“W-Wait, can we let Nora know first?” Nadia paused for a moment to think before heading for her twin’s room, and Mandy’s smile seemed slightly wonky as she whispered.

“Th-Thanks…” 

With small tense hops Nadia gave the door a quick knock and out came a groan from the other side of the door.

“Don’t come in, I’m busy.”

What a good start.

The door clicked open as Nadia held the handle down and pushed, and from the door frame her older twin was seen sitting on a chair reading what appeared to be one of her many novels, swiping a thumb against her tongue and flicking to another page. She appeared to be relatively calm, yet the demon seemed annoyed as she lifted her gaze from her novel, rolling her eyes as the group waltz right into her room anyway. “I didn’t say you could come in,” she muttered, “I’m in the middle of something.” 

“Why don’t you have your mask on?” Mandy asked as she fiddled with her clothes, Nora leaned back on her seat and flipped the page back over. “I can barely read anything with that dumb thing on.” She answered, she had a quick glance at Nadia, her younger twin who seemed ecstatic to be in her presence, giving her a little wave to the older demon’s displeasure. 

“What do you want?” She muttered, and that alone made Mandy want to look smaller, “It’s serious Nora…” she mumbled, and Nora rolled her eyes, “Look I know the Demon Hunters at the Gala seemed like a threat but are they really? I’d laugh if someone sent a hitman to kill us though.”

Nora’s face scrunched up in confusion as the room went silent, and within seconds she broke the silence, “...Too soon? Thought the incidents at the Gala were days old enough to joke about it.” 

“Ah… that is not the issue here Lady Nora, your lives could be at stake.” Amira stated, earning a scoff and a raised brow out of her. “What, because of some lunatics running around? You guys do know they can’t do anything, right?”

“…Not the Demon Hunters, Lady Nora.” Nora furrowed her brows, “Then what?” She said, closing her book with one hand before Amore continued for the other guardian. “A woman, one that is not within our circle knows about Lady Amanda’s true identity.” Nora sat there, her jaw barely agape before getting up from her chair to the others’ uncertainty, choosing to follow close behind as Nora set her book down and left her room.

“W-Where’re you going?” Mandy whispered, to which Nora responded by saying she was going to tell their mother. It was at that point that the pit of Mandy’s stomach went as far as it could go, she was finally forced to face having to tell her dear mother about the accident that happened earlier that day, and just the thought of it made her feel uneasy. The others followed quietly as Nora stormed over to their mother, who was sitting by the dining table with paperwork scattered all over, her hair a mess that you could see the exhausted expression on her face even with the mask she wore. 

“Mum, I have bad news.” Nora said boldly. “If it’s any better than the bad news we already have I don’t want to hear it, my hands are full.” Nadia gulped and Amira studied her ruler’s body language as fast as she could, “It is worse, Queen Darlene.” 

“Worse how? I can only spare a few minutes. Not only that, why aren’t you wearing your mask Nora?” Their mother spoke sternly, Nora shrugged and pointed at Amira, who glared at her despite her mature nature. “I ask for forgiveness, your majesty, she refused to put it back on.” 

“You’re 25 Nora, I expect better from you.” Darlene said, causing Nora to scowl and cross her arms as Amore spoke. “I believe Lady Amanda has something to say to you, your highness.”

“Quit stalling, Amanda.” She said in a serious tone, and Mandy found herself feeling smaller with every passing second until she opened her mouth. 

“MnnnnAlice’s babysitter knows who I am and I don’t know what to do! I think I just got us in huge trouble…! I’m sorry, wh-what do I do—”

“What.”

Mandy squeaked and swallowed nervously, ashamed to look her mother in the face as she continued, “Nn, s-someone from the Hyun family, Ms Amélie Hyun…? She’s been Alice’s babysitter ever since she was born and—”

Darlene cut off her daughter with an irritated sigh, “I know who the Hyuns are, Amanda, how did she find out?” Mandy lowered her head and babbled out a reply as she felt like all eyes were on her for a proper explanation, “Alice, she— she blurted it out by accident when she was on one of her sugar-highs again. I think it’s because she trusts Ms Hyun that much so she let that slip. It— It wasn’t my fault, I promise! I didn’t do anything.” Darlene glared at her before inhaling slowly and letting out a long, low exhale.

“CIARA.” The house shook as her voice echoed throughout the place, followed by the sound of something big popping, followed by the sound of something falling into water, then followed with a sopping wet Ciara showing up to the dining area with her mask askew. She stumbled as she shook her entire body dry of water and fixed her mask up, looking rather frazzled over hearing her mother shout her name.

“Y-Yes…mother?” She stammered nervously through shaky breaths, Ciara stood up straight as Darlene put her hands on her hips, “Did you know about this?” She asked in a stern tone, the eldest daughter took a breath in before shuddering and leaning forward slightly, her words sounding wavy as they escaped her lips, “W-Well, yes… B-But I wasn’t trying to keep it to myself, I was just–” 

“Nervous.” Ciara froze up and hunched over not long after, confirming Darlene’s suspicion. “...I know.” Their mother sighed, shaking her head slowly as the twins glanced up at each other silently. The Jacks kept their arms folded, their eyes lowered to the floor in shame for what felt like hours as everyone watched Darlene sit up on her chair. She pinched her mask where the bridge of her nose was as she spoke, “Does Ms Vevina know about all of this?” She asked, her nails digging into the fabric of her seat. 

“Mnno, I don’t think so…” Mandy said quietly, she fiddled with her fingers as she felt the weight of her sisters’ quick glances shifting to and away from her. Darlene placed a hand over her mask’s mouth as she thought to herself, and after seconds passed she decided to stand up to the fear of her daughters, who remained still as she walked up to the single guardian in the room. “Amore,” She started, and Amore was quick to salute the queen, “Inform Ms Vevina about the matter and make sure the other Jacks know about this, I want you three to meet with Ms Hyun.”

Nora stammered as she couldn’t help but inquire, “W-What? Why?!” Darlene refused to face her daughters as she spoke, “The Hyuns are important to the Vevinas, there’s not much I can do that won’t upset Ms Vevina especially, I need you three to talk to Ms Hyun for a settlement. Something that will keep her quiet.” Amore nodded his head and gave Mandy a pat on the back before exiting the house through a portal he summoned, and with a whimper Mandy found herself getting stared down by her sisters, Ciara especially, who was worried for the younger demihuman.

Amira glanced up at Nadia and cleared her throat before speaking with concern, “But what about the twin mistresses? They cannot reveal they are Princesses as well, can they? Does that not pose a threat if this woman knows?” Darlene turned to Amira with a serious tone in her voice before looking at the twins,  “…I suppose. Do not state a word about your royal status, if you have questions, tell them to Amanda, for now the two of you will act as… relatives.” Nora groaned, “Great… Another acting gig, when are we doing this?”

“As soon as possible, I’m sure the Hyuns will listen to a request from the royals. As for the ceremonies, make sure your masks stay on. If you need to take them off let your Jack know, that will be all.” Her daughters nodded and watched as their mother left through a portal, the youngest leaning onto Ciara for support, who seemed a little shaken by the bad news but still wrapped an arm around her sister to soothe her. “Nn… Where’s mum going?” Mandy mumbled, and Nora shrugged before she placed her hand on Mandy’s shoulder, “Probably off to finish some more work junk.” Nora noticed that her younger twin was glaring right at her, and with a sigh she patted Mandy’s shoulder with a smile.

“Hey, it’s not your fault, remember? It was just some slip up from Alice. She uh… meant well. She didn’t mean to say that and she probably won’t get in trouble either.” Nadia made a disapproving huff and Nora groaned, “I mean everything’s gonna be okay, the worst this woman can do is rat us out and that’s not gonna happen.” Mandy brought her hands to her face and grumbled and Nora took her hand off her, giving Nadia a shrug to the younger twin’s annoyance as Nora walked off.

Ciara took it upon herself to speak in Nora’s place, bending down to Mandy’s height to speak to her. “Uhm! Here, what Nora was tryna say was… it’s neither your fault nor Alice’s, you two are just kids who got a little too comfortable with someone we’re not supposed to be too comfortable with, and that’s okay! We have our slip ups sometimes, a-and it’s not the end of the world!”

Amira smiled and with closed eyes shook her head slowly, “Mistress Ciara, might you be exaggerating? Though I do understand if it is of your own comfort to reassure out loud.” Ciara laughed nervously, “A-Ah yeah, sorry! Brain can’t help but make me say odd things. B-But it is true! The world isn’t gonna end because someone found out. We’ll be okay.”

Mandy smiled at Ciara and gave her a hug that Ciara gladly returned, ruffling Mandy’s hair with a sad but warm smile. She then spotted some maids cleaning after the wet spots she left around the place from drying off just minutes ago, and with a squeak a panicked Ciara ran up to them and spoke with constant apologies to the maids, assuring them that she could clean up after herself as Mandy stood beside Nadia and Amira.

The other two placed a hand on both of Mandy’s shoulders, exchanging nods as Mandy looked up at them. “Do not fret, young one,” Amira said softly, “‘Tis but a trial of many that you will face as a ruler of the Royal Demon family. You will know what to do in the far future when secrets are told outside the Wimmerson household.” 

“...Amira,” Mandy mumbled, “Yes, young one?” Mandy put her eyes elsewhere as she settled on a response, “Nevermind, I think I know how to talk to Ms Hyun.” Nadia slumped her head and Amira patted her respective ruler’s back, “Are you sure? I could always speak for you when you cannot find the right words.” 

“It’s okay, I’ll uhh… I’ll look at you if I need any help.” Nadia clapped her hands lightly in which Mandy tilted her head with an unsure yet pretty confident smile, Amira simply nodding in satisfaction.

What to do now, the young Princess thought to herself. A day was to be had where she would have to speak with an average demon, and frightened she was, as she only became the new Spirit Point just mere days ago.

What to do now had seemed to become Mandy’s internal catchphrase. 

And Mandy was nervous.