Another Side

Someone knocks.

"Come."

Sirius calls them in without tearing his eyes off what he's reading. He's still in the window seat, hours after sunset. The chandelier is his only light source, hanging lazily from the ceiling. But he did not seem to mind.

Dante rushes to his side. "Urgent report from Mateo at Oskandor. Loren Si was kidnapped earlier today."

He paused.

"Who kidnapped him?"

"According to our intel, it's the Oskandor treasure hoarders."

Sirius scoffs. "They must've gotten tired of stealing objects and started stealing people too."

"…"

"Your Highness, the mercenaries are asking us to retrieve Loren Si."

"…How much are they paying?"

Sirius looks out and watches the quiet mountain range. The moon is at its peak.

"1,000 gold coins."

This made him frown. "What are we? Charity?"

Dante didn't reply.

"Pay no less than 3,000 and Loren Si will be knocking at their door before they know it. Call in Vito."

Sirius gazed at the moon. It was showing its face to him today, which tells him its an auspicious day for hunting tomorrow.

Dante leaves his chambers and passes on the message to a hooded Upsilon. "…this is the order of Sir Killian Fox. You know what to do." 

Vito passes by Dante and the Upsilon on his way to the Prince's chambers. He enters and nears his Highness's side.

"Vito is here, your Highness."

"Are the treasure hoarders still in their hideout at Sinhold?"

"Yes, they think it's not yet compromised."

Sirius menacingly tilts his head. "Good. You will lead Tanaka, Roman, and Wen Ying to retrieve Loren Si from there tomorrow. Report to me after at God's Palm."

"Right away, your Highness."

This is his other side.

Killian Fox… the high society may not know, but their sickly Prince is living another identity. An identity that's far from the Prince Sirius they know. 

Not weak, not frail—not at all. He's a cunning businessman, and his methods may not be perfect, but it earned him the respect of the people all over Naraina.

—

The next morning.

Sirius and Dante prepared to leave the mansion at the back, as usual. Vito already left in the middle of the night, so only Florence and Alice saw them out.

It was Alice's first time seeing Sirius's wolf.

And after last night, she was allowed to stay. She was already grateful. She was even more grateful for the dinner, even if Sirius didn't come down.

Florence thought she could see him off with them since she's proven herself.

"Take care, your Highness, Dante." Florence bowed and she followed.

Alice's eyes widened. The prince's true form is huge!

He did not look back when he jumped out and ran through the woods. Dante followed him. In just a few seconds, he was gone.

Meanwhile, the woman beside her watched her expression.

"Did that scare you, Lady Alice?" Florence smiled.

She wanted to admit it, but she was afraid she'd tell on the prince and he might kick her out, thinking she saw him as a monster.

"…Not at all."

Florence hummed and came inside.

Seeing Florence pick up a broom, Alice started looking for a cloth and a washbasin. She filled the basin with water and soap and dipped the cloth into it. She twisted the cloth and dropped down to her knees.

Florence found her in the middle of scrubbing the floor and gasped.

"My lady! Please!" She was scandalized.

Alice turned to her. "Let me help, please."

"N-No, I cannot let you clean! It is my job!"

Florence tried pulling her up. She could do it easily because Alice was light and bony. But Alice appealed to Florence, using pleading eyes.

"It must be difficult for you to cover this entire mansion by yourself, Florence." Florence keeps quiet. "I have nothing else to do too. If you would also let me give you company…"

The woman sighs defeatedly.

"Aiya~ Alright. I sincerely thank you then, Lady Alice."

The entire morning, they were just cleaning. Alice barely talked, so it was Florence who talked on and on while Alice replied timidly.

While sweeping the floor, Alice's skirt got caught in the sharp corner of a table and ripped.

She only looked down to see the damage but did not say anything else.

Florence was on the second landing. But after cleaning, Alice asked for a sewing kit.

She taught herself how to sew. After numerous ripped dresses, and no servants to fix it for her, Alice had no one else to rely on but herself.

She went into her room to fix the rip but forgot to fully close the door. Florence followed her up and found the girl sewing her humble dress on the floor.

Florence's heart clenched and she turned away.

Just then, Alice heard a faint hiss.

She already finished fixing her skirt, so she closed the kit and looked out the window. There she found Eden. Alice opens her window and Eden slithers inside.

"How are they treating you?"

Eden was straightforward. Because of this, Alice was grateful. She smiles.

"They're treating me well." She whispered.

She's not sure if others could hear Eden, but they could definitely hear her. She must be quiet and discreet.

"Hsss… Was the brown werewolf that jumped on the wall the Prince?"

She nods.

"He's very powerful, Alice…" Alice sat on her window seat and Eden crawled to her lap. "They passed by our cave and we felt the pressure of his suppresssed power… Be careful."

"Thank you, friends. How are you in the cave?"

"We are alright. Mary and I hunt wherever Lola and Livvy say there is prey. This morning we used Kiki as bait. We gave her the biggest portion, but she's still angry…"

Alice chuckled.

They have good harmony as a team. But Alice can't help but be worried. They have good survival instincts, but if she can help them live easier, she will.

"I will try finding food for you too. I don't think I can leave the mansion yet… But I am already grateful I was allowed to stay."

"What do you mean?"

"He wanted to pay me and cancel the engagement." Eden hissed, displeased. "He might take me back to the Sigertems, but I convinced them and I was allowed to stay."

"So he does not want you here…"

"Yes. I will be wary of him."

"Call us if he harms you… we will always stay clossse…" When annoyed, Eden gets more menacing. Seeing her curling up her tail and hissing more often, Alice could sense Eden was unhappy with Alice's current situation.

"I will."

Alice and Eden heard shuffling in the hallway outside. They both turned to it.

Eden quietly crawls back out of the window.

"Take care of our friends, Eden," she whispers to the escaping snake. Eden only hisses in response.

When Florence knocked on the door, Alice already closed the window and was carrying the sewing kit. She opens the door and puts the kit in Florence's arms.

"Thank you for letting me borrow it."

"I—I thought I heard a snake here? Have you seen one?"

Alice cluelessly shook her head.

"I'm sorry, I was too focused on sewing."

"A-Ah, I see…" Florence looked confused.

"I hope you find it, it can be very dangerous." She says while slowly closing the door.

"R-Right…"

Florence tilted her head once the door was closed. But when her eyes fell on the sewing kit, her thoughts returned to Alice's dress. The snake immediately slipped her mind.