“Oh, yeah, that's not all. The nobility's servants are only the tip of the iceberg. The palace's servants are the real deal. Imperial butter-spreaders, Special-ops butlers, Bath-overseers, Magic-maids, whatever. You should just know that if they are tons of different types of regular servants in the nobles' houses, there isn't a single normal servant in the palace. Whether they have an Imperial diploma in sewing or a training in magical assassination, you can be sure they're all extraordinary individuals. Ironically, the people they're serving don't even have a tenth of their talents and skills.

-Third section's human resources managing department executive president-butler”

* * *

Azcheron

Azcheron couldn't help wearing a nasty grin while he was greeting and discussing with the nobles. They had made such interesting faces back then, and now they were trying their best to look serious and proper in front of him. But Azcheron knew, yes, he knew their inner nature now. He knew what he could expect from them, who he could convince, who he should be wary of. For he had seen everyone when he entered.

Those who made surprised faces.

Those who made frightened faces.

Those who made amused faces.

Those who made disdainful faces.

Those who made merry faces. Well, there was only one, that was Roharl.

What is he doing here anyway ? Azcheron wondered. Did Anton deem not important to notice him of such a thing ? Azcheron was Roharl's rival after all. Sort of ? Not his disciple, at least. Certainly not. What's with these rumours of me being his disciple...

He was also surprised to see Darius Farril in the room. He should have been expecting it, in fact, seeing as he was basically in Darius' house, but still. Strangely enough, Azcheron felt like Darius would be one of his rare allies in that room. The man seemed good natured and honest, and managed to be modest and respectful even though he came from such a powerful family. He certainly had his own secrets and everything, but then again who didn't ? Also, Darius seemed to somewhat respect – or like ? – Erin, which would prove useful in dragging him into Azcheron's plo-... side. He meant convincing Darius to join his side. Of course. You should never drag potential allies into your plots, no, that was a rude thing to do.

Well, he did that with Erin and it still worked out well ! Maybe she was an oddball ? Azcheron didn't mind. He knew she wasn't an idiot, far from it in fact. Surely she had her own reasons for tagging along with him. Better have a smart ally who kept secrets than a stupid one who blurted everything given the chance.

Speaking of allies, his quest to find some here was turning to be somehow successful. He had managed to draw the interest of the Farril's patriarch, at least. The fact that Roharl and Darius were in good dispositions towards Azcheron probably played a part.

He only had a few words with the Farril head. The man was the host of the event, and even if Azcheron was the star of the evening, even he couldn't monopolize such an important noble. Not that the Saint wanted to monopolize a nobleman. Why would he do that ! It's not like he wanted to make friends here. They were only good for connections, notoriety and support. The longer someone would spend with Azcheron, the greater the likelihood they'd end up hating him, actually. So it was to his advantage.

Support, that's what he came to gain here. Connections and notoriety were boons, but tonight the main goal was support. Seeing as lord Farril wasn't inclined to talk now, he'd have to try with the two other important figures present tonight. He'd first try to find support with the countess Ravilna.

“Countess, may I introduce you to our esteemed guest ?” Anton inquired after the two of them had approached her.

“Introduce, you say...” She had a playful smile that she barely tried to hide behind a paper fan. “I believe our young guest has already introduced himself, in a remarkable fashion, but...”

Azcheron knew he had his chances with her, because he saw her. He saw the look of amusement and curiosity when he made his entrance. The hard part – catching her attention and interest – was already done. Now he had to enthral her.

She kept on in an elegant and solemn tone. “I am countess Beatrice of house Ravilna. My pleasure,” she said with a curtsey.

“I am Azcheron, the Rahal Saint. The pleasure is mine,” he replied while acting more elegantly than he ever did. He could see the disturbed and confused look on Anton's face, so it must have been quite credible. However he did not bow ! The Saint never bowed.

In any case, the countess did not seem to mind that the polite young man before her had made the entrance of the room explode just half an hour ago.

That's a good start. I can't have my potential supporters freak out about such a small thing.

“A Rahal Saint, you are ? Forgive me, lord... Azcheron ?” She did not seem to know what title she should be using for addressing him, so he nodded to let her continue. “I'm afraid I do not know much about your status and the Rahal clan, aside from what professor Vardt here told me. That would be that you came to meet us from a faraway island, where your clan reside, is that right ?”

“That is indeed the case. And the Rahal Saint, as there can be only one, is merely the head of the clan. As such, I can also be considered its representative or ambassador.”

“I see.” She seemed to think of something for a moment. “I do wonder what a person such as yourself, with your rank and position, would hope to find in our boring and corrupted capital ?”

Azcheron wasn't sure if she was mocking his position, or simply mocking everything in the world. By the way she described she capital, he could guess it was the latter.

“Why, there is only one thing that I want from the people gathered here.” He leaned closer as he noticed the alert and attentive expression of the countess. “The required support to shake up the empire's foundations,” he said with a smile.

That was a lie. That clearly wasn't Azcheron's actual goal. He didn't care enough about the Empire to try and change its ways, unless it turned out his clan's past had something to do with it. No, that sort of thing would be a consequence or a collateral damage at most, maybe. But he had to beguile the countess by any means necessary, and the bigger the lie, the better. He figured she was that kind of person. The sort of woman that would be prone to support and finance any venture that could bring chaos or cause uproars, just to be distracted from her boredom.

The countess hid her face behind her fan for a bit, the whiteness of the fan contrasting with her dark brown hair. Finally, she smiled back.

“Would it be impudent of me to ask you about the way you intend to do that ?”

“Not at all. But I cannot tell you much yet, obviously.” He carried on in a low voice, so that no word would find its way to some of the undesired ears around. “I gather you are more of the witnessing type, than the acting one. Surely you would not mind being kept in the dark, as to maintain both suspense and surprise intact ?”

That was a dangerous game. Azcheron would have to think up a few stunts to keep her entertained later. But he knew he was going to win her to his side at this rate. She had the look of someone who found a new toy or a promising book.

“I may be fine with that. Well then, lord Azcheron, can you at least humour me ? What sort of plot can I expect in the near future ? Give me your best synopsis.”

“For the opening act, what would you say about an expedition to the Desolate Lands ? I was also thinking of meeting dragons. I've been learning their language with this purpose in mind.”

Her expression was priceless. If the countess had managed to somehow maintain her composure during Azcheron's entrance, as befitting a bored noblewoman in her late twenties with plotting as a hobby, she did not succeed to do so this time.

She must have been about to say something when she saw Anton's face. He wore the smirk of someone who had been way too often on the receiving end of Azcheron's antics, and who enjoyed seeing other people in his place.

It seemed Anton's reaction did the necessary convincing for any remaining doubts the countess might have harboured. Finally, she took a clear step toward Azcheron's side.

“...You are not leaving the capital any time soon, I hope ?” Azcheron nodded. There was still time before winter ended. “Wonderful. In that case, I would very much like to pursue our interesting little talk another time, preferably in the days to come. Away from prying ears...” She smiled maliciously.

Azcheron grinned back. She was right, there were far too many curious characters wandering around them. They agreed on a day and an hour to hold a proper meeting, and both separated. The countess went to chat with other nobles, and Azcheron carried on his search for potential patrons.

This one went well. I guess... Out of the three powerhouses tonight, I managed rather quickly to get one on my side. For now. Well then, onto the next.

That would be Hector Talir, headmaster of the Academy.

* * *

And headmaster Talir turned out to be no challenge at all for Azcheron. They had a quick but straightforward talk where they made things clear between them, and agreed on a very defined collaboration. Not that Talir had high expectations for the expedition, but it coincided with his interests, so he took a gamble. The rest of the evening passed without much trouble, until Erin signalled Azcheron to come to her. Her role here was to wander around the hall and listen to bits of conversations in case anything of interest was discussed, occasionally showing herself by Azcheron's side to make their association known.

Though not as much as Azcheron, Erin was gathering many looks. For she was a beauty, but also a Verald. And one with a curious reputation, after all. Talks of discord within her family, rumours of her eloping with this strange commoner, and whatnot. Nobody could afford to ignore or avoid her because of her name, and the arrogant act she was putting tonight made it very clear who she was.

“Have you stumbled upon an interesting conversation ?” he asked as he approached her in a corner of the room, away from everyone else. Anton was managing and keeping busy the people he was previously talking with.

“More like, I stumbled upon a... colleague ?” She discreetly pointed at a man that had, at first glance, nothing remarkable about him.

But Azcheron quickly grasped what she meant. Why he was unremarkable. That was the point. It had worked until here. Azcheron might not have noticed him without Erin's help, because he was too focused on dealing with the nobles and figuring ways to gain their favour without revealing too much about him.

The man had been prowling around the room, never too far from Azcheron, and more importantly, always close enough to eavesdrop on his chats with the others nobles. He was doing the same thing as Erin. He was a spy, albeit not a very good one. It was obvious at this point. There were many other people trying to learn of the content of the Saint's chats, but this one had been following him everywhere. Even now he was taking quick glances toward Azcheron and Erin, but he couldn't get any closer without risking looking suspicious since they were purposely putting distance between themselves and the other guests.

“How should we deal with him ?” Erin inquired.

“I can't risk anything rash until I know whose side he's working for. It's not the Farril, right ?”

She shook her head. “Unlikely. They'd use servants if they wanted to spy on you in their own house. Or maybe Darius. But I doubt he'd agree knowingly to that. And the guy listened on all your conversations, no exception, so I think it's probably not one of the three big players here.”

“So...” He thought for a bit. “It couldn't really be some unknown noble, most don't hold enough power to be concerned and worried by what I could do... And it's too soon for anyone without connections to know much about me. That leaves only unpleasant options. You know what I mean ?”

“I know. It's probably some high-ranking guy. From an important guild, or the imperial crown, or one of the four houses...” She frowned. “I sure hope it's not them. I'd find it distasteful, but that'd be the kind of thing they'd do.”

“Well we won't be able to do anything about that guy as long as we're here. And now that I know there's a snake in the room, I'm not confident I can keep talking to the nobles while acting innocently and unsuspiciously.”

“We don't even know what he managed to overhear. You think he could have used sound magic to help him ?”

“I would have felt it. And even if I was too focused on the nobles and missed it, either Anton or Roharl would have noticed and warned me. I'm not sure about Hector Talir since he might not entirely trust me yet. In any case, we should act discreetly.”

“Do you have a plan, then ?”

Azcheron smiled. “Maybe. I've more or less obtained what I came here for, so we don't need to stay. Why don't we try to lure him ?”

He strode toward Anton and his group, making sure the spy could hear what he'd say. “Anton, dear friend, I'll have to take my leave soon. Something came up.”

“Eh ? That's... sudden. Don't you want to enjoy the reception a bit more ?” The old mage seemed to notice that something was wrong.

“Impossible, I'm afraid. It was a pleasant evening, though. Sorry to drop that on you without warning, but could you take care of the rest ? Send my regards and apologies to the others.”

Azcheron tried to make it look like he had a pressing matter to attend. Anton didn't insist, probably preferring not to get involved in whatever might be about to happen. Hopefully, the spy would take the bait.

After saying their farewell to the people present, Azcheron left, followed by Erin. Gabriel accompanied them to the exit, and they made small talk. Once outside, they started to walk away, but slowly, as to remain visible to anyone who'd exit the manor after them.

Without looking back, they could hear the door opening and closing discreetly, in the silent nocturnal street.

The snake took the bait.