Evelyn took her seat opposite of Schwii. Aaron stood behind her with his hand on the sword hung on his waist. The feeling he got from Ingus caused a sense of discomfort to swell inside him.
"What do you think about marriage?" Eunox asked.
"Marriage?"
"Yes, marriage. You see, I've come as The Sovereign's messenger. He believes peace can be achieved."
"Elaborate."
"The Sovereign is benevolent and kind, he wishes not to repeat the mistakes of his father. As such, I'm here to offer you the message he wants to pass to everyone. Think of it as a token of goodwill."
Schwii stood up from her seat.
"Sequencee. Let's go."
"Take a seat, Your Highness," Eunox said in a sickly sweet sticky voice.
Schwii shuddered.
"Your– Highness?" Aaron narrowed his eyes at Schwii.
"Daughter of The Sovereign and Her Majesty Leviath, take a seat."
Schwii's identity. It was laid bare for Evelyn and Aaron.
"Get out of here.." Schwii grabbed Sequencee's hand.
Ingus's figure flickered. He stood leaning against the door, Aaron pulled out his sword and held it against the vampire's neck.
"I did nothing wrong."
Sequencee stood up.
"Oh? So you're going to leave your new fiance's life with me?"
'Where the hell are you Reese?'
"Sir Aaron, we need to get out of here."
"Sequencee, sit." Evelyn declared.
"Yes, your fiance has spoken, so why not listen to what I have to say first?"
"My, fiance..?"
"Her? His fiance? What joke are you trying to pull here?" Schwii's lips quivered.
"The Sovereign has changed his mind, you see. Hadn't I mentioned earlier? Despite the looks, The Sovereign is quite calculative in nature, he doesn't mind sacrificing his daughter to repair the broken relationships of your mother's blunder at any cost."
Schwii opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her entire body trembled in rage and fear.
Eunox waved a letter in between his two fingers.
"Should I read it?"
"..."
His nails glided over the rim of the paper.
"Evelyn Equestria is to replace the position of Schwii Arch as Sequencee's partner," he started.
"I.. don't accept this.. I don't accept this.." Schwii muttered.
"And in tandem, my daughter Schwii Arch is to be re-engaged with one of her three suitors selected by her mother–
"Give me that," Sequenecee commanded.
"Here," Eunox casually passed the letter to Sequencee.
He crushed it in his palms, and burned it up–
Ingus slammed Sequencee into the wall. Blood splattered across the wall.
"Sequencee!!"
"Get your hands off him!" Aaron couldn't even react in time.
"This is the result of acting unnecessarily, hadn't Ingus told you earlier?" Eunox remarked.
The buzzing sounds of his eyes grew louder, yet for some reason he could hear their conversations echoing in his mind.
"Sit properly."
Sequencee obeyed instinctively. Blood poured from the side of his throbbing head.
Evelyn watched in horror while Aaron readied himself for battle anytime.
"Ingus, please watch over from the outside."
"As you wish," Ingus disappeared entirely.
"Apologies for the violence. You may tend to his wounds," Eunox gestured to the human princess.
Evelyn carefully reached out to him.
"Your Highness Equestria. From today onwards, you are to be engaged to His Highness Sequencee Arch, as permitted by The Sovereign himself. For the sake of both empires, will you accept it?"
Conflicting feelings swelled inside her.
Patriotism, love, guilt and truth. For the empire, this was the right choice. For her selfish desire, this was the right choice. For Sequencee's happiness, it was the wrong choice. For her own conscience, it was the wrong choice.
Would she discard her personal values for the sake of a greater good? Or would she remain the obstinately naive princess she was and stay true to herself?
"Your Highness Schwii, The Sovereign wishes to remind you that having completed your mission, he wishes for you to return as soon as possible. Latest, by the end of this year. He's proud of your achievement."
"I don't.. get it.. if this meeting was for the sake of establishing this consensus.. why did you.. want to cause chaos and destruction during the tournament..?" Schwii asked with a blank gaze.
"To get your attention of course Schwii. You never look at me," Eunox smiled.
Schwii fell on her knees.
A dreadful silence fell upon the room.
Evelyn trembling at the sight of Sequencee before her.
"Evelyn, what is your decision," Sequencee asked weakly.
"I.. I don't know.."
"You may take your time. I suggest you talk to your parents about the matter. Here is your copy of the document, please accept it Your Highness," Eunox slid another letter over to Evelyn.
She picked it up and looked at it blankly.
"Then I shall be taking my leave first. Please sort through your emotions. I understand that this is a lot to digest. The actions you take here will affect the future of many lives, please decide wisely."
"Thank you.. for the advice.."
"The Sovereign will come to visit the human empire in the near future. You may tell His Excellency your decision then. Now, if you'll excuse me."
– A big scheme for the simple sake of announcing The Sovereign's mandate. Everyone had been taken a fool.
Ingus appeared behind Eunox, and the both of them swiftly disappeared.
Schwii silently sobbing on the floor. Sequencee hunched over table. Evelyn, frozen by the offer written in the letter. Aaron punched the wall.
"I'm sorry.. I'm sorry Sequencee.. It's my fault," Schwii's listless voice reverberated.
"..."
She stood up and wiped her tears off. Evelyn turned to her warily.
"Your Highness Evelyn, please take care of him," Schwii staggered towards the door.
"Schwii.. I can't.." Evelyn croaked.
"What if it's a lie? What if all of this was fabricated just to cause discourse? What if he just wants to mess with us.." Sequencee couldn't accept it. Why should his father decide his life?
"It's not fabricated Sequencee," it was an unfamiliar tone. Robotic, cold, Schwii had never interjected Sequencee in this manner before. "The stamp is proof that it's genuine. It's useless denying it."
"Schwii, the fuck are you saying?"
"I'm stating the facts Sequencee."
She looked at him. Seeing the plastic smile on Schwii's face, something snapped inside him.
"So this is the real you?"
"I wish I could say it was."
Sequencee stood up, Evelyn made distance. He stood before this succubus, grabbing both her shoulders tight.
"Schwii, stop messing with me. You're not going to accept it just like that are you?"
"I'm sorry Sequencee. I can't.." she shook her head.
"Just don't smile. Don't fucking smile like that at me like that!"
A tear leaked from the edge of her eyes.
"I'm sorry.." Sequencee pulled her tightly into his arms. "I'm so sorry for being so weak."
"It wasn't your fault. You did nothing wrong, this is the path decided for you by father.."
"Don't leave."
"I.."
"Schwii, please."
She shook her head. "For the greater good of the empire. I also have my duty to perform. It was naive of me to think that I can have a carefree life. I know you will face a lot of challenges in life Sequencee, but always remember where you stand."
"I don't care about that Schwii.."
"Sequencee, you have to grow up and open your eyes. Reality isn't so beautiful."
"You're the one who has to open your eyes, Schwii," Evelyn's voice trembled.
"..."
"Do you actually think that choosing the empire over yourself is such a noble thing?"
"No. I never thought of it that way. As the daughter of The Sovereign, my responsibility is to protect and serve my people. While we may not see eye to eye on this matter, I believe the best option here is to accept my father's offer. Once again, out of personal reasons, please take care of him."
Evelyn.. didn't know what else to say.
Schwii gently pried Sequencee's hands off her and bowed. Aaron stood aside the door. Promptly, Schwii left.
Sequencee stood there with a hazy shadow over her eye.
Everything was falling apart.
Coming to this meeting, he expected that there would be more demons than this.. that her fiance would use forceful means to take him away from her. Making plans to counter this, not knowing that there was the political side to consider.
What did he know? Growing up as the son of a mercenary mother, his exposure to these sharp tangents were lacking. Freedom had always been something he had since birth, a privilege most didn't.
Naive.
He was really naive.
Were people always so kind? Was life so nice to give him everything he wished for?
'Mom.. what should I do?'
The sacrifice of one for the other. If he chose freedom, he would let go of everything and start anew. If he chose love, he would have to get himself involved in politics, entering a perpetual cycle of suffering and fighting.
Walking down the streets alone, headed towards nowhere, these pressing questions flooded his mind. In a daze, he wandered for hours. The deepening darkness of the night, the crowd growing smaller and smaller until all that was left were drunkards of prostitutes.
"You don't look so happy dear? What's wrong?"
Sequencee simply walked by the risque looking elf.
"Come on, don't be like that. I can listen to everything you have in your heart. How about pouring it on me, I don't mind if you play it rough?"
Sequencee paused and looked at her. Her expression softened, she adjusted her shoulders together and tempted him with her breasts.
'So this is why people fall for these stuff huh..'
Sequencee suddenly began empathizing with people who had so much trouble that they'd come to these services to let off steam. Rationally, he knew that he shouldn't do it. Emotionally however..
'What's there left to ponder about anyways? Life is life, suck up to it, do whatever I want. I don't know what will happen to me tomorrow anyways.'
Curiosity, despair, hopelessness.
The elf grabbed him by the arm, he didn't resist as she dragged him deeper and deeper to the depth of no return..
"Sequencee."
He planted his feet in place.
"Hm?" the elf turned around.
"What more do you want?"
"Just what do you think you're doing?" Evelyn's voice rang out.
'Right.. just what I'm I doing?'
Sequencee looked at the elf, surprised, she loosened the grip on Sequencee and smiled bashfully in retreat.
Sequencee continued walking.
"Talk with me about it! Don't just walk away from your problems!"
"I'm not walking away from my problems. Just give me some time to think."
Evelyn grabbed his wrist.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry I didn't listen!" she shouted.
"What can that do? It's already over."
"I'm sorry.. I know my words can't do anything much but sympathize but still.." Evelyn's voice quivered.
Sequencee grabbed his necklace.
"Reese. Where the hell were you?! I thought you said you..?!"
["I have been waiting for your call master."]
".. What?"
["I will come to immediately after I complete my feeding."]
"Reese, what's.."
["Or should I return now and abort my meal?"]
"Reese!!" Sequencee thought his mind was going to explode.
["Reese died, current temporary name is taken from her's. This one requires master to give a new name."]
".. Who the hell is this speaking..?"
"Who..?" Evelyn stuttered.
Sequence gritted his teeth. Another problem had occurred. "Reese, meet me at Stucco Park."
["Yes master."]
Sequencee grabbed Evelyn and dragged her off with him.