This Post will detail a potentially Canon (or non-Canon!) event in the mysterious history of Harold. Expert Diplomat, Spy, Duelist and Lover, Harold is truly the greatest since Chevalier De Eon! Actually ignore the last part of that statement...and now a story of Harold!
The most boring part of being a spy was the most boring part for any bureaucrat - paperwork. Specifically, copying paperwork. Spies were just one of many government officials doing their job, which was of course to better their nation in the ways they were trained to do. Nation building is not a zero-sum game...unless you are a spy. Then you had to do whatever it took to improve your nation's chances. And that meant copying documents.
The library in the main Senate building was fitting for the merchant country - the Camaro Wood came from an endangered species, the books all in ornate gold and silver binding and covers, the curtains a fine silk from the Island Nations, and Kanakan Whiskey slightly hidden behind the plant pot. The painting of Lady Chris, Commander of the Zexen Knights, made her seem to almost glow on her white horse. Harold always thought Chris as a bit too...distant for a leader for her standing. In the few dealings Harold had had with her, she'd never shown her personality, just an icy demeanor. As Harold copied the History of the Firebringer War Vol 2 into a book, he sat with his back towards the silver-haired Ice Queen.
The terms of the peace treaty between Zexen and Harmonia were never really known, as the details were kept private. As Harold wrote the last detail from the second book, he knew this information would help Klaus figure out how to best handle negotiations. Harold and Klaus had been working to strengthen ties with Tinto for the illustrious Dunan Republic, and Tinto had difficulties working with the Grasslands and Zexen, despite the President's dislike of such cooperation. She was getting old, though... her time would soon pass.
Just as Harold was finishing the last touches, the library door opened. An older man with greyish blonde hair in the shape of a fishbowl, a sizable club in his right hand, glared menacingly at Harold. Harold closed the two books casually, recognizing the man as the main adviser of Zexen, a man with close ties to Camaro, the man named Salome.
"Oh hello, Monsieur Salome!" Harold said in his typical absurd Diplomat voice. He always love putting on a show. So easy to manipulate others that way. So easy to get close. "These books are all quite fascinating, you know, in particular the--"
"Oh, shut it, Harold," Salome stated in his grave voice. "Was this why you were really sent here? Does the trade deal mean nothing to you and your cousin?" The trade deal....Harold had forgotten about it. Being a diplomat was fun...but being a spy could be consuming to one's soul. He knew his future was being a Diplomat... he simply knew too many people. One day he would have to retire from being a spy, help build his country again. But for now...
"Dear Salome, you Zexens are so straightforward; you're all so efficient, even if you pretend to be nobles," Harold murmured confidently as he rose, unsheathing his Rapier, a rapier given to him by the Mayor of the Warrior's Village after Harold told the longest story ever told in the history of the town (a quaint 28 hours). "Businessmen and knights who abide by such values can never be really the noblemen the people so deserve. Why do you think Harmonia cares so little about you?"
"Harold," Salome coolly replied, "put down your rapier, let's talk about this." He was not going to let Harold get a good reading on him. It was only the two of them...a perfect duel situation. "No need to make this an event we both regret."
Harold studied his opponent. Old, but wise. His club was positioned towards himself; Salome was not planning on attacking first. A Quick Attack would be followed by two more powerful attacks. After that, if Salome was still awake, he would call the guards, and the nearby window would call Harold's name. Harold put the copied book into a nearby bag, placing it on his back in a casual matter. "Yes...perhaps you are right, Salome...we all do need to work together."
"But you don't believe that, Harold." Harold gave the Knight with a quizzical look, as Salome continued, "You only think of the country in your head, and how it can be used for the downfall of Harmonia. You make friends all around, not because your people would be helped, but because it helps your goal. You have never lived through a true war, Harold, only skirmishes. You don't understand what your ambitions will cause."
"And what, good sir, gives you that idea?" Harold said as he removed his garish hat and stuffed it into his bag, his eyes staring, his hands clenching, sweat forming. "What gives you that idea?"
"The way you talk, you move, you listen. The way you treat people, the way you acquire information. You do it all for a cause, a passion you truly have, but it's for your own cause. Your stupid diplomat voice also aided my conclusion. And the fact that you haven't denied this yet." Salome paused for a moment as he straightened his back. Harold eyes burned with a vicious rage.
"I'm sure you've convinced yourself it's for your cousin, but it's really for yourself Harold, for your pride. But you can still stop yourself from this path. It's not too late" The footsteps from the loud armored guards could be heard from the carpeted stairs of the manor. The window it was then.
Harold looked at Salome for a few seconds... and then he turned on his normal act: "Well monsieur, I'm afraid I must be off for now, ta-ta!"
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"A day later, I was wanted by the whole country of Zexen! First time that has happened! Yeah, it was very non-wunderbar. A couple of days after that, I ran into a fellow spy, gave him the book to give to Klaus, and that fellow, that very cagey fellow, gave me this mission to go check up on Harmonia. Very good timing I must say!" Harold stated in his mixture of a badly done Island Nation Noble impression and a Falenean Drunk. "And now you know why I don't like that Zexen!"
"Ok, I get that... but all I asked was, do you want another cup of Zexen Wine?" Bandit Bill asked in the most frustrated of tones, having listened to this rambling for an hour.
"But of course! Why didn't you say so earlier! You silly little bandits!" Harold laughed for a while as Bill grumbled to himself.
But Harold knew the day was coming. He was going to run into Zexen again. And he was going to have to answer for himself. He thought about Lord Kuarjav, Daisy, Skya, even Royce and his adventure.....and he wondered if he had changed at all. Or if he still was the same kid on that dark, dark night...
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