Dinner that night was grand compared to the inn.
Instead of dingy lamps ballroom chandeliers were strung every few meters. The banquet hall looked more like a party. Champagne trees were in every table while food was piled up high.
Though Claudina doesn't eat much during breakfast she ate a lot during dinner. Cutting the steak into bite sized piece she ate them one by one while she savored the sauce and flavor. After coming with the other saints all she ate was bread, jam, dried fish, overcooked vegetables and porridge. Her refined tastes were barely able to taste anything.
'It's been so long~' While on the inside she was jumping up and down for being able to eat such a feast her face didn't betray a single emotion as she calmly and wordlessly ate.
For some reason the other saints refused to come down and instead had their food in their rooms so she dined alone.
After dinner she was about to leave the table when two men approached her. One of the men had black hair, cold grey eyes and a calculating gaze. The other was more amicable with blonde hair and purple eyes.
"It's not often we see a foreigner as enchanting as you miss," the blonde haired man said.
There was something in his tone that Claudina did not like. Yet she humored them. Sweetly beaming like the sun she said, "Thank you for the compliment. However I do believe we don't know each other."
The first man jolted, a flush not from the wine or cold spread on his nose all the way to his ears.
"Uh…y-yes," he stumbled with his words. "Allow us to introduce ourselves. My name is Lucas May." He pointed to his companion. "And this is my grumpy friend, Arche Anis." He gave curt nod at her. "We are both part of the Twi'ti envoy visiting Halieas. We got here today and tomorrow we will meet the king." He gingerly smiled. "I must say of all the maidens I casted my eyes on it was you who had the lion's share."
While she politely listed to him praising her beauty, she evaluated the situation at hand. 'Anis…isn't that the current southern king's wife's maiden house?' She sneaked a glance at Arche who was standing like a statue. 'So he must be the king's nephew and the future marquis of Anis. And May was a close vessel of Anis… Though I would love to make some connections here I can't risk the mission in process.'
"Ah! Where are my manners?"
She schooled her expression as if she doesn't understand. "I haven't asked the lady's name." he looked apologetic. "If you don't mind may we ask for your name?"
She folded her hands in front of her dress. "Claudina Spade. I am travelling with some friends. And," she gave a closed eyed smile. "I am no lady. I come from a family of merchants and I am my father's only heir."
Arche eyes twinkled in interest. "Merchant? If you don't mind me asking the-" "Don't you start now Arche. You'll bore the lady with your business schemes," Lucas interrupted.
He frowned. "Miss Spade if your schedule clears up please, come and see me in the room I am staying at."
"Pardon?"
'What is he insinuating to an unmarried lass? Is he not afraid to cause a scandal in a diplomatic trip? If I remember weren't there were some unsavory rumors about him leading women on?'
Fortunately her thoughts were written on her face because he instantly cleared up. Or at least he tried to. Lucas May seemed to want to have every word.
"Goodness Lord Anis! Think before you say something so undignified. I understand you were enchanted by Miss Spade but still!" He shook his head. "Tsk! Tsk! What will your aunt say if she were to hear this?"
Arche signed while pinching the bridge of his nose. "Here we go again…"
Suddenly Lucas took her hand between his and gave the most devilish smile. "Miss Spade. Pay no attention to this bore of man's words. Instead," he drew his head closer to hers. "Look at only me~"
Claudina inwardly shuddered at his words but she was able to maintain her neutral expression. 'Did he read one too many romance novels?' Then again she could see some women of the court becoming flustered at the corny line. She could tell he used such tactics to swoon many ladies here.
Unfortunately for him, Claudina has experienced such behavior countless times.
And the best response is…
She pulled her hand away and blinded him with an enchanting smile. "I apologize I promised to meet with my friends after dinner…"
"Oh. Ah yes. Please. I mustn't keep you here," he stammered again.
…to be calm and never give the desired response. Flat out refusals instead of flustered responses. He will back off immediately.
However Lucas didn't see this as defeat on his part. "Then Miss Spade if by chance we ever we meet surely you would spare some time for us?" he said flashing a toothy smile.
She hummed in thought her index and thumb curling around her chin. "Should the fates see to it then yes." Both of them blushed to their roots.
Giving them one last goodbye she turned on her heels and weaved her way to the door. Just as she was about to twist the knob a voice called out to her. "Miss Spade!"
She tilted her head to see Arche hurrying up to her.
"I thought you already left."
She shook her head. "No I didn't. Did you have something to say to me Mr. Anis?"
"Uh yes. Please ignore my friend. I am sure he didn't mean to offend you."
She laughed behind her hand. "Good sir I assure you I paid no heed to his words." 'If he truly offended me I would already made sixteen plans to murder him.' "Thank you regardless for coming here."
She turned to leave again when a hand shot out beside her head and shut the door close. She glanced at him. "Is there something more to say?"
He looked away. "Err yes and one more thing…"
She fully turned. His hand was motionless beside her. "Mr. Anis?" 'I can see why those rumors were spread in the first place. His actions are...misunderstood.'
"I didn't mean anything strange when I said I wished to meet you in my room. I simply wanted to discuss some matters pertaining trade. As you said you were an heiress to a merchant I thought we could talk about the new trends."
She blinked. 'Discuss business? I don't mind but why isn't he looking at me?' Then she noticed his ears burning red. 'Ah. This one is too innocent.'
A idea came to her head.
Smiling widely until her eyes green turned to crescents she placed her hand on top of his and removed it from the door. "Mr. Anis I would love to conserve with you," she said in a low soft voice. He swiveled his head red creeping down to his neck. He opened his mouth but the words died on his throat.
Claudina was staring at him as if he was the only one in the crowded room. She lightly squeezed his hand her nails brushing against his enflamed skin. She tilted her head to the side as she leaned up on her tiptoes. "However I am late," her breath blew on his burning ears. His breath hitched. "So I will see you later." She let go of his hand and stood back with a distance between them.
Arche blearily blinked. He got hit of her perfume which intoxicated him. 'It smelled like roses and vanilla.' He flinched before shaking his head to clear it up.
"Goodnight Mr. Anis," Claudina said as her fingers finally slipped out the door, disappearing from Arche's sight.
She left for upstairs to find the reception room.
'Seduction is my least favorite so I hate using it in the first meeting but if they are part of the envoy…' she sneered. '…then they will meet the king too.'
She steadily made her way through well lit hallways and walls painted beige to the reception hall
Only Sullivan was already here. The others…weren't here she noted as she looked around.
The room was a well furnished room with red sofas and a bookshelf blanketing the left side of the room while the opposite side had a large window with the curtains drawn open. She could see the snow formed curious shaped on the sill. On one of the sofa sets that Sullivan occupied had a table with a flower centerpiece. A tiered pastry tray sat beside a silver pot of mint tea.
"Miss Fairy~ You are here!" Sullivan stopped swinging his legs. He patted the spot beside him as she made her way.
She fixed her skirts and sat down with her eyes closed. As she folded her hands she opened one eye to stare at him. "Sullivan, why do you talk like that when it's just us?"
He tilted his head. "Talk like what?"
"Nothing," she shook her head. 'I won't force him if he doesn't want to. Besides, his usefulness was until that much.'
"Guess the others aren't here," she muttered. "Say why did you all eat in your rooms instead of the dining hall?" Sullivan stopped blowing his tea cup. "Hmm? Why? Well I guess we are all anti social?"
She raised an eyebrow. "You expect me to believe that utter rubbish. I am no fool."
He pouted. "What will happen if it came to light that saints were indulging in luxury when it's specifically not allowed?"
"So? I am a saintess but I still indulged. And if we are talking about those ancient traditions then no one follows them anymore." She poured out some tea for herself. She dipped half of the sugar jar in her cup when she saw there was no honey.
"Tut, tut," he waged a finger annoying under her nose. "We are a bit conservative. So we follow tradition."
"Tradition…" she took a sip and placed the cup on its saucer "…is useless in front of ambition."
He peeked at her with a sly grin. "Is that your own words or your father?"
"Mine. Father is brilliant but he lacks ambition. Goals. So he clings on to tradition." She took one more sip. "I, on the other hand, am solely driven by my ambition. Hence I am accomplished."
"Quite the strict one~," he laughed.
She shrugged. "Sometimes." She took another sip. "By the way they are quite late. Wonder what's keeping them?"
"Want me to go cheek?"
"No thank you. I would like some silence. It's not often I get 'me time' these days."
"Is Miss Fairy an antisocial too?"
"Depends on who you ask. Some will say I am a relatively quite person while others say without me not a single event is enjoyable. Some will also say they want to kill me while others wish to say it but dare not so they flatter me instead."
"Whoa~ Miss Fairy is so popular."
"Fufufu~ Yes. Yes I am."
"So you don't want me go and cheek on them?"
"No. They will come when they feel like it."
"If you say so~"
They sat quietly drinking tea and ate the pastries as they waited. The pot and tray kept refilling itself.
"Oh it seems we are late." Claudina looked up. Sylvester and the others were filed inside the room.
"Indeed you are," Claudina commented.
Sylvester nervously laughed. "Well about that…"
"That bath was huge!" 'Of course. It's Shulia.'
Certainly the marble bathroom that was built inside the room was large enough to accommodate a herd of cattle and the tub could fit ten grown adult men.
However Claudina saw these things growing up so she showed no reaction other than curiosity over the hotel. That might not be case for others expect for Oriane and Sylvester who came from rather wealthy or noble families.
Shulia was obviously impressed. She gushed about huge it was and the array of oils and lotions. She also rolled round in the fur pelts too. Claudina noticed that some fur was sticking on to her tousled hair.
"But," she suddenly stopped deflating, "I think why we were not supposed to experience luxury. You become greedy for it straying you from the path." She looked up. "I would like to sleep in on the bed of straw rather than the comfort of silk sheets."
'Weirdo.'
"Li-Li is so strange~"
"Can it midget."
"Now, now!" Sylvester clapped his hands. "Let's do what we came here for ok?"
Shulia crossed her legs and arms and slumped back. "Sure."
"Ok~"
Oriane finished sound proofing the room with magic. She desperately stared at Claudina till she cracked a small smile.
Anatole looked around. Everyone waited for him.
"As we all know this is our first target that we are supposed to take down with Claudina so..." He pulled out a roll of parchment tied with a yellow ribbon. He unrolled it. "This is the new information that I gathered from my Intel here in Halieas."
Claudina reached for the parchment and he gave it to her. She placed it on her lap. Oriane and Sullivan sitting beside her leaned over it.
"If you read further down you will see it's not the king who is supporting the cult. No it's the crown prince. Apparently he was introduced to the Arbitrary Abstractions by his fiancée. The fiancée in question is Lady Rosalinda of the Carlos dukedom."
"How did such a high standing lady got herself involved with such a shady group?" Shulia said grimacing.
"From a traveling herbalist who came from a land that took nine months to reach the nearest island.."
Claudina's ears perked up. "What did they look like?"
"Don't know but they had an androgynous appearance which somehow the lady couldn't remember. Or didn't wish to say."
"Anything else about this herbalist?"
Anatole cocked his head. "Strangely they smelled like sweets instead of herbs. And…"
"And they can't remember the name."
"…Yes…"
She exchanged a worrisome look with Sylvester and Oriane.
"What is it?"
"…Blakeley Anderson said he was told by an herbalist that if he summoned a demon through a highly advanced blood ritual he could get the saints' help."
Cold silence fell in the room. "…And this herbalist matches the same description; an androgynous appearance which causes someone's memories to fog up their name and face, from a faraway land that took nine months to reach the nearest island and smelling like sweets instead of herbs."
No one talked.
"….This is more serious than I thought," Oriane first spoke up. She stood up. "I-I need to inform Lord Uranus…excuse me."
"Oriane stay right there!" She looked up to see Shulia's angry face. "We are saints. If we go running back to our gods with our tail between our legs then why do we exist? To fulfill the noble duty they entrusted us! To save other people!"
She jaded a finger in the air and motioned her sit. "So sit back down."
"W-what do you know?!" Oriane meekly said. "You will be fine. But what about the weaker saints? You don't care about them. Y-your just thinking about yourself!"
"What do you just say?!" Her fists quaked in anger.
"Both of you calm down." Sylvester stood between them.
"SHUT UP PACIFIST! IF IT WEREN"T FOR ME THAT DAY YOU WOULD HAVE MADE THAT DEMON YOUR GOD!!"
Sylvester lost his cool. "WHY DO YOU ALWAYS INSIST ON BRINGING THAT UP?!? You think your so great in killing one measly demon huh? WELL GUESS WHAT SHULIA, I KILLED THEM TOO! YOU AREN"T SPECIAL!!"
"Fufufu~ because Li-Li was able to do something right that time only. So she is quite proud of it."
"Don't you start now you bloody ex heretic! You ate your mother's liver for power!
"Say I am heretic again and I will skin you like a beast!" Sullivan screamed in rage.
At this point everyone expect for Anatole and Claudina were fighting. Claudina could see the cracks in Oriane's sound proofing magic. Her magic was being affected by her emotions. She waved her hand over the cracks and a newer and stronger magic took place.
She didn't mind the fighting or yelling.
Rather she had a morbid fascination if the saints did start to pull out their swords at one another then they will go down in history. The 21st generation saints all died in a brawl amongst them in a joint mission.
She wanted to see Chronos' face contort in sadness then denial and finally rage. He would for sure wage a war with other gods who in return would all be too eager to avenge their saints. Would another war between gods break out?
She couldn't wait to see it!
She slurped her tea when she felt a weight sinking down on the sofa. She rolled her eyes from the teacup to Anatole's veiled face.
"Please Saintess."
"In return for my help I wish to see your face." 'If I can see that rumored good looking face I will reconsider with the war~'
He clenched his fist. "…Very well…but only for one minute. No more, no less."
'Not exactly ideal but…' "Alright~ I will help out once more~"
Anatole never before regretted anything more then the charming smile that Claudina gave him.