After getting over the initial shock of seeing Mildine Cayenne outside of St. Astraia's, Morgan finally sat down in a chair that Setsuna pulled up for her while the others filled her in on what exactly was going on.

"It all started when the location of the exchange program was revealed to be Ordis," President Carmine began. "I had heard that Miss Cayenne had…unique circumstances that prevented her from returning home, but that didn't prevent me from reserving her a spot in our list of representatives. Surely a momentous occasion such as this would warrant an exception, I thought. But alas, she was rejected. While the student council and I were trying to find a suitable replacement, Miss Eros volunteered to take her roommate's spot, but she also came forward with her own idea. This garnered the attention of Prince Olivert, who just so happened to be passing by at the time. He was the one who revealed that Class VII would also be taking one of their monthly field studies to Ordis. From there, we got together with Miss Cayenne and began to coordinate a plan so she could visit her hometown."

'So all the right players just so happened to be together in the right place at the right time…' Feeling that it was too good to be true, Morgan shot a glance at Mildine, who was now seated next to Lea. No longer wearing a mask and wig to hide her true appearance, Mildine simply winked back and giggled mischievously.

"The first objective was to establish contact with Miss Cayenne's grandparents, the Egrets, just in case something were to go wrong. The field study presented a prime opportunity for them to be in a position where they could help without drawing too much attention, so Prince Olivert utilized his connections to get them on board."

"That's why the both of you were considered last minute additions to the field study," Morgan assumed.

"Indeed," Count Egret affirmed. "We apologize for keeping your class in the dark while this was occurring. But we anticipated that with the added security, it would be best to keep the number of people in the know to a minimum."

"The next step was to figure out how we could sneak Miss Cayenne out of the school," Carmine continued. "Fortunately, we already had an avenue through which we could carry this out. There weren't any rules barring upper-class citizens from bringing their own servants."

"And Her Highness was the one who suggested that I take on your likeness, Morgan," Mildine added. "No one had seen or heard from the princess's attendant ever since she took her 'leave of absence' following the attack on the bracer guilds. Thus, Her Highness decided now was a golden opportunity to show that she still existed. Prince Olivert pulled some strings on his end to ask the staff to look the other way, while President Carmine made sure that none of the other students would become suspicious."

"The entire trip up till now has been like treading on eggshells," Carmine remarked. "But thankfully, the hardest part is effectively over and done with."

"But why go through all this trouble in the first place, President Carmine?" Morgan asked. "If people found out that you aided her escape, you could be pressured from the outside to step down from your position."

"I know. And I am prepared to face whatever consequences will arise should that happen." President Carmine placed a hand over her chest. "But I couldn't in good conscience deny Miss Cayenne a chance to visit her family after so long. If I can't use the authority vested in me to help one student, then I would have failed in my responsibility to represent the student body as a whole."

Morgan nodded, satisfied with the president's answer. The manner in which she spoke almost made Morgan forget that this was the same person who would drop everything to sing praises about Laura in the span of a heartbeat. Still, all this planning seemed so elaborate for what ultimately amounted to an arrangement to visit family. Knowing what sort of person Mildine was, it wasn't outside the realm of possibility that there was another reason she wanted to come to Ordis.

"What about you, Elise? How did you get roped into all this?"

"My reasons aren't as complicated as you might imagine," Elise replied. "All I wanted to do was support my friends. I couldn't just sit back and watch from the sidelines while the others put themselves at risk. As a baron's daughter, I know full well what it's like to be restricted and looked down upon by those of higher status. Like what President Carmine has stated, the fact that Mildine was not allowed to visit her grandparents in so long is, frankly, inexcusable. Once I told Her Highness this, she didn't hesitate to bring me on board."

"Speaking of, where is she? It's weird that Mildine is posing as Her Highness' attendant but the princess herself isn't here."

"She was moved to a different group at the last minute," Mildine answered. "It seems that Duke Cayenne was also aware of the princess's attendance and wished to meet with her."

"He won't…do anything to her, would he?"

"Doubtful. Uncle is a shrewd man, but even he would prefer to keep collateral damage to a minimum as far as the royal family is concerned. It makes it easier for him to go about his daily activities without drawing much suspicion."

As reassuring as Mildine tried to make it, Morgan's worries didn't ease up in the slightest. "So what happens now? Setsuna mentioned that there was a special request Count Egret had for Class VII."

"Ah, yes. That…" Count Egret cleared his throat and turned to Carmine. "President Carmine, could you give us a moment? Suzanne, Mildine, and I wish to speak with Morgan alone."

"Understood, Count Egret." President Carmine and the other two first years stood from their seats and followed Setsuna out of the room, with Mildine giving each of them a small nod of reassurance as they passed by her. Now, it was just Morgan and the entire Egret family remaining.

"Do you want me to contact my classmates?" Morgan asked.

"In due time, yes. But for now, let us first set the stage. Mildine, you can have the honors of debriefing."

"Gladly, Grandfather." Mildine smiled. "You see, Morgan, the Butterfly Maid is due to pick up Princess Alfin once her business at the Cayenne manor has concluded, but the guards have told me that there is nothing stopping me from coming early. This presents us with a unique opportunity to see firsthand just what Uncle is up to behind closed doors, but as you know, it is risky for me to make any moves whilst in the city. As such, we will require Class VII's assistance to ensure that this operation goes smoothly."

"Wait, wait, wait." Morgan formed a "T" shape with her hands. "You want to sneak into your uncle's mansion. Even though you might not be able to return to school if you get caught." She then pointed two fingers at Mildine's grandparents. "And you two are okay with this?"

"We made our reservations known, of course," Count Egret said. "But Mildine informed us that she has a plan. And once she has set her mind on something, it is difficult to sway her until she sees her plans come to fruition."

Morgan's eyes widened as she turned back to Mildine. "So this is one of THOSE plays?"

"I'm glad you're quick on the uptake." Mildine giggled, slyly tapping a finger on her temple. "You are free to decline, of course; I've heard how your class has been under heavy watch since your field study started, so I won't blame you if you prefer to keep things safe. In that case, then we can both be on our separate ways and act as if this conversation never happened. But think, Morgan…" The younger girl's voice lowered in pitch. "You've no doubt heard of Uncle possibly collaborating with the Imperial Liberation Front. Aren't you at least a LITTLE curious as to whether these are simply rumors…or something much more?"

Morgan hesitated. She knew that Prince Olivert had told her to lie low. It wouldn't do for Class VII or the Egrets to put themselves in harm's way for a piece of information that may or may not even exist to begin with. But…

She once again remembered the attack on Garrelia Fortress. The faces of the people who died on that day, the people she failed to save… It wasn't hard to read the writing on the wall. These people were dangerous, and if the duke was guilty of conspiring with them, then he should be exposed and brought to justice. Restoring the old order of Erebonia where the nobles ruled over the commoners meant nothing if these methods could put the lives of so many innocents at risk.

And maybe, if she could discern the Imperial Liberation Front's true motives, then she could possibly stop him from…

"...What do you want us to do?"

The words flowed unconsciously from her mouth like water pouring from a faucet.

"I knew you could listen to reason." Mildine once again smiled slyly. It was too late to back out now. "But first, I must correct you on one thing: I never said that I would be the one to enter the Cayenne mansion."

Morgan was confused. "But you said that the Butterfly Maid will have to pick her up. That's me. Or rather, that's you who's dressed as me."

"Not for very long. It's time I explained my plan. One deserving of the name… "Operation Femme de Mirage."

A hand suddenly clamped itself onto Morgan' shoulder, causing her to yelp. Setsuna was now standing behind her with a clothes hanger in hand. How in Zemuria was she this good at sneaking up on people?

"Come this way, Morgan. Lady Mildine. I will assist in helping you get changed.

"...EHHH?!"

…

Mildine stepped out of her room feeling more refreshed than ever. Finally, she was free from having to wear that restrictive maid uniform! And in its place, she was now garbed in…something that was debatably even more restrictive. But that didn't matter; it was something that was more personal to her.

"Oh, if only your mother and father could see you now!" her grandmother said. "You've grown into such a beautiful young woman, and that kimono suits you perfectly."

"It fills me with joy to hear you say that, Grandmother." Mildine twirled in place and bowed, ending the impromptu fashion show. "And thank you again, Grandfather, for indulging me in my moment of selfishness."

"Anything for you, little Musse."

Mildine giggled sentimentally. "How long has it been since anyone has called me that? Everything used to be so much more simple back then…"

She let that statement hang in the air briefly before clearing her throat. "Right. Let's get down to business, shall we?"

"I've notified Instructor Valestein that Morgan is taking a special commission from us, one that involves her donning her old uniform," her grandfather began. "While that word spreads to the rest of Class VII, Morgan herself will already be making her way to the noble district via the underground waterways to avoid unnecessary detection."

"Setsuna has that base covered, yes?"

"Indeed. Dare I say, there's not a single person who knows those waterways better than her."

"Excellent. Now that the Butterfly Maid is occupied, we can start planning our next move…"

"If I may interject, little Musse…" Suzanne raised her hand. "Morgan has a good head on her shoulders, and Prince Olivert vouches for her intelligence. I'm sure the two of you could do tremendous things if you worked together. So why does it sound like you're relieved she is gone?"

"Ah…" Mildine began to frown. It was entirely understandable why her grandmother would feel this way. Morgan had already proved herself to be loyal to Princess Alfin, and while Mildine herself wasn't as close to the black-haired girl, their relationship was amicable. However…

"She's too unpredictable. My apologies, Grandmother, but that's the best way I can put it. Too many cooks can spoil the broth, as they say."

Her grandmother nodded without another response, but her expression made it abundantly clear that she knew that Mildine was leaving something out.

After she first met Morgan, Mildine tried to hound Princess Alfin on why she chose that mysterious black-haired girl to become her attendant. The princess tried to dodge the question several times, but eventually she buckled and told her everything, including Morgan's amnesia and connections to a place that couldn't be found on any map. That, however, only raised even more questions from within Mildine, and from that point on, her ability to anticipate future events became muddled. If the political landscape was like a chessboard, then Morgan was like an enemy pawn on the verge of promotion. So many ways to throw a wrench into her strategy by just simply existing, and not enough time to devise a counter strategy due to her sudden appearance.

Simply put, there was no way that Mildine could trust someone with so many unknowns with any of her plans.

There weren't many strong monsters lurking in the waterway underneath Ordis, and the ones that did make the sewers their home were docile. There were some flying rodents that fled immediately upon seeing her and Setsuna, as well as a few odd, one-eyed mites that were too busy jumping on the water to notice them at all. Either way, it was easier for Morgan to not think about it too hard and just follow Setsuna's lead. Even though she was fully clothed, a part of her felt bare without having her ARCUS on hand. She had come to rely on it a lot over the past several months at school.

"Didn't the Enigma II release last month? The one with master quartz support? Guess it was fun being ahead of the curve while it lasted…"

Morgan's hand wrapped itself around the only form of self-defense she had. It was a necessity if she was to fully commit to her disguise. Despite her personal orbment being of an older model, there was a perfectly round master quartz nestled in the very center. Normally, the Enigma shouldn't have been able to handle the higher concentration of energy present in a master quartz, but thanks to a certain former Epstein Foundation employee, Morgan was able to replace the mainframe with a simpler design that featured a single large slot in the center and less quartz slots on the outer rim. Since the majority of the arts would be coming from the master quartz, the rest of the slots could be allocated to helping reduce energy consumption and casting time, improving its overall efficiency. It was enough for her to wonder what sort of modifications Omar would make if he got his hands on the newest orbment model.

"Watch your step, Morgan. The exit is this way."

"Right. Sorry." Morgan resumed her gait following Setsuna. "You know, this place reminds me of the waterway underneath Bareahard. Does one of these routes connect to the Cayenne mansion?"

"You're very perceptive," Setsuna complimented her. "If you use that switch to change the water levels, it will lead to a path that connects to the right wing of the estate."

"That's a really convenient emergency exit," Morgan remarked. "How come you know about this?"

"I've…used this route once in the past. Though the circumstances then were not so pleasant as they are now."

"You think this is pleasant?"

Setsuna giggled to herself. "It's a long story that we need not go into at the moment. What I will say is that if it weren't for that, I wouldn't have met Lady Mildine's parents."

"Hehhh…" Morgan pointed to another path that looked cut off from the rest. "What about that path? Where does that lead to?"

"That…" Setsuna's expression turned pensive. "...is not relevant to us at the moment."

"But you know this place inside out, right? Surely you must have SOME idea."

The Egret family maid shook her head. "It is a secret known only to the Cayenne family. The most that I can infer is that whatever lies beyond that path dates back to the War of the Lions, the same as this underground waterway. Generally, these sorts of things are outside my area of expertise."

That only made Morgan even more curious. But Setsuna was clearly adamant about keeping mum, or maybe she genuinely did not know enough to give a proper answer. Either way, there was no room to continue the conversation further, as they were close to the exit.

"The ladder up ahead will take you to the noble district. I wish you the best of luck, Morgan."

"Thanks, Setsuna. You stay safe on the way back, too."

Morgan smiled one last time at Setsuna before making her way up the ladder. Once she reached the top, she slowly shifted the manhole cover out of the way and poked her head above ground. Confirming that the coast was clear, she hoisted herself out from the underground and dusted herself off.

"Never thought that I'd be walking directly into the belly of the beast like this…" Morgan muttered to herself as she made her way over to the biggest, most elaborate mansion in the district. This whole scenario felt like it was ripped straight out of one of those mystery thriller novels that Emma liked to read.

As she approached the Cayenne manor, one of the two guards stationed outside stepped forward to greet her. "Halt. Do you have business with His Lordship? If not, then I must ask you to leave."

"E-Erm…" Morgan stammered. What was she supposed to say here, again? "I'm not a loiterer, I assure you. I was wondering whether my lady had concluded her business with the duke. The other members of her old group are concerned for her, you see."

"Your…lady?"

"Hey! Look at the mask!" the other guard whispered. "Remember what Barnaby told us?"

"Oh…" The first guard nodded. "So you're Her Royal Highness's attendant, are you? You're…younger than I imagined."

If Morgan wasn't acting as Princess Alfin's attendant, she would have called the guard out for his rudeness.

"Well, if you're looking for her, I'm afraid the duke is still meeting with her. You will have to wait a bit longer."

"That's fine. I understand that I have arrived a bit early. But seeing as I've already come all this way, would it be at all possible if I could wait inside? It would be more convenient for me that way."

The two guards looked at each other. "What do you think?"

"I see no reason not to. She's just one servant, after all."

The first guard opened the gate and motioned Morgan to follow him. "Please come right this way."

Morgan blinked dumbfoundedly under her mask. Was entering the mansion supposed to be this easy? Or maybe it was a testament to how lax the provincial army was becoming. It was enough to put her on edge as she entered the Cayenne residence.

The Cayenne manor itself was about as opulent and splendorous as she had anticipated. The entrance hall was comparable to the one in Valflame Palace, though it was colored with colder hues and had the coat of arms of the Lamarre Province imprinted onto the floor. The guard led Morgan to the right wing, which Morgan remembered from Setsuna was where the underground waterway connected to the manor.

"You are free to stay in this guest room until you are otherwise notified," said the guard. "Don't go poking your nose into places it doesn't belong."

"Thank you, sir." She bowed politely to him as he opened the door for her. She took one step into the guest room, extravagantly decorated with chairs, a small table, and a vanity mirror for noblewomen to apply their makeup. But instead of immediately sitting down, Morgan waited for the door to close behind her. She waited a few more minutes, and after she heard the footsteps of the guard grow fainter and fainter, Morgan opened the door again and poked her head out of the room. The coast was clear.

'Now, then…' Morgan thought as she quietly closed the door behind her. 'If I were an ancient architect, where would I put an emergency exit…'

She wandered around the right wing of the manor for a few minutes, taking in the high ceilings, tapestries featuring the Lamare Province coat of arms, and floor that was so clean, she could see her reflection in it. Whenever she passed by a door, she gave it a gentle push to see if she could enter it. Each one opened to a different kind of room. One was a conference with a sizable table in the middle. Another door led to a room with a piano, which reminded Morgan of the tunes Prince Olivert would play in the palace.

Finally, Morgan reached a door at the end of the wing that was locked. Forcing it open was out of the question, so she instead opted to peer through the keyhole to see if she could make out what was inside. To her surprise, the room consisted of just a single corridor that led to a staircase going down.

'Maybe here?' she wondered. 'I guess that rules out anyone trying to come in on this end.'

"Hmm… What do we have here?"

Morgan gasped and turned around in a heartbeat. Standing behind her was an attractive young woman with long, flowing hair and striking violet eyes, garbed in a brilliantly turquoise-colored dress with one exposed leg. Everything about her was crafted together in a way that made her very alluring, almost like she had stepped out of a painting.

And yet, Morgan had the strangest inkling that this was not the first time they had met…

"I don't believe I've seen you around before," the woman remarked. "Are you new?"

"I, er…" Morgan stammered, trying to find a way to cover for herself. This woman didn't look like she was part of the staff, so…

"Yes! I was just doing some exploring in between my shift. Not everyone gets to work at the Cayenne mansion, after all!"

The woman hummed skeptically to herself. "Well, I can't deny that. When it comes to extravagance, His Lordship is only second to the Imperial family. Justified, as his ancestors come from the same family as Emperor Dreichels."

"R-Really? That's surprising."

"Orthros Reise Arnor, son of Emperor Valus Reise Arnor V and half-brother to Dreichels the Lionheart," the woman specified. "History may not be such a relevant topic to an opera singer like me, but I enjoy it quite a deal."

Morgan's eyes widened. Now she remembered where she had seen this woman before. "You're Vita Clotilde, aren't you? I'm sorry I didn't recognize you!" She bowed to the opera singer for good measure.

Vita chuckled light-heartedly. "Oh, there's no need to apologize. I'm not a noble, so you can raise your head."

Morgan did as Vita asked. Even as she gave the diva her best smile, Morgan found it difficult to not start buckling under the pressure of meeting a celebrity. It was ironic, considering that she had served much more important people, but there was something different about Vita. Like how the way she was looking at her almost made it feel like she was staring deep into her soul.

"So what brings you to Ordis today, Lady Clotilde?"

"A funny coincidence. I have a gig later in Raquel, but my previous mode of transportation got delayed. His Lordship was courteous enough to ferry me across the sea, since we were both in the area, and he also offered me a chance to rest at his estate before I departed. Naturally, I couldn't say no to such an offer. But as soon as we arrived, he had to leave to take care of urgent business. I wonder what could be going on inside his head…"

"That IS the million Mira question…" Morgan agreed. "I do believe that he is currently talking with Her Royal Highness, Princess Alfin Reise Arnor."

"Really? The princess is here?" Vita's eyes widened. "Maybe I should double check on my makeup just in case. Do you know if any of these rooms has a mirror in it?"

Morgan smiled. "I know just the place. Follow me."

And so, Morgan escorted Vita back to the guest room the guard had shown to her, where Vita immediately made herself at home in front of the vanity mirror.

"Please let me know if there's anything else I can help you with.

"I should be fine for now. Thank you." Vita started brushing her eyelashes. "That's a lovely little mask you're wearing. It reminds me of one that I wore during a stage play. Pardon my curiosity, but why is it that you're wearing one?"

"Well…"

Morgan hadn't been expecting to be asked this question today. But before she could give an answer, Vita spoke again. "I bet you look like a darling underneath that mask," she said in a teasing manner. "Won't you let me sneak a peek?"

"With all due respect, Lady Clotilde, I have my reasons for keeping this on. To take this off while on duty would cause great scrutiny to fall upon my master's house."

The opera singer looked briefly taken aback by her answer. "It's that serious, hm? My apologies for being pushy, then. I just couldn't help but notice that you bear a striking resemblance to a friend of mine."

"A…friend?"

"Yes. A real sweetheart, that one. We meet every few weeks to exchange stories about what goes on in the far corners of the empire. They may be younger than I am, but talking with them is far more refreshing than some adults I've encountered. Of course, it also helps that my friend is a member of the illustrious Class VII."

Morgan's eyes widened underneath her mask. "C-Class VII, you say?"

"Surely you've heard of them. The empire-trotting group of students from Thors Military Academy who has had a hand in resolving many major incidents. I've met them once in Heimdallr, and they certainly live up to all the talk. A group of daring young men banding together to dispatch a monster outbreak brewing underneath the hotel I was staying at…it truly sounds like something out of an old folk tale."

Daring young men? 'Ahh…' Morgan realized. 'That must've been Rean's group during the summer festival…'

…But wait, didn't Vita just say that she was friends with someone who looked like her? Hang on, did SHE know Vita? No, that shouldn't have been possible. She would have remembered meeting a famous diva before. Unless…

'Does Vita have a secret identity of her own?'

Morgan quickly ran through the list of people she had met over the past several months and narrowed it down to the people that she would touch base with on a regular basis. The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. The answer was on the tip of her tongue…

"I think one last spray should do." Vita took out a perfume bottle and gave it a small squeeze. A small cloud of mist sprayed from the opening, and Morgan was close enough to get a good whiff of that unmistakable floral fragrance.

"You have impeccable taste, Lady Clotilde."

"Oh? What brought this on, all of a sudden?"

"Your perfume of choice. It's lavender, isn't it?"

The diva hummed to herself. "That's correct. It's comforting to me. Oh, how I'd love to sit down and drink a cup of lavender tea. But sadly, there's my performance I have to consider, so…"

"You would prefer something that eases the throat, I presume. Something like…peppermint?"

"My, you took the words right out of my mouth! It's almost as if we are on the same wavelength."

Vita's lips curled into a smile. Meanwhile, Morgan couldn't hold back her own grin of excitement.

"I never thought this would be that 'other gig' I've heard so much about…Misty."

"Variety is the spice of life, as I always say…Morgan."

After a few more seconds of staring into each other's eyes, the two friends threw back their heads and began laughing up a storm.

...

"...To think that I was talking with Her Highness's personal attendant all this time! That's an even more impressive résumé than I could have imagined. Even more impressive than little old me, dare I say."

"Coming from you, Misty, that says a lot."

The older woman coughed.

Morgan covered her mouth with her hand, realizing her mistake. "Sorry! Old habits. I should be calling you Vita, right?"

"That's right. It should go without saying, but don't tell anyone else but this, okay?"

"Your secret's safe with me," Morgan promised. "We're friends, aren't we?"

Vita chuckled. "Haha! It feels like there's nothing else left to hide between us. It's funny. I think you're the first person who knew me first as Misty to find out about my double life. The order of conception was actually the opposite."

"So you were Vita the Azure Diva before you became Misty the radio hostess…" Morgan said. "Still, you're an opera singer. Your voice is literally your most recognizable trait! Why hasn't anyone recognized you yet?"

"Oh, I have my ways…" Another chuckle escaped from the opera singer's lips, though this one sounded more devious than the last. "As for you, I'm guessing the reason you never made any appearances alongside the princess for a while was because you were studying for school, huh?"

"It's a long story, haha…" Morgan scratched her cheek. At this point, she was comfortable enough around the diva to tell her about her background. It was only fair for friends to trade secrets, wasn't it? So, she told Vita about her past activities, from how the jaeger attacks on the Imperial guilds led her to becoming the Vermillion Deliverer to her eventual recruitment into Class VII at Prince Olivert's request. Vita listened patiently and quietly throughout the whole story.

"Fascinating…" Vita muttered as Morgan finished. "So that's what you've been up to ever since you came here."

"Yup. That's me…" Morgan felt a bit winded. She certainly wasn't expecting to recount her full story to someone when she woke up this morning. "And also…"

"My lips are sealed." Vita put a finger to her lips and winked. "We're friends, aren't we?"

Morgan smiled in gratitude. "Hey, Vita? Do you mind if I ask you something else?"

"Anything, Morgan."

"You must have heard a lot of rumors from your time working as a reporter. Have you ever heard any rumors about some ruins that could be underneath the Cayenne manor?"

Vita's expression immediately turned serious. "Where did you hear about this?"

The shift in tone in Vita's voice almost threw Morgan for a loop, but regardless she gave a brief summary of what Setsuna had told her in the underground waterway. Although, she didn't reveal her source. instead chalking it up to some hearsay from people in the harbor.

"Ruins that date back to the War of the Lions…" Vita pondered. "And you're sure they're right below us?"

"Yeah. Actually, the underground waterway is connected to the right wing of the mansion. I was trying to see where it was when you found me."

"So you managed to get this far on your own…" Vita started mumbling to herself. "I wonder if this, too, is fate…"

"Fate…?"

After some more pondering, Vita nodded her head and stood up from her chair. "Follow me, Morgan. And make sure to bring your mask."

"Vita?" Before Morgan could ask any further, Vita was already walking out the door, moving at a pace that Morgan thought was impressive considering she was wearing a dress and heels. Hastily putting on her mask, Morgan rushed out of the room behind Vita to catch up with her. "Vita, where are you going?"

"Keep your voice down," the older woman shushed her. "I think your efforts thus far deserve…a little reward."

The Azure Diva stopped in front of the door that Morgan remembered was the one concealing the corridor that led to the underground waterway. She leaned down to the doorknob, placed a hand over the keyhole, and whispered, "Aperio."

A small light glowed from her hand for a brief moment, and the door subsequently unlocked itself.

Morgan couldn't believe what had just happened. "Did you just…?"

"Quickly now. With luck, we can make it back before Duke Cayenne finishes talking with the princess."

Vita motioned for Morgan to follow her further into the corridor. Morgan did so, but not before closing the door behind them and locking it from their side. At the bottom of the staircase, there was another door that Vita also opened with little effort. Just as Morgan had predicted, this led back to the underground waterway.

"We should be careful down here, Vita. There are monsters roaming all over the place."

"They're all docile unless you purposefully go out of your way to fight them," Vita responded. "Surely you know about this too, don't you?"

Morgan was once again stunned by the diva's perception. She was acting really strangely, very unlike her usual eccentric demeanor. But more importantly, she could've sworn that the glow she saw from Vita's hands earlier must have been-

"Here we are."

Morgan stopped right behind Vita. They had reached a dead end.

"Why are we here? There's nothing here."

"First, let me ask a question of my own, Morgan," Vita said. "Did your anonymous source ever tell you what was the purpose of the ruins?"

"N-No. All they said was that it was a secret passed down through the Cayenne family."

"They're not wrong. Let me recite something for you." The opera singer cleared her throat and said, "A giant knight claimed to have appeared on the continent on numerous occasions since even before the Erebonian Empire was founded a thousand years ago. Existing descriptions of it are vague and differ between regions, suggesting that its existence is mere legend."

"That's from 'Erebonian Folklore, Volume 3,'" Morgan recognized.

"Oh? You a fan?" Vita's voice momentarily returned to the friendlier tone she used as Misty.

"I helped the author take some of his pictures. But that's besides the point. What does that have to do with the ruins? And why do you know so much about them? This is all way beyond the scope of just being a history buff."

"Heehee…" Vita giggled to herself. "Let's just say that His Lordship and I have a bit of history. The last time I was in the city, he enlisted my help to open and excavate the ruins. They may be closely connected to the Cayenne family, but the truth is that they cannot access it on their own. They need someone who knows about the hidden truth of the world. Someone who has peered into the abyss and can harness the power of the supernatural."

Vita waved her hands and said, "Revelio."

Immediately, the wall in front of them began to change. Morgan could only look on in shock as a small staircase materialized out of thin air, leading to what looked like to be a door with an intricately designed symbol in the middle.

If Morgan had any doubts before, they were for sure washed away like sand on a beach. "Vita…Misty…You're a-!"

"Indeed." The Azure Diva performed a small curtsy towards Morgan. "I, Vita Clotilde, am a wandering witch."

"...I do hope you will give my proposal some more consideration, Your Highness."

"Of course, Duke Cayenne. I hope you and the other heads of the Four Great Houses are able to have a fruitful discussion."

Alfin curtsied to the duke before being escorted out of the main conference room. As soon as the doors closed behind her, she closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. Though she had grown more accustomed to holding her own against the prominent leaders of the nobility, at the end of it all, she was still just a fifteen year old girl. There was only so much she could realistically take before the exhaustion caught up to her. Maybe an afternoon to herself could help her unwind…

"Ah! Your Highness! It's a pleasure to see you again."

Alfin's head popped up as she looked towards the owner of the familiar voice. "Miss Clotilde! This is an unexpected surprise. What are you doing in Ordis today?"

"His Lordship offered to take me to my next gig in exchange for helping him entertain some guests this afternoon," the diva explained. "If my time wasn't already occupied, I would love nothing more than to sing you a tune right now."

"Heehee! It's important to adhere to vocal rest."

"Ah, yes. I should also mention…" Vita leaned down and whispered. "Your maid is waiting for you in the guest room."

Alfin's eyes widened. She was here? "Thank you for telling me, Miss Clotilde. I hope I can attend another one of your operettas someday."

"I'll always reserve a number for the royal family." The Azure Diva curtsied once more Alfin moved past her, this time walking with a more brisk gait.

The princess briefly recounted the plan that Mildine laid out for the day. During the free period, she would make contact with her grandparents, who would then enlist the help of Class VII to monitor the city. Normally, Mildine would have stayed by Alfin's side as the two of them visited the Egrets, but Duke Cayenne's impromptu meeting meant that they had to switch tactics. Thus, Mildine was left in the hands of Elise, Lea, and President Carmine while Alfin would try to pick the duke's brain and gauge what his plans were for the immediate future. Either way, it would be dangerous for Mildine to walk around Ordis unattended lest she risk being found out; so, the fact that she was here now meant that either there was a change of plans, or…

The guard who was escorting her opened the door to the guest room, and Alfin saw the answer in front of her.

"Welcome back, Your Highness," the masked maid said with a bow.

"Thank you for waiting." Alfin turned to the guard and said, "We can handle ourselves from here. You may return to your post now."

The guard nodded and closed the door as he left, leaving the two girls alone in the room.

"I thought that you would be with Elise, Lea, and the others."

"Forgive me, Your Highness. But your old group members were growing concerned, as was I."

The blonde-haired princess slowly walked to where her attendant was standing. No matter how well Mildine tried to replicate her speech, Alfin knew that there was no mistaking the original.

But she still had to double check to make sure it wasn't someone else. So, she leaned in and whispered, "Has the egret returned to her cage?"

The other girl shook her head. "No. She is where she belongs, by the riverside," she responded.

"That is…most excellent." Alfin could hardly contain her excitement. That was the phrase that signified the plan had gone without a hitch. Mildine was safe, and in her place…

Her attendant took off her mask, revealing a noticeable scar that traveled diagonally up her face. To most, it would be an imperfection, but to Alfin, it was undeniable, perfect proof. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Alfin."

Alfin cast aside all her social graces to give her friend a big, warm hug. "Oh, Morgan! I wanted to see you so much!"

"Hehe…" Morgan laughed, patting the back of Alfin's head. "Sorry. I was a bit preoccupied this morning. We were at Juno Naval Fortress in the morning. I'm guessing that's why you couldn't contact me."

"Elise told you about that, did she? Hmph! I'll need to have a word with her later." Alfin pouted a little bit. "That aside, General Le Guin hasn't been putting you all through too much, haven't you?"

"If she did anything less, she wouldn't be considered the Golden Rakshasa of the Noble Faction," Morgan quipped. She then went on to summarize the current state of affairs in the city and the sort of things they did on their end.

"So what were you and the duke talking about?"

Alfin let out a sigh, much louder than she was anticipating.

"S-Sorry. Too soon?"

"Mm-mm! It's not you!" Alfin furiously shook her head. "I just wasn't expecting to play the role of princess during this trip. He appealed to my status and insisted that he had no connections to the Imperial Liberation Front. He even went so far as to show his most recent business transactions to prove his innocence."

"Wow. Talk about pulling off all the stops."

"Yes. I also thought that he deliberately prepared all of this beforehand. No doubt he wants someone who can vouch for his innocence in front of my father when he goes to meet him tomorrow." The princess gave a small huff, which surely would have earned her ridicule if she had done it in public. "I'm a princess, not his auditor."

Morgan chuckled. "Those are some strong words you're throwing around, Alfin. You might want to watch your mouth around these parts."

Alfin hastily covered her mouth and looked at the door, which was still closed. "Thank you for reminding me, Morgan."

"Just recounting some advice from a classmate of mine. So? What's next on the agenda?"

"We should be making our way to the Egret residence so you and Mildine can switch back," Alfin said in a hushed whisper. "Afterwards, I should probably be returning to St. Coraline's."

"I see…" Morgan's lips formed a small frown. "So our time together is almost over. We need to go back to Trista tomorrow."

"Yes, I tend to agree. It's such a waste, considering we've only just reunited. So, here's what I propose instead…" Alfin's lips started to curve upwards into a mischievous smirk.

"Ohhh no. I know where this is going. You're about to suggest we take the scenic route, aren't you?"

"Teehee! You've taken the words straight out of my mouth! And don't tell me you aren't interested!"

"It's not that I don't think we should make the most of our time. It's just…" Morgan pursed her lips. "Remember the last time you suggested we sneak out all by ourselves? That almost didn't end well."

"The jaeger attack…" Alfin nodded solemnly. "I remember as clear as day."

"So then, why…?"

"Because that was then, and now is now! We have General Le Guin's army and Class VII on our side! I don't doubt their capabilities one bit. Do you?"

"W-Well…"

"And besides…" The princess put her hands behind her back and leaned forward. "You've protected me once before. I have complete and utter faith that you will do it again."

Morgan eventually let out a relenting sigh. "I may not be Mildine, but I have a few places in mind."

"So, then…"

"But I have one condition." Morgan pointed at Alfin. "If I'm going to give you the full Ordis experience, we're first going to need to do something about that."

Alfin looked at the specific part of her body Morgan was pointing to. "My…hair?"

…

"Hello there, young lady. What can I get you today?" an elderly lady asked.

"Good day to you, ma'am!" Alfin stepped forward. "I would like to order one strawberry crepe for myself and one vanilla ice cream crepe for my friend, please."

"One strawberry and one vanilla. That will total to 1880 Mira."

Alfin procured the exact amount and put it in the lady's hand.

"Thank you, dear. Now you just sit tight and wait."

"I will! Thank you!" With a big smile on her face, Alfin ran over to where Morgan was waiting. "Did you see that, Morgan? She didn't even think twice when she saw me!"

"I did. It's great that there was no one else in line so we could test it out." Morgan nodded, satisfied with the fruits of her work. "It's exactly as your brother said; people only see what they expect to see. Mm-hm! I really need to thank Emma for asking me to help her braid her hair today!"

Alfin spun around in place, admiring the way her braided hair followed her. "Goodness, now I'm seriously considering making this my new default look. But if I do that, then the novelty of this being a disguise will wear off!"

"You can always ask Prince Olivert. He's an expert at finding new ways to remain incognito, for better or for worse."

Finally, the crepe lady called Alfin over to pick up their order. Alfin thanked her once again before handing the vanilla ice cream crepe over to Morgan. She then sat down next to her and took a bite out of the sweet treat.

"Is the crepe to your liking, my lady?"

Alfin squealed while touching her cheek with her free hand. "Mmm! It's perfect! And thank you for treating me."

"It's always a pleasure to serve." Morgan smiled before turning to her own ice cream crepe. She hadn't been able to finish it the last time she was in Ordis, but this time…

"Waaahhh!"

Morgan stopped right as she was about to take a bite. She turned and saw a mother kneeling down and consoling her child. Right in between them was a crepe, which the child was probably holding.

"Sweetie, this is why I told you to watch your step. It's just a crepe…"

Morgan looked at her uneaten crepe and knew what needed to be done. She stood up and started walking over to the pair… Only to find that someone had already beaten her to it.

"Don't cry, don't cry! Here!" Alfin held out her crepe. "Would you like mine?"

"No, we couldn't possibly-!" the mother tried to deny.

"It's quite alright. I can always get another one of my own." The incognito princess gave the distressed mother a bright smile. "Children's smiles should be protected, shouldn't they?"

The small boy reached out to take the crepe, but he hesitated and pulled back. Alfin reassured him by taking the child's hands and placing the crepe in them. "Now make sure you do as your mother told you, okay?"

"O-Okay! Thank you, miss!"

Alfin smiled at the boy and waved her hand as the mother led him away.

"Still as selfless as ever," Morgan remarked.

Alfin stood up and dusted her skirt. "If I can't help the life of a single person in front of me, then I am unfit to represent them as their princess."

Morgan smiled. "And that's why I'm proud to serve you."

"Hm? What did you say?"

"Nothing, Your Highness." She held out her ice cream crepe. "Here. We can share."

"You have my thanks! Now, if you could possibly tell me where you bit into it..."

"I haven't bit into it at all, actually."

"Oh? What a shame. I would've loved to take your first indirect kiss."

"I'm getting spoons for the both of us."

"Morgan!"

The pout that the princess had on her face didn't last long, and both master and servant started laughing.

*RIIIIING*

Their laughter was silenced by the sudden ringing of an orbment.

"That's my ARCUS," Alfin realized. "But who could be calling me?"

"Your guess is as good as mine," Morgan said.

The princess took out her school-issued orbment and opened it. "Hello. May I ask who is calling?" she asked.

"Hi, Your Highness," a woman's voice sounded through the speaker. "This is Sara Valestein of Thors Military Academy. Are you with Morgan right now?"

"Yes, I am…" Alfin and Morgan locked eyes with each other.

"Great. Could you put me on the line with her? It's urgent."

"A-Alright…"

Alfin tentatively gave her orbment over to Morgan, who in turn gave her her ice cream crepe. She then excused herself to go get spoons from the crepe vendor so Morgan could have some privacy with her instructor. Though she couldn't discern her friend's expression due to the mask, she could tell that any sort of levity she might have been feeling was no longer present.

That feeling was only reinforced when she returned and overheard Morgan responding with, "Understood. We'll meet you there in five."

The black-haired maid closed Alfin's ARCUS and handed it back to her. "Thanks for letting me use this," she said curtly. "We need to get to the Egret estate as soon as possible."

"Did something happen?" Alfin whispered. "Is it…Mildine?"

Morgan shook her head, which gave Alfin a momentary feeling of relief. "Sara said she'll explain when we get there. Can you walk and eat at the same time?"

"Don't you want to-?"

"Not this time. You can have all of it."

Alfin reluctantly nodded, silently bemoaning that she and Morgan weren't able to share a crepe with each other. Regardless, she somehow managed to elegantly scarf down her crepe without letting a single drop of ice cream fall onto her uniform while brisk walking alongside Morgan.

When they finally reached the Egret residence, they saw a small crowd of familiar faces gathered outside it.

"Y-Your Highness?!" Jusis was the first to recognize her, and immediately, he respectfully lowered his head towards her. The rest of Class VII likewise followed his lead.

"Hello, Class VII. It's been a while. Thank you once again for coming to my and Elise's aid during the summer festival."

"We were only doing what anyone else would have done, Your Highness," Gaius responded.

"Wowww…" Millium stepped forward, her eyes practically sparkling. "I've never been so close to royalty before!"

Alfin giggled. "Teehee! You must be one of the new members I've heard Morgan talk about. Millium, correct?"

"Yup! That's me!" The blue-haired girl started looking around. "Speaking of, where's Morgan? We're still waiting on her."

"I'm right here." Morgan finally stepped forward.

"Whoa! You look just like Morgan!"

Morgan then proceeded to take off her mask.

"Whoa! You really ARE Morgan! How did you do that?"

Machias pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. "Since you're here, Morgan, I'm guessing Instructor Sara also contacted you?"

"Technically, she contacted Princess Alfin. I left my ARCUS with the Egrets when I agreed to take on their special commission."

"EH?!" That elicited a huge cry of surprise from the other students.

Before Morgan and Alfin could explain themselves, the door to the Egret residence was opened by Instructor Sara. "Hey guys! Thanks for screaming to let me know you were all here. Come on in."

"We're here like you asked, Instructor…" Emma said. "Wait, is that Elise? What is she doing here?"

"H-Hello, everyone…" Elise nervously waved her hand. "Instructor Valestein also asked me to come. I'm not entirely sure why, though."

"So it was Elise's ARCUS that the instructor used to contact Her Highness," Morgan realized.

"Okay. Everyone's here. Perfect." Sara clapped her hands to get everyone's attention. "You're all probably wondering why I asked you all to gather here today…"

"Just get to the point, Instructor," Jusis requested curtly.

"There's been a change in our field study plans." Sara's expression turned serious. "Class VII, Group B. We're packing our things and heading back to the capital effective immediately. We've also been asked by Prince Olivert to take Princess Alfin and Elise with us."

Naturally, this caused an uproar in the living room. What happened to cause the field study to get cut short? And what would happen with the exchange program Alfin and Elise were a part of?

"To the two representatives of St. Astraia Girls' School, there's no need to worry about the exchange program. The Egrets left to discuss this with the school authorities, and your luggage will be brought over by Setsuna momentarily. As for Class VII…" Sara paused to take a breath. "Earlier this afternoon, the Imperial Liberation Front attacked the Sachsen Iron Mine in Roer."

"WHAT?!"

"Roer? But that's where Rean and the others are!"

Elise gasped. "Did you hear from my brother? Is Rean alright?"

"Rean and the rest of Group A made it out alright," Sara assured everyone. "They engaged the ILF leaders V and C in combat and succeeded in driving them away from the mine. But here's the kicker: while the ILF were trying to make their getaway, the airship they were on was shot out of the sky. All the ringleaders were on it when it crashed."

A collective gasp arose from all the students.

"What do you mean…?" Morgan asked again through quivering lips. "All of them?"

"Yup. S, V, and C. The RMP believes that it was the work of an unknown third party. Prince Olivert is working closely with them to tie up all the loose ends that were left behind, and in the end, he decided it was best to end the field study early."

"If the ringleaders are all dead…" Machias said, realization slowly dawning on him. "Then doesn't that mean…!"

"That's right." Sara nodded, confirming everyone's thoughts. "The Imperial Liberation Front…is no more."