Sergio cracked the door open, leaning out. He greeted the person beyond the doorway with a bright, gentle smile.
“Ah, it’s here already? You all work fast!”
The maid bowed her head, a familiar blush creeping up her cheeks. “Of course, my Lord. We only deliver the best service to all our guests.”
She held a polished tray bearing two servings of cake and a fine porcelain tea set, adorned with the inn’s signature rose pattern painted along the rims.
“Shall I place this on your desk as usual?”
Sergio waved a hand gently. “No, no, that's alright. I have a business partner inside. I’d hate to keep waiting.”
The maid widened her eyes, almost disappointed. “A-ah, yes, of course. Why else would you order two servings… haha. Naturally…”
He widened the door just enough to gently take the tray from her hands.
“Thank you kindly. I’ll return the tray shortly,” he said, balancing it on one hand with a practiced motion.
“Y-yes, my Lord. Please enjoy,” the maid said, her blush flaring.
Sergio closed the door, making sure it sounded a click before turning the key twice.
He turned on his heel and faced the figure sitting by the table in the middle of his room.
“Forgive the interruption. I hadn’t expected the tea to arrive so soon.” Sergio said as he walked to the table. “May I interest you in some tea?”
“...Get to the point,” Reyna said. “I'm here for answers, nothing else.”
“Oh, but I insist,” Sergio placed a cup before Reyna, pouring her tea. “Tea could calm your nerves even in the worst of times.”
He set the pot down and took his seat across from her.
“You look tired,” he said, studying her face. “I take it… things haven’t gone well?”
Reyna said nothing. Her scowl served as an answer enough.
Sergio nodded, closing his eyes briefly as if mourning some unseen misfortune. “Then it is as I feared. They are determined to bring harm to your daughter.”
Reyna didn’t touch the tea. Her gaze stayed locked on him, still sharp as a blade. But even he could tell, it was wavering.
“Enough talk. If you know something, speak.”
Sergio smiled faintly. “Very well. Let’s talk about Carine.”
Her fingers flinched, her eyes twitched.
Sergio’s smile widened slightly at the sight.
“Carine Sareid… the sole heir of the Sareid dukedom. I’m sure the news of her possessing only two Talent Symbols must’ve been… disappointing.” Follow current novels on 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭·𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦·𝘯𝘦𝘵
“That I must know,” Reyna raised her head, as if looking down on him. “How did you manage to gather such intel?”
He exhaled softly. “It was purely by chance. I was investigating some unsavory individuals when I stumbled upon their targets. Your daughter’s name was on their list.” Sergio took a careful sip of his tea and then glared at the table. “Knowing what things they will do to their targets, I believe it was my duty to help warn you of the upcoming danger.”
Reyna was silent for a few seconds, seemingly letting it all sink in. Then, shook her head in disbelief. “That doesn’t explain anything. Why would my daughter be a target because of her Talent Symbols?”
Sergio studied her face. She was looking at the ground, brows furrowed.
“Let me ask you this, Your Grace,” he said as he adjusted his pose, leaning forward. “The schedule you gave her… You gave her lessons far more rigorous than her peers. You made sure she stayed disciplined, elegant, and confident. But you’re not doing this just to be harsh on her, am I right?”
Reyna’s silence was an answer in of itself.
“You believe that she would need to compensate for her lacking Talents. That’s why, from every waking moment, you pushed her into lessons after lessons.”
Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t deny it. “That’s none of your business.”
“But you’re wrong,” Sergio said, his voice lowering. “Her Talents, as few as they may be… They’re not weak. No, they’re… exceptional. Not in ways you’ve been trained to look for, but in ways that would draw attention.”
Sergio scrutinized her reaction.
She didn’t flinch, she didn’t respond. From what he gathered, it would seem as if she herself already suspected it.
His smile widened once more, but he framed it as an innocent, gentle, and warm smile meant to comfort.
“That Talent of hers. None of us knows the true potential it has. However, that mystery alone would be enough to brand her as dangerous by ‘them.’”
“Tch,” Reyna clicked her tongue, stomping her heels towards the carpeted floor. “You keep talking about ‘them,’ but you’ve never once named a single threat. Who are they? What do they want with my daughter? And how do you know so much about them?”
A barrage of questions hit Sergio. But again, he didn’t flinch. He adjusted his cuffs as he cleared his throat. After that, he delivered a line he had practiced countless times before.
“I’m not sure if I should say this… But if you insist…” Sergio leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “The ones targeting your daughter… is the kingdom itself.”
Reyna’s eyes widened. She stood abruptly, slamming the table with her palms. “What nonsense are you talking about!”
“I want you to think about it for a moment, Your Grace.” Sergio remained calm as he continued.
“An unknown Talent, in the hands of the sole heir of House Sareid.” He paused long enough to let the words sink into Reyna’s mind. “A family once powerful enough to nearly plunge the whole of Setus into a civil war.”
Reyna’s eyes sharpened. It was as if she was starting to connect the dots.
“In the kingdom’s eyes, they do not see a gifted child. To them, Carine is nothing more than a threat waiting to bloom. They would stop at nothing to nip the threat in the bud.”
A cold, heavy silence followed.
Then Reyna scoffed… weakly. “This… This is nonsense. Absurd.”
Sergio sighed heavily. He reached into his suit and slid a sealed envelope across the table. It was thin, plain, and unassuming. But the air shifted at its arrival.
“I don’t ask for your trust right away.” He slid the envelope closer to her. “Read this once you’re alone. If it makes sense to you, if you find it to be your answer, I ask that you follow its instructions.”
Reyna, still standing stiff, reluctantly picked up the envelope, its seal wax reflected in her eyes.
“If you choose not to believe me, even after everything I said…” he said softly. “Then toss that envelope in the fire. And I promise, I’ll never come near you or your family again.”
Sergio stood, pushing away his seat gently. Then, with a hand over his chest, he bowed deeply. “I know Setus doesn’t believe in such things, but… I do pray that you will make the right choice. For your daughter’s sake.”
Reyna didn’t respond. Her fingers curled around the envelope.
Then, without another word, she turned, envelope in hand, and unlocked the door. Sergio’s eyes followed her every movement.
The door clicked shut behind her.
Sergio remained still for a moment, head slightly bowed, eyes on the now-empty chair. He closed his eyes and exhaled.
“That went well,” he muttered to himself, a smirk tugging the corner of his lips. “As always, my words sound like honey to them.”
Turning from the table, he walked across the room to a modest cabinet nestled beside the small fireplace. He opened it slowly, as if it were a grand reveal, uncovering a single bottle resting upright on the middle shelf.
It was the most exquisite and exclusive bottle of wine he could find in the whole of Setus.
He chuckled to himself. “Soon,” he whispered to himself. “Just one more step, and it will all fall into place.”
He closed the cabinet carefully, making sure the latch clicked before turning away. Straightening his collar, he strolled over to the window. The view offered a wide look at the upper quarter’s crowded streets, filled with middle to upper-class citizens commuting by carriages, horses, or their own foot.
But amongst them, his eyes caught a glimpse of someone.
A boy. Blonde hair. Blue eyes. Wearing something more suitable for the lower class.
His eyes were locked on the inn window. No, it was staring right through him.
Sergio tilted his head. The boy’s stare was intense, but he didn’t think much of it. Judging from his clothes, that boy must’ve been jealous about his accommodation in this fine inn.
He waved lightly, acknowledging the gaze.
The boy continued to glare straight into his eyes, the intensity seemingly increasing. Sergio could just taste his jealousy. It took all his might not to flash a smirk right then and there.
A man from the crowd approached the boy and gestured something to him. The boy disappeared into the crowds after that, like he wasn’t there to begin with.
With that, Sergio turned from the window, walking deeper into the room, his eyes gazing into his mirror once more.
As always, an image of a trustworthy, caring gentleman stared right back at him.