Codename: Tsaritsa | A Sequel to "Codename: Childe"

12

"In this war, not even a single pawn shall be spared..."

A crimson, glowing butterfly flew in from the open window and landed on the black chess piece, as you gave a small gasp, and Ajax slapped your leg lightly to keep quiet.

Those were the butterflies you saw in your fight with Signora.

"Because on this chessboard, 'checkmate' is not where the game ends..."

With one hand, he swept up the two glowing chess pieces and with the other he knocked the entire chessboard with the rest of the pieces off the coffin as all the Harbingers jumped.

Even Ajax shuddered a little, as the whole thing smashed onto the floor.

Columbina's eyes fluttered shut from behind her odd looking X-patterned mask, as she dropped to her knees and leaned on Signora's coffin, sighing greatly.

"What a shame..." she muttered under her breath.

Ajax tutted as he crossed his arms, clearly unsatisfied at her dramatic actions.

The old man, who you will later know as Pulcinella, cleared his throat.

"We are gathered here today to remember our dear comrade...".

His voice was gentle, and Ajax seemed to be fond of him, a smile forming on his lips.

"He takes care of Teucer sometimes..." he whispered into your ear.

"In honor of her sacrifice, all work shall halt for a day and a half as the nation mourns her passing..."

"Ha, merely half a day..."

The man with glasses beside you chuckled, as you looked up at him again.

"They say the Northland Bank's true currencies are blood and tears..."

His glasses glinted in the moonlight filtering in from the window, and in that split second, his eyes had landed on you once again, a smirk playing on the corner of his lips.

You shivered.

Arlecchino stepped forward.

"Rosalyne died in a foreign land..." she spoke loudly, her arms crossed.

She didn't look too happy.

She stood right up, her white coat swinging left and right with her sudden movement.

"But you, heartless businessmen and dignitaries, always with a convenient excuse to remain in the comfort of your homeland...!"

She was growing angrier, and you were worried she was going to explode right here in the middle of the ceremony.

"You couldn't hope to understand..."

Her voice grew gentler with that sentence, before raising it even higher than before.

"So why don't you keep your mouths shut!"

She slammed her hands down on the coffin next to Columbina's face, startling her from her mourning position over the coffin.

She hummed a little, her gaze fixing on you and Ajax across the structure, and it was only then that you noticed she had red crosses in both her dark eyes.

"We wouldn't want to make the children cry..."

She smirked.

"Hey, c'mon now!" Ajax said, standing up as well, forcing you up with him as his hands landed on your shoulders and rubbed your collarbone with his index finger.

"Even I don't think this is the right place or time for a fight..." he said, glowering at Arlecchino.

He scoffed.