#8: Meeting Someone

"What are you doing here? I thought you were a mercenary?", I asked calmly, looking at his attire which looked like a waiter's.

"Just a request, a person hired me to get info, as you may know one gets the most information in events like these.", He said, smiling as he came closer.

"You look good, all dressed up... but..", he said tucking my hair behind my ear.

"But what..?", I asked.

"I prefer you all disheveled on my bed.", he whispered into my ear.

I flinched, and went back a few steps. All red.

"You...You...stop that..."

"All right, I won't tease you. Bye. I hope we never meet again.", saying so he jumped off the roof just to disappear. Hmph. Show-Off.

I went back in and came face to face with Serena, who gave me a handkerchief and went away with a smile similar to the mask guy.

Soon, We came back home. Dad was busy and hence remained in the study. I went over to meet him. He was fast asleep on his desk. It was unlike him, to be this tensed. I took a small blanket and put it around him. Then I saw, on his desk, papers filled with details of investigation on the death of my mother.

It had been almost 10 years, still he can't get over it. There were other headaches too, the business deals with Solezia Empire had to cut off, all the trade deals had to be done elsewhere, all nobles put the charge on Dad.

I needed to investigate the Solezia Empire. It seems fishy that no matter what kind of absurd rule, our emperor keeps, they just follow it, no revolts? Anyone who is in power from many years obviously will retaliate.

I don't think Solezia has a reason to fear our empire.

I went back to my room, I took the handkerchief Serena gave me. It wasn't mine, mine had simpler lace and had the crest of the Monique house. It was her own handkerchief, with a message written in.

'Let's meet at the VXI Cross Road, behind the Beerhead Inn, If you want to know about your mom's death. And please conceal your identity while coming.'

I sighed. Tomorrow's a busy day.

I got up, wore a wig(It was really irritating)to cover my silver hair and commoner clothes, I told my maids I went to visit Mary Ann. They were delighted that their previously-cruel miss was becoming friends with other girls.

I hurried over to the inn, behind the inn, there was a man standing, he was quite weak. He ushered me to a backdoor to the storage, saying 'Serena is waiting'.

I went over and saw something unusual. It was the circle of power ladies. But not quite the same.

All wore weapon gear and looking cool. My attire felt out of place. It seemed like a meeting for all cool warriors. I looked like a ragged doll in front of them.

I could recognize them by their peculiar hair colors. Rose was the pink haired girl, Miss Edna and Elsa were the dark blue haired, Miss Serena was the jet-black haired lady and Maple was dark Brown, Jeanie was also there.(Her red hair).

I noticed another person, it was..... Mary Ann??? No way....

"Welcome Miss Montrez, We all wanted to have a chat with you.", said Serena as she came over to rescue me before I went crazy.

"Who's we? I thought you called me here in regards to my mother's passing", I asked.

"We, in the sense of the people present in this room. Yes, 'we' can help you know the secrets behind your mother's death.", she said. She asked everyone to introduce themselves.

All introduced themselves, and we came to MaryAnn she introduced herself as Kiara Marianne.

I was shocked. She came over and said,

"Sorry, I wasn't trying to deceive you, I just couldn't say out my identity since I was in disguise."

"You're the same girl I befriended? The R18 girl?"

All started laughing. MaryAnn...no Kiara turned red.

"Yes. It is me, I like to read them in disguise because, it would hurt my reputation of being the prodigy girl.", she said while blushing.

"It is not hurting her reputation but she is just embarrassed to say out to everyone that she likes romance novels.", said Rose.

"Now back to topic, we know something you don't know about your mother's death Aurelia", said Maple.

"First of all, how do you guys know 'that' and what is up with the get up? Why now?", I asked.

"We are rangers.", said Edna who got hit on the head by Elsa.

"No, we are just a group of female Knights, who do the good deed", said Elsa.

"So Like rangers", Edna added.

"We all met during childhood, our mothers all wanted us to be knights and do something good, It was your Mother's plan, she would have made you a knight too."

But it was too much to process, female knight? no one else knows? I still didn't quite grasp the situation.

"My mother?", I asked.

"Let me tell you the whole story, all these girls just suck in explaining.", said Rose.

"Well, first of all, we all were best of friends since childhood, since our parents all were loyal officers to the empire. Even you were our best friend, Aulie. Later that stupid b*tch came and snatched you, and filled your head with b*llsh*t.

Your mother always wanted us to be equal in status with our brothers with power, your mother believed women needed to be strong as well as kind, she wanted us to be well trained fighters in case anything happened, your mother and all of ours fixed that all us would become female knights in secret, initially it was kept secret for the reason that female knights would not get good marital matches.

But later it was kept secret for other reason."

"What reason?", I asked.

"It doesn't matter now, Our only work is to maintain order. Our fathers know about this work of ours and support us. We help people who suffer from the stupid rules of the emperor.", she said looking glum.

"Please tell me everything. I don't remember us meeting or mother having any sort of promises with other ladies. I don't even remember my mom meeting your mothers.", I said.

"What? You don't remember?", asked Kiara with confusion.

"Yes, I know nothing about you more than what I heard from rumors.", I said.

All stared with disbelief, and Serena came over, her normally cold face was with genuine doubt, and asked pulling up her sleeve, showed me a scar and asked,

"Don't you remember this?"

"No, I don't."

"Who? Who did that to you?", asked Maple crying.

"Did what? Please don't speak in riddles.", I said.

"Changed your memory.", said Kiara.

"Changed my what?", I asked.