Kiku quivers and looks about to pass out, as I am stood in the room buck naked with a similarly attired Aria next to me. Doubtlessly we look rather shiny under the lantern light as well.

"Oh shit... Nii's... Aria's... Ayayahyahhh!"

Before Kiku can finish her boiling teapot impression, Seria clouts her round the ear and drags her out, shutting the door.

"Boy, princess, you need to get out of here. There are some guards here to arrest you on the suspicion of murder." Seria says from behind the door.

"Whaaaaaat?!" Aria exclaims.

"If anything, I was the one murdered." I snark.

"Save your jokes, boy. Hah... and get some clothes on for Kinah's sake." Seria continues.

"Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck" Kiku continues under her breath like a curse.

"Yes, they were, Kiku. Now shut up and calm down."

"Awahhhhh..."

The bullying part of me wants to see Kiku's face right now.

But... what? I'm now a fugitive? If Seria didn't mention murder specifically I would have assumed the loli police had caught up with me after all.

However, apparently that proclamation was enough to get me moving, as I'm automatically getting my pants on.

Aria, though, has not moved.

"Elijah, whatever are you doing?" She asks me quizzically.

"Err... getting some pants on so we can escape?"

Aria sighs, slipping on some panties.

"Hello? The girl you were just making sticky is a princess, duhh! I don't have to abide by the law."

Oh.

"Err... even on murder charges?"

She sighs, pulling a noble dress suddenly out of Rishya's little tote bag. That surely shouldn't have fit in there.

"There will be some tiresome protocol, but in a vast majority of cases, I have diplomatic immunity throughout Jeraldine. Although… I feel slightly bad making more work for Leanne. In any case, I'm innocent. I might have felt strange, but I was in control of myself. The only one I attacked was the demon."

I let out a breath of relief. Yeah, I guess we don't have anything to worry about.

"Ugh... my only concern is... it is... ugh!"

There is a pause as she grimaces and steps around strangely.

"It is?" I bite.

She glares.

"...It is how I will be able to friggin' walk properly in a dress when it feels like I'm full to bursting! You asshole!"

Ahaha... oops... maybe I let loose a bit hard.

I grin goofily and she just slaps me round the head.

...

...

...

Aria is pouting as we descend the stairs. I take her hand to help her down.

As reported to us, there is a group of guards in full livery hanging around the bar. The atmosphere in the place is subdued, like they are directly suppressing people's fun, but even the rain and this event hasn't stopped the place from resounding with the clinking of plates and forks.

People dining look up to us as Aria descends the stairs. After all, she is trying to go for a big spectacle here. She boasted to me that normally, even if she sucked at most courtly things, she had mastered 'the walk'.

Apparently it’s very similar to certain spear kata, though, so I don't know if this really constitutes much of an achievement.

Her pout suddenly changes to a resplendent smile as people look at her, and I can't help but feel jealous as she clearly instantly charms some of the men in the room.

I feel like swooning again myself; it’s very much like she has gained a whole new slice of alluring maturity. I guess a girl really does change when that happens.

Funnily enough, I spot Rishya snoring at a table right near us, and Aria does as well, getting a brief eye-twitch before her mask returns.

I'm fairly sure I owe my life and my working hand to her. She was clearly working hard to help if she became that exhausted. I think Aria realises that as well. Maybe I'll give her a kiss later.

The guards stop slouching at the bar. Although they're obviously immaculately well equipped, they don't seem very professional, and I don't sense any danger from them.

"Ugh... how sloppy..." Aria whispers to me as they saunter over.

"Weeelll... it looks lik..." The lead one starts.

"Is there a problem gentlemen?" Aria interrupts. "I do hope there is good reason for this interruption, which I remind you, could be considered a breach of the law of official secrets and treason towards an heir." Her regality is quite impressive at the moment.

The lead guards lip curls into a snarl. He nods back to the lanky man in the rear, who pulls out a scroll, clears his throat, and reads in a loud voice.

"Under the authority of Viscount Charles Remus, Princess Aria Jeraldine, you are to be detained under the third law of noble injunction rights, for the suspicion of the murder of Isaac Remus, third son of Charles, in cold blood."

Aria actually quivers but stays firm. Wait...

"And what evidence do you have of this?"

"Several eyewitness accounts link you to the scene, and note you carrying a body in broad daylight through the streets. To an inn which is rather near the wharf, where his body was found washed up an hour ago."

"Ah..."

They cuff her with shackles.

"Wait!? Aria!?" I exclaim.

"Hehe... ah, sorry Elijah. That would perhaps be one of the exceptions. Even if I am innocent." She grins sheepishly.

"That...! That body was me!" I shout.

Aria shakes her head furiously, but the guards shift glances to me.

"Is that her knight?" The lead guard asks. "Hmm... well, cuff him too!"

Move directly to jail. Do not pass go, do not collect 200 loli's.