ㅤㅤ"Come on, Quilliene, get out of your head. You're shaking, you haven't eaten, and you're talking to yourself."
ㅤㅤHer mind felt heavy as it was busy rattling on about those files on the Nameless. In truth, she had been pacing around the room for the last half hour, rummaging around said files again for any further clues on connections between the other patients. So far though, she had drawn blanks, and she hated it when that feeling in her head just kept ringing as if she was missing something. Yet, one minute detail she could pick out was the bags under her eyes. She needed to begin the day officially, and she was already on a rough start.
ㅤㅤ"Get dressed," She huffed. "Greet the staff. Find out what is going on in your family that might lead to secrets of complete and utter genocide. Cool."
ㅤㅤShe undressed herself, to the best of her abilities, and fished out a blue skirt from her drawers. She figured a black corset would work wonderfully with it over top of a white blouse, to bring it all together. The way it would hug her body and make her feel presentable always felt good. The silly part about the corset was trying to get it on. Having over exerted herself and having too much on her mind, she couldn't seem to quite focus on getting the clips right and tying up the string in the back. Which is why she sighed in relief as a knock came, assuming it was one of her helpful maids.
ㅤㅤ"Come in!" She called. "I'm afraid I may need a little... assistance."
ㅤㅤ"Oh?" The familiar voice came as the door cracked open - too late to stop them. "What do you need help with-"
ㅤㅤNeo cut himself off as his grip on the handle tightened, and a hand went up to cover his eyes as he sheepishly looked away. Embarrassment flooded his senses as he reeled back. He was frozen, unsure if he should close the door, confused if he should help her or not. Had she known it was him? He didn't have a clue, his face flushing even more red when he dared another glance before turning his face away in shame.
ㅤㅤ"Oh!" Quilliene's soul had nearly jumped from her body. "By the gods, Neo, I am so sorry!" She hugged the corset to her chest, not realising she wasn't making the scene any better. "I didn't realise- oh no..." Her cheeks felt warmer by the second. "J-Just... mayhaps find me maid, who can help with my... my..." For a small moment, words failed her and eyes were simply trapped on Neo. "Corset! My corset, please, get help for my... corset..."
ㅤㅤNeo remained stock still for a moment, before a small and nervous, "Yep!" Came from him and he disappeared behind a door slammed shut.
ㅤㅤQuilliene stood there in shock. Had he... seen her? Wait, was he staring? She could have sworn that she saw him glance. Alas, she had been at a loss for words and her mind was far too busy jumping to conclusions. She could tell her face was red - she didn't have to look in the mirror to see that. Having been so caught up with her own mind, she hadn't noticed the official maid calling through the door to her.
ㅤㅤ"Y-Yes, come in!" Quilliene called.
ㅤㅤThe door opened, and this time, Neo was nowhere in sight - only one of the maids, who seemed to glance back with a disgruntled glare before shutting the door behind her. "You should have called someone to assist you, your majesty," She spoke softly, coming up behind Quilliene. "Not all of these clothes are meant to be put on without aid."
ㅤㅤ"I know, I know," She sighed, turning after she handed her the corset. "I just... With so much going on at this point, I have to try and get my physical body working. Maybe not immediately like it did before, but... it's good to imagine, right?" As the maid got to work, she hummed. "Speaking of, have any of the other nations requested my voice as of recently, or the press? I know my brother has been managing everything mostly, but I still haven't received any word."
ㅤㅤ"To be perfectly honest with you, if I may," The maid wrapped the corset gingerly around Quilliene's torso. "The nation might possibly be nervous about their new queen being so young." She began lacing the back, tightening it enough to make it form fitting but not enough to choke. "Especially one that was so far removed from England society for a... short while." She smiled sheepishly saying this, glancing up at Quilliene in the mirror. "But as far as us servants are aware, no one has requested your voice. If they have... his highness has taken care of it."
ㅤㅤQuilliene gasped, but not from the corset - from the sheer audacity. Embarrassment gone, she now grit her teeth irritably. "I don't care what they think. I understand enough about the history of this country to represent it. They will have to listen to me... I cannot sit aside and do nothing while our people boil away in the aftermath of so many tragedies."
ㅤㅤ"I wish I could say I was wrong, your majesty." The maid sighed, lacing the last piece and tying it off in an elegant bow. Stepping back and folding her hands in front of her lap, she smiled at the queen in the mirror again. "Do you need anything else, your majesty?"
ㅤㅤ"No, no," Quilliene hummed as she sat down and began to place flats on her feet. "I have everything I need. And now, I am ready to set off for the day. I thank you for lending an ear, but I want you to know," She smiled at her handmaid. "There is no need for you to be my therapist or foot rest. I do not want to be inconsiderate of you."
ㅤㅤ"Oh?" The maid mused, raising an eyebrow and frowning. However, the expression did not last long as she simply giggled and smiled. "Your majesty," She said, turning to the door and opening it. "If you're looking for someone to be your footrest, I am sure mister Neo would be happy to comply."
ㅤㅤQuilliene half gasped, then let out a gleeful laugh of surprise. She simply shook her head in response. "You say such silly things."
ㅤㅤThe maid smirked at her over her shoulder playfully before walking out the door, glancing at something with a malicious sneer before turning the opposite direction and disappearing down the hall. Quilliene made her way towards the door, exiting and closing it behind her as she brushed her skirt neatly. Only to turn and see a red-faced Neo right next to her, leaning on the wall with his gaze down and gloved white hand over his mouth.
ㅤㅤ"Oh!" Quilliene spoke. "Neo! You... weren't listening to that, were you?"
ㅤㅤ"Wh-What?" He stammered, looking up, then down. "No... I mean, listening to what? What did..." He trailed off then, rubbing the back of his neck before clearing his throat. "We should, um... get going..."
ㅤㅤShe nodded, already feeling the heat return to her face. "Yes, we should," She stood a little more upright. "So... those files. We need to do as much research as we can with the time that we have, and not let my brother know about it. He should be busy tonight, so we can use today to find some answers."
ㅤㅤ"Right," Neo nodded, glancing at her again. "Where should we start, then? With the Nameless? Or is there something else that we need to begin with?"
ㅤㅤ"Not at all!" Quilliene slowly started to perk up as the conversation went on. She turned and began walking towards the stairs. "Where would you keep something so horrendous without the public eye finding out about it?"
ㅤㅤ"In the basement," Neo joked as he followed, hands in his pockets, then frowned as he thought about it. "I mean, that's where you keep the Nameless, and your witchcraft-y stuff, right? Why not in the basement?"
ㅤㅤThen he shook his head. "No, never mind. It can't be that easy if they were trying to hide it from you, too."
ㅤㅤQuilliene quirked an eyebrow at him, finding herself chuckling at his doubt. "You are right. I am down there most of the time and if they were attempting to hide something so important from me, then it would have to be in a place only they would think to look." For a moment she pondered before changing the subject. "I don't think I have to point it out, but you know you won't be with me when I confront the Nameless, correct?"
ㅤㅤ"Probably for the best, to be honest," Neo muttered. "But someone should be with you. Maybe... a pixie?" Neo flourished a hand in front of him, where Daileth dropped his invisibility and fluttered up closer to Quilliene.
ㅤㅤ"At your service, your majesty," The pixie chirped, as smooth as a birdsong, while he gave a quaint bow to her.
ㅤㅤ"Daileth!" She gave him a kind smile, instantly eased by his appearance. "Well, good morning to you. I wouldn't mind it if you-" She paused though, finding herself back-tracking as she exchanged a suspicious glance with Neo. "How long has he been here?"
ㅤㅤNeo hummed carefully, thinking. "About since I got the maid. Why?"
ㅤㅤ"I..." Quilliene frowned. "I couldn't sense him like I normally would. There might be a slight issue with that." She shook her head after a moment of thought. "Anyways - Daileth, I trust that even if anything gets serious, you will not say anything to my brother, yes?"
ㅤㅤ"Oh, no, of course not!" Daileth reassured her with a quick shake of his head. "My allegiance is to you, not to his highness."
ㅤㅤ"Wonderful!" She relaxed, relieving her tension as she looked back to Neo. "We should treat the next few hours as playing detective, if it makes it easier. Those files... if anyone else survived besides our little shapeshifterfriend, we need to know before any more danger is caused."
ㅤㅤ"Most of the ones we saw were deceased, though." Neo shrugged as they reached the stairs and started descending. "I doubt another will be coming our way... but I got an idea earlier. Who is the demon your parents trusted most? Perhaps they know something and we can convince them to tell us more."
ㅤㅤQuilliene quirked her brow at the question, humming as she thought intently. "They are less of a demon, more of a devil." When Neo's eyes widened, she quickly continued. "Not all devils are bad. Sometimes, to make mass contracts with demons, you do it with a devil. Otherwise, I would have all these little individual contracts - with a devil, they sort through the mess and you make a single contract with the devil."
ㅤㅤ"Oh..." He said quietly, narrowing his brow. "That's... weird. And confusing." He shook his head. "Whatever. Who is she?"
ㅤㅤ"Her name is Fyra." Quilliene continued. "She is reserved and quiet, but she is the commanding devil in charge next to the contract holders - me and Christopher. She is usually in the green-house."
ㅤㅤ"Fyra is who we should talk to, then," He suggested. "Before we go to the Nameless. I'm sure she can be helpful, especially since you have proof and know already."
ㅤㅤ"Very true," She nodded, reaching the bottom of the stairs and leading the way to the castle entrance. "I would have considered bringing some of those files with us, but I wouldn't want to risk them getting destroyed. Or worse, lost in the hands of someone with the wrong ideas."
ㅤㅤShe stopped at the doors as they were opened to her, and turned around to face Neo with a surprisingly stern expression. "Though I'm sure this comes as expected, Fyra may not like you due to whatever may be going on that has the other demons so riled up. So, best you stay outside while I talk to her alone. That includes you, Daileth. She could smell Neo off you from a mile away."
ㅤㅤ"Right, right," Neo nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. "I get that. As long as you'll be okay."
ㅤㅤQuilliene smiled. "She is under a binding contract to never cause harm to me. I will be safe in her hands."
ㅤㅤHe sighed out, then nodded. He only hoped she was right.