act37side

Accept those who despise you, for they keep you vigilant.;Stay true to what you believe in, to help you triumph over solitude.

I learned that from a friend who recently left us.

Bagpipe reporting in. Sweep complete in T-11 and T-32. No sign of Millscar.

How's things over there?

No sign of Millscar in C-11 and C-20, ma'am.

What about L-10? No reports yet?

Reynold? Is there a situation?

I-I'm here!

Th-There's nobody here in L-10—

His gaze alternates between the purple blade before him and Millscar, imploring for mercy.

(Nods)

I-I'm coming back now.

Did you find anything useful?

N-No! Nothing at all!

The purple blade is lowered. He slowly backs off.

Alright. Meet up at the rendezvous point.

B-Be there in a minute.

Leave the communicator.

O-Okay.

He keeps his eyes on Millscar in the shadows. Once he is sure that she is not going to kill him, he drops the communicator, and flees for his life.

<p=1>Cavendish Street, Londinium</><p=2>December 15th, 1098, 9:58 P.M.</>

So quiet...

I prefer the underground. At least the sound there doesn't make me feel—

Aha.

Parliament has yet to lift the post-war curfew. They are trying to protect the people... from people like her.

The communicator that she just obtained continues to supply the latest news about the patrols.

Millscar strolls past the shops by the roadside. She hears the faint sound of radio from one of them, and stops before the dimly-lit storefront.

What do you think about Madam Speaker's announcement that the curfew will be lifted in stages as law and order are restored, Hans?

Considering the current pace at which the police and courts are being reorganized? A joke, if you ask me. Who's arresting whom, and who's judging whom?

You don't trust Parliament? Many citizens sleep sounder in their beds, knowing that Parliament has been hard at work rooting out the remaining devils over the past two months.

Today's sweep of underground insurgents has been particularly effective, eliminating another long-term threat to public safety.

In the span of three hours, we have received thousands of messages from citizens expressing their gratitude to Parliament, in particular to our honorable—dare I say, majestic, even—Madam Speaker.

I do not deny that she has been a decisive leader, up till now. How long do you think she can keep it up, though?

I bet you ten pounds that in three months, you wouldn't be able to tell her from those fat, filthy, lying nobles—

Hmph.

A lavish car stops next to her. The door opens. There is only the driver... and a set of familiar clothing.

She recognizes the emblem of House Cumberland.

You're alive. Her Grace the Duke is willing to recognize your value.

She is giving you a chance to come back.

Tell her that Cumberland has died.

And one who has already died once is not afraid to die again.

The door closes, and the car leaves, disappearing at the end of the street.

Bloody hell... looks like it's not just you who want to kill me, Vina.

You'd better hurry...

She walks silently in the shadows by the side of the street, disappearing into the night.

At least there will be more people who believe that you can give them that most precious, most valuable of things right now—safety.

I hope you like my final gift to you, Alexandrina...

After this, we're even.

<i>Morale was high before our attack on the Nachzehrer position at the Palace of Westhaleg. Couldn't say the same about the people in the city though.</i>

<i>They had lived for so long under Sarkaz rule that they could hardly even conceive of resistance. Dagda and I found it difficult to persuade able-bodied citizens to join us...</i>

<i>Until Vina showed up.</i>

<i>She was wearing an outfit I never thought I would see her in... an outfit for a king. She never said who gave it to her, but we could all guess the answer.</i>

<i>Allerdale.</i>

<i>I was dumbfounded. I looked at Dagda, and saw her fighting to contain her trembling.</i>

<i>I saw the frenzied crowd rush through streets and alleys, scrambling over one another to join us.</i>

<i>They carried Vina, further and further away from me.</i>

<i>'Her Royal Highness Alexandrina has returned! She'll lead her people to drive out the Sarkaz and take back our home!</i>

<p=1>Cavendish Street, Londinium</><p=2>September 30th, 1098, 9:22 P.M.</>

I thought you would reject my proposal.

The important thing is to win this final battle. Everything else is secondary.

The scion of Cumberland yet lives?

I hope so. She deserves a second chance, no matter what.

What about you? Do you understand the significance of donning this garment?

I do. But I always had a choice, didn't I?

Vina walks through the crowd, escorted by Delphine. Everyone bows to her in reverence.

This is hard to take, though...

Hm...?

She thought she saw a certain figure in the crowd, drowned out by the onrushing soldiers and citizens.

What is it?

...Nothing. Let's get the troops in order. It's time to put an end to this.

'You and your friends will win, Vina. The present I left you, the garb that always belonged to you, is merely icing on the cake of your final victory.'

'There is no place for me by your side when victory comes. This is the choice that I made.'

'But the end of this absurd war is simply the beginning of your story. Can you remain the ever-victorious legend when that time comes?'

'Victoria is not easily changed by anyone, not even you.'

'But perhaps, I would truly have believed—'

'Goodbye, Vina... Goodbye.'