“Are you certain that Lady Shinki did not leave duties for me to fulfil before her return?”

“Nope, nothing! She even said what I said! You gotta!”

“Did she truly?”

“…Uhm… if she didn't, would you still play with me?”

A light, miasmic chuckle.

“Certainly, my love. ❤️”

(3)

“Finallllllllly! Mother left and said she'd be busy all day, so you gotta spend time with me… or else.~”

A teasing smirk was obscured by the child clutching her grimoire as she was wont to do.

It was strange to feel this lethargic, but regardless, Yumeko rose to attention.
(2)

“Yume! Yume! Yume!”

Quite a violent shaking of Yumeko's arm as her eyes pried open. She was in bed under the ruby covers…? She would usually be awake before everyone else!

Her head turned to the side, dreamily looking towards the impatient little girl.

“…Alice?”

(1)

Even if I look away, the presence does not disappear.

That weight of Death is meant to cut through more than bone; the spirits brought to her domain must fall into line, so that boundless power ensures it.

To be perfect. To do perfect.

As the balance…

I must topple divines.

Mother.

When we hold hands again, I would like to simply run.

Run through the miasma and feel the surface underneath my soles of the world that I love so dearly, and I wish for your company.

Would you grant me this one childish wish?

To feel like myself again.

To be Yumeko.

I crave the day that we set the crown upon your head.
The celebrations that will be had that day, and all the love you will receive from the devoted.

…If you choose to not become our Queen, then I hope your heritage allows you to fulfil your goals.

As long as you smile, Alice.

Everyone deserves to have someone they can lean on. They might plead otherwise, but…

Just as I know Mother is there for me as well. The truth shall always be that… we cannot stand entirely alone. The Makaijin were not created to be isolated from one another.

Even if I do not wish to burden her.

Do you remember when I would have to carry you back to Pandemonium, Alice?

You were always so confident, stating that you would be fine to explore until the evening's cloak, then…~

I hope there is someone who can carry you now.

And… I hope I can do so for you again, someday.

“When the pillar falls, all that it supports crumbles down with it.

We have experienced that already. Lady Sariel was right in demanding that I refine myself endlessly, and I still cannot relent.

I take the pressure so others do not have to. That was one of the purposes of my creation.”

Do perfect, be perfect, never falter in your love and protection.
One of the many mantras delivered by Lady Sariel.
…
Maybe I will never be the most important, and those whom I love will always have more.
But I cannot stop being me.
Because Mother's smiles are still as sweet.

// 13 years of Yume today. Love her so.
I will find the fire again. It is never her that is the issue, for she is forever perfect.

// Stay blessed. Always love Pandemonium, Makai, Mother, and dear Alice. ❤️

you may not be able to have all the love you crave
she may look to others before you, and hold them that bit tighter

but that does not mean that the love you do have is any less real

maidhood is about placing others before you
any more is selfish
any more is heretical

accept what you have

// It is not Mother's Day here, but...
Still. Much love to the greatest Mother of them all.
Times like these, I am envious of Yume.
Hah.
<3

Stay blessed.

// I keep looking at her and thinking how wonderful she is. That's why she deserves only the finest.

I love her so so so much. I wonder if her love for Shinki can ever be matched by mine for her. Haha.

I'll figure it out. Just as she always does.

The perfect being.

“Become greater than the divines you serve.

Amass unlimited strength, hold your blade high and strike down all in your path relentlessly!

I have no choice now. There must be no more musing on the possibility; all I can do is act.

I will not allow you to extinguish my flame!”

“Lady Sariel…
Why do you hold it in front of me? Why do you parade my corpse? There is no one else to show, so this is just for me…

I still cannot tell if you are trying to break my spirit or encourage me.

I shall reclaim my body.

It will be mine.

It will be Mother's.”

“That exhaustion that I felt during the last few days of my life…

I feel it again. It is different, but still familiar. I have not been able to 'sleep', and I must not find out.

I must…

Mother…
I do not want to apologise again.
I love you.
I love you.
I love you so much.”

“This is what it means… to truly give yourself to the divines!”

//Thank you so much @newmoonshira.squiddymoon.com
for this; definitely one of the pieces I am most happy with. <3

“We have been together for some time… the Fallen Shrine has become my home for now.

I am not surprised that you have only taken this fascination with me because you were able to steal my soul away.

I wish you would understand my love.

But I know you loathe me for my refusal.”

“There is an element regarding seeing one's own corpse like this that does not sit well with me.

It makes this feel more finite. That if I cannot retrieve the body that Mother gave to me, then there is no path other than oblivion.

I approached it. Lady Sariel denied me.

Mm…”

“I saw… Lady Sariel carrying my body into the Fallen Shrine.

It is strange, since most corpses of Makaijin do not manage to persist this long without the primal essence of their soul. We are deeply embedded with our bodies…

Maybe that is a symbol of hope.

I need it to be.”

“It was always in my blood. You wished to show me how to best prepare your refreshments, but I always knew.

Your tastes came naturally to me, and I watched you trial the tea that I crafted for you for the first time so intently.

I want to make more for you, Mother.

I shall.”

“I had this latent desire that I would have heard from Alice.

I know I cannot expect anyone but myself to drag me from the grave. I will not expect it, because it is selfish to do so.

But I miss her.

And I do not want to risk… forgetting her.

If I do, then there is no hope.”

“Her name is Lady Shinki.
She is Mother to all of Makai, and I am her first.

Was…?

No, I *am* her first.

I call her Mother because she created me, and I love her as others love their parents.

I am her eternal servant. Forgetting that is sin.

Even with this darkness…”

“Reminiscing about the early days of Makai has been keeping the despair away. Lady Sariel has not compelled me to move across the boundary into oblivion — I still do not know why.

The memories are getting foggier, however. In an attempt to remember when Mother and I…

We…

…”

“The effort required has never been a focus of mine.

The variety is correct, and Mother's whim goes wherever she chooses it to go, but I will always do what it takes to satiate her.

I have no interest in debating preferences; the item in question is secondary to sharing a moment.”

// This is not counting her current position, since it would be difficult to answer the questions as a result…

“…I know why you are asking me this.

Much has happened to me as of late. I have had the opportunity to relieve myself of my greatest loathing, and while there are still grievous thoughts, I find more joy in being with Mother.

I would state I am… a six. Focusing more on service, and not hate…”

Human flesh… well, I am not fond of it.

I know this may not be entirely satisfactory of an answer, as it is not specific… my focus is much less on the individual meals however, and more on Mother's enjoyment of them.

I do enjoy cakes of all varieties, and I do have much experience with them. ❤️”

I am usually preparing treats of a sweet nature for Mother as a result, because that is what is most enjoyable to her.

Perhaps this would be a surprise, but Mother… does not enjoy meals prepared from the death of another creature. I do not mind it myself.