'You mentioned the empress just now'

It was still dark out when Alexander opened his eyes after hearing consecutive knocks on his door. Instinctively, he reached for his sword leaning on his bedside table. He didn't even bother to wear his robe when he walked to his door.

Just as he was about to put his hand on the knob, a deep voice from behind the door made his brow arch.

"I'm very sorry, your grace." An apologetic Jyver faced Alexander, and beside him, running his eyes from the tip of the duke's hair to his bare chest, down to his toes was Reignold. He must've used his connections to get into the palace gates at this hour. His eyes turned to his shadow knight—'maybe it was Jyver,' he thought.

"Good morning, your grace," Reignold had both his hands at the back as he greeted him with a proud stance. "Shall we get going?" he asked as if he would go outside, in, what, three or four after midnight, topless, and in this kind of season?

"It's still dark out," Alexander said.

"I don't see a difference whether the sun's out or not. Interrogation is interrogation."

The duke took a deep breath. He opened his door and gestured for the Felfords head to come and wait for him to get dressed.

"You've been busy," Reignold noted when he saw the pile of papers on Alexander's desk.

"There's a lot of things I need to be ready for. I'm sure Amelia's just as busy as I am," the duke answered as he vanished behind the divider in his room to change.

"It's slightly chaotic in Osmea lately, but, right… you're probably not aware of the latest happenings yet as you said you just got back from sea." Alexander heard Reignold sat down.

"That's what I've been meaning to ask you yesterday, but I couldn't say it in time."

"For one, she said she wouldn't allow Vance to leave Osmea anymore and wouldn't talk to him about it. She's been distant from him lately as per our dear friend's story…" there was a short pause to bait the duke and he caught it.

"Why am I sensing that you want me to talk to Amelia about this and know what really happened?"

"Your words, not mine." Reignold shrugged his shoulders.

Alexander sighed. He should have waited even if the silence were getting colder and unbearable, then maybe, Reignold would ask him a favor for once.

No words were exchanged after that. Taking his sword belt from Jyver, he attached his sword to it and then grabbed his cloak laid on his bed. When they were by the stairs to the back door leading to the Ouklen Forest, his shadow knight and Reignold pulled their hoods over their heads. They both wore black cloaks that fluttered when the wind hit them as they walked.

After some time, the sunrays were starting to peek. At the entrance of Cli, two soldiers greeted them, and many more when they walked through the hallway. The gardener was on the top floor at the far end of the hall with a small window overlooking the deadly cliffs.

"Wake up!" Jyver banged the door which rattled the chains inside and the prisoner jolted from his bed of hay to the corner of the room. "You have a visitor," the knight said in an authoritative tone.

"Do you have a name, boy?" Reignold crouched down to he's at eye-level with the gardener. "You seem like to be around the same age as my granddaughter," he added.

"Wh-wha-what do y-yo-yo-you want with m-m-me?" he stuttered.

"Your name?" the old man repeated, and when the boy just stared at him, Jyver raised his hand which made the gardener curl himself even more, hiding his head but Reignold raised his hand to stop Alexander's knight.

"Wha-what's the use? I-I'm go-going to d-d-die anyway," the boy whispered and Reignold stood up. Grunting and complaining about how his knees hurt when he stands.

"Release him. He doesn't know anything."

"What?" Alexander sharply turned his head, scurrying to follow behind the Felfords head who already turned his back. "Hey, what do you mean release him?"

"He has clearly given up on life."

"That doesn't mean he's not involved." Alexander managed to grab Reignold's arm. "You only asked for his name, and he didn't even answer you."

"Can't you see the confusion and the hopelessness in his eyes, boy?" When the duke didn't answer, he continued, "You suspect him of being the one who was in direct contact with whoever plotted this whole thing just because of a letter you found in his home."

'In his eyes?' Alexander wanted to repeat. How could Reignold say that? The boy can barely open his eyes from crying day in and day out.

It's true that his gardener is young, and the only proof they have of his alleged contribution was the letter.

"Was it Jyver who caught the lad?" Reignold stopped when they were at least halfway through the Ouklen forest.

"Who? The gardener?" Alexander looked back to see Jyver following at a distance behind them. "No, it was Barrett. Commander of my Shadow Knights. Why?"

"Because if it were him, he wouldn't bring you that boy. If he did, then he'd have to do some retraining. People who are involved in these kinds of plotting demand more in return. Money, a new house, a new life elsewhere, some even a title. You found his family in a shabby, rundown place with only high-quality paper to trade for food. You were poisoned months ago. If he were directly involved as you lot think, would you still find his family where you found them? Don't you think he'd be off somewhere with a proper roof over their heads?"

Well, that's true. Alexander was too preoccupied these days that he didn't even think that far.

He let out a sigh. Is this another missed hit? He should be used to it by now, but he was sure of it this time.

"How about the maid and the boy that your two lovely grandchildren were so fond of?" The duke sounded sarcastic.

"I encourage everyone in the clan to develop their instincts when it comes to these things. And my grandchildren, young as they may seem, have a knack for it just like I do. They're very observant to a fault and the reason I am here, and why Vance has been lax about you thus far. If you had any ill intentions towards Lia, you wouldn't be able to breathe the same air as our duchess as long as we're around."

Alexander discreetly gulped and nodded. While giving an explanation, Reignold slipped in a warning and a threat in the same paragraph. He's grateful for the trust but that alone seems like a boulder of pressure on his shoulders.

When they got back to his palace, the servants greeted them and assisted them to the dining hall where Symon was waiting. Shortly after they were settled, breakfast was brought out. Since they looked like they have a lot to talk about, Symon and Jyver excused themselves; even the servants were told to stay out.

"So, why are you really staying at the border?" Alexander asked first.

"You really haven't heard? Amelia dismissed three of her Council Members and installed two in exchange. Lewis as a Guardian and Lycken for Master of Trades."

"Mr. Beauchant, the jeweler?" Reignold nodded.

"He didn't want to accept at first, but I think he penned Amelia a letter accepting the position about two days ago. Personally, I think Lycken is the best candidate. He's a fair and well-liked man both in Osmea and in Toutis where he came from originally."

Alexander ate in silence. No wonder Madame Norrine said she'll have to review Count Brant's business proposal last meeting with the Elders. But just as Alexander was busy pondering his thoughts on the reason Madame Norrine reconsidered and why Brant was dismissed from Amelia's council something caught his attention.

"You mentioned the empress just now?" Alexander asked when he heard Reignold murmur the empress' name under his breath. He's got pretty good ears so he's sure that he mentioned it, though Reignold feigned innocence and said that maybe Alexander's just hearing things.

Empress Olivia Rosenburg is from a Marquess family in the Capital who gained their power when she married Augustine. Her father was the emperor's supporter since he was just a prince and the two are what you would call childhood friends. But a few years back, an accident occurred when the empress was on her way to the Summer Palace on the outskirts of the Capital near Bruiles leading to her losing the functions of her legs. Since then, she's been going less and less to social functions and then nowadays, she rarely even hosts balls anymore. She's not the friendliest of empresses but before, it was good to get on her good side. Now, she doesn't involve herself with politics that much, though Alexander believes she still has some say behind closed doors.

Alexander glanced at Reignold. Why would the empress' name come up at this time? What does she have to do with the current situation in Osmea? He doesn't seem to connect the empress to the duchess' council.

"Was the former duke and the empress particularly close when they were younger?" Alexander asked out of the blue.

"Huh? Why'd you say that?" was the answer and based on how Reignold sounded, what he said wasn't true.

So, what's the connection?