“As your retainer, I feel like it’s my job to tell you that this is a bad idea.” Damian’s voice echoed behind me.

  “I’ve heard just about every flavor of that same sentiment imaginable over the last few hours,” I said back.

  “And none of them have convinced you that maybe this is stupid?”

  “They have,” I answered. “They just haven’t convinced me that there’s a different way.”

  He sighed loudly. Thankfully, Anias didn’t say anything. They both trailed after me, and just behind them, floated five wooden crates we’d taken from the warehouse. We were in the Hall of Lords, an almost comically lavish building given its purpose, made entirely out of needlessly expensive glistening marble. The floor was carpeted, though I wouldn’t have been that shocked to find marble underneath that, too.

  This place looked the same as it had last time. It didn’t feel the same. It didn’t sound the same either.

  This time, there was a very, very large crowd of people standing just about anywhere a person could fit. Many of them turned when they saw me. People approached.

  It was no wonder they did. I was dressed in an elaborate black dress, the colors of House Veyne. If that wasn’t obvious enough, then I had our House’s sigil -a sickle and sword- emblazoned right above my chest. It would have taken a fool not to guess who I was, even if they did somehow miss the color of my skin or eyes.

  “Lady Veyne! Can we just have…a moment of your time?!”

  “Why did you call this emergency meeting?!”

  “Is it true that you attacked a warehouse on Greenward land?!”

  The reporters had more questions, but given that they were all shouting over each other, I didn’t understand most of them. Some of the questions I did understand weren't even about today, they were about the Auction House incident, or they inquired about my father's health. Something told me this was still tamer than it would have been back on Earth. At least there wasn't a barrage of flashing lights.

  I should have been nervous. So many people, all just staring at me. Just the thought of it should have had me feeling at least nauseous. Instead, I just felt exhausted. Perhaps not sleeping at all would have been better than getting one hour of sleep?

  Damian stepped in front of me then. “Back away! Is this any way to treat a daughter of House Veyne?!”

  He needn’t have bothered. Men in uniform had stepped in to break the crowd. It occurred to me that I’d never once read a newspaper in this world, though I had seen them occasionally. Books were more efficient, and from what I could recall from my past life, newspapers were likely worthless. Though perhaps the reason they were worthless on Earth could be the same reason they could be useful here.

  “Hmm. I didn’t think about that.” I suppose it wasn’t too late to start now.

  I scanned the crowd. All of these people looked overly enthusiastic. They were all practically tripping over each other. Any of them would have done just fine.

  I spotted someone else, just past the main crowd. A young woman, staring down at her notepad, then staring at the crowd in front of her with what could only be a mixture of frustration and desperation. She was biting her lower lip, trying to see past the crowd.

  I channeled mana into my voice. Pointed. “You.” The crowd stared at me. Damian and Anias probably were too. “You have questions, do you not? I will answer them. Some of them, at least.”

  The woman stared at me and pointed at herself. I slowly nodded. Her face lit up like the sun itself, and then she was trying to fight her way through the crowd. There were protests from the other men and women there, ones I ignored.

  “Do let her in,” I said to the Karr guard standing in front of me. “Anias, if you would.”

  Purple mana surrounded some of the members of the crowd, forcefully moving them aside and letting the woman through.

  The Karr grunted, but did step out of the way just to let her through. “Mana. Forbidden. Here.” He growled.

  “Duly noted.” They hadn’t said anything about the crates Anias was carrying. Perhaps you simply weren’t allowed to touch another with mana. How odd.

  “M-My Lady. Thank you! Thank you!” She bowed her head so low it was a wonder her back didn’t snap.

  “Err- it’s fine.” I felt awkward. “Please, raise your head.”

  She hesitated and then straightened. I looked back at Damian and Anias. They were both looking at me as if I’d grown a second head. Nobles did not talk to normal, common reporters. Especially not nobles of my rank. They had their stewards give statements at public addresses. What I was doing was somewhat novel for this world.

  “Lady Esra, I don’t think we have time for this,” Anias warned.

  “They can wait a few minutes.” I smiled, turned back to the woman.

  She was a pretty thing. She had very long black hair styled in a ponytail, a prominent nose, and big doe-like eyes. I couldn’t help but be reminded of a fox in some way.

  “First, I would like your name.”

  She nodded quickly. “I-it’s Dorothy, My Lady. Dorothy Carter.”

  “Alright, Dorothy.” I held up three fingers. “You have time for three questions. I hope you make them count.” This kind of odd ultimatum did feel nice. No wonder people liked using it so often.

  Dorothy nodded hurriedly, her head bobbing furiously. She flipped through the notepad.

  “T-then why has House Veyne called an emergency meeting of the Great Council?!”

  “If I could tell you that, I wouldn’t need the meeting, would I?”

  She frowned and seemed to deflate. Her shoulders sagged. Wasn’t I supposed to be the child here?

  “I will not count that,” I said finally. “Please, ask me something else.”

  “O-okay. Then, is it true House Veyne r-raided a warehouse on disputed territory controlled by House Greenward and House Indri?”

  “It is.”

  She scribbled furiously. “And does that raid have something to do with this emergency meeting?”

  “It does.”

  My answers weren’t exactly detailed, but she seemed so thankful for them that I almost felt guilty for not going into more detail.

  “A-and may I i-interview you sometime? If it’s not a bother! If My Lady has free time or simply wishes to grace this idiot with some of h-”

  I stared at her, and then I laughed. The sound was alien even to me. I covered myself with my hand. “You are a rather earnest one, aren’t you?” I shook my head before she could answer. “If I survive the day, perhaps we will be able to do just that. Now, I believe that was your three."

  Dorothy nodded hurriedly, apparently in as much haste to leave as she was to speak to me in the first place. I turned back to Damian and Anias. The mirth didn’t last long, not when I knew what I had to do.

  “Let’s go.”

  It wasn’t just the hallway outside that had more people than last time. The Council Chamber itself was more packed. Each of the Dukes had at least one or two men and women standing behind them. All save for Duke Indri, who had come alone. Perhaps all of these men and women were something like Estovan was to House Veyne. No matter.

  The Dukes themselves were whispering amongst themselves when I walked in, their whispered conversation dying as soon as they saw me.

  “You!” Duke Greenward pointed a finger squarely at me. “You have some explaining to do, you brutish child.” I wasn’t the only one who had dressed up more for the occasion. Duke Greenward somehow wore even more gemstones than he did last time. His green surcoat paled in comparison.

  His over exaggeration did make his otherwise patrician features look very common. Julian Greenward hardly had any composure at all, not that I could blame him.

  I didn’t answer him, instead I simply clicked my fingers.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Damian stepped forward in front of me, projecting his own voice. “My Lord, what gives you the right to speak to the scion of House Veyne in this manner? Especially when one’s own deeds are dark as night.”

  He actually memorized the exact phrasing I wrote down for him. What a dutiful young man.

  “Are you a fool, boy?” Duke Julian Greenward glowered. “This mad girl attacked one of my facilities! She’s lucky she isn’t in chains.”

  “Now, now, Julian.” Duke Indri spoke. “That land is technically just as much mine as it is yours. I would hear Lady Veyne out first, before casting judgment.”

  

  I tamped down on my simmering rage. Now definitely wasn’t the time.

  “Anias, if you would.”

  The woman stepped forward, and with her came the crates. They floated in the space between the Lords, falling to the ground. A second later, and the lids opened, revealing the Nightsoil inside.

  “My Lord,” I called out, infusing just a bit of mana. “I take it you recognize this.”

  Duke Julian looked slightly confused, though no less angry. “Of course I do. This is Nightsoil. You raided a facility where it is produced. What of it?”

  “Do you know how this particular Nightsoil was made?” I asked curiously, head slightly tilted.

  “Girl, just speak plainly.” Duke Thalos growled. “Don’t waste our time with this roundabout conversation.”

  My eyes twitched. “Very well.”

  Another crate floated to the front, this one without the sigil of House Greenward. It opened, and inside were reports, both in Estovan’s hand and in Evelynn’s. The woman worked fast. Anias’ mana reached inside, and then the dozens of pages were floating, copies moving and resting in front of the four men.

  “And just what are these?” Duke Wardell spoke up for the first time.

  “This Nightsoil is made from children, using a Magical Implement. You call it the ‘Mana Press’, I believe.” I gestured to Duke Julian. “There was a gang called the Blue Vipers present at the scene. House Veyne dealt with them. It should be noted that they were the only ones present at the scene. These reports detail everything we have found, as well as our best estimates for just how many lives it would take to make the Nightsoil you see before you.”

  There was silence for a few seconds. Even the different Dukes’ retainers were leaning forward to peer at the pages. Duke Wardell looked horrified. Duke Thalos looked confused. Duke Greenward looked furious. The most extreme reaction was from Duke Indri. His hands were shaking. If I’d used my Gift, perhaps I would have been able to see tears.

  What an odd creature.

  “Are you insane?” Duke Greenward hissed. “I make fertilizer, you fool! Are you accusing me of something this heinous? I knew you were a snake of some sort, but this goes far beyond even my imagining. Why would I do something this absurd? We do not make it from children!” His words had true heat behind them. This wasn’t a performance, not that I’d expected one.

  “Lady Veyne.” Duke Thalos voice was grave and cold. “Do you know what you’re accusing Lord Julian of, right now?”

  I ignored him, staring at Duke Indri from the corners of my eyes. Now was the moment. My hands moved behind me. Anias stepped in close and whispered into my ear. “He does look rather upset.”

  “I can hardly blame him,” I whispered back, keeping my face blank as Anias moved away.

  “Well? Don’t ignore me, girl.” Duke Thalos’ voice was sharper now.

  I straightened. “You asked me if I knew what I was accusing House Greenward of; I do.”

  “Do you?” Duke Thalos spat. “Do you understand the implication? The consequence? Do you?”

  “I do. However, I fear that you all might not.”

  “What?” Duke Thalos just stared at me.

  “I am saying that there was one facility where this heinous thing was done; I make no claim about any other. I make no claim that Duke Julian knew about it or authorized it, only that all of this happened under his watch. My claim is one of negligence, not intent. Please, do not put words in my mouth.”

  This was the fine line I had to walk. A direct accusation, and there would be bloodshed right here and right now. Something like this was the only way to get a different result.

  “Yes, because that’s a tremendous difference!” Duke Julian looked like he was about to move from the table and come to me himself. “What possible proof do you have for something this absurd?!”

  “You mean besides the independent verification of the Information Guild?” I reached inside my cloak, pulled out a weathered old ledger. The ledger was in the Greenward green, emblazoned. These sigils, from what Estovan had been able to find, were administrative seals used by the warehouse quartermaster. Estovan had uncovered this himself, hidden inside the warehouse.

  The fact that this ledger was there at all was rather absurd. As if his House’s sigil hadn’t been enough.

  “Anias.”

  The ledger floated from my hand, moving over to stop just in front of Duke Greenward, before falling onto the table in front of him.

  “This should explain things nicely,” I said. “That details a list of…shipments to and from the warehouse. I believe you can guess what ‘raw materials’ are supposed to represent in this equation.”

  “And what proof do you have that these reports are at all accurate? Do you even have witnesses?” Duke Thalos interjected.

  “We didn’t burn the place down,” I said dryly. “It’s still there. You may go and check if you wish. I believe the bodies are still fresh as well. As for witnesses, the children are still there.” My fists clenched. “I have sent for a ‘Scrylens.’ I am afraid I didn’t have time to get you those pictures in time.”

  A Scrylens was a somewhat new Magical Implement that worked like a camera. It was bulky and unwieldy. That was something Estovan hadn’t managed to arrange in time, though given the Nobles’ disdain for new technology, it probably didn’t matter.

  My hands moved behind my back again. The Dukes all looked deep in thought, especially Indri. Anias leaned in close. Whispered. “You told me I could say anything, but I do admit I’m not sure what to say, My Lady.”

  “It really doesn’t matter,” I murmured back. The Duke’s attention had shifted. It had gone from me to Anias herself.

  I straightened. “We also captured researchers of some kind, their tongues sealed by contract. I am sure you know who to send for to remedy such a thing, correct?”

  Duke Thalos chewed on something. Duke Wardell was the one to speak up. “Are the seals real?” He was looking over at Lord Julian.

  Duke Julian pointedly set the ledger down. His face was cold, even as his cheeks were red with anger. “They cannot be.” He hissed. “They might be good forgeries, I will grant that. But these seals are not my own.”

  “Forgery, you say?” I raised my voice. “I make no claim about whether those are real or not. I merely show you what we have found.”

  He frowned. Took a deep breath. Some of the color returned to his face.“I have no knowledge of these absurd accusations you lay at my feet. And this talk of working with Blue Vipers. Are you mad? That warehouse was managed by my own men. What would I possibly have to gain from any of this?”

  And those men were most likely dead. Perhaps their remains were in the Nightsoil in front of us right now. If Lord Julian had been interested in anything but his own profit, he would have known as much. I did wonder just how Indri had arranged such a thing. The men themselves were likely insignificant peasants, but surely there was a supervisor who should have-

  Ah. The quartermaster himself, then, that’s who Duke Indri had bought. I’d been too tired to see it until now. In that case, those seals likely were real. I almost pitied Greenward. He was going to have a hell of a time proving his innocence now.

  “I do not claim to understand how your mind works, Lord Julian. I am simply pointing out your negligence. And I never said you were working with a dangerous gang. I merely point out that only the said gang was present in one of your facilities. Curious.”

  “Enough.” Duke Thalos’ voice boomed out. Mana infusion, and no small amount of it. “Lord Julian, can you prove these seals are fake?”

  “Given a little time, yes. I’ll need to find the quartermaster whose seals these are meant to fake.” Duke Julian said boldly. “And there will be hell to pay when I do.”

  “You still deny it? With all of this evidence laid before you?” I gestured towards Duke Wardell. “And? What say you? House Wardell has jurisdiction over the City Watch.”

  Duke Wardell looked resigned. “If the seals are real, then House Greenward would be implicated. If they are not, then the evidence is circumstantial. However, House Veyne overstepped. That much is fact.”

  I tipped my head. There was nothing to say to that. House Wardell was friendly with House Veyne and had been for many years. That was likely why he wasn’t making nearly the fuss he probably should. I would certainly hear from him later, in private.

  “Wardell, do go and inspect this warehouse.” Duke Thalos muttered. “Go and see if these claims have any weight to them at all.”

  “Naturally.” Duke Wardell said, with all the tone of a man who didn’t need to be told how to do his job.

  “Don’t think you can make an accusation like this lightly.” Duke Julian pointed. “When this is done, I will make you pay dearly for this insult.”

  I bet he would, at that.

  “Lady Veyne.” Duke Thalos murmured. “Your father was a hard man. One who valued action over words. Even he would never have been foolish enough to do something like this.”

  “Alas, I am not my father. Nor did I ever pretend to be.”

  Duke Thalos sighed. “Very well. There will be a proper hearing for this in eight days' time. I take it that will be long enough for House Wardell to conduct its investigation. It will also be enough time to send for an Inquisitor.”

  It had actually worked. I had avoided a civil war or being thrown in chains. Duke Thalos might have looked cooperative, but he likely wanted to avoid bloodshed as much as I did. That might topple the entire city. Instead, we had to deal with the Inquisition.

  The Inquisition was a branch of the crown itself, meant to facilitate these kinds of disputes between high nobility. I did not know much about them, save that Lords would sooner squash rivalries that lasted generations than draw their gaze. All of their Gifts tended to deal with the mind, according to Anias. One of them could pry out the secrets of the people we took prisoner.

  “It will be enough time.” Lord Corin just stared at me.

  “I believe Lady Veyne might just have the right of it after all.” Duke Indri murmured. “To think that House Greenward would use our land for such vile purposes.” He looked at me seriously, and something in his face shifted. “And are all of these accusations…your own?”

  “They are,” I answered, with just the tiniest bit of hesitation to my words.

  Duke Greenward glared at him. “Oh? Is this a conspiracy between you two, then? If you side with this fool, perhaps I will be able to expand my District again.”

  Indri didn’t acknowledge the statement. He seemed to be both trying to look at me while trying not to at the same time.

  “I merely wish to find the truth,” I said, bowing slightly. As I did, I let myself sway forward. Damian grabbed onto my shoulder to steady me. I looked at him gratefully, even as I awkwardly forced myself to straighten. It wasn’t a hard performance for someone actually exhausted.

  I dared to glance back at Indri. He was still staring. There was grief in his eyes.

  The Council adjourned. There were somehow even more reporters outside now than there had been when we had gone in. How was that even possible? The guards had to almost physically throw people away just to make enough room for me to leave.

  “Esra, you’re not going to talk to him? Or…Duke Wardell?” Damian helpfully moved in front of me to help clear a path.

  “No,” I said, working my way through the crowd. “It’s important that I don’t.”

  “Lady Esra, that was truly reckless.” Anias sounded worried. Had I ever heard that in her tone before? “You hide it well, but you’re barely on your feet.”

  I do wish she wouldn’t bring it up. I had been ignoring the signs well enough; having them pointed out only made it more difficult.

  “Anias, all I plan to do now is sleep.”

  It worked. I was sure of it. None of it had gone as Duke Indri had hoped. Doubtless, he’d expected me to rain down fire and brimstone in that hall. To create a situation where Indri would ‘save’ me. Instead, I had threaded the needle just right. Even if this all blew up, I wouldn’t be taking House Veyne down with me.

  The only problem had been simple: I couldn’t both be competent and have Duke Indri lower his guard at the same time. The answer had been even simpler. I just had to pretend that competence came from somewhere else. Thanks, Anias. If he could feed into my bias, why couldn't I feed into his?

  After all, I was just a harmless little girl.