A/N: It seems I'm on a roll as of late. Muse wishes to create a romance in a Victorian setting. So here you have it. All characters from the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha series are recognized as property of Seven Seas. Any others used unless otherwise specified are my own.

(?)

I am not going to tell you some frivolous story like you hear in fairytales. Some things happened that way, others did not. Just sit back and enjoy the tea I have had prepared for you and listen. However, I do not want you to see this as if I was telling you the story.

Even though it is indeed my story. In the end, I would like you to take away your own perceptions. Otherwise, it is just pointless. I am but ageless now, but there was a time when I was a pure maiden. But I gave it all away.

I ... gave it all to her.

But it's not enough just to tell you some boring story about my past, when you do not first know where it all changed. So we will start there, at the moon where everything changed for me. When, I met my eternal love.

(Many moons earlier)

The sun rose slowly over the sleepy town. But this was not unusual; village life rarely started before sunrise and was largely concluded by sunset. The only places that remained open or in business into the night were the tavern and the church over to the east of the village.

The town itself was nestled near the cliff side of a steep mountain. There was a large city below, but it wasn't all that uncommon for people to grow tired of the stench of the main living districts of the city and come out to the country for fresh air. The village itself needed no support from the outside world.

A flock of sheep and a couple of chicken coops fed the town its meat and its farms kept greens coming in. There was a few head of cattle, but their meat was too expensive except for the lord's maybe. The area was ruled by a lord under the current regent. However the lord lived in the city, only coming in once or twice a week to make sure things kept running. However, it was not the lord people were apprehensive of.

On the opposite side of the village, across a long stone bridge of which nothing but death awaited off the sides, was a beautiful castle carved out of a dark stone. It was rumored that there used to be a small mountain where the castle stood, and the castle was then carved from it. Even more enigmatic then the castle was who lived there.

For years and as far as the eldest in the village could remember, the house of a grand duke resided in the castle. Though none or very few had ever seen any of the kin from it. Usually gilded stage coaches would pass though the town on their way to the castle. In fact, the event had become even more often as of late, as at least a score if not more of coaches would pass though the town in the cover of night. Though yet still, the villagers kept their distance. Children were not even allowed in the direction of the castle and nothing was grown on that side of the village.

However, the village ignored the castle, as the castle ignored the village. This morning was no different. As the sun rose in the morning, the doors of the business opened as some began for the day and others prepared for the night.

The village children played along the outside of the tavern. To them it was like a large fort that would protect them. The building was three stories, only the fist story was used for the business, the other two were a home for the two owners of the tavern. An older brother and a sister.

The two had lived in the village all their lives. Their mother had died a couple winters past and their father had left long ago. Yet the two were respected by their fellow villagers. Their mother had been known for her no-nonsense way of doing things. After she died her son had taken over the tavern. He was well liked, but not as much as his sister.

"You two! If you keep throwing that around you might break something. I don't wanna get spanked by mama!" A small girl objected while she clutched at a small doll that might bear resemblance to a woodland animal.

"We won't get in trouble. Even if Master Chrono catches us, Mistress Fate will save us! She always saves us." The two boys responded as smooth rock hit the outside of the door.

"It doesn't matter; we still get scolded by mama. I don't want to go to bed without any supper!" The girl whined.

"You are a baby! Maybe we should go to the cursed castle in the west. I hear the master there likes to eat little girls!" One of the boys quipped triumphantly. The girl's face froze in shock and then contorted as she was on the verge of crying which was what the boys wanted.

"I hear the Mistress likes to eat small boys. So perhaps you should be left there instead." A soft voice said as a taller form rounded from the back of the tavern. The girl's eyes promptly sparkled alive.

"""Mistress Fate!"""

"Now, you two know you shouldn't be making mischief around here. My brother will get mad and make you clean up horse manure for the stableman." Fate said as she leveled the basket full of bread, cheese, and meat in her arms. The long braid that bound a golden cape shifted between her shoulders.

"See! I told you!" The little girl said as the boys began to chase her away from the tavern. Fate smiled warmly and then pushed the door open.

(Tavern)

Fate made her way across the long floor boards and over to the bar. The supplies she had bought would be for the evening. The food for the house was usually purchased on Sunday. That was still three days from now.

"I wonder if they will be rowdy tonight. I know brother says to ignore them, but ..." Fate blushed as she remembered the manhandling of the night before. Chrono would often go to bed after the most important customers left. Leaving Fate to deal with the ruffians. There was a pistol under the counter should she ever need to use it. After sighing, she finished putting the groceries away.

Fate was perhaps one of the most beautiful women in the village. She had gained the ire of many plain girls and the stares of most men. Most of the men that frequented the bar would like to see more of Fate then she would have liked. Most of the unruliness was kept to a minimum, on the count of being tossed, and not being allowed back. Chrono had made it quite clear that his sister was off limits. Though one time, a person had decided to tempt fate.

The man had been one of the village's drunkards, and had decided one night that at the very least, he was going to take Fate's maidenhood. But to his surprise, he had received a kick to his groin for his trouble. Fate was not to be trifled with and could defend herself against a one on one attacker. But against a group of men with thoughts of defiling a pure maiden on their minds, she had little chance.

This was part of the reason for the gun, as well as not going out at night. For everyone nearby would hear the single shot and come running. But no one had the nerve to chance being hung for stealing a small fleeting piece of heaven.

"It's best not to think of that now. Perhaps they can smell my loneliness." Fate reflected at the fact that she had still not found anyone that she was willing to give herself to. There were no shortage of suitors, but there was a shortage on Fate's tolerance of them. Fate had been very sensitive to touch as a child. Because whenever anybody touched her, she could tell their intentions, and perhaps even their thoughts instantly. Seeing a vision of herself being rutted upon was not very appealing.

Even still, she had come to a point in her life where she thought she was missing something. All the other women her age had long since married and had children. She felt as if she needed a companion and she longed for affection she could handle. Chrono was her brother, and loved her as a brother should, but even he had a string of maidens he was seeing. Even when their mother had been alive, she had accused Fate's brother of being too much like his father. If he was like their father, then what was Fate like? Their mother? Though Fate was embarrassed about her own transgressions, when the nights were too long, and she would fill herself with thoughts of someone soft and kind. Someone who would cherish her and love her.

To Fate, love meant more then to lie in someone's bed. She would much rather love someone and offer her body as a gift, then to use it to make a means.

Then as she thought of this person embracing her as she climaxed, it was enough, it had been enough. But would it always be enough? Would she always be able to fool her body and her mind into accepting someone who didn't exist anywhere but in her lonely heart? She felt shameful, but it was her secret. Something that no one would ever know, nobody but that person who didn't exist.

"Fate, why are you standing around? The floors and bar must still be scrubbed. I want to be open…before the sun is down." Chrono spoke from a table along the back wall. All the ledgers were out, so he likely had been entering the previous night's earnings.

"Y-yes!" Fate said as she began to take the buckets and soap out from behind the counter. Neither of them noticed a well dressed figure enter the establishment.

"Please excuse me." The figure asked. "I wish to speak with the women whom everyone says works and lives here."

"It would be helpful for you to state your name before you ask to talk to my sister." Chrono said as he got up from his chair and walked over to the figure. On closer inspection, they appeared to be a noble from the city.

"My name is … not warranted here." The figure said with a slightly lighter voice before removing their hat. A young man was exposed from it. He then turned himself to face Fate.

"Lady Fate?" The young man asked with a soft voice.

"I am just a common woman …" Fate protested as she found the title unfitting.

"You are Lady Fate, that is how I was told to address you, and that is how you will be addressed." The young man said allowing a slight smile to defuse the situation.

"Told by whom?" Chrono asked now getting annoyed.

"My master, the master of the palace to the west." The young man said causing awkward silence. Never had any villager been sought out by persons from that castle.

"What does someone from the castle want from me?" Fate asked a bit shocked.

"It is quite simple. Your presence has been required at a function tonight. My master will accept no excuses."