The Fake Princess

18- Plan to Fix it All

I was looking out the window of the carriage. I quickly changed and left the house in a hour. Sir Lloyd was surprised to hear my reasoning for visiting my friend so early in the morning. I replied that I accidentally kept of a book of his and wanted to return it.

Ronin lives in a house west of the Capital. His family are Counts, politically strong because of their magic and Ronin is their strongest mage. As the third strongest mage in the church, he is the head Cardinal at a very young age of 19. When I reached his house and knocked on the door, the butler was surprised to see me.

He led me to the meeting parlor and informed me he was going to be waking up the sleeping mage. I nodded and took a seat.

"Asteria? What're you doing here?" I turn around to see that Ronin has come in, closing the door behind him. He's in a robe, pajama pants and his hair is disheveled. I make a face at the lack of his clothes, disgusted by the view. 

"The future heir of the Souris shouldn't be greeting his guests half naked." I cross my arms. He makes a face at me.

"What's in it? I know I didn't give you a stupid book." He sits down on one of the couches, looking at the bag I brought. 

"These are journals. They belonged to my mother. Those journals explained why she ran away. I tabbed the important parts." I explain and walk over, grabbing him by his robe to pull him up. "Take me to your study so I can do something as you read. No, take me to your room so you can change."

"I'm not taking you-"

"Are you really arguing against your best friend?" I ask, pretending to be offended. He looks up at me again and makes a face.

"Alight, I'll bite. What's in these journals?" He looks up at me. I make a serious face.

"My family has been working together with the Caplans, the Solons and the dead Reveres to steal kids, train them as spies and then we steal information from them. It's wrong and the work of the devil. As the new generation, we can fix it. You just have to read what I've given you. Please." I try to shorten up what I've read mere hours ago.

I stare into Ronin's eyes and then he nods. He stands up and fixed his hair. "I'll take you to my study and no one will disturb us." I thank him and follow him to the study. We pass by workers but they don't say anything, just bowing and leaving us alone.

"Sit here and help yourself." He opened the door and then closes it behind me, taking the first book to read as he changes. I don't know what to do, so I start to snoop around.

It didn't take long for him to come back, and I was already reading some random book. He stormed in, asking me if it was fake, but I only said he's read only a portion and to keep reading.

We spend the next hour and a half in his study. He reads quickly and I stick to reading a boring book about the migration of different animals in the Northern climates.

"Why are you telling me all of this? What can I do?" He asks me. I look up to see that all three journals are on top of the desk, his head in his hands.

"I need you to be my ally." I stand up and lean against his desk.

"What?"

"Think about it. We can't change the old ways, but we can create new ways. Nikos will be the new Duke, he's a man of justice. Ever since he graduated and started working with his dad, he's been acting weird. He must know the truth already. If he finds out we're changing it, he will support us. If Elric becomes the Duke, he will not allow this evil to continue." I explain to my friend.

"You're not the heir. How can you change the Kalidos?" He reminds me of my powerless position.

"Ambrose is, but he will be easy to convince. He's a follower and people like him are easy." I wave my hand.