And yes Fancy, with a capital F. Violins hummed in the place, the decor was just as elegant as one could expect. The place was also bustling, with very finely dressed people Kurt was seeing nobility, and walked to a large table which Carl had led them to.

"You have to try everything!" rejoiced Carl. And even some of the others in the restaurant cheered. It seem there were outward displays of wealth everywhere. It made Kurt, who felt rich just before entering, suddenly feel poor again. Is this how they live?

"You see the, steak here the cows they have been bred to have the perfect marbling, The best chefs. There really isn't a bad thing on the menu."

The crew had taken a look at the menu.

"Hey Kurt," Sara elbowed him, "it's your girlfriend."

"What?"

"The girl at the club that was staring at you the whole night, look she's doing it again, wait no," said Sara turning, "she looking at Layla."

"Ohh, who's the girl?" said Carl, looked over and immediately stood up. "Get up, get up, that's crown prince George, bow, bow." Next to the girl was a man with a crown on his head. And soon after the rest of the restaurant did as Carl did

"Thank you all, I honor your respect, but please we are all here to eat! You can all sit," said Crown Prince George, "except you," pointing at Carl, "I didn't know you were back in town." Snapping his fingers, pointing towards him but down, a waiter and table was immediately being brought next to everyone.

"Yeah that mean all of you remain standing too, he's…he's planning on joining us. Don't worry we are old friends but we have to maintain the…."

"Carl, how have you been," waving his hand down, "you can all sit, please relax, I'm interrupting you," and everyone sat down. "May I introduce Lady Talia, and Lord Fredrick, of the Valentine Clan. And this is Carl Montgomery of The Montgomery Trading Company, I'm sorry I'm not familiar with the rest."

"Of course these are business partners of mine, Layla, Sara, and Kurt."

"Ohh business, what do you all do?"

"Well," said Kurt, "I have recently made a breakthrough in medicine. I believe you are familiar with the healing paste of Vermilion root? Your majesty." He was there to discuss this, and seemed like the perfect cover.

"I am, our forces use it regularly."

"Well about seven months ago I made a version that I would say is ten times more potent and a hundred times more faster acting."

"That some serious claim, Carl?"

"I'm afraid to say, what he says is true, I've seen the effects of it, in its most potent form it's almost instant."

"The most potent form?"

"Freshest, your majesty," said Kurt.

"I am seven months strong and the effects have remained fairly strong after the two month mark, and dropped to a bit less effective but still a vast improvement from the normal paste. I expect another drop fairly soon, what I'm most worried about is its shelf life. But the reality is, I haven't seen it yet. But the first two months are noticeably the most potent, there is no denying that."

"And how have you done this?" Said the prince.

"I'm afraid that's a trade secret, your majesty," said Carl, "one I'm trying to secure."

"Of course, of course." said George

"Do you have any with you?" said Lady Taila.

"I'm afraid not, I can get some for you if I have a way to get it to you." said Kurt.

"Well, maybe General Harold might like some as well, Carl I'm sure you can get some to him, and some to the castle, for Lady Talia."

"Of course, your majesty, I was going to schedule a meeting with him on my trip, he is very busy."

"Well tell them I sent you."

Carl and the prince talked a bunch, but lady Talia was still staring at Kurt and Layla, not so much Sara like she had figured her out somehow. Kurt looked back, no…does she?

Lord Fredrick asked Carl, "So you're a merchant, maybe you can provide some insight to our current problem then."

"And what would that be?"

The dinner meal had started to arrive then, pasta, steak, chicken, it seemed the chefs had just made more of everything. That would make sense for royalty I would guess.

"Ohh yes it's the fire clan," said the prince.

"The fire clan?" Said Carl.

"Yes they have been doing some weird things lately."

"Wired how?"

"Well they went into my Kingdom from their little city-state with an entire squad descended on some town."

"What happened?"

"Nothing, that is the strange part."

"Did they say anything?"

"They keep saying it about smuggled Antimantium."

Fredrick said, "So as a merchant have you even seen an uptick of anitimantium? Is there a smuggler?"

"Umm I'm not sure."

"You're lying," said Lady Taila, staring at Kurt.

"I beg your—," said Carl.

"You know there has been an uptick, everyone knows."

"Umm," Carl said looking at Layla and Kurt.

"I believe you can tell them Carl," said Layla, "is there much choice at this moment.? I wouldn't want you to lie now."

"Yes, Lady Taila I am aware of an uptick of antimantium, I should know, I'm the one doing it," said Carl.

"What?" said Prince George, "you can't be serious, you didn't just admit to smuggling from the fire clan right in front of me, I would have to."

"No, I did not, I said I am the one making the uptick of available antimantium. But I assure you it's not coming from the fire clan."

"That's impossible, the only know source is from there…"said Fredrick.

"The only known source to you," said Carl.

"Ohhh," said Lady Taila, "we just caught them, all of them didn't we, I mean that one," pointing at Sara, " is obviously a guardian but the other two, I have no idea what they are."

Sara was eating and listening and as soon as Taila spoke those words she froze.

"Carl," said Layla, " I want your advice."

"Yes,."

"If I were to tell them the truth do you think they would attack me?"

"No, even if the other two wanted to, the Prince wouldn't allow it. However I can't promise what he will eventually do with the information. I believe I have enough sway to have him hear you out," looking at the crown prince who nodded back.

"That's fine, because the other option was to immediately run. It will be better for you as well, if we didn't do that, and you have been a great help to me." Layla said, and forked a piece of meat on her plate and brought it to her mouth and ate it, then took a napkin and delicately patted her lips.

"Crown Prince George, allow me to introduce myself, I am Princess Layla of the Fae, and this is Sir Kurt, my champion, and this is Duchess Sara of my domain."

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