A day flew by in the mansion, and the Royal Birthday Banquet is coming sooner than expected. I have already prepared everything necessary, though I am not sure where this will lead us. Surely it may fail, however, I've come too far to stop now. The upcoming banquet will serve as a battlefield for both Kalester and me. That is why the ordeal of our plans, and I intend to do everything to appear decent by gaining the audience pity. 
I have received a letter from my agent, he stated that the process took long, however, nothing he can't handle. He stated that he found some information that is qualified to the context desire I wanted. In a simple word, he found it, evidence, information that can serve as a foundation to my claims. 
We agreed that we will meet, since I am in a hurry to revise my plans. Rone asked that we keep our meeting in private, and I promise to come alone. I did say that clearly in the letter, and I admit that was a foul choice of promise. 
Not that I can't complete it, but rather, I can't restrain it from coming. I was talking about this guy, the man beside me, with such height, I can only look at him with my head looking up. I intended to live peacefully, but Kalester showed up just before I left and he kept on asking me to come along.
I said that it was confidential but then, he said, "there's no confidentiality in the eye of this master," after that he smirked and he followed me on the carriage, and he stubbornly ignored my plea. I do not know what is happening to this mad man again, and I also knew, this slight smirk that is written on his face, truly makes me irritated.
After the incident in the opera house, I discovered a slight truth about Kalester. The unknown, formidable master of the opera, and the brain of the Information House, a guild which is considered as illegal by all means. It took me hours of recollection to ask him what happened and how it started.
After I fully understand, I realize that Kalester is so different from the man I've seen ten times in the jail before. Now, he looks more fearless and brave as well as colder than before. He told me about what happened after my death, that is why, I believe that we are really alike in many portraits. Not only is he more beautiful than most of the men his age, he didn't care much. 
"Alas, is this even right?" I complained as I pondered that irritation inside of me. "What would your employee think if you came with me?"
He looked at me as he carefully put his hand around him and he sneered. "I can always silence them, that's the point, what's wrong with me tagging along anyways?"
Where did he learn street language anyways! I shook my head and I looked away. Kalester had a stubborn trait, but lately, he has become over protective, I am trying to avoid any rumors from escalating by avoiding him at any cost. However, he's suddenly changed his usual routine, and now he's been following me when I am out of the mansion. 
"I told you didn't I? It's too dangerous," I stated and then I exclaimed. "There is a secret on the wall, you need to be more careful!"
I breathed in as I looked down. "I understand, but my lady, I came as your escort instead, and no one will be able to recognize me, even if they did, I have all the necessary means to silence them—that I said is not a lie—you must have forgotten, but you love a person who owns all of the information house in the entire continent."
I pouted as I sat at his distance, I was irritated by his boldness, but somehow, I feel like a child having a small tantrum in front of someone. Not only that, what did he mean, the person you love? It's embarrassing hearing him say that! I couldn't think of anything besides that, and honestly I want to bury my face on a pillow to hide this embarrassing moment I am feeling right now.
This is pointless, I shook my head as I tried to focus my eyes on the windows of the carriage, where outside is seen, and the beautiful scenery of the town flashes through me. I've seen this scenery since the day I came back to the residence, and I have seen the countless endeavours of many things I never would imagine. Yet, even if I have seen it countless times, there is a tingling sensation of a blooming feeling whenever I gaze upon it.
I was restricted to enjoy this much of a freedom before I regressed, the only thing I've done by choice is becoming the empress disciple, but that was all for a naught. Time is flying by since the moment I woke up from a drenched dream, and I have exceptionally done what I cannot to fall under the same future.
It was an exhausting process, but I realize, it could even be worth it. "This is hurting me more than I thought," I shifted at the sound of a voice, and when I looked, Kalester was looking at the windows, not to me like he always does. "And I patiently waited, as months passed by just to endure it. Did you know that a Valentine was Cursed by a God?"
Everyone knows about it, but what does it even mean? God's Curse is given to Kalester's ability, but also it makes one mind become malice. I heard that someone from the previous Grand Duke Valentine went mad after consuming too much of human emotions. The part of their curse is due to substance, it was a wary ability to be taken care of by the members of the said family.
It was a curse that everyone in the Albania Empire knows about. I shifted as I processed the meaning of his questions before I looked down. 
"Before I regressed to the past, I had already fallen into the malice of the curse, and went mad," he mumbled and then he turned forward as he faced me. "When I woke up again, the malice—did not subdue—it continued to flow and forced my time to follow, and it became harder for me to restrain it."
Hearing his voice crack as each word passed made my heart ache. Though I do not feel his suffering, I still feel bad for him. The thought of him enduring all of that, I was filled with regret more and more. Kalester didn't deserve this pain, so why does he need to suffer? For what faults did Valentine have committed for such God to curse them?
It flustered me, but I am a human. There's nothing I can do to free him, and us from this cruel fate that we are currently embarking. I want to freely express my affections for him, and as we stay together, these feelings grow every moment in my passing time. Yet, I am still in a cage, surrounded by dangers that I am trying to compel with my own hands.
"Please, just wait a little longer," I mumbled as I carefully looked at my dry yet soft fingers. 
"I am not asking because I can't wait, but how long will you keep on living in the shadows of our past?" The silence was unbecoming, but his question was strangely painful. I did not know why he asked me that, and why I felt the ache in my heart. 
I didn't even know how to react as I grip my fingers. Have I been living in the shadows of the past?
I tried to open my mouth, but no response was heard as I tried to find a perfect reply. 
"..."
"Look at me Catholy," he said. Though, I didn't follow, I was scared to look as I kept my head down low. There are things in this world I do not understand, that is why, when I was bestowed with the affection to love, I did not hesitate and grabbed that chance. Hence, the chance given to me to love someone, I only suffered gravely, and a huge chunk of wound was engraved on my heart.
Even though I accepted love once again, I lost the ability to trust. The ability to lean on someone, and trust them regardless. Kalester must have noticed that since I was trying to avoid it, is this why he forced himself to come? Is he worried about me?
"The past is something we can't go back too, that is why we are trying to change it, and be better. Look at me Catholy, and accept this reality, I promise you that things will not go as you feared, as long as you lean and trust me a little bit," the carriage suddenly stopped moving, I can feel the heavy shake that seem to have passed me by, when I looked, Kalester was already gone from my sight. 
Like a passing wind.
『━━✣━━』
The usual place that was planned on the letter was on a tavern, an inn that is not far from the slams but not also far from the main street. When Catholy arrived at the stated location, she was not in a proper mood that her eyes were seen pale. She couldn't shake it off that feeling she had earlier, the way Kalester tried to assert her. 
Trust and benevolent, it is something she's afraid of doing. That must be why she's unable to move on from that nightmare—a past as he calls it—hence it was not easy to do so as he implied. She lived her life in a never ending nightmare, it takes more than time for her to fully heal from this pain.
She looked at the entrance of the dark and humid shop, as she carefully covered herself in a full length cloak, before she proceeded with caution. She was alone in such a place, of course she needs to be more wary about her surroundings now. The atmosphere of the slams was not the easiest to get by, some kids even tried to rob her before but now she's able to walk on the street with ease.
The location of this inn, Rone had decided on is not far from the main street, that is why she's not going towards the darkest part of the slums. She knew that this place is dangerous, but asserting to take Kalester with her was not a choice she can make. Until now, every movement that she makes outside her home is being monitored, that is why she had help from Eris to shake off those pesters who wouldn't leave her alone.
Yet, that doesn't mean, she's safe from the palace observation. It was tricky to sneak out to meet her majesty before, and she oath not to do another risk that will eventually lead to any means of evidence of her affairs—or anything related to her activities—that will appear suspicious in their eyes. 
She walked through passing by some strange homeless beggars who looked at her with a desire for her excessive dress. Though she's wearing a simple dress for the people in slams, her dress costs more than what they imagine. The look of these beggars made her awkward as she pace through them in such a rush. 
Thankfully though, she was able to avoid any means of trouble. She tilted her head as she looked at the sign on the top of the tavern. According to Rone, this simple inn is a famous renowned place before they run out of business. Though they still operate, but unlike before, they are not as famous as they used to, even so, they still support travellers or anyone who can afford their room price. 
She was uncertain, the name written on the tavern sign, it is not an ordinary language from this empire itself. Just like the Elise Boutique Shop, the language used to create the name of this inn was another Vestile Character, resulting in the name Fluente. 
Vestile Language is an old ancient language from another empire. It is different from the current Imperial Language used by the empire's resident, in fact, it's not a common word, unlike Elise. Fluente means dark, and repulsive. It does not suit the shop, and it doesn't make sense why no one has yet complained about it. Perhaps they are afraid of the consequences of speaking up.
No, perhaps it's because they do not understand the meaning of the word, nor the language it was used. It was not a language that is known by many, that is why, the locals must have ignored it thinking that it was just a scribble title of a tavern.