I opened my eyes, rubbing them sleepily before stretching my arms.
"Hmm… ahh—!"
My vision slowly returned… and a shadow loomed before me.
…?
"Nasha!"
It was Natasha along with three other maids standing neatly behind her.
"Little Lady, allow us to prepare you for the day. These maids will be attending to you from now on."
Natasha spoke brightly.
I simply nodded.
'Oh! the proposal!'
"D-Duke?" I managed, my voice still strained.
"Oh! His Grace had matters to attend to and departed early while you were resting," she replied. "However, he has extended an invitation to share a meal with you at noon."
"Ah!" I exclaimed, eyes lighting up.
'Perfect. That gives me time to prepare.'
Later, after Natasha guided me through the morning…
I was carefully bathed, dressed, and fed.
Once everything was done, I slipped away making my way toward the library to plan.
"Woah…"
'So, this is the place where I nearly combust like a balloon…'
I glanced around.
Not a trace of destruction remained.
'I thought it would still be in ruins… Magic really is convenient here.'
'Alright… focus.'
'Based on what I remember… the witch briefly mentioned Mireapple in her potion work.'
'That woman is insane… testing lethal poison on herself over and over, healing, repeating just to build resistance…'
My expression dimmed, eyes softening.
'…What kind of life did she live?'
'It must have been… hard.'
Smack!
I slapped my cheeks, the sting leaving them flushed pink.
'No time for that, Astra!'
'Mireapple… grows in the cold northern regions. The Duke's region.'
'Monsters use it as a food source—but for humans, it's highly toxic.'
'And yet… the cure lies not in the fruit but in its leaves.'
'The witch only discovered this through the guidance of spirits… before they vanished entirely.'
I inhaled slowly.
'If Mireapple can be made edible…'
'Then it could solve the food shortage.'
…
I exhaled.
'But how do I convince him?'
'There's no way His Grace would simply believe me.'
A pause.
My gaze hardened.
'…Then I have no choice.'
'I'll be a lab rat myself.'
In my stroll in the library, I saw a strange book 'Trail of light?'
Click.
"Nasha!"
"Milady, His Grace has returned. He requests your presence for the meal."
"Okay!"
I hurried along on small, quick steps—heart racing with anticipation.
"Duke!"
"Oh… Gremlin. You can speak now?"
"Hmph! Astra can talk now!"
"…Hmm. So, it is... Astra."
He repeated my name, as if testing its weight.
I took my seat beside him.
The table was filled with warm dishes—rich, fragrant, inviting.
Last time, I couldn't enjoy any of it.
But now—
Just the smell alone was enough to make my stomach growl.
The Duke glanced at me as I practically drooled over.
"…Did I unknowingly invite a starving beast into my estate?" he said nonchalantly
I snapped my head toward him, narrowing my eyes in silent protest—
Then promptly ignored him.
'Don't let him ruin this moment. Focus on the food.'
When he began eating, so did I.
Warm, tender meat—rich flavor spreading with every bite.
It was… perfect.
"So."
His voice cut through the moment.
"I require answers."
I stiffened slightly.
"Were you ought to be one of the children thrown into the war? Is that why you were on that battlefield?"
...
"…Astra doesn't know."
The words felt heavy.
Even I found it strange unable to answer something so basic.
There had never been a clear story… of how Astra became the witch.
he hummed in response
"Can't remember." I replied solemnly
"…I see."
A pause.
"How do you ought to know magic?"
"I… just can."
"…Very well."
He waved it off.
For a moment the room grew silent
"Eat. And grow plump," he said, his voice unexpectedly warm breaking through the lingering heaviness that clouded the room
I looked up—
Only for him to casually place another bite into my mouth.
'…Is this old man trying to fatten me up before killing me?'
"…What ...a-about Astra?" I asked cautiously.
He hummed and confusingly ask "What about you?"
"…Can Astra stay here? H-how… what can Astra do?"
I fidgeted, gripping my dress.
'There is no such thing as free in this world no matter where you are… I'll be cast out eventually.'
"…."
He raised his hand.
I flinched... eyes shutting tightly, fingers clutching fabric.
'…Is he going to hit me?'
Instead—
A warm hand rested gently atop my head.
He patted it, slow and steady.
"I suggest you remain alive and well," he said. "…and properly fed. Perhaps even plump in this duchy."
"…I-It's, okay?" I asked hesitantly with a hint of confuse.
He studied my behavior for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh.
"Hmm well then… I do not offer charity freely. When you are older, capable even. You need only repay me in whatever manner you are able. When the time comes… I shall accept it willingly."
My eyes lit up.
'That means… I can stay.'
"Thank you…"
I lowered my head, hiding the sting of tears.
'Damn this weak body…'
"Sleep, eat, and play as children ought to while you are here… crybaby," he added, a faint chuckle in his voice.
'I'M NOT A CRYBABY!'
I glared at him in weak protest, silently voicing my complaints while desperately holding back tears. My nose sniffling, eyes reddened as though clinging to dignity by a single thread.
"Yes, yes," he replied, utterly unconvinced feeding me again as I grumbled.
Time slipped by unnoticed.
The meal felt both long… and fleeting.
Eventually, he excused himself, signaling Natasha to tend to me.
'No—no!!'
'Not now…'
'Why is this body getting sleepy again…?'
'I can't fall asleep yet…'
[Duke's POV]
'Her grumbling… sounds like a snow squirrel.'
He continued feeding her—watching closely.
'…No. Not a squirrel.'
Her head drooped, eyelids fluttering as she fought sleep.
'A baby snow bear.'
Despite her stubborn resistance, she was still a child.
Fragile. Small.
"Natasha."
At his call, she stepped forward.
"See that she rests properly."
"Yes, Your Grace."
He rose from his seat, a faint chuckle escaping him.
"Dell."
"Yes, Your Grace. The young lords have gathered, and the council awaits your presence."
He adjusted his coat, expression returning to its usual cold composure.
"…Let us proceed."
As he walked toward the council chamber
A quiet thought lingered.
'Those old men… will prove troublesome.'
[Astra's POV]
'…Mm… so soft…'
"Ah—…"
My body felt unbearably relaxed, sinking deeper into the warmth of the bed.
Slowly, I opened my eyes—
Only to see darkness beyond the windows.
The sun had long since disappeared.
"…ACK—!"
'MY PLAN!!'
I jolted upright and stumbled out of bed.
'Ha—this tiny body is absurdly weak!'
With all the strength my frail arms could muster, I shoved the heavy door open.
'How can a single door be this ridiculously heavy…?'
The halls were unusually quiet.
Too quiet.
Not a single maid lingered nearby.
As I walked deeper into the corridor, I made my way toward the Duke's private study and cautiously knocked.
Knock.
Knock.
…
And again.
My knuckles slowly reddened from repeated attempts.
'…Is he not here perhaps?'
I lowered my hand with a sigh.
'How could my timing possibly be this terrible?'
Defeated, I turned back toward my room, shoulders drooping.
'Perhaps another opportunity will come…'
The moonlight spilled across the hallways, pale silver illuminating the long corridors through towering windows. Curtains fluttered softly from the evening wind.
I stopped walking.
and fallen my gaze to
The moon—
'It looked unusually bright tonight'
"…Huh—"
Suddenly—
"M-MONSTERS—!"
"Agh—!"
Pain pierced through my head.
I clutched my head as my vision blurred violently. Fragments of broken memories surged forward piece by piece.
"HELP—!"
The desperate scream echoed through my mind.
Blood.
Screaming.
I steadied my breathing with difficulty.
'…The bloody moon…'
My expression paled.
"My Lady?"
A voice snapped me back to reality.
"You ought to be resting. Why is the little lady wandering the halls on such a cold night?"
It was the Knight Theron.
As he stepped closer, concern crossed his face the moment he noticed my condition.
"Milady—you're pale."
Without hesitation, he carefully lifted me into his arms.
"The Duke—" I grabbed onto his sleeve, panic flickering through my eyes. "Duke…"
"His Grace? He is currently in council with the vassals," Theron explained gently. "The matter is… urgent. Especially given the worsening situation in the North."
"Ah—"
My fingers tightened slightly.
'How could I forget…?'
This night.
The beginning of it all.
The phenomenon where monsters swarmed in unprecedented numbers
Dragging the North into ruin.
As we passed by the council chamber, the area was heavily guarded.
'…How strange.'
'During my walk through the halls, I hadn't seen a single soul lingering about…'
The atmosphere itself felt tense.
"Rey!"
Theron's voice called out, catching the attention of a knight with sharp black hair who immediately turned toward us.
"Sir Theron," the knight spoke flatly, "your conduct is unbecoming of the House of Orian."
"Ah—my apologies, Captain," Theron replied awkwardly. "Though… would it be possible to request an audience with His Grace?"
"What a foolish question," Sir Rey grumbled. "His Grace is presently occupied with matters far too important to—"
He abruptly stopped mid-sentence.
Theron had subtly shifted his gaze toward me.
Realization dawned on the captain almost instantly.
"…A-Ahem."
His posture straightened.
"At present, His Grace is unable to attend to your needs, Little Lady," he said, his tone still cold and disciplined though noticeably more restrained and sharp than before.
But I barely paid attention.
My thoughts were elsewhere entirely.
Specifically,
'A massacre was about to unfold'