亚洲综合中美

“T-thank you,” the focus remained on the crimson-tipped hair, the light soon flashed the figure into obscurity of the lonesome echoey hallway.

Vengeance’s report and visible confirmation, irritation of betrayal, the castle boomed actively, people came and went, traders negotiated, merchants bargained, companies sent representatives for favors – the tide of change

Servant’s quarters, a dim screen reflected against Igna’s white-shirt in a blue tinge. With the added light of the opening and a mildly ajar door, he kept to the keyboard, typing and drawing conclusions on the coming operation.

‘éclair’s made the plan simple and effective. Dyu makes it to the palace under the premise of a business deal, there, makes contact with the queen, and then escapes. That side depends on him and Ela, few of the Ghost Squads have infiltrated the palace. My role’s a bit uncertain. After they leave the castle grounds, convoys will bolt to the nearest airfield depending on the situation. The plan makes more sense in application, guess I’ll leave the details to him,’ a whip toggled the screen black, he stared watching himself, ‘-this isn’t like me, part of me doesn’t want to pay attention, the other part wants to plan until I’m spent. A difference of priorities, Origin,’ he gritted, ‘-his emotions are getting in the way,’ he gripped the mouse, “-STOP,” it went across the room, ending beside the door. “-PATHETIC!”

*Creek,* “-Who’s there?” fired he bluntly.

“Cousin?” returned a blond-haired lass, she veered inside, fox ears peeped before she fully entered, “-someone’s enraged,” hands in her hoodie’s pocket, “-nice room,” said a vaguely interesting voice.

.....

“Ania.”

“Igna.”

“Hey,” the tune changed, “-why are you here?” he asked.

“I heard from the group chat,” she pushed her phone into his face, “-éclair briefly mentioned the selfish plan, I came to see if you were doing alright.”

“How very kind of a child,” he patted her head, “-how is adventuring treating you?”

“Pretty good,” she sat and closed her arms, a ruby-colored tag glimmered.

“Right,” he leaned into the chair, “-you’re not here for a visit. Go on already.”

“Wow, I knew you were good, not this good. Ok, fine,” she rose her nose and inhaled,”- I need a favor.”

“Depends on what kind.”

“I found this boy I like,” her feet closed, the cheeks blushed, “-and I think, I want.”

“You want him to work under the same agency?”

“STOP!” she rolled her eyes, “-I planned to suggest romance,” the act dropped, “-how can someone be such an ache.”

“How kind to remove the ‘ball’ part. No matter, have him apply and turn to Julius, he’s the leader of the adventuring side, I’m just-”

“Just a king,” she interjected, “-I would have gone to him first,” her focus peaked the door, “-would have if not from what a friend said.”

“Alright,” he closed his arms, the eyes shut, allowing the walls to fade, “-someone’s waiting outside, and let me guess, he’s the butler who saved the queen, the boy you like, am I, or am I not right?”

“Impressive,” loud steps thundered, “-tales don’t come close.”

“Meet my friend,” said Ania, “-Elde, he’s a bit of a weirdo.”

“Quite the introduction,” a frown rose at the boy, “-I usually have a lot of questions I’d like to ask, sadly.”

“-you’re not in the mood,” he completed Igna’s thought, “-majesty, I know the wandering of her majesty’s been waning heavy.”

A push sent a pen, grazed Elde’s cheek, and impaled the wall behind, “-this I hate, number one, pretentious bastards,” he resettled into a fierce posture, “-second, people who act like they know everything, and lastly, those who copy and are unoriginal. The mind-reading abilities are impressive. Has nothing on someone I know.”

“Cousin,” elbowed Ania, “-I don’t want to be a pain, but you described yourself...”

“I know,” he winked, “-the boy passes.”

“Thanks,” she jumped and gave a quick embrace, “-I’ll see you later.”

“Later,” she left similar to the boy’s confidence, a single glare shattered the fa?ade. ‘-A mind reader – their kind is an obsolete bunch. A worthless power.’ Coordination of the plan went to and fro, éclair thought hard in implementing Igna – using the best piece to start a strike wasn’t the greatest of an idea. Hiding aces, such as their way of battle, attrition, and grit, the longwinded way of breaking opposition by force of value and resilience.

The next day rose on the horizon, the castle never slept, night and day, retainers and workers took shifts. ‘My neck,’ orangish-amber scanned the closed lid, ‘-I must have dozed off,’ he pulled upright to a disturbing sight, ‘-who’s this?’ a mutilated corpse laid at his feet, no blood nor color, aftermath of a vampire drinking to much blood. *Click,* whispered in the hallway, ‘-this early?’ he rose, stormed the door and grabbed the camera, “-who sent you?” he thundered, the silent quarters came alive, “-tell me!” the more the shouts echoed, the denser grew footsteps.

“Please, let me go,” begged the photographer.

“No, not right now,” a pull had the camera in his hands. A glee screamed hope, the photographer looked to the right and sidestepped to the left, ‘-a faint?’ an expression of bafflement screamed on Igna’s face.

‘I did it, I escaped from the Devil.’

“Right,” *snap,* the bones from within the room mushed into spikes of which kicked the intruder and impaled his clothes onto the wall, matching the running-man escape sign. ‘I was tricked.’

“What happened?” retainers rose with yawns and tired faces.

“An intruder,” he said, “-he tried to frame me.”

“Frame?”

“Yes, take a look,” the camera passed from hand to hand.

“Despicable,” said one, “-makes the third this week?”

“DAMN,” cried a distant exclaim, “-there goes my week’s wage.”

“I DID IT!” screamed another, “-I guessed right, HA-HA.”

“Gather round, people,” signaled Igna, “-those who bet on three times wins, the rest, hand over the cash.” A game, this was the name of the attempts at a damning proof of the King’s activities. The king handed orders to allow the worse of the worse to openly act their plans. A fool had much to teach – those faking and the competent were dispatched before ever stepping foot inside the property. Day rose in a joyful manner – money divided amongst the winner, he took a share of the winnings and escaped outside. éclair had yet to figure a plan, and so, Igna sat on the southern terrace with a lovely drink, watching the landscape of which threw a glimpse of the distant mountains. Meanwhile, inside, the situation grows dire, the palace flowers whispered ear to ear till reaching the king’s attention, “-majesty,” whispered a butler, “-lady Alta’s on one of her tantrums. Two nobles have fled to the castle and three maids are in tears, what’s the next move?”

“Let her tire herself,” a gesture to signal a pleasant death, “-send the army!”

“Majesty, you’re willing to sacrifice...”

“-for the greater good,” he sipped. Palace life was filled with in-jokes and laughter, no one took much of anything seriously. Outside looking in, the atmosphere felt closer to a class before the teacher entered, messy, loud, and stupid. In those moments, the genuine smile and pleasant exchanges built a solid record amongst the participants. Mistaking the laughter for complacency, an open trap for those wanting to harm – never underestimate the shadows of the corridors; granting access, an open invitation to those wanting a taste of devastation.

“Igna,” a tornado of fury readied at the archway, the attending butler casually erased hits present and left, “-traitor,” he murmured. Mindful not to step onto cracks, Alta crossed the tiled terrace and dropped beside Igna, she drank from the jar directly, slamming the container and wiping her mouth, “-refreshed,” she smiled.

“Another tantrum?”

“No,” she glared, “-they’re too complacent. Another photographer snuck inside; what are the guards doing. Guess what, I passed nobles earlier, they were blatantly speaking of how they’d disrobe a maid and take her to bed, it was disgusting.”

“Did you ever think they were joking? The nobles are bait,” he shook his head, “-agents of Ghost acting to enforce peace from within. It was your idea.”

“Sorry, I heard about the Queen’s... and I got angry.”

“Look, forget about her, I don’t much care. Giving her attention won’t help change the unchangeable, she’s given herself in body and soul to another man. A maiden’s heart is something I rather not touch, not after what I did to Aceline and Loftha.”

“No, ” she slammed the table, “-you’re wrong. Marriage, love or not, binds two people as one, she gave her dignity to another man, don’t you feel the least bit?”

“Oh, I’m furious,” said a blank frown, “-don’t I look the part? I warned her... no idea if my threat stuck or not. Listen, Alta, what she does is her business, the greater purpose is to solidify my place on the throne.”

“I admire that part of you,” she exhaled, “-straightforward and to what’s important. There are a few things I need to handle. The intercontinental railway started eight years or so ago has finally reached the Ardanian border after heading to the other provinces. They’ll be crossing from Dorchester – I’ve only just got permission for the landed nobles, Queen Courtney’s offered to split the cost.”

“I still say planes are the easiest way to travel.”

“For a wealthy person, I suppose...”

A silhouette interrupted her would-be tangent, “-I’ll get going,” she said after taking stock of who arrived, “-take care, master,” she rose, bowed, and left.

*Clop, clop, clop,* “-majesty.”

“éclair,” returned Igna, “-how gracious of you to make the trip.”

“About the operation,” he took her seat, “-I have bad news.”

“You couldn’t fit a pawn of my size on the field?”

“No,” he cringed, “-not that, I just can’t bring myself to order you around.”

“Now getting cold feet?” he breathed a cackle, “-éclair, you’ve given me orders before, what’s different now?”

“I don’t know,” he shrugged, pushing his regard onto the gentle forestry fighting against the frostbitten sky, “-the plan I made was created...”

“To be ignored if things went wrong – a sacrificial plan if matters derailed.”

“Yes,” fingers clashed in thought, “-sending his majesty on fool’s errand troubles my heart and mind dearly.”

“I have a better idea,” he exhaled, “-use connections and have me enroll as a butler to Queen Ela, the report mentioned the head-maid looking for a capable combat retainer. They’re having a small contest between applicants later tomorrow. Thinking on the matter, I say, having the queen escape later this week is impossible. We’ll require at least a fortnight. A high chance of success and a lower risk of detection. Altering my hair color and wearing glasses should suffice.”

“Recognition?”

“I wouldn’t worry. I’ll have Vengeance take my place, we’re twins and he’s a whole lot more capable in holding back during fights.”

“Sending him to Elendor seems easier.”

“Understand,” said his cold side-glance, “-staying at the castle makes me sick. Looking at Eia’s visage burns hatred in my fist, I surrendered my all to answer Queen Gallienne’s wishes – if I stay any longer, I may fail.”

“I understand,” nodded éclair, “-I’ll inform lady Eira of the situation, if needs be, Vengeance will sign the alliance papers, tis but a formality. Don’t worry, majesty, the entourage you’ve built consists of the best the world has to offer. With us, there’s nothing to fear.”

“Quite the sentiment,” he smiled, “-there’s a vacancy for the spymaster position.”

“No suitable candidates...”

“There is one,” he looked to the skies, “-Prince Julius.”

“Him?”

“Yes, I vouch for his hidden potential. Give my cousin credit, he’s worked for the DG, always enthralled in society’s darkest shadows, he’ll be fine. A place at the castle will make mine and your life easier.”

.....

“I doubt the prince will accept.”

“He will,” winked Igna, “-a family man needs stability, tell him the Rosespire manor is ready for accommodation if he wishes.”

“One condition.”

“Which is?”

“His majesty makes the offer personally.”

“Deal.”