(Vardünheim, Northeastern Germany)

In the blink of an eye and the gradual running of the same, uneventful routine, July had already come. Tazuki had yet to grow accustomed to the daily get-together at mealtimes, since just yesterday, she had spilled wine on the Emperor’s white, silk gloves. 

As she got up to clean it and apologize, her hand, reaching for a tissue, swept over Sybenzia’s utensils, the metal clinking echoed around the dining room. 

That night became memorable enough that Tazuki would reminisce of it every night before drifting off to slumber. The suddenness of the situation, everyone’s simultaneous gaping at her—every aspect of the scenario was mortifying. 

The only time she forgot about it was with the change of scenery: the Summer Funfair.

Both the girls had to start dolling up at least an hour or two before the event. As for the gentlemen, they each took a shower half an hour before departure, and combed their hair just to go up and wait for the other two to get ready. 

Isholde snickered about Sybenzia’s attire the moment he walked in. Consequently, he was sent out of the room with a hard nudge in the ribs. 

Asidius, on the other hand, sat idly in a corner. That was, until, Tazuki asked him for his opinion on the jewelry. After a long minute of consideration, he decided that a bijou golden necklace would match best with her eyes. 

Within a few minutes, all four of them dashed downstairs and into the car. 

Tazuki found, to her surprise, that several other seemingly-normal cars were tailing theirs. The passengers appeared to be dressed in casual attire but all of them had a small accessory attached near their ear; the imperial family’s security, she silently acknowledged. 

After a few minutes of quarrelling, pinching (most of which Isholde initiated), and kicking, they all squeezed together in their seats. 

By the time they arrived, the Funfair was in full bloom. 

Sybenzia and Isholde had suggested that they split up in groups to buy the food and gather up at their viewing spot before the fireworks started. 

The two glanced at each other every now and then with teasing, knowing smiles, as if having a consensus. Strangely enough, they were out of sight as soon as Tazuki and Asidius went on the ferris wheel ride. 

Tazuki found the ride even more awkward than their previous meetings since there were at least other people to talk to before, whereas, here was just a quiet man who would choose to telepathically answer somebody just to avoid directly talking to them.

Each time she tried to make small talk, he would give her such a curt reply that she sat silently the rest of the ride in surrender. 

“You look… good today, Princess.” Asidius mumbled to her. 

“Sorry?” Tazuki asked as she couldn’t hear him. 

“I said that you look good today.” he repeated, a little louder this time, flustered. 

“Oh…umm…thank you, Your Highness,” she nervously replied, her cheeks feeling hotter. “I think you look good today, too,” 

Seconds before the fireworks started, Sybenzia and Isholde rushed to the viewing area (they ran off to a jewelry stall prior to this). 

Sybenzia was now donning a beaded bracelet on her pale wrist. Meanwhile, Isholde was wearing a different, diamond-shaped earring with a blue gem in the middle. 

Asidius wanted to say something about the fact that he was only wearing it in one ear but he stopped for the sake of their friendship. 

All of a sudden, beautiful green lights erupted and shone brightly in the sky. The sound of the fireworks blurred every noise of the world out.

“The sky looks beautiful,” Tazuki said in a dazed voice, the colors dancing beautifully in the reflection in her eyes. 

“It does.” Asidius replied, not bothering to look away.

On the way to the car, Isholde opened his mouth to say something seemingly important but closed it after a hesitant glance at Asidius. 

The cars tailing them from before were still there, a detail that bothered Tazuki as the driver opened the door and ushered them in. 

“...There are cars behind us,” Tazuki pointed out. 

“Must be a security issue that arose while we were at the festival,” Sybenzia murmured. Tazuki nodded nervously and went in first. 

Little did they know that after this long, dreamlike night, they would find themselves face-to-face with the most dreadful events of their lives.