Razel woke up with an annoying itch on his arm. He scratched hard and looked at the reddened skin.
"An ant… what a nuisance."
There was nothing serious. Just an irritating bite. He was putting on his shirt when he heard a soft knock on the door.
Sharon entered without waiting for a reply, as always.
"Her Majesty requests that you change and come down to the hall."
Razel looked at her with distrust.
"What is she doing here?"
"Just come down."
He obeyed. Minutes later he descended the stairs and found the main hall completely empty… except for a figure covered by a dark hood standing by the window. The figure turned and lowered the hood.
It was Queen Rosemary.
She was wearing a simple cream-colored dress, without the usual jewels or crown. Her hair fell loose over her shoulders and, for the first time since Razel had known her, she looked… vulnerable.
"Congratulations on winning the first event," she said with a soft smile.
"Thank you…" he answered, still confused. "What are you doing here? I never expected to see you in this city."
The queen took a step toward him.
"I came to fulfill your wish. Today we will have our date."
Razel blinked.
"Why now?"
Rosemary sighed and looked out the window for a moment before answering.
"I have been so stressed by the information leak and all the palace affairs that… I fainted two days ago. The doctor ordered me to rest. I decided to take advantage of it. I want to relax… and fulfill what I asked of you that night."
"That sounds strange," Razel admitted. "And the work?"
"It's only one day. That useless king will take care of it. Or at least I hope so."
"How did you get here so fast?"
"By balloon. It's faster than people think. I arrived last night. Today I am… more relaxed than I have been in months."
Razel crossed his arms, still annoyed.
"Then I don't understand the purpose of that whole absurd race."
"The purpose is entertainment," she answered calmly. "The festival represents the stability of the country. I cannot allow anything negative to happen during these days. It would sow panic."
He observed her in silence for several seconds. Finally he let out a breath.
"I accept the date. But it still seems suspicious to me."
The queen smiled for real this time, a small and almost shy smile.
"I'm going to change. Sharon…"
Sharon, who had remained silent by the door, bowed her head.
"Are you sure this is a good idea, Your Majesty? As Razel-sama says…"
"It's now or never," Rosemary answered in a low voice.
◇◇◇
The date began in a strange way.
They walked through the city streets without a clear destination. Rosemary looked at everything with genuine curiosity: the food stalls, the children running, the festival flags waving. Razel walked beside her in silence, hands in his pockets, feeling more like a bodyguard than a companion.
Before they realized it, midday arrived. They entered a simple tavern and ordered something light.
While they ate, Razel couldn't stop watching her. Rosemary noticed his gaze and set down her fork.
"What's wrong?"
"This is the first time I've felt a date so… uncomfortable," he admitted. "It feels more like we're exploring the city for work."
She let out a soft laugh.
"You're exaggerating. I was curious to get to know this place."
"Really?"
"You're too on edge," she answered, though her voice didn't sound offended.
Razel rested his elbows on the table.
"It's true. All the dates I've had… the girls were having fun. You seem to be working even now."
The queen lowered her gaze to her plate for a second.
"I am having fun. Really. That's why, when we finish eating, we'll go somewhere I can prove it to you."
After lunch she took him to a noisy bar where an improvised dart-throwing tournament was being held. Several participants were already competing. Rosemary approached the counter, carefully observed how the others threw, analyzed their postures, the angle of the wrist, the strength… and then took three darts.
She hit all three in the center.
People applauded. She visibly got excited, a wide smile lighting up her face. She turned toward Razel, who was still sitting in a corner with his arms crossed.
"What's wrong with you? Aren't you going to participate?"
"I noticed that you analyzed everyone's hand before throwing," he answered calmly. "To know what kind of movement to use. You're still in work mode."
Rosemary's smile faded a little.
"If you want to work or be with me, say so clearly," Razel continued. "Because it really looks like you came here to fulfill one more obligation."
There was a tense silence. Then the queen ordered a beer. She drank it in one go, set the empty glass on the table, and suddenly cursed in a low voice.
"Shit…"
The few people nearby turned in surprise. A queen did not speak like that.
Rosemary ran both hands over her face.
"I try. I try to be normal. But I can't. Since I was a child… my mother forced me to behave correctly. Always think about the next move. Always calculate. Always be perfect."
Razel looked at her seriously.
"I consider that normal for someone in your position. What's abnormal is that you see the world only that way. You're going to die working. I've seen employees who gave their lives to a company and ended up destroyed. I hate that way of living. Being a slave to work. Work exists to earn your bread… not to become your entire existence."
The queen raised her head. Her eyes, normally firm, now looked tired and a little lost.
"Then… how am I supposed to relax?"
Razel shrugged.
"Let's do things you've always wanted to do. Things you never could."
Rosemary observed him for a long second. Then she nodded slowly.
"Come with me."
◇◇◇
They left the bar and walked to a small stream on the outskirts of the city. There, Rosemary picked up a flat stone and threw it against the water. It bounced once and sank.
"My brother always took me to do this when we were children," she said in a low voice. "I was afraid our mother would discover us."
Razel picked up another stone and threw it. It didn't go well for him either. They both kept trying in silence, failing most of the time. At one point, Rosemary realized he was looking at her with a small, genuine smile.
"What?"
"Nothing. Just… this is a silly game. But it represents something you never could do, right?"
She lowered her gaze to the stone in her hand.
"Yes."
"Then it's fine."
After that the afternoon turned into a succession of almost childish activities. They popped balloons with pastry darts at a festival stall. They ate ice cream until their heads hurt. Rosemary insisted on trying every available flavor. They laughed when a scoop of cream fell on Razel's shirt. She herself cleaned it with a handkerchief, her fingers brushing his chest a second longer than necessary.
Now they were sitting on a bench facing the river, watching the sun begin to set. Rosemary had a crossword puzzle open on her knees and was solving it with concentration.
"Is that also something you couldn't do as a child?" Razel asked.
She shook her head without stopping writing.
"No. I do this as an adult. Whenever I found one in the newspapers… I never had time because of work. And there were misspelled words that bothered me. That's why I complete them now."
Suddenly she stopped, as if she had just heard her own words.
"It sounds silly, doesn't it?"
"No," he answered softly. "Because you want to do it. That's enough."
There was a comfortable silence. The wind gently moved the queen's hair. After a while, she spoke without looking at him.
"What do you think of my daughters?"
Razel thought for a few seconds.
"They are wonderful girls. They confessed to me. I have to accept them… just like Iris and the others."
Rosemary turned her face toward him.
"Does that seem fine to you?"
"My dream has always been to have a harem," he admitted with a half-smile. "Because in the stories, the great knight always ended up surrounded by women who loved him. It sounds banal, I know."
The queen let out a genuine laugh, clear and free.
"It's so banal…" then her expression softened. "But we're in a life-or-death situation almost every day. If that's your dream… then you deserve a harem."
The moment was broken by the sound of heavy footsteps.
A strange-looking man appeared among the trees. He had reddish hair and a twisted smile.
"Time to end your date."
He introduced himself as Arlen, capable of manipulating fire. Before Razel could react, a wall of flames blocked the nearest escape route.
"Get to safety!" Razel shouted.
But it was already too late. The flames closed in around them. He grabbed the queen by the waist and ran between the buildings, pursued by Arlen and another man who had appeared behind. He launched a Lightning Spear to open a path. Arlen deflected it with a gesture and sent several fireballs that moved on their own, chasing them.
Razel dodged as best he could, but fighting while carrying someone was almost impossible.
"Leave me!" Rosemary said against his ear. "That way you can fight."
"No. If I leave you, they'll take you as a hostage or hurt you. That guy is clearly after me. I won't allow it. Even if I have to fight without arms, I'll face them."
The queen stared at him. In her eyes there was astonishment… and something warmer.
"Then… go to an open place. I'll guide you."
She led him through alleys until they reached an open plaza. The moment they arrived, several torches lit up at once. In the center of the plaza, waiting for them with his hands clasped behind his back, stood Figaro Noah Fredman.
"Hide," Razel ordered.
"That won't be necessary," Figaro answered with a cold smile. "I hired them."
Razel clenched his jaw and prepared to flee again, but Rosemary stopped him with a hand on his arm.
"I am your queen," she said in a firm voice, looking at Figaro.
"That no longer matters. You left the palace to meet your lover because you know your pathetic plan to destroy the Phantom Troop has leaked… like everything else."
"How do you know that?"
Figaro laughed.
"Because I leaked it. We have contacts inside the palace. Some manipulate the king so he signs for new servants. You're supposed to be an intelligent woman… and yet you fell for such an obvious trap."
Rosemary slightly lowered her head. When she spoke again, her voice was calm.
"It's true. It was an obvious trap. And precisely because it was so obvious… it was the real trap that you didn't see."
Several more lights came on. Knights surrounded the plaza. Zack and Gilbert appeared from two different directions, weapons in hand.
The queen took a deep breath.
"I thank you for your confession."
Razel looked at her, confused.
"What's going on?"
Rosemary turned toward him. In her expression there was weariness, but also a serene determination.
"This was always the plan. I knew that waiting for the Phantom Troop to fall into a trap on their own was idiotic. They aren't idiots. There were spies inside the palace. That's why we leaked false information… and the real one only I knew. To catch the fish, sometimes you have to follow its tail. Leonora gathered evidence on the suspicious people. They already had a bad image. Now it's even more obvious. We made them believe our plan was stupid so they would lower their guard. With the leaked information and my apparent weakness… it was a piece of cake. They're so egocentric they can't see beyond their own noses."
Razel felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
"You used me as bait."
"I'm sorry," she said with sincerity. "It was necessary. If I acted believing that was the plan, the others would believe it too."
"You deceive your friends to deceive your enemies," he muttered. "It's despicable… but I expected it from you."
Rosemary took a step forward and hugged him. It was not a political or calculated hug. It was real. Her forehead rested against his chest, her arms wrapping around his back with contained strength.
"It wasn't a lie… after the first beer. I truly longed to do something outside my role. Thank you."
She lifted her face. Her eyes shone with an emotion Razel had never seen in her before.
"Next time… we'll have a genuine date."
He looked at her for a few seconds and then nodded, almost without meaning to.
"Alright. Your genuine smile… is worth it."
Figaro tried to protest, but the queen interrupted him with a cold voice.
"We have your statements recorded in sound orbs. Wait with the other traitors for your execution."
Arlen didn't wait even a second more.
With a sudden movement of both arms, a wave of fire erupted from the ground and shot directly at Figaro and the knights surrounding them, opening a gap in the circle. The heat was so intense that several soldiers stepped back on reflex. Arlen spun on his heels and ran toward the dark streets, closely followed by the other Phantom Troop man.
Razel reacted instantly. He raised his hand and a compact, violent Impact exploded in front of him, dispersing the flames that were still approaching. The air shook with force.
"He's fleeing!" he shouted.
Queen Rosemary did not look away from him. Her voice, when she spoke, was firm and clear, without any trace of the earlier weariness:
"Catch him. It is the duty of my knight… the one who will have a queen in his harem. Because there is no man braver or more reliable than you."
Razel held her gaze for a second. Then he nodded.
And he ran.
The city streets were almost empty at that hour. Only the echo of Arlen's boots and the occasional crackling of flames he left behind. Razel caught sight of him after two corners. The fire man was not running in a straight line: every few stretches he turned and launched fireballs that moved on their own, as if they had a will of their own, forcing Razel to change direction again and again.
"Stop hiding behind your flames!" Razel shouted.
Arlen answered without stopping:
"I don't need to hide from you!"
Razel didn't reply with words. He raised his arm and launched a Lightning Spear. The bolt cut through the air in a straight line, illuminating the entire alley for an instant. Arlen twisted his torso and deflected the attack with an improvised wall of fire; the spear crashed into the flames and dispersed into sparks.
Then someone unexpected arrived. It was Zurk, who had come seeking revenge.
The other member of the Phantom Troop tried to flank Razel from the left using a sand attack. Razel saw him out of the corner of his eye, turned his body without slowing down, and delivered a straight punch to the stomach. The blow was dry and precise, and the man was sent flying against the wall of a building, coughing.
Arlen took advantage of that second to stop and raise both hands. Several spheres of fire formed around him and launched at the same time, each following a different trajectory.
Razel didn't stop. He ran straight toward him while dodging. One of the balls grazed his left shoulder and burned the fabric of his shirt. Another passed so close to his head that he felt the heat cut his hair. He still didn't counterattack. He needed close range.
When he was less than four meters away, he planted his right foot hard and spun his entire body, throwing a straight punch at Arlen's chest. The fire mage crossed his arms to block, but the impact forced him back several steps, leaving black marks on the sleeve of his clothes.
"You bastard…!" Arlen spat.
He responded with a whip of fire that shot from his right hand like a living lash. Razel leaned his torso backward; the flame passed so close it scorched the chest of his shirt. Without stopping, Razel spun on himself and launched another Lightning Spear, this time aiming at the enemy's feet. Arlen jumped, but the discharge grazed his ankle and made him land awkwardly.
Razel gave him no time to recover. He advanced two steps and threw a right hook that landed squarely on Arlen's rib. The air left the mage's chest with a choked sound. Even so, Arlen did not fall. He extended his left hand and a wave of fire shot out at point-blank range.
Razel crossed both arms in front of his chest and took the impact. The fabric of his clothes scorched. The heat burned his skin, but he did not step back. He pushed forward through the flames and drove his knee into Arlen's stomach.
The mage doubled over. Before he could straighten up, Razel already had his open hand centimeters from his chest.
"Impact."
The shockwave came out compact and brutal. Arlen was sent flying backward, crashing into the stone wall of a building. The red mask split in two. The man remained unconscious, slumped on the ground.
Zurk, the second member of the Phantom Troop who had been trying to flank him throughout the fight, stopped dead when he saw Arlen fall. He turned around and tried to flee. Razel did not allow it. He closed the few meters that separated them, without ever straying too far from the combat zone, and delivered a lateral Impact that slammed him into some barrels. The man did not get up again.
The silence that followed was almost deafening after the noise of the flames and the shouts.
Razel was breathing hard. He wiped the back of his hand across his mouth and looked at the two unconscious bodies on the ground.
From the nearby plaza the footsteps of the knights coming to secure the area could be heard.
The night, at last, had ended.
___________________
The fanservice is for her, obviously.
https://danbooru.donmai.us/posts/11912913