Risti and Farah were picking up the cushions they had hurled at Schwarz when the doorbell rang. Schwarz, eager to make amends, promptly bounced off his chair and sprinted out towards the booth, where they had just sent a particular couple off for their honeymoon not too long ago.

“Well, he sure runs fast,” Farah noted. “Still, maybe he did have a point. Maybe Claud and Lily don’t want us playing gooseberry and everything. Should we get them a bigger room from now on?”

“I’m quite sure their rooms are big enough,” said Risti. “After all, Lily has been spending long periods in Claud’s room for the past few days. Those two must be having the time of their life hugging, making out and doing whatever couples do best.”

“Well, it’s good for them, if you ask me,” Dia replied. “I think they’re a good match. Claud’s been watching over Lily and sticking by her ever since they returned from Julan. And Lily’s been helping Claud too. If you ask me, that’s a good foundation for a relationship.”

“You sound experienced.”

“From reading novels,” Dia clarified. “I haven’t had a chance to find the person of my dreams yet.”

“Bodyguard duty sucks,” Risti replied.

“Are you in urgent need for an understanding partner?” Farah asked. “There are plenty of men and women in my county that are looking for a soulmate. If you like…”

“No, there’s no need,” Dia hurriedly replied. “I’m totally fine. Being in love with someone sounds like a pain. You have to run away with them, fight your in-laws, get over numerous tribulations, and then, at the end of it all, you realise your partner’s your sibling.”

“What in the name of the Moons have you been reading?” Farah asked, disturbed. “I’m quite sure love isn’t that problematic. At most, you just need to duel your love’s own admirer for the right to be with him or her, nothing else.”

“Really?” Risti asked. “When some hotshot adventurer tried to go after me, I simply got my dad to deal with it. He never showed up again.”

The three of them stared at each other, and then sighed.

Dia picked up her cup and finished the remaining fizzy alcoholic juice off, before saying, “I guess finding someone really is tough. For both sides. But again, the marriageable age for nobles is a couple of hundred years, so maybe Claud and Lily decided to mature in advance.”

“True,” Farah acknowledged.

“Be that as it may, milady, I strongly suggest that you find a fiancé for the sake of an heir,” Lloyd replied. “I might sound stuffy, but an heir would absolutely set your people at peace. I’ve received many strongly-worded protests from your people that demand that you hurry up and find a, and I quote, stud that’s of acceptable moral fibre.”

“A what?”

“A stud, milady. I am told it refers to a good-looking man, which I interpret to be proof of your people’s desire for a presentable lord and hopefully, child,” Lloyd replied. “Incidentally, your people have also compiled a dossier on the reputable young nobles and personages of your age for your perusal. I have brought it along with me.”

Everyone, save for Farah, broke out into laughter. Farah scanned the room with a displeased look, and then dismissed Lloyd’s words with an airy wave of her hand. “Did you really find that important enough to bring it with you? Just…I don’t know, toss it. I’m the master of my own fate. My county needs no heir as long as I stay alive, got it?”

“Milady.”

“Enough! There are visitors here. Drop this topic,” Farah ordered, her words shaking the very fabric of the room.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Somehow.

“Y-yes, milady.”

“And you two better not let Schwarz or Claud know about this discussion,” Farah replied, her face turning into a tomato. “I’ll bury myself if they find out about this. I won’t put it past that shameless Schwarz to offer up his body or something.”

“He won’t, I think,” Risti replied. “Not that kind of guy.”

“It’s a big if there.” Farah folded her arms.

“Schwarz, huh?” Lloyd murmured, in a voice so quiet that Dia had a feeling it was only her who heard it. Glancing at the others, Dia rubbed her nose. Now that the bartender, who was admittedly both good-looking and caring — she hadn’t forgotten the wise counsel Schwarz had provided to her more than once — had fallen into Lloyd’s awareness, she had a feeling something interesting was going to follow suit.

In addition, wasn’t Schwarz the one who helped channel some high-rank lifestones to Farah by working behind the scenes? The fellow was a caring one, if nothing else. Like a silent guardian, watching over the night…

However, Dia decided not to interfere. She had a feeling that Lloyd was quite a master at his crafts, and that her participation might just make things take a wrong turn.

Schwarz returned to the room a moment later, with Caroline, Nero and Holy Daughter Clarissa trailing behind him. “Visitors, guys. They’re here to talk about our next moves.”

“We don’t really have next moves, though,” said Farah, who had gotten up to pour out some cups of drink for everyone. Nero took a sip immediately, while Caroline and Clarissa took the time to examine the inwards of their cups. “The person who should have prepared some next moves has run away for a romantic getaway with the person he was training to be his successor in such endeavours.”

Three sets of ears twitched.

“Let me guess,” said Caroline, “Claud and Lily?”

“…It was obvious, wasn’t it?” Farah muttered.

“Well, they weren’t here,” Caroline replied. “And besides, if you asked me about romantic engagements within the Moon Lords, I would have pointed these two out immediately. They never seem to leave each other. In fact, I was surprised to find out that they were sleeping in separate rooms in this place.”

“Separate rooms in this place?” Farah asked. “Why?”

“Well, Aran and I usually are quite vigorous and…eager.”

“Ahem.” The Holy Daughter of the White Church cleared her throat. “Caroline, we are here to discuss about the abrupt death of the Moon Emissary, not the nightly hijinks you and your fiancé get up to every night. Besides, I’m quite sure the act of heir-making is best left to after the wedding, not before it, to prevent succession-related complications from arising. Are the two of you using protection?”

“Y-yeah.”

“Make sure that you two both use them; I’ve heard all sorts of stories that forced a more rushed wedding and…”

Holy Daughter Clarissa rattled on for another five minutes.

“…got it?”

“Y-yes, Clarissa.” Caroline looked at her cup, which was empty, and then froze. “Wait, weren’t we supposed to talk about the abrupt death of the Moon Emissary? How did it get to birth control, pregnancy tips and child-raising?”

“Ah.” The holy daughter flushed. “S-sorry. It’s just, you know, uh…White God stuff, yeah?”

As Clarissa fumbled to make some excuses, Dia smiled. The Clarissa who dove into the little intricacies of bedroom life seemed more human, more relatable than the high and mighty Holy Daughter of the White Church. Maybe she was looking forward to having a child, or maybe it was a social-centric doctrine of the White Church she liked. Either way, however, Clarissa now seemed closer, like a friend of sorts.

After messing around for a while, which included the spectacle of Schwarz pouring out his new brews with some exaggerated poses, everyone finally got down to the main deal.

Clarissa, who had been speaking for five minutes on end, took a sip from her cup. “We’ve confirmed the death of the Moon Emissary at the boundary of Daybreak County, as well as the Fourteenth Bearer of Destiny…that is what I would like to say, anyway. In actual fact, we’ve confirmed a vast swath of ruined wasteland, and traces of the Moon Emissary there.”

She pulled out a sheet of paper. Glassy ground stood alongside lush green fields, creating a crisp contrast that seemed divine. “The Moon Emissary and its army was completely destroyed. That much we know. From the ominous announcement everyone here received a few hours ago, it’s almost certain that the Fourteenth Bearer of Destiny was present…and died a tragic, unfortunate death.”

Clarissa sure didn’t sound like she was mourning the Fourteenth’s death, though.

“It’s not Tot. Or at least, Tot hasn’t released power on this scale before,” Clarissa continued. “Or maybe this is his true might.”

“Maybe this scene was caused by a Chromatic Lord,” Nero abruptly suggested.

“A Chromatic Lord?” Clarissa echoed. “Or maybe…the Thief of Time is actually one of the Chromatic Lords. We’ve been present when Tot struck in this region multiple times, right? And…well, those that were killed by Tot so indeed pose a threat to the order established six millennia ago. It makes sense that he or she is a Chromatic Lord.”

Dia thought about it for a moment. It did make sense…but why would a Chromatic Lord break into Duke Istrel’s treasury?