He frantically looked to each side, the ends of his scarf wagging with him, "Keep your voice down, Miss, that's not the sort of thing that you're supposed to shout out in a place like this."

"But you are, aren't you?" I pressed on.

The Haruka-Look-Alike dabbed my forehead with the handkerchief, and I realized my scrape was a little bigger then I had imagined. At least a bloody face can't keep me from walking, I thought. I looked down at his wrists, to see the same illuminated, blue diamonds where Haruka's blades extended from her skin. He promptly pulled his sleeves down and glanced as his books, before turning back to me.

"First of all, my name is Jun. Not Haruka. That's the name of my system's model--"

I beamed. "So, I was right. Are you a female model or a male one? Do they even produce male models?"

Jun sighed, stuffed the handkerchief in his pocket, and rose gruffly. "You ask too many questions. Foreigner, right?"

"I can tell you have too many answers." I snapped audaciously, which surprised the both of us. He questionably extended a hand, and I took it.

I apologized immediately: "I'm, er, really sorry I bumped into you. I was looking..."

Looking for Tomoe. I hoped he was alright. It wouldn't have been fair to just dart off now, though. The others were probably looking for me, and I felt obliged to help the stranger I have met. And he was an android too.

I stopped myself at that thought. Haruka was defective. I was told that Hibiki had detached the controls in her nape, giving her free will. What about Jun?

I made sure to watch my words from then on.

"... for someone."

Those rounded glasses were almost too big for his face. It took a moment for me to realize that there were no lenses in them, despite the concern he put into nudging them further back onto his nose. "If you insist you were, then I suppose it's true."

The others would be looking for me. Tomoe would be looking for me. And we were all supposed to be searching for Kaosu. Nevertheless, I was compelled to know more, since I had met another android.

"Let me help you carry those books," I offered.

He narrowed his eyes, slowly picking up book after book from the stack, handing me half of the load. Gradually, it became most of the load. There were over-sized history books and about three scientific textbooks. I could barely see in front of me, and I dearly hoped I wouldn't be walking far. I was already tired out from getting to Anzen Rozu from the Von Faecero manor. It was all so far away from the beginning.

I didn't want to admit it, but I really hoped Hibiki wasn't mad at me for darting off, and the thought alone nagged the back of my mind. In my defense, Kotone had run off too.

Answering my question, he said "I live on the Western side of the city. It's quite the walk, but you'll help, right?"

"Uh, definitely!"

Jun tossed the rest of the books in my hands, I flinched at the extra weight, and pulled out a band aid, sticking it rather carelessly on my forehead. My hood slipped down, and he paused, and pulled it back over my head.

"Thank you," I mouthed.

"I hope you know what you've gotten yourself into, queen-to-be. I'll put some proper ointment on that wound when we reach my place. I'd like to hear an explanation too, if you don't mind."

❀✿

Tᴏᴍᴏᴇ

They knocked me out.

The mangling, vile weasels they were couldn't handle me awake. The damned fools rendered me unconscious, and I had to repeat it to believe it.

I was in a risky place now. A place where I couldn't be myself, but instead the nugacity of a diplomat that being a Prince handed me. Coronations were absurdly jejune to me, so it couldn't be helped. I repeated that thought a thousand times before I became King.

So, there I was.

Handcuffed to the leg of a canopy bed, in a frivolous looking cell. That's 'cause it wasn't intended as a cell, I knew. I was a guest, an ex-hostage, who would be interrogated so they could catch the kidnapper, to satisfy my supposed thirst for revenge and to bring justice. Then, they'd have death by legal injection. I've studied this course of events a million times.

I could see myself in the mirror across the room, and my eyes seemed too green for my face, and my hair desperately needed combing. I looked tired.

There was a sharp pain in my palm, so I peeled off one glove using my teeth. There was a bandaid on the back of my hand, and blood under my nails. It wasn't mine, and I shuddered at the memory of... recent events.

Not only was one wrist handcuffed, but they hadn't confiscated my swords, which proved my point. Funny, though, that I had slashed at their guards a dozen times, with no consequences.

"The perks of being royalty," I sighed, taking a pin out of my blazer's sleeve. Most would automatically assume I carried such things for looks, but this is not the first time I've been handcuffed, I assure you.

I stuck the pin into the shackles' keyhole, wriggling around until I heard a click. Too easy. The door must have been locked, if they gave me such a flimsy pair of handcuffs, I decided before trying at it. And it was.

I slipped on my gloves, and took a look at my rapiers. Freshly cleaned. Someone had been through my things. I was glad that I cleaned them as soon as possible, for even the slightest drop of rusted blood could have landed me in more thorough investigation.

It wouldn't take long until someone came in to check on me, so I took in my cell's surroundings, which I hadn't done before, due to blinding annoyance. Lavish furniture; a desk, chair, and closet, and rug. All in a baronial, victorian fashion had accentuated the way most architecture and rooms in Tekonn are designed. The same room they've always pinned me to every time I visited Anzen Rozu.

Therefore, it would have the same means of exiting that were initially planned in means of emergency. I slipped a hand under the carpet, feeling around until I could grasp a small key. I promptly unlocked the door, and came face to face with one of the servitors. I remembered her name by the angular way her face was shaped, long faced and thin nose, but it's beyond me now.

"Your Highness! I-I thought you were asleep," she exclaimed. I could have slammed the door on her as I opened it, and she knew it.

I raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing? And might I ask, why was I handcuffed to my room?"

"You wouldn't calm down, attacking the guards and whatnot, under some sort of spell. Councillor Elenora ordered for you to be sedated when you hacked one of the g--"

And I couldn't help but let out a laugh. It was a great laugh too, the kind where you can actually hear the ha-ha-ha's if you listen closely enough. A spell, sure, set on me by my so-called captors. At least the bandaid on my hand was explained. "Are you certain they weren't simply too weak to fend off a mere boy?"

"Well, sire, in all due respect, they weren't exactly built to withstand one of..."

I was already pacing past her. The stone-brick walls reminded me of the castle as well. I would have to speak to Elenora immediately, and demand an apology for being treated like such a criminal.

That's when it hit me. My breaths came in gasps, and my heart was hammering inside my chest, as I staggered towards the wall for support. The panic was a deluge of ice water surrounding every limb, creeping higher until it passes my mouth and nose. My vision spun, making everything I saw bounce around like the world was just photographs being flipped in front of me.

I was a criminal, wasn't I? I butchered them all, like I was just swatting flies. Mother, father, and that Von Faecero girl... Did I still deserve to laugh and boast in my existence, when I had done such terrible things?

The maid was chattering in my face, hysterically trying to decide whether she would run off for help and risk leaving me alone. My lungs clenched in my chest at the thought of a group of doctors trying to assess what was wrong with me. I knew perfectly well.

Yes... I would have to remain as I was for a while longer.

I coughed, forced myself to straighten, and sneered at the attendant, trying to catch my breath. "T-tell anyone of this and I'll have your head." I sounded weak and feeble, but I knew that someone of her ranks wouldn't dare question me.

She nodded, and hurried off, turning left towards the throne hall, where the council members gathered at a silly round table. I sighed at the thought of being seated there, but until I was crowned king, it was where my place was in Anzen Rozu.

The building I was in was the city's Center. There, the council governed, and assessed issues and concerns, and so on. It was like almost like the eye of the storm, honestly, since the city was just a big circle anyway.

I suddenly felt drained, like I had just finished climbing a couple dozen staircases. I needed to rest. Maybe it would've been nice to get help, especially since I had become short of breath only moments before... but that wasn't where my conscience pointed me.

Finally, I recalled the others. Haruka, Sora, Kotone, Daichi, and that stupid demon. They were probably looking for me, surely. They wouldn't know that I was safe and sound in a padded citadel, in the center of the city. Hibiki might, I've seen him sitting around the council when I was younger. He hadn't aged a day since my father's delegates sat at that table.

On that note, I sauntered in the direction the maid ran off in, collecting myself before I had to speak to an audience. Depending on what time it was, I could be faced with an entire court of nobles, or simply Elenora. I treaded a hand through my hair on the way, desperately trying to put some volume back into the mop my hair became. I glanced in a passing window, and I could feel a weight lift off my shoulders at the sight. Not that bad.

It was a large room, about the size of your average throne room, but everything was crystalized, as if the entire room had been etched from an assortment of brightly colored gems. It almost felt alien, or like some sort of ice palace. But of course, I knew it was all for show, since we were simply in a tower, and everything was made from carefully carved glass. I think people normally call that Center tower a skyscraper, but I'm not familiar with the term.

A long, red carpet led to a glass round table, with two dozen seats all around it. I could see an elevator on the far side of the room. Two lengthy windows on each side of the room, accentuating the lavish style of the setting.

To my distaste, there were about ten aristocrats standing around her, each with pompous makeup and frilly outfits. Different styles as well, from different nations, but that didn't concern me.

I cleared my throat, and it troubled me that I didn't even need to fake the cough. All eyes went to me, and at last, I could feel my usual gusto return.

"Was I sourly missed?" I inquired with a charmed smile, bowing with a hand behind my back.

I was immediately surrounded by all manners of nobles, who had rushed over at the very sight of me.

"Were you kidnapped?" asked a grizzly voice, coming from a small child.

"Prince Tomoe! Where have you been?" questioned an elderly cyclops.

"Is she dead? Are you single?" squeaked another, who seemed more then seven feet tall.

I managed another hearty laugh, treading a hand through my hair, before Councillor Elenora approached, standing directly before me. We were the same height.

Chestnut brown hair, braided in a chignon curled in numerous large ringlets, and a mole above the lips. She wore an archaic sort of gown, with long, hanging sleeves and simple embroidery, straight out of the 15th century and whatnot

You could technically call her Anzen Rozu's President, if they weren't so insistent on sharing power among countries. She's ruled for as long as I've known, with faux beauty etched on her physique, aging halted in her twenties. No, she wasn't human; I still hear rumors to this day that she might have been a druid or a widowed selkie with a good luck.

Her prominent tone only went to show how long she's worked at such a job. "Prince Tomoe, I was wondering when you'd wake." The room quieted when she spoke.

I grinned. "How do you do, mademoiselle?"

"I'm well. Care to offer some solution to the issue you've woven yourself into? We're dying to hear what had occurred." I could feel everyone inch closer as she spoke, and I could hear someone jotting down notes. Dying to hear what had occurred. I could already tell this would be in the newspapers tonight.

It was fortunate that I was a skilled liar. "Ah, exactly what you'd expect. A masked vigilante kidnapped my bride and I, and we were whisked off and held ransom. I was able to escape, but I'm afraid he's still ogling at my fiancé. I can't pinpoint where either, we were on a cart or something."

She placed her hands on her hips. "Is this true?"

To dissuade any slander, I made a show. I leaned forward and took her by the waist, only inches away from her face. I distinctly remember both inhaling perfume with her in my grasp, and refraining from the natural urge to look down.
"Oh, Nora, would I lie to you?"

We were embraced in a dip, and the paparazzi loved making up scurrilous rumors, so surely that would spice up things and keep their attention off of anything else. I could see the amusement in her eyes, she must have realized the same.

The assortment of nobles murmured, and the one taking notes gasped, scribbling down more notes.

Elenora stifled her laughter. "Now, now, this isn't very appropriate, Prince Tomoe. I could be your aunt."

"You lie. I don't see a wrinkle on your face. You couldn't be a day over twenty." I let her go, gracefully stepping back, adjusting my gloves.

A camera flashed in the corner of my eye. If I was expected, there would have likely been a larger crowd.

Seeming pleased with herself, she smoothed down her skirt. "I still have two question to ask."

"Yes, ma'am?" I raised an eyebrow.

"What business do you have in my city? Does your kingdom not need you more?"

"The same business I always have. Doing my princely duties. Besides, I have a very good Royal Advisor to look after things while I'm away." I replied quickly, tilting my head to the side.

"What of the Chaos?"

My shoulders tensed. "What are you talking about?" She couldn't have possibly known. Everyone around us murmured once more.

Elenora waved a dismissive hand. "I would appreciate it if everyone could leave at this moment. I have some personal matters to address with Prince Tomoe."

I could hear a couple groans of dismay, and I saw guards that weren't visible to me before exit from the corner of my eye. It unnerved me in the slightest, and I placed a hand on the handle of my blade. She didn't notice.

"Tomoe," she began, finally dropping the honorifics, "I've heard rumors. Rumors that, something was coming to Anzen Rozu."

I nodded, and hummed. "Hm, hm, hm, it appears so."

"Tomoe," Elenora repeated, "Do you know anything about it? I know it can't be purely coincidental that you show up the day I hear such things. You've always neglected your duties here, pretending you don't know what theocracy means."

"Mmhmm," I agreed.

"What is it?"

"I truly haven't the faintest idea what that could mean!" I fiddled with my cravat, winking at her.

She fumed. "I'm serious, Tomoe Yamada."

Ouch. The full name card. "I might know a thing or two."

I could hear a subtle foot-tapping on the silk carpets. "Go on."

"See, there's this dastardly dashing woman in a dress and bad dye job with a glasgow smile." I stopped, making sure she was listening. "Big, toothy grin, and navy blue eyes. Not to mention, demon of some sort. Oh, and I really stress on toothy."

Intrigued, she gestured for me to continue.

"She... uh..." I didn't know how much more I could tell Elenora without getting her involved, so I simply shrugged. "I don't recall anything else. My masqueraded captor mentioned her once or twice."

"Name?"

"I haven't the faintest idea."

Her eyes focused on me, and I felt the same scrutinizing gaze my mother would often give me when she was still around.

"Prince Tomoe Yamada of Tekonn, are you a liar?"

I took out my handkerchief. "Here, let my wipe that bullshit from your mouth."

She flinched, and curled a fist over her mouth in attempt to cover a cough, but I knew it was to hide her smile. "Mind your language."

"Yeah, yeah."

But of course, no matter how little I told Elenora, she'd be involved one way or another. And, you guessed it, it would be her undoing.