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[center][h1][color=82ca9d]Nyx Heir the Wanderer[/color][/h1]
[img]https://i.ibb.co/YkTckfw/Nyx-As-Asteria.png[/img]
[h3]Grand Bank, Duchess Agustria's Estate[/h3]
[sub][b][color=82ca9d]Skills:[/color][/b] Shift[/sub][/center]
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[quote=@Estylwen] After taking some well-meaning rest, ‘Asteria' and Mene found themselves in a carriage with their bodyguard Deven, headed towards Duchess Agustria's estate. Mene was turned towards his sister, his saucer-like eyes determined.

“We can't afford to mess this up. Her Majesty is counting on us. We can use the same tactic we used at Duke Rhinecliff's estate. You go in first and distract them. I'll sneak in through any other entrance and try to unearth anything. Deven will stay with the carriage.”

Mene racked his fingers through his hair, visibly stressed. ”The Queen, she'll take care of us, right? She'll protect us.”

A pause. ”Do you… really think Duke Rhinecliff did something to us?”

Outside, the carriage came to a stop. They had arrived just outside the gates to Duchess Agustria's estate.

Meanwhile, a secret correspondence had been sent by raven to Duchess Agustria…[/quote]

‘Asteria’ chewed lightly on the inside of their bottom lip as she listened to ‘her brother’ prattle on, the distress clear in each word and action. She nodded along to Mene’s plan, not really in the position to say no to it. It wasn’t as if she could really ‘distract’ Duchess Agustria, especially if she had received the raven sent ahead of time. [color=82ca9d]“Surely one of us would have noticed, right?”[/color] She asked in the soft voice of Viscountess Skybound. Her gaze was focused outside of the carriage as they were admitted inside the gate.

[quote=@Click This]For the Skybounds, it was immediately obvious that the estate was well-guarded. Guards in Caelin livery patrolled the perimeter of the house, and merely at the gates there were a half-dozen men. Perhaps disconcertingly, moments after the Skybounds’ carriage stopped outside her estate, the gate opened were opened by the guardsmen, as if they had been expected guests. Allowed to enter, the carriage was ushered forwards, the gates closing shut behind them. Although the guards did not move from their posts, they were clearly being tracked.

What met them at the front door were not additional guards, however, but members of the household staff—although as typical of Augustria’s household, and indeed the trend of Caelin gentry, nearly all of her household staff was armed.

They were greeted by Mirie’s steward, Collin Vauxhall, an older tall man with graying hair in a sharp suit and vest, with a dress sword by his side. With him were four household maids in their customary attire, and the five of them bowed to the two children as they alighted from the carriage. They were after all still Viscount and Viscountess. With a smooth voice, he welcomed the duchess’s guests. [b]“Greetings, Viscount and Viscountess Skybound. Milady Agustria welcomes you to her house. She expects to see you in her study.”[/b]

One of the maids stepped forward. [b]“Please allow us to escort you to her grace. It wouldn’t do if her esteemed guests were to get lost. It is, after all, a very large house.”[/b] The girl had a peppy manner of speaking and a pleasant smile, but between the arming sword at her waist and the undertone of a threat in her words, it was clear this was more of a demand than a request and would brook no argument. 

Perhaps this would not be so simple for Mene, after all. For ‘Asteria’, it was just as clear that something was certainly afoot.[/quote]

‘Asteria’ shifted her gaze to look at the other Skybound sidelong with a wide-eyed look that read [i]‘What do we do now?’[/i] She turned towards the staff and returned the maid’s smile with a nervou one of her own. 

[color=82ca9d]“That would be much appreciated, thank you.”[/color] She told her with the utmost polite and pleasant tone before turning to Mene to whisper. [color=82ca9d]“We shall find another way, I’m sure of it.”[/color] She stepped forward, gesturing for the maid to lead the way. [color=82ca9d]“If possible, could you lead my brother to a lavatory? The journey here was long, after all.”[/color] 

Nyx had no doubt that this request would be denied or if it was allowed, she was sure that Agustria would not let Mene out of her staff’s sight, but she had to make [i]some[/i] show of effort for the sake of her mission. She had no idea if she would keep playing the part of Asteria Skybound after leaving the Grand Bank, but hopefully she would find out soon.