5.2.

"..."

"..."

'What is this..'

'What should I say to him..'

Their eyes met for a moment. They both glanced away the second after.

"So.."

"..You didn't need to go that far."

".. Well.."

"But.. thank you," Leticia carefully dug into the cake with the spoon.

With one hand under to catch in case any pieces fall, Leticia brought it up to Sequencee mouth.

"H-Here, I'll feed you."

'What is Schwii thinking..?'

They definitely came to some sort of compromise before they arrived here.

Sequencee opened his mouth hesitantly.

Leticia pushed the spoon forward, her hands shaking. Sequencee chomped down.

"Ah–"

Pulling the spoon out, she noticed that she had accidentally left a smudge on the corner of his lips.

"I'm sorry, I'll wipe it.." Leticia grabbed the tissue just beside the cake box and cleaned his lips.

'This is embarrassing..'

Leticia's face was entirely red.

"Do you want to sit? There's a chair there you can pull over."

"O-Okay.."

Leticia put the wooden spoon on the cake and pulled the chair over. Meanwhile, Sequencee took it upon himself to steal the spoon..

Leticia, who noticed how Sequencee took the cake from the table, sulked a little. It was a clear sign he didn't want her to feed him.

"???"

"N-Nevermind.." Leticia sat.

'Did I do something ..?'

Sequencee pondered as he put another spoon of cake into his mouth.

"So.. is there anything you wanted to say? Like.. just between us?" he asked.

"Not really."

"Is that so.."

Sequencee placed the cake on the cardiac table and reached out his hand to pat Laticia's head. She jolted.

"Uh– sorry," Sequencee didn't expect that reaction from her.

"N-N-No, you didn't do anything.." Leticia hid her face.

"..."

Sequencee removed his hand.

'Ah.. why did I do that. If only I stayed put, he would've continued to touch my hair..'

Leticia lamented the loss.

"Leticia, do you want some cake?"

"Cake ..?!"

When she raised her head to look at him, she saw a spoon pointed at her.

"Open your mouth."

Tousled dark brown hair, sharp blue eyes. His words sounded more like a command than it did a request.

Leticia's small lips parted. She squinted her eyes. The sweet flavor of tea and sweet cream cheese permeated her mouth.

'This.. isn't this an indirect kiss..'

Leticia's mind spun. Her heartbeat raced, a wave of shame and pleasure washed over her.

"Um.. Leticia.

"Hm?"

"The spoon.."

Leticia opened her eyes.

She looked down at the spoon and noticed how it was made of ice. Then she looked at the cake.

'Ah..'

Nothing about what she ate came into contact with his saliva. The spoon made with magic wasn't even cold, and the portion of the cake taken was from the untouched side.

Her jaw dropped, unsure herself if it was because of amazement or disappointment. It allowed Sequencee to slide the spoon out of her mouth.

"You can take some if you want more.." Sequencee held the spoon handle out to her.

And there she noticed, there was a little blush on his cheeks.

'Oh..'

Leticia nodded, her ears now slightly red.

"Sequencee."

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for protecting me."

===

"Do you know where Her Highness is?" Schwii asked.

"I don't know?" Sequencee shook his head.

"Iona?" Schwii turned to her maid.

"My apologies, I don't have her marked with my gift. Should I locate her whereabouts now?"

"Yes please. "

"As you wish," Iona vanished.

"Sequencee, when did she say when you'll be discharged?" Schwii turned back to Sequencee.

"Um.. no."

"The priest earlier said that he needs the confirmation of the princess before they can let you go. I don't want you to stay here too long."

"Me neither.."

"You don't know what just happened don't you?"

"Uh?"

"Iona had to swap out your blood test for a fake one. What do you think would've happened if they got your real blood?"

"Well.. wait. My real blood? What do you mean?"

Schwii narrowed her eyes with a perilous expression, "With current human technology, it would be easy to rule out the fact that you're no normal demon."

"That.." Sequencee froze up.

"So many problems would've occurred if Iona didn't make it in time."

'So that's why she's mad..'

"Sorry." Sequencee lowered his head.

Schwii climbed onto his bed and wrapped her arms around him. "I'm worried what would happen to you," she said in a low voice. "As useless as my words may be to this stubborn fiance of mine.. please be more cautious from now on."

"Yes."

Schwii stroked his hair and sniffed his scent. Sequencee wrapped his arms around her.

Knock. Knock.

Interrupted, the both of them turned to the door.

It slid open without warning.

"It is one of my concerns that you find yourself a suitable spouse, after all, you're.." Wilson's words trailed off.

"Huh?" Carol turned from Wilson to the people inside the room.

Iona who was somehow with them closed her eyes and whispered her prayers.

Quilin looked like she was going to melt at the scene.

Evelyn's mind went blank, completely.

Schwii was strandling Sequencee.

"Sequencee, is it? I think I've met you in person once in the past," Wilson said with a twitching smile.

"Schwii."

"I know."

She got off the bed and performed a curtsy.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Imperial Highness Wilson."

Wilson's smile was cracking, "Y-Yes. It's a pleasure to meet you too.."

"Dear, your manners are slipping," Quilin remarked.

"Ah, how impolite of me. I am the first prince of the empire, Wilson Equestria. Lady, could I ask for your name?"

Quilin felt a chill. He clearly wasn't happy with what he saw.

"It's Schwii," nevertheless, Schwii responded without as much as a stutter.

"It's a pleasure to make an acquaintance, Schwii."

A smile that wasn't a smile– Schwii put up her guard.

"I am Carol Equestria, first princess of the empire. Pleased to make an acquaintance Schwii," Carol, Evelyn's elder step-sister curtsied.

"Sequencee, it seems you were busy. Pardon to ask, but could I borrow some of your time right now?" Evelyn asked with an even scarier smile.

'The hell..'

"Good luck," Schwii whispered.

'Wait what..'

Saying so, Schwii left alongside Iona with a prompt bow. The door was shut.

"..."

"""..."""

Deathly silence.

"Sequencee," Evelyn approached him ever so slowly.

'Shit..'

"You're not leaving until I give you the permission to, alright?" appealing with a bright smile.

'No, no, no.. this isn't the Evelyn I'm familiar with..'

"Erm. May I speak my thoughts?" Quilin raised her hand.

"Yes, what is it?" Wilson permitted.

"I understand that which I may be saying is blunt, however, in the correct perspective, in order for things to progress I believe it's empirical we have the facts straight. Do you understand where I'm getting at, Sequencee?"

'No. I don't get any of what you said.'

"So please be honest. What is your relationship with Her Highness Evelyn in relation to that girl earlier?"

'She just threw a curveball. Schwii left me to handle this alone..'

The tension in the room grew heavy as time dragged on without an answer.

'My relationship with Her HIghness in relation to Schwii? In the first place, the one I like is Schwii so..'

"To be frank, I actually.."

Before Sequencee to say anything, Evelyn interjected.

"Quilin, don't ask questions like that!"

"Hm? Why not?"

"Y-You don't know anything about us."

Quilin tilted her head.

"Sequencee, don't mind them. They're just a bunch of busybodies that want to pry into our lives.." Evelyn said with a hurried breath.

"R-Right.."

"Is that so.. my apologies," Quilin had a weird expression on her face. Somewhere in between amusement and dismay.

"Excuse us, we need some time to process this," Wilson coughed.

"Ah, wait, no. I didn't.."

Evelyn's voice clogged up watching Wilson and Quilin promptly leave the room. Carol had a pensive expression on her face.

'Should I be saying something here?'

"Sequencee, let me handle this. Just stay here and rest.. see you tomorrow," Evelyn looked as if she had eaten a sour bug.

She grabbed Carol by the hand and dashed out of the room.

Sequencee watched as the storm left as soon as it came.

'This is.. going to be a problem.'

He dropped himself back on the bed and sighed deeply.

"Seems to me that you're quite the woman killer, wouldn't you agree?"

The voice echoing in the room caused Sequencee to freeze up.