"Is he truly called 'Atias'?" Leon asked, his voice laced with a mix of curiosity and suspicion as he caught the faintly familiar sound of the name. He looked at Brandon, his gaze unwavering, waiting for a confirmation.
Brandon nodded, his expression mildly amused yet cautious. "Yes, that's the name the nobles use when they grumble in private about his haughtiness. They don't dare address him like that openly, of course, and I had to bite my tongue not to question them too much; didn't want to risk blowing my cover."
Leon's surprise was clear, his mind racing. "Do you... know of this Atias?" Brandon finally asked, noting Leon's peculiar reaction. For someone well-versed in noble titles and territories, Brandon was confused; he'd seen no mention of 'Atias' in any map or book.
Leon nodded slowly, a faint glint of understanding in his eyes. This time, he actually knew a bit more than Brandon, a rare occurrence. **All thanks to Count Trosa's sorcerer advisor**, he thought.
The Mage Empire, as the sorcerer had called it, was a kingdom spoken of in whispers, rumored to lie in the far east of the continent. If the advisor's information held any truth, then the robed stranger who had been casting sidelong glances at Brandon all day was likely a mage from this empire. But how had he managed to travel from such a distant land to Kantadar, the westernmost part of the continent?
Leon thought back to the colossal ships he'd seen — ships with dark, ominous sails that looked as though they belonged to a legend rather than reality. Was it possible, he wondered, that this mysterious empire from the east had managed to circle the entire continent and land in the west? Or perhaps they had simply followed the shoreline, keeping close to the land. Either way, their arrival spoke of a significant journey and even more ambitious intentions.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Leon decided to focus on the here and now. He glanced at Brandon, his mind shifting to the bits of gossip Brandon had managed to pick up from the nobles. "You said they have a designated area in the castle, didn't you?"
Brandon nodded. "Yes. The Atias delegation has claimed the courtyard in the northeastern corner. They've turned it into a secured embassy of sorts, with foreign guards posted day and night. No one's allowed in except their own."
Leon mulled over this. The restrictions made sense, but it also made things… difficult. He recalled tales he'd heard upon arriving at Western Harbor, sailors mentioning that the strangers from the black-sailed ships had shown a keen interest in the slave trade. A dreadful suspicion flickered through his mind: could Liam's sister have been swept into that sinister business and shipped off to distant shores?
Yet, a sliver of hope surfaced. Perhaps she hadn't been taken across the sea at all. Perhaps — just maybe — she was still within these walls, hidden away in the Atias embassy, an area so well-guarded it might as well have been another world. If that were the case, no matter how much he searched, he'd never find her in the open.
Resolving himself, Leon leaned closer to Brandon and shared his suspicions. They quickly went over their plan, discussing each step, and made a decision. Brandon, the only one among them who could mingle without drawing suspicion, would infiltrate the grand hall during the upcoming wedding banquet, an opportunity that was unlikely to come again.
---
The day of the Fercon heir's wedding arrived, casting a festive glow over the castle. The celebration was nothing short of grand: the castle's finest hall had been transformed, lined with costly carpets that stretched from the courtyard to the towering stone walls inside. Noblemen and knights, each clad in sumptuous finery, entered the hall, some with elegant women on their arms, others surrounded by their loyal companions. Laughter echoed as music swelled, filling every corner of the grand space.
The atmosphere was warm and indulgent. Poets recited verses, dancers twirled in graceful arcs, and tables were weighed down by a seemingly endless array of delicacies and fine wines. This was Kantadar's nobility at its most splendid, where formality melted into camaraderie.
But for Leon and Liam, the banquet was a distant scene they could only observe from the shadows. Only Brandon could walk among the nobility, blending in with the bustling servants and hopefully gathering information on Liam's sister. But Brandon faced his own challenge; he'd need to keep a low profile and maintain his cover until the wedding ceremony concluded.
Each minute stretched into an eternity as Leon and Liam waited outside, the grand feast unfolding beyond their reach.
Leon leaned in close, keeping his voice low but encouraging. "Look, if the chance arises, see if you can get a word in with the Falcon family nobles at the next banquet. Maybe they'll let slip whether Atias's embassy has been… acquiring local women as slaves."
Liam gave a grim nod. He'd heard the rumors, and though the thought was dark, he knew it was their best lead. "I'll see what I can uncover," he murmured, already steeling himself for the distasteful task ahead.
Liam moved on, heading to the west wing of the castle where the servants had gathered for a civilian celebration. Among the gathered slaves, laborers, and servants, he hoped to find someone who might know more, someone who'd seen a woman fitting the description of his lost sister. Leon planned to join him later, but he had other plans first — riskier ones. He aimed to venture near the Atias embassy itself.
Walking briskly along the cobbled paths of the castle grounds, Leon wove his way through the boisterous crowds. Today, with the heir's wedding, even the humblest of servants were granted permission to revel, and the castle teemed with a heady energy of celebration. Leon blended into the throngs, passing as any ordinary young servant, unnoticed amid the buzzing excitement.
In the outer courtyards and the south and west wings, music, laughter, and the clinking of tankards filled the air. The stewards had outdone themselves, arranging open-air dance parties, wrestling matches, and feasts for the servants. Leon moved swiftly through it all, eyes sharp and mind focused. He was no longer distracted by the festivities; his gaze set on the quieter, more secluded east wing. Soon, he slipped into the deserted garden path leading up toward the Atias embassy.
Recalling where he'd seen the robed figure emerge that day, Leon followed the winding path through the hedges and statues until he spotted the embassy at the height of the castle grounds. It wasn't hard to find — the Atias embassy was known to everyone, even though it was strictly off-limits.
As he approached, he stopped, his stomach sinking at the sight of the guards. Black-armored soldiers with gilded trim, each gripping axes and spears, flanked the embassy gates, standing like ominous statues. Their silent, watchful presence made it clear that any approach was hopeless.
Leon exhaled sharply, frustrated. There was no way to force his way in — not only was he unarmed due to the castle's strict no-weapon policy during the banquet, but even if he were fully armed, he couldn't take on twenty elite soldiers. Not even Olivia, skilled as she was, could manage a direct assault here.
He sighed in resignation, deciding it was best to regroup with Liam and reevaluate their options. Turning away, Leon retraced his steps back toward the bustling courtyards.
Just as he crossed back into the serene and nearly empty garden courtyard, a sudden rustling caught his attention. He paused, his senses heightened, preparing a quick excuse if he'd encountered a patrolling guard.
But what he saw made him blink in confusion. Just beyond a row of hedges, something bright red stuck out awkwardly from a bush by the high castle wall. It looked… like the back of someone's pants, a rather large backside wriggling as if it were trying to get deeper into the bush.
Leon's brow furrowed, stifling a laugh. Was someone seriously trying to hide in the middle of the day — and in such attention-grabbing clothing? He crept closer, curiosity piqued.
Whoever it was seemed to be stuck, their legs kicking futilely against the ground as they struggled to push themselves further into the shrubbery. Leon's eyes narrowed. Was there some kind of hidden passage behind the bush?
He stepped closer, still cautious. But just as he was debating whether he should intervene, the figure froze, seemingly alerted to his presence. A voice drifted from the shrubbery, muffled but unmistakably flustered.
"Ahem! Er, just so you know, I'm simply, ah… looking for the toilets. Nothing suspicious here!" The voice was comically unconvincing, and Leon's eyes widened in recognition. The voice was familiar. "Hey, brother, sister, whoever you are, lend a hand, would you? I promise you'll be well-rewarded for your kindness!"
Leon stifled a chuckle, stepping forward. "By any chance, do you need a hand?" he asked, trying and failing to keep the amusement out of his voice.
The figure squirmed in frustration. "Yes! That would be most welcome! It's… a tad difficult to get unstuck on one's own, you see."
Leon smirked, moving closer to help, but he couldn't resist asking, "So, tell me… were you really looking for the toilets?"
The figure paused, then let out a defeated groan. "All right, fine. Maybe not the toilets. Just help me, would you? I'll explain everything later!"
Leon extended a hand, bracing himself as he prepared to pull the mysterious red-clad person free from the bushes, his curiosity and amusement growing by the second.