At the tower, Zao has been circling the building all morning looking for Arnwall. Arnwall soon falls out of a tree in the grass area right as Zao returns.
Arnwall: ouch!! Watch it!
Zao: the fuck?! Arnwall!! We're the hell have you been?!
Arnwall stands and runs off.
Arnwall: No time!
Zao: Hey! Hold it! Wait up!!
Zao follows him.
Arnwall: I'll explain once the meeting starts. I have to get to the treasury!
In the treasury, the treasurer paces the room. Arnwall opens the door and looks at the clock. He's earlier than he thought. He looks to the treasurer who stares at him as if he had died in front of her eyes.
Arnwall: ....?
He didn't know what to say. He just found out how she felt about him and it put him at a loss for words. However, he for some reason couldn't find this to be true even though he saw the proof a little while ago.
Treasurer: .... You're early.
He remembers that he's always been early for just about everything when it came to her. He remains composed.
Arnwall: aren't I always, madam?
Treasurer: .... That's true.
Basell wasn't in the room and she seem clueless about that morning. He's safe. She still looked as if she saw a dead man before her. It worried him.
Arnwall: You look as if you've seen a ghost. Is something wrong?
Treasurer: .... Uh?! No. It's nothing. We have more than enough time until the meeting.
She sits behind the decks and leans back. Arnwall took his position by the opposite wall as always. It's quiet for half the hour they had left. She finally looks at him and notices his gaze meet hers directly. Unexpected of this, she twitches a little. She's always noticed he had always looked in her general direction, but she wondered why she was scared of it now.
Arnwall: ...? What's wrong, madam?
She thought quickly.
Treasurer: .... I .... Just realized the whole time you've been working as my guard, you never once called me by name.
She just realized that wasn't what she wanted to say at all, even though it has been on her mind.
Arnwall: .... Madam Valura Clouds?
Hearing him say it made her heart stop. She looks at him and sees no change in his expression. She felt broken now.
Valura: .... So you do know.
Arnwall: How can I not?
Valura: yeah, yeah. It's part of your job to know, right?
Arnwall: That, too. Yes. The first time I heard it, though, was before I was assigned to your station. I took it as a personal priority to know it by heart.
Her heart stopped again.
Valura: why's that?
Arnwall: What kind of person would I be if I didn't? If I remember right this would actually be the second time I said your name in front of you.
Valura: .... Oh yeah. The first time was when you first came through that door and stood right were you are now. You've been like that ever since.
Arnwall: Exactly.
Valura: .... Thinking back on that now. You were the only one I ever really spoke to for the first time.
Arnwall: .... Madam?
Valura: .... What do you think my name means to you? I asked the ambassador and he said some cheesy crap about "value and riches" and some other stuff about money and such.
She looks annoyed now, but more relaxed as he usually sees her.
Valura: Then I went and asked one of my servants, Basell, the one that's usually in here. He told me "probably something like a free spirit" all nervous. I even asked Zao once. The guy didn't even get it, when I was trying to hint to him his little crush might think it cute. All he told me was he wasn't really good with those things and walked off. I swear that guy's got some serious issues. Well he's getting married to her, so I don't care anymore.
That just confirmed his doubts. She does like him.
Arnwall: .... "Valura". Purity and virtue. Possessing value in spirit, mind, and heart. "Clouds" could simply be free spirited.
She stares at him wide eyed and bright red. His answer was completely unexpected and embarrassing to hear. It's quiet for long while. Valura breaks the silence. She hated sitting in the quiet with Arnwall.
Valura: I saw you talking to Zao yesterday. Why did you hug him? If I may ask.
Arnwall sees she was only curious, but the question didn't seem right.
Arnwall: you almost broke him completely. When you sent me to check the inn, miss Caya was nearly raped by one of my guards. He wasn't successful, thankfully, but the surprise put her in a severe condition from the shock. To his current knowledge he doesn't know who to truly blame: you, the ambassador, or himself. He is not mentally stable when it comes to her.
Valura chokes a little. She knows it's her fault, but she felt no guilt when he mentioned the ambassador.
Valura: why the ambassador too?
Arnwall: it seems he has been the one spreading rumors about set people in the town. Specifically the women of a particular age or figure.
Valura: for example. . .?
Arnwall: you. The fact that you have a natural hourglass figure might as well put you at the top of the list for blackmail.
Valura: what? Ew!! Not on my life!
Arnwall: miss Caya is small and cute like a child. The fact that she is nearing the poverty level makes her a major target as well.
Valura is now angry, but she doesn't know what to be angry for; the fact that he said bluntly someone else was cute or the fact that she feels she's being played by the others.
Arnwall: I take it you're not happy with my answer this time.
Valura: what gave you that idea?
Arnwall wasn't in the mood for sarcasm.
Arnwall: was it because I mentioned miss Caya?
Valura is stunned and looks at Arnwall confused and nervous. She realizes he was getting under her skin and she couldn't control herself.
Valura: f-forget it. Its not that important to me.
It's quiet for the rest of the time they had left in the room. Valura didn't like that at all.
The time has come for the meeting. Every one takes their positions, the guards to their stations inside and outside the tower walls, the highers enter the meeting room with the door locked behind them, and the thugs in the clouded area wait patiently in their places for sunset. The time for the final act is here.