15th Winter Moon, 907—Afternoon

A cheerful whistle sang through the busy clatter of pots and pans. A lovely melody filled with spirit, heart, and the passion for hard work. At least, that's what ran through Ydalyn's mind as she chopped away at the vegetables. She sliced through a head of lettuce with dangerous speed. Her knife, barely a blur gripped in her hand, shredded through anything that came through the speedy guillotine. Her finger looked like it came close to being sliced off, something that wrecked with Gustavo's nerves as he watched her from behind.

"Uh, Ms. Ydalyn?" Gustavo chimed in, trying to hide the nervous tone cracking behind his voice.

"Yes, chef?" Ydalyn asked sweetly.

The Gengar chef gulped and said, "While I appreciate your enthusiasm in the kitchen, you really don't need to chop the lettuce so hard…or so fast. We wouldn't want you slicing off a finger, right?"

Ydalyn grinned. "Oh, nothing to worry about, chef. I know exactly what I'm doing. I know my way around a knife." Gustavo gasped as she dexterously twirled the knife between her fingers, even pulling off some fancy spins and tricks. "See? Perfectly fine—" The knife slipped out, arced through the air, and impaled her cutting board. "…I meant to do that."

Gustavo took a deep breath and backed away from the Inteleon. "Right, well…just try not to get any blood on the food."

"Sure thing, chef."

Gustavo floated away and shuddered to himself. "If I wasn't already a ghost, I'd fear for my life."

He made his way over to Hilda, busying herself with peeling the potatoes. It had taken some time, but the Chansey seemed to be in higher spirits these days. Though the occasional whimper came whenever the missing princess was brought up, Gustavo was happy to see Hilda in a better mood than before. She even took to her new cooking role with pride. Still an amateur in Gustavo's eyes, but better than when she started out.

"How are you coming along, Ms. Hilda?" Gustavo asked, checking over her progressed.

Hilda smiled at him. "Almost done with the potatoes. I'll have them chopped up and ready for the stew in no time."

"Fantastic!" Gustavo's grin stretched. "I'm proud of you, Hilda. You've improved a lot since you started out. Perhaps I should promote you as my sous-chef."

Hilda giggled. "I'm flattered, but we both know I'm not that good at cooking. I wouldn't be able to handle the responsibility."

"Oh, not now, of course. If you give it enough time, you will be just as good as me, if not better. You have a lot of talent, Ms. Hilda. I'm just here to temper that skill and help you reach your best…well, you."

Hilda's eyes widened briefly, then she turned back to her potato peeling. "Oh, uh…thank you very much, Gustavo."

Ydalyn couldn't help glancing over at them. She smirked at the twinge of red in Hilda's cheeks, plus her flustered smile. She seemed to be peeling the potatoes a little rougher, too, cutting off chunk by mistake.

"Do you need any help or do you have everything under control?" Gustavo offered.

Hilda smiled. "No, no, I'm alright. Thank you, though."

"You're very welcome, signora—HEY!" Gustavo suddenly snapped, pointing to a Seviper in the back. "What did I tell you about licking the spoon? Have you no grasp of sanitation?!" He flew off to reprimand the viper.

Hilda giggled, then returned to peeling the last of her potatoes. Once they were all peeled, she started cutting them up into chunks. Her concentration, however, waned when Ydalyn slid over to her station, leaning into the counter and grinning playfully at her. Hilda ignored it to the best of her ability, though the merry air surrounding Ydalyn was palpable, pulling her from her work.

Hilda sighed, set her knife down, and smiled at the Inteleon. "May I help you with something, Ydalyn?"

"Oh nothing, nothing. Just thought I take a small break. Maybe offer some help."

Hilda chuckled. "Well, as I already informed Gustavo, I'm fine right now. Thank you for the offer, though."

"Oh, of course, you're welcome." Ydalyn didn't leave, though, and instead watched Hilda with a laxed presence. She let Hilda chop away at three potatoes in the silence of blades to cutting boards, then said, "He was quite sweet on you, huh?"

Hilda chopped the cutting board harder than intended and stared straight ahead. A deep red blush colored her face. "W-What?"

Ydalyn giggled. "Oh nothing, just an old woman playing around. You know how it is. Looking too deeply into little things and making a big deal about it to mess with folks. Actually, I use to do that all the time with my daughter. She never liked it when I embarrassed her in front of the boys. Poor thing nearly had a heat stroke, I tell you."

"I-I see, yes," Hilda stuttered. She tried to resume her cutting, but found her hand shaking too much to get a proper hold of the knife.

"I'm surprised at you, though, Hilda. Late forties? Early fifties? And yet you've kept a modest appearance of yourself. I'm surprised no man is breaking down the door to ask for your hand."

"O-Oh, well…hehehe…" Hilda clutched her apron and wrung it around with her hands. "W-Well, I spent the last twenty years in service to the Penworths, especially once the p-princess was born. I never really had time for…courtship."

Ydalyn grinned. "You haven't? Dear Hilda, a woman of your beauty and age should be celebrated. I mean, just look at me. Fifty-six-years-old and I still make the men fall at my feet." She poked Hilda's cheek. "I'd say Gustavo has the right idea for you. Wouldn't you say?"

Hilda hid her face behind her apron. "D-Do not be ridiculous, Ydalyn! Such affairs in the workplace would be shameful and…and…" She peeked out behind the apron and whispered, "Y-You really think he was…flirting with me?"

Ydalyn turned away and shrugged, bearing a cheeky grin. "Come to your own conclusions if you wish. I'm just having some fun. Like I said, I could be looking too deeply into nothing. I better finish up with food prep. Have fun, Hildy." Ydalyn walked away, making no attempt to hide her giggling.

Hilda gripped the edge of the counter, exhaling the internal screaming rattling inside her mind into sort breaths. "Th-That cheeky woman, I swear. One minute she acts like a soft-spoken grandmother, the next she's the court jester trying to prod the king into swearing a storm—"

"All good over here, signora?"

Hilda squeaked, going completely red, as Gustavo popped up behind her. "O-Oh, yes! Perfectly fine! Just, uh…dumping the potatoes! Into the stew! Right now!" She picked up the cutting board and shuffled off in a hurry.

Gustavo floated over the station in confusion. "Hmm. Pretty sure some of those potatoes were still whole, too…"

Sadie Mailet spent a good chunk of her castle days cooped up in her room when she wasn't eating or doing chores. How she dreaded the lack of chatter in the halls without her dear friend, Melissa, the only source of entertain she got beyond starting gossip and rumors among the cleaning staff. Sadie still did those things, of course, but it wasn't nearly as fun without someone to gossip with. She debated chatting Theobald's ear off, knowing he could use the company, but thought against it. Best not to blow her cover this far into the game.

She checked her calendar and frowned. It'd be another couple of weeks before Jason started the surprise raid to extract her. Without a princess to keep tabs on, or anything noteworthy regarding Roscoe—though his departure from the capital was interesting—or the Penworth family, her business was no longer required. That, and it may be her time before someone catches onto her deception. She was lucky to have tricked Luna off her case and set the blame on Theobald, as was their plan.

So, what was a bored Audino with a flair for gossiping to do before she could return to her humble abode and snuggle up with her foggy-eyed beloved? Why, try to figure out whatever conspiracy was going on with Jason and Theobald, of course.

All she knew about Theobald was that he knew Jason, and vice versa. Not even Blitz or Jet knew anything about him. Jason had some sort of history with Theobald, or something beyond that. In fact, her curious mind saw Jason as a unique puzzle left unsolved. All the puzzle pieces were scattered in front of her face, yet so deceptively vague that fitting them together might as well equate to shoving a square peg into a round hole.

It was basic knowledge: the Foresters kept their histories to themselves unless they want to talk about it. Sadie didn't make her past a secret from the Foresters. She loved talking. Some even said she likes to talk too much, and it gets on their nerves. The gossiping nuisance leaves for an extended period of time per Jason's orders, no doubt celebrated over Lambert's secret stash of fizzy drinks. Oh, how she looked forward to returning and making up for lost time with a couple years of stored up words. They'll be so excited, they'll be bashing their heads into walls with joy.

Wait, she was getting off track.

Point is, Jason kept his private life a mystery. The only person who would remotely know anything is Eadwulf, and even he won't open up about their past. All Sadie knew for certain was that Jason's family adopted Eadwulf, so the two have been brothers for the longest time. Sadie was fairly certain Jason worked as a farmer, too. So, what business did a Pikachu from farmland have with the mysterious Nidoking who might be a part of some gang or historical group?

"This web of nonsense just keeps getting stickier," she muttered aloud, sipping on her medicine as she paced through her room. "Have I gone without any gossip-worthy material that I must resort to obsessively looking into someone's past, hoping to find some shred of evidence to satisfy my ego? Hmm…ah shit, so this is what Luna was going through. Mad respect."

She plopped down on her bed and turned to her only other companion: her vanity mirror's reflection. "What do you think? Should I find something else to waste my time?"

"Are you kidding? You're on a breakthrough to something big!"

Sadie rolled her eyes. "Yeah, something big and pointless! Who the heck cares if I find out Jason's secrets? I don't get anything out of it. Not like when Beatrice tried to play coy about that little incident three weeks ago."

"I still can't believe she was having an affair with one of the chefs."

"I still can't believe she thought using a guest bedroom wouldn't draw attention. Oh, she was not happy when I opened the door. And she knows how good my hearing is." Sadie shuddered. "Too good. Glad I shut the door as soon as I opened it."

"Tsk, tsk, poor Beatrice. So mixed-up, so reckless with her little flings."

"Eh, but not enough gossiping material to work with." Sadie sat up. "If only Melissa were here. She'd get a kick out of this."

"How do you suppose she's doing?"

"Haven't heard back in a while." She smirked. "Hopefully she's adjusted to bunking with Marie and Pandora. I do not envy that poor girl one bit."

"Hoohoo! How cruel~!"

"Hey, you know I'm right. I'm you."

"True, true. So, want to give up on your big discovery?"

"As if. I need to keep my mind preoccupied with juicy gossip before I go mad."

"Says the girl talking to her reflection."

"Don't back sass me, me!"

"I'll back sass me all I want, me!"

"Don't make me shatter you!"

"Eep! Please, anything but that!"

"Then enough sass!" Sadie sat up and crossed her arms, quizzically staring at her wall. She let her mind wander back to the subject of Theobald and hummed aloud. "Now there's a thought…"

"Oh? Do tell."

"I do recall Ydalyn heading down to the dungeon every other day. I didn't think much of it at the time. After all, prisoners need to eat. However, I did see her entering the dungeon late into the night. Very late. Way past dinner late. I've seen her do this like four or five times since she got here." She glared. "You don't suppose they—"

"—know each other?"

"Exactly. Why do you suppose that is?"

"Hmm. You know, her account before arriving here seemed fishy."

"Someone of her age traveled alone from a warzone all the way to the Verde Kingdom. A journey like that could've taken weeks on foot." Sadie smirked. "Miss Ydalyn, you may just satiate my boredom after all. Now that I've seen through your tricks, perhaps I can find out Jason's secrets."

"How are you planning on doing that?"

"Oh, I have my ways. I have my—" A loud rapping on the door cut her off.

"Uh, Ms. Mailet? Is everything alright in there? You've been mumbling to yourself for…quite a while."

Sadie yelled back, "Nothing, just talking to my reflection!"

"…What—"

"Did I stutter?! Get lost!" She heard a whimper and the shuffling of feet moving away from the door.

"Ugh, some people."

"Tell me about it."

After prying herself from her riveting mirror conversation, Sadie traipsed through the castle with a casual air, humming an innocent tune that may or may not be tied to not-so-innocent lyrics bouncing around in her head. Regardless, she went ignored by the rest of the staff, focusing on her intended target.

Upon reaching the dining hall, she peeked through the doors for any sign of the mysterious Inteleon. As luck would have it, Ydalyn had just stepped out of the kitchen, carrying a tray of food with her. Ah, perfect.

Sadie stepped away from the door and went about examining her nails when Ydalyn pushed the doors open. Sadie let her pass by for a few seconds, watching her march down the hall, before following with her hands tucked behind her waist.

Ydalyn paid no mind to it at first, only focused on delivering the food, but came to realize the Audino took a few of the same turns she took. She didn't make her observations obvious and kept her head forward. She caught the faintest glimpse of Sadie's wide skirt in her peripherals.

Twist and turns were made after that. Ydalyn's destination was a straight shoot for delivery, but she decided on some fun. The directions seemed normal at first. A couple rights, a left, straight, etc. After a bit, Ydalyn made a turn into the royal garden, with Sadie still hot on her trail. Ydalyn suppressed the smirk twitching at the corners of her lips and continued walking.

By now, Sadie guessed she was caught red-handed. Perhaps it was just an odd quirk, though she questioned the purpose of making three laps around the garden just to deliver, judging by the smell, a delicious stew. Ydalyn even had the gall to stop and smell the roses, making this silly game all the sillier.

They eventually reentered the castle and continued with the labyrinth-like directions. Now Sadie was the one having trouble hiding her grin. She had no reason to take this seriously, either. Again, she got nothing out of snooping through Ydalyn's history, but she needed the drama to tide her over, even if it meant a silly, slow-moving, uneventful chase.

However, seeing as the stew would eventually cool down, Ydalyn finally stopped and acknowledged the Audino's presence. "You must be quite shy to surf around in my shadow without a simple hello," Ydalyn teased.

Sadie smirked. "Oh please. Ask any of the maids and they'll tell you the exact opposite. Actually, that's probably the quietest I've been around someone in forever."

"Hmm, amusing. Did you need something? I must deliver this meal to Mr. Vetzer before it gets too cold. A pot of stew is at its absolute best when fresh and hot."

Sadie laughed. "Oh, I know, right? Sure, leftovers are palatable, but that heat from when it's finished brings out a flavor that can't be captured after a day. Things just taste better when they're fresh out of the oven. Mr. Vetzer would be disappointed to receive cold stew."

"Mhmm, precisely why I must deliver this to him." Ydalyn turned away and resumed walking.

Sadie followed, speeding up until she matched her pace. "Oh, what's the rush, though? It's not like the heat will escape any time soon. It's covered. It'll last a while. A few minutes won't kill it."

"Hmm, yes." Ydalyn smirked down at her. "So tell me, you haven't answered my question yet."

"You're the one who walked away despite asking."

"I have a job to do. Shouldn't you be cleaning something?"

"Oh, but that's ssssoooo boring. I prefer idle gossip and blackmailing my fellow staff members with embarrassing secrets. Nothing criminal, just some good ol' teasing to pass the time. Not like I would report any of it to the king or something."

Ydalyn snickered to herself. "Oh? You wish to share some gossip with me? I'm flattered."

"It's not so much share, but…pry." Sadie examined her nails again while clicking her tongue in a playful manner. "Perhaps you have something worth sharing, Ms. Ydalyn? Just between us girls, of course. I promise I won't tell~."

"I'm not sure I believe you~," Ydalyn countered.

"You wound me. Do I look untrustworthy?"

Ydalyn actually stopped for a moment to throw her head back and laugh. Sadie felt her grin stretch some, surprised and amused to hear the older woman cracking up and breaking decorum. It wasn't a very ladylike laugh, either. She could've sworn she heard some snorts, and not the cute kind. Something like a Snorlax choking on a watermelon, or maybe a cannonball.

Ydalyn sighed and wiped a tear away. "I like you, kid. I can see why Theobald does, too."

"Ah, so the truth comes out."

"You have to get up pretty early in the morning to fool me, kid." Her tone of voice shifted. Once a sweet, teasing, grandmotherly voice turned raspy and cold, but retained that delightful charm found in pleasant fools like her. She glanced over her shoulder and showed a wide, toothy grin. "You've been spying on me, huh?"

Sadie closed her eyes and shrugged. Not a hint of shame in her body language. "I'm an extrovert starved for drama, what can I say?"

"You've been keeping an eye on me during my little trips to Theobald? I guess that makes you the first one to prod me over it. Of course, I'm just a helpless refuge who escaped a terrible warzone. How can anyone think ill of me?"

Sadie snickered. "You do put on a convincing façade. This a regular, day-to-day hobby of yours?"

"Perhaps, though I don't go infiltrating castles on a regular basis. What say you?"

"Volunteer work. Espionage. Whichever I'm feeling today."

"I can relate."

Sadie circled Ydalyn, looking her from top to bottom, with her hands tucked firmly together. "Though, despite my suspicions being true by your own admission, I have yet to scratch below the surface. Perhaps you can enlighten me to the truth. So much to learn about Theobald, but so little given. It's odd that he played his part for my sake. I don't even know what gain he has, other than a deal crafted between a familiar face. My leader, if you will."

Ydalyn chuckled. "We could dance around the topic all day if the sun stood still, but there's only so much daylight to enjoy already."

"Then why not give me what I want?" Sadie grinned. "For starters, who are you? And how do you and Theobald know Jason?"

"Heh. Bold words to announce in a castle."

"My hearing is unmatched. We're alone for the time being, but you already knew that."

"Indeed." Ydalyn stepped around Sadie and walked off. "However, as I said, we only have so much daylight."

"Oh, but why hold out?" Sadie followed once more. "If Theobald knows Jason, doesn't that make us allies?"

"There's a fine line between acquaintances and allies, kid. Theobald came here to act as a proxy for suspicion, a deal between him and Jason. I'm here to…clean up the mess."

"Then what are your objectives?"

"Similar to that of a withering season, as it were, but to also bring forth spring by the natural progression. Some wish to change the seasons by their own hands. Those like me want it to be reborn into the world. I admit, I'm something of a hermit. Haven't seen my daughter in quite some time. I only ever visit on birthdays. At least she's happy. Point is, I'm dedicated towards a just cause that I want to see to the end. I just don't want any unnecessary bloodshed to come from it."

Sadie glared. "And what does Jason have to do with all of this?"

"Not much. If anything, I don't think that boy cares about Virdis. He's so torn up inside. No direction, no vision, no grand design. No, he's filled with hate. Deep, simmering hate. One side of us wants to bring Virdis back the natural way, the other side wants to take it back by force. We each have to do some horrific things to keep our dreams alive, but isn't that how you achieve grand, world-defying goals? I believe the saying is to break a few eggs for an omelet."

"So, Jason doesn't align with your goals?"

"I wouldn't say that, but he's too fixated on that hatred of his. My, my, I fear the life of anyone who truly enrages him. He keeps a level head these days, thank the gods, but he didn't achieve his infamy by being a saint. Never took a life, yet countless victims tell tales of bloody murder eclipsing his vision. If he didn't stick so rigorously to a moral code, he'd jump up to the top of that wanted list."

"How so?"

"Have you heard of a little event from…oh, I don't know, twelve or so years ago? They called it the Bloodless Massacre. A whole battalion of knights vanquished, but not killed. The captain came closest to his deathbed, but lived to tell the tale. Still, one misstep could've been their end, and perhaps history would've been rewritten. Perhaps it wouldn't be the withering season that plagues our future, but something worse. Imagine a world where the infamous Fairy Knight wasn't the leader of a thief guild, but instead a cold, heartless killer slaughtering everything that stood in his way. Such thoughts frighten even me. That boy could've turned into a monster."

Sadie frowned. "I see…" She looked away and rubbed her arm. "When I first met him, I had this uncomfortable vibe, like he could kill me before I could blink. I don't feel that way anymore, but I see what you mean."

"We don't keep in touch with Jason these days, but we watch over him, keep up-to-date with his activities. Our efforts are limited, but…perhaps if Jason wanted to turn his resources into something productive, a small guild of thieves could make a big difference." Ydalyn chuckled and shook her head. "Who am I kidding? It'd take some benevolent force to appease that turmoil. I'm afraid you don't see a whole lot of that these days."

"Perhaps." Sadie then smirked. "You still haven't told me why you're here."

"Oh, you'll have to wait like the rest of us. It's a surprise." Ydalyn hastened her pace. "I must get going and return to my duties. I suggest you do the same."

Sadie shrugged. "Whatever. I guess that's enough to tide me over." She turned and walked the opposite way.

"Oh, and one last thing," Ydalyn added, looking back at the Audino.

"Hmm?"

Ydalyn threw a smirk over her shoulder. "Try not to make a mess of things, Sadie the Whispering Shark." Her smirk stretched at the subtle shock in Sadie's face. Her face and tone morphed back into its pleasant, grandmotherly tone. "You take care, dear!" With that, she rounded the corner and left Sadie's sight.

Sadie stared down the hall in silence, listening to Ydalyn's retreating footsteps. She finally drew a breath and exhaled the nervous shock from her body. With a quick shudder to get the anxiousness off her skin, she flashed a causal grin. "Ooh, she's good."

Sadie turned back around and started down the hall, but stopped as her ears picked up on the grinding of metal coming around the corner. Armor plating, most likely, though not quite the sound she memorized. This plating sounded a smidge different. Less grating, and no clanging, as if they weren't loose sheets of metal. The sound was brief. Not from walking, but from someone abruptly freezing.

Sadie smirked. "How rude of you, Ivone. You accuse me of spying, yet I catch you doing this?"

It took a moment, but the Corviknight stepped out of cover and approached her with a firm glare. "I see you and Ydalyn are getting along."

"Were you eavesdropping?" Sadie asked sweetly, though stayed cautious of the knight's sudden arrival.

"By complete accident, of course, though all I could make out were your tones. You two sounded quite pleased with yourselves, almost like you met before."

Sadie shrugged. "I can assure you, we haven't. I guess we both love running our mouths."

Ivone narrowed his eyes. "…So, you both were being awfully quiet. Not planning any pranks, are we?"

Sadie waved it off. "Heaven forbid, of course not. Just two gals trading gossip, nothing to see here." She stretched and continued on her way. "Now, if you don't mind, I have somewhere to be."

"You've been shirking on your chores recently."

Sadie stopped. She glared over her shoulder, looking offended. "Did you find that out by accident, too?"

"So, you admit it?"

Sadie shrugged it off. "So I've been taking more breaks recently. Can you blame me? I'm still in shock after what happened to the princess."

"That happened eight months ago, and you've been slacking off only recently."

Sadie smirked. "Delayed shock. I stayed brave for as long as I could. The dam must've finally broke." She turned away and waved him off. "As I was saying, I bid you ado—" Ivone soared over her and landed with a hard crash, knocking Sadie back. "Hey, watch it!"

Ivone hovered over the significantly smaller Pokémon, eying her with crimson eyes that felt like they were glowing. A small part of Sadie told her to run. Survival instincts were kicking in. For a thousand years, Pokémon have tried to move away from their primal ancestry, entering the civilized world. One had to wonder if that was enough time for wild creatures to embrace the modern world. Sure, they were gifted with great and adaptable intelligence to create tools, but did that mean much in confrontations like this.

The survival part of Sadie's mind alerted her to the predator standing over her, and perhaps Ivone had similar thoughts, telling him to antagonize and toy with his prey before going for the kill. No matter how far away they distance themselves from their savage ancestry, it always reared its ugly head back at them. That was the world they had to survive in.

Sadie maintained stoicism and spoke in a firm, demanding tone, "Get out of my way, Ivone."

"Why were you talking to that woman?" Ivone asked.

"What's it to you?"

"When we last interrogated you, Nathaniel picked up moments where you were intentionally dodging our questions. You weren't lying, but you never told the truth, either. Almost like you cleverly worded your way out of the conversation, intentionally losing focus so we couldn't get an accurate read of you. In other words, for a supposed airhead who likes to spread rumors…"

Sadie's back straightened as the armored bird lowered himself to eye level. She made no sudden movements and resisted the urge to gulp. She cursed herself for a bead of sweat dripping down the side of her face, however.

"You're far more skilled than you let on."

Sadie matched his glare. "Gee, thanks."

"You've been with us for a couple years, right? Tell me, why exactly did you come into the Penworths' service?"

"Money, obviously. And a free place to stay."

"Is that the truth?"

"Truth's subjective." Sadie's smirk grew, albeit with a nervous twinge. "And it's also damn entertaining."

"You're awfully bold for someone caught lying in an act."

"What act do you propose?" As she kept his eyes on hers, three knives slid out from within her sleeve, blades exposed and rested between her fingers. Partially exposed, but ready for the worst.

"Perhaps it's speculation or unwarranted badgering, but I see before me a snake." Ivone's reflective body shimmered in the light magnified by the nearby windows. Something of a radiant, rainbow-like glow cascaded around his body in a visible halo.

"I've been called worse," Sadie taunted.

"And why's that?"

"There's just some things a girl has to do to survive. Whether that means taking up work as a maid, working in the filthiest conditions imaginable, or…the fun way."

"And what, pray tell, is your definition of fun?"

"Ask away. You might find the answer soon enough." A pink and blue aura subtly travelled through her hand and imbued into the knives. "Your first question is free. Don't screw up."

Ivone's glare darkened, contrasting his intensifying glow. "Where do your allegiances lie, Sadie Mailet?"

Neither admitted it, not even acknowledged it, under the vague illusion this was a game, an impromptu interrogation. But they knew the other thought opposite to that notion. Whether they know it or not, they were one word away from a tense standoff to a full-blown assault. One side clutched her knives, the other continued whiting out the hallway in a rainbow glow.

"What's going on down here?"

Ivone immediately cancelled the glow and turned away from Sadie, dropping to a bow. Sadie allowed herself to finally breathe and tapped the knives back inside her sleeve. She joined in with a curtsey as Matthias approached them.

He eyed them both with his usual harsh glare, though now mixed with confusion. "What were you two up to?"

"Forgive me, captain," Ivone apologized, rising to full height. "Something of a game between the maid and me. A test of wills, some may even call a staring contest."

"I'd say I was winning," Sadie snarked. Ivone hid his annoyance behind an eye roll.

"A staring contest?" Matthias grumbled. Even Ivone knew he didn't buy that excuse. "Is that why you nearly blinded the gardeners outside?"

Ivone casted a glance to the window and saw a couple gardeners stumbling around with their hands out in front of them. "Perhaps I was a smidge intense with the fun."

"Uh huh." Matthias glared at Sadie and shooed her away. "Back to work with you."

Sadie curtsied. "As you wish, Sir Matthias." She turned right as her smug grin popped up and walked away, leaving the two knights to themselves.

Ivone kept his eyes on her until she rounded the corner, then turned back to the Infernape captain. "I almost had her."

"What do you suspect of her?"

"Nothing concrete, though she's definitely not a normal Audino. She's too…aware of her surroundings. She knows we're onto her with something."

"She definitely sticks out among the staff." Matthias crossed his arms. "What of the Inteleon, Ydalyn?"

"Much like Ms. Mailet's occasional behaviors, Ydalyn has been visiting the dungeons as of late, likely for Theobald. She and Mailet claim to not know each other, and I'm willing to believe Mailet's story for now. Shall I just arrest them both?"

"If we go around arresting the staff on accusations, it will look bad. Keep your distance and only act when they pull something incriminating. As hard as it is to stomach, talking to Mr. Dencourt isn't a suspicious crime, lest I be high on the suspect list."

"Still…"

"Yes?"

"Ms. Mailet's eyes."

"What about them?"

Ivone furrowed his brow. He paid close attention to their interaction and noted the unsettling composure not found from any other of the staff, save for her. If not something illegal, she's definitely stood up against an imposing threat before. Those weren't the eyes of someone trying to stay tough while secretly cowering for retreat. Even through the shimmers of anxiousness, she didn't falter.

"Those were the eyes that stared back at Yveltal himself."

15th Winter Moon, 907—Night

As the light seeped from the dungeon, subjecting the dark stone to pitch black night, Theobald rested in his cot, eyes shut and light snoring escaping his lips. Or at least, that's how he presented himself this late in the hour. He opened one eye to the distant sound of the dungeon doors open and the flickering of orange light advancing around the corner.

He listened to the footsteps for a second, then smiled. He rolled into a sitting position and rested his arms in his lap. "Goodnight, Yda."

The Inteleon sauntered up to his cell, a candle in one hand and a peach in the other. "Comfortable?" she asked teasingly with her raspy voice.

"After a while, the stone floors aren't so bad. Still, prefer the cot over that."

"Hmm." Yda tossed the peach through the bars, which Theobald caught, and sat down as he bit into it. "The new year is a couple weeks away. Think you can hold out until then?"

"As long as my manuscript stays intact. How's castle life?"

Yda snickered. "I almost feel bad for the deception. I'm really enjoying Hilda's company. And Gustavo's a pretty good teacher."

"You play your act so well, you're convinced of friendship."

"Oh hush." Yda leaned forward and barely managed to slug the Nidoking's shoulder. "I'm not that bad. I'm really enjoying my time here, even if it's only been a little over two weeks." She sighed and leaned back on her hands. "I'll have my fill of fun and then we can ditch this joint. Fair warning, Ethel's itching to kick your ass for getting yourself locked up."

Theobald smirked. "Hey, I agreed to take the fall for Sadie if things got out of hand. One favor for another."

"I just talked to Sadie earlier today. Cute kid. Feisty. Reminds me of myself when I was her age."

"I'm sure Lovel can attest to that. Speaking of, how's he been?"

"Don't know. He's been traveling kingdom to kingdom. I think he's in the Subterra Kingdom right now, something about pottery. Sounds boring, but he promised to bring me a present, so I can't complain too much."

"Heh. And…how about Sherwood?"

Yda smirked. "You want to talk bored? He's bored out of his mind. The cursed rumors work a little too well, and he hasn't had an apprentice to torture—"

"Train," Theobald corrected.

"Same difference. Either way, hasn't had an apprentice for like two years, not since that Heatmor fellow. He's really, really, really freakin' bored. Driving poor Ethel insane with his whining, I swear."

"Perhaps you could offer him a spar."

Yda smirked. "I enjoy a good tussle from time to time, but these bones weren't meant for sparring."

"What? Come now, you're only twenty-five."

Yda's smirk grew. "Hey, I wear my fifty-six-years proudly! Don't go buttering me up."

Theobald laughed. "My apologies. I'll be sure to call you an old hag and compliment your exotic beauty."

"As you should." Yda stood up and massaged her right shoulder. "Well, I should turn in for the night. I want to be up and early for breakfast. Gustavo will be teaching me a breakfast burrito recipe, which I'm quite interested in. I haven't had a decent meal before I arrived here, and I'm milking every last drop of food I can get."

"Mind bringing me one for later?" Theobald asked.

Yda laughed. "Behave yourself and we'll see."

"Heh, very well. Just try to stay out of trouble."

"Oh please…"

Yda hooked her finger around her shirt and pulled it down, showing her dare shoulder. Branded into her skin was a black crown with seven swords piercing it from all angles. Her smirk grew, showing a dangerous, predatory smile.

"How much trouble could I possibly get into?"