Across the continent of Amanalia, there exist six known sapient races. Humans, banished to the western peninsula; Sylphs in the woods north of them; the Plainstriders evolved from the disparate animals wandering the central plains; the Piscin emerged from the ruins of Impact Site 38 in the south; the Geolle, oldest of the newer races, were the first Vampires encountered as we reclaimed the lands for our own.

  Vampires serve as the custodians, ensuring that nothing disrupts the balance of the continent and acting as a bulwark against the untamed deserts to the East.

  —Otella’s Introduction to Geography and History

  Lycoris would never admit it. It was a secret that she would take to her grave. But it was also an open secret, to the denizens of her dorm-tower—the little plush had given her such a sense of security that her nightmares ceased entirely.

  At least, thus far. There was no guarantee that she wasn’t just having a lucky drought… but there was nothing to gain from being so negative.

  While nobody commented on it, her better mood must have been infectious, as everyone else also seemed to be in a generally cheery mood. Or perhaps that was because it was the holiday season… though it didn’t exactly feel like it, with Raine cooped up in her private chambers or the library to study as usual, and Cecily and Vanessa continuing to study under Athena and tending to Mira’s training.

  Speaking of, the bird had started to behave quite a bit better, even listening to instructions without needing to be in a good mood. Though… he still became overly excited any time Lycoris came into view. At least he only broke out of the stables once, and that was a while ago now. At least, from Lycoris’s perspective it was.

  When Athena wasn’t busy with “maid training” she was entirely occupied by whatever the school was plotting for the Solstice Festival. She offered profusely apologies to Lycoris and attempted to reassure her that it would be worth it in the end. Only… Lycoris wasn’t remotely bothered in the first place. She was more than capable enough to take care of herself by this point—or at least was confident enough to boast about as much—and had Vanessa and Cecily around to ensure that there were no details overlooked, like having a lopsided ribbon or something of the sort.

  But all of that ceased to matter the moment the month of Solus finally rolled around, when she had made her decision.

  “Are you sure you’ll be okay at home without us, Lyco?” Cecily asked as they shared a subdued breakfast in the main living space.

  It actually was, too. A glass of blood for Lycoris, and fresh baked waffles and syrup for the others—though she snuck one for herself as well just to have something to actually chew on—was all that had been set out.

  “Of course. I spent forty-five years without Athena looking after me, even,” she wagged her finger at Cecily in response, clinking her fangs against the glass. “And I’m sure Mother will have someone else present to wait on myself and Raine while we’re there. Speaking of,” she turned to the other girl at the table, who was quietly chewing on a folded up waffle in one hand, while examining a complex diagram of uncertain origin held in the other, “Raine, have you packed your bag yet?”

  “I believe so. I’ve prepared two weeks of study material to cover, but depending on what the Palace’s resources are like, even that might be unnecessary.”

  “…Nothing like clothing?” Not that she could imagine someone walking around the Elysian Sanctum in anything but fine silks, and it was hard to imagine Raine owning that sort of clothing.

  Everything about her screamed practicality over formality, and not just because of her apparent disinterest in politics and socialites. Honestly, the fact that Raine seemed so completely unfazed by the idea of staying in the Imperial Palace was… astonishing. Maybe she was just putting up a brave face and was actually quite nervous.

  Then again, she was from the Lynnvel family, which were among the lesser nobility similar to the Oxalis family apparently, so maybe she did actually dress like a well-to-do girl when not on campus… though Lycoris had never seen her in anything other than a school uniform or oversized pajamas.

  “It seemed irrelevant to bring up, but yes I’ve packed my spare uniform and singular dress that Lord Lynnvel purchased for my interview with the Academy Dean.”

  Apparently she didn’t have much else in the way of clothing. At least when it came to things that would be considered presentable in such a place.

  Part of the arrangement for Lycoris returning home was that she’d bring Raine along with her, as the easiest solution to the deadlock between studying and visiting her mother was simply to do both.

  It also meant that Lilianna could personally judge Raine’s character, something that Lycoris was… a little worried about. Despite her academic brilliance, from what Lycoris could tell the girl had no self-preservation instinct, cared little for what others thought of her, and was slow to pick up on social cues. Maybe that was a harsh evaluation of the girl, she was clearly capable enough to do whatever she had in order to earn enrollment in the first place, but Lycoris had a hard time imagining what exactly that had been.

  Naturally it was Lycoris’s mother who made the choice to have her come along just before vacation season began, and surprisingly, Raine seemed perfectly content to follow along. Like an ocean jelly that simply accepted the currents dragging it along, she shrugged her shoulders when Lycoris hesitantly informed her and said “very well.” before returning to her arcane research.

  After breakfast, Vanessa went over their bags to make sure everything necessary was packed and nothing was out of order—and that plushy-Mira was securely tucked away too—and escorted them through the local teleport terminal to the front of the school grounds, where a luxury black car waited for them.

  From there, the pair of girls were chauffeured off to the actual teleport, where they began the somewhat arduous journey home. Irritatingly, despite her profound mastery of magical matters, Raine apparently had no necessity for the shackles that Lycoris did, and even worse, also had no solution for the Princess’s own plight.

  The most she could do was cast a quick spell to ease the discomfort and nausea Lycoris felt between each jump, though that felt like plugging up a leak with one’s thumb. Not that it didn’t help, or that Lycoris wasn’t grateful for her considerate gesture; she was simply disappointed that there was nothing the girl could do at present.

  ＊　＊　＊

  “It really is huge… every time I see it from outside, I begin to feel somewhat faint,” Lycoris muttered as their vehicle rounded a corner and brought the now-familiar towering Transfixion of Heaven into view.

  She hadn’t been gone for all that long, but more than the sense of dread for how high up she’d be, she felt a trembling excitement in her core to be back home. Lycoris couldn’t remember the last time she ever felt that sort of familiarity or comfort with a place… Every place she’d stayed in her prior life had been one of pure utility and necessity, rather than choice or luxury. Barracks and rental units were hardly the most inviting or homely spaces, even if the former had been filled with once-friendly faces. Maybe… she couldn’t remember what they looked like. But surely there had to have been people who liked having her around before…

  Lycoris’s ears ceased their wiggling and drooped.

  I wonder if the Commander’s retired yet… she probably has another couple years left in her still, I think? Lycoris frowned to herself, as she realized she couldn’t remember what her commanding officer’s age actually was. She was pretty sure the woman was older than her… Maybe.

  “Are you sure that isn’t the teleportation sickness?” Raine asked, pulling Lycoris’s attention outward.

  “Ahh… yeah, I’m not good with heights.”

  “…You live at the top of a tower.”

  “I keep the curtains closed for a reason!”

  “You possess quite a number of idiosyncrasies, Lycoris,” Raine replied in her usual emotionless tone.

  “Gee, thanks for letting me know,” she deadpanned in response.

  “I find it somewhat remarkable that the future ruler of the Empire would be in possession of so many quirks. Perhaps that is part of what sets you and your mother apart from everyone else.”

  “You know she used to be Drimus, right?”

  “So I’ve read. Though considering that is not even a tenth of her overall lifespan at this point, it is hard to imagine such a length of time as being impactful to the current Lilianna Aphtangloa.”

  “Listen… I’d rather not get motion sickness or be afraid of heights or have a general distaste for— the point is I’m doing what I can to overcome what I can. But it’s difficult. I’m well aware how ridiculous it is that my mother is the most imposing person on the entire planet and yet I get queasy if I climb up a tree and look down!”

  “That’s even worse than I thought.”

  “I might as well not even have wings!”

  “You sound upset.”

  “I… Hahaha, what? Of course I’m upset. Why wouldn’t I be upset?!” Lycoris chuckled in a slightly hysterical manner.

  “I don’t know… my apologies.”

  Lycoris was taken out of her mounting frustration in an instant as Raine inclined her head and closed her eyes. Not because she wasn’t upset anymore, but just out of pure shock at seeing the other girl display empathy so sincerely. Raine almost never showed any sign of emotiveness.

  “No it’s… it’s fine.”

  “Is it? One moment you say you’re upset, and the next you’re fine. I don’t understand…”

  “Er… I mean I’m still frustrated with my situation, I just didn’t mean to take it out on you. I know you have your own quirks too, like your difficulty with understanding people. I’m sure that’s not any more fun to deal with.”

  “Hm.”

  Raine fell silent as Lycoris let her tension subside. It was a silly thing to let her emotions get the better of her like that. It was something she’d been much more mindful of, after speaking with Dahlia and the others and realized just how much her first impressions had painted what people across the Empire thought of her.

  It hadn’t been much of an issue before she’d become a Vampire… No, that wasn’t quite right. She had simply choked out her emotions entirely. They were still always there, bubbling and fuming, but she’d learned to offer them no outlet. In retrospect, that was probably not just unhelpful to her current situation, but unhealthy as well. It was no wonder that remaining composed was such a challenge, when she finally felt allowed to be herself, to feel things again.

  “Nothing to add? Just, ‘hm’?”

  “You are the first person to ever make that assumption. Or to vocalize it to me, at the very least.”

  “Well am I right? We’ve spoken for long enough that I can tell when you aren’t following my meaning. If there’s something I can do to help explain things clearer, you need only ask it of me.”

  “You’re the Heir-Significate, and a princess besides.”

  “Which is why it’s so important I listen to my subjects’ needs! …and I’d like it if Mama didn’t kill you immediately because of a misunderstanding I could smooth over.”

  “I see, you are the most thoughtful person I have ever met.” Raine put her finger to her chin while staring at Lycoris. After a long pause, it seemed as though she made up her mind. “I cannot tell what face you’re making. I do not know what you’re trying to convey right at this moment. I can guess, based on what you’re saying, but that’s all. It has made me reticent to share my own feelings ever, in case I am mistaken and cause more problems for myself and others.”

  “And you are attending a school that prides itself on raising students to be high-ranking members of court, playing games of subtext with each other.”

  “Yes.”

  “Is studying magic here really… worth all that?”

  “Lycoris, there is no other place on the planet to study magic. Aside from the military, but the rotes they teach are depressingly simple, and not related to what I’m interested in regardless.”

  “What are you interested in?”

  It was something Lycoris was deeply curious about, regardless of where their conversation had started.

  Raine fell silent once more, the placid surface of her gaze rippling ever so slightly when her lips eventually parted once more, “…Your origin. Our origin, I suppose.”

  “Huh?!”

  “Why the Aphtangloa Family is the only zeroth generation family, what that really means, why our blood is thinning steadily over the centuries, how Vampires even came to be in the first place. …Stuff like that.”

  Lycoris felt a twinge of relief that she wasn’t specifically talking about Lycoris’s origin as a Human, but more generally. Though at the same time, she felt like Raine wasn’t saying everything that she actually meant. After all, what she said made it sound like she was more interested in history than magic. And there was something to her expression. Though she said she didn’t convey much, and didn’t understand much, there was still that hint of anticipation when she spoke.

  More important than motivation however, it was also something tangential to Lycoris’s interest. Why did the Goddess create Vampires in the first place? Why banish Her own creations from Her light? Why did they seem to have no interest in Her, why make them predate on Humans in particular? Especially when they were so similar otherwise.

  “That is actually… a pretty good question…”

  The back of the car fell back into silence as they pulled up to the front of the Transfixion of Heaven, the streets around it already cleared of foot traffic by palace guards in anticipation of their arrival.

  “Well,” Lycoris stood up as they came to a complete stop, “if you ever are confused by what to do, or what someone is thinking, just ask me. I promise I’ll do what I can to help. I won’t get upset with you, so just do or say whatever comes natural when talking to me. I can probably even pull some strings as Heir-Significate!”

  She offered a hand to Raine, helping her up to her feet.

  “I think,” Raine began, “it would be fun, to have wings.”

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  ＊　＊　＊

  As it turned out, Raine was—understandably—incredibly intimidated by the prospect of meeting the Exaltare in person. She shared as much with Lycoris while they were on the elevator up, and Lycoris offered to handle the entire process. It would… probably be something of a debacle no matter what, but so long as Raine didn’t actually say anything offensive, it would probably be fine.

  Probably.

  Luckily for them, Court had already adjourned for the day by the time they arrived at the emptied-out throne room, and her mother had returned to the Elysium Sanctum, so they would have some measure of privacy for the introduction.

  Unluckily, upon reaching her vaunted home section of the palace and opening the door, Lycoris was greeted by someone she had never met before, and her guard was immediately raised as the woman squeezed her palms together.

  “Welcome home, Your Highness and her guest,” she bowed deeply, along with both guards flanking the golden doors.

  In truth, Lycoris should have—and on more than one instance did—anticipated this. The woman wore the same sort of outfit Athena did, but her hair was bright pink and pulled up into a flowing ponytail, and her eyes were a luminous green. She also seemed… more composed. Or perhaps it was just the lack of (over)eagerness that Lycoris had come to expect from being around Athena. Regardless, the formality the maid displayed chilled the air around them.

  “And you are?” Lycoris raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she paid close attention to the woman, and noticed her lip quirk and eyebrow twitch ever so slightly at the lack of recognition.

  “My name is Saraya Idra, Your Highness. I serve Her Majesty in her private quarters in absence of Miss Ochros.”

  “I take it you have already prepared our rooms, then?”

  “That I have, Your Highness. Shall I lead you to them now, or would you prefer to meet with Her Majesty first?” As she spoke, she took a half step forward to accept their suitcases.

  Lycoris was immediately grateful for Dahlia’s companionship, as she had done quite a bit to prevent the name of Idra from being exclusively synonymous with the man she wanted to tear the face off of.

  “We will meet with Mother first, please take our bags to our rooms.” Better to tear the bandage off immediately. Especially because if they separated, there was the chance her mother would find Raine and speak to her without Lycoris present. That would be a catastrophic blunder. Lycoris was confident that her mother would capitulate to whatever she said, so long as it was in private and didn’t impact their public image or the world at large. Which is… a rather terrifying power, now that I think about it… …But she was less confident she could manage the situation after the fact. Especially if Lilianna decided to do something drastic and regrettable.

  Not that she would… not without asking me first, if it involved one of my friends, I think. I hope.

  “Very well Your Highness,” Saraya offered one more bow before turning around and walking off with their luggage.

  Which left the two of them alone with the guards to the Elysium Sanctum, both of whom looked no less nervous to be in Lycoris’s presence. Though, looking at one, she appeared to be leaning forward slightly—as though squinting at Raine in disbelief or confusion—until Lycoris stared up at her, at which point she immediately twitched and straightened her back out, pretending nothing ever happened.

  With a shrug, Lycoris turned around to her friend and gently grasped her hand, “Just remember what I said, alright?”

  “Yes, Your Highness,” she replied in a quiet mutter.

  The two of them found their way to Lilianna’s study in suffocating silence, as Lycoris was mostly eager to see her mother and Raine was too nervous to make any offhand comments—not that she was the sort to do so in the first place.

  With a polite knock, Lycoris called to the other side of the door, “Mother, are you in there?”

  Of all the things she could have done, that proved to be perhaps the greatest possible mistake. Leaving the door closed left her completely unprepared for how quickly it slammed open, or how instantaneously she was swept up into the woman’s arms as Lilianna embraced her.

  She didn’t even have time to take her hand off the door!

  “Welcome home, our darling little flower~! We so sorely missed—”

  Lycoris wriggled in her grasp as she abruptly cut herself off, with one hand awkwardly still holding on to the other girl present with her daughter, who was staring down at Lilianna’s shoes, but otherwise was like a limp doll dangling from the girl who’d been lifted off the ground.

  Most likely Lilianna hadn’t realized she was there, or thought that she might have gone back to her room first and Lycoris was coming to fetch her.

  “Hi… Mama. I um, came to introduce my friend from school to you.”

  Lilianna looked from Lycoris, who her vicegrip around was slowly loosening, to the other. “Greetings, Lynnvel. Our daughter has spoken quite highly of thee.”

  “It is an honor to be in your presence, Your Majesty,” Raine replied in an even more stiff tone than usual, offering a curtsy at the same time that was equally awkward—partially because Lycoris was still holding her hand.

  “Hmm. Loosen thyself of concern, thou’rt in our daughter’s confidence and thus in no need of such terse formality.”

  “Mama, you started speaking like you do in Court. Also you already— urrgghhm… Rather, you’re still kinda… I guess… it’s a good thing I don’t need to breathe,” Lycoris wheezed, as she was squeezed once more after she began to talk.

  “Apologies, dear,” she set Lycoris back down, though kept a hand on her shoulder, “but ‘tis a habit we find hard to dispense with in the presence of the unknown. Thou… you too will find yourself in our shoes, once you’re ready to assume the throne.”

  She gave her daughter a little squeeze, tugging Lycoris against her side as she turned her attention to the stoic girl.

  “Ah, um… she’s fairly shy, and naturally nervous about meeting you. Her gifts are less focused on social decorum and more in practical domains. Not that there’s anything impractical about how one presents themself in courtly affairs, obviously!” Lycoris scrambled to explain, getting around in front of Raine and waving her hands about.

  “This is what you meant by ‘handling things’ for me…?” She heard Raine mutter near-silently.

  Judging by the way her mother’s ears twitched, she seemed to have heard as well… but didn’t show any particular emotion on her face. “Much like Lesath, then… Hear us, Lynnvel. You will do nothing to damage our daughter’s image or standing. Are we clear?”

  The girl remained completely stone faced and motionless, with the same slightly dour expression as always. If Lycoris hadn’t spoken to her before, she would’ve just assumed Raine was unflappable even in front of the Exaltare.

  But, she did nod slightly.

  “Lycoris is kind. And, nobody would believe me if I told them what I just saw regardless. The weight of my word is small.”

  “But not nothing. Thou… You are someone who stands at our daughter’s side. The Heir-Significate’s side. …Use that stoicism to your advantage. Say naught unless confident, for a fool only exposes themself when they speak.”

  Lycoris felt her heart skip a beat at the sudden unsolicited advice. “M-Mama?”

  It was also, coincidentally, much what she said herself… just, phrased in a slightly more ostentatious manner.

  “We assume you intend to keep her around past her usefulness in aiding with your studies. We have no reason to assume anything but the best of her, given that her presence at Alephertz to begin with implies an aptitude beyond the norm.” Lilianna placed her hand upon her daughter’s head, slowly ruffling her hair. “Ensure that you raise her well, Lycoris.”

  “I’m not entirely sure I understand what you mean by that. If anything she’s the one teaching me,” Lycoris chuckled.

  “Even we have learned things from you, little flower. Now then, Lynnvel. Are there any sort of dietary restrictions you must adhere to? Or any meal preferences. Best to inform the staff well in advance.”

  Raine shook her head, “None.”

  “Good, then return to your room for now. There are things we must discuss with our daughter in private.”

  “…”

  Instead of leaving immediately after being dismissed by the Exaltare, Raine stood there awkwardly. She turned around and looked down each of the halls, then stepped slightly around and toward Lycoris, holding her hands together nervously over her waist.

  “Er, I brought her straight here so she doesn’t know where her room is.”

  “Then take her to her room and return right after.”

  “…I’m not sure where it is either.”

  “Because you took her straight here,” Lilianna pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. “Saraya.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  Though she hadn’t been anywhere before, as Lycoris had joined Raine in glancing down the halls and seen nothing, the woman was suddenly kneeling before Lilianna and Lycoris, hands folded over her chest in salute.

  “Fuah?! Where did you pop out from? …You didn’t spy on us, did you?”

  The Idra’s ears twitched in amusement, though she shook her head, “No. I simply arrive when summoned. It is the assumption that any such servant would immediately answer the call of Her Majesty when asked. Far be it from me to presume, but it sounds as though Your Highness has not been tended to by a prop—”

  “Saraya,”

  The woman immediately silenced herself, biting her lower lip as her brow wrinkled.

  “Show the young Lady Lynnvel to her room. Without delay.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.” With a nod, the maid smoothed her expression and stood, gesturing impassively toward Raine, “Right this way, Your Ladyship.”

  Once the two of them were out of sight, Lilianna scooped Lycoris back up into her arms and swept her inside the study, closing the door behind her with what would have been a slam were it not for the noise-dampening enchantments carved into the door frame.

  The girl squirmed about in surprise, though she didn’t try to thrash her way out of her mother’s grasp.

  “Wh-What’s the big idea?! Don’t tell me you just wanted to shoo Raine away so you didn’t have to be embarrassed about hugging me.”

  “That is only one part of it. Lycoris,” Her mother sat down on the comfortable sofa, setting Lycoris across her lap and looking down at her with a troubled frown, “We realize this may be an awkward conversation, however it is still a necessary one.”

  Lycoris felt a sudden sinking feeling, and opened her mouth to cut her mother off at the pass if the topic was what she thought it might be, but her mother put a finger to her lips to stop her.

  “Let us speak. We shall discuss your study schedule together with Raine later. There are two weeks before and after the festival, and we were the one who requested her presence, after all.”

  With a pout and pursed lips, Lycoris nodded and braced herself for whatever talk her mother wanted to have in private.

  “Is there anyone in particular you like? Even if it’s Raine, we will at least hear you out, for you are our beloved child.”

  “HUH?!”