With Neirin's answer, no one inside the room of stars had opened their mouth. A heavy silence followed that as though all of the people present have their mouths shuts. Neirin stared at them, leisurely seating on the seat of honor.
Her confidence was showing off but deep inside she was anxious and a little worried not wanting to make any mistakes, for first impression last and she wanted to establish her standing in the court of miracles. She was the headmaster. Even though she was only a temporary headmaster, her efficiency and skills would always be tested and what she wanted the least was these nine guild heads not following her orders.
The nine guild heads glanced at each other. No one can refute was that headmaster had told them. She was right. The laws that people who were wretched believe was nothing but a mere illusion. This illusion was created in order to gain more man power, trust, and security to every people who came to them.
The most important asset was people. Why? It was because they were the most essential contributors to what the court of miracles had become now. The duke had already known such truth in which the reason why he had made such bold statement, creating an illusion to those who wanted to be saved.
Of course, no one knew this except for the headmaster and the nine guild heads of the court of miracles whom were present right now.
The nine guild heads had been skeptical about the duchess but how she handled them now, they had no more questions for she was a person more capable than what they can imagine.
"Headmaster," the silence was broke off by the man seating just beside Neirin.
Neirin shifted her gaze to him. She smiled. His expression remain cold and calm. This man was tall and had all his muscles in the right places. His skin was tan and he had braided black long hair and black eyes. His whole left arm was covered with different tattoos. Each ink was carefully painted as though each signs and symbols painted in his arm tells a different story. He was holding a compass and he smelled just like the sea.
"Your are?" Neirin asked despite knowing his name and what guild he held.
The man stood up giving a very formal bow to Neirin. "My name is Cosair Vano, your grace."
He was showing his respect on ways Neirin do not expect. Back in her previous life, this man had never given her any respect at all. He was rogue for he was always at sea. He was a pirate who was knowledgeable about the route of the sea and the harsh life waiting for those people at sea.
"Your guild?" Neirin asked further.
"I am the head of the guild of smugglers your grace. I am often at sea and I usually dock in the capital four times a year, your grace."
"I am quite curious about your adventure. However, just like what you said I have an important matters." Neirin looked in front. She noticed how the expression of the nine guild heads now shows changes compared to how nonchalant they were earlier. Form the looks of it, Cosair's respectful bow made an impact to each and everyone of them.
"In which was also my reason why I went here despite the complications in my schedule." Of course, Neirin telling them that she was busy was a lie for she was still contemplating in which path she should take for the emperor's request.
A knowing the future was her greatest weapon right now and if everything changed, then, all of her memories would all be in vain.
The nine guild heads glanced at each other once again. They held their voices, waiting for the headmaster to elaborate and speak further.
Cosair eventually sat down.
"As you all know from the former duke, he had been in ties with the imperial family. The history of the courts of miracles started with the duke and the emperor forming an allegiance. However, such ties would only last until I step down in my position."
The moment Neirin had revealed such matter, some of the nine guild heads frowned while the other smiled. The light from the orb in front of them eventually shifted portraying their emotions. Neirin smiled inwardly. Everyone in front of her appeared just like a mirror reflecting their emotions and with such colors, sometimes, Neirin can already guess what was on their mind.
"After my little brother inherit this position, he will be the one who will decide if he will continue to work for those who wears the crown just like me and the former duke had done. Or he would eventually pave his own path. However, until that happen, under the former duke's command and to our agreement, I will be following the desires of the royals no matter what their wants are. Even if it's murder or the invitation of war."
"I have been to the imperial palace."
Neirin observed their reaction. She chuckled inwardly seeing that they were all wary of what she just said. All of the shifts happening in them was being displayed by the orb even without any change of their expression. Some of them glared at the orb while others accepted it like it was normal.
However, no matter what expression, Neirin knew that, they still do not trust her.
"I have said the same thing to the emperor. And with the agreement of the duke and the emperor in motion, I am required to answer any calls from the royals. Now, the emperor wanted our help."
"What kind of help your grace?" Neirin's gaze shifted to the person who talked. This time it was a lady with a beautiful brown hair. She had a gold rim of glasses and very sharp almond shape eyes. She wore a very formal clothes and her fingers were usually stained with ink.
In that very moment, Neirin had already concluded who she was. The head guild leader of the guild of letters. A person who values information more than anything else. She was Ellian Graze. A very famous journalist whom most nobles trust but also a person who also loves to twist information and truth in every way possible inflicting fear to those she despised.
Ellian Graze wasn't an honest person. Despite being a journalist, she lacked the required feeling a journalist must feel, and that is the love for the truth and the desire to give answers to all questions the masses wanted to know.
She was a skilled liar. She lied countless of times in paper and to those nobles who trusted in her. She had been doing this job for so long now and she still haven't got caught. She was cunning, sly, and shrewd. And she used her observations skills quite well.
"The killings." Neirin opened the topic she wanted to know. "I know all of you here are not naive nor blind. I also know that all of you have your own minds to think. You are all far from being a fool." Neirin said giving praises. Of course, such praises do not matter to them now but eventually, they soon be.
"According to the emperor, the nobles started panicking about the recent serial killings that only targeted them. With the demand of the nobles knowing the truth to their fears, and without having much result to the investigation, the emperor's power and position was being shaken. Although this situation is rare, we still need his power and influence in order to maintain the courts." Neirin said in all seriousness. "The emperor wanted this case to be solve with our power."
"Then," Ellian mumbled. Her pupils dilated as though she was barely restraining herself to ask questions.
"Before we decide," Neirin cut her of and tapped the table with her index finger. The nine guild heads shifted their attention to her. "Would the strength of the royal family affect the court of miracles in the later years?" She asked quite frankly. Although she knew already what was about to happen, she still need their opinion. A leader who do not ask question would never prosper. Neirin knew she needed to consider matters according to their point of view.
"If we wanted to shake the power of the royal family, we can do it now. This was an opportunity, if we have such thoughts. However, in my recent understanding on the events and flow of information, we still need the royals now. Hence, before I decide, I want to ask each opinion of the people inside this room."
"I am not just a headmaster but a person who holds the whole courts. One of my goals is to make the court of miracles prosper. And for that I need all of your opinions. You, all of you who lived to the principle of the courts."
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