It was the next morning when Princess Asperia came by.

Valentine was sprawled across the bed, idly spinning a knife on her fingertips, and Wren and I sat side by side leaning against her, our shoulders touching. We were both reading-- me some books on magic that had been brought down from my room at my request, Wren some sort of novel about two people trying to duel each other, but laws and circumstance keep on getting in their way, so they mostly end up hanging out.

Traditionally, by the standards of my world, if they fall in love, I guess it's a comedy, and if they duel at the end, I guess it's a tragedy. Outside of that, I don't know what category of novel to put it into... but apparently this is a whole sub-genre here, protracted socializing with a bitter enemy, and the ending isn't how these things are classified here. I wondered if that understood culture of enemies hanging out contributed to people being willing to occupy the same space as perceived enemies... or maybe it was vica versa? Or maybe a cycle that fed into each other? Cultural norms are weird, viewed from the outside.

Well, I didn't see Valentine or Wren as my enemies... Princess Asperia, it was harder to say, I realized, as she walked in and pointed at us and then down on the floor. Wren and Valentine got down off the bed and kneeled in an instant, leaving me offbalance, and I hurried to kneel at Wren's side.

Princess Asperia was dressed against a gown made of small metal plates, some kind of armor, perhaps, although it seemed to err more on the side of aesthetic than practical... maybe magic made up for it, or maybe she just couldn't bear not to make herself as pretty as possible when her life was never truly in danger.

Princess Asperia sat down on the bed, and looked down at us for a long moment, in turn-- first Valentine, then Wren, and finally me. If her eyes were searching for something, I certainly couldn't tell if they found it, but I stayed attentive, tail wagging slightly for some reason... yes, I guess Princess Asperia, if she was my enemy or not, was still my beloved Princess... and I was probably the least submissive of the three of us kneeling her... fuck.

Princess Asperia was silent until I started getting uncomfortable, my tail lowering. Finally, she set her eyes on mine, and I looked back, ears slumped, worried, trying not to whine or whimper, but just wait silently for her next words.

"I have to apologize to you, Sasha. This situation is entirely my fault." I blinked, staring at her with wide eyes-- I certainly not was expecting that. "I sent you on a mission that raised your profile in my little sister's eyes, and she sent assassins against you... right after you and Eve had utterly submitted to me, and I had sent your protector off in a huff without providing a replacement or otherwise reinforcing the defenses around you. Really, the defenses in general... well, I'm working on fixing that, but I thought I'd take a moment to talk to you while the reagants were gotten ready."

She petted my head gently, and smiled down at me. "Do you forgive me?"

Her hand on my head felt good... was there any reason not to forgive her? I hadn't realized I should be mad at her, really. "I forgive you." I nuzzled against her hand.

She smiled. "Good." Her gaze shifted to Wren. "You protected my Sasha when I had discounted you-- as far as I'm concerned, you're my property as much as Eve's now. I know you're working through some things, but you'll be as safe here as I can make you, and if Eve abandons you, I'll do my best to stabilize your sense of reality... of course, if you betray me or harm other girls, I will mercilessly eliminate you like I would any of my girls, but I will shed tears as I do it."

Wren slowly exhaled, some tension releasing from her body, and inclined her head. "Thank you, Princess." Her tension still wasn't entirely gone, apparently, as her hand sought out mine as an anchor and grasped tightly to it as Princess's gaze went on to Valentine.

She stood up, and stroked the tiger-girl's head, making her purr loudly. "Valentine... you made excellent decisions, and went out of your way to defend the most targeted girl once you determined other likely targets were sufficiently defended, and make her feel safe. You're such a good girl, yes you are... such a good kitty...." Princess was petting Val's head and shoulders all over, and Val's eyes closed as she basked in the praise and affection. She grabbed hold of her collar and leaned down to kiss her on the brow, and Val's purring seemed to be almost vibrating the air in the room.

I'd made her happy before, but she was so happy right now, and it made me smile. She was a good girl, and I loved her.... not just like that, but like, maybe also like that, but I admired her, too.

"Now. Until I find the traitor, I'm going to assign Valentine to guard you, Sasha, in addition to your guard-fox I've heard so much about." Princess reached one hand idly out to scritch behind Wren's ears, and the fox-girl tensed, then slowly relaxed into it. "By tomorrow afternoon, you should all be able to safely leave this cell... well, at the very least I'll have made defenses against their means of egress, warded up your room nicely, and prepared a few more little artifacts to keep you safe."

Princess's gaze scanned us again, and she smiled. "Now. Do the three of you have any questions?"

The other two remained quiet, so I spoke up. "Do we have any leads on the traitor?"

Princess stared at me for a long moment. "...not that I can tell you about, Sasha. You aren't exactly subtle." I furrowed my brow a little. "You should publicly offer some level of amnesty if she turns herself in-- then she wouldn't potentially get desperate and hurt people."

Princess was silent for a long moment, then shook her head firmly. "If I do that, I'm basically saying everyone else can betray me, too. She betrayed me, so unless there are some very extenuating circumstances, she has to pay the price."

I sighed. "...no chance of mercy, huh?"

Princess reached out to scritch under my chin, and my tail wagged despite myself. "I am already too gentle and merciful as things are. I shouldn't have sent you to try to broker a peace with Adeline, she's not someone who is ever going to accept the future we're working towards."

"I... she didn't seem like such a bad person, when I talked to her."

"I never said she was-- just that my existence and hers were not compatible. She has tried to have me assassinated, at that. Repeatedly. And my other girls. Including you."

I looked up at my Princess for a long moment. "...when's the last time the two of you had a good talk?"

"Never."

"...never!?"

"Royal families often don't get that close, especially when they're potential rivals for the throne." Princess Asperia considered for a moment, pursing her lips. "And if we did talk in person, she might see through to what I really am now."

I blinked. "...what are you now, exactly?" She didn't need to sleep, she could revive when she died but lost her humanity each time... what was she turning into?

Princess laughed and petted my cheeks with both hands, fuck it felt good, although I couldn't help but miss Mistress's touch a little, too-- nothing was quite the same as being touched by her fingers that new just the right spots and pressure.

"I honestly have no idea," said Princess. "But it's not that important, is it? She despises those out of the ordinary those who stand out... the very sort of people I'm most interested in. Did you know that her opinion is that summoning a hero from another world is just another way I'm ruining the kingdom?" She glanced up and to one side absent-mindedly. "...but I have run out of time. The reagants are nearly prepared, and I have things to do to protect all my treasures."

Her gaze swept the three of us. "If any of you have any idea who it might be, please tell me-- I need to keep my loyal girls safe."

"...I did have one thought, although it has probably been mentioned," said Wren softly.

Princess's gaze fixed on her, and she smiled. "Go on?"

"It's likely she was a noble, given her fighting style."

"...yes, I'm aware, but thank you for sharing, Wren. You really are a loyal girl, aren't you?" Princess petted Wren's head now, and her tail wagged behind her, her eyes shining... well, I imagine even if it wasn't her Mistress, she had desperately been wanting to be treated like this.

...if only because her Mistress had tortured her and cut out all of her world until this was all that was left... was that just a normal thing for slaves? Mistress seemed to treat it so casually... were most slaves in this world really treated like that? Well, there was always the sword of Damocles hanging over their head... a metaphorical blade hanging by a thread, and ready to fall at any moment, because they had no rights, nor legal protections beyond being someone else's property....

Princess said softly, "Continue to be good, you three. I'm very proud of all of you." And with that, she turned and left the room without a backwards look.

Valentine turned and watched her in rapture.

Wren pressed closer against me, and I wrapped my arms around her and drew her close.

She was breathing unsteadily. "I'm not being unloyal to Mistress Eve, am I...?"

"By what, enjoying Princess's attention? No, not at all." I paused for a moment. "Besides, you could probably get out of Mistress Eve's service and just be Princess's, if you... no, I'm sorry... stop crying... I'm not trying to get rid of you...." I squeezed her close against me.

This girl was still such a mess.