For the first time in two months, Aciel looked like the prince he was. Arthur chose to live in a smaller residence with minimal servants, leaving the main residence for the faction leader to his second in command. As a result, Aciel and Eden were able to walk around without hiding their identity.

As it was a meeting with Arthur, Aciel fixed his appearance to be one of a crown prince. His messy hair was neat and tied up again but the prince chose to not wear his headpiece. His worn and tattered clothes were kindly replaced by Arthur who even gifted new cloaks.

“Heyo kiddos, food is ready.” Sun burst into Aciel’s room.

“I still can’t get used to his personality change.” Eden stated. She arrived in Aciel’s room a few minutes before to wake him up before Sun’s arrival just as the servants who brought the food left.

Now that Sun left the shrine and no longer needed to hide his identity, his personality was much more easy-going and relaxed. Aciel was racking his brain trying to think of any memories of Sun. Even if they had never met, he thought would have at least heard gossip about such a carefree official.

“It’s not a change,” Sun corrected. “I’ve always been like this. I just had to put on a serious persona out of respect for the shrine. I’m like this when I talk to the queen in private but not when we’re meeting with others.”

That explained the lack of gossip. Aciel guessed his mouth was slightly open due to the shock as the first thing Sun did as he approached was close Aciel’s jaw for him. Eden on the other hand tried to keep a neutral faze as she watched Sun drop his serious persona again.

“Hiya Arthur. Mornin’ Lyn.” Sun announced as they bumped into the two in the hall.

“Hello,” Arthur greeted with the same energy. It was like two puppies found each other after being surrounded by serious cats their whole lives.

It had been two days since they arrived at Arthur’s residence. Out of respect for Sun who was exhausted from the ceremony, the two groups delayed their talk until he felt better.

“Mur will be coming later in the afternoon. We can talk then.” Arthur opened the door to where breakfast had been set up.

“Do you ever use the main residence?” Aciel asked, curious about why he chose to not live in the official residence.

“Only if there are multiple visitors but that rarely happens.”

“Even then, he tries to leave,” Lyn chipped in. “Poor Mur, she has so much to do and then this slacker just adds more to her plate.”

“I am a busy person Lyn Solomon.”

“As someone who’s constantly by your side, you’re not.” She handed him a bowl of fruit, much like how a parent would to a child.

Arthur grumbled and changed the subject, “Aciel, let’s play chess after this.”

“Lyn, would you like to spar with me?” Eden offered. Lyn, who needed to let off some steam from babysitting Arthur, happily agreed.

“Can I look around?” Sun asked. His nosy side began to resurface.

“Sure.”

Once breakfast was finished, the groups headed off to the study to play chess, the gardens to spar, or just around to explore. The dishes tidied up and would be picked up once the next set of meals is delivered.

In the study, Arthur set up the game as Aciel looked around. The study was the same size as the room he was staying in. Two walls were lined with shelves, one full of books and the other, the one behind Arthur’s desk, with artifacts. The wall with windows was plain except for a few hanging scrolls and the last wall was lined with sliding doors.

“Who’s playing that game?” Aciel pointed to the game that was next to Arthur’s desk.

“Just me,” Arthur said. “Come sit.”

Aciel obliged and headed to the game Arthur set up next to the window. They had a view of the gardens and in the distance they could see Eden and Lyn spar. The two were evenly matched despite ten years apart.

“Hey, no dirty moves.” Eden shouted as she saw Lyn eye the soil she was about to toss in Eden’s eyes.

“What’s a spar without any realistic elements?” The former bandit offered.

“Don’t be a sore loser Eden.” Sun egged on from the sidelines.

“An actual spar and not a fight,” Eden suggested as she deflected Lyn’s attack with her sword then used the sheath to land an attack.

“What happened to no dirty moves?” Lyn said as she stumbled a few steps back from the sudden jab to her side.

“I think my sheath is pretty clean.”

“It’s pretty in general too.” Lyn admired the intricate gold details glimmering under the sun against the black body.

“Thanks, I worked hard to earn it. Now, shall we wrap this up?”

Back in his study, Aciel and Arthur took turns between watching the spar and playing the game of chess. Aciel was down three more pieces than Arthur but he wasn’t worried.

“You really like your rook don’t you?” Aciel asked. He managed to move his knight to take Arthur’s white bishop in the next turn.

“I mean, it is this land’s namesake. How can I not cherish it?”

The door opened and Sun arrived with Eden and Lyn. The two finished their spar and changed into similar loose black wrap top and black hakama, waist high wide pleated trousers. Both had their swords around their waist and a few scratches on their faces. Eden returned to looking like her usual self now that she no longer had to disguise herself as a man. Her hair was still tied up from the spar and Lyn’s black short hair was recently touched up.

“You know,” Aciel said as he secured a check, “I always thought a rook didn’t suit you Arthur.”

“Oh, what piece would suit me then?” Arthur moved his bishop to protect this king.

A blonde woman stopped to watch the match. Her presence was noted but not acknowledged and everyone was curious about Aciel's answer.

“A pawn.” Aciel said and he used his pawn to kill Arthur’s bishop.

Lyn and Eden laugh at the downgrade. Sun took a second to convert the metaphor to pieces that he was familiar with but understood what Aciel was referring to.

“A pawn?” Arthur confirmed his voice was slightly shocked and slightly offended.

“Yup.” Aciel said, once again in check.

“Lyn, why don’t you take a second to catch your breath from all that laughing?”

“My apologies.”

“You may think it seems like a demotion but a pawn is a very useful piece. I didn’t like it before and like you, I used it carelessly. I found out how useful it would be during my games with Zu,” Aciel stopped himself. “Anyway, a pawn is useful, it’s the only piece worthy of becoming a queen.”

“It’s my loss.” Arthur conceded. “Mur is here, shall we begin?”

The latecomer who stood next to Sun was a woman who looked half for her age. She had blonde hair lighter than Sun’s, and wore a hanbok representing the faction. The top was black and the skirt was red, both had a gingko leaf pattern, the colour and symbol for Au Inden. She tucked the fan she was holding into her belt and greeted the group with a smile.

The group moved to a larger desk where Aciel and Arthur took a seat and their respective companions stood behind them. At first, it appeared like Arthur was a young child being looked after by his older sisters. However, as soon as he sat down, his easy going demeanor changed and it was obvious who was in charge.

“Let’s start with some formalities. My name is Arthur, the head of Au Inden. This is Mur, my second in command and my left hand. This is Lyn, the third in command and my right hand.”

“My name is Aciel Koi-Longwa. This is Eden, a former general and now my champion. Finally, we have Sun, mine and my late mother’s aide.”

“Now then, I’ve been waiting for a week to hear this answer. Why is the supposedly missing prince sitting in front of me?”

So Aciel explained the situation from his side. On how Zula killed his father and almost him if it wasn’t for Eden. How they managed to escape and why they were in Au Inden. Finally, upon reaching the end of his recap, Aciel prepared to make his request, something Sun had helped him with the past few days.

“I need your help Arthur.”

“Why?” A normal response but Aciel wished Arthur accepted without hesitation.

“I need to get the throne back. Zula, she can’t get away with what she’s done.”

“What do you offer?” Arthur’s voice was serious. He was no longer the friend Aciel had just played a match of chess against. He was the head of a faction and right now his decision would affect thousands of people.

“She killed my father.” Aciel avoided the question.

“Strength? Stability? Power? Influence?” Arthur continued, ignoring Aciel’s statement. “Zula Ruruji has you beat in all those areas and not just by a bit. I have no reason to support you.”

“She killed my father.” Aciel forced those words out again as if it was all the reason needed.

“King Sen was only king until you were of age to pick up the throne. Right now you're just a prince by name and it's not worth much anyway.”

“Do you support Zula Ruruji?” Aciel pretended to be unfazed by the truth.

“I have not decided yet.”

The heads of Au Inden were famous for their neutrality while the other factions were public with their support or opposition to the monarch. The most recent time the faction voiced their support was eight years ago, a whole month after the start of the Bloody Valentine War.

“How can you not be sure when she’s a murderer?” Eden put a hand on Aciel’s shoulder to calm him down. Sun gave Eden a slight nudge by the foot to keep her calm.

“Right now, it’s your word against hers. As plausible as it is, there is no proof that she killed King Sen. Objectively speaking, she is the most suited out of everyone to sit on the throne.”

“As long as you are in Au Inden’s borders, you will be safe,” Mur said. “We do not owe the queen a report on your whereabouts or status. That being said, for the sake of the citizens of Au Inden, we cannot support your wishes against Queen Zula.”

“It was previously mentioned that you spoke with Queen Zula, what was that about?” Sun asked.

“I cannot divulge that information as it relates to the safety of my citizens.”

“If we prove ourselves worthy of your support, what happens then?” Eden asked.

“Then you will receive it,” Lyn said.

“Now that this is done,” Arthur returned to his cheerful self. “How about lunch?”

Aciel agreed as he reminded himself to not take Arthur’s opinions personally. Sun and Eden had previously warned him of Au Inden’s neutrality as they prepared for the meeting. In fact, Sun explained that it would be the best result. While Arthur would not assist Aciel’s cause, they were also not loyal to Zula. Which meant Aciel's safety would be guaranteed and his presence kept a secret. And that would be just as good as Arthur’s loyalty if he chose to give it out.