My suggestion garners a variety of reactions. Kierra is of course completely supportive. I try to convince her to stay out of it, as it may force the Hall to cut ties with her as well. The suggestion annoys her. She’s made it clear that she is only at the Hall for me. I almost think she wants them to dismiss her.

Alana and Rolly are in the neutral camp. The lueorale is very much an observer. I don’t think she will comment on any of my decisions unless it puts my life, and by extension our contract, in danger. She admires virtuous people the same way one admires heroes in stories. She has no such expectations of me and equally enjoys a villainous character.

Alana is much more averse to the idea. While she agrees that my actions to save Howie were just and that my order to be detained is undeserved, she does not relish the idea of inciting more violence than what is necessary. A promise not to kill the lord and his family so long as he doesn’t force my hand appeases her. My insistence that she stays behind annoys her again, to which she informs me that if I try to leave her, she will meet me there.

The two that are firmly against my choice are Alyssa and Yulia. The instructor, a longtime resident of the city, is upset because she doesn’t believe this will be as simple as throwing the lord out of his home. Once she realizes she can’t change my mind, she leaves the house to speak with her guild connections. Her hope is that she can keep them from getting involved and making the situation much worse.

The snow bunny is upset because I’ve chosen a violent solution when I’m supposed to be pursuing peace. Which I feel is a little unfair. Violence is too effective. I don’t think the lord is going to absolve me of my crimes if I politely ask him to do so. Worse, if I surrender and allow myself to be detained. However, I bet being personally confronted with the consequences of my displeasure will make him think twice about crossing me.

Her concerns that bullying the lord of the city will negatively affect our attempts at negotiation with the guilds seems a bit groundless. If anything, the guilds have less respect for the local nobles than I do.

Regardless, our next course of action is decided. The only thing left to do is to pack my things. Something that does little to sway my mind about assaulting the lord’s manor. With each item I stuff into to a bag or put in a chest, I’m reminded that I’m being forced to do this by selfish bastards who are messing with my life because I had the gall to tell them no.

No, I won’t become another Grimoire and let you use my succubi for whatever twisted agenda is cooking in the capital. No, I won’t let you kidnap my friend so you can force him to make potions with morally questionable effects. And no, I won’t let you try to plunder my wife’s homeland for all its riches, getting all of Harvest killed in the attempt.

Really, I’m quite heroic. Time after time, I’ve saved these people from themselves, like smacking the hand of a toddler to keep them from putting their fingers into a fire. Yet instead of recognizing my good deeds, all they can focus on is that I struck them. Well, forget it. I don’t need their recognition. But they willlearn to leave me and what’s mine alone…or suffer the consequences.

“That’s it,” I say, closing the last bag. It was a simple task, as I don’t own much. I have plenty of spending money, leaving aside Kierra’s own wealth, but a lifetime of living frugally, by a noble’s standards, has left me accustomed to making do with less. I hand the bag over to Bell who scampers from the room.

“Yes. The rest will take much longer to pack. It is a shame we left so many wagons with the Stars.”

I glance at Kierra. “Sure you want to leave the house?”

“I am beginning to think that you want to sleep away from me.”

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“It’s not…” I know very well she doesn’t mind following me into trouble. Saints, she revels in it. Emotions are irrational things. There is no reason to feel guilty but it’s as persistent as a rash. “Forget it. I won’t bring it up again.”

“Good. It is a conversation better had with the star.”

“Oh, no. I’m not digging another hole right next to the first. And, um, thanks. For…being you, I guess.” While I don’t want to drag them into my troubles, I can’t deny it would have hurt if they had distanced themselves. Being berated for thinking it was ever an option feels good.

She wanders over and kisses my brow. “You are welcome. Come. We will leave the pets to load the bags. I wish to take one more stroll through the garden before we tear it down. Perhaps we should invite Gajin. It might help with the pain.”

I wince at the reminder of my gardener. Everyone had taken the news of me being evicted from the Hall, which means all of us being evicted, fairly well except for the flower-lover. He’s always dreamed of a life where he can dedicate every waking moment to horticulture. Kierra’s unique plants are his life.

Being told that the garden will have to be gutted, as we’re obviously not leaving the living green gold behind, gutted him. Not even being told we will build a bigger, better garden later was enough to cheer him up. I think it was barely enough to keep his heart from stopping on the spot. Ever since he received the news, he’s been moping around outside, occasionally wailing in sadness. A little dramatic, considering he won’t be losing any of the plants. They’re just going to be potted.

“…maybe we can make a night of it,” I say, having a sudden idea. “Here me out. This is the last night we’ll spend in the house. We should have a sendoff. Set up a few tables in the gardens, some drinks, some food.”

Kierra hums in thought. “A good idea but a bit late. Not many would come on such short notice.”

“I think you underestimate the allure of Geneva’s cooking. And yourself. Do you know how many people have been trying to get closer to you? A lot. And this may be their last opportunity to do so. Trust me. If we open the doors, the people will come flooding in. Besides, it’ll give me the chance to announce my intentions to visit the lord of the city.”

“You intend to inform your victim before assaulting them? Bold. I suppose we do not need to surprise our enemies to decimate them.”

“That’s the problem.” I poke her in the side. “We’re not supposedto be devastating our enemies. We are looking for peaceful solutions.” With a little time to calm my indignation, I’ve realized there is no way for us to storm the lord’s manor without a fight. He may be a coward but even cowards care about their reputation. He’d be forced to either put up at least a token resistance or never show his face in public again. But there is a solution.

“The lord cannot let a known criminal waltz into his home without taking action, but if said criminal were to siege his home while he was out of the city on business, well then there’s nothing he could have done about that, is there?”

“Devious.” She kisses me to show her approval and we languish in it, the moment dragging on as we explore each other’s lips. She’s the first to pull away, smiling brightly. “We must move fast if we are to gather enough participants. I will tell our star to fetch the other cubs you two play with and prepare the flower. A good party must have music, hm?”

“Good idea. I’ll send Earl to do the shopping. Oh, he can stop by the Tall Tale. You won’t remember it. It’s the restaurant where we first met Arthur. Fun place where all the serving girls get into character and interact with the customers. I’m sure they’d liven the place up…if they don’t think this is strange. Is it strange to invite a group of pretty girls you’ve met once to your home for an impromptu party?”

“Yes. That is why you should send along some of Geneva’s snacks to convince them.”

“Devious.” I copy her, pulling her down into another kiss. This time, I’m the first to pull away. “Speaking of, I should get her in the kitchen to start preparing food. Bell can help with the decorating.”

“And do you have a job for me?” Kierra asks, sounding amused by thought. “In fact, I do. I want you to invite Miss Alyssa. More importantly, I want you to tell her about my plan and deliver my letter.” The woman does not handle stress well. I’d feel bad if I let her fall asleep, or more likely drink herself into a short coma, worrying about the city burning tomorrow. “And on your way back, you can invite your teacher friends.” There’s got to be one member of staff that Kierra gets along with that isn’t a crazy stalker. “And Miss Alyssa’s lackeys. What were they called? The Good Watch?”

“The Grand Watch, my love.”

“Ah.” That makes much more sense. “Oh, I should send Bell to the Sanctuary to invite Cloud and whoever she wants to bring. Take my word for it. It’s going to be a wild night.”