"... I hired some forces to work for me, yes," asked Veileena Cal, narrowing her eyes up at the tall figure of the immortal knight. Her arms transitioned from being folded off her hips, to her chest. "At the very least I'm glad that you're among the number seeking to interrogate me for absolutely no wrongdoing."

Normally, the person who gave you the news that your father was dead was not someone you would remember fondly, even if they had done nothing particularly wrong themselves. However, given Veileena's very public hatred of her father it was not entirely unexpected for anyone who knew about the young noble girl. "It's hardly illegal to hire mercenaries, now, is it?"

From what Fanilly knew of the girl, she was a rather surly, irritable sort. However, she had also expressed support of the Iron Roses, no matter how muted it was, in the past. Her standoffish attitude was perhaps an indication that something was wrong. However, before she could step up and question her about the reason behind her wariness, Sir Gillian had strode forward and swiftly interjected, in a rather... disruptive manner.

She could see Veileena visibly hesitate.

"... I..." she trailed off, clenching her fists. As if sensing her distress, Haelstadt stepped forward, preparing to initiate combat. However, the diminutive girl swiftly waved her hand to stop the huge black knight. "My business is my own and I have no need to answer such a rude request. Maybe if you didn't express yourself as such a [i]stupid bastard[/i] I'd be more willing to respond."

The young girl seemed quite shaken, however. Had Gillian mentioning the shards set her off balance?

... If that hadn't set her off balance, the two identical twins commenting on her appearance certainly did.

"I... wh-what? You... what's with you!?" she protested, stepping back and blushing. Haelstadt swiftly stepped in front of the short girl in a bid to defend her from what was a much less violent from of attack.

"..." Fanilly took a deep breath, trying to look past the strange sight and the reference to her as well. "Lady Cal, there is potentially a very dangerous artifact in the wrong hands. If you assist us quickly we can retrieve it much more quickly."

"... My business is my own," Veileena insisted, peeking out from around her knight, "I... I'm not intending to do anything bad or anything foolish like that! It's just... private!"