"The event is going wonderfully; I just need to meet some of my supporters to introduce Wania's replacement, then move on to the next phase." These were the thoughts of Rasputin H.N. Cominius, interrupted by a thud from a crowd at the corner of the hall where she was.

While going to the centre, he sent his guard ahead to investigate. "What is going on here??" the guard said. Just then, the emperor arrived, standing tall and unshakable, firmly behind his bodyguard, panning his eyes around. And there she stood, my source of dread, with her so-called husband standing on the head of one of his supporters' children. I would have them arrested if it was anyone else, but it was her.

She started laughing, familiar and mocking laughter; shefamiliar and mocking laughter; she knew I couldn't do anything to her; I wouldn't do anything to her. They recounted their actions, one for defence and the other for bragging; she said this happens when you come at me, but I'm the only one who hears that. Either way, now they're looking at me to serve justice, but I can't, I won't, and I am scared. I am a coward before her.

"Wania, tell your husband to let the duke's son go" She nodded, and Agnius lifted his foot. "Normally, fighting or drawing weapons in the palace is punishable by imprisonment or death, but seeing as the situation was an agreed-upon duel, I'll let this pass".

I turned and walked away. Many wouldn't notice my quick pace as I tried to escape, mainly because the nobles were all making their own escape. I, an emperor, cannot condemn my subject because it is her. I, the emperor, must display cowardice because it is her. I, the emperor, cannot take it anymore.

"I need to get rid of her."

As the crowd dissolved and the guards helped the Daigo members out, Wania turned away, and Agnius followed. They went to a parlour. When inside, she locked the doors and opened the doors to the terrace.

"Can you make it in from here?" he asked, jumping and climbing one terrace and window lead at a time. Before long, he made it to the inner palace.

He took his boots off and walked in the shadows. Wania told him the special guest and family were across from the imperial family quarters. He had to cross the garden to reach them. The lights from the window confirmed that people were inside. All he had to do was peek in return, but a hand resting on his shoulder startled him.

"You're not supposed to be here" the voice was male

"Neither are you, Bilgar", Agnius said; he stood up and turned to see a man in a heavy cloak covering his whole face except his mouth and scruffy bread. He showed his teeth in a large grin. "Well, who cares. Oh, congrats on the marriage," Bilgar said. "The way you're eyeing that wing, you want to know about the guest… I'll tell you for a price."

Agnius gave Bilgar this diamond brooch, who played with his compensation: "No message for your old man." Bilgar clicked his tongue and told Agnius what he wanted to know: " We've gotten ourselves in it now. Take some time and tell the boys to leave for home. A supplier will be sent after the festival." With that, the man vanished into the air.

Agnius started returning, but Wania's voice rang: "Don't come to the parlour; meet me in the garden beside the hall." He searched around for her, but sure, nothing. Nevertheless, he did as he was told.

It wasn't time for the party to end, but the scene between Wania and Duke Daigo had made things awkward. People approached the emperor, asking permission to leave early; some just left without asking. Wania heard her sister looking for her, so she escaped to the garden; she sat on a bench facing the centre fountain; it was peacefully quiet; crickets and fireflies danced in flowers, and light illuminated the water just enough for a blue hue to blanket the area of the garden. As relaxing as her surroundings and how she slouched on the bench, one would think she was fighting off sleep, but she was directing Agnius to her location.

"Turn right, and you'll see me," the voice said, and he did so, turning his head to see Wania waving at him. How she looked in the light was enchanting, urging him closer like mermaids to ships.

"What, you can't tell me you've returned? I set everything up so well," Wania said as Agnius approached. He just stood over her, his mouth twitching to say something, but he stopped himself.

"Anyways, death of romance, let's leave. You'll make your report once we get back. Good job on not getting caught." The two left and made it home. That was easy; I didn't even have to make an excuse." Wania was playful, laughing lightly and saying the occasional joke, in a livelier mood than usual.

Once they got to Wania's office, Agnius said, "Tell me what you discovered?" She lay in her chair, eyes closed like she was about to fall asleep. Helga was in the room, brought her water, and helped her undress a little—just undid some buttons. "The special guests were elves," Agnius said.

"What is this-" she threw her hand clockwise "-elves?" Wania asked. "They are species native to the heavy forest and sky forests," Agnius said. "What's a sky forest?" she sat up. "You're not making any sense. Did you just roam around after getting lost, then come to a lie to me" Her tone was getting louder. "I am not lying; elves are like people but with longer ears and live even longer lives."

"You cannot be serious? So, a long-lived group of people that mostly live in forests. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were talking about entities", Wania said; she crossed her arms and heard him out; he was keeping to his story, and his composure made it look like he wasn't lying. "The continent the empire is on is quite large, plus there aren't any human kingdoms or even villages near any elf-infested forests," Agnius said. "The heavy forest they live in is mostly surrounded by mountains, and a sky forest is in the sky."

"Are they like dwarves or something? You said they lived in the mountains", Wania asked; she seemed understanding. "You've never seen elves, but you know of dwarves?" Agnius said, his question sarcastic; in fact, it caught Wania off-guard; it was rather uncharacteristic of him, she thought, taking some seconds to blink in surprise. "Well, yes, they've made weapons for me before, but not many know about them."

The two settled down to discuss the elves, mostly Agnius telling what he knew about them, how they act and their culture, at the little he knew about. "Well, I've always said this continent is too big", Helga said. "Indeed, then you follow it up by complaining about the price of travel to better regions", Wania said. After that, Agnius bowed out for the night and went to bed; Wania stayed up a little longer while Helga kept her company.

"You seemed to be rather cheerful when you came in," Helga said

"The evening was eventful, and I was gifted a powerful gift", Wania said

"Where is it?" Helga asked, waiting for her unsurprising answer, an answer Wania gave by tapping her stomach. "I hope you didn't do that in front of him?"

"No, I've already shown an unpleasant side of me to him today; I wouldn't want to reveal more."

"I concur; he seemed rather standoffish, kept his explanations brief and stood further away. I hope he can forgive you, or he might just walk into the emperor's hands."

The fifth day of the festival was the most uneventful. It was celebrated by the nobility, which performed charity for the less fortunate and other commoners. In the first year, the festivals were celebrated. It was a loud day of thanks and opportunity, but charity establishments were set up these days. They shared the donations the nobles made to them. The emperor allowed it, which was somewhat fair but didn't help people as much.

The most significant imperial family made the biggest donations, followed by the archduchess family, who went down the list like so. Some people try to intimidate others with how much they donate, and others declare love by donating in the name of their lovers. This year, there was a confusing addition in the rankings. The name Wania Sapphire was part of it, just above the Daigo Ducal house.

Of course, it was all Wania's doing. She sent Agnius to make the donations personally to make it look like it was all his doing. Bullying someone for annoying you is a perfect way to start her morning.

"Now that you have recovered, we'll start properly training. First off, laps," Agnius said to Claris. The two started running around the training grounds, and for the first time, Wania was watching Agnius while hidden. She was watching his routine, and then Helga watched up behind her.

"This is concerning," she said

"I know, I'm sheepishly hiding and watching a man from a window", Wania replied

"Why?" Helga asked, joining her to hide and watch him from the other side 

"Frankly, I don't know. I wanted to see if he was a little bit close with Claris, maybe get to know him a bit, but he's cold to her too," Wania said. With her eyes wide open, Helga stared at her, eyebrows raised, mouth tightly shut, but the next set of words could blow it wide open.

"I know what you're thinking, but I just want to buy him something to ease the awkwardness towards the wedding." There they were, the words Wania said that blew her mouth open.

The general of the imperial army was going to buy a gift for a man; Helga was frozen in place as Wania watched Agnius in silence. Finally snapping out of it, she asked.

"Why not ask his mercenary group? They should know him pretty well."

Helga said.

"Nobody has been able to find them; I assume they're deep in the slums, hiding in the forest outside the city, and I'm not going to do all that just to buy a gift", Wania answered.

"Well, if you're still insincere, just give him some money," Helga said, her hopeful look for romance drained from her eyes.

"I guess just telling it's for him this time, instead of saying he should donate it to charity," Wania said

"I thought you were doing that to be petty towards Duke Daigo?" Helga said

"I did, but I was hoping he would pocket some of it and ease my concern, but he donated the full amount," Wania said

The two always went when they suspected Agnius could see them. Giving money to him was easy enough, but how much should she give? She spent some time in her office thinking it through; it was hard cause she couldn't tell how much his mercenary group was worth since they didn't make a name for themselves during the war like others did; if she gave too much, it would seem like she's ending the contract and since she isn't it would cause problems later on, if she gave too little it might be taken as an insult, she forcibly exposed something personal to him, even if it was only to herself it's still something serious because they were basically strangers.

The whole endeavour to clear her consciousness was rather vexing. She questioned herself about how the idea came about, whether it really mattered, and why she needed to do it for the sake of the mission, his just some random mercenary. Then, in a brief moment of clarity, she sat up.

"Why am I bothering myself for some mercenary's forgiveness?"