NoGift

ON the back garden of the mansion provided by the palace to the Conde de la Salvacion and his entourage, a secret meeting was being held.  Argent, Lei Feng, Jaxon, and Janea were walking on the garden that was almost covered by snow.  They made it seem like the Conde and his fiancée were taking a walking together with the Conde's nephew while the captain of guards was guarding them. 

Even though it's weird to take a walk on a frozen backyard when there's hardly anything there but snow, especially when it's already nearing sundown, but they really had no choice.  Because if they talked inside the mansion, there's a chance that there were surveillance items that might spy on their conversation.  They couldn't gamble on that chance.  After all, if even one person from Kievan found out that they were not the people they were supposed to be, then everything they had prepared and planned would be for naught.

It's better for the servants and guards to think they're weird than for their secret to be discovered.

"According to that palace attendant, we're supposed to have lunch at the palace tomorrow.  And the crown prince was supposed to entertain us," Argent started.  "So, Janea, can you tell us anything about this 'crown prince'?"

"Well, actually, before I left here, there's still wasn't any crown prince.  I guess Sergey was promoted," Janea said referring to the only son that the Emperor of Kievan had recognized. 

He was actually surprised when he heard the palace attendant mentioned a 'crown prince'.  But he guessed it was already time that the shitty emperor appointed someone on that position.

"And how would you describe this 'Sergey'?" Argent asked again.

"He's arrogant and a snob.  He thinks he's above everyone else.  But he could act and pretend like the perfect prince."

"Sounds like a peachy guy," Jaxon commented when he heard his son's description.

"Since he's a pretentious prick, then I guess we don't have to worry that he wouldn't entertain us properly.  Him being the crown prince and all," Argent said.  "Any other things we should watch out for?"

"You already have the map I draw of the palace.  Just check the important points I marked to see if it changed in some way," Janea answered.  "And if you meet a teenage boy with blue-black hair and light blue eyes, try not to interact with him too much.  No matter what kind of pitiful situation you might find him in."

Argent raised one of her brows when she heard that.  "And why might that be?"

"Because he's a snake in sheep's clothing.  Nothing good will come out of interacting with him."

Jaxon unconsciously felt the underlying anger beneath Janea's words.  It could be seen that he must have had a history with this 'snake'.  "Are you okay, Janea?"

Janea nodded trying to calm himself.  He didn't want others to know about that person and his betrayal.  It's not just because it was humiliating or that it showed how naïve he was, but also because it was something that was between him and that person.  If there's someone who should deal with that guy, then it should be him.  Not anyone else.

Argent didn't care that much about the half-elf's abnormal reaction.  If it was something related to their task here in this country, then she was sure that he would tell it to them himself.  But since he didn't, then it's probably irrelevant.

So, she just glanced at Zhang Lei Feng who had been quiet until now.  Or she should probably say 'as always'.  During situations like this, this guy wouldn't really say anything unless it's important or if it's something that's needed to be said.  Which she appreciated.  It's better than someone who kept on prattling nonsense.               

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" she asked.

Lei Feng also turned to her.  "Yes."

----------

An hour before lunch, a luxurious carriage drove to the mansion allocated to the Conde de la Salvacion and his entourage.  A palace attendant was sent to send the Conde and his fiancée to the Kievan's Imperial Palace.  It was the same palace attendant who told them yesterday that the crown prince would be meeting them today.

The two were sitting inside the carriage together with the palace attendant.  While some of the palace guards were riding outside to escort them.  The Conde's captain of the guards was, of course, riding with them.

Both Argent and Lei Feng chose to stay silent.  But, of course, they still had to be in character.  No, it's more accurate to say that Argent had to be the only one in character.  Considering how the real Conde usually looked stern and serious just like how Lei Feng was when he's being quiet.  Which how he usually was.

So, Argent was the only who had to paste a gentle smile on her face.  Seriously, after their mission here in Kievan, she would upgrade this holographic choker.  So, it could include a variation of emotional expression.  So, the next time she had to act like someone, she didn't have to force herself to act.

It didn't take long for them to arrive at their destination.

From inside the carriage, Argent could see through the window the huge castle gate.  Its scale was almost the same as the gate that surrounded the whole country.  It was a bit over the top in her opinion.  It made it looked like the whole palace was just a big stone cage. 

Maybe in the mind of the elf who was currently trapped inside, it was indeed the case.

Jaxon was thinking the same thing.  Just looking at this gate and thinking of how Ylannea was inside there, the anger that he had continuously held back since they arrived in this empire came back again.  He took a deep breath to force himself to calm down.  This was not the time to let his anger take control of him. 

The carriage stopped and Argent and Lei Feng walked out. 

Argent stared at the palace in front of her.  It was unlike the castle of Albion which gave off a fairy-tale like feeling.  Or the Imperial Palace of Xing where you could see the country's long history just by looking at it. 

This one, on the other hand, just gave her a creepy feeling.  And that's not here being judgmental.  With the white snow backdrop and all those spires and towers, it just looked like some kind of horror castle where that famous vampire in her original world lived. 

"Please, Your Grace, this way," the palace attendant said, gesturing for them to follow.

Argent and Lei Feng followed the palace attendant with Jaxon guarding them from behind.  All three of them were equipped with recording cameras in the form of buttons for Lei Feng and Jaxon and a brooch for her.  In this way, they could record everything as they walked inside the palace.

The inside was as cold and dark as how it looked outside.  Even the palace servants they encountered were wearing dull and drab uniforms. 

The palace attendant led them to a room that was like a small dining room.  But a bit more luxurious compared to normal ones. 

"Please, wait just a bit for His Highness to arrive, Your Grace."

Just after the palace attendant said that, the door to the room opened and a teenage boy who looked like he was 15 or 16 walked in.

"Your Highness," the palace attendant called, bowing respectfully to the teenager.

Your Highness?  Argent stared at the boy.  He had blue-black hair and a pair of light blue eyes. 

Wasn't this the 'snake' Janea was talking about?