In the courtyard, Anasthasia hugged herself and watched the sunset at the horizon, spreading its lagress into the solemn sky—adorned with the rich hues of crimson hearths and tangerines. From the velvet light cast upon her, veiling her golden curls, and through teary eyes, she closed them once more as she curbed herself in sorrow.
***
"Wait, so…" Lucy trailed off her voice as she darted her gaze back and forth. "That is Sister...Ana?"
"I'm sure of that." Levi adjusted the rim of his glasses as he scrutinized further. "There's no mistake; it's Ana—ever since she encased herself in ice."
"Sister Ana is so gorgeous!" she covered her mouth and was all flustered. "No! I mean, she's pretty as she is right now—"
Anasthasia patted her head as she beamed a lopsided grin; she understood, and no harm was done from her utterance. "That's me and that portrait; he made that himself. I remember that scene…"
'His love and passion for such painting continue to blow me away; painting unwavering against age.'
She kneaded her head to relieve herself from nausea. They looked with concern, but she reassured them.
"I have no reason to say I have been betrayed as they were free to do what they want during breaks and vacations." She turned her head and faced Blake. "Tell me, were there any records and anecdotes of him when he's away?"
"Indeed, Miss Ana. They are heavily guarded and locked in the archive room in this mansion."
As though it flared a candle of hope in her heart, she leaned closer to Blake as he grabbed his hands, shaking. She stuttered, "Were—there any information... from the—rest of 'The Guardians'?!"
Blake shook his head, and this slouched her shoulders; a complete dejection in her part.
"Knowing that he favored solitude above anything else and his personality, it did cross my mind he wouldn't bother the others; however…" Anasthasia stared at his cyan eyes.
"You might want to see it for yourself in the archive, Ana. There's also a chest that is locked: in any methods we tried, none deemed effective. I thought you would be able to."
She furrowed her eyebrows from Blake's statement. It loomed mixed feelings in her heart, causing palpitations, and her mind so muddled it almost overwhelmed her.
"It's a lackluster chest, but what piqued our interest was there found magical traces: 'She will return' as written."
They all sucked in cold air from what he said; it was as though bombs after bombs bombarded through her core that her legs wobbled ever-so-slightly.
'I need to know the answers!'
"So, this was the place Wallace resided?"
"Although this wasn't the original establishment, Wallace Raguel's legacy carried on, until this date, we maintained the heritage." Blake drew close to the railings, hands tapping. "This place is, nevertheless, rich in history."
"For someone like Wallace Raguel, who stayed in my sovereignty for years, I knew nothing for all of this." Her hands waved around the area.
"What do you mean, Miss Ana?" he queried.
"In your point of view, it must have been pathetic." Anasthasia shut her eyes; her insides churn out of humiliation and upset. "I'm going to be honest with you. I have no idea."
"I don't think he would want you to know, Miss Ana. He knows you too well." Blake's lips twitched as he noticed the sad tone in her voice. "... Should you make a big deal out of this—"
"Well now, I think so!" Anasthasia roared, flashing a heatwave as she arced her arm forefront. Blake blocked from his arm and winced from the subtle burns.
Eyes flared as though she was going all out for blood. "I never meddle in their businesses, as much as I gave them all the time to take a break, rightfully so!"
"Then, what if I tell you it had something to do with the legacy?"
All of a sudden, the temperature around her plummeted; indifference in her eyes glinted, which flinched them. Lucy held her side and snapped her back from reality.
"My apologies, Blake. I… Didn't mean to hurt you. I—" She panted hard and noticed Blake threw off a dismissive wave of the hand as he ruefully smiled.
"This isn't a big deal, Miss Ana. I understand your sentiments. We, as the descendants of Wallace Raguel, should offer ourselves and receive punishment from you."
"You have nothing to do with this! I—I lost my composure, and I harbor no ill will against you or any member of your family; generations at that. If there's anyone who would elucidate and redeem, then it would be Wallace himself!"
With her declaration, all of them watched in awe.
"...A benevolent empress…" he mumbled inaudibly.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Please, nevermind it that much, Miss Ana. What's important is you're here. The archives contain information; have the cumulative details of every descendant. Unfortunately, no informations known from rest of 'The Guardians', but I know of Wallaces' activities."
"And the answers I needed might be inside the chest?"
Blake nodded. "Perhaps so, I could only hope for the best. Would you like to have dinner first?"
"Please do carry on, while the rest of you remain here, I shall take my time and excuse myself for fresh air."
Her eyes darted over their reactions: To the twins, who averted their gaze, scratching their nape; Michael, who gazed amiably; and to Lucy, whose eyes glistened from moisture.
"Do you want to bring Freidmirth with you?" she croaked.
"Silly girl, I'm alright now. I'm sorry for putting up the scare, and that's if you'd agree to it."
Lucy bobbed her head and had Anasthasia cuddle Freidmirth on her arms. His amber eyes blinked a couple of times and caught her by surprise—a puff of smoke.
Anasthasia almost retched and coughed from suffocation. Pissed off, she flicked her snout, and their banter began. The atmosphere lit up substantially, unbeknownst to her.
"Alright, we will call you when things are done, Tasha."
With the nod, Anasthasia strutted near the door, opening slowly, and welcome the chill breeze.
***
She snapped open and stood for a long time, and the timely, whispers of the wind rustled the verdant meadows and then swathed through her ears. Thinking she would be lost from her thoughts again, Freidmirth chirped.
"There must be a good reason this happened, Anasthasia."
"It better be, or I'd be utterly disappointed. Everything seemed like cryptic messages that I could never decipher no matter how hard I try."
Freidmirth never said a word; he continued to snuggle and had his claws clink to each other.
"What I did was all for naught? Will I be doing the same mission I had once before? What would be the outcome?" She heaved a deep sigh, and as though a spirit of tiredness latched on her that she could never escape.
The door opened, but she never had the slightest intention to turn back. Her gaze was indomitable, locking at how the purple painted the starry sky.
"Tasha, things are ready."
"Many thanks." She turned around and saw them, patiently waiting for her by the door. "You all are such fools." Corners of her lips formed ear to ear.
Going inside the guest-chamber, she needed things to talk about them.
"Michael, I think this is a good opportunity for you to build your strained relationship with Daniel. If you don't mind doing me a favor."
"Anything for you, Tasha. I shall do it regardless."
Anasthasia's eyes flickered as her shoulders hunched. "If you say so, Daniel brought some materials needed, the one we had… Which I think would be good for Lucy." Her eyes winked at Lucy, who was now carrying Freidmirth. Little girl tilted head, fidgeted in the end, as much as her curiosity tried to get the best of her.
"Levi, Liam, I also have a favor to ask if you don't mind."
Levi replied, "If those are within our capabilities, we shall accomplish the task at hand."
"I'd like to ask the list of reputable nobles and possible rats in society."
Liam's eyes almost fell out of its sockets from her grandeur favor. "The former can be done in a breeze, but the latter…" his voice mused, "Why?"
"I need to stabilize my foothold in society, Liam. I need people to work on both sides: In light and the dark. You don't have to stain your hands necessarily. I can do it if you want."
"I hope you don't mind, Michael."
"But why so, Tasha?"
"I'll shake the status quo..." Anasthasia's eyes flashed with enthusiasm as they strolled towards the dining area, where she saw Blake conducted several instructions and whatnot to his humble servants.
She then went on and continued, "I need power… And that won't come from you, Michael."
Taking notice of their approach, Blake beckoned, and they gladly replied. But before they took the rest and commenced the dinner. All she could say, food served made her forget the dilemmas momentarily.