“What’s the status?” Ashriel calmly took a sip of her black tea and faced Venice, who closed the heavy curtain. They both went to the balcony for some privacy while the party continued outside. As to avoid eavesdropping, John guarded behind the curtains. Nathan and Olive talked with the nobles on behalf of Ashriel. “You’ll not come here and leave your post at Aparctias if it’s not a graveyard situation.”
“You really are quick-witted, aren’t you?” She chuckled and sat opposite to Ashriel, who just shrugged her shoulders. Suddenly, the atmosphere became serious. “Chaster informed me via secret codes that Donovan started to move. He told me to warn you not to be distracted. His father probably knows he still has some lingering attachment to us… to you, to be exact, so he doesn’t give him his plan.” Her voice was stern but anxious. “Aside from Xieaniel, I don’t trust anyone in the security system team to send you this important message. Zi, what if Donovan is using this series of arson and bombing incidents to distract us? To distract you? I mean, he used this trick before, so he might probably use it again.”
Venice is calm, yes. But the moment her family is on the verge of danger, she losses her composure. But Ashriel silently listened and slowly nodded her head.
“Com’on, Zi. Are you even listening? I have a very bad feeling about the way things are going.” She relaxed her back of the soft cushion, closed her eyes, and massaged her temple.
“Hmm…. This tea tastes good.” Ashriel commented, making Venice frown and look at her in disbelief.
“Did you hear me, Zi? For goodness’ sake, how can you be so calm in this kind of situation?” She spat and drank her tea.
“How lame.” Ashriel chuckled.
“Huh?”
“Chaster? What a pain.”
“Zi-“
“Sister, from the very beginning, it was a trick.” Venice stopped, and the tea inside her mouth almost leaked. “The kidnapping incident on gulma area, the bar incident, Frank Edison and the ambush. The parallels to the arson incident at Korahzin and the bombing incident here were all doings by the same man. Didn’t you notice? There was a pattern.” Venice tried to analyze her sister’s words. Pattern? What pattern?
“You didn’t? And you call yourself the Head of Investigation Department?” Ashriel chuckled but felt her heart tick. “When will you all learn?” She asked herself.
“That hurts.” She chuckled. “But we investigated the people who ambushed us and confirmed that they do not belong to the Quislings.” She tilted her head, her eyes never leaving Ashriel’s. Ashriel’s lips quivered as she nodded her head.
“You’re right. They were the family and friends of the innocent victims of the Great Bloodshed who held a deep grudge against the Imperial Family. Therefore, they were either bribed or were connected to the Quislings. They’re the people who would do everything to kill us.”
This time, Ashriel glanced at Venice, who had goosebumps with Ashriel’s eyes. “They are willing to join hands with the Quislings because they know that the moment they step foot at Austere, they will not leave alive.” She grinned, and her face then came back to being expressionless. Venice gulped. There are times when even she can’t stand her sister’s presence.
“Sis, you know we can overturn the table. We’ve been together since the very beginning, yet you failed to notice how I play with them?” Ashriel flashed her sweet smile. “They think they caught us, but it might be the other way around. You need to be careful about what you pay attention to, Sis.”
“I-I don’t get it.”
Ashriel sighed. “In order to avoid being tracked, they most likely got rid of all evidence. That is if they desired not to be caught. But why do they leave traces? They even used such weak people. Probably, as you’ve said, to divert our attention. By that, the question is, where would they have gone?”
Venice scratched her nape, befuddled. “Zi, make it clear. Explain it to my capacity of understanding.” Venice massaged her temple again.
Ashriel sighed deeper. “Look, five years ago, that bastard Edom’s forces were almost eradicated, but the scumbag Donovan rescued him.” She started. Venice nodded attentively.
“They are aware of how strong our forces are, so they needed to recover their forces before fighting us. Five years is not long enough to create thousand of armies that will exceed our skilled forces, am I wrong?” Venice remained silent. “Upon building their forces, they needed money. Since the support of the Empires to Seiron and Sephtis was cut, they had to find ways to gain money. That is by doing illegal works. The kidnapping and illegal trading were for them to gain money.”
“What’s the connection then? I really can’t seem to hit.” Venice blabbered out.
“Elias said that Edom is back. But he didn’t specify what he really meant. That bastard gained graveyard damage and was in a very critical condition five years ago. So maybe, he fully regained his health now. Donovan is not smart. That is probably why aside from weak forces, they didn’t move since they did not receive any instructions from Edom.”
“And?”
“We are aware that Edom’s ultimate goal is to destroy the Great Empires, kill me and take my position, and rule everything and everyone. So, he used all the past incidents to gain money for power and divert our attention to our other territories for him to enter the Aparctias and manipulate the system and the forces. We are aware of how clever he is, Sister.”
Only then did Venice, who has distorted face, opened her mouth to ‘o’ and nod. “I think I got it now.”
Ashriel smiled in relief. “Also, his advantage is that we do not know where he is now, but he knows where we are, making us vulnerable to the attacks.”
“What will we do now, then? For everyone’s sake! My headaches. Argh.” Venice squeezed her head with her two palms and gazed at the bright moon above them.
“If the vice is making a move, then that means Edom was giving the order,” Ashriel observed the ocean’s overview and sniffed the fresh air. “We cannot attack the Seiron and Sephtis since the Quislings held many innocent people there that will be vulnerable to death. We can’t sacrifice innocent lives, unlike before, Venice. So, until we know Edom and Donovan’s whereabouts, we continue to play with them.”
Venice also sniffed the fresh air before retorting. “Play, huh?”
“Don’t worry. They were already cornered and, soon, checkmate. I didn’t even use my special pieces. Only the pawn.”
***
“Seriously? I only arrived last night after traveling for someone knows how many hours, and we are now leaving?! I didn’t even get the chance to walk outside this Palace.” Venice grumbled when everyone prepared to go back to Aparctias. Her hands crossed on her chest and her left brow raised.
“Managing the Empire is not easy, okay? I need a break.” She added and stomped her feet like a little girl.
“Com’on, twin. Our little sister never complained about managing the Two Empires and other territories, and here you are, complaining about managing for only two to three days,” Natsuki asked between his laughs. “Aren’t you ashamed?” He added.
“Oh yeah? How about you try doing it?” Venice retorted, pissed. “Mix, are you sure you are going to marry this man? You’re only engaged. You still have the chance to back ou-“
“Hey, hey. Why are you spreading poison here?” Natsuki complained and covered Mix’s ears, making her laugh. “Don’t listen to her, my Queen.” He winked.
“There, there. Let’s spend the day outside and go back to Aparctias at night. How about that?” Ashriel said, standing between the twins. Venice grinned, but Natsuki was happier as he could spend more time with Mix more. “Shall we?”