In Profot's mansion, a young woman had risen in the morning. She was brushing her hair in front of the mirror when she heard footsteps outside her room.
She stopped. The brush mid-air.
Beneath the door, a tiny mirror slid through. It fit in the palm of her hand. Circular and gold, the crystal heart-shaped.
She picked it up from the floor, puzzled. She stepped into the hallway.
Nothing.
She stood looking at the object. Her reflection stared back.
On the other side of the mirror, Lilith watched her expression.
"It seems she accepted it."
Rosmel entered Lilith's room. He found her on a divan.
"That fast? I only just gave it to her."
"I told you she was a romantic. Now she'll wonder who gave it to her."
Lilith blinked twice. The vision through the heart-shaped mirror faded.
She reclined on the divan.
"Profot has gone several days without delivering on the consciousnesses. Should we pressure him?"
"I think..."
"Or perhaps we should focus on this girl. She lives in the capital. Where the nobility is."
Rosmel tilted his head.
"You wish to enter that circle? That place is truly exclusive. How would you do it?"
"Do not underestimate me. I must convince someone to let me in. Like we did here."
She paused a moment, thinking.
"Profot... I thought you were going to help me with that."
" Mistress, why do you trouble yourself so much with being accepted by humans? They bring you nothing but problems. You could simply go to your castle and populate it with creatures like us."
"You are right. And that is why I am doing all this."
"What? How?"
"I could fill my kingdom with creatures, but none would be mine. They would all follow their own paths. I, then, will create my own species."
Rosmel began to tremble.
"That... that is very bold. How will you do that?"
"For that reason I wish to join the nobility. They possess the library of Aldric Thorn. There I must learn how to create monsters."
Rosmel trembled more. His fingers clutched at his clothes.
"How horrible."
A brief laugh escaped Lilith. Then she sat up.
"Well. We should see Profot. Check that he is not wasting time."
They both left. Lady Edyth and her too-close coachman.
Outside Profot's office, several servants were gathered. They whispered among themselves, hands twisting aprons, eyes fixed on the closed door.
Inside, an argument. Not shouting, but the tension in the voices within was palpable.
Lilith raised an eyebrow.
"What is happening? It seems so serious."
The butler turned to her. His eyes were swollen with worry.
"It is the king, my lady. He sent a letter. He is asking for more support for his war."
"War? They had already helped him?"
"Yes. With conscription. That is why our population has dwindled. But apparently it was not enough. He wants more support from the nobles."
"What kind of war is it?"
"In the north. They fight with the dwarven kingdom over a mountain rich in minerals."
"How stupid," said Lilith. "I mean! I hope they succeed."
"As do I. If he loses, there could be a civil war. He has not satisfied the kingdom's ambitions."
Lilith almost laughed. She covered her mouth with her hand.
She turned to Rosmel.
"Perhaps the situation truly is in our favor."