Run-In

Lu had successfully infiltrated the royal palace. Now, it was just a delicate waiting game until Mencer arrived with his necklace.

Fortunately, as he spent his time working at the Cold Duck Bakery and training his Blessing, time passed in a flash for Lu. Before long, he picked up chatter at the palace, where he was allowed to learn the art of bread-baking once a week about a noble heir from the Imra Kingdom coming to visit in a few days.

A few days later, the fated time came, and Mencer's envoy entered the palace grounds. Unfortunately, it wasn't one of the days Lu could enter the palace. But that was just as well.

Although Mencer would drop his guard slightly when entering the safety of the palace, his guards and attendant wouldn't. It would be better if Lu let them settle in for a few days before trying something. He also needed to look around and see if Mencer still had the necklace and where it would be.

Lu spent a week scouting Mencer and the palace, occasionally having to greet his guards. Fortunately, he didn't raise any suspicions.

Finally, Mencer and his attendant were invited to a dinner personally hosted by the Prince of Leoso Principality. 

At that time, their rooms would be almost free to enter. The entire palace would be concentrated around the feast, and only the minimum security would be left to roam the deserted halls of the wing for foreign guests.

Lu had to take that opportunity to look through Mencer's room.

He waited eagerly.

However, luck wasn't on his side.

On a round around the palace, delivering bread to other servants and smaller kitchens or nobles visiting the palace, Lu had a run-in with Mencer on his way to the training grounds.

Lu almost didn't recognize him.

'Shit.'

Fortunately, Mencer didn't recognize him.

Lu stepped to the side and bowed as he let the nobility of the Imra Kingdom walk past. Mencer looked a lot fiercer and more powerful than he had done in Mura. Lu had to wonder if maybe this was another of Count Lito's sons. But no, it was the same Mencer. He had just grown up a lot in the months since Mura.

Lu was about to turn and continue with his rounds after Mencer and his following had passed by him when he caught something out of the corner of his eye.

It was unmistakable.

'You goddamn thief!'

Mencer hadn't only held onto his necklace after he dropped it at the inn in Mura City. He was wearing it like he owned it!

Lu hurriedly glared at Mencer before realizing his mistake and continuing around the corner. He just missed Mencer turning around.

"Anything wrong, Young Master?"

Mencer looked back forward.

"...No. It felt like someone was looking at me."

"The servant, maybe?"

Mencer rubbed his neck and tilted his head slightly.

"Maybe. It felt familiar."

Baryt nudged Mencer's arm with a teasing smile.

"A secret admirer, perhaps."

Mencer looked at his attendant.

"Don't be ridiculous."

Baryt sighed.

"Fine. Do you want me to send someone after that guy?"

"No. We don't want to be rude. The Prince is a nice guy. We're also here for diplomacy. We shouldn't cause trouble."

Baryt looked at Mencer with wide eyes before bringing his hands to his face and wiping away fake tears.

"...They grow up so quickly…!"

Baryt even added a sniffle. Mencer ignored him and kept walking.

Baryt had to admit that Mencer really had grown up in the last couple of months. He almost wanted to thank the thief who punched Mencer and stole his mother's necklace. Almost.

Baryt followed Mencer to the training grounds with light steps.

After training, Mencer and Baryt returned to their neighboring rooms, but Baryt barely had time to enter and close the door behind him before Mencer shouted.

"Baryt! Get in here!"

Baryt sighed and obeyed.

However, Mencer wasn't just being annoying. He held a paper note with a serious expression. Baryt went up next to Mencer and read the note out loud.

"'Trade?'"

Baryt looked at Mencer.

"Is that all it says?"

Mencer flipped the paper slip up, over, and around. An offer for a trade was all it contained.

"It has to be him."

Mencer growled as he crumpled the paper in his fist. He opened the door while Baryt picked up and uncrumpled the paper. Mencer dragged in the guard stationed outside.

Mencer held the guard by the collar and tossed him to the ground.

"Young Master?"

"Mencer!"

Baryt stopped Mencer from going further as the guard kneeled, unsure of what he had done but aware that he was in trouble.

"Who did you let into my room? Who?!"

Mencer shook Baryt off of him.

"N-no one, Young Master! No one has been inside your room when you were away!"

Mencer glared at the guard for a moment before looking at Baryt.

Baryt shrugged.

"Why would he lie? There's no way a small-time thief could flip a guard from our county. I'm sure he just got played. We do have to worry about how that happened, though."

Mencer glared at the guard again before tossing him out.

"If a simple thief from a small town in the sticks can fool him, he isn't good enough to protect me. Fire him."

Baryt nodded.

"Of course."

"You still haven't found out anything more about the necklace?"

Mencer grabbed the chain around his neck and held the two circles with a dash through them.

Baryt shook his head.

"No. It's well-made, but none of my or the count's contacts have seen anything like it."

Mencer sat down and clenched the necklace in his hand.

"How are we supposed to get in contact with this fucker?"

Since they couldn't find out anything about the necklace, it was most likely a personalized item. They couldn't use it to track down the thief. However, if they agreed to a trade, since the necklace was worth a lot to the thief, they might get both the thief and Mencer's mother's necklace.

Baryt's lips formed a cold smile.

"Oh, I'm sure he's watching. We just need to leave a note."