The two black robed women's complexions turned deathly pale. They were obviously not expecting the appearance of Astrid even more that she actually serve House Castellan.
"Red, why are you here?" Grogda or Yume changed the topic and asked Astrid instead. "Why do they call you Astrid?"
"I have been given a new name by Lady Mel, when she invited me to serve House Castellan." Astrid answered excitedly.
"I-I see." Grogda or Yume smiled awkwardly and turned to face me. "Lady Melody, we are here not to fight but to request something."
I sat on the chair and motioned for them to sit across me which they followed.
"You can also sit, Astrid." I glanced at Astrid who awkwardly stood on the side.
"Thank you, my lady." She happily sat beside her sisters and Sebastiene handed her a robe to cover herself with. She was surprised when she saw the robe and frowned at Sebastiene who went back to Stand beside me.
"Speak. What is it you want that you even had to look for Miss Bloom to send me a message?" I asked as I leaned back on my seat.
Astrid glanced at her sisters confusedly but did not interfere with the talk and just sat there, listening.
"We would like to make an alliance." The black-haired woman said seriously.
"Are you willing to tell me your names?" I replied coldly. I still can't accept the name that they used to introduce themselves. "I know that her name is Yume but I still do not know yours."
"I am indeed named as Anous by my current master, but I was once named Hildegard by my parents." She replied in a prideful manner as she clenched the robe on her leg.
"I see." I flicked my hair back. "What is this alliance you speak of?"
"We know that you are planning an attack on Karciel, and we would like to ally ourselves with you. At least ten of the eleven remaining Black circle members would like to." She explained and glanced at Yume beside her. "We do not want to be in the Black circle, but our master has something that against us that could put us in danger."
"What is it?" I asked indifferent.
The two women looked at each other and held hands.
"Our master knows that we are escapees from the laboratory." Hildegard answered and her eyes showed a hint of anger. "He has been blackmailing us using that knowledge."
"Why didn't you just killed him?" I asked with a faint smile. Their problems would have been solved just by killing him, won't it?
"The secret is kept safe by someone else." Yume's warm eyes gradually turned cold. "If anything happened to him, that person would definitely tell everyone about our origin and the Therodyn Kingdom would obviously hunt us to the end. It would be a never ending chase and we will live in fear our whole lives. We do not want that."
"Do you know who this other person is?" I asked them and they both shook their heads sadly.
"Our master is named Eric Fidatti, a businessman who also illegally sells slaves." Hildegard continued. "His operations in not only in Westreon but in the entire kingdom."
"We will tell you everything we know, even Karciel's plans, but please help us to get away from Mr. Fidatti." Yume placed her hand over Hildegard's and looked at me with pleading eyes.
I thought about what they said.
I would gain much from the information they have but how could I be sure that they are not lying?
"Seb, go and investigate this Eric Fidatti and find out who the other person or persons that knows about their backgrounds." I instructed Sebastiene on my side.
"Yes, my lady." He smiled.
"You said that out of eleven members of Black circle are willing to help, but what about the other one?" I couldn't help myself from asking.
"We do not have any contact with Facies Milia." Yume glanced at Hildegard. "We do not know where she stays or what she even looks like. Unlike the others who are mostly slaves, Milia is different and unknown."
"Facies Milia." I whispered. "I really want to meet her."
"We may not know who she is or what she looks like, but we have received information that she is already in Westreon since last week." Yume added. "We did not dare to look for her as we do not have any prior contact with her, so we are not sure if she really wants to protect Karciel or not."
"I see." O pursed my lips and thought for a while. "How did you know where to find Miss Bloom?"
Yume smiled and pointed to her eyes.
"I have the ability to locate anyone within a given distance." She smiled. "It is my innate ability before I was injected with the elf blood."
"Okay. I will check the validity of what you said first and will get back to you tomorrow." I told them. "I know you cannot stay here for long as Karciel will start looking for you. I will send you a message through Miss Bloom, so I suggest that you do not do anything to alert Karciel or your master at the moment."
"We understand, Lady Castellan." They replied with their eyes downcast.
Astrid sat there quietly this whole time. She did not even question me when I dismissed them.
"I will go retire first." I excused myself.
Astrid looked like she was in a conflict whether to beg me to let her sisters stay or to follow my orders.
"Klent, escort the gusts out with Astrid." I instructed as I walked out.
"Yes, my lady." Klent stepped out from the darker side of the room.
I was still able to see the shocked expressions of Yume and Hildegard when they saw Klent walked out of the darkness before Sebastiene closed the door behind him.