The wheels of the carriage squeak from the rust covering its partial structure. Dirt flicks and smears over its circular form, and the carriage wheels its way through the dirt. A cold chill fills the air, and the sun slowly rises above the skyline, signifying a new day with boundless opportunities. The carriage once speeding with excessive momentum, suddenly ends its kinetic trip and stations itself in front of the opulent estate.

Horses neigh in the background, the light casts upon a man saddled to his stead, and a cold aura surrounds him, enough to chill the air thrice over. Quickly he descends from his horse without uttering a single word. Turning to the blinding light, it is revealed to be Orpheus wielding a blank and cold stare. The other soldiers descending are filled with jovial smiles. 

"Orpheus my friend, you share your face with your stead, why is that?" Lambert inquires, descending from his horse and walking forward with a cheeky smile, his plate armour glistening in the sunlight. 

"Share my face?" Orpheus responds with barely a reaction, just a quiet muttering.

"The horse's face is long, therefore you have a sad face. It is a joke, my boy." Lambert explains with intermittent pauses, gently patting Orpheus on the back. They both stand in front of the royal estate's closed gate, armed soldiers remain stationed and vigilant out the front. The other soldiers descend from their horses, the large carriage stops on the sidewalk. 

"A joke... I've never heard of that one?" Orpheus replies with a confused expression, turning to the smiling Lambert.

Lambert looks back with a sincere gaze if concerned about him and desiring to cheer him up. "I heard it from my days travelling the border territories, enforcing the king's order." He explains, recounting his time outside the capital. 

The young sorcerer thinks this over before slightly smiling. "Hmm, long face... funny." He replies before turning his gaze to the opening gate. They both prepare to enter and speak to the King. "Lambert before we enter, do you mind if the corpse of the assassin remains here. I wish to speak with his majesty in regard to it." He asks, shifting his gaze and gesturing towards the carriage parked against the sidewalk, near the gate. 

"Sure, Orpheus as you wish." The royal knight flashes a concerned expression, attempting to understand the reasoning, but ultimately accepting it. 

"Thank you." Orpheus replies gratefully.

Soon the pair make their way through the gate and down the pathway to the estate's front door. His mind churned with thoughts of the recent past, the image of Kyran's lifeless corpse and the blood that stains his hands as if it remained. Quickly shaking his head, an attempt to meagrely remain focused on the current task. He ascends the stairs and towards the door, reaching for the doorknob. Before he can grasp it, the door suddenly swings open.

His gaze rises upwards, he stares into the building and witnesses a healthy Walter, opening the door and gesturing him to enter. "Please come in Sir Orpheus." Walter states with a jovial attitude, gesturing for Orpheus to enter, holding the door open. "Walter what are you doing standing. You should be resting, you were fatally wounded not a few hours ago." He exclaims with concern in his voice, denoting a slither of respect and empathy towards his well-being. 

The elderly butler simply nods, a gesture of recognition, but ultimate refusal. "Oh, I welcome your concern Sir Orpheus, but as you can see, I am quite well thanks to yours and Leila's efforts. You both have my utmost gratitude." Walter replies with a respectful tone, lowering his head as Orpheus enters. Walter then closes the door, and they enter the foyer, several bustling soldiers have scattered around, preparing for battle. 

Orpheus turns to the smiling Walter with a mildly confused look, asking an obvious question with the expression on his face. "Ah the soldier's sir, the King is furious about these past events and has begun to rally the guards... These are trying times indeed." Walter looks forward and then back at Orpheus, describing the current circumstances. His expression morphs from joy to a foreboding look, it was as if he could see the danger hanging over like a dark cloud.  

"Well, you would know Walter, you were nearly killed by these trying times." Orpheus chimes in with a false facade of concern, masking his cold and icy demeanour. His true feelings were hidden behind his veiled appearance, yet a spark of admiration lingered. 

"True sir... Oh yes please come with me, his Majesty wishes you to attend his council meeting." Walter explains as they both move to the centre of the room. Matching each other's pace and journeying forward.

They continue to walk until Orpheus eventually stops, the soldiers crowd the room and position themselves at every wall and door. "Council meeting... I see, well tell his majesty that I will be there shortly, as I have to see how Susanna is doing, please excuse me." He turns his gaze to the right; Walter meets him halfway.

"As you wish good sir." Walter replies respectfully, slightly bowing his head and turns to the right.

Orpheus makes his way to the doorway, two guards smile back, as they open the door. Each of them possesses leather armour and steel swords. They both grab the door handles and swing them open. Returning a nod before entering and proceeding down the hallway. The doors behind him close with a soft bang. He makes a quick turn right and comes across the same guards from before, still stationed outside his room door. The guards acknowledge him, standing up straighter one on each side of the door. Moving to the door, Orpheus pulls out his key and enters the room. 

His gaze stopped at the floor slowly rising to witness the room's occupant. Everything remains just as it was before, except a dishevelled bed and Susanna standing in the middle of the room. The rising sunshine seeps into the room, illuminating her presence. His caste gaze upon her, standing straight with her back to him, wearing a gown draped in elegant hibiscus cloth. The sunlight piercing through creates aura-like illumination surrounding her.

Orpheus continues to gaze almost in awe. "You look beautiful." His words slipped out without his notice, so caught up in her glow.

Susanna hearing his voice pauses for a moment as if anxious, slowly she turns her head to meet him. Her gaze turns to the ground before she fully turns around. With her hands firmly placed at her sides and her head slightly tilted downwards, she reveals her face to him. Despite the concern, her face contains only a small scar, above her left eye ranging down to her lower cheek. "I can remove that if you want?" He offers with an empathetic gaze, understanding the torment wounds can cause if left on their own.

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Susanna responds by raising her hand to her face and slowly caresses the scar with no visible pain from the action. "It's fine you don't need to..." She replies, sending her hand to her side and showing a slight smile. Her confident gaze narrows on him as she leans into the next part of her sentence. "But what about your scars, why don't you remove them? You have the power to, so why not?" She asks with a soft and sympathetic tone. 

"Hmm well, I suspect it's the same reason why you don't want too either. Because even though they carry painful memories, they do serve a unique purpose." Orpheus replies, moving forwards a few paces ahead, standing right in front of her. "They, they never let us forget who we are and where we come from." He recites his words, gently grabbing her shoulders. "And with every scar we attain, a name is written upon them. Reminding us of who created them in the first place. So, we will always remember them, even if they forget." Moving his hands back to his sides. His gaze turns to the gown and then back up to see several dresses laid on the bed. "Where did you get the clothes?" He asks with a confused expression.

His eyes darted around her gown's elegant appearance. The dress is long and drapes down to the floor, the ruffled sleeves are much wider than her wrists.

She replies with a now jovial expression and wide eyes. "Her Majesty the queen had them sent to me, that tailor works fast." She explains with her smile disappearing. Shifting to her normally cold expression as if her joy was short-lived.

Noticing this, he replies to her earlier statement. "It seems so, I guess you're becoming fast friends with the queen, very good. Please continue with that as best you can." Tilting his head to the left, turning his gaze to the bed, he starts inspecting the clothes. "Well, why I stopped by was..." Suddenly stopping short of his sentence. It was as if he could no longer form the words. His throat choking up, he finds the act of finishing the sentence a difficult thing. "Should I tell her what I did. No, no I can't. Even if she finds out about Kyran's death, I shouldn't burden her with the knowledge of the truth." Pondering to himself a perilous thought, he weighs his options. He lingers his gaze for a moment before uttering the rest of his sentence. "Hmm there is a council meeting, and we were invited to attend." Settling on his other statement, he informs her. 

Returning his gaze, she moves forward to meet him in the centre of the room. "Well... let's go then." She states with a mischievous smile, passing him and making her way towards the door, stopping just a few paces in front. 

Orpheus returns with his own smile, following behind. They both turn their heads facing each other and proceed to interlock their arms. Proceeding through the door and out into the hallway. They turn to the left and lock the door. Moving forward a few paces, turning right down the hallway.

Orpheus turns his head to the right, facing the guards. "Good morning gentlemen, make sure someone takes over your shift soon, you both look tired." He explains with a cheeky but sincere grin.

They both continue down the hallway, the guards look at each other and flash a slight smile. Orpheus and Susanna continue, turning left towards the doorway, opening it and proceeding into the foyer. The foyer is teeming with soldiers, each strutting around their area, moving in and out, still with vigilant gazes.

They pay the pair no mind, walking to the other end of the foyer and making their way towards the council room. Moving through the door and down the hallway, they both arrive. The doors are open, and various individuals are seen inside. The King, Queen, Sir Tiephinne, and two other strangers, along with Sir Lambert. All are standing around the council table. 

"Ah, Orpheus you came. Please come here my friend, let me congratulate you on your victory." King Artuiel says, moving around the right side of the table, meeting both and embracing Orpheus sincerely. 

"Huh, I guess that's what my old friend's life was worth. A nice hug and being called a friend by an idiot king." Orpheus thinks to himself, reciprocating the king's kind gesture, releasing his intertwined arms from Susanna's grasp.

They embrace for a moment before relinquishing. The king turns his gaze to Susanna standing beside him and embraces her as well. He holds her for a moment, Susanna awkwardly reciprocates and then releases her with a sympathetic expression. "My wife told me what happened... I ensure you the culprit behind this deplorable act will be found." He said to reassure her.

"Thank you, your majesty." Susanna replies with a respectful, yet cold tone. 

"Your majesty, may I ask you a favour?" Orpheus chimes in. 

"Of course, my boy anything." King Artuiel replies with a sincere gaze. 

Orpheus tries to maintain his calm and ultimately succeeds. His thoughts however don’t get the memo. "Call me boy again your majesty and I'll cut off your head and decorate this table with it." He threatens internally, attempting to conceal his anger and feign sincerity. "The assassin's body, would you relinquish it to my care?" He requests.

King Artuiel returns his gaze and flashes a confused expression. Contemplating the odd request, he makes a reply. "The body, why would you require that?" He asks.

"Well, it has to do with tradition handed down to mages before us. When we defeat a fellow mage in battle, it is customary to bury them and give them their last rites... Personally." He spoke, feigning a dutiful and heartfelt expression to the noble king. 

"I see, well how I could I ever turn down a man such as yourself." He replies with a jovial expression. It was as if he believed every word. 

"Huh... He believed that bullshit, I wonder what else I can convince him of. Now that he is in my debt." Orpheus continues his internalised monologue. 

"Lambert!" King Artuiel calls to his knight. 

"Yes, your majesty." Lambert replies and stations himself to the right of his king. 

"Lambert please organise a carriage with the body of the deceased assassin, after his personal effects have been removed for investigation." He commands, gesturing his left hand towards Lambert. 

"Of course, your majesty it will be done." Lambert bows slightly before exiting the room, to facilitate his king's command.  

"Thank you, your majesty I appreciate your understanding." Orpheus replies with a sincere smile.

The king now gestures to them to the two empty seats near the exit. The round table is now neatly surrounded by eight chairs instead of the previous six if it was rearranged at short notice. Orpheus and Susanna both seat themselves, the king and queen sitting on the opposite side with Tiephinne seated to the left of the queen. The two strangers seat themselves on opposite sides of the table. One to the right of Orpheus and the other to the left of Susanna. Once they are both seated, the only seat left empty is the one to the right of the king, reserved for Lambert. 

"Now as we wait for Sir Lambert to return, I wish to proceed to the introductions." The King says with a now calm and collected tone. His gaze darts back and forth between the two strangers, sitting opposite each other. "Sir Orpheus and lady Susanna, this is High Marshal Lord Roderick Lothboro, he oversees matters involving our military." He gestures to the man seated to the right of Orpheus.

The man is roughly six feet tall and has short brown hair and a square jaw. His eyes are bright green, and his face is clean-shaven. He is wearing a light blue doublet with a full skirt to mid-thigh and soft loops at the shoulder, and long pants down to his ankles. "Greetings Sir Orpheus I hear your prowess with magic is matched your prowess with the sword. Perhaps we could have a friendly match sometime." Roderick states with a calm and refined voice. Both his hands resting on the table. Wielding a straight and dignified posture. his head cocked to the left. 

"Honest praise, I thank you Lord Roderick perhaps we shall." Orpheus replies with a slight smirk.

"This is Lord William Dandridge the High Merchant." King Artuiel gestures, introducing the man to the left of Susanna. 

"Good morning to you both it is truly a pleasure to meet the hero of the kingdom and you as well my lady." William states, placing both of his hands coupled together on the table, giving them both a slight nod. 

"Now that everyone is introduced, we can proceed.” The King remarks, starting the meeting.