Akane turned to Kazuya with a revived happiness in her eyes. She leaned into him and hugged him, and her tail gently wrapped around both of their waists. She whispered softly as she spoke.
"We'll have to be quick about this. The Columns could realize I've left my post any second."
Kazuya nodded in agreement as he slowly pulled Akane into another kiss. He made short work of removing the outer garments of Akane's Meister uniform, and was soon guiding the nervous girl to lie on her back on the luxurious bed. In the subsequent minutes, Garderobe's guest quarters remained silent except for the sounds of two passionate lovers having the night of their life.
The next morning, Akane failed to report to the briefing Shizuru was scheduled to give her for the day. Two of the Columns, Nao and Mahya, were sent to the guest quarters to investigate her disappearance. What they found were Akane and the captive Emperor Kazuya amidst a deep slumber in the same bed, naked except for the sheets covering them, with Akane's tail still entwining the two lovers as it slowly waved across the mattress. Mahya was quick to realize that, while she had been selfishly planning the next conquest in the War of the Five Columns, she had ultimately underestimated the sexual resolve of the former Otome in front of her. She could only cover her face in embarrassment.
"Oh, shit..."
The couple hadn't planned on exhausting themselves overnight and leaving themselves to be captured, but the situation still worked out in their favor. As Akane and Kazuya were forcefully dressed into ordinary clothes and brought to Natsuki's office in handcuffs, the Columns had decided there was no advantage (or point, for that matter) in forcing the two to stay on Garderobe's grounds. It was determined Akane was no serious threat with her genetically bound abilities, as she was an otherwise ordinary girl with a keen sense of smell, remarkable hearing, and some surprising but harmless agility. Akane and Kazuya remained nervous and unknowing of their fate as Natsuki considered the facts and announced their sentence.
"As you two have brought shame and embarrassment to both Garderobe's principles and the role of an Emperor, you are to remain banished from both Windbloom and Chaldea for the rest of your lives."
Natsuki shook her head in disgust as she paused.
"Somehow, I don't think either of you are going to have any problems with those conditions."
Akane and Kazuya turned their heads to each other lovingly as Akane fought back a fit of laughter. After they had surrendered the Pure Heart Malachite GEM and Chaldea's signet ring, Natsuki spoke again.
"Your transport is waiting outside the academy gates. Your restraints will be removed once you're outside of Windbloom's borders. Guards, take them."
Although now officially regarded as criminals, Akane and Kazuya couldn't be happier. They were finally together, and nothing could steal their joy. They considered their exile together to be their legal marriage, and, as they were loaded into the military transport, all they could think of was where they would spend their honeymoon.
The Five Columns watched the vehicle drive away as they silently cursed at their failure.
THE END.