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βIt's time to break the umbilical cord. I don't need you anymore.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Rolling Girl || Hatsune Miku ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#4ca2b8 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #8b4cb8γ
|| Rolling Girl || Hatsune Miku ||
They were on a super secret mission to bring Shiro's only semblance of a family back to them. It was of absolute importance, much more important than tax laws or political maneuvers! The Ice Queen of Ashia Palace and the sweet Queen of Ashia Palace had to work together to escape the doctor! Although, realistically speaking, Corren was going to easily corner them once the mission was over and administer the treatment that way. Shiro still needed it, after all, but hopefully research on a more permanent cure would be finalized soon. "We can escape!" Narcia said, feeling less like a queen and more like a girl just having fun with her loved one. "Faster, Shiro! We can make it!"
Once they broke free of the doctor's pursuit, the two Queens made their way to the Tower Tier. It was good that she wasn't restricted to living under the cloak now, Shiro deserved to be in the light of the sun, not confined to an imaginary coma. The girl was best when she was free to wander as she wished, to go where she wanted. "Congratulations on your recovery, by the way." Nee said with a wink. "Now that you're free, we can do many more fun things together." The knights had no idea about the lie, and there was no reason to inform more than those who needed to know.
The toy store was there as always, and seemed to be Shiro's favorite place in the entire Tower Tier. There were lots of toys and other such things all over the place, and Nee's mind kind of glossed over them - they were just toys, so she wasn't exactly the most interested in them. If Shi ever gave her an Ellis, Narcia's first instinct would be to add functions to it with tech to turn it into something more practical. Perhaps it was silly, but that was just the way she was. And then her eyes widened when the owner spoke, saying something strange. "Little...." And then Narcia pieces the puzzle together. "Figures Nani would start a toy shop, huh?"
So Nani's family was probably behind this toy store - a thread of fate binding her and Shiro together through the pup's love of toys and Ellis. Nee wheeled herself closer to Shiro, and gave her a supportive squeeze of the hand. "She's the one taking care of me." The Ice Queen said with a wry grin, admitting the truth. Shiro did more for her than she did for the pup, no matter what Shiro thought or insisted. "Why didn't you say anything last time we came here?" The time they went shopping for the mule deer for Cress, of course. It was the same toy shop, after all. Still, Nee felt giddy, for some reason. If this was as close to a family as Shiro had, then Nee had to make a good impression, didn't she?
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βEven now, the smiling savior is a faΓ§ade.β
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#949495 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #B2AC8Eγ
|| Keshin || Asami Imai ||
γΙΞΉΞ±ΖΟgΟ Ρ cΟΖΟΡ:#949495 β ΡΠ½ΟΟ gΠ½Ρ cΟΖΟΡ #B2AC8Eγ
|| Keshin || Asami Imai ||
It was time to figure out their next move. Astor's movement stopped, so it seemed that where he was in Gehenna right now - that had to be where Jezebeth was. The man was leading them right to their goal. With luck, this would be the end of it. Una was with her two most trusted allies, Thyella and Orthrus, trying to plot together their plan of action. Orthrus spoke first, giving his opinion in that abrasive way of his. "Sure, let's invite him for tea. That's the best way to get information out of him." The butler scoffed cruelly and Una shivered because she didn't want to torture anyone. "Torture, of course."
Thyella wiggled her nose in disapproval, then turned her attention to Una while she filled out the tax reforms since Una had no idea how to understand any of those complicated numbers and brackets. "I say we kill him, to send Jezebeth a message." Thyella said casually, as if killing wasn't a big deal in the least. "Kill him, and Jezebeth is forced to reveal herself so that we know for sure if she's Narina or not. Everyone thought the two were one and the same, but even so, there was still no proof one way or another, was there? "If it really is Narina, then we can get rid of her, or use her as an example, to show Tartarians that not all Ashians are like her, that once she's gone, there's no need for this cycle of hate to continue."
So it wasn't long until the three were travelling together down the underground streets of Gehenna. It was built under the ground, with pockets of areas with actual connection to the sky, but most of the city was underneath, with artificial lights and artificial sun. Gehenna was built like this in order to shield people from the heat and the cold, to keep them under the earth, and out of the sun's glare. Gehenna, as a result, was surprisingly cool, but as a result, Tartarians grew to have pale, almost albino skin, and silvery hair unseen in other nations.
"It'd be smarter to wait for the ashians." Ortrus pointed out once they already arrived at the place Astor was allegedly hiding out. Una shook her head, feeling a little more nervous than she wanted. "No, this is Tartaria. It's our job to clean up the messes here." The Silver Princess said clearly. She wanted to prove that she didn't have to rely on other people's help, she could accomplish this with her own strength, her own forces. Una was weak, but she wasn't going to stay that way. So they entered the building, breaking in, Thyella had her daggers out, and Orthrus was casually holding his gun in hand, ready to fire if needed.
But of course, it wasn't going to be as easy as that. In a split second, a bullet was fired, aiming directly at Una - but just in time, Thyella managed to cut it out of the air, protecting Una's secret, that her body here was just a hologram. "Astor, you're wanted for treason and conspiracy. Come out peacefully." The Silver Princess said, trying to speak like Narcia would, trying to exude a commanding aura. She didn't really accomplish the same effect, however. "Treason?" Astor's voice echoed out. "Isn't it you who committed treason against the Tartarian people?"
What did he mean? "He's trying to get in your head." Thyella whispered. Una could have told her retainers to go on the attack, but she knew she needed to keep them close, just in case of an emergency. Something smelled a little odd here, that much was certain, but other than that, Una didn't know much at all. "Instead of executing the Ashian dogs lie the scum they are, you keep them alive! That's against all of the principles of being a Tartarian! Your brother would have been disappointed in you, Una." The Silver Princess shivered at the mention of her brother. She didn't want him to - Orthrus smirked in that way of his. "Semyon would never be disappointed in you, he way way too devoted to you, like a creepy weirdo." Was it true? Una didn't know. She just knew one thing.
"We have to get out of here." Gas, of course. Astor was trying to distract them, talking to them, to get them to inhale the gas, whatever it was. They wouldn't fall for it. Thyella had a bit of a flush on her face from trying to stay awake and Orthrus didn't look much better. They had to get out right now. "Jezebeth, Una isn't-" And then another voice, one still yet unheard... until now. If there was a way to describe it, you could say it was like razors grinding in your ears. "Because she's not really there, Astor." Jezebeth - but she wasn't there, her voice was coming from a speaker. It was a trap all along. "She's still comatose, silly. This proves it."
So after escaping back to the office, Una felt lost and frustrated. Thyella was calling them, telling them to regroup at the office to figure out what to do next, and Una just stared blankly at the wall, feeling stupid for falling for the trap so easily. Because now, they knew. They knew she wasn't really here at all.