Chapter 89

What the Veil Hides (ベールが秘めるもの, Bēru ga Himeru Mono) is the 89th chapter of the To Your Eternity manga.

Summary
In a flashback, a young Messar plays Mills with a veiled girl. Messar questions the girl why she covers her face. The girl explains that her mother told her those who will become princesses must place a veil between herself and trust. She guesses it means "don't open your heart." Messar asks if she's gonna become Queen someday and she says yes and that whoever marries her will become King. She then asks him if he only plays with her everyday because he wants to become King. Messar simply replies that wouldn't be half bad. She then warns him that being King is tough because they always have to put the people first. Messar realizes he lost the game.

The girl then offers to give him a chance to get what he wants. Only if he can win a game against her, she'll give him one thing no matter what it is. Suddenly a maid calls out to her and scolds her for playing with servant children.

Princess Alma, in the present, snaps out of her thoughts about the pass to some civilians proposing a city defence plan to her. She quickly says the plan is fine but is soon interrupted by Messar. Messar says their plan to attack the Nokkers outside would work, but he points out that they have no plan for what to do when the Nokkers show up inside. A man questions how Messar got in and Princess Alma steps in and says he's her old friend. She then asks Messar what he wants.

Messar once again asks for the blueprints of the underground but she denies him this saying he still hasn't earned it. She tells him most of the castle calls them conjurers, especially since they erected a building in a single night. She questions what sort of trickery they did. Messar says he can't tell her and that he doesn't trust her either. She responds back saying she won't allow him to forget their past friendship. Messar questions their friendship when she couldn't even show him her face. He then says they'll just grab an engineer to do it their way and Princess Alma doesn't respond.

At night in the town, Fushi is busy tearing down buildings. Kai writes some calculations down and then tells Bonchien that things aren't looking too good. He explains that he did some quick math and figured out that they won't be finish in three months time at the current rate they're going at. Kai advises they should work during the day too to speed things up. Bonchien protests saying that spectators come out in droves during the day. However, Kai suggests they put the civilians to work by making them tear down their own homes so Fushi can focus on just recreating the buildings.

Hairo thinks aloud that they should put the soldiers in charge since not everyone in the city is cooperative. He quickly scratches out the idea since earning the soldier's trust is taking some time. Cam apologizes and says the troops are hard-headed. Bonchien questions who Cam is and Hairo introduces him and explains that he accidentally told Cam everything, thus he's keeping Cam close by so he doesn't tell anyone. Bonchien sighs and wonders what they should do and Kai suggests talking to the Princess again. Bonchien asks Messar to do something since he and the Princess used to be close friends. Messar responds apathetically that he doesn't know and Bonchien begs him for a clear answer. Just then, Fushi exits the tarp and announces he's finished rebuilding. Kai tells him it took him twelve minutes to complete and asks him to reduce his time by half. Messar quickly jumps up and tells Kai to forget about that and teach him how to win at Mills. Kai agrees to while Fushi complains that Messar should focus on work instead of games. Messar gets up in Fushi's face and tells him to shut up and to not tell him, an adult, how to do his job. Kahaku suddenly appears behind them, with Iddy, and clarifies that Fushi is at least 233 years older than him, making Messar the "kid." Messar brushes Kahaku off and whispers to Fushi that next time he'll take Fushi to somewhere really nice. Kahaku tells everyone they should have dinner and to rest up.

Kai and Messar eat outside (while playing Mills) while the rest of the team eats indoors. Bonchien apologizes to Fushi and tells him Messar always had a foul mouth. Fushi questions how and why Bonchien has a friend like that. Bonchien explains that he wanted to push Messar into making a proper effort so that he can become King. Fushi scoffs and says there's no way someone like him can become King. Cam chimes in and says he's heard a rumor that Messar was a child of a servant or prostitute. He doubts the rumor as he thinks about how Messar lives a pretty prosperous life, always going in and out of the castle. Bonchien says he doesn't know which parts are fact or fiction but clarifies that Messar is indeed a nobleman of some kind.

Bonchien describes how twenty years ago at his mother's exclusive tea parties held every summer, that is where he met Messar. Young Messar asks if Bonchien is gonna become King and Bonchien excitedly confirms. Bonchien asks the question back and Messar says he doesn't know, then he changes topics and suggest they fight. Bonchien says they were the same age so they took to each other pretty quickly.

One summer, Bonchien asks Messar about how the youngest child in the Renril royal family takes the throne. Messar confirms and Bonchien asks if that means whoever marries Princess Alma will become King. Bonchien suggests that since he's close to the Princess he could become King. However, Messar responds apathetically. Young Bonchien then tells him to hang in there and to make their kingdoms become best friends in the future.

Bonchien concludes his story by saying that although Messar only gave him vague answers, but he could tell Messar's heart is deeply concerned about the royal family. And that he talks apathetically about the Princess because he's so close to her. Fushi blankly responds that Messar's in the "friend-zone" and heads back to work. The next day, Messar arrives at the castle and asks Princess Alma to play a game of Mills with him. He reminds her of her promise to him when they were little; how she would grant him any wish if he beats her in a game. Princess Alma finally steps out of her curtain and joins him for a game. Messar sets it up on the floor and they both sit down. Princess Alma asks him what he would ask for if he wins and Messar responds that he simply wants her trust.

Meanwhile, Fushi, as Booze Man, is taking a nap on some building rubble to which he's waken up by some civilians. One asks if Fushi minds moving so they can clear the rubble and another informs him that they've teared down a house and ask for him to come check it out. Fushi notices many civilians helping with the project being guided by Renril's troops.

Fushi finds Bonchien and asks him what's going on. Bonchien explains that apparently Messar made a bet with the Princess. Princess Alma arrives and tells Messar not to get conceited because he won one game against her. And says that she simply fulfilled a childhood promise, whereas true trust must be built up over time. Messar goes up to her and blows on her veil, revealing her face. She quickly tries to cover her face and runs away while asking what he thinks he's doing. At the same time, Messar comments that she's pretty cute.

Messar turns to Bonchien and tells him he wants to protect her. He finally confesses that the reason he's working with them is because he has no power inside the castle. He can never become King because the current King chose Princess Alma's mother and reveals that he and the Princess are half-siblings. Messar tells Fushi and Bonchien that the Princess doesn't know the truth and he doesn't plan on telling her. He says he wants to stay as close to her as possible since if her father and brother die, he'll be the only one left to protect her.

Fushi asks if Messar likes the Princess and he laughs and tells Fushi not to be stupid. He sarcastically responds with "who even knows?"

Chapter Notes

 * We learn about Messar's and Princess Alma's backstory.
 * Messar wins a bet against Princess Alma and she gives him her "trust" and commands the troops and civilians to help Fushi and the Immortal Army.
 * Princess Alma is fully revealed in this chapter.