A small gathering of soldiers positioned themselves closer to the dais, keeping their hands over the holster of the pistols that are standard issue for the military police. A man in his fifties stepped forward, his hair was cut short and straight, adding to the stern air he carried around the room. The pair of epaulets moved silently to one side of the shoulder to other as his finger was aimed to the hostess of the ball.

"Lady Lobster, I really expect this to be just a play. Support to the Gariant forces is considered a crime and you'll be charged for it."

"Speak all you want. As we speak, the true leaders of Gardelilac are preparing to launch the offensive and retake the city for our people." The Lobster lady remained unfazed in front of the crowd, with most of the guests taking distance from the dais to allow for the military to act. "We shall no longer be the puppets of an aging Empire, whose shackles have caused most of those who built this country to leave and rot away!"

"I had enough of this babble, take her away, boys." The commander bellowed to the men beside him, who promptly followed the instructions. 

Lili opened her eyes wide, taken by the moment as she noticed that the lady was carried away without any signs of struggle. For someone who spoke so fiercely about her people just now, she seemed way too calm and collected as the 'boys in grey' - as the military police was called these days -  took her away from her own house.

Dumbfounded by the turn of events that caused the ball to end so soon, most of the guests were leaving the room already, some commented on the possibility of her words being true, but most were certain that this was a case of hysteria provoked by the prolonged loneliness that she endured since the death of her husband.

Lili felt something tugging her arm as she wanted to leave. Charles pulled her closer, his eyes were looking straight ahead as the commander of the military police approached them, but it was Charles who spoke first.

"I believe the Valkyrie was right, we were able to prevent the invasion plan."

"Halt, not prevent." The Commander lifted a hand to greet both Charles and Lili in a more formal fashion, "And you should at least introduce me to your companion before speaking business, Lieutenant."

"Forgive me, sir." Charles looked genuinely embarrassed, "This is Lady Lili Comtois, if all things go right, she'll become my wife someday." His eyes turned back to Lili herself, "And this is Commander Maximilian Edmond, we have been assisting each other into state affairs."

"Good." The older man extended his hand in greeting to Lili and quickly turned back his attention to Charles, "My assessment on the situation is that we aren't completely safe yet, it will still take some weeks before Avenio can honour their treaty with us and we should be prepare to defend the border."

"So you think they'll proceed even when the element of surprise is lost?" Charles blinked a few times, clutching Lili arm slightly tighter, "I did this so we could prevent the conflict."

"It's too late now, lad." Maximilian shook his head negatively,  "Get your miss to the safety of the capital and hope that we can end this conflict before winter. Time to test our new machines from our friends from the South."

Charles turned his head at Lili, breathing deeply, "Yes, you're right, Commander."