Third person POV
"P-pardon? Conquer?" Akuma tilted her head and her folded hands tighter.

"Why of course! The mighty kingdom of the North! Hyoushou!"

"That poor kingdom has fallen after the brutal death of the royal family in the midst of an ambush!" The ladies sighed with saddened expressions.

"Our Crown Prince Izana was there too! It is a blessing his highness is safe!" A lady cried.

'What the hell... But Izana returned with Kiroyuki. There's no way he could have hidden that fact. Why aren't they saying more?' Akuma strained her eyes and looked down at the ground to hide her expression.

"... What happened to the kingdom after the attack?" Akuma asked with a cool yet bitter tone.

"Eh? Ah, the kingdom was in lockdown. I have never seen such action take place! Quite mysterious even."

"My father said that the attackers rule the place for a relatively short time. There may even be a rebellion group residing there still after a rumored small group grasped the reins of the kingdom."

"Is that so..." Akuma sighed.

'There's no possible way a rebellion group would remain. Neil is gone... So is she. The new force must be them...' Akuma calculated and placed a hand over her mouth.

"I have heard that there is—"

*Knock knock*

"Come in." Akuma creased her brows and looked towards the door.

Obi and the head butler entered the room. The ladies gasped and giggled at the handsome escort and hopingly looked at Akuma. The recognized the golden-eyed boy to be her escort when Akuma entered the party hall. The two bowed their heads.

"Lady Akuma. His Highness the Crown Prince Izana has called for you." The head butler explained.

"Ah, is it already time?" Akuma lifted her heavy body from the couch.

'It seems like there was important information to gain here after all.' She mentally sighed and racked her brain to find another opportunity.

"Dear ladies, would you mind if I invite you some time for tea? It was quite enjoyable to chat with beautiful and young ladies my age for the first time." Akuma shyly placed her hand up towards her mouth and looked up at the ladies with their flushed faces.

"Why of course!"

"It would be an honor!"

"We shall make time whenever you wish!"

"Really? That makes me so happy!" Akuma clapped her hands and turned to the head butler. "Please do write down these wonderful ladies' names! Refill their snacks if they wish to stay and chat here longer!" Akuma smiled.

"Thank you Lady Akuma! You are far too gracious!" The ladies awed at Akuma's saint-like attitude towards them.

"But of course! I shall excuse myself now. I will send out invites shortly!" Akuma bowed and exited the room with Obi.

"Obi." Akuma called out in an indifferent tone. She remained to look forward with a still face.

"Yes?" Obi answered. He waited for a little for her during her silence before bringing up a question. "What did you hear back there?" He glanced down at her.

"Things that make my blood boil, and things that provoke my fears. After the meeting, please... Please leave me and find Ryu." Akuma worriedly creased her brows and looked up at Obi. Her eyes were filled with many emotions that made him feel the urgent desperation from her.

"... Yes, I will. Do not worry." Obi furrowed his brows and hardened his gaze to reassure her. He worried for her, who hardly shows and talks in a soft tone in such a concerning manner. After all, the young girl before him became someone precious to him like a younger sister over time.

"... Thank you..." Akuma turned away and quickened her pace.
—————

"I hope I am not late." Akuma entered the room with folded hands and clear eyes.

"Not at all. We are going to begin soon after Lord Trevor and his envoys arrive." Izana gestured for her to take a seat diagonal from his towards the end of the table.

Akuma nodded her head and walked in front of the eyes of high ranking officials and nobles. She lightly bowed at the group and walked over to Izana. She stood beside Izana who stood up, which called to all of their attention.

"Esteemed lords and officials of Clarines, this is Lady Akuma. She is well versed in politics and strategies."

At this cue, Akuma picked up the ends of her dress and bowed her head.

"It's an honor to be graced by your presence and to be here." Akuma lifted her head and did not bother smiling ever so gracefully but to keep a charismatic face. She did not need to send such a message. She was in a different survival zone than with noble ladies. Still, her unique visuals made her sway the hearts and eyes of the men.

"Lord Brother, I have arrived. Pardon my tardiness." Zen entered the room and the officials bowed to him before making his way over.

The officials were surprised and quite irked at the fact that Akuma did not lower her head to either Prince the entire time. She knew this, but she did not follow their expectations.

"Nonsense. I have called our men first to make sure everyone arrives before the envoys in case of absence." Izana answered.

"With all due respect your highness, but I've never heard about that woman's credibility. How can we trust your vouch, your highness?" An official asked with disbelief.

"She has helped assist me with plenty behind the scenes." Izana's usual grin was stuck onto his face.

"Do not question his highness with who he lets attend the meeting." Duke Haruka of Clarines hardened his gaze.

"Please do pardon me for butting in, but I have not been shared much detail of the meeting's purpose." Akuma spoke up.

"Why would you let in a woman who knows nothing?" Another pipped up.

"However, that doesn't mean I don't catch on quickly Count. Your daughter, Lady Melody, is quite... Outspoken." Akuma gave him a cunning and knowing smile. He showed an irked expression in surprise that she knew who he was when he has never introduced himself. He knew that his daughter caused a small stir at the tea party.

"Lord Haruka could fill you in before the envoys arrive shortly in ten." Izana said.

"Ten minutes? Hah, you sure are generous." Akuma giggled and covered her mouth. "Now, now, don't glare at me. A little bit of character won't destroy the table." Akuma walked off towards Lord Haruka, whose expression disliked her attitude towards Izana alike the others.

"I don't mind. Hand me the papers." Izana waved his hand.

Lord Haruka informed Akuma that the meeting would discuss the peace treaty, the tea goods, and the "gifts" Izana mentioned to her before. New information he told was a negotiation of a trade route in relation to taxes with Clarines goods.

"I see... And these so-called gifts will not be told yet. At least to me." Akuma looked up into the Duke's eyes.

"Correct." He nodded his head. "Do not ruin the Princes' reputation." He hardened his warning gaze.

"I have no intention to." Akuma sharply exchanged his threatening stare and walked back towards the table when she heard the doors open.

"Welcome Lord Trevor and envoys of Reinsfor." Izana greeted with a princely and political-friendly smile. The two head leaders shook hands and made way to the seats.

After Akuma had bowed at the incoming group, she met eyes with Trevor who had only reacted with a ghostly smile.

Akuma sat down into her seat and came face across the table from Zen. Reassured with their exchange of glances, Akuma looked down the table to see that Trevor took a seat at the end just lime Izana on her end.

"With the limited time we have, I apologize for forcing time into the party but thank you for attending. I would like to thank his highness Izana for granting the meeting." Trevor smiled.

"Certainly. Shall we begin discussing." Izana folded his hands.

"Of course." Trevor cleared his throat and one of his men passed out folders to each of Clarines's representatives.

'So organized...' Akuma flipped through a couple of pages of the document.

"The tea goods have already been near established. We have come to an agreement and need to further discuss its details..."

The discussion about the rare tea goods did not strike Akuma with a lot of important details. They just talked about the flow of the tea trade, the rare tea gifts they will send to his highnesses, and the tea's properties.

'Tea, tea, tea... I want Ryu to brew me some tea.' Akuma flipped another page.

"We ask that in return for opening up the trade route to our country's market, Clarines would share a tax reduction on the herbs only Clarines inhabitants." A Reinsfor official stated, causing Akuma's ears to perk up.

"Do tell more." Akuma spoke up. "I read ahead and it says that you would like a 9% tax reduction. Do keep in mind that the herbs special in Clarines are rare and come in much smaller quantities than common herbs. For some, the purification of the herbs adds additional time, making it pricey and laborious."

"You are quite knowledgeable Lady Akuma. That is a valid point, which is why we want to reach a conclusion." Trevor smiled and nodded his head.

'This b*tch will only make Ryu busier.' Akuma frowned. 'It's his job, but still, I don't like this guy. He irks me in the wrong way.'

"Reinsfor's climate is quite cooler than Clarines, correct?" Zen approached the topic.

"Yes. Only one-fifth of our land stays relatively warm year-round as we are further up north." Trevor explained.

'Ah, so that's the geographic connection to Hyoushou.' Akuma raised a brow in light amusement at this gathering of information.

"For a powerful nation as Reinsfor, what would our herbs do worthy for you?" Izana asked and looked up from the documents.

"We are expanding our forces." An official answered.

'Expanding...' Akuma's gaze grew colder and stricter.

"Aha, yes we are a well-off nation but the cold has gotten much harsher. We need our people to remain fit. We are taking the precaution with more potent herbs and medicine. We could expand our knowledge of medicine." Trevor unfolded his hands and one raised, as he explained.

"Precaution?" Zen pressed for answers.

"It's a precaution for the sake of the future and the people. Illnesses of fevers, intense delusions, and blood clotting of a group of over 70 people are worse than the common in the past ten months." The officials further explained.

"9% is a lot even for a reason like that. You can't even provide solid evidence or reasoning for a group of 70 that has not since been increased for almost a year." Akuma intervened.

(Disclaimer: NOT ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19! Precaution is important, but this is JUST for the sake of plot. Plus this is a story only. >~< But still! Be safe and stay healthy! Find a good pace to keep yourself together!!!)

"Who is this little girl?" An envoy scoffed quite angrily.

"Excuse me?" Akuma raised a brow with an annoyed and offended tone.

"I have requested her to attend. Word has it that she is a brilliant figure around here." Trevor smiled, silencing his men.

"... Forgive me for speaking out." He begrudgingly said.

"Your highness, if I may." Akuma looked over to Izana.

"Go ahead." He nodded his head with a confident grin.

"There should only be a few still diagnosed if it has been nine months. We can sell finished products of the herbs you need for its price now. For trade starting in the very near future, we may only be able to reduce to 5-6%. We need reports from the herbalists' office to make an accurate decision." Akuma smiled.

"5-6%?! Are you insane?!" An envoy laughed.

"This season hasn't been fair for many countries." Akuma defended. "But of course, we can trade the raw herb and for you to purify the herbs yourself as an alternate."

"She's correct. It has rained only twice the past few months." Izana confirmed.

The group finally concluded that they would accept the decision to wait upon a report from the herbalists of Clarines with the possibility that they would receive a 5/6% tax reduction. They agreed that they would accept both raw and finished herbal trade products.

The entire time, however, Akuma could not shake off the stares from Trevor. It was a great sense of discomfort and anger.

"This meeting will have to end for now. We shall continue tomorrow at noon." Izana announced.

"Yes, that is wise. It is getting late, and we have yet to discuss the peace treaties and more." Trevor smiled and stood up.

'Eh? Tomorrow? No! That can't happen!' Akuma balled her hands into fists under the table.

The envoys and officials quickly said their farewells with formal talk, wanting to retire home or to return to the party to drink.

"Lady Akuma. You spoke wonderfully. Where do you learn to speak well versed and in the knowledge of the medicine here?" Trevor approached in front of her face.

"A hobby." Akuma curtly responded and gritted her teeth behind her straightly lined lips.

"Is that so... You are quite the unique lady." He tilted his head with a smile.

"I will ask the question now." Akuma abruptly said.

"Ah, but the meeting isn't over." Trevor laughed.

"Seriously?! You'll pulling tricks!" Akuma's anger-filled face laced over.

"It's simply as I stated." He bowed his head and looked up. "I look forward to seeing you tomorrow at the meeting." Trevor walked past her and to Izana.

"..." Akuma stared at the floor, dumbfounded. She gritted her teeth and her fists, and she walked out of the room without regard for anyone.

"Akuma." Obi followed her outside and followed her pace. Zen shortly followed them after his farewells too.

"Obi... Hurry." Akuma stopped in her tracks. "I have to sort out some matters, and I don't have the face to see him right now."

"I understand." Obi nodded his head and looked at Zen before heading off.

"Zen... Lend your time to me. I need to do something."

"We can go to my office to discuss." Zen walked up to her side, and they made their way down the hall.

5/15/2020
Hey guys! Sorry that this chapter was lengthy in some political and number-ish stuff! I needed to build up some stuff here and spill detail little by little~!

I hope you guys are doing alright with online schooling~! I personally don't like it tbh -3-
But oh well~!

Thank you for reading guys~! 💙✨