Chapter 34: An annoying guest
Estefan sat calmly on the couch, his legs crossed, a hand loosely draped around the cup of freshly brewed coffee resting on the teapoy beside him. Next to it sat a tray stacked with sugar-glazed cookies, their scent barely masking the bitterness of the roasted beans he sipped.
Galliard stood nearby with a composed face, though his fingers twitched with subtle unease. No one in the palace knew who this mysterious guest was but only that Estefan had scheduled the meeting himself.
"I wonder who it is." Estefan murmured as he took a sip of the coffee in his hand.
Galliard blinked in confusion. He doesn’t know? he thought. If even Estefan wasn’t sure who would walk through those palace gates, then this meeting was either a gamble... or a trap.
Just then, the heavy sound of a carriage rolling to a stop echoed through the outer hall. The grand doors swung open and a procession entered.
Leading them was a striking figure, face painted with layers of makeup with powdered cheeks, glossed lips and thick-lined eyes. Robes of violet silk clung to the individual’s slender form, and every movement carried the poise of someone who knew how to dance with power. Behind them stood three rows of four women, each holding a large, intricately carved chest that shimmered under the palace light.
The figure bowed low, then announced, "My name is Ratragunda, envoy of the Violet Matriarch of Lutis."
Galliard’s mouth slightly parted. Ratragunda... He leaned closer to Estefan’s right ear and whispered urgently, "My lord, are you sure this is your informant? That is Ratragunda, the second in command of the Matriarch herself. A dangerous criminal who has done a lot of dirty work for Lutis."
Estefan nodded slightly but remained unfazed. "Calm down." He replied calmly. "I told you we’d have guests, not just a guest."