5.25.

“Good bye, please take care,” Risa waved.

“I pray for your safe journey,” Leticia bowed.

“Take care all,” Evelyn also bowed.

“Thank you for your kind words.”

“I shall see you again when you visit the capital. Grow well.”

“See you,” Rudeus waved timidly.

“Take care of my sister alright Sequencee?” Wilson said.

“I will.”

“No making her cry, otherwise you know what will happen okay?” Quilin snorted.

“R-Right..”

There was no way anyone could promise such an absurd thing. Crying is part of being in a relationship.

Accompanied by the serene mood of the evening skies, boding their farewells, the royal carriages left the villa. Passing out through in distance with the cheers of the crowd, a sense of loss washed over them.

“What was.. that about..” Leticia turned to Sequencee and stared at him sharply.

“It’s as he said,” Sequencee looked away.

“Sorry Sequencee, I didn’t mean to have them go for it, it’s just that I..” Evelyn paused, not knowing how to even put her feelings into words. She knew everything she would say from this point onwards were just excuses to protect herself from the truth.

“Should I say it?” Risa questioned.

“Say it,” Leticia insisted.

“Sequencee is now my fiance,” Evelyn spoke before Risa.

“..What?”

“Schwii is also his fiance. Has things come clear now?”

“Schwii told me that she doesn't want Sequencee to have another fiance?” Leticia was perplexed.

“Things happened,” Sequencee sighed.

“Tell me,” Leticia boldly stepped in front of Sequencee. “What happened?”

Ever since the incident with her brother, Sequencee felt like Leticia had become more brazen. It was as if she had become awakened to her true nature.

And so, Sequencee told her what she needed to know about the complicated politics behind the decision.

It was also here that Leticia learnt that Sequencee wasn’t just a demon, but a demon lord.

“So your father killed your mother.. that cunt..”

“Watch your mouth Leticia.”

“A-Ah.. sorry,” Leticia clenched her hands into a fist.

“This news, does Schwii know about it?” Evelyn asked, concerned.

“She already predicted it..”

“Then we should let her know about it as soon as possible…”

“I’ll talk to her alone later tonight. I’ll see what I can do about it.”

“How about.. we do it together..”

“No. Please, just..”

“Alright,” Evelyn lowered her head.

Sequencee wasn’t sure how Schwii would react. Judging from her reaction this morning, it would be a big psychological hurdle even for someone as wise as herself.

“Oh right, do you still want to hold the party later tonight? My brother just came back,” Risa asked Leticia.

“It’s alright, don’t trouble them.”

“Okay then–”

“In that case, take care of yourself Sequencee. And.. see you tomorrow,” Evelyn said painfully.

“Right. Take care, good night.”

“Un.”

Watching Sequencee leave, a bitter pain spread through Evelyn’s heart. The colour of gold and pink had certainly become brighter. But to her, it felt fake somehow.

“Your Highness Evelyn,” Leticia called out.

“Yes?”

“I don’t mind listening to the concerns you have.”

“.. Uh-huh?”

Leticia’s smile looked a little dark.

===

“You know, you should’ve introduced me to your harem just now Sequencee.”

“Yeah well, no.”

“That green haired girl Leticia was it? She’s really pretty. I like her eyes.”

Reese nibbled on some takoyaki as she and Sequencee made their way down the streets. Even though their aim was to return home, Reese dragged Sequencee to various other places to have a light snack. From this, Reese assessed that Sequencee was subconsciously avoiding Schwii.

“You know, I’m full. Let’s go back home.”

“We’re at different dorms.”

“Did you just realize that?”

“No.”

“Let’s go talk to Schwii.”

“Right.”

Not to mention how they were casually strolling around wasting time, the fact that there were many students who recognized them couldn’t help but want to shake their hands every so often.

“Ah? Sequencee!”

“Sequencee! It’s been a month!”

An unexpected encounter.

“Ro, Lilian?”

“How have you been?”

“Nice to meet you,” Reese bowed.

Ro and Lilian were found loitering around the campus grounds for treats they could eat. Ro was dragging three or four big luggages behind him while Lilian held a good few paper bags of food in her arms. Sequencee was sure they only brought one luggage each, so how did it increase?

“Nice to meet you–”

“I’m Lilian, he’s Ro. You are?”

“I’m Reese. Reese Rine.”

Ro gasped, “The champion?”

“Yup, that’s me.”

“No way, Sequencee you..”

“What..?” things were getting a little annoying, Sequencee thought.

“Nothing. Anyways, why are you two out here?”

“Celebrating.”

“Ah right! Congratulations on winning the first prize too Sequencee, I almost forgot to say that,” Lilian went ‘geh’.

“Me too, congrats Sequencee,” Ro followed up.

“No, it’s fine.”

“Ro, do you think this is enough for tonight?”

“Hmr.. good enough. If not then we’ll ask Iona for something.”

“Good idea. Are you two going back?”

“I’m just going to accompany him back with you. I live elsewhere.”

“I see. Then let’s go together.”

And so the unusual party of four headed back to the apartment complex. Sequencee’s tried to use the illusionary haze to obscure their faces somewhat while paying attention not to blur their own senses.

“Did you get a new gift Sequencee?” Ro asked.

“It’s not new, I just upgraded my gift.”

“So you killed someone in the time we weren’t here..” Lilian drawled.

“Yeah.”

““...””

They headed up the elevator and found the door to their apartment. Scanning the key card, they barged into the living room.

“We’re back Schwii!” Lilian exclaimed.

“Huh, she’s not here,” Ro placed the luggages to one side.

Sequencee couldn’t sense any presences around with his spatial magic either. He walked to Schwii’s room and noticed how the ‘NO ENTRY’ sign on her door had disappeared entirely, the room door left half open.

A bad feeling crawled down his spine. He entered and found the place wiped clean.

The papers on on Schwii’s desk, the plushies she used to play with on her bed, the photo frame of herself and Sequencee she used to keep, the stone sigil on the side of the bed which canceled sound, the small bottle of aphrodisiac she had lying around openly on her shelf, the clothes and dresses she had in her wardrobe–

‘What.. is this..’

Everything was gone.

“Why.. the hell did you..”

Tears welled up in his eyes as he tried his best to understand why it was that Schwii chose this path.

“Why the hell.. Schwii..”

He grabbed the necklace in hand.

“Schwii… why?” he croaked.

But there was no response.

Tears choked his words, his mind trying to deny the possibility–why would she go back? She would have to suffer the agony of dealing with those damned psychopaths, having to put on a fake smile for the rest of her waking days..

“She probably couldn't stand around after knowing that the demons were out for blood...” Reese muttered.

Sequencee and pushed past Reese.

“Master?”

“Hey, what’s going on?”

“Lilian, don’t..”

“Master, stop it!”

“Shut up!”

Sequencee grabbed the door handle, about to pull it open when a black mass restrained him from behind and pulled him to the ground.

“Calm down! Tell me what’s wrong?!” Reese cushioned his fall, restraining him from behind.

“Do you want me to kill you?”

Bloodlust permeated into the surroundings. Ro and Lilian trembled.

“Listen to me master! Schwii did it for your sake! Even if you tell her to stop now, it’s too late!”

“The hell does it matter?”

Sequencee threw Reese off him. She knocked onto the nearby table and fell onto the ground.

Sequencee went for the door handle again but this time, grasping the cold hard metal, he collapsed on his knees.

Reese rubbed her sore spots, “Ouch.”

Lilian and Ro recoiled in confusion.

Heaving a deep sigh, Reese got down in front of the trembling Sequencee.

“Look here,” Reese pouted.

Sequencee said nothing, gaze casted downwards.

“She’s going to be fine.”

“Why do you know that..”

“That’s because you’re going to be living in the same room.”

“...Excuse me?” Sequence raised his head and looked at Reese.

“What? She moved into your room.”

“...”

‘She.. what? She didn’t leave?’

“Did I say something wrong?”

“Where.. where is Schwii now?”

“Blowing up a portal.”

Sequencee’s expression cracked.

Ro and Lilian watched their exchange with mixed feelings. Lilian especially, as she had bought souvenirs for both Sequencee and Schwii. Then suddenly hearing that Sequencee was now engaged to the princess.. maybe she should’ve gotten a pair of three, or four. Was Leticia now part of his family? How about this new girl Reese? She had never met her before.

Reese patted Sequencee on the head.

“Hold on a moment, I’ll be back shortly.”

Reese disappeared into shadow, Ro and Lilian stiffened at the sight. While they were aware that she was the champion of this year’s tournament, they were not familiar with her enough to not consider her a stranger.

There was a strange sound coming from Sequencee’s room, both of them turned to the source with the readiness to run.

Reese opened the door from the inside.

“Done,” she looked at the pitiful duo. “No need to be so tense, jeez.”

Lilian simply nodded.

Ro shifted his gaze between the black haired beauty and the sulking Sequencee on the floor.

‘He’s making more progress than Dylan,’ was Ro’s thoughts.

“Master, I’ve cleared up some of the items Schwii put inside, it should be more presentable now.”

“...Right,” Sequence staggered on his feet, grabbing his pendant, he spoke into it once more, “Schwii, why aren’t you talking?”

No response.

Sequence looked inside his room, Schwii’s personal items now integrated with his.

“...”

Things are not always as they seem; assumptions should be questioned. Sequencee become increasingly perplexed.

Meanwhile, Reese dug into her paper bag to grab a small piece of fried gyoza with a stick. She beckoned Ro and Lilian to sit and eat.

“I’m sure you have a lot of questions, so I’ll begin by introducing myself. I am Reese Rine, the Viscount’s daughter from Rine territory” Reese cleared her throat, “As master’s servant, it’s a pleasure to make an acquaintance with you two.”

Ro and Lilian looked at each other.

“Reese, tell me again where’s Schwii is right now?” Seqeuncee asked, interrupting.