The carriage rolled steadily along the road back to Velmora.
Seraphina leaned out of the carriage window.
"HEY, DUMBASS!"
"GET ON THE CARRIAGE!"
Levi looked over without stopping.
"You sure about that?"
"I can walk just fine."
He casually picked at his ear.
Seraphina pouted.
"It saves your stamina!"
"...Or something!"
"I don't know!"
"JUST GET ON!"
Levi let out a yawn.
"...I'd rather not."
Seraphina clenched her fists.
"...Levi."
"What?"
"Get."
"On."
"The."
"Carriage."
Levi sighed dramatically.
"...Fine."
"But only because you're starting to sound like my Captain."
He climbed inside.
Seraphina quickly looked away.
"..."
"..."
The ride became strangely quiet.
Levi glanced at her.
'Why's her face so red...?'
'Is she sick?'
Seraphina refused to meet his eyes.
'O-Okay...'
'Calm down.'
'You're only sitting beside him.'
'It's not like this is a date...'
Levi scratched his cheek.
"...So."
"What brings you to the capital?"
Seraphina finally answered.
"I have to deliver a letter."
"Father asked me to personally hand it to His Majesty."
Levi nodded.
"...Alright."
"I don't really care."
He leaned against the window.
Within moments...
He had already stopped paying attention.
Seraphina blinked.
'...He really doesn't care.'
-
A memory surfaced in her mind.
-
Earlier that morning...
Duke Alaric placed a sealed letter on his desk.
"Seraphina."
She rubbed her sleepy eyes.
"...Hm?"
"Deliver this to His Majesty."
She groaned.
"...Why me?"
Alaric smiled knowingly.
"Don't pretend."
"You've been looking for an excuse to visit the capital."
Seraphina looked away.
"I-I have not."
"Oh?"
"So you don't want to see Levi?"
Her face instantly turned bright red.
"I-I..."
"T-That's not..."
Alaric chuckled.
"You really think your own father wouldn't notice?"
"..."
"...How did you know?"
"I'd have to be blind not to."
He stood and handed her the letter.
"Now."
"Go deliver this."
"And while you're there..."
He smirked.
"...Make a move."
Seraphina nearly dropped the letter.
"F-FATHER!"
"I'm serious."
"If you keep waiting..."
"Someone else might."
Seraphina buried her face in her hands.
"...Yeah..."
"...Yeah..."
"I'll go already."
-
The memory faded.
Seraphina immediately shook her head.
'Stop thinking about that.'
'Just deliver the letter.'
'That's all.'
-
The carriage soon arrived at the Royal Palace.
Seraphina made her way toward the throne room alone.
She gently pushed the large doors open.
"...Your Majesty?"
Silence.
She looked around.
"...Is nobody here?"
The candles lining the chamber suddenly ignited one after another.
A familiar voice echoed across the hall.
"Looking for me?"
King Maverick stepped out from behind the throne.
Seraphina immediately knelt.
"Your Majesty."
"I've come to deliver a letter from my father."
Maverick smiled.
"Ah."
"Alaric finally sent it."
"Come."
She approached and carefully handed him the sealed envelope.
"There."
"My duty is complete."
She bowed once more.
"I'll take my leave."
The King waved a hand.
"Very well."
"You may go."
As Seraphina walked away...
Maverick broke the royal seal.
He unfolded the letter.
"...Hm?"
His eyebrows slowly rose.
"...Alaric..."
"What exactly are you planning?"
-
Outside the throne room...
Seraphina wandered through the palace corridors.
'The letter's delivered...'
'Now what?'
She stopped walking.
Then...
Her father's words echoed in her head.
"Make a move."
Her face immediately turned crimson.
"...N-No."
"...Maybe..."
"...Could I ask him to..."
"...Go somewhere together?"
Her heartbeat quickened.
"...W-Would that count as..."
"...A date?"
She quickly shook her head.
"N-No!"
"It's just..."
"...Spending time together."
"...That's all."
-
Meanwhile...
Levi sneezed.
"...Huh."
He rubbed his nose.
"...Is somebody talking about me?"
He shrugged.
"...Whatever."
"I'm taking a nap."
He closed his eyes.
Darkness swallowed his vision.
-
Levi slowly opened his eyes.
An endless void stretched before him.
He let out a tired sigh.
"...Again?"
"...Is this Pyrathera?"
He yawned.
"...I'm honestly starting to get used to this."