So You Might be Soulless (Season 2)

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"Cas, how far along are you with translating the Seventh Emperor's books?"

The Second Prince leaned back in his chair and tilted his head, settling into quiet contemplation for a moment. He spoke slowly, "I have finished the first book, but I don't think it'll be useful for our investigation into the visions."

"Why not?"

"Let's just say that I will require time and a large tub of bleach to cleanse my eyes and mind of what I just read." He shuddered and took an elegant sip of his tea, glancing at Diya standing by Sebastian's side. "Must you hover so intrusively?"

"A certain prince has commented on my lack of vigilance," Diya said in a flat monotone. "So I am merely attempting to fulfil my duties."

Sebastian waved her over with a lazy flick of his hand. "Take a break, Dee, and sit down. It's the first warm day we've had in ages and you have as much right as we do to enjoy it."

"It's Diya. How could I, as a mere subject, sit with glorious Imperial royalty?"

"Are you being sarcastic? Have you forgotten who recently gave you a five percent increase on your wages, despite Caspian's attempts to stop me?"

"How could I ever dare?"

"Oh just quit your jabbering and sit." Caspian jabbed the seat with his walking stick and it scraped against the rough pavement with an unholy shriek. "I am much too content to listen to the mindless chatter of children."

"You're only four years older than us– hey!" Sebastian batted the tiny orange flame that sparked on his blue fringe. He glared at his brother. "You promised you'd stop setting fire to my hair!"

"I recall no such thing," he replied coolly, straightening the sleeves of his shirt with slanted eyes towards Diya. "How does the investigation into Wrymdust fare?"

Diya took a delicate sip of the tea Sebastian offered and suppressed a shudder at the cloying taste. "It did not yield as many results as I had hoped, I'm afraid. Last night, I ventured into a more... shall we say, salacious area of the Capital."

"Without any guards?" Sebastian's eyebrows furrowed in worry. "That's dangerous."

"I am perfectly adept to defend myself, Crown Prince."

"Sure." Caspian scoffed. "As shown by your amazing skills when being beaten by Lord Miller. Didn't you also tell General Carnell you'd be at training today? Do your promises mean that little, Reject?"

Diya flinched, but managed to restrain the shadow that darted for the prince's heart. She ignored this jab and continued. "As I was saying, I ventured into that region and asked around for any more suspicious boxes within Cerean. However, there was nothing. It seems the criminals are being more cautious now, perhaps knowing that we would be spurred on after the assassination attempt?"

"A plausible theory, but not good enough. You will go out again tonight to the ports to see if any unaccounted ships have been docked there in the last year."

Sebastian cut in, "And take some of the Imperial Guards with you for–"

Crack!

"Oh, I am terribly sorry!" Diya leapt up after having snapped the handle off the cup. "I am not used to such fine china."

"The price of the cup will be docked from this month's salary." Caspian sipped his cup, pinky stuck out like the uptight gentleman he pretended to be.

Not my money! Diya sighed and nodded, muttering some vague excuse of needing to wash her hands as the maids swiftly cleared the broken crockery.