NoGift 163 GODDESS' TOWER

Aurum was wearing a midnight-blue dress that reached just above her ankle.   Its hem was studded with small gems that looked like starlight.  Clay wouldn't be outdone.  He's wearing a fashionable white suit dress that fit him perfectly.  The upper half of his face was covered by a delicate black mask which only added an air of mystery to him.  Argent was the only one of the three who was wearing a simple black suit.  

They left Casa Royale 30 minutes before midnight.  It had been five minutes since.  They would probably arrive at the tower after another  ten or so minutes.

"Brother, do you think popsicle would be at tha auction?" Aurum thought of asking.  Since they're on their way to the auction, that question just naturally crossed her mind.

"I don't think so."

Aurum was a bit confused by her brother's answer.  Popsicle was the second prince of Albion, surely the Temple would invite him to attend.  They were posing as ordinary nobles and yet they were able to be invited.  In popsicle's identity, he should also be.  Unless...  "Do you think he would refuse to attend?"

"No.  The Temple wouldn't invite him."

Now Aurum was even more confused.  "Why?"

"To humiliate him," Argent simply said.  

When her sister told him earlier that Winter was here in Victoria City, Argent easily found out some informations about his arrival.  Apparently, they stayed at Casa Royale two days ago for a couple of hours.  She didn't hear about it because that was the day when she and the others were busy discussing and solidifying their plans.  That continued on for the next two days.  They only went back to Casa Royale when they needed to sleep.

According to the receptionist she talked to, the prince and his entourage waited for more than five hours before a priest from the Temple came to escort them to their residence.  From that action alone, Argent could tell the kind of attitude the Temple wanted to show towards Winter or rather, Albion itself.

Argent told Aurum about what the Temple did when Winter arrived here in the city.  Aurum then immediately understood why her brother said that the Temple wanted to humiliate popsicle by not inviting him.  "Does the Temple want to draw a line with Albion?"

Argent smiled with satisfaction hearing her sister's observation.  Aurum's analyzing skills was really getting better and better.  "Yes."

Aurum scrunched her brows in disgust.  "Just because of that bitch Icelyn?"

The silent Clay almost didn't choke on his own spit when he heard Aurum cursing so crisply.  He just looked sideways and cough a little to cover up his reaction.  He didn't want to twins to think that he's being judgemental or anything just because of Aurum's cursing.  If men could curse other people, then women could also do it to their heart's content.  He was just surprised, that's all.  

Just as he wanted, the twins didn't notice his little movement.

"No, it's not because of her per se.  Someone like that Pope would definitely not care about what would happen to Icelyn," Argent said, answering her sister.  "Putting her in prison after knowing her connection to the Pope's errand dogs was the same as challenging the Temple's - no, his authority.  So by doing this, humiliating Winter, he's silently saying that he doesn't care even if the relationship between Albion and the Temple turns sour.  Or at least that's what I understand."

"Despicable bastard," Aurum said, thoroughly disgusted.  "Will Albion be in trouble?"

"Probably not at the moment."

Truthfully, Argent really couldn't tell what that Pope was planning.  Was he doing all this for world domination?  Because he wanted to have the power to rule everyone and everything in this world?  She felt that things wouldn't be that simple.  There must be something.  Something he wanted to do that was far bigger than that.  But what was bigger than conquering the whole world?  An idea flashed inside her head but she didn't manage to catch it.  At the end, she could only give up thinking. 

Soon, they arrived at their destination.

Argent was the first one to get out of the carriage.  Clay soon followed.  He turned around and raised his hand towards the carriage.  Aurum looked at his offered hand.  Unlike the first time, she no longer hesitated and just put his hand on his palm.  Like it was the most natural thing.  

They all stared at the tower in front of them and immediately understood why it was called the Goddess' Tower.  It's 100 m high tower, probably made of the purest ivory.  The statue of the goddess Gaia was carved on its front.  It was as tall as the building, making it seemed like the goddess was standing mightily in front of them.  

Aurum must admit, that kind of look amazing.  She turned to her brother.  "Brother, do you think those two are done?" she asked, referring to the two Dreich Gallere assassins.

"Don't worry, they'll do their part properly," Argent said.  "Let's go inside."

Then the three walked towards the entrance of the tower.

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Archibishop Stillwell felt like his head was going to burst.  He was walking back and forth, biting his nails.  He's currently at the floor where all the items going to be auctioned were being held.  He was waiting for that assassin who told him that he's going to bring the elf to him.  But there's only 15 minutes left before the auction and that assassin was still not here.

Marcus didn't know what he's going to do.  If that assassin didn't come, he might really go insane.

"Where the fuck is that bastard?!" he shouted swiping the items on a nearby table angrily.

"I hope that bastard is not me," suddenly said by a male voice.  "Because I don't really like it when people are cursing at me."

Marcus turned sharply and saw the plain-faced assassin.  He rushed towards him and gripped the lapel of his clothes.  "Where's the elf?!"

Viper frowned, annoyed, and pushed the Archbishop away from him.  Instead of answering, he walked towards a cage covered by a dark fabric.  He pulled the fabric and revealed the thing inside the cage.

It was a child with white blond hair, delicate white skin, and a pair of pointed ears.  He was lying unconcious inside the cage.

Marcus eyes brightened when he saw the elf.  He walked towards the cage, his insides quivering with excitement.  Seeing the elf, he could already imagine the look on Lucern's face when he saw it as the finale of the auction.

"Leave," he said to the assassin, giving him the payment they talked about and not even looking at him. 

Viper picked the three chests of golden coins and put it in his space ring.  He looked at the Archbishop who was giggling like a fool.  He sneered inside.  Stupid fool.

Then he walked out of that floor.

Chapter end