Walking up to the Estate, we still felt kind of hazy from being woken up so suddenly. I didn't notice this before, but it seems Cecily too had gone to sleep while I was out, although at what time exactly, I don't know. Even still, it doesn't change the fact that that driver woke both of us up from our pleasant nap, meaning she was all yawns the entire walk over to the castle.

Approaching the grumpy guards, they blocked our paths with their spears which in turn scared Cecily wide awake. Rather rude, isn't it?

"Halt, any further than this and we'll have to use our weapons on you! What business do you have with the King to just try and leisurely waltz into the Estate?"

"Fueh?!" Cecily jolted from the spear tip being pointed at her, "We seek an audience with the King, what else? And also, quit pointing that thing at me!"

"Do you think it is such an easy process to talk to His Highness?" The guards chuckled.

"Right, right. There's an entire legal system we have to get by before we can talk to the almighty Adam, we've heard this all before." I moved the spear tip away from Cecily before turning to the guard, "Listen man, a war is being waged in Entropa as we speak and we really need to talk to him. Go inside and tell him Ed and Cecily are looking for hi-."

"Gasp! The War!?" The guard on our left suddenly raised his guard, "Then all the more reason not to let you see the King!"

What soon followed was a quick jab to my gut, or well, at least that's what should have happened, but Cecily was far too quick for him to actually reach me in time. Parrying his spear with the knives she had hidden on her leg straps, the guards seemed a bit too impressed to even realize the oncoming counter attack. With a swift blow to both of their napes, the two guards fell to the ground, fast asleep.

"There, that should do it." She put her knives back as she chuckled, "Looks like it was a good idea to ask Jorgen to teach me that move. It's way more humane than killing them."

"I... Huh?"

"What?" She tilted her head at me, "You've seen me fight before countless times, what's got you so surprised?"

"Honestly, the fact that I forgot just how strong you are is a far scarier fact..." I whimpered.

Since we didn't want to just leave the castle gates unattended, we actually made a point to holler to the other nearby guards before leaving the scene. Entering through the front door, we were greeted to the main foyer, in which some butlers and maids were busying themselves with carrying teacups around. Looking over at the two people who just nonchalantly entered the premises without a warning made them a bit tense, but we reassured them we meant no harm (if you ignore that mishap with the guards).

"Hello." I raised my arm a bit to initiate a friendly greeting, "We're looking for Adam."

"The King?" A butler gasped, "Ahem, apologies for raising my voice, dear guests. Please, follow me, I'm actually bringing him this tea right now."

"Thank you very much!" Cecily bowed respectfully as we had this kind butler fellow lead us into the King's Quarters.

We were brought to a door, one that I imagine leads to the King's office or something, but something just felt off about standing in front of it

The butler refused to open the door, instead politely knocking on the door after he put the tea down on the floor in front of it.

"Ahem, Your Highness?" He mimed for us to cup our ears, but we didn't see a reason to oblige.

"Ugh, what is it!?" Adam's voice made us scared stiff, "Can't you see that we're busy!?"

"Wait, we?" I turned to the butler, who simply sighed.

"Good heavens, milord. Look at the time..." He rolled his Eyes, "I brought you tea... and guests."

For a moment after he said that, Adam's room got super quiet. Some panicked whispering ensued behind the closed doors, before we heard the fumbling of clothes being hastily put on. Before long the doors opened wide, revealing a tall and muscular shirtless man fiddling with his belt buckle as he addressed his dear guests.

"What guests? I didn't make any reservations today because it's mine and Elaine's anniversa...ry."

"Yo." I raised my hand, "Long time no see."

"S-Sorry to interrupt..." Cecily blushed as she averted her gaze from his pecs, "N-No need to rush, we'll wait for you in the living room."

"Well I'll be damned." He took the butler's hand towel to wipe away the sweat from his brow, "If it isn't Cecily and... Edison?"

"Edward, but you were close." I corrected him, "We'd like your help with something, but I believe we've caught you in an awkward moment?”

"Oh pish! Should I be ashamed of spending some quality time with my wife?" He chuckled, "In any case, whilst I really would like to, I can't just continue what I started now that I have important guests over. The butler will take you to the living room while Elaine and I get dressed, we'll be with you shortly."

Elaine, the Queen of Cardina. Whilst I haven't met her personally, I do believe I've heard many great things of her. Though this might not be the best first impression to leave on her, what with us barging into their alone time, and on their anniversary no less. I feel like I should apologize, but that'd be way too embarrassing. The butler's cool though, since he gave us some biscuits to go along with our tea while we waited on account of us stopping the King's and Queen's bedtime wrestling. Looks like he really dislikes it when they spend too much time in bed instead of on the throne.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

***

"Alright, now what do you want?" Adam and his wife sat across the table from us, "And though I have no intention of shooing you away, I would appreciate it if you kept it brief."

"Can't wait to get back in bed, can we?" I let slip a jab without thinking.

"What was that?"

"Nothing! He said we can't wait to have the plan said!" Cecily lied to get me out of the nasty situation, "Listen guys, to keep it short - We need you to send us your army to aid us in the war against the King."

"Oh? If I recall correctly though, you said you and Lune were only going to Entropa to get Edwin back, so why so insistent on opposing the King all of a sudden."

"Like I said, it’s Edward, but not the issue here." I once again corrected him, "Listen, there's no other way to explain this, but think of it as a form of revenge for all the Royal Family of Carmen has done to us."

"Ah." He was quick to read between the lines, "So Lune died, huh?"

Elaine, despite doing nothing but silently pouting and shooting me death glares, had finally raised her voice when she heard these words coming from her husband’s mouth. Gasping from the shock of the revelation, she quickly glanced between Adam and us, waiting for us to deny it. Sadly though, no matter how much she waits, that moment will never come.

"Alas, he was killed during the Fourth Bell Chime." Cecily drooped her head, staring into the teacup's reflection, "He successfully negotiated a peace treaty, but the Princess, Vivia Carmen, shot him through the heart at the last moment. Or well, so I was told by Ed and the other Generals that were present."

"Hmm..." Adam sat there quietly as his wife anxiously waited to comfort him in case he started getting emotional, "Well, nothing we can do now. It is what it is."

Hm? That's your reaction? Well, I mean, I guess you and Grim weren't really as good friends as him and I were for example, but even then you could at least not chalk it up so quickly. He must really not care about him.

"Wasn't he your best man?" Cecily faintly recalled.

"Eh, best man?" I tilted my head at her.

"Right, you know the Famed Inventor, Sol Pandora?" Adam chuckled, "Hehe, apparently that was just Lune's pseudonym. Can you believe it? That asshole had a second wife too, and to think because I didn't know it at the time, I served as their best man!"

"Yeah, I've heard it from him. Most of it, actually, but I didn't know you two were that close." I raised my eyebrows in astonishment, "Which begs the question - Why don't you seem to care at all that he's gone?"

"I see you're taking my position lightly." Adam explained, "A true King must be efficient in every possible scenario, this includes mourning. Surely, I'm not the first person you had to tell this to, so I'm just sparing you the trouble of having to cry with me. And really, why should I weep when I could be helping you get revenge on the people that did this?"

That's... actually a really valid point. Certainly, we've had to tell a lot of people that Grim has passed, and each time we would barely get anything done because of all the mourning. Adam really lives up to the fame of his family. The Gryses are world-renowned for always being quick to help out as many people as they can extend their hands to, after all. Elaine, she seems pretty indifferent about Grim, but it was obvious from her reaction just now that she knew all too well how much Grim meant to her husband. It's actually kind of incredible, to have so many people care for you, but I'd still prefer it if Grim lived instead.

"Now, I will have to disappoint you, but I can't just send you the entire army, nor can I personally come along with you, as it'd leave my country in an unprotected state." Adam sighed.

"Oh, no worries, we weren't expecting you to do so either!" I waved my hands about to show him it's fine, "Even a small fraction of your soldiers or just some war supplies will come a long way!"

"Is that so, Milward?" He once again got my name wrong, "Well in that case, I'll be sure to send some over. What do you say, how does 50,000 men sound?"

"It’s Edward, but..." It suddenly donned on me what exactly he offered, "F-Fifty thousand!? That's a small fraction for you!?"

"Yes?" He tilted his head innocently, "Is that not enough?"

"It's perfect! More than enough, actually!" I hastily shook his hand, "Cardina is truly a formidable land, but thank you for helping us!"

"Seriously, I'm sure Lune is smiling down at the situation even as we speak." Cecily gently smiled as she looked up, "A-Ah, forget what I said!"

"No, you're good. He was always fond of the stars, so I'm sure being among them is definitely just another thing checked off the bucket list." Adam returned the smile in kind.

"Bucket list, eh?" I suddenly recalled all the promises we made to each other that we wanted to fulfill during our journey, "I guess I should look into finishing it off for him. Heh, it's the least I can do."

After our talks concluded successfully, Cecily and I wanted to move onto more fun topics, but Adam wasn't at all having it, so he promptly kicked us out of the Estate. Oh right, it's his anniversary after all, he didn't want it to go to waste.

"You've still got that house to your name nearby, right Cecily?" He shooed us away from his front door, "Just sleep there for the night before returning to Entropa in the morning. I'll send you the troops as soon as I can, but right now I've got some unfinished business in bed!"

"Really, that guy knows no shame..." Cecily blushed, "At least Lune tried his best to hide it from the public when we did that stuff..."

"I didn't need that image in my head." I replied, embarrassing her even more for letting such a thought slip by.

"C-Come on now, Ed! We're all adults here, right? Y-You and Anna have done it countless times before, surely! Ha-ha-ha..."

"Cecily, just what are you saying while we're out in the middle of the street?" I teased her a bit more, "You shame Adam, but aren't you doing the same thing he is right now? Flaunting your sex life so openly like that?"

"Gahhh! Just shut up already! Zip it, we don't speak a word more of this!" She cried out, "Argh, I so wanna die now!"

Finally making it to her and Grim's house, she took her keys out and unlocked the doors, revealing a barren empty interior devoid of any and all memories. Inquiring about it, she sighed as she explained they took all their things to Lichtenstelle, which is kind of a shame in its own way, but still far from unreasonable. Burglaries are far too often in this world to be taken lightly, especially for them, who had no idea how long they'd be gone for. The beds were still there though, and most of the furniture too, so I slept on the couch while Cecily slept on her and Grim's shared bed. She insisted I take their bed while she sleeps in Nelly's, but after what she said on our way to here, I really don't feel comfortable at all resting there.