Thena arrives at the palace, which has an entrance that is protected by a gate. A hefty noble guard stands watch near the gate, as stationary as a statue.
Dang it, there's a stupid guard patrolling the entrance. I would just request to enter the palace, but I doubt that it's open to the public at this time of night.
I just need a way to distract the guard for a moment so that I can get in. If anyone in the palace catches me, then I'll just make up some sympathetic story to get me off the hook. The only school subject that I am actually good at is creative writing, though we are forced to write boring essays most of the time. I still dread that upcoming research paper, yuck.
Thena shudders in response to her own thoughts. As she snaps back to her present reality, she spots a nearby bush twice her height.
Got it! That should work.
Thena sneaks into the bush, just outside of the guard's sight. The guard, in the likeness of an unmovable statue, does not even turn his head.
Okay, step one is complete! Now as for step two…
Thena secretes ooze from her sweat glands that gather into her palm. She shapes that ooze into a ball of slime the size of a snowball. She maliciously grins, showing pride in her creation.
This should be big enough to make an impact. I hope he has a hilarious reaction!
Closing one of her eyes, Thena focuses on her target. The guard remains none the wiser.
Alright, he's looking the other way!
The slimeball escapes from her fingers and accelerates through the air, swiftly homing in on its target.
Yes, yes, yes! It's right on–
SPLAT
"Crud."
Just before the slimeball could hit the guard, he moved his head causing the slime to zoom right past him into the distance, resulting in a commotion too distracting to ignore.
"Eh? What the heck was that? Better not be any rodents this time…"
The guard moves his sturdy legs to investigate the cause of the explosion. As a result, his post is clear.
Well, I meant to aim for his head, but this works too. Not as funny, but oh well.
Seizing the perfect opportunity, Thena rises from her hiding spot and runs beyond the gates, without a care in sight.
My only lead is that a maid bought the pendant, so perhaps I should look for a maid who might have it. Even if one particular maid doesn't, surely she would know who does. This palace is really big though…it'd take all night for me to ask one by one. And that's assuming none of them report me as a suspicious intruder.
"Okay, I'm ready. Let's try this again–it'll work this time!"
Hmm? I can hear a voice…
Thena's head is drawn towards the voice that is coming from somewhere nearby the palace gates. A young man is kneeling down, presenting a peridot pendant to a maid dressed in her nightgown. To say that she felt displeasure and scorn would not be adequate enough to describe her emotion.
Who are those people?...!!! Does that guy have the pendant?! I better lay low for now so I don't interrupt them…
"My love, this is but a small token of the great love that I have for you. Please let me accept your hand in marriage, Endori!"
"Yuck, disgusting."
"Whaaat?! How could you say that, Serine? I gave it my all, you know!"
"Reoni, your approach reeks of desperation–Lady Endori would never fall for anything like that."
"Not even with this gift? It's a beautiful piece of jewelry that complements her hair and eyes."
"Sigh, you dummy! Crimson red and green are composite colors, which is the opposite of complementary."
"Well, it'll look good to my eyes. Isn't that what really matters?"
"This is pointless–you are a lost cause, Reoni. I've helped you enough by bargaining with a high-class merchant; I don't want to waste anymore of my precious time for your sake. I'm going back to bed, goodnight and good luck."
"Hey, wait up! I still need you!"
Reoni springs up from his knees, grabbing Serine's arm to prevent her from proceeding towards the palace any further. She slowly turns her head, giving Reoni a glare that clearly harbors murderous intent.
"If you don't let go of me, I will make sure that Lady Endori will need a surrogate husband in order to continue her bloodline."
"Eeep, not my future babies! Yes ma'am, my apologies!"
Reoni instantly lets her go without a second thought, causing him to fall on the ground on his knees, completely distraught. The sight is so pitiful, Serine could not help but to spit on the ground before walking away.
"Great, I was hoping to sweep her off her feet tonight. I could've impressed her so much that we finally have a little romantic night! Man, what should I do now…"
"Have you tried being yourself?"
"?"
Thena emerges from the spot outside of Reoni's view, startling him.
"Who are you? Why is someone like you at the palace at this time? Are you…a criminal?"
"Would a criminal be able to get past the guards protecting the entrance gate?"
"Technically, yes."
"But what are the odds of that? Isn't it more likely that a young girl like me was let in with the guard's approval?"
"Fair point."
Imbecile.
"Anyway, that's irrelevant. What matters is that you are trying to impress a girl you love, right?"
Reoni's pupils enlarge, a feeling of rejuvenation washes over him. He gets off the ground swiftly, placing the pendant into his pocket as he gets closer to Thena.
"That's exactly right! Can you assist me, kind stranger?"
"Sure…"
Thena lightly pushes his perched hands off her shoulders in a manner not to dissimilar from dismantling trash.
"As I said, you should try being yourself. That should impress your girl more than a superficial gift."
"Yeah, but it's like no matter how close I try to get to her, she puts distance between us. We are arranged to get married eventually, so I hoped to melt her cold heart before then."
Just from the looks of this guy, he seems pathetic. It's like he is radiating that sort of loser vibe, despite looking fairly attractive. I can imagine why that girl may not be into him. But whatever I have to say to get that pendant…
"Dude, you need to set the atmosphere. You should be the gift she desires."
"I should be her gift? How so?"
"Give your body to her, and she will crave you. It's nighttime, which is a very sentimental time of day. I bet she's in her room all alone, looking for companionship."
Thena gestures an embrace on herself, painting the scene into Reoni's imagination.
"Woah, you're right! She's all lonely, waiting for me to give her what she truly needs–my presence. No physical gift could ever top that!"
"Exactly. If you take the time tonight to set the mood, you can give her a kiss. That kiss will change everything!"
"I can't believe I didn't think of that! Your boyfriend is a lucky guy. Later little sis!"
Reoni, who now has hearts in his eyes, roughly shakes Thena's hand excitedly and runs into the palace, leaving Thena behind, flabbergasted at their interaction.
Me? With a boyfriend? Heh, as if.
"Who needs that when I nabbed this baby?"
Thena playfully tosses up a small object in her hand and holds it up towards the starry sky. A peridot pendant that glistens in the moonlight.