Where to?

The group gathered in the large mansion-like safehouse. The interior was as spacious as the palace, making the sound of footsteps echo throughout the halls. Carlos and the rest lounged in the living room with the sun shining through the gigantic lined up windows. Above them were chandeliers lighting up the whole room leaving no room for shadows in every nook and cranny. The walls were decorated with paintings, curtains, ornaments and such, while the floor was covered with royal purple carpet. Busily, the purple maids engaged with them, serving them food and waiting for their orders.

Golden Dragonfly arrogantly sat on the couch comfortably, eyeing Priscilla up and down. "So Carlos, how'd you do it?" she blabbered.

Priscilla, who was sitting on an arm chair with her arms and legs crossed, sneered at the leader without hiding her anger. "Cut the shit, bitch. Let's get straight to the point."

"Heyyyy!" Dragonfly grouched. "Ugh, oh well, at least this one's a lil tame. Do we get to kill her after getting the info?"

"Oh, fuck you." 

Carlos, standing beside Priscilla, alleviates the argument. "Everyone, please. Calm down and listen to her." Having saved by the prince himself, Priscilla sticks her tongue out and mocked the Pugilist Leader.

"So, uhm, Priscilla? Do you mind telling us where the Red Courtyard is?" Carlos asked.

"Sure, it's right under the palace." Priscilla replies directly.

"Uh... where... exactly?"

"The palace, you know, the large building right in the center of the kingdom? THE palace of the Queen? The now called Asperity Palace?"

"Oh my god! Really?" Dragonfly says sarcastically.

"Yeah, in fact, the Red Courtyard is so big, it's literally right under us."

"Wait, for real?" Dragonfly became genuinely curious.

"Guys, we've been here for like, hundreds of years. A demonic civilization is thriving under the kingdom. The minions? Yes, they're easy to find all over cities, but the real members are living underground."

"Holy shit." Dragonfly says while being genuinely amazed.

"Uh, you're welcome?" Priscilla replies sarcastically.

Unconvinced by her words, Fauna inserts herself and refutes her. "How can you prove that it is true?" she said. "Our surveyors has long spied on the Asperities for years, they have not found an evidence of the Red Courtyard's existence."

"That's because you all thought we're all here on the surface." Priscilla nervelessly answered. "You think as if we're all stuffed inside the palace or hide in disgusting human homes. Haven't you once thought of digging?"

"We did investigate underground entrances, but it always led to dead ends."

"Two possibilities. Your surveyors either got killed, or they couldn't get past by Lucius' cunning contraptions. Ever heard of him? He's the wisest among the Asperities, that's why he's on top. Unlike that dumbass superior bastard."

While Fauna was deep in her thoughts, Golden Dragonfly immediately protested once she heard Priscilla's insults. "Hey, you better watch your mouth bitch."

Stopping the two from brawling again, Carlos uttered: "Then, Priscilla... Will you lead us to the Red Courtyard?"

"With pleasure. We can even go right now."

"Hold it right there." Dragonfly still seemed uncertain with what's going on. "Carlos, how do we know we can trust her?"

Priscilla then rebutted her with pointlessness. "Oh, don't worry. We've known each other since we were kids, there's nothing I wouldn't do for my childhood friend." Clearly knowing it was all for show, Carlos felt embarrassed after hearing such, yet smiled through it.

"I don't buy it." Dragonfly was unmoved. "But since it's his idea to ask your help, I'll let it slide for now."

"Sure."

"However, if I sense even a little bit of something off from you, I'm gonna make you pay, especially after all the shit you've done."

"No problem."

"Hmph. I've got my eyes on you, Triumvirate Fiend."

The two finally stopped arguing.

"Three days." Fauna suddenly spoke. "In three days, lead us to an alternate entrance to the Red Courtyard."

"Pretty easy, we have a gate to the courtyard right here in Iyesgarth."

"Good, that's all you need to do. I'll have to inform the Superior Leader-"

"No!" Carlos cuts Fauna off. Nervously then, he explained. "No, we... we don't need... I mean, I'll... I'll inform them myself. It's faster that way."

"Understood. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an important matter to attend to."

After discussing with them, Fauna hurriedly exits. Dragonfly, who was not having it with Priscilla, decides to follow her despite not being busy. "I'll just go outside. But, as for you two, you stay here in the safehouse and don't do anything suspicious. Toodles!" Dragonfly rushed to the front door and left.

Once the leaders exited, so did the maids, who all seemed to be trying to avoid the fiend.

"Ugh. They're such a fucking hassle to deal with." Priscilla grumbled. "I can't believe you like hanging out with them."

Carlos was only silent.

"So what now?"

"Let's just wait here for a while."

"You want me to be stuck here with you for three days? Hell no." Priscilla's expression turned sour. "That's not part of the deal. Our deal was for me to lead your little gang of dumbasses to the Red Courtyard, that's it."

"Yes, but, you musn't do anything that might harm you."

"What, you're scared the Cardinal Manors will kill me?"

"Well..." Carlos hesitated to answer.

"Say it, you're scared of them too, aren't you?"

"No... they're the ones who saved me."

"Then why are you so cautious around them? You don't trust them, that's why. Even if they present themselves as people who wants to save the kingdom, they're still a bunch of murderers."

"Priscilla, I've only met them for a few days, we don't know them yet."

"Tch, you're just looking for excuses. Anyway, you better find a way for me to go outside because I'm not staying here for three days. Got it?"

"I'll... try..."

"Okay, get out of my sight now. My head hurts like hell."

Assenting to her request, he left her side and walked away. The maid who was stationed beside the stairs, delightfully waited for him and greeted the prince as he approached. "Hello there, Your Majesty. You must be exhausted, let me accompany you." 

Carlos smiled but kindly declined her offer. "It's alright, I'll just..."

"Madame Fauna told us to prepare you a room, simply go straight once you go upstairs and open the door next to the window. We made snacks for you too, it's on your table."

"Oh, thank you."

"You're welcome."

Carlos bowed in gratitude before climbing the stairs.

"Servants of the Iyesgarth safehouse." A faint sound echoed in the ears of the maids and the servants all over the safehouse, making them pause their duties for a while. "I have a request for you to fulfill. Keep that fiend in her place. Protect the prince, don't let that fiend lay a finger on him."

"As you wish, leader." the maid heeded the order, brandishing her purple blade.