After waking up, Ivy could see Ruby getting groomed by a couple of servants. She rubbed the sleepiness out of her eyes before sitting up.
Seeing the movement on the bed, Ruby glanced over as she whispered one of the servants to prepare Ivy for their visit. The servant nodded before walking over and talking to Ivy.
Ivy could feel her brows twitch before sighing and getting out of the bed. She followed the servant into a different room while giving the middle finger to Ruby as she passed by. Ivy didn't understand what was going through Ruby's mind, but she didn't like the smile that she received.
Ivy was taken into a changing room where multiple servants had dress and outfits for Ivy to try on. At first, it was alright in Ivy's mind, but after the twentieth, she almost lashed out one of the servants.
The servants apologize before Ivy said in a calm voice, "Just get a white shirt and black pants, with gloves, please."
Ivy didn't like playing dress-up, but she also didn't like it when other people were affected by her outburst. As the other servant heard Ivy's suggestions, one helped Ivy get out of the dress she was currently in. The other servant went through the wardrobe and found the two pieces of clothing that Ivy wanted.
Ivy thanked them before changing into them as she relaxed, knowing she wouldn't have to wear a dress to whatever ridiculous visit she had.
Ivy was happy with the servants before asking, "Where are the gloves?"
One of the servants, the headmaster of these group of servants, approached Ivy with a sorry expression. "I'm sorry, but we could find any that suited your outfit, miss Ivy."
Hearing the words "Miss Ivy" made her flinch, she shook her head as she said with a blank expression, "Don't worry, I can work without gloves. Besides, I probably not worthy of gloves."
Hearing Ivy's response, the headmaster felt sorry for Ivy before hearing a knock on the door. She ordered one of the servants to get the door while she, along with the other help tidy up Ivy's outfit.
"M-Miss Ruby?!" the servant exclaimed while she helped with the door while moving out of the way. Ruby thanked the servant while she approached Ivy.
All the servants bowed at Ruby while she told them to not express such manners in front of her. She approached Ivy with a smile, she held out an antique box as she opened it to reveal a pair of pure white, glittering gloves.
Ivy looked at the contents in the box before shaking her head at Ruby. She could tell that Ruby wanted to say something, but Ivy interjected, "I do not deserve something like these gloves. All I need are white gloves. These are in there for a reason, have someone special wear them."
Ivy could feel her throat sore up after her talk, even though it was a few sentences, it felt like it rubbing sand at the end. She finished the work the servants did before she noticed her newly polished arm and hand.
Ivy looked at Ruby before saying to herself, ("I'm not worth this trouble. I'm just here to help and make sure you don't die.")
Ruby broke out of her little talk as she approached Ivy with a bit of force, she said in a loving yet stern voice, "I believe you are special, Ivy. You took the chance to change, unlike some criminals I've captured. Believe me when I say that you are unique. Take them please."
Ivy closed her eyes before looking at Ruby again, she gave in. Ivy gently took the gloves and slid them perfectly onto her metal hands. Ruby smiled before picking up one of Ivy's hand and whispered, "You deserve a better life, I just know it."
With those words out, Ruby thanked the servants as she took Ivy and led her where they needed to be. Ivy quickly thanked the headmaster as she was dragged by Ruby.
--------------------------------------------------
Ivy and Ruby approached the throne room after getting slightly lost. The guards nodding before opening the door then closing after the two entered.
The room was like a corridor except the ceiling. It was at least fifty meters long and about thirty-meter high. There was a red carpet with golden lines on either side with guards in Mana constructed armor with spears in hand. There was a glass ceiling with the daylight shining. At the very end, sat twelve royals with one seat as an outlier. The throne. There sat a man with and an imposing aura as he observed the two who had entered.
Ruby and Ivy approached the king as Ruby bowed down on one knee. Ivy observed the fluctuation of Mana in the room. Even before she entered the room, Ivy's instincts were being set off as she looked at the Mana circuits embedded in the walls. She could see some of them were being tampered with, and some of them were disappearing a critical piece.
Seeing the new arrival, the twelve royal spoke among themselves while the king watched the careful girl. He opened his mouth, which made Ivy snap out of her caution: "You're quite the curious one, aren't you girl? Why have you come here?"
Ivy looked at the king before seeing the dark grey eyes with jet black hair. Similar to Ruby's except the red. She looked around once more as she slowly made her way towards the king.
The twelve royals got tense as they watched a strange girl who had no effect from their combined aura. Ivy picked a foul scent as she pinpointed the source, the king's goblet.
"If his majesty allowed me to speak?" Ivy asked with a slightly serious face.
The king seemed amused before approving Ivy's request. He was intrigued about what the girl had to say, especially if it's coming from the infamous thief.
"There's is poison in that cup along with something that seemed very misplace in here," Ivy's last words were vague but had a clear intent of something coming. One of the royals flinched, which was hidden by everyone else but Ivy.
Hearing the girl's words, the king stood up and asked a servant to take away his cup. He walked down and stood in front of Ivy. Their height difference was at large as he was 192cm compared to Ivy's 173cm.
Ivy could hear the guards behind her move in a U shape as she could feel the Mana in the room slowly disappear. She then looked up and said, "Someone is attacking."
As if on cue, the glass ceiling on top broke into millions of pieces while smoke grenades were tossed down onto the throne room. Immediately, Ivy turned and leaped towards Ruby.