The next day, “suicide” became the official reason for Taikō, the duke’s death. Coelestis did not want to anger the winter land of Hiver when they were at war with Smaragdos. They also feared they might switch sides.

Airi covered her waterworks with both hands in front of the reporters. “He told me everything was perfect… I should’ve seen the signs. He kissed me longingly right before he did the deed in the bathroom. Oh, what have I done….” She bawled more, and one of them gave her a handkerchief.

“It’s not your fault, ma’am. We couldn’t have done anything else to stop it,” the chief of police comforted her. It did not do much as she cried further.

Airi dried her last tears. “Thank you so much for your support. Would you like some tea and cookies?” she asked everyone in the room.

They turned down the widow’s offer. They wanted to give her more time to grieve for her loss. The reporters said their goodbyes, and the chief of police tipped his hat with a smile. Airi smiled back and waved at them.

As the door closed, she sighed in relief. “That takes care of it….” She snapped her fingers for the butler’s attention. He saw her smiling. It looked genuine and motherly, yet the vibe was off.

She fixed her face. “Is my sweet darling Tokino safe? Is she doing fine?”

He cleared his throat. “Well… ma’am, she’s always in good hands. You were the one that—” He interrupted himself. He saw her soul-staring glare.

She walked with heavy steps and grabbed his clothing. “Don’t you dare make light of this… She’s never in ‘good hands’ unless I fully embrace her; to shield her from this ungodly world!” She pointed her knife at him. “Choose your words carefully next time. You filthy, ugly steward.”

Airi slapped the butler’s left cheek and walked away with a glare. He sweated bullets and recalled the reporters who interviewed him as a witness. He felt shackled by enormous guilt and walked out of the mansion. “I can’t continue this, you evil wench… Find a more loyal steward in Hell….” He removed his bowtie.

A young maid quit her job as well and followed him behind.

Near the hallway’s end lay a new room, close to the torture chamber. Airi covered the walls, floor, and ceiling with minuscule runes. Touching said runes made them visible. The interior stereotypically catered to little girls. Dolls, stuffed animals, a rocking horse, and a tea set.

Tokino sat at the table. She showed her sulk once again—with a hint of resentment. She scratched the table with a fork the whole time.

Airi kissed her left cheek and hugged her. She moved to her ear. “I bought you your favorite color. I want to see you try it on.” She pulled out an ornate garment via runes. It fitted any royal who had money to burn.

She walked her to the dressing cabinet. The more she fit the dress on her daughter, the happier she looked. On the other hand, Tokino’s face was pale and robotic.

Airi’s heart bounced upon seeing her in the mirror. “Oh, my little darling. Even when you’ve inherited my lavender crown, your beauty is forever unrivaled. And with matching clothes, I now see the real you.” She kissed her cheek again and lent a hand. “Come… Let’s have lunch.”

She accompanied her to the tea table. She noticed several moldy plates of uneaten crumpets and porkpie. “Oh, dear….” She cast runes and turned the table squeaky clean. “Don’t scare me like that, my Tokino. I can’t have you on an empty stomach.”

Airi pulled out a basket using runes again. Today’s lunch was blood sausages and gravlax. “Go on, dig in,” she said. “Eat as much as you like. Judging by how you missed out on your breakfast, I insist dearly.”

Tokino sat in front of her mother. She never touched her meal and even barely lifted her utensils.

She looked at her with deep concern. “Oh, what’s wrong, darling? Is this room not for you? Too small? If you want, I can sleep beside you for the night.

“I’m sorry that I won’t be able to do that all the time. A mother is always so busy. But when I can, I’ll be with you. A mother never neglects her precious cub,” she placed her hand on her chest.

Even after her whole declaration, Tokino uttered no word. Eventually, she lifted her head. “I hate you…” she muttered.

Airi’s eyes frowned. “No, no, darling,” she shook her head. “No one can hear you clearly in that tone. Tell me anything. I’ll listen and grant your wish.” She smiled faintly.

“I hate you,” her voice raised a little. She pulled up a knife she hid under the dresser. “…I hate you!!” She stabbed her mother’s hand.

Unexpectedly, she giggled. “Oh, darling… Even when you’re angry, you’re still gorgeous.” She slowly pulled it out.

Tokino’s eyes narrowed, and her teeth clenched. Her seeth reached the tipping point. She unintentionally used magic and flash-stepped before her mother’s eyes. She pulled up another knife and stabbed her chest repeatedly.

Airi smiled no matter how much she stabbed her. It was like the Gods blessed her with immortality. Now desperate, she moved her knife faster than before. Tears welled up, feeling utterly hopeless.

She gently hugged her even when attacked. “Oh no, no, no, my sweet darling Tokino. Anger is never good for the soul. Besides, I use runes to heal myself and numb the physical pain.

“Emotionally, however, I’m really hurt. It pains me to see you this way. Any other mother would’ve cursed her life witnessing her cub like this. But I still love you a million deaths. No matter what….” She hugged her tighter.

Tokino teared up a river and grunted with teeth clenched. She set her eyes on murdering the one who murdered her father. Unfortunately, a knife was not enough. She dropped it and bawled a river of utter despair. “Papa… Papa. Hug me….”

Airi rubbed her back. “Shhhhh. It’s alright, darling. No one will ever hurt you. Not even me.” She took her out of her room. It was time for her now daily “education” again.

It was more or less the same: Tokino would observe a wartime prisoner mangled before her. Like always, she could never look away or blink, yet her eyes never dried.

Airi decided to flay the prisoner’s skin alive. This time, she doused him in salt and rubbing alcohol. The screams echoed throughout the mansion. Even the busy chefs heard it, making their imaginations run wild.

Tokino’s foresight activated on its own once more. She prayed to the Gods to end the victim’s torture soon enough. Alas, it took three hours for him to croak.

Airi concluded her daughter’s lesson for the day. She untied her straps gently. “Excellent, darling… You cried less than the last time. I can’t wait for you to grow wings.” She kissed her left cheek.

The prisoner’s final agony had stuck with Tokino ever since. She fell to her knees and gagged. However, not a drop of vomit came out. It caused her to have multiple reflexes.

Airi lifted her head. “Don’t worry, my sweet Tokino. I thought about everything. Stomach acid going up one’s throat counts as pain, so I cast runes inside you.” She accompanied her back to her room.

She decided to have dinner with her daughter inside. It was none other than her favorite: currywurst with fries. “What do you think?” she smiled. “I made it all by myself. Eat all you like. You need more energy than I do.” She placed some utensils on the tea table.

Tokino’s mouth watered before her favorite even when she did not want to. Her stomach grumbled, so she had no choice. However, she ate her meal slowly.

Airi sighed and smiled. “That’s it, darling. Never deny your hunger. Take as little as possible, though. I heard that starving people die when fed too much food at once.” She began her meal as well. “So… Do you want me to sleep beside you tonight? I have spare time.”

Tokino shook her head. “No, thank you…” she muttered.

“Oh, I see,” She hugged her for the night. “If anything’s wrong, please call me by the doorbell beside your bed.” She went for the door.

As she did, Tokino looked up at her. “Did you hate Papa…?” Her face remained robotic.

Airi turned and shook her head. “No, darling. I never did. But my love for him waned over time. The only ‘love’ I had left for my Taikō is something I can’t tell you. Only when you’re older.”

She walked closer. “Then why—did you kill Papa? You’re a murderer. I thought you hated people like that.” Her eyes narrowed a little.

She sighed and held her cheeks while kneeling. “As you know, you’ll become me in the future.” She stroked her hair. “I needed to make sacrifices to remove your flaws. Wonderful your father was—he stained your soul—turning you weak.

“The world never forgives the weak, darling. Believe me. My father took every advantage of my vulnerable side. And my jealous mother gave me the scars you see before you.”

Tokino sweated bullets. “B-But I don’t want to be you. Is it okay if I—”

She shook her head. “Oh no, no, my sweet darling. That’s no good. I don’t know what I’d do if you were far away from my arms.” She stroked her hair faster and harder.

“But I really don’t, Mama…! Your job scares me. I hate being scared. Every time I walk to that room, I—” She felt no sting from her left cheek.

Airi panted with her eyes lit up. She hugged her tightly. “I’m so sorry, darling. But no means no, do you understand? Remember. When I ‘hurt’ you, I’m only hurting your father within you. Please give my lessons some time. I promise you’ll never feel afraid again.” She kissed her goodnight and exited the room.

Tokino fell to her knees. Anxiety clad her being at that moment. Her mind failed to fathom her mother’s love. It was genuine yet made her sick to her stomach. The more she tried to make sense of it, the more it became unclear and terrifying. “Papa… Help me….” She hyperventilated. “Help me!”

Her mind concluded even when she told it not to. She would be trapped in a hellish bedroom and a hellish cycle until she became the new Guillotine of Hiver. At that moment, Tokino pictured her adult self flaying a prisoner. Her mother smiled from behind, and she smiled back.

Tokino hyperventilated louder. “No… No! I don’t want to kill. I don’t wanna kill!” Tears welled up again. She looked around the room in a frenzy. She picked up a bread knife and aimed it at her stomach. It was futile. She felt no pain, and it failed to pierce her body no matter the effort. However, she carried on desperately.

She moved the knife over and over for an hour. More tears rolled down her cheeks as she did it faster. “Please… Please! By the Gods, end me!” Her arms now reached their limit. She dropped the knife, and her tears flowed more. For the rest of the sleepless night, she wallowed in her salty sorrows on the floor.

Dawn shined through the window. Her face went blank, and she felt something growing in her soul. Her calm rage festered, even for the littlest things. She swapped every mosquito above her effortlessly.

Rats always disgusted her. Instead of freeing them, she did not hesitate to stab one on the table. Even so, she cried in regret. “Forgive me, Papa… I’ve become her. I can’t control it anymore….” She fell on her back in exhaustion.

“I hate… everything….”