The drumming of fingers caught Robin's attention as he didn't notice Marx was in the meeting room with him at all. He was staring out the window at his people as they when out and about for today.

Robin often wonder what the people thought of him now. That he was a monster? Because of some decision he is forced to make?

He would often think of his lost daughter. Wishing he could have ever seen her grow up, get married, and start a family. The only wish he had for as a father.

But, it was all taken away from him on the day of his wonderful daughter's birth. Robin would never forget the one and only time holding his baby princess.

Light and gentle in his arms like a tiny angel. He could still feel the shape of her in his arms. The invisible shape of a lost child.

"Emperor Robin, can I have your attention?"

Robin then snapped his attention back to the pale and stricken face of Marx, the devil in human form. (To Robin)

Robin cleared his throat before facing Marx completely, "Yes you can. Sorry, King Marx."

"Don't bother. I have a request of you to answer for me here and now."

Robin tensed, Marx request were never good, "Very well. What is it?"

Marx rose from his seat as he paced back and forth behind his chair, "I believe I can help find the lost forgot princess."

Robin heart flipped for a moment. A moment of hope and disbelief.

"How can you find my daughter? You've never seen her as she was taken five hours after her birth. No other royal family was there to see her."

"Ahh! That's the picture to the dear situation my dear old friend!"

Robin gave him a look at the thought of being this man's 'friend'. Marx saw and shook it off his shoulder, "What I would need you to do, it let me take your shadow!"

Robin froze in confusion. Trying to read Marx face over for tricks, "Take my shadow? Is that even possible?"

"Oh yes sir!"

Marx reached down and grabbed his own shadow. It shifted just like how someone would grab a lose piece of clothing. Slowly, he took it out of his being as it formed into a small mass of a dark ball.

"What a beauty magic is. I would never live without it."

"Magic..." Robin repeated. He had never seen magic himself before as mages were rare now these days because magical blood was never easy to pass down.

"Yes Emperor Robin, magic. It's beautiful art piece with a dangerous deal. All it needs is your shadow."

Robin sighed deeply. The very essence of his whole body shook with anger, but with hope at the thought of his daughter still alive and come back. Making it a complete family.

He knew Marx couldn't be trusted. But, magic is powerful enough to bring people back from the dead. If it can do that, then why can't it bring his lost daughter back?

He was going to say No to Marx, until he remember sweet Amber's face. He hasn't really seen her happy ever since that day. He knew the smile she wears was fake. They knew each other since the age of five.

Robin sighed once again only dragging his hand down his face. A headache starting to come to him.

"Okay. I agree to your deal of bring back my daughter."

Marx laughed darkly as he when to shake hands with Robins. This was his big moment to him. Robin hesitatingly pulled back as Marx gave him an annoyed look.

"Only if you bring her back on the day of her sixteenth birthday. Which will be in five days from now."

Marx growled as his finger twisted in his palms, "That's impossible! No one even with the highest level of magic can do that!"

"Then I guess we don't have a deal."

Marx growls deep and dangerously. His eyes glaring into his soul like a snake looked at it prey for food.

"Fine. I'll find the lost princess in due time. But, I will have your shadow then."

Robin nods his head as a single strand of gray hair could be seen, "You have my word, King Marx."

Marx bowed to Robin himself, "I shall dismiss myself now, Emperor Robin."

Marx stood back up as he slammed the door behind him. A portrait of a young boy in a sailor outfit holding a sailboat rocked at the slamming of the door.

Robin sighed and look back out the window and looked down at the happy faces of people when he himself had to wear a mask to be happy... happy for his kingdom.