THE WHITE FOX | THREE

 "WHO ARE YOU?" The words were harsh, the voice it belonged to feminine. Asteria didn't look in that direction, though. Let Io handle this herself for now. If it gets too much, and when there's more attention on them, I'll step in. Put in a preliminary warning that Iolanthe Mi was under the Countess of Zi Yan's protection.

Io's voice came back, soft and wonderous, "I'm Iolanthe Mi, miss." She didn't state her connection with Asteria. Anyone with a head would have seen them sticking together like two peas in a pod and have made connections by now, but as Diksha said, most people were idiots. Everyone was waiting to head in for dinner in the drawing room, and unlike earlier in the day, the guests were starting to mingle. Asteria conversed quietly with a young man from Dumah. His father was a rich merchant, he said. Eloquent and well-spoken, though a bit boring.

"And where do you hail from?" The woman in question asked, the disdain clear in her tone. Danna flickered Asteria a quick glance from across the room when she knew she was looking, and Asteria gave a quick, surreptitious shake of her head. Not yet.

"Fen Jing, miss," Io replied quickly. "It's in—"

"I know where Fen Jing is," the woman replied with a snarl. "Do you think me an idiot, Miss Mi?"

Asteria glanced in their direction. A blonde woman. Chestnut brown eyes. Pretty enough, but the ugly sneer ruined it. Eyes fearful and wide, Io bobbed a curtsy. "Of course not, miss. I only though—"

"Enough of that." The woman was now joined by two others, a man and a woman. Caershireens, Asteria decided before turning back to her conversation partner with a cool smile. "I've never heard of you."

"My family isn't very well-known, miss, so it's perfectly reasonable you don't know who I am—"

"Not my point. How did you get invited?"

Io stopped. Asteria imagined she blinked in confusion a few times for a dramatic effect before saying cautiously, "I'm afraid I'm not quite sure what you mean."

"Look around this room, Miss Mi."

Asteria didn't have to look to know Io did, dramatically and comically.

"I'm not sure what I'm looking at."

A loud sigh of frustration interrupted the already tense atmosphere of the drawing room. Diksha glanced at Asteria curiously. Asteria returned with a sly look.

"You're looking at people from families of power and importance. I've never even heard of your family. How did someone like you get invited? I'll talk to the Carlstons about this— it's an insult to us, really. I was promised the guest list would be selective and consist of only important people." Behind her, her cronies and friends murmured in agreement. When Asteria glanced at Io once more, the girl's expression had frozen, though it was still smiling.

"That's quite rude of you, Miss...?"

"You don't even know who I am?" The woman demanded. "Miss Wushire."

"Am I supposed to know who you are, miss?" Wushire, Wushire... Her father was rich. One of the new Caershireen dynasties of merchants, businessmen and traders. She'd have expected much more politeness. Mei jia jiao de gu niang, she thought. Ill-mannered little brats. Did these Caershireens have no idea how to teach their children?

"So you are uneducated and extremely sheltered as well. By golly, it gets worse every second."

"Are well-bred ladies not supposed to be sheltered?" Io kept her voice levelled, letting a certain degree of confusion seep into her words. Asteria glanced around the room to see everyone's reactions. Everyone pretended they weren't hearing or seeing the confrontation, but she could feel all attention on it. Some looked disapproving, others neutral. Some smirked and fanned the flames silently.

The three gentlemen who had been discussing them watched silently from the side, expressions closed off and indecipherable.

"Yes, but they're supposed to still know enough about the world." Miss Wushire seemed to take the lack of reaction from the other guests as encouragement to continue her tirade, failing to realise the trap Io was leading her into. She was just the distraction, after all, the lure.

Asteria was the predator, the one Miss Wushire should really be worried about. But she wouldn't realise that in her little brain, would she?

"Well, I apologise. Perhaps you could bring up your complaints to Lady Kuroki. She's resting in her quarters right now, but will be coming down for dinner a bit later." Io was slowly revealing her cards now, still giving Miss Wushire a chance to back off with her dignity intact. She knew Asteria needed to humiliate this girl to make a point.

There was the first sign of hesitation. Mentioning Lady Kuroki's name. Being so educated, Miss Wushire would certainly know the baroness. And Lady Kuroki's tuition fee was known far and wide for being extremely expensive.

"I won't bother doing that." Miss Wushire recovered quickly with a scoff. "Why someone of her status would take in someone like you eludes me."

"In Sai," Io said, voice patient, "the best teachers are willing to teach anyone regardless of family background, wealth or intelligence. Perhaps that is different outside of my country. I am uneducated, as you said, so I wouldn't know. I apologise for my ignorance." Anyone who pondered about her words would slowly notice the layer of sarcasm she was putting on it, bit by bit. But Miss Wushire was too caught up in her own superiority to notice.

"Yes, but—" She cut herself off with a sniffle. "Heaven knows why I'm arguing with someone like you. Certainly not worth my time, won't you agree, Analisa?"

Her friend, Analisa, a brunette, quickly agreed with a few nods of her head.

"You could choose not to argue with someone as lowly as me," Io said, head lowered.

"Do not sass me, young lady." Miss Wushire raised her head, standing up tall. "It shows your ill-breeding."

This was it. Her chance. Even to the most snobbish of the elite, Miss Wushire would have crossed the line. No one would fault her for striking back hard. Asteria excused herself to the Dumah boy and turned towards Miss Wushire and Io, qipao rustling. "You're one to speak of ill-breeding, Miss Wushire." She kept her voice loud and level so that everyone could hear it clearly.

Whatever opposition the girl had been expecting, she hadn't seen it coming in the form of Lady Asteria Lu. Foolish of her. Attention in the room snapped towards them instantly, no one bothering to hide their interest and rapt concentration anymore.

"Lady Asteria." But her voice was shaky.

"You speak of ill-breeding to my own cousin while you spit your prejudiced, mannerless poison. A disgrace. Do your parents know how you act? They must be very disappointed."

Miss Wushire's face paled at the words. Asteria pinned her with a cold glare, and not looking at Io, said, "Io, come with me. You needn't waste your time on such people. We taught you better than that."

Io mumbled, "I apologise. I got a bit carried away. It is amusing, is it not, watching them bite their own tongues?"

"You—"

"You. Me. Would you like to list every pronoun in the Arecian dictionary?" Asteria tilted her head, hands clasping in front of her. "Pick on someone your own size next time, Miss Wushire. It's extremely anticlimactic." Leaving the girl with her mouth opening and shutting like a gaping fish, Asteria grasped Io's hand and turned to where Danna was.

Danna smirked. Asteria glared, and she quickly wiped the grin off her face. Nice, her friend mouthed.

Asteria's reply was a tight smile.

『-』

ALEKSANDR VOLKOV SPOKE first. "That was a purposeful display," he noted, nudging his chin at where Miss Wushire was left speechless. "Lady Asteria had been watching the interaction since it began, but she only went to interfere once everyone was focusing on it."

"She's setting boundaries," Louis said with much admiration. "Her father's the Fox of Sai, after all. Her mother's a spymaster in her own right. They wouldn't have raised a fool."

"Is she involved in her father's business, do you think?" Maximilian asked, frowning. "Is she here for the same reason we are?"

Louis thought about that for a moment. "I'd say she's definitely aware of her father's occupation. But from what I've heard, Lady Asteria had been shipped off to some boarding school the moment she could fend for herself and spends most of her time there instead of in the Bone Court."

"That explains her companions." She said the one being picked on was a cousin. The other was probably a schoolmate. "But it doesn't explain why the cousin was apparently spying on you, Louis. You sure it's the same person?"

Louis nodded. "A hundred and ten percent sure. Iolanthe Mi... I've never heard of the name."

"Not a cousin?"

Louis shrugged. "From what I've heard the Lus are a big family. And only the main branch is well-known. It could be that. I doubt Lady Asteria has a reason to lie about something like this anyways."

"And the last one?" Aleksandr asked, watching said female in the corner of his eyes. That one hadn't garnered much attention, sticking to the corners, observing quietly. A wallflower. She wasn't unpleasant to the eye, but she was no great beauty either. Rather plain, really, and she hadn't displayed much personality past trailing after Lady Asteria. A cronie, probably. "Haven't heard anything about her."

"No one has said anything about her." Louis huffed. "Give us a year and she'd become a first-rate spy. Very good at staying invisible."

"In a vicious pack like this," Max murmured, glancing around, "that's a tactic for survival. That other girl just now, for example, Miss Mi. She's too pretty. So the older Miss Wushire looks around for a target to establish dominance and chooses her."

"Not realising Miss Mi is backed by the renowned Countess of Ice," Aleksandr said dryly. "Foolish of her."

"The older Miss Wushire is known for being foolish," Max replied. "Her unpleasant personality is quite well-known. It seems that Miss Mi was more than able to stand her own, however."

"They planned it," Louis realised with a start. "They planned all of it. Lady Asteria was exchanging glances with their other friend the entire time. I thought they were deciding who'd stand up for her. They were timing it."

That made them people who planned and schemed. People he and his fellow agents needed to avoid if they wanted this mission to carry on smoothly. Volkov looked deep in thought, still watching the unnamed woman as she leaned in to murmur something in the countess's ear. Whatever it was, it made Lady Asteria smile. A startling sight, the Countess of Ice grinning.

He looked away. "We keep an eye on all three of them. But keep out of their way."

Louis said, "Miss Mi has displayed the nasty habit of climbing trees to spy on people. I would have missed her too, if not for the birds."

Max blinked. "But you're—" He stopped. People might be listening. So this Miss Mi was skilled enough to hide from the senses of a wiccai, which was what Louis was. One of the people with special abilities and enhanced senses. "Is Lady Asteria's presence a cover for their real purpose?"

Volkov said, "We're working towards the same purpose, if they're here."

The Intelligence Bureau had declined the Saian government's request that they check into the sudden spike in pro-Meliquean opinions, and investigate the organisation behind it all. But they hadn't actually not done it. He wouldn't be here otherwise. Did the Saians decide to take matters into their own hands? Without proper reasoning, no agent would have been able to attend a party like this one without suspicion. Is that why the lady was here? Did the Duke of Shui Xiang send his own daughter to accompany an agent?

Miss Mi seemed young to be an operative, but then, so was Louis.

Things were complicating very, very quickly. He didn't like it at all. He'd assumed this would be simple: get in, give a few subtle slaps on the wrist and maybe some arrests, and get out. But if the Saians had sent in people of their own...

"But we won't be working together," he pointed out quietly. "That practically puts us at cross-purpose. We'll be stumbling into each other's trails."

"That complicates matters," Louis agreed.

Volkov looked pensive. "I still think we should somehow get an introduction. I'm not fond of the fact that we don't even know one of their identities. We were sent in woefully underprepared."

That had been one of Max's own complaints. He was already working with someone of questionable loyalties. Did the Bureau need to send him in practically empty-handed as well? But apparently all attempts to subtly extract a comprehensive guest list had failed. He hadn't been given the details.

"We'll figure it out." Louis flexed his fingers, tilting his head. With coiffed dark brown, almost black hair and the rich tawny skin of Vayanteans, the younger boy was handsome. He used it to his advantage sometimes. He'd be too young for most of the females present as a potential choice, though, so he'd be left alone. It was why he was here. No one would question it if he snuck away once in a while.

Max replied, unimpressed, "Of course we will. We need to beg for an introduction sometime soon."

"When Carlston comes back," Louis promised. "I'll ask him to do that. Practically his duties as our host. He owes us one anyway."

"He's not fond of me," Aleksandr murmured. "Not that I expected him to be."

"Good," Max said without looking at him. "You're not delusional, then. I was worried about that. I didn't want to work with a madman."

Aleksandr flashed a toothy smile. "Not a concern you need to worry about, Lieutenant Harlande. My superiors wouldn't have sent me out otherwise."

"Please, no need for the lieutenant bit. Just Harlande is fine." He pulled his fingers through dark blonde hair, tousling it. "I don't suppose any of the guests seem to be likely suspects for organising a group that's harming national security."

With clear amusement, Louis said, "No, I'm afraid not. The obvious suspect would be Seve Romero, but it's not him." Wouldn't be him. Too obvious. They'd be looking for someone unexpected.

"Not Romero. He's very anti-Meliquean, supports Vayante's independence." Volkov tilted his head. "Don't turn, but the three ladies are looking at us."

Louis said, "Miss Mi recognises me. She's wary. That says something. If all three are looking in our direction, whatever she is or was up to, they're in it up to their elbows.

"Does she—"

"She knows my name," Louis interrupted, before adding, "if that was what you were about to ask. In my defence, I was fourteen and an idiot."

"It was the question. And that's understandable. We all did foolish things at that age."

He hadn't worked with Louis Sanchez for a long time. He was the younger son of a Vayantean baron who had run to Caershire prior to the war. Somewhere down the line, the boy had been recruited by Caershire's Intelligence Bureau and put to work. He was Vayantean (which the Caershireens thought looked close enough to Meliquean), spoke fluent Vayantean, and was wiccai. It didn't matter if he was only, what? Sixteen? Seventeen? This was a war, and he was near enough to manhood to be put to good use.

Max himself had joined the army at his age, only to be swapped out to intelligence divisions after a short while, where he'd stayed. It suited him, the work. It was technical and political. His family had frequently produced political people. His older brother was making his way up the governmental ladder. His uncle had been greatly important in Caershire's establishment. His grandfather had fought in the wars against Arecia, when they were still in control. He wouldn't be doing any of that on the surface. He'd be sneaking in the shadows, helping in the background.

"Are you two telepathic?" Volkov smirked, leaning against the wooden walls of the drawing room. "I thought he just talked to birds."

"Do not mock my power. Or underestimate how useful it may be."

"I wouldn't dare." Louis didn't trust Aleksandr Volkov either, but he liked him. He found the other man's deeply cynical humour and refusal to take anything seriously funny. Perhaps even inspirational. Max himself had been like that at his age. He'd grown out of it, thank god. In time, Louis would too.

Max felt the need to intervene in this conversation before it completely strayed off topic. "Where are the Carlstons anyways? Neither brother has shown up since the afternoon."

"Cooped up in an office," Aleksandr said. "A lot of arguing. Very interesting to listen to. Did you know that one of their uncles recently died and left almost everything to George instead of Jaime? Or both?"

"We did not," Max replied with utter politeness. "Why were you spying on the Carlstons?"

Aleksandr's smile was not convincing. "Just offering my expertise, Harlande. It is our job here, after all."

They said these things in public because there were so many people around no one would hear them above anyone else. Crowded spaces were the best places to exchange secrets.

"You could have told us."

"The point? Would your nonexistent moral compass have told me not to do it?"

"We're working as a team, Volkov. That means you tell us what you're about to do, and we do the same to you."

"That's why he was scouting out the back of the house earlier today," Volkov's voice now had an edge to it as he jabbed his fingers towards Louis. "Mutual respect and clear understanding with good communication, definitely. Do not be a hypocrite."

Louis lifted his shoulder in a shrug. "I like to be prepared."

Max let out an exasperated breath. "From now on, we'll start communicating. If you find something, you tell us. If we find something, we tell you. Fair?"

"If you could keep your side of the promise." A wink. "And I promise I'll know."

Max was this close to kicking his head clean off his neck. At that moment, the doors swung open and their host and his brother walked in. Everyone stood.

"I apologise for the delay. There was business to handle, and my brother and I lost track of time." Carlston smiled. He'd always been good with people, a beam of sunlight in the darkest of days. "Dinner is ready to be served."

They didn't bother with the formal manners for entering dinner. Most of the guests seemed to have agreed to disperse with most of those. Raging band of liberals they had collected here.

"Well," Volkov suddenly murmured. "We're in luck."

Max's eyes glossed over the name cards. "If that's what you consider it." His name was between Miss Mi and Lady Asteria's. The other girl's name... Miss Daneira Pang. Pang. There was a Lady Pang somewhere in Sai. A baroness. Xiang Zhou if he remembered correctly. Related?

"Daneira Pang." Volkov tried the name on his tongue. "That's our third mysterious guest. And look, how convenient. I'm next to her."

"As am I."

Louis swore under his breath. "I'm next to Miss Mi. Damn. This will be awkward."

"Can't swap," Max said apologetically. "Sorry."

They neared their seats and sat. As they waited for the first course to be served, Lady Asteria suddenly turned her head and said, "We have not been introduced, have we? I pray you don't find me rude to suddenly speak to you."

Max contemplated his options and chose to be polite. "I believe most guests have decided to do away with formalities, Lady Asteria. If I could introduce myself?"

"Your two statements contradict themselves," she smiled slightly, "go ahead, you have the advantage." So the Countess of Ice possessed a sense of humour. Fascinating.

"Lieutenant Maximilian Harlande at your service, my lady."

"Harlande... By any chance related to Leonidas Harlande, lieutenant?"

"My oldest brother, my lady."

She smiled. "I admire your brother's policies. He's doing a wonderful job. Those of us in Sai laugh that he might become Secretary of State by thirty at this point."

"His goal, if I deduced correctly," he replied with good humour. "It is fantastic, having such an intelligent brother. Do you have any siblings, Lady Asteria?" He knew the answer, of course. Lady Asteria was an only child.

"I'm afraid not. I have cousins, though, who are as close to me as siblings. And friends." Beams at either side of her. Miss Iolanthe and Miss Daneira. "Danna and Io have been with me since the very start. They are my surrogate sisters, I like to think."

"Of course. A good friendship is much to be treasured."

On his other side, Miss Daneira was softly conversing with Volkov, who'd chosen to curb his sharp tongue. A flash of annoyance crossed the girl's face momentarily, and Max shot Volkov a look.

"Don't worry."

Max blinked, turning back. "What?"

Lady Asteria's eyes glinted with amusement. "That your friend is bothering Danna. She has a rather short temper. And she can stand her own."

"I only worry that Mr Volkov oversteps his boundaries," Max said. "He can come off as a bit... forceful."

"We're used to forceful." Her eyes went to the chaperone's table. "We study under Lady Kuroki. Do not tell her I said that though, please."

"I would not," he replied. Countess of Ice his ass. Lady Asteria was as friendly as could be when you were actually speaking with her. She just looked a bit intimidating. "Your secret is safe with me, my lady."

"Good." She dipped her head and moved slightly out of the way as the first course was placed on the table. "How have you been enjoying your stay so far?"

"We spent the afternoon exploring the manor's grounds. It's a very large place."

Asteria tilted her head. "Around the same size as my own family's country estate, I think, if not a tiny bit bigger. In Sai, entire families live under the same roof– aunts and uncles, cousins and nieces and nephews. With a few exceptions, of course. Io's family is one. Manors such as this one often feel very empty."

"I suppose that is why they're throwing this house party. To liven the place up a little." Lady Asteria would have grown up in luxury. He did too.

"It's working, I think. Much excitement has already occurred." Did she refer to her little spat with Miss Wushire? Or something else? Max silently reminded himself that at the end of the day, Lady Asteria was just another daughter of an aristocrat. Considering the danger of her father's occupation, there was no good reason the duke would willingly rope his daugher in it. His paranoia was not ill-founded but unnecessary.

"I suppose. That was a wonderful display, my lady. My admiration."

Her lips twisted upwards. "You noticed? Here's to hoping it works." She raised her cup and took a sip. "Don't get me wrong. Io was more than capable of standing on her own, but I was scared it might just make her more of a target. I shouldn't have brought either of them here. They don't fit in with the rest of the crowd. But Lady Kuroki thought it would be a good experience."

There was no sign in her words that she was lying. Her disapproval and worry was clear. Exasperation and frustration. Either Lady Asteria was a stellar actress, or whatever might be going on within the confines of this manor, she wasn't a part of it.

"A strong background is the easiest way to get through life. I'd say you were fortunate in that aspect."

"Very. Same goes for you, I think? The Harlandes are very powerful here in Caershire."

"Not as influential as yours."

"Debatable. So, you're in the army?"

"I am. I was sent back to Caershire since I wasn't needed on the battlefield. I would be advising our politicians in the capital, but I was given leave for this house party. A little vacation, I'm considering it." He was revealing little details to make her trust him.

"Well, I certainly hope you enjoy it." Asteria tilted her head. "This is one of me and my friends' last trip together as classmates. I'm graduating soon, as is Danna, and we're not sure where we'd be heading each. We're grasping onto whatever time we have left as well."

"Then I wish you the best of stays here as well. Carlston is an excellent host, so I'm not too worried about that."

"He has been most courteous."

Miss Daneira turned towards him suddenly. One glance showed Volkov's smile wiped clean off his face. Oh, he must have just missed a good show. Lady Astera raised a brow. "Is all well, Danna?"

"Perfectly alright, Ast." She picked at her food. "Lieutenant Harlande, is that right?"

"At your service, Miss Pang. Volkov, is everything alright with you?" He shot Aleksandr a concerned look, who returned with a quick glare that faded off his face immediately.

"The food was a bit hot, that's all." But Volkov's smile was strained. And Miss Daneira all but rolled her eyes.

Max watched as Lady Asteria met Miss Daneira's gaze with a quizzical expression. Some kind of silent understanding passed through, and the countess relaxed slightly, offering the slightest fraction of a nod.

"Well, you ought to be more careful," Lady Asteria finally told Volkov. She seemed like a governess scolding a young child. "It wouldn't do for you to accidentally hurt yourself."

"I'm sure Mr Volkov would be alright," Miss Daneira murmured. "Wouldn't you be, sir?"

"Perfectly alright, thank you for your concern, ladies."