AN: Thanks to Meirouki for reminding me to update. Actually there isn't any progress at all. Sorry, I'm too lazy… I'll try to get some chapters done before the end of the year. But here is the 3rd chapter which I've written. Like I said before, there wasn't any significant plot progress. And I guess it will stay like that for about 2 more chapters. Please bear with me. And thank you for your support.

Mustadio once again played with his gun, opening and closing the cartridge repeatedly. He was bored. He had been waiting for a day and a half in this coal city of Goland without actually doing anything. But he couldn't just go, leaving Alma alone here in the inn. Ramza and Agrias had gone to Lesalia yesterday morning, leaving both of them there. Ramza didn't want to endanger his sister, so Mustadio, who had been tagging along from Goug, had to become her bodyguard while her brother was away.

"If you are bored, you can just go to the bar if you wish." Alma voice reached him from the other side of the room.

"As if I can. I promise your brother." He retorted. "I'll go if you also go."

"I don't want to be away when they arrived. I want to see Ovelia as soon as I can."

"Then I have no choice." Mustadio stored his gun in its holster.

"I'll be alright by myself. It's not like somebody would just come here and kidnap me."

"…you're right." Mustadio contemplated his choice. "But, no. I'll stay."

Alma eyed Mustadio. "Aren't you bored?"

"I am. But even going to the bar won't help." Mustadio sat on the table which was located by the window. "And I'm also worried about them."

Silence stretched.

"They should be arriving soon, right?" Alma broke the silence.

"If they started walking before dawn, then yes." Mustadio looked out of the window.

The sun was already high on the sky. Soon it would be time for lunch.

"Why do you come with us anyway? I don't see any reason for you to be involved in this matter." Alma suddenly asked.

A question Mustadio had not anticipated. He actually tagged along because he wanted to accompany Agrias. Somehow, Agrias had been so upset about the queen. And judging from her reaction after hearing the news, it would be likely for her to do something reckless. He worried she might hurt herself in the process. But, there was no way he would tell Alma all that. It was too embarrassing.

"Uh, well…" He scratched his head searching for an answer. "I-I needed to deliver something for someone here. So I thought it's better to go with you guys than going alone later." He lied.

"Deliver something? A machine?"

"Y-yeah. My father has acquaintances here and there. And they often request him to make some machines." This wasn't a lie, though, Mustadio thought.

"That's awesome. I've seen you and your father work. The machines are interesting, aren't they?"

"Y-yeah, they are." Mustadio felt relieved that the topic had changed.

"So what kind of machine was it?" Alma was curious.

"Err…" Mustadio felt the urge to slap his temple. 'So this is why they say, make one lie and you'll make another thousand to cover it.'

A knock on the door distracted their attention.

"Lady Alma, we are back." From the other side of the door Mustadio could hear Agrias' voice.

'Agrias!' Mustadio jumped down from the table.

Alma rushed to the door and yanked it open. "Agrias! How is Ovelia?"

Agrias stepped aside to let Alma see her old friend. Upon seeing Ovelia, Alma jumped the distance between them and hugged her old friend. "Ovelia! You are safe!"

"A-Alma!" Ovelia stumbled from the attack.

"Glad to see you again! You must be tired! Come in!" Alma pulled her inside. "How about some nice warm bath? It must have been cold, right?"

Mustadio could only watch as Alma dragged the queen inside. He met the queen's eyes as she looked at him with curious expression. Quickly he averted his gaze and gave an awkward bow. He then turned his attention to Agrias who was now stepping into the room. 'Thank gods, she's alright.'

"Where's Ramza?" He asked noticing Ramza wasn't with them.

"In the stable." Agrias answered without looking at him. Her eyes were fixed on Ovelia.

Something felt different, thought Mustadio. Agrias had always had this intimidating air around her. And he had seen her anger. It felt as if the air quivered under her rage. But right now, he had the impression as if that intimidating aura had softened. It wasn't obvious, but Mustadio was sure about it.

"G-glad you guys made it before lunch. I'm tired of waiting!" He tried to start a conversation.

"Watch it, Mustadio!" Agrias warned him. Suddenly the intimidating aura came back.

"S-sorry!" Mustadio clamped his mouth shut. Then he realized that his words must have been rude to Ovelia who also travelled with them.

"He is Mustadio, an engineer from Goug. He assisted my brother before." Alma introduced him.

Ovelia eyed him curiously.

"N-nice to meet you, your Majesty!" Feeling awkward under her gaze, Mustadio bowed again.

"I believe we met before. Was it 4 years ago as we took a journey to Lionel?" Ovelia asked.

"You remember me, your Highness? That's an honor!" Mustadio wasn't expecting it. After all, their meeting was brief.

"You are the first engineer I've ever met, Ser Mustadio. I'm glad to see you are doing fine. And I'm sorry if you had to wait so long. It is because of me that the trip from Lesalia took longer than expected."

"Uh, n-no, I didn't mean that. Err…well…" Mustadio tried to explain, but couldn't find any words. He sighed. "I'm sorry I said that."

"No, it's alright, Ser Mustadio. After all it was a fault on my part." Ovelia smiled at him.

The smile was sincere, Mustadio could tell. He remembered the Ovelia who had helped him meet the Cardinal 4 years ago. He never interacted with any other royalty, but he could tell Ovelia was different.

"Well then, Ser Mustadio, if you would kindly leave us for a while…" Alma interrupted. "Agrias, help me prepare a bath!"

"Oh, right. I'll go see Ramza then." Mustadio walked out of the room. Once in the hall he sighed. Dealing with royalty and noble wasn't something he used to.

Once in the hall, he noticed Ramza came in from the back door. "Hey, Ramza!"

"Where are the others?" Ramza asked, knocking the snow off his shoes.

"In Alma's room. Taking bath." Mustadio gestured with his thumb. "Hey, wanna get some lunch?"

"Let's wait until they finish. I'm going to check on the rumors." Ramza went back outside, this time through the front door.

"Hey wait!" Mustadio came after him. "How long do you think it takes for a queen to take a bath?"

Grew up as a royalty, Ovelia had never stayed in an inn or eat in any public places. Even during her runaway from the warring Princes with Agrias and Ramza's group four years ago. In those time they preferred to camp outside the city to avoid being detected. It wasn't a pleasure-filled memory. Not because it was uncomfortable to sleep on dirt, but because she was being chased. She had been outside, yet she hadn't been free.

But now she was free. That notion itself made her feel giddy. Almost like a child, she took delight in everything she saw. The inn's building, the small restaurant they were now, the people around her. Even the plain soup she was eating now tasted so refreshing; unlike those she usually ate in the palace.

"Here you go, my lady." Agrias offered her a piece of the bread she had been slicing.

"Thank you." Ovelia took the offered piece and watched as Agrias gave another slice to Alma.

"So, what is the next plan? Going back to Goug?" Mustadio asked while shoving a piece of meat to his mouth.

"Let's stay here for today. We can start getting back to Goug tomorrow." Ramza answered.

Swallowing his meat, Mustadio spoke up. "You sure it's alright? What about the pursuer?"

"Nobody is pursuing us. So we can take it easy." Ramza took a bite on his bread.

"Huh? How can you be so sure?"

Ramza hesitated for a while, glancing at Ovelia who stared at him, anticipating his answer.

"Delita ensured it himself."

Ovelia twitched at his answer.

So, he did dispose me. Then why did he let me alive while lying to the whole kingdom?

"But why?" Mustadio voiced her question. "I thought since you took her with you, the news was false and they would come pursuing us."

"Can he be trusted?" Agrias raised a voice. She never liked Delita and she could never trust him. That man was always full of deceit.

"It's alright. Delita never breaks promises." Alma mixed in.

"Well, for the time being let's just take a rest and prepare for tomorrow's journey." Ramza dismissed the discussion.

After lunch, Ramza said he was tired then retreated to the room he shared with Mustadio to nap. Agrias suggested that Ovelia should rest too. After all they had been walking the whole night. Alma and Mustadio decided to go shopping for the trip back to Goug while the three of them rest.

Laying on the bed in Alma's room, Ovelia stared at the wooden ceiling. Her body was tired but the conversation over lunch had left her with unanswered questions that bothered her mind.

"Are you uncomfortable, my lady?" Agrias' voice drew her attention. "Please tell me if there is anything I can do." The knight was sitting on the other bed in the room, once again confirming the former queen's well-being before going to rest.

"No, Agrias. I'm feeling fine. Thank you." Ovelia offered her a smile.

Agrias responded with a nod then proceed to climb to her own bed.

The knight had been always so kind to her. And Ovelia felt so grateful to her. 'Concerning herself with me, though I am not worthy of her sword anymore.'

Watching Agrias from the corner of her eyes, Ovelia thought of counselling her questions with the knight. She knew well Agrias disliked Delita. But, maybe it could ease her mind by talking it out.

Inhaling enough air, she started to speak. "Do you have any guess why Delita let me go so easily?"

A brief silence filled the room before Agrias gave her an answer. "I'm afraid I don't. But knowing him, he might have something planned."

"…You might be right. He could have let me die. But instead, he saved me." Ovelia muttered.

"He had done the right thing. For if he had not, I would have sent him to the underworld myself." Agrias' voice became scornful.

'Ah…!' It dawn to Ovelia that Agrias might not know the truth behind the assassination. Sitting up, she shifted herself so she could straightly face Agrias.

"Agrias, you might not know, but…" She paused, hesitating on her next words. "…it was I who attacked the king…"

Agrias' reaction confirmed Ovelia's doubt. She abruptly sat up on her bed then faced Ovelia.

"My lady?" She eyed Ovelia, unasked question in her eyes – Why?

"I thought I could trust him fully, like I trust you."

"I'll build a kingdom worthy of you." So he had said.

"But soon, I understand how I have been mistaken." Ovelia clenched her hands on the bed sheet.

"He just wanted me to trust him, so he could reach his ambition. Just like how he used Ser Ramza to get rid of the church."

When she heard about the death of the Beoulve siblings, she lost all her hope. Delita had let his own friends die. What would stop him from getting rid of her, no one with nothing but a royal title? Everything became meaningless. Even her own life.

"I thought you would have perished together with Ser Ramza and Alma, as I was sure you must have been with them. I couldn't bear the thought. Everyone I trusted was gone. So, I wished to end everything myself. Ending his ambition and ending this meaningless life."

"My lady, please do not say such things. There is no such thing as meaningless life." Agrias had now kneeled on the floor next to former queen's bed, stroking her hands in comforting manner.

"…you might not know this as well…" Ovelia looked into Agrias eyes. "I am not Ovelia."

Telling Agrias this piece of information, might forever shun the knight from her. For the oath she had sworn was dedicated to Ovelia, the princess, the queen; not some unnamed girl like her.

Agrias looked confuse. "…I fear I don't understand your meaning, my lady…"

"I am not the daughter of Denamunda. I am not Ovelia Atkascha." Ovelia continued, her voice cracked. "They told me I was a substitute to the real princess who died after her birth."

"…who told you such a lie?"

"It might be as well the truth, Agrias." A bitter smile formed on Ovelia's lips. "The elders in the council had covered the truth even from king Denamunda. They were the one who made me the princess."

Agrias wasn't sure how to react to this information. Was the former queen just jesting? Or had she thought this out to test her loyalty?

"I am no one, Agrias. Even my real name I do not know. What was the purpose of my whole life?" A tear dropped from the tip of Ovelia's chin onto their joined hand on the sheet.

Ovelia wasn't jesting nor testing her.

How could anyone confess such a cruel thing to her?

"I wish I were not born a princess."

Agrias remembered the words Ovelia had uttered 4 years ago.

"All my life, I have known monastery walls. Even the sky, I have only seen them through those walls. I'm not bewailing it. It merely pains me. To know that while I hide behind these walls, many people are dying in my name, dying for the sake of the princess…"

Conceding such thing was the same as declaring her whole life was a deception. The dedication she had given was all lie.

Agrias rose from her kneeling position and pulled the wailing girl in a hug, hoping it might comfort her even a bit.

"Please do not say such things." She managed to say. "I believe whoever told it to you would only want to see you hurt."

Ovelia shook her head. "No, Agrias. They have no reason to lie."

She pushed away from Agrias. "And you have no reason to keep your vow to me."

Hearing that, Agrias was dismayed.

She did swear her sword to the girl's cause. It started off as a duty as she was assigned as the captain of the princess' entourage. But somewhere along those two years she spent by the princess' side, she came to care for that gentle girl who was confined behind the wall of monastery because of her title. Agrias had wished she could do something to make the girl smile, even a bit. Yet, she was unable to. She could only watch as the war developed and dragged the innocent girl into it. How she regretted her helplessness!

"No!" She pulled Ovelia back into her arms. "I've sworn my sword to you, not to your title or name. Be you a royalty or not, I would not abandon you!" A tear rolled down her cheek.