"So explain, what are you doing there?" once again he asked her this question.

In Estel thoughts, she wondered.
[Why is he repeatedly asking that question?]

She then said.
"I'm barring the door, what do you think I'm doing?"

________________________________________________________________________________

She used a wooden chair often used to block the door,
In-case someone had used pesticide within the greenhouse.
Usually, the gardeners used it to keep anyone from entering the place while they worked.
________________________________________________________________________________

He then glanced at the wooden chair that blocked off the inner side of the door.
Groaning at what she was doing he then said.

"I can clearly see that.
You are aware this place is public property."
he said with an angry yet smiling expression.
She gives him a dumbfounded expression.
[Could it be?...
This person doesn't recognize me?]

But as he gazed at her face and expression he then decided to ask her with one eyebrow raised.
"Have we met before?"

It is not abnormal for Jake to thought so...
Estel had often tied her hair in a bun or dressed it with a simple design more akin to her tastes.
This time with her mother's ornament which is now broken.
She had laid down her hair which had grown on the day she had cut it.

Estel then imagined herself performing a facepalm in his ignorance.
[Now that I think about it.
I've never shown him my hair like this compared to the time,
Levere managed to notice me.

If... that is the case, then.]

She shook her head then approached him.
Using her childlike appearance and height to her advantage.
She then said.

"Please, let me stay here.
I am hiding from the mean Order of Light.
because of my silver hair...
They are going to take me away from my family!" Were the words she came up with.

After saying these words she then tugged his clothes while begging him.
Jake had a wry expression the moment he heard her words yet there was a strange feeling of familiarity he couldn't properly understand.

However, upon looking closely at her expression, her troubled look seemed real. In the end, he simply deeply exhaled to lend a hand.

"Alright... Then follow me." as he said those words Estel had a puzzled expression.

As he walked deeper in the greenhouse Estel gave him a wry smile and simply followed.
With a suspicious look, she felt unease in how easily he accepted her request without any kind of argument.

But as soon as they walked through the place.
She noticed a few plants that were still damaged,
Yet were properly trimmed to make it seemed like they weren't damaged at all.
As they reached the place where he stopped.

There was a table full of various kind of plants.
As Estel investigated it a bit, she noticed a large number of peculiar powder with varying colors.
She then asked.

"What are these? I've never seen them before..." As she said these words, he then replied.

"These are my experiments...
I did my best to remove any poisonous components.
It should help you with your problem."

As he said those words.
He then pulled out a jar of water, under the table and poured one of the powders in a large bowl. Mixing water and the strange powder it then turned a darker color as he then pulled out one of the chairs facing it in the opposite direction of the table while saying.

"Sit over here, so I can apply it.
This will smell bad for a bit, but it should remove the color of your hair.
I haven't tested how long it lasts but it should work." He said with an unsure expression.

[What do you mean it should work?] as she thought with a worried expression.
But with Estel keens senses heard knocks on the greenhouse door, she swiftly sat on the chair without any complaint. He then proceeded to pull her hair back then drew out a bit of the sticky substance and rubbed her hair a bit with it, as he applied the substance the color of her hair began to change but a murky scent soon reached their nose.

Estel thought nothing of it and didn't say a word, Jake, on the other hand, was gazing at her hair drawn to its color as he paints it in a darker color. He then said,

"Your hair is quite beautiful.
Tell me, what is your name?"

Upon hearing his compliment and question.
Estel froze to his question as she thought.
[Should I lie to him?
I told him my name was Luria while my hair remained its original color.
But I'll feel awful If I keep tricking him any further.

We both mutually helped one another.
Even though he gave me that pocketwatch out of coincidence.
I don't want to ruin our current friendship over this,

Telling him my real name wouldn't hurt.
I suppose...]

"Can you keep a secret then?" she asks him, he then nodded to her in response.

"It's Estel.
My real name is a secret,
Don't let anyone hear it okay?" As she said these words, he then smiled.

"Why have such a secret?
Isn't it a pain to hide it."

"You don't know my circumstances If you did...
Well, let's just say your jaw will drop."

"Hoh... surprise me?"

"Rejected.
My identity is already kept secret.
It wouldn't be a secret If I recklessly told you,

Now... Would it?" He then laughed a bit as she said those words.

"I see...
Such a shame,
If you grow a bit more in a few years,
Men around you will likely fight over you." he calmly said.

To her reply, she said with a strained expression.
"That's a problem I want to avoid the most!?
It's troublesome enough to have this kind of hair.
If only I had common hair, that isn't so flashy.
It would have been so much easier to live without being noticed."

Out of curiosity, he then asked.

"Why do you not want to be noticed?
Other noble girls would kill for this kind of hair.
You know?"

Estel simply replied with a tired expression.
"It's the complete opposite of what I wanted.
This kind of hair simply causes more attention than I can handle.
If only it was just simple hair that most common folks have...
I could easily blend in a crowd without being noticed."

[Reminder: Estel's instincts remains as a thief.
Despite being a princess, she seeks a peaceful life where she could walk in front of the sun.
Without the title known as the demon-king daughter attached to her head.]

As she deeply exhaled with a sodden expression.
He gave her a grinning smile then said.
"Well, I suppose you will like this."

With a grin on his face.
He then dried her hair with a clean cloth,
but then pulled out a mirror as he showed it to her.
An image of her hair had completely turned into a brown mahogany color.
It made her silver eyes much more visible as the color seemed to clash with her hair.

She then swiftly turned to him while eagerly saying.
"Do you have more of these!?
I'll buy all of them!"

He had a surprised expression then wholehearted laughed.
"Originally, I've studied these plants to make money off with.
Never expected my first customer to be so earnest about it."

As Estel pulled out a sack of coins from her waist to pay him.
A sound of the door banging was heard from behind them.

His expression then grew annoyed, as he groaned.
"You didn't remove that chair on the door.
Did you?"

Estel could only whistle while turning away from him as he said those words.
He then turned around, moving towards the entrance of the greenhouse.
While she soon followed.

As they arrived at the scene a few angry staff of the kitchen scolded the two while saying sorry to them. Estel then gave Jake a large sack of coin as repayment but he refused her offer of repayment.

Before she left, He then simply said with a gloomy expression.

"Truthfully, I wanted a certain friend to try out this invention.
But because of her background, I was too scared to ask of her for help."

To Estel curiosity then asked.

"Can you tell me who she is?"

"It's a ridiculous story, you wouldn't believe me.
Even if I told you." as he shrugged.

"I have heard plenty of ridiculous tales.
Surprise me, it wouldn't hurt to tell me about it."

She said with a cheerful smile as her hair glistened in a brown color under the rays of the sun.
He then said with a grim and pale expression.

"A certain maid I rudely talked with in the past.
Turned out to be the daughter of the demon king.
I'm a bit afraid that my country will burn to the ground
If she somehow still hold a grudge against me."

"Eh?" was her reaction to his words.

She then recalled how they first met.
[Now that I think about it...
He did talk to me, quite rudely.
But it was my fault for entering this place while he was feeling so down.

Why is this person looking so pathetic over something so small like that!?]

She then replied to him.
"I don't think that person is holding a grudge against you or anything.
If she did, then...
Why did she tell you that she was the daughter of such a powerful family.
If I were her, I'd keep it secret and only tell it to people whom she trusts." were her words to him.

As she then walked away from a distance from him while smiling,
"I'll be visiting here to buy some of those inventions of yours.
Be sure to prepare some for me!" As she then ran away as he waved at her.

In his mind, he simply thought.
[Why does this feeling, seem's so familiar somehow...]

As he soon walked back inside the greenhouse while making a letter to send to his family.
With a letter regarding his discovery of the one who broke the curse and invention.

________________________________________________________________________________

Time: Midday

// The Trio. //

While three were caught by the Order, the three calmly allowed themselves to be taken by them.
As nothing good will come from making them an enemy.

On the way, they were soon swiftly taken down by blowdarts from the corners of the trees.
Leanne and Lana simply groaned as they were familiar with the people who did such a thing.

A group of people who were known as Levere's staff workers wearing camouflage outfits was the culprits as they revealed themselves to the trio.

Fae then asked them.

"Are they alright?"

"They are fine, it is simply coated by a sleeping agent.
However, your brother was worried sick the moment he received news of them coming.
So he sent us to keep watch of you.

Just in case they tried to claim you as one of their own." As they explained to her.
Leanne and Lana could only give them a wry smile as the two gazed at the crowd of people around them. There was a total of ten or more people who were watching over her from the buildings.

It was at this moment,
The two discovered that the world they had stood in...
Was much larger than they believed it to be.

...

...

...

 

They were soon moved to Levere Headquarters.
A tall building where Estel and Lana once met him.
In an office surrounded by his unfamiliar tools, staff, and the two siblings in front of them as they were provided with two comfortable chairs to sit on.

The two of them could only feel worried as they were in an unfavorable situation.  
If they started to act against them.

Levere the asked his sister.

"So... how was your day sister?"

With sparkling grey eyes and light-blue hair she then gleefully said.
"It was amazing!?
I never thought that being with them could be so exciting!
Who knew they were training so rigorously inside this place?

If I were to compare it to our weapon practice, yesterday.
It's was much more exciting!"

"Rigorous?" he then turned towards the two with an angry expression.

"Tell me, what did they do to you?" As the two flinched and felt cold sweat.
She then said.

"Oh, they did nothing to me.
But instead, hear this...
Estel's is actually an amazing person!
In actual fact, she-!" Leanne the cried out to stop her.

"Fae!?
You are aware of her circumstances!" she heard her words.

Fae swiftly closed her mouth with her hands as she then explained to him.
"Ah... I forgot, sorry brother.
It appears I cannot say it with these many people around us."

He then nods to her while waving his hands, signaling his people to move out of the room.

"This place is sound-proof.
Feel free to talk sister."

But Leanne and Lana swiftly coughed...
As Leanne swiftly said.
"That's unfair of you Levere,
Using your sister as a way to get information from us is quite dirty."

He then clicked his tongue as his curiosity only grew.
"She is my sister, which make her a part of my information.
So anything she learns of...
Is up to her to share it to me." As he said then turned to Fae.

"Go ahead and speak my dear sister,"

But Fae felt a tension rise as the three gazed at her intently.

"I think Luria will hate me if I told you about it, without her permission.
Let me at least ask her about it, the next time we meet." As she said those words he nods to her.

Even Levere had an interest in the girl who had healed her eyes.
With a grin on his face, he then turned to the two and thus began their business regarding the favor Leanne had mentioned.

________________________________________________________________________________

Time: Midday -> afternoon.

// Bussiness proposition. //

After her brother sought to converse privately with Leanne.
He had requested Lana to take care of Fae in their room while they privately chatted.

After they had left the room Leanne swiftly went straight to the point.

"The knowledge I seek is information regarding my enemies.
You should have at least an inkling regarding that incident.
Do you not?" she said to him with confident eyes.

But while using both his hands like an arch to shoulder his head while gazing at her.
He simply said.

"I do not understand, what you mean?"

but Leanne retorts.

"Do not play dumb." She said with sharpness.

"You are a man who lived in the underworld who has eyes inside the shadows lurking in my city.
Does the name Iron Bull of the mercenary corps, tickle your memory?"

His expression grew serious as he heard her words.
He fixes his posture in his chair then said.

"Do not mistake me to be apart of those people.
I'm a merchant, who had made trades personally for my own sake.
To keep my sister safe from harm I did my best to stay away from such people."

But Leanne lips as she grinned while calmly hearing his words then said.

"Yet you are aware of his name,
Which means even now.
You have people watching in the darkness.
Keeping tabs on which could aim at both of you and your sister's life.

Yet...
Despite knowing this.
You did not show me, even a single hint of warning to me.
Knowing full well that they would aim for my life."

He then said with a wide smile.

"The other nation will think I am at your side if I did warn you.
And you have nothing in my interest for me to share such knowledge.

Your eyes are sharp but failed to see through that attack.
Which means the favor you wished from me is to become your ear's.

But you are aware that if I accepted your offer...
Both I and my sister will become the enemies of your enemies.
And let me tell you now.

The numbers of families which sought to claim those sharp eyes of yours are many.
Your quite a popular topic amongst the nobles, after all."

As Leanne heard those words she felt her skin crawl.
Indeed, she had made quite a performance in parties out of fun in exposing people hidden agendas. But it appears the attention she drew was both beneficial and troublesome at the same time, Lana was skillful in facing multiple opponents but against real foe's like the Iron bull even she will face troubles.

She needed a sharp ear's which can pierce the darkness and reveal her true foe.
Levere Art's was a man who had such tool's.
Which was why...
She deliberately centered the topic on the blind girl who was his sister to Estel.
Out of a hunch that her power surpassed normal means.

It was then she replied to his words with a sarcastic remark.

"Indeed, I am popular aren't I?
But no matter how popular I am.
If another attack like that were to occur,
There would be no more second chances for me."

But her eyes then turned to fierce glare as she gripped her hand in frustration.
As she then said.

"You do not need to pledge your loyalty or become my second hand.
I simply wished for you to secretly lend me your ears and warn me of my next impending demise.

Those bastards nearly played me in the palm of their hands like a doll inside their little game.
It is time for me to show them that even I have a few cards up my sleeves."

Levere then said with a smile.
"But still, to have a special card like that in your hand.
The fact that you haven't used it soon enough.
Only means you haven't discovered it yet.

Such a shame...
I could have accepted your proposition of marriage with her  
If you offered she would cure my sister."

To Leanne's reply.
"As expected of the person known as Rat.
Your greed knows no bounds." as she said those words he grinned.
________________________________________________________________________________

The Rat also known as the best information broker within the kingdom.
Only a few know's of Levere's second name, those who did have already fallen victim to his people.
He allows those who are harmless or beneficial to him, completely alone.
But should they become a threat to him, Levere will surely send his own men to put them down.
________________________________________________________________________________
He then said to Leanne.
"I'm surprised you know of that name.
You've done your homework on me quite well."

She then reply.
"Even I have ear's within my kingdom.
But it is not as wide as your's."

But then he asked.
"Tell me who is she?"

Leanne then replied to him with a bitter expression.
"She comes from a family that is capable of swiftly burning my own home to the ground."

He then curiously asked.
"Burn? You're almost saying,
That she is a threat to you."

She took a deep breath and exhaled.
"The person herself isn't a real threat.
Though, she is quite unnaturally gifted."

Levere noticed a tinge of frustration in her words as he then said.
"Is that jealousy I sense? Well, I am not surprised.
To even have made the Order of Light sniffing around this place like wild dogs.
In search of a clue for the one, who had cured my sister eyes which even they could not heal.

She is quite an attractive person, regardless of her origin."

The moment Leanne heard his words,
She simply had a pitiful expression as she thought of Estel who simply wished to be left alone.

He then asked once again.
"So... are you going to answer me, regarding that question?"

But Leanne simply placed her a single finger close to her lips in response as she said.
"Information isn't free...
In exchange for the name of the person who sent the mercenaries.
I'll tell you." were her words.

This was the moment, where trade between the Owl and the Rat have made a connection with one another. Their conversation lasted till Dusk and ended with a handshake and a mutual contract and agreement.

The future of those who hid in her nation will later regret and face in a battle for the throne.
This paved the way to Leanne's first goal, which was to seek out her true opponents.