2.14.

Leticia was right in her own way. Sequencee's freedom had been restricted to an extent because of Schwii. Knowing that she was the person he was depending on made it impossible to act simply without his consent.

Or was that the wrong way to put it? Did Sequencee really not have the freedom to act? Or was it really just a lack of trust? Why would Schwii allow Sequencee to join the academy? Why was she being so secretive about her plans to save her mother?

– Debt.

Sequencee had heard of this before. Where one would support you in the beginning just to shackle you in their debt. An insidious tactic his mother said nobles or merchants often used to win in a 'cooperative' manner.

The problem here wasn't that Schwii was binding him. It was realizing that he was currently a gigolo who couldn't even stand on his own two feet.

At this moment, was it even appropriate to question his own pride? Why did he not just leave for Eluive back then? For Leticia? For his goal? For Ro and Lilian? Because Schwii was being all too kind? Sequencee hadn't considered these questions when he accepted Schwii's offer.

There were too many factors to consider that he just couldn't tell if he had made the best option.

He opened his eyes, burly vision regained focus as he stared up at a white ceiling. Iridescent crystals hanging down from above, the strips of lights running along into a zig-zag pattern.

'This is.. ah right.'

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling better now. Thank.." Sequencee sat up and hiccuped at the identity of the person. "Why are you here?"

"Is there a reason why I'm not supposed to be here?" Judy responded simply.

Sequencee looked around the infirmary and tried to find Iona. She wasn't here, his spatial magic was detecting Judy alone.

Earlier, he was sparring with Iona and most likely received a life-threatening strike. From there, the barrier activated and sent Sequencee directly to this infirmary built inside the training theater. This wasn't the first time it had happened, with Iona's justification being that she was fulfilling Schwii's wish to at least let Sequencee rest for a few hours more. A nonsensical plan indeed, but proven effective as Sequencee would normally be too lazy to return to the training field and return to the dorm after being knocked out.

The previous few times, when he woke up, Iona would be the one present along with a night-shift priest or priestess. It was a mystery why he was left with Judy this time around.

"You really do have some peculiar companions. I suppose that's to be expected as the son of a legendary figure," Judy said aloud.

"So why are you here?"

"Me? I came to tell you that I finally got an appointment. You'll finally get to prove yourself in front of the hero tomorrow. I mean, like, on a Monday. Today's a Sunday."

"Okay? So the appointment details?"

"I'll bring you there once magic class ends tomorrow. I've already told Elaine that you'll be late for theory class. I booked a function room where I'll be introducing you to the hero. Make your first impression count."

"Alright."

"Well, that's all from me.." Judy said with her voice fading.

Sequencee nodded as he got up from the bed. He smoothed out the creases on the blanket and turned to Judy, expecting that there would be more she would like to add..

"Yes?" She tilted her head.

"Nothing.. then I'll take my leave."

"Sure– actually, let me ask you one question."

"What is it?"

"You're not a pure human, are you?"

Sequencee recalled how Judy had said nothing after touching his horns that time. Most likely, while he was unconscious earlier, she had already confirmed it once more.

"I'm a half human."

"I see.."

"..."

"Relax, relax. I'm not so myopic to say that you're a bad person. I'm just curious, why would a demon like yourself be here? Or to put it otherwise, why are you turning against your own kind?"

"Because they killed my mom."

".. So it's back to Anna's death."

"Yeah."

"You're really a half-demon?"

Sequencee nodded. It was pointless hiding it from her by this point.

"That is.. quite interesting. Then what kind of demon was your father?"

"I've never met him personally, so I'm not sure," a white lie.

"Right, right. I won't ask about that– I hope you don't turn against us, though, it's very unlikely. If I didn't have the right clues, I wouldn't have noticed that you're a half-demon. Anyways, be careful. Not everyone is as tolerant as me. And if something does happen, you can use my name anytime."

Sequencee smiled weakly, "Thank you very much."

===

"Sequencee."

"I'm back."

The first thing Sequencee was greeted by when he returned to the dorm was a stony-faced Schwii was wearing her licentious nightgown, her bedraggled hair only made her figure look even more erotic. From the smell, Sequencee guessed that Iona was already preparing the ingredients for breakfast in the kitchen.

"Why do you always do this every night? Don't you care about your health?"

"I'm fine."

"Sequencee, if this keeps up I'll be telling Iona to ban you from going out."

"..."

"Take care of yourself better. And don't tell me you're using magic right now?"

"I am.."

".. Whatever. Just don't overdo it."

'What's wrong with her today?'

Sequencee turned to Iona who was giving them a side-long glance before turning back to focus on the ingredients before her. Sequencee then examined Schwii once more.

'This feels kind of familiar.'

"You hear me? Don't overdo it. There's no class today so go to sleep now!" Schwii grabbed Sequencee by the arm and pushed him into his room. There, she shut the door and walked away. He raised one brow, perplexed.

"Well.. I needed to come to my room anyway."

He turned on the lights, walked to the desk and picked up the new journal he got not too long ago. He sat down and wrote today's entry. After which he stared out towards the window– the view of Riestallia Academy campus.

'Is it alright to depend on Schwii so much?'

The interaction from earlier made him question his position as Schwii's fiance. To be honest, he didn't really want to have a commitment like this, especially when he was busy chasing his selfish goals.

'What should I do really..'

He was Schwii's fiance, yet he was unable to carry out his duty as her significant other. If anything, his existence should come as a nuisance to her. Could it be that he is to be a political piece in her fight to save her mother? Assume so– it would explain why Schwii was fattening him up with everything he wanted.

'Is Schwii really using me like this?'

Schwii had changed a lot the past few weeks of being together with everyone. He didn't want to attribute the changes in her as some kind of purposeful act just to lower their guard.

'But I don't know her capability as a proxy ruler..'

Sequencee didn't want to believe that his existence was nothing but a convenient tool for his benefactor. So, what else could he mean to her?

His door was knocked thrice, "Your Highness, this is Iona, may I speak to you?"

As Sequencee was The Sovereign's son, it was still required that he be called with the correct title. Iona would only call him and Schwii in this manner when it was them alone. This was to avoid arousing any suspicion.

Sequencee opened the door. He could hear the sound of water running in the backgroun– Schwii had gone to take a bath.

"My apologies for Her Highness' actions earlier. She's likely in need of intercourse as I've not been present by her side the past few nights. If I may request, could you leave for the day so I can satisfy her body?"

"So that's what it is?"

'It's like last time– so wait, this means that Iona does 'that' with Schwii every time?'

Sequencee knew that succubuses would need to do 'that' every so often due to their high libido. He hadn't expected that besides being a maid, Schwii brought Iona for this other function..

He convinced himself that it was Schwii's way of taking care of herself, much like having to deal with menstrual cycles, it was a normal thing for a succubus to feel an acute urge to want to do 'that' with someone– to the extent that even the gender didn't matter..

"Yes. I've been neglecting her, so she's likely expressing her frustration. I had to leave earlier for the same reason as she had called me asking for my presence. It was unfortunate that I am unable to perform such a deed with her at this time when the other two humans will waken."

"I see.. then later, I'll leave the apartment with Ro and Lilian then."

"My gratitudes.."

Ro and Lilian had gotten themselves a part time job at the cafeteria establishment working as waiters. They had gotten the approval last week, and this would be their second weekend since they began. Sequencee himself was disallowed from working because of Schwii's selfish request.

".. Or would you like to join us?"

'Come again? Wait, no.. the answer should be obvious..'

"U-Uh.. no thank you.." Sequencee took one step back.

"Understood. Schwii and I shall will be waiting until you're ready to open up to us," Iona bowed stiffly

'The hell is up with this logic?!'