章 33: CH 33 - Jasper’s Illness (Part 4)
Leona watched Luca walk away. She looked up towards Micah and shuddered, seeing his eyelids lower slightly as Luca disappeared, just enough that his green eyes seemed to darken.
His cold gaze slid over her.
"Luca asked that I keep you unhurt. But I can only do that if you remain still on my shoulder and don't go fluttering away anywhere, is that understood?"
His words sounded more like a threat than anything else to Leona.
She felt her fuzzy body shrink down.
"I know you are intelligent enough to understand me. Nod your head if you understood," Micah ordered.
Leona nodded her little head furiously.
"Good," Micah said. "And one more thing, I don't know what you are exactly, but if I find out that you pose the slightest threat or ill will towards my brother…."
He flicked his fingers across his neck.
"Is that understood?"
How scary!
Leona nodded her head again.
She was a brilliant phoenix, capable of transforming and disappearing away easily. However, every fiber of her being warned her to not reveal who and what she was to Micah.
I feel if I show the slightest amount of magic around this human, he'll not only capture me but kill me on the spot.
"You are a complete lunatic, threatening such a cute little bird." Princess Evelyn took hold of Micah's arm.
She smiled at Leona with her crimson lips.
"Look at the poor thing. It's shivering in fear," she said.
Her voice sounded to Leona more amused than concerned, however.
Leona looked out towards the direction that Luca went, hoping his mind was still within reach.
Please come back soon, Luca! I can't handle these scary humans.
"Shall we head out?" Micah said.
"I suppose it is time," Princess Evelyn agreed.
The two walked out into the mirror-encrusted glittering ballroom. The room quieted down without any announcement needed of the princess's presence. The guests all turned and gazed in her and Micah's direction.
"Welcome, everyone!" Princess Evelyn spoke to the crowd. "Thank you all for taking the time to attend this ball of mine. You are all important figures to the future of Adovoria, and it makes me happy to share this evening with all of you."
A young female attendant handed Princess Evelyn and Micah each a flute of champagne and took away the empty glass of wine and plate.
"I would like to make a toast to the prosperity of our kingdom and to working together in the coming years towards a bright and prosperous future."
Princess Evelyn raised her glass, and everyone in the room did the same.
Leona watched the entire room take a sip from their flutes in unison.
Humans have such peculiar traditions.
"Also, I have two important announcements to make," Princess Evelyn continued speaking. "The second announcement I will leave till later in the evening; as for the first, I will provide it now."
"Many of you may have already noticed it, but there have been some cat troubles as of late."
A murmur went through the crowd.
"There is a deadly disease spreading throughout the cat population in our capital. It was only recently discovered and poses a severe risk to our people's health. I have placed an immediate order to those serving in The Order to help capture and dispose of every cat within the capital."
She lifted her glass of champagne up.
"For our kingdom's safety and good health, I hope you will help me quell this cat pandemic!"
The crowd raised up their glasses and took another sip.
Loud conversations sprang up among the guests with the announcement, and several nobles pushed themselves toward Princess Evelyn and Micah to ask more in-depth questions regarding the severity of the cat pandemic.
A cat pandemic? Is that what all that trouble at Luca's home was?
Leona looked doubtfully towards Micah and Princess Evelyn as the two responded to the concerns and questions of the men and women making their way to them.
I may have been born only today, but something tells me there's some serious bullshit going on.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Julius opened the dungeon's gate for me, and we entered the all too familiar disgusting room. My hand already had a handkerchief in hand to cover my nose.
Inside the cell, like last time, several men huddled together. Bob and Bob the second were among them.
"Hey, what's everyone's name here?" I asked the men inside.
"Why would we answer some punk like you?" One of the men growled.
I eyed him.
These were all royal guards. I expected better behavior from them.
Then again…
My eyes glanced towards Bob and Bob the second.
These two tried to kill me and were technically royal guards too. Perhaps the palace's hiring practices need some improvement.
"Because I happen to stand between you and the fork in your road taking you towards the remainder of your life or your death," I replied.
"Ahem," the woman guarding the dungeon rushed over to me. "Here are the names of everyone inside."
She unrolled a scroll with each man's picture, name, and description.
"Ah, thank you," I told her. "This makes it easier."
I glanced down at Bob's and Bob the second's images. They were significantly better portraits than what I could produce.
The creepy thin one that forged my suicide letter was Trey Slerton. The big bulky one with the scar that tried to strangle me was Bolton Alcot.
My right hand moved into my breast pocket, and I wasted no time throwing the two daggers at the two men.
WHOOOSH! WHOOSH!
The two daggers soared expertly through the air, flew between the bars, and hit each man straight in the heart.
Er, or instead, they hit them on their left breast and clattered to the floor.
Trey and Bolton looked with confusion at me.
If they were confused, it was nothing compared to what I was experiencing.
What the? I managed to kill Kaiden with a throw from much farther away. But I couldn't even scratch these two from such a short distance?? Are the daggers Princess Evelyn gave me just not that good? Or are they wearing armor?
"Young master Luca, I presume those are the two men to be taken care of?" Julius asked.
I quickly stepped back behind him, realizing his intention.
"Of course. I was merely pointing them out for you," I lied. "Now finish them off. I'll go back to the party on my own."
I hurried up the steps.
"Understood," Julius replied behind me.
SPLAT!!
The yells of the other men sounded inside after the bloody explosions of Trey and Bolton. However, this round, I was out of the range of Julius's idiotic magic explosion and was clean enough to attend the party.
But why couldn't I kill them?
I glanced around, ensuring I was alone as I rounded up the maze of steps out of the dungeon.
"System. I could hit those two men as I wanted, but the daggers didn't penetrate. What happened?"
[ Hello, Luca. While your Dexterity is at 35, your Strength is at a measly 4. ]
[ Thus, although you could land a correct hit, the impact wasn't high enough to damage them. I suggest tossing your dagger at a softer spot next time, one that would be easier to penetrate. ]
I blinked.
"But that doesn't make any sense. I was able to kill Kaiden just fine."
I had tossed my dagger at his neck and heart without any trouble over the last few rounds.
[ Indeed, the dagger you used against Kaiden also had an advantage of surprise due to its unique style. It also had the benefit of +::@#! and unlike the simple daggers that Princess Evelyn gave you, that dagger deals %ۥ@ damage to enemies. ]
I stared at the gibberish text.
40% access, huh. Well, I suppose I can piece together what the gibberish might mean.
"So basically, that dagger was just better. It made me stronger than I actually am," I summarized.
[ You are correct. ]
I'll need to keep that dagger on me going forward because my lack of Strength is somewhat troublesome. And perhaps I can inquire about having more like it forged.
I leaned against one of the stone walls and regained my breath.
It was infuriating how weak I was at this point in my life.
But if I have to work with what I have, I need to get more clever about my approach.
I pushed myself away from the wall and finished going up the remaining stone steps.
"Ah, Luca Frey! Just the person I was looking for!" A sing-song voice sounded.
I gazed up in confusion.
Is that perhaps a popular spot to get away from the party? That Daylan young noble was standing there last round as well.
However, this time the one awaiting me was none other than Kathy, Kleave's girlfriend.
Her long pink hair was pulled up into a bun, and she wore a silk pink pants suit. Giant glasses framed her thin face.
"You were waiting for me? Why?" I asked.
I didn't recall seeing her at the ball the last two rounds; her pink outfit was just as eye-catching and memorable as the Daylan guy's.
I frowned.
Odd. I hadn't caught wind of that strange fellow today yet.
"You were the only one to place a bet on my Kleave this morning for the match against The Ogre," Kathy replied. "I was curious to get to know you, given you clearly have a good eye for talent."
I smiled.
Did she attend this ball just because of me, perhaps? Because I bet on Kleave as well? What a strange woman. But this works for me. I needed to make contact with her anyways.
"You must be Kathy. I've heard great things about your work." I walked over to her.
It was true. I heard years of praise for her from Kleave, despite her having long passed when I met him.
She smiled in response. "I'm glad to hear I need no introduction. Were you perhaps interested in procuring some of my goods?"
We were the only ones in this part of the castle, with the ballroom just around the corner. Large windows opened out to allow the cool night air in. The palace gardens lay beyond. The sounds of distant voices and fountains wafted through the large hallway.
"Indeed," I said.
My mind was working through the three areas that Kathy's knowledge and expertise were of value to me.
I needed a cure to provide The Ogre with to recruit him later for the war effort. I suddenly needed weapons that could work despite my lack of Strength. Finally, and most importantly, I needed her medical knowledge.
"As I understand, you are an expert not only in producing poisons but also creating remedies?" I asked.
She adjusted her large glasses.
"I'm better known for the former, but that is true. I am also an expert in forming cures," she said.
"Wonderful," I said. "Would you be able to stop by the Frey Manor sometime tomorrow? I have a friend who has grown ill, and the three doctors who have looked at him don't know what it is. I'll pay whatever you need for your insight and to be able to produce a cure."
I had initially intended to try a phoenix feather's essence on Jasper. Still, I thought it prudent to request the advice of an expert first. Without fully understanding what he was ill with, making him take just any remedy might worsen rather than improve his state.
"Oho? Something that three doctors haven't figured out. That sounds like a fun puzzle." Kathy leaned against the wall and crossed her arms. "I don't suppose it has anything to do with the cat pandemic?"
I frowned.
What was she talking about? Did word of me having cats removed from the manor spread into a bizarre rumor?
"No," I replied. "But whatever he has is deadly. He will die if he goes untreated."
"Very well, I'd be happy to come by. Is that all you needed, though?"
"Hardly," I shook my head. "I have a few items I'd like to procure from you. But they would require additional discussion in private."
Both our heads turned in unison to the heavy footsteps coming up the staircase from the palace dungeon.
"Ah, young master Luca." Julius appeared at the top of the steps and nodded toward me. "I just completed the cleanup. I will go and make a report to Princess Evelyn."
I nodded back, wondering exactly what went into his cleanup. I had to assume it was likely as idiotic as his method of taking out the two men.
"Very well; we can discuss the details tomorrow then." Kathy leaned away from the wall and glanced at a small ring watch on her right middle finger. "I had better get going anyhow. I only intended to pop by the ball for a brief moment."
"See you tomorrow." I waved her goodbye.
"Toddle-do, Luca Frey!" She waved without looking back. Her tall pink heels clanked across the glossy stone floor.
I felt my stomach growl, and I realized I hadn't even had lunch today with all the chaos that had taken place.
Well, the oddball Daylan guy had one thing right; the palace food here was undoubtedly the best.
I walked back inside the ballroom and beelined my way over to the buffet table. With my cheeks stuffed with pastries, I had the same thought as my first time at the ball.
I should really see about poaching the royal pastry chef.
My eyes gazed around the ballroom, but the weird Daylan guy was nowhere to be seen.
Weird. He was even more of an avid eater than me.
"First the cat pandemic and now a missing prince from the Daylan Dynasty of all places?" A voice sounded behind me.
"Shhh! Keep your voice down," a second voice sounded. "I haven't even informed our King yet!"
I glanced back and noticed two guards whispering to one another.
"He's not missing," the second voice continued. "Don't say that. Or else we might have a national disaster on our hands."
"Of course, it's a national disaster!" The first guard hissed. "The Daylan Queen's prophesied golden child went missing in our kingdom of all places. She's crazy enough to burn our kingdom to the ground if we don't find him!"
The delicious pastries in my mouth suddenly tasted like sandpaper.
I thought I had years to prepare for the Kobar Empire's invasion. I did not anticipate conflicts with any other surrounding countries, especially not the powerful Daylan Dynasty with their war-loving Queen.
Just what the fuck did I change this round that brought this on?
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