An uncertain opportunity

Priscilla and her mother occupied the carriage that was going to the famous office of Count Freder, located in the center of the city of Fraxia. However, this was a problem, Priscilla could not allow the carriage to move in that direction and time was running out.

—"What am I going to do? Do I get out of the carriage? Or do I try to persuade the driver?" Priscilla sought options among her thoughts until she finally thought of simply asking Krom for help, who had stopped speaking to her for some time. "Krom, are you there?"

—"What can I do for you, Master?" his voice sounded somewhat sleepy.

—"We are about to reach the office of Count Freder." Priscilla slightly moved one of the curtains that covered the interior of the carriage.

—"Do you have money with you, Master?"

—"Huh? Yes, I have a bit, why do you ask?"

—"How much money do you have?"

—"Let me see... 48 Imperial gold coins."

—"Is that much or little money?"

—"Don't you know that?"

—"It's not like I have all the information in the world, you know? In addition, I did not have the opportunity to gather information because on the day of my arrival I was arrested by his family."

—"I'm sorry about that..." Priscilla felt that somehow she had done something wrong. "To answer your question, a normal worker's salary is ten Imperial gold coins."

—"I see... in other words in your pocket there are approximately five basic remunerations, am I right?"

—"That is correct."

—"Very well, stop the carriage and when the driver approaches offer him 15 gold coins and explain the situation."

—"Don't you think that's a dangerous move?"

—"Indeed it is, but it is also true that you need allies or returning to this city will become impossible. Also, even if the driver is being manipulated by his siblings, it's as simple a matter as killing him."

—"You propose horrible things without even blinking, don't you?"

—"Well, I'm afraid that's how war works and right now you're in the middle of one."

—"In case it turns out to be the worst possible situation, how do you plan to take down that soldier? I remember you said you'd lost your body."

—"Certainly that is the case, but because the specter is still alive inside your mother's body, I can order him to protect you and few normal soldiers can face a specter."

—"That will endanger my mother's life."

—"As long as it is not too much time there will be no problem."

After carefully planning her course of action, Priscilla knocked on the carriage window, telling the driver on duty to stop. As the label dictated, the coachman went down and went to the transponder door to attend to Priscilla's request.

—"Do you need anything, Miss Priscilla?" he asked politely.

Priscilla simply handed 15 gold coins to the coachman, placed them carefully in the coachman's hands, then asked him to enter the carriage.

—"You must be wondering about the reason for such a sudden payment, am I right?"

—"It's as you say, Miss Priscilla."

—"I want you, in exchange for that payment, not to reveal our whereabouts to anyone and let us go down on this site without asking any further questions."

–"But... what about Duchess Lombardi?"

—"It was my brother Augusto who tried to kill us and my father is in a worse condition than my mother, it is even possible that he..." The explanation made Priscilla think about what happened, causing a lump in her throat and discomfort in her chest, even some tears threatened to fall from her eyes when she thought her father might have died.

—"This is terrible, we have to talk to the guard so that Mr.Augusto will be arrested for treason." Seeing the genuine anger on the coachman's face, Priscilla sighed with relief and continued her explanation.

—"I am afraid that much of the servitude is on my brother's side and it is not convenient for our family to be weak, not when the Lord of the neighboring territory has indicated that he wants our territory."

—"In that case, what should we do?"

—"I promise to reward you properly if you can gather all the people who are loyal to my father and inform them that we will need their strength for when he returns." Priscilla paused briefly to verify that the man understood what she was saying. "Now I will look for an acquaintance who can help us with this problem and when I return I will make sure that Augusto pays for what he has done."

—"I understand, when do you plan to return?"

—"I plan to return in a maximum period of 10 days and if all goes well, wait for me at the highest tree at the south entrance of the city at dusk of the tenth day from now on."

—"Understood."

—"We'll stay in that hotel over there. I need you to tell the guards that we will use the bathroom in that hotel momentarily, then you will pretend that we entered the carriage and you will advance to Count Freder's office."

—"Wait, what if I get caught?"

—"Just pretend we've been kidnapped or something."

—"I will do my best."

—"Thank you."

As they had planned after advancing a few meters, the carriage stopped in front of a rather ostentatious hotel and Priscilla got out of the carriage resting her mother's body on her shoulder with the help of the coachman, then the three went to the entrance of the hotel.

—"Let us accompany you, my lady." One of the escorts of the carriage offered his protection.

—"That won't be necessary, we won't be long, why don't you buy some drinks in the time it takes to get out?"

Priscilla gave two gold coins to the soldier to buy drinks for all her companions while they prepared everything inside the hotel.

—"But that is inappropriate..."

—"I tell you it's okay, just accept this gratitude for protecting us, okay? Ah, by the way, don't forget to buy one for the coachman." Priscilla only said that to force the guard to buy drinks for everyone, as there was a chance she would just wait at the door and save the money for later.

As Priscilla had ordered, the soldiers turned to a street vendor who was near the place to buy the drinks that their patron had offered them with goodwill.

After few minutes, the coachman went out with the two women, but on this occasion, their clothes had changed and the women were wearing white robes that covered their bodies, as before, the hooded woman who presumably was Priscilla, carried her mother, helped by the coachman.

Once the girls got into the carriage, the coachman advanced as if nothing had happened.

—"Why did the Ladies change their clothes?" asked one of the guards.

—"Lady Mirelia vomited on entering the establishment and her clothes ended up stained, so we asked the manager for some temporary clothes."

—"The lady must feel really bad..."

—"Yes, that's the case," said the coachman.

After a further time later, another of the guards approached the coachman, the guard seemed somewhat cautious, as he looked at his surroundings to make sure his companions were not too close to him.

—"Did they really change their clothes?" I ask with an almost whispering tone.

—"No, they simply hired some worthless maids to take his place temporarily. Right now they're hiding in that hotel, which makes it easier for us to kill them."

—"I see, now we just have to warn the Lord and plan a murder in that establishment."

—"Lord Augusto will certainly be pleased."

—"You look pretty happy."

—"Well, I earned an additional payment for escorting them to that hotel and I even know the room they will stay in. Although I must say, I never thought that woman could really plan something like this..."

—"What do you mean?"

—"How should I say this? I thought she was much more stupid."

—"Hahaha! In fact, she is as stupid as rumors say."

—"Why do you say that?"

—"Telling an unknown coachman your plan is a pretty stupid action in itself."

—"Now that you say it, you're right. I suppose Lord Augusto is right and that woman is better off dead."

—"I'm retiring, we better stop talking before someone hears us. It would be problematic if any of the guards of Duke Brohm's faction were to hear us out."

—"Well, after tonight, those smug guards will have to kiss the ground we walk on, hahaha." The coachman said goodbye to the guard who had approached him and the guard returned to his proper position.

As the carriage continued on its way to Count Freder's office to maintain the farce that had been staged without warning, Priscilla left the hotel accompanied by her mother, both wore much less ostentatious clothing, as Priscilla bought some clothes from the maids she had temporarily hired to take her place inside the carriage.

Mirelia, who was previously unconscious, could walk because the Korm's specter controlled her body, although her way of walking was not very graceful, she was still very helpful to be able to mobilize.

—"You broke your promise." Priscilla complained as she made a nice pout.

—"Would you have preferred to carry your mother's body, Master?"

—"Ugh..." Priscilla was momentarily speechless. "I have to admit it's very convenient, but I don't like my mother's body being controlled by that thing."

—"I regret that you must go through this, Master." Krom apologized with a sincere tone.

—"Huh? I'm-I'm not blaming you... It's just this situation that makes me a little uncomfortable, that's all."

—"I am deeply happy to receive your forgiveness, Master."

—"Now what should we do?"

—"Well, we could buy clothes from that beggar over there." Krom was talking about a beggar lying inside an alley.

—"Yes, that sounds like a good idea... Wait! What did you just say?!"

—"That we buy clothes from that beggar."

—"No, no, no, you got to be kidding me?!"

—"I do not, it will be easier to pass control of the city if you dress that way, Master."

—"But those clothes must smell very bad."

—"Look on the bright side, with that pay, that beggar will be able to buy a soap, plus the bad smell will only make your alibi more convincing."

—"... you are... you are... you are a..."

—"A?"

—"Pickle!"

—"Huh? Is that one of those modern insults?"

Priscilla was still pouting, she was pretty upset about what she had to go through because of Krom, and on top of that, he was still teasing her. Unfortunately, the insults were not her strong point and although she wanted to say a few things to Krom, she preferred not to do so and to prepare her heart to wear the clothes of a beggar.

—"Forget it, let's just make this quick, will you?"

—"You accepted it very easily, Master."

—"I had prepared mentally for this kind of strange circumstance." Priscilla said that as she shrugged. "How much should we pay him for those clothes?"

—"I think about ten gold coins should be fine."

—"What?! So much? For those old smelly clothes?"

—"Consider it an investment for the future, Master."

—"What do you mean?"

—"Well, people who fall into begging usually have some particular circumstance that prevents them from progressing. That said, do you know what a human being needs to prove his true potential?"

—"Willpower?" Priscilla responded tentatively.

—"A chance."

—"I don't understand... Why a chance?"

—"Whether you're a genius or a teacher doing something, it's no use if no one gives you a chance to use your talent. However, people are capable of incredible things when there is someone willing to believe in them."

—"What do you have in mind?"

—"Along with that pay we will give him a job and see the result."

—"What if he does nothing?"

—"Well, not all investments turn out, but I think the probability is low."

—"If you say so..."

—"Well, time to show your talent to be a true leader, Master."

—"Won't you help me?"

—"I can make a suggestion, but it must be you who wins the favor of that beggar."

—"Tell me, what kind of suggestion?"

—"First find out the circumstances of that man and then offer him a solution."

—"Huh? Is that it?"

—"Well, the solution to most problems is always simple. However, we are the intelligent beings who complicate things, so it should be enough just to talk to him and offer him a new way that has not been raised up so far."

—"You make it sound too simple..."

—"Don't worry, the worst thing that can happen is that I reject her, besides, wasn't it you who said I should stop being so evil? I am afraid I cannot understand that statement unless you show me a completely different way; a way that produces exactly the same result without using my methods."

—"I will try."

In one of the alleys of the city of Fraxia, next to the back door of a restaurant, a beggar rested who took advantage of the leftovers that were thrown away every day, searching in the garbage of that place.

In one of the alleys of the city of Fraxia, next to the back door of a restaurant, there rested a beggar who spent his days taking advantage of the leftovers that were thrown away daily in that restaurant, rummaging through the garbage regularly in search of something to eat.

It certainly he wasn't having a very glamorous life, but it had no other way to survive. In exchange for occasional beatings by the workers of that establishment, who used the beggar as a sack of sand to relieve their stress, he was allowed to stay in that place without too many complaints about it.

So they spent their days until in an unexpected sunset appeared a beautiful girl with beautiful blue hair, the girl in question had large and bright eyes that emanated an indescribable tenderness in them. While true, her figure was not particularly impressive, she was still a beauty with long eyelashes and fleshy lips with a dull salmon hue.

As for her clothes, she wore a pretty brown dress, very characteristic of a girl who works regularly in a restaurant or commercial premises. In short, she was a girl who apparently had a humble background, if one judged only her appearance.

—"A new employee of the restaurant?" He thought as he admired the incomparable beauty of the young woman.

The young woman seemed a little nervous, even seemed a little delirious, since occasionally she seemed to speak alone for some reason that the beggar did not know, she even seemed upset, but she soon returned to a calmer state of mind.

After observing her for a few minutes, the young woman seemed to calm down and turned her gaze toward the beggar, she stared at him as if she had found something very interesting in him.

—"What's wrong with that girl? She's been walking around from side to side and suddenly she's looking at me like I have something that belongs to her..." Why would a beautiful girl like that bother turning her eyes in his direction? Normally that would not be unusual, the problem was that his eyes showed no contempt. "It could be that that girl has fallen in love with me..." For a second his heart beat strongly. "No." He rebuked himself. "He probably lost something in this place and he wants to question me about it... Yeah, that must be the problem."

The girl walked through the alley to a place near the beggar and with a warm smile on her beautiful face said:

—"Good afternoon, sir."

—"Sir? Does this woman have a problem with her vision? Don't try to patronize me, woman." He thought annoyingly. "Good afternoon." He replied.

—"I was passing by this place and I couldn't help but notice that you were here."

—"What do you mean with: I couldn't help but notice? You've been standing there raving for a while and you're giving me that cheap story." He thought again, as his suspicions increased. "Did he lose anything in this alley?" He asked in a dubious voice as he rummaged through the inside of his nose.

—"Not really, I just wanted to know: Why has a person like you ended up in this situation?" the girl asked.

—"What do you mean, a person like you. Is this conceited woman looking down on me?" Those thoughts never left his mind, he could not afford to make a fuss or there was a chance that he would be thrown out of the place that he had found so hard. "Who are you?" he asked.

—"Oh, what bad manners mine., let me introduce myself." The girl bowed gracefully as she slightly lifted her skirt. "My name is..." Before answering a little doubt stopped her. "Is it okay to say my name?" she asked inside her mind, but there was no answer.

—"Is something wrong with your name?" the beggar questioned.

—"No, my name is Priscilla Lombardi."

—"Oh what is the city lord's favorite daughter doing in an alley like this?" he asked with a mocking tone.

—"Huh? Do you know me?"

—"To be honest, I have heard of the Lombardi family on numerous occasions."

—"I see, that is very helpful. In that case, I would like to ask you to tell me why you have fallen into begging."

—"Why do you want to know something like that? Besides, this situation is quite suspicious in many ways."

—"Suspect? No, I really want to know..."

—"Just tell me the real reason you came to me."

—"B-Well I... I want to buy your clothes."

—"My clothes? Why would someone like you want to do something like that?"

—"I really need your clothes."

—"In that case, I will sell my clothes to you for fifty pieces of imperial gold, what do you say?"

—"What?! So expensive? Why would I sell those clothes at that price?"

—"I fear these garments belonged to my father, that is why I never take them off and you are asking me to sell you my most precious possession."

—"Even if that's the case, I don't have that much money right now."

—"Oh, in that case, how much money do you have?" Priscilla had a bad feeling when the beggar asked that question.

—"Krom, I need your help." She called the other consciousness that inhabited his body.

—"What is it, Master?"

—"This is not going as I thought..."

—"I could help you if you let me take control of your body for a few minutes."

Something was wrong, until that moment Krom had only asked him to repeat what he was saying, but now it was completely different, he was asking her to literally cede control of her body.

—"I can't do that."

—"I see, in that case, I cannot help you, Master."

—"You planned this from the beginning, didn't you? What you wanted from the beginning was for me to let you possess my body." Priscilla believed she knew Krom well enough to know that her manipulations would always lead events in the direction he wanted.

—"Maybe or maybe not. Anyway, in the end, it comes down to whether you trust me or not."

—"I can't trust someone as evil and manipulative as you."

—"I see, in that case, I will continue sleeping until you call me again, Master"

—"Wait! Won't you get angry? Or will you try to take my body by force?"

—"Why would I do something like that? I will not do any of that, I will just observe and act if I consider it to be in real danger."

—"You speak as if you could take control of my body whenever you wished..."

It was at that time that Priscilla remembered what had happened in the prison of her mansion and this was probably no different. When Krom was her prisoner, he always had the ability to escape from his cell whenever he wanted. However, he always asked permission to do anything.

—"I understand Krom, you can take my body if you like."

—"Oh, that is a very bold proposal, Master."

—"Daring?" Priscilla seemed confused until she seemed to notice something and her cheeks automatically took on a bright red hue. "I don't mean that, idiot!"

—"Hahaha, I'm just joking, Master." It was very strange to see Krom making jokes, so Priscilla was a little confused. "I understand; this won't take long."

While that little conversation was taking place, for the beggar it only seemed that the girl in front of him had gone completely blank. However, the moment the girl came to her senses, she felt a strong chill running down her back.

The sweet look of the girl had vanished and such a look had become a completely different look.

The girl had cold and piercing eyes; her eyes looking at him as if he were nothing more than a sack of garbage, then the corners of her lips were distorted into a slight smile.

—"Why I must treat you badly so that you understand? Are words not enough?"

Seeing the drastic change in the girl's attitude, the confused beggar began to fear what would happen next.