Mari’s dream was fading away.

  It wasn’t about the position anymore. Of course, she still fantasized about becoming Shadows Lady. But she, Mari, had started to care about Si.

  The more time she spent with him, the more her heart ached. She wanted him in her life.

  … But Mari felt it all was crumbling.

  She saw the news. Before, it was about him breaking off the engagement. Mari was then as happy as ever. She told her parents about her goal, her dream. The support she received made her feel elevated—as if anything were possible.

  Her father went to Shadows; he wanted to see their territory. Finally, Mari could only comment on it like this. When he came back, he said to her that she was brilliant.

  Of course, she was! Mari knew. She prided herself on being intelligent.

  Her father described what he saw to her mother. Both started to admire her plan and said she would have the full support of the Hal family from now on. Then, they said, her previous doubts about her brother were valid. Finally, this also!

  Mari could not agree more.

  At the end, they recommended a place to look for additional aid. Her parents were already cooperating with a very interesting, Unio-funded company. They also thought about the future in a way Mari thought about it. She was thrilled to learn about it.

  Then, though, she received a message from him. From Si!

  He wrote that he decided to tell her before any news showed up. He corrected the information about his engagement, the alliance contract.

  Si wrote he ended it because he intended to marry soon. He didn’t tell her the name, but what he did write suggested that this woman originated from Shadows.

  Mari’s dream crashed after she read this. She still hadn’t shown it to her parents. Somehow, she didn’t have the courage… how could she have not noticed it before!

  Then, another piece of news.

  The last time they met was only a week ago. Si was exhausted; he said he was training. Then she didn’t understand what exactly. Now she knew.

  Mari saw it; it was everywhere, everybody saw it.

  The news.

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  Si, her Si! Mari wasn’t scared because she knew the person in the costume wasn’t him. She could say immediately. The posture was different, and the mask was placed a bit differently. She knew it was another trick.

  She was not scared. Si was there, of course, as it could only be him to fight with the attackers and win.

  But the assassination, the videos, the pictures—she knew.

  It was Si’s idea; it was another trick. He was so smart!

  The news described the details about the trap. Mari was amazed by the plan. Crystals to lure them out. Shadows warriors prepared. And Si, in the middle of it, assessing his new weapons.

  The assassination mentioned in the news?

  Mari was certain it was Si’s idea to stir the families. She could only say that it worked. His plan worked perfectly.

  The families in Unio were finally asking questions. She could observe the confidence among them was low. Shadows won the fight. The weapon they developed was so efficient and fast that no moons or planets needed to be sacrificed like in the past.

  In the news, there were no details of how it worked.

  Mari was curious but didn’t intend to ask Si. It was for sure dangerous knowledge. She cared about his safety and her own as well. No details about the weapon.

  Just. After this great victory. What was next for her?

  Si, Shadows Young Master, he was being discussed everywhere. He was a celebrity. Unio people still pictured him in his costume, so a bit scary. It fit even, his fight, his weapon. He should appear scary. A handsome young man couldn’t be that powerful, but a ghost-looking Shadow, yes, it was then probable.

  The people in Unio—she recently thought—were very naive.

  Regardless…

  “What now?”

  Her dream was fading away, and she felt hopeless.

  … Once, when they were to meet in the gardens, as usual, Si slept on the bench. He was sleeping there when she arrived. First, she looked. She didn’t wake him up; she didn’t intend to disturb his sleep.

  Si looked so peaceful.

  Then Mari needed to do it. She touched his face slightly. Couldn’t resist. His hair was so stubbornly disheveled, even when she stroked it repeatedly. Eyes closed. Si was breathing slowly.

  She touched his hand.

  To touch his skin was something new to her. Shadows. In Unio it was said they were no longer humans. But the touch. Si was so very human.

  A man.

  Mari couldn’t think of Si in any other way. She touched his skin then; it was a normal touch. He had warm skin. He was normal.

  She looked at him: undisturbed, sleeping. She watched from close. Si had a beautiful face, but also, he was a man. He had muscular arms; he wasn’t a chubby boy, soft and feminine, like most of the boys from Unio.

  Oh, no.

  Si was strong; he was real. A real man.

  She watched, not disturbing.

  … How she liked his face. Especially when smiling and laughing. So handsome. So beautiful. They both would look so great together.

  Mari didn’t comment aloud. But, in her thoughts, it was like hell; her mind was currently full of bad thoughts, possibilities that were not what she wanted to experience.

  She had already been devastated when he said there was a woman he liked. But now?

  Si was a hero!

  Mari felt hopeless. Then, angry. She was aware that her chances were currently nonexistent.

  Suddenly, she had a thought. When earlier they contacted her, she had doubts.

  Her parents recommended that she go and talk. However, Mari didn’t see any reason or need to meet. Why would she need their help? She was loyal. That was the key—to be loyal to Si; it was her only chance; she saw it like this.

  But now, she, Mari, could try. What was wrong with that? Her dream was fading away. All felt dark; no bright future ahead. Her plan was destroyed.

  She decided that she required their help. Mari wrote a message.