*Third Pov*

Tetsuya opened his eyes. His head ached, it felt as if he had been asleep forever. He could barely recall what had happened. All that he could remember from the battle against the Monkey King was getting blown away.

His head turned right. Rosalba slept on a chair beside his bedside.

How long had she been there? She couldn't have been waiting all this time, right?

Sitting up, he tip-toed out of bed, careful not to awaken her.

"Good to see you awake," Serrano whispered, grinning as he stood by the door. "I thought that you wouldn't wake up."

Tetsuya walked out of the room and leaned against the doorway. "Hey..."

Serrano looked at him with concern.

"Here," he said, offering Tetsu a can of coffee. "Use this to recharge."

Tetsu smiled slightly as he took it into his hands. The can's coolness alone made him feel a tad better.

"I... couldn't do a thing against that beast..." he finally said after some time.

Serrano averted his eyes. "Well... if it makes you feel any better. Nor could the others. Even the king had difficulty. Plus... I failed to prevent Etsuo from escaping. Even worse, I couldn't stop him and the others from taking Hideo's siblings."

Tetsuya gasped. "Wait, Etsuo took Kiara and Dan? Is Hideo alright?"

"Yeah. He's been taking his training more seriously since then," Setsuko said as she walked down the hall.

He snapped the can of coffee open. "That's good... hopefully, we can get them back soon." His golden eyes shifted to the purple carpet. "Poor Dan, the first kidnapping left him a mess. I can't imagine how he must be feeling right now. Say, are my older siblings fine?"

"Takuya and Teresa are fine, as is aunty," Serrano said. "The three stayed back to seal the portal those creatures used to get here. It's proving to be a difficult task, even with all the extra help they have there. That Monkey King really seems to have done some damage to the fabric of our dimension. Also, Takuya said he will likely stay there for a few days, even after the portal has been sealed. Said he has something to do."

Tetsu raised an eyebrow. "Something?"

Serrano fidgeted. "He didn't say what it was, but it must've been work. A demon hunter can only rest for so long."

So he wants to make sure that he has money for our family... Of course, after seeing how lame I was, he knows he can't count on me. Satoru and Eiichi were right, I am a lousy knight... Argh, why am I allowing their words to affect me again?

"What about Kohri?" Tetsuya asked.

"He too stayed back to help with the sealing, as well as the restoration to Shirayuki," Setsuko responded. "Actually, the only members of your team still around are Eita and Rosalba as everyone else stayed back in Shirayuki, is missing, or betrayed us."

Missing? Betrayed?

He touched his head as he recalled a smiling little girl holding a cookie.

Who is that?

"Anyway," Setsuko continued. "I came to inform you that we're having a ball this afternoon to celebrate our 'victory'."

Victory? What victory? We lost... The king and the Seven Hills, minus Serrano, were the ones who managed to fend them off.

A hand touched his shoulders, snapping him out of his thoughts. He glanced up, expecting Serrano but saw that it was Setsuko.

"Don't let it get you down," the first princess of Kuroriku said. "We won't win all battles. Plus, there was a reason why Father went to aid you. The leaders of those creatures were just too strong. Rosalba said that it was one of the four 'governors' of that realm of darkness who shot you. So lift your chin."

She is right...

Tetsuya smiled and nodded. "Alright. I'll try it! Thanks for cheering me up, princess!"

Setsuko's face flushed red. "D...don't call me that."

Tetsuya crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head at her. "Why not? You are a princess."

She put a hand on her hip. "Do you call my sister that too?"

Tetsuya chuckled. "Yeah! Though she doesn't seem to like it much either."

The oldest princess grinned. "I see. It is nice to see you two get along so well. Is she still in there?"

Tetsuya turned to look at Rosalba. "Yeah. She's sleeping, though."

"Oh. I will carry her back to her room. Go with your cousin to get some nice clothes for the ball. I will be paying, so do not concern yourself with the cost!"

"You sure?" Tetsuya asked as he stepped aside.

Serrano pushed Tetsu and wrapped an arm around his neck. "Yeah. My future wife is rather generous." Tetsu was alarmed by the cold look in his eyes. A clear contrast to the usual warm look he had around me.

Tetsuya snickered. "Jealous?"

His face flushed. "Why would I be jealous?"

Tetsuya tilted his head as they made their way to a pair of red-carpeted stairs. "You like the princess. Don't you? You seem to want her to like you."

He averted his eyes. "I hate that about you..."

The shield knight patted him in the back. "Awww. Don't worry. I'm not into Setsuko."

The warmness in his eyes returned as he glanced at me. His lips curved into a sly grin. "You like the other princess. Don't you?"

Tetsuya's face flushed. "Wah? R... Rosalba? Well, she's nice but... I barely know her..." He sighed. Why am I still hiding it? Didn't I tell myself that I would confess back during the battle with that fox?

Serrano snickered. "Well, she seems to like you. I mean, what kind of girl spends all that time waiting for some guy to wake up? I mean, you might be her boss in theory, but she is still a princess."

"Maybe." Tetsu ruffled his long brown hair. "Arg. Maybe you're right. W... what should I do if she confesses?"

Serrano narrowed his silver eyes. "You're asking me? Ask yourself that. What are your feelings toward her?"

I barely knew her, though. But Rosalba has to be the nicest girl I have ever met since Ximena. She speaks to me as her equal. And doesn't fangirl over me because of my looks like other girls usually do. She is also caring and kind—all of the traits I want in a girl. Not to mention that she's cute.

"She's younger than me," Tetsu blurted out.

Serrano chuckled. "Only by four to five years. Plus, she's of age now, so no one will accuse you of liking little girls."

"Yeah... but what could she possibly like in a poor guy like me?" he asked, sliding his hand down the golden rail as we went down the spiral staircase.

Serrano sighed, letting go of him. "Well, it's a similar case with me... My dad might be a prince, but I wasn't born into money either." He patted his cousin's shoulder and smiled slightly. "Anyway, don't force it. It'll be best to let things come naturally."

Tetsu took a deep breath and sighed. Why am I such a coward when it comes to love? Come on, Tetsu, tell Rosa! You can do it!

***

The rest of the day passed by rather quickly. Serrano had helped Tetsuya pick out a black suit with a crimson tie. Nothing too fancy, but good enough, or least he thought it was.

Tetsu stood by the punch bowl as he watched his cousin dance with his fiancée across the colorful floor of the ballroom. The room had a golden shine to it—a product from the light coming down the golden chandeliers bouncing against the ceiling's gold.

Both Setsuko and Serrano were incredible dancers, moving around with the music as if they'd practiced for months. Plus, they looked good together, at least to him.

Tetsuya was distracted by the sound of footsteps. He turned around and saw Eiichi making his way toward him. The spear knight wore a white suit and a golden tie.

"What are you wearing?" Eiichi asked, snickering. "You... you look like a butler!"

Tetsuya adjusted his tie. It was his first time wearing one. Not even during his college interviews did he put one on.

"A suit, or are you blind in addition to deaf?" the shield knight asked with narrowed eyes.

He snickered. "Ahh. I see. So that's what peasants consider as suits." 

Tetsuya grumbled. "Don't you have someplace else to be? If you're a fancy noble then hang out with your fellow fancies and leave this peasant alone."

Eichi scoffed. "Fine. I was planning to anyway." He smiled as soon as he noticed Rosalba making her way toward them, and ran toward her. "Princess! You look mighty fine in that gown. How about you give this humble knight a dance."

She smiled. "Sure. I'll give a humble knight a dance. But while you might be a knight, you aren't humble at all." She walked around him and continued until she stood in front of Tetsuya. "You look dashing today, Tetsu."

Rosalba was dressed in a white dress. The skirt had multiple layers like the petals of a rose—a dress befitting her name.

Tetsuya averted his gaze and held out his hand to her. "Want... want to dance? Uh, not that I'm much of a humble knight myself," he said, scratching his face.

She grinned and took his hand. "Of course!"

"Dancing with a peasant?" Hyosetsu asked as he stood next to the punch bowl."Your choice of a dance partner this time is certainly a downgrade from last time."

Rosalba stared at him. "You mean you? Did you wish to dance with me too?"

Hyosetsu gasped. "I... no," he said, averting his gaze.

Tetsuya scoffed. "Yeah, right. It's obvious that you did."

The raven-haired knight scoffed as his pale skin turned red. "Who asked you?"

He smirked. So, even Hyosetsu had a shy side to him.

"Uh, anyway, how about a drink?" Eiichi asked as he picked up one of the glasses on the table and held it out to Rosa.

Tetsuya took the glass and smiled. "Thanks, I'm famished!"

"Hey! That was for her!" Eiichi yelled, annoyed.

Rosalba chuckled. "Tetsu, don't be rude. Well then, I'll simply grab one for myself."

"Here," Hyosetsu said, offering her one. He averted his eyes, but Tetsuya could see that he was embarrassed.

"Thanks, Hyo!" Rosalba said as she took the glass. She quickly drank the punch and placed the glass down on the table. "Ahh, that hit the spot!"

Hyosetsu snickered as he turned to look at her. "Are you really a princess?"

Tetsuya chuckled. "I have asked the same thing several times now."

"Yeah, she sure didn't strike me as one when we met," Hideo said. The youngest knight was seated on a chair by the punch area. His fingers busily clicked away on a game console. Though he seemed bored and sad. Was he trying to escape the reality of what happened to his siblings?

"I'll admit, she doesn't," Eiichi said, fixing his golden tie as he turned around. "Anyway, let me see who wants to dance." He smiled at Hyosetsu.

"Dream on," Hyosetsu said as he picked up a glass of punch and walked away.

"Hmph, who asked you?" Eiichi snapped before walking away.

Tetsuya snickered as he put his right hand on Rosalba's waist. He tried to mimic Serrano's movements, but he wasn't anywhere near as good. Perhaps he should've asked for some dance lessons.

Rosalba snickered. "Allow me to lead," she said, putting her hand on his waist.

Tetsuya stared at her neck, adorned with a pearl necklace instead of her mother's eight-spoked-wheel amulet.

"What happened to the memento of your mother?" I asked.

She glanced down and smiled nervously. "I gave it back to Setsuko. It's a memento to both of us, so we share it. Though she didn't wear it tonight. Likely afraid that it'll fall off."

"Makes sense. Wouldn't want to lose something so precious."

She nodded happily. "Exactly!"

The hours flew by quickly. Tetsuya didn't even mind being around so many nobles. Not even Eiichi's envious glares could ruin the day for him.

***

Sadly the day had to come to an end within the blink of an eye. Though he wished that it hadn't... at least the last part. He certainly didn't mind time having gone fast while he picked out a suit.

"Thanks for showing me to my room," Tetsuya said, laughing nervously. The time had come. He needed to tell her now or wait until he had another chance.

"No problem. I'm always happy to help. Good night," Rosalba said, putting a hand on his chest. She leaned in and kissing him on the lips. She backed away quickly. "Ah! Sorry."

He avoided looking into her eyes. His face felt like it was on fire. "That's... alright." He turned and opened the door to his room. He quickly turned around. "Hey, Rosa?"

"Hmm?" she asked, looking back.

Tetsuya ran up to her and took her into his arms. The princess gasped as the knight kissed her.

"G-good night, my dear princess," he said, blushing like mad. He felt like he was gonna faint.

The princess stepped back. She also was completely red.

She chuckled and smiled brightly. "Yeah! See you tomorrow, young hero." She rushed off, leaving him alone.

He closed the door and sat down on his bed. He bet that must've been grinning like an idiot, but he didn't care! He and Rosa kissed! Twice!

***

Rosalba walked back to her room after dropping her knight in his place. She had a hand over her mouth, covering up her grin.

"Good, Father doesn't seem to have noticed that I haven't stayed away from Tetsuya yet. Come to think about it, I don't think that I saw him at the ball," she murmured to herself as she stared at her pearl necklace. Her father would probably be furious at her if he discovered that she and Tetsuya had shared not one but two kisses.

She stopped in front of her room and took in a deep breath and shook her head. "Perhaps he wouldn't get mad?" She took in another gasp of air. "Maybe I should just tell him." She touched her head. Suddenly the hall felt as if it were spinning.

I should just sleep on it. Something will come to me.

Suddenly a hand curled around her mouth and pushed her into the room.

"Let go of me!" she yelled, but the hand muffled her voice. She tried to kick whoever grabbed her, but the person blocked and pushed her into the bed.

The princess tried to activate her weapon, but for some reason, it wasn't working. Had the same thing happened to her as Tetsuya in Makkuroyama?

Her eyes widened as she noticed the figure had with him what appeared to be a shield, but she couldn't make out the shape of it...

"Tetsuya?" Rosalba asked before being knocked out.

***

"Let go of me!" Tetsuya heard Rosalba scream, snapping him out of his blissful state. He bolted out of his bed and ran out of the room half-naked.

The hall was long, and her screams had died down as he continued to run. He tried to recall the direction of the scream. Rosalba was in trouble. He had to save her, no matter what it took. He had vowed to do so. He rushed to the closest doors, but the rooms were all empty.

"Rosalba!" Tetsuya screamed.

After five minutes of frantic search, the door to one of the rooms near the end of the hall creaked open. Yet, nothing emerged.

He narrowed his eyes, trying to get a good look at the hand that opened it, but something was off about the shadows around the person.

"Rosalba?" I called out, inching closer. His heart trembled in his chest as he approached the door and held his heart-shaped shield up. "Who are you, and what did you do to Rosalba?"

Suddenly the door behind me shut on its own, and the lights switched on. Lying on the bed was Rosalba, barely covered by the cloth that used to be her dress.

He clenched his teeth together as shadows danced around him, just like how they had during his battles with Eiichi and Satoru.

"Where the heck are you, you bastard! Come out now and fight like a man! Though I'm using that word lightly. Come out, monster! Face me!" He screamed at the top of his lungs.

Suddenly the light switched off, and once more, he was immersed in shadow.

If only I had inherited my father and Takuya's degree of ability when it comes to seeing in the darkness. Where could that monster be hiding? Relax, Tetsu. You need to keep your wits. He could attack and escape if you aren't on guard.

"You shouldn't have intervened with my fun," a voice screeched. It sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite place who in the world it belonged to. It was as if his voice had been distorted by something, or rather someone. It was like... like one of those people in the movies who had been taken over by a demon or malevolent spirit.

"Fun? You call what you did to her 'fun'? You're one sick bastard! I'm going to make ya regret what ya done to her!"

"Are you? You are nothing more than a farm boy. You have no role here."

"Who... are ya? How do ya know who I am?"

The monster snickered like a hyena. "I am the darkness. The darkness that lingers within you."

"The darkness that..." He gritted his teeth. "Cut that bullshit! No way is that true! Now, stop hiding behind the shadows and face me like a man! Though once more, I use that word loosely on ya. Ya a pig. No, worse than a pig. Pigs are cute and funny."

"Tsk. You are an annoying one. I knew that I should've taken care of you before, but I'll fix that up right now!"

The air was knocked out of Tetsuya's lungs as something smacked against his chest. Tetsuya coughed up blood and crumpled to the floor. The scum bag snickered as Tetsuya grasped the false shield. Before he could take the guy's counterfeit Agnes, he was grasped by the neck and thrown into the bed. 

Tetsuya tried to get up, but his body felt heavy. All he could do was watch as the mysterious figure walked toward the door. Like the morning mist, the man vanished.

"Tetsu?" He turned around and looked at Rosalba. Her clothes were ripped, but it didn't seem like the guy had done anything to her.

"It's fine. The guy's gone now," Tetsuya said, giving her a reassuring smile. He gasped and gripped his forehead. The bed and the whole room began spinning. His body felt strange as if insects were coursing underneath his skin.

"I... don't feel so good," she said, pressing her head against his bare chest. "I feel feverish and languish. T-that guy might've poisoned me."

Tetsuya caressed her face and embraced her. "Don't worry, I'm here." He stared at Agnes, now reverted back to its bracelet form, and smiled. "I'll make ya feel better soon..."

He laid his head against her pillows to catch his breath. They were softer than those in his guest room. He closed his eyes.

The shield knight grasped the pillow and forced himself awake. He couldn't afford to sleep. Not while the princess was like this!

"Tetsu..." Rosa wrapped her arms around his waist. Tears rolled down her face.

Tetsuya wiped away the tears and smiled. "It's fine. Don't cry. That guy won't hurt ya now. Ya knight is here. Like I said, I'll make you feel good. Ya better believe it." He leaned in and gave her a kiss on the lips.

 The couple's last traces of consciousness drifted into the darkness of the night...

**Solar Note: This was originally the end to the first book of the series, moved it and the previous one here as they started a new facet of the story.**