"Your majesty, is there are room where I could talk to the girls in private?"

The king and queen looked at the Touya curiously. As smart as the queen was, she quickly figured out what Touya could be thinking. Her first reaction was to stop him but she held back. Yumina and the rest were not children anymore. They made a mistake and meddling into their affairs now would only mean more trouble later. Not to mention Touya could actually leave. He looked serious enough.

"You can talk in Yumina's room."

Watching Touya and the girls leaving, the king pulled his wife to the side.

"What actions was that boy talking about?"

"I don't know exactly but didn't you listen to the story of what happened? Also he's a young man…"

"And what? You think he would dare to make those girls do something bad?"

The queen smiled. "I don't know, maybe. He was serious when he said he would leave."

"He was? I thought it was an empty threat."

"No, I saw it in his eyes. He really hates being attacked like that. I can't blame him for that. Betrayal is the worst after all."

"I suppose you're right." The king nodded and hugged his wife. "Will Yumina be okay?"

"As long as she's not stupid, she will be fine. I trust that Touya won't go too far with his demands."

"Ugh, hearing you say it like that I can already imagine him telling the girls to line up on the bed naked."

"You filthy old man, stop thinking of other girls naked." The queen puffed her cheeks pretending to be angry.

The king smiled, "Ha, those little girls will never compare to you, my love."

"Hmph," the queen looked way but was happy inside, "I'll forgive you this time."

Grabbing her around the legs, the king lifted the queen into his arms and started walking towards their bedroom.

"Where are you taking me?"

"Oh, I just wanted to show you that you are by far the best with my actions, not just my words."

"You rascal, ah…."

The door to the royal bedroom closed.

"Strip."

His voice was quiet but all the girls took a step back. Elze and Yae crouched down a little into their combat stances. Yumina didn't plan to fight, she just stood there not believing what Touya said. Linze was panicking. Feeling like she was being stripped already she held tight to her small breasts and covered her crotch with her arms.

As the girls were preparing for an incoming attack, Touya sat down on Yumina's bed.

"Are you willing to do that? If you strip and don't hide anything, then I'll forgive you."

Her breasts aching from her squeezing them too hard, Linze crouched down. Elze and Yae protested.

"You pervert. Were you pretending to be hurt just to see us naked?"

"I can't do that, not before I get married."

Yumina didn't say anything. She was the one leading the charge on Touya. The other three were making some progress but for Yumina that was way too slow. However stripping all the way in front of Touya was too much for her as well.

"It's fine if you don't want to. I'm not forcing you. Well then," Touya stood up and created a gate, "goodbye." He stepped through.

Looking at the scene between her fingers, Linze saw the man she loved disappear from her life. The pain that pierced her heart at that moment was horrific. It felt like a thousand needless relentlessly stabbing her chest.

Relaxing their combat stances, Elze and Yae dropped down to their knees. Up until now they have never bowed down to anybody else. They both had their pride and nobody could take it away from them. They would rather die. Their pride was left intact. Their hearts weren't. Tears streaming down their faces their vision went blurry.

Yae dropped her sword and was gasping for air. Trying her best to not fall apart but it was no use. As a melee fighter she was used to pain. It was inevitable to get hit when training and adventuring. She even felt joy from feeling pain when training. It meant that her training was going well.

This was different. Everything she worked for until now lost its meaning. She had skill with the sword and her pride but so what? What use was that when she felt like there was no point in going on?

Next to Yae, Elze's whole body was shaking. As a melee fighter who focused on strength and fighting with her fists she was proud to be strong. Using her strength she would push thought any trial and emerge on the other side. Pain of the journey made her stronger.

Elze was confident in her strength but now even if she was a thousand times stronger she would be crushed all the same. Her strength was meaningless. All she had left was her pride. Her useless pride that ruined her happiness.

Time had seemingly stopped for Yumina. Her heart was hitting so hard she felt dizzy. Although it felt like it could burst at any moment she made a choice long ago. Touya was destined to be her husband and she wasn't going to stop fighting for him.

Pride was important but her happiness was depending on Touya. Without him all nothing else mattered. Now as time to act.

Touya took as step towards the portal. Yumina knew that the portal would close the moment he was thought. If that happened she would lose him forever.

She lunged her body forward with all her might. Touya's foot was already inside the portal. Yumina made a few more steps. Touya's body started to enter the portal.

Feeling desperate for a brief moment, Yumina though what would happened if the portal closed when she was half way in. Not stopping for anything, having complete faith in Touya she jumped at the portal.

Her arm stretched out but it was too late, Touya's body was fully in the portal.

Then it happened. She grabbed onto a hand. A familiar hand. Closing her eyes, Yumina pulled on that hand with all she could muster. This was the deciding moment. It was time to go all out.

"I'll do it, I'll do it!"