The next day, Gwendal puts Kana right to work reviewing budgets and requests. To his amazement, Kana is as proficient as she had said she was. The only long break she has all day is to continue her lessons with Yuri and Gunter. Kana once again gets into a custom schedule as everyone in the castle begins to accept her as well.

Kana sighs as she looks up at the stars one night and braces herself against the balcony railing.

"It's a nice night out, isn't it?"

Kana glances over her shoulder. "Yes it is, Ken." He joins her at the railing. "Don't worry about Sanne; she's not as mad as she said she was." Kana laughs at Sanne's childish remarks that Ken can unfortunately not hear. "Is there something you wanted or are you just out here for some fresh air?"

"A little bit of both actually. I came to deliver a message from Shinou. He said to tell Sanne that he is ready to hold up his end of the bargain."

"Oh", Kana hangs her head slightly. "I guess the time had to come." She inhales deeply and brings her head back up smiling as she looks all around her. "I often wonder if any of this is real but in reality I'm at home in my bed dreaming. I've read books with similar plots to this about someone, usually a girl, somehow traveling to a magical land where she has great adventures, meets many wonderful people, and learns an important lesson that she will carry with her for the rest of her life. Then, right when she realizes that life lesson, boom, she's right back to where she came from never to return to friends and loved ones left behind." She shifts her body so she faces Ken and supports herself on her side closest to the railing. "I don't want to be that girl in the story. I mean, look at what Yuri's done here!" She gestures out at the surrounding area. "He started out like the girl in the story but now he only has to rely on himself to get here and back. I don't know if I'm capable of the same thing. I want to be so badly. I'm sure Yuri would be more than willing to help me back and forth, but I don't want to have to rely on him. I almost feel as if I have to give up one or the other."

They stand there, the only sound coming on the wind from conversations in various locations nearby. Kana takes a deep breath and stands up straight. "I'm sorry I talked so much and I appreciate you for listening. I think I better get to bed now so I can leave for the Temple early tomorrow morning. Goodnight, Ken."

She takes a few steps before Ken asks, "Is Shinou sending you back to Earth tomorrow?"

Kana stops and turns back around. "You're not getting rid of me that easily, Ken-chan." She winks at him before saying her goodnight again and heading up to her room for the night.

Soon after dawn, Kana is on her way to Shinou's temple. Her fingers nervously fidget with the reins and it takes her twice the amount of time to get there than normal. She is granted access inside where Ulrike is patiently waiting. Sanne emerges and dismounts handing the reins over to an attendant.

"Good morning, Ulrike", Sanne greets her.

Ulrike bows slightly. "Good morning to you, Lady Sanne. I hope you are well today."

Sanne smiles at the childish looking woman. "Ulrike, I asked that you not to call me 'lady'." Sanne says it again but knows Ulrike will not oblige to her request. "It's a title I lost a long time ago and I have a long way to go if I want it back. Otherwise, I'm fine but I can tell how nervous Kana is yet she doesn't have anything to worry about."

Ulrike smiles, "It is someone not something that Lady Kana is worried about. All the preparations are ready and His Majesty Shinou is waiting."

"Thank you, Ulrike, for everything."

Ulrike's smile grows warmer. "There's no need to thank me, Lady Sanne." Sanne snickers as she realizes that that was Ulrike's way of saying, "You're welcome."

Ulrike leads Sanne into the main hall where Shinou is waiting in the corner. He comes over to greet them. As he approaches, Sanne instinctively tenses up.

Shinou stops and stares at her with caution. "I explained myself fully to you and have asked for your forgiveness and you still are uneasy around me."

Sanne breathes in deeply and tries to relax. "Four thousand years of hatred can't disappear instantly. The last thing I've remembered about you all this time is how cold hearted, wicked, and vicious you were to me on that day. I've lived all this time hating those that I though served the person I last thought you were so it's no wonder I've tried to kill the Maou. It's going to take some time to train myself all over again but I'm making progress. It seems you are the last person I have to deal with. Now, can you explain this one more time so I know exactly what's going on?"

He smiles remorselessly. "I'm sorry and I hope this will get me a foot in the right direction."

Sanne gives his a slight smile back. "It just might help."

Shinou then continues to explain everything one more time to Sanne and Ulrike. When he is done he asks Ulrike to leave until further notice to which she complies.

As soon as Ulrike closed the door behind her, Sanne stares Shinou right in the eyes. "If something does happen to go wrong, I want you to promise me that you'll watch over Kana just as much as you do Yuri. She is our daughter after all."

Shinou places his right hand over his heart and bows. "Of course but you need to have a little more faith in me at the moment. Then, let's begin."

Kana. Sanne calls out mentally to her. Trust in him. Everything will be alright. Sanne feels Kana's own mental strength flowing in her. She meets Shinou's gaze one more time with more confidence as she gives her nod of approval.