Trades and Secrets

After two knocks the hidden compartment inside the carriage opened and two people emerged from the side. One of them is Kali wearing her hood and mask. Settling down at one of the seats she acts like her sight is not spinning. In Front of her is the Duke and his son Ren intently watching.

The duke's mansion in the capital is only a few minutes away from the palace and therefore Kali had to endure minor head spinning. Brushing the carriage curtain the outside is familiar pavement and well maintained and trimmed bushes.

*Ding

[Do you wish to Activate 'Blueprint']

~ Activating 'Blueprint' : Millano Imperial Palace Blueprint ~

A mini map in the side of her line of sight appeared. Red dot is glowing and slowly moving. It's her location. The ways on the palace grounds were displayed with modifiers and names but the majority are still dark blank spaces. The Blueprint is still incomplete.

[Millano Imperial Palace Blueprint: 48% completed]

"Wear this. You are to stick behind me all the time." Ren said, handing two black suitcases. Ana went ahead and took the two suitcases from his hand. She is aware Kali is in no position to act normal.

The Duke and Ren went ahead and walked to the palace to greet the King while Kali and Ana stayed in the carriage for a while. They were instructed to stay and wait for Ren but that's not all the reason why they stayed.

Dreaded situation she let the motion sickness pass and changed the clothes provided.

'Hah. I need to look for a potion for nausea.'

*Click

The carriage door opened abruptly. Ren looks like he hurriedly went here, There is a trace of sweat in his forehead. After verifying Kali and Ana are sitting quietly his expression turned from frowning to puzzled, behind him is the usual tough looking knight with a scar line in his chin.

"Move." Kali brushes Ren away from the door. She steps down and stretches her arms then cracks her neck. She is wearing light armor with peonies insignia engraved on her breastplate. It was an armor that adjusts itself to fit the build of the wearer and because of that's why she had to layer it with a cloak. Her arms and legs are not manly and wide enough to pass as a man.

"Let's go." She said under the black sheet mask that covers only the lower part of the face. To hide her eye color she wears dark rubber goggles to hide her eyes and not even a strand of her black hair slips through the black turban Ana tied tightly.

The open halls with garden views greeted them after passing the carriage parking. Ren walks in front and half step beside him is his knight, two steps behind are Kali and Ana.

"Right." Kali dictated and Ren turned right in the corner. This is the routine for hours. Kali gives the direction and Ren turns to that direction without a word. The servants and knights of the palace didn't question Ren and allowed him to access wherever.

"Turn left on the second block."

"I have to rest."

"There's a garden there. Rest there."

Ren hesitated but continued to walk almost immediately and Kali saw it.

[Millano Imperial Palace Blueprint: 72% completed]

The map is mostly filled up. Close to completing the surrounding grounds and all left are the inside layouts of the palaces.

'I can return here later at night to complete this.' Kali thought. She glances at Ren who is having tea in the gazebo in the middle of the Garden.

'I don't need him anymore.' Kali smiled. She can see the hidden passages in the map that connects to the outside. Some were located inside the Palaces but the connected path is cut because the inside palace is not yet explored.

'One of these paths should lead to the Sun's Palace. The King's Residence.' She stares at the black area in her Map where the Sun Palace should be located.

Ren observes Anwir and its companion from his peripheral vision. He could see Anwir's hand move several times like he was controlling something. He is on alert the whole time but nothing happens. He briefly looked at his knight and the knight bowed modestly as if he understood Ren's intentions. The escort knight never takes his eyes off Anwir. Even to him, the hand movements were suspicious but there was no feeling of mana movement at all. This made it more suspicious.

Ren motioned for Anwir to come close but he was ignored even if Anwir was obviously facing his way he didn't react at all.

*Cough Cough

Ren cleared his throat but no response still. The knight beside him walks towards Anwir and faces him toe to toe. He is more than a head taller and two times bigger than Anwir.

"The young master has called you two times now."

Kali is not even a bit intimidated. He walks past the knight and approaches Ren.

"What is it, Young Master?"

"Sit down." Without hesitation she herself was comfortable in front of him.

"Do you like some tea?"

"No. Why are you always wearing a mask?" Kali obviously knows he has questions for her, and she intends to make it all difficult.

Unlike the black sheet mask Ren provided to them. He is wearing a white sheet mask, every single time she sees him except the time he is down with a sickness.

Ren momentarily paused and adjusted his sheet mask and made sure it still covered his chin and part of his nose.

"I hate filthy and dirty things . . or people. Your right arm, Can you move them?"

'Crap.' Kali was careful to not make it obvious but her right shoulder is still broken. Big and sudden movements are impossible without her groaning so she makes subtle activity but even the small actions hurt a lot that its trembling won't stop.

"I can. " Kali put her arm on the table and leaned on them without changing her tone.

She pulls her arms out of the table in order to hide its trembles. She shows she is relaxed by leaning her back on the chair as she rests arms on arm rest but in reality, the bones in her right arm are screaming.

Ren frowned at the sight of Anwir's right arm. 'Was I mistaken?

"Why call me over?" She asked.

"To know why you are memorizing the Royal Grounds Layout."

Kali didn't manage her expression and frowned.

'This is going in the direction I don't like. Let's do some damage control. Shall we? ' Kali ceased to frown.

"Are you asking me out of curiosity or as an heir to the throne?"

"...!!" Ren was totally caught off guard and was shocked to respond at once.

"Why aren't you answering?"

Ren realized what happened. This is just like how he caught her off guard after asking about the night of the debutante ball.

"I am not the crown prince nor the descendant of the Current King." Ren said as he looked down at his tea.

Kali only then noticed. The tea is untouched and even the snacks are still full.

'He didn't touch anything.'

"I know." Kali answered.

"So, why am I heir to the throne?" Kali is amused.

"As expected of the 'true' monarch. Tell one fact then ask a question to figure out one's extension of knowledge." Kali wanted to give an applause but her right arm was already numb.

". . ."

"Does that answer your question?"

'Of course it does. He is smart enough to figure out my words.' Kali felt the first satisfaction she ever felt during her encounter with the Cartissons.

"It does. I am wondering, how did you come across such information, especially when it is something an outsider shouldn't know."

"Will you believe me, if I say it by pure chance?"

". . ."

"Thought so too. Anyway, it's best if I go now." Kali stood in her seat and pushed the chair using her legs.

He stood up too. His expression is hard to paint, like he is thinking too many things at the same time or he is emptying his thoughts.

"I guess you can find your way out here by now."

"Yes, thanks to the Duke and you. You made all of this possible." She said and before walking out she placed a clear glass bottle on the table.

"As promised."

*Swish

Kali fails to evade Ren's hand that snatches up her right wrist.

*Creak

The joint in her shoulder is roughing her bones, anymore force may be completely detached.

"It's my pleasure. I hope you get well soon, my lady." Ren pretended to kiss her hand and stared deeply like he was meeting her eyes under the dark goggles.

Kali cannot stop herself from grimacing in pain. Pulling out her right arm is something she cannot do at the moment and can only wait for Ren to put it down. Her concentration is not with Ren's words anymore but on enduring the tormenting sensation without screaming.

'LET IT GO, YOU BASTARD!!' She mentally curses the Young Duke.