Wall of Rose, the old Survey Corps Headquarters, underground prison.
Mina and Chen Si, dressed in his Marshal's uniform, walked slowly into the prison corridor. A red Wings of Freedom cloak hung down his back. Apart from Queen Historia, only he, as Marshal, wore a red cloak.
Mina had wanted to visit Annie, so Chen Si had agreed to let her come along.
"Annie, why did you insist on joining that Marleyan Warrior unit? Your superiors haven't even come to rescue you. You've never been the type to meddle in other people's business, so why risk your life for Marley?
"The man you like is the Imperial Marshal now. The women who admire him could form a line from the Royal Capital all the way to the outer face of Wall Maria. Though rumor has it Chen Si is already with Her Majesty the Queen, which would make him the prince consort too. Oh, you really missed out on a good man." Hitch spoke to Annie inside the hardening crystal, almost as though she were talking to herself.
"Marshal!" the two guards stationed in the corridor shouted in unison.
Chen Si raised a hand and swept an electric arc over the two soldiers, clearing the grime from their bodies.
"Thank you, Marshal!" the two guards said excitedly.
"Marshal?" Startled, Hitch turned around to find Chen Si already standing behind her.
"Chen... Marshal," Hitch called out. Instinctively nervous, she touched her face to check whether her makeup had smudged.
"Hi, Hitch." Mina greeted her, giving her a puzzled look.
Chen Si nodded to Hitch and walked straight over to Annie's hardening crystal. He pressed his hand against its surface, his eyes blazing blue. Electric arcs wrapped around his hand, and with what seemed like a gentle downward press, the hardening crystal