The Night Visits -- Part 1

LOUISE'S POV

Louise took a deep breath as she jumped out of the window and onto the side of the building which had seemed like a much better idea when she had been thinking about it after dinner. Still, she had promised to offer positions in the organization the duchess had thought up, and she would do whatever would make the duchess safest and what she ordered. She mentally ran through the list of people she needed to visit, where their room was, and what was important to them.

The first person she needed to visit was Sinclair Castellan who was in the room right next to the duchess's room. The Duchess had been unable to find out more about him but he seemed to value information and protecting his loved ones and himself. She gently knocked on the window, the plaid curtains allowing Sinclair his privacy. The window was then opened cautiously and Louise slowly leaned into the frame. Sinclair had taken off his starched jacket and now he appeared much more vulnerable in his loosened white button up shirt.

"Whose there?" he said in a low voice, "This is a filled inn and if I scream, people will come running."

Louise laughed darkly, "If I wanted to kill you, you would already be dead. But I didn't come here for that reason, I came to give you an offer."

"An offer? Do you swear you won't kill me?"

"Well, as long you don't try anything."

That wasn't exactly a yes but the potential of death hung over Sinclair's head and he replied, "Alright."

"Are you going to invite me in or do I need to keep being perched on the windowsill?"

"Yes, yes, ah, no, no, do come in."

Sinclair gestured for Louise to come in and she sank in to the armchair offered to her, right across from a nervous Sinclair who kept fiddling with his spectacles.

"Sinclair Castellan, The White Rose requests you to join their service."

"The White Rose," he said shakily, "What is that?"

"The White Rose is an information organization," Louise said curtly.

"What would they want with me? I'm just, well I'm just, I run a small perfume business. What could I offer and the other way around?"

It was true that he only ran a small perfume business now but, in a year, or so, perfume would become something that all the nobles wanted, the fashion highlight which would never go away, at least until the duchess had died. His business had been the one that had started it but without proper investments, a much larger noble controlled business took over the entire market. "With the proper care, this would be an excellent way to start everything off," the duchess had told Louise.

"My lord sees great potential in you and is willing to connect an investor to your business. Of course, you will need to join The White Rose and do what they request of you."

"Invest? That would be great, I hope you don't mind me asking, but who are they?"

"They will reach out in time as long as you accept."

"I hope I don't regret this, but it will give me a new start in life, so yes I will join The White Rose."

This had gone remarkably well but there were still quite a few visits to go so Louise handed Sinclair a coin which would change on the dates when meetings were happening, and a white rose, and bade him farewell for now. She then climbed down the winding ivy and after watching that window close, she saw Sinclair look out, his sincere brown eyes staring at the stars dotting the sky. She knocked on the window down below where the same plaid curtains covered the window. This was the head of the inn's room, Evania resided.

The window opened this time again, more quickly.

"Caspian," Evania called out, not seeing Louise as she had perched this time below the window frame.

Louise raised her head, "That is not I. Do not worry, I come with no ill intent but only with an offer."

"An offer? How am I to know that you can be trusted? There are many odd people who I have met and I have no intention of creating unnecessary trouble. From whom does this offer extend?"

"It is from The White Rose, an information organization. Your attendance is wished for."

"Mine? Well, we can't have this conversation under the windowsill, can we? Do come in, if it's no bother you sit on the armchair."

Louise compiled and sat down this time, more alert, despite her warm appearance, this woman was far more dangerous than ten Sinclairs or even a hundred. One did not just become the head of this inn with nothing to back it up.

"So, what is it that The White Rose will give me?" Evania said continuing.

Louise smiled strangely, "The White Rose is excellent at finding missing people."

"Missing people? What do you to intend to say by that and how do you even know any of this ordeal?"

"I'm sure you know what I mean, the man who was visiting you, Caspian, hasn't appeared for some time and as I stated before, The White Rose collects information and uses it so we know quite a bit."

"It does appear as if you do have some power and information and that offer would be quite pleasing. I do need a backer as well, so I suppose, I shall say yes."

"Alright, that will be provided and Caspian will be located shortly."

They both nodded to each other and Louise handed Evania a coin which would show the dates, and a white rose and promptly left. There were still more rooms to visit until she could rest that night. For now, the stars would keep her company.