Shangri La Pt. 1

58: Promises

Long before a certain greenette realized the time that she would've seen her master, the Great Pisces and her members of the Great Lotus Organization remained in the temple like usual. But this time, Ayame had just returned after doing a special mission that needed to be reported. 

"Seems you've collected some info for the rest of us, Ayame?" Zeri questioned. 

"Yes, and not just that, but an entire new mission that was requested onto me." 

"A new mission? Like what?" Ray noted. 

"First, it would be best if I explain what happened from the beginning before I was given such a mission, as it seems the speculations that we had before will take shape once I explain everything." Ayame answered, leading everyone to look at each other with raised eyebrows of uncertainty. 

"Very well, Ayame, report what we need." 

"Mn."

( Flashback! )

As she stood before the Empress who had just changed into her fresh clean robes for the new day ahead of them, Ayame remained calm as she was wearing the robes of a servant just like planned. 

"Do you request green tea, Your Imperial Majesty?" a servant suggested. 

"Why yes, that would be good enough for me. Hm? It seems there's an unfamiliar face upon us." the Empress noted as her eyes caught the attention of Ayame and her striking red hair and calming dark brown eyes. Ayame's hair was braided and resting over her shoulder as she didn't seem fearful of what could happen to her. Soon, the Empress raised her hand and pointed directly at Ayame as Ayame remained calm and quiet. 

"You there, step forward." 

"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty."

Ayame took a few steps forward towards the Empress and then made a 90 degree bow to the Royal woman. 

"Hm~ Such a low bow for someone I've never seen before, address yourself." the Empress commanded. 

"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty. My name is Ame, and I used to serve the Todoroki Kingdom before being commanded to come here." Ayame spoke as she knew that using a fake name would be much wiser than using her real name for this situation. 

"Hm? A servant of the Todoroki Kingdom has come here? And why exactly have you come all the way here if you are possibly the only servant from there? Are you a spy?" 

"No, Your Imperial Majesty, as I was actually requested by one of the Scholars to come here and serve you." Ayame answered, making another lie. 

"One of the Scholars, you say? And which Scholar was it that requested you to come to me?" 

"It was Scholar Ink, Your Imperial Majesty."

Just hearing that name made the Empress' eyes widened, as she was not expecting such a straightforward answer. 

'Scholar Ink? He's one of the most knowledgeable ones of the Scholars, and for him to have someone be brought here from the Todoroki Kingdom to try and serve me... Is this Scholar trying to fool me?' the Empress thought. 

"I see, and what kind of relationship do you have with Scholar Ink?" the Empress questioned just as she took a sip of her tea. 

"Scholar Ink is my uncle." 

That answer yet again made the Empress shocked to the point that she choked on her sip of tea. 

"Your Imperial Majesty!!!" the servants cried out from seeing their Royal chock unexpectedly.

But right away did the Empress raise her hand to stop her servants from approaching her as she coughed away her mistake and then took in a deep breath to feel she could breathe again.