20

"It has to be used this way." said esdeath who had kei lying on her lap with her eyes closed, while she talked to lelei.

"Hum" nodding lelei paid attention to esdeath's explanation which explained how to use a phone, even if what she was learning was only the basics.

It had already been a while since they left, and right now they were heading to italika guided by a map that lelei had made, which was enough for Ciel to use the satellite and find the place, so right now he was about to arrive.

For his part, itami was with his squadron following them, since his superiors, when they heard that he was going out, became hysterical, and since they were not brave enough to say that I couldn't go out, they decided to send itami's squadron.

"hmmm... are you interested?" said Rory who could see how tuka was looking at kei with a red face, since they were sitting together.

"Ahh!" letting out a small cry of surprise, tuka came out of her trance and her sight wandered between Rory and kei, while her face changed from just having a small blush to turning into a complete tomato.

For her part, she didn't want to take her eyes off kei's face which was so calm, it gave her a relaxing aura making her want to lay down next to him, although when she looked a little higher up, she could see how esdeath would occasionally run her fingers through kei's hair, and by the relaxed smile he had on his face, it was more than clear that he liked the feeling, but the other reason for her blushing was that she didn't know how to respond to Rory, besides she was looking for a way to thank kei, but she had no idea how to do it, it was at that moment she remembered esdeath's words 'if you are going to sell your body, why not give it to master kei' and right now that didn't sound like a bad idea, she had to admit that right now kei was completely in another league compared to all the other people she had seen.

So without being able to give an answer tuka, she could do nothing but squirm in her seat as she looked away from Rory, but Rory took this reaction as a positive answer to her question so she decided to keep teasing tuka.

"he's your type?" asked Rory again, to which tuka only opened her mouth in surprise as she let out another muffled scream. like a cat getting its tail stepped on.

'We're about to arrive Darling~~~' suddenly Ciel said to kei, interrupting the conversation she was having with kei even though it was only about things without much importance.

'It's okay Ciel, thanks for letting me know.' kei replied as he opened his eyes and even though it looked like he was sleeping, he was just enjoying the caresses esdeath was giving him, so he was aware of the conversation tuka and Rory had, though he didn't pay much attention to it, after all, sooner or later he would make his move.

"Master kei, there's smoke up ahead." esdeath said as she looked out the window.

"well I guess we got enough rest." said kei as he sat down.

"kei, do you know anything about that smoke?" itami's voice was also heard.

"yeah, that should be italica." kei replied over the radio.

"lelei, your binoculars are upside down." mentioned kei while having a smile on his face.

"Oh!" lelei said nothing, and just let out a sound of surprise and understanding, while her cheeks were a bit red, apparently she was indeed a bit more open with her emotions around kei.

"looks like we'll have extra work" although it's not like it matters too much to kei after all they're going to meet the princess with a strange name.

"itami, we'll have to be alert for any situation." kei said over the radio.

"sure, don't worry." replied itami.

"kei" came Rory's voice.

"Yes?"

"It smells like blood." added Rory as she licked her lips.

[Somewhere within italica.]

"Excuse me, your highness." one of the butlers where piña was standing spoke up.

"What, you want us to surrender?" asked piña with clear annoyance in her voice.

"N-no, but... if only there was some way to avoid further confrontation." said the butler.

"It's simple, open the gates," said piña as she sipped some wine. "In return, you will lose everything." piña turned in the direction of the butler.

"They will kill the men and rape the women. I trust I can keep my sanity, after suffering the abuses of one or two of them," said piña. "But not fifty or a hundred." she added.

"Don't mock" the butler was at a loss for words at piña's response.

"If you don't want it to happen, you'll have to fight. War is repudiatory, but if you try to evade it, you'll end up losing everything." said piña.

"Sorry for the delay." was heard the voice of the head of the maid of the mansion where they were, who was bringing a tray of food in her hands. (I don't know the name XD)

"What a small and tasteless ration" said piña as she tasted the bread.

"If you eat in abundance while you are exhausted, she will get sick." replied the maid to piña's whim.

"Have you been through a battle like this before?" presumed piña as she recognized the logic the maid was using.

"I used to live in the village of pink. Now it's part of the empire." replied the maid.

"I see." was all piña said.

"I'll go to the guest room." said piña as she stood up, since she had finished her food. "if there is any news inform me."

"No doubt about it, your highness." the maid replied as she bowed her head.

"What will you do if I don't wake up?" asked piña as she was about to leave.

Raising her head the maid replied "I will pour water on your face until you do." the maid said with a smile.

"Excellent." said piña and then headed for the guest room.

Once she got there when she decided to take off all her armor and lay down to reflect on everything that had happened, so once she was lying down she began to mutter.

"we have a handful of qualified soldiers, the bravest of the civilian recruits die first, and morale is at rock bottom." piña is angry at herself, she had never thought she would be in this situation.

"Really... this is what my first battle will be like?" she asks the air.

Piña was really bad right now, even though she didn't want to admit it, it all started as a game, "the order of the knights" was the play she saw and then used it as a model to play with, she gathered noble sons from different houses, and gained their trust so with that first it was a game, but then they took training and wanted to be an order so it didn't take long to get a title given by their father and even though at first it didn't bother them, right now yes, honorary knights was how they were called and even though they were not in battle they earned the title, and piña knew it very well she is just being used as an ornament for the image of the kingdom, their order is mostly women only and that was also why they got another name "the order of the roses" another name that was sticking to their reputation over time.

But right now her situation in her first mission was completely miserable, and that was not even one of the things she had to do for her mission, That was when she remembered what her father said "the first one will consist of you have to get the enemy wizard on our side no matter what the cost even if it means giving yourself or your whole order away" she understood well what was going on and no matter how she looked at it the second part where she was spies was just for decoration they didn't want them as spies they want them as a bargaining chip to get a greater good and that is what made her angrier, after all not even as a bargaining chip was she doing her job.

But it was at that moment that she awoke from her conspiratorial slumber, as a bucket of water was dumped on her.

"Did something happen?!!! The enemy?!!!" Piña immediately asked as a reflex.

"mmm... I couldn't tell if they are friend or foe..." left grey who was standing on the spot next to the maid who had thrown the water on piña. "But please come with me." said Grey.

"uhh?" piña was completely confused.

[scene change at italica's door].

Rory, esdeath, lelei, and kei stood at the door of italica waiting for them to open the door.

"Master kei, can I break down the door?" esdeath's sweet voice was heard.

"No esdeath, let itami do it." said kei pointing at itami who was just arriving on the scene.

"Why me?" said itami.

"because I lead the way, it's your turn to do something." said kei.

"Ahhh" itami just sighed "it's okay I'll do it."

"don't worry this will help you a lot." said kei with a kind smile, which caused Rory to laugh.

"liar." said Rory in a whisper because she could see kei's intentions.

"what do you mean by that?" itami said as she was about to knock on the door. "that's supposed to be a good thing---"

"AAHH!!!" a shout was heard from piña " welcome!!!" said piña seeing how the person who came dressed in green was missing.

For his part itami, couldn't finish speaking when the door suddenly was opened, and hit him in the face, which completely knocked him out.

So while kei and Rory laughed as they looked at itami lying on the floor piña could only ask the other three people one question. "Don't tell me it was me?" asked piña somewhat nervously.

To which tuka, lelei, and esdeath just nodded their heads in confirmation.

Moments later there was kei with itami's canteen in her hand while she threw it in his face to wake him up, which worked and right now she was talking to the others, but the one who was a little more upset was tuka, who for some reason was scolding piña for her recklessness while she was reminding her that she should be more careful.

"come on tuka it wasn't that big of a deal." kei tried to interrupt the lecture tuka was giving piña. "besides i think instead of hurting, it helps him, so why don't you be a little softer on her." said kei.

"Okay, but you have to be more careful next time." said tuka without noticing that she had dilated pupils as she looked at kei.

"You're really cute when you're angry tuka." add kei out of nowhere.

"Wha--" tuka just stood in place while looking at kei. (tuka.exe stopped running).

"But leaving that aside can you explain to me what's going on?" said kei looking in piña's direction.

It was at that moment that Hamilton snapped out of her stupor and she came to her leader's defense.

"how dare you act like this, you are in the presence of the Third Imperial Princess, Piña Co Lada?" said hamilton.

"Imperial Princess?!!!?" said tuka and itami in unison, while the others were just examining everything.

[after a long and tedious explanation of why they were fighting, plus introductions of each other]

"So, you say you guys will help us, right?" asked Piña.

"Yes" said kei "we can't sell the scales, if things keep going like this."

"It's okay." said piña "You'll be left in charge of the south gate."

"It's okay, princess piña." said kei then stood up "I just have one thing to add."

"It's okay." Piña said, she had already recognized kei from the description they had of him but they couldn't quite confirm it because right now there were two people with blue hair and they both looked identical but leaving that aside whether he was or not she would pay attention.

"right now I can be helping you for free, but remember it will only be this one time." said kei while releasing some aura making piña and hamilton confirm that he was the one they were looking for, while at the same time making them feel as small as a mouse in front of a lion.