At the Governors Mansion, Caiaphas Cain watched Li Feng escort the Tau ambassador to the window and begin whispering.
Cain also proactively moved closer to them, even though he found it unlikely that the Tau ambassador would attempt to assassinate Li Feng, especially with Sister Fides standing nearby.
Nevertheless, Cain still approached; at least if something happened, he would have an ally by his side.
Cain walked to a dining table and again encountered Kastin, noting that she was already surrounded by numerous young nobles, clearly at ease in such a setting.
When their eyes met, Cain raised an appreciative eyebrow, while Kastin offered a knowing smile before disappearing into the crowded room.
"It seems your girlfriend has been snatched away."
A teasing voice came from behind Cain.
He turned around, meeting the deep blue eyes of the blonde singer from earlier, and for a moment, he was unexpectedly speechless.
(There's an image in the paragraph comments, Amberly Veil)
She watched Cain with a radiant smile, holding a plate of snacks.
"She's just a colleague, an officer I work with."
Cain explained, suddenly realizing she was teasing him, and couldn't help but smile wryly.
She smiled and said, "The Imperial Guard doesn't need romance; that's too harsh on you."
Cain replied with a feigned seriousness, "We bear the mission of the God-Emperor, and that is enough."
This "declaration of righteousness" usually commanded respect from ordinary citizens, but the singer before him remained unaffected, instead looking at him with a hint of mockery, as if seeing through his usual facade to his true nature, which made him slightly uncomfortable.
"For some, that is true."
The other person, with a teasing look, refilled Cain's drink: "You don't seem simple."
Cain raised an eyebrow in response: "Who is truly authentic?"
The other person extended a slender hand, a finely crafted large ring glinting on her finger.
Cain politely kissed her hand, a gesture that made her laugh aloud.
"A gentleman, and an officer; you are full of surprises."
She playfully mimicked noble etiquette, curtsying slightly, and introduced herself:
"I am Amberly Veil, and I sing occasionally."
Her name stirred a slight ripple in Cain's heart.
Cain raised his glass and praised, "Your singing greatly impressed me."
Then he bowed formally, "Cain of the Valhalla 5th, Director of the Commissariat for the Regimental Hero Brigade, at your service."
This introduction seemed to surprise her: "I've heard of your deeds.
Are you the hero who repelled the Genestealers on Kofia? A good friend of the emperor's friend?"
Cain almost instinctively shifted into the role of a modest hero: "It wasn't entirely due to me alone.
At the time, there was an entire Imperial Fleet docked in orbit, and two full divisions of the Imperial Guard on the planet's surface.
And Li Feng also had a company of Battle Sisters."
Amberly laughed at this, as if Cain's surprised expression amused her: "My relatives live in the nearby Fortress Skanda, and your deeds are still sung among the locals."
Cain feigned incomprehension, responding, "I truly cannot understand this behavior; I was merely doing my duty."
Amberly nodded, seemingly not fooled by his modesty: "Indeed, you are an Imperial Commissar; duty is above all else."
Cain replied, "Absolutely correct, and currently, my highest duty is to invite you to dance."
Cain tried to hide his embarrassment, while secretly hoping she would refuse.
However, Amberly smiled, put down her plate of snacks, and took Cain's uninjured arm: "It would be my pleasure; I have several minutes before my next performance."
And so, it happened.
Cain completely forgot the reason he had approached Li Feng.
Cain and Amberly glided onto the dance floor, accompanied by a waltz whose name Cain could never remember.
Amberly leaned gently against his shoulder, making those few minutes the most enjoyable of an otherwise dull evening.
Kastin, with a group of fops, passed by them several times.
The mischievous glint in Amberly's eyes made Cain anticipate that she would surely tease him mercilessly on the way back to camp.
But at that moment, he couldn't care less... However, good times are always fleeting, and Amberly had to leave.
If Cain had harbored any wicked thoughts at the time, he would certainly have felt that she was forcing herself to return to the stage.
Cain walked back with Amberly, chatting about trivial matters, trying to prolong the only moment that had stirred his heart in this boring evening.
Just then, Cain noticed Governor Gryce and a Rogue Trader arguing in low voices.
He casually asked Amberly, "Do you know who that is?"
Cain didn't expect an answer.
However, having been immersed in noble society, she surprisingly understood the complex political web of Gravelax quite well.
She replied with a hint of surprise, "That's Aurelius, a wandering Rogue Trader who specifically came here to do business with the Tau, or so he says..."
As she spoke, Amberly's tone even reminded Cain of the conspiracy theories and spy stories Divas always liked to talk about.
"Why do you say that?" Cain asked.
Amberly shrugged: "The Tau have been doing business with the same group of Rogue Traders for over a century.
Then, a month or two ago, Aurelius suddenly appeared, wanting to negotiate with the Tau through Gryce.
Maybe it's a coincidence, but..."
She shrugged again, the strap of her dress slipping slightly from her shoulder.
"Why now of all times? Right when the political situation is unstable?" Cain pressed.
Amberly nodded: "Indeed, it's not particularly normal."
Cain speculated, "Perhaps he's trying to take advantage of the chaos? To profit when everything is in disarray?"
Aurelius suddenly turned, quickly leaving with his bodyguard retinue, while Gryce, sweating and paler than usual, trembled as he took a glass of wine from an attendant.
Cain looked at Gryce's disheveled appearance and said, "He must have terrified our paranoid Governor."
Amberly gazed at Aurelius's retreating back and couldn't help but sigh softly, "Just an ordinary Rogue Trader, yet so arrogant and overbearing."
Cain casually replied, "If he really is a Rogue Trader."
No sooner had he spoken than Amberly's deep blue eyes turned to him.
"What do you mean... if he isn't?" she pressed.
"I suspect... he is an Inquisitor."
Cain almost instinctively responded, secretly hoping his guess was true.
Amberly's eyes trembled slightly.
"An Inquisitor? Here?" Her voice quivered slightly, as if the mere thought was enough to frighten her.
"Why would you think that?"
Cain couldn't suppress his desire to show off, especially in front of the captivating Amberly, so he adopted his professional Political Commissar demeanor:
"There's not much I can tell you."
He deliberately lowered his voice for dramatic effect: "But according to reliable Guard internal sources (everyone would, of course, find this more credible than 'heard from a drunken old veteran'), Inquisitorial agents have been active on Gravelax for some time."
"Impossible!"
Amberly shook her head slightly, her soft golden hair fanning out: "Even if there really are Inquisition agents here, why do you suspect Aurelius?" (Your beloved blonde Inquisitor wife is right in front of you!)
"Look at him," Cain said.
"Everyone knows that Inquisitors often travel disguised as wandering Rogue Traders.
There's no more convenient way to operate anonymously, is there?"
Amberly's voice, slightly trembling, held a hint of nervousness: "Even if you're right, so what? This has nothing to do with us."
This was exactly what Cain wanted to hear, but to maintain his heroic image, he deliberately said with a serious face, "Any loyal servant of the God-Emperor has a duty to maintain secrecy for the benefit of the Imperium."
As he spoke this profound truth, he conveniently gave himself an out, though he had no intention of revealing this little trick to Amberly.
Amberly nodded with a hint of displeasure, then turned and returned to the stage.
Cain could only follow her with his gaze, cursing himself for having ruined such a pleasant atmosphere.
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