Though ahe would prefer spending her time with Yamato, Yuki went to check on Carina, who had been faithfully taking care of the church according to Yuki's instructions. With her being an angel, Yuki had little problem altering details about Carina's previous religion over time, such as the new central divinity being Yamato, supported by Yuki and Amael as his apostles. What at first had been but an idea only adored by Yuki, had now become a genuine, wide spread religion across town thanks to Carina's daily sessions. The town felt so safe with their god-figure Yamato present, that one would not be able to guess that they were currently at war based on the mood of the people outside. However, admiring how far her religion had grown was not the only reason Yuki came to visit. Carina was, as far as Yuki was concerned at least, her only friend. One she enjoyed drinking tea with and just talk to.
"I'm so happy that we can spend some time together. I'm sure you have enough going on as it is, seeing as you are our only real means of defense…"
"Don't you worry about any of that, you little cutie! Yamato believes the war to come to an end very soon. And we have to listen and believe in our emperor, have we not~?"
"I suppose so…! I heard there was a huge battle right outside town, and that you were hurt though…"
"Pft, that's greatly exaggerated! I was barely scratched, really. I merely lost consciousness for a bit, but luckily I was saved by Yamato~ Isn't that romantic? Isn't it!?"
"It does sound like straight out of a fairytale! You seem very happy about it too."
"Well, duh. Of course I'm happy I was saved."
"But would you describe it to me with such excitement if you had been saved by someone else?"
"Are you implying something…"
"We've had this conversation before, have we not?"
"Nuh uh."
"Yes we did! You shouldn't have to hide your feelings from anyone. I told you last time too, and will tell you again, that you have my full support! Don't you want to hold hands, be close… and stuff… You know!"
"Well…"
"Ah, if only you knew the stuff I already do with him… But… I suppose,holding hands in public would be amazing…~ But it doesn't really fit with either of our personas… Or does it?"
"Say, if I were to organize a big event or something, you'd help with that, right?"
"Of course! But… What kind of event are you thinking?"
"I'm not sure yet… But I will tell you when I think of something specific."
"Please do! I'm always here if you need anything else."
"Well, I better go now. But you come to me if there's anything you need too. Bye, bye~"
"I will, Yuki. Goodbye!"
Leaving the Cube to go look for inspiration, she began walking through town. It was the first time she went out like that by herself, so it felt a little weird. Usually she would be on a date with Yamato, or be looking for something specific. So just aimlessly wandering around made her surroundings seem surprisingly… Uninteresting.
A bench on the side of the road, what purpose did it even serve if not for her and Yamato to sit in it while learning against each other? A small restaurant, which only opened after their take over, how could they be happy serving customers when she and Yamato were not having a romantic date in it? A water fountain, which seemed to perform a redundant act of shooting water in the air, without serving as background noise for a romantic moment with passionate eye contact. Though, it reminded Yuki that Petrisha had earlier mentioned one as she reported about Phoebe. Looking closer at the water fountain, she understood how a child might come to admire it. Though she herself could not find herself feeling anything while looking at it. No inspiration, nor even the slightest interest in its history or the likes. It did however make her thoughts zero in on Pheobe, who should have woken up by now. Assuming her naps are regular naps, and not slothful, half day long naps, which would not be all that surprising now that she thought about it. It was then, when she head music come from the main street that was not too far from the water fountain, which was something she had not encountered at all in this world as she now realized, and so she went to check it out. Apparently, she was not the only one drawn to it, as a large crowd had formed around where the music originated. The melody of a piano was one she personally found to be especially striking, because of how versatile it was. The calm rhythm could change in an instance to one of panic, as well as express a dread unlike any other. The pianist seemed to be inside a carriage, which Yuki could not help but find a creative way to move around as a street performer. Though, the talent the pianist displayed would surely land them a permanent place to play if they so desired, which made her wonder what the problem was. Maybe they did not want to? But then she decided she did not care enough about it to ask them directly or think about it any further. Though, it was at least a bit inspiring. Maybe she would play music as well? Maybe Yamato would, if she asked him to or on his own accord? Though, she still did not know how exactly an event where they would both play together would help her advance their public perception to a romantic one.
As the play ended the crowd rose into applause. Though Yuki refused to clap for anyone aside from Yamato, she found it to be an objectively entertaining performance. So she threw a gold coin in a hat sticking out of the carriage and went on her way back to the cube, wondering how Yamato felt about this kind of thing. After all, when they had just met, he would often talk about yearning for entertainment. Though by now that desire seemed to have been satisfied by most likely herself, the thrill of leading a war and being worshiped by an entire town. It still made her wonder if he would have enjoyed the performance, or maybe the theater.
Now in Yamato's office, she threw himself on his lap and snuggled up to him despite him writing something on a piece of paper, which of course was interrupted by that. But she got head pats anyway.
"Boo, you'll never guess what I just came across~"
"What was it?"
"A street performer. They played the piano!"
"That's an unusual instrument for a street performer… I'd imagine they have a carriage or something to travel with it."
"No fair, I was gonna tell you about that in a moment! But yes, they did have a carriage. But what I was wondering, do you like that kind of thing?"
"I guess… I enjoy watching people play all kinds of instruments, or just performing in general. Why do you ask?"
"Hmm… No reason! Wat'cha doing?"
She gave him a kiss on the cheek before turning to his desk to inspect what he was doing before she arrived.
"It's a letter to the Holy Empire of Humanity. I'm asking them to hand over all of their land and recourses to me by the end of the month, so in six days."
"No way they'd agree to that, boo… Want me to force them?"
"No need, but thank you. You already won me the war, so you just lay back and relax for a bit more."
"Well, if offered like that, I might just help myself…"
She leaned back against him and put his arms around her waist, making herself comfortable enough to stay there for the foreseeable future. Though, she would gladly stay like this even if physically uncomfortable.
"You know… That's not really what I meant…"
"Mhm~… Was it not~? Silly me… Well, I guess there's nothing to be done about it now. So you might as well go along with it, no~?"
She looked up at him and cupped his face, slowly moving her head closer to his. Just when she was about to reach his lips with hers, a knock in the door interrupted them.
"Urgh… We are busy!"
"Just come in…"
"What, no way…?"
As the door slowly opened, Petrisha carefully entered followed by a for her standards energetic Pheobe.
"I apologize for the intrusion, Master and Mistress…"
Looking at the ground, Yuki's annoyed gaze made Petrisha feel a incomprehensible feeling of dread, to which she was almost used to by now.
"Trishy, that's at least 300… I will be seeing you later…"
"…Yes, Mistress…"
Though Phoebe remained oblivious to this exchange, and with many small steps ran up to the two with something hidden behind her back.
"Yamato, look, Pheobe made these for you…!"
She held up two flower crowns, which were barely holding together, and looked at them with big eyes. Yamato carefully took one and put it on his head.
"Aw, did you make these for us?"
"Pheobe did it almost all by her self! But misses maid was also helping her a bit…"
"Thank you, Phoebe, they look very beautiful. Don't they, Yuki?"
"Hm… They sure do. Great job, Pheobe. What prompted you to make these for us?"
"Thank you! Pheobe will become the queen of flowers! Because flowers make people happy! Except orange flowers…"
"Well, we'll be sure to only wear flower crowns made by you then~! Wouldn't want to get any with orange flowers in them after all."
"That's right! Pheobe will protect you! But… Pheobe is also confused about the way you are working… Aren't there enough chairs for everyone, so you have to share one?"
"Oh, that… Uhm… All the other near by chairs were orange, you see?"
"Oh… Then Pheobe understands."
"Also, this is how people sit that are very close!"
"Really!? Pheobe wants to be really close too!"
She tried climbing up on the chair, which proved more difficult then first thought since it was already a bit crammed with just Yuki and Yamato on it. So Yuki helped her by picking her up and placing her on her own lap, while remaining on Yamato's.
"There, there…"
"Isn't she just the epitome of cuteness??"
Not so surprisingly by now, she fell asleep only moments after. After which Petrisha spoke again.
"Now that she's asleep, her present was actually not the only reason why we came…"
"We're all ears, Trishy.", Yuki said enjoying Yamato's head pats, while Pheobe clung to her.
"There has been a sudden development in the southern Elven Empire, also known as Great Naru Empire. Apparently, there has been a quop lead by a minister that goes by the name Masami Ryo, and the former royal family is currently on the run. Miss Lucy will be providing you with more details as soon as possible. However, I believe there could be a correlation to our recent victory against the Holy Empire of Humanity."
"Hey, Boo, don't we know that name from back then?"
"Yeah… So it really did turn out this way… Though I never planned to get involved with it, I suppose I would have to deal with it eventually… Thank you for informing us so quickly Petrisha."
"Yeah, good job, Trishy! For that, you get -50, so only 250 later!"
"T-thank you, Mistress…"