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Slaine Troyard sat in a chair inside what he liked to call his glass cage.
He was lost in thought, reflecting on the tangled mess that had been his life. He had been human, then Martian; a knight, a count; nearly the emperor of Mars and for a brief moment, even of Earth. Yet all of that now felt like a distant memory. Now, ironically, he could add 'prisoner' to the list.
At least his days were peaceful. It wasn’t the luxurious bed from his former mansion, but it was… comfortable. Even as a prisoner, he had somehow ended up with elite treatment.
When had he become so selfish? When had he forgotten what really mattered? How had love twisted him so deeply?
He liked to revisit that turning point: when his beloved princess hovered between life and death. From that moment, his only wish had been to destroy those responsible, especially the one who always seemed to trouble her the most: Inaho Kaizuka.
And now that the name floated back to the surface of his thoughts, he realized he was late for his weekly visit. At least one of them had earned a prestigious promotion.
Slaine was beginning to grow bored. Was he being stood up? Inaho was never late, this was highly unusual.
“Maybe he found a girlfriend to keep him busy,” he muttered with a faint smile. “Or finally found eternal peace.”
As if summoned by his thoughts, the doors opened.
“Slaine Troyard,” came the familiar monotone voice.
“Inaho Kaizuka,” Slaine replied without turning around. It was only when he heard the standard announcement of his visitor that he faced the door.
“I thought something serious had happened to make you late. Not that I’d mind.”
That made Inaho smile slightly.
“It wasn’t serious,” he replied. “But it was important.”
Slaine only noticed the object in Inaho’s left hand when he approached and sat down in the chair across from him. He set a small book on the table, black, with a thick cover.
“Must be boring being locked up for so long.”
“And so you came to read to me? How considerate.” Slaine offered a hollow smile.
“That wasn’t the original plan, but if you’d like—”
“Let me tell you a story first,” Slaine cut him off.
Inaho nodded slightly, eyes fixed on him, waiting in silence.
“Once upon a time, in a faraway place called Mars, a capsule crash-landed. Inside was a young Earth-born boy. As he lay on the verge of death, a beautiful girl with blonde hair and striking green eyes came to his rescue. From that moment, he was enchanted by his savior. He was taken in by a Count and protected by the imperial family. But despite that, he was mocked, tortured, and humiliated by the other Counts and Knights. Still, none of that mattered to him. As long as she was by his side, he could endure anything. He truly believed he had found a place where he could be happy.”
Slaine paused for a moment, watching Inaho carefully, perhaps to see if he was really listening.
And he was. Inaho sat silently, fully attentive, as if for the first time, the boy in front of him was finally letting his guard down.
"One fateful day," Slaine continued, "he received the worst news of his life, his princess had died. He begged to be allowed to see her, but was denied. So, he went on his own. When he found her alive and well, relief and joy washed over him. She was still there, someone who might love him for who he truly was. He wanted to bring her back home, but someone else was already protecting her. So, he returned empty-handed and for that, he was cruelly punished. Still, he didn’t lose hope. He swore he’d go back for her, no matter the cost.”
Slaine stopped suddenly for a few seconds.
"And he did. He came back. But instead of allies, he found betrayal. He fought someone he once thought would stand at his side, perhaps foolishly. He returned with his princess gravely wounded. And though he hadn't completed his mission, he left a permanent mark on his rival. With the girl lingering between life and death, the boy devoted himself entirely to saving her. He rose through the ranks, gained power, loyal allies, and finally had a place to call home. For a moment, he believed he'd found where he truly belonged. But somewhere along the way, he lost himself. And in the blink of an eye, everything crumbled. Even his beloved princess was gone."
Slaine smirked, his expression tinged with sorrow. Perhaps Inaho felt a flicker of guilt.
“And still... no happy ending.”
Inaho watched him for a long moment.
"It reminds me of a story," he said, picking up the book and flipping through its pages. "It’s well-known. Maybe you’ve heard it." He stopped flipping and looked up. “There are quite a few similarities to yours.”
Slaine waited, expecting Inaho to show him the story. But instead, Inaho just gave him a small, unreadable smile. Was he mocking him?
Their eyes locked. Without realizing it, the two had begun a silent battle of wills.
“Well, time's up,” Inaho said, standing from his seat and placing the book gently on the table. He walked toward the door, pausing just before opening it. “I hope the protagonist of the story finds his happy ending soon.”
He smiled, then walked out.
Slaine watched him the entire time. His gaze drifted down to the book left behind. Moments later, the guards entered to escort him back to his cell.
Outside, Inaho found Yuki waiting for him as usual.
“And that’s how the ugly duckling joined his family and lived happily ever after,” he said quietly, just loud enough for his sister to hear.
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” she said, casting him a sideways glance. “Though doing reckless things is pretty normal for you.”
“Maybe this is the most dangerous mission I’ve ever taken on.”
“If you say so.”
Yes, maybe he wasn't exactly a duckling. But the transformation was the same. From bat to seagull… and maybe, just maybe, Inaho Kaizuka would be the one to show him what it truly meant to become a beautiful swan.
Those aquamarine eyes, once dulled by despair, were beginning to shine again. A spark of life had returned. Something had begun. And now it was time to draw the bird closer… and protect it himself.
Yes, this was the most dangerous mission he’d ever undertaken. And if his calculations were right, the real battle would begin very soon.
Not that he needed his analytical engine this time, because that war was already half-won.
Back in the silence of his cell, the boy with aquamarine eyes opened the book. It fell open to a specific page, and a folded sheet of paper slipped out. He carefully unfolded it, then began flipping through the rest of the pages, searching for something.