In the sleek, spacious apartment of the Night Bunnies idol group, a buzz of unusual activity filled the air. Studio equipment—microphones, sound mixers, lighting—had been moved to the corners, and each of the residents was busy tidying up. The news that Princess Ellora herself would be visiting had stirred them all, prompting Cashmere, Usako Tanaka, Eun Min Hwa, and Zhen Lin to tackle the cleaning themselves for a change. Katya, who had delivered the news, sat casually at the dining table, enjoying a snack from their pantry.

"Why are we doing this, anyway?" Usako grumbled as she wiped the coffee table, glancing enviously at Katya munching potato chips, perfectly relaxed. "I'm an idol, you know. Idols shouldn't be scrubbing floors!"

Eun Min Hwa, busy vacuuming the living room, raised an eyebrow. "Well, idols should take care of their image, Usako, not clutter up the place with costumes and accessories scattered everywhere."

Usako huffed, shaking her head. "You never understand, Min Hwa! If you appreciated my art, you'd know all these things are necessary for my creative flow!"

Unfazed, Min Hwa rolled her eyes. "Your 'art' makes this place look like a fashion disaster zone."

Zhen Lin, who'd been quietly sweeping the floor, sighed deeply. "Easy, you two. We just need to work together. If we finish fast, we'll still have time to relax before the Princess arrives."

In the kitchen, Cashmere was cleaning with a mix of exhaustion and enthusiasm. He was the one most concerned about cleanliness and wanted to ensure the kitchen was spotless. As he wiped down the counters, he called out, "Hey, remember, this is for Princess Ellora! If we want to make a good impression, this place has to be pristine."

Katya looked around, seemingly enjoying the lively arguments while munching her snack. Usako shot her a look and muttered, "Just look at Katya, sitting there like a queen. She tells us the Princess is coming and then makes herself at home."

Katya held out the potato chips with a small grin. "Relax. I'm here to greet her; you all are the ones trying to make an impression."

Grumbling, Usako took a chip and went back to cleaning.

"Katya, are you sure the Princess will be comfortable in a place like this?" Zhen Lin suddenly asked, sounding thoughtful. "Even if we clean, this apartment is nowhere near as grand as a palace."

Katya smiled. "Ellora isn't one to care about luxury, Zhen Lin. She appreciates sincerity and effort. If you've prepared well and welcome her warmly, that's all she'll need."

Relieved, Cashmere nodded, his spirits lifted. "Alright, team! Let's make this place look as inviting as we can," he cheered, returning to the kitchen with renewed enthusiasm.

With that, Min Hwa, who had just finished with the dusting, began polishing the baseboards, determined to honor their rare visitor. "If this makes the Princess feel respected, I'll do it with pride. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance."

Before long, they finished tidying. Zhen Lin wiped sweat from his brow, Usako scrubbed her hands after wiping the table, and Min Hwa admired the clean, bright living room.

Cashmere approached Katya at the table. "Katya, we're done. What do you think?"

Katya glanced around and nodded approvingly. "Good work, everyone. Now, let's open the portal."

Standing up, she reached into her bag, retrieving a small, engraved device. With a turn and a murmured incantation, the air around them shimmered. A faint blue magical circle appeared in the center of the living room, swirling with dimensional energy.

Moments later, a doorway materialized within the circle, and from it stepped a tall, graceful figure with dark hair and an air of cool authority: Princess Ellora Evernoir herself. She moved with an elegant composure, taking in the room with calm curiosity.

Instantly, the group knelt, heads bowed in deep respect.

"Welcome, Princess Ellora," Zhen Lin greeted her, his voice reverent as he fought his awe.

Ellora's gaze traveled around the room, her expression gentle. Though the apartment was modest compared to her palace, a faint smile touched her lips, as if acknowledging their effort to welcome her.

Katya, standing behind Ellora, gestured for them to rise. "Lady Ellora, this is the Night Bunnies," she said formally.

Ellora nodded in greeting. "Thank you all for preparing. The place is charming, and I appreciate the care you've put in."

At her words, Cashmere's hard work felt rewarded, and he couldn't hide a small, proud smile. Bowing again, he replied, "It's a great honor, Princess."

For once, even Usako was silent, eyes wide with admiration. She nodded, seeming almost in awe of the influential figure before them.

Eun Min Hwa, her tone filled with both admiration and respect, spoke up. "We're truly grateful for your visit, Princess. We hope this place will be comfortable for you."

Ellora's gaze softened as she took a seat on the couch they'd prepared with such care. "Thank you, this is more than enough. I feel welcome among Evernoir's dedicated agents. Sometimes, simpler surroundings can be the most refreshing."

Hearing Princess Ellora's words, the tense atmosphere softened into a sense of ease. The group settled in around her, with Katya still standing near the door, keeping a careful eye on the visit. The gathering felt both respectful and warm, with Ellora—despite her royal status—speaking to them naturally, making the moment feel friendly and familiar.

Ellora, relaxed on the sofa with a soft expression, gazed at the five standing figures before her: Cashmere, Eun Min Hwa, Usako Tanaka, Zhen Lin, and Katya. Each seemed hesitant, unsure of whether to sit. Ellora gave them a gentle smile.

"Please, have a seat," she invited, gesturing to the sofas nearby and offering a reassuring smile to ease their nerves. They exchanged hesitant glances, still unsure of the formality.

"Thank you, Princess Ellora," Cashmere replied, his voice wavering a bit, quickly realizing his slip and glancing down in embarrassment.

Ellora chuckled. "How many times do I have to remind you? I'm no longer Princess Evernoir. The kingdom has fallen, and now, I'm just a citizen of Aurelius."

Cashmere, Eun Min Hwa, Usako, and Zhen Lin looked at one another, sharing the same struggle to see Ellora as anything less than the leader who had saved them all three years ago. They finally took their seats on the sofa, though still a little stiff and cautious.

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Seeing their nervousness, Ellora offered a kind smile. "It feels strange, doesn't it?" she asked, still smiling. "You all look more tense now than you did back in the battlefields."

Eun Min Hwa, a calm-looking girl with blonde hair, gave a sheepish laugh. "We're…just not used to it, Lady Ellora. The last time we were together, you were leading us from the front. Our respect for you hasn't faded, even with all this time."

Ellora's smile softened, and she nodded in understanding. "I get it. A lot has changed in the past three years, hasn't it?" She turned to Cashmere, the confident figure seated closest to her. "Cashmere, I'd say you've changed the most. You were so determined to destroy those attacking robots, even though they could nullify our magic."

Cashmere offered a respectful smile. "I was only following orders, Lady Ellora. Three years ago, when you decided to return to Evernoir to save as many of us as possible, I remember your instructions were clear. You trusted us entirely, and we just followed through."

"I know, Cashmere, but I never expected you all would come this far," she replied, nodding thoughtfully. "Back then, I'd only tasked you with infiltrating Cestisia's business networks. I knew that alone would be difficult… but you've achieved so much more than I'd anticipated."

Cashmere nodded slightly, brushing back his sleek black hair. "Our primary mission was intelligence—to get inside Cestisia's criminal networks and gather as much information as we could." He gave her a serious look. "But we found that their network was far more complex than we'd imagined. We needed another approach, and eventually, we gained access to certain key figures within Cestisia."

Sitting beside Cashmere, Usako Tanaka joined in enthusiastically. "The idea to form an idol group as a cover just came to us naturally. We thought, if we could dominate the entertainment market in Cestisia, we'd have a way to influence a lot of people, even the elite who are always online." She chuckled. "We never thought it'd turn out to be this big."

Ellora raised an eyebrow in surprise. "An idol group… I never would have guessed that strategy could be so effective. So you've used entertainment as a media influence network… that's brilliant."

Cashmere smiled modestly, still respectful. "Thank you, Lady Ellora. But I think you must've known we'd use unconventional methods to fulfill the mission." Cashmere held his gaze with sincere seriousness. "You've known my way of thinking since the beginning."

Ellora gave a quiet laugh, slightly amused. "I knew you had the skill, but you've surpassed every expectation. I thought it would just be some underground movements. But here you are, right in Cestisia's elite circles."

Zhen Lin, who was usually the quietest of the group, spoke up in a gentle tone. "Honestly, we were a bit nervous at first. Posing as a popular idol group wasn't easy. Many people were suspicious of us. But eventually, we earned the public's trust with our songs and concerts."

Eun Min Hwa nodded in agreement. "Yes, we didn't anticipate the public support we'd get. It made it much easier to gain access to places that were usually closed off to us. The connections and information we gathered from there were invaluable for our mission."

Ellora looked at them all with pride shining in her eyes. "I truly can't express how proud I am of you all. You've turned this mission into something much more than gathering intelligence—you've created a network of influence."

Cashmere, slightly bashful but keeping his professional composure, responded, "We did it all for the mission, Lady Ellora. And honestly, without your guidance and trust, we would never have come this far."

Katya, who had been quietly listening, added, "I think it's amazing you all managed to carry out an operation like this. Lady Ellora knew how to pick the right people for the job." She gave a small smile, clearly proud of the team they'd become.

"Lady Ellora," Cashmere said, his gaze becoming more serious, "even though you've said the kingdom is gone, to me—and to everyone here—you'll always be our leader."

Ellora was silent for a moment, touched by their unwavering loyalty. "Thank you, all of you. You don't know how much your support means to me." She looked at each of them with a soft smile. "Even if the kingdom has fallen, you'll always be Evernoir's elite."

They all exchanged looks of understanding, smiling. Despite the years, their loyalty to Ellora remained unshaken. Usako, Eun Min Hwa, Zhen Lin, and Cashmere felt they had fulfilled their roles well, even beyond her expectations.

"So," Ellora said with a lighter tone, "how long do you all plan on sitting so formally? Think of this as a gathering among friends, not a battlefield."

They all laughed, finally feeling the tension melt away. Relaxing, they began sharing stories and memories of their journeys, the conversation drifting into warm nostalgia.

Ellora, feeling they'd talked enough about lighter things, shifted the conversation to a more serious topic. "So," she asked in a calm tone, meant to keep everyone relaxed, "what's the progress on gathering intelligence about Evernoir in Cestisia?"

Cashmere, looking eager, spoke up first. "Just as we expected, our intel missions in Cestisia have yielded strong results. And as you suspected, Lady Ellora, General Alexander is indeed being held in a special anti-magic prison there."

Ellora's expression grew more focused as she tapped the table, deep in thought. "So, Cestisia is really holding one of our greatest fighters, someone practically unbeatable even by conventional magic."

Usako Tanaka, showing a flash of anger, chimed in, "I gathered that information from someone in Cestisia's military elite. I was at one of those art gallery events, where a military officer happened to mention they were holding an Evernoir prisoner in a specialized anti-magic prison."

"A gallery event?" Ellora raised a curious eyebrow. "What connection does that have with a prison?"

Zhen Lin, standing beside Usako, gave a wry smile as she added, "Actually, we learned a lot there. One of the high-ranking officers, overly full of himself, thought we were just performers and spoke freely around us. It was revolting." She exchanged a look with Eun Min Hwa, who nodded in agreement.

"I'll never forget their disdainful looks," Eun Min Hwa added angrily, "like we were objects meant for their entertainment."

Ellora's smile held a hint of frost. "They may have forgotten how to speak in our presence. But we'll deal with that later. What matters now is this anti-magic prison. Do you have direct access?"

Cashmere shook her head slowly. "Not yet. Cestisia still strictly controls access to places like that prison. Even with our cover as media hosts, sneaking in without meticulous planning is too dangerous."

Usako added, "Plus, the prison is heavily fortified with powerful anti-magic devices. Any attempt to infiltrate without thorough prep would be risky."

Ellora listened intently, then nodded and placed a small, cube-shaped device on the table. It glowed faintly, pulsing with a soft blue light. Everyone looked at it with intrigue.

"This is a new device I've been developing for the past few years," Ellora said, smiling. "It's the result of my anti-magic research. It doesn't require magic to work; it's essentially an EMP that can temporarily disable anti-magic devices on a large scale."

Cashmere's eyes widened in admiration. "Does this mean we can disable all their anti-magic defenses with just this device?"

"In theory, yes," Ellora confirmed. "But keep in mind, it's still in the early stages. You'll need to handle it carefully. I can't guarantee it'll hold up in extreme situations or over extended periods."

Usako's eyes sparkled with excitement. "So, Lady Ellora, this device means we could enter and leave that prison without worrying about anti-magic interference?"

Ellora nodded but warned, "Not entirely. As I said, it's still in its early form. You'll need careful planning and caution. Even though it could disable anti-magic defenses, unexpected things could still happen."

Zhen Lin, usually calm, looked eager. "When do we start?"

"Soon," Ellora replied firmly. "We need to ensure no gaps in information first. And we must carefully plan our escape route to minimize risks during the rescue."

Eun Min Hwa nodded in agreement. "I'll prepare access points for us to get closer to the prison. I'll use our intel network in Cestisia to gather deeper details."

Ellora smiled proudly. "That's perfect, Min Hwa. This mission isn't just any rescue. General Alexander's power is immense, and bringing him back could be pivotal in our fight against Cestisia."

Cashmere, who had been following the discussion attentively, smiled and said, "I'm always impressed by how organized your thinking is, Lady Ellora. You really know how to cover all the angles."

Ellora gave a composed smile. "Precision is everything, Cashmere. We're not dealing with an ordinary prison but with a force designed to crush our every hope. So we must be fully prepared."

Usako's excitement grew. "When can we start prepping equipment and tactics?"

"Right now," Ellora said, looking at everyone with determination. "I'm counting on you all. Use everything we have at our disposal. The success of this mission won't just be a victory for us—it'll also rally others to our cause against Cestisia's anti-magic forces."

They all nodded with the same resolve written on their faces. They knew this mission wouldn't be easy, but with Ellora's brilliant strategies, they were confident they could bring General Alexander back and strengthen their stance against Cestisia.

Ellora ended the meeting with, "Prepare everything. Soon, we move forward."

Each step they took from here wasn't just about saving General Alexander. It was for their kingdom and the future they were fighting to restore.

***