~~~In the Present Day~~~

Colbert leaned back, setting his wine glass down on the table as he sighed. "I thought we'd decided not to talk about that time again?" he asked the duchess, raising his hand to run across the bald spot at the top of his head. "We've both changed significantly since then, those children are different people entirely."

The woman nodded, exhaling deeply before speaking. "It's important to remember the past and use it for our future. Failing that, turn the mistakes of our generation into the strengths of the next. Isn't that why you became a teacher, despite your obvious talent for warfare?"

Colbert frowned, but nodded in agreement as he tapped his fingers on the table, a small blue flame forming on the wood and dancing in a circle before putting itself out. "You were the first person I had ever actually enjoyed fighting, but it wasn't because of you that I became disillusioned."

"You had the embers of a warrior, and I ended up igniting them, but it was D'angleterre that snuffed them out. Had you not been a part of that mission, you may have even developed new colors of flame, or improved upon what you possess." She looked around, before raising an eyebrow. "Why are you here in Tristania? An order by Osmond?"

He nodded, taking another sip of his drink. "Ifrit and I were asked to come and observe the coronation, just in case something dangerous does happen. Ifrit has the fastest method to incapacitate safely after all, and I can heal anyone who is injured."

"That doesn't sound like you." she stated after listening to his explanation. "Since Osmond bought you from Margrave Gramont, you haven't been involved in the military's focuses. Are you really just watching to ensure Lord Andriy doesn't try to run away?"

A few moments of silence, before the man chuckled, sighing as he shook his head. "You're too clever, Karin. Careful what you say, speaking ill of the soon-to-be King won't go over well."

"My opinion of that man is no different from most others'. This is a political stunt and nothing more, so that Princess Henrietta has a large country supporting her war on Albion. That Andriy is a poor excuse for a noble."

As they talked, the gecko that she'd noticed on her way to the tavern sat in the rafters, looking down at the two with a human eye.

~~~Elsewhere, on a rooftop~~~

The former Count Mott stood on the tiles near the edge of a tiled rooftop, arms crossed as he looked out over the ground below. Not many people were here at the time, but it still made him nervous seeing the occasional commoner on their daily route or worker double checking something or another, and he turned his head to the man next to him. "Ghoti, what are we doing up here? Isn't it safer to go somewhere we won't be found? It's not like you need to see anything, anyway."

The other man, clad in a dark green robe that covered his toned body, was squatting low on the roof, his eyes closed and medium-length hair blowing in the slow breeze. His nose and mouth were covered by a half-mask, and he didn't visibly react to his companion's complaints, speaking with a calm, low voice. "It is tradition for mercenaries to stand at the highest point they can find, I am already uncomfortable having to stay away from the ridge tiles. This is so I can concentrate."

Mott's frown morphed to a frustrated glare, teeth partially bared in annoyance at the strange man's insistence. "You just want to look cool. Have you found anything interesting with your familiars' Sense Sharing?"

A moment of silence passed, and just as he was going to ask again, Ghoti responded at last. "My gecko has found Karin de la Valliere conversing with Jean Colbert, and my squirrel-"

"Both of those Square-classes are here?!" Mott asked with incredulity, and Ghoti nodded slowly, continuing to speak despite the interruption.

"It seems that Karin may be a problem, but Enjya will not. As for what my second familiar sees, it appears that Agnes de Milan has become aware of the decoys my client planted and started fanning her subordinates out."

"...We can't prepare against her in just a single day." Mott stated, and Ghoti shook his head.

"She is not a concern, her abilities are useless against my magic. It's Prince Andriy's attendants that I'm particularly concerned about, your magic is not enough to handle them."

Mott sighed, scratching his chin as he recalled the information he'd been given. "Kirche the Passion, Andriy's cousin, and...Who was the second again?"

"Lukas the Flayer, Anhalt-Zerbst's Chevalier. He shouldn't be a problem for me, but for you, you should be careful. He won't hold back since you are a labelled fugitive."

"Last minute strategizing?" came a girl's voice, and Mott jolted where he stood, though Ghoti simply opened one of his eyes, cancelling the gecko's Senses Sharing so he could look at her.

"Is it necessary to hide your face and voice like that? Doing so when we already know what you look and sound like is quite dishonest."

The girl laughed, waving her hand nonchalantly. "I prefer not to bind myself to tradition like you do, Ghoti. I'm hiding myself just in case anyone else may be watching you. I intended to simply check and make sure you two were ready, but I heard something interesting instead...You tell me the Vallieres are present?"

"If the Duchess is here, then likely the rest are as well." Mott said, crossing his arms. "It makes sense, she is deeply loyal to the royal family and wouldn't want to miss this, even though only the Duke's presence is needed. But, Ghoti says that-"

"Quiet, Alicio." Her eyes narrowed as she looked down at her feet, a scowl on her face as she tapped her lips with her index finger. "If Karin is here, that means David de Wilson is too. My Wind Shear did little to slow him down. On the contrary, I'm told that he has increased his skillset significantly since killing Jean-Jacques. Admittedly, it was my mistake not to go back and ensure he was dead, but I was busy dealing with that annoying maid who seemed to know who I am."

"You consider that familiar a threat?" Mott asked, confused by the statement. "Well, you are only a child yourself, however good you are at manipulating those who trust you."

The girl hesitated at the wording, before an irritated smirk grew on her face. "Keep talking that way and you will be used as another mana core test subject like Cromwell. I don't need a subordinate who insults innocent people." She was silent for a moment, before sighing. "Forgive that, I'm simply stressed. I'm sure you're already aware, but I don't particularly like this plan. If it were up to me, we would stay in the shadows for far longer. My research is not nearly fast enough to catch up if this continues to accelerate."

"I won't stop simply because you tell me to." Ghoti said in his monotonous voice, ignoring her concerns as he went back to focusing on his observation. "You may be my client's commander, but I only listen to her."

The girl frowned, before bending her knees to sit down on the tiles, shaking off her earlier words with a laugh. "Beatrice has done well so far at dragging David's name down, and she has already successfully ensured that he be stuck with the Demon title. Likewise, it seems he suspects neither her nor me, so there is little risk of discovery. However, Mott, you should be especially keen to stay out of his way. You consider him to be 'just another commoner', and that sentiment is shared with that idiot who thinks David may join our side, but he is neither weak nor easy to sway. If he continues at his current rate, he will become too much of a threat to stop anymore.

"Why not kill him now, then? Why should we avoid him if you really think he's so dangerous?" Mott asked. "Your motivations are all over the place, do you think highly or lowly of him?"

She took a moment to phrase her answer, before finally speaking. "He is someone to admire from afar, but fear from up close. If he is here now, my authority is less important. Follow Beatrice's instruction, she is more focused on anti-David practices than I am. For now, act as though you too were a mercenary under her employ."

Mott blinked, before sighing as he nodded. "...I don't like obeying children's orders, but I suppose one is no different from another, and I must acknowledge that you freed me from that prison. If you say to, then I'll listen. Even if I really don't see your point."