Chapter 84 – Getting Closer

(Temporary Perspective Change)

"So then Leone... what do you think of her? Or are you going to remain in a mood?"

"My irritation is at you, already told you she would be resistant to the crest, waste of time"

After Ikarus and that old blind bat have left, it's just me and Alistair in the throne room, he sent the guards away so we could have a quick chat before the advisors get sent in. They can clearly wait as long as he needs, this conversation is pointless though, did tell him using the pacification crest wouldn't work but the brat wouldn't listen like usual, thinks he always knows best.

It's clear those two lovebirds have been up to something, I'm curious on what's going to happen but that's something for another time, there's always better things to do then wonder what Ikarus may or may not be planning after all. With another phoenix by her side, it's extremely likely something will happen.

I'm leaving in a second anyways, this throne is uncomfortable but there's nowhere else to sit in this room, the only reason he called me in here was to do his bidding but I did already tell him some people cannot be affected by the crest. Still refuses to listen despite my best advice.

"She's that powerful then? That still doesn't answer my question"

"She's of no concern, like I've told you before once again, just allow Ikarus to get on with it and ignore who she hangs around"

'Hmph, you really should be worried if you weren't so arrogant'

It seems my response has made him think a little but more down to irritation.

"You know I can't allow such a thing, a random woman with the power to rival your own turning up in the middle of nowhere is going to be a concern"

"Maybe, but there's nothing you can do to stop it. Even if you could, you still wouldn't, you've never been that blunt"

He's always been fixated on control after all. Even as a child, the specific actions and duties he'd have the maids perform always came across a little odd. It's never been anything perverted, I'm pretty sure this brat has no interest in such a mundane thing but it's always been about controlling little aspects and skewing peoples' mindsets to go and think a certain way. When he encounters someone who that won't work on, then he starts to overthink and worry about things, I'm still not getting involved on whatever's going to happen so he can handle it himself, he'd rather do it that way anyways.

"Yeah, you're probably right... there is something else though, you really think those two are in love?"

"Definitely"

Even though the little knight and that insufferable priestess have given their reports and have tried to be tight lipped on those two, it's obvious something is going on. Each to their own I guess, never seen the point in such a thing especially with a member of the same gender but it's not like it's unheard of, at least if you know how to look. The church would despise the idea of such a thing and try to burn them at the stake though.

"Hmm..."

Like with usual with this bratty prince, he can't help but start to tap either his chin or the table, in this case the arm rest of the throne when he's thinking heavily on something, it's such an odd thing for someone who refuses to allow his true emotion to be seen but then again, he always tries to keep a façade so it's bound to slip up at some points.

"... She's seriously of no use then? Don't answer, I believe you, just it would be more suitable to have someone trustworthy watching that bird"

'The knight and priestess aren't really trustworthy but he clearly hasn't realized that either'

I do have a question for him though, the invite to the party thing seems a little odd. Watching Ikarus from a distance is different to actually inviting her to a royal party, I'd say it's dangerous but he always likes to live a little risky so it would prove pointless.

"Why did you invite them to your sister's party?"

"Boredom... couldn't be bothered to converse right now so thought to delay it and besides, it'll probably piss off sister having someone she didn't approve turn up. In all honesty, might just ignore them at the party as well, depends on how I feel but sister definitely won't like the idea on how many others I've invited. Will give a slight amount of entertainment to the whole thing, it's either going to be extremely boring or something vampire might have a fetish on..."

Oh, can't forget the little princess Media has always been into torture, her and blood have always gone hand in hand. In another life she would've been a vampire if she hadn't been born into this family, both the emperor and prince have always allowed her to keep up her twisted ways despite them both disliking the idea of someone enjoying inflicting pain and misery. Can't be too sure but think public executions were stopped just so she'd have some more people to 'play' with, most end up dead or wishing to be dead afterwards anyway.

"... Forget about all that, with that blind woman and the bird situation... we can always inform the church if they start providing a nuisance, there's always something we can do..."

He really is a little brat at times, as if the church could be able to deal with that blind bat. They could easily take Ikarus on, not Petra though, she'd end up wiping the Sierran main religion completely out. It would be entertaining to watch though, won't say anything on that either.

Most of what he says I'll just let him get on with, he has always preferred to control everything by his lonesome. Someday, that will backfire and blow up right in his face, hopefully I'm not around to watch it but knowing my luck, I'll be stuck serving the next in line for the throne. Hmph...

"... I'm going to send in the advisors now, you can leave, your grouchiness will only get in the way"

"Hmph, was going to leave now anyways..."

__________

(Ikarus) "Alright Jekyll?"

(Petra) "Hey"

"Ikarus and Petra, make yourself at home"

This time around meeting with Jekyll, we're at his house, he has an apartment on the second floor of one of the town houses in the middle of the city. Petra has a key so we just let ourselves in, is that weird that she has a key for another guy's house? Nah, I trust her completely and Jekyll wouldn't give her key if it wasn't important, he basically is her spy within the empire after all. Does that mean she should have a key to his home though? This is gonna bug me now.

Anyways, trying to move on and distract myself, his flat or apartment itself isn't anything special, it's obvious he's a single guy living alone, he has all the essentials but decorating could be done a lot better. I should know, I was in his situation once upon a time, women always know how to decorate places better than males. Well, there's exceptions and I'm not trying to sound sexist but you can normally tell when a guy or a female is in control of making a place feel lived in, at least when it comes to decorations and things like that.

It's still nice despite me sounding like I'm complaining, just there isn't much clutter, décor around and stuff like that, there isn't really much need for clutter in a medieval looking apartment so I'm just being dumb. It is a little messy with the armour and a few weapons lying about but he is a captain with the knights after all.

Anyways, we take a seat on his sofa that looks to have a fur pelt on and he starts to ask us some questions, he's currently sorting through some files on a desk in his living room so he doesn't join us sitting.

"So what's the latest? I assume you received the message?"

Somehow, he and Petra know a trick when it comes to sending out birds, no idea how they're able to find the other person but the bird always seems to be able to find one another. Thinking about it, there is a bird cage on the balcony, I guess that's captain Jekyll's hobby? Unless it's Petra's pigeon, wouldn't surprise me if she has an animal taming ability but I'm only speculating like usual.

"Yeah, the message was received, plans have also changed slightly"

"Have they? Do tell why then"

"We no longer need you to leave a back door open for us"

Jekyll stops sorting files on his desk and looks slightly concerned from that news, isn't that a good thing for him? At least if he wants to remain confidential.

"What's happened? Why is this no longer a concern?"

I forgot about his stressed-out face, it was a while ago he came to my parents' cave but back then, he and the knight Nathan both shared a lot of stress being around dragons, it looks pretty similar to that.

"Ikarus, show him what the prince gave you"

Doing as Petra asks, I get out the invitation and show it to Jekyll who has now come over to take a look. As he takes a look at the invitation, his stress levels remain the same, this clearly has him worried still.

"Urgh, it's definitely real... you ever hear that expression? When something is too good to be true, it usually is"

(Petra) "Normally, I'd be in agreement but the mage doesn't appear to making any counter measures for now, we're still in the clear"

(Ikarus) "Yeah... wait, you think the wicked bitch would know if something was up?"

"Probably, she should've clocked on if somethings up just by hearing my name. The fact she hasn't said or done anything yet proves she either doesn't know or is playing dumb, she's always been that way after all"

The way Petra says that, it's almost as if those two know each other really well. That's annoying, I want Petra to share my hatred of the mage but it almost sounds like they're close, Petra does know I clearly hate that woman after all.

"Hang on, do you two have a past? When were you planning on telling me this?"

"It's not really a past though Ikarus, just came across each other a few times throughout the years. You don't need to look at me that way, dislike her just as much as you do"

"Well... I doubt that but still, as long as you dislike her as well"

"Heh"

I couldn't help but pout and cross my arms while answering, couples are supposed to share mutual hatred of someone, right? In all honesty, I don't think Petra actually dislikes the mage that much just from her smile, clearly she's just humouring me, it's a good thing I like her a load.

"Look... if the plan to get you inside has changed, then that's just how it is, it definitely would've looked a little suspicious me leaving a door unguarded or several unlocked so it's a positive I guess even if I'm basically going to have to do that later on regardless. That's still doesn't help with getting out once it's done though"

Oh yeah, can't forget Jekyll is in complete control of the security and preparations for the princess's birthday party, that's why he would've been useful for getting in. Now that we have a way in though, his role is kinda pointless unless he can get all three targets alone into a side room all at once.

"The escape will be easy and requires no thought Jekyll, it's only me and Ikarus, we both have something for that..."

Invisibility, as long as we can sneak away without the need to attack someone, then we're golden. I've brought this up before though.

"... The only thing we may need is if you can send a message sending the royals into an unguarded room"

"Don't worry, I already know all that, got your message you sent back as well. Just obviously make sure you are there on time, there will only be one shot at this so make it count"

Oh, so Petra and Jekyll had already planned out what time the prince, princess, mage and the emperor were going to be sent away? I guess he could just get a guard to tell them there's a problem, then have them all go off into an unguarded room. If that's the case, then we definitely only have one shot at this, then the bastard should be making his grand entrance afterwards.

Wait, if the bastard wants to kill his own father, then shouldn't we have him sent somewhere else? Forget it, Petra already has this planned, it's a little annoying to be left out from all this.

"Petra, I'm a little annoyed, couldn't you have told me about all this before?"

"Sorry Ikarus, you never really asked about it and always just trusted me to get things done. If you really wanted to get more involved, you could've and wouldn't have said no"

Damn it, my own faith and trust in Petra backfired, I like planning out stuff as well believe it or not but obviously this time is down to me, I should've been more involved on the specifics. Oh well, shit is still going to get done.

In the end, we stayed over at Jekyll's house for a while and had food for the evening discussing various other things, he obviously knows we got the bastard onside otherwise this entire plan would've been kept on hold. Well, we didn't get him onside, his dragon wife beat him in a fight but we were still kinda involved, in sprit watching him on.

In all honesty, I like Jekyll, not in the same way as Petra or my parents but as a dude, he's alright. Maybe it's because he despises the wicked witch so much that we share a common enemy but he's not that bad to have a relaxed chat with, I'm never using his training methods again though, Petra's is way better. His food tastes like shit though, didn't say anything but if you like the taste of charcoal, then you'd like it, I don't. Even my cooking might be a little better and I can't cook for shit.

As we're leaving his place late at night in search for an inn, there has been something bothering me for a little while, it's so extremely pointless but it's always the little things that get to me.

"Petra... why do you have a key to Jekyll's house?"

I can't let it go, do completely trust her but she has a key to another guy's house, that's kinda weird even if they are undercover against the empire, I'm being petty but I really want to know the reason.

"Oh, that's what's troubling you? It would make sense why I have a key, bought the place after all"

Petra owns actual real estate? Not just the cave with the phoenixes, why is this surprising me so much?

"Wait, you own a house in the capital?"

"Yeah, Jekyll uses and keeps it's from falling apart, have a few places like that scattered around, should probably start charging rent one day"

Okay then... hang on, why are we looking for an inn if she owns that place and Jekyll is living there rent free? We might as well just use that.

"Then why are we looking for an inn?"

"Just the one-bedroom Ikarus, we could ask him to leave or use the sofa if you really wanted to share a bed that badly but that could be a little selfish, I'm up for it if you want too though"

Sighhh, she really has to tease even now, at least that kinda answers why she has a key to the place, it's still a little weird why she's even letting him live there but with Petra, it was probably something more to do with her just being kind and not giving it a second thought. He is providng her with information about the empire, I guess this could be considered payment for it.

"So anyway... what should we do next then? We've got a week to kill"

What can we do in a week? The first thing that comes to mind it going on some dates with Petra and doing some other stuff like that but we should probably get in a serious mindset after all. In a week's time, it'll be us or the royals dead, I still feel like there's planning to do but Petra and Jekyll have already gotten everything done, we should just kill some time for now.

We could go visit the knight and priestess... crap, where could they even be? No idea where any of those two live and bumping into them in the capital might be too much of a coincidence. I guess we could start looking around a church for priestess or where the knights go to train but both of those ideas sound annoying.

"Well... we could start with going shopping for some bits, stuff like outfits for the upcoming party but that shouldn't take more than a few hours"

Huh? We actually need to go dress shopping? Fuck.

"Wait, we actually have to do that? Couldn't they just give us something to wear?"

"Heh, that should be pretty obvious Ikarus, it's not exactly like we can arrive looking like this, it is a royal's party after all"

Well shit, more clothes shopping with Petra, know where this is already going, need to set some ground rules in place since she's definitely going to have too much fun here. It's not like I hate doing this but still, I've been her dress up doll too much already, even if it was only the once.

I know I've already worn expensive and posh crap like royal's clothing back in the elven battle dungeon but always had maids to help pick and choose what to wear, I really couldn't give a shit about wearing stuff like that. Oh God, I'm probably going to have to wear makeup as well, not happening!

"We need to set some ground rules in place first... no makeup, nothing too cute, no corsets and nothing really uncomfortable. Oh, no heels as well"

I already have to wear this uncomfortable corseted dress all the time, it could be dangerous trying to fight while wearing clothing and uncomfortable stuff like that, that's clearly not my reasoning though, it's not like we can't rip parts of the clothing off or take shoes off before fighting. Unfortunately, Petra isn't having none of it.

"Heh, all of that is denied except the corset thing"

Urgh, damn it...