Christine

The maid's barracks were far more lavish than she thought it would be. The style and architecture alone made the convent look like nothing more than a mountain ruin. Two silver swords a day could get her soup for a week compared to the meager once every two weeks had she still been living with Pépin.

Her own bedroom without having to worry about the old man peeking at her as she changed. And now a warm bath all to herself, prepared at the expense of Sherry Leblanc who developed a liking to her for some reason. The bathwater went pink from all the cherry-scented oils and the rose petals swimming about the tub. There were lemon slices floating in the water as well. Steam billowed out from the surface mixed with the sweet aromas of the fruits and oils perfuming Christine's fair skin with their scent.

She let out a passionate and satisfied sigh. The door creaked open. Sherry entered the bathhouse, shut the door and locked it. She formed a smile seeing Christine enjoying her bath.

"Well, you look like you're enjoying yourself."

"More than I ever have in my life," Christine said with satisfaction. She stretched her arms over her head. "Why are you pampering me like this? What have I done to make your favor me so?"

"As I said, I think you're pretty." Sherry walked to the tub and sat by the edge. She pulled a cork off a diamond-shaped bottle with purple liquid inside. She poured it in the water, smiling. "And it would be a waste to leave a fair-faced maiden like you in the dungeons to be eaten by the rats. Plus, I think Stas likes you, too. After all, he really wanted to see you. And he did set terms to free you if you had sex with him."

Christine turned her gaze out the window towards the majestic mountains of green and the fields splashed with a variety color from the flowers. The emerald green grass trying in vain to stand out from the flowers. She saw Stas summoning his Diamond Burst Dragon below, and watched as it decimated his opponent's XX-Saber Gottams.

The explosion created by the blast caused the bathwater to ripple.

"Is something wrong?" Sherry asked.

Christine closed her eyes and stuck her nose in the air. "Stas may be my Prince, but he is a spoiled, chauvinistic pompous. And I said, I was raised most of my life in a convent. I do not indulge in such pleasure."

"Not even if it meant saving your life?" Sherry asked, dipping her finger in the warm water and stirring it around.

"Not even if it spared me from the most painful death," Christine responded.

"Funny you should say that," said Sherry, taking her finger out of the water. "Stas just did save you from a very painful death."

"Oh?"

"You were to be burned at the stake for the crime of incendiarism. At the request of your former employer, Pépin, no less. And your dragon was to be killed, but Stas said otherwise."

Christine lifted her torso out of the water. "Where is he!" she demanded. "Is he safe?"

"Ahem," Sherry said, coughing into her fist. Her face turned pink like the water.

Christine covered herself and tipped back under the water. "Sorry," she said.

"It's all right," said Sherry. "But, yes, Stas saved you. As for your dragon, he's being kept down in the vaults right next to the money. It's serious protection. He's as safe as a kitten down there. And the prince recovered this for you."

She tossed Christine a velvet sack of coins from the ruffles of her petticoat. Christine caught just before it hit the water. "Hey!" she cried. "This is my…"

"Yes, it is," Sherry said with a quick nod. "Pépin told us about how he hired you. Said you gave your money to a monk. Well, Prince Stas found that monk and forced him to pay back every coin, chip, and Crown he spent. Plus, a little extra for the crime of thievery. You should be more careful with your money, darling."

"I…I guess I was a little foolish," Christine said, admiring the sack. It felt so much heavier than it did before. "Did Prince Stas really do all this for me?"

"He did," said Sherry, fanning her face from the heat of the bathwater. "Just between us, Christine, I think one of Ana's cherubs struck him when he first laid eyes on you. I've known Stas for years, and he's never given so much favor to a girl before. Believe me, he's fucked just about every girl in town; even me. And he's had 2000 girlfriends and potential fiancées before. He never lifted a pinky for them. But you, all these legal matters, and so on and so forth. I think he might have just met his match."

"But why me?" Christine asked timidly. "I have done nothing."

Sherry giggled. "You know Stas's favorite heroines were Kayla the Small and Evangelia the Star Queen. He always begged his queen mother, Goddesses rest her soul, to read him the story of their adventures over and over again every night before bed. Hell, sometimes when he and I went to the lake to swim and take our naps as children, he asked me to tell him their story. He said to me: 'Sherry when I grow up, I hope to marry a girl with dragons. We can ride into battle and roast our enemies just like Evangelia and her Galaxy-Eyes Dragon or Kayla atop of Timaeus destroying the soldiers of the Orichalcos. I'll be the most unstoppable king in all Mondé!' Stas wanted nothing more than to marry Avi, but that flimflam with King Stefan happened. And now, Christine, it looks like he's found his dragon maiden."

"Oh," said Christine. "I see."

"Do you believe in destiny, Christine?" Sherry asked.

"I was raised in a convent," Christine repeated. "I was taught that Yeyu fabricates what happens…"

"Do you believe in destiny: yes or no?" Sherry interrupted.

Christine lifted her knees from the water and wrapped her arms around them. "I was told not to. So, no."

Sherry smiled, kicking her leg back and forth. "Well, I certainly do. I think you found that dragon for a purpose. I think that you and Stas were meant to be."

"Me? I couldn't be?" said Christine. "I can't be. Like it or not, I'm a Yeyunist. And I am dedicated to my faith. I love almighty Yeyu. And Stas's faith is dedicated to the Goddesses; being's whom I do not believe in."

Sherry bobbed her head in reply. "Hurry and clean yourself up. Stas's coronation is later this afternoon, and there is going to be a grand party to which he has requested that you attend."

"But, I thought I was nothing more than a mere palace maiden," said Christine. "Why…"

"I told you why," said Sherry. "And whether you remain a palace maiden depends on how you treat Prince Stas. Or King Stas, after the coronation. See to it that you behave like a big girl and don't upset him."

Sherry got up, kissed Christine's forehead and walked out of the bathhouse, leaving her alone. She spent thirty more minutes in the bath before the doors creaked open again. Two maidens came inside and bowed. They were followed by Monsieur Benoit and the Count de Monet.

"Oh!" cried Christine, hiding underwater with a splash.

"Dress her up," the Count ordered the maids with a snap of his fingers. "Quickly! Quickly!"

One of the maids pulled a white towel from a white marble rack on the wall and walked to the side of the tub, holding it up so Christine could get out in privacy. Christine got out of the water gingerly, keeping an arm over her breasts and a hand cupped over her womanhood. The maid wrapped the towel around Christine's body and patted her dry. She held the towel up again to hide Christine's nakedness from the prying eyes of the Count as the second maid began to powder Christine's body.

"Does Stas really care that badly about me?" Christine asked as the maid wrapped the towel and tied it over her chest.

The Count wrinkled his nose in displeasure. "Young lady, you will refer to His Royal Majesty by his full title or not at all. He is a king now."

"I missed his coronation?" Christine asked.

"You were never invited to attend in the first place," said Benoit in a saucy manner. "You silly girl. The coronation of the king is a spectacle blessed by the very Goddesses themselves. And you, my dear, are a Yeyunist. You were not allowed in the temple of Horakhty in the first place. Nevertheless, you have been asked to dance with His Royal Majesty at the party tonight."

Count de Monet walked to Christine and ran a finger down the top of her head. He examined his finger, and though he saw nothing he still grunted with disgust. "Oh well, this will have to do."

Christine followed the Count, Benoit and the maids to her quarters and saw a pile of elegant clothing on her bed. The Count and Benoit remained to oversee her fitting. The count grinned, watching as a maid was tying a corset over Christine's waist. She grunted like a winded beast every time it tightened. She could feel her ribs getting bent.

Benoit laughed. "Don't worry, you'll get used to it."

"How do I…urk!" she cried as the corset tightened. "…get used to something like this?" Christine moaned. "It feels like I'm being squeezed by a Fiend Kraken!"

Again, the Count chuckled with amusement. "Get used to it, doll, that's the way things are done here. Now, there are a few things we have to cover when meeting with the king."

The Count went on and one about the mannerisms of a lady in court. How she should eat. What part of the plate she needed to start in. As she tried on her dress, he went on about how she should sit and even how she should walk, which Christine found ridiculous. She regained her curls and a big blue bow trimmed in gold was placed on the back of her hair.

"Ah," said Benoit. "The Madame looks very elegant. Give us a twirl."

Christine saw herself in the mirror and was pleased. She really did look like a lady now and was more than happy to oblige Benoit's request. She spun delightfully. Benoit clapped in a very feminine manner. "Wonderful!" he said. "Very wonderful!"

"Enough, Benoit!" ordered the Count. "Now see here, girl…"

The door opened. Sherry walked in, all dressed up for the party. "Oh, Count da money."

The Count was furious. "DE MO-"

"Oh, shut up," said Sherry. She looked at Christine and gave a whistle. "Don't you clean up nice," she said.

"Thank you," said Christine doing curtsy.

"Come on now," said Sherry. "It's time to get you to the party. Stas is waiting."

Hand in hand, Christine and Sherry walked down the halls of the maid's barracks and through the gardens to the palace. Fireworks lit the skies in explosions of bright colors from gold, blue, and red; the colors of the Mondevi Flag. Dragon Riders flew overhead towards the palace's front gardens and a knight on a griffon followed them.

"Dragon knights?" Christine said with worry. "Oh, dear. I'm not ready."

"Just be calm," said Sherry. "They may seem brash and think they're all that because they have a ton of money and ride on a dragon, but show them who's boss and they'll back off. Dragon Riders are all flash mostly. Come battle, they'll come up with any excuse to avoid the field to protect their precious dragons and their pretty faces."

Christine wished she had the fortitude to talk face to face with Dragon Riders, some of the most charismatic and beautiful characters in Termnnia. Having a gorgeous face and a ton of gold seemed to be a prerequisite to even think about being a Dragon Rider. For this, many thought of them as pompous pretty boys who join the military forming their own regiments for the sake of wine, women, and money.

They were paid hundreds of thousands of gold coins and chips by kings who hired them, and they didn't even have to fight.

They relied mostly on the intimidation factor of their mounts, which made sense because as soon as a dragon's roar echoed across the battlefield and cast its shadow over the field, the enemy soldiers began to run.

Therefore, they got paid to fly around and look handsome. Some have said the Dragon Rider was the most hated class of warrior in Termnnia.

"Oh, joy," said Sherry, pointing up at a squadron of rowdy Dragon Riders flying atop of serpentine-type dragons called Kaiser Dragon, a common dragon, but a very splendid specimen to look at, especially with the layered armor they wore colored bronze and trimmed in black with black engravings on the surface and the flags of the House and country of their leader hanging from their pauldrons.

"If I'm not mistaken," said Sherry, "Those are the Knights of the Kaiser."

"Are they well-known?" Christine asked. "Are they famous?"

"More like infamous," scoffed Sherry. "Especially with the city guard. Their leader is Alexander Croft, son of Count Gerard Croft of the Silver Hills. They are one of the wealthiest families in Mondé because they mine, what else, silver. Little Alexander doesn't have to lift a finger to get what he wants. All he does is ask his daddy for some coin and he's immediately a warrior. The Count even bought him his own dragons and a set of full steel armor enameled with gold and black. Nothing but the best for his little boy. The pomposity gets worse. They even have their own lodge on the hills just outside the castle. They buy up the services of all the wenches and drink the wine cellars dry. They're not knights. Just an exclusive club for Alexander and his drinking buddies. I spit on their names. You know, he sent a letter to Master Yu-Gi-Oh and cursed him out because he didn't choose him as one of High King Yuri's knights for the Royal Termnnian Table?"

"Gracious, no!" said Christine.

"Oh yeah," said Sherry. "He called him a fool, saying Jon, Michael, Jaeyoung, and the others 'feeble' compared to him and his order. What a little prick."

"Well, well," said Christine. "Someone is full of himself. I can say for sure that I am not looking forward to meeting him."

"You're to be with King Stas in the party," said Sherry. "And no one else. We're almost there, love. Keep your head up high, pretend like you own a platinum mine and deck full of rare cards, and you're in the club!"

Christine nodded her head. The castle was glowing like a star in the darkness. Every window was casting a warm yellow glow from within. The fireworks still lit up the sky. She took a deep breath and prayed that this night would be successful.

The celebration of Stas's coronation had gone smoother than she thought it would. As she stood by the King's side, Christine's night had been all but uneventful. The Dragon Riders whom Sherry had warned her about earlier, only glanced at her and gave the occasional whistle at her. But they never laid a hand on her or even talked to her. Stas just looked so intimidating in his jeweled armor of platinum created to look like his Diamond Burst Dragon, which he summoned five times this night. Christine eventually began to look forward to seeing the beast. It was a beautiful creature to behold. However, she noticed Stas's eyes were sad every time he summoned it. He defeated another opponent and bowed, again, when he won. He waved off the applause and walked back to his spot at the head of the table.

The Count de Monet approached Christine and cleared his throat to get her attention.

"Count," Christine said politely while she bowed respectfully.

"Lady Christine, well, not yet anyway."

"Lady? Me?" Christine said. "How can that be if I'm a mere palace maid?"

The Count gave a malicious chortle as he slowly bobbed his head from left to right. "He has a favor to ask of you so they tell me," the Count said, walking to a table and picking a grape off a silver platter. He plopped it into his mouth and chewed it slowly. As he did, Christine felt a chill run up her frame, and she fanned her face; for she felt herself getting hot. The Count grinned and swallowed the grape.

"And whether or not you remain a palace maid depends on how you treat our king this night. So, see to it that you don't upset him. Or it's back to the dungeon with you." He made a Cheshire cat grin and edged himself closer to her. He put an arm over her shoulder and leaned forward to sniff her hair causing her to feel awkward.

"What are you doing?" Christine whispered timidly.

"Of course," said the Count, picking up a handful of Christine's sweet-smelling, rose-colored locks. "I could arrange for you to stay with me."

"Maintain your distance," Christine said, taking a step forward.

The Count came back to her and ran his hand up from her chest to her neck. "You must consider the alternative, my dear," he purred into her ear. "I would hate to see the headsman's ax cut that beautiful neck."

"Is there a problem here?" Sherry asked approaching the two. Christine felt a surge of relief. "What are you doing Count? You know Christine is off-limits."

"Off-limits!" he spat. "Under whose orders?"

Christine and Sherry pointed at King Stas. The Count turned and saw the youngster glaring at him while he held his golden chalice filled with wine.

"I see," said the Count. "Well, I'll go see if anyone wants to dance." He tapped his cane on the ground and walked away.

"You okay?" Sherry asked, rubbing Christine's exposed shoulder.

"No," said Christine. "Ever since I got here, everyone's been lusting after me. First King Stas, then you, and now the Count wants me in bed."

"Well, you are very beautiful," said Sherry. "But, you're right. It's no reason for someone to harass you. Uh, but, do answer me this. How have I made any advances towards you?"

"I heard you speaking to one of the palace knights in the hall earlier this evening," said Christine. "I passed by and heard you say how you wanted to 'pin me against the wall and lick my spine'."

"Uh…you heard that?" Sherry said, rubbing the back of her head and glowing red. "Well, I guess I may have said that but, I'm straight when it comes to romance, I assure you. I guess I might have gotten a little too amorous for you when I saw you in the tub, but that doesn't mean anything, I swear. Wine can make people say the darnedest things."

"Mm-hmm," Christine said with a nod.

"Well, I, uh…" Sherry looked around for something to talk about. She noticed the buffet table and approached it. "Come," she said. Christine followed. They both examined the foods on the table. They were extravagantly displayed like beautiful works of art.

Christine picked up a slice of ham. "Mmm," she went as she savored the flavor. "King Stas spared no expense for tonight's party. We have exotic foods from across the seas. Coconuts, bananas, dragon fruit."

"It is very lovely," said Christine. "What could the favor be? The one that Stas asks of me."

"I dunno," said Sherry. "But, you'll be fine. Stas would never hurt you."

BANG! The doors to the party hall burst open. A woman on a horse rode inside. She was no appropriately dressed for the party. She was still clad in a hunting bodice and black leggings. Knives were holstered in a ring around her thigh, and she had a clockwork musket and a sword forming an X on her back. A dead boar trailed behind her. Its legs tied to the saddle of her warhorse.

"Cousin!" said the woman. "Congratulations!"

"Euphie!" Stas cried happily. He got out of his seat and ran towards the huntswoman. "Now it's a party!"

"I brought meat, cousin," said Euphie, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder. "Your parties are a little too…. fruity for my tastes."

"I couldn't agree more," Stas said, examining her kill.

"What a ghastly entrance!" shouted the Count. "Have you no shame, Euphemia!?"

"Oh," said Euphie with a defiant grin. "If it isn't the Count da Money."

The Count went red in the face. "You, pompous, beastly, inconsiderate, CREATURE!"

Euphie made an amorous expression, showing off a shoulder exposed by her bodice to the Count.

"Why Count, you flatter me. But you have to buy me dinner first."

The crowd laughed.

Euphie got off her horse. Her boots thundered on the black and white tiled floor.

"If you weren't the Baronetess of Ebonwill, I would have you hanged!" the Count shouted. He gasped, for that was a little out of line.

"You threaten a member of the royal family, Count?" said Stas. "I could send you to the dungeons for that remark. However, I'm feeling generous tonight, since I am king. But speak ill of my kin again, and I will not be so forgiving."

"Yes, Your Grace," said the Count.

"All right, enough of that!" Euphie shouted as she clapped her hands. "Cooks, prepare the beast I have hunted. And is there an opponent brave enough to face me? I thirst for a Duel."

A young nobleman volunteered quickly before anyone else could. Euphie picked him first and put on a D-Pad, a newer, more advanced version of the Duel Disk.

"Your name?" Euphie asked.

"I am Ser Reagan," said the boy. "Duke of Glowanstead. It is an honor, princess."

"Indeed," said Euphie. "Well, what are you waiting for. DUEL!"

LP 4000

"I will let you start first," said Euphie.

"You honor me, princess."

"Oh, get on with it!" groaned Euphie. "And will somebody fetch me some wine!"

"At once," said Ser Reagan. "I place a monster in defense mode. That will do it for me, princess. Your turn."

"Draw!" shouted Euphie. A palace maid came by with a platter holding her drink in a gold cup. Euphie swiped it off the platter and chugged it down noisily and messily. Wine poured down her chin and neck. She finished her wine, letting out a loud, satisfied gasp. She wiped the wine off her chin with the back of her gloved hand and let out a loud burp. She placed the cup back on the platter.

"Be at the ready, darling, I need another." She slapped the maid in the bum, sending her away.

The Count grumbled. "I weep for the future."

"Now, my turn," she said. "I summon Knight Day Grepher in attack position. Then equip him with Lucky Iron Axe, boosting his attack by 500 for a total of 2400 points. Attack!"

The purple-armored knight made a great lunge towards the face-down monster. It was a Jellyfish (ATK/1200 DEF/1500). It bellowed in agony as the knight's axe slashed it in half.

"I end my turn!" said Euphie. "Your move!"

"Uh…I draw," said Ser Reagan. "I summon another monster in defense mode."

"BORING!" shouted Euphie. "MORE WINE! I draw!"

The maid came back again. Again, Euphie chugged down the wine, let out a loud burp, and sent the maid away with a slap to the derriere. "I summon Lightray Grepher! And play the field spell, Sogen, which will increase the ATK and DEF of my warriors by 200. Attack!"

Lightray Grepher (ATK/1700 + 200 = 1900) attacked the face-down monster. A Cannonball Spear Fish. Feeling gracious, Euphie chose not to attack Ser Reagan's Life Points directly. He drew and set another monster in defense mode.

"I wanted an opponent, not a sissy!" said Euphie. "My little sister is nine years of age, and she Duels better than you! Draw! Wine!"

The same process. The maid came. She gulped the wine. Sent her away and the turn began. She tribute summoned a monster, offering both her Grephers to summon Gilford the Legend. (ATK/2600 DEF/2000). With the field power bonus, his ATK went to 2800, but his effect activated, allowing Euphie to equip her Gilford with every Equip Spell in her Graveyard. The Lucky Iron Axe fused together with his magical sword which grew to be over thirty feet long. With the bonus from the Axe, Gilford's attack increased to 3300. He attacked at Euphie's command, cutting down another Jellyfish monster.

"WEAK!" bellowed Euphie, clearly as drunk as a Highland lord. "You're…(hiccup)…weak! Make your (hiccup!) move!"

Another monster was set, and he ended his turn. "Draw!" cried Euphie. "WINE!"

She had her fill and began her turn. She summoned X-Saber Anu Piranha (ATK/1800) and made crude gestures at the lovely female monster with drunken fury. Another attack. She ended her turn. Another monster was set. Another cup was drunk. She sacrificed her Any Piranha and summoned Freed the Matchless General (ATK/2300 DEF/1700).

Another attack. Another card set. The wine was brought and gulped down. This time, after the monster was attacked by Gilford, she finally made a direct attack using Freed the Matchless General. The attack brought the poor boy down to a mere 1500.

The audience clapped; happy that this boring contest was about to be over. As usual, the boy set another monster. After another gulp of wine, Euphie started her turn, summoning Warrior Dai Grepher. The set monster was destroyed. She ended her turn, swerving from left to right.

Ser Reagan hoped he could win this Duel by default. If Princess Euphie was too drunk to continue, then she had to forfeit the match. This, he could only hope. Euphie drank more than five goblets of wine and remained on her feet. And she was thirsty for more.

He set another monster and ended his turn.

Euphie continued the same process and drew. She sacrificed Warrior Dai Grepher and summoned a black-armored knight atop an armored Pegasus. The warrior was called Tenmataitei (ATK/2400 DEF/1000).

Clearly bored of the match, Euphie shrugged and attacked him directly, winning the match.

"The victor!" called the herald. "Princess Euphie!"

The audience clapped, relived that the dull match was finally over. Euphie then swept the maid who served her off her feet, carrying her in her arms. "A big hand for my friend here!" she called out. "Let's thank her for a job well done!"

A round of applause for the maid. They were all silenced when Euphie buried her mouth into the maid's. "Mua!" she said loudly when she released her lips from the maid's. She looked at Stas, licking her lips. "Your Grace. Mind if I borrow her for tonight?"

Stas shrugged in his throne and flicked his wrist to show he didn't care. The men in the crowd cheered when Euphie took the girl out of the party room and out of sight. When she was gone, Stas signaled Christine to follow him.

"Just be calm, okay," said Sherry. "He just wants to talk."

Christine nodded her head and walked towards the king. He jerked his head to the right.

"Come on," he said. "Let's get some fresh air."

That was a good sign. Stas just wanted to take a walk with her outside. She formed a smile to show she approved and followed him out of the party hall. The music died down and was replaced by the gentle melody of the crickets.

"I'm sorry if I came at you so strongly while you were in the dungeons," said Stas. "It was wrong of me to do that. I apologize."

Christine didn't know how to react. She did not wish to respond with 'It's okay,' because that would possibly give Stas the idea she didn't mind and could advance on her again. But she could not stay quiet, that's for sure. Every moment she waited to say something just made the silence more and more awkward. Eventually, Stas looked at her to make sure she was listening.

"I accept your apology, Your Grace," she finally said. "Even though I was rather alarmed by your terms to let me out of the dungeon."

"I know. I must have looked like such a creep."

Christine grimaced and rubbed her shoulders to warm them from the sudden chill swooping down from the mountains. A call from the seagulls in the bay joined the chorus of crickets.

"Christine. You can speak freely. You can say anything you want without reprisal from me."

"Are you sure? There are many thoughts swirling in my head. They're all about you and they're not pretty words."

"Then let it out. I deserve it for being so chauvinistic towards you. It was my fault thinking my handsome face could get me any girl I want."

Christine remained silent and bit her lip. Stas was a very arrogant fellow, and she hated him for the way he demanded sex in exchange for her freedom. But, she couldn't help but feel slightly amorous for him; for he was devilishly handsome.

Stas sniffed to break the silence.

"You know my father made love to a Nymph during the War of the Infant, you know, the battle to claim Yuri and his inheritance to the Diamond Throne. Ha, ha. If Master Yu-Gi-Oh hadn't intervened, Yuri and I would have been brothers. There was no House closer to claiming him than mine. But I digress, as I said, my father met a Nymph. Some say he absorbed some of her beauty and it went to me. Hmm, I doubt it had anything to do with that. My mother was a very beautiful woman. She won the House a great victory with just her smile."

"She did?" Christine asked. "That's incredible."

"Yes. She wore a golden-armored dress and rode into the middle of the fields atop a Pegasus with platinum armor and small crystals embedded on its wings to make them sparkle in the sun. Its mane was decorated with white roses and silver bells. She looked at the enemy and just smiled at them. The other Houses were so warmed from her smile that they set their weapons down; for they couldn't find it in their hearts to battle her. Instead, they wanted to be friends with her, and they all made peace with each other. I think my beauty came from her, really. As I grew older, she often warned me about my good looks. She said beauty can make a man's ego bloat like the corpse of a dead man. Eventually, your spirit begins to fester, and you turn into something really ugly. It wasn't until I forced myself upon you that I realized the monster I've become."

"What caused you to be so humble?" Christine asked, sitting down on the edge of a white fountain illuminated by small lights.

"You can thank Master Yugi for that," Stas said sitting next to her. His armor creaked and clanked with each movement. "In a way, he reminded me of my mother."

Christine suppressed a giggle. Stas couldn't help but find it amusing as well.

"Yeah, I know, it sounds creepy, but there's no other way I can describe the impact he had on my life. His opponents were pretty fierce, and wanted nothing more to defeat him and make a name for themselves. No matter how intense the Duel became, Yugi always had this smile on his face. This warm, sweet smile. And his opponents would become friends with him in the end. I miss him."

"I can only imagine how much you do. I lost my mother a while back. She threw herself out of a tower when she realized our House had been disavowed and she could no longer see me again. As for my father, well, I don't know where he is. As I said, The Big Five chased him out of the country, and I don't even know where he is."

"I'd like nothing more than to help you, Christine. But, unfortunately, you're a Yeyunist, and a devoted one at that. I cannot lift a finger for you."

"Why? Because I have different beliefs than you?"

"Because of what your religion has done to my land and my people. There's too much bad blood between our faiths. The Goddesses are real because they reveal themselves to those who are devout to them. Horakhty revealed herself to Yuri when she blessed him with the God Cards. Whereas you Yeyu has never been seen. He was conjured up by some lonely monk who got lost in the mountains, and people believed him. I don't know what caused Yeyunism to boom, but it did so violently. Your people are responsible for the deaths of the Arva, the massacre of the Celtra, and the extinction of the True Dragons. Not to mention the hundred years under the Inquisition. If we don't believe in your faith, you torture us or have us killed. Tell me, Christie, how can you be so devout to a cult so obsessed with killing?"

"I…I don't know, Stas. While my faith can be nonsensical at times, it does bring up good points. Magic, dragons, Duel Monsters; they all lead to war and sin and suffering. Yeyunism wants to end all of that. We only mean to bring peace into the world by being abstinent of such desires. You are all caught up with the materialism of the game that's it's hard to let go. Need I remind you that the first to spill blood in this conflict between our faiths were knights of the High King. We only wanted to free you from your sinful lives, but you refused because your love of sin is so great. The knights slaughtered the monks. Do you deny that history?"

"The Massacre of Pontak Square; yes, I do know about it. The founder of my House took part in it. He helped drag the head priest out of the Church, stripped him, and fed him to a Leogun called forth by a Summoner."

"Well, who is in the wrong now? And look at what the love of magic and material goods have done to you. Duel Monsters for example. The magic of this game and the power you feel it brings you has turned you into a raging pervert who wants to abuse girls because he can."

"Abuse is such a strong word. While I may want to spend my nights under the sheets with the girls I meet, I do so respectfully. I would never force myself upon them. I may have asked rudely when I met you in the dungeons, but nevertheless, I was asking for your consent. You said no, and I backed off."

Christine brushed some of her flaxen hair behind her ear. She gazed up at the stars to calm herself before she spoke.

"Not all people are as reasonable as you, Your Grace. Some men are so lost in sin, they refuse to obey consent. I would thank you for respecting my feelings, but because I said no, you refused to free me from the dungeons."

"I said I'm sorry. And we may have been the first to strike, but all we want is to be left alone. You want to practice your faith; we let you. On the condition that you left us alone. Well, thanks to a few numbskulls in the senate, they let you walk all over us."

"Not all of us are like that, Your Grace."

"BULLSHIT!" shouted Stas, getting up from his seat. "If not all of you are bloodthirsty, warmongering, murderers, then explain to me how you let so much death and destruction go unpunished. Are the only 'good' Yeyunists so few that you can't do anything to stop those who would use murder to spread their faith!? If so, then that excuse does not matter!"

Everything was quiet. Stas stood with his back turned to Christine. He was still like the marble statues of his family in the garden.

"Sorry," he said.

"If only there was some way for us to co-exist," said Christine.

"There are a million ways for everyone to co-exist. Stas kicked a stone into the pond nearby. "No one chooses to find them, because we get consumed by greed, power, and lust. As you say, we love those pleasures so much that we eventually put those above everything else. We are guilty of that sin as much as your Church is."

"I agree," said Christine. "In the end, none of us are perfect."

"At last we agree on something," said Stas, turning to face her again. "Christine, I want to drop this whole matter and move on to why I've brought you out here. No doubt, you've heard rumors about the castle of how I needed a favor from you. Well, it's true, and I'm going to be as professional as I can. You know, since I was boy, my life's dream was to fly on the back of a dragon with the woman of my dreams. Growing up my heroes were all the lady Dragonriders of the ages of old. Evangelia the Star Queen. Kayla Pendragon. Lady Elizabeth Lockheart and her Luster Dragon. Josephine Walston the Black Dragon Princess, and so on. Now we have you. You're the girl of my dreams."

Christine was glad it was dark. Her face must have turned the color of a tomato by now. Stas was professing his love to her. "Stas…I…"

"Just hear me out, please. I know it's a lot to ask for, but you're the one I've been looking for. Your dragon was given to you for some form of purpose. Was it to marry me, no. I think not; because the goddesses don't bless girls with dragons unless they had a very important destiny. Christine, I want to be part of that destiny, whatever it is. I want to be alongside you, and fly on the back of your Tyrant Dragon. Together, we can destroy our foes, and bring peace and unity to the kingdom. Marry me."

Stas got on one knee and presented Christine with a ring. The diamond twinkled in the moonlight.

Christine was still. Absolutely still.

"Stas…Marry you? You want me to marry you?"

"Yes!" said Stas. He put the ring in her hand and closed it. "Do I have to spell it out for you, Christine? I can help restore your House. I can help you find your father, and make the Houses who destroyed yours pay for their fell deeds. You were a believer in the goddesses before they took you away and converted you. Well, now I'm asking to convert you back to your original faith. The TRUE faith of Termnnia. Return to the Goddesses. And become my bride. It would be the greatest honor anyone would ever bestow me."

"Stas, no!" said Christine.

"What?"

"Your Grace. I cannot go back to the faith of the Goddesses. I am a Yeyunist, and I am loyal to the Covenant and the Church. You bring a great offer; one only a madwoman would refuse. I am mad. Madly in love with my faith. Nothing you can say or do change that."

She placed the ring back into his hand. "I'm sorry, Your Grace. But... I cannot marry you."

She got up and attempted to walk off.

Stas tried to stop her. "Wait. Christine…I need you."

"No, Your Grace. You only want to marry me to fulfill your childhood fantasy. Even if there was love in your heart, I would still refuse you. Please forgive me."

"But Christine!" Stas said getting close to her.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her. Christine did the unthinkable. She pulled her lips from his and slapped him hard across the face.

"Oomph!" Stas cried as stepped back. He rubbed his cheek.

Now she had done it. Christine had just struck a royal. This was it, she thought. My life is over. He's going to have me executed.

Stas got up, still massaging his stinging flesh. He looked at Christine, eyes twinkling with hurt.

"If that's what you want. So be it."

"Your Grace…I."

"Don't waste your breath! Your shift begins at dawn tomorrow. You'd best go back to the barracks and rest. I assure you, bitch, your dragon will never see the light of day again! Piss me off one more time and it's BACK to the dungeons with you!"

Christine cupped her hands over her mouth and watched Stas turn around, storming away and leaving her alone in the gardens.