At last, Fiona and Cossette arrived in Prussia, in the Slavic Realm.
There they met a girl named Melina.
And Fiona met Margherita.
A woman she absolutely cannot stand.
13 years ago
Margherita: "Spit it out!"
She punched Fiona in the stomach. Fiona spat out the food.
Margherita: "Manners, girl. Manners. Food is for survival, not for taste. Emotions get in the way. If poison tasted good, would you eat it?"
Fiona: "Ugh… bleurgh…"
Margherita: "You eat without smiling. Without a sound. If I see that you did not eat everything…"
Fiona: "Ugh…"
Margherita: "Eat your own vomit!"
Fiona: "What… no…"
Margherita: "Shut up. Eat. Your. Own. Vomit!"
Fiona: "Nooo…"
Margherita: "You insolent brat."
She stepped on Fiona's head.
Margherita: "Eat it. Eat it. Eat it!"
A few minutes later
Margherita: "Well? Now you are crying, huh?"
Fiona: "Sob… sob… hahhh… I want… I want to leave… I want my mom…"
Margherita: "What mother, you stupid child? You were abandoned. And no wonder. Have you seen your hair? White. You cannot even walk properly. You have an annoying voice. If someone had a daughter like that, of course they would throw her away. I would have killed my own daughter myself if she were like you."
Fiona: "Ugh… I hate you… I hate you…"
Margherita: "Huh? Interesting. Seems like you still do not understand. Emotions are in the way. But your eyes… that is not normal hatred. You want to kill me."
Fiona: "Ghhhh… one day… one day I will make sure you eat your own vomit!"
Margherita: "Hahahahaha… hahaha… I see. Then get strong first. These dolls here, you do not need them at all."
Fiona: "Huh!"
She took the doll.
Margherita: "Hmm."
She tore open its belly.
Fiona: "Noooo! No no no no! That… that was the only gift… from my mom… no… no…"
She went to the doll and hugged it.
Margherita: "Tss… it is broken now."
Fiona: "Sob…"
Margherita: "Hahh…"
Fiona: "Hhh… sob…"
End of memory
Margherita: "Sit down."
Fiona: "Hmm…"
Margherita: "You have changed. You look pretty now. As a child you looked really stupid."
Fiona: "And you have not changed at all. The same witch who loves to torture children because she is weak."
Margherita: "Watch your tongue."
Fiona: "You should watch your tongue. You seem to have forgotten what day it is."
Margherita: "Huh?"
Fiona: "Hahh… there was another reason why I came to the Slavic Realm. The authorities of the Dark Umbrella came and told Meliodas that I, Fiona Househould, am responsible for checking your work."
Margherita: "Ugh…"
Fiona: "You are probably wondering why. Well, because no one was interested in talking to you anymore. That shows how unpopular you have become. The Dark Umbrella has changed, and people like you are no longer wanted. You should be glad I accepted this task. Otherwise your job would already be gone if no one had been willing to investigate you. Article 2, Code 400. Human dignity must not be violated. Code 400, Article 2. You surely know it. You and Howarts ignored these rules back then, because no one really intended to enforce them. But Ms Valentine is different. Rules are rules. Codes are codes. Articles are articles."
Margherita: "What… watch your tongue."
Fiona: "Margherita!"
Margherita: "Huh!"
Suddenly Fiona's contract spirits appeared. Fiona looked at her with fury.
Margherita: "Ugh…"
Fiona: "I am not the Fiona from back then. You may scare children, and some still fear you because you abused them when they were young. But I am not afraid of you. You should know your place. The Dark Umbrella no longer considers you important. Be grateful that you even still have a post."
Margherita: "Ghhh…"
Fiona: "Why did you want us to take Melina?"
Margherita: "Because I do not need her. She is clumsy, annoying, and naive."
Fiona: "I see. And that is your reason to hit a child? By the way, where are your people?"
Margherita: "Ugh… they took a break."
Fiona: "Let me guess. They were taken from you. The Dark Umbrella removed them one by one."
Margherita: "Ugh…"
Fiona sighed.
Fiona: "You brought this on yourself. If there is one thing Ms Valentine hated, it is that you are still here. Even Lady Natasha could not stand you. Unlike her, you have no limits. Lady Natasha was brutal, yes, but she wanted to save people. You? You only enjoyed looking down on others. Perez, the former president of the Dark Umbrella, is dead. Accept it."
Margherita: "So what happens now?"
Fiona: "I assume the Dark Umbrella left Melina with you because she was still too young and most groups were full. But then the Lily Moon appeared. My group. The group led by Meliodas. The man you hated so much. After all, he is the reason you lost. Melina is coming with us."
A few hours earlier
She went to the phone booth.
Meliodas: "Hello?"
Fiona: "Master, do you know Milena Irina Iwanow?"
Meliodas: "Hmm? Is she so cute that you want to bite her cheeks?"
Fiona: "She is cute, but biting a minor's cheeks is questionable. Is it true that she is joining us?"
Meliodas: "Yes. I called Margherita. She could become friends with Cossette. And she does not deserve to keep living with that witch."
Fiona: "Okay."
Meliodas: "One more thing, Fiona. The reason I chose you is because we wanted someone to take care of Margherita."
Fiona: "What?"
Meliodas: "The Dark Umbrella wanted to send someone to finally give her retirement. But because she is in Prussia, she was still important for this mission. This will be her last one. Still, inform her about Melina."
Margherita: "I called Meliodas. I am the one who said he should take her. I do not want her. I do not want that little brat around me."
Melina: "Ugh…"
Fiona: "Great. Now about your mission. What did you find out about the flying castle?"
Margherita: "Nothing."
Fiona: "Is that a joke, or are you already senile?"
Margherita: "I found nothing, okay. I only know where it was last seen."
Fiona: "Let us hope it is not at the end of the world. Where was it seen?"
Margherita: "In the Prussian city of Kraskau."
Fiona: "Then let us go."
She stood up.
Margherita: "Fiona, wait."
Fiona: "Hmm?"
Margherita: "What… what will happen to me now?"
Fiona: "Are you afraid?"
Margherita: "Am I not allowed to be? Will I be killed by the Dark Umbrella?"
Fiona: "Why would they kill you?"
Margherita: "Because I have information about how they were in the past. Child experiments and torture."
Fiona: "Hahhh… Margherita, I do not care about you. If they really wanted someone to kill you, Meliodas would have chosen only me. Because if there is one person I truly hate, it is you."
Margherita: "Ugh… does that mean I can live in peace?"
Fiona: "Yes. For your remaining years."
Margherita: "Hahh… hahaha… really? Even though I am a bad woman?"
Fiona: "Ghhh… is that what matters to you? That you are not punished for what you did?"
Margherita: "Hahaha…"
Melina: "Hmm…"
Fiona: "Hahh… actually… I wanted to avoid this."
Margherita: "What?"
Fiona: "Melina, kill her."
Melina: "Huh?"
Fiona: "Kill her."
Margherita: "What is this supposed to be?"
Fiona: "Retirement means either death or loss of memories. Since I am not a fan of memory erasure, that means I am allowed to kill. But I think Melina deserves it more."
Margherita: "Ugh… Melina would never…"
Fiona: "Then I will."
Margherita: "No, wait."
Fiona: "Then do it yourself."
She threw the pistol.
Fiona: "Take it and end your life. You made sure that no one will miss you or visit your grave. Do it. If you play with fire, this is the result."
Melina: "No, wait!"
Fiona: "Huh?"
Margherita held the gun, but instead of aiming at herself, she aimed at Fiona and Melina. Before they could react, she threw herself to the ground.
Bang!
Margherita: "I will never let myself be killed or kill myself!"
Fiona: "Are you okay, Melina?"
Melina: "Ghh…"
Her hand was hit.
Fiona: "Damn it. Cossette, stay with her."
Fiona chased after Margherita.
Fiona: "Damn it, Margherita!"
Margherita: "Ghh…"
She fired again, but Fiona dodged the shots.
Fiona: "Margherita, give up already. Is there not even a spark of respect left in you?"
Margherita: "I deserve respect more than others!"
Suddenly she vanished.
Fiona: "What?"
Cossette: "Aaaaaargh!"
Fiona: "Cossette!"
She rushed back. Margherita was there again, using some hidden passage.
Fiona: "Cossette…"
Margherita aimed at Cossette.
Cossette: "Fiona…"
Fiona: "Ghhh…"
Margherita: "Drop the weapon, Fiona."
Fiona: "Haahh…"
She dropped her staff.
Margherita: "Hands up."
Fiona: "Hmm."
She obeyed.
Margherita: "Hehe… I will take the child with me. Even for me it would be boring to be alone."
Bang!
Margherita: "Ugh…"
Fiona: "Ugh…"
Cossette: "Huh…"
Melina: "Hahhh…"
Margherita fell dead to the ground.
Melina was holding a pistol.
Melina: "Hahhh… hahhh…"
Fiona: "Cossette…"
She ran to her.
Melina: "Witch!"
Fiona: "Ugh…"
Cossette: "Ugh…"
Melina: "I was always with you… and still you only screamed at me and hit me!"
She hit Margherita's chest again and again.
Melina: "Hahhh… hahhh…"
Fiona: "Hey… hey, Melina…"
She hugged Melina.
Melina: "Ugh…"
Fiona: "It is over. Calm down, little one. It is over."
Melina: "I… I did not want this… really…"
Fiona: "Huh?"
Melina: "Hhh…"
Fiona: "Could it be that even with the chains she cannot fully control her ability?"
Melina: "I do not understand… why did I feel such murderous intent?"
Fiona: "It is okay. The chains probably only weaken your curse. Or… you truly hated Margherita."
Melina: "Will I be punished for this? Killed?"
Fiona: "No. You saved Cossette. And me. There will be no trial."
She stroked her hair.
Melina: "Hahhh…"
Fiona: "She is trembling… has she never killed anyone before?"
Melina: "I do not know… I do not understand…"
Fiona: "Look here. Your chain on your left hand. I see. The shot earlier knocked it loose."
Melina: "Hhh…"
She rushed to the chains.
Melina: "It will not close… it will not close…"
Fiona: "Is there another one?"
Melina: "Yes… but only Margherita had the key. It is in her room."
Fiona: "Okay."
Fiona stood up and took Cossette with her.
Cossette: "I will stay here."
Fiona: "It could be dangerous."
Cossette shook her head.
Cossette: "Still, I cannot just leave her. Find the chains quickly."
Fiona: "Okay."
She took the key, searched Margherita's room, found several chains, and rushed back.
Cossette: "Oh, that was fast."
Melina: "Hahh…"
Fiona: "Here."
She fastened the chain to Melina's left hand.
Fiona: "I would prefer another method, but for now we have no choice."
Melina: "That is fine… thank you."
Fiona: "No problem."
Cossette: "Hmm."
They looked at Margherita's corpse.
Cossette: "Hmm…"
They left the building. Fiona called Meliodas.
Click.
Meliodas: "Hello?"
Fiona: "Margherita is dead. She attacked me and Cossette. Melina shot her."
Meliodas: "Good. That must have pleased you."
Fiona: "Not really."
Meliodas: "Hmm?"
Fiona: "I did not want Melina to experience this."
Meliodas: "I understand. Take care of her."
Fiona: "I will."
Meliodas: "And the castle?"
Fiona: "Last seen in Kraskau. I am heading there now."
Meliodas: "Good work, Fiona."
Fiona: "Thank you."
Meliodas: "Goodbye."
They hung up.
Melina: "Hmm…"
Fiona: "Melina."
Melina: "Yes?"
Fiona: "From now on, you are a member of the Lily Moon. Unless you do not want to."
Melina: "I have no one else…"
Fiona: "Hmm."
Melina: "And… what will I do there?"
Fiona: "You will be sent on missions. Since you are already here, how about you accompany me and Cossette?"
Melina: "Hmm…"
Fiona: "About your chains… we will find a solution."
Melina: "Okay."
Fiona: "Good. Then let us go."
Melina: "Hmm…"
Melina stood up, still deeply traumatized.
Fiona knelt down in front of her.
Fiona: "Listen, Melina. You killed a person, but you also saved a person."
Melina: "I did not hate Margherita."
Fiona: "I understand."
Melina: "But… it made me sad how she treated me."
Fiona: "That was her choice. Those who hurt others get it back. That is how it is."
She adjusted Melina's clothes.
Melina: "Hmm…"
Fiona: "We will take care of you. Cossette and I."
Melina: "Okay."
Fiona: "Then let us go. First we will go to a hotel."
Melina: "Hmm… okay."
Cossette: "Hehehe."
They set off.
Meanwhile
Patch. Patch.
Zantanel: "I see… so this is it. We are in Prussia, in the Slavic Realm."
Veronica: "Good, right? Hehe."
Zantanel: "The grave of Cinderella is in the Slavic Realm. Whether in Prussia, Dnipol, Titia, or Eger Brünn."
Meanwhile
Pump. Pump.
Cinderella lay silently on a bed.
Pump. Pump.