Ravina stood outside Crook-Beak Manor, the other servants lined up behind her. The caretaker loomed a step behind, but her gaze remained fixed on the road ahead. She was expecting her father, yet she still faltered when not one, but four carriages rolled up the street and halted before the gates. Her surprise deepened as knights clad in Ravenshield uniforms stepped out alongside her father. The crest—a raven clutching two crossed swords, one in each talon—was unfamiliar.
“Greetings, Father,” she said, her tone measured and respectful. While he might disdain public acknowledgment of their relationship, he remained, officially, her father.
Her body tensed as his hand rested on her head. The gesture—a gentle rub—felt foreign, leaving her numb to its intended warmth.
“I’m here,” he said simply. “Let’s go inside.”
With that, the servants returned to their tasks. A few knights followed them indoors, while the rest climbed back into the carriages, which rumbled away toward another destination.
Walter, Mona, and Ravina led the count and two of his knights into the parlor, where tea awaited. The staff had worked quickly, replacing the usual comfortable furniture with a small table and four chairs. One was noticeably more luxurious than the others—a seat prepared for the count.
He lowered himself into it, gesturing to the chair on his right. “Sit, Ravina.”
She obeyed, taking the designated seat as Mona stationed herself by the door and Walter moved to stand behind the count. Though a pang of disappointment flickered at seeing Walter align himself with her father rather than her, Ravina reminded herself that he had never been her servant.
The knights joined them, one immediately requesting coffee. The other nodded in agreement. Ravina and her father remained with tea, and Mona promptly retreated to the kitchen to fill the order, leaving another maid to take her place.
“So,” the count began, “how is school?”
The question caught Ravina off guard. “It’s... fine,” she replied hesitantly, her voice faltering as she coughed to mask her nerves. “I’m not attending the Amaranth Aeolian Clerisy Academy anymore,” she admitted, hastily adding, “But I’ve arranged to graduate from there. I’ve actually been attending the Weiß Akademie at the White Tower.”
She shrank slightly under his gaze, unsure of his reaction. His expression remained unreadable before he spoke. “Fine. It hardly matters.” A pause. Then, “Though, I did hear some rather interesting news.”
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Ravina’s stomach tightened. With a nod, Walter produced a report from Baron Maklerin. She straightened her posture. “I believe you’re referring to the rumors about me bullying the saint. The truth is, I have no idea who the saint even is, let alone bullied anyone at the academy.”
The faintest smile touched the count’s lips. “Yes, I thought it odd as well. Odder still that a common woman would claim to be a saint without undergoing the Omen.”
“The Omen?” Ravina echoed, unfamiliar with the term. The count continued without elaborating.
“No matter. If you weren’t at the academy, our Eyes will uncover the truth soon enough.” His tone shifted, growing grave. “Now then, let’s discuss the slaver issue you mentioned in your letter.”
Ravina swallowed hard. “I’ve... gotten to know the son of a baron fairly well,” she began, recounting the events as carefully as she could. She avoided mentioning the torture, the scars that lingered, or the baptism by firehose that had seared itself into her memory. “I proposed to the young lady of House Red that by supporting her as the next head of her family, she could help us expose not only the attack on the carriages but all of their hidden dealings.”
It was an embellishment. In truth, if successful, House Red would be ruined—not publicly, but under the control of House Ravenshield, their secrets wielded as leverage.
The count’s expression remained neutral until she finished. His lips pressed into a frown. “I don’t like it,” he said bluntly.
Ravina hesitated, unsure what he found objectionable. Thankfully, one of the knights interjected. “Former Lady Emerald Red was the one who abducted you as a child. She betrayed the madam’s trust long ago, but the Reds pinned the blame on her and salvaged their reputation with the king’s intervention.”
“Enough,” the count snapped, his voice sharp with disdain. “The point is, no Red can be trusted. We will not support that venomous woman’s niece.”
The knight leaned closer to Ravina and whispered, “Emerald fled and hasn’t been found.”
“Ah,” Ravina murmured. A spark ignited in her mind. “But that’s precisely why we could use her.” Her voice grew confident, her eyes gleaming. “If we gain her trust, she may lead us to Emerald. If Emerald is still at large, surely the duke is aiding her.”
She held her breath, awaiting her father’s response. His narrowed gaze bore into her as his finger tapped a slow, deliberate rhythm on the table. The sound grew louder with each tap, filling the room. No one dared break the silence. The tension thickened like a smothering fog.
When Mona returned with the coffee and tea, her every movement drew wary eyes. Sweat glistened on her brow as she completed her task and hurried out.
“Fine.” The single word broke the oppressive silence, sending a wave of relief over Ravina. Yet it carried weight. Using Lady Red this way felt... uncomfortable. Still, the prospect of supporting another woman’s rise to leadership was enticing. Perhaps they could even become allies—a rarity in a world where women leaders were either vilified or erased.
“I’ll ensure the relationship is maintained,” she said quickly.
“So long as I’m not involved, I don’t care,” the count replied. His dismissive tone allowed her to breathe easier. “Just don’t let this blind you to the fact that her family is full of snakes.”
“Right,” Ravina agreed, though she knew it might one day become a lie.