Thief of Time

The old innkeeper squinted at Dia, sizing her up. “Such a pretty lady, but your mannerisms have betrayed your disguise. How are you this inexperienced at disguising?”

Dia, who was sticking a silver needle into the orange juice, jumped. At the same time, her left hand reached out for a knife hanging off her belt. “What do you mean, mister?”

“Your impersonation of Princess Dia is imperfect,” the old innkeeper replied. “Look behind you; those impersonators do it far better.”

“Impersonators? What?” Dia looked in the direction the old man dictated, and her eyes turned into saucers. There, sitting together around a table, were three women who were close to her usual appearance in public. Hands placed on their laps, they spoke in hushed voices, sipping from a glass in the same manner as the Princess Dia of a past life would.

“Are you her fan? Or just someone hoping to leverage off her escape to throw off an arranged marriage?”

“Escape?” Dia echoed.

Right, it’s been an entire day. News of my escape has definitely spread…Steadying her breathing, she shook her head. Ignoring the textbox that had popped up when she stuck the silver needle into the orange juice, she asked, “What escape are you talking about?”

“You didn’t hear the news?” the old man asked, revealing a toothy grin a moment later. “Well, since you’re easy on the eyes, I don’t mind telling you. Word has it that Princess Dia escaped from the Lustre Dukedom, after being told that she was to marry some old coot. On her way out, she crushed half the dukedom’s standing army, three mana-users, as well as any gate that stood in her way.”

Dia opened and closed her mouth, in a manner that reminded her of a goldfish.

“Wow,” she forced out. “That’s really amazing!”

“Which is why some mana-users were inspired to dress up as her,” the innkeeper replied. “Hmm…in that case, you must be an original fan of hers.”

What do you mean, original fan? I am Dia! Restraining her urge to retort on the spot, she popped a gentle smile. “I am the original…fan.”

“You’re not the only one, so the word ‘an’ is more appropriate,” the innkeeper replied. “Come, follow me. I believe you have the same cause and reason as those three over there. It will help to make friends who think the same.”

Getting up from his chair, the old man ambled forward. Initially, Dia wanted to stop him, but she knew that there were probably people chasing her…people like, for instance, the Shadow of Grandis. An organisation that specialised in capturing anyone who dared to defy the will of Emperor Grandis, which she had most certainly done by fleeing Lustre.

Initially, changing her face and her hair had been the greatest priority, but since there were actually people who wanted to make use of her image…

Dia grinned, and followed the old man over. Virtually everyone on the first floor was a mana-user, so if she could join that group, it would increase her security…in a way.

“Hello, ladies.” The old innkeeper beckoned for Dia to come forward.

“What business do you have with us?” one of Dia’s lookalikes, who was even wearing the same gown Dia remembered wearing for a party last year, asked. “We are rather busy people, if you please.”

You’ve gotten the looks right, but the personality leaves a lot to be desired, Dia remarked in her mind.

“Thought I’d introduce this friend to you,” the old man replied. “I always try to make my customers new friends, after all.”

“A new friend?” The gown-wearing fake looked at Dia. “Indeed, she is probably one of us. Thank you, geezer. Here’s a tip.”

Throwing a coin at the old man, she gestured at an open seat. “Hmm…you look a bit like her, but I suppose you’re probably too poor to do it properly. Princess Dia never wears anything but gowns.”

“I must contest that statement,” another lookalike said. “Two months ago, she was wearing a dress when shopping incognito; the exact same design as mine, in fact.”

How did you know that?! Resisting the urge to gawk, Dia looked at the dress the second lookalike was wearing, which just made things worse. It was indeed the one she liked to wear when sneaking out, but wasn’t she wearing a halfmoon mask and a hat at that time?

“Besides the dress, she also wore a hat and halfmoon mask too,” the second lookalike added. “See? It’s just that I’m not wearing it indoors, that’s all.”

A small shiver ran down Dia’s spine, but before she could take her leave from this bunch of nutjobs, the third lookalike spoke up. “That’s nice at all, but I don’t think what matters is the outside. What’s most important is the inside, like I keep saying.”

Exactly! Looks aren’t anything; it’s the character!

She turned to look at Dia. “Let me tell you a secret; I’m wearing the same type and brand of undergarments as the princess. For instance—”

Dia’s mind went blank as her lookalike rattled off a whole list of the brands Dia actually brought her clothes and other pieces from. Looking at them in shock, her hands tightened around the arms of her chair. Regret flooded her guts — now that she knew that there were people like them, sleeping soundly at night now felt like a pipe dream.

“So…what do you bring to the table?” the first lookalike asked.

“I think we should introduce ourselves first, though.” Lowering her voice, the second lookalike said, “I’m the heiress to the Julan Barony, Lily Julan. Nice to meet you.”

The two shook hands.

“Julan Barony…was it the one famous for the ultra-aromatic Julan flower?”

“That’s a specialty, yes.”

“Knew it.” Dia nodded her head slowly, and then returned to the main topic at hand. “Why do you want to capture Tot, though?”.

“The rewards, naturally. If I can capture Tot, I’ll be able to leave my family and its stupid rules,” Lily Julan replied.”

The first lookalike smiled. “I’m Countess Farah, ruler of the domain with the same name. My people need more living space; if I can get the Emperor’s rewards, my territory will be second to only the Rulers.”

“As for me,” said the third lookalike, the one that creeped Dia out the most, “I’m the current ruler of the Folder Association’s daughter, Risti. Dad wants me to catch Tot for a whole bunch of complicated reasons.”

“How about you?” Lily asked.

Dia hesitated, before deciding to tell them the truth. “I’m Dia…”

Lily and Risti laughed, while the countess shook her head.

“The Moons dislike bad lies, dear.” Countess Farah patted her shoulder. “There’s really nothing to hide from us three; we’re all friends here. From what I can tell, you’re a daughter of some Named mana-user, right? It’s alright if you don’t want to tell us your name, but you should ensure that your cover isn’t that easily blown.”

Dia opened and closed her mouth.

“Besides,” Countess Farah added, “if the real Princess Dia is here, she would have fainted in shock. Imagine sitting with a group of lookalikes, only to hear the things we get up to.”

You’re right, very right! In fact, I really wanted to faint earlier! Risti, did the Moons tell you the types of undergarments I prefer? Or did you watch my room every day? Lily, do you have spies that report back on my movements on the regular? As for you, Countess Farah…well, you’re alright. Probably.

“Yes,” Dia said. “If the real Princess Dia was sitting right here, she might have fainted.”

“But you haven’t, and that’s proof enough, no?” Countess Farah winked. “So…what name do you want to go by?”

“You’re alright without knowing my full name?” Dia asked.

“No problem. You’re probably like us too, so I see no issue,” the countess replied. “Besides, we’ve made an agreement that if we catch Tot, we’ll share the rewards. I’ll give everyone an estate in my county and a viscount title each.”

“I-I see.” Dia rubbed her nose. “You can call me Isolde. I want to catch the thief, and that’s all. Serving the thief justice is reward enough for me.”

[You have met the requirements to learn ‘Lying’. Learn it?]

No, and do not bring open this window again, Dia replied in her head, and with a pop, the window shattered.

“Interesting,” said Lily. “Are you…by chance, the daughter of one of the five Named implicated?”

“You can think of it that way,” Dia replied.

“Well then, since our goals don’t conflict, do you want to join our group?” Countess Farah asked. “Besides, you look really experienced; I was watching the way you entered the inn from the very start. We could really do with someone your calibre.”

In the end, Dia decided not to tell the truth. Granted, she’d already tried it once, but since it failed, that would just be the end of it. Besides, as a bounty hunter and thief — even if her experiences were all in her head — the habits she picked up from those potions she drank were hard to shake off. No one was going to believe her, unless she produced irrefutable proof.

Given that the Shadows of Grandis were probably looking to string her up and parade her as an escaped sinner, this was probably the best choice of action for now. And with three other one-fold mana-users, her safety was near guaranteed.

Exchanging a few more pleasantries, the four of them were about to make some arrangements when a commotion came from outside.