"Please have a cup of tea, milady. It should warm you up from this brazzer temperature of the southern sea, " the baroness said, giving me a cup that is filled with tea and she accommodated me throughout a small room befitting a resting place. 
    
    She was concerned that I might have gotten cold because we traveled at speed. The carriage and the remaining knights were able to catch up with us after we rushed in. 
    
    The baroness gives me a warm smile even though she still disregards me as a person higher than them. I couldn't speak on the matter, since I was concerned about how to deal with House Krul at this moment. 
    
    "This is the only thing we can offer, a tea made from refined green tea of our own version, I hope it's to your liking. " I smile stiffly not because of the baroness but because the gazes of my knight seem irritated and concerned. I would have rather not thought about it but it really concerned me to the best. 
    
    "Thank you for such hospitality, however, I cannot waste much time right now, baroness, I need a map of this place ━ no of the whole southern territory, " I know it's bad to even reconsider because I am being bold right now but I will accept hospitality once Lady Lucia herself had been rescued, so that means I'll have to deal with much matters like planning and looking at the maps and roads and collecting much informations as I needed. 
    
    The baroness didn't seem shocked but she ended up nodding. "Yes, of course, please wait a moment, I will get one for you and don't worry about the baron, he's writing a letter right now, " was what she said before leaving me in this room with only a strange atmosphere that I can feel. 
    
    The baron said he will be right back after they accepted us in, the baron tested me earlier to see if I was fit in the role of their trust or not, I just had to circulate everything and answer their question with persuasion until both of them gave the idea of testing me and my ability.
    
    Thoroughly, this technique of persuasion worked on Marquis Lordest before, so it didn't really surprise me to work on the baron himself... So what made me persuade them? It's the assurance and two words that I put in a single statement, while refining my answers and accommodating them with wiseness.
    
    I give advice, convince them how to or not, and separate advice to persuade them into something, this seems unbelievable at first because it lacks the teaching but this has its good uses when persuading people, just give them insurance and hope. 
    
    That's all how to... 
    
    Yet, despite feeling my thoughts, I can't help but to deal with my knights to assure them that I mean no harm intention, cause they look like they'll pierce me with sharp gazes and stares. 
    
    "Speak now while you have the right to question my decisions and actions, " I started and took the tea cup with my fingers, then I slowly blew off the hot smoke and took a tiny sip. 
    
    Then suddenly Sir Adrian kneeled before me. "Milady, I will never question your actions but this, what are you really planning on doing? " He asked and I could see worry and disbelief written on his curved face, tightening the grip on his hands and he showed a small force by biting his lips. 
    
    He didn't seem like someone who likes questioning something because he seems forced to question what I'm doing, maybe worried or maybe suspicious. If he sees it that way, then he might be fighting over his true resolve. 
    
    I can't force him now... He's showing signs of uncertainty of his loyalty... Unfortunately, he is hesitant of the person he is serving, and so his loyalty is hesitance as well. I know it's good to serve with loyalty of a both master, because father is his master to begin with but I had this tiny hope that he'll support me with loyalty only for myself, I want to think that he is loyal enough to keep everything at still in hope I can trust him with everything I can do. 
    
    I thought that was the case before coming here, I didn't realize I'll be stuck in a loop where he decided to betray my trust and still question my actions. 
    
    Anna is a free tongue woman but I know from the beginning that she is not really that free of tongue, she is a spy under my father who had been serving me for years, I had known that since the day I meet her, she cannot deceive me with such acting ability, I am sharp enough to know everything.
    
    Even though Anna betrayed me by telling father my actions that day, I didn't see her differently even though I know she is loyal but she is not honest. If that thing were to exist beside us, we would bond to see fates caused by unfaithfulness.
    
    That's what I thought but Anna didn't seem to have any bad intentions, she was just worried and she didn't want anything bad happen to me — again.
    
    This time is no different, Sir Adrian is acting in a part where he wants to know what to do... He is confused and is very doubtful. I may find it hard to gain trust for myself. I believe this is not a bad thing either.
    
    They are just worried... Nothing more... 
    
    "I can't help people's curiosity, so I'll explain how did this happened instead, I trust you all of this matter at hand, I had already revealed something even my father don't know about, so I hope this will be the last time you all question my actions and trying to tell father about it, cause I still have trust on our families knight that they are unlike others who have backstabbed their own masters, " I said with a grin and continue sipping over the tea that I hardly notice the essence and its taste. 
    
    This tea... It was well made... Even though I didn't notice the taste and smell when I first drunk it, I can still taste the essence of the green tea ━ unlike those that I have tasted before, the smell was soothing and it takes away my uncertain stress over go away. 
    
    The fragrance was left on my lips and after that I heard Sir Adrian's exclamation and he yelled. "Milady, " after I told him his hesitance will soon backstab the marquis.
    
    It was bold of me to say that. 
    
    "Enough, " I said and pressed my lips into disbelief and the soothing disappeared. 
    
    "I am very displeased, " I commented and slowly turned my head around the window while the displeasure was written on my expression. 
    
    "Mila--- "
    
    "I trust our knights, yet they appeal to have not trusted their milady, its displeasing, its exhausting at least but I trusted you all with my own accords that you will not be hesitate after your declaration, if you keep this up, you might kill my father with your own hesitance, " I said it coldly and boldly, the other knights gossip to each other silently but I only looked at the far not seeing what they look right now. 
    
    Yet I know Sir Adrian was left looking at his hands. How can I tell? Simple, because I have known that he has the hobby of doing such things while being uncertain of his dedication.
    
    I know. 
    
    "Milady, we didn't mean that way, we didn't want to hesitate but milady's action is uncertain, and the intentions are very vague, " Sir Adrian said. 
    
    I sighed. "His highness the crown prince had the intention of -proposing- to me, yet I didn't want anything to do with royalty so as father, my father had trusted me to deal with the matter and I did, I made a proposal to his highness about this engagement his father the emperor had carried, he accepted the proposal and we are working as a team, I came here today to get Lady Lucia (his highness lover) as his highness ordered, " I told them about everything that happened that day, and how I team up with his highness the crown prince.
    
    Even the proposal of taking Lady Lucia as a scholar while teaching her in private so she'll fit in the position of an empress, of course we will all play a part, I will teach her and his highness will delay the proposal sent by the emperor.
    
    I told them of the plan in getting Lucia the title Dame and become a blooming flower of the social circle while engraving her name to the upper royalty, while of course decreasing my knowledge to the best of my ability, I'll help her convey my own opinion while saying nothing of my own.
    
    In the end, I told them about the plan that made them look at each other. 
    
    "So, milady is doing this to avoid conflicts between the palace and House Crambell? To ensure you won't get into the royalty yourself? " I nodded. 
    
    "Yes, I didn't want any part of that so I resolved it ensuring that our house and the imperial palace will stay at peace and avoiding brutal faction conflicts between nobles and aristocrats, " it suddenly became quiet and they all looked at me with astonishment.
    
    Why? Maybe because I was determined not to dishonor our family? Or I look so desperate not getting engaged?