A few days later...
Raven: Keep your back straight!
Adam:..! Yes ma'am!
Clay sits up straight in his chair.
Gavin: Is this much etiquette really required? You're just going to be there was a few minutes before you get down to business.
Gavin crosses his arms and expresses his concern for Clay.
Raven: We can never be too prepared.
These etiquette classes will take a lot of his training time but he's so unsophisticated, he'll give us away if I take him there the way he is now.
Adam: Um, Chief Raven?
Raven: What.
Adam: I just joined the training, don't you think it's too soon to put me on such a dangerous mission?
Raven: Are you doubting my decisions?
Adam: N-No, it's just that...
What a chicken. If he can't handle this, what's he here for? Does he think that the position he wants is a cakewalk? But, it's reasonable if he's hesitant.
Raven: If we succeed in this, it'll only increase your credibility and experience. So, what's it going to be?
I don't particularly like emotionally blackmailing my trainees, but this is necessary. He won't put his heart and soul into it if I don't. He balls his fists tightly.
Adam: I'll do it.
I smirk with satisfaction and the session continues.
Sometime later...
Raven: You can take a break now.
Adam: Phew.
Clay sighs with relief and sinks into his chair. Heh, it's like I hit his 'off' switch. I take a seat as well and an unfamiliar servant arrives with a cup of tea in her hand. I haven't seen her before, is she new?
She smiles at me politely and sets the cup down in front of me. Everyone here knows that I don't like tea, but I'll let it go this once since she's new. I look at the cup and back at her.
Raven: This is..?
Servant: I assumed that you'd be tired so I prepared this for you. It's lemon tea.
Raven: I see.
Servant:...
Even though I say this in a dismissive tone, she doesn't leave. What? Is she waiting for me to drink it? That's unusual. She has a very focused expression on her face. There's definitely something wrong here.
Even for an ordinary servant, this type of behaviour is strange. Is this tea spiked? It's not like I can drink it to find out.
Raven: I don't wish to drink tea at the moment.
As soon as I say this, worry shows on her face. I was right. But who dares to do this?
Servant: T-Then would you like to have some?
She's about to pass the cup to Clay. No, I can't let him drink that! I kick the leg of the table hard and the cup trips over before she can touch it.
Servant:..! You!! You did that on purpose! Do you think you're very smart just because of your position?!
Adam:..!
She glares at me like a maniac. What does she want to do? She produces a knife out of her sleeve and lunges at me.
Raven:..!
I grab a hold of her hand just before it touches my face and force the knife out it. Hiss, I got a cut on my hand.
Servant: Let go of me, you monster!!
Tears spring to her eyes. Why does she call me that? What did I do to her? Noticing the commotion, the guards come over. They start to drag her away and she screams.
Servant: Why are you taking ME away?! She's the evildoer! Raven Wood, give me back my husband!!
Raven:..!
Her husband? There haven't been any conflicts so no one could have died. That's means... he's one of the missing guards! There's no saying if he's dead or alive after being abducted by them. Since she hasn't heard from him in such a dangerous place, she must've assumed that he got or is going to be killed.
I can understand her pain, I myself don't know if my mother's alive. The more I try not to think about it, the more it haunts me. Mother, I'm coming for you, just give me a little more time.
Adam: What was that about?
Raven:... It doesn't concern you.
I turn away and head to the palace herbalist. I have to make Clay surpass me at all costs! I make a silent resolution to myself as I walk away, drops of blood dripping from my hand...