Duchess Mira

"Be quiet!" Alexander unexpectedly exploded in front of the members of the SWORDS as they started arguing with one another.

It has been only hardly even a week since Mira left the organisation but it only takes barely one week to havoc to happen within the SWORDS.

They couldn't all help but admit the one that binds the SWORDS is Mira and without Mira, this all wouldn't happen.

So currently, four of the members of the SWORDS has gathered to the main base for an emergency meeting, waiting for the fifth member to come.

Alexander, the temporary head of the SWORDS felt so frustrated by the piles of work he is given by the ministry of health, and for the SWORDS, and plus Mira's special request for him to find the c.o.c.kroaches now this.

"DAMN IT!" Alexander slammed the table, feeling more frustrated than ever before as the other members, who kept silent after his first outburst; jumped in shock. He pinched the bridge of his nose to calm down yet he knew it wouldn't help at all.

"When he is going to come?" Alexander asked Kyle, hoping he has an answer yet to his dismay he shook his head.

If you can feel the current atmosphere of the SWORDS, you already know the situation is grim. Really, just merely by their conversations, just a pure idiot wouldn't realise that.

Two of the members, Catrina and Anya felt hot torrents of pain rolled down the course of their cheeks. The other two remaining members present, Alexander and Kyle just sniffled quietly as tears threatening to spill from their cheeks.

Mira left the SWORDS with 8 founding members however when she comes back there will only 7 left...

In the middle of the grieving silence, they all heard someone knocked exactly three times.

𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘬

𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘬

𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘬

"To stand up high in the face of adversity is the one thing you will never regret in your life." Someone whispered from the other side of the room like some secret code the SWORDS don't even have because they never relied on something as simple as that.

The four remaining SWORD members look at one another, feeling sceptical regardless of everything they were nervous.

All of them knew they were hearing Mira's voice asking them to not ask about the second founding member of the SWORDS- Sebastian as they like to call them but is obviously just an alias.

The other members knew one thing and that is he is a high ranking noble of the Empire. Mira specifically told them that the reason they can't ask anything about is not that she can't trust them is more on she just want to take extra precautions. Still, the times are different.

Mira had a miscalculation thinking everything will go smoothly as planned but now their head is away with the situation going downhill if they don't do anything.

Alexander thought he could handle all the work himself along being the kingdom's minister of health but he realized he overestimated his capabilities.

"Kyle, unlock the door gently," Alexander ordered Kyle, making him instantly stand up from his seat. Alexander gave Anya a knowing look and said, "Anya, you know what to do."

Anya nodded in hearing the voice of Alexander as she slowly stands up hearing the echos throughout the rooms, going to the back of the door with a small dagger in hand.

"On my signal, one."

"Two..."

"Three!"

Instantaneously, Kyle unlocked the door and Anya came forward putting a dagger in front of the man's neck.

The room then became unexpectedly silent. The thing that can be heard is the man's footsteps coming towards Alexander.

As soon as the man is in front of the members of the SWORDS in full view, he had grey hair that is tied up in a high ponytail and his body is covered by a long dark cloak; though his face cannot be seen only to be hidden by a mask despite that his blue eyes could be seen.

"In life, you never lose is either you win or learn for the only time you truly lose is when you don't become brave enough to fight." The man quoted again, breaking the unsettling silence.

"Pfft, you can stop with the quotes now, sir. We know is you." Catrina giggled a bit, lifting the atmosphere of the gloomy room.

"I am glad, I made one of you laugh so can you please all of you sit down," Sebastian confessed, making Catrina put down her dagger and Kyle release the tight grip on his hand.

"Sir, " Alexander called Sebastian, standing to point at the chair he was sitting on- Mira's chair. "Please, sit sir."

"No, thank you. My chair also looks equally as comfy as Lady Mira's seat." Sebastian replied, declining the offer while sitting on his designated seat and looked at the three people standing, slightly perplex. "Are you three just going to stand there all throughout the meeting? Because from what I see that will be tiring for we have a long list of things to discuss."

As soon as Sebastian stated that, the three of them gave a low exhausted laugh while all going back to their seats.

"Now, we have gathered so on the behalf of Lady Mira... Let the meeting of the SWORDS commence!" Sebastian exclaimed further saying, "Oh~ I sounded so cool."

All of them broke a small smile and Kyle inquired, "Sir... you are wearing another eye contact, right?"

"Oh yes because is too risky for me to reveal myself but is not that I trust you all is just to make sure there aren't any c.o.c.kroaches among us," Sebastian told in a very light yet serious manner and gave Kyle a weird smile.

Kyle felt his hands started to shake nevertheless he smiled towards Sebastian replying, "Of course."

Sebastian nodded and turned to look at the rest of the SWORDS saying, "Now, can you tell me what happened to Ronald?"

The light atmosphere immediately dropped upon the mention of the dead founding member's name.

There was no response until Alexander answered, "It had looked like an attempted suicide by hanging but we suspect it is murder..."

"Oh... how so?" Sebastian asked, feeling curious while noting the other members of the SWORDS involuntarily shoulders dropped.

"Removing the fact he doesn't have a suicide note and from my autopsy, he had several cuts in the neck around the back and shoulders. Maybe indicating that the killer is an amateur. Additionally, we found this." Alexander explained in a tense tone, pushing an old watch towards Sebastian to examine.

"Huh?" Sebastian said, grabbing the watch to examine it closer.

"R-Ronald..." Alexander gulped, trying to calm himself down. "He um, never liked watches. He told us all in a meeting once when you aren't there. He told us it reminds him ropes on his wrist so you can probably get the rest, sir."

"Okay, I get it now... so, please just answer this," Sebastian said not asking any further. He gestured Alexander to come near him so he could whisper in his ear.

Understanding what Sebastian wants he came forward and Sebastian whispered, "I will do all the work for the SWORDS what you need to do now is to find the c.o.c.kroaches among us... I do not want to doubt the founding members but prioritise on Kyle's recent activities... If you ask is just I have a hunch."

Perplexed, Alexander still obeyed while sitting down again as Sebastian then announced, "Now we got that covered, please report to me if there are other important matters to discuss..."

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

It has been a day since Claude and Mira left and ever since then they have been travelling nonstop.

Claude, who is behind Mira for the entire time noticed Mira is pinching herself keep herself awake.

Claude didn't know what to say to Mira because ever since they left they haven't spoken to one another. He tried to talk to her countless times she would never reply to him like he weirdly felt conscious around her and wondered if she thinks he is just an annoying voice behind her...

Like what does she think of him? Or does she think he is attractive? Like really, he wonders why does he even want to find out that.

Still, undoubtedly he knew they needed to stop and rest. The last week he has observed he noticed Mira keeps doing her bad habit of overworking herself again and forgetting her own health though he is not the best to tell her off for he is also a workaholic himself.

Another small factor is if he tells that they should rest she might get annoyed and do some kind of punishment so he didn't want that but at the same time he couldn't help thinking that he wouldn't mind if she punished him.

As soon as that thought entered his mind, he instantly stopped his horse.

Mira noticing something is happening to Claude from behind her. She took a quick glance at him to check on him only to be surprised by his red face.

Slightly worried, Mira held the reins of her horse turning around to approach Claude. Claude, who hears the footsteps of Mira's horse approaching instantly shouted, "Don't come near me!!! Really! In the name of the law- no, no! STOP!!!"

"What are you talking about? I just came to check if you're -"

"STOP!!! Stop! I'm okay, Athalinda. I am s-so stay back a-and j-just don't come near my horrible soul!"

"No, we can't do that because it seems like you have a fever," Mira stated, examining Claude's red face. "Plus what are you talking about?"

"..."

Mira sighed knowing he won't answer; getting her pocket watch, she saw it has already been one day since they have left. "Oh, we should probably rest for a while and plus while we rest I'll cook for us seeing that you might be exhausted."

"That sounds good, " Claude replied seeing this as an opportunity to make Mira rest for a bit and Mira pointed at the forest beside them saying, "Go rest in the tree over there and I'll gather kill. us a deer or something."

"Alright," Claude responded shortly while Mira nodded towards him. She then hopped down her horse and went in front of Claude reaching out her arm.

"No, is-" Claude immediately dismissed his protest by seeing the look Mira had in her eyes and just accepted her offer, holding her hand gently going down.

"Good, now stay where I told you to stay and I will be there in probably a few minutes," Mira said and turned to leave without hearing Claude's reply.

Claude looked at the leaving figure of Mira not knowing there that he wouldn't be able to see her again for an extended time than he had initially thought.