There was a lot on her mind. Her day among other things. But she was bothered most of all by what she heard. It kept ringing in her mind. Yuki sighed and looked at herself in the mirror. Her red eyes locked eyes with her own reflection. She leaned back, looking at her retainer who was brushing her hair.

“Hey, Kaguya. What does it mean when someone says that ‘You’re exactly like them’?” she asked.

The black-haired fox kin stopped for a moment. She closed her eyes and pondered her response. “Well, milady, it’s usually comparing you to other people. But they shouldn’t compare you to others. You’re the Imperial Princess. Across this land and in others, you have no equal so whoever does so is committing lese majeste. Shall I find this person and bring them before you?” her eyes gleamed as she asked her.

“N- No, that’s fine. No need to go that far,” she said, turning to face her attendant with some exasperation on her face. “Though, that kid did try to take my wallet-”

“WHAT!?”

Yuki flinched as her ears flattened atop her head. Kaguya’s voice was rather loud.

“Kaguya, it’s not that bad. We got my wallet back, see?” she pulled her drawer out and grabbed a small lavender wallet. Yuki dangled it in front of Kaguya to let her see. Her attendant’s face was anything but calm.

“My lady, this person should be arrested for attempting to steal from a royal. You can’t be this lax,” she responded.

“He’s just a kid and he looked… disheveled. We shouldn’t put him on death row just for being desperate.” She smiled at her and turned back to the mirror.

“My Princess, you’re much too soft. How will you become a wonderful ruler like Lord and Lady Honokami if you let someone like that go?” Kaguya asked as she returned to brushing Yuki’s hair.

Her words made Yuki frown. She looked back in the mirror, not letting anything show in her face.

Humanitas was one of the two days of the week that she didn’t have classes. It was considered a free day for her. While she may have today off, her friends didn’t. Kaguya and Red had training that day and they wouldn’t be out until the afternoon. She looked at the clock in her room. It was almost noon.

Should I sneak out again? I didn’t bring Kaguya last time so maybe we can all go into town together? It was fun last time.

She clenched her fist and got up. Yuki walked over to her closet and looked for the least conspicuous piece of clothing she had. Sifting through layers upon layers of ceremonial and princess kimonos, she sighed. “Everything’s too… hmmm, maybe I can borrow clothes from the maids.”

Yuki smiled as she left her room.

Red wiped the sweat off his brow as he exited the training ground. Kaguya followed closely behind him, looking worse for wear.

“Must suck being Lady Honokami’s apprentice,” he remarked, seeing the bruise forming on her arm.

“No, it’s fine. Yes, it sucks,” Kaguya replied, brushing a stray bang from her hair. Life as a Sage apprentice granted her many perks but a painless existence was not one of them. “Though, without it, I wouldn’t have been able to defend Lady Yuki. This strength as a future sage is what I’ll use to protect the land’s future Empress. What about you? How was training with the others?”

“Painful. Both physically and mentally. Working with blue bloods can be a pain when all they know is luxury,” he said, straining his neck. Feeling a satisfying pop, Red sighed. His eyes drifted over to the bush that was rustling. He was about to pull his sword out when a white blur shot out from the brush and landed in front of them.

“Guys! Come on!” Yuki said.

“What are you wearing?” Kaguya asked, looking her up and down.

The esteemed Princess of Alfheim was wearing clothes unbefitting of her. As opposed to her white Princess Kimono, Yuki wore a plain tan kimono, similar to what the maids wore around the palace. Her hair, alongside her tails, was dyed black thanks to the same skill she used earlier during the week.

“This? Oh, I stole this from the maid’s quarters. No one will miss it,” she answered, smiling confidently.

Kaguya pinched the bridge of her nose while Red let out a chuckle.

“And what do you hope to accomplish by doing this, my lady?”

“Let’s go into town again! I want to see more!” she said, getting in front of the two.

“Going back in?” Red asked.

“Yeah, this is called hands-on experience. It’s something I’ll never learn sitting behind a desk, listening to a bunch of old people talk about how people are supposed to act. I want to know how they actually act. If I can’t know the hearts of my people, how will I be able to rule them effectively?” she pressed, causing Kaguya to back down.

“Y- You have a point,” she said.

“Well? Come on, let’s go!” Yuki said.

Her trip into town had gone much like the first time. However, this time, her disguise had worked enough to prevent others from drawing attention. She figured that dressing as a maid would help her blend in with the common people and allow her to explore unabated.

“I’ve never seen milady smile like that before,” Kaguya said, watching as Yuki played with some children.

“It looks like looking at life beyond the palace is doing wonders for her. She’s connecting with the people she’s supposed to rule over one day.” Red crossed his arms and smiled. Seeing her smile like that made him happy. And judging from the way Kaguya smiled, she was happy as well.

Yuki was a pitiable child. Almost. Despite being the princess, she almost isolated her entire life. She knew nothing of the world beyond the Imperial Complex and relied on her teachers and what she heard from the other nobles.

“Come on!” Yuki called out, gesturing the two over.

The two looked up and saw their esteemed Princess, in the distance near the town square. Red and Kaguya gave each other a look before jogging after her.

The three of them walked down the street, Yuki walking a bit ahead of them. She had gone much further into town than she did on her last trip. As her attendants stood by the fountain, Yuki stood in line at a food stall.

“Did I bring enough money? Red and Kaguya told me not to bring an entire sack of bullions this time but… is this enough?” she opened her wallet and looked at the few dozen bullions inside. She sighed. As soon as the person in front of her stepped out with their order, Yuki walked forward to read the menu. However, before she could rattle off her order, an odd emotion overcame her and the entire street.

Her ears twitched as she heard hushed whispers. She turned her head to see a group of people being dragged out of the house. One of them was kicking and struggling while the others were shuffling their feet.

“My Princess, I think it’s time for us to leave,” Kaguya whispered, as she walked up to her.

“What’s going on?” she asked. “Why are those people being dragged out?”

“Yuki, this isn’t something you need to see. Come on let’s- Hey! Wait!” Red reached out as the girl shook herself from his grip. She broke past the crowd, grabbing a pebble and throwing it at the heads of one of the swordsmen that dragged the people out.

The pebble hit home, causing the warrior’s head to tilt slightly from the impact. He let go of the child he was dragging, allowing the small boy to run towards the elderly dog kin.

“Who dares stand in the way of the Security Commission?” the man bellowed. Yuki stared at him. The man was a Bird Kin, specifically, he was of the Raven Variant. His large black feathered wings fluttered angrily behind his back as he stepped forward. His hand gripped the hilt of his sword tightly.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Yuki asked, crossing her shoulders.

“So it was you then little girl? Interfering in the business of Alfheim’s Security Commission is considered a criminal offense comparable to high treason,” the Raven Kin said, towering over her.

Yuki looked up and smirked at the soldier. The others whispered as Red and Kaguya watched in exasperation. Their princess was far bolder than they realized.

“Was she hiding this side of her the entire time?” Red asked.

“I don’t think so. I’ve been there with her whenever the Emperor and Empress held that banquet for all the gentry. Her attitude was the same back then to the other Daimyo of the court and their children. I think she’s just been holding back,” she said.

“And speaking to your superior in such a manner is the same as high treason. I can have my attendants charge you for committing lese majeste against me,” she said. As she spoke, she deactivated [Physical Masking] skill, causing her eyes to fade to red and her hair to slowly become white.

The guards let go of their wards and their captain stumbled back in shock. That regal and imperious gaze that pierced through his very soul. He visibly trembled as Yuki’s molten red eyes gazed into his own.

“P- Princess!” he stammered, letting go of his sword.

“Now, let me ask you one more time, Captain. What do you think you’re doing?” she said. Despite the height difference, the captain felt small before this child in front of him.

“W- We’re just acting under the law!” he said.

“And what law could possibly warrant you having to drag these peo…” her words died inside her mouth when she saw the child. “I know you.” She walked past the silent captain. The other warriors backed away from her as she stood before the elderly woman and the child.

He looked at her with some awe and some resentment in his eyes. The child bit his lip as he thought of something to say to the girl in front of him.

“You’re the kid who took my wallet,” Yuki said, crossing her arms. Her red eyes made the child feel small and her words caused the elderly woman’s eyes to grow wide.

“W- What!? This brat dare to do that to her-”

“Shut up.” Her words caused the captain’s mouth to snap shut.

“Takeru. You did what to her Imperial Majesty?” the elderly woman asked.

“I… It was for…”

“Is it for your grandmother?” she asked, looking at the woman. The woman looked worse for wear. She was pale and gaunt. Her body was emaciated, looking as if she hadn’t eaten for days on end. But the telltale signs that something was wrong with her were the thick black veins that were prominent on her neck and hands.

The woman coughed, spitting up black bile.

“Are you al-!”

Before she could get any closer, Red grabbed her by the hem of her kimono and pulled her back. “Don’t. This woman is sick. It’s why the Security Commission is taking them away. Please don’t get too close, My Lady. We don’t know how contagious this disease is exactly.”

The boy clutched his grandmother’s hands as she coughed.

“Grandma!”

“My Lady,” the captain said. “Please let us do our jobs and take this woman off to quarantine.”

“NO! I’VE SEEN THE OTHERS! THEY DON’T COME BACK! PRINCESS! PLEASE DON’T LET THEM TAKE MY GRANDMA AWAY!” he begged, prostrating himself before her.

Yuki took a step back, conflicted in her decision. This woman was sick, that much was obvious to her. The extent of her symptoms was unknown and the virulence of whatever she had was also unknown. Yet, something about this was off.

“How long have you been with your grandmother? No, wait, before you answer, let me rephrase the question. How long has your grandmother been sick?” Yuki asked.

Takeru looked up at her. “She… she’s been sick for almost two weeks. She gets weaker by the day.”

“How… how did this start?” Yuki asked.

“I don’t know. She just came home one day after doing groceries and the next day, something was wrong with her,” he replied.

“Two weeks.”

Her ears picked up the hushed whispers of the guards and her attendants.

“Two weeks. Yeah, he said that. That means that it’s only a matter of time.”

“Only a matter of time before what?” she asked, turning her head.

They all stopped talking, turning to her. She gave them a deadpan look and pointed to her ears. Red sighed.

“From what we’ve…”

“You’ve. How come I’ve never been told about this?” she stood up, facing Red and Kaguya.

“We didn’t think it was nece-”

“Not necessary? So what, I’m just supposed to be a wallflower for the rest of my life?” Yuki placed her hands on her hips. “I’m supposed to run this country one day but how can I do this if I don’t even know what’s going on here?”

“The Lord and Lady… they thought it would be better for you to focus on readying yourself before going hands-on in polic-”

“It’s been eleven years! I started my royal education at five and I only have theory to back it up! Am I supposed to ascend to the throne with no practical experience is that it?” her expression was now that of fury. She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Go back.”

“What? But my Lady, if we go back without you, Lady Mizore will rip into-”

“I’ll deal with Mom. Just tell her where I am and I’ll be back after I sort this thing out.” Yuki interrupted her. “And you.” Yuki turned to the guard. “Take me to this quarantine zone. And bring this woman with us. And before you,” she turned to Takeru, “Say anything. This is just a precautionary measure.”

“But my lady!” they all protested.

“I said shut up. I need to see this with my own two eyes. What you’re all trying to make me ignorant of.”