Saito was flying over his capital's airspace thinking about his next move as a whole. Not only did he fail in bringing Louise with him but he had a very bad feeling that he was going to be more than sleeping on the couch tonight. Add onto the fact he himself needed to take care of a matter with the Pope himself. Whether this would be through diplomacy or by the edge of Saito's blade was to be decided later. He slowed his decent as he got onto the runway. Saito turned off his plane and moved the glass panel to find his captain standing across from his plane.

"Hello to you too Imrahil, what's up?" Saito said as Henrietta was standing right behind him. "Ughhh… hi dear." The look on her face said welcome back but Imrahil's told him to run for his life. Saito assumed that she got information out of him which only meant one thing.

"Hello Saito, how was your little reunion with Louise?" Her tone was calm but anyone could guess what she was thinking, cheating on someone tends to end badly for the cheater.

"A pain, just so happened the Pope himself sent a death squad to kill either or both of us. I don't know which." Saito nabbed Derflinger from the backseat and jumped from the cockpit to the ground. "Alright, what did you say Imrahil aside from where I went?"

"He said that you would be returning with her, so where is she?"

"She basically told me she would show up one day before the war begins, meanwhile I-"

"-Am going to stay home and be with your daughter." Henrietta finished which was to be expected from the situation.

"Oh, and you expect me to stay home when THIS is still around?" Saito held up the symbol of a group from the Pope's division. "Yup, he didn't disband it."

"And what, may I ask, are you planning to do?" Imrahil asked as Saito smiled.

"Simple, cut off the head of the serpent before it can strike." Saito said as his wife did not budge. "Henrietta, you need to be reasonable with me, if we end this now, I can be with Marie until she is grown up."

"Saito… I have looked away from you doing this time after time and I have had enough. If you leave to do this." Henrietta lifted her ring finger. "Then, we are finished."

Saito and Imrahil stood there in complete and utter shock of what they just heard. In actuality, Henrietta was bluffing but the matter of the situation was so serious anyone would believe it, especially when it came to love. Saito did not know what to say or do.

"Now, I am going to leave you to decide what is more important, I will be with our daughter if you need us."

Henrietta turned around and in her heart; she knew this was the wrong choice of action, forcing him to decide between the safety of the kingdom and their family. If the roles were reversed, she would have to choose the kingdom over her family. Secretly she hoped he would still go through with it but it needed to be said. Saito still remained shocked of what he heard. Imrahil got out of his shock and studied the situation.

"Sir… what are your orders…"

"I… I don't know…" Saito knew this was going to be the toughest decision of his life. "For now, have someone refill my plane if I choose to fight."

"As you wish, if I may speak freely?"

"Of course."

"I suggest you go, even if you ruin your marriage with Queen Henrietta, you will be saving your people and I am sure she will understand."

"There is no guarantee that I will succeed if I go, it's me against the entire army forces in the city that Vittorio is staying in and no doubt it got bolstered since I last left. Granted I seem to have a history with that kind of situation but this is different."

"I stand by with what I said sir."

"I know you do, thanks Imrahil."Saito said and began to walk.

"Sir, where are you heading?"

"To prepare for the hardest fight of my life. Saito said and went to the royal armory.

"Saito, I hope you know what you are doing, Henrietta isn't the kind of person to cross. Then again, you would know best since you two have been together for about ten years now."

Five hours have passed since the little scene took place. The moon possessed the sky as Saito was sitting on the end of the ledge that was used for launching his plane. He constantly looked at his ring, wondering if this was the right choice. Saito wore an all black outfit which consisted of his top and bottom clothes which also had a hood if things go exceedingly well and he doesn't get seen.

What Saito became king and took the oath, he meant all of it. This is all fine and good until the part where he would lead and defend his country, no matter the cost. This cost included his marriage with his wife. Saito stood at two paths, he could greatly risk his marriage and future with Marie to help the people he promised to protect or he could forsake them and his royal promise to be together with Henrietta and Marie for now until war came.

"Two days…" Saito muttered the time he had left before the Pope would act on his own.

Saito rose to his feet and walked over to his plane and observed it. The Zero Fighter was in perfect shape and was ready for combat engagement should it come down to that. All ammunition belts were filled and ready to fire. The gasoline was filled and prepared to be used. All that was left was the pilot himself.

"Derf, are you with me?"

"Until the end Partner." Derflinger said on the back of his master and best friend.

Saito looked at his ring finger one more time and at the moon. He knew that hesitation would mean disaster for everyone and strengthened his new resolve to end the life of the person who lead the country of Romalia and the religious group of the world. Saito jumped up to the wing and placed Derflinger in the back seat. His lips turned to a frown and turned around.

"You can come out now dear."Saito said as the Queen emerged from the shadows of the buildings.

"So, this is your choice then?" Henrietta asked as Saito jumped off the wing and walked over to her.

"Don't make me say it…"

Saito looked at his wife and slowly removed the ring on his finger. He moved his hand and presented it to her. She looked at it and back at him. Henrietta placed her two hands on her husband's and closed it with the ring inside the formed fist.

"Keep it." She said softly. "Just promise me this will be the last time you will go on these adventures and spend time with your daughter Saito."

"I promise." Saito said and hugged his wife under the full moon.

"Then go and bring peace to our world." She said as the two broke apart and Saito began walking to the plane before spinning around to her.

"One more thing, Louise will be showing up tomorrow to discuss things. Most likely I will fail but I will at least buy us a few more days with what I am planning."

"Dare I ask what you have planned for our friend?"

"Let's just say, if all else fails, I will at least leave my mark." Saito smiled and jumped into his plane and took off towards Romalia.

"Be careful Saito, everyone needs you more than ever now."

Author's notes – Setup Chapter, nothing more really