Haschwald and Bambietta went along the corridor, heading to their rooms. Quincy girl was chattering all the time and Haschwald was patiently listening to her and replied something indifferently from time to time. But then Bambietta's next question suddenly attracted his attention.
"Do you love that new recruit girl from the village situated in a valley?"-Bambietta asked seriously without her usual mockery.
"Eh?"-Haschwald surprised.-"Are you talking about Elder's granddaughter Elza? Why should I, all of a sudden, fall in love with her?"
"I just wanted to know about your feelings towards her."-Bambietta explained.-"But since your answer is "no", I think I should warn you after all."
"About what?"-Haschwald asked.
"Well, you know, Elza got in the group of rookies, which I personally train. And after that she rather quickly got along with your old friend Lucy."-Bambietta said.-"Now they are really close friends. They support each other and so on."
"Well, I am happy for her."-Haschwald said.
"Me too. But listen further. I presume, you were able to notice that Elza is a rather pushy girl and she doesn't give up very easily. And since she has a crush on you, I think you can guess that she won't change her mind in the near future and will try to become a couple with you at any cost. So, I, as an ardent supporter of your relationship with His Majesty, wanted to warn you that at the moment she joined forces with Lucy, who promised to help her with that love case. Well, be ready for the massive fangirls attack, pretty boy."-Bambietta smiled.
"All right, I got it. Thanks for the warning."-Haschwald said.-"Do you think she will leave me alone, if I tell her that I have no interest in her?"
"Don't even hope. Because, in fact, she thinks that you really love her at heart, but you are just too shy to admit it and tell her about your true feelings. So, she will try to make you her boyfriend in any case."-Bambietta said and then smirked.-"Although~ You can just tell her the truth about your real love. I am absolutely sure that it will be super effective."
"I don't think that it's a good idea."-Haschwald replied.
"Then, in such case, you should just stock up a lot of patience."-Bambietta advised.
Just as Quincy girl said, a few days later two recruit girls began to act. Every time when Haschwald was walking nearby, Elza was intentionally raising her voice and told about her progress and achievements in her training and other such things, letting everyone around know how she is talented, kind and caring. Haschwald just tried to ignore that.
Then some time later two girls found Bambietta in the main corridor and decided to ask her for a help.
"Bambietta-sama, we really need your advice."-Lucy said and briefly told her senpai about their problem.
"I don't know how to attract his attention. No matter what I did, it's just not working."-Elza said.
"Well, maybe if you would become more like His Majesty.."-Bambietta looked slyly in the direction of Haschwald, who was staying not far away from them and most likely could hear their conversation.
"Huh? Will it really help?"-Elza surprised.
Bambietta noticed Haschwald's displeased glance and quickly turned away from him.
"Oh, never mind. Forget what I said. Just keep on being yourself."-Bambietta advised.
"I will, Bambietta-sama."-Elza replied.
Later that day Elza managed to persuade Haschwald to lead her to the library and show her the books with Daten. Haschwald showed her the bookcases, which she sought, and was going to left. But Elza asked him to wait.
"Haschwald-sama, I want to take that book from the upper shelf. But it's too high. Could you, please, pick me up, so that I could reach that book?"-Elza asked.
Haschwald just silently pointed at the nearby ladder.
During the next few days Elza continued her attempts to attract Haschwald's attention. However, there still wasn't any progress in it at all. Then stubborn girl decided to take more effective measures.
When Haschwald was walking near one of the steep stairs in the castle, he suddenly heard a short shriek, coming from the top of the stairs. The blond Quincy looked surprisedly into that direction and saw Elza falling down from the high stairs. Of course, Haschwald perfectly understood that she was doing it intentionally. But he also could guess that girl was serious about her plan and wasn't going to use Hirenkyaku to land safely. Of course, he could just ignore another Elza's stupid trick and let her fall, but it would be rather dishonorably from his side. And since he was a Quincy-gentleman, he didn't allow the lady to hit the floor and helped her right in time.
"I suppose, you don't know how to use Hirenkyaku after all."-Haschwald said.
"Oh, I just didn't thought about it in such dangerous situation."-Elza said.
"Is this really so?"-Haschwald asked, then looked sternly at the girl and said seriously.-"Have you come here only to flirt with me or also to become a strong soldier, who will be able to protect her comrades? Or maybe you have already forgotten that your family and friends from your village are still counting on you? I think I should remind you that you came here primarily to learn how to protect the ones, who are dear to you. That's the main reason why Quincies were bestowed their powers. You should always remember that."
Elza kept silent after Haschwald's words and diligently thought about something for a while. Then she finally decided something and talked again.
"You are right, Haschwald-sama. Everyone in the village expects me to become the one, who will be able to protect our home from the enemies in the future. I must keep that promise, which I gave them."-Elza said.
"I am really glad that you understood it."-Haschwald said.
Since that day Elza kept her promise, duly concentrated on her training and wasn't bothering Haschwald anymore.
One day Haschwald was in the throne room. He was awaiting for the Emperor to give him an errand for today. Haschwald was staying near one of the pillars while His Majesty was discussing something with some soldier. While waiting for soldier to leave, Haschwald was thoughtfully looking at the Quincy leader.
At first Haschwald's glance slid over Emperor's black hair. The blond Quincy was always curious how His Majesty managed to grow such long and beautiful hair. Then Haschwald moved his glance to so dear to him facial features of the person he loved and respected more than someone else. After that Haschwald's glance stopped at the Emperor's well-kept mustache, which always pleasantly prickled when they were kissing. Haschwald thought about it and smiled dreamily.
"It's nice that you are feasting your eyes on me but what about your work?"-a voice was suddenly heard.
Haschwald winced slightly from surprise and only then noticed that soldier has already left. The Emperor was sitting on his throne and looked at the blond Quincy with a smile, propping his head with his hand.
"Oh..Yes..excuse me, Your Majesty."-Haschwald replied.
The Emperor came up to the blond Quincy and embraced him, drawing to himself.
"Of course I don't mind you to look at me, especially with such cute dreamy face."-Juha Bach smiled and stroked the blond Quincy on the cheek.-"But I wanted you to take care about one special business today. Did you know that I sent Kirge and his Jagdarmee on their first mission in Hueco Mundo? It will help to find out how well they are trained and whether they are able to complete more important missions in the future or not. At the moment they are just investigating the situation in Hueco Mundo. And I want you to go to the operator room and keep in touch with Kirge while he is on mission. He will report you about their progress and all the events. Well, will my dear Haschwald do it for me?"
"Of course, Your Majesty. You can count on me."-Haschwald replied with a cute blush on his cheeks.
"I know."-Juha Bach said and kissed the blond Quincy before letting him go.
While heading to the operator room, Haschwald met Bambietta on his way. When Quincy girl found out about his errand, she decided to keep him a company. They came to the required room and turned on the communication with Jagdarmee.
"Oh~ It's you, commander!"-it was clear that Kirge was in a rather good mood.-"How is the weather out there at home? It's rather windy here~"
"I see you are having fun there."-Haschwald remarked.
"Exactly~ I just can't wait to show my power to all those Hollows around here."-Kirge said with enthusiasm.
"Don't get too reckless, Kirge. Your mission at the moment is to investigate the situation and preferably without picking an unnecessary fights."-Haschwald reminded.
"Einverstanden~"-Kirge sang in a reply.
After that Jagdarmee captain temporarily turned off the communication. So, Haschwald and Bambietta had to wait until Kirge will get some new information to call them again and report about it.
Haschwald was patiently waiting, but as for Bambietta, she became really bored rather fast and began to complain.
"I am not holding you here, by the way."-Haschwald said.-"You can leave, if you want."
"But I was curious if Kirge will find something interesting in that desert."-Bambietta said.
She was looking thoughtfully at the microphone for the communication for a while but then she suddenly got an idea. Bambietta took out a hankie out from her pocket, brought it closely to her mouth and turned on the communication.
"Kirge, can you hear me?"-she asked through the hankie with more rough voice than hers.
"Who is there?"-Kirge asked with a note of surprise in his voice.
"Yare-yare. Looks like my soldiers can't recognize me anymore."-Bambietta asked.
"Wait.. Your Majesty?"-Kirge asked.
"Precisely."-Bambietta replied, winking and showing a thumb to Haschwald, whose eyebrows went up.
"B-But.. May I ask what's with your voice, Your Majesty?"-Kirge said.
"Something is wrong with the communication. Any other questions?"-Bambietta replied.
"No, sir!"-Kirge replied.
"Very well. Tell me what you see in the front of you."-Bambietta said.
"White trees and endless desert, sir."-Kirge replied immediately.
"All right. And what is behind you?"-Bambietta asked again.
"All the same, sir."-Kirge replied duly.
Then Bambietta quickly began to name all the sides of the world in a random order and asked Kirge what he sees there, making him to whirl like a peg-top. Quincy girl paid no attention to the displeased glances, which Haschwald was giving to her, and kept having fun.
"Kirge, are you still there?"-Bambietta asked.
"..Yes..sir..."-Kirge replied, breathing heavily.
Bambietta quickly winked to Haschwald and asked seriously:
"What are you wearing now?"
"Sir..?"-Kirge didn't expect to hear something like that.
"I asked you a question. What are you wearing now?"-Bambietta repeated.
"E-eh..A uniform, sir."-Kirge replied.
"Really?"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"I see.."-Bambietta said and then changed her intonation a bit.-"I am sure it suits you very well. And you definitely look hot in it. Really, really..."
Bambietta wasn't able to finish the sentence because displeased enough Haschwald finally lost his patience and took a microphone away from her.
"Oh!..I don't even know what to reply..It was so unexpected!"-Kirge's voice was heard.
Bambietta just couldn't hold back anymore and burst into laugh. But the microphone was still turned on and Kirge immediately understood that he was fooled all this time.
"YOU! ! !"-he cried.-"I knew it! Bambietta Basterbine, you will pay when I return and- - -..."
Suddenly something happened to the communication and it abruptly turned off.
"Oh, looks like he broke his transmitter in a transport of rage."-Bambietta chuckled.-"But it was cool, wasn't it?"
"Yes, it was. If making fun of your Emperor is now counted as "cool", of course."-a familiar voice was suddenly heard behind the backs of two Quincies.
They quickly turned around and saw the Emperor in the front of them.
"Your Majesty? But I wasn't doing something like that."-Bambietta quickly began to justify herself.
"Really? But I have just perfectly heard every word from your dialog while sitting on my throne."-Juha Bach said.
Only after that Bambietta remembered that there was also a connection between the operator room and the throne room. So His Majesty could easily turn on and off the communication whenever he wanted, not even leaving his throne.
"So? How will you explain your outrageous behavior, Miss Basterbine?"-the Emperor asked in his usual calm but threatening manner while stepping closer to Bambietta.
"I..I.."-Quincy girl stepped back to the wall.
Haschwald didn't know what the Emperor was planning to do, but he knew that if he doesn't help Bambietta now, something bad might happen. So, the blond Quincy quickly got an idea how to stop His Majesty, hoping that it will help to save Bambietta.
In the next moment Haschwald intentionally stumbled and pretended that he is about to fall. The Emperor quickly turned around and caught the blond Quincy just in time. Haschwald immediately made a cute face to focus Quincy leader's attention on himself. Bambietta used her chance and immediately escaped from the room, thanking Haschwald for the help in her mind.
The Emperor was not going to pursue her. Instead of that he looked at Haschwald with a smile.
"You know, I was always surprised by your amazing ability to extricate your subordinates, my beautiful blondie."-Juha Bach chuckled.
"Eh..yes.."-Haschwald replied, blushing slightly.
"Though, you shouldn't do it that often."-with these words the Emperor quickly picked Haschwald up in the arms and left the operator room, using Hirenkyaku.
Soon enough they were in His Majesty's room. The Emperor put Haschwald on the bed, then sat nearby and put his arm around his soldier's shoulders.
"Eh, Your Majesty, may I ask why you care for me that much?"-Haschwald inquired.
"Because I love you. Isn't it obvious?"-Juha Bach replied.-"And, you know, I can distinguish lies from truth very well. So, I perfectly know that you really love me too, Haschwald, even despite the fact that you led a certain lady to the library recently."
Haschwald blushed slightly under the Emperor's mocking glance.
"And you know, we have been together for a rather long time already, and I noticed that the more time I spend with you, the more I change in a better way. After all, I even got back some of my feelings, which I considered to be lost forever in a flow of time. I don't think that I have become too soft, though, but something has definitely changed."-Juha Bach said thoughtfully.
"Is it bad?"-Haschwald asked.
"I don't think so. I presume, there is nothing bad with what you helped me to return my forgotten feelings."-the Emperor said, looking into Haschwald's eyes.-"You know, you are like the only source of heat in this kingdom of ice. You managed to melt my heart and you are warming it until now."
Haschwald blushed deeply and had no idea what to reply.
"Thank you."-Juha Bach said and gave Haschwald a long kiss on the lips.