The bureaucracy wasn't something Ernst had enjoyed, but being a president came with responsibilities. The humanitarian mission was completed safely, so many decisions had to be made about the refugees. Zimmerman was the one who pushed for their rescue, as he considered it a human duty to help one another, but multiple officials disagreed with this policy. The internal opposition impeded the passing of the needed bills, putting the Republic's citizens in regulatory limbo. To add insult to injury, the Alba themselves created unnecessary trouble, turning the public sentiment against them.

He looked at the pile of unfinished documents, lying menacingly on his desk, as the fourth day of this mess was coming to an end. Ernst worked night and day to speed up the process, but the task seemed endless. The man hadn't slept in his bed for quite some time, only allowing himself short naps on his office couch. Today he had promised his adopted daughter he'd finally come home, so no amount of urgent business could hold him in the headquarters any longer.

Ernst Zimmerman was a man of his word. When he arrived at his mansion, the lights were still on. He sighed, as the kids should've been long asleep, but it was his fault for coming this late. The wind was chilly, the moon was full, and the sky was unusually clear. The faint glow created an almost mystic atmosphere, lighting the quiet streets. It would have been a beautiful view, if not for the ominous feeling lingering in the atmosphere. The man felt it clearly, the city was alert despite the peaceful night. This didn't bode well.

"We thought you'd never show up!" Theo sneered at the middle-aged man, who happened to be the president. All five of them were hanging out in the living room because Teresa had taken Frederica to bed when she had fallen asleep. They waited for their guardian to come home, but it wasn't out of a simple longing. There was much to discuss in private.

"It sounded like you really missed me, I'm moved!" The stern persona was nowhere to be seen, it was a man genuinely happy to see his adopted children. He knew their feelings were a little different than his, but he was nonetheless overjoyed to see them safe again. The report given by other commanders informed him of what had happened, but hearing everything from them was a separate matter.

"Sure old man, if you say so." Raiden laughed while sipping on his coffee. The rich aroma of freshly made liberica filled the air, with a subtle nutty note felt at the end of every breath. It was cozy. They were at home.

"Where is the little troublemaker?" Ernst said with fake anger, but he couldn't be so lax in front of the former Empress. For now, however, he was only a worried dad, ready to scold his unruly daughter.

"She waited with us but got tired some time ago. Teresa should be with her upstairs, but I suggest waiting with this until tomorrow." Shin got up from his comfy chair, putting aside a book he was currently reading. He had a problem with focusing since their return, but the boy stubbornly tried to pass the time somehow.

"You're right, there is no need to wake her up. Now, tell me. Why the serious faces?" The man liked to act a little goofy at home, but it didn't change the fact, that he was an excellent politician most of his life. The teens' faces were screaming something was up, and Ernst was ready to hear it all.

"Remember when you gave me the old radio? The dusty gray one you got as a present. Well, I managed to fix it up during the mission." Theo started, unsure how to explain everything they had uncovered. He felt it was a big discovery, but not all his friends shared this sentiment. Ernst was busy as it was, so adding more to his plate based on a hunch wasn't ideal.

"Ah, yes, the one with fancy buttons. What about it? Oh no. Were there any explicit tapes hidden inside? If so, I swear, I can explain..." He sounded a little nervous, but no one knew what the man was talking about. When giving away the broken radio, Ernst had completely forgotten that Mathilda used to leave her private tapes inside all the time. She sometimes had borrowed this radio, so the unexpected memento could have been accidentally hidden inside. Most of her beloved audiobooks were lost during the revolution, so he hasn't seen any in a few years. Now however Zimmerman longed for any trace his wife had left behind, even those trashy romances he once belittled.

Ernst remembered how they used to bicker before their daughter was born, about how could she listen to those raunchy novellas while pregnant. Mathilda insisted it was a great time-killer that brightened her mood, while he strictly opposed this idea. In his mind, their unborn daughter shouldn't listen to that kind of work, especially since they were expecting her to join them soon. The man missed those moments dearly. If he could go back in time, his lovely wife would get every smut there is in the world. No questions asked.

"The what? No, there was nothing of sorts. We picked up a weird transmission, and it led us to an old Empire military camp. It might be nothing, but could you look at it and tell us something more?" Theo looked at him as if he was crazy, but quickly decided to skip past it. Ernst Zimmerman was quite an eccentric man, and they all got pretty used to it.

"Oh, of course. Show me everything." The president tried to hide his disappointment by putting on a bigger smile. His wife and daughter's death anniversary was around the corner, and it was ready to break his heart once again. Would he survive it once again? Ernst scolded himself for these pitiful thoughts. He couldn't dwell on the past too much when the present required so much attention. The man promised on their graves, that he would build the world they would be proud of. Zimmerman refocused, and when the blonde boy showed him the text written hastily in his notebook.

Iteration 400172

If you hear this message, something must have gone terribly wrong.

I'm Zelene Birkenbaum from the Imperial Institute of Weapon Development

This device should've been disposed of after completing the Legion's mission.

It is a safety precaution against Legion's interception or defiance

Chosen Imperial Family Servants had the duty to input a special code every day,

to delay activating this message for a year

they wouldn't had abandoned their duty unless made so forcibly

LACK OF CONTACT FOR A YEAR MEANS FAILURE OR A CATASTROPHIC EVENT

It is imperative for you to cooperate for the safety of Giadian Empire

or the fate of all humanity depends on you

Contact Imperial Family immediately for further instructions

If you're unable to do so, go to the Marques Seymour

Glory to the Great Empire

I sincerely hope no one ever hears it.

"What do you think?" Raiden was the first one to break the silence, when a few minutes had passed, and their adoptive father was still not responding.

"Incredible. It's my first time hearing about it, there were no documents in the Palace. Or, to be more precise, they were all destroyed before we got our hands on them. I briefly knew Miss Birkenbaum back in the old days. After the revolution we became aware of her role in creating the Legion, but this…" The president was stunned, repeating everything word for word. All of the high-ranking nobles were wiped out and with them the knowledge about the safety precaution. There was no telling if it still existed, but the faint hope was better than none.

"So, do you know anything about her whereabouts? Or how we can reach Marquess Seymour?" Shin crossed his arms, waiting for the answers. They could've asked Frederica, but the Imperial Family was a touchy subject. Reopening the wounds of a small girl was the last thing they wanted to do.

"Sadly, no. She went missing around the time the war began, her body was never found. It is presumed the Royals silenced Birkenbaum when she finished making the Legion. After all, she was the only one who knew its every weakness and strength. As for the Marquess, I've never heard of anyone of that name. Are you sure it was Seymour?" Ernst tried to recall any noble with a similar surname, but none came to mind. It was possible he forgot, over ten years had passed, but something didn't sit right with him. If the message was so important, why give the name of somebody not that well known?

"I'm positive it was Marques Seymour. I've checked many times." The blonde boy was firm, not giving any room to the doubt. Many hours spent with the radio message were carved into his brain, like a curse.

"Is there any way to learn more about the camp we found it in?" Anju, previously withdrawn from the discussion, decided to join in. The note could be a ruse, but there was no harm in prying further. Especially now, when they have lots of free time.

"The military documents were burned, but the Imperial Library still stands. Maybe there you can find something about the Seymour family." Every book left untouched didn't have any sensitive information in it, but the genealogical records were the only thread he could think of. Empire officials made sure, that revolutionists won't get any useful data from them. Even if the price was humanity's annihilation.

"Well, it looks like we got ourselves a mystery to solve." Raiden joked, unaware of how true his words truly were.

June 28th Republic Year 357 (Stellar Year 2138)

65 days until the Start of the Legion War

Elizabeth ran straight ahead, with her vision partially blurred by the tears. Anger, sadness, and frustration poured out as the sound of ugly cries, suppressed for the past few months. She hated the Empire, this mansion, and especially her aunt. Solely being here was like torture, undeserved at that. Liz spotted the dense grapevine covering the old wooden arbour, creating a small, secluded spot in the vast garden. The petite girl easily hid herself under the table, not wanting to be found. Here she could weep freely, unbound by other's expectations.

After some time she managed to calm down, wiping the snot with her sleeve. She looked terrible with puffy, bloodshot eyes, matching her irises and wet stains covering her blouse. The dignified image Liz wanted to display was ruined before she even had a chance to start. Elizabeth still sniffled piteously, but the girl knew, she couldn't hide forever. The arbour felt like a place in another dimension, where nobody could find her, and she was able to be herself. At least it was what she had thought, until the sound of cracking branches echoed right beside her.

"Who is it? Come out now, or I'll hunt you down and break your legs." She put on a brave face, but it was only then Liz realized, the sky had already gone dark. Dealing with thugs or drunken people wasn't anything unusual in her hometown, but here she was in a foreign land. If the mysterious person had ulterior motives, or worse, had heard her pathetic wailing and wanted to tattle to her aunt, she couldn't let them go freely. Instincts kicked in, and Liz grabbed a thick branch from the ground.

"Woah woah, easy there. I would love to come out, but I'm kind of stuck. Besides, your threats are quite insensitive, if I may say so." The melodious, velvety voice responded from the other side of the bushes. Elizabeth carefully readjusted the grip on her provisory weapon and moved closer to the suspicious intruder.

To her astonishment, the person on the other side was a handsome man around his twenties, smiling delicately. His silver, above-shoulder hair was glowing under the moonlight as if the sky itself wanted to adorn his face. It had delicate features, bringing a sort of angelic charm, rarely seen in her home country. He looked almost unreal, like a celestial being who decided to visit her in the toughest moment. What brought her back to earth, was the elegant wheelchair the boy was on.

"Shit. Didn't mean to… I had no idea that…" In seconds she was flooded by the embarrassment over her childish threats. It wasn't intentional, but Elizabeth must have come across as an extremely insensitive person. The girl even forgot that moments ago she was crying, and the man was a witness to her vulnerability.

"Don't worry, I'm just teasing you. If you knew, there is no way you would say that. This, or you're plain evil. I'd rather believe the former." The man chuckled, and his laughter was pure like a child's. Liz noticed his legs were wrapped with colourful blanket, but the rest of his attire was quite formal. She stared at him, almost hypnotized, until she remembered the situation.

"Can you keep it a secret? Please, as a favour. I will try to repay you when I can." She pleaded in a rather pitiful tone, hoping to invoke sympathy. Elizabeth had no clue as to his identity, but she figured playing nice would be a safer choice. The mysterious man appeared gentle, almost fragile in the chilly night's scenery. Liz regretted showing her harsh side to a person who essentially did nothing illicit. Just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"Well, without your help I'll be stuck here, so we got a deal. My wheel got jammed by something, and I can't reach it. Would you be so kind as to take a quick look and try to free me? I would love to get on my knees and beg, but you know..." If anyone else had made that joke, Elizabeth would probably freeze from awkwardness. However, the tender tone and a playful spark in his eyes made her smile at the silly remark. They were strangers, but he was like a breeze of fresh air in the stuffy room.

This situation was so ridiculous and bizarre she also had no other choice but to laugh. Not long ago Liz was bawling her eyes out, cursing fate and wishing everything the worst for her auntie. Now she was playing the saviour for a fairy-like boy, who tried to act nonchalantly, while essentially trapped in the depths of the vast garden, during the dark, cold night. Tonight they were both pathetic, albeit not fully by choice. Left alone in the silent park, with probably no one looking for them.

"Lucky for you, I'm plain but not evil. Elizabeth, by the way. It would be awkward to constantly address me as you." Liz relaxed a little, ditching her mighty stick and offering her hand as a greeting. He accepted without a hitch, smiling even wider. She felt a sense of camaraderie with the fellow, maybe that was why she put some of her guards down. Normally Elizabeth would do anything to come across as capable, but tonight she was drowning in self-pity.

"William. A pleasure to meet you. Sorry to pry, but your accent suggests you're not from here. Are you a traveler, Elizabeth?" The girl crouched next to him, trying to unstuck his wheelchair. Liz was skilled in manual labour, often earning money on the side with some small tinkering. Her Mum used to say it runs in the family, but Elizabeth was doubtful after seeing their attempts. The fridge was beyond salvation when Grandpa "upgraded" it, and Mum's "fixed" dryer almost blew up the house. It was a horror then, but she cherished those memories now.

"Sort of. Hopefully not for long. What's your story, to be strolling on Birkenbaums' property at night? Any nefarious intentions I should be wary of?" Liz tried to imitate his eloquent way of speaking, with poor results. The noble-born confidence and crisp tone of voice must have been something requiring life-long practice. She couldn't pinpoint what was wrong with it, but it sounded unnatural from her lips.

"I assure you this harmless disabled man harbors no ill intentions. Jokes aside, I thought you were a noble at first, and the way they spoke fancily. Now that I know you're a commoner like me, we can speak normally. Although if the Lady wishes so, I may continue courting you with my charming words." He winked, and they both burst out laughing. It was easy to distinguish between classes in the Empire, the nobles made sure to rub their status in everyone's faces. Their looks, manner, and way of speaking were meant to distance them from the poor. Of course, not all of them were like that, but even while travelling by train Elizabeth was able to notice the differences.

"No need, Prince Charming. I would joke about some problems with putting on your shining armour, but I guess it's too early for that. Do you come here often?" William answered only half of her question, and Liz wasn't one to let it go. She was curious about the man, in whose presence she felt surprisingly light.

"Well, as you can guess, since my accident last year I had to rethink some career choices. Being around the people who looked at me with nothing but pity… It was shitty, to be frank. I couldn't do it anymore. My family forcibly sent me here to recuperate, and ta-da, here I am. There is not much to do for a cripple like me, so I became an expert wanderer. That's pretty much it." William shrugged, but there were traces of anger and frustration in his voice, too strong to fully conceal. He hated who he had become, what he lost, and what could have been. Everything in his hometown reminded William of his tragic reality, so his parents decided to give him a new space to heal.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to…" Elizabeth felt instant regret about asking when she saw the happy mask crack right in front of her. William might have joked about his condition, but there was self-deprecation hidden in all of them. She misjudged the delicate omission he tried to make, forcibly driving him into a corner.

"Please, no more apologizing or sad faces. God forbid you also start pitying me now. Look, I'm fine. Sometimes I still get salty about this whole mess, but that's it. See me as William, not that lamentable disabled boy. Too many of my friends did that. People in the Empire have one good quality, not giving a shit about strangers. I much prefer indifference to the superficial sympathy." Something in the air made him say those thoughts out loud, despite never wanting to admit it. He felt lonely, and the ruby-eyed girl seemed as desolate as him. It was human nature to seek understanding.

"Do you smoke?" She caught him off-guard by the sudden question.

"Only in good company." He responded swiftly, like it didn't come out of nowhere. The girl searched her pockets and found a half-empty Violette's pack crumpled by carelessness. Elizabeth offered him a cigarette, and William took it without a word.

In the dim light of a lighter, they both looked older than they were. Liz inhaled the stinging smoke, taking pleasure in the nicotine rush. The man closed his eyelids, while the flowery scent escaped his slightly parted lips. It was quiet, but not uncomfortable. Like with a friend known for years, there was no need for an empty talk. When they had finished after some time, Elizabeth helped him get to the main gate. It was a starry night, and the moon was bright.

"Same place tomorrow evening?" Liz asked while meeting his sparkly, silver eyes.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world."