Chapter 7 The Price of a Favor

The night air was cold as Rudy slipped through the back gates of the estate. He wore a plain black cloak to hide his face, blending into the dark streets of the capital. The main roads were quiet, but the deeper he walked into the lower parts of the city, the louder the alleys became.

He needed information. The banquet was coming, and he couldn't rely only on his memory of the book. He needed a real ally in the underworld.

Rudy stopped outside a small, dirty tavern with a broken sign hanging above the door. He pushed it open and walked inside. The smell of cheap beer and sweat filled the room. In the far corner, a tall woman with striking red hair sat alone, tossing a small silver coin into the air.

Serena Crimson.

Rudy walked over and sat down in the chair right across from her.

Serena caught the coin in her palm and looked up. A lazy smile formed on her lips. "You are a long way from the high walls of the noble district, Young Master Rudeus. Did you lose your way?"

"I am exactly where I want to be," Rudy said, keeping his voice level. "I need your help, Serena."

"Help costs money," she said, leaning forward. Her bright red hair shifted over her shoulder. "And I don't work for fools."

Before Rudy could reply, two large men stepped out from the shadows behind his chair. One of them grabbed his shoulders, pinning him down, while the other took his cloak and searched his pockets, pulling out a heavy purse of gold.

Serena took the purse and tossed it in her hand, laughing. "You really are as dumb as the rumors say. Coming here alone with this much gold? My men can just hold you here and ask your father for a massive ransom. Why should I trade favors when I can just take everything you have?"

Rudy did not panic. He didn't try to fight the men holding him. He just leaned back, looking directly into Serena's eyes.

"You can try to ask my father for money," Rudy said, his voice completely calm. "But we both know Lord Alistair would rather let me die than spend a single coin on a useless son. And besides, if you keep me here, you will never find out who killed the real Crimson family."

Serena froze. The lazy smile completely vanished from her face. She dropped the gold purse onto the table with a heavy thud.

"What did you just say?" she asked, her voice dropping to a low, dangerous whisper.

"The name Serena Crimson is a lie," Rudy said. He spoke clearly, making sure the two guards could hear the confidence in his tone. "Your real name is Serena Xephyrus. You are the daughter of the late Duke of the western borders. Your family didn't die in a random fire. They were executed by the royal palace because your father found out about the forbidden artifacts."

The two large men looked at each other in shock. They had worked for Serena for years, and they had never heard a single word about this.

Serena stood up quickly, her face turning incredibly pale. She pointed a finger at her men. "Get out. Both of you. Wait by the door and make sure nobody comes near this table."

The guards hesitated for a second, then quickly rushed toward the front of the tavern, leaving the two of them alone.

Serena leaned over the table, her hands pressing into the wood. Her eyes were wide with a mix of anger and pure terror. "How do you know that? Nobody is alive who knows that story. Not even your father."

"I know a lot of things, Serena," Rudy said smoothly. He reached out and picked up his gold purse, tucking it back into his jacket. "I know you became an information broker just to find the person who signed the execution order. And I know you think it was the King."

"Was it?" she demanded, her breath coming in short gasps.

"No," Rudy said, looking right at her. "It was the Crown Prince, Kaelen Xephyrus. He wanted your father's power for himself. And he is coming to my estate in less than a month."

Serena slowly sat back down in her chair. She stared at Rudy as if she were seeing a monster. The old Rudeus Vance was famous for being a loud, arrogant idiot who couldn't even cast a basic spell. But the young man sitting in front of her was calm, collected, and holding secrets that could destroy the entire empire.

"You are not the fool they say you are," Serena muttered, her voice shaking slightly. "You are pulling the strings from the dark."

"I am just a man who wants to survive," Rudy replied. "Kaelen wants to destroy everyone who stands in his way. That includes me, and that includes you. If you help me watch the palace movements, I will give you the proof you need to get your revenge."

Serena looked down at the table, her mind spinning. She had spent years looking for a single clue, and this noble boy had just handed her the truth on a silver tray.

"What do you need me to do?" she asked, her tone completely changing.

"Watch the roads," Rudy said. "Tell me exactly when the Prince leaves the capital, and tell me who he brings with him. I need to know every single guard and every single carriage."

"Fine," Serena said, nodding slowly. "I will have my eyes on the royal highway starting tomorrow. But if you are lying to me, Rudeus, I will make sure your death is very painful."

"I don't lie when my life is on the line," Rudy said.

He stood up, pulling his black cloak back over his shoulders. He turned and walked out of the tavern, leaving the red-haired broker staring at the empty space where he had just been sitting.

Rudy walked back through the dark alleys, his heart beating fast. As he neared the back gates of the Vance estate, a shadow moved near the wall.

Rudy stopped, his hand dropping to his side.

Bella stepped out from the darkness, her silver hair catching the dim moonlight. She had her arms crossed over her chest, and her dark eyes were fixed on his face.

"You went to the lower district," Bella said, her voice tight. "I followed your tracks. Why are you sneaking out to meet criminals, Rudeus?"

Rudy let out a soft sigh, stepping closer to her. "I told you before, Bella. The banquet is coming, and the world is not safe. I am making sure we have a way out if things go bad."

Bella looked at him, her expression a mix of suspicion and genuine confusion. "You keep saying 'we.' Since when do you care about what happens to me?"

Rudy stood just inches away from her, looking down into her guarded face. The space between them felt heavy with unspoken words.

"Since I realized that nobody else in this house is going to save us," Rudy said quietly.