"Greetings to Duke Fenris Sunfire. I am honored to meet you."

Now that I think deeply,  if we fail to find the heir, he's the next prospective emperor as he is the most powerful of the Sun clan making him a suitable groom for the former crown princess Eleanor Skyhaven. But I suspect, now the crown will choose Lyranell Starweaver as the crown princess as only her house remains of Star clan.

 "Who is she, Vion?" asked Fenris.

He didn't even greet me, what sort of a noble is he? His parents did live for quite a time, did they not educate him properly? 

"Oh, I forgot to tell you, didn't I? She's the girl you'll be working with to find the heir." answered Vion.

Hmm, Vion avoided saying my name and this man doesn't seem to know me. So Duke Varen followed my conditions of the deal that Duke Varen has to hold himself back from revealing my name unless necessary. It means that Duke Varen doesn't consider him much important. But he's the most powerful noble of Sun clan, how could he not think of him as someone important?

"Oh! It's her you say. Is she that resourceful?" said Fenris intending to mock her on her face.

Silverthorn's gaze turned immediately sharper.

"Your Grace, I hope not to be underestimated even before getting my work done. Who knows I might be faster... than you thought."

Fenris raises his eyebrows on hearing her reply. He thought-

She's smarter than I thought she would be. Faster, huh? That pause wasn’t just casual—it was deliberate. Calculated.

"Vion, what's her name?"

Vion shrugged more to avoid replying himself than feigning ignorance, "Why not ask her yourself, it's her name after all?"

Silverthorn understood that Vion knew the conditions and was trying to dump the question over her so she did as he wanted- replied herself.

She smiled- not cheerfully but slyly- and answered, "Your grace, why inquire the name of a mere attendant?" 

Fenris understood her motive and was about to question further when Vion stepped in.

"Uhm, uhm. We were here to search for some specific books, right? Let's take them as soon as possible after all we have to go back early too."

Fenris sighed. He knew Vion was right.

"Lord Vion, I am going to bloodline chamber." Silverthorn said while pointing in a direction.

Vion nodded and signalled her to go. He turned back to face Fenris only to find no one there.

"Ugh, let them be. I just don't understand what problem they have with each other." Vion mumbled and went towards the registry.

When Silverthorn reached there, she found Fenris already standing there, tucking out a book namely Moon Clan and its Houses.

Silverthorn stared blankly at him and the book in his hands.

"What? You want this book?"

"Yes, Your Grace."

Is he testing my patience or something? Anyone would go for that record book only as the previous empress was a Moonsong. Oh! I better take the book of Shadowdancers before he takes that too. Oh! Also, I need to look through the book of Moonsongs and their lineage.

She immediately scanned the shelves around her and took those books.

Fenris smirked on seeing her hastily taking the books.

"Don't worry, I am not gonna snatch it or whatever."

"Why would I even entertain such a thought, Your Grace?"

"Your behavior shows otherwise."

"I tend to be hasty sometimes," she said while looking at the book in his hand and not his face.

"You want me to lend you this book, right? You know, you can ask for it rather than eyeing it again and again."

Ask and from you? You want me to negotiate, don't you? Then let me do as you wish, sire.

"Then please lend me that book, Your Grace."

"Sorry but I need it, my lady," he said.

Talking formally, aren't we? Whatever!

“They removed the portrait of Emperor Theodore from the eastern wing. The hallway looks emptier now, don’t you think?” 

Huh? It's still there. So that's why he lent me the book and got so formal, to test me if I know too much.

"I don't know, I haven't been there ever before, Your Grace."

"Oh! Yes, it totally got off my mind. I have been thinking about it since earlier so I questioned about it randomly. I'll now get going. After all, I have got some people to know that they are not as fast as they think" Fenris said with a smirk and left instantly, after waving the book at Vion, without giving Silverthorn a chance to reply.

Good thing he isn't that dumb and understood what I meant. Hmph! What an eyesore he is! But one thing still clings to my mind, his eyes were orange, why? Aren't Sun and Star clan kins supposed to have golden eyes? Well, I'll think about that later, first I'll borrow these books and get going.

She went towards the registry, got the records updated, and started to descend the stairs.

Vion came after her- rushing- and exclaimed, "How can you leave me behind? We are both supposed to go together."

The maids passing by chuckled on seeing his childish actions.

Silverthorn noticed them but ignored for it was none of her business. 

"Yes, I know. Now that you've come so let's go."

"You talked with Fen in a quite formal ways but don't do the same with me, why?"

"You know who I am, don't you? But he doesn't. So acting as a mere attendant in front of him was necessary."

Thanks to Silverthorn’s brisk pace, they reached the carriage in half the time it had taken them earlier.

They sat in quickly and went back, again, with more speed.

Vion offered to escort her all the way back, but Silverthorn declined. She bid him farewell—something her mother had taught her to do without fail, even to those she disliked.

She snuck into that alley, which no one ever saw, and strided towards a gate. There, she knocked in a coded rhythm- tap, pause, tap-tap, tap.

The gate creaked open, revealing someone familiar beneath a clever disguise—her sister, Evelyn. Her hair, naturally black, was dyed a golden blonde, and her usually dark eyes gleamed an unnatural blue.

Behind her, she caught sight of her brother, Thalindor—also in disguise, with blonde hair and blue eyes—seated at a table with two guests before him.

As soon as her brother's gaze met hers, he said-

"O-oh, Silverthorn, we have a s-class mission for you."

She stepped into view and saw someone she considered an eyesore... again.

She stepped into view—and immediately spotted the one person she considered an eyesore. Again.

“You?” Silverthorn snapped, her tone sharp.

Fenris raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching in restrained annoyance.

“And you’ve landed an S-class mission, Silverthorn. Again,” he said, clearly surprised but keeping his composure.

“Should I be concerned, or just impressed?”