206 Close Call

The Blackfire siblings made their way towards the castle. As they approached it, Lycster could no longer keep it in. He had wondered about what he had done wrong during the exchange at the candle stall. But he simply could not find the reason. 

When he asked his sister, she was not certain either. However, she had a theory. 

"It seems like the people of Papillion have more traditions and rules. Especially when it comes to what you and I can and cannot do," Vy explained. 

She continued, "They don't seem to allow opposite genders to interact with one another unless they have fulfilled certain roles in society."

"Oh, I see," Lycster said. 

He did not know that the world could be so complicated. Back in Timbretune and the Prism Sector, everyone interacted freely. Thinking back to what Leader Atlas had mentioned to them, Lycster realised something. 

"Is that why Leader Atlas was worried?" he asked. 

Vy nodded, "Indeed."

Before they could continue their conversation, a figure walked up to them. Vy and Lycster stopped in their tracks. This was the associate they were assigned to meet. 

"Brighter days. Are you Vyrena Blackfire?" the associate asked. 

"Brighter days to you too. Indeed I am," Vy replied. She placed her hand on Lycster's shoulder and introduced him, "This is my brother, Lycster. He is accompanying me on this mission."

The associate nodded in acknowledgement before he introduced himself, "My name is Ramas. It's my pleasure to meet you. Please follow me, I will bring you to meet the King."

The Blackfire siblings followed Ramas through the castle gates. They did not exchange any words as they passed several castle staff and some groups of nobles. Despite having worn clothes similar to those worn by the people they had met in town, Vy soon realised that the nobility dressed differently. 

Compared to them, her brother and her stood out yet again. But right now, it did not matter. All that mattered was the mission at hand. If the way the people treated them was any indication of how the monarch of this Kingdom was, her job was going to be a lot tougher than expected. 

As they entered an empty walkway, Ramas began to chat with them, "I hope that your trip through Papillion was pleasant."

"It was an eye-opening experience," Vy replied with a grin. 

"It is quite different, isn't it?" he remarked in return. 

Just as he finished his sentence, they came upon a corner. Ramas ran straight into someone who was coming from the opposite direction. He took a few steps back. As soon as he realised who it was, Ramas cursed under his breath. 

He quickly knelt down on the ground and looked down towards the ground. 

"My apologies, Grand Advisor Eskyl," Ramas quickly said. 

Seeing Ramas's reaction to this man, Vy decided to play along. She and Lycster both knelt down on the ground and kept their head low. 

Eskyl looked down at Ramas and the two people who were with him. He did not pay any attention to them. He did not even respond to them. Eskyl and his bodyguards simply walked on without a care. 

Eskyl purposely stepped on Ramas's hand as he went. Ramas flinched with the sudden jolt of pain surging from his hand to his entire body. But he did not move. Vy saw all that was happening and wanted to react. 

But Aether stopped her. 

-We have a mission to complete.- he hissed. 

After the Grand Advisor and his bodyguards left, they all stood back up and dusted their clothes. 

"Sorry about that, let us continue," Ramas said as he continued to guide Vy and Lycster. 

"Is your hand alright?" Lycster asked out of concern. 

He too was fuming mad by the way Ramas was treated. But judging from the way things were done in this kingdom, he did not dare make a move. What was a young boy like him going to do against such powerful people?

"Thank you for your concern, no need to worry," Ramas replied reassuringly. 

Ramas was used to these things, it was common knowledge that some nobility treated those beneath them differently. He was more relieved that Eskyl did not suspect who Vy and Lycster were. The Grand Advisor simply passed them by. 

He could not wait to see the look on Eskyl's face when he realised who he passed. Vy, on the other hand, was getting worried. After all, if the Grand Advisor of Papillion acted like this, would the ruling Monarch be any different? 

Ramas seemed to sense her concerns, but he knew meeting the King in person would swiftly change Vyrena's mind. 

Having them meet in the King's Private chambers did not seem so appropriate. Furthermore, it would attract much-unwanted attention which would ruin the plan. As such, they had arranged for Vyrena to meet the King in the Pavillion of Wings instead. 

As they entered the Royal Gardens, Vy and Lycster marvelled at the flora and fauna that surrounded them. The beauty of the plants and the butterflies fluttering around them left the siblings speechless. 

It was all completely different from much of what they had seen before. Amongst nature, was a brick laid pathway that led straight to the Pavillion in the centre of the garden. Seeing the white-painted structure with its tiled roof, Vy can't help but remember the time she met the King of Arkwing Kingdom in a similar setting. 

"Is it just me, or does every castle have a garden with a pavilion in it?" Vy chuckled to herself. 

Lycster overheard his sister's comment and started laughing as they walked up the steps to the Pavillion. Seeing the scene before them made the Blackfire siblings laugh even more than before. Everything felt eerily familiar with the way things were set. 

Was this a terrible coincidence, or the foreshadowing of a future filled with bad luck?