"And who do you think you might be?" Mya asked while looking directly at the man. "The first thing one should do is to introduce themselves before asking the other party."


    "Hey! How dare you ask that kind of question without manners? Don''t you know this person is..." The man with glistening silver hair stopped the guard.


    "Apologies for my rude behavior." The silver head said as he put his right hand on his chest. "I''m Muyang, Kija."


    ''Muyang? I remember from what Seth told us that when someone introduced themselves, their family namees first before their given name. And he said Muyan? And it only means that is the family name of the royal family in this kingdom from what Seth further told us.''


    "That person you are talking with in front of you. He is the name of the third prince of this kingdom." Seth whispered behind Mya.


    ''Earlier in the morning, I met the daughter of a minister. And now, a straight-up prince. This certainly looked troublesome.'' she thought after hearing Seth''s statement.


    "Your highness, please forgive this one for not recognizing an esteemed and honorable person living on this ind such as yourself." Mya gave a short bow and the others bowed down as well. "This lowly servant''s name is Mya Venizever Marina."


    ''Marina? That sounds unfamiliar since I haven''t heard of any noble house with that surname before. And the way she carried herself and her manner of speech. It was not just a movement of any regr nobles. The people that were with her as well have a certain air of superiority towards them, especially that man. This person in front of me was not just an ordinary noble, there is something to them.''


    Oliver just simply gave a polite smile and bowed shortly.


    "It''s alright." Prince Kija said while also forming a polite smile towards them. "It seems you are foreigners from the regions."


    "Yes," Mya said with politeness. "What does his highness want from these lowly people?"


    "Mdy must havee to a farawaynd to visit our humble kingdom. As the prince representing the Kingdom of Baslon, may I invite you and yourpanions to dinner with me to show our hospitality?"


    ''Show hospitality? Hmm. So that is the front for whatever agenda you are hiding.''


    " It was indeed an honor with all due respect to your highness, what if we object to your offer?"


    "Hmm well, it''s just simply nothing will happen." The smile on Prince Kija''s face remained but his eyes spoke differently and it shed with coldness. "However, I have already reserved a ce for us. And a rumor of how a prince was rejected by a foreigner circtes. Many would think that the royal family is not good enough for people that are outside our kingdom."


    ''He uses not only himself but also the royal family of the kingdom. So in this situation, it looks like rejection was never an option for us in the first ce. What a sly one. He reminded me of someone.'' Mya gave a sideways nce to Oliver then back to the prince.


    ''Well, there is no downside to hearing his real intention. Plus, I still need to stay in this ce and set my n to be famous so in that way it will be easy for us to find the other members of my team..''


    "I see, then it will be our honor to dine with you, your highness," Mya said.


    ***


    The people that came with Mya were Oliver and Hyun Jae. Since Hyun Jae doesn''t want to leave Mya alone and wants to be at her side. And Oliver already nned toe along from the start. On the other side, Rhyme and Seth were tasked to bring the carriage of the people to Seth''s home in the forest.


    At the moment, Mya and Hyun Jae were seated at a square table side by side. While Oliver was beside the prince. The position was Oliver currently facing Hyun Jae while Mya was facing the prince.


    "Before starting this I just want to express this deep gratitude. Thank you for dining with me." Prince Kija started the talk between them. Then he nced towards Hyun Jae and Oliver. Despite knowing that he was a prince, all of them remained asposed and calm as ever. Very different from the usual nobles who got break into sweats when even just talking to him. Not only that but they were not even trying to curry favor with him. "I believe I never got the name of your other twopanions, Lady Mya." The prince said.


    "If so, please allow me to introduce myself first, your highness," Oliver said with a polite smile. The smile he always used dealing with every high nobles and royalty he encountered were carried a high quality and elegant energy. The smile left him unreadable for anyone.


    "I am Oliver. As you can hear I don''t have any family name since I''m just simply amoner now, your highness." Oliver introduced himself as he picked the cup of tea prepared for them but just stared at it.


    ''Commoner now? There must be a hidden story with that. But I won''t pry any further.''


    "Then let me now introduce myself, I am Cheol, Hyun Jae, your highness." Hyun Jae''s soft voice rang.


    And this one too. She gave off the feeling of a delicatedy from a respective noble house either.''


    "I''m honored that we are able to have dinner with you, your highness. And you even reserve such a high-ss private room just for us to eat. Now that there are fewer eyes here, can I know what your real intention is with us, your highness?" Mya said, maintaining her smile.


    " Well, it''s a pleasure, Lady Mya. I simply wanted to treat the foreign delegates that take interest in our humble country"


    "It is really a benevolent act, your highness," Oliver said. "However, we might truly believe that act if not for the special drinks you offered us. We don''t remember offending you, your highness."


    ''Wait, drink?'' Mya was frozen when she nced at the untouched drinks on them. ''Is there something in the drink?'' Then she nced towards Hyun Jae who was ring at the prince. ''Am I the only one who remained oblivious? That is close. He was good at manipting other people. Why didn''t I even notice at first? Am I too easy to believe at his act of kindness?''


    "What do you mean by the drink?" Prince Kija remainedposed as ever and smiled.


    "In that ce, well, I don''t know what it is called in this ce. But the ce I came from has a certain herb called the Truth Grass. And when we smell it there is a faint sweet smell of the grape. This herb although not deadly but could cause a hallucination to anyone who drank it and they would spout anything that they were hiding. This is also a main ingredient for the truth pill, we use when interrogating criminals. And I''m really quite familiar with this." Oliver said as he ced down the cup, he was holding.


    ''Oliver. Exjob: Former traitor who tried to be the demon lord. A half-blood prince and the ck knight of the emperor of Sahaya. The ck knight''s job is to interrogate everyone who tried to assassinate the emperor and deal with the underground society of the empire.'' Mya looked at Oliver. ''Of course, he will be truly familiar with that kind of thing. So what will you do prince with hidden motives?'' Mya nced back at the prince. She was now certainly enjoying the show. The battle of slyest people. '' I think this one will be one of the most unforgettable nights of my life.'' Mya forms an imaginary grin on her mind while observing the situations they are in at the moment.


    There was a quick crack on the prince''s smile. However, he immediately hid it. "Ah, you must mean the Wind Herb. You have a piece of interesting knowledge about the herb, you impressed me." The prince said. "Then, why did you mention such things?"


    "I''m just quite confused by your highness. Despite having green tea, why do I smell a grape smell on the drink."


    The prince finally gave up. "It''s a pity. The wind nt is a rare herb in this ce and only selected officials are still aware of this herb''s existence." His smile disappeared. "As I expected, people who aimed to but the Mermaid Tears and even the ves, are not ordinary and truly interesting people"


    ''Eh. That is all? Is it already finished? I thought there would be more battles tss my body is now ready to move.'' Mya looked disappointed. And Oliver who saw this just sighed inwardly. ''I thought she would also say something.''


    "Now that we seed in his highness'' test, can you tell now what do you need from us? " Mya asked again this time. "However, since you tried to make us drink something, your highness.. I hope we will bepensated very well with this," a polite yet dangerous smile formed on Malya''s lips.