After the incident, the castle was in shambles. Day after day, the remaining survivors gathered material and personnel, rebuilding the once proud Royal palace little by little. Soon enough, a month had already passed, though the memories of the incident still lived in those who were there that day.

The Royal Palace had been steadily rebuilding, even if its functional state was nowhere close to what it once was. Its white shine had long been gone, only a dull color of unpolished rocks remained. However, through the effort of its people, the castle, as well as the nation, could be restored to its former glory, under the hands of a new ruler.

That ruler was currently with her people, directly commanding them with the construction project. Being the youngest to ever ascend Britain’s throne – only at the age of fourteen – she surprisingly gained more respect from everyone than any of her other predecessors. And it was with good reasons, too: after what she had shown in the final battle in the palace, there was little doubt that she would be the most suitable to lead Britain.

“Things are finally starting to take a turn for the better,” glancing at the blueprint in her hand, the young Queen exclaimed. “If we keep this pace, it should be done before winter. And after that, we can finally get our diplomatic relations working again.”

Next to her, another woman responded – her mother, the previous Queen Elisabeth. “Excellent work, Queen Beatrice. The land is in good hands.”

“... It’s the first time you said my name without being condescending, Mother.”

“You’ve ascended the throne already, have you not? It’s the least I can do to show my respect. Now, carry on with work, my daughter. I have other business to attend to.”

Even after she abdicated, Mother was the same, Bea thought as she lightly sighed. Her mother was the one to essentially force her on the throne in the first place, even when Bea herself didn’t think she would be nearly ready for the role. But there was little that she could do now that the deed had been done, except to try her best to be a good ruler.

As the young Queen was still deep in thought, a sudden chill ran down her neck while a tickling sensation crept up her ears. Along with it, a familiar, but mischievous voice sounded:

“How’s work going, Your Majesty?”

“At this rate, we’ll finish the construction in a few months or so,” Turning around with a slightly flushed expression, Bea glared at the figure behind the prank. “And shouldn’t you be working along with them, Captain?”

“What do you expect? I’m only good at swinging a sword anyway,” the voice cheekily replied, his mouth grinning the entire time.

“You mean blasting through with a sword. Your techniques are still child’s play compared to the other knights.”

“I’ve been improving, obviously.”

His words were true – after Peter was pardoned of his crimes (and subsequently was forced into the position of Captain of the Rounds, courtesy of Bea’s newfound authority), the boy had been a great sparring partner, or rather, an astounding sandbag for the other knights. As punishment, he was barred from initiating combat with his sword, and instead had to use a wooden stick against fully armed soldiers, but because of that, his speed and technique had risen to quite a considerable level. Though he rarely attended his punishment properly in the first place and often slacked off at a random spot unknown to Bea’s privy eyes.

However, she had spent too long of a time with him to know what he was doing. And so, the girl only asked with a doubtful tone:

“So? You’re only here to show off?”

“Oh come on, you’ve been Queen for only a month and you’ve already forgotten about me?” The boy feigned a hurt voice. “Was the eight years we spent together for naught?”

“Sure… until you nearly killed my family, that is.” Replying was the same kind of playful jab.

“In my defense, your mom… uh, real mom, that is, started it.”

“Forgive and forget, Peter. It’s only through it that our feud would be resolved.”

“Says the one bringing it back up in the first place.”

Bea sighed. “I still can’t beat you in any argument, it seems.”

“It takes a special talent to win against me,” the boy’s grin hadn’t escaped his face.

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

“Still sounds like one to me.”

After a brief pause, finally, the boy retracted his smile and stopped the charade. “Okay, there’s someone that wants to meet you.”

“Is that so? Where are they?”

Only after the words left her mouth did Bea realize the identity of the person in question, as Peter lightly closed his eyes and brought his hand towards his chest.

“Hold on, give me a moment.”

A few seconds later, the boy opened them again. True to Bea’s worry, they were no longer the blue eyes that she once knew. Instead, a bright yellow color filled his irises, sending a chill down her spine.

“The little princess, I supposed? Oh, right, I should call you ‘Queen’ now,” “Peter” spoke. “This is our second time meeting, isn’t it? Remember me?”

Immediately, the young Queen drew out Galatine. A pair of avian wings sprouted from her back in a second.

“How could I forget?” She seethed. “Begone, Demon. You have no place here.”

Faced against the threat, the demon once again just laughed just as in their previous goodbye, as if this situation was nothing more than paltry entertainment.

“Easy there lassie, and what about the whole ‘forgive and forget’ thing?”

“… Tch.” Clicking her tongue in annoyance, Bea sheathed her sword again. It was only a bluff all along – another battle running through the construction site would only result in catastrophic results.

Stolen novel; please report.

“That’s better,” nodded Balam. “Now, first of all, I would like you to confirm something: do you really mean what you said back then?”

“Back then?” Bea asked in confusion, but soon realized what he was referring to. “Oh, back then. I mean it, of course. That I’ll be the one to break this chain of hatred that binds all of us.”

“I see. A noble cause you’ve contributed to,” the demon nodded, as if understanding and supportive of her goal. But just a second later, he had already bared his fangs. “Yeah, not a chance.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m saying that your lofty ideal will never be successful,” he chuckled. “First of all, if you truly know your history, you’ll also know what role I played in it.”

“Whatever do you mean… former court mage Merlin?”

“I knew you bastards wouldn’t forget… So that makes things easier. I failed back then with Arthur; I’ll never let any of you accursed Bedryants touch a hair on my current partner’s head ever again.”

“What are you, some kind of over-protective parent?” The girl scoffed. “And you’re not even that familiar with Peter yet. He’s spent much more time with me than you, and so, it’s only natural that I’d understand him more.”

“In your dreams, Princess. The kid’s darkness runs deeper than you can ever imagine. It’ll take much more than your paltry attempt at showing affection towards him to change his mind.”

“Is that a challenge I hear?”

“I don’t know, is it?”

“Then mark my word, Balam, Merlin, or whatever name you decide to call yourself this time,” pointing her blade at the demon possessing her partner, Bea declared. “No matter what happens; no matter how much the world turns against him, I’ll never change. I’ll keep accepting Peter for who he is, and I’ll continue to love him until the end of time itself.”

“Even if you’ve grown those white wings that he so detests?”

“I’ll get him to like the color white in due time,” She boasted with confidence.

“Spoken like a true dictator… No, like a Bedryant.”

“Times change, old man. Now if you have nothing more to say, then I kindly advise you to get back in that cross of yours before I have to resort to… uncivilized methods.”

“Now now, we’re not through with our conversation yet,” the demon chuckled. “Surely you remember my goal after being released from the cross, right? Did your precious God teach you at least that much?”

“If you mean the war between God and the Demons, then yes, I’m aware,” Bea nodded in return. “Are you planning to usurp Him once more?”

“It’s only my life’s mission.”

“Then leave Peter’s body. After that, you can do whatever you want.”

“But it’s not that simple, Princess,” as if waiting for that answer, Balam let out a cunning smile. “We don’t just pick anyone to be our partners. We have to achieve a certain understanding between us...”

“If you’re just the kind of prat that mouths off whatever, then this conversation is done.”

“You didn’t let me finish,” smirked the demon. “There’s more than just me, after all.”

The young Queen’s eyes widened in shock at the news.

“What… do you mean?”

“I told you, right? I’m one of the surviving Demons. Meaning that somewhere out there, my kin still lives. And Princess, do you not wish to break our chains of hatred? Well, good luck finding the rest. Now, as you suggested, I shall take my leave …”

This bastard… Bea seethed in her thoughts, before crying out at the direction the unwanted guest was leaving:

“Wait! Where can I find the rest of your kind?”

As if waiting for this moment, Balam once again showed his conniving smile:

“Here’s my suggestion: join us.”

“Are you daft?”

“Not as you think, my little naive Princess,” waving a finger in an attempt of mockery, he answered. “Etch this well into your memories: I don’t like you, and you don’t like me. However, I’d say we put aside our differences to form a temporary alliance. You want to find the other Demons and their partners to convince them off their way, while I and Peter…”

“You mean only you.”

“Sure, whatever makes you sleep at night. I wish to gather my comrade-in-arms for our inevitable showdown against the big guy up in the sky. How about we travel together, and make a contest for us? We’ll each follow our own agenda, and see who can achieve our goal first. How does that sound?”

To take a deal with a demon would be nothing short of suicide – this much, Bea had known ever since their first encounter in the dungeon. However, for the girl, this was a direct challenge to her and her ideal world, and it was also her best chance at getting back at him.

She glanced at the hand that was still raised out. With all of her strength and determination, Bea grabbed onto it:

“You have yourself a deal. Don’t you dare back out.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” the demon let out a hearty laugh. “Don’t run away from our wager now, Princess.”

“Save that line for yourself.”

As soon as the words were uttered, Peter’s eyes slowly changed back from Balam’s yellow hue to his usual gentle blue color.

With his consciousness returning, the boy asked. “So, I guess you guys had a deal, huh?”

“You were listening?” Bea gasped at the truth of the matter.

“Of course. We’re kind of partners already, you see,” the boy awkwardly scratched his head. “Even that possession thing that Balam did just now, had there not been enough trust between us, he wouldn’t have been able to do it.”

It was a lie, of course. While there would be a case of permission needed if Peter was conscious, when he wasn’t, the demon could do anything, and he would be none the wiser. Bea tried to interject, but at the last moment, hesitated.

Unaware of the girl’s emotions, Peter continued. “You know, I think you two are more similar than you think.”

“I’m not the same as that guy!”

Covering his ears against the deafening shout of anger, he continued. “Think about it; you’re both changing the world in a way that you see as right. Either by breaking away the hatred that binds us or by settling the scores once and for all. And you’re both hell-bent on your ideals being the correct one, too.”

“W–Well, what do you suggest then?”

“As someone who’s been wronged before, I can see the idea being Balam’s motives… I mean, that’s why we get each other enough to be partners and awaken the cross, after all.”

After a moment of pause, he then turned towards Bea, their eyes locking for the first time in their eight years of knowing each other:

“But now, especially after seeing you in those wings… I don’t know anymore. I’ve always bore hatred against the angels, but if there are those like you… maybe things won’t be too bad for us.”

*

Soon enough, winter came. All members of the Rounds – Pedro included, who had been sobbing all day prior – as well as the royal family gathered around the snowy port, sending off the young heir to a special trip.

“Go, Beatrice,” Elisabeth was the first to speak. “Roam the world, and learn as much as you can. Perhaps at the end of your journey, you’ll become the Queen that you’ve always wanted to be.”

“And don’t worry about here, either,” chuckled Eliza. “I’ll make sure to keep all of your things real well, Sister dearest. So you best enjoy your honeymoon as much as you can!”

“Eliza!” Bea, her face red as a ripe tomato, shouted, but the little gremlin had already run off, still eagerly waving her hands goodbye.

With only a shake of the head, the girl turned to her trusty retainer:

“I’m sorry that I can’t bring you along. Take care of the Palace in my stead, okay?”

“… With honor, Your High–ah, no, Your Majesty,” Pedro lightly rubbed off his tears and took a bow. “And mark my words; I’ll be stronger. Much stronger, so I can one day serve you again.”

“Well, for now, she’ll be in my capable hands,” Meanwhile, the boy next to her chuckled.

Pedro flared up, but the moment didn’t last long. The dark-skinned boy soon gave an agreeing nod and replied with a somber voice:

“... You’re right. Of all the people in the world, I can only entrust Her Majesty to you, Peter. So protect her with your life, you hear me?”

He finished by raising his fist forward, trying his best to let out a joyous grin.

To which, Peter answered in kind. “Of course. You can count on me.”

With everyone already saying their goodbyes, the pair of part-demon and part-angel made their way to the prepared boat. Looking out the slowly drifting land, both of them raised their hands and waved as hard as they could, shouting out our lungs towards the people on shore:

“So long for now, everyone! We’ll be back soon!”

Little did they know, their journey would take a much longer time than they had expected. They would traverse the world and meet new angels and demons alike, and each time, their ideals would continue to be challenged. However, as their other hands secretly locked, they both knew.

As long as they had each other’s backs, the two of them could change the world.