Duchess Mira

Without a doubt, Kyle knew what he is doing is risky but he won't accept a youngster as his master for his own pride won't withstand it.

Every time Kyle thinks that a mere lass that is nineteen years of age is his master, his heart slightly aches. She is proficient at her job, yes but he believes she lacks experience in seeing the entire ugliness of the world.

A great example of someone who has truly seen it is no other than his true master- the first prince of the Empire.

Just by being in the first prince, he felt that the aura he emits is terribly frightening. The minute Kyle finished reporting to him, Dobromir stood up from his seat that is in front of Kyle's own. Kyle held his breath to what his master is going to say next but surprisingly Kyle saw he said absolutely nothing.

Rather, he looked around Kyle's office and Dobromir's eyes started gazing at one particular thing- the picture of the members of the SWORDS on Kyle's desk.

Noticing this, Kyle broke the tense silence in the room to explain, "Your highness, that is-"

"No need to tell me for I know exactly what it is," Dobromir replied in a rather icy tone. The hairs on Kyle's body instantaneously stand in fear and panic.

Catching sight of this Dobromir said nothing and instead just looked at the old pink watch he is wearing.

"Oh my, I am late," Dobromir exclaimed somewhat concerned. Thus Kyle listened to him as he muttered to himself in a relatively low grumble, "Master must be waiting for me."

Kyle's eyes widen in slight wonder with a mix of amazement, thinking that the fearsome first prince has a master? Since when? Or even how is that even possible?

Then Kyle realized it must be no other than the Emperor of the Empire, his father so instead of inquiring about what he has heard, he remained silent like the obedient pet he is.

"Then I shall go so make sure to do what I have told you," Dobromir said, glancing at his pink watch feeling worried for his master is very strict and alarmingly fearsome.

Dobromir couldn't help but dread to leave yet he knows he must. More so he should depart quickly with that thought in his mind, Dobromir turned to take a short glimpse at Kyle.

"Ah, yes your highness. May you will forever reign so I bid you a safe trip." Kyle said while promptly standing up to bow to Dobromir as he gave attention to his footsteps moving towards him.

"Ah!" Kyle yelled in an immediate jolt of shock.

Dobromir squeezed Kyle's head and whispered in a low dangerous voice, "You just insulted my master so remember that means your so-called respect or honour for me shall be tenfold when he presents himself to you. So don't say such things as I will reign for I have no interest in such."

Dobromir pressed Kyle's head further to hear his response yet the only words could be heard from Kyle's mouth is quite vague so Dobromir squeezed more.

Dobromir's grip made it noticeable that he is powerful in not only extraordinary wits which is not made known to the public but also obviously in strength to the part it might be on par with Claude, the infamous black general- his half fabled brother.

"Y-yes." Kyle managed to say as a single tear fell.

"Good, then remember to report to my assistant because I will be going to someplace for the next few weeks." When Dobromir had his say, he left slamming the door relatively loud; leaving Kyle gasping for air while collapsing on the floor as the picture of the SWORDS drops to the hard cold ground.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Four days have passed since Mira left with the capital. So during those four days, they eventually reach the town where they have to flee from Leo, Valor, and Tana to go to the southwest for who knows how many days.

They all "decided" to stay overnight in an inn.

They plan to deceive the two she is sick all along and is being accompanied by Noah Levihant, a.k.a Claude.

Furthermore, Leo would manipulate Valor telling him that she just came to observe him for a bit. That obviously signals she is not sick for him, the plan is almost the same for Prince Divit, a.k.a Tana. Subsequently, he needs to delude Tana notifying her Mira knew all along that she is coming which of course is a blatant lie. Then tell her that she only came on the trip for her.

Mira detests lying, however, is required for her job so now she could naturally lie as she breathes which she acknowledges is unpleasant.

So presently 'Duke Elias', no Leo is discussing stuff to do when they reach the west with Valor.

Tana is just resting for a while, and Claude is nowhere to be seen but he informed Mira he is going to scout the neighbourhood for a little.

Mira started wondering where he might be but instead of thinking about that "preposterous" man as Mira prefers to call him.

Noting that she is feeling somewhat bored, she went up to the balcony where there are two tables to watch the approaching sunset so Mira sat on one of the tables closer to the rusty old rails of the balcony.

Mira's eyes wanted to find a bit of peace in the grim circ.u.mstances so she glanced at the huge tree behind her that looked like it is burning.

Slowly her eyes looked at the bustling town below. It isn't as energetic as the people in the capital but she could see them going on their day-to-day lives without care so everything felt slightly familiar to Mira.

Nothing to do she gave a weary sigh, feeling incredibly exhausted from the trip nonetheless she knew she still had to travel to the southwest for 2 days with Claude even more so if something happens.

"Ughhhhhhhhh, " Mira exclaimed while closing her eyes letting her thoughts drift on how the members of the SWORDS are doing. She couldn't help but feel discomfort because just right after the last meeting she had with the SWORDS she had a talk with Alexander discreetly instructing him to investigate if there are any filthy c.o.c.kroaches in the SWORDS.

Before Mira's thoughts could further drift away, someone sat down in front of her predicting it is Claude she said, "Where were y-"

Mira is stopped midway upon seeing another hand full of old scars. She looked up and saw a man in his late thirties sitting in front of Mira not saying anything so Mira also didn't say anything and just watched the man in front of her.

If you ignore the countless scars the man has on his body and his unbrushed hair that it scarcely blocked his eyes- he has a built of a swordsman. Additionally, under all his platinum blonde hair he had yellow eyes that were looking down on the bustling town.

Mira followed what his eyes were looking at and he is looking at Tana, who is sneaking to go outside the inn to try some street food being sold by an old healthy-looking lady.

Without a warning in the middle of the silence, the man opened his mouth saying, "Hello. How are you doing these days?"

Mira felt taken aback from his abrupt question and guessed that he had mistaken her for someone else. Still, Mira held her high ponytailed white hair and highly doubted it.

"Feeling drowsy and bored if I may add, " Mira responded because something in her gut told her that the man won't do her any harm or is a threat.

"So like you, " The man chuckled and Mira feeling slightly alarmed asked, "Do you know me?"

"..."

The man stayed silent, and Mira waited for him. When he started to open his mouth, a messy old man wearing weird white clothes, yanked his arm yelling: "You!!!"

The old man turned to take a quick peek at Mira while grabbing the man's head to bow and the old man spoke, "I deeply apologise if he did something improper so please pardon us for we need to depart and quickly."

The old man pulled the younger man's arms in a hurry and before they were out of sight, Mira saw something yellow is glowing on his wrist- the flower of Aceresta.

Not only that, she saw a dragon's tail appeared on the back of the younger man's neck.

Mira stood up instantly, chasing after them down to the fifth floor all the way to the ground floor.

While going down, she checked her own wrist and the very same symbol starts glowing.

Each and every time they went down, they fasten their pace even more up until they unlocked the door of the inn, taking a quick turn sudden turn to the left.

As soon as Mira opened the door of the inn expecting them to see the two, they were nowhere in plain sight.

Mira rushed outside, thinking that they might not be too far but before she could take another step. She heard the crumple of some kind of object under her shoe.

Curious, Mira looked down expecting to see a piece of paper wishing one of them dropped a clue but to her dismay, it is only a candy wrapper. She picked it up and put it in her pocket to throw in the trash later.

Afterwards, continuing her search for them in the crowd.