[Xenoblade Daughter of Evil] Chapter 10

    Melia strode through the castle. Her mouth a thin line, she looked around. Everyone was preparing, and working hard. It satisfied her to know they were taking this seriously. She felt so powerful, striding around with her golden and black dress, obeyed and hailed always. She was powerful; she had full control and anyone who didn't accept that faced her wrath. It was simple, anyone, even her own army, who didn't obey her, or was disloyal, was excecuted. That simple. Right now, she was very suspicious of one of her soldiers, Alvis, due to him and someone she disliked very much- Keyara- meeting often.

    And he had thought he could have gotten away with it! She sneered as she walked, until she noticed something on the ground. Footsteps. She felt yet another wave of suspicion. Noting where she was, she spun around on the spot, briskly walking in search of a certain silver-haired Homs guard. Her eyes narrowed as she walked, feeling very suspicious of the blue-eyed male.

    Finally she spotted him. "Alvis!" she called demandingly. "Alvis!" The guard's head snapped up. "Y-yes, Lady Melia? What do you wish of me?" he questioned in a slight stammer. "Follow me," she commanded, before turning with a swish of her dress and beginning to walk away, glancing back only a couple times to make sure Alvis was following. Alvis kept asking why Melia needed him, however she did not answer. Not, at least, until they reached the spot with footsteps.

    She stopped, whirling around to face him and pointing at the footsteps. "Well, Alvis? What do you know about this?" Melia demanded. Alvis felt a trill of dread. Those were Keyara's footsteps! he realized. Even though she twisted the ether to make her invisible, it hadn't disguised her footprints. Melia was tapping her foot on the ground, clearly waiting for an answer. "I..don't know, mi'lady," he stammered. "You don't know, huh? You sure it's not Keyara then!?" she shouted, causing Alvis to shrink back. Melia was very stubborn, yes, but not unintelligent- she was extremely smart, especially good at figuring out if people are being disloyal.

    "W-what!? Of course it's not her, h-how would she get in?" said Alvis uneasily. Though she seemed to relax a bit, her eyes were narrowed at him. "..You're off the hook," she hissed. "..For now, at least." Alvis just barely contained his sigh of relief, and he gave a shaky bow to Melia before hurrying off. Melia stared after him, noting how shaky and uneasy he seemed. If this keeps up, there will be one less soldier in the plan, she thought. I want soldiers who will harm, not help! Her icy blue eyes no longer able to see Alvis, she turned and began to walk off, her golden dress whipping behind her.