Chapter 4: Lost

"Hello? I'd like to speak with Doctor Watts. Is this him?"

Willow could feel her hand shake as she held the scroll to her ear, the ice in her glass swirling around the amber liquid in it. She could only pray Nicholas would forgive her for her weakness, but she couldn't bring herself to fight Jacques on the matter any longer.

"Yes. This is Willow Schnee, I'm calling in regards to- Oh. I see."

Perhaps she could try to justify it in other, less selfish, ways? After all, it wasn't as if this was just about her and Jacques' persistence… disagreements when it came to Weiss' wings. No, Weiss constantly complained about having to bind them. They cramped, the new harness chafed severely whenever she was training. And they were not just a liability to her safety, they were even beginning to molt more frequently, forcing her to always be on the lookout for stray feathers.

"Yes. Yes, I have the signed forms here. All of them."

No. It was needlessly cruel to subject anyone, let alone a child, to all of that torment, especially since she was set to become the heiress to the company after Ironwood swayed Winter into joining the military. She barely spoke with anyone as it was. No doubt she was scared of revealing something after that incident with the girl – what was her name, again? Ysolda? Willow shook her head. It hardly mattered anyway.

"Yes, I am aware Jacques has been keeping you up to date — really? That quickly?"

She had pushed back against Jacques' demands for so long, threatening to leverage her share of the SDC and deny any policies he proposed, but he was just so relentless and she was so tired. Wouldn't it just be better for them to simply move on? For the wings to be removed now? Wasn't that the more humane thing to do rather than subjecting them all to years of this… this conflict? Was the last request of a dying man really worth tearing their family apart over, when everybody – even Weiss – already knew what the decision would be when she came of age?

"No, no. It – it's fine. I will see you within the hour." Willow snapped her scroll shut and took a long sip from her glass before dialing Winter's scroll.

"Yes mother?" Winter answer on the second ring. That impudent tone her once polite daughter held vexed her to no end, but that was a problem for another day.

"Weiss is to be back in the manor within the hour." Willow paused to let her words digest, the muffled sounds of crowds passing through the call. "I assume that will not be a problem for you."

"May I ask-"

"No. You may not." Willow cut her off before taking a small sip from her glass. "You will simply do as you're told for once."

The silence on the line was telling. She could practically feel the frustration radiating off her daughter; now the question was simply whether her demands would have to devolve into threats as they had many times before.

"Are you drunk?"

Winter's hushed words burned worse than the whiskey, earning a sharp huff in response. "If you must know, she has a medical check up. Hardly something to discuss in public."

Silence stretched on again. Muffled laughter passing through the call this time. It sounded so familiar-

"Very well. We will be back soon." Winter's clipped response, punctuated by the call's sudden end, served only to accentuate Willow's frustration. Her hand shook as she clenched her glass even tighter, staring daggers at her scroll before dialing one final number with an exasperated sigh. She should have had Ira nip that impudence in the bud, but-

"Yes, ?" Klein said in that ever polite tone he used. He had always been that way. Punctual. Reliable. Why couldn't all of their staff be even a fraction as helpful?

"Would you please ensure that the west wing clinic is cleared out? We will need some privacy for Weiss' check up. Dr. Watts should be arriving within the hour. Oh, and do send Weiss down when she gets home as well."

"But of course ma'am," Klein responded easily. "Is there anything else you will need?"

"No, that is all for now."

Willow clicked the scroll shut and leaned back in her lounge chair, polishing off her drink. The brandy burned as it went down; wine would have been her preferred choice, but, alas, she didn't have it in her to bother with asking Klein to uncork a bottle.

Her argument with Jacques just that morning kept swirling around in her head again and again, mixing with the heavy weariness stemming from her insomnia and the murky cloud of the brandy into a crushing malaise. With any luck, this morning would become nothing but another hazy memory, added to the hundreds of others she had drowned out before.

There would be no more. Her heart just couldn't take it.

With a sigh, Willow clambered to her feet and snatched up the papers from the coffee table before beginning to stumble her way to the manor's east wing. It wasn't until she found herself staring up at the large framed painting of her family in the main hall that she realized she'd left her glass behind… Well, she could always have one of the help be useful for once and retrieve it.

Soon enough she found herself slumped into one of the examination room's seats, her thumb rubbing incessantly at her palm as she waited. This was the right thing to do. It had to be. Even if all of that brandy hadn't completely dulled that twisting feeling in her gut.

It did, however, help her stay her tongue when the good Doctor casually threw open the doors of the examination room within the hour and immediately disregarded her presence in favor of examining the facility, though she couldn't help but feel… irritated by the man's casual disregard for propriety.

She probably would have had a few things to say to the man if Jacques hadn't entered the room moments later, his face twisted into a confused grimace until he noticed the papers in her hand. Without a word, Jacques held his hand out, quickly flipping through the documents page by page. When she saw the flinty look in his eyes soften upon reaching the bottom of the papers, she felt a flicker of hope in her chest. That brief smile that he flashed her moments later – and god, how she'd missed seeing his face lit up like that when he looked at her – sent a wave of relief through her that she could barely restrain.

Surely this was the right choice. How many times had they fought over those documents? How many times had she stood by that dying man's final request? Dozens? Hundreds? Too many to count at the very least. A few years would change nothing for Weiss, but perhaps… Perhaps it could save the two of them from the path they were on.

Jaqcues handed the documents to Watts before holding out a hand to her and gently pulling her from her seat, and into his arms. She closed her eyes, relishing the brief moment of closeness–

Unfortunately, the moment didn't last as Weiss pushed the door open and hesitantly stepped into the examination room. If it hadn't been for her husband and Watts' presence, Willow wasn't sure she'd have managed to restrain her shriek. Weiss was utterly unkempt; her typically pristine skirt and jacket were marred by dirt and rumples, her hair was rife with flyaways and – god, she looked closer to a wild animal than the heiress-to-be she was supposed to be! Winter had some explaining to do later, she was certain of that as she rushed forward to smooth out a few of the more egregious creases in her jacket. She'd have to have some words with Weiss later too, with how she shied away from her attention.

Thankfully, Dr. Watts made no remarks about her mess of a daughter; instead, he simply instructed her to lift Weiss onto the examination table as he snapped on a pair of medical gloves.

Before Willow could even reach for her daughter, a glyph appeared at the foot of the table, one Weiss quickly stepped onto before hopping up onto the bed, her jacket already shed and her hands fiddling with the buckles of her harness. Willow tried to reach out to undo one of the buckles as well, but Weiss shook her head.

"It's fine." Weiss muttered as she undid the one she had been working on, and slid the harness off, tossing it right next to her rumpled jacket while her wings, stiffly unfurling with small jerky movements. Willow felt a flash of annoyance at Weiss' continual disregard for propriety, but it was quickly lost when she took a seat beside Jacques and felt his hand rest on her shoulder.

The two of them waited patiently as Watts examined the appendages, an excited gleam in his eyes as he ran a hand along the down and skin that covered the wings, watching intently as it flexed under his touch.

Despite her clear discomfort, Weiss didn't say a word; instead, she bit her lip to stifle a number of noises as the Doctor continued to maneuver the appendages around. It had been quite some time since Willow had seen her daughter's traits completely uncovered like this. The things were so often bound down by either Klein or her daughter well before she ever entered the room that she really only saw them during her annual checkups. They had certainly grown considerably since last she saw them. Tufts of brilliant white down were sticking out near the top, and a smattering of slightly larger crimped and matted speckled feathers coated the main body of the appendages. They looked… soft, despite their worn condition.

"These are much more functional than you indicated," Watts ground out suddenly as he stretched one of the appendages out and felt around the joint that connected it to her daughter's back, his eyes never straying from the joint even as Weiss finally let out a small pained whimper. "Have you even the slightest idea how much more difficult this will make the procedure?"

"We didn't think that would be-" Willow glanced up at her husband before cutting herself off as Jacques sent her angry glare.

"What she means; is we do not care if it's more difficult, " Jacques said, stepping forward. "We care if it can be done."

The good Doctor simply scoffed at the question. "Can it be done? This is child's play for a man of my caliber, providing you don't mind some heavy scarring on her back."

Jacques rolled his eyes as if he had been asked the color of sky. "Scarring is of no concern, provided it does not impair her mobility. We cannot allow a cripple to run the SDC, Doctor."

"She will likely have more mobility as compared to having these weights on her back. There will of course be an adjustment period. If you give me just a few more days I could likely reduce the-"

"No. They are to be removed immediately."

Willow kept quiet, even as Jacques so callously discussed their own daughter's future right in front of her. Reaching out to stroke Weiss' hair, she found her daughter practically shaking under the touch. They had endured years of this already. What was a few more hours if it meant things could finally return to normal? Just a few more hours and this nightmare would finally be put-

"Mother?" Weiss' whispered words barely caught Willow's attention amidst the ongoing talks. "I thought this was just a check up?"

"It is," Willow frowned at the lie, her eyes darting up Jacques as he continued to discuss the details with the doctor. "However, Dr. Watts is quite intelligent, and he believes he can remove your wings much sooner. Isn't that exciting?"

Weiss' brows furrowed as she glanced up at the doctor and her father's discussion. "He can?"

"Of course," Jacques said, nodding in agreement as he motioned for Watts to come over. "He can make you just like your brother and sister. No more hiding. No more secrets. Doesn't that sound wonderful Weiss?"

"I suppose…"

Willow wilted at Weiss' clear hesitance.

Slowly, her daughter sat herself up, crossing her arms and gently massaging the top of her left elbow. "I apologize. I-I just thought I had a little more time to make the decision."

"Of course you–"

Willow couldn't even finish the sentence before Jacques strode over to Weiss and placed a single sheet of paper and a pen on the table beside her and leaned down to her height, his eyes burning with a demanding intensity. "Do you really need more time to make the obvious choice? You know full well what will happen to you - to this family - if your little secret gets out."

"I-I know," Weiss stuttered, her eyes darting around the room. "But-"

"But nothing," Jacques said in a chilling tone. "I thought you were smart for your age, yet you don't seem to comprehend that each day you keep those things, you are selfishly risking your brother's and sister's futures, your inheritance, our family name, everything we have built here – all for nothing."

"But Grandfather said–!" Weiss cut herself off, wide eyed at the words she had almost said.

Jacques barked a laugh. "Your grandfather was a fool. He would sooner drive this family to ruin for the sake of an idealistic pipe dream!"

"Jacques!" Willow gasped, unable to keep her silence any longer. "Weiss just – she's your child! There's no need for–"

"As long as those things remain, she will never be my child! If she wishes to keep them so badly, then I suppose I could always arrange to disown her. Perhaps someone down in Mantle will take her in, help her scrape by. She could always find work in the mines or refineries. Does that sound like fun Weiss? Or perhaps the White Fang will find you like they did your friend. Would you prefer that?"

Weiss was nearly in tears, desperately glancing up at her for some reassurance, but with each and every vile word Jacques spat at her, Willow found herself wilting alongside her.

"Make your choice Weiss," Jacque demanded with an icy gaze, bringing his full height to bear against his fledgling daughter. "Are you a Schnee? Or are you an–"

A thunderous knocking at the door drowned out her husband, causing every head in the room to snap to the door. Quietly, Weiss slipped from the examination table and gripped her hand, tugging at it in a vain attempt to pull her toward the emergency exit. "Mom…"

Before she could reply, she heard Klein speaking from the other side of the door. "Miss Schnee, your father specifically demanded that–"

"Step aside, Klein!"

Not even a moment later the double doors were blown open with enough force to nearly tear one of them off its hinges, causing Weiss to jump behind her with a yelp.

With a burning fury in her eyes and her saber in hand, Winter stepped into the room, looking to each of the adults present in turn.

"Miss Schnee, please–!" Klein began as he stepped into the room, only stopping when he glanced past Winter and laid his eyes upon Weiss' exposed wings. For the briefest of moments, nobody said a thing before Klein's eyes shifted to a mellow pink and he began slowly retreating back into the hallway. "I'll, erm… be outside if you need me."

"Thank you Klein," Winter replied with a dangerous edge to her voice that demanded attention. With a quick flick of her wrist and a flash of white, the doors behind her slammed closed, before a glyph formed on the handles, locking them all inside. There was another brief silence before Winter's gaze slowly settled on her and Jacques. "This had better not be what it looks like."

That single look conveyed every ounce of Winter's betrayal and fury at what she was seeing so clearly, that Willow could practically feel the knot in her stomach growing by the second. Slowly, avoiding her daughter's furious gaze, she said, "Winter… I-I don't know what Klein has told you, but this is hardly appropriate–"

"Appropriate?!"

Willow winced at her daughter's piercing tone.

"You swore she would be allowed to make this choice when was old enough! You swore to Grandfather on his deathbed, and this is how you honor that promise?!"

"I know it's not what we promised – it's not what I had hoped for either – but things have changed, Winter. We need to think about what's best for Weiss' future."

Winter's grip on her saber tightened as she replied, ice lacing her every word. "Weiss' future? You're only thinking about what's best for yourselves, bullying her into making a choice before she's ready, and without even considering what she truly wants."

"What we want, what we all should want, is for this family's name to remain untarnished," Jacques ground out, glaring at his eldest daughter as he approached her. "Or have you forgotten what's truly at stake here, what she would be subjecting us all to if she were discovered?"

He rolled his eyes, turning his back to Winter as he continued to speak. "But of course you have. That is precisely why you've settled for a position as the good general's lapdog and why Weiss will be named Heiress. Because she is willing to do what's best for this family. You didn't really think you had a say in this, did you? You, who coasted into her position on the back of my Lien? My good word to the Academy? My–"

"I don't have a say? Do you really believe that?" Winter asked evenly, her rage clearly reigned in, even if just for a moment.

Jacques turned to speak once more, but Winter's words cut through his attempts at regaining control.

"Let me make this perfectly clear, Jacques. I know you'll attempt this farce as many times as it takes to get your way because you have always believed yourself above consequences. I assure you, you aren't, because if you force Weiss to remove her wings before she's ready, I will tell everybody."

Willow's eyes went wide as Jacques froze. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," Winter growled. "Ironwood, the media, the board. If you do this, I will spend every single waking day for the rest of my life spreading this story across not just Atlas but all of Remnant."

Jacques slowly narrowed his eyes. "You wouldn't dare."

Winter scowled. "Watch me."

"You ignorant child," Jacques chastised, his fists clenched firmly by his side as he marched right up to her with zero regard for the weapon in her hand. "What exactly do you think will happen if you tell the world what she is, hm? Do you think that you're special, that you will be spared? We would all be ruined! Cast out from Atlas! Our very name, run through the mud! Your future, your mother's, your siblings', every single one of them, all cast into the wind! Is that what you want? Your home to be destroyed?!"

At the edge of her vision, Willow noticed tears forming in Weiss' eyes before her daughter dashed forward and latched onto Winter's arm. Quietly, she began pleading, "Winter, please. It's okay. The wings, they – they're irritating anyway. They get in the way of training, and – please, I just… I don't want to leave, I wanna stay here… I-I want to get them removed…"

Weiss' begging continued for a few more moments, tears building in the corner of her daughter's eyes, but with every word Willow could see Winter's jaw set tighter and tighter, her gaze growing colder and colder, and her resolve hardening to the point that she knew it would be impossible to convince her daughter to back down. She really was so much like Nicholas.

"He's just trying to scare you Weiss. We are not going anywhere, and you will get more time to make that choice. I promise. Her eighteenth birthday. Swear to me she won't make this decision until then, and I will never breathe a word of this to anyone."

Winter spoke with such conviction Willow nearly believed the words herself.

For a long moment, the room remained dead silent, save for the hiccups and breath of Weiss. Every single occupant waited with baited breath for Jacques' response as he silently stared at Winter with narrowed eyes, clearing thinking through what to say next. The man was unflinching even in the face of such stacked odds. Barely concealed anger seethed beneath the surface of his expression, and yet Willow could also see the hallmark indicators of pride in his daughter beneath even that.

Finally he let out a long breath before reaching out and pushing down on the saber as he walked past Winter and stood before the door.

"Come to my office tomorrow morning. We will finalize everything then."

Without another word Winter let the glyph fade, the doors cracking opening once more, allowing Jacques to stalk out of the room with his head held high.

Distantly, Willow heard her son's voice from beyond the doorway. "Father? The tutor-"

"Not now." Jacques' sharp tone was accompanied by a small yelp as the doors to the room were unceremoniously slammed closed.

Willow remained silent even as Winter took a shuddered breath the instant she heard the doors close, still holding onto Weiss tightly. Her saber bit into the floor as she used it to keep herself propped up, prompting Willow to take a step towards them, only for her eldest daughter to glare at her.

"Don't you dare." She spat, wincing as she tried to stand back up, her piercing gaze falling back down to Weiss. "Just be grateful Grandfather isn't alive to see this right now."

Her daughter's words wrapped themselves mercilessly around her mind, while a tight knot in her throat stopped any words from being spoken, forcing her to simply nod and wrap her arms around herself before edging around her daughters toward the doorway. Winter's cold gaze never once dropped from her, even as she left the two of them alone in the examination room. Aimlessly, she wandered the manor's halls as she desperately clung to the hope they could someday recover from this, that Weiss and Winter could forgive her for her weakness, that Nicholas would understand….

Nicholas….

Willow leaned up against the cold stone wall, a hot tear streaking down her cheek.

Perhaps… Perhaps she would speak to Klien about that bottle.

1 Week Later

Weiss rushed up to her room, sweat still dripping off her brow. The bruises Ira had left on her arms over the course of her training still ached. Her Aura was working to heal it, but it would take time, far more than she'd have liked. Not like Winter. Winter would have healed any aches and bruises she'd received before she'd even left the room. The fact that Winter was also much stronger than both her and Ira was neither here nor there…

Winter… She still hadn't seen her sister since the incident, and even then, did scrambling after Winter as she tore through the manor to retrieve her things really count? Her sudden departure had left the manor so much colder than before, and with so many questions left unanswered Weiss hoped she would return soon. Maybe she would take her and Whitley away from the manor again, even just for even an afternoon. She could use the distraction, really. Anything to distract her from the thoughts of medical gloves on her wings and the icy rage in her father's eyes whenever she saw him.

She hadn't been able to stop thinking about the incident all week and the way Winter had so fearlessly stood up to her parents. No one ever stood up to them like that! She was almost in awe. And yet, in the same breath, she couldn't help but feel utterly helpless, like she had been caught in the middle of a raging forest fire, and only came out unscathed through sheer luck.

Almost her entire family had been there, fighting over her wings, her decision. And yet, her own voice had not mattered one bit. Not when she begged her sister to let her wings be removed, nor when she merely mentioned having more time to her father. The whole time, she had been nothing but a bystander to her own life.

She very much did not like the feeling, and yet without her sister there, she felt like she could do nothing but keep her head down, and follow the same routine. Pretend as if nothing had even happened. Just a puppet on her parents' strings.

"Running a little later, are we?" Klein said, chuckling with a smile as he followed her into her bedroom before locking it behind them. With a deft and practiced hand, he caught the heavy fencing jacket she was forced to wear during practice, hung it on the coat rack, and returned to her side to unhook her harness in a single fluid motion. Thankfully, the silk wraps had prevented any serious chafing, so when they were finally unwound moments later, all that was left to do was revel in the relief that flexing her shoulders brought her as her wings slowly extended to their full size.

Once she managed to stretch out some of the aches, she glanced down at the pile of down, sheaths and small speckled feathers coating the ground at her feet with a heavy sigh. Given how lax she'd been with grooming them lately, it was entirely likely that there would be an… uncomfortable amount of feathers that they would need to remove from her wings now that Klein was here to help with it. It seemed it was finally time for her reluctance to come back to bite her…

"Normally, I would say there are not enough to warrant plucking," Klein said as he wheeled a small table with a number of ointments and pastes on it over to her. "But tonight's outfit sadly necessitates it."

Weiss hummed in annoyance as she carefully reached around to grab her left wing and slowly pulled it further around her, stamping down the awful shiver that crept up her spine as she recalled the crawling feeling of Dr. Watts' hands pressing into her–

No. Weiss shook her head, focusing on the feeling of her wings in her own hand and not on last week's nightmare. Her wing's cramped muscles twinged from disuse as she pulled it forward enough to grip the first of the larger growths. After a steadying breath, she grit her teeth and gave it a sharp twist before yanking it out, sending a sharp sting shooting through the wing.

Within a moment, Klein was there spreading a small dab of cream on the tender flesh where she'd plucked the feather, only to be gone a moment later to allow her the room to repeat the process.

"And to think there was a time you could barely touch your toes," he said, stepping forward again as Weiss plucked the next feather.

"Yes, and to think there was a time when these could be considered small," Weiss ground out as she stretched her arm around the back of the wing to grab a smaller sheath. "Why on Remnant do they keep growing even after I've stopped?"

"It is indeed a mystery," Klein replied with a small chuckle, stepping forward to dab on more cream. "I have no doubt you would tower over Winter if you grew half as much as they did. Alas, it seems you will have to be the smallest of this family's angels."

Weiss rolled her eyes at him as she let her wing go and reached for the other. "You joke, but it is quite infuriating when we spar. She just had to take after Grandfather."

"Mm, I imagine your wings would help alleviate some of the discrepancy," Klein hummed.

"Perhaps. Or boots. Or both." Weiss let the thought linger for a moment before shaking her head and ripping the last of the feathers out in rapid succession, one after the other. "A shame she hasn't returned from her mission yet. I have several techniques I would like to show her."

"Just as much a shame we will never see how beautiful you would look with your wings fully grown."

"Yes, quite a shame," Weiss huffed as she finally let the appendage go, her shoulder rolling as it returned to rest. "A shame that Father has made quite clear would topple this whole house if it got out. You included."

"Ah, but It would be worth it just to see you smile a little more Miss.

"You're incorrigible."

"As you say Miss," Klein bowed as he motioned to the bathroom door. "Your bath is waiting for you."

With that, Klein stepped away, no doubt to grab the supplies needed to clean the mess she'd left on the floor. Weiss shook her head and stepped into the bathroom, haphazardly tossing the rest of her garments aside before slipping into the large bathtub dominating the space.

She let out a content sigh as the heat soaked into her aching muscles. The fragrant oils tingled her nose as she scrubbed the sweat and dirt from herself before allowing herself to lay back and soak. As she lounged, she stretched her wings out just beyond the rim of the tub. She had a few minutes of peace before her mother brought down her outfit, more than enough time for her to wash, dry and stretch out her wings, something she found herself needing to do more and more these days. Maybe even enough time to–

Three loud knocks at her door forced her eyes wide open moments before the clicking of her room's door unlocking cut through the silence.

"Scheisse," Weiss hissed as she quickly clambered out of the tub and desperately grabbed for towels to wrap her hair and body. "One second!"

Her wet wings chaffed along her back as she hastily wrapped herself and peeked out the bathroom door, where she found her mother pushing open the door, a glass in one hand and a covered hanger in the other.

Weiss quickly closed the bathroom door before she was noticed, breathing heavily as she listened to Willow direct Klein before she heard the sound of her bed creaking.

Her mothers tried voice accompanied three loud knocks on the bathroom door. "Weiss? Are you in there?"

"Y-Yes!" Weiss stuttered as she tried to get her breath back, rushing over to her vanity to grab her hair dryer as she yelled. "I just need to dry my hair!"

With the flick of a switch, the small device whirred to life in her hands, drowning out her mother's reply and hopefully buying her a few more moments of privacy as she rushed through her evening preparations. Her long white hair, done up into a tight centered bun; skin moisturized; a slight dusting of make up. Everything perfect before she slipped on a fresh set of undergarments and her silk undershirt. Her wings poked through the slits in the back ready for whatever manner of binding was needed for the evening.

When she finally left the bathroom, her mother was seated on her bed, the glass she'd been holding now sat on her bedside table, empty. "You're getting slower at this…"

"My apologies, Mother," Weiss bowed her head as she stepped out into the room, noting the outfit laid out on the bed, alongside an ornate wooden box. "Ira pushed harder than–"

"Just as she did last week, and the week before that," Willow said, dismissing her with a wave of her hand. "You know better than to make excuses."

"Yes mother," Weiss said, hanging her head as she approached the outfit lying beside her mother. It was quite a bit more complicated than she had expected.

What she first thought was a gray undershirt quickly revealed itself to be a short skirt of sorts, stitched to the inside of a much longer pure white dress that fell well past her knees, allowing only the embroidered family crest of the gray skirt to show.

The dress had hoops for the heavy white leather belt that sat next to it, allowing for a large metal ring to be attached to the side, while long navy blue gloves with small red accents would add a splash of color to the ensemble. Of course, none of that alone would have been enough to hide the bony tops of her wings, which was likely where the thick dark blue bolero jacket that would completely shroud her shoulders came in. "This looks quite… different from normal."

"Quite," Willow muttered as she slowly pushed herself up from the bed, not quite unsteady but not quite stable either. "It is your big debut after all; your father has requested we all carry our – oh… Yes, that's right, he hasn't presented yours to you yet."

Dread washed through Weiss as she looked wide eyed up at her mother. "My debut? Presented–? Is Father coming down here?"

"Mm," Willow hummed as she slowly made her way over to Weiss' closet and, almost predictably, pulled out her tightest and least comfortable harness, holding it out towards her. "You had best hurry."

Weiss snatched the harness out of her mothers hand and rushed behind her changing partition. As quickly as she dared, she pulled her wings back against the silk undershirt until she could barely reach the tops of them. After nearly a half a decade of practice, she could practically do this in her sleep, but with her mother here… it was best to be thorough. The two velvet caps of the harness slipped onto the bony joints that peaked just over her shoulders before she wiggled her arms under the straps and slowly began to cinch her wings down. The unruly appendages pushed against the cloth as always, but she diligently pulled them down more and more until they were finally level with her shoulders in the mirror. The lower part of the harness was much easier: three heavy leather belts, quickly wrapped around her chest and waist, bound tight to keep the wings pressed flush against her back.

She spent just a few more seconds quickly checking the buckles and straps for any twists, ensured rolling her shoulders wouldn't appear stiff to an observer, and she was ready. The straps around her chest hindered her breathing a fair bit, but it was unlikely she would do anything strenuous, so that would–

Weiss grimaced as she heard the sound of her doors being thrown open once again, punctuated by the familiar click of her father's dress shoes and a barely audible curse from her mother.

"She's almost ready, don't fret."

With one final adjustment to the harness, Weiss stepped out from behind the partition to fetch her outfit for the evening.

Father turned to her, indignant anger clear on his face. "Almost ready? Hardly. She's not even dressed yet!"

"Oh don't be so dramatic, the harness is what takes the longest. Those things of hers are rather large if you hadn't noticed."

"Yet another reason to be rid of them."

Weiss kept her head bowed as she fled behind the partition once more. She could practically feel her father's eyes following her, her wings flaring in the harness–

"Oh for- that harness is not tight enough! I can still see them moving about!"

"Any tighter and she won't be able to breathe. I'll take a miniscule risk over a dead daughter."

"Then she will need to be more disciplined. You may be willing…"

Weiss shoved their voices into the back of her mind as she diligently dressed herself. It hurt to hear her parents speak as if she weren't in the same room, but then this was hardly the first time they had done so.

"Have you been drinking?"

"Just a glass or two. Just to take the edge off."

"I swear, if you embarrass me tonight–"

Jacques' cut himself off as Weiss stepped out from the changing area, slowly twirling so they could see both her back and the outfit as a whole.

Willow huffed as she gestured to the jacket that clung to her neck and shoulders. "See? No one will ever notice."

Her father hummed as he circled her, before brushing past her with a click of his tongue. "I suppose it will do."

"I told you as such," Willow chastised as she crossed her arms and followed behind them. "Honestly, would it kill you to show a little trust? It's bad enough we're not even bothering with any formality-"

"It proved to be a supreme waste of time and Lien with Winter."

"Winter was half the heiress Weiss will be. You will see."

Weiss' eyes widened at the words, her eyes snapping up to her father. "I'm being named Heiress? Today?"

Jacques scowled at the hopeful question, but motioned for her to follow him all the same as he walked swiftly over to the box on the bed and picked it up. "The documents were signed this morning. Hopefully you will show a little more respect to the title than your sister."

The disdain in her father's voice was clear for all to hear as she diligently followed behind him, watching with rapture as he quickly flipped open the lid to reveal its contents. Her eyes widened as she took in the items, a small jeweled tiara, alongside a gleaming necklace bearing their family crest.

"Given the failure your sister proved to be, I have decided to personally oversee your training on the matter. Tonight will be your first lesson in looking the part," Jacques said impatiently, holding the box out to her. "Now, hurry up. We are already late as it is."

"Right away, Father! Is the tiara–"

Weiss barely managed to get ahold of the box before her father turned and briskly walked away, her mother shaking her head as she motioned for Weiss to follow.

She snatched up the jewelry and dropped the now empty box on the bed before dashing after them, the door closing with a resounding boom as she struggled to seat the tiara correctly without falling behind.

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"Winter! You're never going to guess what! Father has officially named me Heiress! It's legal and everything! Can you believe it!? Call me when you have the chance, we have so much to catch up on!"

"Winter? Klein said that you came by today. Even Whitley said he saw you… I know I was out with Father for most of the day, but I would have loved to see you again. It has been a while since we last spoke."

"Good afternoon Winter. I haven't heard from you in several weeks now. I am beginning to worry you were injured on your mission. Please call me when you can."

"Winter, I called the base today and they said you were still there but not taking any calls? I know you're getting these messages though, so please call me? I-I would just like to hear your voice again."

"Winter, Father keeps saying you have left the family behind. Klein claims that's not true, but given how long it's been… Look, can you just call, please? It's been so long…"

Winter, please… What did I do? I just– Was it something I said? Did I do something wrong? Please, I just want my sister back…

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