The door to Zarah's chamber opened as Iris entered, with Jia following behind her.
Nolan turned at the sound of the door and saw Jia.
Jia looked at him with confusion, though her expression remained composed as she gave him a polite nod.
"Duke Zepher," she greeted.
Jia couldn't help but wonder what Nolan was doing inside Zarah's chamber.
Zarah's chamber.
A Flower Maiden's chamber.
Her eyes widened slightly.
'Do I have competition?'
Was Duke Zepher after Zarah as well?'
But he's known for being uninterested in people for the most part...'
"Jia."
Zarah's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
Jia immediately turned toward her and stepped forward with a smile.
She watched as Iris closed the chamber door behind them before looking back at Zarah.
"I was planning on meeting with you and Iris, but with the brothel fire, I didn't get the chance to speak to Her Majesty abou—"
Zarah suddenly stepped forward and took both of Jia's hands in hers.
"I missed you, Jia."
Jia froze.
Her ears immediately turned pink.
"Miss... yes... that's... that's what I do too."
She swallowed.
"I missed you very much, Zarah... and Iris, and, uh, Miss—"
Her mind spiraled.
'No, no, no, Jia!'
Hold yourself together!'
Duke Zepher is completely loyal to the Empress. I can't confess my love for Her Majesty's Flower Maiden in front of him!'
"Well, this is new."
Iris raised a brow.
"I agree with you, Lady Iris. I may not know whether it is new or not, but it is certainly intri—"
Nolan stepped beside Iris.
"Huh?! What?!"
Iris shrieked slightly and jumped.
"Duke Zepher, how did you get from there to here so quickly?"
Nolan gave her an apologetic smile.
"I apologize for startling you, Lady Iris."
"But really, how did you move so fast?"
Iris stared at him suspiciously.
Nolan chuckled.
"Training."
"Ahem."
Zarah cleared her throat, finally drawing everyone's attention back to her.
She released Jia's hands.
"If I may, I have something to ask Jia."
"Yes, yes."
Iris moved beside Jia and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"It's something very important."
Jia became even more confused.
What was so important that even Nolan was involved in the discussion between Zarah and Iris?
Zarah took a deep breath.
"Jia, do you remember what you promised me before you left?"
Jia smiled.
"Of course I do. I never forgot."
Her smile softened.
"I always knew I would find you again. I owe you my freedom. I swore an oath to you that I would return the favor."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Why do you ask?"
"I know we just reunited, but I need that favor."
Zarah felt a little guilty.
"It's important."
Jia nodded.
"Zarah..."
She smiled warmly.
"I owe you and Iris for helping me reunite with my father. Not just me, either. The other girls were freed from the brothel too. Some went on to study, while others found work."
Her expression softened.
"And my father got his daughter back."
Jia looked directly at Zarah.
"For you to have returned me to him... whatever you ask of me, I will fulfill it."
Zarah hesitated.
"Can you trust me?"
Jia blinked in confusion.
"But I already trust you."
"It's been a long while."
Zarah's voice softened.
"Six years isn't a short amount of time, Jia. Can you trust me again?"
Jia smiled.
"Time is simply a variable. It doesn't change the fact that you're my friend."
Her expression became sincere.
"I've always trusted you, and I will continue to do so until my dying breath."
"That's a bit dramatic..." Iris quipped from behind them.
"Hush, Iris. Don't ruin the effect of my words."
Jia narrowed her eyes at her.
"Yeah, no. Then you'll become too cringe."
Iris rolled her eyes.
Zarah sighed.
'Why did these two decide to start chatting now?'
"Lady Iris, let Zarah complete her conversation."
Nolan's voice finally cut through their banter.
Iris nodded.
"Right, right."
Zarah held one of Jia's hands before asking,
"Help me protect Her Majesty and, in turn, Lady Peirce."
Jia's eyes widened, confusion filling her face.
"What? Protect Her Majesty? From whom?"
"Jia, please."
Zarah squeezed her hand gently.
"I'll answer your questions when the time is right, and I swear I'll answer every single one honestly. But for now, please don't question me or my words."
Jia's expression became complicated.
After a long moment of silence, she finally asked, "What do you need help with?"
"You're really going to do it?" Iris asked.
"Of course."
Jia looked between them.
"The both of you are my friends, and a Sterling never goes back on their oath."
She paused.
"If I were asked to help you hide a dead body, I would agree. But considering Duke Zepher is here, I assume it's nothing of that sort."
"That sentence alone could get you investigated for treason, Lady Sterling."
Nolan's voice was stern.
"I didn't say whose dead body, Duke Zepher."
Jia smiled innocently.
"That's why I said investigation and not execution."
"Okay, now it's Duke Zepher who's straying from the conversation."
Iris sighed.
"Let me finish."
Zarah sighed as well.
"Thank you, Jia."
She looked at her gratefully.
Jia smiled in return.
"An assassination attempt will take place against Lady Peirce during the banquet the day after tomorrow."
Zarah's expression became serious.
"Can you learn from Duke Zepher about the palace ballroom where the banquet will take place and keep an eye out during the banquet?"
"How do you kn—"
Jia stopped herself.
"You already promised you wouldn't ask."
Zarah smiled faintly.
"I'll tell you. Trust me."
"I do."
Jia sighed before continuing.
"Then tell me what areas I need to secure. And if an assassination is going to be attempted, shouldn't someone be placed in close proximity to Lady Peirce?"
"Diana will be doing that."
Nolan answered.
"I've already sent for her. She's on her way."
"Lady Vernon?"
Jia raised a brow.
"She's talented in magic, from what I've heard."
"Is she trustworthy?" Iris asked.
"She's my right hand. My eyes and ears whenever I can't be present."
Nolan's answer was immediate.
"Then that's good."
Zarah nodded.
"Lady Vernon can be trusted to keep Lady Peirce safe during the banquet."
At that moment, the chamber door opened.
Diana stepped inside.
"Lady Vernon will be the one mixing the poison into Lady Peirce's drink," Melody said to Alexander, with Lady Vernon standing behind her.
Alexander looked Lady Vernon up and down.
"Marceline is a cunning fox. Do you really expect her to trust someone so easily that she'll allow them to handle her drink before she drinks it herself?"
A smile spread across Lady Vernon's face.
She curtsied gracefully.
"Your Highness, trust me."
She raised her head.
"It's well known that Marceline Peirce has always admired me, Daphne Vernon. She would have confessed her feelings to me if I hadn't been engaged to Lord Levion."
Alexander hummed, his gaze remaining fixed on Daphne.
"And how do I know you won't abandon your fiancé, develop pity for Marceline during the banquet, and suddenly find yourself attracted to her?"
His eyes narrowed.
"Especially when your younger sister is so loyal to Nolan Zepher."
Daphne's expression darkened at the mention of Diana.
"Diana is still young. She doesn't know how to support the person who is truly in the right."
Her voice carried a hint of contempt.
Diana was younger than her.
Yet she had always been better at everything.
Studies.
Magic.
Etiquette.
Everything.
And when Daphne discovered that Diana had feelings for Marceline Peirce, she saw an opportunity.
She made sure Marceline would fall for her.
But Daphne never intended to be with Marceline.
Nor would she allow Diana the chance to confess her feelings.
If Marceline fell in love with Daphne, Diana would never get the opportunity to be with her.
And when Marceline eventually had her heart broken, Daphne would have taken away the one thing Diana secretly wanted.
"And I have already made Lady Vernon sign a blood oath. If she betrays us, her head will explode, killing her instantly," Melody said.
Alexander smiled.
"Very good."
He looked at Melody.
"I am proud of you, Melody."
Melody smiled.
"I'm simply doing what Your Grace instructed me to do. It is my duty."
"Very well, Melody."
Alexander turned toward the door.
"Give Daphne the poison vial."
He gestured for Melody and Daphne to leave.
As they walked away, Alexander's expression hardened.
"This time, nothing should go wrong."