also walk past some rooms and hear nothing but people sound asleep,” the maid answered.

“I see. Have there been any further incidents like last month?”

“No, my lady.”

“Good.” Rebecca’s hair was released as the maids finished styling it. “Has Lord Allaric returned to the Dread Keep yet?”

“Not yet, my lady. Should I-?”

“It’s fine.” Rebecca smiled in the mirror as the maids finished putting her dress on. “I simply wondered if he’d be interested in having dinner with me tonight.”

“M-my lady?!”

A few of the maids who had personally seen the Demon Emperor’s physique squealed as a few nervously smiled at their master.

“S-s-surely you don’t-!”

“It’s not like that,” Rebecca quickly denied with a joyful giggle. “I merely had some proposals I wished to discuss with him if he had the time.”

“Lady Rebecca,” Eva called as she returned. “Please don’t worry my staff like that.”

“It’s their fault for misunderstanding, Eva.”

“Perhaps, but it’s not like you didn’t help cause it in the first place.”

Wearing her scarlet red dress, Rebecca spun to face Eva with a hand on her hip.

“Meaning?”

“Meaning that, despite receiving multiple offers of marriage from many high-ranking nobles within the Demon Empire, you have continued to reject them all without so much as a sparring glance. Now, I will not say whom started the rumours, but there are some within the Dread Keep and in the wider empire that says you are one of the Demon Emperor’s mistresses.”

Rebecca laughed. “I wouldn’t dare overstep my post like that.”

“Notice, ladies, that she didn’t deny it.”

“Eva.” Rebecca gave her a cold smile. “Don’t be misleading.”

“…My apologies, my lady.”

Satisfied, Rebecca nodded and then turned to her five maids. “I hate to disappoint you all, but I’m afraid that’s the truth.”

The maids all looked a little saddened, but then quickly started laughing and smiling again soon after. After a short conversation with them, Rebecca excused them and then spoke softly to Eva.

“How were they?”

“They’re settling in nicely, though I don’t know if Willa will accept the empress’s invitation.”

“If she had accepted it readily, I would’ve been suspicious of her,” Rebecca said. “I imagine she’ll say yes though.”

“…I imagine it’ll depend on how much she believes in the Free People’s Alliance and their Summoned Heroes.”

Yes, that’s what will be the greatest factor for everyone in the Demon Empire moving forward.

Whether to rebel and potentially fall, or submit and potentially be damned a sinner for eternity.

Rebecca Kelsey had made her decision more than a year ago, when the Demon Emperor had first appeared.

She had seen, first hand, his power, his malice, his genius, but also his wisdom and approach to ruling his empire.

Even now, as the Free People’s Alliance stood tall and the rebellion never seem to truly die in the Demon Empire, Rebecca didn’t regret her choice.

She was the Lady of Dread - the one who ruled the Dread Keep in the Demon Emperor’s name.

“Make sure to remind everyone what happened to Themis and the Holy Empire,” Rebecca whispered. “Make sure to nip every single bud of discontent in the Dread Keep before they get themselves killed.” She turned to face her maid and sternly said, “Tell them Lady Mania’s words, and show them what generosity the Demon Emperor is capable off.”

Eva bowed deeply. “Of course, Lady Rebecca.”

“Now, I shall be making my rounds. Could you please have a look at the documents on my desk while I’m gone?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you.”

Escorted by two Dread Knights and her maids, Rebecca started making her ways through the corridors of the Dread Keep.

Whenever someone or something saw her, they all had different reactions.

The Machai, Hysminai and Neika all saluted her, a few even greeted her by her title.

The skeletons bowed to her, as did the Gørviligr.

The servants who had served at Castle Kelsey or who had been rescued from the Sons of Tartarus, like the five maids who dressed her earlier, greeted her with warm smiles and respectful bows. Some even spoke with her in friendly, casual conversation. Rebecca knew all of their names and jobs, which made them more endeared towards her.

The servants who had been brought in as part of the Decree of Loyalty all stopped working when Rebecca approached, and bowed as deeply and respectfully to her as they could. Some shook uncontrollably as she walked past them, a few cried, and one even had his knees give out on him.

In a panic, the sweeper dropped onto his hands and knees, and begged for mercy. A nearby butler, a friend of his, also begged in the same manner, pleading with the Lady of Dread to spare his life this once.

“It won’t happen again, I swear to you, Lady of Dread! Please, please, don’t hurt him!”

Rebecca said nothing and simply walked by.

They thanked her for her mercy, but Rebecca didn’t react.

To some, Rebecca was their saviour.

To others, she was just another one of their oppressors.