"Hah... to think Aria would do such a thing. Didn't you try to stop her, father?" I ask, stretching my leaden legs.

"She expected that I would. She purposefully asked Leanne to distract me with official business. I'm not sure how she convinced Leanne to help." Dad sighs.

I blink, and rub my forehead. That baka little sister of mine actually came up with, and executed a cunning plan. She even got two of the senior court mages, Darence and Flementine, to help her with the initial surgelocking.

I can't help but be mildly impressed.

She's still an idiot though, and it shows. It’s fairly clear she didn't realise she had to have a very clear intent when summoning.

So, she ended up dragging a random otherworldly civilian into our mess.

I suppose the real miracle is that this man not only chose to stay, but has apparently had some success. Although, even with his interesting power, the fact he is still starting from zero is a serious disadvantage. It’s kind of the point of summoning to instantly gain an asset you can immediately utilise to swing a battle in your favour. So just getting a slab of fresh meat seems of dubious merit.

Even so, I guess he does have a minor leg up purely by being empowered by the summoning process. It's a thin slice of hope, but I guess at this point, we must take whatever we are given.

"Hahhh..." my father sighs.

"What is it?" I ask.

"Heh... its relief. You are truly the same as always, Melody. You've descend into your own head just like that ever since you were half Aria's age."

I smile wryly.

Dad rubs his eyes. He surely looks way more tired and wrinkled and... old... compared to even what I remember.

Apparently, I had been gone nearly six months. So that means the war has been going on for a year now. The front-lines have been pushed back as far as Havan Bluff, Fejica Fortress is sacked. The demons are on our doorstep, and the hope from the early months, when Cadence's brilliant planning was keeping everything together, is gone.

It was already looking grim when I tried my summon. But now... I can only feel remorse that I left Aria and Dad in that situation due to my hubris.

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I hug dad.

"I'm so sorry, father. I failed again." I say.

And we cry together for a while. Something royals cannot be seen to do. But we need it all the same.

...

...

...

I practice with the two cups again. My hands feel like they've been mummified, they're so slow.

I can feel my ribs through my tunic. I got so thin whilst I was asleep. My damn boobs are still the same though. Ugh.

I fail and the cups fall over, splashing me with water once more.

"Your majesty, perhaps you should stop there. You are still recovering."

I growl. Kako is right, though, I'm already feeling the spiritual fatigue.

"Do not be disheartened, you have been awake barely over a day. The fact you can already walk is..."

I smash the cups aside in fury.

"It's not enough, Kako! I put my little sister in danger! What a useless whore I became, making her little shoulders bear such a burden!" I shout.

Kako watches the water run down the wall and sighs.

"We are now both in such a boat, your majesty."

"What?" I ask.

"It appears your little sister and mine became friends at some point. They are both with this summoned man."

Kako had a sister? I didn't know... wait... of course... she is... her father is a famous mercenary. That... that little girl with green pig-tails that congratulated Kako with stars in her eyes when she became my Knight-Protector? Aria became her friend? When did I miss that...? I thought she only ever hung around with Duke Mullights daughter? Huh...

"Your sister..." I chew my lip. "She wanted to be like you?"

Kako raises her eyebrows and smiles wistfully.

"Perhaps once. But... now I'm not so sure?"

"Why do you say that?" I ask.

"It seems the silly girl had a crush on the summoned man." Kako sighs and has a haunted look to her eyes.

"And that's bad? All girls have silly crushes. It makes them stronger in the end."

"I... do they!?" Her brows scrunch.

I burst out in laughter. Kako's such a swordbrain that I bet men are a strange alien concept to her. But that's what I like about her, and why I approved of her becoming my knight in the end... the sword skills are just a formality. Someone you can trust to be a friend and a confidant... as a princess that is far more valuable.

Kako glares at me.

"Hee-hee... so you're saying a man took your little sister away!"

Her mouth opens wide and she gawks at my taunting.

"I guess..." she finally splutters.

"Ah, you're so painfully honest, Kako. I'm sorry to taunt you."

"Its fine. I make no secret of the fact that I only know the sword. Although... to be honest... even though I'm not very insightful in this kind of thing, I get the feeling that it wasn't just my little sister that was interested in this man."

That makes me stop. What?

"Surely you don't mean?!"

Kako nods.

She's probably safe though. She's cute but... She's... wait a minute...

"How old is your sister, Kako?" I query, my eye twitching.

"Ah, yes, there was a fair gap between us. She's thirteen, Melody."

Godsdammit.

Ugh! If this guy puts his hands on Aria... I'll murder him! I'll hang him up on icicle spikes!

I must get stronger and help her out as soon as possible!

"Oh!? You did it, your majesty!" Kako exclaims.

Huh?

I look down.

Swirling round my shaking fist is floating water, steaming from heat, perhaps detecting my fury.

Heh... my water spirit woke up after all. Maybe I can get better quicker than I first thought?

Let’s hope that is truly the case.