It was a beautiful day. The sun was made all of Ivoryport shine with an almost ethereal glow. Viola had never seen this city this way: It was as if she was seeing it with brand new eyes. Perhaps it was the wave of positivity that seemed to be carrying everyone else around her. Even the Marquise seemed happier these days. Or perhaps it was the change that Viola herself had felt over the last several days. A warmth which resulted from the company she now kept, and which filled her in ways she never thought possible.

Whatever the reason was, Viola now walked lighter. Her left hand, which for so many years had been glued to the gun she always carried, was now free. No longer tense, it could now do all the things it couldn't before. Granted, they weren't that many things, but she liked the fact that she now had options. Possibilities. It was an exciting new world indeed.

"Everything okay, my dear?" A kind voice brought her out of her musings.

She turned to find Livilla's round face, beaming as per usual. Viola truly cared for the woman, which was a good thing since she was now bound to stand next to her. No longer in service of the Marquise, she had pledged her gun to the Lady. God knew Livilla needed all the protection she could get, especially considering the beast she was married to.

"Everything really is, My Lady," she replied, accepting the sweet treat Livilla was offering.

"I do hate you have to address me in such a formal way again," the Lady said as she drank from her cup of tea. "We had just started to be more familiar with one another."

Viola smiled at the Lady's naiveté. "Words are mere formalities, My Lady. I trust our relationship is past the point where such details could be perceived as threatening."

"Of course you're right, darling Shooter." Livilla held Viola's hand and squeezed it tightly. "Oh my dear, I don't know what I would do without you, without any of you. Your support has meant the world to me during this entire ordeal. Trying times lay ahead of me and... well, let's just say it's nice to tread down this road with friends by my side."

Viola appreciated these stolen moments. During these past few days, she had gotten to witness a new side to Livilla, one she never expected to see. Overnight, the Lady had been thrown into the role of Queen, one she had never expected to fulfil. Indeed, almost all of the nobility had been reluctant to accept her. No one imagined the sweet, unassuming, gossipy Lady Livilla would be a good candidate to preside over this broken kingdom.

But Livilla had proven them all wrong. In spite of everything, in spite of even herself, the Lady had grown steel wings to fly in this war zone and she had soared far higher than anyone could've foreseen. Rumour around Leverfort was that this seemingly accidental Queen was turning out to be an unexpected leader.

Still, Viola could see the heavy toll the Crown was taking in Livilla. The Lady smiled a lot less often; her steps were now hesitant, as if she feared even her shadow. Her words were more calculated and her once common displays of affection were now a rare sight. Just like the Marquise and Viola and everyone else in this capital, Livilla was now wearing a mask. She was now dancing to the tune of the Crown.

She was therefore glad that Livilla could at least be herself, or rather the person she used to be, when they were together. Viola had practically become Livilla's shadow, much to the chagrin of Buford, who had made his dislike of her all too clear. Still, she didn't care. She had a duty, one that went beyond honour even. Livilla would be their most powerful ally in the fight against the parasite. Her safety was now a priority.

"My dear Shooter," Livilla continued, unaware of the carnival of thoughts that paraded in Viola's head, "I have a Council meeting this afternoon. I'm expecting it to carry on into the heart of night. You could take the afternoon off, should you so desire."

Viola shook her head. "I'm afraid that's not even a possibility, My Lady."

"But my dear Shooter, nothing will happen. It's no more than a Council meeting to elect the new Actuators. Besides, Princess Electa and the Viscount will be present. I won't be by myself should trouble arise."

Viola was about to speak again when a strong voice disrupted their conversation.

"Shooter Viola Hecuba Hawk?"

She turned to find a tall, stiff and rather imposing member of the RoyalCorps. His hands carried what looked like a letter of some sort, and he had an expression that seemed to imply his visit was not a social one.

"Yes?" Viola asked, standing up and facing the army man.

"In the name of His Majesty Buford Albert Forger, Crown Prince of Makina, you are summoned to the throne room for an urgent assembly."

Viola raised an eyebrow, haughty words leaving her mouth. "I am not aware of any assembly that requires my presence."

The man showed no response. "You can either come willingly or by force, soldier."

"Am I being arrested?" Viola's eyes rapidly went to the man's right hand, which was firm upon the grip of the gun that hung from his belt. She mimicked him.

"You are being summoned by His Majesty Buford Albert Forger, Crown Prince of Makina."

"Shooter Viola is in my service," Livilla adopted the same tone she used in her many formal meetings. "If she is being accused of something, I have the right to know."

The man relaxed his grip on the gun and spoke more delicately. "Of course, Your Grace. However, I am not sufficiently informed on the matter to provide a satisfactory response to your queries. You are free to come with us to the assembly, should you wish, but my orders are clear: Shooter Viola has to come to the throne room, by any means necessary."

Viola pondered her options: She could shoot a man who was merely doing his job and hide under Livilla's wide skirt, or she could get this charade over with and answer the summoning. The answer was pretty clear.

"Let us go, then. The sooner we end this, the better."

********

The room was nearly empty. Viola had seen situations like this before, back when Samuel was still alive. Normally, the throne room was stacked with noblemen and women looking for a good show. Today, however, the room barely had five people in it.

Buford sat on the throne that had once been his father's. Bloodshot eyes, the result of an obvious lack of sleep, made his brutish face all the more threatening. His grip on the throne's arms and his tapping foot let her know he was anxious to get this over with.

Besides him, the Withered Flower sat, dressed entirely in white, arms and legs crossed and worried eyes fixated on her son. Her gaze was one of concern and as Viola and Livilla made their way across the room, it seemed like the Queen threw a gentle albeit brief smile their way, one that was far too fleeting to recognize as a gesture of kindness.

"Buford, what is the meaning of this?" Livilla asked, her voice steady and loud, perfectly hiding the doubt that her shaky hands seemed unable to disguise.

"Shooter Viola Hecuba Hawk," Buford spoke without even acknowledging his wife's presence, "you are here to answer for your crimes against the Crown of Makina."

"Is this a trial?" Livilla questioned again, a shade of anger now propelling her words. "If so, where is the jury? The judge? The representative of Laws and the Actuator of Justice?"

"Due process is not necessary in this particular case, darling. The Shooter's actions have determined her culpability. This is merely an acknowledgement of said actions."

"And which actions might those be, Your Majesty?" Viola knew a more relaxed tone would be preferable. However, her decorum was flying out the window. Now, all she could feel towards this excuse of a King was contempt and even pity.

"Murder, of course. Of my brother, Prince Edison Robert Forger..."

"May he rest in peace," the guards stationed at each side of the throne muttered, making Buford sigh in exasperation.

"There's no use denying it, Shooter. We all know it's true," he continued.

"I won't deny it." Viola's words were relaxed but forceful. She felt no shame in her actions, nor should she. "I indeed fired the gun that ended Edison's life."

Buford looked aghast. "You admit it, then? Traitor! Murderer! Viper!"

"Your brother," Viola interrupted him, feeling the heat rushing to her face, but doing her best to control it, "was the traitor. He, along with Raynard and Hugo, killed your father. They're the ones who went against the Crown. They were plotting against Makina itself."

"Lies!" Buford screamed, his voice echoing in the tall walls. "Disgusting lies meant to smear the good name of my brothers. You are nothing but a filthy killer, a traitor and malicious cunt, but you will not get the best of me. I can see through you."

"And what it is that you see?" Viola dared him, taking a step forward and provoking the RoyalCorps in the room to reach for their guns.

"I see a dead woman. Guards, take this bitch to the courtyard and shoot her. A bullet to the head will be more than enough to cleanse this ancestral fort from her pernicious presence."

"Enough!" Livilla howled. The entire room went silent and not even the guards dared defy her. "Shooter Viola is in my service and you shall not dispose of her so easily. There are no lies in her words. We all know your brothers were culpable of the murder of His Majesty, King Samuel. Viola did nothing but kill a confirmed traitor. The display that your brothers did in this very throne room should be enough to convince you that all three of them were perverted monsters."

"My brothers were sick," Buford hissed through clenched teeth, and for a split second, Viola thought she saw a glimmer of indigo flashing through his eyes.

Livilla refused to back down. "Sick with greed. You will not condemn the Shooter without a proper trial, not for the sins of three mad men."

If looks could kill, Livilla would have certainly not survived the stare-down that was now happening between her husband and her. Nonetheless, the Lady stood her ground and not even the future King could move her.

"Lady Livilla is right," the Withered Flower said, interrupting the silent battle. "Unpleasant as it is, your brothers were at the centre of what was, undeniably, a coup attempt. The Shooter may have pulled the trigger, but in the end, it was to the benefit of the kingdom."

Buford turned to face his mother and Viola could not see his expression. After a few seconds, the man turned, his face red but his eyes no longer deadly.

"Shooter Viola is now a prisoner of the Crown. Take her to the cells, where she will await trial for the murder of my brother."

The guards moved fast; Viola could've moved faster. However, she knew there'd be no point. She would only give Buford an actual reason to kill her. Reluctantly, she allowed the guards to restrain her, knowing she was willingly going into the beast's fangs.

"My dear Shooter, worry not," Livilla whispered in her ear as she hugged her. "I will not let anything happen to you. No one shall touch even so much as a hair on your head."

Viola smiled at the woman's words, feeling a warmth in her chest she could not explain.

"Warn the Marquise," she said as the guards broke the hug. "Buford will certainly come for her, and the Viscount and the Shark. It might be late for me, but it isn't for them." She lowered her voice even more so that only Livilla could hear. "I know you may not understand the words I'm about to say, but it's imperative you pass them on to the Marquise. Tell her the blue still lives in the man who holds the crown."

Livilla nodded, her wide eyes drenched in confused tears. As she was forced out of the room, Viola felt her stomach turning at the realization that their fight was not finished after all. Before the doors closed behind her, she prayed that Livilla could get to the Marquise before it was too late.