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With arms outstretched, Kel ran toward the newcomer and wrapped herself around their waist.

She pulled back again rapidly, however, as the person let out a surprised cough.

Perhaps, the hug had been too much.

But Kel hadn't realized until now just how desperately she'd been longing for a friend among the sea of unfamiliar faces and unfriendly looks around her.

It wasn't until she heard that person's voice and saw their face that she suddenly felt like she had been very lonely.

"Well, it's certainly good to see you again too," the friend in question replied with a smile before quickly glaring at Calix again. "Now, care to explain what you're doing in a young lady's room this late at night, Your Majesty?"

Calix clicked his tongue, returning his accuser's displeased expression.

"That young lady is my fiancé."

"Yeah, yeah. But that doesn't mean you can do whatever y-GASP!" Immediately, Kel was pulled back against the person's body, two strong arms winding protectively around her. "What have you done to this precious child?!"

"She's not a child." Calix's voice sounded muffled through the suffocating embrace. "So let her go, Dame Lucille."

Lucy huffed, hugging Kel even tighter.

"Look at all these kiss marks!" the woman scolded. "I can't believe you defiled the poor girl this way!"

"Mmmph."

"Eh?" Both the Emperor and Lucy turned their attention back to the girl squished in Lucy's arms.

"MMMPH!"

"Oh.. sorry," Lucy reluctantly released her victim, who collapsed to the floor, gasping for air.

"Look what you've done to the Emperor's future consort," Calix snorted. "I think you should leave for tonight."

"Leave?!" Lucy argued. "I just got here. You should be the one to leave!"

"How dare you talk to your Emperor that way," Calix narrowed his eyes.

"Ha! How dare you take advantage of a girl ten years younger than you! You old creep!" Lucy returned, fearlessly standing her ground against the Dragon Emperor's fiery glare.

Though she'd been the one arguing with Calix minutes earlier, Kel couldn't help but panic, wondering if Lucy had pushed the man too far. There's no way the Emperor she knew would let someone get away with calling him an old creep.

Lucy wouldn't lose her head for this or anything like that, right?

To Kel's surprise, however, Calix sighed and held his hands up in defeat.

"Alright, I'll let this go for tonight," he murmured, trudging toward the door.

Lucy lifted Kel to her feet and trapped her in another chokehold-like hug while Calix passed.

"I'll see you again tomorrow, Keliyah," Calix nodded to her, flinching ever so slightly at Lucy's bared teeth before slamming the door behind him.

Just as Kel thought she was about to suffocate for real, Lucy released her.

"Ha. I can't believe that guy! Let me have a look at you," she whined, forcefully spinning Kel around.

For the next several minutes, the woman fussed over Kel, gasping and shaking her head every time she discovered a new kiss mark.

"A wolf preying on a young lamb.."

"I ought to castrate that pervert myself.."

And various other grumbles escaped Lucy's lips while she inspected.

When she'd finished her work, the woman finally looked at Kel's face, her lower lip protruding.

"My poor Princess.. Oh, I mean, Kel."

"Yeah, I'm not a princess," Kel echoed sheepishly, scratching her head. ".. Were you angry when you found out?"

"Why would I be?" Lucy paused thoughtfully. "Though, I can think of some people who were rather angry that you left."

".. like Calix?" Kel shook her head.

"It sounds strange to hear you call him like that," Lucy scrunched her nose. "I guess you've worked things out between you then."

"Yeah, you could say that," Kel shrugged. "Since we're getting engaged in a couple days."

Ah. It did sound strange.

Kel dropped her gaze to the floor, fidgeting with her fingers.

She should be excitedly telling Lucy all about her engagement, right? After all, she did love Calix. It wasn't like she didn't want to marry him. This should be one of the happiest times of her life.

Well, most royal marriages were probably unexciting like this, anyway.

Lucy placed a hand on Kel's shoulder, interrupting her thoughts.

".. Why don't we move to the bed?"

After wrapping Kel in three blankets and propping her up on some pillows, Lucy called for some snacks, hissed at a few sluggish maids, stirred the fireplace,  and eventually settled down on the bed next to Kel.

Perhaps, it had been too long since they had seen each other, because there was mainly silence between them, with Lucy making a few jabs at small talk and then Kel reciprocating awkwardly.

But, before long, the two were chattering happily in between shoving cookies in their cheeks.

"I really can't eat all these before the ceremony," Kel giggled with a full mouth. "The maids in charge of my diet will kill me!"

"Who cares?!" Lucy grinned, passing another treat. "Let's each go up another dress size tonight!!"

Kel, who had a weak spot for sweet goodies, was easily persuaded, and the cookie-eating went on as vigorously as before.

"The truth is that I'm really nervous," Kel bravely confessed after finishing off her second plate. "I don't want to be anything like an Empress. I wouldn't even be good at it."

She didn't intend to ever voice her concerns about becoming Calix's bride; it had just slipped out once she relaxed.

"It's not like you have to do it alone," Lucy responded matter-of-factly, waving a half-eaten cookie. "You'll have me, and the Emperor… and that grumpy secretary guy."

"Ira would kill you if he heard you call him a secretary!" Kel cut in, hoping to change the subject.

"Eh, whatever," Lucy rolled her eyes. "My point is that you have people behind you. We've got you back."

"Oh.. ah," Kel's voice cracked, tears stinging her eyes.

How long had it been since she truly had anyone to rely on? For a while now, even if she met someone trustworthy, Dash's voice in her head, whispering 'I'm sorry, Kel,' always made her think twice.

But to hear Lucy saying she had Kel's back, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, Kel somehow felt that the words were easy to believe.

That it was easy to trust Lucy.

Like the betrayal that shattered her world a year ago had finally stopped haunting her.

"I've got your back too!" Kel wailed, reaching for another hug.

"Goodness, what are you, drunk on sugar?" Lucy laughed, softly patting her head.

After that, Kel's sniffles filled the room while Lucy gently comforted her.

It had been a long time since she cried or admitted that she felt uneasy. Who knew that sitting in bed devouring cookies with her previous maid would work like magic?

"Oh, that reminds me," Kel rubbed her eyes, straightening back up. "Did you come here to be my maid again?"

Lucy put a hand to her mouth, trying to contain her laughter at Kel's expectant eyes.

"No, not your maid," she replied, unable to hold back a giggle as Kel's face fell. "I've been assigned as your permanent guard."

"Guard.. Oh right! You're not a maid," Kel's face flushed.

"I can still brush your hair for you if you want," Lucy teased.

"Ugh. Don't even bring that up," Kel groaned. "Can't you just cut it off for me instead?"

Lucy's face briefly changed into predator mode while she cursed the maids under her breath. Then, with a cheerful smile, she turned back to Kel.

"Why don't you tell me more about the ceremony? I'm sure you get to wear a pretty dress, right?"

"Of course," Kel frowned. "An uncomfortable dress plus an impossible dance."

"Oooh one of the traditional dances, right?" Lucy's interest perked. "I always hated learning those as a kid, but I can probably remember a few moves. Do you want me to practice with you?"

"It'd just be a waste of time," Kel huffed. "I'm never going to learn that stupid dance!"

"I mean, you don't really have a choice about that," Lucy responded flatly. "It's not like there's somebody who will help you run away again."

Kel blinked in surprise.

I guess she never did have a problem being blunt, she thought to herself.

"Don't look at me like that," the blunt woman crossed her arms. "I said I had your back, not that I'd put my neck on the line to help you escape."

"Right, but is that really worse than 'castrating the Emperor yourself'?" Kel mimicked Lucy's grumbling from earlier, somehow feeling a little embarrassed by the woman's certainty that she wanted to run away.

She'd only tried to escape from the Emperor one time.. Or maybe two times.

But still! It wasn't her go-to move!

Well..

"Ha! That man would definitely be more upset about losing you than.. his.. manhood.." Lucy trailed off

Her final word, 'manhood', seemed to echo around the room.

Clearing her throat, the woman turned back to Kel and offered another cookie.

"Let's just pretend I never said that?"