Disclaimer: I don't own umineko. Period.

Author's note: The third chapter to Dlanor's search for affection. It is the plot twist of the story, I say.

Furudo Erika is an evil woman. Girl. Whatever she seems to be. An extreme sadist? of course.


Love is a Harsh Mistress

Chapter 3

"You two. Drop down on all fours."

Dlanor and her subordinates once again faced the hateful monster in the form of a little girl. Her seemingly endless array of physical abuse had become more frequent as of late. Even her monologues seem to have increased in both length and madness.

Without any choice, they obeyed.

"You," she pointed at Cornelia. "Stand on one leg, put out your tongue, and jump up and down until I tell you to stop."

Cornelia's eyes looked at her superior for help, but she knew that it was useless. The order of the Detective, Furudo Erika, was absolute.

She sat on top of Gertrude's back and rested her legs on top of Dlanor's.

"I hear you've been getting all chummy with the opponent lately."

"We are allowed to be neutral outside the game BOARD."

"SHUT UP!" She dug her heels into Dlanor's back, twisting it viciously.

Dlanor's face didn't change, but her fingers were scraping against the marble floor. Gertrude gazed at her helplessly, knowing that trying to defend her would just worsen their predicament.

"You think I don't know!?" She shouted. "I've seen your actions. They would be more than mere neutrality. Why, I would even say that you have grown to like him."

The dollish inquisitor did not retort. Her silence said it all.

"But there's no way that's possible right? You emotionless fuck*n' doll can't feel a goddamn thing!!"

She splashed the steaming hot tea in her cup at Dlanor's face. The porcelain white skin quickly became red and scalding. Black tea dripped down from her beautiful curly hair.

"Don't even try!" Erika kicked her repeatedly with her sharp heel until a hole ripped open on her coat. "You damned useless doll. You can't even beat him in a fair fight! Oh, that's right. You killed your own father. Perhaps you can do that to your little boyfriend? Can you? Dlanor A. Knoooox…?"

"Allow me to speak. I-" Gertrude began to speak.

It warned her a whack with the tea cup on her head. Blood coursed down her long hair.

"Silence, you worm! I am speaking to this hulking useless baggage of a traitor right now!!"

"Furudo ERIKA."

"W-what?" The detective girl almost leaped in surprise. Dlanor's tone was level. But there was a hint of fury that she could barely recognize.

Dlanor spoke without restraint. "I executed my own father because he violated the RULE. What I did is of no consequence to the PRESENT. Right now my duty is to help you win this FIGHT. So, I wish you stop these meaningless ACCUSATIONS."

She stood up with clanks of steel joints moving against each other. The mechanical doll drew up to her full height. She was shorter than her subordinates, but her dignity and nobility made her seem much bigger than she is. Especially before Erika, who just fell on her bottom after losing her balance.

"Furudo ERIKA. You are a horrible WOMAN. But upon my honor as the Head Inquisitor of Eiserne Jungfrau, I and my subordinates are honor bound to help YOU."

"Ahahaha…that's right isn't it? AHAHAHHAHA!!! Then you will help me bring down Battler and his pitiful Beatrice?"

"YES," Dlanor nodded primly, her gaze fixed at the poor excuse of a human in front of her.

"Then, I will order you…"

"Battler…"

"Y-yeah? Wassup?"

"You've been zoning out lately," Virgilia said, with a concerned look on her face.

"Sorry. I was just remembering stuff."

"Oh? That's rare. Is it about the game? No, judging by your look…is it about a girl?"

Battler's tea burst out from his mouth. He coughed a few times and wiped his mouth with a napkin. "H-how do you know that?"

"Ah, I've been a girl once, you know? Sojourns of affectionate nights and the feelings of a maiden in love, I've seen and experience them all. Even those nights of fleeting passions that you call a "one night stands"."

"Really? Wow, I'll never see you in the same light again."

"So. This girl you're thinking about. Is it Beatrice? No…it's more like…Dlanor?"

Battler dumbfounded face said it all. He is like a window case with all his minds clear for all to see.

"You have a good taste. She is a good child…perhaps a little too innocent."

"Dlanor? Innocent?"

"Yes, I'm not talking about her sense of duty and her witch trials. I'm talking about her as a girl. Poor girl. She lost her father at such an early age. The impact on her mind must have been tremendous," she sighed sadly.

Battler put down his tea cup. "Yes, she told me. She killed her own father."

"Yes, well…it's a fact that can never be changed."

"But she doesn't look like someone who would hurt a fly. Kill a cockroach in a homicidally insane way, perhaps. But aren't we all?"

"Haah…I'll say this in red. If it's her duty, then Dlanor will do her upmost to uphold the law."

The Endless Sorcerer propped his chin against his fist. "Yes…she strike me as that…"

"And once more. Battler Ushiromiya has feelings for Dlanor , but it is different from what he feels about Beato. The rest, a young man should figure out by themselves. Hahaha."

Battler looked at the former Golden Witch, whose smile was a complicated knowing one.

"You are a real tease, you know that?" Battler said, mildly bemused.

Quite a ways away, a handful of golden butterflies splashed and vanished like a spell.

The three members of Eiserne Jungfrau looked at their current master with looks of extreme disbelief and disgust.

"Yes, Dlanor A. Knox, you will seduce Battler and make him blunder in his judgment. And then, at the time of his fall, I will take the title of the Golden Witch," her wide evil grin contorted her face into that of a gobbling. "Why, I'll even dress you up for the occasion! Ahahahaha. AHAHAHAH!!!"

Cornelia and Gertrude glanced at Dlanor.

Dlanor's face was solemn, a picture of calm and indifference.

But from the corner of her lips and her fist, blood seeped out. Something went crack inside her mouth.


AN: Oh, the barely concealed anger. Dlanor makes a really cute doll. And perhaps a bit yandereness can be added later?

just a passing though.