#nebulagaster

Astaroth had no idea what to do about Coronis, even less than the first time something like this happened. A Goetia who hated the very system she was born into... she was fortunate to be in the care of Astaroth; many other families would lock her away in an asylum for that kind of talk or possibly bring her to the Infernal Court to be depowered, or executed, or depowered then executed. It was a well-known fact that Goetia were simply better than everyone else, and to speak out against the system from within was not a wise move.

He was aware that he couldn't avoid this problem forever. Once again, he found himself wishing that Coronis had been born to him and Azurine, that he could give her the life she deserved from the very beginning. He wasn't going to bring up the option of officially adopting Coronis anymore, not unless she decided it was what she wanted. Instead, he would listen to her grievances, if only so she could tell them to someone who would listen.

After four days, Astaroth finally returned home when he felt he couldn't stay away any longer. He met Coronis with a weary look in his eyes, one that showed his regret of being little to no help for her situation. All he could offer was an apology. "I'm sorry."

The guilt set in the following day, and worsened the days after when Astaroth became an absent presence in the estate. She had said too much in anger and this was the consequence. It became harder to do her job in the library, as she wondered if this was finally it. The last nail in the coffin that would ruin their relationship.

She had felt there was always too much wrong with her for her to stay for long.

And even then, he came back after four days. Looking tired. But he was still the one to apologize. Him.

Coronis felt deeply ashamed of herself.

Coronis tried not to think on the investigation too hard. She'd done her part (with a lot of guesses, most she assumed to be incorrect) and thinking about it was making her feathers fall out.

She took a few steps back. A relaxing walk in the garden. Distractions through books, proofreading, and transcribing.

Coronis had heard Duedephelon had come to the estate to visit to devise a way of tracking down her birth father. She had been nervous about running into him, and specifically avoided their meetings to the best of her ability. But with Astaroth coming to her direct, she did have to provide some assistance if she wanted answers.

"Most imps in royal employ are in it for life. They work very hard to stay that way." She admitted. "The only ones that tend to cycle from family to family are nannies and caretakers for children. I only had mine for seven years before they were granted a position with another expecting family."

She remembered her nanny and nurse as not being particularly nurturing. The nanny was there to enforce early education, and the nurse was to make sure Coronis was fed and clean. The nanny had been harsh, strict, and would often make Coronis stand in a corner for hours on end when she cried until she "learned" to stop. At the very least the nurse would let her self soothe with a book and allow her to sit quietly in her arm chair until she calmed down.

Neither had ever shown her affection. They had been taught from an early age not to.

@nebula-gaster

Well that's fair. He's not the type to view adoptive daughters that way.

"I appreciate it Your Grace."

The hellhounds however, had more than enough reasons to be scared for their lives, honed in on her scent immediately, and delivered the notice from Astaroth that she was not to leave without informing them.

She didn't fight the escort back to her room. She was drunk, her clothes somewhat messy from her night out, but her face seemed almost disturbingly sober. She simply submitted to being put back in her room like a child. But she didn't sleep.

Doubtless they hastened to inform Astaroth regardless of the hour for fear of him deciding that any alert after dawn would result in execution. But Coronis simply curled up by the window, feeling heavy from the drink and watching the darkness looming over everything outside.

She had her chance to feel almost cruelly indifferent to the situation here. She still felt that way. Come the morning, she would be her old self. Meek, apologetic....and in eternal sadness.

She hadn't gotten the true satisfaction she'd desired. She just felt hungrier for something she'd never had.

"Your Grace?"

Returning home didn't mean things had gotten better overnight. Much to her mentor's distress, the state of things had only plateaued.

Coronis had to be carried back after she was found, cleaned and cared for before being put into bed. The state she'd been found, dehydrated, starved and sleep deprived, had her so weak she could barely walk. She slept first. She managed to drink water.

But food was a daily struggle.

A plate of something would come and she could barely take a few bites. Many times a meal came and she would just stare at it with empty eyes, unable to continue. The household was trying as best they could to get her to eat. Her favorites, exotic foods, simple food, even trying to frame it as just drinking her meals with soups. It wasn't working consistently.

Coronis was told she'd have a monitor for each meal. The Duke was getting desperate enough to have a caretaker for different times of day. She didn't protest. A lot of the spirit she once had was knocked out of her from the stress.

So the first day came. Two household imps bringing breakfast and lunch, and watching her until she ate something. Words of encouragement, some soft, some stern.