As he watched himself get dressed for the journey, a sense of calm filled Leopold, knowing he would soon escape his boredom.

  The riding clothes were much different from his preferred attire, but it couldn't be helped, as a sturdy pair of trousers was much better for riding. They were held up by gold-tipped leather lacing, which at each side was tied diligently from knee to waist, then knotted at the top in some manner he hadn't bothered to fathom.

  With the oncoming autumn, it was no longer warm enough with just a simple white tuniq tucked in. Had he chosen for himself, he would have just gone with a cloak as he always did, but staying on top of fashion was also one of his duties. So for today's ride, a finely embroidered knee-length Ridket had been brought forward. The three-quarter-length, wide sleeves provided great mobility while riding, and the burgundy fabric, though much less subtle than green or brown, was a pleasure to his eye, as it was his favorite color.

  Finally came the adornments. Jewelry was more his brother's thing, but he would never leave the palace walls without his blood-red aura stone. To some eyes, it might just seem like a statement earring that dangled opulently from his left ear, but to him, it was far more.

  The stone was of the highest quality, cut in the shape of an elongated octahedron; it had been gifted to him on his sixth birthday and had been with him ever since, slowly charging off the aura that seeped from him.

  It had never been gauged, nor had he ever needed the power within, so the potential had to be enormous by now, enough to heal a person from the brink of death many times over.

  Even if riding on the main road was generally considered safe enough, and there had never been many incidents on their way to the manor, it was always better to be safe.

  The morning was still very early, and as he made his way through the palace corridors, the sunrise shone its first streaks of light. He knew the servants hated it when he made them wake him before morning, but that was their lot. If we want to make it to the manor before noon, there is no avoiding an early rise.

  Asbj?rn was already awaiting him in the foyer of the guest wing. Really, he was too lenient with his friend, coming to him rather than letting Asbj?rn be the one to come, but such was their dynamic, and he liked it as it was.

  As the large doors were opened, into view came Asbj?rn, who was dressed in a suspiciously similar outfit, only the fabric of the Ridket was different.

  "I see they have styled us as a pair." Leopold mused as he heard his friend's thoughts flutter about to find an excuse for the matching attire.

  "Haha, well, we do look dashing, don't we?" A grin came over Asbj?rn as he knew there was no way out of it. He thinks himself funny. Leopold still hadn't figured out who, but one of the servants would always relay the choice for his next outfit at the request of the charming Master Ranvsund. I have to find out who is helping him pull these ruses. But before the mental investigation could begin, an unwelcome voice sounded from the adjoining corridor to the main palace.

  "Your highness, Lord Ravnsund, what an early morning coincidence." Lord Rakhan slithered his way into view, a set of subdued slaves in tow, and all three of them bowed as they approached.

  "Morning to you as well, Lord Rahkan, a coincidence indeed." This was no coincidence, rather a planned encounter. If one couldn't tell from the meticulous plan playing in Lord Rahkan's mind, it was obvious from the two servants who had clearly stayed awake and now were forced to follow him around, even on the brink of falling asleep.

  "You are both so well dressed, is there an occasion I'm not aware of?" Rahkan was aware of the occasion, but he played the game by the rules, and he was good at it.

  "You could say that." Asbj?rn stepped in to end the conversation as fast as possible. "We are on the way to inspect one of my manors. And his highness has graciously agreed to accompany me." He had been dealing with Rahkan's pestering about the 'offer' for more than two months. Ever since the soirée, he would emerge out of nowhere and corner Asbj?rn while pressuring him to give up the girl; at this point, Leopold would almost call it an obsession.

  But of course, you would be here right before we leave.

  Today was the day when the verdict on the girl would fall, partly why Leopold was tagging along, as he, too, but not in nearly as repulsive a manner as Rahkan, found himself drawn to the thought of her mystery.

  Rahkan’s smile was all false admiration at the 'generosity' Leopold was showing by making the journey with his friend. "Sounds like it must be highly significant for his highness to ride along. Thus, I won't keep you any longer." Rahkan and his two slaves bowed again and turned away to slither back into the shadows of the dimly lit corridor. Right before he was out of view, he paused, "Oh, I almost forgot. Lord Ravnsund, my offer still stands. If you return tomorrow and have found the girl not to be worth your time, I'll be glad to take her into my care." Slimy creature, you didn't forget. You waited till exactly this moment before you brought it up.

  But before any objections could be made, the three of them were gone, and there stood Leopold and Asbj?rn in their matching garments, the fun sucked out of the morning before it even began.

  The ride to the manor went smoothly; the Ridket had been surprisingly comfortable keeping wind and morning dew out with its thick fabric.

  Now they once again stood in the foyer, met by R?fna. Behind her stood the two girls; a lot seemed to have changed since he saw them three months ago.

  Leopold observed as they bowed in greeting to the masters.

  "Welcome, your highness."

  It came across rather rehearsed as they first bowed to him, then to Asbj?rn.

  "Welcome, Master Ravnsund."

  The dark-haired girl spoke louder than her, but you could still hear the thick accent of the foreign girl as she did her best to welcome them.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Nonetheless, it was good that the girl had now been made aware of his importance, unlike previously, when she had dared to stare straight back at him.

  In her mind, the greeting played over and over; her concentration on performing perfectly was absolute. But there was something new about her. From her emanated a sweet allure, a warm and welcoming feeling, something normally reserved for those of higher birth.

  Is she doing it on purpose? Trying to appeal to us with her aura? It was impossible to tell from the aura alone, and her thoughts were still as incomprehensible as ever, apart from the repetition of the greeting.

  How had a girl with such an aura let herself end up in a place like this, but then again, the first time he had laid eyes on her, there had been no other indication than the merchant's three to tell of her potential. How very amusing you are.

  "Rise, let me hear your voice."

  Asbj?rn wasn't one to linger when important business was due. And even if he didn't let it on, Leopold knew his friend was secretly hoping that this girl would produce a miracle for him, and he, too, wouldn't mind if more came of this foreigner.

  "Master Ravnsund, if I may, perhaps moving to your office or one of the presentation rooms would be a better venue?" R?fna's need to do everything by the book kept this place running so flawlessly, but right now her suggestion annoyed her master more than anything.

  "R?fna, I'm joined by his highness, and I don't think he cares to waste time with my little side project here. So can the girl speak or not?"

  While Leopold was only here to do exactly that, to pass his time in leisure, he didn't want to correct his friend, as seeming too interested in this inconsequential girl wouldn't suit him. But for now, he was hoping she could be an interesting distraction for a while.

  R?fna bowed her head and turned to the girl. "You heard the Master, now speak, girl."

  "It is my pleasure to serve the Master."

  The girl spoke with a heavy accent, but clearly enough to be understood. It sounded even more rehearsed than the greeting. But talking from a script was of no consequence as long as she knew when to deliver her lines. In many ways, it was not that different from a real conversation, as everything in court was part of a larger play.

  As the girl spoke, she hesitantly raised her head. To Leopold's grave disappointment, the indifferent defiance he had seen before was replaced by a proper smile, the face of a tamed and obedient servant. He had no reason to feel this empty pit; it was better for both the girl and for his friend if she learned to behave and could be sold at a good price to a kind master.

  It was silly, really, but the feeling that his stagnant life would stay as it was made him want the girl to stare up at him with her tired gray eyes and hit him with a wave of thoughts and images he didn't understand. I'm guessing your aura is unintentional. At least he had the small victory of knowing that the less saving she needed, the less of an excuse Lord Rahkan would have to offer a low price for her.

  After the girls' adequate display of ability, they were dismissed, and the usual report on affairs could commence.

  It wasn't until Leopold was standing at the windowsill in Asbj?rn's office, twiddling a curtain tassel in his fingers, that his ears suddenly perked up as the conversation took a turn.

  "Apart from the progress in her speech, am I correct in my observation that she has also started to express the aura I was promised?"

  Asbj?rn had pulled the document that had come with the purchase of the girl from a drawer, and even without seeing the details, Leopold knew his friend was referring to the boldly hatched three at the top of the parchment, which in itself had made for half of the price, her blondness the other half.

  A sense of dread passed through R?fna, but she masked it perfectly behind her smiling answer. Leopold knew something interesting was about to be brought to light.

  "Indeed, Master Ravnsund, that is a precise assessment, thou-"

  "Excellent." He cut her off before any unnecessary details could make their way into his busy schedule. "Who is teaching her? It better not be Torfinn."

  "It appears, Master..." R?fna was drawing out the words, clearly not proud of the information she was about to deliver. "...she began manifesting after a close encounter with one of the Battle Maidens, but nothing in particular has come of it as of yet."

  Leopold saw the young face of none other than the Heart Reaper flash through R?fna's mind. Clearly, this had been more than just an encounter, and his curiosity was piqued now, and a bit of meddling was due.

  "She began manifesting. Are you implying that this was a sudden change?"

  Asking the question so directly almost always guaranteed that the subject would divulge all the information, simply in their thoughts as they considered their answer.

  R?fna's eyes flickered to her Master, but there was nothing to do but to speak up when addressed by the prince.

  "Yes, your highness, quite sudden." Leopold saw the events of the past few weeks unfold, how the girl had gone from being a plain, hard-working servant to reportedly almost passing out in Torfinn's lesson from aura depletion, and finally, under the guidance of R?fna, enveloping herself in that warm allure he had met earlier, but with no particular display of use. "I believe she was not even aware of aura before, hence why I believe she has yet to make anything of it." Fascinating.

  A silence fell over the room. Asbj?rn was thoughtfully reviewing the document's details, plans brewing in his head. R?fna was caught between these two powerful men, awaiting their next move, but Leopold wasn't about to help her out of her discomfort.

  Having the girl's aura seep off like that... It's an utter waste. His eyes settled on his friend's emerald green aura stone earrings that appeared to glow next to the red locks. And unconsciously, he reached for his own gem dangling from his left ear.

  Equipping her with a stone would undoubtedly prove effective, but such power is dangerous to give to those who are not supposed to have any.

  He was tantalized by the stream of ideas that flooded his mind. What could you teach someone who knew nothing of aura? What kind of upbringing must she have had to live entirely without?

  His thoughts were cut off by the boring pragmatism of his friend.

  "Would she be qualified to become a maiden herself, in your opinion?"

  R?fna was finally liberated from her discomfort as her Master sought her advice. "Unfortunately, no. The girl exhibits little to no athelicism and would likely perish in her first battle. If not in training." She might seem a cold and stern teacher on the surface, but underneath, she tended to want the best for those she trained. "If I may be so bold, Master, I believe suppressing her potential and training her for the court would be the most profitable path."

  The conversation naturally turned to talk about the promising Battle Maiden, Heart Reaper, who was at the manor for temporary training in court etiquette.

  She was, from the sound of it, finally old enough to compete in the international arenas, and with a kill count already in the double digits, she was a fine candidate for the face of the imperial delegation.

  Leopold had personally never been the fondest of the Spectacles of the Arena, sure, he knew the games and the rules, and he always had a reserved seat in the imperial booth.

  But the thoughts of dying athletes were always so filled with regret and wrath toward the masters, and having to listen in always made him question things he didn't like.

  Instead, he turned his attention back to the tassel and let his gaze wander out the window.

  Outside, a light breeze was making the red and brown leaves sway in the canopies. It was already the first of Hostra, and the manor would soon be its busiest while preparing for winter. He usually didn't come here too much at that time, but maybe he would this year.

  Suddenly, among the autumn colors, he caught a glimpse of golden hair running across the courtyard.

  "I think I shall take my leave for a stroll in the gardens." He was already on his way toward the door. "And leave you to do your business."

  Without even looking up from his stack of documents, Asbj?rn answered. "Go right ahead, shall I join you after I have finished?"

  "No need, I can find my way around."

  I'd rather do a little exploration on my own.