“Thank you, Clarissa,” Irwyn said as he reached for the fresh cake next to his mint tea. With his left hand of course; the right was no longer blistered, but it was still beet red and difficult to use. The head maid’s expression was as always deadpan; that was a clear contrast to Avys who was permanently maintaining a smile.

“Now that we have refreshments, let's get down to business,” Avys said, her usually alluring voice seemed less suggesting than it used to be; that was perhaps a sign of trust or favour or it might just be the growth of Irwyn’s body.

“You summoned me here, but I don’t quite know what you have in mind,” Irwyn raised an eyebrow, although he knew exactly what she called him here for.

“Ever since we returned a week ago you have been scheming something. One secret messenger and one promise at a time you are preparing, and I want to know what exactly that something is. Few decoy official messengers are not enough to fool me, dear,” Avys chuckled as she sipped the coffee she so adored.

“Indeed. I tried to be as discreet as possible, but it would seem I was spotted,” Irwyn intentionally frowned. The action itself was instantly spotted by Avys.

“No need to be hard on yourself. You are already better at scheming than your father ever was, and I am proud of you for that.”

“Curious to hear you of all people criticise father.”

“Aww, don't tease me. I love Ezax more than the rest of all existence combined, but he couldn't scam a debilitated child if he wanted to.”

“That is awfully blunt.”

“Perhaps. But that is why we get along so well. He has the power to smite anyone who dares confront him head on and I have the wit to force any foe into said confrontation.”

“I have actually been thinking about that. Well, about you in general, Avys. And In the end I came to a single conclusion: You do not hail from the North, do you?”

“What makes you think that?” the fact that she did not deny it was implication enough.

“The way you act and think. Northern noble’s way is to brutally crush all and any opposition in a straightforward fight. You instead entangle your prey with sweet words and then stab them in the back when they least expect it. That is the way of a main lander. You come from the central continent's nobility, don't you?”

“When have I ever stabbed anyone in the back since you were born?” Avys still didn't deny nor confirm his statement, but rather asked another question of her own.

“Not even a week ago you drugged an unpleasant knight so that he would be overly aggressive towards me hoping it would give you a good enough reason to untitle him,” Irwyn now copied her perfect smile albeit it looked a bit stiff on his childish face.

“He was a spy and thus stabbed me in the back first,” Avys shrugged and admitted, but there was a change to her expression. It was not an escaped emotion; Avys was far too good for that, but it it was a change in the nature of her stare. Before it was an expression of an amused grandmaster of chess toying with a prominent novice. Now she had put her game face on.

“I am well aware. But that event led me to investigate. I was actually surprised how many Blackburg officials are bribable.”

“Where did you even get the gold? There was no withdrawal from the treasury nor an increase… I see. You were saving up your monthly allowance for years. That is why you never seemed to order or buy anything,” Avys answered her own question.

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“And I am glad I did, because it allowed me to get my hands on this,” Irwyn proclaimed as he took a stack of papers out from beneath his clothes.

“This is?” Avys took the manuscript into her hand and momentarily and quickly skimmed through it. A slight glister appeared in her eyes as she recognised it.

“The document which withdraws Shade from his duty from his assignment and instead temporarily assigns the ranger Tora as guardian of young Irwyn von Blackburg. Signed by the one and only, duchess duchess Avys von Blackburg,” Irwyn described its contents from memory.

“I admit that I made a mistake,” Avys instantly defended herself “she was devotedly loyal before this event. Considering her past I estimated that chances of betrayal were negligible; there was nothing that even implied she would suddenly go rogue.”

“Perhaps. I also can't figure out what would be your motive to get me killed and that document wouldn't exist if you really were responsible. But the worst case scenario still forces me to act.”

“And what is that act?”

“Haven't you been tracking my secret messengers? You wouldn't have asked me about them if you hadn't read the messages they were carrying.”

“Buying vast amounts of sandstone, crystallised mana and looking for a sorcerer in the fourth tier to hire. You are preparing a large scale ritual or magic,” Avys claimed with certainty in her tone.

“Those were the so called secret messengers. What about the real ones?”

“Decoys. What they were carrying were messages filled with idle chatter to about everyone in the vicinity of our mansion, especially in the city,” she suddenly sounded slightly less certain as she considered why Irwyn brought it up.

“It's about time;” a victorious smirk suddenly surfaced on Irwyn's face “tell me, have you ever considered that it was the other way around?”

“...” Avys started at him silently for a second. Just when she finally opened her mouth a hurried knock sounded from the door.

“Enter,” Irwyn said before Avys could even react. A sweating maid stumbled into the room with tangible panic in her eyes.

“My lady, my lord,” she gave a hurried greeting before she got to the point “the 2nd Imperial judge himself had issued arrest warrant for young lady Alira. His personal guard is already at our doorstep!” in other words the 3rd highest legal authority of the entire North was certain that Alira committed a crime so serious that even the Blackburg name couldn't shield her.

“I see… you are dismissed,” her expression didn't waver or change. That only served to showcase her composure. However, that only lasted until the servant left the room.

“HAHAHA,” Avys broke into slightly maniacal laughter and a grin surfaced on her face “Clarissa, be so sweet and bring me a cup of wine: Eidolon brew,” wine from the plains of Eidolon was globally considered the worst fine wine one could buy. Despite its clearly inferior taste and texture the price was truly unholy.

“Here, my lady.” Clarissa only needed to turn around and a full cup appeared in her hand, a perk of spacial magic the maid used. Irwyn often wished he had access to the convenience it provided.

“Thank you,” Avys gave an honest thanks as she took out a vial of purple liquid which she promptly poured into her wine. The poison made the scarlet liquid turn a shade darker before Avys threw in a blue capsule. She then gave it few seconds to dissolve before she finally took a sip.

“Tastes just like home,” her smile was perhaps honest for a moment. The main quality of Eidolon wine was that it went well with antidotes. As a saying goes: There is nothing more suspicious than mainlander with a smile on their face and Eidolon wine in their hand.

“You won this time, but I won't underestimate you next time,” Avys eventually announced.

“That's good enough for me. I did not do this to establish dominance over you, but to send an irrefutable message. Now, if you will excuse me. I have a trial to prepare for,” Irwyn stood up and headed for the exit without obstruction.

“Irwyn,” Avys stopped him just as he touched the door knot “You are rapidly developing both the power of the North and the wit of the mainland. I honestly think you are a monster.”

“Not quite, I have a soul,” was all Irwyn said before he waltzed off. Leaving Avys behind as a fragment of surprise finally surfaced on her beautiful visage.