CHAPTER 497: 496. DATE OR DISASTER (2)

Reina felt Davian’s arm firmly around her shoulders as he kept her away from the people who were passing closely by. She could also hear the sound of his heart beating over all the noise of the market.

It only made her wonder if there was really a way of making him fall out of love with her. But to make that strategy she had to first know what made him fall in love with her.

She couldn’t even ask him about it.

After leading them out of the crowd did Davian let go of Reina and he smiled sheepishly looking awkward.

Reina turned away feeling even her face growing hot.

"So, the ones you have to keep an eye on are here?" Davian asked.

The alley way there were in was quite narrow and there weren’t many people back here.

Reina gathered her composure and shook her head, "No, one of them had already been caught, I just need to get his testimony and see what they are up to."

Davian looked curious as Reina turned and started walking towards the twisting street that would lead them to the slums.

Davian walked behind her watching her delicate shoulders, poised back and shapely waist. He couldn’t dare go down as his eyes went back up and he picked pace to walk beside her.

"Do you often go on such missions, Miss Reina?" He asked.

Reina hummed and Davian tilted his head staring at her side profile which was just as mesmerizing.

"Does Master often send you so far away?"

"No, I’m mostly assigned the administrative work but at times when there’s nobody else, I’m assigned for the field work. I chose this mission specifically to see my brother and Prince Eric getting their due glory." Reina explained.

"What about me?" Davian blurted and Reina turned her eyes glancing up at him.

Whether to Ocean or herself, Davian often had a habit of wanting praise and attention. Reain found it adorable.

"You too." She spoke and he smiled before his eyes drifted off to her pale, pristine wrist where a blue mana stone bracelet sat.

He tilted his head slightly, "You don’t wear the bracelet I gifted you? Does it not suit your taste, Miss Reina?"

Reina glanced at the mana concealing bracelet on her wrist before saying, "The bracelet is pretty, I’m just waiting for a better occasion to wear it."

Davian’s smile dwindled a bit before he hummed and then noticed that the street was getting narrower and narrower. He drew closer to her, keeping an eye on the surroundings as the chatter of the festivities was fading behind them.

They passed by several men who looked like thugs smoking and drinking at the taverns that were in the backstreets.

The men looked up as Reina and Davian passed by and stared at Reina, Davian grimaced, tempting to beat them up for laying their eyes on her but despite his thinking they didn’t make any move and just watched them.

"Don’t be so strained, Your Highness. This area is under Master’s control, no one would dare to pull anything." Reina spoke without looking at Davian.

Davian looked at her a little pensively, "Even if they did try to do something, I’ll protect you."

The sounds of the festivities in the other Street were starting to grow louder and they made their way to the opening of the alley.

Reina chuckled, "There really wouldn’t be any need to. It’s a prerequisite for being in this business that one should know how to protect themselves. It’s a rule for anyone working under Ocean Ryujin. If you’re weak train harder at least to pull your own weight."

Davian listened, stunned to hear this coming from Reina. He had always thought she was a frail, delicate woman who was protected by the Duke Aurelius and Young Duke Rune. But hearing such words from her made him believe that she indeed was working under Ocean Ryujin.

Looking at her thin, pale arms he still couldn’t help but doubt though.

"So... Miss Reina can fight?" He asked and she lifted her head looking at him with a smile.

"I wouldn’t be here if I couldn’t." She simply said and Davian couldn’t help but feel excited.

"What weapon do you use?" He asked.

Reina pondered over it for a moment before she brought her hand up creating an icicle from her Frost Mana.

"My mana is usually enough, but when it comes to combat then, Master always assigns someone by my side for that aspect since I’m not physically strong enough to handle it." She lied and Davian smiled.

"Then, you can rely on me for that, I shall even teach you a thing or two about self-defense." Davian said and Reina chuckled again.

Davian liked watching her smiling.

The alley opened into the larger street which was also having the festivities and they passed by several stalls. This area though was rather modest looking than the large market square.

Reina walked ahead and Davian couldn’t help but feel as if she knew where she was going, she didn’t even have to look around before she turned and entered an inn. Davian followed wordlessly.

The man at the reception turned his head from his guests as soon as he saw the duo enter.

"Welcome," he beamed as the looked at the two as they approached the reception.

"Would like a room? May I have the name of Mr and Mrs?"

Davian barely resisted the grin that threatened to break over his face and Reina cleared her throat. She plucked out the crest from the small sling bag that she had before she placed it over the counter.

The man looked at the crest and his expression frozen before the professional business smile disappeared replaced by a serious look.

"Please come this way," he spoke before he turned and walked out from behind the counter.

"Dear, please look after the reception!" He hollered.

"All right!" A woman’s voice responded.

The man named Rask moved towards the door that was a few feet away from the counter. He opened the door and gestured the two in.

Reina walked without any word and Davian followed. He had no idea what kind of work Reina had here but the level of secrecy and the way the man acted, he could deduce that it was something serious.

The door led them down the corridor to the series of doors on one side with the wall being on the other. They walked farther down deeper till the end of the corridor.

Davian had a lot of questions but he could only silently walk behind Reina. Rask stopped at the end of the corridor and unlocked the last door before walking inside.

There was a set of stairs that led further deeper in the darkness and Reina and Davian walked down wordlessly.

Once at the end of the stairs, Rask turned to his left and started walking. The duo walked by until Davian turned his head and noticed that this was an underground dungeon.

He looked at the people were were in the cells, shackled. His eyes moved to Reina who walked through the dark, damp place unfazed by her surroundings.

Rask stopped at one of the cells and unlocked the door looking at Reina.

"This is the one, he’s ready to tell us their plan." Rask spoke and Reina gave him a curt nod before she ducked under and stepped inside the cell.

A man kneeled inside with his arms shackled above his head and feet twisted at awkward angles, his droopy eyes seemed to be glasses over as he rested his head against the rocky wall behind him.

Davian stepped in behind her, he couldn’t help but feel the sense of Deja Vu. The last time he had been in an underground dungeon it was at Ryujin mansion. The sight of this place reminded him of Ocean’s coldblooded self. He recalled Marquis Glines who sat in the chair barely alive and couldn’t help but wonder if Reina also had a side of her like that.

But before he could open his mouth to speak, Reina’s voice echoed through the small, damp cell.

"What’s your plan?"

Her voice was devoid of any warmth and smile that Davian had always heard. Her posture was balanced and her body exuded the intimidating air. He dared to take a step ahead and glanced at her face which was stoic now. Her eyes chips of ice as they stared down at the shackled man.

The man blinked and gulped looking at Reina, his arms twitched and he winced, a groan escaping his lips.

"I won’t repeat." Her voice rang out again.

It was as if he was watching Ocean through Reina, the same body posture, the same cold tone and the same detached look in those eyes.

"I..." The man spoke, his voice seemed hoarse after crying out for a long time.

He gulped again before he started, "I... and... seven others... have been... sent to... create unrest... in Denril."

"Why?" Reina asked without blinking.

"Prince Eric... must not... have... any support... there must... not be peace..." He wheezed and Davian’s fists clenched.

What kind of a nonsense was this? Who wouldn’t want the peace between the two nations after such a long war? He thought but then he couldn’t help but join the dots in his head and his anger flared.

Of course there was one who wouldn’t want this peace but besides peace their major target was Prince Eric.

"It’s her, isn’t it?" Davian muttered grimly.

Reina didn’t say anything as she stared down at the man.

"Where are the others?" She asked.

The man hung his head, "We... were ordered to stay... at different places..."

Reina’s eyes narrowed as she heard the name of the places that the man listed starting to see red with fury while Davian couldn’t help but think that this date had just turned out to be a disaster.