“Shiro is not here?”

“For some reason..” Risa glossed it over with her words.

“Why, what happened?”

“Well, it has to do with Linzy's brother, Linton. He’s being chased down by some maniacal prevert, so my brother wants to put an end to it finally.”

“Shouldn’t you be with him then?”

“He should be able to do it himself. Besides, if something does happen to him, I have my ways to go and save him.”

“How about Her Highness?” Leticia asked.

“Uh.. some things happened.”

“Some things?” Nynim was smelling something fishy about this ordeal.

They were currently in the dining room. Upon being notified of their presence, Risa immediately asked for breakfast to be prepared, having remembered that Leticia had asked for this party a long time before.

“Is it permissible to know about it, Hero Risa?” Dorry asked.

“It’s quite a serious issue..” Risa scratched her head.

“Where is Her Highness Evelyn now?”

“Evelyn is at the villa. The royal family will be returning to the capital today also, and I’m to see them off later in the evening.”

“I see..”

“There’s been a lot of dangling situations here and there, we weren’t able to hold a proper party, sorry,” Risa smiled apologetically.

“No, no. We should be apologizing for taking up your time like this,” Quora crossed her hands.

“Hm..”

‘What exactly is going on? Can I help somehow?’

“Is it alright if I went with you Risa?”

“With me? You mean to see off the royal family?”

Leticia nodded.

‘I’ll just ask her directly.’

===

“That seems kind of crazy. I suppose there are just some people in this world with a screw loose,” Reese stretched her hands into the sky.

‘Real rich coming from a person like yourself.’

“...”

“Are you okay? No? Want to have some ice cream?”

“I’m fine Reese.”

“You don’t look fine to me master.”

‘Is there a point in correcting her?’

Sequencee did his best to ignore the weird stares from his surroundings. After some discussion, their next plan was this:

First, to inform Leticia about the possibility of another family mess, and second, to check on Schwii. That said, Sequencee felt slightly hesitant. He wasn’t sure if he could confront her again like earlier in the morning.

As they reached the lobby, they noticed a small commotion. Sir Aaron excused himself from the student crowd and headed in their direction.

“Sequencee, Her Majesty has requested your presence. Reese, you may also come.”

Reese ogled Aaron with menacing eyes.

“My apologies,” he hadn’t apologized to her for causing her death, not even once since yesterday.

“I forgive you. So, what does Her Majesty want to do with my master?”

“I’m merely a carrier of the message.”

“Let’s go,” Sequencee said.

“Hm? But weren’t we supposed to tell Leticia about that issue?”

“We can leave that till later.”

Following Aaron to the villa, Sequencee was greeted by the maids who were all pompously awaiting his arrival at the entrance. Sequencee felt an odd sense of incongruence. This was arranged on purpose, but for what reason?

Reese looked amused though.

Sequencee was solemnly ushered into a drawing room, Reese being told to wait outside.

Her silhouette pronounced by the backlit afternoon daylight, the bright crystal chandelier above illuminated the rest of the room. There weren’t too many decorations, perhaps a few unique furniture pieces to add a sense of age to the space.

Silver-lavender hair, a pair of aquamarine eyes. She wore a red dress, giving show to her authority. Many elvish ornaments made of wood and mythril dangled around her neck, a tattoo engraved on her lower right eyes with a symbol different from the one Her Highness Titania possessed.

“Thank you for coming, please take a seat.” Her Majesty Esther’s voice rang. Sequencee detected the presence of one person standing behind her, likely a personal guard.

“I’m honored.”

“Sequencee. Could I ask for your consent in being frank about the matter I am to discuss with you about?”

“Yes.”

‘It’s definitely nothing good.’

“I hear you already have a fiance.”

“Yes.”

“How is your relationship with her?”

“It just broke down.”

“My condolences,” the queen remarked.

“It’s alright.”

“I believe you have an idea of what I’m going to talk about here?”

“I think I do.”

“Then I need not to warn you beforehand. This matter is in regards to the two empires, the two races, humans and demons.”

Sequencee nodded.

“Your father has spoken about your engagement with my daughter.”

Sequencee nodded again.

“While I have doubts regarding The Demon Sovereign's true intention, I understand that you are a genuine person who doesn’t act out of virtuous principles, similar to my second daughter,” the queen paused before continuing, “While it pains me to push this daughter of mine into a political marriage, I foresee a need for the benefit of both parties moving forward.”

“I understand.”

“Do you hold any feelings for my daughter? That is the first answer I want to know.”

“I don’t know.”

“Then is there any chance you would bear feelings for her in the future?”

“I don’t know.”

His answer did not receive any pressuring response from the queen. Yet despite this, Sequencee felt like his heart was being squashed by something inside him.

“Then could you agree to at least take care of her as someone you are obliged to, disregarding your feelings towards her?”

“...”

“Sequencee Arch, son of Anna, will you take responsibility for my daughter’s well-being?”

His teeth clattered, nails dug into flesh. Sequencee didn’t know how to respond, Schwii’s words rang in his head. It was like a prophecy.

“Sequencee, I’m sorry this has happened to you.”

“One condition.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“Schwii is going to have the same standing as Evelyn. Not as a concubine.”

“I permit that. However I must warn you that this is something you must also discuss with the person directly involved.”

“I will, Your Imperial Majesty.”

“Please take care of my daughter.”

“It’s not like I have a choice, do I?”

“It’s a heavy responsibility. By the end of it, it is not love, but duty which ensures the continuity of the relationship.”

‘Love isn’t enough huh..?’

As if a weight had been lifted from his heart, the fog clouding his mind seemed to clear up a little.

“I accept.”

To keep and protect what he had, it wasn’t enough that he coveted it. He needed to do more.

“Sequencee Arch.. no, my son-in-law, I hereby announced that you will be engaged with my daughter, the imperial princess, Evelyn Equestria. I bless you both from the bottom of my heart.”

“It’s an honor,” Sequencee knelt.

“The engagement will be publicly held by the end of this year, the dates will be informed when it is ready to be known. I pray that you and my daughter get along well.”

“I understand.”

‘For me, for the empire, for Schwii.’

Change is inevitable, change is everlasting. To survive in this world, to protect who it is that you love…one must change.