[Side A]

Hey… Sorey …
The you at that time was all beaten up it was obvious you were tired…And yet you smiled and pretended nothing is wrong.

"S-Sorey?!What happened?!"

"Ah well,I kind of fell down. No worries."

"Liar. He was thrown rocks at on the street.
Humans this days are really…
He didn't wanted to tell you because he knew you would worry."

"O-Oi!Mikleo—!
Ah I mean,pay no attention to it alright Alisha,it's really no big deal."

"No big deal?!Someone almost killed you earlier Sorey!What were you thinking?!"
"It's my fault for being unable to help them…!All I have to do is try harder—!"

"Sorey you alrea—"

"A-anyways,Alisha do you mind if we stay here again today?The inns are chasing us out."

"A-ah… do take a rest."

Again…?This has been continuing for a while… Is Sorey okay…?

"Sorry for the trouble. Come on let's go,Mikleo."

"Wait…!Sorey—!"

With angry and yet worried voice from Mikleo and an apologizing Sorey,they walked off leaving only their footsteps.

Ever since seeing you that way,I thought I should work hard too. After all I am the princess here.

And even if it's just a little…As long as it can ease your workload.

So I also tried my best.

"Alisha-sama…!The people are requesting an audience with you—!"

"Eh? Right now…? But I have some matters I need to go out for…"

"Do I tell them to come another time…?"

"…No. I will set aside this matters the people come first."

"Alright…! Please follow me."
—

"Ah—Alisha-sama!There you finally are—!"
"Alisha-sama!"
"You're finally here!"
"Listen to this…"

Suddenly,A whole group of people was approaching me with all sorts of complains.

"Please calm down for a while…!"

"Calm down…?! Like hell it will happen…! The Shepherd isn't doing anything to help us either-!"

"Sorey…? Of course not—!The Shepherd is trying his best so am I…! Please calm down and tell me your issues…!"

I wonder how long this whole thing had went.

Before I knew it,early morning turned into night time and with still tons of paperwork left on my desk, I decided to retire to bed and continue tomorrow.

"Let's see… Illness outbreak at the northern region… the southern region is getting more and more polluted… famished people… lack of to—Hmm?"

There was a sudden knock on the door as I talked to myself and finished dressing.

I sighed and opened the door.
"More work?"

"Ah,No actually."

"…!"
It was Sorey,Mikleo and Lailah.

"Oh,what is the matter…? It's already so late…"

"You didn't turned up at the usual place and we got worried. Alisha-san,did something happened?You look tired…"

I gave a small smile and a laugh when Lailah took hold of my hand. She really did looked worried.

"I'm fine.I was just a little tired today."

"Alisha… Are you really okay?"

Sorey looked at me,with real concern in his eyes.

I felt pain in my heart.

The one who we should all be really concerned about is him.
"Rather than me,Sorey,how are you?"

"I'm fine-Surprisingly today was a normal day."

"Really—?!I'm glad…!"

We both smiled at each other for a while before Mikleo broke the silence.

"Anyway,Sorey. We came to see if she's safe and she is,we should let Alisha rest for today. She must been tired."

"Ah,right! We should go off now."
I waved goodbye to them.

I closed the door and sat in front of the dressing table.

There was a cup of tea there.

Did I ever left a cup of tea here…? I don't remember. Most likely one of the servants left it here.
Feeling dehydrated,I took a sip of it.
Strange,the tea tasted a little weird.
… Is it my imagination?
I'm tired…
I should continue my work first thing in the morning tomorrow,the people needs help.

Ah… That reminds me-what did they meant when they came to check if I am safe…?

Did somethi-…
I'm too tired to think,let's leave everything for tomorrow morning.

—

There was a loud knock.
Struggling to get off bed I opened the door to see who was it.

"Alisha-sama—!There are more people today—!"

"What…?!What's the time now?!The sun has not yet even rise…!"

"It's 5.30am…!"

5.30…?!
I only went to sleep about 3 hours ago.
And the time now is so early… What matter could be so important…?

"Isn't it too early for them to be gathering?! What's going on now?!"

"The Shepherd had just been informed and is dealing with them now!"

"Alright,I will head out straight away after I dress!"

The servant nodded and waited outside.

I closed the door and immediately got dressed.

As I approach the door knob,I lost grip of it.

"…?
Tch—"

My head hurts…

"Alisha-sama?"

"Ah-!I'm done. Let us get going."

—
"Sorey—!"

"…!Alisha—…?"

"What is the situation now?"

"I managed to calm them down somehow and they said they will come by later again."

"Is that so… Thank you for handling the situation,Sorey."

"Rather than that… Alisha are you okay…?"

"…?Sure,I am?"

"…"

"…?!W-Wait,what are you doing?!"

"Nothing… Just checking your temperature…"

"You don't have to press your forehead against mine…!"

"Doesn't look like you have a fever but… you don't look okay."

"I feel fi—tch—"

The throbbing in my head suddenly got worst and I broke off contact with Sorey.

"Alisha?!"
"I'm fine,Just a slight headache."

"Alisha,please be a bit more careful."

"Careful?Of what?"

"…Your surroundings."
"Huh…?"

"The others and me have received news that you are being targeted."
"…Again?"

"Yeah…"
There was a long silence.

Ali—"

…?Eh—
Before I realized what was happening,My knees violently knocked against the ground and I was gripping onto Sorey's arm for support.

"?!Alisha?!Oi-Alisha!Are you okay?!"

My head is spinning,an extreme throbbing pain.

"Oi-Alisha—!"
Kneeling in front of me,he looked at me with concerned eyes.

"Sorey I…"

"Alisha-sama!"

The same servant that waited for me earlier came running over.

"There has been reports about an unknown group wreaking havoc at the northern region!No one there is able to fight back due to the illness outbreak…!We need you to go over there—!"

"An unknown group…?I got it.I will start preparing now to set off,please help to gather the troops."

"They are already gathered and is ready to set off—!"

"Wait Alisha,you can't think of going off in this state right?!"

"I have to go,Sorey.I will be fine."

"I will go with you—"

"The Shepherd would have to stay behind…!There are a lot of issues here that we need your help with!"

"But Alisha is—"

"Look Sorey,I will be fine,the troops got my back. Don't worry alright?And the people needs you. Stay here."

"…Be careful alright."
I nodded and with his help,I stood to my feet and prepared to set off.

…?No way,I'm thinking too much.
No one in the troop are people I know at all. Are they newcomers?

[Side S]

I watched her struggled to her feet and walked off.
Will she really be okay…?
"Mr Shepherd,we need you help in the hall,do you mind proceeding there?"

"Ah sure."

I got out of the place and when walking towards the hall,I saw Lailah.

"Lailah?"

"Sorey-san?I saw Alisha-san and the others heading out earlier. Did something happen?"

"Yeah…Some havoc at the northern region."

"Oh dear,will Alisha-san be fine alone?"

"I thought the same too… But she said she has the troop behind her back so she will be fine."

"That's great news at least. Where are you heading?"

"Towards the hall. They needed me over there."

"I shall accompany you then."
With silence step,we proceeded to the hall.

"Sure is dark…"

"The sun haven't rise yet… That reminds me,where is Mikleo-san?"

"Now that you mentioned it…"

I wonder where did he went? When I woke up he was already gone.

Well it is Mikleo we are talking about so I am sure he would be fine.
But still…

We soon arrived at the hall and suddenly,the door was shut tightly.

"…?Huh?What's going on?"

"We have to have you stay in the hall for now. We don't know when more people will be coming in we need you to stay here and handle the situation."

"You didn't have to shut the exit."
"This is to prevent any intruders,please do understand."

I nodded my head and both of us just sat down there and waited.

This is strange.
15 minutes has passed and everyone in the hall looked really anxious.

For what reason and why?

"Sorey-san… Don't you feel as though it is kind of strange here?"

"Yeah… I have a bad feeling. Let us go and find Mikleo first."

We stood up and proceeded to the door.

"Shepherd?Where are you going?"
"Finding a comrade. I haven't seen him around so…"

"We can't have you leaving here."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Like I said earlier,People will start coming."

"…You all are being weird. All of you look anxious. This is really weird."

"Anxious?No no we -"

Suddenly there was a loud bang on the door.
And within moments the door flew open.

"Sorey!"

"Oh,Mikleo. There you are."

"Alisha,Where is she?!"

"Alisha-san…?She went off to the northern region."

"How long was it ago?"

"About 20 minutes ago?"

"We have to find her quickly,now! I will explain later but we got to go!"

"But the people here needs me to stay here."

"That's right,we need you to stay here."

I felt a sudden chill in the air. All the people in the room was suddenly surrounding us.

"Whoa what…?"

"Don't you dare take a step out of this room."

"We don't have time for this—"
Mikleo clicked his tongue and glared at them.

What exactly is going on…?!

"Lailah! Can you do something to get them off our back?!"
"E-Eh? I can but I can't just harm innocent people!"

"They aren't! If we don't hurry Alisha is going to die!"

"Alisha-san?Going to die?"

"Mikleo,what did you mean?!"

"All this people here are the group that's targeting Alisha-!"

"What are you—"

"Tch-We don't have time for this."

Mikleo immediately pulled both me and Lailah out away by force,with them chasing after us.

"Mikleo,What's going on?!"

"I went to Alisha room earlier to see if you and Lailah was there but no luck,I chanced upon a cup of tea on her dressing table."

"A cup of tea?"

"There wasn't anything weird about it at a first glance but I thought it looked and smelled weird."

"Then,Mikleo-san,What is it exactly?!"

"There was a slow-acting poison mixed in! If we don't hurry up and find the antidote before it's too late—…? Sorey?"

I feel a slight disgust.

As though everything went black.

My lips moved on its own.
"Northern region. We are heading there right now."
"Yeah—!"

—

[Side A]

"Alisha-sama?"

"Ah,I'm okay,don't worry about me."

I gave a small smile to the servant who gave a worried look.

I felt a disgust in my stomach,weird.

I didn't ate anything how is it hurting?

"Are we reaching soon?"

"Yeah-!Look,the town is already in sight!"
A sigh of relief escaped from me.

"…?"
There was galloping noises.

A bunch of horses are heading this way.
"What's that sound? I'm sure we didn't asked for any backup."

"Well,but /we/ did."

"?What are you-"

The troop that was following me suddenly started to surround me.
"Is something the matter?"

"Alisha-sama,I think this is the end of the journey perhaps…?"

"Eh?I don't really get it?The town is just there."

The servant laughed.

So did the others.
"What exactly is happening?!"
I braced myself,gripping tightly on my spear.

Ah.

I fell to the ground again,with a throbbing pain in my head.

I felt like my head is getting ripped apart,the disgust in my stomach got worst.

The servant walked up with me with cold eyes and just hit the spear I was holding on away.

"Are you all…rebels?"

The group of people Sorey was talking about was them?

"Maybe."
I felt a pain in my stomach.
I was kicked by her.

"Ahh,so useless now aren't you.

Without your beloved Shepherd I guess you can't move about."

I glared at her and struggled to get up.

But was kicked again,this time with more force.

"It's pointless. Right now you should be feeling the side effects right?"
"You… What did you do to me…?"

"You are dumb enough to be feed poison. That's all."

"Poison…? I don't remember anything about th-Ah"

No wonder the tea tasted strange…!

"Let's see what might happen from guys—What does the poison do again?"
"Ahh it's a slow reacting one wasn't it. I was worried it wouldn't act up but I guess it did."
"The first thing that will happen is a head-splitting headache!"
"Second is an extreme pain in the stomach!"
"I guess thirdly is a little of blood puking?"
"Ehhh-Define little!"

They all laughed upon that.

What kind of poison is that..
Their little sure doesn't sound little.

"Anyway,lastly she will end up having a little cough and maybe feel that she can't breathe a little?And then more blood!"

"This is stupid…"

"We wasted enough time talking to you."
The servant came closer to me and snickered at me.

"Well then, Alisha-sama as your humble servant,I will do what you wish for!
To die by the poison or maybe by a knife?"

The headache was getting worst and I do feel a disgust raising in my throat now.

Not yet.
I stood up and held onto my spear.

"Neither."
"That's real stupid."

Before I was constricted by a few people,I only managed to cut her arm a little.

This is pathetic.
"Look what you have done now. You injured me."

"Tch…"
"What am I to do with you now… Pay you back double?"

The servant laughed and took out a knife. Within moments I felt blood trickling down my cheek.

Despite so I continued glaring at her. And I smiled at her,a mocking smile.

"That's all?"

"I really hate your looks do you know that?"

The blood trickling down my left cheek felt filthy.
And it was irritating me.

I was strangled soon afterwards,
"Let's see if you can speak now."
"Let…go…!"
I managed to pull free but I bet there was obvious bruise marks.

"You little bitch—

…?"

Noises.

There was sounds of people coming towards here.

"?Backups?"

"No…Everyone is here already."
"Then what's that noise?

…Ah-!"

I struggled to open my eyes,the headache was killing me.

"…Sorey…?!Mikleo-sama and Lailah-sama too… What are you doing here?!"

He had a look of relief seeing me,but suddenly changed as he approached me.

"…"

"Sorey?"

Lailah came running over to me while Sorey just stood there.

"Alisha-san…! You are all wounded-! We have to get you first aid as soon as possible!"

"Rather than that,What are all of you doing here-It isn't sa-"

"Alisha."

A really cold voice called my name. I almost didn't recognized it.
He kneeled down beside me and checked my wounds.

"Were they the one who did this to you…?"

"Eh-?"

"Sorey-san?"

Lailah was just beside me and she doesn't look comfortable either.

"…?Sorey,what are you-"
"Mikleo."
"?!"

"Sorey-san what are you trying to—?!"
"Lailah.I will leave Alisha with you."

"Wait what is going on…?!"

"Wait,Sorey,calm down!"

"Sorey-san please keep your cool—!Ah-

Alisha-san don't look!"

I was hugged by Lailah. Rather than hugged it was more like she covered me with her body.

I couldn't see what was going on.

There was shouts.
Screams.
Also some sort of arrow sound.

What was going on…?!

"So…rey-san,Pl…ease stop—The impurity is…urgh—!"

Lailah seemed to be suffering.
I wonder whether I was dreaming.

Her clothes color seemed to be changing a little. As though it is slowly dyed red.

A bloody red.

"Sorey,Stop it already-!"

"Lailah. Be careful."

"Eh?!"

A speck of blood flew past me.

I hear someone shouting "Monster" all and all over again.

"So is the antidote with you?"

"Tch—Like hell I'm giving it to you."

"Alisha-san don't look,alright?!"

I heard his voice. Also the servant's voice.
My head hurts.

I feel disgusted.

The disgust from my stomach flowed to my throat.

I violently pushed Lailah away and I coughed.

I kept coughing,I felt something coming out of my throat.

Despite so I couldn't stop coughing.

More and more of the unknown substance I'm coughing out came.

"Alisha-san?!Sorey-san,The antidote-Hurry!"

I took a look at what it was.

Blood…?

There was a puddle of blood just in front of me.

Did I coughed it all out…?

The blood didn't came out anymore but I still had a violent cough.

I looked at what was happening.

There was the color of crimson red every where.

Dead bodies.
Everywhere.

Someone I know well was covered in blood and he had cold eyes.

The once pure white cape seemed to be half dyed in black and red.

There was a clank sound.

A small bottle dropped to the ground and rolled on the floor.
So did the servant's body.

"Alisha-Are you okay?"

"Sorey-what did you…!"

I continued coughing.
I couldn't breathe.
My throat felt as though it was on flames.

"Alisha—!"

I wanted to call his name but I couldn't.

"Here,this is the antidote for the poison-"

I felt blood coming out from me.I couldn't take anything at all at this rate.

"Tch—!"
He took the antidote bottle and placed the content in his mouth.

The last thing I remembered before I lost consciousness,was a pair of extremely cold green eyes,a warmth touching my lips and something going down my throat.

The pure white cape has been dyed completely black