The House of Marius was one of the noble Houses that settled in Astria for many generations. Inheriting his father's distorted nature, Kail Rosin de Marius liked to play and torture his 'properties' and then return 'defective' products with missing limbs or mutilated features. Even among the aristocrats, the Viscount's son was an outlier for his bloodthirsty tendencies. He was well-known among the slaves' and traders' communities for his cruel and dishonest practices. In the beginning, the traders protested against his unscrupulous returns. After all, reselling significantly damaged 'goods' was impossible. However, Kail would bribe and silence them with sizeable sums of money. Despite his twisted personality, the young man remained an aristocrat, and most of his peers considered discarding too many 'properties' in a short period as disgraceful, though not illegal. Thus, sending back the broken 'toys' to the sellers for disposal was a method of skirting unwanted attention and ridicule from others. Of course, his little trick did not escape the Duke's surveillance network—resulting in the intelligence provided to the original Estella.
After the earlier incident, Elaine speculated that Astria's slave traders would soon receive a substantial amount of 'defective' returns from Kail. He would inflict tenfold on others in retribution for the indignity he suffered under Celeste. Imagining the stack of dismembered bodies, she wondered if the life of one woman was worth the trade for many. Her gaze continued following the Viscount's son. No sooner did the young man face away from the female protagonist's group than his artificial smile contorted into a vicious grimace, revealing his genuine emotion.
Elaine sighed. The book would always describe the bright aspects of Celeste's actions without divulging the severe consequences that followed. Despite her sympathy for the soon-to-be victims, Elaine currently had no time to deal with every trash of society she encountered. Besides, she believed Gerard had his reasons to allow Kail's rampage. Thus, her priorities stayed focused on the primary aim. "Let's go," she said.
Roiland nodded and continued the previous task, leading his 'younger siblings' to the Ynones Tavern. Without other distractions, they reached their destination in only a few minutes.
The Ynones Tavern included a series of joined buildings occupying an entire street corner of the East District. A gigantic, extravagant sign hung above the central structure's main entrance, boasting the tavern's name. Though each building bore distinct designs and carvings with iridescent colors, they blended harmoniously and created a visual treat for the locals and visiting guests. Upon entering, a friendly hostess greeted and led Elaine's group to a table on the second floor beside the looping interior balcony overlooking the first floor's main hall. The waitress came, and they ordered some recommended dishes.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Elaine's eyes wandered while waiting for the food, watching the other guests. Her gaze finally landed on a stubby young man sandwiched between two beautiful women. He laughed and drank while placing substantial gold coins on the betting table. The Ynones Tavern was an establishment famous not only for its quality cuisine but also for its entertainment aspects. Those with money could enjoy a variety of services, from a simple meal to even buying drugs and prostitutes. It was an open secret, though the latter services demanded much higher prices and discretion. The tavern reserved the entire first floor of its buildings for its most lucrative business, improving older games and adding new ones every few months to retain its regular patrons. It was the ultimate paradise for the degenerate addicts and gamblers.
Of course, Elaine already knew about the tavern and its primary business before arriving. After all, it was where her target had stayed since disappearing from his hometown. The server brought their food, and she retracted her gaze. After everyone finished their meal, Elaine jerked her head toward the stubby young man. 'I want you to bring me that man.' She stared at Roiland, dipping a finger in her drink, and wrote the words on the table. 'Go. I shall wait here.' Elaine then picked up a napkin and wiped clean the liquid.
Despite his confusion, her 'eldest brother' nodded and rose from his seat while Cecil stayed behind to protect her. Elaine watched the burly young knight approach the betting table and befriended the target. Her eye abruptly pivoted to another corner, focusing on the men following the hostess to a private room. They all wore masks, yet two of the men in the group had piqued her interest. One was a well-dressed tall man in a half-mask with a decaying complexion and hollow cheeks. His carefully groomed mustache slightly trembled whenever he spoke. Despite the mustache man's stature, his companion still towered over him by almost a head. A full-faced mask concealed the other man's features, yet the fiery crimson hair struck Elaine with familiarity.
Viscount Marius and a Léonasian man…
It was not difficult to distinguish the man's nationality because the Léonasian were famous for their superior warrior physique. Elaine scrutinized the unexpected pair, forming numerous theories in her head. By Marius' respectful mannerisms, the other man seemed to be someone of a higher status. Encountering the Léonas Empire's merchants and citizens conducting various trades in Étoile was a common sight because of the two empires' close relations. However, the peculiar timing and location of the meeting between Viscount Marius and the mysterious man had raised Elaine's suspicion.
A chill shot through Elaine as the Léonasian man unexpectedly stopped the exchange and slightly shifted his head, piercing her with his sharp golden eyes. The other men also halted their movements and glanced in her direction—an invisible pressure emitted from their gazes. The Viscount narrowed his eyes and leaned back, whispering into his subordinates' ears. Two men immediately departed from the group and advanced to Elaine's location.