31: Allegiance

It's already the break of dawn, which means that the whole kingdom is being surrounded by fog, I have an advantage because of that because I could climb the palace walls easily through drifting through the mist.

It took me quite a while before I found a place where I can rest and recover my stamina and that's when I realized that drifting through mist also has it's disadvantages.

Just like the fact that mist is made up of water vapor, it maybe gas but together once warmed it can revert to liquid.

My body is warm, therefore as I made contact with the fog, the vapor turns back into water. The hair spray I used to dye my hair with had been washed off revealing my brown hair with golden streaks.

I don't know if it's a good thing or not. The initial plan is to negotiate with the king of Holland Kingdom to earn his favor and win him over to my side, to do that, I, of course, have to reveal my identity as the rightful heir to the throne of Astrae, which he may or might not acknowledge given the tradition they have upon succession.

I don't know how long I rested because I heard the chirping of birds the next moment I woke up and the warm ray of sunlight is hitting my face. I carefully hid behind the bushes, mentally planning what I'll do to enter the king's palace, however it seems that I do not need to plan how to be able to approach the king as he happens to be here.

Sitting alone by the gazebo while holding papers, which I assume are about Holland, and drinking tea.

"Who's there?" his stern voice echoed throughout the garden

"Reveal yourself, you who dare enter my territory." He said coldly and I stood up upon wearing my hood to cover my hair

"Greetings, King of Holland," I greeted while still standing high

I am a queen, I may have been overthrown but there's no denying the fact that I have the blood of King Aristotle of Astrae running in my veins.

"Who are you? State your purpose." He said

"What I'm about to discuss cannot be disclose publicly, your majesty." I replied calmly keeping my whole face hidden under the cloth and the cloak's shadow

"I see, then shall we go to my office?" he asked

"That would do," I answered and he stood up

He walked towards the guards and I hid flatly to avoid getting seen, I trailed closely still hiding behind the shadows to keep my presence from being noticed and known by other people.

I cannot trust this king, nor can I trust the people working for him. I am yet to find out if he is an ally or a foe's ally.

The knights guarding his office's door opened it for him then closed it afterwards. I made an ice spike but I made sure that it'll sublimate one it makes contact with a hard ground. I had been training this skill secretly while I was still with them in the secret house, I knew it'll come handy at times. I threw two more making mist on the ground.

"What is this?" one of the knights asked as I pass by through drifting through mist

One of the fascinating things about drifting through mist is the fact that no matter how small the entrance is, as long the mist can past through, I can drift through it without anyone seeing, though as I am still yet to master it, I am still making my presence known. As I pass through, the knights can feel a cold gushing wind pass through.

"You're here." I can sense amusement in his voice

"I did say I am to discuss something privately with you, your majesty." I replied

"What is it that you cannot discuss publicly?" he asked straight to the point

"Are you aware of Astrae's sudden change of ruler?" I asked

"The kingdom of Astrae is an ally but I do not care about its internal conflict." He answered

"I see, then what if I am to give you valuable information you can use against the current ruler?" I asked with a smile hidden under the cloth

"What do you want in exchange, you surely would not give it for free, would you?" He asked and I chuckled

"Quite sharp you are, your majesty, indeed, I will not give it for free." I answered

"Well then, I am not interested." He shook his head

"The information I have is neither a hearsay nor rumor, your majesty, it is real and I for a fact have a proof in this very kingdom of yours." I chuckled

"What do you mean to say?" he asked leaning forward on his table

"I do not know if Astrae's new queen has sent you an invitation for delegation to look for her royal consort but if she hasn't, expect it to come within three days' time." He looked interested

"And if there doesn't?" he asked

"Then I shall not bother you anymore, your majesty." I answered

"I will take my leave, let's talk again soon, King of Holland." I said and threw a small ball containing mist on the ground and drifted out of the king's study.

After I ran out of mist to drift through, I moved silently and went to a part of the castle where I can see whoever arrives, it took me quite a while before I found the right spot to observe.

I drew a heavy breath after I rested my back on the wall where I am in. I couldn't believe I managed to pull that act of mine flawlessly, my heart was beating really fast earlier, I thought he'd tell on me and put me in trouble, I'm lucky that thought seem to have not crossed that king's mind.

For the next two days, I merely observed, going out of my spot in the middle of the night when everyone's asleep to snuck out food from the castle's kitchen, which I found through following a savory smell that lingered in the air that morning, to survive the two days of tirelessly watching and observing.

I smirked when finally, a message from Astrae has arrived, I do not know what exactly it contains but I know what those possible could be.

It seems that Ezra and Katrina had let the talks of Ezra's sudden appointment die down before they execute their next move.

Lady Trinity Ezra, one of the finest noble women of our generation… no one would've guessed she's hiding a nasty little secret behind that elegance she's trying to portray… and I will uncover that in front of everyone once everything is going according to plan.

I waited until dusk had came, the mist had started covering the ground, I have recovered my strength and stamina so I was able to drift to the King's study.

"Good evening, King of Holland." I greeted and I saw how he doesn't seem surprised of my sudden arrival

"I expect your appearance." He said

"Then I assume you did receive a letter of requesting delegation from the new queen of Astrae?" I asked leading

"Yes, I did, assuming that you have known it already even though it had only arrived this morning, you must have eyes inside the palace." He said and I shook my head

"Now, can we start our negotiation?" I asked

"Take a sit," he motioned the chair and I removed my cloak

He seems surprised of my bold move, I had been preparing for this since the letter arrived.

"I am Patrice Avery Mae Jilliane of Astrae, the only daughter of the King Aristotle Astraea." I introduced myself and removed the cloth covering my face

"Aren't you dead?" he asked

"If I were, I wouldn't be standing here in front of you, King Skylark." I chuckled

"Now that the introduction's over, let's get to the negotiation." I said sternly and sat on the chair

"What does the overthrown queen want with Holland?" he asked

"Holland and Astrae had been allies for years, you had been our mediator with Arcadia in the past as well," I started

"So now, I wish for your cooperation in reclaiming Astrae." I said

"What will I gain from helping you, former princess of Astrae?" he asked

"Despite being allies, our kingdoms had battled for a certain territory that you had lost to us in the brink of war, in the past, Holland had tried to reclaim it by war however you always lose," I said not getting to the exact point but the king of Holland seem to have caught up what I have in mind

"Are you saying, you'll give it back to us in exchange of helping you?" he asked

"I know the value of that piece of land, indeed it is very valuable but it has lost it's worth in Astrae, it's now merely one of Astrae's many territories." I said shaking my head

"What do you have in mind to reclaim your throne then?" he asked and I chuckled

"You are going quite too fast, King Skylark, you haven't even heard my offer." I said

"Go ahead then, tell me, Queen Avery." I smiled upon hearing my rightful title

"Well then, King of Holland, are you my ally or are you my foe?" I asked

"I am pledging my allegiance to you, rightful Queen of Astrae." He said

"Shall we sign the contract then?" I asked pulling out a special scroll from my satchel

It's a scroll of pledging allegiance, Zairo gave it to me saying I should use it in making alliance in case I change my mind about working with Flashier or Holland.

We signed the contract and I hid it inside my satchel.

"I will give you back that territory but in the meantime I will use it as a decoy." I said

"A decoy? In what way?" he asked

"Holland had always tried winning it back through war, however you always fail." I said and he seem to have gotten the gist of what exactly I am planning

"A decoy to divert their attention and underestimate the purpose of war?" he asked and I shook my head

"Quite close but not close enough, it's not the war I'm trying to divert their attention to, it's the one starting the war." I said

"You're saying that you wish to use me as your puppet, Queen of Astrae?" I shook my head at his question

It sounds bad if he put it that way.

"No, I am not using you as a puppet because you will still be the one leading your army to populate the territory you wish to reclaim," I said

"However, given our background regarding the territory, the chances of the current leaders to underestimate your attempt and have you lose is high, this is where the second plan will come in." I smirked when he seem confused

"You want me to send my men on a losing battle?" he asked in disbelief and I chuckled

"I am not that bad, King of Holland, you won't lose, not with their biggest foe on your side." I said with a smirk

"You want me to work with Astrae's biggest foe?" he asked and I nodded

"They won't see it coming, after all, you are in their north and their biggest enemy is right next to them." I smiled meaningfully and his eyes widened upon realizing whom I am pertaining to

"Did you not ally with Arcadia?" he asked

"Indeed, I formed an alliance with Arcadia, but right after the alliance was established, the news of my death in the hands of Arcadians spread like wildfire, did it not?" I asked him back and he nodded

"The alliance has been voided, therefore, Arcadia is still Astrae's enemy." I said

"You want me to set up a meeting with Arcadia?" he asked

"It's not yet needed, for now, focus on getting information in the delegation." I answered

"They wish for one of the sons of the House of the Earl Rondsten to attend the delegation as well." He said and I smirked

"Bring the first son, I'm certain you'll earn their favor." I said with a smirk and stood up from the seat

"That'll be all for now, I'll appear before you when we'll step up to the next plan." I said and he stood up

"I'll expect that, Queen Avery." He said

"It's Patrice, not Avery." I said and threw a mist ball on the ground again and drifted through the mist and went out of the palace.

I have completed the pieces needed for my plan to come to life, all I need is to make sure everything will move accordingly. I can't wait to say it…