Nanik turned back to me, his sharp orange eyes meeting mine with an unwavering intensity. “Lady Elysia, you said you were the Marquess’s daughter, correct?”

I hesitated, caught off guard by his direct question. “Ah, yes, that’s true.”

“Then I would like to strike a deal with you.”

“A deal?” I blinked, my heart skipping a beat. “W-What? Why all of a sudden?”

“I just received some information,” Nanik began, his tone calm but weighted with urgency. “An old acquaintance of mine in Arden reached out before I did. There are rumors of a possible invasion of the neighboring kingdom in Ishunay, Clefton. He’s already contacted the Trizen government, and they instructed him to get me involved. My task is to investigate these rumors and uncover the truth. For that, I need your help.”

I stared at him, my mind racing. “My help? But why me?”

“Because of your position and influence as the Marquess’s daughter,” he said plainly. “In exchange for your cooperation, I’ll guarantee you a safe way to escape your family and the pressures of noble politics. Not just that—I’ll make sure you have a secure passage to any country or continent you desire.”

His offer left me reeling. It sounded too good to be true. “And… what would you have me do in return for such lofty benefits?”

“It’s simple,” Nanik replied, his tone cool and calculated. “I want you to take some of my people as your servants during an upcoming imperial event. Their role would be to observe and gather any information related to these invasion rumors. Once they’ve completed their task, they’ll report back to me. That’s all I ask of you.”

I swallowed hard, trying to process his words. “That’s all? Just let your people pose as my servants?”

“Yes,” he said, leaning slightly forward. “For someone of your standing, it’s a minor inconvenience. But for me—and for the safety of many—it’s a crucial opportunity. Think of it as a small favor with significant returns.”

I glanced at Otome, who was watching me closely but said nothing, her expression unreadable. My thoughts raced. On the one hand, this could be my chance to escape the suffocating life I’d known. On the other, could I trust him and his people not to endanger me?

“I… I’ll accept…” My voice trembled slightly, but I met Nanik’s piercing gaze with as much resolve as I could muster.

“Excellent,” he said, his tone even but sharp enough to slice through the air. “Then lead me to where Tokei is. I would like to meet her as soon as possible.”

His words carried a weight that made it hard to breathe. “I was just heading out to meet her, but I have a patient I need to see first. Their condition isn’t stable, so they might have to come with me…”

“That is fine with me,” Nanik replied smoothly, his gaze unwavering. “As long as you uphold our deal. Otome will accompany you. I hope you don’t mind.”

“I’m grateful.”

Turning on my heel, I began walking back toward the infirmary where Riftel and Elizabeth were being tended to. Otome quickly caught up to me, walking at my side.

“Um, Lady Elysia,” she began, her voice softer than before but still tinged with a sense of urgency. “I was wondering if you’ve seen or heard about any other outsiders coming through the Luminastra March?”

She went on to describe her missing comrades in detail, their appearances vivid in my mind. I glanced at her, noticing the subtle desperation in her violet eyes.

“I promise,” I said gently, “if I hear anything about them, I will let you know immediately.”

Her shoulders relaxed slightly, and she offered me a small, grateful nod.

When we reached the infirmary, the familiar scent of herbs and antiseptic filled the air. Elizabeth lay on one of the cots, her breathing shallow but steady, her face pale but peaceful. Riftel sat by her side, his hands clasped tightly, his expression a mixture of worry and determination.

“Ah, Riftel,” I began, stepping into the room. “I’m sorry to disturb you, but I must leave soon. I need your answer now.”

He rose to his feet quickly, his concern evident in his movements. “It’s quite alright, my lady,” he replied, his voice tinged with resolve. “I was about to come looking for you myself. I’ve made my decision.”

I waited, sensing the weight of his words.

“I wish to send Elizabeth along the journey with you,” he said, his voice breaking slightly as he glanced at her frail form. “I beg of you to continue her treatment. She’s not stable enough to stay behind, and I can’t let her condition worsen.”

“Riftel,” I said gently, raising a hand to calm him. “It’s okay. You don’t need to grovel. I’ll treat her, I promise. She can come with us, and I’ll do everything in my power to ensure her recovery.”

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His shoulders sagged with visible relief, and he bowed his head deeply. “Thank you, Lady Elysia. I cannot thank you enough for your kindness.”

Otome, who had been standing silently by my side, cleared her throat softly. “We should prepare her for travel immediately. The journey won’t be easy on someone in her condition, but I’ll help make it as safe as possible.”

Riftel looked at her, his brow furrowed with slight confusion. “And you are…?”

“She’s with me,” I explained quickly. “Otome is Tokei’s sister and will be traveling with us to ensure everything goes smoothly.”

Otome gave a small nod, her violet eyes calm but firm. “We don’t have time to waste. Let’s focus on getting her ready to move.”

Riftel hesitated only a moment before nodding. “Of course. Anything for Elizabeth’s safety.”

The three of us began working together to prepare Elizabeth for the journey. Riftel’s hands were steady but gentle as he adjusted her blankets, his worry never leaving his face. Otome inspected the makeshift cot and suggested modifications to ensure it would be easier to carry and more stable during transport.

Looking closer at Elizabeth Otome murmured under her breath, “I feel like I’ve seen this person before…”

----------------------------------------

Meanwhile, Nanik and Otome were engaged in a focused discussion with Elysia, plotting the next steps of their plan. Farthington, Victoria, and Huranti, on the other hand, had taken a more direct approach, going door to door in search of Tokei.

“Hey, Farthington, why are you weirdly good at this?” Victoria asked, casting a curious glance at him as they walked to the next house.

“Whatever do you mean, my fine lady Victoria? I simply speak naturally,” Farthington replied with a proud smirk, straightening his posture.

(Says the guy who went around trying to get people to fall for his—ahem—sign up for his book subscription service! Not that these two know that…)

Victoria rolled her eyes. “Sure, sure.”

Huranti sighed, shaking his head as they approached another door. “Both of you, focus, please. We’re at the next home.”

“You’re quite the stickler for this stuff, huh, Sir Huranti?” Farthington teased, flashing his usual grin.

“Just knock on the door, please…” Huranti said flatly, crossing his arms.

Farthington obliged, rapping his knuckles against the old, worn wood. The house was modest and shabby, its exterior showing signs of wear from the elements.

Knock, knock, knock.

Inside, muffled voices could be heard.

“But, mister, I heard there’s a handsome blonde man and his friends going around and questioning people,” a young voice whispered.

“Handsome? See, I told the two of you it just comes to me naturally,” Farthington said, his grin widening. “These village folk have excellent taste~”

Victoria elbowed him sharply in the ribs. “Oh, shut up.”

Another voice, deeper and gruff, replied from inside. “It’s fine, I’ll deal with them for you.”

The door creaked open, revealing none other than Jason Berth.

“Mister Serious!” Farthington yelped, pointing at Jason in surprise.

“Blonde-Haired Pretty Boy!” Jason shot back, pointing dramatically at Farthington.

Jason’s eyes flicked past Farthington, landing on Victoria and Huranti. His serious expression softened into a wide grin as recognition dawned. “And you two!”

Before anyone could react, Jason stepped outside and pulled Victoria and Huranti into a firm hug. They didn’t hesitate to return the gesture, and the warmth of the reunion was evident in their smiles.

“It’s good to see you again, Jason,” Victoria said, her voice tinged with relief.

“Same here,” Huranti added, patting Jason on the back.

Farthington, however, folded his arms and pouted. “No hug for me?”

Jason raised an eyebrow but then smirked. “Don’t push your luck, Pretty Boy. Anyway, why are you guys here, going door to door no less?”

“We were actually looking for Tokei—you know, Otome’s sister—but we ended up finding you, which is great!” Victoria explained, crossing her arms.

“Ah, I see.”

From inside the house, a young boy peeked out cautiously. “Do you know these people, mister?”

Jason turned around, lowering himself to meet the child’s gaze. “Yeah, these are some of my friends. We got separated a while back.”

“Does that mean you’re gonna leave now?” the boy asked, his voice tinged with worry.

Jason nodded slowly, offering a reassuring smile. “I guess it does. But I showed you a few ways to protect yourself and take care of your mother, right? She’s recovering now, so you’ll be fine without me around.”

“I guess… Thanks for everything, mister. It’ll be sad to see you go, but that can’t be helped.”

Jason ruffled the boy’s hair gently. “You’re a tough kid. Look after your mom, alright?”

“I will. You too~” The boy gave a small wave before retreating inside, closing the door behind him.

Jason turned back to the group.

“So, what’s with that kid?” Farthington asked, tilting his head.

“I helped him and his mother when I came to the village a short while back after Moon Dallah got raided,” Jason replied, his voice carrying a hint of weariness.

Farthington opened his mouth to ask more, but Victoria interrupted, her tone light yet eager. “Alright, never mind that! Otome is going to be super glad to see you. She’s been especially worried about you, even though she hasn’t said a peep to anyone. You know how she is, right, loverboy~?”

Jason’s cheeks tinged faintly pink. “Eh, what?! Don’t tease me like that!” he sputtered, averting his gaze.

Farthington’s eyes lit up as he straightened dramatically. “I smell a juicy story here. Brief me on the details, Madam Victoria!”

Victoria smirked, playing along. “Oh, I’d be happy to, Sir Farthington. But where to begin? Perhaps with how—”

“Enough!” Jason interrupted, holding up his hands in mock defeat. “We have more important things to focus on than your wild imaginations!”

Farthington chuckled, his grin unrelenting. “Oh, we’ll circle back to this later, trust me.”

Jason sighed but couldn’t hide the faint smile tugging at his lips. “Let’s just go find Otome.”

“Onward to the reunion!” Farthington declared, marching ahead dramatically as Victoria shook her head with a laugh.