Lynette bangs her fist against the closed door once more then whirls around with a dark scowl on her face. She points a painted red nail to the old maid accusingly.

“You. I thought I gave you strict orders to keep everyone away from this room,” She snarls, stalking forward.

The old maid does not back away though her face does pale, “Of course, Lady Lynette. I had done as you ordered. But your daughter, Lady Livia, started kicking up a loud fuss, and suddenly everyone came running. By the time I arrived, the scene was as you saw it.”

“As I saw-” Lynette cold voice cuts off in a sudden scream of frustration and her hand flings out, taking out a porcelain pot of roses by her hip. It breaks on contact with the hard floor, scattering in all directions, but Lynette doesn’t seem to care. She steps over the shards with her heeled feet, closing slowly on the old maid as her beautiful face twist up and her eyes round with a mad gleam in them.

“This is your fault,” She hisses lowly, “I asked so little of you, and somehow, you managed to fail spectacularly. Did you see the way they looked at me!? Those little rats dared to stare down at me! As if they were better than me! As if they had any right to judge me from the muddied grounds they are on! I did nothing wrong,” Lynette eyes are unlinking, watery, and red.

The old maid does not wish to hold her fevered stare, she wants to look away, fear and dread crawling up her spine, but she does not. For she knew the duchess never takes kindly to anyone not giving her their full attention. Especially not while she was in her current state. So, the old maid stands still even though everything in her was screaming at her to back away, to run. Lady Lynette's heavy gaze lifts off the old maid, and she stare with glazed eyes at her own hands.

“It is perfectly within my right to have my own daughter disciplined,” She whispers, almost to herself, “She was in obvious need of a lesson,” She looks up again, takes a few steps forward as anger overcomes her once more, “You did not hear the way she had spoken to me. You did not see the way she had looked at me. As if I was the child and she was the mother!

Even after I had been so nice to her as well. I was caring, loving and understanding! No mother of my status would have ever been so, not after she had gone and gotten herself raped and impregnated, demolishing any and all value she had to this household. And yet she dared to go against me at every turn. But even then, I had been so patient. I had been such a good mother, and look at all the things she had done in return!”

“Who was that girl?” The duchess looks confused as she directs the question to the old maid, “Where is my lovely, obedient little Livia? I want her back. That child,” Her arms whip up and she jabs a finger a that door with an unhinged look, “That girl is not my daughter! She cannot be! I did not raise her to be that way. My daughter would know that I know what is best for her. My daughter would see that I am her only salvation. Without me, she would be nothing.”

Lynette suddenly goes quiet as her dead stare lands on the corpse of Madam Montgomery.

“And look at this old wretch,” She stalks forward and stands over the body, kicking at it lightly. Her head tilts and suddenly, she is giggling.

“I suppose I do not have to pay her now, do I? At least something good has come out of this horrendous ordeal. The old madam had always been greedy, and how quick this bitch was to flap her cracked mouth when my back was turned. I suppose this is just desserts, in a way. Surely, no one in this world will miss her. I know I won’t,” To empathies this, Lynette spits on the corpse and laughs joyfully.

There is a knock at the door.

The old maid watches silently as the deranged woman transforms into Duchess Valentine from one blink to the next.

Lynette drags a hand down her dress before asking daintily, “Yes? Who is it?”

“It is Doctor Donre. I came as fast as I could.”

“Oh. Please, do come in,” Duchess Valentine says with a trembling voice.

When Doctor Donre opens the door, it is to the scene of Lynette looking pale and distraught as she turns away from the corpse while the old maid tries to comfort her.

“Goodness! What had happened?” The doctor asks as he rushes into the room with his bag.

“I can only assume. It seemed the old madam had fell over from some kind of chest pain,” Lynette says, trying to look brave as she peeks over the doctor shoulder with a thin look of worry.

“How long ago was this?” The doctor asks as she begins to check the old madam’s vitals with a grim look.

Lynette looks unsure, “I do not know. Maybe twenty or thirty minutes ago? I had not been in the room when it happened. Madam Montgomery had been in the middle of a lesson with my daughter, and I only had been summoned after she had fallen. Please, doctor. Is the madam alright? She had not moved all this time.”

Doctor Dondre drops the frail wrist, and shakes his head, “No. The madam has been dead for minutes now. I suspect of a heart attack. There is nothing I can do.”

Lynette gasps in shock, “Oh, no! That poor woman.”

“My lady, let us leave. We are only getting in the doctor’s way. We must wait for word of Duke Valentine before we do anything else,” The old maid said, guiding a distraught Lynette to the door.

“But-” Lynette protest.

“It is wise to do what the maid said. She is right, there is nothing else that anyone can do. I will remove the body, and write up an official death certificate.”

Lynette just nods weakly, “Yes, of course, doctor. Thank you.”

She lets the old maid lead her out. The moment the door shuts behind them, her lips curl up.

“What a mess I now have to clean up,” She sneers.

Lynette then rolls her shoulders back and stares down her nose at the old maid.

“You are fired. I want you out by the end of the day.”

“But my lady! Please! I will do better, I swear! Everything had gone accordingly until your daughter made such a loud ruckus. Please, give me a second chance. I won’t fail you aga-”

The old maid's head suddenly snaps to the side as a loud sound rings in her ears. She raises a trembling hand to her burning cheek and stares at the duchess in shock.

“Those are useless words from a person as worthless as you,” Lynette says lightly as she lowers her hand.

“Now, be gone from my sight. Just looking at you gives me a headache.”

The old maid bows shakily and leaves the hall quickly. The moment she is out of a sigh, another maid runs around the corner, looking frantic.

“My lady, we have a very important visitor at the door,” The maid says when she stops in front of the duchess.

Lynette raises a cool eyebrow, “And who might they be? I did not schedule anyone to meet today.”

The maid stares warily at her, but straightens with an excited look she could not dampen, “It is his royal highness, the crown prince, and Prince Kolton, ma’am. The moment I saw them from the window I ran to get you.”

“What!?” Lynette actually shrieks. She pulls up her dress skirts, and all but runs to greet them with the young maid following eagerly behind her.

“You are not actually intending to wrap up my arms, are you? They are just welts,” Livia complains as she pulls her arm away from Butler Davis with a curl of her lips. Her wounds were still stinging from being washed and slathered in ointment. She did not wish to abuse them further with tight wrapping. She was so tempted to make one of the royal family carry the burden, or heal it using one of them, but then that would defeat the whole purpose, so she stopped herself.

“I’m sure Mr. Davis is just trying to help, sister,” Liliana says, looking worried.

“Yes, Lady Livia. The Head Maid said you are to be treated. Please, just put up with a bit more and you can rest,” The butler says and reaches for her arms but Livia crosses them above her stomach with a huff.

Then she tilts her head, “That was the head maid? What happened to the other one? Mrs. Jones?”

Liliana blinks rapidly, “Your right. Since when was Mrs. Hilly the head maid? What happened to Mrs. Jones?”

Both sisters turn to Butler Davis in unison.

Butler Davis sighs, and puts down the bandages. It seemed they wouldn’t be given any use today.

“Mrs. Jones had been let go from the Valentine Household months ago, Lady Livia and Miss Liliana. I believe, it happened when you still had been unwell, Miss Liliana. It isn’t surprising that you would not have remembered.”

Livia head snaps to her sister, “You had been unwell? What happened?”

Liliana just waves it off with an awkward laugh, “Sister, now is not the time to think about this. Please, let Mr. Davis finish treating you. I’m sure the healer will be here within a few hours, and then you won’t have to worry about what that dastardly madam did to you at all.”

“I’m not worried though,” Livia says before she can stop herself.

Liliana and Butler Davis blinks at her.

“What?” Liliana asks, confused.

Livia just smiles and says, “My wounds have been tended to. You are dismissed, Mr. Davis.”

Butler Davis slowly packs up the small medical kit he brought with him, looking from one sister to the other, as if waiting for them to tell him to stop before he gets up, bows once, and shuts the door behind him.

“What do you mean you aren’t worried,” Liliana asks, “I would have been so frighten and scared! I still am! That horrible woman, what kind of monster she must be to hurt someone at all! Especially in your condition!” Liliana suddenly looks like she could cry any minute. She places a gentle hand to her sister’s stomach.

“Oh, but what about the baby!? Is he alright? When will the healer come!? You need to be checked right now! That’s it. I’ll go see what is holding them up. Stay here sister. Rest. I will be back soon with the healer in tow!”

And she was gone.

Livia sighs.

She flops heavily on her bed, and closes her eyes. She allows herself a few minutes of silence. Livia knew she would have to get up again soon. It wouldn’t be long before the second act of her plot starts after all.

But for now, she just rests.

Until the hairs on her arm stick up, and the palm of her hand tingles.

Livia eyes snap open, and she gets up with some struggle, before she stares at the figure standing at the foot of her bed, silent as a ghost.

They stare blankly at each other for a few long seconds before Livia huffs, and flops back on the bed.

“What do you want now, Sen?” She asks, half-exasperated, half-annoyed. She rubs at stomach idly. Her son still seemed rather restless.

Sen says nothing, but even with her eyes closed, she senses when he walks around the bed on quiet feet, feel the dip when he sits next to her, and the slight change in tempter when he cast a shadow over her. Livia makes a face when warm fingers brush lightly over the welts on her arms and opens her eyes to properly frown up at Sen.

“Stop that, it’s annoying,” She complains, not moving an inch. Her body seem to only want to sink further into soft mattress below her and she yawns. Getting beaten by an old bitch was rather tiring.

“Since when was this a part of the plan?” Sen asks her in a strange voice. His words were barely above a whisper, and his fingers still lingered on her arm, unmoving now.

Livia sighs and open her eyes (When did she close them?) to stare up at Sen. Only the lower half of his face was visible, the rest was shrouded by shadows. Despite it being in the middle of the day, Livia’s room was dark, her curtains pulled tightly over the brightly lit windows. From what little she could see; Sen was wearing his usual default expression. His mouth was a flat, relaxed line but there was a certain tension in his shoulders. From her positions below, she saw a vein straining on his neck and how his jaw was tightly clamped.

She reaches up and traces a finger along Sen’s face, her eyebrows furrowing.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” Livia asks instead of answering his question.

“Yeah, something did,” he says.

Livia sits up on her elbows, trying to get a glimpse of Sen eyes.

“What? Are the other two alright? Did you run into trouble?”

“Nothing of that kind.”

“Then what is it, Sen?” Livia asks. Something like worry creaks through the cracks.

“I just realized...”

“Yes? Why the hell are you drawing this out?”

Sen looks up, and Livia flinches, surprised by the expression on his face.

“I just realized that you’re a fucking idiot.”

Surprise evaporates. Livia scowls, “What?”

“You an idiot who loves to place yourself in dangerous situations that always could have been easily avoided. What the hell happened Livia?,” Sen asks fiercely, "Why the hell did you think letting that old bitch beat you was vital to your schemes? You are covered in welts and bruises, and for what? Some plot against your mother? We’ve been together for three months. I know you could have thought of another way in that crafty little mind of yours. Something that did not result in you getting hurt,” He growls.

Livia scowl melts. She blinks once. Twice.

Sen was rarely so vocal. And what was with his expression? Was that actual anger? Concern?

It was weird.

It’s only now that she realizes how mild Sen had been. Sure, he wasn’t afraid to tease her, or speak his mind, but it was always restrained. As if he was holding himself back.

But why reframe, now?

Livia didn’t understand. This wasn’t the first time she had put herself in harm's way, and certainly, it would not be the last, but it was always a well calculated risk. Sen knew this.

So, what has changed?

Maybe it was the delicacy of the topic?

A pregnant woman getting beaten.

Yeah, Livia could see how that would not sit right with anyone who had even a sliver of common decency. But then she turns over what Sen had just said.

‘Something that did not result in you getting hurt.’

Her eyes narrow involuntary.

“You...are worried about me?” She asks cautiously, slowly. As if she was testing the words out. They feel foreign on her tongue. Bizarre.

Livia wishes she could take them back. In her mind, she pictures herself ripping down cautious signs and slipping under yellow tape.

This was new territory.

They never acknowledged it. Ever.

It had been a silent rule between them. A wall that Livia had placed, and one that Sen had respected.

They were companions, born out of curiosity, broken trust, guilt, and a simple need to use what had been offered. There was no need to see beyond it or to think deeper about it. The reason they got together is shallow, fragile, and the reason they stayed together could crack and break any day now. There was no point in forming attachments beyond basic companionship and pleasantry.

Livia had never wanted to go beyond that. So, why didn’t she break the blood pact? Why had she given in and allowed Sen to accompany her when she knew, it wasn’t an explicit necessity?

She had never bothered to asks those questions until now, and she was even more unwilling to think up an answer.

Now she stares at Sen and he stares back.

Both of them are looking at the other as if they grew three heads.

“What kind of stupid question is that?” Sen asks after a while, glancing away.

But Livia scoot closer to him, and turns his chin so their eyes meet again.

“It’s the kind that you are going to answer,” she says firmly.

Sen removes her hand, “No,” he says, his tone matching hers.

“Why not?” Livia asks.

“Because it does not matter either way. It won’t change anything,” Sen says, turning back towards her.

Livia thinks about this, and nods, “Your right. It won’t,” She agrees, “But, going back to what you asked earlier, the reason I did this was because a better opportunity presented itself and I took it. And your right, maybe if I gave it more thought, I could have found another way but at least by doing this to myself, I get everything I want with fewer steps.”

“And what do you want?” He asks.

“A reprieve.”

Sen raises an eyebrow, “You?”

Livia smirks faintly, “Even I know when it’s time to retreat and lick at old wounds. Plus,” She looks down at her stomach, petting it, “It’s not only myself that I am thinking about. There is no way around it. I’m going to be having a baby soon, and I rather not do it in this type of environment, but my options are becoming more limited the further my pregnancy progress.”

Livia eyes glaze over slightly, “I never had a baby. I have never been a parent. I-I don’t want to screw this up any more then I already have. I want to be comfortable, safe,” The last part she whispers.

She looks up, her eyes sober, “And I’m tired of constantly looking over my shoulder, waiting for the other fucking shoe to drop. I’m done running, but I also know that the Valentine household is furthest thing from a home. But for now, it will have to simply do for when I give birth. Until I can find...no, create something else.”

“But your mother and father won’t let you birth a bastard. At least, not where they can see you,” Sen points out with a flicker of emotion in his eyes, “I know how these family's work. They will try send you away. And when they do, they will take your son and pretend that he never existed.”

Livia nods in agreement, a cold look in her eye, “I know.”

Sen leaned in close, a frown on his mouth, “And yet, you want to stay here?”

“My sister is here.”

Sen scoffs, “Then just take her and go someplace else. The place isn’t safe for either of you.”

“Despite him being a cold son of a bitch, my father always adored my sister. She loves him, and I will not force her to follow me,” Livia says, her tone flat.

“What else?” Sen asks, his tone once more matching hers.

Livia lifts her chin, “Meaning?”

“That isn’t all of it, is it? If you wanted to be safe, comfortable, it is well within your abilities to make it happen without going through all this trouble. If you don’t want to force your sister hand, then you could still visit her in secret or some other way. There has to be more,” Sen says with absolute certainty.

Livia looks upward, and then to the side, smiling slightly, “Your right. There is. Want to take a guess?”

Sen laughs, but there isn’t a drop of humor in it.

“Revenge. Close Proximity.”

Livia smile widens, “Exactly.”

“And how long do you intend to stay under the Valentine roof? How exactly do you intend to keep yourself safe when you are anything but?” Sen wants to know.

“By sheer force of will and the power of friendship.”

Livia throws her head back and cackle at the expression on Sen face.

“Hehe, but seriously, it’s not that complicated,” She says wiping a tear, “I may have gone off course a bit, but the plan is still essentially the same. With those two by my side, I will be just fine. It’s only for three months. After that, well, who know?”

Sen sighs and shakes his head, looking annoyed, “I don’t get how you can be so flippant at times.”

Livia flaps her hand at him, “It’s fine. You know I have backup plan upon backup plan, just in case. But really, even I think I may be overdoing it. I guess it’s fine though. It’s always better to be overly cautious.”

Sen says nothing.

Livia yawns again, and blinks slowly, “I think they should be here by now. Plenty of time for my mother to schmooze and stall them.”

She stretches, and slowly maneuvers off the bed. When Sen stands before her, and offers his hand, she takes it without a word and get to her feet.

“Thanks,” She mutters, and turns away, but his hand tightens around hers. Livia stops, look up in silent question.

“You still don’t trust me, do you?” He asks her, staring at her intently.

Livia yawns again, and then sighs, “It isn’t about trust.” She says eventually.

“Then what is it about?”

Livia lets out another tired sigh, “I thought you didn’t want to talk about this.”

Sen goes quiet. Thinking.

“You said you wanted to be cautious. Overly so.”

“What about it?” Livia asks, eyeing her bedroom door.

“So, isn’t three better than two?”

Livia pauses. Then she looks up at Sen.

Her mouth opens, then she closes it. She sighs. She was too tired to over think it anymore. Who knows what Sen was thinking or why he was doing this. In this moment, Livia did not care. She still had ACT II to play, and after she was going to crash and not get up until next morning.

“You want to re-join my protection squad?” Livia asks bluntly.

“...yeah.”

“Fine. I’ll make sure it’s done. I have to go now.”

Sen watches drops her hand and watches as she crosses the room and opens the door.

“Did you at least handle the old had that did this to you?”

Livia snorts, “What kind of stupid question is that?” She throws back and closes the door behind herself.

“I will make sure that my daughter is informed. And I do apologies that she was not able to greet you, your highnesses,” Livia could hear Lynette saying at the entryway.

“Mummy? Who are you talking too?” Livia asks around another involuntary yawn as she slowly descends the grand stair case. The three figures below turn in her direction.

Livia wishes she could see it in slow motion.

The way her mother flinches at her voice, spins around and stares at her like she seen a ghost. The way Rodale and Prince Kolton both freeze in their tracks. The way the two targets default expressions, Rodale; blank eyed, Kolton; A small smirk, cracks and falls to their feet when they registered the state she was in.

There was a glorious moment of silence.

And then, “What the hell happened to you?”

Kolton drops all pretense in his shock.

“Livia, what are those marks on your arms? What happened?” Rodale asks, forgetting to address her properly.

And Lynette.

Poor old mummy.

It seemed she had become a frozen figure for the second time today.

Livia hides her smile in a frown as she crosses her arms over herself, as if she was trying to hide, and glares. She was done with her masks. She was done pretending be someone she hadn’t been for a long time. The OG Livia was dead. And now, only she stood in her place.

“Why are you two here?” She snaps instead of answering them.

Lynette comes alive at her words, and rushes up the stairs to her side, “Goodness, why are you standing up after everything you’ve been through today! Had Butler Davis treated your wounds already? Well, I see that he has, but why didn’t he bandage them properly? The ointment is all dried up. Well, I suppose it does not matter. The healer should be arriving soon enough. Now, come along dear, you should be resting,” She rambles as her hands clamp like steel around Livia arms, causing her to wince, and she tries turn her daughter back to the stairs.

Livia elbows Lynette to the side none to gently, “I suppose that would be in your best interest, wouldn’t it mother?” She asks as she swats at imaginary dust on her dress.

Lynette keeps the worried smile on her face, “Livia, please dear. I know you have been through a lot, but we are in the company of guest. Now, go back to your ro-”

“Just wait a moment now. Are you really trying to usher her off without explaining anything?” Prince Kolton cuts in.

“You said that Lady Livia had been resting, but made certain to not mention a single word as to why,” Rodale comments, his expression back to being cold and detached.

Lynette loses her smile, her eyes becoming sadden, “Yes, well, it had all happened so suddenly. I am still processing it,” she says, her tone wobbling a bit.

“What. Happened.” Kolton states with crossed arms.

Lynette wipes an imaginary tear as her eyes dart to Livia, “As you can see, my daughter is in such a state. Please, let me lead her upstairs to rest, and then I will tell you everything.”

Prince Kolton and Rodale exchange looks.

“But I’m not tired mummy. In fact, after the day I had, resting is the last thing I want to do. I will only be haunted with nightmares of today over and over again. Best I stay awake a little longer,” Livia says and start waddling down the stairs. When she reaches the last step, Rodale offers his hand, but she passes right by and heads for the main sitting room.

“Plus,” She says, turning to stare back up at her mother, “You weren’t even there to see what really happened. I guess now is as good as a time to tell you.”

Buy Lynette was already shaking her hand, looking genuinely worried as her eyes darts between the three standing below her, “Nonsense, dear. You can tell me when you are good in ready. There is no rush.”

“I’m ready now,” Livia replies instantly, her tone hard.

“But-” Lynette closes her mouth, her eyes looking frantic, and then open them again, “The healer will want you to rest.”

“I cannot. I just said that,” Livia says, not giving an inch.

Then she turns to Prince Kolton and Rodale, “Unless you two have something else to do?”

“We don’t.” Prince Kolton confirmed.

Livia just jerks her head in the direction of the empty room, “Then sit. Me and mother will be inside shortly.” She commands. Her tone, her gestures, there wasn’t an ounce of aristocratic elements to be seen. She did not care.

Prince Kolton and Rodale share another look, but they walk inside the room they just vacated. Curiosity overpowering any offence for the moment.

When Livia turned around again, Lynette was standing before her.

“Go back to your room,” Lynette says coldly and without prompt.

“No,” Livia says, her tone just as frosty as her mother’s.

Lynette grabs her arm, Livia yanks it away.

They stare each other down.

Livia smirks, “This is going nowhere. So, let’s cut to the chase.” She jabs her finger at her mother, “You don’t want me telling Prince A and B what happened. Or more exactly, you don’t want me telling them the truth, correct?” She says, lowering her tone.

Lynette glares daggers at Livia, “How dare you talk back to your mother this way,” She hisses, “You will not tell them because I said you won’t. Now, go back to your room.”

Livia doesn’t move, “Yeah, I don’t know why you thought that would work a second time.”

Lynette once more tries to grab her; Livia nearly breaks her fingers.

Lynette yanks her hand with a gasp of pain, cradles it against her chest, and stares at Livia like she had never seen her before in her life.

“I advise you don’t do that again,” Livia says then rolls her eyes, “You know what? Why am I even bothering to bargain with you? This could go either way and the end results would still be the same.” She turns on her heel.

“No, wait!” Lynette makes to grab Livia arm and stops short.

Livia turns back, “Yes?”

“Don’t tell them,” The demand sound too similar to a plea for Lynette, but she can’t take back the words now.

“In exchange for what, exactly?” Livia asks.

Lynette stares at her.

Livia eyebrow ticks up, “What? Did you think I was offering it up out of the goodness of my heart? I wasn’t.”

“Surely, you can see how this reflect badly on the Valentine Household? It would not be wise to say whatever it is you think has happened.” Lynette says.

Livia nods, “Right, so you got nothing to give,” She makes to enter the room.

“Wait! J-just...what do you want?”

Livia holds out her pinky without a word.

Lynette stares at it, then her lips curl before they soften into a mocking smile. She curls her pinky around her daughter.

“Same as last time?” Livia asks idly.

“Yes, of course,” Lynette says, and thinks it holds no meaning at all.

“Ok. What do you want me to tell them, mother?” Livia asks flatly, dropping her mother’s hand like it was trash.

Lynette back straightens and her chin raises, “Just follow my lead, darling. I’m sure, with your immense acting skills, it shouldn’t be too hard,” she says and brushes past her daughter to walk inside.

Livia watches her go, then stare down at her pinky. Three creases appear were there should only be one. She thumbs over the new crease and smiles.

How easy it was to tangle people up in a web they aren’t even aware they are walking into.

With this, she had everything she needed to make the Valentine Household a comfortable and safe place until the baby was born.