.The Shadow Knight.

-12-

"You should be more careful, this a quite deep lady Akito."

"I dealt with worst." I told the lady nurse that was told to deal with my back, poor thing was so nervous but rightfully so as the empress had brought me here and well.... Never left.

"You shouldn't have to deal with such here," Elise said.

"I will always while serving anyone." The nurse stitching up my back wasn't the only nervous one, I was too, I had pulled my clothes up my back which hiked it up in front as the cloth was pulled right under my breasts, the sliced corset set aside.

"But my own guard shouldn't raise a blade against you."

"I'll teach them a lesson and I don't fear making example of another one of them."

"That's what I love to hear, I see you put on my gloves."

"Well I found them in my given room."

"I found it weird you only had bracers around your forearms and nothing to keep your knuckles safe."

"Well thank you for your gift."

"I got to make sure what is mine stays in one piece."

"Right."

"After this place head over to the main room, I have some work to do so we'll see each other later."

"Right."

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The corset had been sown up with tight twine rope as leather cut this way is hard to repair.

"I heard what happened, you did good." I looked up as I opened the door, two of the three women were there, Rain missing.

"Thanks Kia?"

"You showed them to not mess with you." Melore added, her hair extremely short and deep purple along with red cat eyes, I wonder what being a skin taker would feel like. "Each one of us had to prove ourselves one way, for example me by killing when told to kill, no hesitation."

"And for me it would be that no matter their tries no one can get past the shield I am."

"Wait don't drink that!" Kia looked in surprise before laughing.

"Don't worry Akito, I know what is in my cup but unlike you Wither Away don't hurt me, I am unable to expel magic as it is widely known, just stacking it up in my body, Wither Away eats away at magic, I've drank tees made of this flower since my childhood and I've built up quite an immunity to small doses." I sighed in relief I wasn't going to witness the death of one of Elise's wives.

"How long do you think until the people know I am her fiancee? She did call me that before the guards."

"Only a few days before the empire starts talking about you, your white hair is also an eyesore here along with my silver mane so you won't remain unknown for long."

"Great." I sat down in the white and blue armchair, holding my head.

"Don't despair nothing will be that bad." Melore rubbed my back.

"I know as a shadow knight it is hard but you'll get used to ruling the land with us." Kia added.

"Anyhow." I cut of the discussion before it could delve deeper in that direction. "Why did Elise send me here? And where is Rain? I heard Sel's training was up for now."

"Sel's training is indeed over and Elise had things to do."

"If you are calling Rain things then yeah Elise had things to do."

I tugged the col higher to hide the blush at what Melore insinuated.

"You cannot be serious." I breathed out.

"Oh we sure are, it isn't uncommon."

"Don't scare the poor girl away Melore."

"It is fun to mess with her, after all she is one of us."

"Ignore her uncivilized face, yes they are most likely having 'private time' as Elise puts it to not shock the youngest inhabitants of the castle too much and I suppose you were called here for the same reason as us but weren't told either correct."

"Right."

"So we are all waiting here for answers."

"I suppose."

"Well get comfortable, Elise can take her time."

I hummed, staring at the wall, willing time to go faster but it wouldn't listen, bringing boredom while the wait drew out.

My mind couldn't help but wonder to how easily she declared I was her fiancee when I would have hid it away if it was me.... She really is serious about this huh?... Really is...