Chapter XXXIX: Noble Pursuits

'I've got half a mind to leave right now… but then I have a promise to keep, don't I?' Ragna thought to himself as he looked at the door to the Themis estate. Already countless nobles were entering the gathering, each with an outfit that more pronounced than the last. Compared to their flamboyant dresses and petticoats Ragna's own azure blue jerkin looked rather plebeian via comparison, but that wasn't stopping him. He headed up to the front entrance and passed by the many guards, figuring it was better to get the event over with.

"Dear, who's that man over there?" the Reaper heard someone ask. Judging by their look, it seemed to be coming from an evident mother figure for a family of lesser nobles. "I can't say I remember seeing him at any of the other parties."

"With your attention to detail, love? I don't see how there could be a man, woman, or even pet that you'd possibly forget," her husband complimented. Ragna knew that they were talking about him and not giving them the idea that he could hear them, he kept his eyes forward and pretended to be focused on walking forward. "Funny, I can't say that I recognize him either… even with that bright hair of his. Perhaps he's a new addition to our rank or perhaps he's trying to come to this party uninvited."

'Got a better invitation than you did…' Ragna thought annoyedly to himself as he passed through the front entrance. As expected, there were already a few nobles talking in the main foyer, but he tried to pay them little mind. 'Didn't hear anything about dancing for this one, so I'm just going to have to keep my head down to get out of any attention... while I find out what that Olswald bastard's planning. This is going to be tough, especially if I don't have a lot of time to work with…'

"Ragna!" the Reaper heard a familiar voice call out right before he was tackled in the back, barely able to remain standing under the force. Grunting slightly and trying to ignore all of the new attention he'd just then received, he turned his head and sent a slight glare at the perpetrator. "I didn't know you were going to be here!"

"I could say the same thing about you El," the Reaper told his fellow member of the Shepherd's with a sigh, realizing that his strategy of remaining mostly unseen had been thrown out the window as several pairs of eyes around him were focused entirely on his person. "...New dress?"

"Yep! Maribelle helped me pick it out!" Elphelt told with before wagging her finger. "She told me that it was high time that I added to my wardrobe and this is what we came up with!"

"That right?" 'Well considering I haven't seen her wear a damn thing besides that wedding dress that she always has on, I guess I can see where Maribelle was coming from.' Elphelt's new dress was pink with bronze trimmings to set a proper ivy-like design around her thighs while her top had extra material so it wouldn't show off her cleavage. Her dress was complete with several petticoats meaning it probably wasn't too much different than what Elphelt had been already known to wear. To complete her outfit, she had a silver chain necklace and her familiar bunny ears headpiece, though now those too had been dyed pink to match with her own hair.

"So do you think it's a good look for me?" Elphelt asked, giving a small twirl so Ragna could get a proper look at her outfit. "Come on, tell me what you think."

"I think it looks nice on you," Ragna said plainly, though he tried to stay somewhat reserved knowing that the nobles loved their gossip and often took things out of context.

"Nice enough to net me a good husband?" Elphelt asked with a growing smile as Ragna's face seemed to be paling. "Come on, you can help me find someone nice tonight, can't you?"

"I… that's…" Ragna tried to say as the Valentine sister continued to press him with that bright smile of hers. 'Crap, this is literally the LAST thing I need right now… Hang on a sec, is that?' "Uh… l-let's talk later, I gotta say hey to Maribelle right now."

"Spoilsport," Elphelt sighed with disappointment. Though she was a close friend of his, Ragna was still a little scared at the sheer dedication the girl still possessed to finding a husband. He'd seen a few cases of something like this back home, but never to her completely insane degree. 'Still with my talk with Robin a few days back… Guess I better hope to Naga that she doesn't find out about that; no telling what kind of high hell that would cause… Maybe praying with Libra would actually help here.'

Shaking the thought out of his mind, the Grim Reaper headed over towards Maribelle and the Duke of Themis who had just finished welcoming an elderly noble couple. As expected, the two looked rather surprised upon seeing the Reaper approaching given how heated their conversation had been when they were discussing the issue of his attendance. Much to her credit, Maribelle looked to be the quicker of the two to recover and shot Ragna a rather smug smile.

"I'm so glad you've decided to attend after all," she said to him, her tone making it quite clear that she was indeed pleased. "And to think you've even changed clothes for just this event! My, you're full of surprises, aren't you?"

"Virion wasn't giving me much of a choice, in fact I wouldn't be surprised if you put him up to backing me into this corner," Ragna told her with a sigh, causing Maribelle's expresion to turn to slight glare.

"My dear friend, I'm rather offended that you think that I'd resort to such measures just for a friendly invitation… So offended in fact that if it wasn't your charming change of clothing I might in fact be a touch cross with you."

"...Noted," the Reaper decided passively, though Maribelle's giggle made it clear that she'd been joking with him. "Mind if I talk you about something… in priv-?"

"Ah, so here we have the famous Grim Reaper in attendance!"

The Reaper cringed as the shouting was close to his ear. The voice speaking was so boisterous he felt rather shocked that it wasn't in Virion's voice and was therefore coming from someone other than the archer. The man that had called him out was a new noble to Ragna, though it was clear to the Reaper that such a man was rather comfortable in such a setting. He was a slightly older and taller man with broad shoulders and dark black hair tied back into a ponytail behind him. He was dressed in white noble clothes that was complete with gold trimmings to add to his overall flair… Ragna had a suspicious idea of who he was almost instantly.

"Count Olswald! You told us you were far too busy with other business in the capital! Seeing you here is a very pleasant surprise," Maribelle's father said as he and the count shook hands at Olswald's invitation.

"Thank you my friend, but I wouldn't miss a tea unveiling for the world, even more so since I know that it's you daughter's rite of passage." With what Gaius had revealed to Ragna not an hour before, the bright smile the Count was sending to Maribelle and her father made the Reaper sick to his stomach. "I see you've managed to lure our local celebrity to this event."

'Celebrity?' Ragna thought to himself with an eyebrow raised in annoyance. 'That's what he thinks I am… even without what Gaius told me I think I'd hate this guy PLENTY by this point.'

"I look forward to getting your input on my creation," Maribelle said, excluding an air of formality with her every word. "I've invested all that I am into this making of this tea so I do hope that you find it to your liking."

"If it came from your preparation, I expect it will be nothing but the best," Olswald said with a smile. "In fact, I'd love it if you would allow me to try your first cup so that I may give back to our many, many years of working together."

'Funny, didn't Gaius say he wasn't coming for the tea… unless,' Ragna thought to himself, try to take into consideration all of the information that his roguish friend had given him. 'And if this is as important as Maribelle's been making it sound… Tch, figures he'd try something like this, and knowing the rest of the nobility and the way they eat whatever popular opinion they're fed, it could work.'

"I do hate to disappoint you," Maribelle began. "But I was going to have Ra-"

"W-We would be honored," the Duke of Themis hastily cut in, interrupting his daughter. "In fact we were about to ask you ourselves."

"Delightful, I'll be all the more eager for its presentation then. I wish the three of you a good evening." With that, the nobleman left and Ragna couldn't help but shoot a skeptical look at the Duke.

"Olswald is one of my staunchest supporters in politics and a close friend of the family, it's thanks to him and his efforts that we've managed to rebuild Themis as quickly as we were able to and he even greatly contributed to this event," he admitted. "I'm sorry you had to see that, and that you couldn't have the first taste."

"Eh, I'm not exactly what you'd call a tea expert anyways," Ragna admitted, though he knew that this could lead to further problems. "Like I was saying earlier Maribelle, can we talk?"

"Aren't we doing so?" his young friend asked innocently.

"Tch, don't be coy with me. I'm asking if we… may talk, in private?" Ragna muttered, not having the patience or the time for the word play. After just saying those words the young lady shot him a look, one which the Reaper was accustomed to whenever Rachel used it time and again. "What? Did I say something?"

"If you wish to speak with me in private I would suggest saving it for well after the party," Maribelle informed as if it were obvious. "Not only is it rude to give one guest, even a close friend, more of a reception than another, but…" A small blush alit her face. "It may lead to certain... discussions."

'Discussions? Don't tell me that…' Much like the 'date' he'd gone on with Lissa, Ragna now noticed that several ladies of the nobility had taken note of what he'd said and seemed to be either giggling over it or whispering their ideas of a scandal. 'God dammit… this again?' "...Later then."

"Indeed, please enjoy yourself," Maribelle told him, quick to compose herself as her father nearly gave the Reaper a solid nod. Realizing there was nothing more he could do with them, the Reaper headed further inside to the party, walking swiftly so that it would be difficult for any of the nobles to catch up to him.

'This is going to be a lot harder than I thought,' Ragna thought to himself heatedly as he walked. 'If Maribelle and her father already suspected him that would be one thing, but they seem to think that he's been on their side for years… And if it's my word against his I guess I'd have Marribelle's trust, but anyone else's...' The Reaper groaned as he headed into the main hall.. 'Think, who would know a lot about the nobility here…? I guess Virion would have to be my best bet to start, he probably knows all of the ins and outs of-'

"Oh, Sir Virion you sound so brave!"

"And daring! To think you'd charge against such a hoard!"

"Ah, but twas nothing; after all, I had my most trusted companion in the Shepherds fighting alongside me that battle," came the archer's voice as he was surrounded by noble ladies. "He and I had already become only the fastest of friends by that point, saving each other's lives on more occasions than this. Ylisse's Grim Reaper would never let a thing happen to me, nor would I ever let harm come to him."

"So noble!"

"Such bonds between you!"

"I'm almost envious!"

"...Even if I know why he's doing this, I still wanna kick his ass," Ragna muttered to himself. "Either way, I'm not getting in the middle of… whatever the hell that is unless I have to."

Trying to go for a next approach, the Grim Reaper noticed Cherche off to the side talking with who appeared to be one of the older servants. She was wearing the same attire he'd seen her in that morning (further infuriating him that he couldn't bring his favored coat) and it didn't look like she was hoping to get into a lengthy conversation with the nobility. The two seemed to have finished up their conversation, so Ragna figured it was worth a shot to chat her.

"Got a minute?" he asked as he headed over.

"I suppose I did just finish up my earlier conversation," she said to him with a welcoming smile.

"I noticed, who was that you were talking to?"

"The head of servants for the Themis estate," Cherche explained. "He's been under the employ since before Maribelle was born. Apparently he's a touch jittery tonight, nervous with excitement as she finally hits her right of passage… You'd think by his tone that it was his daughter doing so."

"Well if he's been employed that long I guess it makes at least a little sense," Ragna agreed, remembering how dedicated to serving a previous acquaintance of his an elderly werewolf had been. "Sorry to ask you out of nowhere, but how much do you know about the nobles here?"

"I'm afraid I don't; I would suggest talking to Lord Virion, but…"

"He's occupied, I noticed…" Ragna muttered as he glanced back to the blue haired archer as he continued to amaze to ladies (and the rare listening man) with his tales of bravery and comradery. "You knew him back in Rosanne, was he like this back there too?"

"You have no idea; once a flirt always a flirt," Cherche told him, which surprised Ragna by absolutely no amount. "He even tried wooing me with honeyed words on more than one occasion… his effort became far less frequent the larger my precious Minerva became."

"Right, that Wyvern you told me about…" Ragna remembered. "You put that thing in the stables right, stables that could hold a Wyvern."

"I'd appreciate it if you refrain from referring to my precious Wyver as a thing; giving such an insult to her face would lead to a great insult." Cherche's sudden one-eighty in attitude nearly caused whiplash for the Reaper, and her scowl was certainly nothing to scoff at.

"Sorry about that," Ragna muttered, making a mental note to stay from that sore spot. "Honestly, I can't say I know much when it comes to those thi- when it come to Wyverns, that's what I meant to say."

"You don't?" she pondered, before she oddly broke into a smile. "In that case, perhaps you'd allow me to tutor you in all things related to these majestic creatures. I'm sure that learning about them would make your eventual meeting of my dearest Minervikins that much more exciting!"

"Minervikens?" Ragna repeated. Her offer might've been and odd one, but he had a feeling that he'd be seeing a lot of Cherche in the days to come so he at least needed to make an effort to stay on her good side. "Sure, if you really think there's a lot you could teach me."

"Oh, what I know is only scratching the surface of such divine creatures, but what knowledge I do have I'll gladly pass to you… though I suppose such an engaging conversation will have to wait for later, you seem to be in a hurry."

"...That easy to read me, huh? Ragna countered with an exasperated smile. "You're right though, I got a lot of work to do and not a ton of time to do it in."

"If you're asking about the nobility, I'm afraid you'd have a hard time finding anything specific. Everyone here likely has their own differing opinions on most matters, and it might be hard to get any of them to divulge their secrets or even mild gossip, and you'd likely not have the time for either."

"Thanks for the warning," he muttered as he turned away to consider his next move. 'Damn, I don't have the time to chum it up with any of these people and if I'm too obvious that bastard Olswald could catch on and get away scot free, I guess I could try to twist his arm and give the tea my own review… No, that'd just give Maribelle more trouble… Why do politics have to be so damned difficult?'

"Aw, you don't look too happy," Elphelt noted, coming up from beside the Reaper with a bright smile on her face. "Did you say something wrong while talking with that girl?"

"El, this is something completely different," he tried to tell her while giving a facepalm; now was not the time to be dealing with this.

"Not fessing up to it, I see," El said with a flirty smile before slapping the Reaper on his back. "It's just nice to see that you're finally considering your spot in the market!"

"My spot in… what?" Ragna had absolutely no idea what she was going on about.

"The market! You know? You're looking for a wife now!"

"Hold up! Did Robin tell you-!?" Ragna couldn't control his outburst, nor could he control the rush of crimson to his face. He didn't have to take his eyes off of Elphelt to know that some of the nobles were now staring at him… and that they'd heard both parts of the conversation. "Oh god…"

"Uh… whoops." Elphelt at least had the decency to know she'd made a mistake. "Sorry about that…"

"It's… fine, I'll find someway to deal with it," the Reaper said with a sigh as his headaches only seemed to be growing in number. "Great, talking to anyone here's about to get impossible."

"Um… maybe I could help someway? Just to try and make it up to you?" Elphelt tried to suggest. "Kind of surprised that you're being so social with the nobles; I just thought you were just here to support Maribelle."

"That's the main point of this mess, but in order to do that I'm gonna need to figure out everything I can about that ba… about him, Count Olswald," Ragna explained, point his thumb to tonight's enemy as he enjoyed a glass of wine and enjoy some gossip with the other nobles.

"That guy from the entrance; the one that's going to end up trying the first cup of Maribelle's new tea?" Ragna waved his hand downwards, trying to tell Elphelt that he needed to subtle. She caught on and began keeping her voice as low as she could. "Does this have something to do with making sure her tea gets a good review?"

"In a way it does, but I just don't have the time to fill you in completely," he explained. "Look, you know anything about that guy, anything at all?"

"I don't really… just that Maribelle might've mentioned his name or twice?" she said, trying her hardest to recall something that could help her friend.

"Damn, then I'm stuck…" the Reaper growled.

"...Actually, I think I might know someone who can help you," Elphelt whispered. "I've actually talked with these particular nobles a few times and they don't seem nearly as bad as the others; they might be your only chance."

"At this point it's make or break," he admitted. "You know where they are?"

"I see them both towards the back of the room, come on," Elphelt said, grabbing Ragna's hand and leading him forward. Any other time the Reaper might've at least questioned the aggressive lead she was taking, but he was a little too distracted with the current task to worry much about it. "There they are, and it looks like they've brought their heirs with them."

'Damn, more people to talk to,' Ragna thought to himself, but had little choice except to see how this would turn out. Two of the people he was approaching though, one of the fathers and his daughter, seemed familiar.

"Elphelt, we didn't realize you were going to be here," the other noble father said with a smile that surprised Ragna. Compared to most of the nobility, it didn't seem like he was looking down at her status, trying to gain her favor, or ever leering at her body… this was an honest friendly greeting. "How goes you painting classes with Libra?"

"They're going well, thank you for asking," Elphelt told the man, acting friendly instead of alerting the group to how anxious she was.

"I knew you were both members of the Shepherds, but I wasn't expecting you to bring the fabled Grim Reaper as you escort to tonight's events," the other father commented. Ragna didn't have the time to correct him. "It's nice to see you again Lord Ragna."

"Right… nice to see you too," he said in response. '...I think I met this guy and his daughter a few days back, pretty briefly though. Joffrey, I think?'

"Well, allow me to introduce one of my truest friends and an old fellow of arms, back when we were fortunate enough to have our own war to fight, this is Charles Dawnguard the Fourth."

"A pleasure to meet you… though I was honestly hoping you'd look a little less intimidating outside that pitch black armor." It was odd joke to tell, and a blunt one… Ragna could begrudgingly accept it there was some truth behind it. "This is my son, Charles the Fifth." The younger boy (about only half the age of Joffrey's daughter) only gave him a small smile and a passing nod. "I'm afraid he isn't much for conversation; my son had the ill fortune of being born mute… though his studies to become a novelist are most impressive if I'm allowed to dote on him."

"Really? Think I know a couple of people in Shepherds who might want to try to read his stuff," Ragna tried to offer, just to attempt to score some quick points. Though Charles the fifth seemed only too excited at the prospect as his entire face seemed to glow with excitement, it was apparent to the two fathers that the offer was almost too kind… especially with how out of character it seemed compared to what they already knew.

"Vinisa?" Joffrey addressed his daughter, who only nodded. "Why don't you and little Charles introduce Miss Elphelt here to Duchess Marinhall? I'm sure that Elphelt would love to hear a few stories of her recent wedding… Naga knows how many times she's told them to me."

"I…" Elphelt began, feeling weak as the offer was something that was particularly hard for her to pass. "I.. figured we could…"

"I'll be fine," Ragna told her bluntly, knowing that he needed to get to the point fast. Even if Marribelle had said that she had thought these nobles were decent human beings (compared to the others), it seemed that they had keen eyes for politics, meaning Ragna could trap himself worse than he already had. Giving an encouraging pat on her friend's shoulder she went and followed the two heirs, though Charles the Fifth looked less than pleased that he wouldn't see his writing get any more exposure.

"...Forgive me, but I'm under the assumption that you need a favor from the both of us," Charles the Fourth stated.

"More like information and I don't have time to play games," Ragna said, keeping his voice low. "What is it you two want?"

"What we want?" Jeffory repeated, almost looking insulted. "Are you trying to bribe us?"

"Like I said, I don't have a ton of time," the Reaper admitted, though it was killing to show that he needed this help. "An audience with Chrom, some sort of endorsement, I don't know what it is I need to give here, but I'm ready to pay that price."

"...You have no idea how to play politics," Charles decided with a sigh. "And I've heard rumors that you once silenced an entire room of Nobles in Regna Ferox."

"That was different; back there I could get away with pulling a sword and twisting their arm a little, here I can't pull that crap," he explained.

"Like the kingdom you're would stop your behavior, it's obvious that you're doing this for your friend," Joffery decided. "We'll be more than happy to help you, but not for something in return." He tried a neutral smile. "Just know… some of us actually have this kingdom's best interests at heart."

'Okay, this might actually be my lucky break,' Ragna considered, knowing he was still fighting against the clock. "Look, I need the both of you to tell me everything you know about Olswald…"

"Olswald?" Both nobles glanced at each other in confusion. "...Do you think he's done something?"

"I'm just about certain he's going to try something tonight, and I can't let that happen," the Reaper told them both, a focused sharpness to his gaze. "Look, we can talk about my intentions all you want, but it's not going to matter if I don't get to him before it's too late. Start talking, anything that you think might be important."

"I'm afraid that there's not a lot that's suspicious about him, nothing comes immediately to mind at any rate." Ragna groaned, knowing how much he was running out of time. "Here's what I do know, we haven't seen anyone affiliated with tea get close to this much prestige in a single lifetime."

"Is tea really all that important in Ylisse?" Ragna asked, trying to get a sense of Olswald was doing this for.

"Tea's always had a strong stigma of status around it for the upper class, but it's never been quite as intense as in these recent years," Charles decided before tapping a small finger to his lips in thought. "Actually… I suppose you could say that Olswald himself was the one who managed to bring about this resurgence in tea culture."

"He did?" Ragna asked as he tried to piece this information together with what he already knew. "Isn't the Themis family known for making teas? I thought it was a right of passage for them."

"You're correct, in fact they still sell the teas from the last five generations in most shops on the continent. There is a key difference; the Themis family was putting out a fine tea once every generation… Olswald created twenty in only three years."

"That many?" Ragna asked as he thought it over. It seemed a tad excessive for Olswald to go this far, especially just for ruining Maribelle. "How did he do it so quickly?"

"We're unsure, he did like his secrets about this sort of thing. Perhaps it had something to do with his methods." Anyone listening to the nobles talking with Ragna at this point would only think their talks were gossiping about the apparent judge for the night. "There probably are quite a few less tea experts in this kingdom… I wouldn't be surprised if he received help from a few of them."

'Meaning he could have paid most of them to do the work for him,' Ragna considered. 'But still, for the tea to take off like it did… maybe he managed to get everyone to think his tea was really good somehow? Maybe more bribes or something?'

"That aside, he hasn't been completely without resistance in his rise to fame," Jeffory added. "A few years ago there was one noble who wanted to test Olswald. He set out a series of teas to test the Count, and Olswald was able to identify every ingredient in all of them."

'Okay think; Gaius said he can't stand the taste of tea compared to wine and he's even drinking a glass of wine now, meaning that he had to have staged that mess…' Ragna considered as he racked his mind over the information.

"With the threats of war no longer present, I wouldn't be surprised if the influence of fine teas surged among the upper class," Charles guessed as he turned to Olswald. "And being the official of teas that he is, I'm sure that Olswald would be there to judge them all as he sees fit."

"Hold up, he'd be judging ALL of them?"

"Of course! Who else but he would do this? His reputation and skill as a judge is outstanding!" This hadn't come from Joffrey or Charles, rather it had come from one of the noble women that had managed to hear the latter part of Ragna's conversation. With her snotty posture and excessive tones, it was clear that she was one of the more 'traditional' nobles that Ragna was used to dealing with. "Have you really not been there to see him cast judgement upon these creations with your own eyes! Any who have dared to make tea during his reign have tried to gain his acceptance, and very few have had any form of success! Those who weren't up to muster were cast out completely, never to be seen again!"

"That sounds… intense," the Reaper said in naturally as he could. "But… that was it? No one else tried to get any taste for a second opinion?"

"Are you asking like you could do better?" the noble lady questioned with a high scoff. "When a King brings down a final judgement, do his advisor revert their leige's ruling for a second opinion? Any tea that wasn't up to muster was cast out without regret… I hope for the Lady's sake that the same doesn't happen tonight."

'Dammit, now everyone's looking at us, so there goes my round of questions,' Ragna thought. 'This is all I've got to work with… there has to be some way to expose him or to at least corner him. Wait, maybe if I…' Though it was a forced effort, Ragna gave a short smile to the woman who only gave a short scoff at him. "Thanks. You've given a lot to think about." He then turned back to Charles and Joffrey. "Take care, we should do this again sometime."

He only half meant it, but that half was a miracle in itself. With a game plan in mind, he headed off on his own, being eventually lost in the crowd of nobles.

"...Some Reaper," the woman continued to huff under her breath as she walked off herself, unimpressed by what she'd seen of Ragna.

"What do think he's planning?" Joffery questioned his friend.

"I can't say… but I'm certain we're in for an interesting evening tonight," Charles decided, unable to help but feel a touch more excited.

Later -The Unveiling-

Though he'd done his best to participate in the gossip, Virion's keen eyes noticed that Ragna had departed from the room for a good long while. In fact he'd barely made it back just as Maribelle announced that the taste testing for the evening was to commence. The Reaper wasn't even standing near Maribelle as Elphet was, trying to show as much support as she could in this trying time for her friend. Virion couldn't help but think that something was amiss, but said nothing as he gently sipped his wine.

'Normally I would have thought this was just his lack of class showing itself,' he considered. 'But with our… 'other guest' I might just be in for a spectacle tonight after all.' He smiled. 'And I just so happen to front row seats and plenty of ears to tell the tale once it's over.'

"You're smiling again," Cherche noted from beside him, trying to keep her lord in line.

"I happen to catch sight of a beautiful flower," Virion commented in his usual charming behavior.

"Of course you did..." the Wyvern Rider couldn't help but sigh.

The crowds were silent as the head butler made his way forward, carrying a single tray in his hand with delicate and perfect form. Atop the tray was a single cup, a steeping pot filled with tonight's tea, and platter covering the packaging for said tea which would be lifted once the time was right. Standing between both Maribelle and Olswald, the man moved fluidly as he poured the brew from the pot to the cup and held the tray out in offer to the Count.

"Ah, at long last," Olswald said, looking eagerly at the cup. "Tonight's main attraction." Taking the tea off of the tray he gave it a long and deep smell. "Dear Maribelle, perhaps you could indulge me by telling what your main herbs are for this blend?"

"I'm afraid that can only be revealed after the tasting, good Count," she informed, but keeping a pleasant smile on her face. "After all, a great tea's flavor should speak for itself."

"...I couldn't agree more," Olswald said before taking a sip of the steaming cup. Everyone in the room held their breath as they waited for Olswald's verdict. His judgement was low but violent cough into his arm after he'd tasted the tea, signalling quickly that the taste didn't agree with him.

"Count Olswald?" Maribelle tried to ask calmly. "Is… there something wrong?"

"...I'm afraid that there isn't much to be said here," he told her, a stern look of disappointment in his eyes. "This attempt is... sloppy at best." It was clear to Ragna that he was trying hard to not break into an open smile. Maribelle meanwhile had a gastly look surrounding her face. "Its flavor tells of an incompetent blend of ingredients, thrown together without rhyme or reason. Ironically, so many ideas were thrust into this that the end result is a dull mess, not fit for the standing of anyone in this room."

The audience was silent, not a word being spoken as the scathing review was finished. Maribelle herself was frozen at the criticism, all of her hard work over the past few months tarnished with only a few spoken words. Though it was unlady like to avert her gaze as someone judged her work, she couldn't help it as she looked to those closest to her. Her father's gaze did not meet hers, but only due to his grim complexion and the harsh grimace it carried. Virrion had less of a reaction to the news, but had his mouth covered as he thoughtfully observed Olswald. Her head butler looked taken aback at the judgement, reasonable because she had shared many of her first tries with him and he had nothing but encouragement to offer her. Ragna didn't do anything, only standing cross armed in his new noble attire with his eyes closed as his complexion remained as serious as it usually was.

"In fact…" Olswald continued in his judgement, his sad look of disapproval at the drink already telling that this supplementary review would not be pleasant. "...If I had to be completely honest with myself, this is barely passable as warm juice."

'...What?' Marribelle thought, her expression of defeat replaced with one of confusion. The nobles were already whispering amongst themselves in hushed voices, but she did not care to listen.

"Odd choice of words." All at once the short commotion died down to where you could hear a pin drop in the room. All gazes fell upon the still stoic Reaper, including Olswald's who looked more than a little cocky if his smug smile was anything to go off of.

"I'm afraid I don't understand, Sir Ragna." The stress in his words was obvious; to try and remind Ragna of his position so he could keep him in check. "Are you doubting my judgement?"

"No, no, far from it," he told him before he opened his eyes, red and green focused in an almost haunting glare. "In fact… that was the exact same thing I said when Marribelle shared it with me."

"Then this-!" Marribelle could barely begin.

"That's odd, I thought I was assured that this would be her first unveiling of her hard but misplaced work; I was in fact chosen to have a substantial say in her right of passage. To have someone taste it before me, behind the rest of the nobility's back…" he touched an index finger to his forehead and gave an ashamed sigh. "Such a scandal only shows how far both of you have fallen."

"You're the only one that's falling tonight, asshole," Ragna told him, sending a fair few of the nobles to give dignified coughs at his language. A sharp smile formed on his face; some from the reaction he'd caused… most was anticipation. "What's wrong? I thought someone like you would know the taste of their own damn tea."

"...Pardon me?" The judge looked at the cup of tea in his hand before before grabbing the platter off, revealing the design of the tea packaging long before it was due. He recognized the cylinder containing the tea all too well, remembering when his top agents had created that design. With an air of venom around him, he turned to the Reaper. "What are you playing at?"

"If you'll excuse my breach of etiquette…" the head butler of the Themis family began, stepping forward. This was a rare occurrence, especially at a gathering like this. Servants were hardly meant to be seen in their service and never heard, yet this one felt it necessary to speak in public. "I was instructed by Lord Ragna to trade teas before the unveiling ceremony. While I understood what this event meant for milady, I also believe she might not be standing with us here tonight if not for his actions in the war. He swore to me that he was only doing this for her sake and would take full responsibility should his ploy turned sour." He turned to Maribelle and her father and bowed. "This humble servant only begs your forgiveness for acting without your accord."

"There is nothing to forgive," Marribelle told him as she looked to Olswald. As expected, Olswald was fuming at the unexpected turn… before letting his face rest as he merely gave a scowl.

"To think our prince ever saw it fit to bestow the rank of noble to wretch like you," he said. These words might not have registered as a blow to Ragna, but every other pair of ears knew the weight they carried; Ragna was a War Hero, nay he was the War Hero. "Your attempts at humor tell me that I'm dealing with nothing more than a blathering jester."

'I guess it's not going to be that easy,' Ragna thought to himself, continuing his harsh glare. 'I bet if I were up against any other of these so called nobles that I would've gotten him, but he's careful enough.' That being said, Ragna did see that he'd caused a reaction in Olswald; a harsh glare as his pride had been stuck. "If that's such a large joke, then how come you didn't recognize what was in the cup?"

"As high a reputation as my renown in the market gets me, it'd be impossible to tell anything about this poorly made swill," he again deflected, before taking another sip of tea and cringing. "How horrid, the water's been steeping far too long and the starting temperature wasn't nearly hot enough. And what did you use as the base, river water? My blend…" he began before slamming the tea to the table. "Is an Autumn blend that compliment and heightens the senses. Like a walk through the fall countryside, it brings forth a mix of color and emotions that only those with a sense of a true artisan could see!"

'He's just reading what it's saying off the side of the container!' Marribelle realized, remembering when she'd bought the tea for herself and Lissa.

"I… I prepared that tea myself, like I've done a half dozen times without complaint," the head butler said, fighting hard to keep his tone even. "You yourself even put instructions on how to prepare it inside… my lord."

"And who are we to believe that you're telling the truth?" Oswald asked, quite literally waving off the older man. "Here I am being put on display while having my very pride and reputation attacked, while you're just a servant who's well past his years and has gone senile enough to follow orders from someone other than the family he serves."

"I… I'm sure that if anyone here tasted the tea, they'd find its flavor and brewing process was replicated to perfection," the Butler tried again, glancing around the room at the nobles as he hoped someone would step in to defend his house's honor. Not a single one of them spoke up.

'Dammit, they're staying out of this because of me,' Ragna realized, seeing the few poorly hidden sneers at the room that were directed his way. He'd figured that the nobles would have wanted to bring him down in some way with his growing reputation. Now they had the chance, and they could get off completely scot free. What he didn't notice, was that two of the nobles still seemed to have a less than malicious agenda against him.

"Olswald's going too far here," Vinisa whispered to her father. "Anyone here can clearly see that ruining the Themis family's reputation was his goal all along."

"The problem though is that they either don't care, or his attitude is portraying himself in the majority," Jeffory responded, not taking his eyes off of the verbal encounter. "Stepping in now would only paint a target on our own backs."

"And besides…" Charles began. "If even half of the rumors of the Grim Reaper are true, this little problem should be less than nothing for him."

Back with Ragna, his efforts weren't having the same effect as the should've had. While his words would have been crippling to anyone else, Olswald's reputation and guile was becoming a hard nut to crack. All Ragna could do was keep his scowling complexion up and hope the Count would slip up with something.

"This evening is sure to go down in Ylisse's history," Olswald told him, his words and tone making it clear that he was done with the confrontation. "I've never seen a more sorry display of nobility…" He looked at Marribelle's father with eyes of loathing. "And with all the help I've afforded to you." He turned his back to Ragna, walking to leave the gathering. "I'll have to advise the Prince of your… unfortunate nature, no doubt he'll have words about that."

Honestly, Ragna was less than worried with Chrom. Like the bastard had said he'd likely have a harsh word or two to scold him with, but the Reaper could always count on his friend to see things his way. The problem wasn't that he was taking damage, it was the damage Olswald was causing against Marribelle's family and the crap he was still trying to pull.

"Just one last question for the night…" Ragna began with a low voice. This was his last chance; he didn't know if he could corner Olswald with this, hell he didn't even know if he was even responsible in the first place, but he didn't have much to lose.

"I'd keep your remaining comments to yourself; lest you prove that you're more fit for the role of Court Jester," Olswald told him snidely, still keeping his back turned. Several members of the nobility let out dignified laughs as they were seeing Ragna as nothing more than a fool out of place… but it wouldn't last for long.

"How the hell did Plegia manage to invade Themis?"

Any sound in the room died immediately as the accusation set it. Even Marribelle and her father seemed taken aback by the new as the looked to Ragna horrified, before turning to the accused. Olswald had come to a complete stop, his back still turned to Ragna so he wouldn't be showing his face. It didn't matter; Ragna's sixth sense was telling him everything he needed to know right then and there. Olswald wasn't enraged at the insult, he'd have felt his blood lust… all he felt was his terror. It took him a few precious seconds to steel his resolve and turn to face Ragna with a look that was only questioning at best.

"I'm… afraid I don't understand," the noble tried to say evenly, realizing that Ragna had kept his wording vague. If he attacked him now, it would mean he'd be revealing that understood more of the accusation than he should have.

"You're right between Themis and the Plegia borders, so maybe you could tell me how a full battalion of Plegian soldiers managed to get by your soldiers, burn Themis to the ground, and get away with Maribelle?" Ragna grit his teeth as his theory seemed to be proving true the more he pushed. Olswald might not have been showing any visible signs of outward panic, but Ragna had a knack of seeing what others couldn't. The shift in his breathing, the sweat starting to form on his brow, the slight shake in the eye contact… to Ragna it was like seeing a giant sign that read Guilty.

"Now you've gone too far…" Olswald growled as his patience started to wear thin. "A prank like your fool's attempt with my tea might've been demeaning, but to actually accuse a fellow noble of treason without any proof… You'd be cast out of the kingdom!"

"Then you'd be more than willing to give me that explanation," Ragna demanded as he crossed his arms. "You're not taking a step out of here without one."

"And now you're threatening us?" he asked, looking to his fellow nobility before gesturing at Ragna in disgust as he tried to paint him as the villain.

"Just you," the Reaper said seriously, though he honestly had to ask himself if more people in that very room weren't somehow in on this plan.

"You admit it? Fine then, ruffian," Olswald began as he still stood near the doorway. "If you're demanding the answers from me, I suppose I'd have to credit that to my feif's guard force; I'd doubt that Plegia would ever be willing to attack us while we were prepared for them with some of the best soldiers and steel in the kingdom."

"Best soldiers, huh? Mind telling me where they were when we set out to rescue her, because I wasn't seeing any support from you," Ragna accused.

"...This is getting tiresome, why would I even want harm to come to the Themis family? I've done nothing but support them," Olswald defended, though not answering Ragna's question. "I've given them men and supplies to assist in their efforts to rebuild, I've single handedly been responsible for their recovery after the war; I'm the reason that their people haven't starved!" He glowered at Maribelle and her father. "Go on… tell him what I've done."

"...As you wish," the young noble said as she stepped forward, but stopping only to stand at Ragna's side, a move that was well noted by everyone in attendance. "Count John Olswald… you're nothing but a farce."

"Excuse me?" he demanded as the nobility around him gasped at Maribelle's harsh claim. Ragna himself only smirked, for now content with at least getting through to the one person here that really mattered.

"N-now Maribelle," he father tried to say.

"No father, I won't sit by while we honor a parasite who's done nothing but spread his own web of lies and deception throughout a righteous kingdom," she said, her words sharp and to the point. "You've fooled us all with a false reputation of a great tea maker, gave little support during the war while continuing to claim to be a patriot to kingdom and crown, and just now you've not only insulted my family's most trusted caretaker, but also a dear friend who I would trust with my life."

"Damn, high praise," the Reaper said as his smirk only seemed to grow. Maribelle's servant put a hand over his heart and smiled at the young woman's kindness.

"Praise that I would also be due," Olswald said, now allowing a low growl to escape from his throat. "If you remember correctly, I've given Themis the aid it's so desperately needed."

"Another of your lies," she told him off. "Your support has only gone as far as my father's own eyes. I mean him no disrespect, but he's been a busy man with too many documents to sign and other constant pressures of his position. Meanwhile, I've learned from our formal Exalt's example and have spent my time among those I've been given the honour of governing… only to find that the aid that you promised never arrived and forcing my own hand to assist them with any resources I could acquire."

"You mean that you-"

"I've been given much to think over this night, but you can expect me to inform the entire royal family of your suspicious behavior and the lies you've benefited from," Maribelle said with a powerful point, not letting Olswald make a further deflection. "Understand this; I will not be satisfied until you have been brought to justice for the many atrocities caused for your own selfish gains… and you rightfully have the title of noble stripped of you."

"...Brave words, girl," Olswald said in a dark and much colder tone. "I suppose I was wrong; your family won't be remembered for this treacherous night…" Raising his right hand, he gave a powerful snap of his fingers and the crisp sound echoed across the room, followed by a storm of footsteps. "...It shall die here."

The doors into the gather burst open, each side revealing a full batalion of armored soldiers clad in red. Many of the guests screamed as they stormed into the room with weapons drawn, holding the lords, ladies, and even their children at sword point and safeguarding their only means of escape. There were even a few mages in the group, decorated with masks resembling the skull of great dragons.

"Plegian soldiers!?" Marribelle demanded as she stayed close to Ragna while more troops surrounded the two of them, one of the heavily armored knights holding his spear right at the Reaper's throat. "But the ceasefire..."

"Is still in effect," Ragna muttered, a little too casually for Maribelle's liking. "Look closer at 'em."

Upon closer inspection of the mens' features beneath their helm, Maribelle realized that these couldn't have been soldiers belonging to any kingdom. While higher ranked and more elite soldiers would have been given the privilege to maintain appearances as they saw fit, most common class soldiers had strict rules to follow when it came to their facial hair and hygiene. Even if Plegia's standard might not have been as high as Ylisse's, she'd seen the men of Mustafa's unit and knew the man in front of here were too far out of line with their ratty beards and odors indicating that they hadn't bathed recently.

"Mercenaries then… dressed as Plegian soldiers and the Grimleal," she realized, leading Ragna to nod in confirmation.

"For my needs, this security detail I've hired is close enough," Olswald told her, an evil sneer shining through now that he had no reason to maintain his appearances. "A few well placed witnesses seeing blood soaked Plegians escaping in the dead of night, leaving countless houses of the nobility dead in their wake. I was never supposed to be in attendance in the first place, so my survival already has its needed alibi. But the rest of you need fret not; your deaths will contribute to a noble and worthy cause."

"You'd only be plunging both kingdoms into another Blood Crusade!" Maribelle shouted with disgust.

"That's the point; I've hated leaving these wars unfinished," Olswald told them. "The Blood Crusade is oft seen as the greatest failure of our time. I agree with that sentiment, but only because the late king left his legacy half finished. Those Plegians… they might honor our pacifistic former exalt for now, they might have agreed to a ceasefire at the moment. I don't believe their lies for a second; the moment our guard is down they'll stab us in our backs."

"If that's what you feel…" the Duke of Themis began as he looked at a man that he'd thought be his friend, now only betrayal in his tone. "Why did you enable them to kidnap my daughter!?"

"A necessary sacrifice; and as the daughter of a Duke held in high regard for assisting our former Exalt in ending the last Crusade, what better way to fuel the fires of war? I already had word that our negotiations with Regna Ferox were successful, I just needed the right motivation for a combined attack."

"But… you said you put the Crusades behind us…" Maribelle's father said, falling to his knees as he realized what his friend had been pouring all of his resources into… and that he had enabled to some extent.

"I had planned to slowly discredit your family and every other voice for peace over a much longer period, slowly orchestrating a second Crusade while Ylisse rebuilt its military… but HE forced drastic measures tonight." Olswald's finger was pointed squarely at Ragna. "I have no idea how the hell you caught onto my plans, but you've brought this entire mess on yourself. I'll see you die knowing full well that you've caused-"

Olswald's rant was cut as a bray of sudden laughter reached his ears. Quickly identifying the source, his eyes landed upon Virion who held a wine glass in one hand and used the other to fight a losing battle to hold in his undignified chuckle. The soldier holding him at swordpoint only blinked a few times, debating whether or not he was supposed to stab him now.

"Something you find funny!?" Olswald demanded, his rage starting to return. "Or is the broken house of Roxan just another group of drunken bastards?"

"Rosanne, but forgive me High Count," Virion apologized as he fought to get his laughter under control. Besides him Cherche could only give a sigh at his behavior, knowing how difficult her charge could make things. "It's just that you don't even realize something so obvious."

"Oh, is that so?" he questioned, taking notes to make this fool's death slow and painful. "Then why don't you enlighten me; this is your last moment for comedy after all."

"Certainly," Virion said, moving his wine glass slightly if just to swirl its contents around. "The point that you're missing is that our Grim Reaper… might very well be the worst noble we've seen in history."

'...Everyone knows it; he's just saying it,' Ragna silently agreed, thought Maribelle hardly thought this was the time for Virion's take on that matter.

"...And?" Olswald asked as his rage was briefly replaced with utter confusion that was shared with the rest of the guests now held hostage. "I would think that's obvious."

"It is, but you just don't get it," Virion dismissed, shaking his head. "He doesn't have a tactful bone in his body; this man has great acclaim and renown across the entire kingdom, but he can barely hold decent conversations with anyone outside of a close circle of friends. He's vulgar, rude, and most certainly impatient. He's so hammered to the point in any action he takes that most would find him a detriment! If it hadn't been for the fair lady Maribelle, you might've managed to conquer his first try at playing politics completely."

"Again, that's obvious," Olswald told him, his rage now returning as Virion was seemingly wasting his time. "Is appealing to me with these baser insults some bizarre way of pleading for your life?"

"Not in the slightest, but allow me to elaborate. As I just said, Ragna the Bloodedge is far too direct for any form of tact. He came to tonight's gathering looking for a fight…" Virion slowly began raising his wine glass to his lips and taking a slow sip.

CRASH!

At the sudden explosion of power followed by a nearly as loud collision, Olswald whipped his head back around. His and every other pair of eyes in the room landed on the Reaper who had just thrown a wicked jab forward. The heavily armored knight that had been in front of him was gone, blasted through the air before smashing cleanly through the far wall. Anyone who hadn't seen the Reaper's power before stood staring with their mouth hanging agape… those that knew him though, they only smiled. A cold sweat returning to his brow, Olswald slowly returned to face Virion who was just finishing his partaking of wine with a small but very smug smirk decorated his face.

"You just gave him one."

"K-KILL THEM ALL! YOU'D BE EXECUTED AS TRAITORS IF YOU GAVE IN!" Olswald commanded. Even with the Reaper's intimidating demonstration of strength, the sheer numbers of the mercenaries combined with the Count's threat gave them hope that they could manage a single killing blow on the Reaper.

Much as he didn't care for the nobility Ragna knew that he had a job to protect these people, but with the room completely filled with enemies and surrounding their hostages it was going to be tricky to be everywhere he needed to at once. Selecting a closer target, an enemy pikeman, he dodged their spearpoint before unleashing a brutal roundhouse kick to their chest. The devastating kick carried enough power to send the man flying, and the Reaper had angled the kick just right so he'd send them careening into a group of mercenaries that had been able to execute some of their noble hostages. Doing the same and turning one of the mercenaries into a makeshift projectile, Ragna managed to send a message to most of the other mercenaries that he needed to be their focus.

"Milady!" Maribelle's butler called, throwing her signature parasole. Snatching it out of midair, Maribelle pointed to another group of mercenaries as yellow magic seals surrounded her favorite accessory.

"ELTHUNDER!" she cast, sending wicked bolts of lightning out of the point which slammed into the mercenaries, a good three of them dead. Quickly switching over to the wind style of magic, she readied and quickly cast an Elwind spell, this time only aiming to stagger the mercenaries instead of harming them. This being her gathering, she knew it was her responsibility to make sure every guest in attendance got home safely.

Over with Virion and Cherche, the form Rosanne noble threw his half full wine glass at a nearby mercenary. He was forceful enough with his throw that the container shattered into shards and the contents blinded the attacker. Using the distraction to her favor, Cherche wrested the axe out of her opponent's hands before cutting them down. While she was certainly more used to wielding this heavy weapon atop her cherished wyvern, she knew full well how to handle herself on solid footing. Deflecting an enemy's spearpoint, she countered with a hefty swing which quickly fell her opponent. Seeing Virion signal to her that she'd be better served elsewhere, she nodded in return and trusted that he'd have enough sense to keep his head down.

"There go my chances of finding a good husband tonight," Elphelt moaned to herself, though she knew full well that she had friends counting on her. Without her standard weaponry and this world's laws of magic requiring tomes aside from extreme cases, she knew that she was low on options without a proper weapon. Sneaking subtly behind a table as best as she could in the chaos, she managed to obtain the Elfire tome of an enemy mage. While fire was probably her least practiced magic, she'd had enough experience that she could cast at least Arc level spells with ease. Pouring her magic into the tome and letting the roaring flames dance around her, she shot off a sizable stream of fire magic and blasted away an entire group of mercenaries at once.

Back with the Ragna, the Grim Reaper was actually running into some problems. Letting loose a hefty hook with his left arm, he managed to send another myrmidon flying… but felt as the force he put in roughly tore at the sleeve in his newly bought jerkin. Noticing another mercenary coming at him for a sword slash he tried to avoid the attack with a simple backwards lean., but this material was so stiff compared to his normal wear that he wasn't able to move quickly enough and the merc managed to slice through his clothing's fabric. Rushing forward with a quick jab at an enemy lancer he tried for a quick jab, but then the enemy managed to catch his sleeve and scored a rather rough tear. Scowling in annoyance, the Reaper saw that these mercs were starting to get a bit cocky; true they hadn't scored a hit on him yet, but the damage to his clothing made it clear they were coming closer in their gang up. Thinking they had him on the ropes, several of them charged in a single rush from the front without fear.

"Aw, forget this damn thing!" Finally done with the more formal wear, Ragna roughly tore his jerkin off and threw it in one rough move, blinding one of the pikemen. Roaring his he unleashed his signature Hell's Fang, Ragna's rush forward followed by the powerful wave of darkness completely demolished the group. The nobles stiffened as they caught sight of his horridly bandaged Azure Grimoire… though most of the nobility's daughters seemed more preoccupied with the rest of his upper body.

"Now he's just showing off, and after all of that trouble" Virion sighed to himself. Hearing a high-pitched scream, he caught sight of Charles and Joffrey's family being approached by a group of five of Olswald's mercenaries. He was just about to shout a warning out to his allies… before developing a wicked idea. "I SAY! LEAVE THOSE POOR PEOPLE ALONE, LEST YOU INCUR THE WRATH OF VIRION, THE PHANTOM BOWMAN!" If nothing else, he managed to get the mercenaries' attention off of the family, giving them time to flee to a safer corner of the room. They didn't seem to care much for his threat and only sneered his way as they saw him as an easy kill, maybe even a bonus with how much he'd annoyed Olswald. "I WARN YOU ALL ONLY ONCE; MY SKILL AS THE ARCHEST OF ARCHERS HAVE TRANSCENDED THIS MORTAL PLANE! SO GREAT ARE THEY THAT I DON'T REQUIRE A BOW TO STRIKE MY FOES FROM AFAR!"

Understandably, these mercenaries weren't buying any of his words and instead charged forward to shut him up. Virion quickly mimicked nocking an arrow, pulling back on the bow, and releasing. The next second, one of the mercenaries faceplanted into the floor. His surrounding comrades came to a stop at this and were shocked to see an arrow impaled cleanly into his forehead. Continuing his air archery, Virion disposed of the rest of brigands just as quickly before holding his hands in the same position and frightening the mercenaries around, silently daring any of them to move.

"A-All of you stop right there!" came Olswald's shaken voice. Ragna had just about pounded another of the merc's faces in with a forceful punch, so his target gave a fearful stumble backwards as realized that they weren't about to be put through a wall. The rest of the Count's forces held their breath, glad that the fighting had stopped as they realized just how outmatched they were compared to the Shepherds. Using the conflict to his advantage, Olswald had taken Maribelle's father hostage, standing behind him holding a hidden dagger against his throat. "Throw down your weapons, or I'll spill every drop of his blood here and now!"

"You're taking me as a hostage!?" the Duke of Themis demanded, more angry than worried with the situation. "And you dared to call yourself a noble?"

"Not another word out of you!" the exposed count shouted as he held his knife closer to the Duke throat, cutting slightly enough that a small drop of blood. "All of your weapons on the ground! NOW! And you!" He glared at Ragna. "If I see your arms do anything, he's DEAD!"

Marribele's scowl was fiery as hell itself as she dropped her parasol, not that Cherche or Elphelt were any happier dropping their axe and spell tome. Thought it wasn't exactly necessary, Virion also compiled as he mimicked dropping a bow. There was little that Ragna could do now, save stand with a slouch and hope that Olswald didn't panic any further.

"I want a carriage out of here; one pulled by two, no four horses! And I want a full pardon from the crowned family so not a word of this gets out! Get them over here this instant!"

"You'd never get away with this," Maribelle told him, looking dead into his eyes. Against her scowl, even Olswald was appearing to falter. "No matter how long it may take, no matter how many sleepless nights I'd have to endure, no matter that political favor have to garner to do so, I will bring you to justice."

"You overestimate yourself, wench," Olswald insulted. "How long did it take you to even realize I'd be fooling your entire family? If it hadn't been for this bastard, you'd have never uncovered what I was doing!"

"...You know something?" Ragna questioned. He might've been standing with his usual nonchalant aura, but his words were cold and dead. "Much as I'd love to take credit for this mess, I'm afraid you're blaming the wrong bastard."

"I… what are you saying, there's another?" Olswald demanded, knowing he would never allow himself to rest until he put through whomever was responsible for failures through a living hell. Ragna gave him a scowl full of apathy. "Then tell me… who. WHO IS THE CAUSE OF THIS!?"

"Well, if you gotta know…" the Grim Reaper slowly began. "It's someone with a debt he needs to pay…"

SHING!

A sudden blur of black from the high chandeliers passed by Olswald's eyes, followed by the sound of something cutting through the air. His eyes grew wide as they caught sight of a familiar head of orange hair, someone who he thought he would never see again. A brief thud brought him out of his stupor. Lying on the ground was a gloved hand lying in a deep pool of blood as it still gripped a dagger… his blood… his hand…

"...And another I needed to collect on," Gaius finished as he rose from his crouched landing to full height, Olswald screaming while clutched the stump of his bleeding right arm. Giving a quick swing of his custom made Killing Edge, he rid the weapon of blood before sheathing it on his belt behind where he also carried a longbow and a full quiver of arrows.

"Y-you…" the Duke of Themis whispered, remembering Gaius from when he was put on trial.

"Sorry to crash the party; just in the area," the former thief said, trying to downplay his actions. "I'll go an' grab the Shepherds; just make sure this idiot doesn't bleed out while I'm gone."

It was clear that Maribelle had plenty of questions for Gaius, but considering the nature of most of them and their present company, she knew that now was hardly the time. Retrieving her parasol and pointing it at Olswald's stump, she began casting healing spells to stop the bleeding. Gaius continued heading for the door… but paused as he passed Virion.

"Phantom Bowman, really?" he whispered.

"Shhh, let the legend spread and so I'll bring the Shepherds a touch more renown," came the Archer's response. Gaius only rolled his eyes as he headed out of the room… but in truth, he felt like a great set of shackles weighing him down had finally broken.

"So…" Ragna began as he addressed the remaining mercenaries. He didn't have to say another word as martial weaponry and arcane spell tomes fell to the floor around him. "I thought so."

Meanwhile -Castle Plegia-

"I suppose that I shouldn't be that surprised…" a raspy voice sounded from beneath a regal helm. There was little light to be offered by the few torchlights in the throne room, though the purple flames were more for spectacle and less as effective illumination. Despite its quality, barely any light shone from the speaker's golden mask, clocking his further in darkness as it suited him.

A few sharp clacks sounded as a lone figure approached the throne, before kneeling to the ruling king. The monarch bade his right hand man and the current head of the Grimleal to rise, showing a man of impressive stature dressed in only the finest robes available.

"King Minos, my liege," he addressed with due respect and formality. "The clergy has begun asking for additional funding and resources. They believe more churches worshiping our Divine Grima require construction in the outer wastelands, that our people have strayed too far from the Fell Dragon's blessings. They believe that those people's newfound devotion to the god would be worth tenfold the investment."

"That is quite a proposal they have," the king mulled over, though he didn't seem that impressed. "Tell me Pharos, do you believe these claims they make so rashly?"

"I am not foolish my liege; I already know that a fair few of them ask for more than what they intend to spend in their holier agendas," Pharos told him, thinly hiding his distrust. "Though I'd be lying if I told you that they didn't not have something of a point. Our religion is not as founded as it could be out in the lands furthest from the capital."

"Indeed, I ask that you watch them closely. Ensure that none sully Grima's name." Pharos nodded in understanding, but Minos knew the news he was truly here for. "It seems that fool's plan has failed; foiled by none other than the Grim Reaper."

"I… see…" Pharos said, ire mixing with his anxiousness. "Is our Lord Grima displeased?"

"If he was, he'd have made it rather apparent by now," Minos reasoned. "We all knew that fool's ambition could never destroy this hard earned peace, especially not with so many obstacles in the way." Beneath his regal headwear, Minos gave a small smile. "Even with a miniscule shred of Lord Grima's influence amplifying his bloodlust, it would have been a miracle if this had truly led to any other confrontation."

"Had the Grim Reaper not been involved, he might've at least brought us closer to that point," Pharos commented. "My liege, should we not attempt to remove that largest threat from our playing field?"

"Were it so easy…" Pharos began as he thought back to the brilliant attack that had been used during the former Exhalt's execution, magic of a level that had never been seen before in this world. An attack combined of all the Grimleal's casting powers and most of the casters from the Plegian army… and the Grim Reaper had survived it all. "We still have time, for now we can only lie in wait and plan the next move… However, I do have my concerns; our dark lord still sees the Exalted family as the larger of threats. It may be his just his hatred spurred by his fall to them in ancient times, but it is true they are still a threat nonetheless… Even with his plan."

"Whatever our next move becomes, whether it comes from my king or our Divine Lord, I eagerly await to carry the order out." Minos only nodded. "Then… I shall take my leave."

"Glory be to the Fell Dragon."

"Glory be to Grima… and Plegia."

Back in Ylisse

"I charged full tilt to this party because I heard that there might still be a fight to be had, but all I come across is a legion of mercenaries that have already given up their swords, a noble lacking his right hand…" Flavia then broke her look at the rest of the dinner party and shot a passing glance to Ragna. "And for whatever reason, you're shirtless."

"Sorry to disappoint," Ragna muttered, still having not found a sound replacement for his torn jerkin (despite Maribelle's butler and his many attempts to get him to try something flowery on).

"Hah! I think Flavia's trying to say that it was worth it after all!" Basilio commented with a hearty laugh, only to get elbowed in the gut by a powerful blow from the reigning Khan.

"Ignore this idiot," she commanded. Ragna only rolled his eyes at the two's regular behavior, but noticed that Flavia was smirking, making it clear that she had a quip of sorts at the ready. "Still… I suppose many of us seem to have been properly entertained… dinner guest and otherwise."

While most of the nobility had left since the Shepherds had come to carry away the recently defeated count, a fair few of them were still in the building with many hoping for an audience with Chrom though he'd made sure to escort Olswald back personally. The few that did remain still found it a touch difficult to keep from staring at Ragna. Not only them, but a few ladies of the Shepherds had sent looks Ragna's way as well… a few of them lasting longer than need be.

"No comment," Ragna decided, leading both Khans to laugh in unison for once as he scratched the back of his hair.

"If this is how you attend your parties, you might fare well in Regna Ferox," Flavia advised.

"Pass, you're not bringing me back like some cheap souvenir," the Reaper refused.

"Can't say I didn't try," Flavia decided whimsically, before turning stretching in her armor. "If there's really no fight to be had, I think it's time we headed back. I've got a bottle of good wine that needs finishing."

"I have a bottle of wine; you were just trying to steal a glass woman," Basilio reminded as the two Khans headed for the doorway. Ragna had the strangest feeling the two would be bickering their entire trip back to the castle.

Noble Pursuits

'Think it's time that I shoved off as well,' Ragna decided as he got a quick crick out of his neck. '...That and find a damned shirt that I can wear.' As he began walking for the exit, he actually noticed that a few of the noble families that he'd saved from earlier were starting to approach him now that the Khans were gone and the chaos from earlier had subsided. Trying not to growl too loudly, he had a feeling that they'd be heading over to try and win some sort of influence from him. Influence they wouldn't be getting after they were so ready to let him hang out to dry tonight. Even still, it would be a total pain in the ass…

"Lord Ragna?"

Thankfully it seemed that Maribelle was grateful enough to bail him out from this confrontation, a fact that actually got a smile off of Ragna.

"Lady Maribelle," he addressed in return, almost as a sort of a joke since he knew how bad his manners really were. It seemed that the nobles had caught on that he'd be busy and that it'd be a mistake to interfere. "Something you need?"

"Yes, in particular I think I could use a guest for my nightly tea time," she offered. "All of the excitement that's happened tonight has left me a touch anxious; I feel a cup of tea between friends would work wonders for such a problem."

"After what just happened, you still want tea? Damn you're dedicated," the Reaper said as only half a compliment. "Eh, why not? Cup of tea never killed any… okay, bad timing on that one."

"I would think so," Marribelle decided, though since everyone in attendance had survived the night she at least managed a small smile. Not long later, the two were seated in the estate's main study as Maribelle brewed two cup of tea for them herself. "I've missed our small little tea socials. Sharing a pot of tea with Lissa never fails to put a smile on my face, but there's also an odd charm to drinking with other company."

"Odd huh? That's an odd way to thank someone that just saved your big night," the Reaper shot back with a smirk.

"I assure you, that was meant as a compliment," the young noble assured him. "If it hadn't been for you, Olswald would have gotten away with everything as an unseen threat and he would have been well on his way to starting another war."

"Come on, I can't take all of the credit here," Ragna told her, being modest. "You were the one that cornered him and finally got that asshole to show his hand. Gotta say, you were something else there." Maribelle's smile only seemed to grow as he praised her talent. The mood slightly dampened as Ragna's expression turned serious. "And I wouldn't even had tried to call him out on anything if it hadn't been for Gaius."

"...Then I suppose I'll have a stern bit of questioning for him when I find the time," Maribelle decided. Ragna started to feel like he was selling out his friend.

"Don't go too hard on him; he was doing this for your sake."

"I realize that, but I still have much that needs to be answered," Maribelle told him. "I take it he informed you of his past misdeeds?"

"Those and the reasons he had to do them," the Reaper answered enigmatically. "Sorry, but if you want answers…"

"I'll be happy to hear the words from his lips specifically," Maribelle agreed. "When I first learned that he was in the Shepherds, I wouldn't have given him the time of day… Even after I saw all of the support he'd given us in the war effort, there was a part of me that refused to believe that he'd changed, a part of me that had always thought that he'd sooner run off with a vault's worth of our saving instead of risking his own skin for a noble cause."

"And?" Ragna asked simply. "What about now?"

"I would be lying if I claimed to see him as a testament to the common good, but I couldn't look you in the eye and simply brand him as a common criminal. His rescue of my father tonight proved that much."

"See? That's a clear sign of improvement, in my eyes anyway." Ragna couldn't help but chuckle as his words had enough effect on his friend to cause a blush. "People can't refuse to change forever; you, Gaius, the rest of the Shepherds… everyone's grown from they started as in this whole mess."

"Even you?" Maribelle questioned. She'd intended her words to have quite a bit of whimsy behind them, but was almost worried at Ragna's deafening silence. "Is something wrong?"

"Nah, just there's a lot that's been going through my mind lately," he admitted before glancing at the tea pot. "That about done brewing?"

"If you're changing the subject, at least be subtle about it," she scolded him, but complied as she delicately poured a cup of tea each for the two of them. Placing a saucer before Ragna's she took her and raised the cup to her lips. "Please, enjoy…"

"Think I will," Ragna said as he roughly grabbed his own cup. 'Huh, doesn't smell as flowery as the other stuff she's brewed.' He took a small sip and tried to enjoy the flavor, but paused as he looked at his cup. "...This was the tea that you made for tonight, wasn't it?

"You finally figured that out," Maribelle praised while gently setting her still full cup down upon the saucer, bringing it so close for appearances. "You seem surprised."

"If this had been the old you, you would've died before trying something like this," Ragna noted, using his skills as a cook to dissect what had gone into the tea. "Huh… there's only a couple of herbs in here, and I remember finding all of them in Regna Ferox meaning that they all come from hardy plants."

"And all plants that can be found in Ylisse as well… a few of them are even commonly grown in Plegia," she explained. "In fact, excluding the large expanse of desert there isn't a place on the continent that the ingredients couldn't grow."

"...I get it; this is a tea for the common people, something that even they can enjoy," Ragna realized. "But, if they can copy the recipe so easily…"

"Then they are free to make it themselves, while those who wish to spend the money for an already brew can do so at a very affordable price," she informed. "Making this tea was never about money or titles for me; my recognition will come as the people understand the message I'm trying to send; anyone can enjoy a fine cup of tea. Regardless of nationality, class, or age."

"...And Chrom thinks I'm the radical one," the Reaper muttered, before going for another sip of tea. "Gotta say, I'm really liking this though."

"That's more than your bias speaking I take it?" the young noble questioned, though she had a feeling of the answer.

"I just appreciate how subtle this stuff is; it's not nearly as in your face as the other stuff the nobility was making, it's just content with being a good drink," he decided, seeing that he was currently acting as judge. "But like I said earlier, it seems like a waste just giving me the first cup of this. Everything that's happened tonight just cements that this was supposed to be a really big deal for you."

"My dear friend," Maribelle said as she finally tasted her own tea, only to smile at Ragna once she'd done so. "That is exactly why I shared it with you; I wanted to make this a gift worth giving."

Support Rank A Obtained with Maribelle

Author's Note

I can't apologize enough for how long I've left you all waiting for this chapter to come out. Even if I'd put out Hamlet, I doubt it'd be worth the entire wait… but I still hope you all enjoy this. It was fun to come back to this story and write out many of the ideas that have been brewing (pardon the pun) in my head for the last while. I'm afraid I might have to discontinue the Omakes for at least a while, but here's the review responses.

X the Reaper: Yeah, I can make some of those.

Wlyman2009: Entered… and scared shitless.

Kalakauai: Hmm… maybe I should add a mad scientist or two to this story.

Warrior of Six Blades The Unplanner: Thanks again for you reviews, I hope to see you here as well.

Guest (1): She's here now.

Guest (2): Aversa's… an option.

Black sun 123: Na na na na na na GE-ROME!

Meow: Here…

Thunder Dragon: I can't say where you're right, but…

Archive4465: Here you are, at long last.

Take care everyone! Ciao!