Gatto Nera is in a critical condition.
The news spread so fast until every single The Princess Claw know about it since Cade who's in disguise as Abraham Huraira has a mental breakdown after seeing her pitiful condition. Knowing about his mental health, The Princess Claw immediately pulling back and gathered in The Tower's ballroom by The Tiny Devil's order.
The Twelve of The Princess Claw has been lined up yet The Tiny Devil is not presence. The ballroom is being held by her trustful companion but they are not satisfied enough. Without their master presence, The Twelve of The Princess Claw is just a thug that may not have a patience to stay and quiet.
"What do you mean, pretty boy ?! How dare you confine us in such condition !" complaint The Third Princess Claw right in front of Majordome.
"Orders is an order. But rest assured, everything is according The Tiny Devil's plan." answer Majordome with full of confidence.
"HOW DARE YOU Calling her title easily. You must feel pressured, weighty, like your body going to smashed ! Oh my one and only Colonel.... oh no.... General !" said The Third full of passion.
Meanwhile, behind The Third, every single member of The Princess Claw is not shutting their mouth and makes the ballroom looks like a bazaar. Looking at those mighty people act like an elementary school kids makes Majordome want to sigh in relieve since they still had their own freedom even after working hard under The Tiny Devil's command.
Two is having a childish like character, one is a bitch in disguise, one is a passionate man to give people advice in a harsh way, one is a normal one, one is cool and cold but loves playing with child, and much more unique character that makes the ballroom not getting its desired silent. And there's even a guy who bring his own anchor to this place and play with it like a swing after he hang it in the ceiling. Majordome calmly seeing how vigorous they may become outside their job.
Meanwhile, Tania Bloodtide is still accompanying Cade inside the infirmary which Nera being treated.
"This should be your day." mumble Tania.
"Is she going to be okay ?" ask Cade while holding Nera's unconscious body so tight and drown his face behind her head.
"I've told you a thousand times. She is going to be okay."
"Proof it...."
"Listen, I---"
"PROOF IT !!!"
Shocked by being shouted by her own subordinate, Tania open her eyes while feeling irritated. But she knew his feelings, she has already been there in the past, thus she hold her anger and think smart. Cause she know, violence is not the key to wakes someone from their slumber.
But suddenly, Nera open her eyes and then pat Cade's head.
Cade jumped out from shock after his head being patted by the unconscious body of Nera. He thought that Nera is already back from her unconscious state but then realizing that Nera now is not the Nera he known. But still, seeing her regained her conscious makes him happy which almost make him shed a tear.
Then, Cade put his hand into her shoulder and grab it tightly.
"Nera...."
Seeing her regained her consciousness, Tania stand tall and get ready to take her leave. But before he take her leave, Tania approach Nera while clenching his palm tight. She then hit her head with the fist and immediately turn her back and approach the door.
"If you could awake just wake up, moron." said Tania while taking her leave and close the door.
"Hehe...." Nera giggle while holding her head after getting hit by Tania.
After getting out from the infirmary, Tania rest her back for a moment on the wall across the infirmary. Looking up to the ceiling, she release her breath and feeling relaxed after a weight on her chest suddenly lifted. But it's not like that she didn't know and when she could awake, she just grateful that The Woman kept her promise.
"I Should've known....."
Not long after, she continue her walks to the ballroom where The Twelve Princess Claw waiting for her presence.
Knowing that The Tower doesn't have any elevator around, she cross her arms and close her eyes whilst walking to her destination. She wonder if she must makes one more floor so she could make an elevator to access every floor easily.
+-----+-----+-----+-----+
The night is getting dark, the moon is rising high. Cade accompanying Nera back to their houses by foot.
Covered by giant thick cloth, walking barefoot, and inside the thick cloth she wears a white one piece dress. Beside her, there's Cade who held her hand tightly and clinging like he doesn't want to be separated. Even though the night is cold, Nera's alternate feeling warmth whenever she beside him. Thus, she hold his hand tight like he do.
"What's wrong ? Do you hungry ?" ask Cade while caring about her inside.
"No." answer Nera's alternate.
Suddenly, just before they arrive at their houses, Cade took another path that makes their ways goes farther. But not far from their home, Cade took another turn and they arrive at a small park around the town. He then took a seat on a swing and Nera follow.
Looking at the beautiful starry sky above, Cade start to swing her seat and enjoy the wind.
Seeing Cade act like a kid in front of her, Nera's alternate did nothing except for smiling at him. She may not understand him but she know how important Nera to him. Remembering how gentle is he holding her body while she still unconscious, Nera's alternate felt guilty since that warmth is not intended for her.
Cade then stop his swing and ask, "Why Nera didn't came ? Why did you substitute her ?"
"You may not believe this but when Nera fell unconscious, she met me. She's looking for me and suddenly hugging like I was her mother when she found me. Crying like a little child far from their mother protection." answer Nera substitute honestly.
"Then, what did she say to you ?"
"If it were you back then, then I may not fail my master. She is now hesitate to rendezvous with you due to her weakness."
Suddenly, Cade shed her tears while hold his swing rope tight. Knowing that she is fine back there is making his chest much lighter. But suddenly, he laughed so hard and loud like the world is his alone. He laughed so hard that makes him stand up and kick the ground so hard that makes the ground beneath him cracked.
"LIAR !!! Just who do you think you are telling me some kind of nonsense !" he shout at her right in front of her face. But then, he sat again and swing the swing slowly, "Or so I would say if Nera wasn't beside me for that long.... I'm sorry for shouting at you."
Hearing those words coming from his mouth after shouting at her like crazy, Nera's alternate then laughed so hard. She had the same laugh as him. She then stand up and approach Cade from his front and smiled while her hair gently swiped by the wind under the shining bright moon.
Knowing that she approach him from the front, Cade rise his head and see her face bathed by the moon light. Just for now, he realize how beautiful is she. Like seeing the mature version of Nera's, Cade naturally blushed by her appearance while only wearing that white one piece dress. In one time, he also being recalled by the appearance of the one who torture him in the past.
"Cade Valentine..... please look at me carefully."
"You.... are tall and slender ?"
Hearing his dumb answer, Nera's alternate laughing again cause she think that he's joking around. But then, when she letting down her guard by laughing that hard, Cade suddenly catch her body and hug her as gentle as he can. Nera's alternate shocked, she didn't expect things turn out this way. But feeling his gentle hand, she did understand why he suddenly hug her thus she hold him back and letting her head rest on his shoulder. She then pat his back gently to comfort him.
Right in front of Nera's alternate ear, he whisper, "Honestly..... I'm scared."
Cade then push her body gently so he could see her beautiful face. Yet he want to look at her beautiful face, Cade is shedding her tear instead. Seeing that pitiful face of him, Nera's alternate wipe his tears from his cheeks and make him show his handsome and cool face.
"What if the real Nera heard you saying that. She admired you so much that makes me felt guilty for just living inside her. Unknowingly, taking her body."
"But... I'm so scared. I do am scared of you. My trauma for just seeing you again is yet to lost." he said steadily and calm like he wasn't afraid at all, "And simultaneously, I'm scared for losing her which means that I also scared of losing you."
Nera's alternate then turn her head down, her face turned red and she doesn't want Cade to look at her red face. But then, she venture herself and letting him seeing her face turned red. She then smile, awkwardly hiding her embarrassment.
"Is this woman really worth saving for you ?"
"Ahaha.... maybe not."
Thus, after hearing those word flying from his mouth, both of them started to laugh. They laugh and act like a person divided by two. Both of them had their similarity from their laughing and their personality when they feeling happy.
"Then, I want you to promise something for me. Since I and Nera wouldn't be always together like you do, I want you to keep her safe and in exchange I will protect the both of you. Physically and emotionally."
"Your words will carved on our hearts."
Then, Nera's alternate herself embrace Cade and giving her warmth into him. One last time, Cade hug her back and then pat her head like he always do to Nera whenever she's doing great. Thus, Cade emotion has been fully recovered and his relationship between him and her has been started into a brighter future.
Together, they walk beneath the moon while holding each other hand. Under the starry night, they began their new relationship as Cade make a promise between them three. One shall protect each other and two may have a greater protection.
+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Dreadful aura lingering around the ballroom. Tania Bloodtide's presence has change the atmosphere of the ballroom from playful and happy environment into an eerie and heavy atmosphere. The Twelve Princess Claw then giving salute before her then sit properly around the table in the ballroom.
Majordome then immediately bring out an exclusively made chair for the time like this. But before she take her seat, she had an announcement that need to be informed. Because this, she had a terrible face shown before her twelve subordinates.
"Men ! I had a miscalculation." say her loud and clear.
Hearing those unbelievable words coming from her mouth, The Twelve members shocked since she never state those kind of words before. And because of that, The Twelve started to whispering around since they were so shocked.
"I demand silent !" then, the environment silent immediately, "Our objection remain the same. Nothing has particularly changed. But, our objection might be delayed for a moment until everything settled as I plan. That man presence is crucial for our great mission. And when the time has come, I will change my title from The Tiny Devil into a Queen of Evil !" Tania Bloodtide rise her arms indicating her determination remain adamant.
"UNDERSTOOD ! Your words is our command !" The Twelve Princess Claw accept her determination. Then, The Twelve of them yell their happiness throughout the ballroom. Her determination is like their wish and desire for them. They had a same dream and those dream shared between Her and The Twelve to make Tania Bloodtide the great ruler of the kingdom.
Then, Tania take a seat and the eerie atmosphere has been lifted from the ballroom, creating suitable environment for them to start discussion. Thus she take off her hat and then take a sip of a tea served by Majordome before her.
"Then, let's start to discuss our great plan."
To be continued.....