“Wow. You’re a lesbian now, Katalina? Last I thought you liked Fran-fran.”

“Excuse me? ‘Fran-fran’? Is that your pet name for my husband?”

“Yeah, that’s exactly it. He says that it's cute. So where is he, huh?”

“In the time that you were gone, he said some things and passed out,” Katalina said.

“And in that span, you two discovered your hidden love for each other and was just about to kiss before the untimely invasion of me.” Hye-Sung spun around and laughed. “If that’s the case, I’ll see myself out and find him. You deposited him in his tent, right?”

“We’re not in love,” the two said in unison.

“Uhm, Your Majesty, should I go?” Sergeant Kara piped up.

“Yeah, sure sure. Don’t speak a word of this or Fran-fran will have your head.”

“I’ll serve it to him on a silver platter.”

“See? You two are oddly in sync when it matters,” Hye-Sung said as she waved goodbye to the sergeant trying to be brave.

Hye-Sung sat down on a chair and crossed her legs. She scoffed, and eyed the two with a suggestive gaze. With her raised eyebrows, she conveyed everything.

The empress gently shoved Katalina away and strutted back to her seat. Hye-Sung flicked her finger, and pushed two chairs out. One for her, and one for the knight. Magic was convenient.

“And as for the matter you mentioned earlier, let’s get the opinion of the one closest to him, shall we?”

“What’s going on? Oh god, did he go and get himself assaulted or something? Or did one of you try to sleep with him? Actually, wouldn’t be weird for you since you’re his wife.”

“No, nothing like that. Instead, Katalina here has an issue with my treatment of him.”

“Right, elaborate. You hitting him or something?”

“Exactly that,” Katalina said.

“Oh shit, I said that as a joke.”

“I could tell. But yes, the empress enjoys taking out her stresses on him.”

“Sounds suspicious. Does he like it? I know some people who’re into that shit, getting hurt and all.”

“Don’t know. He just lies there and takes it.” Haein bit her lower lip.

“Interesting. I’ll talk to him then. That’s settled?” With an argument, maybe fight defused, Hye-Sung sucked on a candy in her mouth.

“You know, a glaringly large flaw I’ve found within your image of a perfect knight is that you do not know what your master really wants. You acted without his knowledge, maybe even against his benefit.”

“I agree. You need to communicate better, especially since he can’t speak with swords. Unlike a certain pair of sisters.”

“It's two against one, Lady Knight. I suggest you stand down.”

“And who said that I was on your side, ex-princess? You’re a whole host of problems yourself.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes. For one, you don’t seem to think of your husband as y’know, your husband. You like to objectify him, and probably wish that he could just be a doll sitting on a shelf.”

Haein did not reply. She averted her eyes, looking at the tent flaps instead. The cold silence settled.

“Katalina, a question,” Hye-Sung spoke up.

“Yes? What about?”

“Look at her. Is she pondering whether to kill me?”

“I don’t know. Maybe she wants to torture you.”

“Oh speaking of which, do you happen to know where Iris is? I want her to take a look at something I helped develop.”

Iris. She was someone that escaped the cogs of war. Unlike Katalina, following her master, or Hye-Sung who came on her own accord. Iris was different from the rest. Despite being around the same age, give or take a few years, she had the wisdom of an elder that had seen it all.

“No, I don’t. Chances are, she’s in the palace running things.”

“She’s not here? Then she’s probably back there training.”

“Are you just ignoring the empress?”

“Of course. You uncomfortable?”

“No, it's quite nice actually.”

There wasn’t quite anything that could describe their relationship. Friends? Perhaps, and what about comrades? Kim Hye-Sung didn’t seem like the type that would stake her life. There was also what felt like an immeasurable distance between the two. Even if Katalina was there from the beginning, through her own talents and skill, Hye-Sung smuggled herself closer to her master than the knight ever could have. Even more than that, she barely cared about things like social structures and standing, frequently talking to those she’s close with as if they were old friends. Pet names like Fran weren’t rare. Though, Katalina never did quite receive that treatment. Even Edmond Ren got a nickname like that.

“You know,” the empress said. “You two know how to get closer to him?”

“Having relationship issues?”

“In a sense. We made a pact with our lives on the line.”

“One hell of a jump from marriage. What’s the conditions?”

“No you don’t understand. Every time, it's just been me trying to keep the relationship. It's like, he doesn’t even care that much. I know he’s not in love with me, and to be fair, I don’t love him either.”

Hye-Sung sighed. Rubbing her temples, she jumped up and motioned for them to follow. She stepped with a confident stride, and threw the tent flaps open.

“The answer to everything lies in good communication. Let’s ask the guy.”

“What?” Katalina shouted out. “He passed out!”

“Nothing I can’t fix. C’mon.”

And a short while later, all three of them were watching over sleeping beauty. His arms and legs sprawled out all over the soft fabric of the luxury bed. Hye-Sung touched his forehead. Sleeping as peacefully as one could after passing out.

“So how are you gonna wake him up?”

“Simple.” All it took was a single flick to the forehead. “Fran, wake up.”

“Wah!”

He jolted up. His fingers and hands grasping for some unknown thing. Those pink eyes dashed around his vision.

“Whoa, it's us. And there’s no guns for you.”

“Haa. You can’t just wake me up like that. Gave me a fright.”

“Could tell. Anyway, before you pass out again, we need you to answer some questions or one of them will be dead by dawn.”

“What’s going on?”

“Katalina says that your wife’s been hitting you.”

“Yeah, she has. Not that I really care.”

“You don’t mind it?”

“Not really.”

“See? There’s no need to worry. I’ve already explained that it's just how the royals work.”

“But My Lord! You can’t just-”

“Are you angry, Katalina?”

“Yes, I am,” she said after a deep sigh.

“At her? Or more likely... At me?”

“That- I can’t answer respectfully.”

“See, I think you’re angry at me. Because you’re a fighter, Katalina. It isn’t like you to get hurt without fighting back.”

Katalina stamped her feet. Inside her mouth, she grinded her teeth. It wasn’t wrong. What she couldn’t quite understand was why he refused to fight back.

She could recall the time when she got thrown and tossed around by men younger than her. Kicking her while she was down, and the dirt that gathered in her gripped hand. Of course, no one would dare thrash her around now.

“And Hye-Sung, is the thing finished?”

“Yeap. That’s why I came here to find you, but found a pair of lesbian lovers having a fight. I pity the poor Sergeant that had to escort me all around just cause I’m not decked out in a suit of armour.”

“I have to be at least somewhat combat ready.” Katalina gripped the sword on her right hip. “My trusty blade stays with me.”

Francis nodded as he sat up. He scratched his head with a groggy look. His eyes squinted, with his grey hair in a mess.

“Anything else?” the emperor asked.

“Yes. There’s always something. Uh, your wife. She’s having relationship issues with you.”

“Haein, care to elaborate?”

“Look. I don’t love you, and the same goes for you. But does it always have to be me trying?”

“What do you mean?”

Katalina wanted to say something. She gazed at the scene unfolding before her. The conversation moved on, with or without her. For a moment, there was a wall. One that she could never overcome no matter how much training she did. Even if she honed her body, trained her blade such that even a master couldn’t best her in a fight, it couldn’t ever bring her over that wall.