NoGift

KINGDOM OF ALBION, Royal Palace.

"I received news that the Duke of Hanover and his sister are coming back at least in a month's time," the King of Albion - Arthur Friedrich di Albion - said. He looked at his second son, standing in front of his desk with no apparent expression on his face. "I remember you met them personally seven years ago. What's your opinion on the twins?"

This was the reason the King summoned him in his royal study? To ask him about the Blackbourne twins? Winter thought, perplexed. But he still answered the King's question. "My interaction with them was short. But even then, I could tell that the Duke has a very brilliant mind."

Winter absently touched the bracelet he's wearing. He could still remember how amazed he was when he discovered that Argent made a bracelet that could stop the flow of Mana. It's effect only lasted for a little more than a year. But it was still amazing, considering his age at that time. So when Winter learned that Argent was the one who founded Silver Corporation, it wasn't so much as a surprise anymore.

"How about Lady Aurum?" the King asked again.

"I don't have any opinion on her," Winter answered honestly.

Arthur stared at his son's face. When he saw how serious Winter was with his answer, he couldn't help but sigh. His son was almost 18 now but he has never been close to the female color. Unlike his first son who always had to have a scandal with every woman he met. Arthur didn't know if he should be glad or worried.

"You're 18th birthday coincides with the month of their return. A grand ball would be prepared for you. Make sure to invite the twins personally."

"Yes, Father," Winter said. He doesn't really have any reason to refuse. Besides, inviting them personally would have meant that he now has an excuse to visit them. More accurately, to visit Argent.

"Try to get close to Lady Aurum." Winter's brows furrowed when he heard that. "A suitable partner is someone with impeccable bloodline and a powerful Gift. Lady Aurum fit the bill perfectly, don't you think?"

Winter's brows furrowed even further. He didn't need to be a genius to understand what the King meant. To simplify it, he wanted Winter to have that kind of relationship with Aurum Blackbourne. But that's something that would never happen. Aside from the fact that his closest friend adored Aurum like she was his treasure, Winter just couldn't imagine himself with her.

The King probably wanted to tie the royal family with the Blackbournes because of how successful Silver Corporation was. He was probably thinking that a marriage between the two family was his way to the company Argent created. But if the King thought that it would be that easy, then he doesn't understand Argent Blackbourne at all.

Before he could voiced out his opinion, the door to the study suddenly opened. A woman with dark blond hair and a pair of blue-gray eyes entered. She was wearing an elegant gown, a crown on top of her head. It was the Queen of Albion - Callista Margaret di Albion.

She ignored Winter and went straight to the King's desk. She put a newspaper on the desk rather forcefully. "Have you seen this news?"

The King glanced at the front page of the newspaper before returning his gaze to the Queen. "I read it this morning."

"And you have no opinion on it?" Callista said, acting as if she was immensely scandalized. "That awful device was spreading a... video of a Bishop from the Temple of Gaia! What was the Duke of Hanover thinking letting that happen?"

Winter knew what the Queen was talking about. He watched the video in his sPhone and he had no doubt that almost everyone in the country, probably even the world, had already seen it. It was, in a simple word, disgusting.

"I don't think the Duke has any control on everything that's being posted on [Jiffy]. Blaming him for this was unfair and unfounded. Especially since he wasn't the one raping and torturing a helpless girl," Winter said in a cold voice.

Callista turned sharply at the boy. Just seeing him was enough to dampen her mood. "I'm not talking to you, boy. Do you even know how this thing could affect the relationship between our country and the Temple of Gaia?"

"I didn't know Albion is afraid of the Temple of Gaia. My apologies then, for being an ignorant fool," Winter said with no emotions in his voice while looking at the Queen.

Callista couldn't help but feel that the 'ignorant fool' he was talking about was her rather than him. "You--!"

"I'll take my leave then, Father," he said before the Queen began with her tirade. Winter bowed to the King and walked out of the study.

As he walked away, he could hear the voice of the Queen arguing with the King. No doubt because of him. But Winter didn't care. Let the King handle her.

Out of the study, two of his most loyal aides walked behind him. One has a cleanly trimmed black hair with light-green eyes behind half-moon spectacles. He was tall and lean with a scholarly air around him. The other one was huge and muscular with shaggy blond hair and blue eyes. He has a built fit for a warrior.

Ever since that incident seven years ago, he learned his lesson and started cultivating people he could trust. People who would not hesitate to lend him a helping hand and abide by his orders.

"Is there any news?" he asked.

"Nothing concrete yet, Your Highness," answered Nikolai - the one wearing glasses. "But one of my sources said that she was last seen on Greth."

"I see." He turned to Aspen - the muscular one. "Go to Greth and check if the information is correct."

Aspen grinned. "Highness, I already plan to do that."

Winter looked down. [Just wait a bit more, Mother. I won't stop until I find you.]

He subconciously touched the bracelet on his wrist and raised his head to look at the blue sky. And he just couldn't stop but wonder if Argent already started sailing back to Albion.

----------

Somewhere in the Southwestern Sea.

"Your Holiness, this is a direct insult to the Temple of Gaia! Evidently, that blasphemous Silver Corporation just doesn't put us in their eyes! Your Holiness, we should do something to permanently close that sinful company!"

Lucern looked at the Archbishop in the defaro crystal. There was a light smile on his lips, radiating warmth. "Archbishop Dalton, this is hardly the Silver Corporation's fault. If we're pointing fingers then all faults should lie on Bishop Dupont."

"Your Holiness--!"

"Don't worry, Archbishop, I will take care of things. I'm the Pope after all." Lucern smiled at the Archbishop. "See you at Victoria City."

He cut off the connection. He was on the deck of a small but luxurious ship that belonged to the Temple. The ship was currently sailing towards Victoria City. Lucern turned around and saw Heath Magnus walking to the deck. When the knight saw him, he frowned, gave him a curt nod, then walked back inside again.

Lucern almost laughed. He's probably still pissed because he forcefully made him leave Shandra. Heath didn't want to leave until he found that bandit and fought with him again. Unluckily for him, he wouldn't find that bandit no matter how long he looked.

Lucern felt a small swish of wind beside him, a sign that something or somebody just appeared. And a familiar voice followed. "Your new knight seemed pissed at you."

Lucern turned his head and saw a man with long gray hair tied behind his back. The upper-half of his face was covered with a domino mask. He smiled at the man. "Harlequin."

"Your Holiness," Harlequin greeted with an exagerated bow. "I heard what happened. Are we really going to give up Shandra?"

"It has no use to me now. So, yes."

"Pity. Shandra was a good source of human products. They sell quite well at my underground auction," Harlequin said, sounding as if he really regretted the lost of Shandra.

"Do you have news?" Lucern asked, completely changing the topic.

Harlequin smiled. "It's in the Eastern Continent. One of the sacred artifacts."

"Where exactly in the Eastern Continent?"

"Xing Empire."

A bright smile crossed Lucern's face. "Good. Contact the Apostles. Send one of them to Xing to search for the artifact."

Harlequin bowed again. "As you wish, Your Holiness." Then he disappeared out of thin air.

Lucern gazed at the deep blue sea.

And smiled.