Leo: Apparently Reina fell asleep or something, as it is my job to manage the story for a bit. I'll answer any questions you have, and talk about future plot developments.

Takumi: *snickers*

Leo: And if you guys want, you can direct your questions to Takumi as well. *smirks*

Takumi: Grr... Why can't Odin do it instead of me?

Leo: I have no idea where he went. He's probably goofing off somewhere.

Takumi: ....

Leo: Anyway, here's the newest chapter. *whispers* Why did Reina do this?

Takumi: What did you say?

Leo: Nothing!

The rain that had been pouring on and off for the best three weeks finally ended. You would have cheered, but everything was muddy, forcing everybody inside for another few days. Or rather, the prince and princesses stayed inside while the servants and retainers went outside to do cleaning or to tend to the garden. You were in charge of taking care of the roses, as Flora handled the cleaning, Felicia swept the floor, and Jakob was off cleaning the inside of the castle. You began to water the plants and happily listened to the robins chirping in the trees.

"(Y/N)!" Flora called as she was hanging up some clothing to dry.

"Yes?" You call back as you wipe the sweat off your brow.

"Be careful. There's some mud puddles near your feet."

You nod and took special care to not dirty your shoes.

You began to trim the flowers when you heard someone yelp beside you. You turn and see Odin grabbing his hand.

"What did you do?" You ask.

"Ouch! Sev- Selena wanted the most magnificent rose, but I have been faced with a new nemesis!"

"... You do know that roses have thorns, right?" You ask hopelessly.

"I, the fabulous hero Odin Dark, shall not be bested by this fiend!"

"Are you seriously picking a fight with a rose?" Maybe Severa sent you to get a rose on purpose because Odin lacks common sense, you add silently.

"Prepare yourself!" Odin yelled at the black rose.

"..." You sigh and cut the rose off, trimming the thorns off. Once you were satisfied with the rose, you handed it to Odin. "Crisis averted."

Just as Odin was about to accept the rose, you felt someone place something on your ear. You turn to see Cori standing there with a smile.

"Uh... Cori?"

"You look better with the rose," Cori stated calmly.

You blink and blush furiously. You open your mouth to retort, before you heard someone cough.

"Odin! Severa wants to see you."

Odin nodded and walked off, thanking you for defeating "the cursed rose." As you tried to process this, Cori walked off, leaving you standing there with Leo.

"Good morning," you tell Leo.

Leo nods in response. "Good morning, (Y/N). The weather's improved greatly."

You nod. "It has... It feels good to be out here."

"It does."

"How are things going with Takumi?" You ask.

Leo scowled. "I want to punch his face until he bleeds."

"... At least you have zero intention of strangling him now..." You add. The other day Takumi had been mildly annoying Cora, and Leo threatened to kill him if he did that again.

"What about strangling?" Someone demanded.

"Oh great," Leo muttered.

Takumi walked up and glared at Leo, which would have been hilarious if he wasn't shorter than the Nohrian.

"Go away, Rapunzel."

"Blood sucker," Takumi spat.

"Hosh**ian."

"Nohrian scum."

You sigh and walk past them to keep tending to the flowers. Their insults kept getting louder, but thankfully Elise and Sakura were inside.

After making sure that the roses were okay, you got up to leave. As you began to walk off, you stepped into the slippery mud and began to fall backwards.

"Kya!" You scream and try to balance yourself, but it wasn't working. Thankfully, Takumi managed to catch you and stop you from getting hurt.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

Stab him, the voice in your head commanded.

"Thanks!" You reply as he allowed you to stand upright, but he kept his arm around your hip.

"Get away from her," Leo snarled as he snatched you from Takumi. "I refuse to let the pineapple get his filth onto (Y/N)!"

But I'm not from Nohr, you protest silently.

"I'm not going to get her sick!" Takumi yelled as he pried Leo's arms off of you. "See? She's perfectly fine."

Before Leo could retort, Cori snuck up behind Leo and Takumi and shoved them into the mud.

"Hey!" Both princes yelled.

Cori laughed. Enraged, Leo and Takumi grabbed him and threw him in the mud as well, causing his clothes to get dirty.

"No fair!" Cori spat.

As Leo and Takumi glared at Cori, you slipped away to avoid getting dirty. You didn't want Jakob to lecture you for getting the floors dirty.

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

A few hours later, you were walking down the hallway and humming. Dinner was going to be ready soon, and you just needed to get the blood for the Nohrians.

You should kill the Nohrians, the voice in your head stated.

You growl and stop moving. Who are you? You're not my thoughts.

Hm? Oh, I'm Lamia. And just do as I say.

Why should I?

Because it's your destiny, Lamia whispered.

You shook your head. I don't believe in predetermined destinies.

You'll be sorry, Lamia whispered.

You wait for Lamia to add something, but she didn't. Before you could move forward, someone knocked on the door.

Who's here at this hour? You ask yourself as you approach the door. You open the door to see a girl of your height staring back.

"Welcome," you curtsy.

"Is this where the Nohrian royalty live?" She asks.

"Yes," you reply. You open the door wider and allow her in.

Kill her, Lamia whispered.

Shut it, you hiss silently.

As you close the door, you turn to the newcomer and blink. She wore a elegant victorian blue dress that complimented her blue-green eyes and blonde-white hair. She wore expensive jewelry and her hair was braided.

I don't like her, Lamia whispers.

You walk over to her and point to your right. "We're about to eat dinner. I'll announce your presence, Lady...."

She glares at you. "I'm Duchess Leora of Nohr."

"Yes, milady," you bow.

Rude, Lamia commented.

You turn and walk to the dining area. As you enter, everyone turned to you as you curtsy. "I now present Duchess Leora of Nohr."

As you look up, you saw Takumi glaring at Leora, Odin avoiding her gaze, and Cori looking at you. Everyone else smiled at Leora.

"Please sit," Xander offered.

Leora walked forward and sat down in the closest seat. You grab the pitcher of blood and begin to pour it for the Nohrians.

"May I ask you business here?" Camilla asked.

"My father sent me so that I may report on our land and finances," Leora responded.

As you begin to serve Cora her drink, Leora snapped her fingers. "Serving wench! Bring me the finest drink you have."

Serving wench?! You scream internally.

That's cold. You should stab her here, Lamia muttered. I could do it for you.

No thanks, you replied.

"As... You wish," you muttered dejectedly. You wanted to smack Leora for that, but something told you that you might incur someone's wrath for doing that.

As you walk towards the door, Leora suddenly got out of her chair, causing you to trip and to spill the blood on her dress.

"You ruined my dress!" She wailed. "Get away from me, peasant!"

"But-"

"Leave, (Y/N)."

You stare up at Xander in shock. After meeting his stern gaze, you lower your eyes.

"As you wish, milord."

You quickly get up and bolt from the room. Once you were far enough away, you curled up in a ball and begin to cry. You didn't understand why Leora was being a jerk, or why Xander so readily listened to her.

Leo: ...

Takumi: Okay, really? A cliffhanger?

Leo: Well, Reina did have problems writing an ending, so I'm pretty sure that the chapter ended here to make things easier.

Takumi: True... But such a cruel chapter.

Leo: Yeah... Anyhow, we need... 11 votes for the next chapter.

Takumi: And if you want to ask questions, please feel free to do so!

Leo and Takumi: Until next time!