A grand parade was being held on the streets near Buckingham Palace. The event gathered thousands of spectators who sought to see the appearance of the future Queen of the Britannia Empire inside of her heavily-protected state vehicle.
Behind the state, the car was followed by a foreign-made vehicle. The design was unlike anything they usually saw on the streets. It was not boxy or curvy, it was a combination of the two. It may lack the elegance of the Britannia state car but it is a more heavily defended vehicle on earth.
The person carrying it is the Emperor of the Ruthenia Empire, Alexander Romanoff.
As the two-state cars passed along the crowds, they waved out their hands in the hair and cheered jubilantly. Everyone felt happy seeing the future Queen of the Britannia Empire but there was an exception.
Among them was a group of men, wearing spiffy trench coats and top hats. Their eyes followed the movement of the car intently, and once those vehicles passed them, they walked away from the railings and retreated to a conspicuous tailoring shop.
The bell mounted on the top of the door chimed as they entered, the two men browsed around the store, looking at an assortment of suits before one spoke up.
"You need something that fits your measurements, Mister?" asked the clerk.
"Yes, I do," replied the man. He removed his top hat and faced the clerk. "I would like to try it out in fitting room number 1. I think adding some black gloves and shoes would complement the suit very nicely."
Silence befell between the two as the clerk's eyes narrowed. "Is the gentleman perusing the suits with you mister?" the clerk inquired.
"He is my right hand," the man replied simply.
Knowing all that, the clerk escorted him to fitting room number 1 and opened the door for them.
The other two were about to follow him inside the fitting room but the clerk stopped them. "I would speak with Lady Stanley to confirm your identity first, so wait for me here."
After saying that, the clerk closed the door and spoke to whoever was inside the room.
A few moments later, the clerk returned and bowed before the two politely. "Lady Stanley would speak with you now."
The clerk moved to the side and extended his hand into the room, gesturing at them to enter.
The two men obliged and stepped inside the room. As soon as they did, the clerk behind left the two and locked the door. For a while, the two men strolled around the small fitting room, looking at the mirror and combing their hair with a hand.
"So it is the two of you only, huh?"
Suddenly, an angelic voice echoed around the room, making the two men jolt in attention. They turned around to look at the source of the voice and there they saw a woman about 165 centimeters in height. Her appearance was that of an angel with long glossy pink hair styled downwards with two buns on both sides of her head. She wore a deep purple dress adorned with white lace accents and matching heels.
Her gaze shifted towards the men standing before her who seemed entranced by her looks.
"The way you look at me is disrespecting. Has your family never taught you manners not to look straight into a noblewoman's eyes? Bow before me."
Even though the mysterious girl said it in a timid tone, it carried an authority that made the two kneel in front of her.
"I apologize for our manners, My Shepherdess."
The mysterious woman who stood in front of them in lofty posture was none other than Anne Mary Edinburgh, a member of the royal family, one of the top executives of the Black Hand, and ultimately the Shepherdess of the Britannia Empire.
Anne glanced at the kneeling men before her before she addressed them again. "So, how was the parade of my dear sister going outside? Even in this room, I can still hear the noises of the common folks. It's distracting, to be honest."
"My Shepherdess, the Emperor of the Ruthenia Empire has arrived in London and is en route towards Buckingham Palace."
"The Emperor of the Ruthenia Empire huh?" Anne repeated, her interest piqued upon learning it. "So it's the Emperor who expelled our Black Hands operatives in the Ruthenia Empire. He is a formidable man with access to unlimited resources, advanced technology, and operatives with a task to hunt down every one of us. He is a huge wall that is barring our way towards an ideal world."
"The plan for his extermination is progressing well so far, my Shepherdess, it'll be completed on April 5th, right after the crowning ceremony of Her Royal Highness Diana Rosemary Edinburgh," the man spoke, his head still lowered, not making eye contact with Anne.
Anne gnashed her teeth and a cold aura started emitting from her body. "Don't you dare say that name in front of me!" she roared, her fists clenched tightly.
The two men flinched in fear when they heard the tone of her voice change drastically from angelic to dangerous, threatening, and filled with rage.
Anne took a few slow deep breaths to compose herself and then spoke slowly. "The vermin took everything from me. The attention, the love, and the throne. I should be the next in line to the throne but my stupid father loves her dearly compared to me. I can't stand it anymore. Both of them, along with the Ruthenian Emperor, should die a tragic death in her crown ceremony...and once she is dead, I'll finally get what I want. So why am I hearing that it is progressing smoothly? Shouldn't be completed by now. Are you going to deny me my dream? And address me by my title."
"Your Royal Highness, things aren't proceeding well in the schedule as there are a lot of interruptions due to unwanted groups that are deterring our mission."
"Who was it?"
"Most likely, it's the operatives of the Ruthenia Empire. They have been trailing us so we have to be careful with our movements or otherwise we will risk getting caught," the man replied.
"Ah...Ruthenia Empire...all the more reason to kill that Emperor. I knew it, we shouldn't go into hiding and stay low when he had our chances of killing that pest. Now he has become a huge problem for all of us."
"Rest assured, Your Royal Highness, soon that problem will go away as we will make it disappear for you. Of course along with the other heads of monarchs who will attend the crown ceremony."
Anne huffed. "You better be, it's your only mission after all so failing it would mean you are worse than a peasant. Anyways, we will end our little chat here. I need to go back to Buckingham Palace before they grow suspicious."
"Very well, Your Royal Highness. Be careful on your way home."
Anne was delighted that the dogs now addressed her properly. As for their reward. "You two may now raise your head and stand. So, last words, don't disappoint me," she warned, glaring daggers at the two.
