Kazuki approached, walking beside both Delia and the Marquis. Lady Antiar kept a close eye on him, obviously.

Yuki was already walking off, with Kazuki and Archius trailing behind her.

He placed his eyes firmly on his one objective: Eliza. Kazuki found himself unable to move, unable to speak. Her pink hair hung half-up, half-down, with slight curls on its ends. A blood-red hair ornament, patterned with images of flowers and the sea, kept it in place.

She was wearing a different dress... different in design. It was close to what Kazuki described to Chyari, but was…

He could only say that it was better.

Kazuki was impressed by something he typically cares not about.

It was a voluminous crimson ball dress with an ever-present rose fragrance rising from its silky fabric. An embroidered pattern of various roses across the galaxy was engraved on a floral lace mesh along her elbow, shoulders and collarbone.

A lacey turtleneck hung her shoulders, whilst prints of various exotic plants trimmed the frilly hems of the dress, which fell just above her knees. Kazuki had to take a moment to find the vocabulary needed to describe it. He was never versed in these matters to begin with.

Kazuki stared. Obviously, he did ward off other people's stares with his own glare. Just a simple golden threat was enough to make all think thrice.

He... should probably compliment it? Eliza might be angry if he needed, Kazuki supposed.

Eliza chuckled. "If you're going to stare… at least comment on it," she said. Kazuki cleared his throat and nodded, as Eliza awkwardly scratched beneath her stockings.

"My… apologies…" Kazuki quietly trailed off, to which Eliza somewhat smiled at. She was probably amused at catching him off guard. Not anymore.

"Oh! Kazuki, we were just talking about you... uh... yeah!" Irya placed his hands on his waist and nodded at him. The twins wore white tunics, with contrasting patterned haori jackets, old and the new contradicting and melting.

"Hmm, liking these two already?" asked the Marquis, stepping out as he nodded towards Delia.

Kazuki grumbled in response.

"Oh... how flattening," Kantos said, rolling his eyes. Eliza stepped forward, dragging Kazuki by the arm to the side.

What did she want now? Is she angry that he didn't compliment her? That's something he should have done... Yeah... probably. All Kazuki could think of was how this place was not for him. He will not forget who he is. And a Contract-Breaker is not for this palace.

He looked out towards the dance floor. Oh. He saw his sister there, with Nathan. He looked somewhat happy.

"What now?" Kazuki whispered to her.

"I... you know exactly what I want," Eliza affirmed. Kazuki thought for a moment, looking up to the sky.

No. He really didn't.

He shook his head, ripping his arm from her grasp. "No. I don't," he said. Kazuki turned back to the group of four, with Lady Antiar by the side of the First Consul & Marquis. "Anyways, Delia, how is the lawsuit?"

"Good... but—" Delia's face turned towards Eliza, behind Kazuki.

"—I think you've upset Madam Elizabeth," the Marquis leaned in, whispering into Kazuki's ear. "Some social cues are most likely in order, Kazuki."

Kazuki glanced around at Eliza.

She turned away from him. What?

Did... did she really want him to go out to the dance floor? No... that was a foolish proposition. Even Eliza wouldn't think that! He's the Contract-Breaker. A cold, brutal, unforgiving murderer.

That was who he was, that is all he is.

Nothing more.

He sighed, turning back to the rest of them. Fer-Charelota cleared his throat as he received a message from one of the Knights. He nodded, and waved them away, before turning to Kazuki. "It seems some of the investment bankers want to speak with you."

"Tell them to eat a bullet before I make them."

"Well, I guessed you would have said as much, which was I sent them away," the Marquis said, perfectly predicting Kazuki. "I'll... smooth things over for their ears, soft minds after all."

Irya burst out laughing from his response, whilst Kantos sighed. His brother was getting the ire and attention of those around them.

"You should probably say that less oft as you would like," Delia said, amidst the uncontrollable laughter of Irya.

Kazuki didn't understand what was so funny. He didn't need to, though. Delia smirked at Kazuki's deadpan expression. She then nodded at Fer-Charelota and walked away.

"I'll go see what's taking so long for that damn wine to show up," she said. "Make sure to save a cup for me when the drones start coming."

"There's enough to make an army drunk, don't worry, there'll be plenty enough for you," Fer-Charelota remarked, watching Delia stroll away, catching a glance at her slim, jewel-intertwined green dress, just covering the bands of her fishnets. He sighed, straightening his golden buttoned white frock coat, embedded with a thousand patterns at its trims. "I am willing to bet she is saving the best bottles for herself."

The Jins and Fer-Charelota started to talk about wine. Kazuki wasn't interested. Wine was never his preferred drink anyway.

He turned back to Eliza. She stood some distance away, staring out onto the dance floor. Even two drones were dancing… Hah.

Kazuki walked beside her, standing and watching. He picked up a whole cake from a serving drone's plate, biting into it.

The Ballroom was too suffocating for Kazuki. The walls had shifting holographic imagery, depicting various icons across the galaxy. Neon hues blared from the ceiling and lined the walls and support beams.

"What?" Eliza snapped at him. She didn't even look him in the eye.

Kazuki shot out into the dark. "You wanted me to dance, right?"

She stayed silent, slowly nodding, before saying, "If you knew that... then why didn't you say anything earlier?"

Kazuki swallowed the rest of the cake in one go. He placed his hands in his pockets. Many eyes were here... across the various food tables and the spectating galleries above. Some stabbed him with disgust on their retinas. Though the moment his golden glare met theirs, they shuffled away. Cowards.

Kazuki asked, "What am I?"

She gave him a small side glance. She probably thinks this is a trick question, Kazuki thought. It was no trick. "You're...—

"—The Contract-Breaker," Kazuki stated. "The man that killed the so-called Philanthropist Matt Oria-Tessie. I broke my vow to protect him. I killed a thousand contractors with my own hands. I am a Seven Merc. What do you think they'll see if I danced with you?"

Eliza didn't give him an immediate response, still looking out at the dance floor. Kazuki sighed.

The alcohol was starting to be served out by drones. Cyrus kept his guard up, standing still as the drones passed by, giving everyone drinks. Delia had not returned, though.

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Probably saving that bottle all to herself.

And worse of all, Obadiah has been spotted. 'Mark on me. Prepare for anything,' Kazuki said to his guards over uplink. Obadiah was on the other end of the room. He was with someone else. His memory told him he was Mortinax, an ex-military officer who linked Obadiah to the Nasserite Coup. He was escorted by his own guards.

He approached, quickly. Kazuki stood firm, turning towards Obadiah, maintaining a perfect vision of him. He counted the footsteps and the muscle movements needed to instantly paint the walls with his brains. What was left of it.

The businessman had a burgundy frock coat, buttoned up with silver buttons. His hair was slicked back. Looked like an idiot, to Kazuki.

Then, he was right in front of him. Eliza instinctively shifted behind Kazuki.

"I see you're still so possessive of Elizabeth," Obadiah said. "I have no need to speak to a Contract-Breaker, little Prince. Move it."

The guards beside him seemed to shift forward, as Mortinax was clipping his nails, yawning and glaring at Kazuki. He ignored the guards and Obadiah.

"Hmm?" Kazuki pretended to be deaf, leaning in and giving a mocking glance to the side.

The statement came out of nowhere and shook the floor near them. Everyone around him in a small radius glanced at him, as stares were exchanged. His glare was so intense that it had frozen both Obadiah and Mortinax... So pathetic.

"Let me through... I have business with Elizabeth," Obadiah said. "You're just a damned little Prince, brat."

"This is enough distance," Kazuki said.

"No. In fact... I believe what I can provide her outweighs whatever you have..." Obadiah said, smirking. Eliza walked up, in front of Kazuki. "Ah... It seems you're coming to your senses. Let's settle this out of court... You and me."

Eliza said, "That's not how this will work..."

"I am changing the arrangement," Obadiah said. He shifted a hand out towards her. "If you may... I believe what I have to tell you would be... amazing." A small grin grew on his face, as he glanced at Kazuki.

Kazuki shifted forward, his steel heart beating with hate. Whatever Obadiah knows, Kazuki can get, easily.

Placing one hand over the other, Kazuki said, "I have in my holster an E50 Railgun Pistol. It exerts five hundred kilojoules of energy in a plasma-heated slug. I can do explosive, if you prefer a closed coffin."

They were quick to shut up. "What insolence is this?" Obadiah stuck his nose up at Kazuki.

Kazuki continued, "If you inch your hand forward, maybe I'll show you its electromagnetic potential, as you plead... in the last and longest moments of your life."

"Tch," Obadiah sneered. "Your threats are mere bluffs, Contract-Breaker. Your family, friends, contracts and blood is worthless."

Kazuki vented his exospine, the steam and heat warded Eliza a few steps back. Obadiah glared at him. For a moment, he seemed to shift forward.

What. A. Shame. Kazuki immediately drew his blade, a straight-edged sword of his people's making. "I, Prince Kazuki of Trasia, hereby decl—"

Lady Antiar stepped in the way.

"Obadiah. I will have to ask you to remove yourself from the premises if you step any closer," Lady Antiar said. She placed a hand on the hilt of her longsword. "And you, little prince, please stay your hand from any further violence. Your presence has instigated this. Begone."

Kazuki slowly sheathed his blade as even Eliza shivered at the sight of such an archaic weapon – used for ceremonial executions.

Obadiah grumbled. "I'll have you one day..." he said, as he and his company left. Slowly, everything went back to normal. Eliza was silent, turning back to the dance floor.

Lady Antiar gave Kazuki a pissed-off glare. He returned with a small shrug. He might have gone too far there…

"That you're more than that," answered Eliza after a long pause. "That is my answer."

Now it was time for Kazuki to pause. He nodded at her. He didn't know if he could do it.

"I know we've had our differences, Kaz... But you've got my back, I know that!" Eliza said. "Right?"

Kazuki silently nodded.

"Then it's a Contract, per se?" Eliza jested. "Even if you do... treat me like a kid, sometimes, I know you've got my back."

The statement struck Kazuki into a frozen state. He recovered quickly, though. The third time he's heard it was far better than the first or second. "I rarely do."

"Aha! So you admit it?" she inquired. Getting close, she tugged at Kaz's tie, before fixing it. "Nice and tidy, right?"

Oh. Clever. "Hmm." Kazuki gave her a reassuringly approval nod. "You always learn, don't you?"

"Alas, speed may not be my trait, but... tenacity certainly is," she remarked. "Guess I got it from Delia?"

Kazuki hated to admit it, "You two would make a good duo."

Eliza looks at him, smiling. "I always learn, you already know," she quipped. "Come on, this is for you now, not me."

Placing her hands behind her back, she walked out onto the dance floor, waving Kazuki over. Reluctantly, Kazuki followed her, as she snatched hold of his right hand.

Kazuki looked down at his own movements. Sloppy, he thought. This wasn't his forte. He kept looking around, as Eliza directed the two of them to the music. "Eyes on me..." she said. "Don't look away. Focus."

He slowly nodded... If Eliza wants this, he'll give this to her, but in no way was he going to enjoy this. But he should at least listen to her.

His golden eyes slowly met hers, and the red bulbs stared forward. She was locked in, focused on every individual step. By the looks of things, she's either memorised everything or has been practising. Both, probably...

Might as well put his back into it, he thought. He tightened his muscles, feeling his energy exert outwards. And he let himself go, memorising on the fly with his eyes exactly what must be done...

It felt weird, but Eliza smiled. For that, Kazuki was fine with it. The next words nearly froze Kazuki's joints: "You did so much for me, you know that. So… what am I to you?"

"Everything." The word came out before Kazuki could comprehend the meaning. But it was true. He did all of this for the word of a dead girl, and that was, to Kazuki, everything that truly mattered.

Eliza's crimson eyes glistened at the answer.

This is all just for show, he thought... None of this mattered. This isn't him, he thought. This... is not him.

Yet, somewhere deep down, Kazuki liked it.

∗ ∗ ∗

Sipping on a cocktail of incredibly expensive drinks, Archius acted like he was in the top brass of bootlickers and bribe-takers.

Moves were a bit sluggish, Archius thought, watching his two partners in crime dance. He was silently judging them... Staring at the two through augmented sunglasses, blazing with assorted colours. He wished he could have been out there, but this was where he belonged - on the support.

He's had his fair share of the spotlight, might as well give it to someone else. Archius placed his head up against his hand, his eyes moved towards Nihara and Václavos, both arm wrestling on the table he was sitting at. "You two really had to choose this table out of all the available spots to do this?" Archius asked, downing and finishing his cocktail, before throwing it perfectly on top of a serving drone's plate with a small clatter.

"SHUT UP!" Václavos shouted at him, gritting his teeth whilst struggling against Nihara, who looked totally bored.

Archius sighed. "You can't say much after losing fifty to zero," he sneered. "Any more losses and she might squish your hand off accidentally. It takes a while to get used to an augmented hand, so you'll be out of action once more!"

"Don't tell him, Archius. That's my plan." Nihara kept her arm strong, keeping a stalemate present between the two. She must be entertaining Václavos. If she had pushed her back into it, this match would have already been lost.

"HEY?!"

A drone hovered by, handing out drinks. Archius snatched one from the drone's plate. It made a small noise, mimicking the words 'have a nice drink' in beeps and bloops... They really should have just made the drones speak Gala Standard, Archius thought, who here even speaks Decimal!?

Kazuki? Sure, him, but who else!? Archius glanced around at the various prying eyes. Reporters from the press in the upper balconies and floors. Irrelevant, they're not the types of journalists he's worried about. These types probably only care about all that celebrity-spew bullshit or whatever, well, they probably got their spew from Yuki's antics with some 'commoner'.

Archius yawned, downing the drink. "Come on, Nihara, win already, you two are getting too boring!"

"Would you like us to arm wrestle you next?" Nihara asked, cranking her neck towards Archius.

Uh... "Nah," Archius said. "I'll leave the suicidal shit to you guys."

Looking down at his ICAPAD, Archius took note of the various signals coming in across the station... First, it was staff, then it was security... He squinted harder, zooming in on one of the reports made by security. Drones?

Archius looked around, seeing a few Imperial Squires move around, being redeployed, leaving fewer guards in the ballroom. Did he just get duped?

Archius stood up. Václavos lifted his head up at him, still locked in a stalemate with Nihara. "Where the fuck you going?"

"Something's wrong... Save your playfighting to the bedroom, keep your guns ready," Archius ordered them.

The moment that Václavos caught wind of what exactly Archius just said, Nihara slammed Václavos' hand onto the table. Václavos let off a small cry of pain from the physical brunt force trauma applied directly to his backhand.

"AH, FUCK! Fuck you Archius, I had that."

"Uh, no, you didn't," Archius said whilst smirking, turning away and walking past several statues.

He could hear Nihara reply back to Václavos, "Yeah, you really need to stop challenging me..."

Signals. One was an Imperial Knight, another an Empress, and another a crusader. He made his way closer to the centre of the room.

The air was getting tenser, and the music was muted in his head.

His eyes kept glancing up and down and left and right and left. He glanced up for a moment, seeing a spark against the chandelier lit glass dome ceiling above. A single moment of silence passed as he started to run towards Kazuki, seeing second sparks, increasingly - as the entire ceiling ignited into an explosion.

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