Hey! It's me, back... Again... Yeah.

Some of you might have noticed that I've been missing for a few days, if you read the Author's note which should've now been taken down, you'll know that I've been ill. Bad, and I've had a computer science test coming up, first one was Wednesday 18th, next one will be tomorrow - Friday 20th April. So that's fun! Revision when you're nearly dead is always fun.

Anywhoo - Reviews!

Guest - Yep! I've rested up, still not 100%, my nose is a bit iffy but I'm a lot better.

Well, that's it! Enjoy~

Garden

The Dolittle ran around searching for his comrade for quite some time before stumbling across his location. Al found Matt sitting on one of the worn-out benches that laid plotted around the courtyard, freshly cut grass was strewn across the pavement. The sun was blazing down today, it seemed like the temperatures were dipping into the high 20 *Cs (About 82.4 *F), most of the Chosen were happily going about their day – some were attempting to win over Ophelia in a horse riding competition, on the other hand – Matthew was still recovering from the night he had with 'Phe yesterday. It had put on a good act at breakfast, but when he was alone, it was clear to see that he was obviously taxed from her shenanigans.

"Hey!" Al spoke up as he approached the other teen whose head was facing up to the sky – eyes closed, simply absorbing the heat. However, with the newfound company, his eyes snapped open and he tilted his head toward the emitter.

"Oh hi Al." He said with a yawn, eyes slightly watering up.

"Something wrong?" Al happily asked as he continued to move closer to Timmings.

"Nah I'm fine, you need me for anything?" The worn-out teen replied with yet another yawn.

"Not me in particular…"

"Hmm?"

"Marco wanted me to inform you about one thing and say thanks for taking care of Ophelia last night – it must've been rough." The two stood about 2 metres away from one another, Matt had both his arm spread across the bench and his back slumped, meanwhile, Al had his hands in his pockets.

"Oh, thanks… What was that one thing?"

"We've all decided to go through with," Alfonzo moves in closer, wanting to whisper the next part to avoid any unnecessary complications, "going for the hen." Which he followed by a *wink* *wink*.

"Er… I'm not following." Matthew replied, an eyebrow raised and his mouth contorted to a confused smirk.

"You know… We're – going against the current."

"Still not following."

"For God's sake! We're taking on the monarchy." Al quietly screamed into the poor noble's ears, hands forming a 'W' shape, as if about to catch a ball. Said hands were moving around, trying to get the point through to Matt.

"Ah, I see… But there shouldn't be enough people to have a deciding vote, did Star change her mind?"

"Not really, Emilia – Marco's servant, kinda found out and then they dragged me into it – and now, we're all in on it."

"Jesus, this web of secrecy is starting to catch buses."

"Yeah, it's a bit too late to stop now though." Al declared as he sheepishly rubbed his neck. Matt took a breath in and out before responding.

"Well… Where do we start?"

Library

"Glossaryck!" Star called out, she had just opened the doors leading into the mud-stained room. "You here?" She followed up, a small clank coming from her left, roughly 4 rows down.

"Princess?" A gruff old voice called out, a surprise to the old man but a welcome one at that. He had freshly cut his bear, a few centimetres of grey hair lines his chin, a bit of stubble was forming above his upper lip however it wasn't anything more than a few dots. The old man had blue eyes that were reminiscent of diamonds. Star found the book keep browsing some of the bottom-row books a few aisles down. "It's rare to see you come here? What do I owe the pleasure?" The man had a warm smile, it was the kind that a grandpa would give to one of his gran kids.

"I'm looking for anything on the fila-philo-phillodeopian wa-"

"Phillodeion war?" The man cut her off, noticing how she was struggling to remember the name.

"Yeah! That one!" She cried out after being corrected, unlike Ophelia who would have someone's head off if they interrupted her.

"What's a lovely lady like you doing with a story like that?" Glossy had one eyebrow raised at the request of the phantom princess.

"Oh, you know… Just readin'…" The Butterfly had both her hands clasped behind her back and was kicking the ground while looking down. Her demeanour forfeiting any chance of concealment she had.

"You never read," The old man said with a small chuckle, "last time you were here you said 'Sounds Boring' to me reading about the Montrialg War. So, I'll ask once more – why do you want it?" He may have been old, but as he's proven before he definitely knew how to use body language to intimidate others, he hadn't increased his level to Star at all, but the way in which his eyes stared directly into her soul broke down her defence rather quickly.

"We want to overthrow my father and sister. And we need tactics…"

Glossaryck didn't really know how to digest this information, he thought that Star was contempt with her position right now – but her she is talking about how she's going to cause Coup. "Princess…" She looked at him know, head still facing down but her eyes had met his. "I've known you since you were born, and in all that time I've seen you grow into such a wonderful girl – no matter what anyone has said or done to you. I know your parents haven't treated you right but think about what you're saying right now. This isn't a game: I don't want to lose you."

…

"I have… Do you think it was easy? Do you think that going against everything I've known for the better half of two decades was easy?! I've agonised over this, cried for this – do you know how close I've been to ending my own life countless times?! This isn't a life this is imprisonment. Yes, I might die but that'll be more worthwhile than killing myself." Glossaryck rose, seeing the crystal bulbs beginning to form within Star's eyes, the unfamiliar feeling of an impending sense of guilt. "I have lived an entire life based in the shadows and I'm so so – so so tired of this endless loop. I can't do it anymore, and this is my ticket out." Her face met his in an intense Star, tears were streaming but it wasn't sorrow that she was feeling right now – a compound of intensely mixed, and very volatile emotions stirred inside her: Resentment, Anger, Hate, Guilt – hate for herself, resentment to her father, guilt for doing this to everyone around her and finally, anger to everything.

In the blink of an eye, the wise-man realised that this wasn't his little flower he had to protect, it was a bomb about to explode and the best thing he could do was direct it to the way of those who deserve it. "I'll follow you, to the end of the Earth. You're going to need more than an old book to guide you: If you'll have me, allow this old geezer to guide you."

Words refused to form in the Butterfly's throat, after a moment of stuttering – she just nodded her head happily and jumped into a great hug with the old man, aforementioned geezer happily accepted the gesture of kindness from his greatest friend. However, his mind was already ticking about what to do.

Servant Quarters

The servants had small break rooms dotted around the castle, 2 per floor except for the one containing the royal quarters – in which case there was only one break room, exceptionally large though and fitted in gold; silky red carpets, drapes, anything of the sort.

Emilia was currently on the first floor one (Ground floor), despite all the assistants putting on displays of professionalism and indifference, they were human too. Once that door closed they free to become themselves, the door unlocked with a familiar, satisfying click, then Marco's personal assistant took a few steps inwards.

Like I mentioned, once that door closed—

"Emi! How are you doing?" A blonde-haired guy cried out, he had short-medium hair, it was stuck up in a professional combed manner, the male outfit consisted of a green necktie, white shirt, black waistcoat and some regular black trousers. The female component consisted of a similar colour scheme, except the necktie was replaced by a bowtie.

"Phil," she sighed, "I've told you a million times before – no. I don't have time for anything like that." A slight hint of agitation laced her voice.

"It's just one date!" The pushy man cried out again, trying to go in for a hug which she simply stuck one arm out in order to keep him out of reach.

"No." She firmly replied.

"Hey Em." An older guy this time approached her, one hand holding out a coffee for her to grab. One benefit to being a 'slave' was that they had near-enough an infinite amount of coffee to keep them going.

"Thanks Dick." She called out before placing it on a coaster and dropping into a chair. Another two servants were sat around the room but they didn't talk too much, an occasional short-sentence may be heard. The other three began some idle chit-chat until Emilia decided to shift it onto her chosen topic.

"I've been thinking guys," She started, but was immediately cut off by Phillip.

"That's dangerous." A monotone reply came from the blonde-hair, brown-eyes man.

"Shut up." She added on, Richard just laughed at the two bickering, they were all good friends. Phil came in to the castle a couple years after Emilia, Richard has been there for over two decades. "What are your Chosen like? You must know 'em well enough by now."

Rich was the first to speak up, "mine's just like any other you'd find, pretty stuck up and expecting everything. Nothing new, last time I saw him he was outside trying to woo (emphasis on the 'oo') over the princess. Sent me back because I was 'cramping his style.'" The other two laughed at the old man's feeble attempt to impersonate a youngster.

Phil continued the conversation, "my kid's not too bad, he's very like me – manly! He knows what he wants and he goes in 100%!"

Phil wasn't always gladly accepted in parties. His attitude was… an 'inconvenience'.

"How's your kid Em?" Richard asked while sipping on his half-filled cup of tea, it had an absurd amount of milk in. Surprising that he could drink something so milked-down that it tastes as if it's been just come from the cow.

"He's… for a lack of a better word: Unique?" She usually drank her coffee black, it took her a few years to get fully accustomed to the taste, but it was far more invigorating to drink.

"Oh yeah, you have the peasant-boy right? What a manly guy, coming into this tournament!"

"He didn't have a choice." Emilia had to clarify with Phil.

"Yeah yeah I know, but it's still pretty manly he hasn't been executed yet, right?" The guy looked over to the older gentleman for back up.

"Er… Sure. Let's go with 'manly'."

Emilia tried to get information on the schedule, "I forgot to read the message, what's on the agenda for tomorrow and the next day?"

"The great Emilia has taken a mis-step in her preparations! How could this be?! Are you really my Em?"

The woman's stare hardened, "Two things: One) I'm not your Em. Two) You have 10 seconds to start talking or I'll break your hands so you can't harass any other ladies."

Phil backed up in his seat a little, a sarcastic scared face plagued his head, "oh no, the great brute Emilia is coming for me – whatever shall I do?"

The lass took no notice of this insult and proceeded wit her threat, fully-intent of following through given the condition wasn't met. As time ticked down, her stare became colder, "4 seconds."

"Phil, you might wanna tell her." Richard observed, nearly finished with his 80% milk tea.

"Why would I give in—" The cocky guy was cut off by the sound of a fork being picked up, the next thing he knew his shirt was pinned to the coffee table. A dark presence loomed over him.

"Ok ok you win." His face was full of terror at the sight of the beast that stalked him.

"Not very manly giving into a woman, is it?" Richard proceeded to tease the young butler.

"Can it old man." He replied as the man scratched his neck. "Tomorrow is the archery competition, followed by a feast in the garden, and then finishing up with fireworks on the night. It's to celebrate the first queen's coronation or something. The next day is an all out fight to win over Ophelia during the day, then at about 4PM everyone should be preparing to get ready for the end of the first week's ball which it'll be announced what's happening over the next week. About 65% of the staff will be out drinking on that night since it'll be low-key. Obviously, a few guards will remain – we will and so will the chefs.

Emilia sighed, "That's good to know…" The three continued their chat for a while longer, letting time slip by.

Marco's Room

The Diaz was laid on his bed with his arms tucked behind his head, staring into the soft, purple fabric that laced itself over the top of his king-sized bed. That was when a very quiet, triple-knock arrived on the door. Who?

The question was on the forefront of Marco's mind the entire trip to the doorway – it could be anyone… River, Star, Ophelia, Al, Emilia… Moon? I can't tell. That triple knock was weird though.

Once Marco arrived at the sound's source, he unlocked the door and opened it to a greeting of fluffy green hair.

"Um, hello… It's, Kelly here… My friends call me Kell, but that doesn't mean anything to you, right… Yeah er – this!" She presented herself, arms open to reveal a slightly grey and white tuxedo.

Ending Notes: Kelly showed up at the end! OOoooooooo, she won't be a main character I don't think, and she's very OOC so it's more so just character design with maybe a few throw ins, but other than that she's a bit shy as you can tell.

How was it? (Review) Personally, I felt pretty lost with this one, it felt like I didn't know where to go and so I just kept going - a bit shorter than the last one, but it was bound to be. My favourite thing to write was the banter between the servants, they are friends and they've known each other for a long time so it's always fun to write characters that know each other well - they can bounce off one another.

Leave suggestions, criticisms, praise, anything of the sort in the Reviews! It lets me know you're reading. With that all said:

See ya

vK~