After seeing his soldiers in training, Alexander felt comfortable leaving them.
But, he still wasn't happy with returning to the capital.
"Ugh, is this necessary?"
Alexander groaned as Elizabeth adjusted his jacket.
"Oh hush, this is a great honor, my love."
Alexander rolled his eyes.
"Is it? He's probably just gonna talk my ear off about our 'destiny' or whatever."
Elizabeth turned around, and Alexander began tightening her dress.
"Mhm, is that so?"
She asked, pulling her hair over her shoulder.
"I don't know, I just wanna focus on my legion, screw everything else."
Alexander finished tightening her dress, but allowed his hands to rest on her back.
"Liz…" he called softly, "…can I hold you?"
Elizabeth blinked, glancing over her shoulder.
"Of course, you don't have to ask, I'm yours."
Alexander bit his bottom lip.
He reached both hands around her waist and pulled her back against his chest.
Then he buried his face in the crook of her neck, taking in the scent of vanilla.
"Liz, do you want kids?"
The question hung in silence as Elizabeth's eyes widened.
Alexander could feel her heart rate skyrocket, her cheeks turning pink.
"Uh… children, now? Okay… we can…"
Alexander chuckled as she stammered.
"I'm joking, Liz, but you're cute when you're flustered."
He let her go, and Elizabeth quickly turned around pointing a finger.
"Alexander! Don't tease me!"
Alexander dropped into a defensive stance, grinning.
"Whatcha gonna do about it, Liz? You can't get me, I'm speed personified, like a dealer distance."
Elizabeth pouted, crossing her arms and turning her head.
"You're incorrigible."
She huffed, hiding a smile.
Alexander stepped closer.
"I like… impossibly awesome, or… dashingly daring."
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow.
"Mhm, that too."
He stopped before her reaching out both hands.
"But I think the most important thing is that I love you."
Elizabeth's mock pout turned into a full smile.
"I love you too, Alex."
She stepped into his embrace, only for him to turn away.
"Sike!"
Elizabeth gasped as she hugged air, then she frowned.
"Alexander! You… you… brute!"
She stomped her foot down, glaring at him.
Alexander faked surprise.
"Elizabeth!" He gasped, "Such language!"
Elizabeth reached to grab him.
Only for Alexander to dodge and sprint out.
"Too slow!"
Elizabeth frowned, before shaking her head and crossing her arms.
"Oh you, what am I going to do with you?"
She smiled to herself, before following him out.
Outside Alexander was already boarding their carriage.
He turned to Elizabeth, his grin wide and hand outstretched.
"Ladies first."
— — —
The ride to the capital was uneventful.
However, the capital itself had an air thick with tension.
Civilians scurried along the streets with their heads down, avoiding the stern gaze of… soldiers.
Every street corner had a checkpoint, men armed with breech-loading rifles and black helmets.
They wore the symbol of the royal regulars, the most elite of the regular armed forces.
As Alexander's train slowed to a stop at the station, soldiers boarded with hardened expressions.
The soldiers moved through the train car with practiced efficiency.
Every passenger was scanned head to toe, and the most suspicious were taken off the train.
"No papers?" One soldier asked, "Why are you visiting the capital without papers?"
The man blinked, stammering.
"W-when did we start needing papers to travel?"
The soldier narrowed his eyes.
"Get up."
The soldier yanked the man by his collar, before having another drag him.
Passengers whispered fearfully as they searched for any proof of their identity.
Meanwhile, a captain and two privates approached Elizabeth's private car.
The captain knocked on the door.
"Open up!" He demanded.
Hinata stood to her feet, barely cracking the door open as she peered out.
"Who's this car reserved for?"
The captain demanded, "We weren't aware of any–"
The man paused as his eyes glanced over to Elizabeth.
The mere sight of her eyes made him go pale.
He swiftly saluted, stammering.
"M-my apologies, uh… we weren't informed…"
Elizabeth sighed, waving a dismissive hand.
"It's fine, I suspect you have more pressing matters to deal with."
She stood up, "speaking off…"
Hinata stepped back, allowing the captain to stand face to face with Elizabeth.
The man's gaze fell to the floor as he held his salute.
"Your Highness, Major General Otto Himmler of the Royal Regulars has been killed. Assassinated in his own home by an unknown assailant two days ago. His Majesty has ordered a lockdown and we have yet to find the culprit."
Alexander raised an eyebrow.
"Assassinated?" He repeated, following behind Elizabeth.
"Who's dumb enough to kill high-ranking officers in a time like this?"
Elizabeth nodded, "That's the question."
The captain's voice lowered to a conspiratorial whisper.
"There are no active leads, however there is suspicion that it was an imperial assassin."
Hinata frowned, but said nothing.
A second later, royal pathfinders and an Elitär rushed onto the train.
The Elitär breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Elizabeth and the bowing captain.
"Thank the goddess, you didn't do anything stupid!"
The Elitär pressed his hands together and looked up.
Alexander studied the man.
He was dressed similarly to Hinata, and armed to the teeth.
A Fallen kingdom's equivalent of a D'élite.
He stepped forward, dismissing the captain and his men before bowing.
"Your highness, I am Sir Kael. Servant of His Highness, I'm here to escort you."
His voice was professional, but his eyes betrayed his deep sense of relief.
Elizabeth nodded graciously.
"Lead the way."
Kael led the group outside to a heavily armored liberty truck.
"What is that?" Alexander asked, approaching the rumbling vehicle.
Kael chuckled, "You know how our kingdom is, if it isn't fortified to hell and back, it's not worth it."
He stopped behind the truck and opened the heavy metal doors.
Inside was a dimly lit space packed with ammunition and hard wooden seats.
Elizabeth swallowed, turning towards Hinata.
Hinata pressed a hand against her forehead.
It was going to be a long ride.
— — —
Inside the back of the truck, the group conversed with Kael.
Elizabeth, who was sitting in Alexander's lap, crossed her arms.
"So was it really an imperial assassin?"
She asked bluntly.
Kael shook his head, more than the bumbling ride already was.
"Nope, imperial commandos don't do subtle, that place would've been in flames. It's more likely one of us did it, the question is who."
Alexander peeked from behind Elizabeth.
"But if it was one of us, why?"
Kael shrugged.
"Don't know, but Otto was a man of many enemies, especially among the working class. Plenty of people went out of business because he put the army above them. Bad business, that."