Prologue

Asbel and Richard had similar concerns before the "Little Queen" incident and both had dealt with their issues alone as well.

Richard had tried his best to make it easier for himself by testing Asbel. He encouraged Cheria and assured her that Asbel liked her, maybe even loved her. He didn't know how Asbel would respond to her, but the fact that she was now living with him had told Richard he had lost the love of his life to the obnoxious girl. This made the issue of choosing a wife a lot less painful. However, the issue of carrying on was made much worse.

Asbel thought that choosing Cheria was the best thing for Sophie. He cared more for that little girl than anyone else in the world. The longer Asbel lived with Cheria however, the more miserable he became. He didn't dislike Cheria by any means. He loved her. He just didn't feel as though he loved her the same way she loved him or even the same way he himself loved Richard... he regretted his decision and didn't know what to do. The wedding with Cheria was less than a week away.

Asbel sat at his father's desk and tried to think of a sensible decision. Marriage is a matter of heart. He should choose whom he loves in his heart. But neither Richard nor Cheria were the most important thing in his heart. Sophie took priority. Finding someone to help him raise Sophie... that's why he chose Cheria in the first place. Choosing the one his heart longed for would be selfish.

"Asbel?" He looked up from his desk as Sophie called from outside the door. Asbel made sure to wipe away any tears before calling to her "come in sophie" with false cheer in his voice.

Sophie walked in with a look of concern on her face "Asbel. ... why do people get married?" She asked curiously.

"W-well... they get married because they love each other, because they make each other happy" he explained briefly.

"..." Sophie looked down and held her chest "... does Cheria make you happy?" She asked nervously.

Asbel was a little caught off guard by this. He hadn't heard anything from Sophie about the wedding until now.

"Well..." Asbel looked down nervously. He didn't like lying to sophie. Lying just wasn't something Asbel did. "Doesn't this make you happy?" He asked curiously

Sophie cocked her head to the side "I'm not getting married" she muttered

"... but won't having Cheria as your mother make you happy?" He asked

Sophie shook her head "Cheria is already my mother. Why would you marrying her change anything?" she asked curiously.

"... so Sophie... you don't care who I marry?" He asked nervously.

She shook her head. "No. I don't care. No matter who you marry, you are my father and Cheria is my mother. Pascal is my sister and Richard is my brother. Hubert is my uncle and Malik is my grandpa" She reminded him. "Even when we're all apart... we're still a family" she smiled

Asbel smiled and stood up to lean over his desk and pat her head "thanks Sophie. I'm glad we had this talk" he smiled.

Sophie nodded and waited for him to take his hand off her head before saying "i'm happy too Asbel." With a smile "I need to go tend to one of the gardens " she informed as she turned around to leave "Asbel... I want you to be happy" she said as she opened the door and left.

Asbel blinked and sat back down at his desk. "..." he took a moment to think. Sophie wanted him to be happy? Marriage was supposed to be a personal decision. ... and she said that the wedding wouldn't change her feelings toward anyone...

Asbel finally came to a decision. He would not marry for Lahnt or society or anyone but himself. It was his heart. His life. His body. He wanted Richard.

Asbel had loved Richard since... well he didn't really know when his feelings became love... but Richard had always been very important to him. It had hurt him so much to fight him, but he knew now everything he did was necessary to save Richard, from assisting in the infiltration of Walbridge, to becoming Lambda's new host... he just wanted to help Richard. To protect him. Defend him. Just being Richard's sword was enough as long as he didn't have to marry Cheria. Even if he was just a knight, even if he couldn't marry him, he needed to be by Richard's side.

He felt bad for Cheria... if her feelings for him really were the same as his feelings for Richard, then this would really hurt her... but he couldn't marry her. He did care deeply for her but not in the romantic sense. He grew up with her. They played together, they argued, and he tried to protect her. Like a sister. He felt for Cheria much the same as he felt for Hubert.

Asbel didn't know what to do... he didn't want to break her heart... and how were he and Richard to be wed even if Richard did love him? Richard is the king of Windor. He can't marry a man. He needs a queen... but if Asbel were a woman... of course for that to happen, 'Asbel' would have to be dead...

Asbel took out a piece of paper and a quill pen and started to write.

I, Asbel Lahnt, will die some day. If this tragedy ever does occur, this is my will.

Obviously, since I have no heir, Hubert Oswell is to rule Lahnt. He is a good leader and is also the next of kin. I want Sophie to have a good life. I want Richard to take care of Sophie as her father. I know he has the means and ability to give her a good life.

Signed- Asbel Lahnt

Asbel looked over the will. It could be written better, but it had all of the information necessary for his plan...

Asbel left the open letter on his desk so it could be found easily. He needed to make sure Lahnt was in good hands and he needed to make sure he could still have Sophie... that he could still protect her.

He left the desk and the study to get to the garden where Sophie was tending to the Sopherias.

"Asbel" she muttered as she stood to face him.

"Hey Sophie" he smiled "I need to go see the situation on a monster in the cavern. Tell Cheria I'll be home in about an hour" he informed

"Asbel, I want to-" sophie managed to say before she was interrupted.

"Sorry Sophie but someone needs to stay home, Cheria's coming home from Stratah and she'll get worried if we're both gone. Understand? " he asked as he hugged her tight. This might be the last time he would see Sophie for awhile.

"... yes Asbel. I'll stay... be careful" she insisted and hugged him gently.

".. yeah. Of course" he smiled at her and left the hug and proceeded with his plan.

Asbel first went to the item store and bought a simple white dress with some brown ribbons. This would be what he'd wear once he finished the act of staging his death, and no one questioned him buying a dress, assuming Sophie was just getting new clothes.

Asbel went to the cavern on north Lahnt road, wandering around until he found one large enough that it could believably consume him. He found a large slime much like one he had fought here before, but it was not awake. It was time to make a scene.

Asbel ripped the top half of his coat and left the bottom half on the ground. He took a rock and cut his arm on it and made sure to get a considerable amount of blood on the white coat on the ground. This was painful... but he had known worse pain before... and this would be worth it. He left his sheath and his sword, separate but on the ground. It looked like a monster fight gone wrong. Maybe he got distracted. Or tripped, knocked unconscious before being eaten by the slime.

Now he needed to dispose of the remaining coat scraps...

For the time being he decided to just wear the dress over the remainder of his coat which was just sleeves at this point.

He realized he might not be the most masculine man... in fact he could see that it might be easy for a man to find him an attractive woman. Maybe not overly sexy or beautiful... but he had a pretty face... he didn't want men's attention at all besides richard... but he needed to pass for female... how could he deter men without increasing his masculinity. ..

He had heard from Malik that a woman wearing a ring was off limits to a man. He happened to still have the ring Richard "loaned" him when they were children. He looked over the gold ring and thought of his childhood for a moment...

Richard gave him this ring so that Asbel could come see him when he wanted... what if Richard really did love him back? What if this all worked out? What if they could really be together? What if Asbel really became a queen? Asbel had had some hard times... but usually things worked out.. so if they couldn't be together, well something would work out for Asbel. He hoped that something wasn't Cheria...

after putting on the ring, He made his way to the port to barona and boarded a ship to the capital. He made it to the inn and used a higher voice for practice.

"H-hello" he said quietly to the innkeeper in a more feminine voice than his normal one.

"Well hello ma'am" the man smiled cheerfully at asbel "what would you be needing today?" He asked politely

"Eh I just need a room" he muttered quietly and looked down at his hands nervously, adjusting the ring so that the green gem showed clearly

"... understood ma'am" the innkeeper nodded. "Your room is the one on the second floor at the end of the hall. " he informed and Asbel nodded

Asbel went up the stairs and straight to his room. He wondered how long he should wait. He knew he should at least wait until the funeral. That way Asbel would officially be dead. He also didn't want Richard or anyone else's responses to be counterfeit at the funeral. Everyone needed to be sad... no matter how selfish it was, Asbel didn't need Cheria to have any doubt in Asbel's death. She would suspect something if anyone else wasn't as upset as they should be...

But as soon as he heard news of the funeral, he'd go to Richard and tell him and Sophie the truth. He really hoped they'd forgive him...