Third person POV
"Take a seat anywhere." Zen sat down onto a chair and adjusted it to face Akuma who decided to sit onto the cushioned window sill. "I could feel the tension between you and Lord Trevor."

"Hah... He's suspicious. He has something to do with Hyoushou, and he wants something to do with me. He's dangerous." Akuma removed the headpiece from her head and freely ruffled her hair.

"Hyoushou? Izana filled me in with limited knowledge, but what would he want much from Hyoushou?" Zen folded and intertwined his hands.

"I heard detailed rumors from noble ladies that Trevor would conquer Hyoushou during its fallen state... The Crown Prince of Reinsfor died unnaturally, and I can only think back to Trevor. It's a bold assumption but anything could be possible." Akuma glared down into her lap and looked out the window.

"That is bold. It sounds like you want me to find out more information regarding the details."

"Yes. I can't guarantee Izana would do that and tell me everything. I also need more details about Trevor's house. Especially about the eldest and the rumored illegitimate son."

"You've heard that much already?" Zen blinked in surprise.

"Noble lady gossip. It gives you a lot more information than I thought." Akuma shrugged her shoulders and turned around. "I need you to make invites for me."

"Huh?" Zen stared at her with comical white eyes and a jaw-dropped expression. "Since when were you able to call orders..."

"Always." Akuma humorously scoffed. "I need to gather more information from the noble ladies. I had a servant write their names. I should receive the list tomorrow morning. A private and small tea party. In two days by midnight."

"Two days? We just had one yesterday. That doesn't follow up right." Zen let out a sigh and brushed his bangs back.

"Does that matter? I need information as soon as possible!" Akuma threw up her hands.

"I understand." Zen eyed her and raised his hands up in surrender. "But why not appoint it the day after the meeting?"

"... I have to make it up to Ryu." Akuma pouted. "We planned to go out to the town..." Akuma lowly growled.

"Ah, sorry..." Zen sweatdropped. "A tea party it is. I shall arrange the invitations and hand over the planning to you. I'll notify the head butler, so refer to him or me."

"Perfect. I'd probably bother you a lot since I know nothing about throwing a tea party but a sword."

"Or a tantrum..." Zen snickered with a sweatdrop.

"I will throw you." Akuma glared at him with wide eyes.

"I like my bones where they are at." Zen nervously laughed. "I will have Kiki and Mitsuhide help me in the investigation."

"Sounds good." Akuma nodded her head and placed her feet down onto the ground. "Zen... Izana is controlling the flow of rumors, but I find it hard to believe that the noble ladies didn't mention Kiroyuki once."

"What? That would be near impossible. Some high ranked nobles would have gotten a glimpse of Kiroyuki. Concrete rumors even." Zen furrowed his brows.

"I don't know... It could also be because they were chatting too excitedly. Could." Akuma stood up and grabbed onto her headpiece. "I don't know how involved Trevor is with Hyoushou, but I don't like it."

"And what about Ryu? What will you tell him?"

"... I don't know. I'll figure that out." Akuma walked towards the door. "Thank you, Zen. I'll excuse myself." She exited the office, her heels clicking onto the moonlit reflected marbled floor across the hall.

'For once I can't use bloodshed to get rid of a problem...' Akuma's fists trembled in anger and she tightly gritted her teeth.

"... I have too much to lose now..." Akuma sighed and forced herself to let go of her tension. She hopelessly looked out the large glass window for a few seconds and darted her gaze behind her.

"... Who's there?" Akuma warned with a cold voice.

Silence answered Akuma back. It had only fueled her annoyance and anger furthermore. Her mood soured, and she stomped over towards the corner of the hall.

"...!" Akuma's eyes looked around in surprise. She let out a tired sigh and crossed her arms.

'There are no rooms down this long hall... What the hell... I swear I am imagining things.' Akuma clicked her tongue and turned back around the corner and back towards the direction of her room.
—————

"Hah..." Ryu placed down the feather pen and read back through his report of the new herbal concoction he and Shirayuki were observing. He stood up from his desk and grabbed a stack of books from the bookshelf. He determinedly flipped through the pages, immersing himself into the research.

*Knock knock*

"Little squirt, I'm coming in." Obi said from behind the door and entered himself.

"Obi?" Ryu blinked in surprise. "Oh. Did you just leave the party? It's late. Is Akuma asleep?" Ryu pushed the book to the side.

"Ahaha, it is late. I can't believe you're up this late still. She, well, had some business to attend to." Obi closed the door behind him and walk over.

"She's busy this late?"

"Yeah... This isn't easy for me to break it to you buddy but try to hear me out, okay?" Obi awkwardly grinned and crossed his arms.

"A-alright..." Ryu nodded his head, unsure of how to comprehend Obi's words.

"Akuma got acquainted with another country. It was bound to happen and out of her will. We just finished a meeting with them and Prince Izana and Zen." Obi began, analyzing Ryu's body language and expression.

"Is she in trouble?" Ryu breathed out with worry. His eyes drooped down in concern of what more Obi would say.

"She's a tough cookie, you know that, right?" Obi laughed to calm down Ryu's nerves.

"Yeah, she is." Ryu nodded his head, and his shoulders relaxed.

"Because of the sticky situation, she can't go out to town tomorrow."

"Ah... I see..." Ryu blinked his eyes and disappointingly looked away. He rubbed the back of his neck and let out a troubled sigh.

"You're too young to sigh like an old man." Obi ruffled Ryu's hair. "Don't worry. I'm sure she'll plan to go out the day after. She wanted to punch the officials because of the unexpected situation!" Obi cheekily grinned.

"Punch?" Ryu shook his head and sweatdropped. Still, a smile cracked out onto his lips and his eyes soften that that part of her was still ever so refreshingly silly. "... Thank you Obi." Ryu turned his head back and nodded his head.

"No problem squirt." Obi huffed his chest and smiled back. "So, what are you working on?" Obi leaned over and looked towards the desk.

"Ah, I'm documenting the phases of the fermentation of a few different herbs. New ones even."

"Oh~. Need a hand organizing anything?"

"Sure. I have a couple of piles of books that need to be put back onto the top shelves." Ryu pointed up towards the large bookcase.

"Got it. You go ahead and catch up with your work." Obi nodded his head and took off his fancy cape and coat. He already knew how to organize the shelves from hanging around the place quite often.

'Akuma... I sure hope you are doing alright. I don't understand or know what is going on...' Ryu picked the book back up. 'I wish I could do something more... I wish I would grow up soon...'

5/18/2020