I got off the carriage. My dress pulled around me, loud noises and the sweet and savory smell of the street food welcomed me. I looked around for a bit, in the distance I could see some of the civilians putting up tents for the festivals. New venters and traders learning the streets of the capitol.
The carriages of the aristocrats are passing by one after another in great speed and intensity of something unknown. I couldn't help but smile to myself. This place was far different then the estate I was used to.

As I walked ahead, I sensed the aura of the bracelet before I noticed the Crown Prince. The aura the bracelet was omitting was an ancient one but yet so powerful and yet so beautiful. And among that remarkable and dazzling magic, I saw Lucian Alastiar. His black hair, unruly as ever but his brilliant red eyes burned into mine. He was wearing a dark brown long constellation-embroidered coat, fitted waistcoat, and silver chains. Matching dark brown pants, boots and black gloves to finish the outfit. It was rather less dazzling then his usual outfits he is known to wear when he attends events or balls but since he was trying to pass for the normal aristocrat image, this would have to do.

I walked up to him with the smile I did my best to hide, tiling my hat up to properly match his gaze for a childish way to establish dominance or in our case bargain.

"Greeting, your highness" I nodded my head towards him as an acknowledgment at which a smirk creeped up his face.

"You are rather polite today, Miss Esmeray" He said with a bow at which I raised an eyebrow and smiled when I realized he was playing an aristocrat with low ranking and not much of an identity.

"Bowing to me rather suits you, your highness," I tried the mocking tone he gave to me the other way which only earned a laugh from him as he raised up straight and led us inside the restaurant he was waiting upon.

I smirked as he whispered, "You might need to out-rank me if you want to keep seeing it."

At which I couldn't help but scoff. Out-rank the Crown Prince? He is set to be the Future Emperor and the only way to out rank him might be by being the Empress. That literally is like chasing the horizon.

"Are you setting me up for a fool's errand to catch the wind?" I glared at him to which he laughed.

The inside of the restaurant was remarkable. The walls of the place were in the color of elegant navy matching the blue and white floral carpeted floor. The dining salon is drenched in natural light from soaring windows, where crystal chandeliers hang above curved sapphire banquettes, damask chairs, and tables dressed in crisp white linen. It was indeed a mesmerizing sight. There were musicians in every corner, playing the piano, violins and harps.

I walked a step ahead of him as I spoke, "An excellent choice you made on picking this restaurant."

At this, his brows frowned and then he spoke up

"Excellent choice?" he questioned. "I wouldn't call this an excellent choice, the musicians are playing a couple of notes wrong."

"I didn't realise you were such a keen listener to music." I explained as Lucian moved us to our reserved spot and our server waited on us to make orders.

Lucian laughed softly, "Well, I picked up many hobbies during my time on the battlefield."

"Ah," And that was my cue to shut up.

I looked around, finding comfort in the silence we both mutually agreed on as our server left us to our own devices to fetch us some refreshing fruit juice. People were busy minding their own business, talking about the festival, rise and slumps of business. While some were just aristocrat couples surviving the small talk with their partners hoping it would also survive their marriage.

"Do you see over there?" Lucian gestured to the couple I labeled as a small talk couple. "That's Lord and Lady Crawford, they got married last season."

My eyes narrowed back at Lucian, "Quiet the marriage they have." I commented.

Lucian shrugged back. "If you are familiar with the capital gossip, you would know the Lord's maid has plenty to say about his bedroom performance."

"Huh, you don't say." I sipped off the fruit juice our server just brought us. "That can be us, with my grandfather's persuasion if you don't get rid of that godforsaken will."

"Straight at the elephant in the room." Lucian laughed, shaking his head as I just glared at him.

Finally his laughter died down and he looked up at me, "You wound me Miss Esmeray. If it was you and I in that marriage, how could I dare to be with a maid instead of you?"

"Save the flattery for someone else, your highness." I sighed. "I just want that will to go away."

Before he could counter my words with something of his own, a big white hawk flew towards us. It was white in a way that seemed to glow. Well of course it glows, it was no ordinary hawk, it is a Neur. An extension of a complete summoning spell.

Most people didn't see the bird as it's made of mana but magicians like me and mana wielder like Lucian can see it, but right now the Prince looked very baffled by the bird.

"Worry not, your highness." I explained to him as the bird landed on my wrist. "This is a Neur, summoning from the Marquess Reamann"

"The head of the magic tower? Summoning now?" Lucian asked one after the other.

I nodded to answer both of his questions. "Well then, now if you will excuse me I need to be off to the Marquess's estate as he wishes upon with great urgency."

"Take me with you then." The words surprised me as much as it surprised the man who uttered them. But he recovered from it quickly.

"I could say 'Hi' to Zaven for a chance and we can finish our conversation once you are done dealing with the great urgency." He finished his words with a smile, feeling proud of his comeback.

"You don't wish to leave the will matter hanging, do you?" That seems to get my gears turning. And by the look in his eyes, he could also see my gears turning.

"You can come with a wish, you want me to grant and if it's adequate to the very reason I first give the mine to you, I will grant the wish and take the mine back." Lucian looked back at me with a smirk which said he knew something that I didn't. And it messed with me since I couldn't think of any wish adequate enough to get rid of him now.

"Fine then, we go to the Marquess now." I finally spoke up and got up from our table. "And I will give you an answer by the end of the day."

***

Once we teleported to the Marquess estate, the change of air greeted us first then the guards did. Lucian got rid of his bracelet making him recognizable to everyone as the guards hurried and scrambled to let us in.

We walked the stone path together until we reached the doorstep of the grand manor. Lucian stood still for a minute as if he was taking in the estate view before he joined me. The Reamann family butler greeted us and led us to Sir Zaven's study.

In the Marquess's estate, there was an entire floor dedicated to studies, libraries and research rooms. The studies of the previous Heads of the Reamann family still exist in their respective offices. Those offices are still kept in the state they were left in, for preservation of data and have nothing to be tempered with.

Rumor has it the first head of the Reamann family, the one who knew the Archmage, his office still exists somewhere in this very floor. Only the true Raemann heir can tell each room apart by whom they belonged to.

The butler announced our presence before he opened the door for me and Lucian to enter. And inside was Sir Zaven, surrounded by mountains and mountains of papers. His eyes were bloodshot, heavy with dark circles and exhaustion. This man was about to work himself to death, then take proper rest.

"Well aren't you a sight for sore eyes." Lucian chuckled as Zaven looked up and glared at him.

"Fuck off, Lucian," Zaven hissed while Lucian got the childish glint that he found his favorite toy.

He took the sofa which faces the mahogany table and I followed his suit. "I would have, if you didn't ruin my lovely date."

I glared at him but took my place on the other sofa across Lucian which also faces Sir Zaven. "Seriously, Sir Zaven-" I gestured at the mess around his office. "What on earth are you doing? Even men in asylums are in better condition."

"Yeah Zaven, what got your feathers ruffled." Lucian chimed in as I glared at him hoping to make it clear that he isn't helping.

Lucian earned another glare from Sir Zaven but Sir Zaven said nothing and ignored Lucian.

"Last night, something interfered with the estate barrier." Zaven got up from his place behind the grand study desk, walked across it and leaned on it as he faced us. "I have been searching all the offices, all the research rooms and libraries to check if anything went missing."

Then Zaven sighed, "But with this many rooms around, searching is exhausting and I can't really do a high rank spell without breaking the barrier which exposes the estate and puts us in jeopardy."

"So now you need more hands on deck to check if everything is okay?" Lucian chimed in with his simplified explanation.

"To put it simply, yes." Zaven pulled out two scrolls with identical spell circles drawn. He handed me one and the other to Lucian who looked up feeling betrayed by his old friend. He definitely didn't come here with the hopes of being forced into free labour.

"I take it that you still remember to use mana," Zaven looked Lucian up and down to which Lucian only rolled his eyes.

"I didn't win the war by luck apparently." Lucian bites back, true to the lore the sword Lucian uses is a Royal heir loom which was forged by faes. It needed a significant amount of mana for him to wield it.

"You two can take the west, I will finish up the east-" I stopped Zaven's on-going list of orders.

"That was enough chit-chat" I rolled up the scroll and handed it to Lucian. "I think both his highness and I can handle the west and the east, what you need on the other hand is to sleep!"

"Eva-"

"Don't Eva me, we don't need you collapsing on your feet when you break the barrier." I glared at him even though I know that can lead to me being thrown at trolls.

"Both of us can look around and if we indeed find something missing you will let you know, head of the magic tower or not- you are mortal Sir Zaven." Sir Zaven narrowed his eyes at me as I lectured him. Trolls definitely Trolls.

However he muttered something under his breath and left the office, leaving me and Lucian alone to our own devices.

"So it's you and me."

The grin on his face was enough to get me to rethink life decisions.

A/N: Hello! It's been a long time since I have last uploaded. University life is crazy and for the first time in a while I feel sane so here is a chapter! 
I hope you enjoy this!
Love and kisses,
Bye.