We were in a small resting area that only fit two chairs, a table, and a tea trolley. The waiter was a young human in his twenties. [Appraisal] said his name was Benjamin Prail, a [Level 13 Caretaker]. He was trying to regain his composure, but I could see him sweating. Hearing the commotion, a guard opened the door from the hallway but held back storming inside when he was issued a quick palms up from the duke.

“Explain.” The order was simple, yet paired with Julian’s frown made it cold and threatening.

I held my tongue; he wasn’t speaking to with myself or the waiter.

“I— ” Before the waiter could speak, the shadow under the table started to move like waves on a calm lake disturbed by some underwater beast. It shot forward until it stopped beside Lord Johnathon, who was standing a step behind Julian. It bubbled as a figure rose from the dark pools. It was a shadow copy of John that melted back into the man.

John was the rogue in Duke Julian’s party, and impossible to influence. I knew, because I’d tried. It never went well and usually resulted in a lower favorability score with the duke.

“The guards let the troll in and then Mr. Prail offered her a cup of tea.” John monotoned. “The troll took her teacup with a smile, then promptly stood and pushed the trolley over.”

“Your Grace,” Mr. Prail bowed low, “I am innocent. There is no poison in Ms. Gerda’s teacup.”

He sounded earnest. I already knew he was telling the truth. Lord John took a step forward to inspect the offending teacup, which was the only thing I hadn’t knocked to the floor. I offered it readily.

“He is correct,” John concluded. He pocketed the teacup and tea into what I presumed was a spatial storage pocket on the inside of his vest.

Useful.

Julian raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, regarding me.

“See!” The waiter smiled, pointing a finger at me. “No poison.”

I returned the smile and lashed out, moving with unnatural speed to catch Mr. Prail’s extended wrist. Dexterity 28 was amazing. Lord John took a step to position himself between the duke and I, but Julian didn't even flinch. A clink of steel let me know that the guard had unsheathed a sword behind me, but didn’t come forward.

The guards here were very well-trained, and Julian was still waiting to see how I would explain myself.

I might as well put on a show.

Cute black leather gloves appeared out of thin-air on my hands as I equipped the Arcane Catpaw Gloves treasure. I held My Prail fast by the wrist as my free hand swept a circular motion in front of the waiter’s chest. I closed my fingers into a fist as I did so.

The man flinched.

[You have activated [Arcane Catpaw Gloves…]

The likelihood of success at this point was laughable. I reopened my fingers and a toe ring appeared in my hand.

Gross.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

I tossed the ring at John, who caught it with ease. I wasn’t a rogue class, but Julian’s attendant was one of the best. With a wave of his hand, the ring’s magically sealed contents emptied out in front of us. A half-empty bottle of paralysis poison, a low-grade antidote, and a piece of parchment landed on John’s palm, while thirty gold coins, a change of clothes, a rope and a sleeping roll tumbled to the floor.

Mr. Prail immediately tried to escape, but he wasn’t going anywhere with my vice grip around his wrist. He realized that fact, turning to attack me instead. I stepped aside and pulled his wrist behind his back and pushed the man on his knees.

Julian nodded at the guard, who came forward to take the poisoner away. I left them to it, unequiping the legendary class gloves and then wiped my hands together, happy that was over.

Julian’s face was pinched and stern. He looked like he wanted to murder someone, but it was the face he made when he was frustrated.

“Leave us.” The duke said. John disappeared into the shadows. The room was in chaos, with the trolley still knocked over and the ring's contents haphazardly lying about. Including the 30 Gold coins.

I stood my ground. Julian respected strength and usefulness. He was a main character who was used to getting by with the tools at hand - too bad for him that Fate was sending all of these dumb scenario’s his way without the heroine to fix them.

His route took place mostly in the north, and Henrietta won him over when they fought together against monster attacks. There wasn’t as much time to conquer the duke as the other love interests because his route only opened up after Henrietta killed Keith. If she could do it in record timing, her family would need to send her somewhere far away and out of the way while they took over trade routes and established their new power leading up to the Spring Ball.

Depending on the route, she'd end up in an area where she could further win over one or more of the love interest. Peldeep, and she'd see Knight Commander Bastian and Trevor the Adventurer. Servalt and she'd spend time with Duke Wyldon and Master Thomas. But, if she'd managed to defeat King Keith with max favourability with every capture target, then her parents were worried about her political power and sent her north instead. For ‘training’. The pair struggled against the cold and the dark, a dire wolf attack, and even spent a night alone in a cave— though the otome was pg 13 and nothing came of it. If Henrietta won him over, he’d escort her to the Spring Ball. If he wasn't won over, then Henrietta would return and have a reverese harem. I’d been overly excited when I found out that Season Two promised more exploration of the Untamed Ice Fields… and more Julian!

In all honesty, I hadn’t stepped foot in the north over the five years I’ve been here. It was much easier to ignore my favourite if we were kingdoms apart, and I didn’t want to let myself get caught up with the main characters… I ignored the fact that I'd immediately befriended Henrietta the first time we met. That said something about me and just proved my caution correct.

“Gerda,” Duke Julian regarded me calmly.

“Your Grace.” I replied, awkwardly standing amidst the mess.

The duke's lips twitched, and a genuine smile pulled the corner ever so slightly. My perception wouldn’t lie to me about something like this, and I’ll admit it left me rattled. He was smiling.

Then the half-elf had to go and act-out-of-character even more.

“I’m sorry,” He bowed eloquently, only leaning forward slightly before resuming his stance. “You have now been targeted twice while visiting North Sumbria, and this time you’ve prevented a potential tragedy. Please accept my thanks.”

I could tell he didn’t actually think he would have been poisoned by Mr. Prail. He was simply being polite... but even as I knew better I didn’t argue the fact.

Instead, I nodded, “It was nothing.”

“Still,” Julian came forward until he was much too close for comfort. There was a chair directly behind me, and before I could navigate an escape route, the scroll from earlier appeared under my nose.

It was a signed and approved assasination from the Peldeep Assassin Assembly. Targeting me. A second page appeared in his hand and it was from Servalt’s Assassin Guild.

“I’m afraid that it might not stop any time soon.” The duke backed off and took the seat across from me so I had space to breathe again. He leaned back comfortably and crossed his legs, raising an eyebrow at me still standing there. “So why don’t we have that talk?”