I shuddered as my mother's intense gaze fell on me. All was silent as I waited for words to decide my fate. I was certain that the punishment I would receive would be no small one, but more terrifyingly, I had no idea what it would be.

  “Orinthya, Nita, Baelian, where did you learn to say that?” demanded Mom in the same icy tone. A voice that made my skin crawl and pletely robbed me of the ability to speak.

  “...”

  “Answer me when I'm talking to you, young dy.” She repeated, this time, taking a couple of steps toward me, making me jump in my pce. But I was still uo utter a word.

  As soon as I heard her right in front of me, I braced myself for what was about to happen, but by divine grace, the knight's voice stopped my mother from whatever she was about to do or say.

  “Ma'am, if I may.”

  We both turo him, Mom with a furious look on her fad looking sideways at me, me hoping that this saintly knight would save my butt. Literally.

  My mother's inteare made him flinch for a sed, but he coughed oain his posure and spoke in a ciliatory tone.

  “I uand why you are angry, yrace, and I also think I know where the young dy learhat word. But, if I may offer my opinion, you should calm yer and deal with the situation more posedly, I think.”

  Mom narrowed her eyes and looked at him in silence for a long while. But the knight kept his expression calm.

  I hadn't noticed it until now, giveuation I was in, but I was almost certain that he was that knight Mom had once mentiohe one I suspected was an elf.

  His appearance was, in fact, quite simir to what I would expect from them. A face that was a bit androgynous, which could be sidered more on the beautiful side than handsome, elongated ears, much more than ours, even more than Dalia, who I suspected was also an elf. They were also pointier and thinner, making me remember how in other stories they were called knife ears.

  His hair, while not long and inexplicably silky, as they were ofteed, was quite beautiful, especially by the standards of this world. Even his color stood out from the many people I had met. It was a silvery blohat seemed to shimmer and sparkle in the light of the sisters.

  His eyes were small, but they stood out because of their beautiful jade-green hue, a color that almost provoked greed to possess them. And the detail that stood out the most was his skin. While he was that typical fair-skinned elf, it was extremely impressive that there was not a single imperfe anywhere. There were no moles, blemishes, or scars of any kind. It was simply perfect skin in every way. A detail that rather than being positive, almost felt disturbing. Although her aura of ess and positivity made up for that fact.

  Suddenly, Mom took a deep breath, letting out some of her anger. Although she seemed calmer, it was quite obvious that she was still very upset, given the expression on her face.

  Internally, I felt relieved. I was deeply grateful to the knight for de-esg the situation. Just saying a few words had, for my be, reduced anything my mother could have dohout his intervention. He even took advantage of my mother looking away for a moment to wink at me along with a smile of plicity. I almost made the mistake of thanking him out loud, but quickly corrected myself by leaving it at a nod.

  “The important thing is that we found her.” Mom said sounding much calmer, but not taking her suspicious gaze off me. Something that made me hold still in my spot for fear of provoking her again.

  “You are right yrace, that is, in fact, the best news.” ehe knight.

  “So, Sir Erthan, where do you think my daughter learhat vocabury?” questioned my mother, crossing her arms and averting her eyes from me, giving me a small gasp.

  “I think the fault lies with the order the guards were given.”

  Mother frowned for a sed, fused by Sir Erthan's words, nodding toward him and urging him to tinue.

  “When the guards were ordered to go about their business without interruption, no matter who resent, it was never sidered that something like this could ever happen. It's not something they would think would ever happen, after all. If they are ordered to tio act as they always have, ign the presence of others, including yrace or Duke Halfred, uhey are ordered otherwise, then they will take those words to heart.”

  Mht a hand to her cheek as she sidered the knight's words. If you think about it, without the proper text that I do have, it sounds quite logical. The officers among the guards didn't care in the least that I resent as they hurled their colorful insults like an angry Argentinian. So, if I, a little girl who absorbs everything easily like a dry sponge in a swimming pool, showed up in that pce, with that kind of atmosphere, I would easily learn a myriad of words, many of which should not be heard by a young noble dy like me, much less learn and pronouhem. So, in short, Sir Erthan was givihe perfect excuse.

  Mom seemed to accept Sir Erthan's words, nodding to herself after a while.

  “That makes sense. I guess that would expin where she lear from.” She said, g him right. But, as happy as I was to see that I found a way out, I was again put ba my pce by her angry look. “But, that's only because of the ‘vulgarity’ she said. It doesn't justify her previous as.”

  Fuck...

  Wait, I didn't say that out loud too, did I?

  Looking at her, her expression didn't ge, so I didn't fuck up again this time. I tried to give her one of my sad puppy eyes, which usually gets me out of trouble most of the time, just like that i with the puddle, but...

  “That's not going to work this time, young dy.” Against all odds (at least mine), I failed.

  “Yrace, I know I may be getting too muto that matter, and I deeply apologize for that, but would you allow me to speak to the young dy for a moment?”

  “Talk to her?” my mother asked, raising an eyebrow with great curiosity. Like me, we couldn't uand his motives, so she just nodded, allowing the knight to approach me.

  “As you know, I too have children, and if there is ohing I have learned over the years, it is that everything they do has its reasons, even if sometimes we fail to see it.” Sir Erthan expressed as he walked toward me with a reassuring smile. “With children, if one wants to educate them properly, it is always best to listen to them first.”

  The knight crouched down, leaning on one of his knees, staying level with my gaze, and, with a kind expression, spoke to me in a clear, polite voice.

  “Young dy, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. I am Erthan Rindel, one of the knights in the service of your family.”

  Sir Erthan formally introduced himself with a smile, bowing his head and crossing his right arm across his chest in the most well-knowure ever used by medieval knights in popur culture.

  I was a bit taken aback, but quickly recovered and decided to respond to his gesture in the same way, with a formal salute. I repeated the same thing I'd done earlier with the librarian dy. I reinstated my posture, cleared my voice, and introduced myself, “I am Orinita Belian, a plesha to meet you.”

  Sir Erthan opened his eyes in amused surprise. Behind him, I saw Mom looking at me with a very simir expression, both incredulous to see me give a formal greeting without anyone having taught it to me before.

  Points for me.

  “The young dy is truly a prodigy. Her greeting was truly impeccable.” I was plimented by the knight, causing a slight heat to rise in my cheeks. I hadn't expected to blush at something like that, but a pliment like that is... quite a new experience. Especially ing from an elf. It made me smile, and I immediately thanked him for his words.

  After a couple more words of praise, aing the blush on my face gradually fade, Sir Erthan ged to a somewhat more serious tone, lookiraight in the eye with a kind but deep gaze.

  “Young miss, what happened, why did you separate from your maid?”

  The questiht back the guilty feeling from before. I hadn't thought about what would happen after I slipped away from Ameli. I moved my gaze to her, who had remained silent as a statue until now, a a pri my heart. I turned back to Sir Erthan and answered him truthfully.

  “I wanna see ekus.”

  “I see. Do you like the ekus very much?”

  “Hmm! Lots,” I replied with more enthusiasm than I intended, and upon immediate realization I put my head down. I love those huge, adorable balls of feathers, and if I could I would spend all day with them. “But... they say I 't see them.”

  “They won't let you? That's too bad. Why is that?”

  “...M-mami says it's dangeous,” I replied, dejected aant. I gave my mother a slight sidelong gnce, but her expression remaihe same as before.

  “Hmm, it certainly looks dangerous. They're very rge birds that could hurt you if you're not careful.”

  “Th-they would never do that! They're very good, they alrotect me.” I replied a little panicked, I didn't want them to be seen as a dahey were very gentle and careful. Not many would be able to tell, but whenever I had been with them, pying, there was always at least one of the flo charge of proteg me. I became aware of this after notig that whenever I ran alongside the babies, there was always one of them who was strangely close to us.

  “The dy loves them very much, doesn't she?”

  I nodded. I loved those birds; they were my best friends in this huge house.

  “I see. But you know what, young dy?” said Sir Erthan, stepping back slightly so that I had a better view of my mother. “Her Grace the Duchess, your mother, also loves you very much.”

  I froze. I couldn't help but instantly realize what the knight in front of me was getting at. I ched my fists as I realized my own stupidity, angry at myself. Once again, I lowered my head, ashamed of my behavior.

  “You may not ua, but she is just worried about your safety because she loves you more than you imagine.”

  I nodded again, uanding perfectly what he was referring to.

  “So, young dy, don't you think there's something you should tell your mother?”

  I nodded again and walked toward Mom, aiting for me with her arms folded and a frown on her face.

  I looked up to meet hers, feeling ashamed, not for what I should do, but for not notig my as. “Mami...sowwy for sneaki out.

  Mom looked at me for a long time. A very, very long time, without saying a word. I held her gaze, expet to hear her response and nervous about how long it was takio answer me.

  “*sigh* I uand.” She finally replied. “But I don't want you to ever do this again, is that clear?”

  I nodded firmly. I was ashamed of myself. I couldn't believe I hadn't thought about the sequeny as. Sure, I knew my ekus well, I knew perfectly well that they couldn't hurt me, but did Mom know? Or Ameli? Did anyone else besides myself know? No, no one knew but me and the ekus themselves.

  Plus, I never really sidered what would happen to Ameli the moment I walked away from her. For heaven's sake, if they had taken much loo find me, she might have lost her job because she lost me. I would never five myself if something like that ever happened.

  I turned away from Mom and walked toward Ameli, who was still staring at the ground. She noticed me and showed me an expression full of sadness.

  It hurt. Her look hurt so much.

  “Ali, sowwy.”

  Ameli didn't respht away, but instead bent down and hugged me.

  “Please, young dy, don't do something like that ever again. I was so terrified when you disappeared.” Ameli whispered in my ear. I felt my heart press as I heard her voice so weak and hurt. I g to her feeling like a real shit, almost g because of how bad I felt.

  “I guess that settles this matter.” My mother announced, getting everyone's attention. Ameli carried me in her arms as she approached my mother. “Take her home and tell Fiana everything that happened.”

  I shuddered again hearing that...if my mother was angry, Ki...I don't even want to imagine.

  “Hmph, you sure didn't think that with an apology everything was going to work out, did you, Orinthya?”

  I hid in Ameli's chest and didn't answer.

  Of course, this wasn't over.

  I heard my mother snort before Ameli to leave.

  I had just faced a tricky boss and survived thanks to Sir Erthan's as, but who could save me now from the wrath of the final boss, Maki?

  I am truly doomed...

  “I must say, Sir Erthan, I didn't expect you to be so good with children,” Irna spoke with a half-smile, directed at the knight beside her.

  “Yivioo much credit, yrace. I am simply used to dealing with my kids. They are the same as the young dy. Maybe even more pyful.”

  “So much so? It must be like the passing of a storm, then.”

  “Quite an apt ent,” Erthan replied with an amused chuckle. “Though that's just why I uand a bit why the young dy did what she did.”

  Erthan gave a smile to his master, who quickly uood the meaning behind it.

  Irna was not normally so strict with rules, especially things like restrig her children's freedom. But Orinthya was most certainly the st daughter she could bring into this world, and that made her, in a way, a special case. Overproteg her, perhaps a little too much.

  Irna sighed internally, w if she should be more permissive with the little girl. Forbidding something to a child almost always ends up making the child want to do it even more. However, at the moment, these things didn't happen with Orinthya. The child had proven on multiple occasions to be incredibly obedient and attentive. Of course, today was one of those very rare times when she behaved like a child of her age, a mischievous child who disobeyed her parents' orders. And it was just that that gave her something to think about.

  Maybe what she needs is for us to trust her a little more. I'll o talk to Hal and Fia about this and find out what they have to say. I think I've been a little too overprotective of her tely.

  “Yes, I think I know that too.” Duchess finally replied after taking a deep breath to clear her mind. “You have given me much to think about Sir Erthan. I tell that your promotion was not just because of your bat skills. I expect much from you now that I have seen your capabilities in other areas.”

  “It is a great honor to hear those words, my Duchess.” Erthan brought a hand to his chest and bowed toward Irna, who nodded in acceptance of the knight's words.

  “By the way, Sir Erthan.” The knight straightened up, waiting patiently for his master's words. “How old are your children? I'd love to hear about them.”

  Erthan smiled broadly as if a switch had flipped on at that very instant. The two of them, who had e here together for reasons now fotten, walked together as they shared their experiences in raising their children.

  Perhaps, taking a little too much advantage ing about them.

  The jouro the mansion was silent and somber. Ameli walked as if she too was going straight to meet her dark fate. I decided to hug her tightly, feeling it was the only thing I could do at that moment, aside from feeling guilty.

  Do you know what the worst part of it all is?

  “Oh, I didn't expect to find you twht at the entrance. How was your walk?” Ki greeted us just a few feet from the door apanied by Zenya who looked a little tired.

  “Tya, how is my sweet little sister?” my sister approached us indig Ameli to hand me over to her. My maid hesitated for a sed, gng towards Ki, who returned her gaze raising an eyebrow in fusion.

  Ameli nodded, leaving me in my older sister's arms. I immediately g to Zenya as if my life depended on it. If there was anyht now who could save my butt it would be her.

  “hat's wrong? Will it be, did you miss me that much?”

  I nodded vigorously. She just started ughing gleefully as she hugged me and walked back to the house.

  “Did something happen?” asked Ki, sensing that there was something strange about us.

  “There is, something, but...” Ameli's voice cut off before she finished her words. She sounded hesitant about whether she should speak at that moment. Something Maki noticed. I couldn't see what expression she made, but I did hear her tone of voice as she spoke, something that scared me as I imagined what would happen to me.

  “I see. e along with me then. Dri, you take Nita to get something to eat?”

  “Yes, Maki. e on Tya, you're probably very hungry, and... cold? You're shivering a lot.”

  I was shivering, yes, but it was not from the cold. My sister led me towards my old pyroom. On the way, she found a couple of maids and ordered them t us some snacks ao the room.

  When we arrived, my sister sat me on the couch while she closed the window and turned on the room's light stones. She really thought I was cold. She quickly sat dowo me, hugging me for warmth, and started telling me how her day had been and how tired she was, the things she had learned, and a few pints about how hard it was to learn from Dad. Thanks to the way she was telling me all that, I was able to allow myself to rex and fet my situation for a while. Added to the delicious taste of the snacks and the warmth of the tea.

  Although it leasant time, it was all over the instant Maki appeared.

  The door opened suddenly and without warning, something that made both me and Zenya jump because of how ued it was. Maki's ears were curled back, her expression serious with a slight frown aail static behind her. She walked towards us slowly, and when azes met, I felt my heart sink. I turned away from my sister and stood in front of the couch, startling Zenya who had bee speechless. Ki stopped in front of me.

  I kept my eyes on the floor, nervously pying with my hands as I waited for her words.

  “Orinthya Nita.”

  I shuddered to hear her pronounce my name. Ki never calls me by my full name. I even think it was the first time she said it outside of an introdu. “Y-yes, Ki,” I replied, barely taining the fear that was growing inside me.

  “What Ameli told me, is it all true?”

  “...”

  “M-Maki, what happen-?”

  “Zenya Dri, stay out of this.”

  “Y-yes, ma'am!”

  There was o raise her voice or ge her manner of speaking, it was enough to use that too silence Zenya pletely. The room was trapped in stony silence as Ki waited for my response. Ohat refused to e out.

  “Orinthya Nita, look at me when I speak to you and answer, is it true what Ameli told me?”

  I looked up and saw Ki with her ears curled, more so than before. Some of her fur was bristling, clearly upset, coupled with her narrowed eyes showihat, if I even sidered lying to her for a single instant, she would not hesitate to spank me right then and there.

  I felt my legs weaken, and I began to tremble a little more. But it got worse when I saw wrinkles form on her nose and her lips slightly showed her fangs. Before she could drop all her anger on me, I mustered all my ce to answer her.

  “I-it's true, Ki. I'm sorry.” I replied in panid surprisingly I was able to speak more clearly, perhaps driven by fear. They say that difficult situations make you grow and improve, though I didn't expeething like this was going to help me in that regard.

  Ki snorted angrily at my respo didn't speak to me right away, instead looking toward my sister and speaking to her. “You two really are so different. Although Dri used to be so pyful and eic, she was always the type to avoid getting into trouble.” She said, shaking her head from side to side, incredulous at how different my sister and I were.

  Surprised by Maki's words, Zenya shifted her gaze to me, and, as if realizing something, narrowed her eyes and folded her arms.

  “Tya, what did you do this time?”

  In that instant, I lost the only ally I had. I lowered my gaze to the ground unwilling to answer her, resigo my own fate.

  “Leave it, Dri.” Maki sighed, then approached me again and...

  “O. Ki, it hurts, it hurts.”

  “Hmph. Dri, go a on with your day, I'll take care of her.”

  “Of course, Maki. Tya, I hope you refle your as.”

  With those st words, we parted ways with my sister as I was dragged by the ears to Ki's office. A pce that was nowhere he pyroom. Fortunately, I was not seen by any of the mansion's servants... that really would have been too embarrassing and humiliating for me.

  Inside, Ameli was standing in a er, totally motionless like a statue. Some sort of basket was over her head, creating a somewhat bizarre as well as funny image of her. However, I couldn't ugh because, at this moment, I was in a simir or even worse position than her.

  Ameli didn't react even as Ki pulled me by my ears to the chair where I received my lessons, and ordered me to sit there.

  “Be quiet and don't move, I'm going to finish all my work, and once I'm done, we're going to have a very long versation, did I make myself clear?”

  I nodded in response, but that made her frown, causio shiver and respond loudly right away, “Yes, ma'am!”

  “Good.”

  Ki sat down at her desk, arranging the multiple dots she had on it. The sound of her pen, and each paper being picked up and signed, was all that could be heard as I pondered my as for the day. I pted my fate resigo whatever happeo me. Although I hoped that my butt was the only thing that would be spared. I felt I would lose something very important about myself if that happeo me. At that thought, I swore to myself that I would never, ever get into a situation like this again. I would never screw up like that again. NEVER! Did you hear me? Never, ever!

  FivesZeta