Things seemed to have calmed down significantly after Milo had left the room, his departure marked by the palpable tension that had enveloped him. The poor guy was a nervous wreck, his mind racing after discovering that the seemingly innocuous restaurant they were in was, in fact, a covert base for an Assassination Guild. The revelation had shaken him to his core, and it was clear he needed a moment to gather his thoughts away from the chaos.
Once Milo exited, the waitress promptly moved to clean up the mess left behind, expertly navigating the aftermath of the commotion. Meanwhile, Cassandra and Baxter found themselves sitting across from one another in plush leather lounges, the atmosphere now much more serene. A low table was positioned between them, adorned with an elegant tea set and a cake stand that boasted an array of delectable cakes, sweets, and sandwiches.
"Now that things have calmed down, shall we get down to business?" Cassandra asked him, her voice taking on a tone of maturity, as she carefully placed her tea cup down on the table, ensuring it made no sound. She sat up straight, her small frame exuding an air of determination that was surprising for someone so young.
"Yes, let's." Baxter replied, a stone hard expression across his face as he mirrored her motion, placing his own cup down with equal precision. It was a small gesture, but one that signified their readiness to tackle what lay ahead.
The atmosphere around them shifted giving way to a more serious tone. They were now fully engaged, looking intently at one another, each aware of the weight of the moment. Cassandra's eyes sparkled with resolve, while Baxter's expression was one of cautious. Both understood that this was not just a discussion; it was a pivotal moment that could shape their future. The stakes were high, and they were ready to confront whatever challenges awaited them.
"As I mentioned earlier, I wish to save your daughter." Cassandra's small hand extended out in a gesture of sincerity as she spoke.
"But it's not for free, correct?" The man wasn't naive enough to believe that the actions of the princess sitting before him would stem from the kindness of her heart. He had seen too much of the world to trust in such idealism, especially when it came to matters involving power and influence.
He was right; she wasn't going to lie about this fact. After all, she really wouldn't gain anything by doing so. There were costs associated with her plans, sacrifices that had to be made. Her motivations were layered—protecting the innocent while also advancing her own agenda. The weight of her royal lineage pressed heavily on her shoulders, and she understood that not every decision would be purely altruistic. She took a deep breath, preparing to explain the terms of her offer, knowing that genuine intentions often came wrapped in complex negotiations. The stakes were high, and she needed the man to understand that her help would require something significant in return.
"Of course not." She openly stated, her tone steady and unwavering as she reached for her delicate tea cup. With a graceful motion, she brought it towards her lips, savoring the warmth of the porcelain against her skin before taking a slow, measured sip. "Since I will be taking your daughter to the palace with me," she added, a hint of mischief dancing in her eyes.
The moment those words left her mouth, Baxter's face contorted with rage, and he slammed his fist onto the coffee table with such force that the cups rattled and threatened to spill their contents. However, the princess remained completely unfazed, continuing to drink her tea as if nothing significant had just transpired.
"Are you really going to take her hostage, hah?" Baxter's voice was a mix of disbelief and anger, and he couldn't help but scoff at the sheer audacity of her statement. "You think you can just waltz in here and make demands? What are you playing at?" She figured that this was what he had come up with in his mind, a desperate attempt to protect his daughter from what he perceived as an inevitable threat.
"You aren't stupid, so you should already know why I stated that." Cassandra said, her voice steady and unwavering. Yet, despite the weight of her words, her composure remained unshaken as she considered the implications of her next move. After she had spoken, Baxter visibly calmed down, leaning back in his chair, his expression shifting as he took a moment to fully grasp her intention.
The reason that Cassandra insisted on taking his daughter, Lizzy, to the palace was not merely a whim; it was a matter of the girl's safety. The palace offered protection and resources that were crucial in times of peril.
"Do you really believe that the Guild Master will allow his own adventure to fade away over you?" she pressed, a serious expression etched across her face as she spoke, her eyes locking onto his. "The good doctor… Do you know where I found him?" Baxter could only remain silent, a growing sense of dread creeping in, as he didn't know the answer. "On the other side of the city." She continued, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife.
The man's eyes widened in shock as the realisation sank in. The one person capable of curing his daughter had been so close, yet he had been completely unaware of it. The urgency of the situation washed over him, amplifying his desperation. He felt a flicker of hope mixed with frustration, knowing he had missed such a critical opportunity. Cassandra watched him closely, sensing the turmoil within him, and knew that her next words would either solidify their alliance or shatter it completely.
"There would be no way that you wouldn't know of such a thing unless…" Cassandra trailed off, deliberately allowing Baxter to finish the rest of the sentence. She wanted him to confront the harsh reality of the situation, to come to terms with it himself, making him accept the truth that was both painful and undeniable.
"Unless someone was purposely going out of their way to make sure the information never reached me." The words hung in the air like a dark cloud, thick with the gravity of betrayal. One could see the rage boiling inside him, escalating with each heartbeat. When he finally slammed his fist down upon the table, it was as if an unseen force had exploded from within him. The table split apart with a deafening crack, enveloped in a greenish mist that radiated from his hand. The tea set, delicate and pristine, shattered into a rain of porcelain shards, while the food scattered across the floor, a chaotic testament to his fury.
Cassandra glanced at the mist swirling around Baxter's hand. It was unmistakably aura, one of the four formidable abilities known to exist in this world. Though she had always known he was an aura user, this was her first encounter with someone who wielded such power outside the ranks of the knights. It was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.
"That bastard!" Baxter spat, his voice laced with venom. The 'bastard' he referred to was none other than the Master of the guild, the man who had promised to help him saving his daughter. In exchange for loyalty, he had dangled false hope like a cruel puppet master, manipulating Baxter's desperation for his own gain. The weight of betrayal pressed heavily on his shoulders, and Cassandra could feel the tension crackling in the air, a prelude to the storm that was clearly brewing within Baxter.
"Do you understand now?" she asked, her voice steady as she approached the man, who was visibly consumed by a tumult of emotions—rage at the betrayal and a deep-seated frustration at his own foolishness. "So, in other words, her coming to the palace would be in both her best interest and yours. At my side, she'll be safe and afforded countless opportunities that she could never dream of in her current situation.
Baxter's heart sank at her words, and he flinched, recognising that they implied a future for his daughter that diverged from the path he had envisioned for her. A slight smirk threatened to break through Cassandra's composed demeanor, a testament to her satisfaction at having gained the upper hand, but she quickly suppressed it, reminding herself of the gravity of the situation.
A heavy silence enveloped the room as Baxter closed his eyes, retreating into deep contemplation about the monumental decision before him. It was a choice that would irrevocably alter both his life and his daughter's. The weight of his responsibility pressed down on him, forcing him to grapple with the reality that the future he had once envisioned might not be as bright as the one Cassandra was offering. Yet, whether this new path would ultimately prove beneficial or detrimental remained shrouded in uncertainty. In that moment, he felt the gravity of fatherhood, the desire to protect his child, and the painful realisation that sometimes love meant letting go.
"Do not misunderstand." But when the princess spoke up, his eyes opened wide as they turned towards her, filled with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. "I'm not forbidding either of you two from seeing each other." She stated this fact to him firmly, holding his gaze with an intensity that conveyed her sincerity. "The only thing that's standing in your way of having a life with your daughter is the very same person that was taking it from you to begin with." Her words were laced with implication, hinting at deeper layers of conflict that lay beneath the surface of their conversation.
"And what do you suggest I do?" He asked her, his voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions swirling within him. His eyes remained locked on hers, seeking answers, wanting to know what solution she might propose to untangle the web of his complicated life.
"My conditions are pretty straightforward. I want you to become one of my people." She answered with conviction, her tone leaving no room for misunderstanding.
"I don't see what you are to gain from making the Vice-Guild Master of an Assassin Guild your people." Baxter smirked, shrugging as if dismissing the idea entirely.
"What I want isn't a Vice-Guild Master of an Assassin Guild; it is a Guild Master of an Information Guild." Her words struck him like a blow, causing him to lose his smirk as he looked at her seriously, searching her expression for any hint of deception or insincerity. "The only way you can live freely is by destroying everything around you," she continued, her voice low and resolute, as if she were unveiling a hidden truth about the harsh realities of their world. The weight of her statement hung between them, forcing him to consider the difficult choices that lay ahead.
"I'll give you two months to see the results of your decision." Cassandra didn't give him a chance to say anything more as she hopped off the lounge with her still small body, her short legs swinging in the air for a moment before they finally found purchase on the floor. The sudden movement caught Baxter off guard, and he watched as she hurriedly left the room, her footsteps echoing softly against the wooden floor.
With the door clicking shut behind her, Baxter was left alone, enveloped by a heavy silence that felt almost suffocating. He leaned back against the plush cushions of the lounge, his mind racing with the implications of her words. Two months seemed like both an eternity and a fleeting moment, a paradox that left him feeling unsettled. What had he done to warrant such a timeline? What would happen if he failed to deliver? As he sat in the dim light, contemplating the weight of her challenge, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something far more complicated than he had anticipated. And yet he couldn't help but get a feeling of excitement as he wanted to see what this little princess could do.