Around the same time Yuki woke up, a messenger, who had watched the battle from afar and survived, arrived at the imperial capital, informing the emperor about the situation. Although he was in the middle of a meeting, he left the room immediately after the messenger finished describing his view of the events. Entering his private chambers, he locked the door behind him and set down on his bed. Cupping his face, he let out a deep sigh and just sat there for multiple minutes, staring at the wall in front of him. It was a nice wall. Well made, with added accessories like flowers out of gold build straight into them, spread all over it as if it were an actual plant sprouting from it. He stood up and walked towards the wall, touching one of the low set flowers and turning it like a door handle, at which a small compartment opened in the wall. Inside was a single white flower, even the stem and numerous thorns it had were white. Emitting a dim, slowly pulsating light from it, that was how he remembered it to always look like. But now, all but one of its many pedals had fallen off the stem, and it shone no more. He took off the glass dome that was protecting it, carefully placing it on a nearby shelf as he reached out to touch the flower. At his gentle touch, the last pedal fell off as well, and the stem broke in half.
Back at the Cube, Yuki's clinginess seemed especially strong today. Though Yamato would not have to ask why that was, as she used the opportunity while Pheobe was lead around town by Petrisha, to cuddle him up to her chest and play with his hair.
"Boo, I'm scared…"
"It's going to be all right. I promise you won't ever get in danger like that again…"
Yuki's eyes darkened as she thought back on the events. How avoidable it now seemed, if only she had taken it a little more seriously. If only she had made up with Natsumi, it could have been avoided, would be a reasonable train of thought. However, her eyes, shining darkly, had never been more focused on Yamato than right now. What she would not do, to protect this simple sight of having him pressed against her. Natsumi intended to get through to her through violence, and get a message across. However all that was received was the intent to take apart what Yuki had so carefully built, what she had achieved. Furthermore, that intent has not only been registered by Natsumi, but Hana as well. Though, she was dead now. But it still gave Yuki the perspective of an outsider becoming a threat comparable to Natsumi in intent. As such, her conclusion was that she had not been working hard enough. And so, she made the decision to terminate obstacles much sooner than she had been doing up until now.
"I promise that too, boo… I feel much more connected then ever before… The mere thought of that connection being severed, makes me feel something indescribable… So I won't let it happen… Whatever the cost…"
They should have left the bed by now, however Yuki could not help but succumb to her desire to keep him there with her forever. Or for as long as possible, at the very least. Amael and Marneas would take care of administrative duties for as long as necessary, so there was no actual rush. Not that kind of rush anyway. As their moment concluded in kissing and more, all their problems seemed to disappear, leaving their thoughts revolve solely about the other.
Meanwhile, Pheobe was discovering the infinite wonders of this town.
"Look, misses maid, it's a water fountain!"
"Yes, isn't it nice? But you best not drink from it, or else I might get scolded…"
"Pheobe wouldn't want that… But Pheobe is a little thirsty too…"
"In that case, we should head back. We have a wide variety of drinks available there. Would you like something specific?"
"Pheobe wants water from a fountain!"
"Well… I'm sure there is a water fountain somewhere in the Cube… Misstress Yuki is the kind of person to fill space with decoration rather than leave it empty after all…"
"Hm… Okay, let's head back then! I hope Yamato and Yuki had as much fun as Pheobe did."
"I'm sure they did. Although, they might be working right now. So I'm not sure if we can go meet them right away. What were you told before you left?"
"Hmm… Yamato said Pheobe's free to go wherever she wants whenever she wants! Unless it's late at night. But Phoebe's sleeping then anyway."
"I suppose that means I should drop you off wherever you want to be then… I just hope I won't interrupt anything…"
"What would you be interrupting?"
"Ah, nothing you would need to worry about. Like work, and stuff…"
"Have you interrupted something before?"
"…L-like I said, you shouldn't have to worry about it. Much more importantly, what do you think about the town?"
"It's really pretty! Pheobe's favorite was the busy street with the many people! Everyone looked so happy and was smiling!"
"That's nice. Did you know Misstress Yuki is responsible for how clean this city is? And Master Yamato is the one that freed this town from great tyranny."
"They sound like heroes then! But Phoebe's getting tired… You have to tell Pheobe all about it after she's taken a nap."
"Uhm, like right now? But we are almost back."
"Pheobe's been walking way too much… And this place seems really nice… The sun's warm and all…"
As Pheobe began slowly curling up onto the ground, Petrisha quickly picked her up, bot daring to think about what would happen to her if Yuki found out she let Pheobe sleep on the ground, in the middle of the sleep of all places. Though she did not quite understand why this little girl was seemingly favored by both Yamato and Yuki, she learned that it was safer not to ask about things like that and just play along as she was told. So she carried Pheobe back to the Cube, and entered the room prepared just for her. Though Pheobe mentioned not being able to sleep by herself, so it was not entirely clear whether she would be using it or not. But apparently she could nap by herself, however if that would be the same as during the night would be a different question. Now out of orders, she left Pheobe's room to go and report back to Yuki, who she did not find in the places where she would be working at, so she reluctantly went to Yamato's room. Which was the only other place Yuki would be in her experience. Gently knocking, she entered with her eyes closed and looking at the ground, not wanting to see anything she was not supposed to see.
"Forgive the intrusion, but I have returned with Pheobe after showing her around the town as instructed. She is taking a nap right now…"
"And? Did she have fun?"
Yuki answered, climbing out of the bed. Petrisha could hear her bare feet touching the ground, slowly walking across the room.
"I believe so… She mentioned enjoying the main road leading through the city, and the people's joyful expressions… And a water fountain… She seems to want to drink from one, however I advised her not to, and hoped there would be one with safe water to drink from here."
"Huh, good girl. But there's no need to worry, the water in town is not contaminated or dangerous to drink in anyway. Though, I do filter the one in the Cube more, so I guess it's better. I'm glad she had fun, you did good."
"Thank you, Misstress…"
Not hearing Yamato, Petrisha opened her eyes just a tiny bit, still looking only at the ground. She then slowly went io with her gaze, and stopped as she only saw one pair of legs in the entire room, at which she lowered her gaze again. She let out a sigh of relief, as the highest risk of making a mistake that would anger her misstress was when Yamato was present. Luckily, that seemed to not be the case as Yuki was doing her hair in front of a mirror with a happy expression. Or so she assumed, as she did not actually look up enough to see anything above Yuki's ankels.
"…If I may ask, where is Master Yamato?"
"He's working on something. Why, do you need something from him…?"
"N-no, of course not… I was merely surprised to not find him in his own room while you were present."
"Yeah, well I choose to stay a little longer…"
"…Would you like me to change the sheets while I'm here?"
"Yeah, you do that."
"And should I put the old ones in your personal room as usual…?"
"You're such a good girl, Trishy."
"Thank you, Misstress… I will be sure to begin once you finish."
Yuki finished doing her hair and used magic to put clothes and shoes on, before turning to Petrisha.
"Hey, what do you think of Phoebe?"
"Whatever you want me to think of her, of course."
"Urgh, don't be a dumbass. Give me your honest opinion. I won't be mad."
"Of course, my mistake… I am quite unsure of what to make of her… She does not seem particularly useful to me. If you had adopted her for political reasons, I also find that confusing, as your relationship with Master Yamato is officially only platonic… And I was under the impression you would prefer having a child together through… Well, other methods. However, she seems to have some odd characteristics that make it difficult to say what's truly up with her, I would say."
"Yeah, that sounds about right. No new insight, as expected… But whatever. You go clean stuff or something. I will be downstairs in the church area if you need anything. And be sure to take care of Pheobe once she wakes up. She is something I didn't actually count on, but now that she's here I will have to work with that… and I find her to be quite adorable. So make sure she's happy at all times, got that?"
"Why, yes of course, Mistress. Your wish is my command."
As Yuki left, Petrisha let out another sigh of relief. Any interaction without punishment was a blessing, after all. And this one went especially smooth, if she dared say so herself. Taking care of changing the sheets and making a quick stop at Yuki's personal chambers, which she rarely used due to her primary stay being Yamato's room, Petrisha went back to Pheobe's room. Cleaning a bit as she waited for her to wake up again.