Change of Plans 4

As Emilia stood in her own home surrounded by strangers, the corners of her mouth twitched slightly. What is Lady Elysia doing associating with this random ragtag group of strangers? And worst of all, why are they all in my home?!

She maintained her composure as the group settled in, though her discontent simmered beneath the surface.

Nanik clapped his hands once, commanding the room’s attention. “Alright, let’s catch Jason up on the current situation,” he began. “Your mercenary group has been absorbed by my special operations unit—”

“What?!” Jason’s jaw dropped, and he turned to Otome, who merely nodded in acknowledgment. His wide-eyed stare fixed on the ceiling as he tried to process the revelation, leaving him in a daze for most of the conversation that followed.

Nanik cleared his throat, continuing without pause. “As I was saying, once your mercenaries were assimilated into my group, my initial plan was to return immediately to Trizen, Tekuno. However, during our journey, we were ambushed by an unknown group, which led to us being separated from Tokei. After losing them, we returned to the village to regroup and search for her. Then, I received a call from an old acquaintance from my time undercover in Arden for the Trizen government. This contact informed me of troubling rumors—a possible war brewing between Arden and its neighboring country, Clefton, on the continent of Ishunay. Now Trizen wants me to look into it as it will negatively impact some of their trade routes. As a result, our priorities have shifted. Instead of returning immediately to Tekuno, we now have a new mission.”

Farthington groaned audibly, muttering something about “another detour,” but Nanik continued without acknowledging him.

“This is where Lady Elysia comes in,” he said, gesturing toward her. “She will help us gain entry into an upcoming royal banquet held by the Arden royal family, The Nieren Family. With her assistance, we’ll attend as her servants to gather critical information.

“Now, while our objective is straightforward, missions like these are rarely as simple as they seem. Prepare for the unexpected.”

The room fell silent for a moment as the gravity of the situation sank in. Then Nanik added, “One last thing—each of you will receive 10,000 Aero for completing this mission.” (That’s roughly the equivalent of one million USD for perspective.)

Farthington’s groan turned into an exaggerated gasp, his protest immediately silenced by the prospect of such a large payout.

Emilia, still grappling with the invasion of her home, raised an eyebrow. They’re paying well, I see Lady Elysia knows what she’s doing.

Elysia cleared her throat, drawing attention. “As far as I’m aware, the invitations were sent out a week ago, and the banquet will take place in three weeks' time. However, I’ll only be able to take two people with me to the event.”

Nanik nodded thoughtfully. “Hmm. In that case, Tokei and Farthington will accompany you.”

Tokei’s eyes widened in surprise. “Huh? Why me?!” she exclaimed, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Nanik looked at her with a calm, calculating expression. “Because no one else here picks up random knowledge like a sponge or recalls events with the precision you do. You’re detail-oriented, and we’ll need that skill to gather intelligence.”

Farthington smirked, nudging Tokei playfully. “Guess you’re special, huh? Don’t worry; I’ll keep you company.”

Tokei shot him an unimpressed glare but said nothing, clearly resigned to her role.

Elysia interjected, her voice steady and diplomatic. “We’ll need to start preparations immediately. Proper attire, behavior, and understanding of court etiquette will be crucial. I’ll guide you both to ensure we blend in seamlessly.”

Tokei sighed, hefting the responsibility on her shoulders. “Alright, if it’s necessary, I’ll do it. But Farthington better not embarrass us.”

Farthington held up his hands in mock defense. “Me? Embarrass you? Perish the thought! In fact I’ll play the perfect attendant. If you can’t recall, I was an actor.”

The group’s tense energy shifted slightly, with the seriousness of their mission tempered by a hint of levity. Nanik crossed his arms, watching them closely. “Good. Let’s focus. We have three weeks to prepare for what could be a critical turning point in our mission. No room for error.”

“I will have to return to the Luminastra estate now though, So I hope that you two are ready. Emilia?”

“Yes, my lady?”

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“Would you get these two the appropriate uniforms and get them appointed as servants in the Manor? Bring them with you through the servant entrance.”

“Right away.”

“Wait, I’m not mentally prepared to be a maid!” Tokei exclaimed before she was dragged away by Emilia. Farthington just followed behind.

“Since they’re doing that, What are the rest of us going to do?” Jason inquired.

“We’ll stick close nearby, In case anything goes Awry. As well as try to gather information about the invasion from around Arden.”

“I see, alright.”

Elysia smiled faintly, then addressed Emilia, who was now leading a very reluctant Tokei and an amused Farthington to another room. “Emilia, once you’ve sorted their uniforms and brought them to the manor, ensure they’re familiarized with the layout. They’ll need to navigate it naturally.”

“Yes, my lady,” Emilia replied, her voice crisp.

Tokei groaned as she was dragged along. “I don’t think I’m cut out for this whole servant thing…”

Farthington, trailing behind, smirked. “Speak for yourself. I think I’ll make a splendid butler. Don’t worry, Tokei—I’ll show you the ropes.”

“Great. Can’t wait,” Tokei muttered sarcastically as the door closed behind them.

With the three gone, Victoria turned to Nanik. “So, what’s the timeline for all this?”

“We’ll divide the next three weeks between preparation and information-gathering,” Nanik said. “We’ll need everyone sharp and ready. No missteps.”

“Understood,” Otome replied firmly.

Elysia gave a final nod. “Then it’s settled.”

With that, she stepped gracefully out of the house, leaving the group to their respective tasks.

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Elysia had removed her wig, letting her long, luscious silver hair cascade freely over her shoulders, a stark contrast to the modest disguise she had worn earlier. She shrugged off the worn jacket, revealing the refined elegance of her noble attire underneath—a flowing gown of soft, shimmering fabric adorned with delicate embroidery. With a deep breath, she began her journey back to the Luminastra estate.

As the towering gates of the estate came into view, Elysia's heart sank slightly. The grandiose structure loomed ahead, its once-vibrant halls now feeling cold and lifeless—a stark reminder of how far it had strayed from being the warm home she wished for.

The guards stationed at the gates straightened upon seeing her approach. Bowing their heads in unison, they greeted her formally. “Welcome, Lady Elysia.”

The heavy gate creaked open, its metallic groan echoing in the stillness of the evening. Elysia stepped onto the estate’s meticulously maintained grounds, her heels clicking softly against the stone path. Each step felt heavier than the last as she approached the mansion's entrance, the weight of her responsibilities pressing down on her.

The familiar sights of the estate, from the pristine gardens to the towering facade of the manor were the same as ever. Reaching the grand doors, a pair of servants opened them swiftly, bowing as she entered. “Welcome home, my lady,” one of them said softly.

Elysia offered a polite nod, her expression composed. “Thank you. Have preparations been made for the royal banquet?”

“Yes, my lady. The order for your dress was sent, and arrangements are underway,” the servant replied.

“Good. Inform me immediately if there are any updates.” Her tone was firm but not unkind.

She ascended the marble staircase, her mind racing with thoughts of the mission ahead and the group she’d just left behind. Despite the coldness of the estate, there was a spark of determination in her chest—a desire to prove herself, not just as a noble, but as someone who could make a difference.

Reaching her private chambers, Elysia closed the door behind her and leaned against it for a moment. Her reflection in the mirror across the room stared back at her, a mix of weariness and resolve etched onto her features.

“Three weeks,” she murmured to herself, straightening up. “We have three weeks to prepare. This has to work.”

Bang Bang Bang

“Hey, Elysia, are you in there? The servants said you got back from your little... excursion. Don’t tell me you’re too lazy to answer the door now!”

Elysia sighed, placing her book on the desk with deliberate calm. She approached the door, already feeling the familiar tension coil in her chest. When she opened it, Alain stood there, his arms crossed and a smirk plastered across his sharp features.

“Well, look who finally decided to grace me with her presence,” he drawled, stepping past her without waiting for an invitation.

“What do you want, Alain?” Elysia asked, closing the door and turning to face him.

“What, no warm welcome for your dear brother? You wound me,” he said mockingly, his tone dripping with sarcasm. He sauntered to the window, casually pulling back the curtain as if inspecting the view, though his sharp eyes flicked toward the hallway outside for a brief moment before the curtain fell back into place.

“You didn’t answer my question,” she said, folding her arms.

He turned, his smirk widening. “I’m here to remind you that the banquet is coming up. Don’t get too comfortable playing dress-up in the village—you’ll need more than peasant tricks to impress the king’s court.”

Elysia’s eyes narrowed. “I know my duties.”

“Do you?” Alain’s tone turned icy, and he stepped closer, looming over her. “Because if you humiliate this family again, Father won’t waste time with another one of his ‘talks.’ And you know how much I enjoy those.” His voice was sharp, but the brief flicker of something unspoken in his eyes betrayed him—something too fleeting for her to grasp fully.

Elysia swallowed, standing her ground. “I won’t fail. Is that all?”

Alain’s smirk returned, though it seemed thinner, more forced. He leaned back, adjusting the cuffs of his tailored coat. “Good. I’d hate to see you ruin the one thing you’re useful for.”

He turned to leave but paused at the door. Without looking back, he added, “And try to remember our deal would you?”

The door closed behind him with a heavy thud, leaving Elysia alone in the silence. She stared at it for a moment, her heart pounding, unsure whether she was angry, relieved, or something else entirely.