Arche gazed at the letter before directing his eyes to Claudina.
"Miss Spade, are you aware about the Arbitrary Abstractions?"
Claudina's eyes widened. 'How the hell…?' She schooled her expression to calmness.
"To a certain extent yes; a group of antique collectors meets every month."
Arche lowered his eyes. "Were you ever contacted by this group?"
Slowly she shook her head no unsure of his actions. 'Is he part of the cult? Could be…It was an endless work in trying to weed out the real members from the suspect list that was eliminated from multiple fake lists. The cult valued its members so much that it created ten to twenty dead ends for each member. His name not coming up may be due to the cult's doing.'
He gave a sign of relief. "Thank goodness!" He slumped in his seat and reached for the bottle of wine. He poured some on a shot glass and drank it.
'Does he want to invite me in the cult?' She thought for a moment. 'It would prove beneficial to me. I will have insight on their plans if I act as a spy. And this guy has it bad for me I could use him.' "Mr. Anis what do you mean?" she asked feigning ignorance.
Wiping his hand using the back of his hand he leaned forward. "Miss Spade what I am about to tell you right now needs to stay in this room."
She nodded. "I will take it to my grave."
"Good."
"Miss Spade the Arbitrary Abstractions is not a friendly group of antique collectors. It's a cult."
She gasped bringing her hands to her mouth. "…A cult?" 'I know but I wasn't shocked or anything when I heard about it first. As a saintess you would be surprised to see how many cults there are.'
"Miss Spade, are you aware of the war of gods that nearly destroyed the world?"
"Of course. Who wouldn't know?"
The war of gods; where humanity was in a dark corner while the gods fought with all their might against monstrous beings that somehow breached into reality.
These monstrous beings were summoned to be used as weapons by some humans who wanted to play god and tried to attack the five gods.
What the humans didn't know was these beings now called 'the vessels of Ri'sh' were an entirely different race that first threatened the gods' absolute rule by bringing back a calamity that the gods killed when the world was first created.
In order to save the humans that dwelled in earth the then seven gods killed off Ri'sh the eighth god who was prophesied as the herald to bring upon Dooms day first on the creation, then the gods and finally the celestial heaves. The gods managed to kill Ri'sh but at the cost of two other gods whose bodies were then used to seal Ri'sh once and for all.
A race that worshiped Ri'sh was enraged at this. They dabbled in the demonic arts to revive Ri'sh, they cut off pieces of their flesh and ate it, and they did things that were too grim to be recorded in history until they stood in all of their twisted glory. They attempted to bring back Ri'sh which caused the gods to be enraged to the point where they were banished from this land to the deepest parts of the void where the demons and nothingness coexist.
The humans who wanted to play god didn't know this and thus were used by these beings to summon them from the void and when they crawled out form the void Dooms day had come.
The once dwindling number of the vessels of Ri'sh had multiplied in the void with demons. Their already hideous features took a more revolting turn. They would cannibalize one another when they first came and the gods ignored it thinking they themselves would lead their race to destruction.
This was a ploy they set up to fool the gods. While they pretended to cannibalize one another the others in the shadows would kill humans in mass genocide. Some were convinced to adopt the ways of the race while others readily converted to worship Ri'sh. Chaos was burning the world and the gods could no longer ignore this.
They went to war with the vessels of Ri'sh.
It was a bitter battle. The gods lost many human comrades due to attacks, backstabbing and choosing the enemy's side. Yet the gods continue to fight.
Hope came in through the gods' determination. In the celestial heavens a bud bloomed and the ninth god Elpis descended as soon as she was born. She fought alongside the gods and spread her wings of hope. Humans that were once weak or scared to fight were gifted Ancient Powers with which the gods were finally able to fight back with the vessels.
In the end of the five hundred yearlong battle the gods had once more banished the vessels of Ri'sh. Human traitors had disappeared in the mayhem so no one could find them.
The newly borne Elpis vowed to stay in the world but as a symbol rather than as a nation so she left the gods' side. The gods then founded the Five nations and chose a saint every 50 years to stop and keep demon attacks in cheek all the while exterminating any evil that threatens humans Since then the vessels of Ri'sh never was seen.
…Or that's how history portrays the battle...
"…But what does this has to do with this…cult?" she asked.
"This is a cult is one that worships the dead god Ri'sh." He rested his head on his intertwined hands. "Do you understand what it means?"
"I-I guess I do."
"This cult practices the same things. The same things from 1500 years ago that caused the war." He pleaded with his words. "Do you truly understand?"
"Yes. I do." She answered seriously. 'You sure know a bunch of stuff despite not being a saint.' "I am assuming this cult is trying to bring back Ri'sh." She pondered as Arche stared at her. "Troubling…but why are you telling me this?" She looked worried and shrank in her stole. "Could you also be…?"
"What?" Arche asked baffled. "No! Heaves no!" he exclaimed now realizing what she meant.
"Then why?"
He lowered his head. A stretch of silence followed this. 'So he's not a cult member. Too bad. I wanted some more information I could get from seducing him. Regardless information is information no matter how small it may be.'
"Miss Spade do you think the gods would care if an outsider would join forces with them? Or would they need a more stronger reason then loving humans as a whole."
'They won't. They would be glad if they could find someone who loves humans as much as they do. It would be dream come true for them.' "…I'm… not sure."
"They won't bat a lash I am sure. Not for a son of a traitor." He had sad look on his face.
"Miss Spade I am not from the Twi'ti kingdom as most people would assume. My mother was from Chronostis but she eloped with my father, the current marquis of Anis. Perhaps you have heard of the 'Archbishop Murder case?' It took place in Chronostis."
She nodded 'His mother was…Lady Carla Roe? The former lady in waiting for the previous queen who was framed for a murder of someone in the temple and driven out of her family before the truth was out?'
"My late mother loved her country, the same country that drove her away. She knew about the cult from her godmother who had mysteriously vanished. In order to find her she started to investigate and found out that her godmother Rachel was investigating about the Arbitrary Abstractions. My mother concluded that Rachel's disappearance must have been connected with the group so she dived deep and found out this so called antique collectors group was a cult. She gathered evidence to support her case to show to Lord Chronos."
"She was never able to because of the cult who must have gotten wind about what she was going to do. So they killed a archbishop and framed my late mother. Her family not wishing to be associated with her disowned her and her beloved territory drove her out of the nation."
"Any letter she tried to send to Lord Chronos was interpreted midway so the truth was never brought to light."
'I never knew someone else was working on it!' She was really surprised. Arche mistook it as ill disguised pity for he said. "Luckily my old man took her in as his wife. Though she came to love the Anis march she still loved her homeland and hoped nothing bad would happen to it. And last year she told me all about it on her death bed in hopes I might take the mantel."
A small smile played on her lips. "Then what does your mother's last wish has to do with me?"
He averted her eyes. Red crept up his ears. 'Say it Arche! She's sitting right there!'
"I want to ask whether this cult ever contacted you. I noticed they are aiming for kings, emperors and authority figures that aren't under the jurisdiction of the gods. Now they are moving to merchants and traders. I am assuming they wish to spread their influence through people who constantly travel the world."
"No. Never. There are no records of the Arbitrary Abstractions ever doing any contact let alone a single transaction in the account books."
"Good. If they do," he said. He was still looking away his hand covering the bottom of his face. "If this cult ever contacts you or anyone you know do let me know. I would do anything to protect you."
She blinked. She laughed behind her hand. "Alright Mr. Anis. If I ever see them interacting with my fellow merchants I will be sure to inform you."
Claudina pressed her hands together on her lap. 'He does not trust me enough to reveal information. That's fine with me though. I can still continue with the previous plan.'
"Then I shall take my leave now," she said. She started to get up when "W-wait!" She immediately stopped to look at Arche. Instead of his calculated look he had since the beginning it was replaced with an adolescent boy in front of his first love.
She sat back down "Do you have something more to say?"
"N-no I mean yes. Yes! Yes I do!"
She feigned innocence by tilting her head to the side. 'How on earth is this guy the 'Terror of the Twi'ti'?! Look at him! He can barely talk in front of me!'
He took a deep breath and calmed himself. He went back to his poker face but there was still a bit of red on his cheek. "Miss Spade would you like to join me in this hidden war of gods? I know as a merchant you will only think about profits however I would still ask for your help? However I need people who were never influenced by the cult. Someone with no connection with them but also not afraid of opposing them. Someone like Miss Spade."
'I am already in this crusade though…' "What makes you think I am trustworthy?
"You are not part of the cult. And before you say you might be lying I have seen how those damn cultists act; paranoid, secretive, outright cruel with fellow humans just to name a few."
'It feels like my mother is being described here more than the cultist.'
"But Miss Spade…is nothing like that," he said with the previous bashfulness returning.
'Because that's what I made you think!'
"Mr. Anis is a bad judge of character. To you who have met me a fortnight ago and have only met two times I doubt I could have left an impression on you." She twirled a strand of her hair. "And yes I am not afraid of opposing them I am also think if their agenda comes true I can still continue my trade. As you have said before I indeed am someone who cares about my profits more so then my father."
She leaned forward over the table, legs still crossed. "So tell me Lord Arche Anis what profits will I get if I join hands with you?"
Arche glared daggers at her.
'This is what a man is. He only wants you to remain as a mindless pretty decoration who only knows to flatter, always agrees with you and is constantly submissive. If you are, he will dote on you; place the stars on your feet for you, love you to the moon and back. But the second you have an opinion, say something he doesn't like or try to shine brighter than him you will become his enemy. A nuisance in his way.' She scoffed inwardly.
'Father also saw me as an annoyance when I started to gain power of my own. Thankfully I am acquiring power behind his back. Now the first squadrons to the fifth to the entire household are under my command. He is simply a duke in name currently.'
"Lord Arche Anis to be a lord you first need to understand your partner doesn't have all the time in the world for you," she strictly said.
"You are right," he said. "I truly am a bad judge of character." He haughtily raised his head.
"Very well then. Since Miss Spade only wants profits I will give you a bit of information that you are free to use however you want." He leaned back. "The crown prince of Halieas is hosting a ball for the all the foreign delegations. The king is apparently going to sign over the exclusive trading rights in the Halieas harbor to a group that is under the Arbitrary Abstractions. In the documents it is stated that no one will be allowed to trade in the harbor unless they are part of the group or agree to give up 2/4 of their total profits to the group if they wish to trade. I have come to the conclusion the king is part of the cult."
She rolled her eyes to the side as she thought over it. 'That is bound to cause some unrest among the traders and merchants. Even the nobles too. No one in their right mind be willing to give up 2/4 of their total profits. So the alternative will be joining the group. As the group is part of the cult, the cultist can influence a vast majority of the kingdom this way. But he's wrong about one thing…'
"We are done. You may leave."
She turned her eyes up. Ache was even now leaning back with his arms and legs crossed, fuming. He looked away angrily when she tried to make eye contact.
'Hmm? Not looking at the most beautiful me? I am heartbroken!' She tried again but he glowered at her. 'Whatever. You have entertained me more then you already have. I should get my invitation by now.'
She got up but she didn't leave as Arche hoped.
Rather she went towards him and rounded behind his armchair. She draped her arms all over the top while her fingers brushed against the crown of his head and nape. "What the?..."
She reclined with her back arching up like a cat. Coming to level to his ear she whispered alluringly "Young mater since you were so kind enough to give me such valuable information I shall give you one too." Arche had become a statue on his seat. He didn't even notice that her hands that were on top of his head had now came down to rest on his arms creeping down to rub soothing circles on his bare skin that wasn't covered by his gloves.
Still he managed to keep his poker face though he wouldn't lie that he wasn't feeling hot under the collar.
She pressed her lips against his ear. They curled into a smile when she heard his breath hitch. "You see Young master, it's not the ailing king who is part of the cult. It's the crown prince and his fiancée."
His eyes that were slowly starting to drop burst open. Immediately Claudina moved away before he could grab her. She hummed and waltzed to the door. "I enjoyed our slight chat. I hope to see more of you in the future. Good day."
She left without casting a single glance at Arche's direction or stopped to answer any of his questions.
As she walked the silent hallways she came to halt in front of a large window that overlooked the front garden. She smiled to herself. 'Do send the invitation to the rest of the saints too, Arche.'
The next day while Claudina was resting her door burst open. She looked up in surprise. "Claudina what did you do yesterday?!"
"My, my I haven't the foggiest nation."
She put down her book and climbed out of bed. Shulia had come into her room gripping a high quality silk ribbon and a letter on the other. Oriane who had followed her closed the door.
As soon as she stood in front of her Shulia thrust both ribbon and letter on her face. "Obviously this!" Claudina gently moved them away. "The others are going crazy on how they not only got tailored clothes to attend to the ball but also an invite that clearly stated their identities! What did you do?"
'Seems like our young master is quite competent after all.' "You don't need to worry about the small things. Just focus on the mission."
Shulia didn't look convinced that it was a small issue. "Sure but…"
"Did you also got an invite too?" Oriane asked.
Of course~" She showed them the invitation card; a pale blue card shaped like a snowflake. Cursive handwriting detailed a cordial greeting, at what time the ball will start, on whose honor (the foreign delegations) and when it will end. At the bottom was 'Miss Claudina Spade' written in red pearls.
"Mr. Arche Anis hand delivered it along with the dress. He also ordered me to be his plus one."
"HA!" Shulia laughed. "He just can't be honest with his feelings now can he?"
Oriane looked pensive at that. "A marquis to be delivering things… Wow. Did you really seduce him?"
She played innocent by batting her lashes. "Hmm? I did nothing at all. We simply talked. I reveled some secrets and he reveled some to me as well. I told everything at yesterday's meeting. And besides," She walked over to the dresser and put the invitation back.
"A duke is of higher ranking to a marquis. If anything he should be the one listening to my orders instead of the other way around."
"Now then!" She clapped her hands. "Since we are going shall we discuss what makeup we will wear for the next week's ball?" she asked with delight.