Discussions, Battle of Wits, and Preparations (Part 2)

The turbulence in Vaughn's heart immediately calmed down when he saw Zenia's smiling face. The thing he feared most had not yet come.

He walked to where Zenia was and smiled back at her. He wished for time to freeze and never move again. He could stay like this forever with her.

"Have you been waiting long?"

"No, not at all." Zenia's face became serious that it almost frightened Vaughn.

"Big Brother Vaughn, listen. I heard two men talked about Noir earlier and because they don't know where he is they are eyeing to take Thunderbolt away."

"Thunderbolt is here? Where is he? Did your brothers bring him? Where are your brothers?"

Zenia began to feel annoyed with Vaughn's barrage of questions.

"You ask too many questions. Yes, Thunderbolt is here. He is in the stable that Mathilda arranged. My brothers are still not here and Thunderbolt was brought by Mother and Father."

"I thought Thunderbolt's color is midnight black. Mathilda told me that the horse that she put in the stable has a chestnut color."

"Zander knows someone who can change the color of the horse without dyeing, and it lasts for six months. One of the men also mentioned that he knew someone who could change the horse's color and that man sounded like he came from Ishelon."

"Why would they be interested in a horse of different color?"

"Noir and Thunderbolt looked exactly the same! If Thunderbolt has its original color, even you will not be able to tell them apart. The only difference is that Thunderbolt is definitely much faster than Noir." Zenia boasted and held her head high.

Vaughn felt a bit annoyed.

"How do you know? You've only ridden Noir at a short distance."

"But I have ridden your silver steed, and I told you that Thunderbolt is faster than your horse."

Vaughn felt even worse when Zenia mentioned it again.

"Why do they still want to get a black horse similar to Noir?"

"I don't know, and I want to find out. I told one of your shadow guards to follow those men. Oh yeah, who's Old Moreb?"

"He's the head caretaker of all the stables in this inn. Why did you ask?"

"The man mentioned him and said that he will be the one to help him get Thunderbolt."

Vaughn looked at Zenia and did not speak anymore. Old Moreb was not someone who would betray him. Vaughn suddenly realized that he should start re-assessing the loyalty of the people around him.

"I will look into this, thank you for mentioning this to me."

"Hey, we're on the same team. Why don't we give your silver steed a name? How about Quicksilver? It's quick and it's silver!"

"Why don't we just name it Silversteed?"

"What?! It's so boring! I have other names to suggest. Do you want the name Speedysilver? How about Fastsilver, Swiftsilver, or Rapidsilver? "

Vaughn knew that Zenia wouldn't stop.

"Fine, Quicksilver it is!"

* * * * *

After greeting the King and Queen of Tissuria and having breakfast with them in the following morning, Renaria started making preparations for her visit to the Left Minister's estate.

"Are you really, really sure that you don't want me to tag along? The Left Minister could still be in the hospital." Ovid once again asked his wife who looked lovely in her dress.

Somehow, he was reprimanding his daughter in his mind. She had chosen to send one of Renaria's best dresses. He was having second thoughts on whether to let his wife wear a veil or not.

"You should not tag along. Don't worry, I will still wear a veil but not the same type of veil that you gave me yesterday. I already heard last night that the Left Minister already returned to his manor."

In the end, Renaria ordered someone to buy her a simple face veil to wear. The simple face veil had eliminated the dramatic effect of the last veil that Ovid gave her.

"I can stay outside his manor and hide."

"Okay."

Renaria put on the face veil. It hid her face well and did not make her look mysterious at all.

"How do I look?"

Ovid gave her an approving look. "That's fine. Shall we go?"

"Hmm."

The couple went out and boarded their carriage. Some shadow guards followed behind them. Vaughn already instructed his men to look after his in-laws all the time while in Tissuria and keep them safe.

It only took less than an hour to reach the Left Minister's estate. Renaria got down from the carriage, while Ovid stayed inside. He was looking out the window from time and time. He took note of the place and the people that went in and out of the manor.

A servant led Renaria to a garden. The servant gave her tea and some snacks, while another one went to inform the Left Minister.

"Sir, Madam Anisen is here to see you."

The Left minister shivered and asked if Ovid also came with her. The servant assured him that Ovid was not there.

The Left Minister recalled Renaria's appearance during the banquet and liked what he saw. She was indeed a lovely woman who wasted her life on someone like Ovid Anisen.

'He must've threatened her to marry him. Otherwise, why would such a mesmerizing woman become Ovid's wife?'

He ordered the servants to dress him in his fine clothing. He was thinking of impressing Renaria and convincing her to leave Ovid.

"Greetings, Left Minister." Renaria's simple face veil did not impede the Left Minister's thoughts and was still mesmerized by her.

He could not take his eyes off her even though she was wearing a veil. Her demeanor and manner of speaking were enough to captivate anyone. It was no wonder that Ovid did not let her out of the Anisen Manor without him accompanying her. His spies in Ishelon already told him about it a long time ago.

"Have a seat, Madam." The Left Minister flashed a beautiful smile, which Renaria found revolting.

Renaria noticed that a group of women was looking at her. She was guessing that they were the Left Minister's wives and concubines. There was one who seemed around Zenia's age. But, she looked more like a concubine than a daughter of the Left Minister.

Renaria sized up the Left Minister who was still good-looking despite his age. No wonder he was able to attract such a young woman who seemed to blush when the Left Minister looked their way. The Left Minister noticed that Renaria was looking at the bunch of women.

"They are my concubines and wives. I seldom have a guest, and they are just curious." The Left Minister waved his hand and the women quickly dispersed.

"Do you have a daughter Left Minister?"

"I don't have any children, Madam. I have many wives and concubines but none of them bore me a child. I am yet to find someone who can give me one."

'Don't you think you might be infertile?'

Aside from apologizing, Renaria came to spy and know more about the Left Minister's character.

"Why did you want to see me, Madam?"

"I have come here to apologize about what happened last time between you and my husband. He only reacted in such a way that a doting father would do. You should know that Ovid only has me, and the custom of having a wife and concubine must have slipped his mind."

"Do you think that it's unfortunate that your daughter is marrying the Crown Prince? To tell you the truth, a lot of noble families are sending their daughters, nieces, and granddaughters to be the wife or concubine of our prince. It's impossible not to have a few of them. The Crown Prince needs strong allies."

Renaria sipped her tea before saying, "Oh, I agree. Political marriage is indeed a blessed thing. If not, my daughter wouldn't be so fortunate to have a Crown Prince for a husband."

"I'm glad that Madam is not as muddle-headed as her husband."

The Left Minister was obviously trying to anger Renaria, but she was way smarter than him.

"I wouldn't call that being muddle-headed, otherwise, all fathers who dote on their daughters will fall under that category. But I understand why you say it that way."

"What is it that you understand, Madam?"

Renaria sipped her tea once more before answering, "You don't have a daughter, of course, I understand that you don't know what it feels like to have a child, isn't it right?" She smiled at the Left Minister.

"Y-you're absolutely on point. I sometimes wonder why a father spoils his daughter so much that he is willing to take over an entire kingdom when his daughter asks him to."

"Not only an entire kingdom but the whole continent. When a man can do it, whatever his daughter wants he can give it."

"Is Madam implying something?" The Left Minister's initial impression of Renaria was replaced with annoyance.

"I'm not implying something, sir. We are just having casual talks about fathers and their daughters. Currently, you still don't have a daughter, and I can understand that you don't know what it feels like to have a daughter."

The Left Minister was lost for words. Indeed, they were just having a casual talk. Ovid's wife did not look like someone who possessed a scheming mind. In fact, she looked like someone with only a bit of intelligence. In the end, she was nothing but a woman who should follow her husband.

"My apologies, Madam. My head is still hurting from the blow that your husband gave me."

"To appease your anger, please accept my gift to you. These are the finest bolts of silk in Ishelon. I hope the Left Minister will like them." Renaria intentionally made her voice louder to alert the women in the Left Minister's estate.

No one could resist the silk from Ishelon. Sure enough, she heard footsteps going nearer and nearer. Even the Left Minster was surprised at Renaria's generosity. She could see that the Left Minister almost drooled at the sight of the silk.

It was clear that the Left Minister was indeed the one causing trouble, but he was not the brain behind it all. He did not possess such a mind. The Left Minister must've thought that he was totally in control. In actuality, he was nothing but a mere puppet that his unknown puppeteer was able to manipulate.