Luna followed Raiza and the maid quietly as they approached where they would be staying. The large building was surrounded by guards and busy maids. As the three arrived, one of the maids bowed, called out to the others, and opened the door. 

Luna looked around the large building and soaked everything in. The building was adorned in whites and bright blues. Wide and tall windows placed everywhere let in so much light; inside was as bright as day. Various flowers were scattered across the building in intricate vases on small shelves. Occasionally, a light green and gold flag emblazoned with the Almini family crest draping down from the top floor flowed in the building's cross-breeze. 

As Luna and Raiza walked in, two rows of maids on each side of the long green and gold carpet bowed, greeting them. "Welcome to Lady Victoria Almini's Summer home. We're pleased to have you stay with us." 

Raiza smiled happily as the head maid and butler approached. Both greeted Raiza and Luna with a bow perfectly timed in sync, "Thank you for choosing to stay with us while on your trip, my lady, and I must thank you as well, your Holiness." 

Luna put her hands up nervously as sweat dripped down her face. "Uh, yeah. Sure." Luna had never expected someone to speak to her with such formality before. She fought a wave of discomfort as it washed over her. 

"I, thank you for the warm welcome," Raiza spoke brightly without breaking a sweat, "is Victoria staying here as well, at this time?" 

Luna watched as Raiza handled the ocean of formality without so much as a twitch of discomfort. She must've been really used to this sort of thing as a lady. 

"Lady Victoria is present here, yes. She's enjoying lunch on the orchard veranda in the back garden. Would you like me to direct you to her?" The head maid replied elegantly. 

"Yes, that would be best, thank you." Raiza finished as the three began walking towards the back garden. 

"Oh wait, my bag! I left it in the carriage." Luna shouted. Luna's bag had her map, the Alloran holy book, and other essentials. If she'd lost it while on this trip, Abigail would surely give her a good wallop. 

"No need to worry. Your things are being gathered and will be brought to your room for your Holiness." The maid looked back and smiled happily. 

"I see," muttered Luna. Luna felt herself turn a little pink. She felt like she stood out like a sore thumb. The manners of nobles were way too much for her to keep track of.

As the group entered the back garden, Luna continued to absorb her surroundings. The park was immense, with various flowers flowing in the summer wind. A large apple orchard lined the back, with an assortment of gardeners, maids, and butlers busily moving around. 

Luna thought the garden back at the Monastery was big, with its large willow tree in the middle. Still, this garden made the Monastery garden look like a potted plant. 

A pure white stony path trailed through the garden up to a large veranda in the distance. As Luna got closer, she could only make out the long, vibrant blond hair that turned a light green at the ends as it flowed in the summer breeze. 

"Pretty…" Luna whispered to herself as the group walked up the stone path. Eventually, Raiza fell back to where Luna was and whispered quietly to Luna. 

"Luna, stay on your toes when you're talking with Victoria," Raiza whispered quietly. 

"Huh?" Luna whispered back. "What do you mean by that?" 

"The Almini House is… scary." Raiza looked up at the maid and continued whispering to Luna. "House Almini used to control the merchant sector completely before the second Emperor created the merchant's guild one hundred years ago." 

Raiza's whispered voice mixed in softly with the rustle of the grass in the wind as it blew around them. "Don't take anything she says at face value, or you'll wish you were dead."

Raiza's voice quivered a bit as her head drooped. "I still have nightmares from when I visited her older brother when I was young." 

Luna raised her eyebrows in shock. Raiza had nightmares because of them? A chill crawled up her spine. If they were enough to scare Raiza, then Luna was doomed. 

Finally, the group entered the veranda as a maid bowed and placed two cups on the table. As soon as the group was spotted, Victoria stood up, smiled so bright the sun would be jealous, rushed over to Luna, and grasped her hands. 

"So you're the Saintess I've heard so much about!" Victoria's voice was so soft and gentle that it melted into the rusting of the leaves around them. "I'm sorry I haven't been able to visit you in the capital. My family's been dealing with an internal matter lately." 

Luna looked down at her hands, fully embraced by Victoria's. Luna wanted to be embarrassed, but Victoria's soft voice put her at ease in an instant. It also helped that Victoria spoke informally; it made Luna feel less out of place.

"It's okay. I never really expected anyone to visit me anyways, I guess." Luna wasn't really sure what Raiza was talking about. Victoria seemed kind enough. Maybe Raiza was just overreacting? Luna thought to herself. 

Victoria leaned in and brushed her hair behind her ear. "Still, though, I'll make sure to visit you someday in the future soon." Victoria smiled gently and cocked her head sideways. "After all, I'd like us to be friends." 

As Victoria got closer, Luna got a good look at her face. Victoria was cute, adorable, even. Her large eyes held beautiful yet calculating yellow gems that seemed to glisten even in the shade as they stared deeply into Luna's eyes. A light spattering of freckles dotted her pale skin as her long blond and green hair draped in cascading waves down her shoulders, lightly brushing against her elegant yet light summer dress.

Luna could no longer maintain herself as her face turned three shades of red as she stepped back. "Y-yeah, okay, sure." Luna croaked out harshly. "We can be friends, Lady Almini."

Once more, Victoria grabbed Luna's hands and inched closer. "You really mean it?" Victoria gave a small shout in joyous celebration, "I'm so happy, please call me Victoria!" 

Luna felt like she was about to explode. 

"Ahem" Raiza brought her fist up to her mouth and coughed lightly to get Victoria's attention. 

After hearing the cough, Victoria looked up at Raiza and numbly muttered Raiza's name before spinning around and taking a seat. 

Raiza's eyebrow twitched, but she followed suit and gestured for Luna to do the same. After taking their seats, a maid poured some warm tea into the cups before bowing and walking away from the group.

Luna watched patiently as Raiza and Victoria stared daggers at each other. Maybe they just don't like each other? Luna laughed to herself. Luna wasn't sure what happened between them that caused this, but she figured Victoria seemed like a good girl.

Victoria was the first to break the staring contest as she smiled happily at Luna and gestured with her hand toward the tea. "I hope you enjoy the tea we've prepared, Luna." Victoria's smile seemed to grow even brighter.

"It was fragranced with the flowers we grew here at the villa and was prepared using the fruit we grow as well. Its scent alone should be enough to calm just about anyone."

Raiza's eyes narrowed slightly as Luna looked at her tea.

"Really?" Luna's voice swelled in excitement. She hadn't had anything like this since she first met Raiza when she was five. "I'll try it then."

Luna brought the cup of warm tea up to her nose and mouth, but before Luna could take in a whiff of the fragrance, Raiza put her hand over the cup and gently pushed it back onto the table. 

Luna looked up at Raiza with surprise and confusion as Raiza's eyes only narrowed further. 

"Cut the crap, Victoria." Raiza's voice roared harshly and bit into the soft atmosphere. "You've been using magic the entire time we've been here." Raiza placed her arms on the table as her fiery eyes almost seemed to glow.

"Did you honestly think I wouldn't notice?" 

Raiza continued as she roared angrily, "Richard's deception is leagues better!"

Victoria's smile flashed a grimace.

Luna looked around in shock. Huh? Magic? Was she using magic? When, where? Luna had no idea. 

"That's how you knew Luna's name without anyone telling you." Raiza barked accusations at Victoria, "You were listening in on us this whole time." 

Luna thought for a moment, "Oh yeah, that's right. I was so flustered I forgot to give you my name." 

Victoria closed her eyes and sighed. At that moment, an eerie sound began to creep around Luna. At first, she wasn't sure what it was. But the sound grew louder and louder until it was deafening. 

It was silence. 

The wind that once flowed throughout the whole villa spreading the scent of flowers, was nowhere to be found; leaves stood utterly still, frozen like glass. 

Victoria opened her eyes and looked at both of them. Her eyes no longer shined brightly and were filled with an empty yellow, hollow with nothing but cold-blooded calculation. 

Victoria traced the lip of the teacup with her finger. "I guess now that I've been caught, I should reveal my dastardly plan, no?" 

Victoria looked them both in the eyes. "I enchanted the scent of the tea with a suggestibility spell. Victoria's voice was still soft. However, it now contained an oiliness to it that rattled Luna. "I needed to make sure you'd say yes."

Raiza huffed and crossed her arms. "Yes, to what, exactly?"

Victoria looked to her left and stared at the villa before continuing. "It's my brother Richard; he's gone missing."

Raiza's eyes softened a bit. "Richard went missing? When?"

Victoria held her cup and looked deeply into it. "It's been almost two years now." Victoria's voice broke softly, but even still, it maintained its oily tone. 

"The family has been investigating it as an internal matter. But they've been useless."

"Two years?!" Raiza stood up in shock. "Why didn't House Almini alert the other houses?" 

Victoria gripped her cup and squinted. "I think father is embarrassed."

Victoria dropped her cup, causing it to shatter onto the table, "He's refusing any outside help, so I had no choice!" Victoria's calculating eyes now held a deep sadness as she pleaded. 

"I'm begging the both of you, please!" Victoria pressed her hands together and stared intensely at Raiza as she continued. 

"I need your help!"