✿.｡.:* ☆:**:. nanako's pov .:**:☆ *:.｡.✿

AFTER finishing up the cake slices, eri, who was still on my lap fell asleep.

I smiled as I looked at the little girl who was currently dozing off. she seemed to be more relaxed and less tense as I patted her back gently.

"you'd be a great parent", chisaki said softly, but still loud enough for me to hear since we sat right next to each other.

"thanks", I said shortly as I embraced the silence and eri's calm breathing.

"say, chisaki...do you ever wish you had a different life?", I asked, while still looking down at eri's sleeping form. 'cute!'

"no. I quite like where I am right now", he replied with the same stoic look on his face.

"but what if there was a change in your life...what would you do then?", I asked again.

"what type of change?", he specifically asked.

"like, say your plan doesn't exactly work out. what would you do next?", I questioned, not exactly sure where I was driving this conversation.

"my plan will work out", he replied confidently.

"ok yeah, but like what if?", I asked. emphasizing the 'if'.

"if I happen to fail, then I might as well be dead. my goal would be crushed and without a goal or plan, I see no point in living in such a disgusting world".

his answer made me do a double take. 'to die? just because your so-called world cleaning plan DIDNT work?'

"isn't that a bit too excessive?", I asked, not caring if I offended him.

"perhaps. but when you dedicate your life into something and it doesn't work out, wouldn't you feel crushed too?", he asked.

I thought about his question. he wasn't necessarily wrong. maybe a little intense, but not wrong.

the day ended quickly and with the night approaching, it got harder for me to fall asleep. tomorrow, they would come for me, and I wasn't exactly sure how everything was going to turn out.

one thing I did know, was that I was going to protect eri at all costs.

✿.｡.:* ☆:**:. tea .:**:☆ *:.｡.✿

morning came faster than nanako expected. she woke up to the sound of someone slamming her door open and yelling.

"you betrayed us. and to think...to think that I—"

before chisaki could finish his sentence, he took a knife and held it against nanako's neck.

many knights filed into the room that chisaki and nanako were in. not moving a muscle, in fear of chisaki hurting the princess, the knights stood frozen.

"chisaki", nanako said, with the knife still pressed against her neck.

"put down the knife and we can talk this out".

"shut up! I'm not so foolish as to think you'd actually give me and my fellow comrades another chance! as soon as I let you go, you'll sentence us all to death!", chisaki argued.

"tch! you SCUM! HOW DARE YOU—", before bakugo could finish his sentence, chisaki presses the knife closer to nanako's neck.

"take another step, say another word, and she'll be good as gone!", chisaki threatened.

"chisaki. listen to me", nanako said calmly. however, chisaki didn't budge.

"leave us", nanako ordered her knights.

"b-but n-nana—"

"it's an order!", nana demanded.

as the knights slowly exited out the door, it was now only chisaki and nanako. both didn't move as everything was still tense.

"tell me...why'd you lie if you knew...", chisaki started. despite nanako not being able to see behind her, she could feel the grip on the knife wavering.

"listen chisa—kai. listen kai. what you're doing is not right. you may be right in some aspects, but this is not the way to achieve your goal. so please, let me go and we can talk this out", nanako pleaded.

she didn't want to hurt him. even though he was a villain, everyone deserved second chances. and nanako was a strong believer of that. as long as they were willing to change.

"ha...hahaHahHhHaaahHahahaHHAHA! WHAT A JOKE! you? out of all people, you're telling me that my goal is unachievable?! you were born with everything you could ever want! loving family, friends, money, anything you wanted, you got! you're in no place to tell me what's what, you spoiled brat!"

nanako couldn't help but feel bad for chisaki. her insides were slightly turning from how she was about to handle this situation.

putting both her hands on chisaki's, the one holding the knife, she gently held his hand. catching him off guard, he slightly moved the knife away from nanako's throat, just enough for nanako to quickly take his hand and grip it.

with the sudden pressure in chisaki's hand, he dropped the knife, allowing nana to twist chisaki's right arm behind him.

then pinning her other hand on his back, chisaki's chest was pressed against the wall, unable to move.

"BAKUGO!", nanako yelled so that the knights outside could hear her.

bakugo took captive of chisaki while the other knights had chisaki's comrades.

"you'd think a princess would be able to take care of herself and not get kidnapped by some small fry", a voice said.

"well what brings you here monoma? shouldn't you be staying with my sister, itsuka?", nana asked.

"princess itsuka sent me and a few others here to help of course! be grateful for her kindness", monoma replied with a scowl.

"well you can tell her thanks. now if you don't mind, I have something to take care of", nanako said as she brushed past monoma.

"sorry princess, but I don't think so. under queen nemuri's orders, chisaki and his fellow associates will be taken back to the castle and executed tomorrow by noon", monoma said while smirking.

nanako turned to look at monoma, eyes wide. she couldn't let that happen. she needed to get back to her mother and ask her to reconsider.

"hm? then what are you waiting for? take them all back to the castle, I'll be heading there too", nanako said as monoma scowled at the command.

monoma hated taking commands from anyone. except maybe the queen and princess itsuka. however, orders were orders. so he commanded the rest of the knights to take the villains back to the carriage.

when they all evacuated, princess nanako, prince tomura, and their servants were left at the base.

"you okay?", tomura whispered to nanako.

"why? miss me?", nanako teased, looking at tomura.

"hmph. very funny", tomura said as he walked towards the carriage that was waiting for him with dabi.

"n-nana...a-are you alright?! y-you werent h-hurt were you??", midoriya asked as he approached nanako.

"I'm fine midoriya", nanako said. "go on ahead, I'll catch up with you guys. todoroki, could you stay for a minute please?"

as directed, midoriya, bakugo, and mina left.

"todoroki, I need you to do something for me", nanako said.

"what is is nanako?", todoroki asked, as he came closer to nana.

"I need you to..."