The scene cuts to the castle.

“Sorry to come at the last minute, but I’m also going to attend this meeting. Could you please put your weapons down?” Kay said, raising her hands in surrender. Her wings, open and imposing, began to slowly retract, making her suit return to normal.

“Don’t come in like that, or you’ll end up getting shot!” Princess Emilia warned, emerging from inside the castle with firm steps.

“You took a while.” Kay watched her, a brief smile appearing behind her mask.

“You said you were in Mineforde, so I thought it would take longer. But I came to wait for you, as you asked,” Emilia replied, with a slightly reprimanding tone.

The guards, although still suspicious, put their weapons away.

“Next time, let me know you’re coming. And, if you can, try to enter like a normal person!” suggested one of the guards, with a mixture of irritation and relief.

— These are urgent times, my friend. — Kay shrugged, her voice calm.

— Anyway, Alpha Zero, they're waiting for you in the throne room. — Emilia informed, as she positioned herself next to him.

Kay nodded and headed towards the castle, accompanying the princess.

— Wearing the mask... That means you're a soldier! When will I be able to have you as my boyfriend? — Emilia exclaimed, with a slight provocation, but her tone carried a contained vulnerability.

Kay paused for a moment, staring at her with a serious look, even with the mask hiding her expressions.

— I understand, you still don't know what happened. Participate in this meeting, and it will be for a brief moment... But, after that, you will have me as your boyfriend. — he promised, with a firm and melancholic tone.

— Is it so bad that you can't stay? — Emilia asked, her voice trembling slightly with concern.

Kay sighed and held her hand gently, continuing to walk down the hallway, her footsteps echoing off the castle walls.

"News that you're Alpha Zero's mate could put you in danger. Let's be more intimate when I'm not around you as a soldier," he said, intertwining his fingers with hers, his voice low and full of concern.

Emilia squeezed his hand in response.

"Okay!" Emilia said, smiling slightly.

They walked hand in hand to the door of the throne room. Before entering, Kay let go of her hand, with a brief sigh.

"Let's go. I'll be participating as princess." Emilia straightened her posture, her tone firm.

Kay looked at the door, noticing the absence of guards.

"No guards at the door... do you want privacy?"

With a decisive movement, Emilia opened the door, attracting the attention of everyone present in the throne room.

“You arrived faster than expected!” Yan commented, crossing his arms when he saw him.

“This is a moment when we cannot waste time,” Kay replied, still standing at the entrance.

“Join them!” Emilia ordered, walking forward towards her place.

“Right.” Kay nodded and followed.

Emilia sat on her throne next to her mother, while Kay stopped with the other leaders gathered in the room.

“Since everyone is here, can you tell me the reason for this last-minute meeting?” the king asked, his voice echoing throughout the immense room.

Kay cast a quick glance at the prince next to the king.

“I still sense hostility coming from you.”

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

The head of the guards broke the silence:

“By now, the news should already be spreading among the civilians who were in Mineforde. Therefore, we ask that you make an announcement immediately, to reassure the population.

The king frowned.

"What happened that we need to announce something like this?" he asked, with authority.

Those present who had been in Mineforde hesitated, exchanging nervous glances. The silence was almost palpable until Kay took a step forward.

"Takemichi died fulfilling his duty as captain," he declared, without hesitation.

Everyone's eyes in the room widened. A murmur of disbelief ran through the room.

"What?!" Emilia exclaimed, visibly shaken.

"Let me continue," Joana said, taking a step forward.

Kay nodded, stepping back to make room.

"A few days ago, Alpha Zero reported the possible existence of intelligent ghouls, while evaluating the mini-ghoul. Today, during our mission in Mineforde, we were attacked. — Joana paused, taking a deep breath. — From the sky, intelligent ghouls descended directly upon us, surrounding the city, destroying the weapons on the walls and leaving us completely exposed. Mineforde is now defenseless. Among them, a ghoul who called himself "General" challenged Captain Takemichi to a duel. They used guards, civilians and even the entire city as hostages. The captain had no choice but to accept.

— Are you saying that Takemichi lost a one-on-one duel to a ghoul? — the prince asked, his voice thick with disbelief.

— Yes! — Joana replied firmly. — That General was absurdly powerful. The captain had to use Limit Break to face him and, even so, he couldn't win. His speed, strength and regeneration capacity were far superior to anything we've ever faced. He surpassed any known standard of ghouls.

Ryuji intervened:

— And there was nothing we could do. The ghouls made it clear that if we tried anything, all of us, along with the civilians, would be killed.

— Could you kill those ghouls if you tried? — asked the prince, with a suspicious look.

— Maybe. But even then, we would have devastating casualties. — Ryuji sighed. — It was an impossible choice.

— You did the right thing. — said the queen, with an understanding tone.

— I know it was intentional, but we can't take that as a compliment. — Yan clenched his fists in frustration. — It's disgusting to see the captain being devoured without being able to do anything.

The king cleared his throat, changing the focus:

— I was informed by the Institute about the captured ghoul and something called the "Monarch". Do you know the meaning of that?

— Yes! — replied the head scientist of the Institute. — We hadn't announced it, but the masked soldier here is the only one capable of ordering the mini-ghoul to do anything.

The king fixed his gaze on Kay.

— I see... So it's you.

Before Kay could answer, a young scientist approached, looking directly at him.

— Who is this child? — Kay asked, confused, breaking the silence.

The scientist turned red with anger.

— What did you say?! — she exclaimed, indignant.

Joana laughed discreetly.

— This is Aiko. She is one of the people responsible for the maintenance and creation of the suits. In short, a genius.

Kay raised his eyebrows in surprise.

— She looks so young...

— I'm the one who takes care of the repair of your suit, Mr. "100%". So respect me! — Aiko replied, with her hands on her hips.

Kay sighed.

— I see... Well, thank you then.

— I didn't sense any sincerity in that! — Aiko said, crossing her arms. — You're always destroying suits! Do you think ghouls grow on trees? Take better care of them!

— Asking that now will be impossible. — Kay said, looking away. — As I was saying, we got information from the mini-ghoul about...

Before she could finish, Kay noticed something strange.

— What are you doing? — she asked, while Aiko tried to fiddle with her suit.

— Taking off the suit to repair it later! — Aiko replied, undeterred.

Kay grabbed her by the shoulders and lifted her off the ground with ease. She took her back to the others, placing her gently on the ground.

— I'll hand it over later. — Kay said, resuming her place.

Aiko blushed, torn between shame and anger.

"He... treated me like a child?!" she thought, incredulous, as she crossed her arms in frustration.

— As I was saying, from the information extracted from the mini-ghoul, this Monarch is something far superior to the General the captain faced. — Kay said firmly, with the posture of a soldier accustomed to chaos.

— A greater threat? Are you sure about that? — the king exclaimed, frowning.

— The smell, the presence, the power... All of this clearly indicates the strength of a ghoul. For example, the mini-ghoul himself had a weaker smell than the General's, but similar to the other ghouls present at the location. Before sending the mini-ghoul there, he had already informed that he would not be able to eliminate the General. And... — Kay paused, visibly irritated. — Are you sure this girl is really a renowned scientist? — he exclaimed, pointing at Aiko.

— She treated me like a child. You will pay for that! — Aiko replied, crossing her arms and looking at him with disdain.

— Enough, Aiko! Let him finish talking and go back to your seat! — Emilia said firmly, but without losing her diplomatic tone.

“Why are you mad at me? He’s the type who would call you a child too!” — Aiko replied, staring at her cousin.

Emilia blushed, looking away.

“He’s already done that, hasn’t he?” — Aiko teased, with a mischievous smile.

Kay raised an eyebrow.

“Are you two friends or something? It seems like you know each other well.”

“Of course you are! She’s my cousin.” — Aiko replied, as if it were obvious.

Kay was surprised.

“I see... What is she? Your cousin?” — he asked, incredulous.

“Why are you surprised? You don’t know anything about us and you still act like a know-it-all!” — Aiko retorted, irritated.

“Aiko, go back to your seat. We can talk later. Let him finish talking.” — Emilia said, trying to keep control of the situation.

— If you say so... — Aiko replied, finally walking away, but not without giving Kay one last defiant look.