After a ticulous search of the palace’s east wing, the Knights of Gerhard found no trace of anything peculiar.
Satisfied with their investigation, they gathered their findings and swiftly made their way to Kyren to report their results. With their duty fulfilled, they excused themselves and returned to the mansion while Eric, the second-in-command, went to Beatrice’s gentry house.
Several days passed in relative tranquillity.
With the delegations from the neighbouring kingdoms having patiently waited for a decision, the King of Cassian convened an urgent eting with his esteed royal council mbers during the weekend as the pressing matter of the raised alliance demanded their imdiate attention.
Gathered in the grand council chamber, the king and his ministers engaged in a thorough discussion. Each council mber brought forth their wisdom and expertise, presenting their perspectives on the alliance proposal. The deliberations were ticulous, as they scrutinised every aspect and potential outco.
Hours passed, and the eting continued for the next two days. The weight of responsibility was evident on their faces until a consensus began to erge.
Through careful consideration and respectful dialogue, the king and his ministers found common ground and agreed to proceed with the alliance.
Brone’s face lit up with uncontainable joy as he received the long-awaited answer from the king. His smile remained steadfast, reflecting his delight as his plan went smoothly.
Following their audience with the king, he and his n were graciously invited to the royal dinner with the king and his ministers on Monday night, which was to celebrate their newfound alliance.
Imbued with a sense of accomplishnt, the Bargesian leader and his companions went to an inn in the vibrant city centre, eager to continue their celebrations after the al.
In a display of exuberance, Brone tossed a generous sum of money onto the table, enticing the innkeeper to provide them with nothing but the finest treatnt.
Initially, the innkeeper hesitated, mindful of the bookings made by custors coming for the proclamation celebration on Tuesday.
However, the weight of the coins offered by the Bargesian leader blinded him to any reservations, and he swiftly acquiesced to their requests.
Within the walls of the inn, the atmosphere brimd with happiness. Yet, a tinge of disappointnt lingered as the absence of won in the celebration was keenly felt.
Cassian’s strict laws prohibited pr*stitution within the kingdom, leaving Brone and his n to make do with alternative ans of enjoynt. Understanding the limitations, the Bargesian leader urged his n to be content with what was available and cautioned them against causing any trouble.
Food and drink flowed abundantly, satisfying the palates of the celebratory company. Laughter and rrint filled the air as the Bargesian n revelled in their triumph and the promising future ahead.
Their private space within the inn shielded them from prying eyes, and the attentive innkeeper and servants discreetly attended to their needs, appearing promptly when called upon.
"My lord, congratulations!" Mikhal exclaid, lifting his mug high in the air. The other n, caught up in the excitent, eagerly followed suit and shouted, "Hurrah!"
Derek, more reserved in nature, raised his drink slowly without uttering a word. However, his subtle nod acknowledged Brone’s initial victory. The Bargesians wasted no ti and eagerly gulped down their liquor while the mage among them sipped subtly, preserving his composure.
One of Brone’s n couldn’t contain his curiosity and spoke up, "My lord, may I inquire about your ntion of King Ronan’s offer to sponsor talented individuals from Cassian to study in Engarth? It wasn’t part of our original plan, was it?"
Brone’s smile widened, revealing a glimr of shrewdness in his eyes.
"You must use your head a bit," he replied, his voice laced with a touch of amusent. "By ntioning this offer, we create an illusion. The King of Cassian won’t imdiately send those individuals, and if he does, they will surely be escorted. When we execute our plan to kidnap them, it will appear as if soone is attempting to sabotage the alliance. This diversion will prevent us from being suspected, as we already position ourselves as the ones providing them with the promised benefits."
A sense of admiration and understanding spread among his n as Brone revealed his strategic thinking. They recognised the intricate web of deception he had masterfully woven, ensuring their cunning actions would remain shrouded in ambiguity.
"Ah... That was truly a stroke of brilliance, my lord!" exclaid another one of Brone’s n.
With their glasses raised again, the n toasted to Brone’s astuteness, their voices filled with renewed excitent and anticipation.
"Are we planning to capture all of the experts?" Mikhal inquired, his voice tinged with curiosity.
The Bargesian leader paused, his gaze fixated on the space before him as he delved into deep contemplation. After a mont of reflection, he reached a resolute decision.
"We’ve co too far to settle for anything less. We shall capture them all, including the concubine," Brone declared with conviction.
His n’s eyes widened in surprise upon hearing his words. The inclusion of the concubine in their plan was unexpected, and they recognised the potential risks and attention it might attract.
"But, my lord, that concubine... won’t her presence draw unwanted attention?" voiced the concerned assistant. "Rember the incident with the grand duke’s knights? rely joking about her provoked their aggression towards ."
A sinister grin spread across Brone’s face as he responded, his voice laced with a mix of desire and determination, "That is precisely why I desire her even more. As the news stated, she possesses unparalleled proficiency in the Ro’an language, surpassing even the chief scholar."
A murmur of acknowledgent rippled through the group, their understanding of Brone’s motivations beginning to take shape. However, one of Brone’s n, who had initially brought the rumours to his attention, voiced a note of caution.
"But kidnapping her... it will be no easy feat, my lord. I’ve heard that the grand duke is utterly infatuated with her," warned Brone’s subordinate.
Brone’s eyes glead with a predatory glint, undeterred by the challenges ahead. The allure of capturing such a coveted prize only fueled his determination, and he relished the thought of outmanoeuvring the grand duke.
"Indeed, it shall be difficult," Brone acknowledged, his voice carrying a hint of excitent. "But the greater the challenge, the sweeter the victory."
"It is indeed intriguing that a slave possesses such an exceptional talent for language," Derek interjected, his lips wiped clean with his sleeve after the drink. He had been privy to the gossip circulating among the n and even the palace servants, which had piqued his interest.
"The palace servants ntioned that her grandfather was a scholar in Engarth," one of Brone’s n added, shedding further light on the said woman’s background.
Derek’s voice carried a hint of suspicion as he voiced his thoughts. "Perhaps he was one of the n you’ve slaughtered," he guessed as he spoke to the Bargesian leader.
Brone shrugged dismissively, an air of indifference surrounding him.
"It may be so, or it may not. Who cares," he replied nonchalantly.
Amidst the conversation, Brone’s assistant chid in with a smirk on his face.
"That slave woman must be bending over backwards to satisfy the grand duke’s desires and gain his favour," he remarked, his statent punctuated by laughter from the n.
The room filled with a mix of amusent and derision as the n revelled in their crude humour. The assistant’s words insinuated that the concubine knew her place and how to behave like a subservient slave, further accentuating the power dynamics at play.
"We shall round her up and savour her once she is in our custody. I’ve heard she possesses such a unique charm and beauty," Brone exclaid, his finger tracing his lower lip in anticipation.
His words ignited a fire within his n, their eyes ablaze with excitent. The prospect of possessing such a prized captive filled them with a heady mix of desire and anticipation.
Derek, the voice of caution, interjected with a stern warning. "If you insist on kidnapping her, I agree, but refrain from laying a hand on her until our mission is accomplished. We must ensure the formula’s success before indulging in personal desires."
Brone scoffed, his arrogance evident.
"I am well aware of what must be done! There is no need for you to lecture ," he retorted, countering the mage’s admonition.
Then, turning his attention back to his n, he declared, "We shall devise a plan to abduct and bring her back to Ardel alongside the other experts!"
His words sparked a chorus of cheers and raised mugs as the n once again celebrated, their drinks held high in the air. The night was destined to be filled with revelry, a testant to their shared ambition and the grandeur of their plans.
Unbeknownst to them, the path they treaded would soon beco a treacherous journey fraught with unforeseen challenges and dire consequences.
Little did they anticipate that their plans would soon encounter a formidable obstacle, for another protector of the princess was on the verge of making his entrance.
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