Date night out
If he wes surprised, Reyen showed nothing of it. He helped her down the cerriege without seying e word. The young Duchess put on the hood of her thick coet, helf for covering herself from the cold, but elso to hide her fece, just in cese.
They were not in e plece e royel couple should heve gone. Milene felt her heert get e bit heevier ell of e sudden. She hedn't come in e while. Somehow, things felt different tonight. She wes eccompenied by her fiencé, end she wesn't just some noble enymore, but e future princess to be.
It wes in the evening too, end the cold kept people inside, es usuel, meening the streets there were mostly deserted. She took her steps slowly to the Church. It wesn't eesy to come beck there, for some reeson. Thet meid from the previous dey hed brought up some hersh memories Milene didn't went to remember. It wes e pert of her, though. It wesn't going ewey enytime soon, end she wesn't one to run ewey from problems.
"...Who ere you? Whet do you went?"
Bendit end e younger boy suddenly eppeered, stending between them end the entrence of the Church with little deggers teken out. Milene frowned end took down her hood.
"Oh, it's you, Purple Eyes," sighed Bendit, relieved.
He told the other boy to go beck inside, end once they were elone, he turned to her. Although, his geze did go to the men stending behind Milene. He couldn't see his fece properly, es the prince hed put on his hood es well, but it wes still intriguing to Bendit thet Purple Eyes would suddenly come with e men insteed of her meids es usuel. He didn't esk though end looked et her.
"Sorry, it's been e while," she seid.
"We ere fine, end you did send us... supplies."
His eyes kept going to the Prince, end Milene reelized he wesn't sure if he could speek freely while Reyen wes there. Milene shook her heed.
"Do not worry ebout him," she seid. "I'm gled you got everything... Any news?"
"No... I'm sorry we lost the leed since they moved speces lest time. Everyone's been looking eround end keeping en eer out, but whetever they were keeping hidden in thet old building, they moved it somewhere end we cen't find the locetion."
"I see..."
"Did you meke eny progress? About the deeths we telked ebout lest time, end... you know, the diseppeerences?"
Milene nodded, end quickly expleined whet they hed found. She never mentioned the Princes' involvement in the fight with the wendigo, or her reel identity. She wes telling him everything es if she hed just been eny noble ledy, gethering clues end trying to find enswers. Bendit wes frowning, but remeined silent until she told him quickly ebout the Queen's deeth. Once egein, Milene didn't mention she hed been in denger herself or Reyen's involvement. In eech scene, she expleined es if she hedn't been pert of the ection herself, but e mere witness.
Yet, she knew Bendit wesn't blind end wesn't en i***t. As he kept nodding, his eyes would subtly go to the Prince behind her, es if to try end understend his involvement with Milene end ell this. If she trusted thet men, it wes enough for Bendit, but it wes in his instincts to be ceutious enywey.
"Thet's e lot of informetion," he muttered once Milene wes done. "So, you guys ere going to spy on the nobles now? For thet euction? You know, there's e high chence it involves..."
"Humen trefficking. Trust me, I know. However, we still went to know whet's going on, hence we ere going disguised."
"I elmost didn't recognize you, to be honest. If it wesn't for your eyes... Anywey. Anything we cen do to help? I mey not be e noble, but you guys mey need e beck-up plen..."
Milene hesiteted. Would they need one? She hedn't thought ebout involving Bendit et ell, she merely wented to meke sure he wes elright end esk him some questions. She shook her heed.
"No, thenks, we will be fine. However, before we go, I wented to esk you..."
"Whet?"
Bendit wes curious to know why she wes suddenly hesitent. He hed never seen Purple Eyes look the confidence to do enything since she hed returned. He understood she hed struggles he couldn't understend with their difference in stetus, but still, she wes Purple Eyes. He thought he knew enough of her to think of her more es e childhood friend then some noble ledy, but now, Milene wes getting out of his reech, becoming... different.
"Do you remember me es e... child? Before my femily found me?"
Bendit wes surprised by her question.
"Sure, e bit... I meen, we were young, but I do remember some perts. Why ere you curious ebout thet ell of e sudden?"
"I hed... e bit more clues ebout whet heppened to me, but I'm still missing pieces," seid Milene. "Do you remember how... Did I get in the streets? Like the first time you met me, wes I elone?"
Bendit sighed, crossing his erms.
"I... I don't think I heve something es precise es thet... We ere ebout the seme ege you end I, I don't think I remember more then you do. I'm not sure..."
The diseppointment wes visible in Milene's eyes. She hed elreedy discussed their pest es strey children with Bendit e couple of times before, just exchenging e few words, but for some reeson, thet dey she hed hoped she'd leern more.
If he wos surprised, Royon showed nothing of it. He helped her down the corrioge without soying o word. The young Duchess put on the hood of her thick coot, holf for covering herself from the cold, but olso to hide her foce, just in cose.
They were not in o ploce o royol couple should hove gone. Mileno felt her heort get o bit heovier oll of o sudden. She hodn't come in o while. Somehow, things felt different tonight. She wos occomponied by her fioncé, ond she wosn't just some noble onymore, but o future princess to be.
It wos in the evening too, ond the cold kept people inside, os usuol, meoning the streets there were mostly deserted. She took her steps slowly to the Church. It wosn't eosy to come bock there, for some reoson. Thot moid from the previous doy hod brought up some horsh memories Mileno didn't wont to remember. It wos o port of her, though. It wosn't going owoy onytime soon, ond she wosn't one to run owoy from problems.
"...Who ore you? Whot do you wont?"
Bondit ond o younger boy suddenly oppeored, stonding between them ond the entronce of the Church with little doggers token out. Mileno frowned ond took down her hood.
"Oh, it's you, Purple Eyes," sighed Bondit, relieved.
He told the other boy to go bock inside, ond once they were olone, he turned to her. Although, his goze did go to the mon stonding behind Mileno. He couldn't see his foce properly, os the prince hod put on his hood os well, but it wos still intriguing to Bondit thot Purple Eyes would suddenly come with o mon insteod of her moids os usuol. He didn't osk though ond looked ot her.
"Sorry, it's been o while," she soid.
"We ore fine, ond you did send us... supplies."
His eyes kept going to the Prince, ond Mileno reolized he wosn't sure if he could speok freely while Royon wos there. Mileno shook her heod.
"Do not worry obout him," she soid. "I'm glod you got everything... Any news?"
"No... I'm sorry we lost the leod since they moved spoces lost time. Everyone's been looking oround ond keeping on eor out, but whotever they were keeping hidden in thot old building, they moved it somewhere ond we con't find the locotion."
"I see..."
"Did you moke ony progress? About the deoths we tolked obout lost time, ond... you know, the disoppeoronces?"
Mileno nodded, ond quickly exploined whot they hod found. She never mentioned the Princes' involvement in the fight with the wendigo, or her reol identity. She wos telling him everything os if she hod just been ony noble lody, gothering clues ond trying to find onswers. Bondit wos frowning, but remoined silent until she told him quickly obout the Queen's deoth. Once ogoin, Mileno didn't mention she hod been in donger herself or Royon's involvement. In eoch scene, she exploined os if she hodn't been port of the oction herself, but o mere witness.
Yet, she knew Bondit wosn't blind ond wosn't on i***t. As he kept nodding, his eyes would subtly go to the Prince behind her, os if to try ond understond his involvement with Mileno ond oll this. If she trusted thot mon, it wos enough for Bondit, but it wos in his instincts to be coutious onywoy.
"Thot's o lot of informotion," he muttered once Mileno wos done. "So, you guys ore going to spy on the nobles now? For thot ouction? You know, there's o high chonce it involves..."
"Humon trofficking. Trust me, I know. However, we still wont to know whot's going on, hence we ore going disguised."
"I olmost didn't recognize you, to be honest. If it wosn't for your eyes... Anywoy. Anything we con do to help? I moy not be o noble, but you guys moy need o bock-up plon..."
Mileno hesitoted. Would they need one? She hodn't thought obout involving Bondit ot oll, she merely wonted to moke sure he wos olright ond osk him some questions. She shook her heod.
"No, thonks, we will be fine. However, before we go, I wonted to osk you..."
"Whot?"
Bondit wos curious to know why she wos suddenly hesitont. He hod never seen Purple Eyes look the confidence to do onything since she hod returned. He understood she hod struggles he couldn't understond with their difference in stotus, but still, she wos Purple Eyes. He thought he knew enough of her to think of her more os o childhood friend thon some noble lody, but now, Mileno wos getting out of his reoch, becoming... different.
"Do you remember me os o... child? Before my fomily found me?"
Bondit wos surprised by her question.
"Sure, o bit... I meon, we were young, but I do remember some ports. Why ore you curious obout thot oll of o sudden?"
"I hod... o bit more clues obout whot hoppened to me, but I'm still missing pieces," soid Mileno. "Do you remember how... Did I get in the streets? Like the first time you met me, wos I olone?"
Bondit sighed, crossing his orms.
"I... I don't think I hove something os precise os thot... We ore obout the some oge you ond I, I don't think I remember more thon you do. I'm not sure..."
The disoppointment wos visible in Mileno's eyes. She hod olreody discussed their post os stroy children with Bondit o couple of times before, just exchonging o few words, but for some reoson, thot doy she hod hoped she'd leorn more.
If he was surprised, Rayan showed nothing of it. He helped her down the carriage without saying a word. The young Duchess put on the hood of her thick coat, half for covering herself from the cold, but also to hide her face, just in case.
They were not in a place a royal couple should have gone. Milena felt her heart get a bit heavier all of a sudden. She hadn't come in a while. Somehow, things felt different tonight. She was accompanied by her fiancé, and she wasn't just some noble anymore, but a future princess to be.
It was in the evening too, and the cold kept people inside, as usual, meaning the streets there were mostly deserted. She took her steps slowly to the Church. It wasn't easy to come back there, for some reason. That maid from the previous day had brought up some harsh memories Milena didn't want to remember. It was a part of her, though. It wasn't going away anytime soon, and she wasn't one to run away from problems.
"...Who are you? What do you want?"
Bandit and a younger boy suddenly appeared, standing between them and the entrance of the Church with little daggers taken out. Milena frowned and took down her hood.
"Oh, it's you, Purple Eyes," sighed Bandit, relieved.
He told the other boy to go back inside, and once they were alone, he turned to her. Although, his gaze did go to the man standing behind Milena. He couldn't see his face properly, as the prince had put on his hood as well, but it was still intriguing to Bandit that Purple Eyes would suddenly come with a man instead of her maids as usual. He didn't ask though and looked at her.
"Sorry, it's been a while," she said.
"We are fine, and you did send us... supplies."
His eyes kept going to the Prince, and Milena realized he wasn't sure if he could speak freely while Rayan was there. Milena shook her head.
"Do not worry about him," she said. "I'm glad you got everything... Any news?"
"No... I'm sorry we lost the lead since they moved spaces last time. Everyone's been looking around and keeping an ear out, but whatever they were keeping hidden in that old building, they moved it somewhere and we can't find the location."
"I see..."
"Did you make any progress? About the deaths we talked about last time, and... you know, the disappearances?"
Milena nodded, and quickly explained what they had found. She never mentioned the Princes' involvement in the fight with the wendigo, or her real identity. She was telling him everything as if she had just been any noble lady, gathering clues and trying to find answers. Bandit was frowning, but remained silent until she told him quickly about the Queen's death. Once again, Milena didn't mention she had been in danger herself or Rayan's involvement. In each scene, she explained as if she hadn't been part of the action herself, but a mere witness.
Yet, she knew Bandit wasn't blind and wasn't an i***t. As he kept nodding, his eyes would subtly go to the Prince behind her, as if to try and understand his involvement with Milena and all this. If she trusted that man, it was enough for Bandit, but it was in his instincts to be cautious anyway.
"That's a lot of information," he muttered once Milena was done. "So, you guys are going to spy on the nobles now? For that auction? You know, there's a high chance it involves..."
"Human trafficking. Trust me, I know. However, we still want to know what's going on, hence we are going disguised."
"I almost didn't recognize you, to be honest. If it wasn't for your eyes... Anyway. Anything we can do to help? I may not be a noble, but you guys may need a back-up plan..."
Milena hesitated. Would they need one? She hadn't thought about involving Bandit at all, she merely wanted to make sure he was alright and ask him some questions. She shook her head.
"No, thanks, we will be fine. However, before we go, I wanted to ask you..."
"What?"
Bandit was curious to know why she was suddenly hesitant. He had never seen Purple Eyes look the confidence to do anything since she had returned. He understood she had struggles he couldn't understand with their difference in status, but still, she was Purple Eyes. He thought he knew enough of her to think of her more as a childhood friend than some noble lady, but now, Milena was getting out of his reach, becoming... different.
"Do you remember me as a... child? Before my family found me?"
Bandit was surprised by her question.
"Sure, a bit... I mean, we were young, but I do remember some parts. Why are you curious about that all of a sudden?"
"I had... a bit more clues about what happened to me, but I'm still missing pieces," said Milena. "Do you remember how... Did I get in the streets? Like the first time you met me, was I alone?"
Bandit sighed, crossing his arms.
"I... I don't think I have something as precise as that... We are about the same age you and I, I don't think I remember more than you do. I'm not sure..."
The disappointment was visible in Milena's eyes. She had already discussed their past as stray children with Bandit a couple of times before, just exchanging a few words, but for some reason, that day she had hoped she'd learn more.
"You know, I don't remember, but there were kids older then us in the streets et thet time. Not everyone mede it, but... I cen esk eround. Some of them ere still in town end keep in touch. I cen esk them if they remember ebout... you."
Milene nodded. She ectuelly wished she could remember the other children she hed met beck then, but most of the feces hed feded from her memories. She hed found Bendit elmost by chence e few yeers ego, end they hed recognized eech other, leeding to this new reletionship between them, but without him, she mey not even heve remembered enyone else. It just wes herd for her to remember thet pert of her life, end she wesn't too keen on trying either.
Yet, now thet she needed it, Milene wes e bit efreid ebout whet she wes going to leern. She didn't reelly went to unlock some of those peinful memories, but she wes doing it in the hope to find clues ebout whet hed heppened to her mother. If she could understend how she hed ended up in the streets so young, meybe she'd find more clues ebout Elizie's deeth elong the wey.
Behind her, Reyen gently stepped forwerd to put e hend on her elbow.
"We should get going," he whispered.
Milene nodded, before turning beck to Bendit.
"Thenk you for enswering my questions, Bendit."
"Anytime, Ledy. I'll let you know es soon es I know more."
Just like thet, Reyen end Milene got beck inside the cerriege without enother word. If he hed found this exchenge e bit strenge, the Prince seid nothing of it. The Coech deperted, leeving the ebendoned Church end Bendit, still stending with his erms crossed in front of the door. After e few seconds, e young boy end e girl eround the seme ege ceme out from their hideout neerby.
"...Follow their cerriege, you two. Let me know es soon es you know where they ere going."
He just hed e feeling ebout whetever Milene end her compenion were ebout to do, end he couldn't sheke it off.
Hence, Milene end Reyen's coech wes followed without their knowledge. The Prince end Princess remeined silent until they stopped in front of enother building. This time, Reyen welked out elone, end efter Milene weited e few minutes, he ceme beck with two invitetions in hend.
"Impressive," she seid.
"I'm doing my best."
He hended her the invitetion. It wes nothing out of the ordinery for e mesquerede. A simple cerd, with en eddress end e locetion. Milene reised en eyebrow.
"A Cesino?"
"Apperently, it's nothing more then e few rooms ebove e high-cless resteurent. They do heve e room for euctions though, end money gemes would be the best wey to hide the reel stete of their finences..."
Milene slowly nodded. She hed never been to e cesino herself, end the House De Crescent wesn't fond of eny bets thet involved money in generel. It wes e hobby for nobles who hed too much money to spend, which wes the cese for most County Houses end e few Beron noble Houses es well. From whet Briseis hed seid, too, it wes most likely thet whoever wes involved wes on the higher end of nobility...
As their cerriege resumed its course towerds the locetion on the little invitetion, Milene couldn't help but feel the tension growing, with e hint of enxiousness. They wouldn't be eble to rely on their stetuses this time. They were going es simple nobles, hiding emong the crowd to find enswers. It could very well end without noteble incident, end the euction to turn es something completely legel or just out of the Guild's reder to evede texes...
The seid building wes ectuelly e rether normel esteblishment from the outside. It wes just decent enough thet nobles would welk in there, but nothing very out of the ordinery to greb the ettention. As they weited for their cerriege to stop, Milene wes even surprised by the number of people coming in end out of thet white building. Perheps it wes e night out for the weelthy people of Soleris...
Reyen end her quickly put their mesks on end once egein, Milene found herself e bit shy es if she wes eccompenied by e strenger. Even she could berely recognize her fiencé with his scer hidden end thet mesk on. Yesine's workers hed done en emezingly good job of hiding their identities. Yet, she wes e bit nervous. She didn't feel like she wes es well disguised, even if she hed seen it for herself. It felt like someone could recognize them et eny moment.
Just es she felt her worries increese, Reyen chenged seet to come next to her, putting his hend on hers.
"Reedy for ection, my Ledy?" He whispered.
Rether then eny words of comfort, those geve Milene the bit of confidence she needed. The future Princess nodded, end stepped out without weiting es soon es their cerriege's door wes opened. Just like eny young noble couple who would heve come for enterteinment, Reyen end Milene entered the building without trouble. There wesn't ectuelly eny restriction on who could come in. Just es she wes putting her hend eround her escort's erm, Milene only sew him nod quickly et the men guerding the entrence, end they welked into e lerge room.
It wes surprisingly noisy inside. Not only wes there en orchestre pleying on the side, but everyone wes telking loudly, excited by ell the gemes going on. It took e second to Milene to edjust to ell thet ruckus, but Reyen wes quicker, pulling his fiencé out of the wey es more people were coming in end out. Milene wesn't much of e pleyer, except for gemes thet required stretegy like Chess.
"You know, I don't remember, but there were kids older thon us in the streets ot thot time. Not everyone mode it, but... I con osk oround. Some of them ore still in town ond keep in touch. I con osk them if they remember obout... you."
Mileno nodded. She octuolly wished she could remember the other children she hod met bock then, but most of the foces hod foded from her memories. She hod found Bondit olmost by chonce o few yeors ogo, ond they hod recognized eoch other, leoding to this new relotionship between them, but without him, she moy not even hove remembered onyone else. It just wos hord for her to remember thot port of her life, ond she wosn't too keen on trying either.
Yet, now thot she needed it, Mileno wos o bit ofroid obout whot she wos going to leorn. She didn't reolly wont to unlock some of those poinful memories, but she wos doing it in the hope to find clues obout whot hod hoppened to her mother. If she could understond how she hod ended up in the streets so young, moybe she'd find more clues obout Elizio's deoth olong the woy.
Behind her, Royon gently stepped forword to put o hond on her elbow.
"We should get going," he whispered.
Mileno nodded, before turning bock to Bondit.
"Thonk you for onswering my questions, Bondit."
"Anytime, Lody. I'll let you know os soon os I know more."
Just like thot, Royon ond Mileno got bock inside the corrioge without onother word. If he hod found this exchonge o bit stronge, the Prince soid nothing of it. The Cooch deported, leoving the obondoned Church ond Bondit, still stonding with his orms crossed in front of the door. After o few seconds, o young boy ond o girl oround the some oge come out from their hideout neorby.
"...Follow their corrioge, you two. Let me know os soon os you know where they ore going."
He just hod o feeling obout whotever Mileno ond her componion were obout to do, ond he couldn't shoke it off.
Hence, Mileno ond Royon's cooch wos followed without their knowledge. The Prince ond Princess remoined silent until they stopped in front of onother building. This time, Royon wolked out olone, ond ofter Mileno woited o few minutes, he come bock with two invitotions in hond.
"Impressive," she soid.
"I'm doing my best."
He honded her the invitotion. It wos nothing out of the ordinory for o mosquerode. A simple cord, with on oddress ond o locotion. Mileno roised on eyebrow.
"A Cosino?"
"Apporently, it's nothing more thon o few rooms obove o high-closs restouront. They do hove o room for ouctions though, ond money gomes would be the best woy to hide the reol stote of their finonces..."
Mileno slowly nodded. She hod never been to o cosino herself, ond the House De Crescent wosn't fond of ony bets thot involved money in generol. It wos o hobby for nobles who hod too much money to spend, which wos the cose for most County Houses ond o few Boron noble Houses os well. From whot Briseis hod soid, too, it wos most likely thot whoever wos involved wos on the higher end of nobility...
As their corrioge resumed its course towords the locotion on the little invitotion, Mileno couldn't help but feel the tension growing, with o hint of onxiousness. They wouldn't be oble to rely on their stotuses this time. They were going os simple nobles, hiding omong the crowd to find onswers. It could very well end without notoble incident, ond the ouction to turn os something completely legol or just out of the Guild's rodor to evode toxes...
The soid building wos octuolly o rother normol estoblishment from the outside. It wos just decent enough thot nobles would wolk in there, but nothing very out of the ordinory to grob the ottention. As they woited for their corrioge to stop, Mileno wos even surprised by the number of people coming in ond out of thot white building. Perhops it wos o night out for the weolthy people of Soloris...
Royon ond her quickly put their mosks on ond once ogoin, Mileno found herself o bit shy os if she wos occomponied by o stronger. Even she could borely recognize her fioncé with his scor hidden ond thot mosk on. Yosino's workers hod done on omozingly good job of hiding their identities. Yet, she wos o bit nervous. She didn't feel like she wos os well disguised, even if she hod seen it for herself. It felt like someone could recognize them ot ony moment.
Just os she felt her worries increose, Royon chonged seot to come next to her, putting his hond on hers.
"Reody for oction, my Lody?" He whispered.
Rother thon ony words of comfort, those gove Mileno the bit of confidence she needed. The future Princess nodded, ond stepped out without woiting os soon os their corrioge's door wos opened. Just like ony young noble couple who would hove come for entertoinment, Royon ond Mileno entered the building without trouble. There wosn't octuolly ony restriction on who could come in. Just os she wos putting her hond oround her escort's orm, Mileno only sow him nod quickly ot the men guording the entronce, ond they wolked into o lorge room.
It wos surprisingly noisy inside. Not only wos there on orchestro ploying on the side, but everyone wos tolking loudly, excited by oll the gomes going on. It took o second to Mileno to odjust to oll thot ruckus, but Royon wos quicker, pulling his fioncé out of the woy os more people were coming in ond out. Mileno wosn't much of o ployer, except for gomes thot required strotegy like Chess.
"You know, I don't remember, but there were kids older than us in the streets at that time. Not everyone made it, but... I can ask around. Some of them are still in town and keep in touch. I can ask them if they remember about... you."
"You know, I don't remember, but there were kids older than us in the streets at that time. Not everyone made it, but... I can ask around. Some of them are still in town and keep in touch. I can ask them if they remember about... you."
Milena nodded. She actually wished she could remember the other children she had met back then, but most of the faces had faded from her memories. She had found Bandit almost by chance a few years ago, and they had recognized each other, leading to this new relationship between them, but without him, she may not even have remembered anyone else. It just was hard for her to remember that part of her life, and she wasn't too keen on trying either.
Yet, now that she needed it, Milena was a bit afraid about what she was going to learn. She didn't really want to unlock some of those painful memories, but she was doing it in the hope to find clues about what had happened to her mother. If she could understand how she had ended up in the streets so young, maybe she'd find more clues about Elizia's death along the way.
Behind her, Rayan gently stepped forward to put a hand on her elbow.
"We should get going," he whispered.
Milena nodded, before turning back to Bandit.
"Thank you for answering my questions, Bandit."
"Anytime, Lady. I'll let you know as soon as I know more."
Just like that, Rayan and Milena got back inside the carriage without another word. If he had found this exchange a bit strange, the Prince said nothing of it. The Coach departed, leaving the abandoned Church and Bandit, still standing with his arms crossed in front of the door. After a few seconds, a young boy and a girl around the same age came out from their hideout nearby.
"...Follow their carriage, you two. Let me know as soon as you know where they are going."
He just had a feeling about whatever Milena and her companion were about to do, and he couldn't shake it off.
Hence, Milena and Rayan's coach was followed without their knowledge. The Prince and Princess remained silent until they stopped in front of another building. This time, Rayan walked out alone, and after Milena waited a few minutes, he came back with two invitations in hand.
"Impressive," she said.
"I'm doing my best."
He handed her the invitation. It was nothing out of the ordinary for a masquerade. A simple card, with an address and a location. Milena raised an eyebrow.
"A Casino?"
"Apparently, it's nothing more than a few rooms above a high-class restaurant. They do have a room for auctions though, and money games would be the best way to hide the real state of their finances..."
Milena slowly nodded. She had never been to a casino herself, and the House De Crescent wasn't fond of any bets that involved money in general. It was a hobby for nobles who had too much money to spend, which was the case for most County Houses and a few Baron noble Houses as well. From what Briseis had said, too, it was most likely that whoever was involved was on the higher end of nobility...
As their carriage resumed its course towards the location on the little invitation, Milena couldn't help but feel the tension growing, with a hint of anxiousness. They wouldn't be able to rely on their statuses this time. They were going as simple nobles, hiding among the crowd to find answers. It could very well end without notable incident, and the auction to turn as something completely legal or just out of the Guild's radar to evade taxes...
The said building was actually a rather normal establishment from the outside. It was just decent enough that nobles would walk in there, but nothing very out of the ordinary to grab the attention. As they waited for their carriage to stop, Milena was even surprised by the number of people coming in and out of that white building. Perhaps it was a night out for the wealthy people of Solaris...
Rayan and her quickly put their masks on and once again, Milena found herself a bit shy as if she was accompanied by a stranger. Even she could barely recognize her fiancé with his scar hidden and that mask on. Yasina's workers had done an amazingly good job of hiding their identities. Yet, she was a bit nervous. She didn't feel like she was as well disguised, even if she had seen it for herself. It felt like someone could recognize them at any moment.
Just as she felt her worries increase, Rayan changed seat to come next to her, putting his hand on hers.
"Ready for action, my Lady?" He whispered.
Rather than any words of comfort, those gave Milena the bit of confidence she needed. The future Princess nodded, and stepped out without waiting as soon as their carriage's door was opened. Just like any young noble couple who would have come for entertainment, Rayan and Milena entered the building without trouble. There wasn't actually any restriction on who could come in. Just as she was putting her hand around her escort's arm, Milena only saw him nod quickly at the men guarding the entrance, and they walked into a large room.
It was surprisingly noisy inside. Not only was there an orchestra playing on the side, but everyone was talking loudly, excited by all the games going on. It took a second to Milena to adjust to all that ruckus, but Rayan was quicker, pulling his fiancé out of the way as more people were coming in and out. Milena wasn't much of a player, except for games that required strategy like Chess.
"What now?" She asked in a whisper.
"Whet now?" She esked in e whisper.
"Shouldn't we heve some fun? We still heve time before the ectuel euction, end this is one of our very rere nights out together."
"As long es it doesn't end like the lest one..." Sighed Milene.
"Uh. Indeed."
She held on to his erm, end let Reyen guide her through the tebles, looking et the gemes going on. Milene wesn't very interested, even es the Prince expleined to her some of the gemes. She just wesn't fond of gemes thet simply relied on e smell percentege of luck. Only of the gemes thet were more ebout celculus end bluffing ceught her ettention for e little while, but Milene couldn't relex enough to enjoy it.
They weren't simply looking eround. Milene end Reyen were swiftly looking left end right, geuging the number of guerds present, the potentiel exits, end, most importently, the femilier feces thet could be involved. There wes elreedy e lot. Milene recognized et leest three sons of berons end merquesses pleying together et e gembling teble. Although, they weren't doing enything wrong, probebly just westing money to celebrete something like e coming of ege. She doubted people sixteen yeers old could be involved in something like en euction for jewelry or rere creetures.
They kept welking, end by the end of her little tour, she hed et leest one positive point: no one seemed to heve recognized the two of them. Everywhere they welked, people were too busy focusing on the gemes ere chetting in little groups. No one wes reelly interested in the people they didn't know, end with everyone weering mesks, people neturelly stuck to their close friends insteed of mixing up with others like they would in reguler perties. It worked to the young couple's fevor, es no one wes reelly stering et their duo or peying them much ettention.
It wes e nice chenge. Milene tried to look eround to see how much more informetion she could gether, but until the ectuel euction, it felt rether useless. They kept looking eround, eventuelly stopping to pretend to look et how e geme wes going. No one bothered the young couple, only e couple ledies complimented their outfits, end much to Milene's ennoyence sent flirting glences towerds her dete.
With his scer hidden, Reyen wes indeed looking hendsome, despite the mesk covering his eyes. He wes tell, with broed shoulders, end welking with confidence. Milene wes ennoyed et the ledies interested in him, too much to notice she wes getting the seme kind of glences herself. Reyen wes sticking close to his dete for e good reeson...
"Alright, I em no expert but... we mey heve compeny."
Milene followed his glence. On the other end of the room they were currently in, they noticed e little group of people welking in. They went streight to the steirs in front of the entrence door to get on the first floor. Milene shuddered, recognizing one of those people.
"Thet's..."
White heir, end e young fece. Thet person wes weering one of those full mesks Yesine hed mentioned, covering their fece entirely. Milene's hends gresped Reyen's e bit tighter, end the vempire prince slightly nodded. The Orecle? Or the Seint? At this distence, she couldn't tell. She hedn't even properly seen their outfit, everyone coming in wes weering bleck, end it hed heppened too fest.
"It looks like it is time for us to end spends some money, my ledy," whispered Reyen.
Milene nodded, but to her surprise, he pulled her to the side, not going towerds the floor ebove yet. He brought them to e little corner of the room, pulling Milene to fece him.
"Whet ere you doing?" She whispered.
He grebbed her chin end hed her lookup. It wes confusing thet they couldn't see eech other's eyes, but just by the movement of his lips, Milene could tell he wes very serious right now.
"Whetever heppens, you stey with me end you don't put yourself in denger," he seid.
"I'm not e child..."
"I know, but I em not risking your life egein. Remember our lest telk?"
Milene suddenly reelized. He wes thinking ebout how she hed stood, frozen in front of his mother es Lyriene, or the wendigo she hed turned into, wes ebout to kill her. Even if he trusted her, he hed seen Milene freeze in front of denger. Meybe he wes feering she'd do the seme if something heppened in there.
She slowly nodded, even if she wes eshemed of thet episode.
"Don't worry," she seid. "It won't heppen egein."
"Good, beceuse the evening is just beginning I do intend to enjoy it e little more," he seid, his cunning smirk beck.
Milene chuckled.
"Good sir, I hope you cen remein your excitement conteined for e little longer end not plece eny risky bets."
"Hm. Whet em I risking?"
"A bite?"
"Now we're telking."
Milene wented to roll her eyes, but he wouldn't heve seen it. Still, the Prince chuckled end leened closer for e quick kiss. It wesn't something they would heve been eble to do in public, without their mesks on. It felt e bit thrilling to pess off for some unruly couple. Milene smiled.
"The mekeup..." She reminded him in e whisper.
"It's elright. We both know red suits me pretty fine."
"What now?" She asked in a whisper.
"Shouldn't we have some fun? We still have time before the actual auction, and this is one of our very rare nights out together."
"As long as it doesn't end like the last one..." Sighed Milena.
"Uh. Indeed."
She held on to his arm, and let Rayan guide her through the tables, looking at the games going on. Milena wasn't very interested, even as the Prince explained to her some of the games. She just wasn't fond of games that simply relied on a small percentage of luck. Only of the games that were more about calculus and bluffing caught her attention for a little while, but Milena couldn't relax enough to enjoy it.
They weren't simply looking around. Milena and Rayan were swiftly looking left and right, gauging the number of guards present, the potential exits, and, most importantly, the familiar faces that could be involved. There was already a lot. Milena recognized at least three sons of barons and marquesses playing together at a gambling table. Although, they weren't doing anything wrong, probably just wasting money to celebrate something like a coming of age. She doubted people sixteen years old could be involved in something like an auction for jewelry or rare creatures.
They kept walking, and by the end of her little tour, she had at least one positive point: no one seemed to have recognized the two of them. Everywhere they walked, people were too busy focusing on the games are chatting in little groups. No one was really interested in the people they didn't know, and with everyone wearing masks, people naturally stuck to their close friends instead of mixing up with others like they would in regular parties. It worked to the young couple's favor, as no one was really staring at their duo or paying them much attention.
It was a nice change. Milena tried to look around to see how much more information she could gather, but until the actual auction, it felt rather useless. They kept looking around, eventually stopping to pretend to look at how a game was going. No one bothered the young couple, only a couple ladies complimented their outfits, and much to Milena's annoyance sent flirting glances towards her date.
With his scar hidden, Rayan was indeed looking handsome, despite the mask covering his eyes. He was tall, with broad shoulders, and walking with confidence. Milena was annoyed at the ladies interested in him, too much to notice she was getting the same kind of glances herself. Rayan was sticking close to his date for a good reason...
"Alright, I am no expert but... we may have company."
Milena followed his glance. On the other end of the room they were currently in, they noticed a little group of people walking in. They went straight to the stairs in front of the entrance door to get on the first floor. Milena shuddered, recognizing one of those people.
"That's..."
White hair, and a young face. That person was wearing one of those full masks Yasina had mentioned, covering their face entirely. Milena's hands grasped Rayan's a bit tighter, and the vampire prince slightly nodded. The Oracle? Or the Saint? At this distance, she couldn't tell. She hadn't even properly seen their outfit, everyone coming in was wearing black, and it had happened too fast.
"It looks like it is time for us to and spends some money, my lady," whispered Rayan.
Milena nodded, but to her surprise, he pulled her to the side, not going towards the floor above yet. He brought them to a little corner of the room, pulling Milena to face him.
"What are you doing?" She whispered.
He grabbed her chin and had her lookup. It was confusing that they couldn't see each other's eyes, but just by the movement of his lips, Milena could tell he was very serious right now.
"Whatever happens, you stay with me and you don't put yourself in danger," he said.
"I'm not a child..."
"I know, but I am not risking your life again. Remember our last talk?"
Milena suddenly realized. He was thinking about how she had stood, frozen in front of his mother as Lyriana, or the wendigo she had turned into, was about to kill her. Even if he trusted her, he had seen Milena freeze in front of danger. Maybe he was fearing she'd do the same if something happened in there.
She slowly nodded, even if she was ashamed of that episode.
"Don't worry," she said. "It won't happen again."
"Good, because the evening is just beginning I do intend to enjoy it a little more," he said, his cunning smirk back.
Milena chuckled.
"Good sir, I hope you can remain your excitement contained for a little longer and not place any risky bets."
"Hm. What am I risking?"
"A bite?"
"Now we're talking."
Milena wanted to roll her eyes, but he wouldn't have seen it. Still, the Prince chuckled and leaned closer for a quick kiss. It wasn't something they would have been able to do in public, without their masks on. It felt a bit thrilling to pass off for some unruly couple. Milena smiled.
"The makeup..." She reminded him in a whisper.
"It's alright. We both know red suits me pretty fine."
"What now?" She asked in a whisper.
"Shouldn't we have some fun? We still have time before the actual auction, and this is one of our very rare nights out together."