"I apologize for being late. Please, overlook my rudeness." Karmina walked into the guest room quickly and cheerfully as she looked around for the guest that had arrived.
"No, not at all Lady Karmina. It is I who must apologize for the sudden visit."
On the other hand, a young lady put her cup back on the saucer and put the set back on the table very elegantly. Looking at her, Karmina felt a little bit taken aback by the appearance of the young lady.
She is a beauty.
A beauty that can ruin a nation.
Not just an ordinary beautiful girl, she was so beautiful that someone in Karmina's caliber felt threatened instantly and Karmina wasn't even the jealous type.
That doesn't mean Karmina wasn't beautiful, she is actually famous in the noble society rings for being one of the most desired single young ladies. Karmina is the type that shines between flowers and natural views since all her paintings would preferably be around gardens and skies and flowers.
This young woman, on the other hand, was something else. She's a beauty that blooms between swords and blades with her sharp aura and the unique look of her eyes.
She is like no other weapon… or a girl, she is almost like a living weapon herself. Her beauty rivals that of a howling storm or a sea that doesn't stop raging. Among the paintings Karmina saw, that young woman should be drawn over a battlefield as a Saintess of War or a Passer of Judgment.
Her dress was most definitely unusual as well. While the custom of women's clothing is the bashful and non-revealing dresses, that young woman was exposing her arms, a big part of her cleavage, and most certainly the upper half of her back. A daring sense of fashion that breaks the rules a few times in a row. Seeing how the young woman was sitting, she must be really that type that isn't shy to expose herself as she sees fit, especially with how low the collar of her dress is.
"Wow!" Karmina woke up from her daze and smiled awkwardly wearing a tired face, "Where are my manners?"
Karmina walked ahead and met the other young woman who stood up to meet her. Karmina was taller but only because she was older. It was very clear since this mysterious young woman is someone who is yet to make her first official debut in the Noble Society.
"No worries, no worries." The mysterious young lady spoke with a mix of politeness and authority, "It is an honor to meet you, my Lady. I have been told a great deal of your beauty, intellect, and talents before I came here so I was as absent-minded as one can get and forgot to send our family's men to arrange an appointment."
"No! Not at all. Please, sit down." Karmina offered the young woman a seat, "You have heard of me from?"
"My mother." The girl replied.
"I don't quite…" Karmina wasn't aware of the girl's identity to be aware of her mother's.
"You two met a year ago in the annual festival of Frondes Volitare at the Temple of the Sun Island." The girl said.
Karmina tried to remember the faces she met at the festival since she goes every summer to the Sun Island for healing and prayer along with many aristocrats.
If she met someone who made an impression on her, it can only be…
"I remember, of course." Karmina made a bright face as she made the connection immediately in her mind.
The unique and pure platinum hair and the strong blue eyes were the traits that this young lady shared with someone that left quite the impression on Karmina.
"Your Highness, I can't believe we met at last." Karmina stood up and greeted the young lady properly.
"Please, no. I am a junior here. No need for such formalities." The girl took Karmina's hands and convinced her to sit on the sofa right against each other.
"Thank you." Karmina smiled, "Wow! You are the same daring lioness your mother is."
"Such compliments! I am afraid I am not as worthy as people may think. My mother speaks highly of you as well, my lady."
"She does? I am flattered."
The two girls seemed to be enjoying the talk as the two of them were in a cheerful easy-going mood this morning.
"So, the business I came here for is critically important regarding the stolen painting, the Pride of Del Mar." The young lady said.
"Oh, yes." Karmina nodded and put on a sad face, "I hope it is found as soon as possible."
"Yes, the painting is classified as a National Treasure and one of the finest art pieces in our kingdom. Stealing it is a serious crime and as a representative of the Cultural Society, I am tasked to investigate thoroughly. My lady, you understand that your brother has accused you of stealing it?" The girl asked.
"Yes, my brother thinks that I opposed selling the painting and that I would steal it instead. If only I was that capable!" Karmina said in a mocking tone.
"Hmmm… I see. Of course you were cleared from all charges since the painting wasn't found anywhere near your places of residence and in your registered properties. The fact that you were present during the robbery proved your innocence as the lawyers rallied the point. Now, there is a new prime suspect." The girl said.
"I thought you were after the thief who calls himself Black Cobra." Karmina asked.
"Yes, that's him but as it is a secret identity, we can only assume that he is a Twilight Syndicate member, a Snake." The girl said.
"Goodness!" Karmina covered her mouth with fear, "Such a dangerous criminal!"
"Yes, the Snakes of the Syndicate are the real menace. Killers, Thieves, and Fixers; even the local Syndicate bosses fear them. Still, if there is a suspicious identity in this whole case, it would be that of a man called…" The girl turned a few pages in a note she carried, "Vanderbilt, Alfonse."
"Sir Alfonse? Well, he was a good man, a fine gentleman, really. He was with me the whole evening. He was the one that supported me. I can't find a reason why he would steal my… my family's painting."
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"It is weird but we think he is involved in the case somehow. The timing of his appearance and disappearance is just too strange and… we find no family in the families we know of as Vanderbilt."
"Truly? This is most unfortunate for Sir Alfonse. From what I know, he is still in the City looking for a new residence."
"Where exactly?"
"He resided in the mansion of Baron Kingsley along with his sister Galina."
"That remains to be checked out since that mansion is locked now." The girl said, "We, however, have a description for him. I would like you to confirm."
"Oh?" Karmina felt distressed as this was news to her. She made sure that all her servants don't describe Leon that well, "I wish to hear it then."
The girl smiled.
"Heavy back hair, the silky type, not the brownish one but rather a deep black. His eyes are as black as his hair which rhymes well all together, he's short for his age but gives the vibe of an older person. A bit childish in his reactions though, has a deep and intense stare when he broods. The air around him is filled with simplicity as if he can be easily figured out but there are always layers to what he thinks. He loves reading as if it is his only talent yet he can surprise you with the other things he can do… hmmm… he's also shy."
"Uh Uh! I'm telling you, that he is nothing like that." Karmina shook her head with a smile that held more than just one meaning.
"Excuse me?"
The two ladies frowned at once. On one hand, the young lady spoke as if she knew Alfonse Vanderbilt and on another, Karmina was taken aback by how deep the description got.
"Sir Alfonse is not shy…" Karmina said this one sincerely trying to hide her grin, "Nor he is deep or childish or anything… and his hair gets brown in the sun, actually."
Misleading but enough to push away the investigation. This young lady felt like she knew more than she should.
"My Lady!" At that time, the butler walked in.
"Yes, Dexter?"
"The ehem… the Plumber has finished his work in the bathroom and is coming down." He said.
Plumber? She wasn't informed of any plumber coming over this morning but the moment a certain young man with certain shabby clothes walked down the staircase, Karmina almost panicked.
The young lady just now was describing him like the back of her own hand. If she sees him now, it is going to be a disaster.
Karmina turned around to see the young lady whose eyes were fixed on the young man coming over and Karmina jumped up off her seat immediately.
"Mr. Plumber, I hope you are done with your work. Please, let me see you out."
Leon was there, he looked very natural and composed. Karmina was hurrying to see him out which was rather strange. The butler was keeping his cool but not aware of what's going on. The young lady was staring… just staring at Leon as if there's something on his face that she can't quite figure out.
As Karmina signaled him to start moving, he was about to turn away but suddenly, the young lady called.
"Lady Karmina."
"Yes."
"It is quite strange. Why are you seeing the plumber out?"
"Oh, right…" Karmina realized that she almost fucked up, "I wanted to hear… a report of what he did since I had… quite the serious problem in the holes…" Karmina said.
"Pipe." Leon corrected.
"Pipe in the hole." She continued.
"Hole in the pipe." He corrected her again.
"Exactly." Karmina said with a smile trying to hide her pain when she realized what she said just now.
"Ah! Quite the problem it seems." The young lady looked at Karmina but she wasn't aware of what's going on just yet.
"I am clumsy with plumbing knowledge." Karmina said, "So, let me see you out, mister." She then turned to the young lady, "If you excuse me for a second."
"Of course."
Karmina managed to get Leon out of the room while the young lady blinked with her eyes a few times.
"A plumber?" Karmina asked as she stepped into a far-off hall with Leon.
"Your Butler didn't know what to say in front of your guest so I helped out." Leon smiled.
"Unpredictable." Karmina shook her head wryly.
"There was that guy who used to be a very bad plumber, along with a few other jobs, but he always got paid out in ways one can never imagine. I used to envy him till yesterday." Leon brooded out.
"Well, I don't know what you are talking about and I have an important guest to entertain." Karmina looked back and then to Leon, "You sure you want to leave?"
"That's my only chance." He said.
"When will you return?" She asked.
"Someday." He replied, "All my enemies reside in this damn city so when I come back, I should be able to not put you or any of my friends in danger."
She nodded with a regretful face.
"I will miss you."
Softly, she said those words and touched his face.
"And so will I." He held her hand and kissed it, "Farewell, dear Karmina."
Funny enough, Leon got his casanova exit which he always wanted. Kissing a girl then jumping off the window before getting seen and disappearing in the streets.
He was no longer bound by anything, not even feelings. His freedom was limitless and his feet carried him faster than anything in the city and before he knew it, he was already near the northern district.
***
The young Lady put the teacup and the saucer back once again and channeled some Mana to her earrings.
{Devon.} She called with her Telepathy Accessory the Knight who was waiting for her outside with her carriage.
{Yes, Miss Alice.} Devon replied.
{Why is Leon here?} She asked.
{Wait… excuse me, Miss… Leon?} He asked.
{Yes.}
{Leon? Leon Dark? Our Leon.}
{Yes, our Leon. I thought he had a connection with the robbery but he's here… doing plumbing?}
{Plumbing?}
{Yes. I don't get it. Pipes in Holes and strange things.}
{Oh! Oooh!} Devon panicked.
{What?} She asked.
{Nothing.} He replied.
{What do you mean nothing?} She frowned.
{Oh, sorry. I am dizzy. My Mana is running low. Can't hear you, Miss Alice.}
{Devon… Devon.}
And the telepathic signal was cut off. Alice looked around as she no longer felt like staying. Leon is here, she found him. As her mother Eleanor said, he lost his memories and he can't even recognize her.
"It's alright." She breathed out calmly.
While her mother and the others were losing their heads looking for Leon, she traced his escape route and analyzed the pattern of which he should take. She took in every small and big probability and carefully gathered all pieces together to deduce that Leon has something to do with many noisy events that happened during the last couple of months.
Her intuition was right so far and she used Lance and Lara Dark to do most of the legwork for her. Currently, her mind was temporarily calm after Leon was confirmed to be safe.
Now, it is time to wipe out all the traces he left behind and make sure no one finds his trail. The chaos in the city will surely come in handy as whoever was causing trouble for Leon will be now busy during the coming shit storm.