Chapter 385: Invitations (IV)

As always, Giliath demands your power stones!

*****

Normally partners work in tandem. The Garden has a pretty devious rule set in place. If one person discovers that their partner is attempting to flee from the Gardens--to which they call the Organization, and said person manages to betray the other, that person will instead be given freedom, while the partner with the original intention to flee does not.

It's a pretty cruel setting. You basically can't trust anyone while inside the Organization. Not even your closest relatives.

But that herein lies the problem.

What if you happen to take out said partner before the attempt to flee even begins? That is the case here. Ace "died", and is no longer considered Swin's partner. It is very possible that Swin was assigned a new partner during the aftermath of the failed mission. This ends up happening either way, it's just the actions to get rid of "Ace" happened sooner than what originally happened. This shouldn't have happened until a couple years out around the time cold steel begins. But now, it's very likely a younger Nadia is now Swin's new partner.

With that being said, the Garden of Swords failed their assassination. It was an emergency mission given to Naoto. He could have backed away from it, but seeing who it targeted, he decided to step in and personally take action.

Their target wound up being the sole daughter of the Reinford Group.

Alisa Reinford. One of the members of future Class VII.

Near the top of the Reinford Group's main building, a housing complex could be seen. The top couple of floors were completely bought out and reserved for the family that owned the Reinford Group. Apart from a couple of individuals, most rooms were unused. Even the new president, Irina Reinford, rarely used these floors. She was either away most of her time, or holed up in one of her meeting rooms. She rarely spent time here with her family.

It's not like these floors were completely unused, however. A sole figure dressed in a maid's outfit, sporting short and curly indigo hair gracefully walked up a flight of stairs that overlooked the open terrace outside. This allowed one to see the rest of the giant mechanized city below. It even had an operating escalator smack dab in the middle of the giant city.

This figure continued walking up the stairs. She was presently holding onto a silver tray, which had a teapot and a single empty cup of tea placed on top of it. It wasn't just that, there was a sealed letter next to it. As the maid carried the tray in one hand, she approached a nearby door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Come in. The door's open.", A voice of a girl said, letting the maid know the door was open.

"With pleasure, My Lady. I've brought you some evening tea.", The maid said behind the door. She reached down and opened it with a smile.

"Mmm. Your tea is always the best, Sharon.", The girl replied. She could presently be seen reading a manual of sorts. It was late into the night. She had really bright golden-blonde hair and she carried a certain air around her. Not one a noble would carry, but one similar to the fact that a lot of weight carried on the girl's shoulder. She was Alisa Reinford, the daughter of the Reinford Group. Eventually beyond Thors Military Academy, she would have the possibility of becoming the Reinford Group's president. That is still a long way out, though. It hasn't even happened in the games yet.

Right now, she is just Alisa. A lonely girl who misses her family. If it weren't for Sharon, she likely would have gone crazy with how much solitude she has to endure. There is her Grandfather, but he's often away on leisure trips ever since he passed the reins to Irina.

"Teehee, I'm just doing my duty as your personal maid, My Lady. It is quite late into the night, Isn't it time to wrap your studies up for the evening?", Sharon questioned.

"Perhaps that's for the best. Not until I enjoy at least one cup of your delicious tea, though.", Alisa replied with a smile.

"I will pour you a cup of tea in a moment. Before that, It would appear a letter has been addressed to you by the Liberlian Embassy, My Lady.", Sharon said, drawing Alisa's interest.

"A letter addressed from Liberl?", Alisa responded, not expecting to hear that. But she glanced down at the tray and saw the letter. She had no reason not to reach her hand out, so she did. "It isn't about what was just announced, was it? All about how there's going to be a dinner party in the capital to celebrate that engagement or whatever?", Alisa uttered, wondering if that indeed was the case.

Sharon simply smiled and remained quiet. Seeing Sharon not answer, Alisa grabbed a hold of the letter. She unsealed it, and brought it out. She could easily spot that it was the real deal. Alisa began reading the contents.

"Dear Alisa Reinford, you are hereby invited to the engagement banquet that will take place a following month from now, on February 1st. The site location will be held in the main dining hall of the Imperial Family's Royal Villa situated at Karel Imperial Villa...", Alisa uttered, reading the contents of the letter. It wasn't just that either, it would seem there was a specific line of content directly addressing her, which Alisa didn't expect to see.

"P.S., I really had a lot of fun on that auspicious night. I do apologize with how things went back then, but I had no choice. Your life was in danger, and that maid of yours wasn't within your immediate vicinity. To make up for that mishap, all expenses will be covered during your stay. I hope to meet you properly next time, Miss Reinford.", Alisa uttered, reading the rest of the letter's content. She even saw that it was signed and stamped, showing Naoto's full name.

But it was then Alisa's mind began to fizzle. Reading this letter wasn't rocket science. It didn't take top-of-the-line engineers to figure out what that last comment meant. Still, it caused Alisa's eyes to bulge out in surprise.

"AHHH!", Alisa exclaimed. It was as if a light bulb clicked inside her head.

"My Lady?", Sharon asked, not expecting Alisa to burst out so suddenly like that. As Sharon asked that, Alisa's cheeks turned red, and she started to crumble the letter with her hand.

"He really was that guy...", Alisa uttered, ignoring Sharon's question.

Instead, Alisa went into her own thoughts. It didn't take long for an image of a certain violet-haired boy with vermillion-colored tips to appear in her mind. The scene was when she was in the bathtub by herself, taking a bath, completely oblivious to the fact that she was being attacked by assassins that night. All she could recall was a boy peeping at her during her sacred alone time.

It didn't take long for that initial embarrassment to shift into anger.

"So that bastard turned out to be a prince...", Alisa uttered. By now, the letter was already crumbled up into a ball inside her hand.

"Are you referring to what was written in the letter, My Lady?", Sharon asked, gaining interest.

"You could say that. Looks like I got invited to that banquet that just appeared in the papers. That guy is really planning to go all out, huh?", Alisa responded.

"It's the one set for next month, right? That declaration swiftly swept around all of western Zemuria. The engagement, that is. And now there's an engagement party for it?", Sharon questioned, wondering about herself.

"Uh-huh. I'm sure all the big wigs will be attending. Myself, included. Though I'm not sure how much I can bring to the table here, considering I'm in no position to manage the Reinford Group. That falls onto mother right now. I'm more surprised this letter was addressed to me, instead of her. It almost feels personal...", Alisa answered, recalling the contents of the letter.

"Personal? How so?", Sharon mused.

"Don't tell me you already forgot what happened. The entire building went up into flames!", Alisa retorted.

"I do recall that happening. And that you were saved by a mysterious boy. You aren't suggesting that boy is Liberl's Crown Prince, are you?", Sharon said, showing a playful smile on her lips.

"You...", Alisa retorted, seeing Sharon's playful side emerge. "You're really a handful sometimes. You know that, right, Sharon?", Alisa responded, sighing.

"Oh my. What ever do you mean by that~?", Sharon simply asked.

"Just forget it...", Alisa retorted again, letting out another sigh. The anger she felt recalling that moment subsided. Her interest remained. But knowing what was said in the letter, she knew what Naoto was trying to do.

'So this Prince Naoto guy wants to make it up to me, huh? I wouldn't turn down a free platter like this. It's good to socialize with like-minded people. That place is going to be swarming with nobles, though...', Alisa thought to herself, wondering whether she should attend the party Naoto is setting up for next month.

"Hehehe, if the boy really claims who you think it is, My Lady, then you should attend the banquet. I shall give you my full support. I'm sure there will be maids around, but I think they should have a spot for one more. Besides, I haven't personally given them my thanks for rescuing you.", Sharon said, returning to her serious demeanor.

"You think so, huh?", Alisa uttered, listening to what Sharon had to say on the matter. "Well, I don't need to send in an RSVP immediately. It's still a month out. For now, let me enjoy that delicious tea you've prepared for me, Sharon.", Alisa replied, smiling. She didn't immediately toss the letter into the nearby trash bin. She kept it on the desk she was currently seated at, which had an open manual nearby. It was well into the night now, and Alisa decided to spend the night gazing out into the stairs, thanks to how wide her veranda was.

"With pleasure, My Lady.", Sharon simply answered, and got busy with serving Alisa some tea for the evening.

And just like with Van, Rean, and now Alisa, it wasn't just the two of them who received this auspicious letter.