|| Information ||
This short story takes place during the second time skip. Joshua has yet to reunite with Clive.

|| Plot ||
At the behest of Isabelle, Lyra goes undercover at the Veil to gather information from a client. The arrangement, however, has Clive on edge.

PS—I did not proofread this chapter for any grammatical/spelling errors.

•••••••••••••

|| The Hideaway ||
|| Central Storm Deadlands ||

"By the heavens..." Lyra muttered, gazing at the letter Isabelle had sent her. "Should I truly do this?" Her ally in Northreach was asking her to act as a courtesan in order to get information from a certain client who was supposed to be visiting in the coming week. The reason Isabelle was asking her for help was because this particular client had strict taste in women and she fit the bill perfectly.

"Do what?" Clive asked, having walked into their shared room.

Lyra didn't try to hide the letter from him. Instead, she hastily gave it to him. "Isabelle needs my help."

The man read the letter, but his mind didn't seem to process the information. He read it two more times yet was still shocked. "Am I...reading this correctly?"

"Only if you deduce Isabelle is requesting I go undercover as a courtesan," she replied. "Trust me, I had to read it many times as well."

He lowered the letter, meeting her troubled gaze. "What will you do?"

She let out a heavy sigh. "I promised Isabelle I would do anything to help her. If my being undercover aids her, then so be it. Regardless, I want to know your feelings on the matter."

Clive put the letter on the top of his desk. "I wish to ask for more details of what Isabelle desires from you. Once I have a more thorough understanding, I shall sort through my feelings."

Lyra nodded. "I agree. I want to help, but I will need more information regarding the specifics. I do hope you aren't needed elsewhere because it seems we'll be departing for Northreach."

Suddenly, the couple turned to the door when they heard whining and scratching. The woman walked over and opened the door, allowing Torgal to enter. The canine barked happily as he trotted over to Clive, his tail wagging fervently.

She smiled and petted the top of Torgal's head when he came over to her next. "It seems the three of us are departing for Northreach. Shall I provide us with wings?"

The man shook his head. "No. I will not allow you to waste precious energy when we have another means of transportation. We shall use Obolus' service. To the docks."

|| Northreach ||
|| Northern Sanbreque ||

Reaching their destination, Clive and Lyra entered the city with Torgal following close behind them. They walked through the streets until they arrived at the Veil. To their surprise, Isabelle was waiting outside. She noticed the couple immediately. "Oh, my. I was not expecting you to be accompanied, but it is no surprise your darling Clive came along. Considering the content of my letter, it would only make sense for him to be concerned of my request."

"Yes, well..." Lyra placed a hand on her hip. "It is not a common occurrence for me to be asked to go undercover as a courtesan. Could you tell us a little more about why you need my help, Isabelle?"

"Of course," the woman replied. "Tomorrow night, a young man by the name of Clifton Chambers will be visiting the Veil. He is quite the prominent figure of Sanbrequian nobility. It seems some of the imperial knights had their tongues loosened in our company and mentioned Lord Chambers would be covertly moving illegally bought Bearers during his travels."

"You wish to free them," Clive deduced.

"Oh, how well you know me," Isabelle smiled seductively. "However, there is a slight issue. Lord Chambers is quite the picky man when it comes to women, and I'm afraid none of the girls currently in my care meet his standards."

"Which is why you need Lyra." He crossed his arms with a displeased expression. "If I may, what is Lord Chambers' taste in women?"

"Why, he enjoys the company of voluptuous women who have golden locks and piercing emerald eyes." Isabelle closed the distance between her and the goddess, gently grabbing her upper arms. "You, my darling Lyra, are what he desires the most. None of my other girls share your unique features."

Lyra was finally connecting all the dots. "You wish for me to spend the night with him and "loosen his tongue," as you would say. Am I correct?"

Isabelle grinned in amusement. "Precisely, my dear. All you need to do is get Lord Chambers to drink just enough to get him to speak of where he is keeping the Bearers. Once you do, your job is done and I shall pay you handsomely."

Lyra thought for a moment. It sounded simple yet she knew it wouldn't be an easy task. She wanted to help the Bearers in Lord Chambers' possession, but she was worried about how close she would have to get to him. It troubled her deeply. "I..."

Isabelle glanced at Clive before looking back at the goddess. "If you are concerned about your dashing knight, he shall not be far. Alas, he cannot stay by your side during this endeavor as I'm afraid Lord Chambers would become suspicious of his presence."

"This plan does not sit well with me," Clive confessed.

"I feel the same way, but..." Lyra turned to him when Isabelle released her arms. "I know both of us wish to save the Bearers in Lord Chambers' possession. Although this does not please me, I will do it to save innocent people."

He sighed heavily. "I understand."

Isabelle stepped away from the goddess. "If we are in agreement, I must ask you to change. We must ensure you fit in with the other girls to assuage any suspicion. I have the perfect dress for you."

Lyra blinked in shock. "You had a dress already prepared?"

The woman chuckled. "Why, of course. Come, my dear." She grabbed the blonde's hand and tugged her toward the door. "Clive may wait out here for the time being. I shall send you back to him once you've changed."

Lyra glanced at Clive before she was dragged into the Veil. She was escorted by Isabelle to a bedroom on the second floor. She was surprised at seeing the room.

Walking further into the room once Isabelle released her, she saw a dress laid out on the bed. She turned to the woman. "You truly have prepared."

Isabelle giggled. "I know your kind heart all too well, my lady. Perhaps not as well as your darling Clive, but I knew I could trust you to come to my aid." She walked over to the bed, grabbed the dress, and handed it to the goddess. "This room shall be your and Clive's until you leave. I do hope it is to your liking."

Lyra accepted the dress. "Thank you, Isabelle. I will do everything in my power to ensure this mission is successful."

"I know you will be successful. Until tomorrow night, you may spend your time with that dashing knight of yours. Until then, my lady, enjoy your time with your precious beloved."

Isabelle left.

Lyra gazed at the door before looking at the dress. She examined the soft fabric and the design. It wasn't too fancy, but it was the perfect dress to pass her off as a courtesan. She changed into it and checked her appearance in the mirror.

She ran her hands down the bodice with a small sigh. The dress was simple yet lovely. She adored the combination of colors and smiled. She wondered if she should do something with her hair. Seeing as it was up in the usual high ponytail, she decided to tug out the ribbon and let her long locks cascade down her back. She ran her hands through a few strands until she spotted a headband with pale pink flowers.

Figuring Isabelle had left the accessory behind for her, she took the headband and slid it into her hair. She peered into the mirror again to ensure the accessory was straight. When she saw everything was in order and felt satisfied, she left the Veil.

Back outside, she found Clive pacing back and forth with Torgal watching him with a whine. She was surprised to see how distraught he was. Wondering if it was due to the mission, she grabbed his hand to stop him. "Clive," she called out. A small smile manifested on her face when he turned to her. "All will be fine. If Lord Chambers does attempt to do anything, I am not unarmed. I do possess magic he will surely be able to witness if his behavior lacks proper gentlemanly manner."

Clive, having been taken aback by her beauty, almost missed what she said but didn't. "Your prowess is indeed not one to be trifled with. Regardless of such knowledge, I still find myself concerned for your safety."

Releasing his hand, she laid her palm against his scarred cheek. Her smile remained, which provided him some reassurance. "I understand your concern. Perhaps I should have Torgal hide under the bed during my meeting with Lord Chambers."

This was just enough to ease the man. An amused smile tugged at his lips as he leaned his head into her gentle touch. "I would not be against the idea."

She laughed. "I'll have it arranged. For now, we have time to ourselves. It has been a while since our last visit to Northreach. How about we take a stroll around the city?"

Clive was more than happy to walk around with her at his side. "As you wish, my lady."

The couple wandered away from the Veil, leaving an understanding Torgal behind as he rested by the pond.

Side by side, Lyra and Clive walked the streets of Northreach. It wasn't long into their stroll when they both noticed the imperial guards were constantly glancing at her. It didn't surprise her considering they were the largest customer base for the Veil and she looked like a courtesan, but it was making her slightly uncomfortable. She didn't enjoy the lustful gazes of other men.

After a few minutes of trying to dismiss the gazes, Lyra drew closer to Clive. She looped an arm around his and tried to ignore the stares. "How do the ladies of the Veil come to terms with such attention? I cannot bear it much longer..."

Clive placed a hand over the arm wrapped around his own, casting a sharp glare toward an imperial guard who attempted to approach them as he spoke to her. "Let's depart for the nearby lake."

"Yes, please," she mumbled for only him to hear.

Leaving through the southern gate, they traveled to the lake that was only a few minutes away from Northreach.

Lyra released Clive's arm and walked to the water's edge with a sigh of relief. "Thank the heavens there are no imperial guards around. I couldn't bear their gazes any longer."

"You are a beautiful woman," Clive stated without having to think. "Yet there is much more to you that many will never know."

A minuscule smile appeared on her face. "You are too kind, Clive." She cast her gaze to the lake's surface and she changed the subject back to the mission. "Tomorrow best come quick. My desire to return to the hideaway is already overwhelming."

Clive turned to face her. "There is still time for you to change your mind. We could come up with another plan to locate the Bearers."

"As much as I would love to turn tail, there is no guarantee we will find the Bearers before Lord Chambers reaches Oriflamme. I will push through and do what I must to find them."

He gingerly grabbed her chin and tilted her face upward until their eyes locked. "If this Lord Chambers tries to touch you..."

"I know. If anything goes awry, Lord Chambers will know his wrongdoings right away. A broken finger or two will serve as an excellent punishment if a few burns do not." She stepped closer to him the moment his grip on her chin vanished. Winding her arms around his waist, she rested her head against his chest and whispered, "Please, do not stress over what is to come. Everything will be all right, Clive."

One of his arms came to rest across her lower back while the other hand cradled the back of her head. He held her close to him, resting his chin on the top of her head. His fingers delved into her golden locks and gently combed them through. Kissing the top of her head, he closed his eyes and held her smaller form tighter against him. "I still cannot bear the idea of you spending your time with another man."

She smiled in merriment. "A bit jealous, are we?"

He huffed out a chuckle. "Jealousy mixed with concern."

She pulled away just enough to look up at him. "You need not be jealous. After all, I am yours and yours alone. If it will alleviate some of your concern, Isabelle informed me the room is all ours until tomorrow night. We could perhaps do a little more exploring of Northreach after we enjoy the beauty of the lake."

Clive moved his hand from the back of her head to her face. His fingers caressed her porcelain cheek as he gazed deeply into her emerald eyes. "Are you certain you will be comfortable?"

She smirked and quoted Isabelle. "Only if my dashing knight scares away those gawking imperial guards. Having Rosaria's finest Shield by my side will surely cause those men to look elsewhere."

An amused and sweet smile spread across his face. "As you wish, my lady."

. · : · . ✧ • ✦ • ✧ . · : · .

The following night, Lyra was seated on the bed in the room Isabelle provided. She glanced at the small table that was lined with bottles of various alcohol and two glasses. "There's enough alcohol here to intoxicate a behemoth..."

Hearing a whine, the woman got to her feet and peered under the bed to where Torgal was hiding. There was just enough space for him to fit. "I know, boy. I will try to make this quick. Be a good boy and try to remain silent. If anything goes wrong, I will call for you."

Torgal barked in response before laying his head between his front paws.

Lyra pulled the sheets down just enough to ensure Clifton wouldn't be able to see the canine. "I still cannot believe Clive truly went along with hiding you under the bed," she spoke to the dog. "It was a random thought that had popped into my head."

Hearing a knock at the door, Lyra quickly stood up straight. She called out to the person on the other side of the door. "You may enter."

The door opened to reveal Isabelle. With her was none other than Clifton himself.

"This alluring flower will be your special lady this evening, my lord. She shall take care of you," Isabelle said before meeting the goddess' gaze. "Lord Chambers is in your capable hands, Lyra."

The blonde nodded. "I shall treat him well, my lady."

Isabelle left, leaving Lyra with Clifton. To prevent an awkward silence from settling between them, she walked over to the table lined with alcohol and asked, "How may I serve you, Lord Chambers?"

Clifton sauntered over and browsed the bottles. "Quite the spread you have here. This shall do." He handed her a bottle that happened to be one of the strongest drinks available.

Lyra felt relieved he chose a beverage with such high alcohol content. It would take fewer drinks to loosen the man's tongue. She just wondered how well he could handle his alcohol. "Excellent choice, my lord." She opened the bottle and filled the two glasses available. Grabbing the glasses, she handed one to him with the best flirtatious smile she could conjure in hopes it was good enough to fool him. "Shall we make a toast?"

Clifton grinned and raised his glass. "To my wondrous investment and the fantastic evening we shall share together."

Lyra clinked her glass with his before taking a small sip. The alcohol was strong, resulting in a much-needed burn down her throat. Although she couldn't get drunk, it was nice to have such a strong beverage. She watched Clifton as he too lifted the glass to his lips. To her surprise, he took two large gulps and almost downed the entire glass in one take. She made sure to hide her pleased smile behind her flirtatious one before innocently questioning him. "Oh? A wondrous investment? Please, do tell."

The lord guffawed. "Only if you answer one of my questions."

She lowered her glass. "And what question is that, hmm?"

"What are your thoughts on Bearers?"

She didn't answer right away, trying to ponder the question. She needed to be careful with her response as it might affect his willingness to share information. Seeing his devious smirk, she knew she had to lie. "Gods, I abhor them. They are only good for menial tasks. If they run rampant, they would destroy us all." Even though they were false words, they still left a sour taste on her tongue. She prayed the horrible lie was enough to earn his favor.

"Ha!" Clifton chuckled. "I knew from the moment I saw you that there was something I adored about you. I so happen to have just recently procured quite a wondrous batch of Bearers. Tomorrow, I shall return to Oriflamme with new servants. Ten, to be exact."

Seeing his glass was almost empty, Lyra refilled it. "My, that is quite the haul. Your home in the Holy capital must be quite the sight if you require that many servants."

"Why, of course! Having the third-largest estate in Oriflamme requires many hands to keep it tidy. You should come visit me, my lady. I would enjoy your company."

"Perhaps I will during my next visit to the capital."

As the sun set and night washed over Valisthea, Lyra continued to entertain Clifton. She refilled his glass over and over again while he continuously chatted about him and his wealth. It was clear to her he was a narcissistic man with how highly he regarded himself.

By the third bottle, Clifton was drunk. He was lying on the bed with flushed cheeks and struggling to remain awake. This troubled Lyra since he had yet to tell her where he was keeping the Bearers. She sat on the edge of the bed next to his drunken self and took his glass before he accidentally dropped it on the floor. "Shall I get you more to drink, my lord?"

"No, thank you..." He muttered, closing his eyes. "I need ta...to sleep. I ma—" He hiccuped and laughed at himself. "Fuck me...Imma feel this in the mornin'..."

"Would you like me to get you some water? Or perhaps some food to help?"

He smiled drunkenly. "That would be lovely! My arse needs ta be at Caer Norvent bright 'n early to get my goods."

That was it. The information she needed. Calmly, she stood up and walked to the door. "I shall return in a few minutes with some food and water. Rest until then, my lord." She left the room and hurried to where Isabelle was waiting. She didn't hesitate to tell her what Clifton said.

Isabelle quickly informed Philippe, who took his men to Caer Norvent to free the Bearers while leaving a few behind to deal with the inebriated Clifton. Lyra remained out of sight while they dragged the drunken lord out of her room and away from the Veil. She listened to his slurred protests until he was yanked out the front door.

Minutes later, Torgal exited the room and found her. She petted the top of his head with a relieved smile.

Isabelle let out a heavy sigh of relief before turning to the goddess. "Thank you, my lady. Lord Chambers has been dealt with and Philippe shall see to the care of the Bearers. Here is your payment." She handed the blonde a sack filled with gil. "Please, keep the dress and accessories as well."

"If you ever need my aid again, do not hesitate to send a stolas," Lyra smiled. "You are a friend, Isabelle, and I wish to do what I can to help you."

The woman smiled back. "You truly are a beautiful light in this dim world. You best return to your darling Clive before I attempt to recruit you again to be the newest lady of the Veil."

"Farewell for now, Isabelle."

Lyra left the Veil with Torgal following her. She wondered where Clive was, but she didn't have to look far when she found him by the pond. "Clive," she called out to him. A smile appeared on her face when he turned to her, only for it to grow at seeing how worried he was. "Were you here the entire time worrying about what was going to happen?"

"Yes," he confessed without hesitating. "You were alone with Lord Chambers for quite some time. Did he...?"

She shook her head. "He didn't touch me. He was more interested in speaking about himself than anything else. Getting him to talk was much easier than I had anticipated."

"From the earlier commotion, it seems you were successful."

"I was. The Bearers are safe and Lord Chambers has been arrested."

Clive visibly relaxed. "All went well, thankfully."

"Yes. I am grateful the mission was a success. Now that we are done, we should return to the hideaway. Although it is nighttime, I do not wish to stay here any longer."

Lyra stepped away from Clive but was quickly pulled back to him when he suddenly grabbed and kissed her with enough force to almost knock her off her feet. She reached out and grabbed the front of his shirt the moment the kiss intensified.

Just before it could get too heated, Clive ended the kiss. Hands still placed against her cheeks, his eyes drifted to the imperial guard who attempted to approach them. He recognized the guard from their earlier stroll and remembered how he was staring wantingly at the goddess. The kiss was the quickest and easiest way to announce to the man that she was his beloved and not some random courtesan looking for another client.

Seeing the guard rush off, Clive sighed. His eyes drifted down to the shocked face of the woman he loved, his thumbs caressing her cheeks. "Forgive me, Lyra, but a part of me does not desire to apologize for my actions."

Her shock vanished and she giggled. "I don't want an apology. The sooner we return to the hideaway, the sooner your jealousy will extinguish."

He smirked in merriment. "Let's depart immediately."