They had come up with...a truly crazy plan, and Siegfried was the main key to it. But would it work?
(A few hours later)
Celia: "(Zzzzz)...(Zzzz)..."
Siegfried: "Hm...(Zzz)...hmm?...(...I'm sorry...)..."
He slowly stood up, walked to the window, and nodded.
Sophie: "Looks like it worked."
The Joker: "That boy is really not bad."
Fiona: "But in the end...they only talked."
Sophie: "Were you expecting to see more?"
Fiona: "No."
The Joker: "Oh...I was. Hehehe...I'm disappointed."
Sophie: "Looks like someone here is into that."
(Meanwhile)
Marcus: "Hmm, where are they?"
Rosika: "Oh...they have a plan."
Marcus: "A...plan. I see. Then I'll wait for them. How is Lina?"
Rosika: "Violet is with her."
(Meanwhile)
Celia: "(Yawns)...Sorry...I must have gotten sleepy."
Siegfried: "That's alright."
Celia: "Hmm."
Siegfried: "For someone in the security service...you're actually...very different."
Celia: "Hahh...I always have to stay serious at work. It wears me out...Father never really saw me as a proper woman...probably because I served in the military. From the age of eighteen until twenty four, I fought against San Guimereas...I lost many people...and as you can see, I also lost my left arm."
Siegfried: "I'm sorry to hear that...but does it bother you that your father doesn't see you that way?"
Celia: "Yes...He forbids me from getting married...or having children. He says...he doesn't want me to concern myself with those things...but...I'm still a woman...Just like everyone else...I dream of having children and a family."
Siegfried: "Hmm...Have you talked to him about it?"
Celia: "Yes...Every time I do, he laughs and says...leave that to your other siblings."
Siegfried: "Oh, so you're not the oldest."
Celia: "No...I'm the middle child. My older brother Franco is supposed to succeed my father...but he is truly a fool...Either him...or my younger sister."
Siegfried: "And you?"
Celia: "Father refuses...He says I'm not capable."
She stood up.
Celia: "It's...humiliating...I gave my arm for this kingdom...My body is covered in wounds...hahh...and in the end I'm not worthy...while my sister, who until now only cared about clothes, is more worthy than me...and my older brother, who only spends time with women, is apparently more worthy too."
Siegfried: "I understand...So that's why you turned me down...I mean...relationship things."
Celia: "Yes...I'm sorry. I don't dare...First...I'm afraid Father will find out...Second...it's been a long time since I was in a relationship. My last one was when I was sixteen...back in high school...And third...I know you're hiding something, my dear."
Siegfried: "Hmm?"
Celia: "I don't know if it was your people or just you who came up with this...but...I'm not an idiot...I once commanded armies, my dear."
Siegfried: "Listen...I don't know what you're talking abo..."
(Woosh!)
Her sword was suddenly at his throat as she stood in front of him.
Celia: "Don't you dare lie to me...I know you're a good man...but I don't like being lied to...Just tell me...what do you want to know?"
Siegfried: "Alright...We've heard that the keys have disappeared."
Celia: "Yes...only one."
Siegfried: "Hmm...No...Almost all the remaining ones...Five of them are missing."
Celia: "Huh?!...(Did she lie to me?...That Zantanel)...Damn it..."
She threw her sword aside.
Celia: "Mierda...Mierda...Mierda..."
Siegfried: "Huh?"
Celia: "...Bring...bring your people here...I forgive you...but please bring them...And if you acted on your own...then...go get them."
Siegfried: "Sure."
(Radio!)
Fiona: "No need...We heard everything."
Celia: "What was that?...Were you spying on me?...Do you realize I could punish you for that?"
Fiona: "Of course...We planned it together with Joker."
Celia: "Joker? You're working with her?"
The door opened.
The Joker: "Morning, sunshine."
Celia: "Ugh."
The Joker: "I'm The Joker...Hehe...Did I interrupt your little flirting session?"
Fiona: "..."
They walked inside.
Celia: "What is this? Are you working for her now?"
Fiona: "No...It was necessary to find out who has the keys...That's why we made a deal."
The Joker: "Exactly...Just like the deal you made with Zantanel...Ahahh...Don't lie. I heard you say that one key was missing. You knew only one was gone...That means you made a deal with Zantanel."
Fiona: "Yep."
Celia: "Hahh...Alright...Alright...I'll tell you what's going on...But you have to find the keys."
(A few hours later)
The Joker: "I see...You want to kill your father?"
Fiona: "And become queen...Pretty bold."
Sophie: "Indeed."
Celia: "Mmmhhh..."
Sophie: "Why do you want wars?"
Fiona: "Hmm?"
Celia: "To create more peace."
Fiona: "That's the excuse politicians always use. Listen to me, my dear...Through wars...people lose their lives...and because of that, people lose the ones they love...And then...hatred is born, and it becomes an endless cycle where everyone keeps fighting each other...So no...Wars are not the answer. They only create more suffering...Wars are only necessary...when another nation attacks you. Even then, there are rules...Never drag innocent people into it."
Celia: "What do you take me for? I would never...drag innocent people into this...I...I was planning to tell Zantanel to eliminate only the leaders of San Guimereas and the Basken Kingdom."
Fiona: "Hmm...I see...And then you would unite them under Villicia?"
Celia: "Yes...That's what I fought for years ago...That's why I lost my arm!...That's why I lost my friends."
Fiona: "I understand you...I listened to how your father treats you...It's wrong...Wrong in a way that makes me understand why you want to kill him. He forced you to kill people...to sacrifice your body...to endure sleepless nights...to lose your friends and your arm...only to say you're not even worthy of the royal family...I understand your anger...That's why I want to help you."
Celia: "Hmm?"
Fiona: "Report the keys to your father."
The Joker: "Ahhhh...I get it, I get it...Let me guess...We both had the same idea. Hey...soldier."
Celia: "Ugh...You mean me?"
The Joker: "Yeah...Go to your father...and tell him about the keys...Then he'll order you to find them...and then..."
Celia: "Wait...Wait...You don't understand. The reason these keys are important isn't because of the poor vampires. We aren't afraid of them...We're afraid of what lies beneath them."
Sophie: "Huh?"
Celia looked...almost frightened.
Celia: "Beneath...the City of Vampires...there is a monster...A monster that should never...never...be released from its cage...Marta...Senara Ramirez...or as she is also known...Bruja de los Ojos...The Witch of Eyes...Under no circumstances...must she ever awaken...She is...one of the first Arcane Ones...and she...was the one who began the curses."
Sophie: "Ugh..."
Fiona: "Marta...?"
The Joker: "Hmm...I don't know what you mean."
Fiona: "Hmm...What about you, Sophie?"
Sophie: "No."
Celia: "You may know her by another name...Varney...or sometimes...Dracula."
Sophie: "Ugh!"
Fiona: "Ugh...What?...Dracula is a woman!!"
Celia: "Yes...Indeed!...Do you understand now...why we must never awaken her?...Never...under any circumstances..."
Fiona: "Ghh!"
Fiona suddenly became furious and grabbed Celia by her clothes.
Fiona: "And you showed Zantanel the paths to the keys...You foolish...idiot!"
Sophie: "Fiona."
The Joker: "Let her go...She's right. How could you be so stupid!?"
Fiona: "Ghhh..."
Celia: "I don't understand why..."
Fiona: "Zantanel isn't after the keys...or the vampires!...She's after Marta herself!"
Celia: "Ugh...I...I didn't know...I really didn't know."
Fiona: "Ghhh."
Fiona let go of her.
Fiona: "Hahh...hahhh..."
She placed her hand against her forehead.
Fiona: "...That must never happen...Never...Never...Joker!"
The Joker: "Whoa...That's scary."
Fiona: "You always wanted to see me bleed, didn't you?"
The Joker: "Oh, absolutely."
She grabbed The Joker by the shoulder.
Fiona: "I'll do it for you if necessary...but let's make a deal..."
The Joker: "Whoa...You've misunderstood something, Fiona. We were after Marta too...but...we wanted to kill her and sell her heart...However...we didn't know...that she was one of Death's siblings."
Fiona: "Good...Hahhh...I'll help you get her heart...Sell it if you want, I don't care...But under no circumstances can that thing awaken...It's a monster...Worse than Cinderella...Worse than any creature you've ever known...Even more evil than you."
The Joker: "Okay...That last part was really mean...But alright...I understand what you mean, my dear. You don't have to look at me like that."
She gently held Fiona's cheek.
The Joker: "I'll gladly help you...just this once...okay?"
Fiona: "...Okay...Thank you."
The Joker: "Hehehe...Okay...Now it would be nice if you let go of me...hehe...you're hurting me."
Fiona: "Oh...Sorry."
She let go.
The Joker: "I have to contact the Boss...I don't do anything without my Boss's approval. Okay...Let me call The Finger...Oh, no need. He's already here."
Fiona: "Huh?"
Sophie: "Huh!"
They turned around. He was sitting by the window.
The Finger: "Hey."
Fiona: "You?..."
The Finger: "Oh...You're the woman who almost killed The Glove...hahh...Nice to see you again. I heard everything, The Joker...Don't worry...I'll speak with the Boss. This seems serious."
Celia: "I don't understand...Why do you want to help?"
The Joker: "Hey...We only want the heart...And honestly, I don't care how terrifying that creature is. I was cursed by Rumpelstilchen...He's stronger than she is, so she can't do anything to me...But...First, we need the heart. Second, it would be a catastrophe...Even we don't want her to awaken. And third...Seeing Sophie and Fiona this desperate...and the way they're looking at me...Aww...It's just so cute...Of course I'll help...if the Boss agrees."
The Finger stood up.
The Finger: "Then I'll go talk to him."
He left.
(A few minutes later)
He returned.
The Finger: "The Boss...agrees...under one condition...You give him the heart."
Fiona: "Deal."
Sophie: "...Yeah...Deal. Right now, anything is better than letting that thing wake up."
The Joker: " let's get moving...Hehe...I even have an idea