Matters regarding the said incident died down after a few days but Walce seemed to hover, more observant and attentive than before. Hendrika shook her head fondly when she knew of his worries, reminding him not to overthink about it. Mersya, on the other hand, continued her work in town and was barely seen in the mansion. Was she avoiding the masters? No one but herself knew.

  Karel also informed them of his sudden departure a week ter, attending to the discontinued construction.

  As Karel entered his portal, the dimensional corridor remained dark until a door appeared before him.

  “Where will it take me again?”

  Karel shielded his eyes from the sudden bright light and he stood on the edge of a forest. From the distance, he saw an old, familiar castle.

  “Stavros?” He scoffed. “Really?”

  “Hah, this is so frustrating. They told me to research and make them pns and when I gave them the best I could offer, they rejected it? Damn it.” The compining woman downed another mug of beer. She wiped her mouth harshly with the back of her hand and compined further, “Am I just a clown or something?”

  “So, that’s the State Architect?”

  Someone hushed as another muttered, “She was considered a genius but tely the State was giving her a hard time.”

  Said architect abruptly turned to their direction and gred. After drinking from the mug, she slumped on the bar counter. The bartender, on the other hand, shook his head.

  It’s been two weeks since the same person came to the bar drinking her nights away while mumbling something about her works being stolen.

  “Perhaps, resigning was the best thing to do.”

  When the woman left, Karel stood up from his seat towards the bartender and inquired about the said dy.

  “Her name is Pensri. Despite being a commoner, she achieved great feats because of her imaginative and creative mind. However, a lot of people envied her talent, and as you’ve witnessed, she’s reduced to that state.”

  “You’re an information broker, aren’t you?”

  The bartender toothily grinned. “I just hear stories here and there, good sir.”

  Karel slid five golden Ryuu coins on the countertop. The bartender’s expression lit up as he heard the words: “Tell me more details.”

  The blond went undercover for a few days after learning about the State Architect’s situation. She’s not hiding it, as per what the bartender said, because everyone in her workpce turned the issue into a big scandal. To witness her decline was something they wished for, after all.

  For Karel, however, it’s an opportunity to take. Well, a person’s trash was another man’s treasure, yeah?

  The door to the house he sneaked in opened and the womanly figure who entered made her fighting stance as she shouted, “Who are you?”

  “Calm down, architect. I’m here to negotiate with you.”

  “Negotiate?” She scoffed. “Are you in cahoots with those thieves?”

  Karel chuckled. “Absolutely not.”

  “Liar.”

  He pulled down the hood of his cloak and said, “I seek talented people like you. If I offer you a job of a lifetime where you can make everything you want, will you accept it?”

  Pensri ughed out loud. She had her hand akimbo and looked at him in disdain. “That’s too good to be true.”

  “Then, I’ll give you work and pay you just as much your talent is worth.”

  “That’s not how you do it!”

  ”Why? Are you not confident?”

  Pensri gred at him, eyebrows furrowed and nose scrunched. “I had enough of people discrediting me! Leave me the fuck alone!”

  Karel stood up and walked past her. His heavy steps stopped by the door and he looked back. “If you ever change your mind, I’ll be here until the month ends. See you ter, Architect Pensri.”

  The door finally closed and Pensri slumped to the floor. Tears flowed down her cheeks and she couldn’t help but ment what had befallen her.

  I’ve done nothing to deserve this.

  Even with an established name like hers, it only took a frame up for her reputation to go down the drain. Just as Pensri feared, it became worse than before. The other architects ridiculed her for what she didn’t do and even those people who benefited from her contributions now turned their backs on her.

  Pensri still held her head high, knowing she did nothing wrong. Some clearly made up stories and even though she pointed that out, only a countable few believed her. In the end, no one was left standing by her side. Everyday became a little harder to tackle because of those hateful comments behind her back.

  For today, after getting her work done in the afternoon, she went home.

  Such a routine went on until she heard one of her friends say: “Are you sure this is the right thing to do? Pensri definitely did nothing wrong.”

  “You helped us, you know,” snickered the man.

  Pensri widened her eyes, recognizing the man who spoke. She clutched onto her chest and a pang struck it. The tears she thought won’t come fell again.

  “You said she needed it, that’s why I passed it on to you! Why am I even dragged into this?”

  Pensri hid her figure but she noticed someone approaching her direction. The man saw her state and decided to ignore her but—

  “Oh? You’re denying it now? But, thanks to you, I’m going to repce Pensri and become the State Architect instead. Isn’t that good for you too?”

  “Disgusting pig!” yelled the woman and spped the man on his cheek. She rushed out in anger while the man held onto his spped cheek. Surely, a handprint would be left there.

  On the other side of the covered pathways, Duke Streya, also accompanied by Prince Jericho, frowned deeper at what they witnessed. They both looked at Pensri, sobbing her heart out at the corner and felt sorry about her situation.

  “Ar—”

  “Don’t,” whispered the duke.

  “But, Your—”

  He shook his head. “Not this time. C’mon.”

  “Drinking every night is pin stupidity, you know that, right?”

  Pensri gnced at who sat on the chair opposite of hers. Seeing the familiar man, she only drank again and slumped on the table. Karel, however, leaned back and observed her.

  “Are you here to comfort this miserable dy? I need nothing of that, Mr. Stalker.”

  Karel chuckled. “You’ve already drunk a lot but your words are still coherent. Incredible.”

  “I consumed more alcohol than water when I was still in the academy. Built up some tolerance. It helps but I feel shitty most of the time.”

  Karel hummed.

  “You know, no one approached me now aside from you. Before,” wildly gesturing to the air, “people lined up to commission me for pns and designs but look at me now.”

  “Humans are like that. They easily believe things without even ascertaining if it’s the truth or not.”

  Pensri propped herself up, chin leaning on the wooden mug. “So, you believe me when I say I did nothing wrong?”

  Karel raised his eyebrows and smiled a little. “My intuition said you’re not lying. Even if I don’t believe you, I believe in my intuition.”

  “Hah!” She snorted, then ughed out loud, earning the nearby patrons’ attention.

  “I didn’t expect any comforting words but those are fine too.” She chugged down the beer and stood up from her seat. “What’s your name?”

  “Karel.”

  Pensri stretched out her hands. “You already know me but I will introduce myself this time. I am Pensri Streya, the State Architect of Stavros, an all-around designer and artist. I’m pleased to meet you.”

  Pensri remembered what happened in the tavern st night and smiled to herself. She was gd she took a week off from work to arrange some things in her house. Also thanks to yesternight’s encounter with Karel, she finally came to a decision about what she’s going to do. The man was suspicious, if she’s to be honest, but just like he said, even her intuition knew he didn’t have any malicious intent towards her. Maybe he’s truly genuine about offering her a job.

  Pensri then arranged everything. She burned old letters, some mementos not worth keeping and secured the pns she discontinued designing. After all, the thieves who pilfered her pns were not only interested in her completed pns but also her drafts.

  “I really want to see their faces when they know they have nothing to pilfer,” Pensri whispered to herself as she walked the familiar hallways of the Livariel Castle.

  “Didn’t they say she’s on break? Why is she here?”

  The others also looked at her walking figure, head still held high.

  I’ve tolerated enough.

  Pensri walked through the corridors of the administrative offices and all eyes focused on her. Without stopping, she bsted open the Administrative Office’s door without knocking and the people in it were surprised at her abrupt appearance.

  “How impu—”

  “What is it, State Architect Pensri?” the highest officer, Duke Alexandro Streya, asked calmly.

  He had seen this dy crying her heart out only a few days ago and now she stood in front of him with authority and poise. Where was the weak woman he stumbled upon that day?

  “I will be resigning from my position as the State Architect,” Pensri decred and even the audience from beyond the office’s door gasped. She passed the resignation letter to the head officer.

  “Isn’t that nice?” another lower-ranked architect snickered from the side and the head official gred at him.

  “True, that’s nice,” she grinned in mockery at the man, “and you won’t be able to pilfer my pns again. Fucking thief and disgusting pig.”

  The head official smiled inwardly at what she called him, indirectly telling him that he heard about what the other architect and her friend talked about earlier.

  “You—”

  Pensri only smiled at him and removed the cape denoting her status and id it down on the official’s table.

  “I never took action because I know you’re innocent. However, we also cked evidence to prove your innocence.”

  The other architect smiled smugly.

  “And we happened to hear the conversation between this man,” gesturing to the other architect, “and the administrative officer who also happened to be close to you.”

  The architect frowned. “Are you perhaps saying that I framed her up, Your Excellency?”

  Pensri scoffed. “But, you did.”

  “I didn’t—”

  “Disgusting pig. Until now, you won’t admit it?”

  Pensri looked at the Duke Streya and stopped. “No, I will leave. And I kind of want to see how this state would fare after my departure.”

  Everyone gaped after hearing her stern words. Pensri was never a prideful woman, nor humble but she knew her worth. A stern yet steadfast individual when it came to work and many praised her for that attitude. And despite being the youngest State Architect in all of their history, her contributions spoke a lot for herself.

  “Still, thank you for seeing me in such a good light, Your Excellency. I will never forget the grace you’ve given me ever since you rescued me.” She saluted grandly. “Now then, I will leave. Pensri the State Architect is no more, after all.”

  The ccks of her heels echoed in the hallways and everyone looked at her ramrod back, unwavering and reliable. Some now realize, they lost someone talented and unfortunately she won’t be coming back.

  When she walked down the stairs, the bystanders began murmuring among themselves. They dug up the old issues involving her, about her personality and even her contributions to the state.

  The other architect cursed aloud and stormed out of the office in anger.

  Prince Jericho, observing from the side, asked solemnly, “You have a soft spot for Pensri, don’t you?”

  Duke Streya smiled, remembering the child they rescued from the auction a few years back. “I was the one who saw her potential after all. She had always been a kind child despite what she’s been through.”

  Prince Jericho leaned back on the chair, clearly displeased about what happened. “We lost another talent because of someone’s greediness.”

  Duke Streya could only helplessly sigh.

  The burden on her shoulders eased up when she passed on the resignation letter. Even the debt he owed Duke Streya was already paid for and Pensri finally severed the connection he had to this pce.

  “That’s a wise decision,” said a familiar baritone voice.

  Pensri looked ahead and saw Karel leaning on the parapet. He waved his hand at her and a small smile painted his lips.

  “Hey, why are you here in the State Castle? There are guards—”

  He stood up to his stature. “I have my ways.”

  A moment of silence lingered then Pensri softly asked, “Your offer… is it still up?”

  Karel chuckled. “Of course. Are you going to accept it?”

  “I’ve cut my ties to this pce.”

  “Good for you,” Karel said aloud. “This pce doesn’t deserve you.”

  Pensri ughed in agreement and walked out.

  Karel gnced back, seeing the other architect staring at them. He taunted him more with a devilish grin on his lips and the tter left in fury.

  Just on time, Duke Streya witnessed the scene and noticed the blond man accompanying Pensri.

  “Sir Karel!”

  Both Karel and Pensri turned around and saw the Duke walking briskly towards them.

  “Alexandro Streya. It’s been a while.”

  Pensri gaped. “You know each other?”

  Duke Streya turned to her. “He was the one who rescued everyone during the auction a few years back.”

  When they met during the signing of the treaty, they never talked about the auction again.

  Karel hummed in reminiscence. “You were merely doing your duty and I happen to do the same. We both benefited, didn’t we?”

  He shook his head slightly. “I never got to properly thank you.”

  “No need.”

  “What do you mean? You even helped us—”

  “Fret not, Duke Streya. That’s my duty.”

  The duke huffed in exasperation and changed the topic. “And Pensri?”

  “She’ll leave with me. This pce doesn’t deserve her.”

  Pensri turned away from the duke to hide her embarrassed expression. Ever since she became an architect, Pensri distanced herself from Duke Streya and Prince Jericho due to their ranks. After being appointed as a junior state architect by then, she moved out of the dukedom and rented her own apartment in the heart of the city.

  After escaping imprisonment, Pensri owed everything to the duke and even Prince Jericho stood as her older brother figure, often protecting her without asking anything in return.

  “I understand. Please take care of her.” Duke Streya turned to her, a guilty expression on his face. “I’m really sorry I couldn’t do anything for you, Pensri.”

  But, you’ve done enough for me.

  Karel pushed the dy away, noticing her downcast expression, before following as he left with those words, “If you ever retire from your position, I will welcome you in my home, Duke Streya. This forsaken pce doesn’t deserve you too.”

  “I...”

  He smiled. “To be recognized by a Ramayan is a great honor, good sir. Keep that in mind. I will see you by then if you ever change your mind. Find me on Mapiya Isnd.”

  “To think you know the duke.”

  “We colborated to take down the illegal auction a few years back. He seemed to be at his wits’ end and thanks to my help, we managed to take it down.”

  “And the ties of Stavros with the Ramayan Empire were all your doing?”

  He nodded. “Yes.”

  Silence hung around them as she softly asked, “Did you know I was one of the victims?”

  Karel gnced at her, surprised. “I didn’t.”

  “I was in one of the farthest cells and kept me there because of my talent. They exploited me to draw without receiving anything in return.” She gnced at the garden they passed by. “The Duke saw my works and sponsored me to attend the academy after.”

  “You became renowned because of it. How old were you then?”

  “I was twelve.”

  Karel swallowed, bothered by what happened. “I don’t think we should talk about it further. For now, we must get your things right away.”

  Pensri silently nodded and led him to her house.

  “Sorry, the pce’s a mess,” she muttered and opened the door. Compared to his visit before, it’s more of an organized mess now.

  “No need to worry. Do you need them all?”

  “Yes. I’ve packed most of them, especially the pns I made since I’m afraid for them to be pilfered again.”

  He flipped open a case study folder and saw an intricate design of a building. Karel had seen building pns from Elder Orazio’s study before and he could tell just by looking how many hours had been poured onto the making.

  Closing the folder, he asked, “Would you want them punished? Those thieves?”

  Pensri huffed as she packed more of her things. “No need. I believe everything that comes around, goes around. Their actions will have consequences, right?”

  Karel smiled. “That’s right.”

  “I think this is all. I need to leave the other things behind. I already told the ndlord that I’ll leave today.”

  He nodded and at the gesture of his hand, everything was swallowed up by his space.

  Pensri looked at him in awe. “A mage?”

  “More than that.” Crimson eyes gnced at the door. “People are approaching your house.”

  Pensri also looked at the door, clearly angered. “So, they’re here again.”

  The murmurs became louder as they approached. “I bet she’s drinking elsewhere again. We can pilfer whatever before she gets back.”

  Karel gnced at Pensri now flushed as anger overwhelmed her. He held onto her shoulder, whispering, “Let’s leave.”

  Through gritted teeth, she said, “I want to see their faces when they realize they have nothing to pilfer.”

  Karel snorted. “Alright.”

  They left the door unlocked and retreated to the dimension Karel created. Seeing through the wall of magic, the men’s surprised faces delighted Pensri.

  “What? What happened? All her things are gone now?” The man frantically flipped through the other things she left behind, trying to find any pns but they were only scraps of papers.

  “That cannot be! She only resigned an hour ago!”

  Pensri continued cackling in delight until she choked and tears fell. Karel held onto her, observing her weeping face.

  She looked down on the dark ground. “If only I wasn’t na?ve to trust such people.” She shook her head. “If only…”

  “Start your life anew with us. You’ll definitely learn and grow more. I’ll support you.”

  She wiped her tears away and asked, “Who really are you?”

  Karel smiled and then covered her eyes. “Just someone scouting for talents.”

  Their environment changed and Pensri, despite not having affinity with magic like the duke and the prince, definitely felt it. When she opened her eyes, they stood on a shore. From where they stood, she saw a bustling port in the distance and a ship just docked. “This pce is…?”

  Karel bowed slightly to greet her. “Welcome to Mapiya Isnd, Pensri. I am one of its lords, Karel.”