Operation: Black Orchid

[Dayos]

Echoes resounded through the quiet halls of the palace as I stomped my way down the hallway and entered a room. I slammed the door behind me and threw the papers I'd been holding onto the floor. I looked around, spies, soldiers, and agents stood there stunned; not one dared to speak.

"Tell me, how does a noble, only trained in the Creyaltver's arts, manage to escape three groups formed by the elite of the Imperis Bordrois and the Imperis Sadavan?"

No one answered.

"ANSWER ME," I knew I'd be questioned and I sure as fuck did not want to be blamed for this stupid mistake.

"T-There were people helping her, sir," (Finally someone with the balls to speak).

"Who?" I demanded.

"A-acolytes sir…" she stammered.

"What?" I asked.

"The Acolytes of Agarok and some of the more militant aspects of the Creyaltver, sir."

"That witch better not be sticking her crooked nose up into matters she's not involved with!" I slammed my fist onto the table below me (poor table).

I made my way to the center of the room, a table, surrounded by uniformed men, projected a hologram which depicts the maps of the Old City and the New City of Puritia.

"What's the situation?" I demanded.

"The police department of the New City has been silenced, we just need to investigate the Creyaltver and the involvement of House Levensyek," A man replied.

"Good, this better not get leaked to the public, we don't want them to suspect us of anything," I replied.

I gazed at the map depicting the route Samina used in her escape, twists and turns, jumping across the urban landscape of Puritia (she's good, I'll admit).

"Sir, we've received word that Lady Samina contacted someone on Cragholven," An agent behind me announced.

"Who?"

"Diana Saschka, one of the targets of the operation."

"Damn it," I mumbled.

The men around started talking frantically, bunch of idiots. Utter fools.

"Do we have any updates? Did someone even bother to track the call?!" I demanded.

"Yes sir, we've traced the call to an apartment in the Federal District," someone replied.

'The Federal District?' I thought to myself.

An operation occurring in the Federal District would be costly, not only that, the whole area is patrolled by the Federal Army. Pulling off this operation would require too much resources and manpower for it to actually succeed.

"We need to commence the operation ahead of schedule; we can't risk the Empress' and her entourage's safety."

The room grew silent, and everyone turned to me as if I had cursed them.

"W-with all due respect, sir, but isn't performing the operation ahead of time riskier?" a man asked.

"Would you rather the operation be performed in the midst of the Empress' tour?" I paused, "The fact that this brat lives in the Federal District and, not to mention, in an apartment on the Empress' route means that security in the area will be even tighter."

Hushed whispers floated around, some seemingly agreeing to my point.

"Your Imperial Highness," one of the men on the table said, "We cannot simply move the date of the operation, we must consult the Imperial Council and the Empress first before a decision is made."

"General Oblunspere," (pronounced Obloon-sphere) I replied, "I am fully aware of the procedure, however, we cannot risk the safety of the Empress, her entourage, and our men."

"What if the Federal Army were to discover our plans for Operation: Black Orchid?" I continued, "They would surely increase the security of the area further."

"That doesn't give you the authority to move the date of the operation to an earlier date," chimed the man next to General Oblunspere.

"General Bauftol... that also doesn't give you the authority to address me in a casual manner," I snapped.

This poor man's disgusted look just made my day.

"If it gives you all piece-of-mind, I will inform the Empress of my proposal and wait for her response. Any better?" I replied, sarcasm dripping from each word.

He simply nodded, old fool.

"Alright, listen here everyone," I shouted, "I'll ask the Empress if the Operation can be moved to a closer date so I'll need everyone to work double time. I know you're all tired from that fiasco, but we need to do this, not just for the Empress but for all of Levelia. Am I clear?"

"Sir, yes, sir!" Everyone replied.

I nodded and made my way to the door, and with a thud I was back in the halls of the palace.

"I need to ask my mother, hopefully she'll understand," I thought to myself.

With that, I made my way to my mother's chambers, hoping that she would say yes.