Chapter XII: Contract with the Snow Crow – To Tame or To Be Devoured

Chapter XII: Contract with the Snow Crow – To Tame or To Be Devoured

"Serious?!", Alexandra asked with indignation. "That's a contract to…"

"Agree to become my pet for the rest of your life, yes," Zazzera calmly stated, closing her eyes.

Lefresne's eyes widened, "Wait, Zera, what is the meaning of this?!"

"This matter doesn't concern you anymore, Miss Aschenputtel. It is between me and the stupid dog," Zazzera coldly stated.

"But you can't ask her to become your pet! What is this about?!"

"Fresne, is right. You don't actually expect me to sign that, do you?" Alexandra asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I am serious about it."

Alexandra nervously laughed, "Yeah right, as if I would—"

Zazzera swiftly unsheathed her rapier and pressed it against Alexandra's neck. 

"I was not asking for your opinion, stupid dog. You are going to sign this and quickly," Zazzera coldly ordered. "If you wish to throw your life away, you might as well do it by becoming my personal pet. The Schneeweißchen household is one of the most powerful in the middle ring, you know that, don't you? Being my dog would be an honor compared to whatever you are now. You can both make your life miserable and grow in status without having to go anywhere. See? A good deal if I say so myself."

Alexandra stayed paralyzed, in cold sweat. Her whole body trembled as she stared at the thin and long silver blade. Why was this familiar? Zazzera already threatened her this way in the past, and while it's true that she never was this hostile before, Alexandra couldn't understand why she was so afraid at that moment.

Suddenly, Alexandra's legs gave up and she fell to the ground. Zazzera looked down on the girl sitting at her foot, putting her sword back in its sheath. 

"That's it," she praised. "You see it's not too complicated, right? You can even 'sit' and 'beg' properly. You are worth raising."

Lefresne's hands clenched into fists, "Qu'est-ce que ça signifie, Zera?!"

//What does this mean, Zera?!

"Keep quiet, Miss Aschenputtel."

"That is no way to treat a friend!!" Lefresne fumed.

"Oh but she isn't my friend, Miss Aschenputtel," Zazzera corrected, turning to Lefresne. "I thought it was clear between us – YOU are my friend, and this girl is just my friend's friend. That's all." She then looked down on Alexandra again. "Well, soon, she is going to be my dog. I can't wait."

"Then, listen to me, your friend!!! Stop bullying Alex, please!!!" Lefresne asked, putting herself between the two, a hand on her chest.

"... That is a solid argument," Zazzera admitted, looking at the ceiling. 

"À la bonne heure*! I knew you would—"

//*can be translated by something like : I am glad to hear that!

Zazzera gave Lefresne an uppercut. The shock was so violent the latter almost instantly lost consciousness.

"A bibliomancer isn't all about words, Lefresne. Sleep well, and meditate about that, will you?" Zazzera calmly stated as Lefresne fell on the ground like a sandbag.

Zazzera then threw a cold gaze at Alexandra. 

"Now, stupid dog, how about we officialize your new vows?"

"..."

"Stupid dog, I am talking to you," Zazzera said, lightly kicking Alexandra.

The black haired girl seemed to regain life. For some reason, she was convinced that she would die, and her brain stopped processing information, which is why she was surprised to see Lefresne lying on the ground. 

"Fresne?!" Alexandra called in panic as she shook the girl's body.

Zazzera furrowed her brows. Without any prior warning she kicked Alexandra in the guts, sending her to ground. As the girl writhed in pain, she calmly explained the situation to Alexandra. 

"Lefresne here is taking a nap if you didn't notice," she said. "She is okay or maybe not. Anyway, you have a contract to sign don't you? Let's get over it quickly, I don't have all day."

"You… You… What are you talking about?! We need to help Fresne!"

"Why would you want to do that? Don't tell me you actually care about her? No, that's impossible, you wouldn't leave her otherwise. You wouldn't let her cry. Nice try, but you can't escape. Sign that document now."

"What is wrong with you?! Have you gone crazy?!" Alexandra yelled.

"Let me put this otherwise then," Zazzera began, unsheathing her rapier again. "You are not going anywhere until you become my pet. If you try to escape, I will use my family's power and status to utterly crush you. I already warned a few people that Lefresne and I were coming to your house. What do you think will happen if – for instance – the heir of the Aschenputtel household died here? Whose version would they believe? The powerful and trustworthy heir of the Schneeweißchen household, or the daughter of an assassin? A hint, I smell a second public execution in this house."

Alexandra eyes widened, "You can't be serious, can you? You wouldn't kill Fresne, your friend, just to have me as your pet, would you?"

"Like your vows, my friendship with Lefresne is just something our parents put in place. Great families walk together, you see? That's politics, but I personally wouldn't mind stabbing that happy-go-lucky idiot. Oh, and before you say something thoughtless like 'you wouldn't do that!', I must warn you that I WILL stab her if your next answer doesn't please me. Now, think carefully about your reply, stupid dog."

Alexandra looked at Zazzera cold eyes in disbelief.

"(That girl… she is serious, isn't she?)"

The only satisfying answer Alexandra could think of in the current situation was agreeing, but that would mean becoming that girl's pet. That was too much of a humiliation to even be considered. Besides, it would mean ending the Wolf lineage with a 100% chance. 

Becoming a criminal was risky, but that way, she had a chance to save her family's name. However, as a pet…

Zazzera seemed to grow impatient, "You don't find the right words, stupid dog? Well, it can't be helped. I will only accept two answers – 'Yes' or 'Woof'."

Alexandra stood atop of her head. She got up and looked at Zazzera with a mischievous smile. 

"Okay, I accept."

Zazzera's eyes widened a little, "Oh… Ah… I… I mean, of course you would. You aren't so stupid after all. Anyway, now you just have to sign the document and—"

"I won't sign it."

"Pardon?"

Alexandra pointed at Zazzera with her right index finger, her left hand on her hips, "I said I won't sign it!"

"... Do you wish to die?" Zazzera asked, her face becoming even paler and intimidating.

"As if! What I am saying is that I am a wild wolf, you see? If you want to make me your dog, then you have to tame me first! That makes sense, doesn't it?" Alexandra explained, raising her finger.

Alexandra pointed at Zazzera again, her smile letting its place to a cold, a serious expression.

"If you can't tame me, I will devour you flesh and bones. That's your [house]."

Zazzera hastily looked at Alexandra left hand – it was lying on the grimoire belted to her hips. 

"(Think Zazzera, has she asked a dangerous question?!)"

"Zazzera, won't you tame me?" Alexandra asked. 

"... Oh… here is the dangerous question… Okay, I will tame you… Nicely done, not so stupid dog," Zazzera admitted, closing her eyes and lowering her sword. 

Alexandra smiled, "You can't refuse now. You know what will happen if you do!"

"Yes, yes, that power of yours is annoying. Next time, I will break your vocal chords and force you to write," Zazzera sighed while making a weak ousting gesture. 

"Better luck next time then!"

"So? How do I tame you?" Zazzera inquired. 

"A duel obviously!" Alexandra replied, opening her arms wide.

"... I will be in your garden. Prepare yourself," Zazzera sighed before turning around. "Open Sesame."

The bedroom's door opened again and Zazzera left it, without another word. Once the door closed again, Alexandra sighed heavily.

"Thankfully, she is cautious. If she decided to attack me, that would have been the end…" she whispered to herself.

***

"Milady! Milady!" an old woman called for Alexandra as she was walking through her mansion's corridors.

It was the same doll as before, probably the only employee still working at this moment. 

Alexandra turned around, making her dark blue coat wave as she moved. "What is it, 74?" she asked, slightly furrowing her eyebrows.

The old woman approached her and bowed before continuing, "I asked Lady Zazzera to wait for you in the courtyard. She is there at the moment."

"Is that so?" Alexandra asked absentmindedly. 

"She should wait for you long enough to be able to escape. I already prepared a route, if you would follow me."

Alexandra glared at the woman, "Wait, don't tell me you are asking me to cower in fear, are you?!"

"Oh, no, no, no! That is not it!"

"What is it then?!"

"It… It's just that you seemed too nervous. I… I just thought you actually planned to run away…" the woman stuttered. 

"Nervous?"

Looking at her hands, Alexandra could see them slightly trembling.

"(I am trembling? Why?)" she asked herself. 

"Um, if milady allows me…" the woman began. 

"Just ask already," Alexandra ordered, while clenching her fists many times. 

"Yes… Excuse my insolence, but as milady is aware, she never won against Lady Zazzera in a sparring match before, not even once in 7 years."

Alexandra eyes narrowed.

"... and so what?"

"This… This time, she requested a death match. I am afraid that—"

"That is enough."

The woman gasped. "Forgive my insolence," she added, bowing.

"Well, she is going to pose a few problems…" Alexandra said, barely above a whisper. 

By looking through the windows, Alexandra could see Zazzera silently waiting for her in the middle of the garden. The girl's dark eyes hardly moved at all as she gripped firmly her rapier's handle. 

At that sight, Alexandra's nervousness rose. 

She was going to fight against the heir of the Schneeweißchen household, the so-called Snow Crow, Zazzera Schneeweißchen. At only 15 y.o she was considered to be one of the best bibliomancer of the academy, surpassing even Lefresne in that regard.

Could she really handle this?

99 fights for 99 defeats. Even though Alexandra fought her countless times, she never was able to counter Zazzera rapier techniques and most importantly, her unique code. Needless to say, her defeat was almost scripted, however she couldn't  just give up without actually trying her best.

Or her very worst actually…

"74, I want you to do something for me," Alexandra said, approaching the woman and whispering something to her ears.

The old woman's eyes widened in surprise. "Mi, Milady, are you sure about that?"

"Yes, but it won't necessarily work…" Alexandra noted, taking a reflexive pose. 

The old woman thought intensely. She could do what was asked of her pretty easily, but that would mean an execution should her master lose or should Lady Zazzera decide so. In short, it was awfully risky, but if it could allow her master to win…

"... very well. I will do my best for you, Milady," the old woman said, bowing. 

"Now, let's just hope she doesn't notice… that would be wonderful…"