Author's Note: I managed to finish this chapter before I head out to the hospital later so here's a somewhat early update from me~ I'm quite sure you're curious about what happens next now, right? So I tried my best to update as soon as I can. :D

Since I really don't have anything else to say that's important, other than restating that this is not the last chapter and there will be more to come since I gave up the thought of making it short even though I said it otherwise on the first chapters of this story.

For now, here's the next chapter, and though you probably didn't expect this turn of events, I hope you'll like this and thank you so much for reading the previous chapters as well~

Disclaimer: Again, I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist nor it's characters.


~~~ Warm Winter ~~~


Chapter Seven: The Hidden Truth


" ... Where am I? "

That was the first thing that came up on her mind after she slowly opened her eyes, and finds herself staring at the ceiling with a very strong headache.

She ran her right hand over her closed eyes and she felt her face was flushed and warm, also feeling somewhat exasperated, probably coming from her fever she simply thought as she let out a low moan as she stirred from the bed while she opened her eyes once more and soon tried to sit up.

Once she has successfully managed to sat up, she first stretch her numb limbs and ran her hand down her bright yellow hair and let it fall down her face as she looked down at the sheets with closed eyes, placing her left hand on her forehead as she suddenly felt dizzy.

Her head ache hard, as if she was trying to remember a dream she had earlier but sadly can't recall, so she let out a sigh.

Sensing the sudden movement from the bed, the dog that was patiently laying down right beside her, perked up and stood excitedly, wagging his tail in delight as he ran towards her and leaned his front legs at the side of the bed, looking up to her, barking to get her attention.

And he successfully managed to do it, " ...Hayate? " Riza called out as she straightened herself and turned to look at the direction where she heard her dog's bark.

She smiled as she found herself staring at a very eager puppy's face, mouth opened wide with his little tongue out, wagging his tail in delight as he finally saw his mistress awake.

She picked her pet up on the bed and laid him down on her lap and cradled the dog up on her arms and embraced her dog.

Normally she wouldn't do this, but the look that Black Hayate was giving her, really made her have the urge to do it. She relaxed as her dog leaned his head on her shoulder as she ran her hands down the fur on his back.

Her headache triggered again a few seconds later making her placed Black Hayate back down beside her and placed her hand on her closed eyes once again.

She quickly opened her eyes though when she heard her dog let out a soft whimper whilst placing one paw on her lap, looking up to her with a concerned glint on his round eyes.

" ... I'm alright, Hayate. Just still have a headache for probably passing out for quite some time... " Riza said as she looked back up at her dog and gently rubbed her pet behind his ears, earning her a content purr from the dog.

Then she unconsciously stirred from bed again and slid her hand down its sheets and soon noticed something.

" ...I'm on a bed... " She realized and then a lot of things came to mind as she began to wonder for how long was she out and where was she now.

She raised her head up and eyed her surroundings, she was surprised to be in a small bedroom she wasn't familiar with. It wasn't a hospital either, that's for sure since this room looks to be too homey to be one, she came to that conclusion after getting an eyeful at the whole area.

Then she noticed something, or rather someone wasn't around.

She felt herself get anxious, unconsciously looking at the window to her side and saw that it was still storming outside. " Surely I haven't been that out for long, right? " She began to panicked as she wondered where her superior is.

" Oh, dear you're finally awake! " A voice suddenly came from behind her, causing her to slightly jump up in shock. She turned to look back and saw a kind looking old woman, with a couple of cloths on her hands.

Sensing her distress, the old woman smiled at her, " It's alright dear, you're in safe hands and if you're wondering where your dear friend is, he's with my grandson and they're getting some herbs to help lower your fever at the mountain side but I'm sure they'll be back soon. " She explained, but that really didn't help Riza relax at all, she even grew more worried as she looked down on the bed's sheets again and clenched her hands on the covers tightly in concern.

He's on the mountain side at this time of night, while there was a snow storm raging outside? With a stranger too... She doesn't know what the risks could be for him since she doesn't know what happened earlier but she swears she'll kill him herself later for doing something this reckless.

" He's really been worried about you, you know. " Riza turned to look back the old woman as she heard her speak, she saw that the old lady was now near her, placing what she was carrying on the rear end of the bed. They look like towels that looks soft and warm.

Then Riza watched as the old woman went to the other side of the bed to her right, and kneeled down to get something on the ground.

She saw that it was a small steel basin filled of water, " Oh, looks like the water has cooled down now... " The old lady said as she stood up, basin in hand and looked at her guest who looked up at her, quite befuddled at the situation.

" Riza, now was it? " The old lady asked while Riza nodded, " My name is Marciel, my husband's name is Gustave but he prefers being called Ol'Gus since it's the name of our inn. That being said, we're just one of the simple innkeepers in this small town with our six year old grandson, Roland. " She said as she held the basin with one hand and reach out her other towards Riza, " Your dear friend Roy told me about you earlier, but it's nice to meet you personally now that you're awake. " She added, smiling as Riza reached her hand to her and shook hands.

" It's nice to meet you too. " Riza replied, finally letting a smile curve to her lips. Though she did hear the kind old lady that she and her husband was innkeepers, she still really can't place this room like one. It looks more like a house.

As if reading her mind, Marciel began to talk, " You're currently residing at our house though since our inn and the other two don't have any vacancy now which probably because of the coming snow festival... " She started to explain while Riza listened carefully and decided to ask about the festival later on since she's curious about it too for some reason, " But we couldn't send you away either, especially seeing the young lad's dedication to take care of you... "

Riza slightly blushed as she thought about what Roy did or say earlier, but chose to stay silent and just listened for the time being, " ...So after giving it some thought, me and my husband decided to let you two..." Marciel heard Black Hayate bark once, " ... with your dogs stay here at our house. " She explained with a kind smile still on her features.

Hearing that, Riza replied shyly, " Is that so... I'm sorry if we've bothered you two... "

The old lady shook her head, " Not at all, dear. It was our pleasure to have you two to stay with us since we could really use some company. Plus, my grandson really seems to have taking a liking to you two and your dogs and I'm thankful to finally seen him smile. He really doesn't open up to anyone ever since the incident with his parents... "

" ... Did something happened before? " Riza thought to herself and subconsciously looked away from the old lady towards the bedside table on her right and saw a somewhat damp white cloth, recalling that it was the hand knitted cloth that an Ishvalian priestess gave them back in Ishval, which would explain why there was a basin full of water beside her earlier, then beside it was photo album and an old newspaper article.

After seeing the two latter items, her head ached again.

" Oh, dear are you okay? " Marciel asked in concern as she place the small basin down the desk nearby and bent down the bed to assist her when she saw Riza clenched her teeth in pain and closed her eyes shut whilst putting her right hand back to it, leaning at her arms for support as she leaned down.

Riza then remembered that she had been awake earlier or rather, barely awake. Her head ached harder as she relieve her subconsciousness a few moments ago.

She remembered vaguely hearing about the incident Marciel stated earlier, the one regarding the young boy's parents. Something about his son and his family was innocent... pictures of some children that's been missing in a nearby town ...and a note that say's In Someone's Death comes with New Life... and the kidnapping happened, then the unfortunate outcome... the South Military Headquarters being in charge of the case... but the case ended with no definite conclusion...

After relieving that memory, she felt herself getting depressed and as she opened her eyes, she felt her chest tightening, sadness and anger surging through her as she recalled what these kind people had to go through in the past and leaving poor Roland alone.

It was a very terrible incident and she was sure that she heard most of that from what the Brigadier General and sir Gustave talked about it earlier but she feels like she still doesn't know much of the case either... Something was still unknown to her.

Maybe the photo album and the newspaper article could give her more leads for the case since she feels the need to find a proper conclusion for the case. To find out why it happened and what happened after this years.

She's sure that the Brigadier General feels the same regarding this too, since they both had thing to find out about the hidden truth behind all this mess. But it was a shame she didn't overhear more about it to understand the case better...

Was it only that though...? She remembered that she felt them moved towards her right then too... and felt them talking about something else.

Closing her eyes again, she tried her best to recall if she overheard anything else.

After a few seconds of contemplating her thoughts did she recalled that she actually did accidentally eavesdrop more than what she was expecting, Her eyes opened wide in shock and she felt her face heat up whilst she relieve it.

" ...I won't deny that she is also my closest friend, we've also been together since our childhood and I admit that my concerns for her are far more greater than just a relationship between colleagues. " She recalled Roy say and felt him brush away strands of her hair just beneath her closed eyes... unknown to her that she also unconsciously smiled that time as well.

" I love her... " She recalled him say as well as she felt her face heat up more as she overheard more than what she just wants to know.

Did she just heard her superior openly said that he loved her..? Surely she heard something else right? Or so she kept telling herself that, though not believing it at the very least. It's impossible she could misheard that for being just a few spaces part earlier.

" Was it true then...? Did I really hear him say... that? " Riza pondered about it. " Or was it just a dream? I think I had dreamed about something earlier and I just couldn't remember. That might've been it... " She deduced. But then again, the way she felt him stroke her hair, before she felt like she fell back asleep, after that felt real.

And with that thought in mind, that has officially made her feel even more awkward.

This wasn't like her at all, so she took a deep breath and let out a sigh to regain composure. If it was troubling her that much, she should talk this over with the Brigadier General later.

That is, if she finds the heart to even ask him that. She then let out another sigh at the thought of it.

She was so deep in thought that she practically didn't remember that she wasn't alone and the kind old lady, who was assisting her by holding her gently on her shoulders, misunderstood her sighing was because she was getting short on breath because of her fever.

" Oh dear, can't you breath? " Marciel asked and saw Riza looked up to her, face flushed and all, shook her head. " N-no... " She mumbled out awkwardly due to embarrassment on her early muses.

Her no meant that she wasn't having a hard time breathing but with her face that red...

Well, it lead to Another misunderstanding.

" Oh dear... wait here a minute and just hang on! I'll head over to the kitchen quickly and get you a glass of water! " Marciel said in panic and before Riza could tell her otherwise, she saw her run towards the door in a heartbeat despite her old age.

Riza then felt bad like she'll make the poor kind old woman have a heart attack due to a misunderstanding.

She soon slumped back at her bed, head first and buried her face in the soft pillows with a groan afterwards.

This is so unlike her but she can't help but feel awkward. Years of maintaining a stoic and serious demeanor when it involves her superior was broken due to an innocent eavesdrop.

She knows she has to clear this up with him later if she ever wants to continue working with him comfortably. Then again, what if his reply would make it even more complicated? Having that on mind, she was planning on just forgetting this ever happened instead, hopefully she can let this slip down her mind later or else, she can't even bare to look at him without feeling awkward.

While Riza pondered about her dilemma for a few seconds, she felt Black Hayate's paw on her again, this time on her left shoulder. He didn't make any noise though and just simply stared at her. She looked back at him in response and she squint her eyes at the look of him, was he making fun of her?

Black Hayate has this teasing look again; Head half tilted to the side, ears bent sideways and with his mouth wide open, looking like he was grinning even with his little tongue out, but what really got her on the edge was those cute round, black eyes that makes her soften her gaze. Those obsidian eyes remind her of something... or someone.

With that, she slumped her head back down the pillows again and let out a sigh as she felt her face reddening again at the very slightest resemblance regarding anything about her superior and thought about one thing.

This is surely unlike her.


A few more seconds later, Riza heard footsteps coming this way and she thought that Marciel was now coming back with a glass of water in hand. So she quickly sat back up, to avoid another misunderstanding from the kind lady.

Then she turned to look at her pet and still saw that teasing look on his face so she ended up gently pushing Black Hayate to the rear end of the bed and in order to suppress the heat radiating from her face she took a deep breath and sigh before she gave herself away again.

She watched as the door swung open and came in Marciel with a glass of water in hand. " Are you feeling a little better now, dear? " She asked with concern as she walk towards the bed.

Riza smiled at her inquiry and nodded, " Yes, I'm alright now... I'm really sorry for troubling you further ma'am... " She said as the old lady handed her the glass of water in which she gratefully received, " Thank you. "

Marciel watched as Riza slowly drink the glass of water in hand till it was empty before she took it back from her.

Then the old lady noticed that she was still wearing her somewhat damp clothes. " ...I think it would be best to change as well, dear. You can't really get any better if you still wear those damp clothes with you. Maybe that's also why you had a hard time breathing earlier. "

Concerning what Marciel lastly stated, Riza sheepishly smiled, and thought that it maybe best if she'll leave it like that. Then she looked at her clothes and saw that she was still indeed wearing her black shirt.

She saw their black coats and blue military coat perched on the moss green coach now though. But of course the Brigadier General wouldn't think about undressing her any further than that.

...She regretted even the thought of it as she felt her face heating up again so she tried changing the subject. " Oh, you're right. But... I didn't bring any spare clothing with me. " She replied sheepishly.

Marciel smiled at her and raised her hands to point at something at the rear end of the bed. " I've bought some spare clothes with me earlier, dear. Hopefully they're right your size. They're originally from Roland's parents but feel free to use them. "

Riza's eyes soften as she heard that the clothes were from the deceased couple and looked towards the direction where the other pointed at and remember that Marciel had carried something with her earlier. She thought that they were just towels but upon closer inspection, she did notice that there was indeed a couple of spare clothes as well. She presumed that the other set of clothes were for Roy.

And she also noticed that Black Hayate was sitting very comfortably on it, " Hayate, go back down the bed. " She ordered as the dog let out a soft whine before he jump off.

" He seems to be a very obedient dog now, ain't he? " Marciel stated as she saw Black Hayate patiently sat down beside the bed afterwards.

" He is, but there are times that he gets too playful as well. But I guess that's because he's still being considered to be a puppy by Briga-err... Roy, " Riza stuttered a bit at the end of her sentence having being used to the formalities even if it wasn't needed. She loved saying his name openly though she would always suggest otherwise.

Then Riza looked around the room again noticing something. " Did you see a white dog with Roy earlier, ma'am? " She asked as she didn't see Yuki anywhere near the room.

Marciel looked around the room then too, " Oh, you're right. I do remember seeing a white dog following close behind them before they left. "

" I see... " Riza sighed in relief, " At least she's watching his back when I'm unable to. " She thought to herself.

Then she felt the old lady started to move, so she look up and watched her head towards the window, beside the moss green coach and peered outside.

Staring outside, she saw a huge truck entered the town's vicinity and headed towards the inn before she look up the sky, " The clouds is starting to get heavier and darker... Hopefully the boys are somewhere nearby now. We don't want them to get caught up with a heavy snow storm, after all. " The old lady said getting a bit worried.

Riza also feeling concerned, " ...Hopefully they are. " She voiced out before she threw her legs up to the side and braced herself to stand up.

Still feeling a bit sluggish because of passing out and probably because of her fever, she loss her balance for a bit. " Be careful, dear and take it easy. " Marciel managed to say and hurriedly made her way towards the bed to assist her as she saw Riza almost fall down.

" ...This is a bit embarrassing... " Riza thought to herself, she really hated feeling this weak. She felt her headache coming back a few seconds later too, so she sat back down on the edge of the bed and placed her right hand on her forehead.

Then she felt a hand on her shoulder, so she look back up and eyed the kind, old woman, " I'm alright.. sorry for worrying you again, ma'am... " Riza managed to say, before looking away and fist her right hand just in front of her mouth and let out a couple of coughs. " Sorry... " She muttered again.

Marciel just smiled at her and patted her hand down her back. " It's alright dear. Colds are frequent this time around but once the boys comes back with those healing herbs in hand, I'll fix you all a nice cup of warm tea afterwards that will surely help lower down your fever and chills. " She said, making Riza smile back, " That'll be nice. I'm sure Roy would love that too since he's very sensitive to the cold. "

The old woman then sat beside her on the bed, " Can you tell me more about him and about you two? You two seem to be really close. " she asked, making Riza slightly blush at her query, yet smiling nonetheless,

" ...We are. We've been friends since we were kids since we had to live together because of him being my father's apprentice and even if we separated some time when we grew older, we soon found ourselves working together with the same goals and since then, we've been through a lot of difficult challenges so it's quite impossible to say that we couldn't become close friends throughout the years that's passed. "

The old woman nodded, " Now, I see why he looks so determined to do anything for you. But are you sure, you're just close friends? " She suggested teasingly and even though Riza could feel her cheeks reddening again, she still managed to admit calmly, " ...Well, you could also say that he's my best friend that I'm looking out for, "

Then she paused, and let out a sigh, " Thinking about it... I'm also considered to be his babysitter for some people because I have to always be by his side or else he'll do something childish... or worse, something reckless. " She added as she remembered Roy's many mishaps.

... and she remembered that she's going to darn right shoot him for doing something dangerous like this again.

She knows he's doing this for her, but still, it's really killing her inside that he still isn't back yet. She's getting too worried for him now as she gazed outside the window and saw the snow slowly starting to fall down heavier.

Seeing Riza fixated glance to the window, Marciel took a glance at it and let out a sigh and shared her concern. " I'm sure they'll be back soon, dear. " She said reassuringly, making them both smile.

" ... They are. I trust him and I know, he'll keep Roland safe. He's always have a soft spot for children... " Riza added, " ...and puppies. " Then she thought that she shares that feeling with him.

" Well, that's good to hear. " Marciel replied and chuckled a bit when she heard puppies. " You two are probably soft on children because at that age, there are times that you want children of your own as well and that's something I can relate to base on my experience. "

Riza stayed silent. I guess she was right, after all, it wasn't really uncommon to have children at her age. Then she thought about Gracia and Elysia, if circumstances between her and her work status were different she might've have already settled down as well.

But unfortunately or even fortunately, she had a different path.

She never had regretted working for the military, well maybe during the first time she was sent to the battlefield, or hell as she thought, but working under him was mostly done on her own will than an obligation. She could have quit service after the war, but chose to stay and for some reason, like fate, she ended up working with Roy and since they still shared the same dream for a better Amestris, she chose to lived her life to suit his and follow him till they reached their goals.

What she plans to do after that, is still something she has yet to think about though. But she decided to worry about that later.

Riza then looked down on her bed and eyed Black Hayate, smiling as she saw him looking at her, still sitting patiently beside the bed. Black Hayate was the closest blessing she's received to being like her child.

But giving it some more thought, the Brigadier General himself was quite as hassling as taking care of a baby. Hence, why she is nicknamed to be his babysitter in the first place.

But even if that was the case, she never really regretted anything that concerns him. Having thought of that, she let out a soft sigh but smiling afterwards nonetheless.

Then she felt the old woman beside her stand up, " Well, I'm sure that the boys will be back soon so I'd better prepare everything I need to make tea. " Marciel said as she straightened herself and reach for the steel basin on the bedside table.

" I'll go and heat the water here again so that when your friend comes back, he can place a warm towel at your forehead again later. " She said as she made her way towards the door.

Then she stopped midway and looked back, smiling, " ...There's a bathroom just outside this room, to the left. You'd best get yourself dressed with a dry and warm clothes before they come back as well. I'll be in the kitchen, which is to right from this room, when you need me, dear. " She said before she continued on her way to the door.

Riza eyed the spare clothes on the rear end of the bed as soon as the old lady left the room. Then she reached out her hands towards them and placed the clothes that was seemingly for her, on her lap.

They were really soft on her hands and she felt like they were really warm and comfortable as well as she held the first clothing article up to her eye level to check on it more clearly.

It was a bright pink long sleeved, wool shirt, that's really just around her size as well. She eyed the rest of the set and saw that there was also a white blouse to adorn over it. After all, it's still freezing cold inside so they'd better were double clothing. As for the pants to accompany them, she saw a bright, light blue, silk pajama that goes well with the other clothes.

Then she began to wonder about where her shoes were when she started to try standing up again. As soon as she managed to stand up straight, she watched as Black Hayate was pushing something towards her with his nose. She slightly let out a chuckle as she saw that they were actually a light pink, wool slippers that also goes well with the rest of her set of clothes. She'll surely thank the kind lady later.

She then gently folded back the clothes neatly and held them all up to her with one hand and got a spare towel with the other. She eyed the other pair of clothes that was for Roy and she saw that it's just like hers but apart of it being obviously bigger to fit his size, the colors has a more darker hue of blue and black as well.

" Roy... please be safe. " Riza uttered to herself as she looked back towards the window and saw that the snow was really starting to storm harder outside.

Then she let out a sigh to calm herself once more and started heading towards the door to head outside, with Black Hayate, who was following close behind her.


As they got out to the hallways, Riza slowly closed the door behind her and checked her surroundings.

She looked to the left and saw the restroom she was advice to head to. Then she heard some humming to her right, looks like that was coming from the kitchen since she heard a faucet open and water pouring down from what she believe was a pot. While further to right, it seems like that leads to the living room and eventually leading outside the house as well.

She finds herself smiling for some reason unbeknownst her, before she head towards the bathroom, tightly holding on to her spare of clothes to change. She was getting a bit cold from wearing her somewhat damp clothes for too long now.

As she reached and opened the bathroom door, she switch on the light to her right before she entered and looked at the simple bathroom as the room illuminated.

Then she looked back and saw Black Hayate sitting on a rug, just in front of the bathroom door, facing to the other side as if watching for any possible intruders and alarming them that someone was currently inside.

Riza couldn't help but smile at her dog, " I'll be right outside in a few minutes, Hayate. Wait here. " She said as Black Hayate slightly turned his head over his shoulder to look at her and barked once in acknowledgement making her smile grew wider before she closed the door behind her.

Then she placed her spare of clothes to a dry desk nearby and first head towards the sink and looked at the round mirror perched just above it.

Well, she looked better in other days. She thought, slightly letting out a chuckle as she saw how terrible she looks like now.

Apart from her hair being a bit askew from her clip, she also noted that her lips were a bit dry and her face still looks a bit pale. Her eyes were a bit swollen too, like she cried her eyes out for some unknown reason... " Must be because of the strong headache... "

She opened the faucet and let the water run through her hands, it was a bit cold so she flinched a bit before she relaxed and adjusted herself to the cool temperature. It feels good to let the cool water wash her face too, when she leaned down her head closer to the sink and ran her water filled, right hand over her face. It helped wash away some of her stress building up as well.

She's still worried about Roy's safety and as soon as she thought about him, she could swear she could hear Black Hayate barking a couple of times outside, but soon fell silent so she thought that her dog just saw Marciel to say that she was inside.

She closed the faucet shut and looked back up in the mirror as she got her towel and dried her face with it. Then she noticed that there was a brush nearby the sink as well.

So she placed the towel back down the desk nearby and pulled out the clip holding her hair, and soon felt her bright yellow hair slowly go down her shoulders up to her back. Then she reached her hand towards the brush as soon as placed the hair clip at the desk and started fixing her hair.

Once she was done, she looked back up in the mirror and let out a sigh, even though she has still seen better days, at least she looks a bit more presentable than her ragged look earlier she amusingly told herself before she reached towards her spare clothes to finally change.


As soon as she was done changing a few minutes later, Riza emerge out from the bathroom wearing the clothes Marciel let her borrow and with her old clothes and the towel in hand.

The first thing she noticed was Black Hayate was now sitting a bit further from the hallways and seemingly headed out to the kitchen since the dog was peering just outside the door.

" Maybe he smelled something delicious. " Riza thought to herself with a smile. Then the dog stood up as he felt the door closing behind him and excitedly greeted his mistress, jumping in between her legs and sniffing the new clothes on her at times.

" At ease, boy. " She said, slightly giggling as she felt Black Hayate's tiny wet nose hit her bare skin just beneath her feet.

Then she proceeded on returning to the room she was in earlier to place her black shirt and military issued pants beside the ones that were already set aside on the moss green coach earlier.

As she got to the bedroom again, with Black Hayate trotting close behind her, she closed the door without looking back and she headed straight towards the moss green coach to place the clothes right beside her military and black coat when she noticed that the room has gotten warmer.

Riza looked to her right and saw that there was a fireplace, well she noticed that earlier but she didn't recall if it was lit before.

But she shrugged it off and thought that she might have either didn't notice that it was already lit or someone just lit it earlier. What really caught her attention though was this strong, yet soothing sweet fragrance.

That, she was really sure, wasn't there earlier.

She turned to look back to the side of the bed and saw a white crystal like flower in a vase on the bedside table where she saw the photo album and newspaper article was earlier.

Riza then grew curious as she made her way towards the bedside table to get a better look at it.

As she reached in front of the desk, she leaned in closer to inspect the flower, quite overwhelmed at it's unique crystal like petals and for some reason, the sweet smell she took in made her headache slowly ease away.

But before she can ponder on who placed it there, she suddenly felt that someone was watching her in a distance. She also sense a familiar warm presence around the room before she looked back in shock as it spoke;

" I'm very happy to see you up and about now, Riza. "


~~~ End of Chapter Seven: The Hidden Truth ~~~


Author's Note: Just so you know, some of the scenes here happened before, during and after the previous chapter. Though I'm pretty sure most of you noticed that. I just wanted to clear that up so it would avoid any possible confusion. I'm pretty sure you're wondering about what happened to Riza after all this time as well so here's a whole chapter dedicated to her for a change.

She has been pretty out of the story earlier. Well not really, she was unconsciously feigning sleep without you noticing starting from the fifth chapter. Ha ha~ And about whatever happened to Roy on the previous chapter, you'll find out on the next update since it'll probably be about his point of view in some earlier scenes above. You might know, I already placed some hints here and there about it too. Whatever it is, it'll surely be a surprise. ;)

Well with that, Hope to see you again on my next update and thank you so much for reading this chapter. Hope you have a great day and take care~ :D