Valerian, The Legendary

78 Facade.

Priscilla walked forward with Valerian following her half a step behind. The boy had already told her the plan of action, and the maid was quite interested. She almost wanted to break open his skull and check how it worked.

They were walking through the corridors of the official resident wing. The palace was surrounded by two residential complexes. The outermost complex housed the ministers and clerk-level officials of the court. Their accommodation was decided on the basis of their designation.

For example, a normal clerk was given a two-bedroom apartment, and all such clerks lived in a well-organized wing of apartments. While the prime minister was given half the wing and three floors, the other ministers also held half a wing but were given only two floors.

Priscilla led Valerian directly to the prime minister resident. She was just about to enter the building when a voice interrupted her.

“Where do you think you are going?”, this tone was full of arrogance.

Priscilla frowned, she had a volatile temper. However, she understood that she needed to control herself for the time being. She turned around to look at the maze walked over, and said, “We are the aides of Her excellency, The Empress, we bring a message for Lady Amour.”

The other party was surprised, she did not expect Priscilla to remain calm. She let go of her stress and said, “I will inform, Lady Amour, please wait.”

Priscilla nodded and waited at the doorway. Her eyes were spewing fire at the back of the maid. She had never been looked down on by a maid. She wanted to rush over and kill this woman. Suddenly, she felt a gentle tug on her skirt, turning around she found Valerian making a few signs at her.

She took a deep breath and calmed her mood. The boy had just told her that if the wife of the prime minister was impeached, then all of her servants would also face an inquiry as well. At that time, Priscilla could have her revenge.

.....

...

While the two waited behind the closed door, the maid gave up her calm facade and ran through the place to find Amour. The person in question was at this moment, sitting in a garden on the third floor. She was surrounded by various flowers and plants, the place was really relaxing. The dome ceiling was made up of glass.

Amour wore a black and red skirt while her back was leaned against the chair and it swayed gently as the lady gazed at the sky. She seemed to be asleep. Suddenly, the tranquility of the scene was broken when the door to the garden was pushed open abruptly.

Amour frowned and turned her head to look at who disturbed her. The maid rushed in and knelt beside the lady. Amour asked, “What is it, Karla?”

Karla replied, “Your Grace, two people have come to pass on a message from The Empress’s side. I think something big is going to happen.”

Amour raised her eyebrow, and asked, “Did you get any word on where Draco is?”

Karla shook her head and replied, “The eyeliners inside the imperial prison did not find anything. They have not seen Master Draco.”

The lady leaned back in the chair and said, “Go, lead those two in.”

Karla nodded and went out of the garden. Amour was gazing at the sky suddenly she said, “What medicine are you selling now, Fragrantia?”

She was not sure about what was going on at the moment, because her son had not come back with the news of the events set up last night. One thing was sure, Fragrantia was unharmed and she had come back. Why she was called to the court, was a mystery to her.

She decided to first look at the message and then plan the next step. If she was really caught, then she will just flee the place before anyone can take action. Thinking that everything is sorted, she leaned back in the chair.

...

The door was pushed open and Karla walked out to stand in front of the two people. She said, “Her grace has called you inside.”

Priscilla nodded and walked ahead, Valerian followed her. The boy has been deliberately looking at the floor, he wanted to project himself as a timid person. So, that the guard of the people around him is lower against them.

Valerian was paying attention to everything on the way to the garden, the reason? He did not trust this lady at all. Fragrantia had told him a little something that came as a shock to him, and this was also a reason she gave him this task.

...

A few hours ago, the carriage had just passed the military check post outside the city when Fragrantia said, “Val, do you know what relation do I have with Amour?”

The child shook his head and the lady said, “She used to be my maid back when we were children. The person who spent most of her time with me. Then Flos left and I got married to Libra. Amour was very sad, so, I took her along. After a few years, things changed and she managed to climb the bed of the prime minister.

At first, I was shocked, but later I accepted it. Thinking they were in love. One night, I had a big quarrel with Amour after a banquet. She drank a bit too much and lost her grip. She spilled some things to me, one of them was that it was not Flos who left the palace, but she made her go away, saying that I loved Libra.

My sister was made to run away from home thinking she was making a sacrifice for me, and later when I saw her, it was too late. The reason Amour did this was to get away from the generational service of my house. Now, she wants to take over my house.”

Valerian raised his head to look at Fragrantia and asked, ‘Do you need me to do something?’

That was when Fragrantia commanded him to apprehend the lady. Valerian accepted the task with indifference, but he wanted to know if things were really as they were being told. After all, every story has two points of view. He did not have any method to verify the facts, because he did not know what the truth was, his mother was no more to tell him who was lying and who was not.

Thus, he decided to believe in the devil he knows. After all, the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t. Valerian also knew that The Empress can give him a lot of benefits, in order to nurture him. His skills were of great use to this lady. So, the more he was of use, the better the treatment and resources.

Given his status, he could not go to the imperial academy until the master has taken a step out to look for disciples, which, given the elusive mindset of Fallax was impossible. So, this was a mutually beneficial relationship.

Walking through the corridors and the staircase, Valerian did not find anything that stood out to him. Karla opened the door to the garden where Amour was still relaxing in the chair.

Priscilla walked inside the place and bowed her head as she said, “Greetings, Your Grace.”

Amour cast her a gaze and smiled, “Priscilla, long time no see.”

“Yes, your grace. I have been following Her Highness Azula. So, things have been busy.”, the maid replied politely.

Amour nodded and her gaze fell on Valerian, she asked, “Who is this young man?”

Priscilla replied, “He is not able to speak, Your Grace. Valerian is temporarily serving as the aid beside Her Excellency.”

The conversation was so formal and calm that no one could tell they were enemies. Amour nodded, Valerian had yet to raise his head to look at her. She thought the boy was lacking confidence because he was unable to speak. She asked, “What message has Her Excellency asked you to pass on?”

Priscilla said, “Valerian, you can go ahead.”

Valerian nodded and taking out a scroll from the inside of his coat he walked toward Lady Amour. He passed the scroll to the lady with both hands. Amour took the scroll, but Valerian could sense her gaze on his silver hair. She was looking at them very carefully. However, she denied the possibility.

She opened the scroll and was shocked, however, before she could take an action, her head felt like splitting. She clutched her hands and wailed, falling out of the chair.

Karla was surprised, but before she could react, her legs were encased in hard stone. Valerian had cast two spells back to back, ‘Mens Laqueo and Terra Liga.’

The first spell was to render her useless, as he detected her channeling mana in her body. Priscilla also reacted and knocked out Karla. While Valerian was ready to attack Amour with a fist of iron to knock her out.

However, Amour was not easy to capture, she vanished from her spot and appeared in a distance, her face was pale, but she was standing and staring at Valerian and Priscilla. She said in a hoarse voice, “You will die here today.”