"Hope you don't mind me mentioning this..." Deidan looked at Ambra with a raised eyebrow, a wry grin forming on his lips. "You know, you're awfully secretive with that cloak of yours. Saw you at the fountain earlier, looking like some mysterious assassin in the middle of a covert mission."

Ambra chuckled nervously, her heart anxious. "It's just a habit, I suppose."

Deidan crossed his arms, eyeing her thoughtfully. "I'm curious to know why, but since you were considerate enough not to push me for an answer earlier, I'll extend you the same courtesy. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

"Thank you," Ambra said, grateful for the reprieve. "I'll pass on that question, if you don't mind."

"Fair enough." Deidan shrugged, seemingly unfazed. "Nevertheless, I'm still curious as to why you're here as part of the princess' security detail after being rescued by Lune. Say, you're Alturan? What got you into adventuring?"

Ambra felt a pang of unease. She had told Lady Camila she was Nuberian, and given Ambra's apparent familiarity with Lune as Manda, admitting the same to him might raise suspicions.

"Yes, I'm Alturan," she lied, her heart pounding in her chest. "I started adventuring after my father passed away."

The look of sympathy that crossed Deidan's face made her feel guilty for the deception. "I'm sorry for your loss," he said sincerely.

Ambra offered a half-smile, waves of regret and guilt flooding her. "It's been a long time, but thank you for the condolences."

"Still, sincere apologies. Didn't mean to bring back harrowing memories." Breaking the momentary silence, Deidan tilted his head, looking curious once more. "I'll just ask directly, I guess. How come you're sticking around with Lune? She's not the easiest person to get along with, I'd be one to know."

Thinking fast, Ambra chose her words carefully. "Well, I'm not exactly here solely because of Lune. I initially joined up with a group of adventurers known as the Aegis after they found me in a bit of a complicated situation. They were the ones who first encountered Lune and brought the group together. I guess you could say I'm more like an extra hand, tagging along for the ride."

Deidan leaned back in his chair, nodding slowly as if piecing things together. "Ah, the Aegis, huh? They've got quite the reputation. Seems like a strong team to be a part of."

"Yes, they're quite formidable, but I'm not formally a part of the team, as I said, more of a tag along," Ambra agreed, thankful for the change in subject. "And they've treated me quite well despite the circumstances in which we met, so it's been worthwhile."

Deidan looked at her, his eyes reflecting a sort of muted understanding. "I see, I'm glad it worked out on your end—that's what life's all about, isn't it? Learning and growing are always a must. That's what she believed as well."

Ambra met his gaze, surprised by the sudden philosophical turn. "Yes," she said softly, "I would agree"

There was a moment of silence, both lost in their own thoughts. Each seemed to recognize that beneath the superficial conversation were various unspoken complexities, words that couldn't be said, and pasts that couldn't be revisited—at least, not yet.

Finally, Deidan stood up. "Well, I should be going. The Baroness is taking quite a bit, I should go check on her."

Ambra nodded, feeling a strange sense of relief mixed with regret as he moved towards the door. "It was nice meeting you, Deidan."

He paused, hand on the doorknob, and turned to give her one last scrutinizing look, as if he was seeing her for the first time. "Likewise, Manda. Take care of yourself."

As Deidan reached for the doorknob, the door suddenly burst open, revealing Lune standing on the threshold. Her eyes widened in surprise, her expression quickly hardening as she locked eyes with Deidan.

"What are you doing here?" Lune's voice was cold, every syllable laced with suspicion and annoyance.

Deidan returned the icy gaze, his lips tightening. "I was just speaking with your friend here, Manda. A girl who, I might add, actually knows how to hold a polite conversation. Unlike you."

Lune's eyes flicked briefly to Ambra at the mention of the name 'Manda.' A flicker of understanding crossed her face, and Ambra knew she had quickly pieced together the fabricated name and why it was necessary. Lune looked relieved that Deidan hadn't unearthed any secrets, his frustration clearly directed solely at her.

"Is that so?" Lune responded, her tone dismissive as she gave a little wave of her hand as if shooing him away.

Deidan grunted, his eyes narrowing further as they shifted from Lune back to Ambra. "Goodbye, Manda," he said, his voice suddenly softer. "Be careful around her," he gestured towards Lune, "she might just abandon you when you need her most."

The animosity in his eyes was unmistakable as he cast one last glare at Lune before stepping out into the corridor, pulling the door shut behind him as he left to search for the Baroness in the gardens.

The room seemed to exhale as he departed, the tension lifting like a cloud dispersing after a storm. Lune walked in, closing the door and locking it before turning to Ambra.

"Are you alright?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern. "Did he find out about any of the... inhuman stuff?"

Ambra let out a sigh of relief. "I'm fine. Thank you, but what was that? I do know you two have a... complicated history. However, this was different, why?"

"It doesn't really matter." Lune's eyes darted away momentarily, a shadow of old memories crossing her face. "Did he suspect anything?"

"No," Ambra assured her. "At least, I don't think so. I gave him a fake name, said I was from Altura, and he seemed to buy it."

Lune nodded, visibly relieved. "Good. Deidan is... not the person to trifle with. He is feeling quite the shock from your passing it would seem."

Ambra sighed, the weight of her secret nature pressing on her once more. "I know, Lune, I know."

Lune began to pace the room, her eyes thoughtful. "I was told by the Marquis that Deidan was here to accompany the Baroness. They weren't in the meeting room when I arrived, and I suspected that he might have come this way."

Ambra nodded, her eyes narrowed. "I see."

Lune paused in her pacing and looked at Ambra seriously. "Listen, you should also be careful around the Baroness. There's something... off about her. When we talked at the estate, I felt uneasy. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's something you should be wary of."

"Thank you for looking out for me." Ambra chuckled lightly. "But what would some Baroness want with me? I'm just 'Manda,' the extra manpower, remember? A nobody in the grand scheme of things."

Lune shook her head, her eyes intense. "That's exactly what makes you suspicious, you know. You're an unknown element, a seemingly ordinary piece on an otherwise fantastical board. People like the Baroness, they notice things like that."

Ambra felt a shiver run down her spine. The weight of Lune's words settled over her, adding another layer to the intricate web of caution they had to navigate.

"Alright, I get it," Ambra said, exhaling slowly. "I'll keep my distance. But for what it's worth, I think you're far more interesting to the Baroness and her ilk than I could ever be."

Lune grinned, a flash of her old mischievous self showing through. "Oh, don't sell yourself short. You're one of the most interesting people I know, Ambra, cloak and all."

Ambra laughed, the tension in the room lightening. "Well, if we're going to be mysterious figures, we might as well be interesting ones."

"Agreed," Lune said, smiling. "Now, about that mourning ceremony—"

"Yes," Ambra cut in, eager to discuss something tangible. "Deidan mentioned it's in three days. Apparently, that's what the meeting was about."

Lune nodded, her expression serious once more. "Yes, it's a big event. Many dignitaries will be there, and it's likely the atmosphere will be... charged, to say the least. We'll need to go over logistics and security protocols. Are you up to the task?"

"Of course," Ambra agreed. "The more prepared we are, the better."

Lune moved towards the door, unlocking it and taking hold of the handle. "Then let's prepare. We have a lot to do, and time is something we don't have the luxury of wasting, especially with how you need to hide while completing the task that Baz has set you up with."

Ambra rose from the couch, her eyes meeting Lune's. "I'm ready when you are."

Lune and Ambra left the living room, taking a final glance to confirm that Deidan and the other attendants had cleared out. They navigated the rich tapestry of hallways towards the grand hall, where the bulk of the political discussions were underway. Marquis Julian was deeply immersed in conversation with Camila; their negotiations seemed to shield them from the surrounding world.

"Focus on the task at hand, Ambra. We're almost there," Lune urged, breaking Ambra's reverie.

"I am, but..." Ambra's voice trailed off as her gaze was drawn to a window overlooking the estate gardens. A woman in a dress of deep violet and scarlet hues stood there, her chestnut hair framing her face. There was an indescribable charm about her, a palpable magnetism that struck a deep chord in Ambra's memory. But before she could dwell on it further, the woman vanished from sight.

"Come on, Ambra. We need to be present," Lune insisted, her voice tinged with a note of concern.

Snapping her attention back to the corridor, Ambra gave a small, puzzled frown. "Right, I'm sorry. Let's go."

"Something on your mind?" Lune asked as they resumed their walk.

Ambra shook her head. "I thought I saw someone I recognized, but she's gone now. Probably just my imagination playing tricks on me."

Lune eyed her carefully but said nothing more. They entered the grand hall, positioning themselves near a column where they could observe without drawing too much attention, as Lady Camila and Marquis Julian continued to converse.

She looked at Lune, who was engrossed in the room's difficult dynamics, but her thoughts drifted back to the mysterious woman in the garden.

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