"... I'm sorry. Phoenix is my personal guard and keeps me safe. He's only doing his job." I say while Angelica's eye twitches. "I doubt there is any danger in the palace, but you can never be too careful." Phoenix looks down at me and nods offering an arm for me to take. As I do I feel how tense his muscles are and look up at him. "Sir Phoenix?" His jaw looks clenched.

"... I'm merely here to protect my queen. I apologize if I frighten you." He dips his head at Angelica. She lets out a sigh and puts her fan away. "Fine... let's go then. I'll tolerate his presence." She mutters and walks on ahead. How rude! She seems in a sour mood as we walk around but the dialogue is the same.

"It's beautiful out here." She says sounding like she's in awe. Giggling I say, "Of course! It used to be in bad shape but once I got some funding, I was able to make it beautiful. It was neglected for a long time... I wanted to make it beautiful... in memory of my first best friend." I feel Phoenix's arm tense but we continue to talk like he's not even here.

"Oh? Did you lose a good friend then?" Angelica asks and I nod. "Yes... my silly boy. I miss him every day... we met when we were young children." I murmur and hold myself. "You sound like you loved him." She points out in a rather rude tone.

"Oh... maybe I did. I haven't seen him in so long... I lost track of him when I was twelve. Since he never came back... and he was being heavily abused... he has to be dead." I smile sadly while Phoenix just remains tense. What's wrong with him? "Oh... well maybe you should go and find him then," Angelica says dismissively. I made her mad it seems. She's not as nice and polite as I thought.

When I look up I'm ready to face the assassins. My face pales as I see all the masked men, but then time Phoenix pushes me behind him taking out his dual swords. Angelica jumps and stares at him with wide eyes. "H-hey! What's the big idea...!" When she turns to look her face is pale. "N-no! Don't kill me! Save me please!" She stammers and tries to jump being him. I feel her push me away but Phoenix grabs me keeping me close.

He glares at the frightened Angelica. "Don't touch her." He growls low his eyes blood red. She looks even more frightened, but then chaos starts. Our shadows suddenly move on their own making Angelica screech. I'm scared at first but... Anna is calm with them. This must be Phoenix's doing which is why she doesn't react at all. "Be careful," I whisper. Phoenix looks back at me and gives a curt nod. "Always." He then takes off.

Several of the masked men flee but those who are stupid enough to stay all attack Phoenix at once. I've never seen him in action before myself but I'm amazed. He does get minor cuts here and there but otherwise, he's perfect. Being trained by the demon king's general makes everyone a bit wary of him and now I can see why. All I hear is the sound of swords clanging and the grunts of men as Phoenix takes them down.

Hearing footsteps coming behind us I tense up and spin around. I see a few palace guards and Silas races up. They all stop and watch in stunned silence as Phoenix finishes off the last remaining assassin. He isn't even panting as he stares down at the men. He cleans his blades and puts them away before turning to face us. His eyes are red but the whites of them are black. He walks forward and stops in front of me. "... Are you alright?" There's a growl in his tone.

"Y-your guard is a vampire demon?" I hear Silas stammer out and turn to face him. Vampire demon? They're supposed to be very strong but have zero self-control. "That's right," I say startled that Anna knows this information. "Sir Phoenix is a great man and guard. That is part of the reason he can even beat Sal." I look up at him. "We should get you cleaned up..." I reach out and Phoenix moves back.

"Don't... I'll make you dirty," Phoenix says. He is covered in blood but Anna doesn't seem to care. "We need to make sure you're badly injured. Come on..." I take his hand and pull him along. I pause and look up at Silas who is staring at my guard with a pale look on his face. Is he that caught off guard? "I'm alright though, Silas... thanks for running out here." I smile then walk off.

As I walk out of the garden I vaguely hear him say something but I don't look back. "... gie!" He said that last night too. Still, I just continue to walk off with Phoenix. "Riley!" I call and she peeks out of my room as she's cleaning up. "Yes?" She then gasps. "Oh my goodness! What happened?!" She rushes over to us. "I got attacked in the gardens," I say rather casually.

Riley looks ready to faint but I quickly continue. "I'm fine. Sir Phoenix protected me but he needs to be cleaned up and checked out. Can you run him a bath? Afterward, I'll clean his cuts." The poor pink-haired girl sniffles but nods. "Ok... I'll do that... oh you poor things! So used to this..." She then goes off to the bathroom.

"My queen I can..." Phoenix starts to protest but I hush him with a glare. "Just do as I say. I know you don't care about scars but I do. I'll heal you and that's final." Phoenix stares for a long while. By now his eyes are just red now. He lets out a deep breath. "Yes, my queen... I'll follow your orders." He dips his head. I reach out my hand and place it on his cheek. "... Right now, call me Anna." His eyes meet mine and I watch as one catches back to teal. We stay like this until Riley comes back in.

"Bath is ready!" I feel my face turn red and I take my hand away. "Thank you, Riley... go on Phoenix," I murmur and he walks off. My face continues to burn as Riley comes to my side. "Your majesty..." she has an odd knowing look on her face. She then hugs me gently and I lean into her. "I'm glad you didn't get hurt... if he wasn't by your side... who knows what would have happened?"

Oh, I know what would have happened... I can't believe such a simple choice could change so much. After everything that went down today... how can Anna be so calm? Is this something that normally happens? How many times has she been targeted before? Just the thought of that makes me shudder internally.

"Why don't we change you into something more comfortable?" Riley suggests. "You have blood on your clothes..." I look down. She's right, I do have some blood on my clothes. I nod and stand up letting her work her magic. She does so quickly. "We need to hurry so that Nix doesn't come in and see you like this."  My face turns red again and I nod quickly.

Just as I get dressed, the bathroom door opens and I get the best sight ever. Phoenix is only wearing some pants Riley got for him and is drying his hair. He does have several cuts, but damn... I've never seen someone so ripped before! If I was in control, I'm sure my mouth would be watering and my nose bleeding. While he is covered in scars, it just makes him look even better.

"I apologize, Anna... I must disgust you." Wait what? Does Phoenix think he's disgusting? Is he crazy?! I stand up and go over to him. I stop directly in front of him and look up. He must be at least a foot taller than me... "... You're not disgusting. Not at all." I put a hand on one of his scars. "Definitely... not disgusting..." I swallow hard and then start to heal him.

Phoenix stands still and only looks down at me while my hand glows. Fairies are powerful healers... so as I move my hand over his wounds, my hand glows and easily heals his wounds. My hand lingers on them for a few moments longer than necessary but I don't mind at all... good work, Anna... I'm glad I'm not the only one who would do this.

I take my hand away. "There..." I tense when Phoenix takes my hand and looks up. "Nix...?" His expression is blank but his eyes... show more emotion than anything. My body warms up as I can't break his gaze. "... Thank you, Anna." He whispers and I shiver from faint chills going down my spine. "No problem, Nix... what are friends for?" That friends comment seems to be more for her than for Nix.

Phoenix nods and lets go of my hand. I already miss his warmth... and then I jump hearing a knock on my door. "Anna?" The door opens and there stands Silas. He pauses and catches sight of the two of us. His expression becomes unreadable. "... I see you're doing just fine..." he mutters. "O-oh!" My face flushes. "I just healed his cuts... that's all."

Silas nods. "Well... I'm glad you're already." With that, he shuts the door and I hear him walk away. My body trembles as I hold myself. "..." Phoenix puts on his shirt and looks down at me. "Anna?" I swallow hard and look up at him. "... You should go," I say in a small voice. He watches me for a long time before bowing in front of me. "As you wish." He takes my hand and kisses my knuckles again. It leaves me feeling even warmer than usual.

Phoenix steps out of the room and I let out a shaky breath. My eyes burn from forming tears and Riley only hugs me with a knowing look. That seems to confirm it for me. Anna has a crush on Phoenix... she may even be in love with him. Why isn't he a choice then?

There is something that leaves me uneasy. The look on Silas' face... I have a bad feeling about this. All seems to be going well but who knows what is in store for me? If I find another bad end for the complete ending of his route, how will I feel? This one shook me to my core... I remember the feeling of dying. Of getting stabbed mercilessly, of my consciousness fading. The despair as I couldn't see Nix's expression... once again dying in his arms.

Will I be able to mentally take it if it happens again?