⊰᯽⊱┈A U D R A┈⊰᯽⊱· · • • • two years later • • • · ·The celebration of the seventh birthday of the ducal princess. There was so much pink and so many frilly things around the place, that the little dragon swore that when he left there, he wouldn't be able to see another color in his eyes for quite a while."You came! I was beginning to think I'd be alone..." the purple-eyed one whimpered as she clung to his arm."You'd think I'd leave you alone on your birthday, what do you think I am?" she asked with one of her eyebrows arched as a slight smile painted on her face.The purple-eyed one gave a mischievous smile before opening her mouth.She didn't want to hear it, it would be better."Don't answer" he placed one of his fingers in front of the girl's lips, which made her laugh lowly; so consequently the red haired one gave a long sigh and a simple smile."Can you be here? Shouldn't you be talking to the others?" the little dragon questioned her as she reached out to straighten her own

᯽⊱❈═ A U D R A ═❈⊰᯽The oath of a dragon, an oath that could never be broken, one that would never be broken.That was what it had given Ethel, a certainty that it would continue, that it would be her watchdog for the rest of her days, and that she would not regret it at any time."Silly child..." the little dragon sighed "she really has so many doubts, so many fears..." he couldn't help but think, couldn't help but look wistful as he stared up at that ceiling that now seemed so dull."And you can blame her?" he thought.No, you couldn't, anyone would be like that if they were betrayed by the person they loved, wouldn't they? Completely hurt and wondering where you went wrong, who went wrong, why you were betrayed, what was the reason you were betrayed."a bracelet..." he looked at his own wrist, since he had made a pair "I wonder if she is looking at it now too, if she is thinking about all this..." he seemed anxious just thinking about it, an anxiety

᯽⊱❈═ A U D R A ═❈⊰᯽Ethel Verena had lost her parents at the age of seven in an unfortunate carriage accident sometime after the fall festival. An accident that caused her to be placed in the care of her grandmother.That was what he remembered hearing, that her parents' death had created a commotion, and had become a topic of conversation for days in the wheels of unoccupied noblemen.And there she was with the memories that this could happen, that this happened at some point in her mother's arms as a stray child who didn't know what to do anymore, who didn't know what plan to draw, who to trust and what to follow.Those purple eyes clearly begged for everything that woman holding her in her arms to be true, for everything she really felt to go away, for her doubts to fly away like dry leaves in the winter wind.How alone had she been until now?What was it like to have the refuge taken from you when you were so young?You would have

᯽⊱❈═ E T H E L ═❈⊰᯽A villain, that's what the little dragon said to her, that's what he suggested to her to thrones, to avoid that cold, sharp fate at her core; that crimson sheet on the floor spreading."Thinking too much, violet?" the dragon wings that were so familiar just landed on the balcony, with an almost theatrical delicacy."Overthinking is euphemism, dear..." the purple-eyed one sighed as she said "this all seems so...strange.""Maybe it is" the burgundy haired one quickly replied "but things that can save your skin are usually strange, no?""And how do you know I'm thinking about it?" she turned her head sharply towards him "are you reading my mind?""No..." he laughed "it was just a kick, after all...that was the last thing we talked about" he said simply as he gestured with one hand "and another, you always think too much, about anything I or any other being talks about."'That's true...' the platinum one couldn't help

᯽⊱❈═ E T H E L ═❈⊰᯽· · • • • Several years later • • • · ·"Look who just arrived, Miss Verena!" an elderly man exclaimed, raising a champagne glass."Miss? I thought you were already married," another man next to him said, as if it were a highly convincing compliment.Their faces were flushed, and they were swaying, leaning on each other's shoulders. Their speech was occasionally slurred.Did they really think they could accomplish anything in that state?"I see I made you wait, my dear," firm hands grasped the pale shoulders, hands with dark skin and sharp black nails that were extremely familiar. A disguised smile appeared on the dragon's face, one that hinted that if given any kind of permission, a murder would occur at that very moment."It's nothing important," the platinum-haired woman replied, accompanied by a social smile, one that was clearly forced and rehearsed. "D