"Keep an eye on that girl."
"It's an order."
"Yes, sir.."
"But first — go and sleep. I'll be going too."
"Yaaawn — but who's going to mind things while you're gone, Deputy? The commander's left, the seniors are all off sleeping..."
"Letting go of a few things now and then won't hurt, you know. Honestly." Marcus's edges softened. "Some things you don't have to worry about all of it."
He looked at the empty office for a moment.
"My life — if I didn't put some of it down once in a while, I'd have lost my mind years ago. The things you can set down, set down sometimes."
"Not so you, but.."
Emil only nodded.
"Right?"
---
The General Affairs office was nearly empty at this specific hour. One hour before lunch break.
A hand came down gently on the shoulder of the young clerk who had fallen asleep at her station.
"Put through this order for me."
Marcus signed the bottom of the requisition form and set it down beside her.
"E-eh? What is this, sir — and so much—"
"Find the people on the note, hand them this order. That's all you have to—"
He swayed.
"Deputy!"
The young clerk caught him before he went down.
"...sound asleep, just like that," she murmured, taking his weight.
"Mm. I'll see to it."
---
That night. The council chamber.
The crash of a table came first, followed by words with weight behind them.
"What is there to be so worried about? You worry this much and my workload climbs right along with it."
"I keep telling you — there's nothing much to it. And even if there were, it would just be some wanna-be boys who want to defaming us for attention and the Military plus RMO can handle anything that comes."
"Forgive the interruption."
A voice cut in from across the chamber.
"There is a report of concern from my deputy."
"What now? Rome — what is it with your deputy this time? Your man is paranoid, you know. Always."
"Indeed. Hears about some minor crime and works himself up enough to go filing requests over nothing."
"Though some time, his instincts were right. But still annoying most of the time."
The Military Police commander wearing Rome's insignia did not rise to any of it.
"Let him speak. It's only fair.."
The voice was sweeter, cooler, far gentler than the iron of the previous council conference — and yet the chamber quieted at once when the Goddess spoke.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Ahem."
"What I bring before you today is an urgent report from our deputy in the eastern district." A pause. "He has observed markedly abnormal behavior in creatures corrupted by Omens — far stranger than the usual."
"He claims these creatures had buried themselves beneath the ground around the wall in a large group, and that the soil there was severely corrupted. He adds that, according to research he has refered, soil corrupted to that degree may itself be capable of producing an Omen."
"Has that research been—"
A nervous voice.
"Please allow me to finish, sir."
"He further requests an order from the Palace authorizing the three branches to collaborate in locating any further groups of these buried creatures — as quickly as possible. He fears they may be intended as a kind of time-bomb in the hands of a hostile party."
"I will commit two RMO troops to the operation, if it is permitted."
"You can do that? You're only a deputy." A whisper.
"It's fine. Joshua's let me speak on his behalf this season."
"Do you approve, Your Majesty?"
"Ah — yes! Have the Vanguard's second send word at once."
The voice trembled, faintly.
"The next matter."
A heavy voice this time. A Commissioner of Palace Affairs.
A sharp, weighted gaze settled on the Goddess.
"Concerning the image of the Palace. We were dishonored to the point that a hostile party reached Your Majesty's own person. An officer is dead. And a press house has printed our private business."
Each word landed heavier than the last.
"Those not concerned with this matter may withdraw if they wish. But, Your Majesty — what will you do?"
He adjusted his glasses, once.
"Including the matter of the Welling Post, which you have allowed to continue operating freely — despite a choice of silencing it."
Every head of every branch turned at his words, and every word fell on Flaure's shoulders like an anvil dropped from a height.
"How will you restore the standing and the reputation of The State and The Crown — the very Crown you yourself founded, and have held for two hundred years?"
"I — um." A pause. "None should be killed just by their opinion and words..."
A whisper.
"What an idiotic decision. So this is the 'foolish by day, clever by night' they talk about. Useless when it counts."
"Mm. Today must be a day then."
"And what of Thalassia? You said you'd deal with it. We've had no word of any progress. The RMO sent there have gone silent entirely."
For a moment the chamber went quiet.
Then the commanders and deputies saw the Goddess's gaze drop, low, toward the floor.
"...I'm sorry," she said.
The faces in the lower seats went pale.
But the one who had gone palest was Flaure herself.
"As for Thalassia — the movements there are confidential. I am — concerned that in this very room—"
A breath.
"—there may be those who wear two faces."
The soft voice, near to breaking and yet edged with cold, sent a shiver down the spines of more than a few people in that court.
Even Claude felt it too.
"I apologize that my decisions today have not been all they should be. But — to return to the earlier matter."
"Commander Rome. I approve your request. I will also return every MP troop from your district that is currently stationed here in the capital. Two days at the latest, I should think, for the troops to move."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"...in any case. If you will excuse me."
Flaure took her leave, quickly, through the door at the back of the chamber.
---
Behind the closed door of the council chamber.
"Shit!" The Commissioner exhaled. "Doesn't look like we'll be winning any points off that lot."
"They're just simple, honest types. Let them be. If they pull it off, we cut them loose afterward, or scrap the whole branch."
And on the other side of the room.
"Commander Rome and Mister Marcus — truly a fine pairing of senior and junior. Sharp instincts, the both of you, even back in your school days."
"Well. A compliment from an RMO deputy in the middle of an organizational crisis feels rather strange, I must say."
A man in RMO uniform approached.
"Good evening, Commander Rome."
"Sir — RMO Commander, yes? Southern district, if I'm not mistaken? Might I have your name?"
"Arthur. I heard a rumor, your deputy has been bringing the Lethward girl onto quite a few cases right?. She was a good sort, that one, back when she served under me. A pity the over-curious friend of her dragged her future down with him."
"Indeed. Marcus mentioned it once. Never in much detail."
"Hah."
"Sigh If I were the commander of the central or eastern district, I'd want to send units to help your people too. It really is worrying."
"In any case — be cautious of the other side of this chamber, won't you."
"Mm," Rome said.
---
Claude caught up to Flaure in the corridor and fell into step beside her.
"Your Majesty. Is something the matter today?"
Flaure did not respond. Or perhaps she was only working very hard not to.
"Your Majesty. No clever ideas at all today, hm? Are you tired?"
Flaure let it pass.
"A little."
"Is that so. My, my~"
"You know, Your Majesty—"
The young man's voice dropped lower. He leaned down until his face was level with hers.
"—it felt as if there are two of you sometime."
The words stopped Flaure where she stood.
That flirtatious tone — it weighed on her more than any other tone could.
"...you think so?"
Flaure walked quickly away.
This time, the tall man did not follow.
"Heh."
Claude ran his tongue across his own lip.