Under The Divine Veil 【bxb】

CHAPTER IV

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FOUR

When I arrive, the dining table is already full of hot, steaming dishes. Everything, ranging from steak to lobster sits on the table. Atlas is already sat, but he doesn't make a move to eat anything.

"Lord Seraphis," he greets with a monotone. I give him a quick nod in response, before sliding into the seat opposite him. The long dining table is lonely, as only two of the several seats are filled.

Dozens of servants inhabit the Seraphis Manor, but only two individuals have the authority to sit at this dining table.

I wonder if any of the other servants would question why my "butler and bodyguard" was allowed to sit here, but no one says a thing.

I reach for some food to fill my plate, and Atlas only begins to eat after I do. A form of etiquette, I supposed.

"Before you arrived, the Rhendor Royal Family sent you a welcome mesage for your visit to the Divine Empire," Atlas informs as he wipes his mouth with a napkin.

I'm a bit surprised, not expecting that the royal family would have even noticed. "Is that so?" I ask.

Atlas nods. "Visitors to the Divine Empire are rare," he shortly explains, and the conversation stops there. Silence envelops us as the sound of metal utensils scraping against plates fill the room.

I have no interest in conversing with him, and it seems that he feels the same for me. If it weren't for Master Saer assigning him to my side, I doubt that he would have even spared me a glance.

I finish my meal quickly to leave the awkward scene as fast as possible, but I don't forget to input his contact in my terminal first. As my assigned bodyguard, it would be useful to have his contact— especially since we were both spies, too.

I wander aimlessly around the manor, looking for something to do, before I remember the large marketplace I saw when I entered Lunaris.

It wouldn't hurt to explore the city itself— I definitely wouldn't be spending my time cooped up in the Seraphis Manor because of my mission, anyway.

I message Atlas to ask first, and he responds in a few minutes.

ATLAS | driver will be here soon. i will go too as your bodyguard

Okay, thank you. | R. SERAPHIS

Seeing my name displayed on the terminal as "Rion Seraphis" still felt somewhat unreal. I was unsure how long I had to play this role, as Master Saer never set a time limit on this mission.

I get a message once the driver arrives, so I hurry to the front of the manor. At the entrance, the same suspension car that sent me to Lunaris is waiting.

Right before I can step onto the vehicle, I hear Atlas call for me.

"Lord Seraphis," he calls out, stepping towards me with a parasol in hand.

I stiffen at the sight of the parasol. How did Atlas get his hands on that? I thought I locked mother's gifts in my office.

"The sun is quite harsh today," he says, before handing me the parasol.

I'm too stunned to form any words, let alone ask him how he got that. I just silently take the parasol from him, before stepping into the backseat of the car. Atlas sits in the passenger seat, next to the driver.