Another Villainess

Chapter 21

The man leads us down a hallway as we reach the top of the stairs, the decor suddenly switching from the olden, traditional bar downstairs, to a more elegant, darkened aesthetic, shown in the red, flowery wallpaper and iridescent yellow candlelight shining of antique chandeliers that line the hallways ceiling. 

"Wear this." He starts patting down the sides of his waistcoat and then shuffles through one of the pockets, pulling out a crinkled, black mask meant to cover just the top half of a face. "Should have another one for yer' friend, if you'll give me a minute." 

"I see." I take the mask, it feels similar to plastic, but flexible, and brush some of the lint off before pulling my hood down and fastening it across my face. "Eden, help me tie this." 

As he takes the strings from me and begins to tie it slowly, the man resumes his digging, searching for another mask. 

"Alright, the guild master is right through this door." Once we've prepared, he lets us into one of the two doors at the end of the fancy hallway, shutting it as we enter, and leaving us alone. 

The room is large, comparable to mine back at the duchy, with dim lights matching the hallways, and a large seating arrangement in the middle, one couch and two chairs. No guild master, or any persons of that matter, in sight. 

"Leondra. . . I'm not so sure about this place." 

"It will be fine." I sit in one of the chairs, expecting Eden to follow suit, but instead, he stands promptly behind me. 

Green Gate is an essential area in the second part of Her Royal Love, as it's home to the largest information guild in the Empire, the main reason people travel to Leisl.

Once the events of the novel's second half arrive, Leondra Raiyus will already have died at the hands of Sylvian Arlay, the man she loves. Once she is dead, Alana and Sylvian should be able to live happily ever after, so what drives the story to continue? What is it that gets in the way of their ending?

I glance at Eden, he's staring off to the side of the room to a doorway different from the one we entered, seemingly waiting for the guild master to walk in. 

A rebellion.

One ran by the story's next main antagonist, also Leondra's only friend, and brother to the crown prince, Gabriel Arlay. 

The door suddenly cracks open, open, open- and falls back shut. Eden straightens out. We both stare intently. It begins opening again, slowly, and a voice calls out from the other side.

"Some help, please?" 

Eden looks to me and I nod. He walks to the door and opens it, struggling for a moment. It must be heavy. 

A man, no older than 25, walks in, his arms full of rolls upon rolls of fabrics and baskets and small gift-bags. His ash-brown hair is drawn up into a ponytail and rectangle glasses fall down his nose, not at all hiding his lively countenance. 

"Ah, I'm very sorry, miss-," he then turns and looks to Eden, bowing his head sharply, "-sir." He sets everything down on the coffee table that separates the couch and two chairs, with a loud thunk, all the contents sprawling across it(a wonder nothing fell off), and collapses sluggishly onto the couch in front of me, looking very worn out. Eden stations himself back behind me, a frown on his face that shows more confusion than disapproval. 

"Much apologies for my lateness." He flips his ponytail forward so it falls infront of his shoulder. 
"I was attending an event but rushed over as soon as I heard the lady of the grand Raiyus duchy made her way to this quaint town. I am Garrin Forten, pleased to be of service." He smiles. 

I'm not too surprised he knows who I am, but it's still impressive that he was able to find out so quickly. 

Garrin Forten, leader of this guild. A minor character who wasn't mentioned much even though his guild was of great importance in the progression of the story. Described as a lighthearted genius, with not many people knowing of his backstory or of how he was able to so quickly achieve his position as a guild leader at such a young age.

"Yes. I apologize for the short notice. I was eager to meet with you, as I have much to discuss." I respond. 

"I'm flattered, miss. Who knew the daughter of such a powerful family, the crown princess herself, would be eager to meet this insignificant and humble citizen, let alone know of me!" His smile drops slightly, and his eyes glint as he stares at me. "Say, I must ask, how did you come to learn of this small bar, miss?"

I smile. He's referring to my knowledge of the secret passcode that allows me to speak with him. Of course, I learned it from the story.

 "It almost feels as though you are the customer here, Mr. Forten. I simply sought out answers to my questions, and it led me here." I place a large coin purse on the table of sprawled items. "But to be frank, I've come because I need information on Alana Callinghan's upcoming debut party."

Garrin's smile drops and he stares at me shocked. Behind me is a clang, and I look back to see Eden regaining his footing, also looking at me noticeably bewildered. 

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