The director of the RBA, Leopold, was talking with two of his best agents.
Martine and Pierre.
"Hmm, so there is no new news on the Clamori. It's interesting."
"Whoever they are, they've stopped operating since the great cleansing." Martine joked, "Maybe we got 'em all."
Pierre scoffed.
"Fat chance, a group like that, they're bound to still be operating. But they may have left the kingdom."
Leopold crossed his arms with a sigh.
"I'm inclined to agree, the question is, where could they've gone?"
Before he could get an answer, an agent peered her head through the door.
"Uh, sir… Her Majesty is here."
Leopold and his agents snapped to attention.
Charlotte strode into the office with a wide grin and bounce in her step.
And behind her was D'élite Donna.
Leopold's eyes widened in panic.
"Oh no."
Donna grinned with her sharp, toothy smile.
But said nothing.
"Leopold, a moment of your time?"
Charlotte asked, her voice calm with an underlying urgency.
Leopold eyed Donna suspiciously.
"Alone?"
Charlotte nodded, "Yes, yes, I won't let her harm you."
Leopold breathed a sigh of relief, before gesturing towards his personal office.
He opened the door, stepping inside.
She followed, closing the door.
Now Donna and the two royal blades stood alone.
"So," Martine began, hand on her hip with a teasing grin.
"How have things been, besides you terrorizing our boss I mean."
Donna leaned against a wall, crossing her arms with feigned indifference.
"Besides terrorizing your boss? Please, you agent types are all the same, well… except for Leopold."
Pierre took a seat at the long conference table, resting an elbow on it.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Are you in love with him?" Martine teased, resting her arms around Pierre's shoulders.
Donna barely glanced at the duo.
"Drop the interrogation before I drop you."
"Oooh, big words from the D'élite, I gotta say that's an interesting fight."
"Do you seriously think you could beat me?"
"Maybe."
Donna laughed.
"I'm trained for war. You hide in the shadows like cowards, we are not the same."
Martine giggled.
"I think we hit a nerve."
Donna's grin twitched, but before she could retort, the office door opened.
Leopold emerged, pointing at the two agents.
"You two have just been reassigned to serve her highness, effectively immediately."
"Which one?"
"Princess Elizabeth, you'll be debriefed within the hour."
Martine jumped up excitedly.
"Finally, a change of scenery with some real danger and thrill."
Charlotte chuckled.
"I'll leave all the details to you then."
She then waved, before turning to leave.
Donna however, didn't follow.
Instead, she eyed Leopold with a growing hunger.
Leopold audibly cleared his throat.
"Your majesty, I think you're forgetting something."
But Charlotte didn't respond.
In the blink of an eye, Donna was across the room.
Papers fluttered in her wake, while the two agents watched in amazement.
Donna had stolen a deep, passionate kiss, her arm wrapped around his back.
Leopold struggled at first, but eventually gave in with a sigh.
When it was over, Donna let him go, fixing his coat with a happy smile.
"Ah, that wasn't so bad, was it?"
Leopold glared at her.
"You're a brute, and were it not so I'd have you arrested."
Donna laughed softly.
"Maybe some other time."
Martine and Pierre watched with wide eyes.
"Aww."
Donna sighed, flipping the two agents off before leaving.
She walked away, swaying her hips.
Leopold watched with a faint blush, before turning towards his office.
"Come on, you need to be debriefed."
"Director, is Donna your girlfriend?"
Martine teased, poking his back.
"You're on the thinnest of ice."
Leopold muttered.
"Good thing I can skate."
— — —
While Charlotte prepared to send everything requested, Elizabeth had scoped out the perfect building.
It was an old warehouse on the outskirts, abandoned since the war.
Its brick walls were stained and windows broken, but the structure was surprisingly solid.
Alexander smacked the wall twice, grinning.
"It's a fixer-upper, for sure." He said, stepping towards Elizabeth.
"But it has the potential to give Henry Ford a run for his money."
Elizabeth giggled, "I don't know who that is, but I think you're right, my love."
Hinata tapped her chin at the comment, tilting her head.
She remembered Charlotte had mentioned that same name when she created the assembly line.
It must be a local phrase, she thought.
— — —
The following days blended into a flurry of activities.
True to his word lord Engel had the deed transferred to Elizabeth almost overnight.
After that, Elizabeth organized a small crew of laborers to clean the place up.
Then men were suspicious at first.
But after being paid the first real money they've seen in years, they complied.
Alexander was put in charge of the cleanup, where his leadership was put on full display.
He had two teams of six working in tandem, so that work was being done 24/7.
Two weeks later the first shipments arrived from the Ambur kingdom.
It was most of the personnel and some equipment.
Two individuals were escorted by Hinata and brought directly to Elizabeth and Alexander in their makeshift office.
"Your highness, Alexander," Hinata announced, stepping inside.
"These are special agents Martine and Pierre of the RBA. They're in charge of protecting all sensitive assets, including you."
Alexander blinked.
He remembered these agents, who rescued him from the demon continent.
And from the grin Martine held, she remembered him too.
"It's a pleasure to be acquainted with you."
She winked, Hinata continued.
"The remaining personnel are on the factory floor, preparing the layout for the machinery."
Elizabeth nodded.
"Splendid, we'll be down immediately."
Hinata led everyone down the creaking metal steps towards the factory floor.
Amburian engineers filled the space.
Dressed in crisp overalls and speaking in technical jargon.
"We'll need to reinforce the foundation here…"
"…yeah, that's the best place for the stamping presses."
Noticing Elizabeth, the chief engineer walked over and bowed.
"Your highness, the preliminary survey is complete."
Despite his youthful appearance the man spoke with a gravelly voice.
"I estimate we can begin initial production in a few months, given a lack of complications. Of course, I prefer not to make promises, as it's best to always measure twice and cut once."
Alexander stepped forward, "I'm curious, where will we get the power and supplies from, no one has brought that up."
The engineer smirked.
"Sir, you do realize your girlfriend is the princess? I assume the resources will come straight from the Royal mines."
Alexander's expression fell.
"Oh."
The engineer continued, "As for power, we've brought our own."
The engineer pointed towards several tarp-covered crates.
"Steam engines, the backbone of the Amburian economy."
Alexander nodded.
"I see."
Elizabeth looped her arms with his, squeezing his hand. "Oh Alex, isn't our future bright?"
Our future… or yours?
Alexander forced a smile.
"Yeah, I can't wait."