The outside of the café was bustling as it was inside. The intrèpolians were busy scouring for evidence, their voices were blended together and you couldn't make out what they were saying unless you were paying close attention, occasionally you'd hear the inspector give orders to his men.

Egor patted my brother's back and was enthusiastic about seeing him, "Yayo! How have you been? The last time we saw each other was six months ago at the victory banquet for the second war against Aewratis."

"Egor!" said Yvon with a pained smile, "Strong hand as usual. Mind taking it down a notch? You might break my back!"

While those two chatted, Eugen and Lev were having a conversation of their own about the first aid Eugen did on the victim.

This left me in Toini's company who was giving me a puzzled stare.

"If looks could melt people, I'd be a puddle already," I said to her, "What is it?"

"Aren't you going to talk to your fiancé?" she asked, nodding towards Lev.

I turned my head to where Lev and Eugen were standing and saw Lev focused on what they were talking about while listening intently to what my attendant was saying.

Seeing that focused look on his face reminded me of the time I visited the Embermore High School for their foundation day celebration. Back then Yvon and I were in junior high school and we went to their foundation celebration because Yves and Yvonne asked the entire family to come.

That event was planned by the student body organization which was led by the crown prince at the time along with his right hand, Lev.

I remember sitting in the front row watching the crown prince giving a speech while in the corner was Lev, talking to a fellow student about the food stalls with the same focused expression he had now.

I had a lot of fun with our family that day so I couldn't help but smile.

While still looking at Lev and Eugen, I replied to Toini, "What would we even talk about?"

She gave me a deadpan stare, "What do you mean what would you talk about? You two are getting married in a few weeks! There's a lot of things you can talk about! Like where you two plan on living?!"

Well she does have a point.

Apparently the rest of them heard what she said because they were now looking at us, including Lev. Our eyes met and we stared at each other for a while.

He looked like he was about to say something when Egor chimed in with a teasing grin, "You know, this thing called a conversation begins when one of you says something."

Lev shot back pushing Egor's face away, "And the two of us can start a conversation if you'd let us."

As we waited for our carriages to arrive a group of valorians approached us led by none other than our mom. Seeing as how they're in this side of town she and her colleagues must be headed for the café to eat.

"My dears," she called me and Yvon, "What are you doing here?"

Then Inspector Juke walked up to us with his subordinate Officer Fàsach.

The inspector greeted our mom with a broad smile, "Greetings to the pen of Oryx and the Countess of Sunglen, Colonel Oryx! What a surprise! I didn't think I'd see you today!"

Mom smiled, "There's no need for such formal greetings between old friends, Juke! How are you? I haven't seen you around lately."

The inspector replied, "Ah well work has kept me preoccupied. I apologize for missing little Yvonne's wedding."

Officer Fàsach's eyes widened in shock, "Inspector! Don't be informal towards the crown princess!"

"Oh right! It's 'her radiance' now" said Inspector Juke, "Old habits. She's still little Yvonne in my eyes after all."

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Mom chuckled, "What brings you to this side of town, inspector?"

"We received a report that someone was attacked at Café Pâtisserie," he explained.

Mom's eyes widened, "Café Pâtisserie?! That's Marleigh's shop! I was just about to go there with my colleagues!"

Then she turned to us, her face filled with concern, "Were you in the café when the attack happened?"

Yvon, touched by her concern, answered "Yes."

Mom looked as though the blood had been drained from her face and scanned us from head to toe, "Are you two okay?! Y-Yvette! I-Is that blood on your dress?!"

She might be the so-called "Steel Princess of the battlefield" but her thick emotional walls crumble when it comes to her family.

"Mom!" Yvon called, "She's okay. We're okay. The blood isn't hers, it's from the victim. We were helping out while waiting for emergency services."

Then the inspector's eyes lit up as he recognized us, "So that's why they looked familiar! The little troublemakers of Oryx! You needn't worry Dulcenia, your children are alright, they weren't harmed. Like your son said, they helped out control the situation."

Mom breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good then."

"Oh, goodness!" Mom exclaimed, "Lev! Sorry dear, I didn't notice that you were here. Egor! You too!"

Egor teased, "What?! But I'm your favorite child!"

Yvon quickly turned to him and retorted, "Says who?!"

"Me, obviously!" Egor replied with a grin and then turned to Lev, patting him on the back, "Don't be too hurt, man. You've just got to work on standing out to your future mother-in-law!"

"Did you just say mother-in-law?" The inspector asked, "Sen... Is your youngest daughter getting married too?"

"Yes, she is," mom replied.

"And it's to the second young master of Niege?" The inspector added.

"That's right. They'll be married within the month," said mom.

Inspector Juke looked concerned, "Sen... I know this is a family matter and it doesn't concern me but... did you and Aldous stop and think before you allowed this? Apologies to you young master of Niege if this may come off as rude but Sen, this young man is famous for having feelings for your eldest daughter! Not to mention, their radiances just got married a month ago. This decision seems rushed."

"I'm not going to lie, this wedding is rushed," said mom, "But what can we do when it's for the alliance between the two territories? We're thankful that they both agreed to this willingly."

Shifting her focus back to me and my brother, she said, "You two have had quite the eventful day. Why don't you head home to get some rest? Oh, right. Have you two already visited the boutique for the dress? If you haven't it's alright, you can go tomorrow."

"It's alright, we went to the boutique before going to the café," answered Yvon.

His expression changed from being happy to her concern towards us to something more quizzical with a sardonic look that only Toini and I recognized.

"Mom, are you really going to have Yvette wear one of Yvonne's extra wedding gowns?"

Hearing what my twin had just said, Lev's eyes widened.

I quickly realized what Yvon was doing. Though I already told him I'd handle the wedding gown issue with help from my best friend, he wanted to be sure it'll be taken care of which is why he took this opportunity to let the Niege's know about it.

"The gowns all look beautiful and all but wearing them will be a bit problematic."

Our mom, ever-so-clueless about high society, asked Yvon, "What do you mean, dear?"

"I'll let Toini explain since she'll do a better job than me," said my brother and gave the floor to Toini who explained the matter swiftly.

Lev, Egor, Inspector Juke, and officer Fàsach were shocked. Even our mom's colleagues were wide-eyed in shock from what they had just heard from Toini.

Lev in particular was bewildered that our mother was going to have me wear such problematic dresses at our wedding. Wearing one of those dresses could also be seen by the Serebro duchy and the Nieges that Sunglen and the Oryxes were taking the agreement, the marriage, and the alliance of the two territories lightly and be seen as being disrespectful which would put a dent in the already shaky relationship of the two territories and families.

Inspector Juke facepalmed, "Nya, how many times have I told you to pay attention, even a little, to what goes on in high society and things in general, apart from the tasks assigned to you at work! What are you going to do about her dress now?"

Just then an aerax cooed from the sky. Mom put her arm out and the bird landed on it and on its feet was a note.

"It's from brigadier general Newport," said mom to her colleagues, "He's asking us to visit the barracks on the capital's outskirts."

Then one of her colleagues asked, I think I saw a vein pop out in his forehead, "Which barracks and which outskirts? There are FOUR different barracks in the FOUR outskirt towns in the capital! Which is it?! North, south, east, or west?!"

"He didn't specify..." mom replied with an emotionless look on her face as if she was used to the brigadier general's bague instructions.

Her colleague rubbed his neck, "Ah, I can feel my blood pressure go up."

"I'm sorry, but I have to get back to work," mom said to us, "We'll continue this conversation at home."

Yvon scoffed and whispered, "Why am I not surprised?"

I pinched his arm and glared at him, "Now is not the time for your side comments!"

"Countess!" Lev called, "Would you give me permission to ask your daughter to spend the rest of the day with me?"

Egor looked at him and said, "What about work- OUCH!"

Lev elbowed Egor's side, shutting him up.

I was surprised at what Lev just said but had a hunch about why he wanted to spend the day with me.

"That is, if the young miss would be willing to spend time with me, of course," said Lev.

Then they looked at me waiting for a reply.

"Sure, sounds like fun," I said with a smile on my face.

"Alright then, make sure she's home without a scratch Lev," said mom.

Lev smiled, "I'll personally escort her home."