In the underground garage of the palace, Jack frowned, arms crossed, head shaking as Ada screamed at the grimy covered girl in torn floral robes and shackles.

“IRRESPONSIBLE! SELFISH! AND DOWN RIGHT IDIOTIC!” Ada hollered. “Do you have any idea how much trouble you are in?!”

Ho-sook winced, the girl in rags tucking into herself, avoiding Ada’s eyes and trying not to focus on the gold armored knights who had suddenly appeared at the prison and stuffed her into a black box before moving her to this dank place.

At first the girl was ecstatic, the sight of Tanji and Ada finally good news for the wayward teen after struggling to survive on the streets of the city. However, that excitement soon faded as Ada bore down on her.

“I just-” Ho-sook let out, but was quickly silenced by Ada.

“No! NO excuses! Nothing you say or do can excuse running away from the village and following us here! Do you have any idea how dangerous this city is?! How dangerous the world is for a little girl?!”

“...” Ho-sook kept her head downcast, the girl on the verge of tears.

“Ada,” Jack said, touching the woman’s shoulder and gently pulling her away from the terrified child. “Let's at least hear what Ho-sook has to say.”

Ada spun, a glare on her face that quickly changed upon seeing Jack's expression.

“Ho-sook.” Jack said, his shadow towering over the girl. “Explain yourself.”

“I… I didn't want to be lonely,” Ho-sook sobbed.

“Lonely?” Ada said, brow raised.

“You… and Tanji were leaving. Yuki was going too and Lin Lee doesn't play with me anymore and I just didn't want to lose everyone and I tried sneaking back in sooner but the g-guards…” Ho-sook trailed off, the girl hiccupping and incapable of finishing her sentence.

Jack pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh.

“Come here,” Jack said, gently pulling in the crying girl. He stroked the girl's hair, letting her cry into his chest. “It's ok. You're ok.”

“I-I- was scared! The people here are mean and I want to go home!” Ho-sook yelled, bawling her eyes out as Jack and Ada shared a worried look. “Come on. Let's get you new clothes and some food.”

*****

“So. Is everything ok?” Selfia asked as Jack sat across from the woman at her desk.

“Yeah… she's a little shook up. Apparently she found it very easy to sneak out of the palace but not back in,” Jack said, rubbing his face with a sigh.

“Well, she's very resourceful. Would make an excellent Blackheart,” Selfia quipped, filing paperwork with one set of hands while another sipped on tea. "How about giving her some formal tra-"

“Absolutely not,” Jack said quickly, narrowing his eyes, memories of Ruby's training surfacing in his mind. “I’m familiar with House Lamperouge’s training methods. I won't have Ho-sook dragged into anything. I've contacted the village and they're sending a friend of mine to pick her up.”

Selfia looked up and blinked, wondering how he could know about House Lamperouge before putting her head back into her notes.

“I was kidding,” Selfia said, chalking Jack's knowledge to his bond with Ruby. “Anyway, tell me more about that girl.”

“Well, after she escaped, she said she tried to talk to the guards, but they dismissed her as being another orphan dimmie,” Jack explained, recounting Ho-sook's tale on the streets of the empire. “After that, she tried sneaking in, but was caught by the MPs and beaten. Then she loitered around, homeless, before being forced to steal to survive. Still… she's safe now. And she's smitten with the palace and having a bed. The important thing is she's safe now.”

A few moments passed in silence with an intangible uncomfortableness hanging in the air.

“I see,” Selfia looked away, the woman propping her feet up on her cluttered desk as she took out her contacts. “Well, she's also learned a valuable lesson out of all this I spose.”

“And what's that?” Jack asked, Selfia's blue eyes slowly turning to focus on him.

“That the world is a cruel place.”

****

Three days later.

“Are you ready Jack?!” Selfia yelled, the Queen decorated in a deep blue gown with gold trimmings and silver jewelry as she stood in front of a mirror next to the underground garage door.

“Yeah, was just helping Celeste get her gloves on.” Jack explained, the man decked out in blue reg wear carrying the little girl in white who was playing on an intellipad.

“Whoa! Whoa! Whoa little missy!” Leona said, taking the tablet out of the girl's hands. “What did I tell you about electronics? No video games until after twelve.”

“B-but daddy-” Celeste stuttered, her face on the brink of tears, reaching for the tablet.

“No butts missy!”

“Oh, what's a little bit of game time before we take off for the reveal? Shouldn't hurt anything and it keeps her calm,” Jack asked, setting Celeste down who ran over to Kamila to pester the woman for icecream.

Fortunately, Ada intercepted the girl before she could attack the group's weakest link and cohorce the timid imperial medic.

“It's brain rot,” Leona frowned, crumpling the tablet like a piece of paper and tossing it into a nearby fireplace.

“Right…” Jack replied, calling Celeste over.

“Do you all think that these walls and toys come free?” Selfia asked, fixing her makeup. “Because they don't and I'd really appreciate it if you guys would stop destroying expensive stuff.”

“Sorry, just making a point,” Leona said before helping Selfia apply her eyeliner.

“Ok, are we all set?” Selfia asked, “Are we all dressed? Does everyone know their lines? Everyone used the bathroom and brushed their teeth? We aren't stopping for bathroom breaks.”

Selfia paused, looking down at Celeste twirling in circles in her white sundress.

“Sweetie, do you know your lines?”

Celeste paused, eyeing Leona and frowning before nodding at Selfia.

“Yes Mommy,” Celeste said, earning her a head pat from Selfia.

Leona's lip quivered slightly, her heart suddenly feeling heavy at the little girl addressing someone else as her mother.

Why… Leona clenched her jaw. Holding in her emotions and helping Selfia to zip the back of her dress where she couldn't see.

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

“Ok. Gather around everyone, I want to make sure we're all on the same page,” Selfia said, running through the daily assignments as usual. “Kamilla, you're my attendant.”

“Y-yup. Yes ma'am.” Kamila replied quickly as Selfia turned to Ada.

“You will obviously be Jack's attendant. But no PDA you two!”

“Yes, ma’am…” Ada replied, trying to get comfortable in her frilly blue dress that gave her plenty of breathing room.

“Leona is head of Jack's security detail and Celeste's personal guard,” Selfia continued. “While my hunky man over here is my arm candy.”

“Thanks. I love being objectified,” Jack replied as one of Selfia's arms wrapped around his, much to Ada’s disapproval.

“And finally!” Selfia said, beckoning Celeste who hopped up to her and Jack. “Our totally legitimate child hidden away! Isn't that right princess?”

“Yup!” Celeste said, smiling before her eyes drifted to Leona who nodded.

“Ok, everyone dressed? Everyone have everything?” Selfia asked, doing a last minute check before the doors of the foyer swung open, a familiar voluptuous green haired lady entering in her regal green dress.

“DARLING!” Bellia let out, Jack flinching as the woman rapidly approached. Yet, instead of scouting Jack, she picked up Celeste, smothering the child who giggled. “OH! MY PRECIOUS GRAND NIECE! I could just eat you up! Om nom nom!”

“Hehe.” Celeste let out, poking her head out between the large woman's breasts with her cheeks squished by the boobs.

“Huh… she really is your child.” Sahaqiel commented.

The hell does that mean? Jack shot back yet got no response.

“No faiiir I want to come,” Ho-sook moaned from a balcony above, the nomad girl on house arrest until the Hoshido could send someone to pick the girl up.

“Ho-sook!” Jack barked, pointing at the girl who quickly ducked. “Get back to your room! Now!”

A groan was heard, but ultimately the teenager complied, a loud banging sounding out from a door being closed.

“Alright. Let's gogogogogo! Like we reversed!” Selfia said, ordering everyone out to the underground driveway surrounded by gold clad guards, black cars, and black suited agents.

“Your Majesty.” Jessica said, bowing as she opened the car door of the black armored limousine. A specially crafted vehicle made of Armytheum to cancel out mana attacks and lined with reactive armor over a carbon fiber titanium alloy shell.

A vehicle too heavy to be lifted by a MECHFrame, and guaranteed to stop anything short of an Anti-Army skill.

At least according to Jessica when she was showing Jack where all the hidden weapons were.

Jack entered the car, sliding to sit next to Yun who was as stiff as a board, her eyes trying desperately not to look at the Queen.

Jenna was the same, her face eyes beneath a pair of shades but looking away from the Queen.

Jack looked down, eyeing the intellipad in his hand, instructions and prompts scrolling across the screen as a reminder of the day's activities.

Queen Selfia Cordelica to Announce opening of First Public Academy. The headline of the day's tabloid.

First, the academy announcement, along with Celeste’s reveal to Garner a crowd.

Then, a museum opening.

Followed by meeting investors at a mall and supporting local business owners before finally visiting El Negro Gato, a shop Jack's antics had put on the map.

Today, like every other day would be busy. But, unlike the other days since Jack had been making a public appearance, today was the day they announced the heir to the throne.

Today was the day they revealed Celeste to the world.

Jack sighed.

“This is Little Chicken. Big Boss and Big Rooster are onboard. Behemoth is Oscar Mike.” Jessica said, the driver putting the car in gear.

The journey to their destination was quaint, mostly silent, no one speaking save for Celeste bouncing on Jack's lap and pointing at people through the black tinted glass with Leona trying to calm her down.

Ada smiled at the sight, doing her best not to throw up as she casted Soothe on herself. A low level skill that eased her urges.

****

“Well. We're here, your Highness,” Jessica said before relaying orders to the rest of their protection detail.

The car door opened, light and noise flooding into the interior as the sound of paparazzi surrounded the armored cars behind red string barricades and capitol police.

As rehearsed, Ada exited the car first into the chilly air, the woman acting as Jack's attendant. She held her hand out, Jack exiting the car with the woman handing him a coat as Kamila exited next.

Selfia stood beside Jack, smiling as he stood stoically, surveying the mass of noise coupled with winter’s bite was akin to a flash bang to his senses.

It took a moment, but he recovered, gold eyes sweeping across the crowd begging for the Queen to look their way.

Man… I hate this. Jack griped inwardly, the obnoxious crowd snapping hundreds of photos.

Don't they know that's annoying? Jack had half a mind to conjure up mana and destroy the cameras, but he restrained himself, putting on a smile and waving like a good mascot.

Now comes the hard part...

Leona exited the car next, standing off to the side as the little blonde Celeste hopped out of the car, her yellow boots kicking up snow.

Suddenly, a tangible shift occurred through the crowd. The mass of paparazzi photo taking slowing from frantic to a crawl with eventually everyone going silent.

Selfia continue to wave, walking in step down the red carpet laid out for her with Jack, Celeste, and their protection detail in tow.

I think I prefer the camera spam. Jack griped, Sahaqiel giggling as they made their way through the silent crowd with their unawakened guards.

The group moved towards the flight of marble stairs, bypassing a statue of an angel with her legs kicked up, lying down with a smile on her face a she read a book. A statue that looked eerily like a certain angel.

Selfia shot a knowing smirk, one that made Sahaqiel flustered and vanish.

The crowd began taking pictures again, just as Selfia and the others made it to the top of the stairs where Madam Hightower, the former principal of Almus Academy stood with Bellia Bell.

Beside her, a familiar cyborg stood. A man named Peter, who had helped Victor and Brigid to take Jack's measurements for his old armor set.

According to the faculty staff dossier, a teacher in charge of teaching metalworking of all things along with Brigid who put on a small smile at the sight of Jack.

The other teachers were also just as strange as Peter and Brigid, diverse backgrounds from different walks of life.

A former cop, a former meth maker, a disowned noblewoman, and many teachers from Almus who had survived its destruction to work at its successor.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Selfia said, standing at the podium, her body posture and stance a far cry from the usual slouching, the tone she took, authoritative that took hold the eyes of all gathered. “I speak to you today, to announce the grand opening of a public institution. The first, of many, a bastion of education that I wish to swath the nation in. An initiative that ha been met with pushback, and doubt. Many of you have heard the phrase, knowledge is power-”

Selfia paused for dramatic effect, her head turning to Celeste with the gaze of mother.

“An idiom,” Selfia continued. “That I hold dear to my heart. True strength comes from understanding the world around us and the many threats that surround our nation. And it is with this, I announce the grand opening of Frelia Public Academy, for our people are only as strong as the weakest amongst us.”

The crowd applauded, taking photos, various tabloid writers scribbling notes.

Selfia raised her hand, the crowd silencing.

“And to affirm my commitment to this initiative. My own daughter-”

Suddenly the crowd immediately grew loud, the sentence barely completed before questions and shocked exclamations rang out.

“- Celeste Cordelica will be enrolling into the academy come spring,” At Selfia's words, Celeste waved at the crowd, drawing hundreds of cameras on her.

“Hello!” Celeste called out, prompting Jack to pat her on the head.

“Applications to enroll are opened on the intranet site,” Selfia continued, a billboard lighting up above her that displayed instructions for enrollment. “FreliaAcademy.Gov, the academy doors are opened to all that apply while slots are available. From Early Childhood, Kindergarten, Schuleingangsstufe, to weiterführende Schule, and vocational training. The Crown thanks you for your continued support and consideration.”

Jack picked up Celeste and filed out, walking in step with Selfia as Kamila, Ada, and Leona followed them.

All around them, nonstop photos. Questions being asked at Selfia and Jack who ignored them and entered their limo.

****Elswhere****

In an empty room of an office building, a blonde man wearing a cowboy hat frowned, peaking through the scope of his specially crafted sniper rifle.

Through the lens, he could make out a barrier, a field of mana emanating from Jack, the man akin to a detection dog encircling his entourage with mana.

Any attempt at attack would be detected, and with the man's speed and reflexes, Ivan was sure he wouldn't be able to deal the fatal blow against Selfia.

Not that he wanted to really anyway.

“Tch,” Ivan sighed. “Guess it's your way then.”

“Finally! Told you!” The Man Maid said as the Jester sighed, the two walking off.

“Hey!” Ivan called out.

“What?” The Jester girl replied, brow raised.

“Try and keep civilian casualties to a minimum.”

“Now where's the fun in that!” The Man Maid let out, sticking his tongue out before grabbing the Jester's wrist and dragging her away.

Ivan sighed, peeking through his scope once more, watching as the car drove off with a heavy heart.