As I entered the inn, I found the remaining Xsoha gathered in the main room. A flurry of movement had stirred as I approached—I had seen it in my domain view—but the moment I stepped inside, everything appeared calm. The tables were bare, save for some food and refreshments, as if nothing else had happened.


    It was my first time inside the inn’s tavern, and, to be honest, it looked much better than I had expected. I made a mental note: Maybe I should stop by from time to time. The main dining hall occupied most of the ground floor, with twelve polished wooden tables arranged in a seemingly haphazard manner. The space wasn’t crowded at this hour; aside from the Xsoha, there were about a dozen other guests.


    The room had vaulted ceilings and a polished wood interior, lending it a warm, inviting atmosphere. Several windows lined the two exterior-facing walls—the ones to my right and behind me, flanking the entry door—each adorned with fine white draperies that softened the daylight streaming in.


    Directly ahead, a long bar stretched across the far side of the room, with a staircase on its right and the entrance to the kitchen on the left. To my left, a small stage stood empty, save for a peculiar instrument that seemed to be a hybrid of a piano and a harp.


    About twenty Xsoha were gathered on the right side, where they had pushed three tables together. The other visitors were spread mostly across the left side, while the tables in the middle remained nearly empty.


    The innkeeper, a burly, bearded man in his fifties, stood by the door leading to the kitchen, watching over the room with an experienced gaze.


    "Hello, everybody!" I greeted as I stepped inside.


    "Lady Lores! Blessed be your heart, Lady Lores!" came the chorus of responses.


    I almost rolled my eyes at my own clumsiness—again, I had forgotten to greet them properly, in the local manner.


    "Blessed be your heart, Lady Lores," Vice-Master Blumhard replied formally on behalf of the Xsoha. Their Head Master was clearly absent.


    "Please, no need to stand," I said, motioning for them to remain seated before turning my attention to the Xsoha. "Blumhard, good to see you here. I was just looking for you," I added as I approached their table.


    Behind me, my two guards entered. A ripple of reaction spread through the room—gasps, sudden silence, then hushed murmurs. I silently acknowledged Drackar''s choice. He hadn''t just sent guards—he had sent monsters in human form, and their sheer presence was enough to make an impression.


    I put on my best smile as I approached the Xsoha and addressed Vice-Master Blumhard.


    "I have a small financial inquiry for you," I said with a sigh.


    Blumhard stood up and straightened, his expression carefully neutral. "I''m honored. However, due to certain... difficulties, our master is currently unavailable. But if it’s important, I can relay any questions to him, Lady Lores. You know, I''m only the vice-master," he added with a polite bow.


    I ignored his deflection and pressed on. "Since your honored master is not here, I’d like to tap into your knowledge instead, Blumhard. Let’s keep this short."


    Despite the tension thickening the air, he didn’t so much as flinch. On the contrary, there was a flicker of something in his eyes—hope, perhaps?


    "Lady Lores, we would gladly work with you at any time. You know our conditions," he said smoothly. "If you tell me what you need, I can make you an offer."


    I didn’t even blink. Some people are oblivious to fate, even when the truck is right behind them, blaring its horn.


    With an innocent smile, I asked, "What would you estimate the cost of the mercenary attack on my domain to be?"


    He blinked.


    "So, that was a mercenary attack, Lady Lores?" he mused, his tone carefully measured. "Mercenary costs aren''t exactly my specialty. Any numbers I give would be... high-level estimates at best, and likely inaccurate." He wiped a bead of sweat from his brow with a handkerchief.


    I chuckled. "Oh, it doesn''t have to be precise. I just wanted to compare my own estimations. I''d say the operation cost somewhere around three hundred gold—give or take a hundred."


    Blumhard nodded slowly. "I heard rumors... something about a wyvern and sophisticated warlock gates. If those reports are true, then, yes, the price could be as high as you estimate, my lady." His hand gripped the handkerchief a little tighter as the sweat started to return. "But I don’t understand—why are you asking this?"


    Ah, so now he wasn’t quite as clueless about the attack as he had first pretended to be.


    I shrugged.


    "You know," I said, tilting my head slightly, "when I took over this domain, I was hoping to relax, spend time peacefully with my friends—not run around putting out fires." I sighed, letting my frustration seep into my tone. "Besides, staying angry isn’t good for my health… or my tender skin. Wrinkles, you see. And I do hate wrinkles."


    I let that sit for a moment before continuing. "So I asked myself—what would bring me some measure of satisfaction? Well, here’s a thought: there''s a young dragon around here, and as you know, dragons love watching their hoard grow with them. Now, I would imagine that those responsible for orchestrating such a treacherous attack might wisely consider making a small donation—oh, say, ten to twenty times the cost of that attack. Perhaps, in doing so, the memory of said attack might begin to fade… even if only temporarily."


    A murmur rippled through the room. Whispers and hushed exclamations filled the air.


    "So the rumors are true? There really is a dragon?"


    I rolled my eyes as Blumhard continued to process my words, his mind visibly racing.


    "But, but! Lady Lores! That sum could buy an army!" he stammered.


    I cocked my head. "I was merely giving free rein to my thoughts. Besides, it''s not for you to pay, but the instigators of that attack. You know, it is not that difficult to find out who they are. But, oh well—on to the real reason I’m here." I paused, then delivered my next words with deliberate calm. "I have to inform you that all Xsoha-owned possessions within my domain have been found to be infected with a rather dangerous… ah… sickness. A highly concerning one, in fact. And unfortunately, the only viable course of action is complete disinfection." I let my lips curl slightly before adding, "Through fire, of course."


    Blumhard paled. "But Lady Lores! You cannot—"


    I sighed, as if burdened by the weight of inevitable responsibility.


    "I can," I said, with a steady but calm voice.


    As if responding to an unspoken command, my two guards stepped forward, shifting subtly to either side. Kurr placed a hand on the pommel of his sword, Xartak, who had been quietly carving a small wooden figurine, halted his work and lifted his gaze, scanning the room.


    The atmosphere changed. The air seemed heavier, the room darker. Silence pressed down like a tangible weight.


    "So," I continued, my tone light, almost conversational. "Where was I? Ah, yes. Now, I''m not entirely sure whether I’ll have to charge you for the costs of incineration and cleanup of all those infected belongings. If the expense turns out to be too much to bear, well… I might have to. But we’ll see." I waved a hand dismissively. "Anyway, that was all I wanted to say. Oh—except for one more thing."


    I leaned slightly forward. "You''ll be so kind as to leave my domain by tomorrow morning."


    The vice-master froze. For a long moment, he remained silent, then, instead of speaking, he timidly raised his hand.


    I arched a brow. "Yes, Blumhard?"


    He hesitated before finally managing, "Lady Lores… we are free people. We may walk on the king’s land as any free folk would."


    His voice lacked conviction.


    I sighed as Blumhard looked at me with hopeful eyes. Scratching my head, I feigned contemplation.


    "I''ve heard that this infection—whatever it is—might be dangerous and could require quarantine for… well, as long as necessary." I let that sink in before continuing, "I''ll have to check with the person I put in charge of this matter. If it''s deemed necessary, I’ll have no choice but to place you under his care until we receive a full report confirming that there’s no danger."


    His expression stiffened. "Quarantine?"


    "Yes, quarantine," I confirmed. "There was mention of it." I flashed him a pleasant smile. "I’ll let you know this evening—if you’re still here."


    He blinked, trying to process my words. "But… wasn''t it tomorrow morning?"


    I tilted my head. "You''re right—what was I thinking?" My smile turned mischievous. "A dangerous sickness shouldn’t be left unchecked for so long. A few hours should be more than enough." I paused for emphasis. "I’ll be back in two hours to see if you’re still here."


    "But—"


    Before I could push the stakes any higher, an older Xsoha woman suddenly exploded, pointing a shaking finger at Blumhard.


    "Shut your damn mouth, idiot!" she snapped. "Torek! Inak! Shut his damn—oh, pardon me, my lady—boys, just shut his trap! He’s going to—" She stopped mid-sentence, then quickly corrected herself. "Give us two hours, please, Lady Lores! Gods bless your heart, Lady Lores!"


    As she spoke, two younger Xsoha sprang into action, grabbing Blumhard by the arms and all but dragging him away.


    I shrugged. No need to push them any further.


    Glancing around the tavern, I made a mental note to return one evening—perhaps for a more relaxed visit next time.


    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Turning to the innkeeper, I gave a casual nod.


    "Have a nice day, everyone," I said before stepping outside, my guards falling into place behind me.


    *


    After the conversation at the inn’s tavern, I felt relatively satisfied—but also drained. Much to my displeasure, I was surprised to find that the teleportation gate was no longer there as I stepped into the village plaza.


    I raised a brow. Did that warlock have so little mana? I couldn’t imagine he’d be foolish enough to try and run or rebel.


    As we made our way back along the two-kilometer path toward the castle, we ran into the warlock heading toward the village.


    The moment he saw me, his expression twisted with sheer panic. He was drenched in sweat, trembling as he dropped to his knees and pressed his forehead to the ground.


    "S-sorry, Lady Lores! Sorry!" he stammered. "The children… they used all my mana! They told me you allowed it, so I couldn’t refuse them! They kept making me teleport them over and over until—until I couldn’t sustain the gates anymore!" His voice cracked. "I—I came to set it up again, Lady Lores! Please, don’t be angry with me!"


    I chuckled and shrugged. I hadn''t specifically allowed it, but I also wouldn’t stop the poor children from having some fun. Perhaps some restrictions were needed, but I’d leave that for Alice to figure out.


    "Go have a meal at the inn before setting it up again," I told the warlock. "Tell the innkeeper it''s on me." Then, without waiting for a reply, I continued on my way.


    Maybe I should arrange for him to be paid so he can get his own meals? He was supposed to eat with the other servants, but he looked too exhausted to wait that long. I made a mental note to speak with Alice about adjusting the arrangements.


    The walk back to the castle took me about half an hour—longer than I would have liked, thanks to my lovely shoes that were utterly unsuited for the uneven country road. Just as I stepped into the courtyard, I caught sight of Ju boarding a carriage.


    She glanced in my direction, and for a brief moment, our eyes met.


    And in that moment, I knew.


    She was leaving me.


    I stumbled, my foot catching awkwardly on the ground. No.


    Before I could hit the dirt, Xartak reacted instantly, catching me with a firm grip. His strength steadied me, but the shock left me frozen.


    I could only watch as the carriage began to move. As it passed by, Ju didn’t even spare me another glance.


    A strange sensation prickled at my face. I reached up absently, touching my cheek. My fingers came away damp.


    Tears?


    I was crying?


    I stood there, unmoving, staring blankly at the gate through which the carriage had disappeared. The weight in my chest felt unfamiliar—something hollow, something I didn’t know how to name.


    I took a deep breath, then turned toward my guards, resting my hands lightly on them for support.


    "Just… help me get inside, please," I whispered.


    Her sudden and unexpected departure sent a sharp jolt through my heart and mind—far stronger than I had ever imagined it would.


    Deep down, I had always known that she might leave me. I had dreaded this moment, knowing full well that at any time, she could simply take the ring and sever our bond. It was a wonder she had stayed as long as she had. And yet… I was still shocked.


    With her gone, the world around me seemed duller—gray and rough in ways I hadn’t noticed before.


    I stumbled my way inside the castle, longing for silence, for a moment to process what had just happened. But I was given no such peace. As I stepped into the very room where I had been with Lynx not long ago, seeking solace, I was immediately met with pleas. Durham had clearly been waiting for me.


    "Please, Lady Lores, can you do it now? I need to handle some transportation work, and it would be really helpful!" He asked—for the fifth time.


    He kept talking, oblivious to the fact that I wasn’t responding. My gaze remained unfocused, my mind somewhere else.


    I didn’t have the patience to deal with this. I didn’t have the strength for a conversation.


    Fine. I’d do his damn inventory and then be done for the day.


    "Okay," I said at last, my voice flat. "Give me your hand."


    As I spoke, I waved off the maid who had just brought food for me. I had no appetite. Not now.


    Casting the spell would force my mind to shift focus—away from Julietta. Maybe it would help, even if only a little, to free my overburdened thoughts and allow me to see things from a different perspective.


    Why didn’t I run after the carriage? I asked myself. Why didn’t I try to stop her? Talk to her? Ask her why she was leaving?


    The answer was simple. The shock had frozen me—because deep down, I had always feared this moment would come.


    I took a deep breath, preparing for the spell.


    As I took his sweaty hand in mine, a chuckle escaped me. The absurdity of it struck me—I had asked for his hand, and he had simply given it to me. Hopefully, in this world, that phrase didn’t carry the same implication as it did in mine.


    I avoided meeting his gaze, focusing instead on his hand. I hadn’t even bothered to ask where the inventory was supposed to be.


    Slowly, I watched as the runes began to take shape. Almost instinctively, I started forming the kitty face again, but I quickly corrected myself, rearranging the runes into a random form. The fractals started to align, shimmering as they solidified. But something was off. The surface wouldn’t remain stable.


    I focused harder, trying to force it into place, when I heard a sharp whimper. I looked up.


    Durham’s face was twisted in agony. His entire body trembled, contorted as if being wrung apart.


    And in that moment, everything went wrong.


    I didn’t lose control of the spell—not exactly—but something had flipped. Turned inside out. The fractals collapsed.


    A heartbeat later, Durham convulsed as if he’d been fed into a meat grinder.


    Then—


    A red-pink-brown vapor burst outward.


    There was no explosion, and yet something hammered against my eardrums with the force of a detonation. The outer wall collapsed.


    I squeezed my eyes shut against the shock.


    When I opened them, I was standing in the middle of the wreckage. Dust still drifted from the partially collapsed ceiling, coating the air in a heavy haze. Everything—everything—was covered in a wet, sickly mix of brown half-liquid sludge.


    A gold coin was stuck against my left eye.


    I plucked it away, blinking. No real damage. Then, instinctively, I gasped.


    And instantly regretted it.


    Something thick filled my mouth—filth, a gut-wrenching mix of blood, shit, urine and dust


    I doubled over, retching violently.


    Through the ruined doorway, a maid stood frozen in horror, staring at me through the gaping hole that had once been a door.


    I was unresponsive for a while, too stunned and shocked to react. Though I wasn’t seriously hurt, my dress was practically nonexistent—ripped, shredded to pieces. Someone had carried me to my room, and now I lay in bed as the maids worked to clean me up.


    Then Alice burst in, breathless.


    “What happened?” she demanded, turning to one of the maids.


    I mumbled before anyone else could answer. “I… I think… something went wrong with my spell…”


    Alice’s gaze snapped to me.


    “Does it hurt? How do you feel?”


    I sighed, turning my head to meet her eyes. But instead of answering, I asked the only question that truly mattered.


    “Did Julietta tell you anything before she left?”


    Alice blinked, taken aback. She shook her head.


    “Julietta? I wasn’t here. Didn’t you send her somewhere? Because Tina told me she didn’t want to leave. She said she had to…”


    I pushed myself up in bed, my exhaustion momentarily forgotten.


    “What exactly did she say?”


    Alice hesitated. “Tina was with the children. They had blocked Julietta’s way because one of the boys had some scrapes, and she refused to heal him. She just kept saying she had to go. Then they asked why, and before she could answer… someone shushed her.”


    I frowned. "Shushed her?"


    And suddenly, everything looked different. Ju, refusing to heal a child?


    “Oh. My. Fucking. God!”


    I shot to my feet, my pulse hammering in my ears.


    Without hesitation, I reached out with my mind, connecting to the spirit tool. A map of the domain unfolded in front of my vision—intangible, invisible to everyone but me. My hands moved instinctively, manipulating the projection, expanding and zooming, scanning frantically until I saw it.


    The carriage. It was still within the domain, racing at full speed—toward the orc lands.


    “There!” I jabbed a finger at the ground, somewhere between the table and the locker. "She’s still in the domain!"


    I turned toward the terrace, already casting my transformation spell.


    A few maids tried to stop me, or maybe they had just been in the way - I shoved them aside, surging forward. The terrace door didn’t shatter—but the hinges snapped, the doors bursting open as I barrelled through.


    I leapt onto the balcony’s balustrade and—jumped.


    For a split second, I feared that the transformation wouldn’t complete in time and I''d crash land into the yard. But then, my wings unfolded, stretching wide, and I was no longer human.


    I landed with one foot on the castle wall, claws gripping stone, barely avoiding the orc guard standing watch. He gawked, frozen, while a deep, guttural roar tore from my throat as I launched myself into the air.


    Somebody was stealing my princess!