-September 19th of 1963

The dungeon is cold and moist as water drips from the ceiling onto the wet puddles below. A chained ragged figure sits on the floor, leaning against the wall. The tangled red hair is covered in dirt as the once unblemished skin is dark with grime.

The grimy bare feet are covered in callouses as the prisoner crosses her legs. From high on up a very small barred window allows for moonbeams to shine down into the dungeon. The night carries the scent of autumn as trickles of white petals are carried in and fall like snow.

Lena reaches out catches an unblemished petal in her hand. The stark contrast is evident as the bottom side of the petal is instantly blackened from a mere touch of her skin. Lena’s breath is faintly seen in the chilly air as the petal takes flight, before drifting into a puddle and sinking.

It had been months since her imprisonment and Lena had spent her 18th birthday there. If not for the interface, Dolly’s animals and Gauthiers sprits, Lena would have gone mad. In her endeavors, Lena had forgotten a cautionary tale, “The candle that burns the brightest, burns the fastest.” The nail that sticks out is the first one to be nailed in.

The sound of crunching footsteps is heard as Lena warily turns her head towards the source. In the dim moonlight a figure appears before the barred cell. Lena’s eyes darken in recognition but would not give the figure the satisfaction of seeing her surprise.

“Are you well?” King Julius Sorrell asked as he softly placed a wooden stool on the floor and sat down. The grimy woman before him did not bare very much resemblance to the woman of his memories. But those turquoise eyes could never belong to anyone else but her.

Lena voice croaks from lack of use as she emotionlessly replies, “The food is terrible and the ambiance is just as terrible, but the current company leaves much to be desired for.”

King Julius nods in understanding and says, “Are you wondering, why I am here?”

“Not really.”

“I understand your being cross with me. But it had to be done, I was left with no other choice,” King Julius sincerely said as Lena did not react to his words. This words linger in the air as he recalls the start of everything.

Though busy, King Julius was no fool. Too late, he had realized the truth of his Queen Florence, but still, he could not help but love her. Turning a blind eye to her affairs, he protected his reputation, Alyssum, but most importantly his children.

King Julius had seen how the Queen would at times lay traps for the nobles. It wasn’t severe but enough to hurt the kingdom. Still, he was lenient as Apone, was their alley. He could ill afford to insult them even if his wife was only an earl’s daughter.

Adopting a princess was necessary, but there was no need to choose Lena of Bartholomew. But years as a King had taught him a valuable lesson, plausible deniability. There are times when is far better to lie, then to uncover truth. If the people, they would rebel and death would befall all.

Instinct had led the King to choose her and she had served him well. Yet on that fateful night a messenger relayed a message, to choose between his Queen or Princess Lena. After reading the incriminating documents, he was left with no choice. He could not allow the kingdom to be further weakened.

The king abided his time until he found an opportunity to set everything into place. Princess Lena was sent to the Demon Kingdom as everything fell into place. And even though she was falsely accused, Lena Bartholomew still did not was required of her. Not once did she speak in her own defense.

King Julius is broken out of his revive as Lena asks, “Did Duke Bartholomew know?”

Startled King Julius shakes his head. “No, Randolph would have never stood for it. He was not made aware of the charges until minutes before,” King Julius soberly answered.

“Then how long ago was this setup, was it from the very beginning?”

“No, but very soon after.”

“Is that so, then what now?” Lena flatly asked.

King Julius is still for some time before quietly replying, “I’m afraid, I cannot allow you to go free. The people of Alyssum must believe you are the one responsible for the heinous crimes committed.”

Lena straightens as her eyes glitter strangely and hisses, “You know who it is? But why-,” Lena pauses as she eyes the King’s stiffened expression.

With a satisfied smile, Lena murmurs, “Ah ha, so that’s it.”

From her expression, King Julius wasn’t certain she was bluffing. But if not, she knew the culprit belonged to the royal family. But even she couldn’t possibly know who it was. Still he could not afford to reveal anything more.

King Julius rises to his feet as Princess Lena darts forward and reaches through the cell bars to grab him. King Julius remains frozen as she raises her face towards his and says, “In that case, pay me my due.”

King Julius falls back onto the stool as Lena returns to her sitting position. Julius rubs his neck as he still feels her cold hands on his throat. King Julius stiffly retorts, “What is your request?”

“Give the Duchy of Hyacinth to the Vivaldi family. The Vivaldi family through poverty stricken is an ancient noble family. None would truly oppose the opposition as Hyacinth is still seen as an undesirable territory.

As for the Investigation Unit promote Barclay Reed at its head with his 1st and 2nd command to be, Private Ace and Military Liaison Gauthier. Barclay Reed through a rebel is a minor noble and his wife is of the house of Devenport. As for Private Ace, though illegitimate he is of the House of Lorcan.

Ensuring that nobles are leading the Investigation Unit will calm the nobles especially when a member of the ruling family is part of the chain of command,” Lena truthfully said.

King Julius waits for more, but Lena does not speak anymore. “Is that all?” King Julius asks as Lena remains still and does not respond.

King Julius narrows his eyes as he truthfully considered her request. It had been weighing on his mind who would take command of Hyacinth, the Vivaldi household would serve his needs very well. An honorable noble line but not ambitious, a perfect fit.

The same reasoning applied to the candidates requested for the head of the Investigation Unit, but still it was a request from the first female general who defeated an entire nation. However, she was a prisoner with zero contact in solitary confinement. It was impossible for her to communicate with the outside world.

But more importantly the those three had more than proven their worth. The nobles were clamoring they be properly rewarded for solving the case of the mad man. There would be no great loss in agreeing to such a request, when he had been planning to reward them.

Unable to disagree or invalidate her request, King Julius rises to his feet. “The bargain is made, Lena of Bartholomew. Witt this my debt is cleared and no further debt exists between us,” King Julius firmly stated before grabbing his sitting stool.

“The Church of Light,” Lena swiftly said.

King Julius halts in his tracks as he turns to face her. A cold smile is on her face as he realized it was a trap. Without further ado, King Julius retreats as swiftly as he came.

Lena ignores the vanishing footsteps as she considers the two points learned. The Church of Light was involved and the culprit belonged to the royal family. It didn’t take much work to put the two together.

The culprit had to be the Queen, but what did the Church of Light gain out of the situation? Lena had already been uncaught unawares once, she might not survive a second time. She had underestimated the situation, becoming too reliant on the plot of the otome scenario and left herself blind open to an attack.

Lena would have to take a step back and reevaluate the situation. What did the Church of Light stand to gain? Power. If so, for what? If it wasn’t to destroy the Demon King, that left two options: unknown enemies or conquest.

Her musings are interrupted as small mouse scurries out of a tiny hole carrying a message. Lena pets the mouse for a moment, before reading the message. The message is nothing she already does not no, but still a reply is needed. S

Lena carefully loosens a stone block and removes hidden writing utensils to write a reply. Allowing the ink to dry, Lena carefully folds the note and places onto the little mouse’s neck. The little mouse squeaks before waddling away the way it came.

Tired, Lena leans back against the clammy wall as watches the moonlight. The moon shimmers in her cell as she hums a faint tune and ends up singing parts of the chorus, “You can go your own way, go your own way.”