Yet a-throne-damned-gain, Yoon woke up in an infirmarium after being knocked out by a gut-wrenching battle. Yet again, she was whisked out of bed straight to the canoness’s office for debriefing with a sword hanging over her head.

  Again, behind the desk were Palatine Lee, Legatine Shim, Bae-eonni, big book for scripture quoting, cherubim half-working half-teething, etcetera, etcetera. The difference was that Allegra took Hae-noona’s place. Her report was already submitted, and Yoon has remained unshot, yet the eonni insists on hearing testimony recorded by vox-thief.

  “The situation we confronted was more disastrous than anticipated,” Allegra began, “already having received concerning reports of disease outbreaks, we faced an empowered beast-witch and her entourage of pestigors. The portents are dire: an epidemic is on the horizon.

  It is in these circumstances that Ms. Yoon has proven herself. As a battle sister, she has proven quick-witted and indefatigable against unexpected factors. In my many battles, I can scarcely recall another sister who would have performed as well outside of the valored zephyrim. As a daughter, she radiates his light, burning as His torch against the foul and infernal; truly, can there be any greater evidence to her purity than His favor?”

  With a hand wave, cherubim fluttered to submit its recording.

  “Thank you, Ms. Valerio,” said Bae-eonni, “Your word will reach those who need hear it. And you, Yoon?”

  “I am… honored to receive such high praise. I hope to live up to everyone's expectations.”

  “Very well then. You are both dismissed.”

  Yoon and Allegra took a lift to the inner sanctum refectory. A server-tor brought their lunches to their table. Hae Nyeo had packed a dosirak with rice, fried kimchi, fried sausage, fried eggs, and shredded gim. Allegra had a bowl of creamy ground beef fusilli.

  “Does Ms. Hae usually pack you lunches?” Asked Allegra.

  “Nope. I had to pull her teeth to give me something besides boiled chicken and steamed veggies,” said Yoon as she shook her box, “does your mom pack your lunch?”

  “No, we have servants for that. I rarely see my mother at all.”

  “I thought nobles kept family close,” Yoon filled the room with the crunch of roasted seaweed and albumen, smacking her lips hard enough to turn heads, washed down with water, then punctuated with a gulp, “shouldn’t a matriarch keep her heir within handsculpting distance?”

  “The responsibilities of Valerio are more expansive than any other. Acting as her agent is prudent in both management and education.”

  “Sounds more like being kept at arm's length, like an employer more than a family.”

  “It is a necessity of noble duty. Only nugatory houses can afford wastefulness.”

  “Or she’s shoving you off to hunt beasts in the hinterlands where you can’t have much effect.”

  Allegra covered her mouth for a moment, then took up a forkful of carbs and protein to ingest. Her mouth was closed, but her lips exaggerated her chewing motions. Her fork tapped the side of her bowl until she swallowed.

  “Probably. But I’m also not under her shadow, and have earned acclaim to my name. If she sought to curtail my influence, she has long since failed. What about Nyeo? She renounced her household for a life devoted to service. Do you plan to follow her into a vow of poverty?” asked Allegra. Yoon looked around. At the pressed white and yellow habits. The server-tors at their beck and call. The functioning ventilation and air conditioning. The boxes and trays full of glazed meat, fresh vegetables, and clean water.

  “I guess this must look like poverty to you.”

  “Positively destitute compared to Wirye’s natural beauty and architectural splendor. If you ever tire of rockrete and adamantium, you could see more of it.”

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  “Rustic living does have its perks.”

  “Rustic she says,” scoffed Allegra.

  “I’ll thief some pics next time I get deployed there.”

  “Surely you could do better than that.”

  “Pretty sure I can’t.”

  “My offer still stands.”

  “Why are you pushing this anyway?”

  “I told you. Potential talent is meant to be poached, especially when no one else wants to see it.”

  “Also helps that I don’t have my own house,” Yoon packed up her box, “I won’t have loyalty to anyone but you personally.” Allegra put her hand over her heart in feigned shock.

  “My dear Si-nae, we are all loyal to He on Terra first and only. Everything else is weighing the benefits of association.”

  “Yeah, yeah, and you’ll benefit in building a power base outside your mom’s. I’m not getting caught up in any more associations than I have to, so don’t hold your breath.”

  “That’s what’s great about an open offer,” Allegra assessed Yoon up and down as she got up, “they can be filled at the offeree’s initiative.”

  Yoon did not respond as she left. That was fine. Everything Allegra has said would stand. It was better to let them come to you, let them do the convincing and justification to themselves. If they did not come, then it was not meant to be. If they are forced to come, they will look for escape at their earliest convenience. Any worthwhile prospect will always have options; they must believe that, out of their options, fealty to one is in their best interest.

  Allegra scanned over the rest of the convent cattle. It was truly a wonder why they persecuted Yoon when she was indistinguishable from the rest of them. They were all natives, born or mongrolized; it mattered not if they were born in slums or fields or in estates or if they wrapped themselves in Imperial symbols and Ecclesiastical livery, for their fates are written in their genetic code, transported by inferior blood pumped along tawdry veins. Their petty squabbles were insignificant in the face of that reality at best and a hindrance to the advancement of good stock at worst.

  Their features were products of surviving on a world long lost to the Emperor’s guidance: their compact cranial structure, shrunken for the simplicity of pagan occultist traditions, nonetheless affords them a lack of doubt to the Imperial creed as well as sturdiness against blunt impact; their higher canthal tilt keeps them alert in obfuscations such as mist and sublimation; small noses intake less infernal putrescence and reduced body odor denies a vector of befoulment; bimaxillary protrusions, beastly as it appeared, helped them process tough food materials. Sufficient implantation of the expatriated population and generations of breeding might have returned this world’s DNA to Imperial guidance, but as it stood now, the Valerio bloodline is the only truly pure strain of Imperials remaining, which was why it was their responsibility to maintain that purity, as an example to the natives and to maintain their connection to the Imperium.

  Not soon after Yoon left did the rest of the cattle herded over, as if Yoon was the predator they were avoiding. How did she put it? Tail-wagging? Even if none of them are worthwhile, the adoration of dogs was comfortable all the same.

  Yoon Si-nae hurried through the sanctum. Without anyone speaking highly on her behalf, all that was left were the scrutinizing eyes of noonas alive and dead. Yoon had quite enough of that on the daily. Go-noona was out on a mission, so no games or beatdowns. All that was left was—

  “How did it go?” asked Hae Nyeo at the dinner table, drinking kelp tea. The servitor held the rest of the tea set on a tray, and Suwon was in Hae’s lap.

  “I lived.” Yoon set the bagged box on the table, took a cup of tea, and sat down.

  “I noticed.”

  “Allegra seems to believe that the Fly God is ascendant. That we are on the eve of war.”

  “What do you make of it?”

  “It was similar to the daemon’s trick. The veil was faltering, giving way to corruption and darkness, worming into my mind and warping reality. The beasts themselves were empowered, regenerating wounds as they were made, numb to pain and fear in their blind frenzy, and summoning hexes from their foul god. Some big ones maintained their faculties, for worse and better.”

  “Concerning indeed. Are you prepared to face this on a true battlefield?”

  “Is anyone really? I’m not going to cry if I have to eat wasabi, but I would rather never have to,” Yoon held her tea for a moment, “Allegra also offered me a place in Wirye.”

  “Oh? Did you accept it?”

  “Of course not. My place is with you.”

  “It could be a good opportunity for you to earn repute, make connections.”

  “You don’t need it, so I don’t either.”

  “Despite relinquishment of my honors, I am still buttressed by my lineage, in my upbringing and standing. You do not have that luxury.”

  “I don’t need luxury. I have His tools and His blessings. I thought you would approve.”

  “My approval is not your concern. Your well-being is mine.” Said Hae. Yoon grumbled.

  “My ‘well-being’ is perpetually imperilled. By your side, I’m at least… comfortable.”

  Hae Nyeo did not respond. When they finished their tea, the servitor took their cups on its tray for dish cleansing. Suwon flew out of the room to the Legatine’s quarters for an update and maintenance. Alone, Hae and Yoon kneeled before a shrine of Him and His saints of the sacred rose. Yoon rested her head on Hae’s shoulder as they prayed, meditated, and contemplated.

  They stayed there, together, long after Yoon fell asleep.