“Do you know your way around here?” Livio asked from behind as Vyce briskly walked ahead of him.
The transfer spell the magician had prepared (after they’d beaten him to a pulp) was connected to a room just for that purpose within the castle. Vyce and Livio had given the magicians who were waiting for the man’s return on the other side a proper thrashing before they could scream or use any magic. The two were now walking through the castle wearing the robes they’d stolen.
Lunetta had cast healing and purification magic on the man to avoid arousing any suspicions. The man had tied Lunetta and Sophie up to give the appearance of a “successful capture” before they’d gone off to see the king. Right around when the man had made his second loop around Sophie’s body with the rope, Livio had seemed like he might very well punch him, but Vyce had been there to stop him. Vyce was quick on his feet—it didn’t really seem like this was his first time visiting the castle.
When Livio asked just that from behind him, Vyce gave a small laugh. “You could say that.”
“I scouted out the place when I was invited to the first princess’s birthday party,” Vyce explained.
“A party?”
“Yeah—the idea was that we were tryin’ to work toward peace,” Vyce said. “And I was scoutin’ out the castle in hopes of bringin’ a competent magician back with me as proof of that peace, if I could find one. And that’s when I met Lunetta.”
“Wow...”
It was hard to describe, but Vyce almost seemed like a thief who would turn violent the moment he got caught red-handed. Livio stared at the king, clothed in a white robe that didn’t suit him.
Impolite wasn’t the half of it when it came to waltzing around another kingdom’s castle to scout it out and trying to headhunt a magician for your service. And he wound up returning with a princess at the end of the day, right? From the sound of it, it seems like he ended up causing a quarrel at the same time. Vyce sure is a scary one, all right.
Still, Vyce had presumably encountered something that had led him to decide that he couldn’t leave Lunetta in this kingdom.
“More importantly, they’re famous, they act all high-and-mighty, and they shun diplomacy to boot—just how did it ever get to peace talks with a country like that?”
“It’s because they’re all high and mighty, that’s why,” Vyce replied. “Seems like they weren’t too happy to see me gettin’ stronger and stronger. The ‘peace’ stuff was just a pretense to put me beneath ’em on conditions that worked for them.”
That’s pretty damn sleazy.
In that case, there wasn’t too much more to be said. If they got stripped of everything they had, then they had it coming. They should be grateful they’re still alive!
Livio nodded in agreement, only for Vyce to stop in place. Before them stood an overly ornate door, gilded with shining golden details. The door practically screamed, Someone really important lives here!
“No guards keeping watch, by the looks of it.”
“They’ve got magic goin’ all around the castle—they never figured someone would break in.”
Fair enough. So they never anticipated someone using transfer magic to come into the castle alongside one of their own... The fact that they hadn’t anticipated anyone ever breaking in was proof enough that they were indeed a high-and-mighty country far too confident in their own strength. Thanks a ton for that!
Without an ounce of hesitation, Livio followed after Vyce as he opened the door and entered the room. The inside was just as blindingly dazzling. The room was white all around, with needlessly gilded items and furniture—it certainly wasn’t Livio’s style. Having been raised by a barbarian, Livio didn’t know the first thing about the fine arts or artwork. If he’d been told that such a style reflected the sublime taste of the high and noble, then all he could do was believe them.
“What an eyesore of a room.”
Vyce was both high and noble as well as a barbarian, snorting as he unceremoniously trotted through the room. Was it proof that the room’s owner really did have poor taste or proof that Vyce really was a barbarian? Which one was it?
Wait a sec!
Livio could’ve sworn that he saw dirt on the white carpet Vyce had just walked over, but...then again, it was probably just his imagination. Livio rubbed the bottom of his boots on the carpet. They’d been walking through the forest, so there’d been dirt on the soles of their boots. It would be a bit much to just leave dirt in the middle of the room, so Livio was at least considerate enough to clean his shoes off near the entrance. I’m being mean-spirited? Oh, heavens no! If Livio had actually wanted to be mean, it’d look a whole lot different than this. If he had to say, it was just a wee bit of mischief.
“If someone’s that confident in their own abilities, I figure they’d hide somethin’ they don’t want others getting their hands on in their own room,” Vyce said.
“I see what you mean,” Livio said. “So you’re saying I should break into your room whenever I want to exploit your weaknesses then, right, Sir Vyce?”
“If you’ve got a death wish, be my guest.” Vyce seemed completely unbothered by Livio’s sarcastic joke. Instead, he simply gave a cynical smile that had “mature adult, ready for anything” written all over it. Livio curled up his lips unhappily.
The king had been at ease with Livio since they met; he was a grown-up with the nasty habit of mocking him as soon as he got the chance. Kings stood ahead of all others to lead their soldiers, and even if a lowly knight like Livio spoke badly of him, Vyce would just laugh back at him like he was now. Damn, he’s cool... Livio couldn’t help but hate the fact he had thought as much in the first place. Yeah, yeah, that’s right. Fine, I’m a kid, all right? Hrmph!
“Besides, I told ya to call me Vyce when we’re out and about. How long are you plannin’ on keepin’ up all this ‘sir’ nonsense, huh?” Vyce furrowed his brow as he noisily rummaged through the room’s desk and shelves. Just saying he ‘furrowed’ his brow hardly describes it—he’s always grimacing around the clock!
“I’d prefer to address you that way,” Livio said.
“And why’s that?”