20 Episode 20 ...

The continuous tapping of Jasper's fingers on the table could be heard echoing inside the luxurious guest room where he slept last night. He was getting impatient with a scowl on his face as time went by. He was waiting for Scarlet to visit him, but the woman didn't show up.

"Anselme..."

The blanked faced Anselme who has been patiently standing behind his master immediately responded. "Yes, my Lord?"

"How long have I been waiting here?" asked his icy, childlike voice.

Feeling the dark aura rising from his master's cute little back, Anselme gulped his own saliva before answering his question, "Uhm... Almost an hour, my Lord...?" Because of his response, the dark aura around his master's silhouette grew thicker and darker making Anselme flinch in terror.

Huhuhu! So scary... His master has been waiting early in the morning expecting his wife to pick him up and spend the day with him. He also prepared himself, including taking a bath and cleaning himself. He even terrorized and punished him a while ago for choosing boring outfits for him to wear even though he looked cute and handsome in anything that he wears!

This is the first time his master has been selective of his clothes. All of this is because of the mistress.

Meanwhile...

Jasper's little jaw clenched as his deep oceanic eyes narrowed into tiny slits, thinking about Scarlet.

That woman. How dare she make him wait! Since the moment he opened his eyes, he wanted to see her face. Clearly, he missed her and not seeing her face for a day is making him very, very grumpy.

He wants to see her so badly but where is she?

"Ahem! My Lord..?"

"What?!" Jasper snapped.

"I-I Uhhh... I heard from one of the palace maids awhile ago that the mistress already already made commitments to talk with her subordinates for today. I think she's having a meeting with them in the royal throne room at the moment."

Jasper abruptly went silent. ".... A meeting?"

"Yes, a meeting."

"Are you sure?" Jasper asked, looking straight into Anselme's eyes.

Is it really necessary to doubt his words? "I am absolutely sure, my Lord."

Jasper slapped his palm on the table and stood up. "Very well then," rising from his seat, Jasper headed towards the door.

Seeing that his master was going somewhere, Anselme followed behind him immediately.

"Uhh. Where are you going, my Lord?" he questioned, feeling the growing fear inside his chest. Don't tell me he's going to barge into the mistress's meeting...

Jasper stopped. His face serious. "To see my wife, of course..." and he continued heading to the door with his short legs.

Anselme's jaw drop. I knew it!

"M, My Lord, wait!"

....In the Throne Room

Everyone left the throne room except the seven members of the Scarlet Order. When they all got out, Scarlet spoke.

"Let's continue our discussion in the meeting room..." The members of the Scarlet Order nodded their approval.

Scarlet stood up and came down from her throne while the members of the Scarlet Order followed behind her in two lines, one led by Eigeel and the other by Eireen.

The palace guards opened the double doors for them to leave the throne room when suddenly, Scarlet stopped.

"Is something the matter, my queen?" Eigeel asked with concern.

Scarlet snapped her fingers like she remembered something important.

"Red..." she called out. And the crimson nine tailed fox flinched at her voice.

He raced to Scarlet's side immediately. "Hnng?" the crimson fox tilted his head to the side, making an adorable sound inside his mouth with a facial expression asking, 'What is it, Master?'

"Come here." Scarlet invited, gesturing for the crimson fox to jump into her arms. Red looked surprised. The Scarlet Order as well...

Well, Scarlet's former self always has Red lying in her lap, caressing and scratching his fur with her fingers during meetings or whenever she doesn't use her hands to do official works.

Scarlet almost forgot about this habit of hers, good thing she remembered to do it now.

Realising that his master finally decided to pet him again after 500 years, Red's eyes light up instantly with joy. He initially thought that his master had already forgotten about him! Huhuhu!

Without further adue. Red resized himself to be about as tiny as a domestic cat. After that, he jumped straight into Scarlet's arms, searching for a comfortable spot to lie down while purring in satisfaction.

Scarlet smiled. Cute...

When Red was finally lying comfortably in her arms, she turned to the others, "Let's go." and they followed behind her in silence.

The meeting room was not far from the throne room. Two palace guards were already waiting at its door and they stood in the attention when they saw Scarlet approaching.

Scarlet glanced at the two officers and they rushed to open the door for her.

Scarlet went inside, not saying thank you to the guards even though she wanted to. Her other self wouldn't do that so she stopped herself from doing anything suspicious.

Scarlet took a seat at the most extravagant chair among the seats on the long table that was located at the head of the table. Eireen was seated on her left side; Silver and Aqua were seated beside her. Eigeel took his place on her right side, and Levin was seated beside him.

Only Talon remained standing behind Scarlet as her bodyguard while Red was napping comfortably on her thighs. She started caressing his fur to make him sleep since he wasn't expected to contribute to the meeting anyway.

When they were all seated in their respective chairs, Scarlet spoke.

"... Now, going back to the investigations that you have obtained from the human realm during my absence, what information have you got, so far? Tell me everything in full detail... Silver, how about you go first."

"It would be my pleasure, my queen."

She stood up, all calm and prepared as she placed a peculiar gadget in the center of the table. The tool was round in form, and in the middle of it was a large green crystal that was beautifully polished in the manner of a small ball.

As Silver returned to her seat, the crystal in the device started to light up, and an image of the Seal of the Gehenna appeared above it.

"Ehem." Silver cleared her throat. "... your majesty, during our investigation, my subordinates sent me a report that a mysterious power has been growing in the human realm these past years..." she paused. Pressing something on her wrist and an emblem emerged on the floating illustration. The image almost looked like a ram or a goat.

Silver continued to talk...

"There have been numerous cases of killings done by this organization in the human realm and they always leave these symbols on the scene of the crime. Their victims were mostly very important people, including the late King of Burgundia." she explained.