Kane's home was at its usual silence. Except now the stillness felt heavy on everyone's shoulders. The aftermath was quiet - Queen kept to herself and spoke little. She stayed in her room and declined her training and lessons. Days passed and things remained the same.

Deacon visited her first. She hadn't spoken a further word to the Elite, himself especially. He couldn't blame her. She had a reason to be mad at him. He felt partly responsible for the screaming that happened. He figured doing the hard, unwanted work was already part of his daily regimen. He was ready to face whatever mess was going to come his way.

He knocked on the door. "Are you alright in there?"

She recognized his voice. There were light footsteps and a reluctant weight on the other side. It slowly opened, revealing the puffy face of Queen. Her eyes were bloodshot and her cheeks moist. She held onto the knob tightly.

He rested both hands on his cane pleasantly. "Good to see you. Do you need anything?"

Another tear emerged from her eye. She felt too empty to be cross with him anymore. "Deacon, why did you tell him..?'

He sighed. There was no way of avoiding this subject no matter how hard he'd try. "It was nothing personal. It's always been my job to tell him things. You being on that island was something he needed to know."

"But you promised-"

"-Not to tell him if you just dropped it." He tapped his fingers to emphasize his point. "I warned you Kane would be upset."

She frowned at the use of his name. She had to address the hard part of this situation, even though she didn't want to. "Did he ever...come home, that night?"

"I wasn't there. But I heard from Bishop that he came back late."

"...Was he with anyone?"

"Only himself." A relieved sigh left her lungs. "That's all I can tell you."

Queen's heart ached. She wasn't having the greatest luck lately. She saw him around - catching Kane around the mansion or even in the castle's walls. But he always brushed past her and seldom spoke. He looked like he was upset...and she understood why. She wished they could speak again. To hear his voice one more time…to sort everything out so things can go back to normal...The sadness must've lingered on her face, judging by Deacon's reaction.

"Be easy on yourself." His form loosened in sympathy. "If it's any consolation, this is hard on Kane, too."

"I think he'd be happy to be away from me. After what I did-"

"If he wanted to leave you, he would've done it already."

They hadn't spoken, but he was still allowing her to live here. It was himself she just hadn't seen around. His forgiveness she hadn't earned. Maybe he needed the space. Tears grew in her eyes at this realization. He needed time away from her

Deacon sighed. "You clearly mean something to him. Why else would he put himself through all of this?"

"I want to see him again. To talk things out. Please, can't you bring some sense into him?"

He didn't answer, much to her dismay. She remembered Phule's words when they were on that boat. They've all she's been thinking about in her solitude these past few days. She couldn't ignore the nagging possibility of him being right about anything he said…

"Can I ask you something?" He motioned for her to continue. "Was Kane ever a good father to you..?"

Deacon raised a brow behind his mask. This was the first time anyone asked him something like this. No one had ever been observant enough to. "-I advise ignoring whatever Phule has told you. His past is… complicated." She looked at him inquiringly. "Not everything he says is untrue, however."

"...Oh?"

"Kane is a little arrogant." He explained. "He strives for perfection with everything. We were no exception. It was unacceptable for us to have any flaws whatsoever. He had never been the emotional type…I'd never seen so until he met you."

She pinched her lips together, trying to understand his implications. He checked the time on his watch and slid it right back in his pocket. "I must go now. Take care of yourself."

He dipped his hat and turned on his heel, making his leave abruptly. He heard the door close as he left. His frame relaxed in the silence. 'Why do I have to be the one to take matters into my own hands..?'

Kane was obviously affected by this fight. He had a tendency to overwork his men when he was upset. That was why they strove not to disappoint him. It was like walking on eggshells when he was like this, lest he exploded at them for even the slightest mistake.

But Deacon had never seen him work like this behind closed doors - so sloppy and distracted, actually making errors in his calculations and forgetting important details. He often found his father sitting by himself with his head in his hands these days, suffering quietly instead of working his emotions away.

The door which held the solution to these problems was approaching.


The figure busted through the door as its white bauta mask surveyed the area. Phule's room was a mess like it always was, dimly lit at this time more than usual. His eyes didn't have to go long before they landed on red and blue clothes. Deacon angrily slammed it shut and approached him with such speed that he hadn't the chance to prepare for it. His cape swayed with his movements as he angrily set down his cane.

"You." He seethed.

The jester looked him up-and-down before he offered a cocky smile. "Me?"

"Don't act like I don't know what's going on. You were there with her."

"You're talking about the incident with our grandfather." He set down what was in his hands. He'd been shuffling cards. He had no idea why since no one else was in the room. "- E allora? "

"'So?' Kane has been hard on everyone. Queen's devastated and it's all because of you ."

He meant to approach him about this the day it happened. But he'd been pulled into too many things after the Tortellini's party. He had to do something now. It infuriated him to think Phule has just been sitting in here since. Doing nothing to solve the situation despite starting it.

He scoffed. "Don't act like I'm the only one guilty here. You're the one who blabbed about what we did. If anyone's to blame, it would be you."

"I know damn well you did everything knowing I would tell him. It's my job." He flicked some dirt off his sleeve. "Besides - I was helping the situation. Do you know how worse it would've been if Kane found out on his own ?"

"Not at all, because he would've never known! I'm telling you - everything would be fine if you didn't go and tell him."

"Oh, really? Then why did you bring her there in the first place, if not to cause trouble?"

He lowered his marotte and grinned. Deacon held his masked head in his hand. He exasperatedly threw his hands in the air before shoving them on his hips. His frustration was immeasurable. Of course that idiot would do something like this! Did a day go by where he wasn't bothered by him in some way?

"I don't know why you care so much." Phule continued as his younger brother rubbed his temples in annoyance. "Hasn't that girl been enough trouble for you? She's been distracting Kane and you were left to do all the work for him. I imagine you're as frustrated as I am."

"Maybe I'm not because I don't hate our father."

"It would be much easier if you did. We all know Rooke is his favorite."

"Yes, and even he got punished for an entire year." He groaned in irritation. "Have you not noticed how lenient Kane's been? I haven't seen him in such a good mood in years, and then you come and ruin it."

"He ruined my childhood. Call it returning the favor."

"Tutto questo è così frustrante!" He lamented. "You're just going to sit here while things go to hell?"

"You think I haven't had a hard time!? I've wasted days teaching his girlfriend how to eat at a table and talk like a pretentious snob! And what do I get in return? A week without being sent to scrape the dead bodies off the street?"

"Basta così. You need to fix things. Now."

The jester angrily sat up in his seat. His patience was running thin. He planned to drag this entire thing out for as long as he could - to see his father suffer in the way he wanted. He'd been enjoying the show thus far. He didn't want it to end so soon. Why did Mr. goody-two-shoes have to start pointing fingers? It was about time he knew his boundaries.

"Why should I? She was bound to realize Kane's an ass at some point. That was out of my control. I'm not responsible for anything."

"Like hell you aren't. We all bit our tongue when she asked us about Gazpaccio. You had to go and take her to him like some nut! None of this had to happen, and you know it."

He snapped his fingers. "Hey, I have an idea! Why don't YOU go and fix it, if you're such a father's pet?"

"Because unlike you, I have important things to do. It doesn't help that there's a war about to happen, and Kane isn't thinking straight. We're lucky Valencia hasn't been torn to parts right now."

He narrowed his eyes and turned away. He had to admit defeat. The other man was satisfied when he finally caved in. "It's not like my plan worked, anyway. Kane hasn't thrown her out. Nothing feels like it's changed at all."

"Well, what did you expect? She's the first woman he's been with in years. He moved her in here. He didn't throw her away like Bishop's mother. This was his first seriously committed relationship, and you go and treat that like it's nothing!"

"It's hard to believe anyone's important to him! Alright!?" He defended. "After all this time, the way he treated us…how was I supposed to believe he'd ever care for anyone else?"

He lowered his head. "Do the right thing. You started this, and you will end it."

He turned and headed straight for the door. His older brother remained in his chair as he went, looking at the back of his form with malice. Nothing more was said as Deacon left. He stared at the cards on the table, thinking of what to do next. Despite how he hated to admit it…he had a point. Everything was going to be at a standstill until something was done - and if Phule was good at anything, it was instigating things.

He stood with a huff and grabbed his marotte.


"Supreme Commander, if I may ask…where is Queen?"

Kane glanced up wearily as King Casimir looked at him questioningly. They were in the castle's throne room, accompanied by the members from the court above, who chatted away mindlessly. There was an empty space in Margherita's throne. The two Queens would usually gossip there to pass the time with. The silence from its direction was hard to ignore.

"We aren't speaking right now, your highness."

"Oh, dear." He glanced at his wife's vacant seat. "I figured as well. Margherita didn't want to come since she's rather bored now, in our free time."

"..Again?" He asked. Casimir nodded regretfully. The Supreme Commander shifted his feet.

Queen's friendship with her was the solution to this previously-forgotten predicament. He noticed the tense aura the first day Valerie didn't show with him. They spent some of their leisure time with the royalty, in the throne room as they accompanied them to their businesses.

But she hadn't shown in these past days, and Margherita grew restless with her lack of company. He didn't help the situation - not bothering to invite her when he visited the King and Queen anymore. He had little to offer to the royalty conversation-wise, if the awkward silence didn't express that enough. Queen usually spared him the effort most of the time.

That was another thing he admired about her. Ever since her friendship with the crowns started, she kept them entertained with gossip she heard around Valencia. She was skilled with keeping up with current events and knowing what was going on in Cadiz. He had little reason to care about anything that didn't involve his military, and left that matter into her hands. Now that she wasn't here…they didn't have that distraction.

The regal figure noticed his expression and frowned. He sat on his throne and turned to him. "You saved my marriage once. I owe it to ask if I can help, mio amico?"

"There's no need to-"

" You there..! Fetch a seat for him, would you?"

Kane was interrupted when an assistant came running in with a small chair. He slowly lowered himself on the cushion. He grit his teeth at the pain that came from his lower back. He acquired it from sleeping on a futon in the workshop. It was a temporary sleeping space for either him or Bishop if they worked themselves into the morning - but it wasn't comfortable. The first night was somewhat bearable, but the few after were torture. He did all this to avoid Valerie…but he'd rather be in his own bed, getting rest instead of tossing and turning all night…

The King looked at him expectantly. "Do you want to talk?"

He didn't hesitate. He never expressed his personal matters willingly to his superior. "I would rather not."

"If that is your wish…you may leave, if you'd like." He motioned to the grand doors. "I'll be here until Margherita wants to join me…I try to be the best company for her, but she says that she needs time away from men. If you can believe that..!"

He forcefully laughed as the Commander excused himself. He didn't know where he wanted to go, but he needed the space to think. To have a moment's worth to himself, after being forced to do everything else these past days. He resorted to one of his work rooms within the castle - using his key to unlock it, then securing it once he was inside. He used these rooms for temporary work. But right now, he just needed the refuge.

. . .

"*Sigh*..."

He sat down at the desk and reached for one of his math books. They were complicated expressions he kept on hand to practice his mathematics. He opened a page and picked one he wanted to do. He spent several minutes working out an equation only to find his mind was clouded. The numbers were hard to remember the longer he worked. He became increasingly frustrated as he suddenly couldn't think. Couldn't calculate. The answer he came up with was incorrect. The tip of his pencil snapped when he pressed it in annoyance.

"Che cazzo!" He swore under his breath, grabbing another and trying again in sheer determination. He couldn't correct it. He threw the items away in irritation. He grabbed at his hair, the strands loosely falling out and dangling in front of his face. Math was always something he did right. Something was amiss.

"What is wrong with me..?" He muttered to himself.

He hated being away from Queen, but he couldn't stand being with her right now. After knowing what she did and hearing her pathetic attempts to justify it…it made his stomach twist unpleasantly. He recalled the lonely nights he spent away from her, taking an emotional and physical toll on him. He felt conflicted above everything. No matter how long he dwelled on this matter, he couldn't come to a straight conclusion on anything…

He knew one thing for certain: he wanted to be with her. He loved her because he couldn't let go. The thought of leaving Valerie introduced a hurt he couldn't fathom. It was similar to the coldness when she called him those words - a 'selfish asshole '...

His entire world had been shattered, to realize she saw him in such a way…as someone who didn't care, when it was entirely the opposite. He cared too much about her. And that was obvious, knowing how much this ordeal was hurting him, in many ways at once. No matter how much he brought himself away, he wanted to see her again. To reconcile more than anything, right now.

He moved his leg and felt a presence in one of his pockets. He surfaced the familiar ring box he'd been observing for so long. He placed it on the table and stared at it. He realized what he was feeling. He was… heartbroken . The pain in his chest was strong, and he was overcome with a numbing sensation that spread to his body. A hotness entered his throat as he choked - and that was when a tear shed from his eye.

He couldn't register anything at that moment. It'd been so many years since he cried. He hadn't a reason to, after all this time. But now…

"Heeeelloooo, dad!"

A joyful noise tore him from his thoughts. He sat up in his chair and quickly wiped the tear from his face. The interruption came from behind the closed door. Kane's hands clenched tightly when he recognized the voice. He didn't prefer company at that moment, and he especially didn't want it from Phule.

He was upset with him, too. But this wasn't the first time he caused trouble, and it wouldn't be the last. The fault might've been on him for not warning Queen what he was capable of in time. Least to say, he wasn't entirely surprised he was behind all of this. But he couldn't blame him alone.

At his lack of response, the jester clacked his tongue. "Still upset, are you? You've locked yourself up everywhere these past few days. What do you need? A smile?"

The anger returned at his cocky tone. The Supreme Commander wanted to throw the door off its hinges. To take him by the throat so he wouldn't be pestered anymore. It took all his willpower to remain in that chair completely unmoved. His silence encouraged him to continue.

"I can tell this isn't going to work, so I'll get to the point. The snitch was right. I did it; I took her there. You're smart enough to know that. So I'm here to say that I…formally apologize for my wrongdoings."

He announced his apology dramatically. His father said nothing. He couldn't blame him for being skeptical - especially since he didn't really mean it - but his patience was thin. He wanted to get things back to normal already. And if Kane was going to act like a child, throwing a tantrum by locking himself in a room and offering little compliance…he couldn't help getting a little frustrated.

Phule angrily kicked at the door. ""Per l'amor di Dio! You're the Supreme Commander of the Armada! You're going to sit there and take this? I've seen you snap someone's wrist for speaking out of line..!"

He normally would not do something like this, as he would have him by the neck right now, but it was easier to express his emotions when he wasn't standing right in front of him. When those judgemental eyes wouldn't be peering at him, scrutinizing every imperfection like they've done for so many years…

Nothing. He smacked the door with his gloved palm. "Go ahead and take your anger out on me - I know you're dying to do it..! Go on!"

Silence. At this point, he felt exhausted. He rubbed his hands on his face as he lowered himself to the floor, resting his back against the wood. He wondered if the room was empty and he was just making a literal fool of himself. But then he heard some noise from the other side. Like something was set down on a table. He was in there. He was listening. He just wasn't responding.

His eyes lowered. Knowing there was a barrier between them, it felt easier to talk to him than it had been his whole life. He would never know another opportunity to speak this honestly to his father.

"Fine...I did all of this for a reason. I wanted you to get rid of her. I thought Queen was some woman you kept around to have fun with. How can anyone ever know with you?"

Kane picked his head up. His stare was now on the door, where his son remained on the other side. He did not rise from his seat, wishing to keep some space between them. His anger subsided hearing Phule's honesty. A rare thing he was ever given.

"I wanted you to feel pain. I succeeded, but...not in the way I exactly wanted." He tapped his marotte on his other hand. " You didn't throw her away like I thought you would. You might even love her, if i'm guessing right."

A pause. Still nothing. He sighed.

"She meant no harm, you know. She wanted to know about you. And if you ask me, she should've seen the ugly parts . If there's anyone to be mad at, it's me. She didn't want to betray you - I made her do it. I could care less about how you feel, but...she does, as pathetic as that is! " He laughed to keep his demeanor up. "She could do with someone better than you, but...I wanted to let her know what she's getting into."

He could hear movement in the room. Kane stood from his chair and walked to the locked door. He remained there, hovering his hand over the knob. But he didn't touch it yet. Phule sensed his presence and promptly stood to back away a little. The alarm bells were ringing in his head. He hadn't forgotten about the way he talked to him earlier. He was sure he didn't, either.

"I don't care anymore. But you should speak with her. That's the only way this will be fixed. Tell her these things so she doesn't have to go digging herself..! You've seen what that leads to."

He ran off before Kane could open the door. He didn't want to risk seeing the commander's violent outburst. But he didn't have one. He slid the door open and stared vacantly at the empty hallways - musing Phule's words as he stood there. He knew where he was needed. With her. His queen. And it was about time he made her one.