Femme Fatale

Peony...

Peony...

Peony opened her eyes and found herself staring before what looks like a strange yet familiar figure. The person was much taller than her and the same horns as Malleus. the same face, but a little more sculpted. Hair much longer than his and eyes sharper with a more firm look in them. Adorned in the bold black outfit of a Briar Valley Royalty, he stood before her firmly as she looked on and noticed a taller Sebek and Silver by his side as well. However, they weren't like the Silver and Sebek she knew. They were older and Silver's hair was shorter. Sebek only had his hair a little shorter, but that was it aside from his height that was. Both wore the outfit of Briar Valley Military men. Ones that she believes they had yet to earn. As she stood before them, she could feel the sudden change of their aura to that of a more stable and solid presence. Especially with Malleus having that of a familiar magic she had not felt in many years. It was similar, so similar yet different. It was more soft and warm than the one she was so familiar with.

"Princess Peony…" Malleus spoke much to her surprise as he reached out a hand to her, "Shall we go home?"

"Home?" She looked up to him with a raised brow, "Where?"

"Where do you think it is?" Malleus curved his lips in a familiar smirk.

"That place is long gone." Peony responded.

"Perhaps that place is…. But it's not over yet." Malleus stretched out his hand further, "Let's go home. Together…"

Peony looks to him in confusion before slowly opening her mouth, "You are not Malleus. But at the same time…. You are him…"

It was then that she noticed Lilia behind him. He was still the same, but, for some reason, his mana feels very familiar. If there was anything different, it was the way he looked towards her and his green outfit was the style of her birth world. The former goofy and sly expression was gone. Instead, his face now wore a blank yet thoughtful gaze.

"I… I shall continue wandering." Peony replied cautiously, "You should return where you came from."

With that, she turned around and walked away just as a blurry shadow hurried after her calling out her name but failing to reach her as she never felt their pull on her. In the end, she continued to wander along the foggy, dark space.

…..

She opened her eyes and found herself face to face with a pair of green sharp eyes. Surprised, she swiped at it with a hand and leapt back a couple meters.

Malleus stood there was a shocked expression on his face as he mumbled in surprise, "What fast reflexes…"

She stood up and sighed noticing it's already dawn, "Can't you have woken me up without startling me? I'd rather not see your face the moment I wake up."

Malleus shook his head in bewilderment. It had only just turned morning, but this girl was already sharp with her words.

Peony was confused. As casual as the prince was, just what was it thinking sticking so close to her, a princess of the fairy kingdom?! She thought for a bit wondering if the Queen had some goals in mind as this was his only precious kin left and her family. She couldn't have thought to ask him to become close to her to learn of her secrets, could she? As far as the queen was concerned, nothing should be more important than her family and her country. Moreover, why did she dream of the Diasomnia guys?! Regardless, she shook her head and began, "So, what's the plan today?"

"The teachers will be putting up an act." Malleus replied.

"Ah, so professor Crewel really was here." She grumbled with a dead panned look across her face.

"You knew?"

Having taking the potion and turned back into her former appearance, Peony frowned, "It would be strange if there weren't at least a couple of students who were told what occurred at camp. Somethings had to change. I was simply wondering what change it would be when the Dwarves' mine are in such a state. But, when talking to Vargas, I noticed the scent of alchemy ingredients. It wouldn't be strange if Coach Vargas used potions to change things up this time, but the scent was too strong to have been Coach Vargas performing alchemy and Sam would not leave his store when there are still students at school for him to earn his thaumarks. Either Coach Vargas invited Professor Crewel to the event, or he volunteered to participate instead. That's why when I was talking with Coach Vargas, I made sure Professor Crewel could hear me and let the kids go this time."

"Speaking of that incident, why did you pardoned them?" Malleus pondered with a frown, "If the jest had gone in the wrong direction, you would have gotten hurt and even die."

"The reason I pardoned them was because of that reason." Peony frowned, "No matter how smart you are or which school you attend, it does not change the fact that their mental state is still in the development phase. They are irritable and struggle with their environment or circumstances. In those places and times, they may be forced to act a certain way or feel comfortable acting how they feel. As a result, when things do not go as planned or how they wished, they would feel forced to do whatever necessary to accomplish that goal or their wishes. For this reason, they will be bound to make mistakes and even dangerous mistakes. Because they are freshmen and sophmores, I let them go for now with their position as students intact. However, I will not accept a second event. This time, they suffer humiliation as punishment, but there is no next time. If they do want one, they will need to be very, very lucky."

She shook her head in dismay, "Everything in the world has a consequence. If there are times where we don't feel like we have suffered the consequences, then something is wrong. Even now, our actions just sitting here and talking will bore some consequences in the future near or far. Telling you this will also bore some consequences. However, the students here are still in a mental development stage into adulthood. They have not yet realized the weight of their own decisions or actions."

"So, you let them go this time to give them a little bit of experience on the weight of their own actions." Malleus hummed to himself. What he thought of her decisions and what he learned from this talk were very different. She could have let them off with a warning and then forget them. This would prove true that she could care less of what they did, but, in truth, it was the opposite. She actually cared about what the other kids did and their own development. She was not a teacher nor their caretaker, but, even though she always said she could care less on what they did, she was just as caring as though she was their guardian. She even took their developmental stage into consideration before executing her plans. If she really had not cared, she would've already sent them into expulsion or even juvenile prison to pay for their deeds. Yet, she did not do that. No. He seemed to recall that she had done so once.

It was back when the first semester of finals took place. Lilia and his retainers had mentioned that Peony had been accused of cheating and plagiarism. Yet, she revealed that, not only did the other party lied, they had even been blackmailing students to give them their answers for tests and quizzes. They had even stooped as low as breaking into the teachers' lounge in the middle of the night and changing their answers! Just the thought of this occurring was quite a surprise to him. The reason they did this still eluded him. According to Lilia, even the Savanaclaw dormleader, Leona Kingscholar, was very upset to hear them cheat in this manner. He and the headmaster had a very lengthy discussion on what procedures to follow through regarding their punishment before they learned that the video was leaked outside. This led them to understand the best approach can only be expulsion, even though they had already decided expulsion as the punishment. That incident was what made him think of Peony as sneaky and difficult to control. She had her secrets and one wrong step would make her throw them under a guillotine. However, What she did this time technically saved those students from serious punishments. Not only did she reign them under her control with one quick move, but she also saved them and properly educated them.

He recalled the term that once made him wonder how those people could be so naive as to trust the women of aristocratic society and grant them anything they wished.

Femme Fatale.

He had once questioned his grandmother regarding the term and the reason why someone would be so deluded by these so-called "beloveds" to give them anything in the world including evading the law.

"Ah, that." She shook her head from having seen the history book in the hands of her pre-teen grandson's hands at that time and sighed, "It is quite astounding how far selfishness can make a ruler blind to those around them. They believed that these beloveds in their possessions are always thinking about them and for them or they would do anything to give them a gaze. Femme fatale... They are seductresses that are not only crazy but also hold a supposed great deal of beauty in appearance. They utilize their outward beauty to ensnare the foolish leaders into giving them anything they ever wanted, but, once they have nothing to give, they are disposed of."

"It's quite a silly thing to do." Malleus mumbled in confusion, "All they had to do was either leave them or push them away. If not, they could always uphold the law fairly at the very least."

Hearing this, the queen shook her head and gazed upon him quietly, "Love is both a powerful and beautiful emotion, but it can also be the most dangerous thing to have. You are still a child and have not experienced much of this world. When the day arrives and you come to learn of the world we live in, you will have a few answers to your questions. If not, you will have more questions you want answers to. But remember, romantic love is a clear glass of wine. If you wish to take it, do so with great caution. Just one cup may grant you a great deal of wealth or it may poison you."

Hearing this, the young prince had pondered cautiously, "What about you, grandmother? Were you able to drink from that cup?"

"We did." The queen smiled softly, "The cup we took was one very cold to the touch, yet a sip that was gentle and lingers."

Malleus grew cautious and confused. Should he have to drink from that cup one day too?

"It is a duty of the royal family to ensure the future of the country with another generation of wise leaders, Malleus. One day, you will have to touch it. However, be at ease. You are not obligated to take the cup from the hands of others. Even if that person is us."

Shocked, Malleus looked to her with great surprise and bewilderment, "But, grandmother is the queen. Isn't it my job to uphold whatever you say we should do?"

The Queen huffed with a frown as she opened her mouth, "Must I repeat this? I stated that it is the duty of the royal family to ensure another generation of wise leaders to protect and raise their kingdom. It is not our duties to raise blind puppets to follow to the words of rulers whose decisions may cause more harm to a kingdom than good. If I declared that the castle has utilized too much finance to pay for the wages of our workers so that I should have them leave, what do you think?"