"She'd see this as an excuse to throw my stepsisters at you-try to marry them off to a rich prince, y'know? She'd probably separate me from you-she's already itching for an excuse to get rid of me-maybe she'll sell me off the draft or somethin'-tell you I "volunteered to help my country!" or some crap. And even if she doesn't find out about you, more money just means more that she takes."
"Akira-as far as they know, I don't have any friends. And it wouldn't be safe for me to stay with you while the queen was there-she HATES cyborgs-laws in Rusaya are stricter than they are here, and that's saying something. And especially if she figures out I'm making tech for you-it's too big of a risk to take."