I motioned to some of the servants to clear up this mess, drawing my gaze to a younger servant standing directly next to Ickni's throne room. Those closest to Ickni's throne room were always blessed with more knowledge than the Servants of Order; the only problem was that their knowledge came with the heavy weight of an executioner's noose.
"You, your name."
"Sebastian. Divine String, Evernight."
A squad of servants quickly received Rupert's corpse, dragging him to a backroom, most likely a morgue, from where many bodies are brought in there a week.
Sebastian's eyes didn't falter in the slightest; he had been hardened by the grueling trials of Ickni's wicked mind.
"Come with me."
Unlike Rupert, Sebastian followed my commands, following me to a small office disconnected from the ears of servants. Just as I closed the door, I grasped Sebastian's sacred band; his eyes widened, and his eyes sank into panic.
"No. Don't touch it, she'll kill me. I don't want to die, please, sir! I've been good, I'm not a problem!" pleaded Sebastian.
His defenses immediately crumbled as I threatened Ickni's gaze, his face sinking into the deepest pit of despair.
Tugging on his sacred band, I expanded my light over its surface, my divinity binding to its core, creating a void in Ickni's surveillance network. I'd seen Artoria do something similar to her own band; this was my first time attempting such a depiction.
"Don't worry, I've blocked out Ickni's gaze. You are free to speak your mind."
Sebastian's gaze slowly turned to his band as I let go, his movement riddled with hesitation. A wild shake running throughout his whole body.
"But… She always knows," muttered Sebastian.
"It'll be okay, Sebastian. I just need you to answer a single question, then you can go back to being a dutiful little servant, okay?"
"Are you sure she can't hear us?"
"Of course, I'd never lie to you."
Unfortunately for Sebastian, I wasn't exactly confident that my barrier had been effective, although I couldn't say that I cared if she could or not. Sebastian was just the closest way to achieve what I wanted; I didn't care for someone who was already considered dead.
"Do you know where Lilia is being kept?"
"Yes. But I'm allowed to tell you, I was explicitly told not to."
"But she can't hear you. Do you really want Lilia to be executed for something she didn't do?"
"I'm not allowed to have an opinion on matters concerning the Custodian."
Sebastian's eyes hung low; he was practically itching to leave.
"Do you really want Ickni's terror to continue? If you don't tell me, then you doom all of your friends and coworkers to the putrid embrace of death. Do you really wish death on your friends?"
"What… No, of course not. I never, but I still can't tell you."
"You speak falsehoods if you don't tell me, then you are damning everyone you know to death. Don't you want to be free from Ickni's clutches, or are you that weak?"
"I'm not weak. I've survived for this long because I'm not weak."
"If you are strong, then you must fight for what you believe in. If you choose servitude any longer, then you are no longer strong but a leech. Tell me, Sebastian, are you a leech or an angel?"
"I'm an angel. Strong…"
"Then speak the words that will spell Ickni's downfall, tell me where Lilia is," I ordered, my voice growing deeper and more authoritative.
"Three floors above the throne room, they've locked down the whole floor. You won't be able to get up undetected through the stairs. She's in the backmost room, go up through the window. It's the only way."
"I thank you, Sebastian. I'll ensure your safety."
I swiftly left the room, removing my light from Sebastian's band, allowing Ickni to once again glance upon him. I couldn't promise anything in reality, but a small part of me wished for Sebastian even if it was fleeting.
Sebastian returned to his original position, not daring to meet the others' eyes. I headed for the garden of the palace, where I'd be able to find a good position to climb up to Lilia's room.