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Lily, in her distraught state, slumped down on a chair in the corner, holding her head in her hands as tears began drifting down her cheeks.
[color=fff200]”Why…Why wasn’t I there for him? The one moment we’re not together…”[/color]
However, as she heard Pentius-04 reassure her, if a bit awkwardly, Lily took a shaky breath, and wiped her tears with her forearm. She lifted her eyes to look up at her friends, like Connie and Mia, and she managed to smile a bit as they voiced their support to finding him. Alicia logically pointed out that Mariette was capable of finding him, and Lily agreed.
[color=fff200]”Yeah, just like when I was kidnapped by Justy!”[/color]
She then listened as Angel posed a question that caused the gears in the usually ditzy girl’s head to turn.

[color=fff200]”Yeah, that must be-”[/color]

[color=bc8dbf]”No, that’s impossible."[/color]
Justine spoke as she entered the apartment again, surprising Lily.

[color=fff200]”Justy? Didn’t you go search for your Mistress with the others?”[/color]

[color=bc8dbf]”I was about to leave, yes, but I noticed you freak out at the park, Lily, and I know you need someone level-headed at a time like this to drag you back to reality."[/color]

[color=fff200]”But what about-”[/color]

[color=bc8dbf]”I’ll be back to my search in a moment. But first, you need to calm down, Lily: who would actually benefit from capturing Alex? Not the Mint, based on how Chloe is here to curry our favor. This must be the Wonderland Queen’s doing."[/color]

Lily blinked.
[color=fff200]”Well, then we can just have Mariette bring us to Wonderland to save-”[/color]

[color=bc8dbf]”And I’m telling you to calm down, Lily!"[/color] Justine shouted while holding Lily by the shoulders. As Lily was stunned into silence, Justine blushed, and let go.

[color=bc8dbf]”Sorry for that. Anyway, this is clearly a trap of some kind. Unlike the time when, ahem, I nabbed you, this time the Queen must know that Mariette is capable of Absolute Direction. So she must be using Alex to lure us into an ambush. Also, you’re forgetting something important, Lily: Alex didn’t rush in, he prepared for your rescue beforehand. He managed to help assemble a mighty warship, somehow managed to bestow it with invulnerability, and gathered a powerful group to assault my hidden lair. Now, we need to do as much, if not even more, preparation if we are to have a chance at rescuing him. You understand that, right Lily?"[/color]

Lily looked down at the floor, her hands gripping her knees as she gradually calmed down with deep breaths.
 
[color=fff200]”Y-You’re right, Justy. I…I wasn't thinking. Alex usually keeps me grounded, hah…"[/color] She gave an awkward laugh. Justine could only shake her head with closed eyes and a knowing smirk.

[color=bc8dbf]”That’s fine.”[/color] She looked over to Chloe, and noticed how she was offering the contract for people to sign.
[color=bc8dbf]”Looks like she and Penny have arrived at a compromise.”[/color]
Lily nodded, and took one last look at the contract before she signed her name on it, followed by Justine doing the same. Once Chloe left, Lily noticed how everyone was now looking at her. She stood up, and then glanced at Justine, who nodded reassuringly. She closed her eyes for a moment, before opening them again as she addressed the crowd.

[color=fff200]”E-Everyone…"[/color] She put a hand to her chest, as she felt her heart beating.
[color=fff200]”I know Wonderland must seem scary. They have lots of magic, lots of weapons, and lots of magical weapons. B-But we can’t let them march into Penrose just like that! We’re taking the fight to their turf! We’re going to destroy those eggs, and we’re going to rescue Alex and Brittany! But to do that, we all need to prepare in what ways we can, okay? Magic, weapons, information...We're going to need everything."[/color] She lifted a raised fist into the air.
[color=fff200]”Let's do as much as we can in two days! Then…Let’s save Penrose!"[/color] She cheered with a jump.
[color=fff200]”That is all for this meeting, but let’s stay in touch. If anyone still needs my contact information, please let me know!"[/color]

[hr]
Alex successfully hid the scroll case he was given on his person before the Queen arrived. She was amused by his question. 
“Why, of course. What else would I give my darling daughter on her very first unbirthday party? And you will make for a perfect one, especially once we correct that horrendous posture of yours.” However, the Queen’s smile faded as she seemed to stare at him for a moment longer than was comfortable. 
“Hmm…You’re hiding something, aren’t you?” The Queen mused out loud, and snapped her fingers. “Search the cell and pat him down.”
Alex saw how the Duchess behind her momentarily blinked, before she resumed her poker face as the guards got to work and entered Alex’ cell to thoroughly search it, one of them aiming a shotgun in his direction at all times as the other combed through the cell.
“Lift your arms,” one of the guards ordered him, and he was patted down his sides: however, they failed to notice the contraband tucked in his underwear.
“He’s clean, Your Majesty,” the guards afterwards reported after exiting and closing the cell. 
Fortunately, the Queen seemed to let it go this time, her eyes once again lingering uncomfortably long on Alex’s gaze.
“Very well then. Duchess, come with me,” she spoke as she brusquely walked away. 
“The time has come to talk of many things! Of shoes and ships and sealing wards! Of potatoes and princesses! Why the sea is boiling hot, and whether pigs have wings!”
“Of course, Your Majesty,” the Duchess answered as she turned to follow, but not before giving a wink at Alex. Once the strange retinue left, Brittany breathed a sigh of relief in the next cell. “Phew, that was close. I was afraid we were going to lose our heads there.”