Elyandra's bedroom was, by definition, an architectural paradox.
Spacious and well-lit, with white marble walls ornamented with golden spiral carvings and crimson velvet curtains that swept the floor, it exuded the nobility of House Valemortis. Imported rugs covered parts of the polished stone floor, and the air carried a light scent of lilies and mint—refined, yet subtle.
But in the center of all that sophistication, small details told another story: a teddy bear wearing custom-made magic armor rested on a reading chair; cushions embroidered with bunnies in heraldic poses adorned a chaise longue; and a dark wooden shelf, carved with ancient runes, boasted an impeccably organized collection of arcane grimoires side-by-side. The balance was meticulously perfect: infantile, yes... but with the dignity of someone who, theoretically, could order a Duke's execution with a snap of her fingers.
And there, before a full-length mirror framed in pure silver—tall enough to reflect two Elyandras stacked on top of each other—stood she.
With her white hair, upright posture, and golden eyes analyzing her own reflection with the precision of a military strategist, Elyandra Valemortis looked as if she were about to make a geopolitical decision of continental impact.
"There is a question that can no longer be ignored..." she thought seriously, her brow slightly furrowed. "A question that unsettles even the deepest corners of my soul. That defies logic, transcends time, and... threatens the order of things as we know them."
Silence. The tension was palpable. She took a deep breath. She closed her eyes. She opened them with determination.
— ... I really am a very cute child.
A pause. A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes.
— Perhaps I am a sight for sore eyes. No... a celestial balm of immaculate cuteness.
She raised her small hands and placed them over her head, shaping imaginary bunny ears. With a clumsy little hop, she declared enthusiastically:
— Pyon, pyon!
She gave another hop, now tilting her head to the side and letting out a light giggle.
— Kufufu... so cute... yes, yes... very cute... maybe I should be canonized as the Saint of Absolute Cuteness. No one would survive my adorable aura... Just kidding. — she said, enthusiastic about her own appearance.
— Well, well... what do we have here...? — said a drawling, almost sing-song voice, coming from behind the little noble.
Elyandra froze.
Turning around as if she had been caught summoning demons in the middle of a sanctuary, she came face-to-face with Siris, leaning casually against the half-open doorframe. Her brown hair was tied in a loose bun and looked beautiful, as always, and there was a wide, mischievous smile painted on her face.
— Is the young lady... testing combat strategies based on rabbits now? Should I inform the Lord that the future of House Valemortis depends on strategic hops and magical "pyons"?
The golden eyes, previously sparkling with the self-confidence of a goddess of cuteness, widened like porcelain plates. Her mouth hung open in a silent "O." And then—as if all the cosmic forces had decided to mock her imperial dignity—she turned red. Not a discreet red. Not a noble blush. But a shade so scandalously crimson that it would be plausible to mistake her for a ceremonial summer harvest tomato.
— I-IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE! — she exploded, in a desperate tone that didn't match her usual composure at all.
In an almost instinctive impulse, Elyandra ran to the door with short, determined steps, her bare feet making hurried tap tap tap sounds on the marble floor. Grabbing Siris by the sleeve with her tiny hands, she pulled her forcefully into the room—the poor servant stumbling slightly in the process, but with a theatrical flair.
— UWAH—?! — Siris lost her balance but managed to stay upright, laughing openly.
CLACK!
The door was closed with a dry thud, as if the outside world needed to be sealed away forever from that compromising scene.
— You saw NOTHING, understood?! — Elyandra declared, her face still absurdly flushed, pointing an accusing finger toward Siris's chest. — Nothing!
Siris raised her hands like someone surrendering in a siege, but the mischievous smile refused to leave her face.
— As you wish... Lady Valemortis. I shall keep your hops and "pyons" inside my mind in complete secrecy.
— Don't mock me! — she shouted, running after Siris in a frantic (and totally harmless) manner, like a grumpy puppy trying to bite the hand that feeds it.
— I surrender, I surrender! — Siris laughed, trying to elegantly dodge the lunges of the little white-haired fury. — Careful, or you'll kill me with all that cuteness.
— Aaargh! — Elyandra turned her back with a dramatic spin and crossed her arms, still huffing.
Siris watched her for a moment, a warm affection appearing in her brown eyes despite the ridiculous scene. She was so controlled, so noble, such a strategist... and sometimes she forgot she could just be a little girl.
— It was adorable, by the way. — she added, adding fuel to the fire.
— ... You need to be punished. — Elyandra said, still pouting.
Siris crouched softly behind Elyandra, her green eyes sparkling with a tenderness that little matched her usual expression of light sarcasm.
— A punishment? And what has your adorable mind prepared for me, my lady? — she asked, her voice low and musical, almost challenging.
Elyandra remained with her back turned for a moment, arms still crossed, head down. A long sigh escaped her lips. Her mind was swirling with strategic ideas, trying to untangle herself from the shame still pulsing in her face. Siris's tone, her presence... everything was confusing. It wasn't enough to just be a shrewd and calculating noble; she also had to have... high resistance. And maybe a little self-control, if things were to be analyzed more carefully. Elyandra bit her lower lip, forcing her focus.
Finally, she turned with a determined look, her face serious as if facing a major political decision. She pointed at Siris, her golden eyes firm and resolute.
— I want to see you doing the same movements. The same gestures — she said firmly, her voice low and almost arrogant. — In front of the mirror.
Siris fell silent for a moment. She seemed to analyze the order for a second, as if considering the possibility of playing with the situation further. Then, before Elyandra could react, an affectionate smile appeared on her lips. She stayed still, not taking a single step away from the little noble.
With a gentle motion, Siris brought her hands to her head in the delicate gesture of imaginary ears, and then, in an unusually soft and loving tone, she said:
— Pyon.
The word sounded like a melody, falling into the room like a sweet, almost fatal spell. Elyandra froze. The reaction was almost immediate. Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she couldn't look away from Siris. Confusion took over, and the shame already stamped on her face deepened. Before she could fully process it, a small trickle of blood escaped from her nose.
The mirror reflected the scene of Elyandra, who, now slightly dizzy and stunned, touched her face. Siris, for her part, knit her brows as she realized what had happened. She immediately approached Elyandra, her green eyes worried.
— Elyandra! — Siris exclaimed, shaking the girl lightly by the shoulders. — Are you okay? What happened?!
While Elyandra felt Siris's genuine concern, inside her head, a storm of thoughts was forming. "What... was that?" She tried to rationalize it, but the truth was that the woman in front of her... was leaving her completely speechless. Every movement of Siris's, every gesture, seemed so natural, so perfect, that Elyandra could hardly understand how that figure could be so... attractive. The way she moved, the mischievous and yet soft smile—everything about her was... breathtaking.
For a moment, Siris seemed like a storm of beauty and charm, wrapped in a calm and even seductive aura, and Elyandra found herself almost subjugated, lost in the details. She tried to push these thoughts away, but it was impossible.
Elyandra blinked a few times, still dazed. Siris's pressure on her shoulders, gentle yet present, slowly brought her back to reality. The blood that was discreetly flowing from her nose was now dripping onto the sleeve of her light blouse, and the mirror in front reflected her stunned expression—wide eyes, ruby cheeks, and an air of complete emotional surrender.
"... My God. Am I really having a nosebleed because of a 'pyon'?! I've lost complete control?! This... can't be true... I can't be falling for something like this... what kind of sorcery is this?!"
With the hurried elegance of someone who needs to recover their own dignity, Elyandra brought her sleeve to her face and wiped the blood with a quick, discreet gesture. Despite her small body, her movements were laden with an almost desperate attempt to look unshakable. Even so, her golden eyes remained fixed, stunned, as if they had just witnessed a visual eclipse too beautiful for ordinary humans—all of it in the form of a personal maid.
She took a deep breath, forcing a small smile—more as an attempt at emotional survival than out of real conviction.
— I'm... I'm fine — she said, her voice low but firm enough to sound convincing. — It was nothing. Just... a slight mana imbalance. Don't worry, Siris.
Siris narrowed her eyes, clearly doubting the excuse, but respected her space. Still kneeling in front of Elyandra, she kept her hands close, as if ready to catch her should she fall.
— A mana imbalance? — she murmured in a light tone. Her gaze, however, remained attentive, protecting the little noble with the same intensity as one would protect something sacred.
Elyandra, in turn, looked away, trying to control the heat that still burned in her face. Her head still echoed with her earlier thoughts, but now, along with them, came a new determination.
"I need to get used to the dangerous beauty of this woman... or she's going to kill me before I even get to see what the world outside these walls is really like..."
With that, Elyandra composed herself, straightening her posture. Her nose was clean, her breathing controlled. Still flushed, yes. But now, with her pride duly restored.
Elyandra squared her shoulders with almost ceremonial slowness, with the composure of a lady who had just brushed off a passing inconvenience. The mirror now reflected no longer the adorable child of before, but the heir of House Valemortis—firm golden eyes, impeccable posture, and an aura of authority that seemed to emanate directly from the marble floor beneath her feet.
Siris watched the transformation with a softer expression. Her sarcasm gave way to something more serene, respectful. She rose lightly, her loose bun swaying softly, and straightened the folds of her dress with an automatic gesture before turning her gaze back to the girl in front of her.
— Are you better? — she asked, now with a gentle tone, devoid of the previous provocation.
— Perfectly. — Elyandra replied, her voice now controlled and her eyes serious. — Thank you for your concern, Siris.
A brief silence settled between the two. It wasn't uncomfortable, but laden with a solemnity that seemed to announce a change in tone. Siris then positioned herself beside Elyandra, leaning down slightly to meet her gaze.
— In that case... I must inform you of the true reason for my visit. — Her green eyes became firmer, now reflecting the professionalism of a high-ranking personal servant, not just a captivating presence.
Elyandra knit her brow slightly, already sensing that the moment of distraction was over.
— A last-minute decision was made. — Siris continued. — Your parents will be visiting the estate of the Marquess of Sorell on behalf of House Valemortis. I have been instructed to prepare you to join them on the visit.
The young noble kept an impassive countenance, but her brain was already buzzing with analysis.
— Is it merely a diplomatic visit? — she asked, showing no surprise but already connecting the pieces.
— Officially, yes. A gesture of courtesy between two allied houses. Unofficially... — Siris hesitated for a moment but proceeded — ...it is an opportunity for you to observe the ways and traditions of House Sorell up close. Your father wishes for you to begin understanding, with your own eyes, what the Empire is beyond the walls of this mansion. Apparently, he wants you to begin maturing socially.
Elyandra nodded slightly, her golden eyes already acquiring that sharp glint that appeared whenever something piqued her intellect.
— When do we depart?
— At dawn — Siris replied. — The Lord wants you to be rested and in attire worthy of your position. I have already spoken with the seamstresses. The dresses are being prepared and the maids have already been instructed. I will be at your side during the entire trip.
Elyandra remained silent for a brief moment, absorbing the information. Finally, she looked one last time into the mirror. Her image was there, between the reflection of a cute child and the outline that only she could see—an imperial strategist in the making.
— Very well. — she said, turning to Siris with firmness. — Thank you, Siris. I will prepare for tomorrow. I thank you in advance for your company; your help is always welcome.
Siris arched an eyebrow, a discreet smile returning to her lips.
— I am at your service, my lady.
The end of the day approached faster than anyone could even notice. As the window broadcast the darkness of the night, Elyandra closed her eyes, even with her mind full of thoughts, and so the night passed.
In the morning, the sky still held the pale blue of the start of a long day when Elyandra opened her eyes, waking up without the need for maids or calls. The soft scent of jasmine, coming from the fresh flowers in the vase by the window, mixed with the light dawn chill entering through the half-open curtains.
Siris was already waiting for her, with the impeccable posture of someone who didn't seem to have slept. Her loose bun was perfectly arranged and her green eyes conveyed that perceptive serenity that only she possessed.
— Good morning, my lady — she said with a light smile. — Did you sleep well?
Elyandra nodded with a brief gesture of her head before rising from the bed, stretching like a house cat. Siris smiled with her eyes and reached out her hands, leading the little one to the screen. There, she began to dress her with care.
The chosen dress was a deep blue, with hand-embroidered silver details—discreet, but worthy of her lineage. The fitted bodice emphasized the girl's upright posture, while the long silk sleeves gave her an air of classic elegance.
— Hair loose or tied, my lady? — Siris asked, holding a black velvet ribbon.
— Loose. — Elyandra replied firmly.
— As you wish.
With agile and delicate fingers, Siris combed Elyandra's long white hair in a sophisticated manner, intertwining strands with the ribbon as if weaving the frame of a crown. When she finished, she knelt to adjust the shoes.
— Ready — she declared, rising with a light tilt of her head. — You will dazzle even the mirrors in the main hall.
Elyandra smiled slightly, satisfied, and the two left the room.
The main staircase of the Valemortis mansion was a work of art: polished white marble with golden veins, balustrades carved with heraldic symbols, and a colossal crystal chandelier suspended in the center of the atrium. Siris's firm steps and Elyandra's light ones echoed across the steps, while the dawn light passed through the stained glass, tinting the hall with bluish reflections.
At the bottom of the stairs, Lord Valemortis and Altheria were waiting.
The patriarch wore a white overcoat of military cut, with golden epaulets and the House Valemortis insignia embroidered on the chest. His countenance was austere, but his eyes sparkled for an instant upon seeing his daughter. Altheria, meanwhile, wore a ceremonial gown in dark ivory tones, embroidered with ancient symbols of the luminous faith; on her head, she wore a thin tiara that enhanced her noble and delicate posture.
— Punctual. — said her father, with a brief nod of approval. — Today we visit the estate of the Marquess of Sorell. It will be a brief but important visit.
He paused, stepping up one stair to reach Elyandra's level.
— Visits such as these are part of the fabric that sustains the Empire. Public courtesies, morality exposed. We are not selling favors, but exhibiting balance — he said, with the coldness of a general. — I want you to behave like a Valemortis. Noble. Respectable. Impeccable.
— Yes, father. — Elyandra replied, with a firm voice and ceremonial tone.
Before her father could say more, Altheria approached, softening the atmosphere with an affectionate smile. Her eyes examined her daughter with the trained gaze of someone who knew every fold of a noble fabric and every detail of etiquette.
— Hmm... that ribbon in your hair is a lovely choice — she said, lightly touching her daughter's hair. — And this shade of blue... sophisticated without being pretentious. As it should be. Siris has good taste.
— I merely followed the young lady's preferences — Siris replied with a discreet smile.
Altheria then leaned down slightly, looking into Elyandra's golden eyes with tenderness.
— Today will be a good day to observe and learn, my little light. And, if the opportunity arises, to enchant as well. — Altheria said, her voice exuding a calming melody and her serene eyes conveying unparalleled peace.
Elyandra nodded with a contained glint in her eyes—the kind of glint her parents didn't yet know how to fully decipher, but that Siris recognized well.
The butler appeared in absolute silence, opening the double doors of the entrance hall. A light breeze entered the mansion, carrying the scent of the gardens and revealing the noble carriage waiting before the external steps.
With one last look between them, the four walked out of House Valemortis. The dawn still tinted the sky.