It was a dark and lonely night on the Tanin-Runga border, Elite Markman, as the leader of all Markmans, opened the computer screen to contact his boss about Elisia's escape to Runga. His whole body trembled and couldn't hear the boss' scolding. Several Markmans, who were standing behind him, didn't dare to approach either.

According to the last report he heard over the phone, the boss's men said that it wouldn't be a problem if Elisia broke through the famous border strong enough to fortify Tanin.

The communication signal was obtained, and the screen revealed the silhouette of a man with sunglasses. Elite Markman gulped.

“Eeee… boss?”

“Ah, Elite Markman! Nice to see you again. We haven't had red wine together in a long time. Maybe we can go to Lung for a few bottles.” The signal disturbed the man's voice. His voice was a little faint.

“Hey, Boss! I hope you're not mad at what I did. As soon as possible, we will fix this problem,” Elite Markman said while fixing his shirt collar.

“I've heard it from Elektra. You don't have to worry. I have already prepared another plan to capture the princess.”

“R-really?” Elite Markman was relieved. “What plan is that? My troops will help you.”

“That's why I called you. I want you to cooperate with this person.” One side of the screen brought up a new camera window.

A new figure appeared on the camera. A faint smile with a cigarette smoked by him, short black hair, and a police suit. Elite Markman changed his expression from interested to frowning.

“Boss, are you sure you want us to cooperate with this rotten man?!” Elite Markman raised his voice.

“Yeah, why should I make a cooperative relationship with these dirty mobsters?” The cop asked.

“Jakiller is one of the most influential people in Runga. A police captain who can make anyone obey him. You will help him keep Princess Elisia out of Runga.”

“I really appreciate the plan, but we don't want to work with someone who has slaughtered my troops so mercilessly like him. He is a killer cockroach that must be destroyed.” Elite Markman pointed at the camera screen from Jakiller with tight eyebrows.

“Huh, I also don't want to cooperate with them, even though they are very skilled. The Runga police force was strong enough to do so. Also, he's still with the guy you were referring to, Boss.”

The black bespectacled man was silent for a moment. Several green lights flashed behind him. “I don't care what's the matter between the two of you, but a mission is still a mission. I was only trying to channel Ursa's power to you by capturing the princess, who was being hunted by her own kingdom.”

“But, boss-“

“No excuse! Do it or I will kill you with Ursa's power!” The boss closed the communication screen, leaving the Elite Markman and Jakiller.

“Well. Thus the insistence of the boss, we have to do it. If you really want to help me, meet me on the other side of the Tanin-Runga border at eight o'clock tomorrow night. Just the two of us.”

“What's in it for me to cooperate with you?!” Elite Markman was still annoyed.

“We'll talk about it in an agreement. You have only two choices, pass up this golden opportunity or go suffer like so many people.” Jakiller turned off the communication.

Elite Markman pounded the table hard. All the Markmans, who were standing near the door, approached him.

“Boss, what happened?” one of the Markmans asked.

Elite Markman held his head. “There is nothing. I'm just feeling annoyed today. You can go.”

The Markman left his boss alone in his room. Elite Markman must immediately decide in order to be respect for the Boss.

“Should I approach him?”

…

Elisia stretched all her muscles after lying down all night. She looked into the broken mirror that was still usable. Her blonde hair was a little messy, but could be tidied up by hand. Being in front of the mirror, Elisia wanted to do something.

She pressed her lips to the mirror. “Hey, Elena! Are you there?”

The mirror was silent as it continued to reflect Elisia's image. Elena, the Golden Shadow, couldn't reflect herself in the broken mirror. However, Elisia had to keep her sister a secret from everyone.

After straightening her hair, Elisia opened the bedroom door. Scott and Ilya were already working on the computer. He turned and gave Elisia a morning smile.

“Good morning, My Liege! If you're looking for Risk, he's on the rooftop,” Scott said in the morning greeting.

“Yes. Where's the bathroom?” Elisia asked.

“Turn left from here, near the living room,” Ilya answered, who didn't take her eyes off the computer screen.

Elisia walked in the direction given by Ilya. Her eyes felt dirty and heavy to where she couldn't open them any wider. Elisia couldn't remember what she dreamed last night, but it didn't seem like something important on her journey.

Arriving in the bathroom, a washtafel with a medium-sized mirror met her. She turned on the water tap and immediately washed her face full of dirt. The fresh water touched her skin, even though Elisia was in a slum environment. As before, Elisia checked the changes in her body again.

“I never expected to have these beautiful green eyes, like Emerald,” Elisia praised to herself.

Elisia tapped the mirror several times to call out to Elena. However, there was no response from the woman. The girl thought strangely, could something happen to her sister in the city of Kalay? Elisia threw those thoughts away because she knew her sister was no ordinary person.

“I don't think she wants to show herself if it's not in Province's apartment,” Elisia thought.

Elisia went to the closet to get rid of all the dirt in her body. She had never felt this comfortable doing it. All the evil air removed with the flow of semen into the toilet hole. After that, Elisia came out with a lighter body. Now and then, she stretched her muscles.

After coming out of the bathroom, Elisia saw Kafka having breakfast on a round table. She approached the big man without hesitation. Kafka sensed Elisia's arrival, then he shifted into the chair.

“Oh, My Liege! I think you aren't awake yet.” Kafka turned to Scott, who was standing by the round table. “Scott, have you prepared breakfast for Elisia?”

“Risk said he would prepare it. I also told Elisia to meet him on the rooftop,” Scott replied.

“So that's why you told me to go see Risk?” Elisia interrupted.

Scott turned around. “Yes. There's something he wants to tell you. It's actually kind of weird because Risk rarely says anything in secret.”

Elisia immediately obeyed Scott's words to approach Risk on the roof floor. Usually, Risk would say something heart-wrenching if he asked her to chat in a hidden place. Elisia climbed the stairs slowly and saw the open roof door.

As already stated, Risk was sitting on the roof floor without a mat with food served on the floor. Elisia thought that something had hit her mentor's head, thus acting strangely by eating on the dirty floor. She had no choice but to join in the breakfast prepared by Risk.

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“Risk, what are you doing?” Elisia asked after sitting on the floor.

“Breakfast, enjoying the morning air,” Risk replied, “Ilya bought us Bashpati, a famous food in this area. I also asked her to buy you Coconut Pancakes, if you don't like Bashpati.”

Elisia looked at the food named [Bashpati]. She lifted the plate and smelled it; a little stinging, but arouse the appetite. Elisia took one of the food items to make sure, because Risk ate it voraciously. Apparently, it didn't taste so bad.

After finishing [Bashpati], Elisia tempted by the [Coconut Pancake] that was served on the plate. Her stomach was already full of food, but her mouth still wanted to chew. Risk saw Elisia, who continued to stare at Tanggon's signature cake.

“If I had known that you liked the food, I would not have asked Ilya to buy you pancakes. I didn't think you liked that weird food,” Risk said.

“Not really. I ate it because I was hungry. Besides, the food is quite good in my mouth,” Elisia replied, “Maybe I'll eat it while listening to what you have to say later.”

“What do you want to hear from me?” Risk asked, surprised.

“Then what did you ask me to come here for?” Elisia asked back.

Risk chuckled. “I just wanted to invite you to enjoy the morning view before the factory operates. Look how beautiful this sky is!”

Elisia glanced up at the sky. Risk was right, the blue sky with white clouds adorned the scene. A sight that reminded her of Grasswood and all her memories there. Elisia took out [Christ's Hairpin] and put it on the hair of the right head.

Risk accidentally saw and stunned by Elisia's appearance. “Nice hairpin! I didn't expect that Grasswood teenager to make such a great gift for a princess.”

“Really? This hairpin makes me miss him. If only we could go back there again,” Elisia said, who removed [Christ's Hairpin] from her head and hugged it.

Risk smiled. “You can do that when you return to Gwelissa and take over your kingdom again.”

“Risk, isn't there something you want to say?” Elisia asked.

“Why do you think so?”

“Because you always take me to a quiet place to say it,” Elisia replied.

Risk was silent for a moment, then looked at the factory building. Ever since Province told him something about Elisia, Risk had been acting strange from before. Elisia once remembered that she was the one who made Risk more alive, but he was acting more and more than that she wasn't.

“Risk, can I ask you something?” Elisia asked again.

Risk looked away from the factory building. “Yes?”

“What had Province told you before?”

Risk surprised. “Eh, hadn't we discussed this before?”

“Tell the truth!” Elisia said a little snarled.

Risk pondered and looked down. Elisia glanced at him with pity. She didn't have to yell at him like that, considering that he had changed for the better than before. However, she didn't want the same thing to happen again, like Upgrade.

“You want to know everything?” Risk asked, whose tone had grown heavier.

Elisia shocked to hear that. “Risk?”

Risk glanced at her with a sharp gaze. Elisia became afraid because her yelling might hurt his feelings.

“Risk, I…”

The man's expression changed again to a calmer one. “Province had conveyed many things to me, one of which is the title that was attached to you. Province considered you as the most special person for the kingdom of Gwelissa. It made me tremble until I got goosebumps. So, she asked me to continue to take care of you.”

“However, haven't you protected me many times? Why are you so goosebumps?” Elisia interrupted.

“Do you remember the Gwelissa tradition that forbids a girl from appearing to the outside world until she is fourteen years old?” Risk asked back.

Elisia nodded. It was a tradition that made Elisia feel lonely even though she had many bodyguards who always looked after her. Besides, Elisia also couldn't explore the world at her young age.

“It was just a lie because you are Dublin. Province told me that your parents forbade any face-to-face contact with you because anyone can see the sign of Dublin before the age of fourteen. They don't want other people to see it.”

“Then why are you so worried? You have taught me so many things that I can protect myself. I can beat many people,” Elisia said, who was a little proud.

“You don't understand how bad the hands are out there. Plus, an endemic that makes us infected by a strange disease. That's what makes me so worried about you.” Risk crawled and grabbed both of Elisia's arms. “I'm afraid if I cannot protect you, it will be a regret that will haunt me for the rest of my life.”

Elisia understood the current situation. In the past, she had thought that this world was delightful in all its beauty. This girl want to know what's out there. Now, she already knew a small part of the cruelty.

Risk removed his hand from the princess' arm. “Sorry. It's not like me. I have changed a lot since living with you. I softened up because of you, but I don't mind.”

Elisia smiled and touched Risk's left cheek. “It does not matter. I understand your feeling. I also couldn't deny the title that was attached to me, even though I thought I could become an ordinary person. Then, let's fight together as usual!”

“Okay.” Risk stood up and took [Coconut Pancake]. “Since Ilya already bought this, it's a shame if we don't finish it. Want to eat together?”

Elisia smiled happily and cut the pancake by hand. “Well. For the mission this afternoon!”

After enjoying a hearty breakfast, Elisia and Risk went into the house to see how their friends were preparing for the mission this afternoon. All they found were a few messy items on the round table. Ilya was still typing on the computer, without what they knew.

“Ilya, where are Scott and Kafka?” Risk asked as he approached the woman.

“Scott is in the storage room and Kafka is out to meet the gangsters,” Ilya replied, “Maybe you should help Scott in the barn. He's rummaging through my storage room again.”

Risk went straight to Scott at the storage room pointed by Ilya, while Elisia just stared at the computer screen filled with strange sentences. Ilya, who was noticed by the royal girl, kept typing regardless.

Elisia followed Risk to the storage room to help Scott. Several items were scattered along the halls of the building. Elisia quickened her pace until she met Risk, who was lifting the box.

“Risk, may I help?” Elisia volunteered.

“Ask Scott over there! Maybe there's something he wants to give you,” Risk replied, then left.

Elisia came to the open door and heard a noise inside. Some items even bounced out the door. Elisia came in to confirm. All she found was a room with dim lighting and things scattered everywhere. She saw Scott checking a box.

“Hmm… Scott?”

Scott twisted his head and brandished a knife. Elisia was so shocked that all the hairs on her neck stood stiff. Scott immediately realized.

“Oh, I'm sorry! I was too reflexive to point at you.” Scott checked the box again. “You come at the right time. I have something for you.”

Scott opened another box and dug into its contents. “Elisia, did Risk ever teach you how to use small weapons like daggers?”

“Never. Our training is only filled with duels,” Elisia replied.

“Such a pity. Risk is the best sharp weapon user in Siraca. He can use any weapon to fight,” Scott said, “No problem, I'll give you another one.”

Elisia didn't understand Scott's words. She thought that Scott would give her a weapon, but Elisia didn't want to use any other weapon than her spear. The [Greatsword of Sully] was already heavy enough for her.

Finally, Scott took out a small object and showed it to Elisia. The girl looked at it closely, just like the [Piece of Resistance] that Risk usually carried. However, this thing was cut into two pieces.

“This is a [Piece of Resistance] that has been splitting in two. This is one of those things that someone gave me. However, I don't really like wearing it.” Scott took Elisia's hand and placed it on her palm. “I want you to keep it.”

Elisia received the strange object and immediately saw it. It was indeed a [Piece of Resistance], but it was broken. Its ability even decreased by 60 percent from Risk's. Elisia tried to analyze the object by lifting it towards the lamp. It created a reaction.

“If I saw you checking that thing, I think you already knew. Risk must have shown it to you,” Scott said.

“So you have an idea about it too?” Elisia asked.

“As one of Risk's close partner, it's not a secret anymore.” Scott sat on the crate. “It was a gift Risk gave to his girlfriend, Hildegard. He bought it from a witch in Siraca. Hildegard was so happy to receive it they once made a commitment to marry after the conflict was over. However, a tragedy befell Hildegard.”

“Attack on the Siraca guard post?” Elisia confirmed.

“You've heard the story, haven't you?” Scott went back to checking the items in the storage room, “Risk couldn't do anything to save Hildegard. She gave it back to Risk. Since that incident, Risk left the War Phantom Division and back to the Special Force.”

Elisia looked at the [Damaged Piece of Resistance]. An energy radiated from it.

“Risk must have suffered a lot from it,” Elisia said, responding to the story.

“Risk is the loyal person; loyal to orders, loyal to one woman. If Risk already considers a woman as a special person, he will do anything to make her happy. Hildegard is a lucky woman to meet Risk, even though they have been in a duel,” Scott explained, “If he thinks you're special too, he will always protect you even if he doesn't want to.”

“I feel it too, although I don't understand,” Elisia replied, “Did Risk have a relationship with another woman?”

Scott smiled and chuckled. “You must be very curious about how Risk's life was, but I can say that Risk was the man every woman dreams of. Rosa, Vivienne, Monique, to Edelweiss the poisonous flower really like Risk. However, Hildegard was the only woman who hate him.”

“Really? How could Risk fall in love with her?”

“Love is blind, Princess Elisia. I don't have an idea how either,” Scott replied.

“I think someone is talking about me from afar.” Risk entered while holding his ear. “That’s why my ears are hot.”

Scott and Elisia turned their heads and shocked. “Risk?!!”

A murderous aura emanated from Risk's body. With a calm face, the man walked over to his two colleagues, who were talking about him. Elisia and Scott trembled as they hugged each other.

“Scott, what have you told to Elisia about me?” Risk's voice became heavier.

“Not much, really!” Scott replied shakily, “I just wanted to satisfy Princess Elisia's curiosity!”

Risk turned around with his arms folded. “You know, Vivienne really liked you. She didn't dare to tell you. So, she came up to me and asked a lot about you. I just said a little and she just left. I'm sure Vivienne was trying to do anything for you to see.”

Scott fell silent, and his face turned red. Suddenly, Scott fell into a pile of cardboard nearby. Elisia walked over to Scott and saw his drunken face turn red. Scott didn't move, even though the girl shook him.

“Risk, what have you–” Elisia's hand was pulled out of the room by Risk.

“There's something I want to talk about again,” Risk said.

Elisia forced to follow where Risk took her. The girl was very resigned to Risk's anger when she heard Scott's story about Hildegard. Now and then, she turned to Scott, who was still unconscious and lying among the strange objects.

“Huh, accept my fate…” Elisia whispered.