Hi there! Here's the next chapter! ^^ Thanks to all the guests and users for their reviews and support (and I'm sorry for making you wait for a certain scene XD)! I'd like to know your opinion about this chapter as well! Enjoy!


Yuri and Repede arrived at the Lower Quarter and made their way to their room. Repede nimbly climbed the stairs, apparently sniffing something familiar. Yuri shrugged and followed him. When the swordsman turned right, his eyes met a pair of blue ones: Flynn Scifo was standing in front of Yuri's door in silence, a serious look on his face, and Repede was resting next to him now. The Commandant had his armor-free arms crossed over his chest. Yuri placed a hand on his waist and smirked.
"Commandant, it's an honor to have you here." He said with a mocking tone, but to Yuri's surprise, Flynn didn't react as he was expecting.
"Lady Estellise is going to spend the night here at Zaphias, am I correct?" Flynn asked him with a low voice. The smirk disappeared from Yuri's face.
"Yeah. Something wrong with that?" He replied with a stern voice, almost threatening. Flynn detected this, and he shook his head slowly to calm him down.
"No, not at all. I just thought that it was a possibility, since she loves to spend one night or two here when she comes to Zaphias. "
"Well then, you are correct." Flynn heard him say. An uncomfortable silence followed the last statement.
"If you don't mind, I would rather talk with you in a… more private place." Flynn mentioned. Yuri shrugged as he extracted a pair of keys from his pocket.
"Suit yourself." He replied after opening his door. Repede was the first one who entered the place, followed by Flynn and in the end by Yuri, who closed the door. Flynn observed the room before him, nostalgic memories flowing to his mind. He shook his head as soon as he started to evoke memories, and focused on the chair in front of him.
"May I take a seat, Yuri?" He asked politely, and Yuri waved his hand in the air nonchalantly.
"Go ahead."
The blond man sat on a chair that was next to the window, and Yuri did the same with the front chair. A small wooden table was placed between them, allowing Flynn to put his elbows on it. Repede, on the other hand, made his way to his own bed to get some rest.

The moon was quite spectacular, its glow acting as the only light for the swordsman's room.

"I don't have anything to offer you. I haven't been here recently, sorry." Yuri said.
"Worry not, Yuri, it's fine." They looked at each other for a while. Then, Lowell placed his chin on his open palm and sighed.
"Get to the point, Flynn. What do you want to ask?" He started, and the Commandant gazed at him; he should have expected this reaction from his reckless friend.
"Are you really sure about this, Yuri?" Flynn asked, frowning slightly. "Are you really sure that you want to have this kind of relationship with Lady Estellise?"
Yuri looked straight at his friend, frowning; he remained silent for a few seconds, and Flynn waited for him patiently, surveying his gestures.
"Yeah, I am." The swordsman finally said with a firm voice, changing his position and leaning back in his chair.
"Do you know what implies to date the princess, right? She's a noblewoman, but we—"
"— we're nothing more than commoners; I know that." Yuri interrupted him with a lopsided smile. "And Estelle knows this too, and she's willing to continue with this anyway, and I'm right there with her."
Flynn lowered his head, clinching his hands.
"Someday, the Council might ask her to marry a nobleman in order to have an heir." Flynn raised his head and continued almost in a whisper. "Are you aware of this, Yuri?"
Yuri's smile faded. Of course he knew that; When Estelle stopped being a candidate for the throne, the Council focused their attention on Ioder, allowing Estelle to have more freedom. However, there was always a possibility of the Council changing their mind and focusing on her again, or the possibility of a noble proposing to her (just like the man from Ioder's feast). Nevertheless, Estelle said that she wanted to stay with Yuri, no matter what the Council could say; After all, she wasn't the princess who let others decide for her anymore. She was a determined person now, and Yuri trusted her words.

He realized then that he really had fallen for her.

And he won't let her go that easily.

"…Yeah, I'm aware." He replied after a while, a smirk appearing on his lips. Flynn stared at his dark eyes.
"And even though you know that, are you willing to continue?" The blond asked for the last time.

Their eyes met.

"I'll continue as long as she wants." Yuri replied, a resolved look on his face. Flynn blinked, slightly astonished by his determination. Yuri would be quite hurt if he would have to be separated from Lady Estellise, Flynn thought. But, if the princess was willing to risk her position with this new relationship, Yuri wouldn't hesitate to do the same.

It was interesting to see how Yuri developed feelings for the pink-haired girl despite his lone wolf attitude.

It seems like the heart of a naïve and stubborn princess was needed to reach Yuri's cold heart in order to embrace it with its warmth.

Flynn smiled to himself then; it was still a pretty recent event, but he wouldn't prevent them from being happy together. After all, they were both quite important to him. They met by an unexpected twist of fate, and fell in love in the process.
Flynn wanted to have this conversation with his best friend in order to confirm that he really would love and protect the princess…

…and after that, he would congratulate him on their new relationship.

"Lady Estellise developed feelings for you, Yuri… I suppose it was to be expected." Flynn murmured after a while. "After all, you spent a great amount of time together, and you were always there to support her. You taught her things she didn't know, and gave her strength when she needed it."
Yuri crossed his arms, smirking.
"And here I thought that she was obsessed with you." He replied playfully. "But I was wrong."
Flynn blinked, and then, he laughed softly.
"Well, that was all, Yuri." Flynn stated as he stood up. Yuri observed him, bemused.
"Are you serious? That's not like you…"
"Any further conversation won't be necessary. Yuri, I know you well and I trust you. Take good care of the princess."
Flynn extended his open palm to his friend, and Yuri looked at it. Then, he stood up and smirked, shaking hands with his best friend.
"Congratulations. I wish you nothing but the best in this new relationship, Yuri."
They stared at each other, smiling.

Those two understand each other perfectly without words.

In the blink of an eye, Flynn freed his hand from Yuri's and punched his friend softly in the shoulder, making him groan. Lowell, however, reacted quickly and punched the blond man in the same place.
"That was for not telling me this before." Flynn said as he stroked his shoulder.
"I wasn't planning on telling you, but Estelle insisted." Yuri grinned, stroking his own shoulder as well.
"You wouldn't get away with it, Yuri Lowell." Flynn allowed himself a lopsided grin.
"Maybe not, but I would definitely win against you in a battle."
"Oh, really? Don't be so sure. Now that you're Lady Estellise's fiancé, curious eyes from everywhere will be set on you."
Yuri sighed.
"Gimme a break. I was just getting used to that awful drawing from before. Seriously, who drew that thing?" Yuri asked before punching Flynn in the cheek. The Commandant, not expecting this, stroked his cheek. Yuri looked at him triumphantly.
"I'm not sure, perhaps someone from the Schwann's brigade." Flynn answered, and after that, he punched Yuri in the opposite cheek. "That reminds me, I will have to keep an eye on you, in case you have certain intentions towards Lady Estellise."
"Oh, c'mon." Yuri exclaimed while stroking his cheek. "You've got to be kidding me."
And after those last words, they both shared a laugh, waking Repede up in the process.

They were laughing and in good terms.

Estelle would be really happy to know the outcome of their talk… but of course, they wouldn't have to mention their exchange of punches.

...

Flynn spent the night in Yuri's room, just like the old times before they became knights. The next morning, the two of them decided to visit their old friends and drink something at the Inn. While Repede waited outside the place, Yuri and Flynn enjoyed a nice chat with people from the Lower Quarter, their family; the innkeeper, the same woman who shared her chocolate cake recipe with Flynn, was overjoyed to see both men having a good time with the rest of their friends, just like Flynn promised the last time he was there. After enjoying a few drinks and hearing some more old stories from Hanks (he couldn't miss this reunion), both friends made their way back to the castle in order to resume their activities. Estelle was the first one who saw them entering the huge castle, and she waved at them as she approached them.
"Yuri, Flynn!" She exclaimed happily. Then, she threw her arms around Yuri's neck, her giggles echoing through the main hall. Yuri returned the gesture with a smile. After a few seconds, Estelle freed Yuri and turned to Flynn with a smile before welcoming him with a quick hug.
"It's nice to see you again, Lady Estellise." The Commandant said with a nod.
"Thank you, I'm glad you're doing fine." She smiled kindly, and lowered her gaze timidly after that. "Well, uhm… how did everything go?"
"Yuri and I had a rather interesting talk last night. I'm really happy for both of you, Lady Estellise. May the Goddesses bless your relationship." Flynn mentioned, and he couldn't help but smile at Estelle's crimson red cheeks. Her eyes glinted with joy.
"Oh Flynn, thank you very much!" She said, excited. After that, she intertwined her fingers with Yuri's and he gave her a small peck on the forehead.
"To be honest, I never imagined my best friend and the princess of Zaphias being this sentimental." Flynn smiled, and Yuri rolled his eyes at this comment. "But I must admit, I'm happy for both of you, as I stated before. By the way, Lady Estellise, please allow me to prepare a small brigade to keep an eye on you, just in case that—"
"—Whoa, not so fast." Yuri interfered, a skeptic look on his face. "Forget about that, we don't need a brigade."
"Uhm, I appreciate your concern Flynn, but I too think that we can handle things by ourselves just fine… we can fight really well, remember?" She added as she tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear shyly. Flynn sighed, defeated, and Yuri chuckled softly at Estelle's innocent comment.
"…I-I see… but if I notice anything suspicious, I won't ask for permission." The Commandant said, and Yuri frowned.
"Ugh, you jerk. Do as you please." Yuri waved his free hand nonchalantly, and Estelle giggled. Just then, Flynn's second-in-command, Sodia, passed by and stared at them.
"Commandant!" She exclaimed when she recognized Flynn, her orange locks covering her sweaty forehead, and she approached the group. "You had me worried. We were looking for you last night… Is everything fine?"

Yuri smiled mischievously then.

"Yeah Commandant, why didn't you appear?" Yuri added. Flynn observed him from the corner of his eye and frowned, trying to keep his composure.
"…My apologies, Sodia, I had… a meeting to attend. Worry not, everything's just fine; I'm sorry for making you worry." He replied, trying to sound as calm as possible. Sodia's face seemed to blush slightly, but then, her eyes met the intertwined hands of Yuri and Estelle, and she gasped at the view:
"I-Is something the matter, Sodia?" Flynn asked her, a worried tone in his voice. He then followed the eyes of his Second-in-Command, and he sighed when he realized what she was staring at.
"What is…? Yuri… Lowell…?" She whispered, dumbfounded, and her violet eyes met Yuri's dark eyes.
"What is it?" He asked nonchalantly.
"Oooh, I understand now!" Estelle exclaimed, to everyone's surprise: "Sodia just realized that Yuri and I are holding hands, isn't that right, Sodia?"
"I see." Yuri mentioned with a lopsided smile. "Now you know it too."

Sodia blinked, puzzled and speechless; she was really confused, what was going on here?

Her eyes encountered Flynn's, asking for an explanation.

"Commandant…?" She finally murmured, not so sure of what to say. Flynn smiled awkwardly, and then he coughed to clear his throat.
"Eh… that's right, Sodia, it's just what you're thinking."
"Ah… uhm... I…" The female knight muttered, clearly nervous. "I…I'll take my leave now…"
And after those words, she turned around quickly and disappeared from the main hall, her face a crimson red.
After a silence, Yuri said:
"Weeeell, that was weird."
"Is she going to be okay?" Estelle asked with a worried tone.
"Yes, I suppose this is quite difficult for her to believe." Flynn explained. "I'll make sure she's doing fine later…"
"As long as she doesn't try to kill me…" Yuri whispered to himself with a sigh.
"Did you say something, Yuri?" Flynn asked him, but his friend shook his head.
"Nah. Well Estelle, I think it's time for us to get back to work. Off to Halure and then to Dahngrest." Estelle nodded.
"Okay!" She exclaimed happily, and turned to Flynn with a kind smile. "Flynn, thank you for everything. We'll see you soon!"
The Commandant nodded.
"It is my pleasure, Lady Estellise. Come and visit us soon; we'll have our arms open for both of you, here at the castle. Have a safe trip."
"See ya, Commandant." Yuri high fived him as he said: "Remember, no brigades for us, alright?"
Flynn smirked.
"You better behave yourself, then." The blond man replied.
Yuri grinned at this comment, and after that, the couple walked out of the castle, still holding hands, with Repede following them calmly. When their silhouettes disappeared from his sight, Flynn returned to his duties with a smile on his lips.

...