Chapter 81: Crimson Envelope
Ison Vis was standing in front of the mirror, running a hand through his grey vest. He reached out his other arm to the side, not leaving his attention away from his reflection.
One of his attendants immediately took a step forward and passed him a tuxedo jacket.
He wore one sleeve to another, clasping one of the buttons. He relaxed his shoulders, tucking his matching tie, cuffing his sleeves. "This."
The two attendants behind him straightened their back--- as if jolted by an invisible force.
Ison Vis placed his right hand on his stomach, running his hand on the small crease on the hem of his jacket. "Who ironed this?" his brows furrowed.
The female attendant pushed her fellow attendant on his back, forcing him to propel forward.
The male attendant gulped. "There must be a mix up," he walked closer towards the duke and placed his eyes on the cloth--- he could not see anything wrong with it. "This must have been on the reject pile." He zoomed in closer, his nose almost touching the fabric. Finally, he saw the small crease near a button, it was barely noticeable.
"Get me the right one." Ison Vis spread his arms open as the two attendants rushed towards him to peel it off him.
The female attendant rushed to the corner of the room, towards a rack with five back up tree-piece suit. She grabbed the spare deep blue tuxedo jacket by the hanger, keeping a distance away from it, making sure not to touch the fabric itself.
The room turned into silence once more as Ison Vis observes his side profile through the mirror.
Ison Vis pivoted around and rushed towards the door, exiting the room, closing it behind him.
The two attendants slumped their shoulders in relief.
***
"Did the goods arrive safety?" Ison Vis was tugging his favorite crimson tie.
"Yes, everything's in order, sir." The attendant replied as he attempts to cope up with Ison Vis' long strides.
"Let me see them before they get repackaged." Ison Vis pivoted around and walked towards his private wing.
"Good morning, Duke." There were dozens of attendants on the hallway, some dragging carts of boxes, and some were carrying packages. "Good morning, Duke." They greeted.
Ison Vis headed straight, he did not even bother to acknowledge those who greeted him. There would be an assembly tomorrow and the most important job was in his hands--- to inspect quality.
The members pay a lot for this, there should not be any deformed goods.
If the Queen holds the power of the water of the Gods, Ison Vis holds the power of commerce. Ison Vis, is no question, the most successful royal in the palace. Some would wonder, how could an immortal want too much of money when he has all the time in the world.
The two attendants who were guarding a door opened it as soon as they saw Ison Vis.
Ison Vis was unperturbed by the cold smoke that engulfed him as he entered the room. He walked straight into the center where piles of blue boxes were waiting. He circled around them. "This," he pointed to one of the open boxes. "this…and" his attendants worked into action and grabbed the boxes he pointed out. "This."
It was not easy especially when they have not eaten yet, the attendant's hands were shaking from picking up the rejected goods, using all their will not to bare their teeth on the items. Excitement was also the reason the attendants were trying their best to be professionals at their work. But deep in their thoughts, they were hoping for more rejected items to they could throw it away--- straight to their stomachs.
"Where are the special ones?" Ison Vis asked.
"It's here." The attendant pointed at the other room with a red cloth covering the entrance. Ison Vis entered with a purpose. Inside the room were piles of wooden caskets. "Give them a better package." Ison Vis ran a hand though one of the rough caskets. "We can ask for a better price if it can be painted with black."
"Are you done with what I requested?" Ison Vis asked.
"Yes," The attendant fished an envelope out of his pocket. "Here." It read 'For Duchess Zenalda Chienne ' at the back.
Ison Vis took the envelope and slid the card inside it and read. "Good, make sure to deliver it to her." It was an invitation for the Duchess to attend the gathering for tomorrow as a VIP member.
"But…" the attendant hesitated to say what on his mind.
"But?"
"But the Duchess is in the dungeon, she…she won't be able to attend."
Ison Vis tugged his tie and pivoted around. "Precisely." He exited the storage, satisfied with his inspection.
***
"Do you crave for something lately?" Cliff asked his daughter.
"Hmm, nothing in particular but…" Kiva bit her bottom lip. "I'll crave it when I see it with my own two eyes." She beamed to her father. "Why are you asking? Did you order something today?"
"We'll see if I would be able to bring something home tomorrow." Cliff was fumbling with a crimson envelope on his hands, his name engraved at the back.
"Okay, I'll look forward to it!"
***
Ison Vis has the most attendants out of all the royals for one reason, he pays them using his own money. He also one particular requirements—all of them needs to be cured.
It was a Friday, and all the royals and cured alike are hyped up.
"Perishable." One of Ison Vis' attendants bullying another in plain view. "Don't think highly of yourself just because you're the head chef."
Chef Will scratched the back of his head and smiled innocently.
"Duke Ison Vis will be hearing of this, and you will not come of easily."
"I've run out of ingredients. How can I make a brain sushi if we don't have rice? Give me a sack and I'll make you some."
"Did you just command me huh, perishable?"
Ison Vis was having a snack as the commotion between his attendant and the head chef accelerated but he did nothing to stop his attendant.
"No, what you're asking is just impossible."
"That's why I'm telling you to make it possible."
Princess Alyssa placed her spoon hard on her plate, she could not take it anymore. "What did you say? When he says it's impossible to make, then it's impossible. Use that pea brain of yours sometimes."
The attendant snickered at the Princes.
"Did you just, how dare you disrespect me. Is this how your Duke disciplines you?"
Ison Vis stood up with the mention of his name. "Why Princes, if the word perishable has offended you in a way, I would like to apologize on behalf of my attendant."
"Not even you Ison Vis,"
"I will not punish my attendant for merely stating the truth."
***
Alyssa was holding a crimson envelope on her hand, Duchess Zenalda was written on it in italic letters.
Apparently, the duchess was invited at the last minute, when she's already inside the dungeon. It was obviously meant to be a joke, but nonetheless still a valid invitation--- Alyssa might not have to sneak herself in tonight, she can enter through the front entrance after all.
"Would a cocktail dress suit better? Or a casual jeans and shirt?" Alyssa was contemplating on what to wear. "But neither would suit that mask." She answered herself.
The duchess managed to slip the information to a guard that she has an invitation. Maya reluctantly went down the dungeon herself to get the invitation for the princess.
Alyssa read the invitation and it says to wear a mask. Apparently, it was a normal thing that they do this.
She instructed Eli to go get her whatever mask he could find, and this was the best mask Eli could procure. It has a tomato for a nose and a smiling red lip. Yes, she was a clown. There was no time to look for a better one, Alyssa would have to go with this weather she like it or not.
Still, she decided to wear a yellow cocktail dress, thinking it would suit the mask better, and it did.
While Eli wore an all-black attire to suit his bat like mask, his lips and chin are the only thig showing.
"Are you ready?" Alyssa bit her lip to cover a laugh, she does not know who looked crazier, her or Eli.
The bat man nodded.
But Alyssa was the one who was not ready, she was trying not to make it obvious, but she was very nervous, afraid of what she might discover.
Deep in her heart, she was hoping not to discover anything.
She had one last look at the smiling refection in front of her but hidden beneath the mask was a serious face.
"Okay, let's go."
***
There were royals walking towards the so called Ison Vis wing--- everybody wearing a mask. Others were wearing them just for the sake of it, barely covering one fourth of their face. The mask was obviously just for formality, but there were others too who followed the protocol seriously. But it did not conceal their identity at all, Alyssa could recognize each and everyone of them.
Alyssa suddenly turned around as she saw a young girl skidding towards the front entrance--- Kiva.
Kiva, of course, she knew all about this, but she did not tell her. Alyssa suddenly wanted to rush her birthday, her ceremony, she is so tired of not being part of the royal's activities. She had always been in her room, away from the limelight.
Alyssa was sure Kiva would recognize her, so she hid behind Eli's back. "Tell me once she's inside."
Knowing Kiva, Alyssa was one hundred percent sure that she would shout her name. Though Alyssa was not really hiding, she did not want any unwanted attention too.
"She's in." Eli informed.
"You have to make sure we won't stand next to her, or even just be on her radar."
Eli nodded.
"But fist, we have to get in. Where's our invitation?"
Eli handed the crimson envelope to Alyssa.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone