"Good evening, Lady Bradamante," Lucius said, waving at her as she approached the gate with a tired lurch. The good Peer's usual bravado was all but spent, replaced by a heavy exhaustion no doubt from the previous day's festivities. He imagined all the coordination and procedure needed to organize such an event was, well, arduous to put it lightly. It was no wonder why the lady stumbled like the living dead.

"... Sir Lucius?" she said, glancing over to his other companions. The lady instinctively winced upon seeing Mili among them, but she brushed it off as merely a sudden chill. "Sir Marco and Lady Harper as well. I'm glad to see you all getting along, but what brings you here?"

"We were just passing through, I assure you. No ulterior motives here," Lucius lied through his teeth. "Our party was ever so eager to explore the wonderful sights of the city that, before we knew it, the hours slipped right on by! We were returning to the castle when we happened upon this curious gate and met you. What an interesting coincidence, right my friends?"

The other three nodded enthusiastically and did their best to look innocent.

"That so?" she replied, letting her guard down. "Can't blame you one bit. I used to wander the city myself back when I was still a little brat. Francia was very… different at the time. Ah, but you probably have better things to be doing than listening to me ramble on. I'll get going—"

"About that," Lucius interrupted her. "Would it be possible to request a favor?"

Lady Bradamante raised her brow. "I suppose it depends. What do you want?"

He leaned in to converse in more hushed tones and gestured toward the gate. "To be honest, the four of us are quite worried about Sir Ruggiero. We became close during the fortress's invasion, and it pains our hearts to see him locked up—even if only unofficially. Perhaps there may be a way for us to help, but to do so would require us to get past that pesky gate."

"You want me to smuggle you in?"

"Smuggle? Oh dear, nothing like that. We merely wish to accompany you. If, by chance, we happened to separate after our entry and go our respective ways… well, you never know what just might happen."

Bradamante laughed and shook her head. "Alright, alright. No need to play coy. Sure, I'll help you, but I'm coming along as well if you're visiting Ruggiero."

"The more the merrier!"

With that, the group gathered for a short talk and then finalized their plan. They organized themself into a stiff row and donned a rigid demeanor, before making their way to the gate.

"Velior, I see you're on inspection duty tonight?" Bradamante said, chatting with one of the guards as Lucius's companions attempted to be as inconspicuous as possible. "How's your kid doing? Hard to believe you're running around as a father."

The man broke into a warm smile at the sight of the lady and welcomed her as if the two were old friends. "She's just about to enter her teething phase. A little terror, to be sure; but the greatest of blessings usually aren't the quietest of ones."

"Oh? Words of wisdom, I see. Can't believe that snot-nosed brat from all those years ago now has a family of his own."

"Haha, I thank our Lord every day for allowing me this peace. But when will you start a family of your own, Lady Bradamante? I don't believe I've ever seen you with a suitor before."

Bradamante hesitated, and held her breath.

"I've just… never found the right person." It seemed to pain her to say those words, but she maintained a polite expression nonetheless. "Anyways, I have to head in for the night—lots of work still left. You understand."

"Of course! Please, don't let me keep you waiting. However…" The guard flashed a look at the others. "Are these otherworlders part of your retinue, my lady?"

"Them? Oh, yeah. Nothing to worry about. They're here to help me out with a few things. Is there a problem?"

The guard pondered to himself for a bit, but eventually they shrugged and bid them forward with a wave. "I know not what use you might have of them, but if you say they are trustworthy, then I shall oblige. Please, um, do not mention this elsewhere, if you can. I am technically not allowed to accept guests without a few days' notice in advance."

"My lips are sealed. Take care of yourself, kid."

With that, the party successfully cleared the gate and set foot into the Eastern Ward. The district was as fanciful as it appeared from the outside: with long, sprawling yards of neatly-trimmed grass and pathways paved in colorful crystals that shone brightly amidst the dark. But the most impressive aspect had to be the sheer size of the mansions dotting the area. They rose up high, towering over the city as if to flaunt the home owner's prestige, and were styled in all sorts of extravagant, yet regal, architectural designs. The buildings were already massive enough to put a billion-dollar resort to shame, and yet there were even additional sections nearby that housed the local servants. Each piece of land was easily the size of a small town.

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One mansion in particular that caught Lucius's eye was built from the ground up in a sleek black onyx. It was simpler compared to the others, and yet exuded a spine-numbing sensation of grandeur—of tradition dutifully maintained throughout the generations. It felt more like a historical sight rather than a place where one lived. Without a doubt, the owner of that abode had to be among the richest and most powerful in the land.

"Damn eyesore, isn't it?" Bradamante scoffed. "You can feel the vanity all the way from here."

Lucius tilted his head in confusion. "Is that not your home, my lady?"

She startled and looked at the gentleman with surprise. "How did you know?"

"I could see the turmoil in your eyes. You seem to have very mixed feelings."

Bradamante rubbed her face and considered her words for a moment, before replying, "It used to be. That right there is the territory of House Dordognes, of which I am unfortunately related to by blood. I spent my childhood being subjected to the drivel spouted by the old relics there. When I turned old enough to join the Holy Order, I packed up my things and left for good - didn't want to spend even a second longer in that stuffy place."

"I gather they are of considerable influence in the empire?"

"Hah, that's what they claim to be," Bradamante spoke bitterly. "Although… guess I can't deny that they're somewhat important. The ancestor of House Dordognes was the wife of the first emperor. The elders used to say that 'gold ran through our veins', that we were of different lineage compared to the rest of the common rabble. I knew they were dirty even as a kid, so I abdicated my last name and became a paladin."

Lucius knew well the pride of those with long-rooted ties. It was no surprise that one with Bradamante's nature would clash with their beliefs, but despite her apparent dislike, there was also something else in her words—regret.

"If you are not the family head, then who is?" Lucius asked.

Bradamante's face darkened, and her eyes narrowed with revulsion. "I believe you've met him already: the High Tribunal, Ganelon. That silver-tongued snake is from a collateral line, but he started gaining power after his late Holiness, Pepin the Crazed Consumer of Virgins, endorsed him in the succession race. Now, there's no one left in our family to go against him. Not even my brother…"

Oh? That was news to Lucius.

"You have a brother?" the gentleman said.

Apparently, that was a touchy subject for the lady. She let out a deep exhale and ran her hand through her hair, annoyed. "Yes, but we're not on good terms. While I chose to run away from all that filth like the selfish wretch I am, he stayed and sought to change the house from within. I… respected him for that, but in the end he turned out to be like all the rest. Now, he's just a puppet for Ganelon to manipulate."

Bradamante bit her lip and lowered her head. Her plight was different from those Lucius normally pruned. While she did have her woes, the Peer knew full well what laid within her heart. She did not deny it, nor did she try to bury it under a mound of false excuses. Bradamante accepted her true self; but that didn't mean she had to like it.

"Come to think of it," she began. "He's the leader of that new Order the castle's planning to form. His name is Renaud—be wary around him. Roland and I tried to dispute it, but Ganelon outnumbered us with the court. In the end, we could only assign a Peer on our side to be his second-in-command."

"Is your brother a Peer as well?"

Bradamante rubbed her chin and pondered for a bit. "I suppose he is, but it's a bit complicated. Unlike the others who earned their Peership through accomplishment, Renaud was simply given it after a previous member had perished in the fight against the demons—our father. It was handed down to him out of obligation rather than reward. You could say he's a Peer in name only."

Bradamante looked out toward the mansion with a sad look. She stayed in place, feet planted firmly, with her arms held still to her side. For all her harsh words, the lady still cared for him; but it was because of that warmth that she now worried over a bond long estranged.

"He never was much of a warrior. I told him he could do more for the empire with a quill and gavel rather than a blade, but he refused. He wanted to become just like our father, and now… now he plans to run off to his death in some foolish quest to bring back accomplishments of his own. I begged him, time and time again, to stop with this nonsense. Following Ganelon around like some obedient mutt won't lead to the acknowledgement he wants, but there's nothing else I can do. My voice can only grow so hoarse before it finally wavers."

She sighed, and began to walk again, gesturing for the others to follow. "Let's be off, shall we? Before I frustrate myself further with that pitiful fool."

Lucius's companions nodded, wishing not to unravel any more painful memories for the lady, and continued their march through the district.

After some time, they finally drew near their destination: Ruggiero's mansion. Except, it wasn't a mansion at all. The foreign Peer's home was more like a cottage, only two stories in height, and had a humble base of dark wood that was covered in beautiful rows of flowers. It was a sight straight out of a fairytale, for one could have easily mistaken it for the dwelling of a forest spirit or a wise hermit.

Lucius was quite interested in the buds. They weren't of any species he knew of, so the gentleman carefully plucked one for himself and registered it with his new floral skill as the party walked up to the cottage door. He had a feeling it would be useful sometime in the future.

Bradamante lingered at the porch for a second, carefully planning out what to say, before raising her hand and giving the door a firm knock.

It opened, and the good Ruggiero emerged, looking quite baffled by their gathering.

"... Beloved?" he whispered, eyeing the surroundings to make sure no one else was watching them. "And Sir Lucius as well? Oh my, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

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