Rush to the royal estate.

It's no castle, but it's a lovely place regardless. You remember it well. Months ago, you found yourself here before the queen, and thanks to Nyllia, you were given respect and the deed for Dragonhide Manor. Things feel so different now, yet it looks exactly the same, and you were able to get here in record time thanks to the street rats, Rose and Mina, albeit one more literal than the other. Two guards stand in front of the gate, and they look to your party with concern--not immediate hostility, so they don't recognize anyone's face, but you look far from nonchalant.

You walk straight up towards the gate, not in a threatening matter necessarily, but in a way where you mean business. Nothing is going to stop you. "Sorry, but we're going inside. It's for the good of the Empire, whether you believe that or not. The queen is in trouble."

"Wh-What?" one of the guards stutters out in confusion.

"Niki," you say, pointing forwards.

Much to the surprise of the guards, Niki throws herself forward like a raging bull, and her shield's contact with the gate not only blows it open, but completely shatters one of the hinges on the rightmost side, leaving it hanging barely connected as the party continues through.

"Hey, stop right there!" cries the other guard.

Though before he can act, Vivi raises up her hand and casts a stone hand up from the ground to restrain him tight. "You stay there for awhile!"

The other guard is right behind you, though as you run, you place down an Entangle spell on the pathway beneath your feet. As he catches up, you set loose the trap, causing blue tendrils to envelop his body, much like his friend.

Next, Niki breaks through the front door, this time with her shoulder.

More guards wait inside, though not many. Around where the queen would be sitting are a few armoured men and women, and they turn in shock, scrambling for weapons as a small army has stormed their way inside. Not only are you a colourful bunch, but to them, there's nothing here to take. This isn't the capital city's royal castle. There's no strategic advantage to claiming this building. So as furious as they are, they're also confused, which only leads them to being take out even more easily. In fact, you don't need to deal anymore damage. When they see what they face, they drop their weapons. It isn't worth guarding what they believe to be nothing.

In a Hail Mary, you ask, "Does anyone know the way to the secret basement? A hidden door?"

Unsurprisingly, they have no idea what you're talking about.