The Celebration Banquet(3 years old.)

"It gives us all great pleasure to welcome our guests to our young princes' naming reveal! Today will be the day all will hear the princes' name, bestowed by the sacred tree of our lands!"

A elven man who only had an appearance of a man in his late 20s spoke with great gusto and pride.

His handsome appearance catching other peoples attention. His voice flowed smoothly like silk and it made people listen to it with great interest.

"Looks like it was the right choice to make Noran the announcer. He did receive the most blessing from the tree in his birth."

The one who spoke was a women with a breathtaking beauty, her height that matches a model that will catch anyone's attention when combining it with her face.

Her long legs receiving a few glances from guests who were invited out of the elven territory. The crown in her head giving a mystical and unique look while placed on top of her own unique hair color.

Then a man who stands beside her blocks her from those looks and his eyes narrow down at them. The glances quickly looked away.

"I will be away for a few minutes, got to get something."

"Make sure not to take too long. The big reveal will happen soon, it won't do you good if the father doesn't show up to it."

The women reminds him and watches him smile and gently hold her hand to lightly peck it.

"All my queen says, I shall comply."

"Oh sho! D6ont do that in public."

She scolds him yet her flushed complexion reveals her real thoughts.

He laughs and walks away to wherever he is heading to.

"I see Alyona is a women who falls hard."

"You have no right to speak Mihkael, you are a slave to love even before you got to know your wife. I have heard and seen how much you pampered and lose yourself to Aurora. You were called the loyal dog by us."

A man wearing formal butler clothes leaned over to whisper those words to the man who was sitting in one of the special seats assign to the VIPs of the celebration.

Mihkael chuckles and rolls his eyes at his friend.

"I shall have you punished for displaying such blatant disrespect Raphael."

Mihkael jokingly said those words while leaning to Raphael so no one else can hear their words.

While others can not hear this conversation. Only two other has heard their words.

One was a man who stands a few inch away from them, he held a serious expression and didn't appeared fazed by their discussion at all. He was more focused on the surroundings and would be the first to react if anything unwarranted happens to his emperor and friend.

"Azrael, shouldn't you protect the honor of your emperor? Why aren't you saying anything?"

Mihkael jokingly brings up his serious friend into the playful banter, only to receive just a glance from that friend.

"... But he wasn't lying?"

"Ha-! Humph."

Raphael quickly turns his head away to hide his muffled laughter and Mihkael gave a mocking hurt look.

"I see, so no one is on my side huh? Fine, gang up on me, why dont'cha? It seems even my own child agrees with you guys."

The second person who can hear their discussion was giggling in her hands while using her father's lap as a chair.

She was wearing a beautiful light aqua blue dress that emphasizes the more fluffy look with the puffy skirt and the puffy arm sleeves.

It held small clear crystal; embroiled in the ends of the dress that shines and sparkles each time she moves, it looked like the sun light passing through the blue sky and warmed peoples hearts when the child moved.

It was a bonus that the child hasn't lost attention against the dress with her own beauty. Rather, they seem to go well together with her hair that seems to be a platinum blond.

But her eyes were the most mystical. They were a unique blend that isn't something seen much in their life, even when their are so many unique eye types because of their magic affiliation.

Yet this child eyes held a look that made one feel reverence; the silvery in those eyes seem to mix to the black rims of the iris, making one want to look at how unique it appeared; the pupil was a deep dark that popped out from the mysterious gold or light brown that surrounded it, and that golden brown seemed as it was being swallowed by the grayish silver of the eye, both so contrast yet so well combined made one confuse by just a glance if it was silver, or golden.

"Sakura, you really think little of me huh."

She just continues to giggle and seems to just be amused by the small banter, but they all haven't noticed that those lovely eyes of her would glance across from her to stare at the empress and emperor of the Elven territory.

Her little eyes narrowed for a sec when she saw Igor begin walking away from Alyona and heading out of the hall.

"Daddy, I wanna eat cake!"

"Oh? Which one, I'll go get it."

Raphael spoke before Mihkael can ask: Mihkael looked begrudgingly toward Raphael for stealing his words.

Raphael rolls his eyes and had to hold himself back from smacking his friend behind the head in front of thousands of people.

'This fool has forgot he is the emperor of a whole empire, it would do him no good to show too much love for her highness, she can be a weakness to be exploited if seen by unsavory characters. And him personally getting a dessert for Sakura will definitely display his deep affection for her.'

Raphael knew his friend has an awkward relationship with his daughter and how he wants to remedy it by doing anything he can for her, however he should know he is not only a father, but the emperor of an empire. His daughter has no mother to guide her and is easy to pick on if they hadn't found Ivy and daisy to be her nannies.

'However their noble titles are Earl's. While that isn't low in noble titles, sadly their are others who outrank them with superiority and years of noble lineage. They won't be able to protect themselves, much less Sakura if needed. So showing less favor to Sakura at this early stages of her life would keep her safer and have her grow up safe and sound.'

"No, I wanna get it myself."

"You can not your highness. It would do you no good to walk around on your own."

"But it's wright there~ look. Not that far."

She points at a table filled with an assortments of desserts and pastries. All seem to beckon to be grabbed and eaten by how mouthwatering they appeared.

"But your high-"

"I'll be four in one months. Four Raph! I wanna get it on my own, I'm a big girl now!"

Listening to her words, both men chuckle at her display of a "big girl." She crossed her arms and proudly raised her head to show it, but it doesn't work well with her sitting in her fathers lap and being so small beside him.

"Why not?"

"Mi-Your Majesty! Are you sure?"

"There are little to no moments where she can roam around on her own, right now we are in safe place with many eyes around us. If something happens, a guard hidden in the shadows would be the first to respond."

"Well... you are right."

"And besides, our dear princess is a smart young lady. She knows what to do and not to do. We can trust her to go on her own. Let's take it as her first errand haha. Don't you think so too Azrael?"

"...yeah."

He nods his head which earned him a smile from Sakura.

"Then can I go? Please Raph~"

She did a small pout which she knew will get Raphael to put his guard down and do whatever she ask for.

"Ugh... fine, you can go get your dessert, but don't go to any other table and return to this one ok?"

"Ok~"

She nods in excitement and quickly had Mihkael put her down, she was going to run but then remembered where she was; many eyes will be on her for being the only child of the Eternity empire, meaning she is the heiress to the throne. Because of it, she quickly composed herself and just speed walked as dignified as possible.

Many adults noticed that and chuckled at how cute she was. Her trying her best to appear serious and adult like gave them a positive impression of this small princess.

She arrives at the dessert table and noticed she wasn't the only child there. There were other kids who were getting plates of pastries and seem to try their best to fill their plate since those may be the only time they can try so many different desserts at once.

While seeing all this children, Sakura smiles.

'Just like I thought, a group of brats surrounding this tantalizing dishes of all kinds of pastries and desserts.'

While walking closer she sees a girl reach for something but couldn't get it, she then looks around but appears a bit shy to ask for help from the older kids and it appears her parents aren't close enough to see the girls struggles.

Before the girl knew it, Sakura lightly tapped her shoulder. She turns and sees Sakura adorable tilting her head.

"Do you need help?"

The girl shyly nods and then watches Sakura walk up to a group of older girls and boys.

"Excuse me."

Sakura lightly tugs one of the boys dress shirt to get his attention. The boy turns to look and saw no one, then he looked down when he heard her voice.

What he saw was a cute child who doesn't seem older than 4 years old. Her hair looked to glow by which angle she's turned. Her eyes big like a doe and was an enchanting mix of colors.

"Big bwother, can you geth those cakes fwor me?"

She sounded like she was still learning how to speak which added to her adorableness.

He turns to look and then nods while stretching his hand out to get a plate, but Sakura quickly stops him and grabs the girls plate and gives it to him.

The girl just decide to stand silently beside Sakura. The girl wasn't used to so many people and her kingdom was a small one that just happens to be in close connections with that of the elven empire.

And Sakura was someone she never met with before like many others here, yet she knew who she was. Her parents told her to watch out with angering a few people, and Sakura and her father was one of the people her mother pointed at.

***

"Why mama? Are they bad?"

Nyla was being warned by her mother o who she shouldn't approach, but when her mom pointed at a girl sitting on a mans lap she was startled her mother was warning her about them.

'They don't seem bad, her papa is letting her sit in her lap even when my papa wouldn't allow me to call him papa here.'

Nyla was the daughter of a concubine. Her mother was married off to her papa because of something but she didn't hear why because her mother will always call away those maids from speaking anymore in front of her, but she understood her father didn't display favor on her as much as he did with his main wife and her children.

But she didn't really mind because when no one is watching he'll always give her some chocolates in secret in their little hiding spot.

'Even if papa doesn't like me, he doesn't ignore me too much and he never screams at me. So I'm fine.'

But even when she thinks that she still gets a bit jealous when she saw how much Sakura's dad spoiled her by allowing her to sit on his lap, how he allowed her to lean on him and play around with him. Not even her other brother and sister gets that much favoritism from their dad.

"They are people we should never offend, even if your father is the king of our kingdom, we are below them. Remember that they are stronger than your father, so if you do anything to anger them, your father can't protect you. Understand?"

"? Ok mama."

"Good, now go along and get a little snack, I see you eyeing it for a while now."

"Hehe! Thank you mama!"

***

'Sorry mama, I didn't do anything but now I'm standing next to her and getting her help in getting my snack.'

"-this all?"

"Huh?"

"Is this all?"

Sakura again repeated what she said with patience. Noticing that the little girl was absentminded.

"Uh- ah yeah! Thwank you."

Sakura smiled and turn back to the older child to say thank you.

Raphael and Mihkael were keeping a close watch on Sakura and noticed her interaction with the kids.

"It seems Sakura doesn't have an issue speaking with other children. Rather, she quickly took command from what I can see."

"A true born leader your Majesty child is. The blood of royalty runs thick in her veins."

An unwelcomed voice interrupted the discussion between Mihkael and Raphael.

Mihkael looked at the man and noticed he was a king of a kingdom beside the borders of the elven lands. A country that does trade with the elven empire since the beginning of its development.

But he wasn't the only one that showed up, there were a few other faces Mihkael barely recognized.

"I see Richard's daughter was the one helped by your beautiful child. You should thank him for that."

The man who first spoke has said that while looking back of the group to the king named Richard. Richard didn't want to catch any attention when Kylar decided to go and bother the emperor of the Eternity empire while dragging them along.

He as well noticed the child that was beside her highness Sakura was his concubine born child and had to stop himself from going there to get his daughter before she could anger her highness and put her life in danger by doing so.

"I see. Your daughter is the one beside my heir. What is her name?"

Mihkael decided to ignore Kylar and looked straight at Richard and asked him his daughter's name. Richard felt sweat on his back. This was the first time he spoke to the Eternity emperor and he had heard the power this man wields.

What's more, Kylar is glaring at Richard for the disregard Mihkael had for him to talk straight to a king below even him in the kingdom ranking.

"H-her name is Nyla. Your majesty."

Richard does a light bow of recognition that Mihkael is above him and answers his questions with just a tiny stutter.

"I see. It is a lovely name."

"Thank you your majesty."

"My daughter seems to like her. How about letting the children play a while longer while we talk some more."

"Th-that is an honor I cannot afford your Maj-"

"Just call me Mihkael. Hearing your majesty all the time can get tiring."

"I cannot do that your majesty! It is a disrespect to do that to you."

"You are a king as well, it must be confusing to call another person 'your majesty' while always being called so yourself. So just call me Mihkael."

"T-then Emperor Mihkael is fine."

"Haah~ fine fine. Then king Richard-"

"R-Richard is fine yo- Emperor Mihkael."

"-then Richard. How old is your daughter."

Mihkael decided not to make it too difficult for Richard so he decided not to pressure him with the titles and such issue. He then began talking about their respective children and bit by bit Richard began to relax and even forgot about the other kings he came with.

Kylar was furious and wanted to interfere but the butler beside the Eternity emperor would glare at him each time he tried to step closer to talk with Mihkael.

'Who does that Servant think he is!'

Even when Kylar was throwing insults at Raphael in his mind, he still knew his place and never spoke his dissatisfaction out loud because he knew the butler was someone important to the emperor.

While all this was happening, in the pastry table Sakura watched both Raphael and Mihkael being distracted by those group of men. And Azrael was watching his surrounding for danger so his attention on her was short as well.

'Good. I should go now while they are distracted or it'll be too late.'

"I gotta head to the potty. Nyla, can you wait here while I go to the bathroom?"

"I can go wit-"

"No it's fine! I won't take long. I promise."

'I can't put a kid I used in danger. Where I'm going I don't even know if I'll make it in time without getting caught by those men.'

"Oh ok."

"Thanks! Just wait here."

Nyla watched as Sakura speedily walked away while glancing a few time to where her father was.

Nyla then noticed her own father was there with Sakura's dad. But before she can think if she's in trouble a sudden chill ran down her spine.

'Huh?'

Goosebumps rose through her arms and she subconsciously turn to the direction Sakura went.

"... The bathroom isn't that way..."

With that thought she absentmindedly headed to that direction. And Azrael that was looking around for any danger quickly noticed the girl that Sakura was with was alone and heading to an unknown direction.

'Where's Sakura?'

When all that was happening. Sakura was already in a location deprived of people. Seeing no one, she quickly began to run and seems to already know where she is heading because the few days she stayed there she would have someone take her around as a small "tour."

'Just this turn and all the way straight!'

She turns left and runs faster when she got close to her destination. Then she saw a boy she quickly recognized.

"!!"

He was just 20 steps away from the closed door and was already raising his arm to knock on it when he gets there.

'Make it in time!'

Running she just barely caught up to him while he was just five steps away. She reaches out and grabs his shirt, Startling the teen to turn and look down when he didn't see anyone. He saw Sakura looking out of breath and a bit of tears in the rim of her eyes.

"Why are you here?"

He was wondering why there was a small child here and quickly remembered the celebration banquet and thought she must be a lost child of a guest.

'But how did she get all the way here? The banquet is 10 minutes away by walking, no child will walk that far from a secure place.'

"B-bathwoom. I-I can'th fwind the bathwoom."

In a toddler whimpering voice, Sakura answered the teen and begins rubbing her eyes as if she was going to cry soon.

"The bathroom isn't here, you must have made a wrong turn somewhere. Here, let me take you to the bathroom real quick."

He was trying to be patient with the kid because all the children who must have been here with parents are children of important individuals, so he didn't want to offend them.

But he wanted to take her there quickly and leave her there so he can complete his task of getting his emperor back to the banquet because her majesty Alyona is beginning to get impatient and angry.

'I'll just take her to the bathroom and get a guard to watch over her when I'm running back.'

"Nwo! Geth me Uwncl Azwael! I wanth him to take mwe back!"

"Huh?"

"Uhhh Uwncl Azwael~"

Sakura covered her face and begins weeping into it.

"Oh no.. I'll take you to him. How does that sound?"

"Nwo! Geth me Uwncl Azwael! I wonth go with you! Uwaah."

Sakura begins to cry louder, but not loud enough that the shut door would be heard through. But it was enough to panic the young steward. And he quickly tried to find a way to appease her.

"W-wait! Don't cry. Let me just take you to him real quick ok?"

"Nwo!! Iw'll call you a kidnwappu' if you don'th bwing uwncl Azwael!"

The boy was even more panicked when he heard that. He doesn't recognize Sakura but if she is in this banquet and by her clothes itself, he can tell her status isn't low. So being called a kidnapper can really put him in danger.

'Quickly agree and go already you buffoon! I don't know how long Igor can withstand the assassination attack, but I already feel too much time has already passed. I can't let my small plan go to waste!'

"Ok ok! I'll get your 'uncle A-Azwael?' Just make sure to wait here and tell me how he looks like."

'Yes!'

"H-he is with my papa. Pweple call h-him Empweror."

"Empweror?...! Emperor!?"

The boys expression paled and he quickly pieced together the identity of the girl in front of him.

'There is only a few emperors here! And the only human emperor I know with a girl is the emperor of the Eternity empire! Shit! I almost got accused of kidnapping the only heiress of the Eternity empire!'

"I-I'll quickly get them, just wait right here!"

"O-owk."

She sniffled cutely and still had her hand covering her face. The boy quickly ran to get her guardians and when she heard his footsteps disappeared she looked up and quickly walked the rest of the way to the door where Igor is having a life to death struggle.

"Now the only thing left is for Azrael to get close enough and me using that time to open the door and "discovering" the scene of Igor battling against the assassins and then have Azrael help. But they better get here in the next 8 or so minutes if not, I'll just have to scream and hope they are close enough to here it."

But not even 3 minutes later she hears a group of hurried footsteps and she turns her head to see the young steward turn the corner with Azrael following just behind him with a group of guards.

'That was quicker than I thought!'

She almost didn't move from the surprise of seeing them there while it would take maybe 3 to five minutes for the steward to reach the banquet and maybe another so amount of minutes for them to get there.

But she quickly moved in action and opened the door and pushed it open while taking a step back from the estimated range of the barrier those assassins place to keep the fight silent.

"AAAAHHHHH! UWNCL IGOR!! SOMEWON HWLP UWNCL IGOR!!"

She screamed from the top of her lungs while not just standing there like an idiot, she ran to Azrael's direction and was pleasantly surprised to see him quickly running to her direction and just arriving in front of her to scoop her up in his arms.

"Uncle Igor is getting hurt by bad guys!"

Hearing what she said, Azrael quickly moved in action. Raphael reached his side and took Sakura into his arms in a protective embrace. He does a light nod to Azrael and quickly runs back to the banquet to get more guards. Because only a few guard were with them in their sudden quest for Sakura.

Before Sakura opened the door Igor was just barely able to dodge the attacks aimed for him that he couldn't really attack back without getting a few slashes on his back.

Igor and the men who was attacking him paused from he surprise of a shrieking child and then from the sudden appearance of Azrael.

And not a second later Azrael already killed 2 assassins that was before him.

"Get reinforcements!"

Azrael spoke to a guard that was helping the other two guards defend against an attack to their emperor. The women nods and quickly used her teleportation magic to take herself and Igor to a safe location while getting other guards. The other two stayed to help Azrael keep the assassins at bay.

"Don't let him get away!"

One of the assassins spoke through the mask that covered his face and was one of the assassins that quickly ignored Azrael and aimed for Igor.

"Idiots."

Not a second later Azrael made them regret not trying to escape when they had the chance.

"Ugh!"

"Ah!"

"H-!"

With swift movement another three assassins fell.

"Dammit! Retreat!!"

The assassins who seemed to be the leader quickly changed plans and had one of the assassins close to him form a barrier while another created their own teleportation portal.

Those three escaped while the other assassins who couldn't make it were either killed or captured.

"Put something in their mouth so they can't kill themselves."

Azrael took leadership and made sure that those who were caught were secured.

Just after they finished doing so a portal was again opened and they went on guard just in case it was more assassins.

However they soon met with more guards who came to help.

"Thank you for saving our emperor. The elven empire will forever be in your favor. Our empress will select the appropriate gift to reward you."

A royal guard from the elven empire was the first one to appear and quickly took notice of the situation and saw how Azrael seems to appear to be the one who commanded the elven guards.

"It's fine. Just a coincidence when looking for my princess."

He responded with no expression and just nodded to the elf.

"Ah... actually."

The elf quickly looks to Azrael and wondered what he would ask for a s a reward.

"A change of clothes. My princess will get worried if she saw me covered in blood."

"Ah... of course! I will have a guard take you to go change!"

The royal guard felt ashamed that his mind though little of Azrael. He thought he would be the usual human who ask for riches or advantages.

"Thank you."

Azrael goes to follow the guard that the royal guard assign him with and left the scene.

Now in Sakura's side. She was imprisoned in her fathers arms and he wouldn't let her down. The banquet was cut short and will be continued the next day after the incident. But not many know what happened but decided not to ask either, lest they anger the elven empire.

"I trusted you my little jewel. How can you walk on your own like that?"

"I wanted to use the bathroom..."

"Then you should have asked for a guard to lead you there rather than roam on your own! You were almost in danger!"

"Sowwy..."

"Your father is right your highness. You should have looked for a maid or guard or even come to us if you needed the restroom. I would have taken you there! If Azrael hadn't notice you disappeared, who would have know what would have happened if we arrived too late."

"I'm sowwy..."

"What's more, the little girl that you were with followed you, what if she was in danger because of your actions."

"Wait. Nyla followed me?! I didn't see her."

"Of course you didn't, Azrael quickly noticed your disappearance and we then inform a guard who asked the children beside the dessert table where you may have gone. They all heard you say you'll go to the bathroom. I was going to head there but Azrael remembered seeing the little girl go to a different direction. We had 2 guards head to the bathroom while we took the other four with us to where Azrael saw the girl head to. Luckily the little girl seem to have been eating a cookie so we followed the small crumbs she left and quickly reached her. We asked her where she was heading and she just looked confused."

***

"I thwink Sakura headed dwis way. I was looking for her to twell her it was the wang way. Bwut I don't see her."

***

"She pointed to a path and I remembered that a few more turns ahead we would reach Igor's office. I felt like we should check it out and then I had one guard stay to take the young child back to her father."

Sakura was perplexed at the strange actions of Nyla but was actually thankful she moved to follow but was not too close to where Sakura was at. Because of Nyla, Azrael and Raphael was able to reach her quicker than she thought and didn't have to wait for long.

"I'll go apologize to Nyla's father. Because of our princess habit to wander around, his daughter almost met a dangerous situation with our princess."

"I'll go say sorry too."

"First let's go to the guest room and get you changed. I can see you moving around uncomfortably because you had that dress on for a while now. And I know you do not like such dresses but we had no choice since its such an important banquet."

"What about uncle Azrael. He should be back soon."

"I do not know if he will our dear princess. He may go to rest after helping so it is best not to wait."

"I'm here."

They turn to see Azrael open the door, his appearance was the same just that he seemed to have cleaned up and changed clothes.

"Uncle Aza!"

Sakura wanted reach to him but her fathers hold on her made it hard for her to do so.

"Papa~"

"...Mihk."

"... darn a double attack. Fine."

Sakura learn that her father seems to have a soft side for her uncle Azrael. She thinks it may be because he is a serious and straight laced man, yet has his naive and adorable moments. In another way to say it.

'Azrael is very pure in mind and soul. So it's hard to not be kind to him.'

"Princess."

"Uncle Aza!"

She runs to him and he casually scoops her into his arms. Over the months that he was with her, his experience with child care increased and he can already reflexively carry a child in a proper way.

"Are you ok? Did you get hurt anywhere? Did you see a healer to heal yet? Di-"

Sakura began asking questions without giving him time to answer. But he didn't complain, he just shakes his head or nodded to each question and can see the relief fill her when she learned he didn't get hurt in the confrontation against the assassins.

"Ok Sakura. Your Aza is fine and is doing well because he is strong so dont bombard him with so many questions. It's now time for your bath. Then you can go straight to sleep."

"Ok~"

She turns to reach out to Raphael and then looked as if she realized something.

"Oh!"

"?"

She turns back and gives a kiss to Azrael in his cheek.

"Thank you uncle Aza for saving uncle Igor and me."

She smiles at him and then turns and let's herself be carried by Raphael to a separate room for the bath.

Azrael stands there and lightly touches where she left the kiss. A light smile forms in his lips and a youthful and kind smile appears.

"Haha! I just remembered Aurora always said your smiles were adorable, her mother instincts always acted up when she saw it she would say. I can see why."

"... sorry I didn't notice she moved away from the table Mihk."

"No need to apologize. We all didn't notice and it was still you who noticed quicker than me or Raphael. And we are both thankful to you for that. I bet tonight was hectic for you so go rest. I believe someone will come to ask us questions tomorrow so it is best to get some rest before then."

Azrael nods and walks out the room and Mihkael was left in the room by himself. His smile leaves his lips and he let's out a shaky breath.

He looks at the connected door of the bathroom and he can feel his trembling hands.

"I almost lost her again... I'm so sorry Aurora for not watching her closer."

The thought his daughter was just a step away from dying, a chill ran down his spine because he was just distracted for a moment and in just that moment so much happened.

"Thank the gods Azrael noticed the girl move that direction. Thank the gods Raphael remembered that Igor's office was in that direction."

While shakily thanking the gods. Sakura was in the bath and allowing Raphael help her wash up.

'Looks like my feelings as an adult women lessen to not even caring anymore. But being washed by such a beautiful man still does has its awkward moments, just not as strong as before.'

While absentmindedly playing with the small boat that Raphael had brought for her. Her hair was gently untied and his fingers gently scrubs a scented shampoo.

"Sakura."

"Hmm~?"

She was relaxed after accomplishing her task and just played around and allowed herself to be pampered.

"Was it a coincidence that you headed that direction?"

"!!"

She flinched but covered it with a sneeze. Rubbing her nose she turns back and tilts her head with a bit of snot running down her nose.

Watching her confused and childish appearance, Raphael chuckles and grabs a cloth so she can blow in it. She does and goes back to playing.

They continued like usual and both acted like he didn't ask that question.

Unbeknownst to him. Her hear almost left her chest and she stopped breathing for a sec from fear at him finding out the truth.

Even when escaping from the sudden question. Her hands were still trembling so she kept it under the water while moving the boat around.

'It seems that my actions are getting harder and harder to hide. I have to watch my actions for the next few days or months until they let their guard down again. After all, I have nothing more to do now until the next important incident... Adeline's kidnapping. Till then, let's just move while planning a step at a time.... Rose should have been born around 3 months ago. I bet Seraph was left in the empire to watch over it as well as search for the bastard child of their empire. Heh, if only they knew. Her location is somewhere they least suspected.'

"Sakura, close your eyes for a bit. I'm going to rinse out the soap ok?"

"Ok~"

Closing her eyes. She finally relaxed again and sighs in relief.

'Till the next plan. For now, I'll just relax.'

With that, that days event ended with no loss from her side. Just the feeling of relax for the next four years weren't really as relaxing as she had expected.

A/N: hello, Author here. Just wanted to give you an extra dose of stuff till we go back to the main timeline. I seemed to have some issues with the chapter uploading so that's how we ended up with an extra chapter with no content. Bit now I edited it and hope it appears. But hope you like it, bye!