Selfer entered a dark establishment, to the normal person it would look like a daily average bookstore filled to the brim of many literatures from all around the world. Its presence seldomly attracted new customers but that was what the organization intended it for. The sound of the door tackling with the bell of its hinges led some gazes turn to her arrival.
Ignoring them, she strode in making sure to pull her mask upward as she did so. Only her topaz eyes could be seen glinting in the light.
"Well, if it isn't my favorite customer." The Bookkeeper called out, his stance relaxed. He was an old man nearing his sixties and yet he never showed any weaknesses on his part. No one knows his name only that he was the "Bookkeeper".
Eyes smiling, she replied. "I came here for a new novel. My friend says it was already paid for. The title is "The Raven flew for a Jewel."
The Bookkeeper nodded; his face pleased as he went to the back to get it. Many patrons could be seen perusing the many shelves of the bookstore. Some in groups and others were couples who were whispering words of love to their partners as the smell of paper, ink, and pine rippled throughout the establishment.
A moment later, the Bookkeeper was back along with a book wrapped tightly and securely within the confines of a brown paper. He gave it to her with a grin. "Here it is. I am sure this will not disappoint you."
She took the bound book and head for the hidden alcove within the shelves only known by those who like her frequently use it.
Knowing that, she was in the secluded part of the bookstore, she opened the wrapped-up book.
"Typical." she whispered, aggravation etched into her face as she read the contents within it. The book had its pages carved out with a square hole where a folded piece of paper lay. As her finger brushed on the paper it glowed and she heard a voice in her head.
"Did you like the book?" the voice bellowed out its sound distinctly neutral. Whenever she heard it, she grew curious as to who was the person on the other side. Most procurers settled their presence in the dark. And the head of their organization even more so.
"It was riveting, though there was a big plot hole within it," she replied letting her thoughts ran to connect it with the person telepathically speaking through by the glowing paper. "What's the order?"
The voice chuckled. "Straight to the point, I see. That's why the organization likes you. Sooner or later, you would find yourself face to face with the head. He or she will be pleased to meet you."
"That doesn't answer my question. The idea has merit, but I am more inclined to get through the job quickly."
"Turn to page 67." The voice echoed within here and she followed its instruction. She clips of the Rhodon castle, its hallways, its blueprints, security measures and even the staffs' work schedules.
Selfer had a vague idea on where this order was going and wanted to confirm it with the procurer. "I believe that the raven would need to get a certain jewel that is connected with today's celebration."
The procurer snickered, his voice amused and ecstatic beyond measure. "It's Rosacaea Festival, it's the only celebration where the higher fools thrive on making it such a grand event for a measly Flora's death! I have no doubt with the festival going on the knights will be too busy to notice a raven snooping in the castle during the dead of the night. They would probably be either on just quick patrols or face down on the floor with all the alcohol in their system."
"Understood, the organization shall have the diadem it needs." she responded aptly, no hesitation in her voice. She closed the book while the paper in it glowed.
"Kill on sight." The procurer whispered, in her mind. The order absolute and embedded throughout her body. The poison within her was activated. Failure would mean her death.
"For the Blight." She solemnly voiced out as her energy gushed out of her and set the book ablaze. The pages burned and crackled as the fire dimmed and all of it was turned to ash.
AT THE RHODON CASTLE'S GARDENS:
"Find Regalia." That was the last thing that a decrepit old king had requested of him. Lucian had no idea why the respected and dignified former King of Rhodon would vehemently gave to him as his last command.
Emperor Archibald Louis Rhylthe was as magnanimous as he was dangerous. In his youth he was the one who won the wars between the five kingdoms which enabled Rhodon to be the Empire it is now today. But it baffled him, that the former King would led him to find Regalia when said Regalia is....
"Thank you for having this tea with me, Lord Bjord." The princess smiled, her aquamarine eyes in delight as she basked in the presence of the highly renowned southern duke. Who was known for his angelic face, crimson red hair and cerculean eyes.
He nodded his agreement while taking a sip from the tea the princess had brewed for formality's sake. " The honor is mine, Princess Regalia." This is now where the problem lay, this impeccable royal with her dainty smile, pleasant aura, and refined disposition was the granddaughter of the emperor.
With Emperor Archibald's recent demise, the monarchy and nobility were in disarray as to who would be next to sit on that empty throne.
The Emperor loved only one woman and that was Empress Renee. The royal couple in turn had three daughters which greatly displeased the nobility as a son would be more fitting to rule.
In that regard, Princess Lilith, Louisa and Roselia were married to sons of the dukes of the Lords of nobility.
He was the only exception as his rule over Solfellis was a different case. Unlike, the other Lords of the land near Rhodon, he never age. In his life the moment he turned twenty-five. Time had frozen for him. Only due to the fact that he had Synthient blood. It was only when his mother, the Duchess died that he was given the mantle of ruling over Solfellis.
To put it simply, the emperor's daughters married with nobility in power to assuage the fact that their gender was not fit to rule. Leading for their husbands to rule in their stead whilst carrying the royals' last name when the emperor would die.
Now, in a bizarre event that happened years ago. The princesses along with their husbands died through series of assassination and mysterious illnesses.
The crown princess Lilith and her husband Duke Winston of Winterfelice was the last to perish as their chateau was burned to the ground. The tragedy of losing all her children were too much for Empress Renee to even comprehend that she had withdrew from royal duties and had chosen to isolate herself to her palace.
Never leaving its sanctuary even when news of her granddaughter surviving the fire was delivered to the Rhodon Palace.
Lucian thought it was convenient that the Prime Minister Wilhelm was there during that incident and found the surviving offspring of the Crown Princess and her husband among the wreckage. The one and only Regalia Rhylthe.
The same Regalia, who now sat in front of him. Looking regal and refined as she drank her tea, eyes lingering on his form with a coy smile. Her very presence reminded him of a viper who would want to coil and take a bite out of him. She wouldn't be the first who had shown their blatant desire upon him.
The board where all the pieces had been set has been placed heavily on the Rhodon Empire. For a ruler to be chosen all the parties involved had to take a vote. And as of now, there were three candidates. Princess Regalia, Lady Celestina of Dallis, and Duchess Wylla of Winterfelice. The latter two were connected by blood through the Empress' family and was therefore included as potential rulers for Rhodon.
There was no doubt that with the royal blood in her veins Regalia should be the one to rule but in order to claim that right, she along with the other candidates have to marry nobility in power or even neighboring royals for them to have the power and alliances needed for the empire's stability.
While the other kingdoms, surely had no shortage of royals to marry into the empire's family. Most of them declined, wanting to further their own bloodline within their territory. Because of this, the remaining choice of a husband for these candidates that would further impact their claim on the throne is none other than him.
The renowned southern Duke who never took a wife.
Nobilities aside, there would be no problem for Princess Regalia to take the throne. But the former Emperor ordained it that he should find Regalia even when there was already someone who is a Princess Regalia. As he watched the princess sipped her morning tea oblivious to the raging thoughts going through his mind. He had pieced together what the deceased emperor shared with him with his dying breath.
It was a dangerous thought one that would label him a traitor to Empire if he even dared to say it out loud. And yet, Archibald his most trusted old friend, Emperor of Rhodon who just died entrusted him with this duty he had to carry out secretly.
For the woman in front of him, smiling like she had the power of the world in her grasp, forcibly blushing herself to make her look pleasing to his eyes was no royal.
She was merely an impostor.
He excused himself from the impostor's presence letting her believe she had him with all her demureness and regality. He took off from the garden wanting to head for the patrols that were designated for the kingdom's treasure a diadem known as Regina Follis.
"I will find you, whoever you are." Lucian vowed, not only for the sake of the Empire but for the last will of his old friend. He had a duty to carry out, he must find the real Regalia, protect her and reveal to all who has the right to sit on that empty throne.