Bab 40: The proposal
Iris waited for her words to settle down in their mind before she continued. The other two looked back at Iris with confusion but she finally had their attention.
"A proposal? I don't need it. I have no wish to settle down so soon but this girl here needs stability" Lady Hua protested when Sasha patted her head.
Lady Hau pretended to be annoyed but it was clear to everyone watching how much she enjoyed that attention.
"You're old Sasha, settle down and relax now. Iris is giving us an opportunity and we should take it" Lady Hua seemed on board with the plan but Sasha seemed to have made up her mind about it.
Still, it was clear to Iris that they were a packaged deal and she could not have one without having the other as well.
"My proposal. Would you like to hear it now?" Iris asked once the other two seemed to have finished their banter.
"Please, do tell" Sasha replied, her tone having a hint of embarrassment. Lady Hua refused to look at Sasha and instead, focused on Iris.
"If you wish to travel, then I have no problem. I want to offer the court as a base for you, a waypoint you can always come back to. We can provide you with resources and you can gather information for our use in the meantime" it should work well.
It did not solve all of their problems but it did make things easier for Iris in the longer run.
"No way. Sasha should stay with us there. There is no need to run around when we have a permanent home in front of us" Lady Hua protested but the other two ignored her for the time being.
"Gather information? That cannot be all? What else do you have in mind?" Sasha caught on to the hidden meaning of Iris's words instantly.
Sasha was a formidable opponent and would be a formidable ally as well. Iris wanted the other at her side as an ally rather than an enemy.
"Of course, that is not all. But the other things can be discussed once we reach Oreta and get you both settled in. Staying here is no longer a safe option" Iris saw the innkeeper jerk away at her words.
The innkeeper looked around in alarm but realized that the threat was not immediate. It finally caused her to relax a little.
"And how accurate is that information?" Sasha asked, ignoring Lady Hua as well. Her face looked tense and Iris understood that condition.
"Very, seeing as how I ran into a few of the commission's members today. I don't think they recognized us or anything but it is better to be safe rather than sorry" Iris had messaged Jackson as soon as she had seen the first guard.
According to Jackson, there were a few forces and Rose heading Iris's way. It could have been a coincidence but Iris was not willing to take any chance.
"Lady Hua, pack your things at once. It looks like we are leaving this place at once" Sasha hissed and Lady Hua yelped in joy.
"You're coming with us? You are, aren't you?" Lady Hua asked in an excited tone. She looked beyond happy and Sasha sighted at the other female's enthusiasm.
"Yes, I am. But only for a little while. Now go and pack your things" Lady Hua left in a hurry, her steps having a skip to them.
Once she was gone, Sasha finally turned to Iris. her eyes looked serious and no-nonsense.
"You have a mole in the council. How deeply is this mole rooted?" Sasha's words rightly translated to - 'how much information can you gather without your mole being found out?'
There was something the other was hiding from Iris and it made Iris curious.
"They can dig as deep as they want without exposing themselves. But I cannot guarantee an answer from them" it simply meant that their mole was important to keep around but not to tell things.
Sasha's face twisted in a frown before settling in a curious and blank expression.
"I see. Still, can they try and dig into something? I want to know how the original court of Isis fell. Both - the chief architect as well as the priest were inside when that happened. Then how did they manage to breach the defenses that fast? I don't believe it was Holy Maiden Lunadel and you can understand why as well" Iris knew why.
To be honest, it had seemed fishy to her as well. Not in the original novel, but in recent times.
There should not have been any way for the court to fall but somehow it had ended up falling. There were only two possibilities.
"You think it was the chief who sold the court out. It is a valid thought but one without any evidence" Iris concluded and saw the other's mouth pull itself back in a tight frown.
"As much as it pains me to admit, that is the only thing that makes sense. I just cannot figure out why or how" Sasha lamented as she looked at the side door.
Iris did not get a chance to answer the other before Lady Hua was out of the door, her hand holding a few articles of clothes.
"Should I take all of them? What about the accessories? Do we have enough space?" Lady Hua spoke too fast, her words jumping into each other. Her hands clutched at the clothes she held in them.
"Pack what is necessary. We don't have much time with us" the other nodded but still seemed worried.
"I have a storage ring with me. Place everything that needs to be taken. Likely, we would not be able to come back here" Lady Hua finally calmed down, her expression sad.
There seemed to be something bothering her but it was not Iris's place to ask her about it.
"I guess it is time to say goodbye to my friends. This part always sucks but I understand. Iris, would you like to accompany me. I might need the moral support" Lady Hua's big eyes were looking at Iris hopefully.
Iris had a cold and blank face on the outside but her heart was weak for pretty faces. It was such a simple request and was easy enough to grant as well.
Iris could indulge the other and give her moral support.
"Pack. Then you can say your goodbyes. I will accompany you if you wish me to" Lady Hua left the room with a beaming smile and Iris felt like she made a mistake.
Even Sasha gave her bemused and pitying looks but Iris had no idea why.
It all became clear once Lady Hua dragged her toward her friends and proclaimed -
"I'm leaving because we're getting married. See you guys later"
Did Iris understand the meaning of true embarrassment. There had been cat-calls and words spoken that made her blush.
Nothing showed up on her face and it only prompted the others to tease them even harder. Iris felt exhaustion creep up at her as more and more people bolted over to congratulate them.
And then she saw someone in the commission's clothes coming closer.
"Time to go. Say your byes now and we shall be off." Lady Hau did not question her. Not after the serious tone Iris had just used.
Somehow, they managed to leave before they could be caught and questioned by the commission.
They might not have been recognized but Iris was not willing to take a risk.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone