It’s been about a year since I arrived in this clan.

Life was really good. The villagers were nice, and the infernal conflict, rare.
I always let Asra deal with those problems. With her dark look, she easily commanded people’s attention.
Who knew she would come here? I thought she preferred clans that were really active in war.

I felt very alive here. Away from that fuckin’ Center.

The ancient world... those bastards... created a life like that... as if there wasn’t a better solution... I started to get angry. Bad idea.

At that exact moment, someone knocked at the door.

“Chief? May I come in?”

“Yes.”

She entered.

Ahhh, Viera. Just seeing her calmed me down.

She brought me another one of her delicious meals. Since I’d tried one, I wanted more...

And it was the best excuse to spend time with her.

Asra always asked me what I liked about her.

Beneath her old-fashioned exterior, Viera hid a child’s heart. She was pleasant, calm, and... I loved teasing her.

“Is this meal to your taste?”

She presented me with three slices of roast accompanied by mashed potatoes. The smell was to die for.

“Where is your plate?”

“I...”

“I already told you. I won’t eat if you don’t eat with me.”

“Really, Valensia, are you young enough to throw tantrums?” she said, indignant.

“Absolutely!” I said, in a sulky tone. “What a shame! Poor Valensia, starved to death because her Doyenne was a tyrant! What a pityful ending!” I overacted, my hand on my forehead like in a tragedy.

She huffed, gave me a mock-accusatory look, then resigned herself.

“I’m gonna grab one...”

I smiled. Again, I won.

The meal went well.
I asked her some personal questions about her past but she always answered vaguely, feigning “memory loss due to old age” — those were her words.

I knew she wasn’t telling me the whole truth. But still, I regularly insisted.

I wanted her to feel at ease, to trust me, to be confident around me.

But that was really hard to do.

We were talking for about an hour when Astur entered the room.

“I have a letter for you, Valensia.”

“Leave it there.”

I was staring at him. He did the same at me.

--Does he not understand that he should leave me alone for private talks here? --
I shot him a lingering look toward Viera.

Oh god, get out! , I thought.
I’m almost sure he does it on purpose.

He started to laugh.

“Hahaha.”

Viera looked at him, intrigued. She didn’t understand.

“Well, I have some things to do, so...” he said before going out.

“What were we talking about?” I asked Viera.

“You don’t want to read the letter? Maybe it’s urgent.”

She was only wisdom. I leaned on my desk, looking at her, amused.

“You read it to me?”
“Sure,” she said, always serious.

She took the letter and started to read:

“To Valensia Von De...”

She stopped.

Crap!

Her gaze changed. She, who was always so difficult to read... I saw terror in her eyes.

Her hands began to shake, her eyes went misty.

“Viera, I...”

I didn’t have time to finish.

“I’m sorry, I... I don’t feel great. Excuse me, I need some fresh air.”

Before I opened my mouth to respond, she was already in front of the door, ready to run away.

“No Viera, wait!!”

I started going after her. Since when was she running so fast?

“Viera, don’t go like th—”

She slipped. Everything happened in quick succession: the missed step, the creak, her scream...

I joined her, panicked.

She was shaking, crying, avoiding my gaze. I tried to reassure her with a touch of humor.

“Were you an athlete or something in another life? Since when are you that fast?”

The silence was icy.

Then, she started to apologize, again and again.

“I... I’m so sorry... I... I...”

I put a finger on her lips. She jumped.

“Are you hurt? I’m going to carry you and we’ll check your injury, okay?”

She didn’t answer. But I could feel her fear.

I took her in my arms and carried her to a room, put her on a bed. I looked at her ankle.

“I’ll go get some ice. Don’t try to escape, okay? You’d risk becoming even more vulnerable.”

Still, she wasn’t looking at me.

Astur entered the room. His accusing look made me roll my eyes.

“Don’t say anything. I need some tissue and ice. Hurry up.”

He obeyed, no questions asked.
When I had everything I needed, I told him to go.

I gently took Viera’s ankle. She trembled.

“These hands won’t hurt you,” I said, gently.

She raised her eyes to me, but she was still shaking.
I applied ice on her injury.

“I heard cracking but I think it’s just twisted. Can you confirm?”

“It... may be...”

She sounded like a child.

“Viera, are you afraid of me?”

“I... I’m sorry... I’m not young anymore, I’ve lived so many years... I’ve heard stories about Bellona Von de Minervus... I heard about her battles, her conquests, all those atrocities she committed... I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were related... I panicked. I shouldn’t listen to those rumors... I’m truly sorry. Please forgive me...”

Still, she was shaking, like if I was going to hurt her.

I didn’t know what to do... So... I slowly took her in my arms.
I wanted her to understand that, despite sharing the same blood, I was nothing like her. My arms didn’t mean to punch.

I didn’t know how much longer this embrace lasted. But she wasn’t shaking anymore and she pushed me away politely.

“Valensia. This is no way to treat a lady!” she said, clearly embarrassed but with her usual authoritarian tone.

I was relieved.