Chapter 5: The Errand Boys

CONTRARY TO Tristan's and Bastian's wishes, after Xerxes visited Alesteria, he pushed through with his command to have the ruby emerald be placed on the princess' tiara.

The job of finding the ruby emerald fell on both Tristan and Bastian.

Tristan was entrusted to seek nobles who may have a piece of the ruby emerald whilst Bastian scours the east, where the ruby emerald originally came from.

They can use all means and methods, even the imperial knights and the teleportation scrolls are at their disposal because their deadline is only by the end of this month.

That is why Bastian can't help but scream out his frustration.

"SON OF A GOAT! JUST THROW ME INTO A PIT AND LET ME FIGHT WITH LIONS INSTEAD!"

The echoing of Bastian's scream pierced through Tristan's ears as they finally exited the main palace.

Tristan rolled his eyes at Bastian's rough behavior while the people passing by stared at them for a moment before moving along.

"Nothing will happen if you shout like that here, why don't you talk directly to his majesty?"

Bastian sharply turned his gaze at Tristan with a scowl on his face.

"Why don't you try it first?"

"Why you…!"

They clashed with each other and gritted their teeth, glaring intensely at one another as the atmosphere around them became heavy.

People walking by avoided the two and shook their heads, clearly understanding why the two were butting heads again.

"You two still haven't changed."

The familiar voice made the two men stop their glaring to look at the owner of the voice, their eyes widening when they saw a familiar brown-haired woman with bright lapiz-colored eyes.

"D-Duke Lidloch!"

The duke gave them a small smile before stopping mere steps away from them, the two immediately bowing their heads.

"My, my. You don't have to bow to me. I'm not the empress anymore." She stated, her smile widening.

Tristan shook his head, "Still. You are the mother of the princes so you should be respected."

The duke laughed.

"That is true."

The woman in front of them was not just an ordinary noble that can be looked down upon or disrespected.

She is a woman who made big contributions to the past years and is leading one of the most well-known fiefs in the kingdom. Not only that, but she is also the biological mother of the princes.

She is the present Duke of Lidloch, Morgaine Lidloch.

Morgaine is a strong and level-headed woman who looks at people equally, she is a rational person and would never take huge risks that she would be at a disadvantage.

She is also the previous political partner of the emperor before the late empress, but they decided to divorce and go on their separate ways.

They are more like comrades rather than they were husband and wife.

The two princes grew up knowing this fact and seeing how their parents are two different individuals, they realize at an early age that political marriages must happen and divorce is possible.

Morgaine, their mother, and the current duke, taught them this and how it is acceptable.

She widened their horizons and accepted any question her children has. She never told them anything that would cause a rift between the father and sons.

She even went as far as to tell them that if their father ever had a wife after her, they should accept her.

And that is what they did.

Alana Esme Yuis is a daughter of a countryside Marquis. She was given a chance to go to the capital to study her swordsmanship and to train herself to become the heir of the fief her father leads.

She was smart, beautiful, creative, and was Morgaine's escort.

She is also the total opposite of Morgaine, who is cautious and rational.

Alana is a risk-taker and a have-it-all-lose-it-all kind of woman. She never cared if those risks will end up as consequences or rewards, she is just living the life that she wants and dreams.

That is why Morgaine liked her very much.

Whenever Morgaine needs another opinion, Alana always has the answer she is looking for. It will always be a discussion between them that Morgaine thoroughly enjoys.

And through Morgaine, that is how Alana and Xerxes met.

Long story short, the two fell in love, and through Morgaine's blessing, which she removes Alana from her service, the two wed and created a bundle of joy.

That bundle of joy is now the first and only princess of the kingdom, Alesteria.

"Oh, by the way," Morgaine spoke, earning the full attention of the two men.

"Why are you two fighting in public? Did Xerxes order something impossible again?"

"You hit it right in the nail!" Bastian exclaimed joyfully.

Tristan sighed; his face clearly pained from what the emperor ordered them to do.

"He ordered to find a ruby emerald for the princess' tiara."

Morgaine was surprised.

"Really? Doesn't he know that is such a crazy request?"

Tristan nodded, "He knows, he just doesn't care."

"Agreed." Bastian seconded.

Morgaine shook her head upon learning the dilemma of the two men.

She knows how Xerxes is and what the man says should be done, no matter the method. He held back because of Alana and now that she is gone, they are no saying what limits he will break.

"Oh, pardon me for asking Duke, but did his majesty called for you?" Tristan asked, now realizing why the duke is in the palace.

Normally, she couldn't go to the palace because of her House Head duties and would only come if it is urgent.

Morgaine smiled and lifted her hand a bit. The two men looked at what she had in her hand and saw a paper bag adorned with pink ribbons and laces.

"He didn't. I just wanted to see Alana's daughter."

Tristan smiled softly, "The princess resembles the late empress very much. You'll also be delighted to see how she acts just like her."

Morgaine laughed.

"Well, I guess I better be off then. I don't want to waste any more of your time."

Bastian clicked his tongue at this comment jokingly.

"I rather much have a conversation with you, Duke."

Morgaine just chuckled at the joking nature of Bastian while Tristan rolls his eyes.

The two men bowed once again at her and she just shook her head at the two, clearly not remembering what she said earlier.

"Have fun." Morgaine said as she passed by the two and gave them a short tap on their shoulders.

"Are you teasing us now?"

Morgaine laughed again but abruptly paused when she remembered something.

"I almost forgot to say."

She turned towards Tristan and Bastian once again and called out to them, making them halt their steps.

"If this helps, don't you try asking Duke Versormer? I heard that his family was once appointed to handle all the gem transactions in the kingdom."

Tristan's eyes sparkled like diamonds the moment Morgaine dropped that clue on them whilst Bastian gaped at her for this information.

Tristan smirked and let out a delighted chuckle.

"Now I have a clue."

"No fair! Do you have something for me too, Duke? Anything!"

Morgaine gave Bastian a sorry glance.

"I'm sorry, Bastian. That is all that I know from the whispers of the ladies."

The whispers of the ladies as Morgaine said are the rumors circulating on tea parties and events, mostly hosted by noblewomen.

In those events, many would gain vital information on just about anything. It can be used for their own gain or others, but all are paid with a price.

Truly, the whispers of the ladies are that of a battlefield but it is amongst themselves.

Bastian knew this fact so he can't help but feel sad, knowing that Tristan is one step ahead of him in this mission.

"Haaa…I see. Still, thank you, Duke."

"No problem. Good luck."

Morgaine was now out of their sight when she turned to a corner, and they let a few minutes pass before the two men spoke to each other calmly.

"So, what will you do now?" Bastian inquired, still feeling sulky.

"What else? I'll try to talk to Duke Versormer about the ruby emerald and convince him. Worst case, I will have to use his majesty's name."

Bastian clicked his tongue, "Then, I better start packing to go to the east."

Tristan, who was in a better mood than Bastian, gave him a pat on his back as if comforting the sulking knight.

"Then, I wish you the best of luck."

Bastian sighed in disbelief then he smiled, gone was the sulking knight from earlier. He looks like he had accepted his faith of going to the east just for a gem.

"Safe travel, my friend."

The two men separated ways and were off to their tasks.

Unbeknownst to them, the person who will reap the benefits of their labor is chugging down her milk while staring at the ceiling, already thinking of ways to stop the gem from getting close to her.