Seducing the Conqueror

016: Let the Game Begins

THE LAST day of preparation went smoothly. The Black Heart Rebel's weaponry and disguises are now complete. Everyone was briefed about their roles and already thoroughly studied their marks and their cover.

The wild flowers growing at the corners of the street of Area 74 B are still showering in morning dew when Candice started to put on her disguise inside her improvised cabin. Beads of water are still trickling down her skin when a cold morning breeze sipped at the gaps on the walls, making her shiver a bit. The walls are made from thin scrapped wood that smelled like rain, and rotted in some parts. Her roof is also thin and made from a white cloth that illuminates the room as the sun's light touches its fabric. There is also only a piece of curtain hanging on her doorwar. But even though the cloth flatters from time to time, Candice is not even the slightest worried that someone might see her from the outside.

Candice put a thick fake skin above her nose making it look steeper and pointier. She applied thick skin-toned powder all over her face and put a dark-toned powder on her jaw line and on her nose bridge to get a thinner looking face. The powder of dried rose petals gave her natural looking rosy cheeks, while her eyelashes are unnaturally long after she glued some false lashes atop of her own. She also drew a mole below her right eye. And the last touch of lip tint made from crushed berries finally completed her alluring and different look.

Wearing nothing but her undergarments, Candice went to her weaponry chest. She tied her blade holsters on both of her thighs and hid a pocket knife between her cleavages. Her dress is modified to be used as storage for weapons --- and to be the weapon itself. The thread that is tying the front part of the dress is made of the same material that Candice's fishing line weapon was made from, and she can pull it out in an instant by pulling the ring hidden at the end of the thread. The sleeves of the dress also contain special knives that she could take out with just one flick of her hand. There is also a built-in corset in the dress that is made of a special metal which can protect her from being stabbed. Despite of being made out of metal, the corset has a light weight but with additional durability of a shield.

After putting her dress on, she lastly wore her wig. The ivory black wig, that was braided loosely at the ends and decorated with pearls and diamonds, hid her soft emerald hair.

Candice took a last look of her disguise at her full-body-sized mirror. There is no more trace of the fake nose she put on and there is also no more trace of Candice Claire Montgomener --- only the image of the noble's daughter, Callista Agir is in front of her hazel eyes.

"Wow! You could be called Master of Disguise!" Nina exclaimed as she barge inside Candice's room.

She wears a camouflaged jumpsuit and worn-out combat shoes. Her short copper hair was neatly tucked underneath a dirt-covered helmet.

Candice rolled her eyes and closed her weaponry chest. "Won't you ever learn how to knock?"

"Hello!? We have no doors here!" Nina rebutted.

"We have wooden walls, dear. That is not an excuse," Candice said and walked out of her room.

"Che! It is not like anything changes whether I knock or not. You would not still care even if I saw you butt naked!"

Nina followed her close behind. Candice didn't argue back since it is the truth. She really wouldn't care.

Everyone gathered at the exit of the camp. Everyone's role can be clearly identified by their appearances. Those that wear neat clothes are the front liners or the spies, while those that wears mud-covered attires are the reserves or the ambush team.

Winston stood behind the wooden gate that hides the camp from the outside world. It is made of the thickest wood they could find and was built by their most skilled carpenters. Its brace and lock are made of steel and it is covered by several shabby houses that made it look like it doesn't exist in the first place. Sam stood beside Winston, wearing his combat suit. His sharp sword was sheathed and placed at his left waist. He is ready to fight his enemies --- but he is not coming with the troop. He will remain and hold the fort until he receives the good news of the group's victory in this war.

"Brothers and sisters, this is the day of our freedom! Say it! Claim it! We will be victorious today!" Winston proclaimed.

Everyone's eyes are burning with passion, desire, hope --- and anger. All rebels are united: in mind, in heart and in soul. They only have one goal in mind: kill the Black Conqueror and all of his generals.

"Today, we will not let any of those filthy, greedy and ruthless nobles stay on their pedestals! We will all bring them down! We will send them all to the depths of hell and end this tyranical feat!"

The Black Heart Rebels cheered at their leader's speech.

"Death for the Conqueror! Death for the nobles!"

Winston turned and opened the gate. Everyone's expression gone silent and dead serious.

"The blackest heart will prevail!" Winston proclaimed and one by one --- in rapid succession --- the Black Heart Rebels stealthily moved out.

They exited their encampment through the numbers' houses. The camp was surrounded by numerous houses and each of them has secret passages that the rebels use to come and go.

Candice and her troop used the east route, while Nat's soldiers used the west route.

Most of the passages require the rebels to crouch since they are located under each of these houses. But the more experienced and talented rebels use the higher passages which requires them to climb walls or jump a few storeys. Candice used these passages to arrive at her destination. But it is not because she is highly skilled.

She can not use the lower passages since these places are filled with dust, spider webs, mud or feces. She can't take the risk of ruining her dress before her act even commence.

Nina took the lower passages and led their lower ranking troops while the others followed Candice. Some numbers were a bit startled at their acrobatic acts but it is not entirely new to them. It only took them less than a second to be accustomed to it. Even though they didn't know the Black Heart Rebels' plan, they knew they are on an all-out-war.

Usually, it is rare to see them in the public --- let alone move in large groups like this. The rebels were known to move stealthily and --- if not alone --- just within a very small group.

At the end of Area 74 B, a white carriage with gold braces and gold lining is waiting for its regal passenger.

Candice jumped off the roof and landed gracefully at a dark alley. Without breaking a sweat, she gracefully walked towards the white carriage with her chin held up high.

The chauffeur opened the carriage’s door and bowed at Candice’s presence.

“Everything is on schedule, Miss Callista,” he said as Candice boarded the carriage.

The chauffeur immediately boarded his seat and made the gallant white horses move.

Candice admired the rise of the morning sky from her window. The sky is clear with birds flocking beneath the fluffy white clouds and soaring through the morning breeze. The shops around the city began opening one by one and everybody started their busy morning. Some are still with bread on their mouth as they flip their shop’s signage from “closed” to “open”. There are also some shops which started very early and already have some customers enjoying their coffee and newspaper.

When Candice’s carriage passed through the market of Belmoure, she saw tall brick walls ahead their way. As they arrived at the front of a large metallic gate, their carriage was put on a halt.

A spear was immediately pointed at the chauffeur’s throat.

“What business do you have at the palace?” a soldier questioned. He is wearing a full armor suit which has the emblem of Belmoure Kingdom painted on its chest. His face was covered by a red cloth tied to his helmet.

The chauffeur swallowed nervously and brought out a beige envelope from his chest pocket.

“Our miss is invited at the Black Conqueror’s tea party,” he said and handed Candice’s invitation as an heiress of the Agir household.

The soldier took a quick glance at the envelope and lowered his weapon. He peeked at Candice’s open window and his eyes met Candice’s beautiful hazel eyes.

Candice smiled sweetly at the soldier and courtly bowed her head.

Dumbfounded by her gracefulness and beauty, the soldier forgot how to speak. He cleared his throat as he stepped back and motioned the carriage to proceed.

The chauffeur let out a sigh and flick his reigns. He is neither trained for combat nor has experience in war. His only task is to drive Candice to the party and nothing more. If he mistakenly arouses suspicion from the soldiers, the rebels’ plans will be ruined.

Why would the leader of the Black Heart Rebels assign a novice in this important job?

It is simply because Candice is too capable.

Whatever happens, as long as Candice is present, everything will be alright. Everything will be according to plan --- or at least, the end goal will be met whatever it takes.

Candice’s eyes sharpened as she saw the luxurious white marble palace up ahead. The road to the palace was filled with cherry blossom trees and bushes of rose that varies from white, yellow, pink and red roses. The path was flattened and is a straight path to the palace.

The straight path changed as they reached the end of the road. An extravagant fountain stood at the center of the road, and forming a loop road. The fountain is made from stone and has a female statue at the top which pours a jar of water into a small water basin. The water flowed from one basin to another; from the smallest basin to the largest and fourth layer of the fountain.

The carriage stopped at the front of the palace’s doors.

“It is time,” Candice murmured as she descended her carriage.

She stepped into the palace and presented her invitation to one of the palace’s butlers.

“This way Missus Callista,” he said and led the way.

Candice smiled and gracefully followed him to the garden.

The Black Conqueror’s garden was filled with sweets and tea, and jolly nobles interacting and building connections with each other.

Candice confidently stepped forward as the butler whispered her name to the royal herald.

“Missus Callista from the house of Agir,” the royal herald announced.

Candice smiled and elegantly entered the garden.

Let the game begins!