How a Lily Flourished Among Weeds

A knock came at my door late in the evening. Having learned my lesson, I asked who was visiting before opening it. “Yes?”

“It’s me.” Dame Selene opened the door without waiting for permission, then closed it and locked it behind her. “We’re out of time.”

“Already?” I hurried to unlock my desk and remove the stack of notes from the left drawer. “That doesn’t make any sense… everything else has gone mostly according to plan. Does this mean the rest of the plot is going to proceed early, too?”

Selene set the kettle down on my desk and placed two cups alongside it before taking a seat on my bed. “I’m afraid Helian made a mistake this time.”

This was about last night. I should have sent her away… or skipped dinner entirely. “So… that’s what happened. Was the countess furious?”

“She was. The saintess has been confined to her quarters. And… it seems your other prediction was correct.”

I frowned. “Already? That’s not right. The countess wouldn’t take leave of her senses so easily, even with the author’s interference. It’s not supposed to happen until much later…”

“Sola didn’t even listen to me when I spoke to her. Even now she’s just sitting in her office, staring out the window. The good news is that she neglected to give me any specific instructions on how to handle you. I expect she plans to deal with that matter tomorrow morning.”

“I see. We’ll have to make do with the time we have left and figure out a solution.” The plan was already a mess before this, but now our only option would be to improvise.

After checking the tea’s temperature with her hand, Selene filled our cups to the brim and took a small sip from her own. She looked into the distance. 

“It doesn’t taste the same as it used to.”

------

Selene knew Solana well. As she’d predicted, I was summoned to the countess’s office late in the morning 

The dame was waiting by the door. She did not turn to face me as I entered.

“You asked to see me, Countess?”

“That I did.” She gestured for me to stand in front of her desk, so I did as instructed. She stared at me for a few moments, expressionless.

“Do you understand why I’ve summoned you?”

“I understand the situation quite well, Countess.”

“Then in that case, do you know what I expect of you?”

“I understand what you expect of me, as well, Countess.”

“How do you plan to go about meeting my expectations, little bird?”

“I have no such intention, Countess. You are not in your right mind.”

In one fluid motion, Lady Solana stood and drew her sword, pointing it at me from across the desk. 

“This is the second time this week that one of my pets has disobeyed my instructions. I like to think that my instructions are easy to understand. Do you struggle to understand me, little bird?”

“I do not, Countess.”

“Then when I told you how you could keep your head attached to your shoulders, did you believe I was joking? Or did you merely deem me unworthy of your obedience?”

“Neither of those guesses are correct, Countess. You always speak truth with sincerity.”

Solana’s face flared red with rage. “Then why are we having this discussion right now?”

“Because the saintess’s prophecy has you caught in its jaws, Lady Solana, and if you do not let her go, it will devour you whole. I hoped to have time to explain before the situation came to this point.” I took a breath. “I’ve failed you.”

The countess pressed the blade of her sword against my neck. “An insect like you dares to counsel me? Give me one reason not to kill you where you stand right now. I’m listening.”

Dame Selene shouted. “Sola!”

The countess and I whipped around at the sound of her voice. It was enough of a distraction to make me forget my situation. I felt blood trickle down my neck. A shallow cut, at least.

“You’ve strayed from the path.” The vice commander’s hand was trembling, but she kept her fingers firm around the hilt of her sword, ready to draw it at a moment’s notice. “If you continue like this, I’ll drag you back by force.”

“You as well, then?” Lady Solana’s voice dripped with contempt. “I knew I couldn’t trust the little bird to stay in its cage, but I thought at the very least, my loyal attendant would take my side. Do you covet my possessions? Or have you merely grown tired of me?”

The dame’s face darkened with anger. “For you of all people to say that… Perhaps you’re right and I’ve grown tired of all this.”

The countess sheathed her sword in its scabbard and wordlessly left the room. Selene quickly followed after her.

My neck stung.

------

All the knights present on the estate had gathered around the training field, along with many of the servants and administrative staff. Lady Solana and her retainer stood opposite each other in the center, wearing aged leather armor from their days together on the battlefield.

The countess spat on the ground before loudly addressing the audience. 

“Dame Selene has disrespected me and my authority. In tribute to her long and distinguished service, instead of executing her on the spot, I’ve granted the dame a chance to redeem her honor— with a duel.” Her voice was strong and steady with authority. “Watch carefully and understand what it means to challenge me.”

Ruby stood off to my left with a practice sword limply hanging from her right hand. It seems she and Sapphire had been sparring before this scene interrupted them. They were now holding onto each other tightly by the arm and the elder girl was on the verge of tears.

I wasn’t sure if Rufus was present, but given his admiration for the dame, it was probably best if he only learned of this second-hand.

Lady Solana’s back was turned to us and while I couldn’t see her face, I could easily imagine her expression. It burdened my heart to think that she would wield it against someone as devoted as her vice-commander. In the end, no other member of the order stood a chance against the countess. This was the only way to pull her from the pit she had fallen into.

“Since you took the initiative to defy me in this manner, Dame Selene, I’ll grant you the opportunity to strike first. I’ll be claiming the last strike, in any case.” 

The countess drew her sword and held it one-handed, patiently waiting.

Instead of drawing her blade, the dame placed one hand on its grip and began walking towards the countess. Her hands no longer trembled as they had earlier in the office. As she crossed the center point of the field, her expression shifted instantly. Lady Solana flinched.

The sound of clashing steel reached our ears before our eyes could process what was unfolding in front of us. The sun gleamed off the tip of the dame’s sword, tracing an elegant after-image behind a movement so swift my gaze could scarcely follow it.

I had never seen Dame Selene draw her sword before, and from the expressions of the gathered crowd, it seemed few of them had either. The war veterans watched with a mix of resignation and satisfaction, as if to say “well, this had to happen eventually” or “serves you right, Countess.” The civilians and new recruits, however, were openly terrified. The elegant vice-commander had transformed before them into a herald of death, with the eyes of a starving animal.

I realized she was exactly that. She had been starved of the attention she deserved for a very long time, and now, at last, the countess’s eyes – clouded by the author’s interference as they were – saw her, only her. 

Her blade slashed wildly from every angle, each time crossing within a hair’s breadth of the countess’s chest, arms, or legs. The pace of her advance left no room to breathe, and Lady Solana began to retreat as she was pushed toward the perimeter of the training field, approaching us with every forced step backward.

The countess struck out with her blade in return, meeting one of the dame’s swipes head on, interrupting it immediately. With a hard flick, the sword was wrenched from Selene’s hand. As it flew into the air, Ruby whispered “no!” while a group of trainees scattered to avoid the flying projectile. No matter—as the dame leapt backward, she effortlessly snatched her sword from the air before landing gracefully back down on the ground, maintaining her poise.

Solana pressed her attack.

In contrast to the wild onslaught of Selene’s blows, the countess’s technique was elegant and restrained. She was the embodiment of the twelve forms that were often drilled into our bodies during training. She swung, thrust, feinted, and parried effortlessly as if it were as natural as breathing. The dame had no choice but to slowly retreat. For the moment, the roles had flipped, and the hungry beast was now prey.

As the duel continued, the two women danced back and forth, pressing the advantage for minutes at a time before feverishly defending. Their armor accumulated countless gashes and scratches while their blades went slick with blood and sweat. 

At some point in the melee, the countess’s hair tie had snapped, and strands of her hair littered the ground alongside bloodstains and deep footprints. The aged leather wrapped around the grip of the dame’s sword had worn rapidly over the course of the fight and fell in tiny scraps like ashes. Fatigue eventually took hold of the two elder swordswomen, and it appeared as if either could collapse at any moment.

The countess pressed forward, locking their swords together once more. With a mad grin, Dame Selene abandoned her blade and, in a surprise attack, leapt forward and drove her knee into Solana’s groin. She grabbed her by the collar and threw her straight to the ground. 

With her sword arm pinned down in the dirt, all the countess could do was kick and flail in an exhausted panic as she tried to free herself from Selene’s weight and force. Selene brought her face close to Solana’s. They stared at each other, faces dripping with sweat. Then, Selene pushed forward and pressed their lips together in a kiss. 

With a free hand, she caressed the countess’ cheek and loosened her hold on her now-limp sword arm. Lady Solana closed her eyes as she finally stopped struggling. Now free of her weapon, she wrapped her arms around her beloved vice commander. 

As they embraced, faint wisps of black smoke fled from the many cuts on the countess’s skin, carried away by the breeze.

As it became clear that the two no longer cared that they were being watched, it was Sapphire’s turn to shout in surprise. She rushed to cover Ruby’s eyes to protect her innocence. 

It’s a little late for that, isn’t it?

Now that the lovers’ spat had reached its surprising outcome, I led the girls away to a tavern to give our elders some privacy. Most of the onlookers reached a similar conclusion, with the head butler attempting to shoo away a small group of clearly still-fascinated maids. From the look of things, a few of them would be inspired to spend the evening together. I envied them slightly, but knew better than to risk a night like that again anytime soon.

As we reached the estate’s front gate, Rufus sprinted up and asked me, breathlessly, “what did I miss? Is it true that the dame and the countess fought a duel?”

“Well, I’d call it exercise more than a duel.” This made Ruby blush. “Come join us for drinks! Big sister will explain everything.”

Rufus frowned and swatted my hand away as I reached to pat him on the head. “You’re not that much older than me, XXXXX…”

“Maybe so, but I’m an expert on this subject, and you deserve a balanced education.”