Scarlet's Awakening

"Assassination of a King?"

Silver nodded. "Yes, your majesty..."

"... Then the matter is no joke..." Scarlet was lost in her thought. The rest of the people inside the room became quiet. The atmosphere inside became tensed as the silence continued to stretch as the seconds went by...

"... Have you learned about who these people are and what name the organization is called?" Scarlet asked, breaking the deafening silence inside the room...

"I'm afraid I won't been able to answer that question at the moment, your majesty. They've been increasing their power and prestige for over a hundred years. I don't know the name of their organisation yet... Even their motives are a mystery to us," she gravely answered.

I observed her expression and saw that it was very disappointed, maybe of her incompetence.

"Being in the dark is a frightening thing... You know we can't stay ignorant about this mysterious organisation any longer. And besides the fact that we already have superior military strength, information is very important as well..."

Silence...

"Make sure you find out about these men, Silver, understood?"

"Certainly, your majesty... I'll make sure to come back with the information you ask of me..."

"My queen," Levin suddenly spoke up, "With your approval. Please let me assist Silver with this assignment."

Silver's expression turned sour after hearing his words.

"Levin, have you gone mad? There is no need for you to dip your fangs into this matter! I can handle this task by myself!"

Seeing her irritated, Levin eyes gleamed with amus.e.m.e.nt. "... My oh my, you are hurting my feelings, Silver.. ."

"Shut up!"

"However... These past few years, my informants and I have been keeping an eye on the organisations and entities that could be a potential threat to her majesty and the throne..." Levin pointed at the projected image. "And this... mysterious organization is at the top of that list..."

"What are you implying, Levin?" asked Aqua.

"I know Silver has been hunting them down for years, but the Queen needs immediate results. With my aid, this mission will be over in no time."

Listening to Levin's words, Scarlet nodded in approval. "He's right, Silver. Considering the advantages in this arrangement, I want both of you to work together in this task instead..."

"But your majesty-"

"Her majesty has decided that you will be teaming up with Levin on this mission." Eigeel spoke with finality, silencing Silver who was boiling inside in anger. "I advise that you try and forget your grudge, Silver. You must... cooperate with Levin..."

"Tsk!" - Silver

"Silver...? " - Eigeel

Silver looked at Levin and then sneered when she saw his grinning face.

"Tch! What choice do I have..." she replied with a conflicted expression.

Silence...

To relieve the unpleasant atmosphere, Eireen picked up her wine glass and proposed for a toast... "For the greater good of Gehenna!"

"For the greater good of Gehenna...!" Everyone inside the room responded.

"Thank you, Eigeel," Scarlet whispered after taking a sip of her wine.

Eigeel answered Scarlet with a simple nod. "It's my duty to take care of matters such as this, my queen. No need to thank me."

Scarlet watched Silver who silently took her seat while consuming the contents of her glass in one gulp. She's still angry...

"I know that... Still, thank you. Without you I wouldn't be able to convince Silver to partner up with Levin..."

"I see... Then it was a p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to be of assistance to you, my queen."

"Mhmmm." After a while, Scarlet spoke. "Since everything has been settled, Silver and Levin will start working on the mission tomorrow. Everyone presents in this room must lend their hand in this so that they can accomplish the mission earlier."

The Scarlet Order bowed their heads, acknowledging her instructions. "As her majesty bids it. We will follow..."

"Good..." She look at Levin and Silver. "I'll be expecting your reports in a week, Levin... Silver..."

"Consider it done, your majesty!"

Levin and Silver bowed their heads together. Scarlet thought they were in good terms already but she was mistaken... Silver secretly took a pearl on Aqua's dress without asking and threw it towards Levin hitting the middle of his forehead.

Plok! The pearl bounced back, the power on the throw wasn't strong enough to penetrate his skull but an ugly red dot was left on Levin's forehead.

"Levin, are you alright?" she asked.

Levin maintained the smile on his face but the corner of his lips was clearly twitching in anger.

"Pfffft...hehehehehe..." Eireen tried to stop herself from laughing but failed miserably.

Aqua looked apologetically at Levin while the culprit sitting beside her was now smiling in satisfaction.

Knock knock knock!

Scarlet looked at Talon who was standing behind her. "See who is it?"

"Yes, Master." Talon walked to the door and opened it to see the one who knocked... "Uhm."

Curiously, Scarlet peeked at the person standing in front of Talon and surprisingly, it was the little Jasper and behind him was a red faced Anselme.

"I hope I'm not interrupting." Jasper said. His expression calm and composed so unlike his age.

Scarlet smiled. "Don't worry. You're not interrupting anything. Talon, let him in."

Talon heeded his master's command and opened the door wider for the new arrivals to enter inside. Jasper entered first and Anselme followed behind him.

Suddenly, Scarlet was taken aback when Jasper suddenly picked up the sleeping Red off of her l.a.p and threw his struggling little body who was suddenly awoken from his sleep. He landed with a loud thump straight on Eireen's l.a.p.

Eireen flinched when Red landed on her l.a.p, but she didn't shoo him off and let him be.

"Fur..." Jasper suddenly mumured, brushing away the red fur on Scarlet's l.a.p.

After that, he climbed up with ease and sat on her l.a.p like it was his rightful place in the world...

Red growled, his golden eyes held hostility towards Jasper. This little brat! How dare he take his place on her majesty's lap!

"Red, it's okay..." but the crimson fox didn't listen to her.

Sigh! This is a disaster in the making. Scarlet has to console Red first before he decides to bite Jasper's leg. It's a habit of his...

"Red, don't be angry anymore, okay? I'll let you sleep on my l.a.p later... About it? Hmmm?"

That seemed to have consoled the red fox since he suddenly became quiet.

Everyone inside the room had dark and grim faces, their eyes looking at Jasper sharply. Why is this kid here?!

Scarlet felt Jasper's eyes on her so she turned to looked at him. "What?"

"... Did you know I waited for you to come visit me but you didn't show up..." Jasper said. It may sound casual to Scarlet's ears since his tone was calm and monotonous. But for Anselme who served his master for a long time, he knew that his master was angry at other people and wad begging for attention from his wife...

"...Oh right, I forgot!" Scarlet snapped her fingers. "I forgot to tell you that I had former engagements with the Scarlet Order so I had to meet them first... I'm sorry..."

"Mhm. I understand... Then... will you be spending your time with me after this meeting?" he asked.

"I guess so..." Scarlet turned towards Eigeel. "I think I don't have anything to do anyway after this. Right, Eigeel?"

SILENCE...

"Eigeel?"

"Uhh... Y, Yes. You'll be free once this meeting is over..." he answered, giving Jasper a swift but hostile glance before looking away.

Jasper's dark eyes narrowed as he looked at Eigeel who was now fixing the monocle on his left eye. He can feel that this man name Eigeel doesn't like him very much, especially when he's with Scarlet... Is he perhaps aiming for his wife's affection as well?

Scarlet cleared her throat behind him.

"Uhmm... Jasper?"

"Yes?"

"Are you planning to stay and listen to our meeting?" she asked him.

"Yes, I am. Why? Are you driving me away?"

Scarlet felt nervous all of sudden. Her forehead started to sweat in fear that Jasper may think that she was actually driving him away from the meeting. "H, Huh? No... Of course not..."

He's not a citizen of Gehenna. He's also not a member of the Scarlet Order. There are a lot of reasons for to drag him out. But Scarlet felt like it would be a mistake if she'd do that. Why is that?

Jasper stared at Scarlet's face while she was deep in her thoughts. He studied her expression with a mesmerized gave... She's probably thinking of a way to politely get him out, he thought.