After escaping Countess Mazuurek, I found a pastel-coloured sideroom, where I could sit and collect my thoughts. Outside the full-length windows, the evening was dark and rain was falling, onto the double rank of Kataphracts kneeling before our palace. Ortygia, Elysium, Electris, Sirenum. The Tharsis, that took Slaine away from me, and brought him back more silent than before.

What did he see, fighting those poor Terrans, that hurt him so much? What did he do, out there, that he could barely speak of, to me?

A face in the window. A voice, behind me.

"They are quite something, Highness, are they not? The pride and strength of Mars; the terrors of the Earth. All at your Highness's command."

"I don't regret that I've never ridden one. They may be the pride of Vers–the power of gods in human form. But my dream is still for the day we might work that ancient power for peace."

"There was a dream that was Vers, Highness. It may sink to a whisper, but it will never be lost." I turned to my guest with a grateful look.

"Thank you, Count Klancain. Even if my peace mission only brought conflict, and Knights with Kataphracts made the world we see…" I remembered Fatima Mazuurek's anger. The violence and loss I had seen, would never forget. "….a future of peace and acceptance is still my husband's hope, and mine."

"That… is undeniable." On this evening that should have been so joyous, Count Klancain looked grave. In fact, his smooth, handsome face looked rather flushed.

"In any case, it gives me great happiness that you should celebrate with us. Thank you for the dance, earlier." We had danced one waltz, an hour ago. He had been adept, but rather stiff, "Though I hoped you might dance a few figures more, to encourage the rest of the company…?"

"Alas, no other lady would oblige me. After my family's losses, they must have feared I had an eye to their fortunes."

"Klancain?" He had sat down; his face really was flushed, "Don't be absurd. Your father was the most respected Noble of Vers. Practically Grandfather's closest advisor."

"He was. Until he almost tortured the future Crown Consort to death. Then died without a chance to restore his honour. The Emperor…does not look on our house with such favour as he did."

His eyes cut me to the heart. For the Emperor, heir of the gods and father of Vers, he had given everything, gained nothing, lost everything. An utterly faithful believer, forsaken by his God. I reached out, and took his hand.

"Grandfather highly respects you, and so does Slaine. Your father's honour was never in question–his reputation you restored yourself. I told Viscountess Rastapodopolis all about the Tokyo bombing when you saved my life, so all of Vers should know by now. I'm sorry Slaine hasn't referred to the matter in public yet, but I will mention it to him."

"He was never unwilling to speak in public about father's death. His 'tragic, misdirected loyalty'….how he bears Count Cruhteo no ill will. Then he shows those burn scars, and with such tricks he steals the common hearts, the destiny of Vers…! Pardon my words, Highness. He's rightful heir to the crown; he earned it. And the Tharsis, and my father's Terran conquests. My father….'made him the man he is today'. The son, and Vers itself, are punished for his sins."

Klancain didn't look drunk anymore. He looked alarmingly like his father. His face frozen, sadly-smiling, with a firestorm behind it.

I stood up from my seat by the window, both hands back at my sides. He stood as well.

"Klancain. You've supported Slaine, ever since he became my royal knight. We probably couldn't reward you enough for all you've done. I won't regard any of your words as seditious. If you object to anything in the conduct of the man I love, please, state it plainly."

"He is a good man, Highness; I know he loves you. So I'm very sorry that I must say this. Slaine Troyard and his father are ready to destroy your Kingdom's future. He's weakened the Nobility by purging Counts and abolishing their titles. His colonisation plan will weaken Mars, simply to build his support on Earth. He's taking policy decisions without even consulting His Majesty, the Emperor of Vers!"

"Grandfather hasn't been well–"

"He's wanted peace with Earth for years. He told me himself, the first war was his life's mistake. And now Earth is so covered with Terran blood, it might be red as Mars. Because of Slaine Troyard."

"No! Slaine has always wanted peace! He killed in the war to defend me from traitors like Saazbaum, he never ordered murders–!"

"No. The officials and knights he appoints order murders, torture and purges. More than any single Orbital Knight. Huge powers are delegated to common clay, only chosen for their worshipful loyalty to Prince Slaine! Highness, I'm sure he's told you that peace and social justice are his aims. But Terra will be ravaged, and our glorious homeland destroyed, if he is not restrained!"

He had no anger, no hate. That was the worst thing. His eyes proclaimed a noble heart horrified by slaughter, a patriot risking his life for the Kingdom he loved. They were quite overpowering.

"Count Klancain, what are you suggesting? I trust Slaine! He's the most caring man, he lives for Vers, even…sometimes, before me! Even If all you say was true, what can I do–?"

Klancain dropped to his knees. I recoiled back, against the window–before I could move again, he had taken my hand in his.

"Princess. I've loved Vers more than I've loved any person. You are the future Queen of Vers..."

"Let go of my hand and get off your knees, Klancain! I love Vers and her people, and I love Slaine! I married him this morning!"

"What does love matter, besides two worlds and billions of lives? We could save some of those lives, together! Wrench power away from Dr Troyard and his monsters, one day, and give it back to those born to rule! I offer you my life's service. I only ask for your trust."

I wrenched my hand from his with a release, and rushed towards the door. Ran headlong into Slaine, entering the sitting room as he talked on his phone.

-0-

"Princess! Is everything well?" I stared up at his ever-pale, adorable face, unable to speak, "Count Klancain, has something happened?"

"…nothing, Highness." I saw that Klancain was on his feet. Since entering the room, Slaine had only looked at me. He hadn't seen anything that would hurt him. As I had seen him hurt, an hour ago, when I talked of Inaho. I'd hurt him. But he was looking only at me, with nothing in his eyes but concern and trust.

I buried my face in Slaine's chest. He stood rigid and surprised, as Klancain walked out past us.

Then Slaine moved away from me. Many times, he'd been formal and closed to me, since we'd stopped being children, but it had never shocked me to the heart like now.

"Slaine–!"

"Princess–!" We both looked away, flushing, "I'm sorry. You should speak first."

"I said horrible things to you. I've never been disappointed in you, and I…I…"

"Princess, don't worry! I should have considered your feelings, especially….as your husband. Forgive me–" He realised he was still on the phone, and quickly ended the call, "So, I should probably have asked, Princess, but would you like your own Zoo?"

"Pardon?"

"A collection of Terran animals. I was just calling Baron Perse in North Africa–he could supply lions, elephants, antelopes and numerous butterflies, with Terran keepers. We could clear out some space for them, outside New Washington, I knew you wouldn't like caged animals, except for the birds, but the other animals would have acres of land! Would that please you–?"

Slaine finally tailed off, when he saw tears in my eyes. I laughed out loud, and draped my arms over his neck.

"Oh….that's so like you. I wanted your forgiveness, and you were already preparing a wonderful present to win mine! Slaine, I will always love and always forgive you. Believe me. This…'Zoo?'…sounds wonderful, so long as all our people can enjoy it as well. But what I want most of all from you…can you call me Asseylum?"

"Very well…Asseylum. Asseylum Vers Allusia Troyard." Slaine's grin looked so lovely, I had to kiss him on the nose.

"Slaine. There is one other thing I want from you."

"Anything, Asseylum."

"Could you possibly give the territory of Japan to Count Klancain?"

"Certainly, but….didn't you want to live there after we were married?"

"Yes, but you didn't, not really."

"No, Princess! I know our mansion there was bombed, but they've almost finished rebuilding–"

"Sla‒aine!"

"I'm sorry, Princess. Of course that's what you want."

"Thank you," I stepped back from Slaine, and glanced about the room. "It was really Count Cruhteo's territory. And I didn't realise how hard he took his father's death."

"I understand. Count Cruhteo was strict to a fault," A shadow passed over Slaine's face, "But now his son will finally have a chance to prove his worth."

"He certainly will. Klancain is a noble of true honour and kindness. He will make a Japan a peaceful country. A haven for refugees from harshly-governed territories, just like Mazuurek made in Arabia."

"Princess." I'd hoped Slaine would be pleased with what I'd done, but his face was like a visor. His eyes never looked on me without joy, but some painful tumult was buried there also.

"…did your negotiations with Count Orga end well?"

"Better than I'd hoped. The rebels will be imprisoned at hard labour; only the ringleaders will be shot. I'm truly sorry, Princess. I talked of such things before you, on our wedding day. And I wanted to give you a day of peace!"

"Well, were such things still occurring today, on this planet?" As Slaine hung his head, I glided back to him, and raised it with my fingers, "Then I don't see how this world's Princess could escape them. But I know, every day, you are there to protect me from harm or despair. Never giving up. Always doing your best. So I will too. 'With careful thought and hard work'–and understanding–we can thrive. I love you, Slaine. My darling Terran Prince."

"My Asseylum…"

Since the war, Slaine always shut his eyes or embraced me when I praised him. As if his emotions were too desperately strong for him to meet my eye.

"I did said that. But I….would have lost hope in those words, years ago, without you. People can be cruel, you've seen and felt it…I couldn't protect you from that, I'm sorry…"

Beneath his jacket, my hand could feel the welts in his skin. I held him tighter.

"…but your eyes see something worth love and life, in this helpless Terran boy. And so I have hope in the world. So I can keep striving to protect you, fighting for your kingdom of peace. A kingdom worthy of your precious heart, Asseylum. My light. My love."

Oh, Slaine. If only I could unlock your heart, to pour out such words of love each day! If only Klancain could hear them–he would never have believed such untruths!

My husband loved my heart, not my blood. Not the god-making light of Aldnoah that had gripped my life's destiny, but the simple human spirit that had guided my dreams. It was a fairytale I'd scarcely dreamed of, and I simply had to believe. Believe in my husband, to fight and even kill, but truly to strive for peace, for Terra, Mars and us.

-0-

As my heart was still racing from his embrace, Slaine stepped out into the ballroom, and called for everyone's attention. Count Klancain would receive the territory of Japan, for saving the Princess Royal from the Tokyo bombing.

Every Noble and servant burst into applause, before toasting Count Klancain's happy future and the happy future Terra, under Versian protection. Looking (at least) completely satisfied, Count Klancain returned a toast to Slaine Vers Allusia Troyard, Royal Prince.

"Prince Slaine! The truest son of Vers!" Orga shouted, thrusting his drink in the air.

"The Princess Asseylum!" Dear Rafia shouted even louder, "Our light! Our honour! Our hope!"

"The Princess!" Sebring quickly added his voice to hers.

"The Prince and Princess Royal," Mazuurek smiled as he raised his glass, "Their future happiness."

A din of cheering, glass-charging and applause followed every toast. A Princess and human devoted to the joy of others, I had never known Nobles of Vers so happy. Alone on Earth, strangled and shattered by bullets, I had almost lost hope that joy like this could be.

"I'm so glad, my Prince," I whispered, squeezing his hand "This is the honour you deserve. You've worked so hard for this day, you must be so happy...?"

"Because of you, Asseylum," Slaine whispered back, as a kingdom's adulation rolled around him, "Only because of you."

Somehow my eye wandered to the corner where Countess Mazuurek was chatting to Slaine's father. Dr Troyard, who had saved me from Saazbaum's bullets, paved every step of Slaine's way to this wedding, and set his hand on every secret, bloody deed in Vers. The one who had starved and driven my husband for years, to some own shadowy end. Insufferable, inexorable, and presently indispensable–I couldn't think of asking Slaine to dismiss him. I just had to trust my husband to be a stronger man. To be an Emperor, one day, and only use violence if he must, to bring two worlds all the peace and happiness their children could dream of.

The ball was almost over. After about their fifteenth rendition of 'Mars, Bringer of War' the Orchestra struck up a final slow waltz. Grinning boyishly, Mazuurek bowed to his wife and led her onto the dance floor. Countess Orga dragged her husband by main force into his first dance of the night. One of the pageboys worked up the courage to ask Eddelrittuo for a dance, but she had fallen asleep by the buffet some time ago. Klancain passed close to Slaine and I, with a rather gorgeous Viscountess on his arm.

"Thank you Highness," He whispered to me, "You, understood me…?"

"Continue your support for Slaine," I hissed back, "Or I will tell him of your words to me, and you will regret them." With the brightest smile, Slaine gently gave me his hand, and we led off the dance.

I noticed Count Sebring, bowing to Countess Rafia. After delivering some cutting remarks to the wall, she allowed him to take her hand. As they circled awkwardly into the swaying couples, both of them were smiling.

"Just one dance. Back to the war after that."

"And I'll be there to protect you, Countess–" Still smiling brightly, Rafia trod on Sebring's foot.

(Was Harklight watching our happiness, from the grave? Was poor dear Inaho? Where were Yuki, Nina, Rayet and all the friends I made, on the Deucalion? Somewhere out there, if they lived, with the all other Terrans who wanted all of us dead.)

Slaine held me so gently, as our feet seemed to fly over the ground. In his sea-green eyes, I felt radiant; my heart hammered against his, at the thought of the night to come. Next week, he might vanish into battle, or sink in bitter memories–but I would still be his wife. Never safe, but secure, in our love. We would be happy. I would make our kingdom happy, and heal every wound of his heart, with all the care and devotion in mine.

Perhaps none of us deserved such happiness, after seizing the earth and covering it with blood. But might we not still have joy, while we could?