Chương 47: Chapter 45. Is That A Squirrel In A Tunic?

Ariesa's hand was about to rasp against the amber door when she pulled back.

"Almost forgot to turn on my aura skill. I never felt right about using it down there."

"Aura skill? For like affecting people around you? That seems a little obtrusive don't you think?" Oscar asked.

"I have very little issues using [Princesses Authority] amongst other nobles," Ariesa said.

"But the common folk? That felt unsavory for sure. Mainly because they didn't know who I was, but I'd imagine a skill like this is expected of me up here." As soon as she turned it on, Oscar felt his own attitude towards her start to shift. It was a hard sensation to convey. The best way he could describe it was that he felt almost obligated to help her with whatever she wanted.

"Any chance you can exclude me from your aura?" Oscar asked.

"I could, but I faintly remember you mentioning how you didn't believe me to be a [Princess] before," Ariesa said.

"Perhaps this will help you believe it."

"That's so messed up and you know it," Oscar said.

"I find it hard to believe you still see yourself as such. You've really thrown yourself into being a [Thi—""Hush! No more speaking on that!" Ariesa said, loudly clearing her throat. She turned back to the door and let out four quick rasps against the door." Four knocks? That's kind of insane, no?" Oscar said." Three is by far the most you can get away with." Ariesa gave him a glare but quickly faced the door once more as they heard it creak open. A most handsome man stood in the doorway; Veo had brown hair was unruly and tied back to the best of his ability in a bun, and he sported a thin beard. He wore a long dark jacket which covered up a nice striped shirt." Lady Ariesa? How may I assist you?"" Veo! I hope I'm not disturbing you, may we come in?" Ariesa asked." Please, come in. I wasn't expecting company, so do mind the mess," Veo said, stepping aside and allowing them entry." Who's your friend and—is that a squirrel in a tunic?"" I'm Oscar and this is Mook," Oscar said." Found the little guy being bullied by one of the local cats. I hope you don't mind us coming in as well. You know, it's funny, Mook here seems to know his letters! He spelled out his name to me on the sidewalk out there, isn't that crazy?" Both Veo and Ariesa gave him a look that insinuated he was insane. Which, frankly, was highly insulting. They were looking at a squirrel dressed in his own outfit and armed with a needle, and they found him knowing his name hard to believe? Whatever, Oscar knew the truth, and that was what mattered." Anyway, I have something important to ask of you," Ariesa said, stepping inside. Veo led them into his living room and gestured for them to take a seat. A sense of security washed over Oscar as he plopped himself down in a soft chair. Mook made himself at home as well, venturing off his shoulder and nestling himself in the crook of the couch next to him." Do you mind if I set up this secrecy bubble?" Ariesa asked, holding out a stone similar to the one Bruno had used." I can't risk some nosy nobles snooping around." Veo waved one hand, signaling that it was fine. He pointed at an indent in the wall that was mostly obscured by the bookshelf. Ariesa slotted the stone into the spot and Oscar felt his ears pop as he adjusted to the sensation." I never expected someone like you to conduct business that would require such… secrecy. You have my attention, [Princess]."" I won't waste your time, master [Architect]. We need the blueprints you created for the Depths," Ariesa said. Mook had crept his way towards Veo, who was rubbing his chin in thought about Ariesa's request. Just as the squirrel was about to leap onto his shoulder, Veo turned and moved out of the way, causing Mook to overshoot and land on the rug below." That is the most peculiar of requests… May I inquire into the why?" Veo asked." No, but I can tell you that I know Plank."" Ah, so that's what you've been up to is it? There has been gossip concerning your absence," Veo said." [Princess] or not, giving you those blueprints could be considered treason. But would the [King] execute me, his finest [Architect]? Probably so, given his temperament these days." Veo stopped and Oscar could visibly see something shift in him. Was that Ariesa's aura skill influencing him?" Very well, but as Plank has no doubt informed you, I do require payment that isn't gold."" Of course, I expected as much," Ariesa said." If possible, it'd be considerate if whatever you request of us, that it be able to be done today." The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon." It's a small price. I trust you'll be able to fulfill it easily," Veo said." In your father's room, I left behind a prototype of a recent invention of mine. Frankly, I'm a bit scared of your father to go back and get it."" Ugh, do you have any other requests?" Ariesa asked, dropping the royal facade for a moment." I don't want to see him just like you…"" I apologize, my lady, but I'd really like to finish up that project," Veo said." But if you really want to barter… I'd settle for the truth, both of your reasoning to go down to the Depths, as well as what you discover. I'm no foreigner to shady dealings, and a person of your station venturing into the Depths? Now that's something unheard of, and some days later down the line… perhaps what you discover could be a fine bartering tool." Ariesa looked at Oscar but all he could do was shrug. He was far out of his depths here, no pun intended. Instead he put his focus back onto Mook and watched the silly little critter explore some more. Things really were a lot more simple when he just sat back and observed." I believe you to be an honest man, so I'll agree to tell you the truth, but on one condition," Ariesa said." You must allow me to omit the name of one of the people involved in the situation. For now, at least, if you still wish the whole truth later, then it shall be yours."" Fair enough, my lady," Veo said." And I swear I shall not leak your secrets. It'd betray my reputation amongst the underworld to do so anyhow."" A friend of a friend has been captured and sent down there. She was looking into something… sensitive, and somehow my father caught wind of their meddling," Ariesa said." I need to free them and find out what they discovered. Assuming they're still alive that is…"" I don't have any knowledge of anyone having been sent down there, but I'm sure your sources are top-shelf," Veo said." I feel it part of my responsibility of being a friend to the crown to tell you that you maybe should not embark on this mission."" I understand, and I appreciate your concerns," Ariesa said." However, as I'm sure you're aware… something is changing both in this city, as well as my father, the [King]."" So, this is a matter related to the [King]? Then it'd be my duty as a citizen of Dynarus to help, wouldn't it? You should have led with that!" Veo said, smiling at her." Hey, sorry to interrupt, but Mook is now on top of your lovely chandelier… I took my eyes off of him for one second and somehow he has scaled your walls," Oscar said." Do you own a ladder by chance?" Oscar motioned for the squirrel to jump down onto the soft couch, but he was being uncooperative. Truly, he felt bad about this. They were having a serious conversation and he had to wrangle in his new stray pet." Oh, shit… He's figured out that the chandelier can be a swing," Oscar said, staring in horror as Mook began to rock back and forth on the chandelier. Veo simply laughed, stood up, and walked into a different room. When he returned, he was holding a long device with a claw at the end. It looked like one of those crane machine games. The device slowly extended until it was at the chandeliers height. Veo aimed it towards Mook. He squeezed the trigger and the claw's appendages gently wrapped themselves around the squirrel. He recalled the device back, and once Mook was closer, Oscar held out his arm for him to climb onto." I never thought I'd find a proper usage for this thing!" Veo said, a genuine smile on his face." Glad I kept it around, though. He's a curious little thing isn't he?"" I know you don't believe me, but I swear he wrote his own name down. He's equally smart as he is curious. Go ahead, Mook, show him what you can do!" Oscar said. As if Mook knew what he was doing, the squirrel just stared at him blankly before running away and settling back onto the couch. He sighed in defeat and didn't even bother trying to defend himself." Back to the blueprints," Veo said, "I do have a spare copy of them in my office. They'll help you, no doubt… but there's something I should mention that might help you escape after you rescue your friend."" Any help is much appreciated," Ariesa said. Veo left to grab the blueprints, and when he returned he was holding a long tube. Taking the contents out of the tube, he unraveled the parchment and spread it across the wide coffee table in the center." You see this cell?" Veo said, pointing at a square near the large, central chamber." Originally, it was going to be the solitary ward. However, as we were building and excavating the walls to give us more room, we accidentally dug into an old sewage hole. Must've been a bathroom above, but anyway, I put up a shoddy replacement wall to prevent anyone from falling down into the sewers again. They wanted work to be done fast, so I didn't bother patching it up well. It'd be nothing to tear it down and use as an escape."" Ah, that's what Oz was talking about," Oscar said." Good to know exactly where it is."" You know of it already? Interesting… Well, just as a reminder, it's a steep drop."" Do you happen to have any blueprints of the sewers as well?" Oscar asked." Sadly, I do not. From what I've learned from Plank, there are symbols down there marking the way back to the lower districts. Whether or not there are any down in that particular area… I can't say."" Thank you for your help, Veo," Ariesa said, as she stood up and rolled the blueprint and placed it back inside its container." This whole exchange was far easier than I had expected it to be, I must admit."" It's no problem at all," Veo said, and gave her a slight bow." But you mustn't forget about the other part of the deal. I expect to learn the whole truth of whatever it is that you're doing. You might be the [Princess], but I don't tolerate deceit from anyone I do business with. Don't make me do something that'd betray the crown." Oscar was taken aback by the sharp edge his voice took on, but Ariesa took it in stride. He supposed doing work amongst the underworld folk required someone to be able to be cold when needed. Still, it was jarring to see it in this man who had been the perfect host thus far." I promise I'll follow up as soon as we are finished," Ariesa said." Depending on how things go, though… there might be chaos ensuing. If that's the case, I'd ask for a bit of patience."" I'm not an unreasonable man, Ariesa," Veo said." Breaking into the Depths and freeing someone is unheard of. Chaos is to be expected."" In the worst case scenario, I'll have Plank get in contact with you."" That'd work fine as well, [Princess]. Perhaps I'll see you down there myself one day." Veo walked them to the front door. Mook was once more resting on Oscar's shoulder. Ariesa hid the blueprint tube somewhere underneath her dress. Which he tried not to think about how and where." Have a pleasant rest of your day, Lady Hargrave," Veo said, giving one last short bow." And to you, Sir Oscar and Sir Mook, it was a pleasure meeting you." Oscar and Ariesa gave their farewells and thanks, with Mook doing his own form of goodbye, and then that was that. Veo closed his door, and that marked a job well done. Thus far, he hadn't experienced a task as easy as that, but he didn't question it. He felt due for something easy for once." Huh… I expected more," Ariesa said." I was prepared to fulfill some weird request that'd take us most of the day. For him to just… give us what we wanted for hardly anything in return… it feels too easy."" Stop, don't question it," Oscar said." Let's not jinx ourselves, okay?" Ariesa giggled and reached up to pet Mook." I didn't take you to be the superstitious type. We got what we wanted, what could possibly go wrong?"" You fool… you stupid, naive fool," Oscar muttered." Where I'm from, there is only one form of magic that is known, and it is evoked by those very words. We should really go now before you find out just how much can go wrong…"" Okay, okay, I'll indulge in your delusions, but let's go back and change first," Ariesa said." Or… we could stay a bit longer and you can try [Chef] Berk's wonderful cooking?" Oscar clutched at his stomach, which stirred at the thought of proper food." Will it be better than Bill's Meat Hut?"" Oh, darling, look at where we are right now. Do you really need to ask that?"" Okay, but Mook is getting something to eat as well." Mook perked up at that and began running back and forth from shoulder to shoulder." I'd wager that Mook is about to indulge in the finest meal in his life." Despite Ariesa's curse she just evoked, he was too hungry to care. If something were to happen to them now, at least they'd be able to face it on a full stomach. And that full stomach would now contain foods that wasn't from that damn Bill and his even more damned Meat Hut.