Cassandra watched Maximus lead King Nero into the manor as his maid silently followed behind like a ghost. The servants took care of the carriage and the second pulled up. She couldn’t help but be nervous that an unexpected princess might pop out instead of Rosalind. Could the order of princesses have changed as well?
Luckily, a very familiar face greeted her with more poise and decorum than Nero had pretended to have. Princess Rosalind also paused momentarily when she noticed the fox laying across Cassandra’s shoulders. She felt Yuki tense as he met Rosalind’s gaze. They stared at each other for a few moments before Rosalind stepped forward.
“We have a lot to catch up on,” she told her, “but for now, guide me to my quarters. I need some time to rest after such a long journey with that man.”
Was she referring to King Nero? Cassandra couldn’t shake the feeling that she was missing something important. From the sudden changes in the royal line of Tethia to the strange reactions she had seen to Yuki, there were plenty of ways she was out of the loop. However, she couldn’t let her personal feelings or confusion stand in the way of her current duties.
“I hope you enjoy what I prepared,” Cassandra told her, “The best room was already reserved for the king.”
“Of course,” Rosalind agreed, “That is how things should be. I came here for business, not leisure, so the impressiveness of my room is unimportant. Functionality is what matters.”
As she glanced towards the white fox again, Cassandra could no longer hold back her curiosity. “Princess, is there something about my summon that is bothering you?” she asked.
Rosalind met her gaze with the most uncertain expression Cassandra had ever seen her show. “Cassandra, there are some things I cannot tell you,” she replied, “You may be better off in ignorance, but if you really need answers, you will have to find them on your own.”
“I will do that, then,” Cassandra replied. She would have to look into Yuki’s secret eventually, but right now there were far more pressing matters. The negotiations with Beraud were fast approaching, and Tethia was in the transition period with a new ruler at its helm. Once Rosalind was settled she would have to speak to Autumn to see if Nero’s crowning was mentioned in that game of his.
“It seems you have plenty of secrets of your own,” Rosalind told her with a smile, “Don’t let them consume you. I hear you have some trustworthy friends that you can share them with.”
“I do,” Cassandra confirmed as they reached Rosalind’s quarters in the southern wing, “I am always thankful for your advice as well.”
“What is the point of giving advice if you don’t find it useful,” Rosalind told her, “I will take some time to rest now. I shall see you at dinner.”
“I look forward to it,” Cassandra replied before stepping back to give the princess her privacy.
Autumn was in the research lab with Keane, avoiding the hectic hustle and bustle as the remainder of the guests settled in. Neither of them were surprised at Cassandra’s sudden visit. She was glad to see that Autumn looked energetic again, despite being so withdrawn ever since the kidnapping.
“Is this about King Nero?” Autumn asked, “I’ve been trying to recall more of the storyline from the game since we heard about Gaia’s defeat, but I didn’t remember much more than before. In the game, Nero only became king if you chose Maximus’s route.”
“So there was a chance. Was the situation similar to this?” Cassandra asked.
“It was, but I didn’t realize until I heard the news,” Autumn confirmed, “King Nero is known in the game as the Traitor Hunter. It is supposed to be a more dramatic storyline since you have to hide your past with Gaia.”
“Why?” Cassandra questioned, “You never assisted Gaia in any of their plots.”
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
When Keane and Autumn shared an awkward glance, Cassandra knew she was missing something important. This time, it was Keane who spoke up. “Do you remember the experiment that caused all the smoke during the entrance exam?” he began.
Cassandra frowned. “I do. Are you telling me that it was a failed attempt of Autumn’s for Gaia?”
“Failed on purpose, but yes,” Keane confirmed, “I took credit for the incident to prevent things from escalating any further. It wasn’t a lie since I did repurpose the bomb to cause such a showy malfunction.”
“Surely it won’t be a problem now then,” Cassandra concluded, “Nero knows Autumn is a victim in this, and the one most affected by recent events.”
“That’s right,” Autumn agreed, “but this didn’t happen in the game. It’s kinda like we are taking the best bits of all the routes.”
“Michelle did say she made the game based on real events,” Cassandra pointed out.
“Actually there was something else about that game we found out,” Keane broke in, “The Records of Tethia are in it. The only way they can be is if Michelle knows about them, but she is the headmaster’s summon.”
“And the headmaster is a suspected traitor,” Cassandra finished.
“That’s not all,” Autumn added, “In the game, the Records were deeply connected to the most difficult route. I can’t remember how he is introduced, but I think this means we will meet him soon.”
Cassandra could not deny Autumn’s logic. “Is there anything we should know to prepare?”
“His name is Alvis,” Autumn supplied, “He is the founding headmaster and he enjoys messing with people’s heads.”
“Were headmasters selected for that trait?” Cassandra wondered, thinking of Osmond’s own tendency to play mind games. Perhaps it was a testament to how strange things had been that she didn’t even question for a moment that the founding headmaster was not only still alive, but connected to the Records of Tethia.
“Who knows,” Keane said, “but we should keep our eyes peeled just in case we meet anyone suspicious. Just because he is the founding headmaster does not mean he is loyal to Tethia.”
“Of course,” Cassandra agreed, “It has been hundreds of years since Tethia’s founding. Have you told any of the others?”
“Not yet. We probably won’t be able to catch them until after dinner,” Autumn replied, “I know Nero has been keeping bother Maximus and Alois occupied.”
“Alois as well?” Cassandra asked in surprise, “I suppose there is no time for the new king to rest.”
==========
Nero looked at the two students before him, one being his own apprentice and the other the Osmond’s. Both had been a huge help to catching the traitors deep within Tethia so he decided it was time to both reward them and keep them in the loop. Unfortunately, he had very little free time so he had to sacrifice his rest for this. Not that a new king had time to rest anyway.
“I called the two of you here to thank you for everything you have done for the recent case,” he told them, “I suppose you could even say it is thanks to you that I now hold the position of king.”
Alois seemed the far more uncomfortable of the two as he responded. “Aren’t you concerned about the fact that I am the apprentice of a potential traitor?”
“Ah, yes. Osmond,” Nero sighed, “After becoming king, I have learned many things. One of those things is the secrets of the other pillars. I cannot tell you what those secrets are, but I can at least assure you that Osmond is not a traitor. He was working with Gaia in order to gain something important for Reginald, and did not involve himself with them once he received it. While I do not agree with or condone such actions, there is nothing I can do about it.”
“How can we be certain that was not just an excuse now that Gaia has fallen?” Maximus asked warily.
“We can’t. It is exactly as you have guessed,” Nero confirmed, “With Gaia’s fall it is now impossible to prove either direction. It is also considered a far lower priority. That is why I am focusing on gaining more allies where I can while I can.”
“Is negotiating with Prince Lann really the best choice?” Alois asked, unable to hide his distaste, “During my year as Osmond’s apprentice I have made a trip or two to the royal castle of Beraud. Unless something major has changed in these past few months, Prince Lann is an entitled brat.”
“My sources agree with that information,” Nero replied, “but I was personally asked by the king of Beraud to give his firstborn one final test. These negotiations have less to do with arranging an alliance and more to do with solidifying it with a personal favor. Tonight at dinner, I will inform everyone about the true nature of this test. The King of Beraud will be sending a trusted aide to guide and observe the prince’s actions during his stay.”
“Why have you told us sooner, then?” Alois asked.
Nero smiled. “You can call it a whim,” he answered, “It’ll give you an edge on your friends who seem to have their own secret methods of getting information ahead of time.”