(Great guard, Phoenix. Very nice. I'msure Nicote won't accidently-on-purpose insult someone XD Ah well Nani's there)

" and I can assume you don't know who your employer is? " she said, studying him with her icy blue eyes. She had 2 options. Well, technically 3. She could fight this guy on her own, or alert the guards. The third was to simply cocoon him in ice. However, he was able to use magic. Meaning he is, or was, nobility. She would have to do a check in any neighboring kingdoms for any cursed nobles.

Lowell Brichalles
"I have suspicions, but I pay little attention to the ongoings of this empire or any others. Read it for yourself."
He dug the scroll out from his overcoat and threw it at her feet, lowering his blade as a signal that he did not intend to strike until she had read it. Truth be told, he was curious himself if she would recognize the handwriting and he had a sneaking hunch that, perhaps, the payment was a lie.
It was hard to trust an employer who did not even leave so much as a name or callsign.

She glanced down at the scroll, then him. She slowly bent down, picking up the scroll. The sword in her hand turned back into a bracelet, and she used both hands to open the scroll.

(safe to assume Diana's sent him? Seems like the kind of thing she'd do to keep Seraphina on her toes and not get her own hands dirty for once. I'll make it your call though, Ruby.

Also assuming he already knows Erwen well, makes things easier, Lark. Similar occupations and all.)

Lowell Brichalles
The electricity dissipated off his sword as he held the blade gently with his other hand. It seemed oddly calm for a brief moment before he felt already pulse jolt him with the presence of two sets of footsteps down the hall. He recognized one of them as a guard.. or perhaps a knight from the heavier footfalls, but the other.. he recognized by the familiar scent.
..Why did the boy follow him here? Had he gone mad? Lowell struggled to suppress a growl as he felt his temper slipping with his concern.
He intended for a lion's share of the funds from this job to go to the thief, but as typical, Erwen wasn't one to understand when a task was too dangerous for him.. Or leave him alone for more than a couple days at a time.
Lowell briefly wondered if he was the real extent of his curse, fang, fur, and claw be damned.

Upon seeing the familiar handwriting of her fathers imperial consort, she laughed softly. Honestly, this woman. Of course, it was to be expected of a conniving she-devil. She inspected the entire thing, looking for something more incriminating than her handwriting. There was none. Meaning she could charge her with treason and execute her, but there was no way house Macellio would keep quiet. She loked back up at the wolf man.

" unfortunately for you, I recognize this handwriting all to well. "

Lowell Brichalles
The Empress' voice snapped his attention back to her and off the door.

"As expected. You royals tend to make yourselves plentifuls of enemies. I do not like doing the dirty work of kings and their men. Not anymore." He sheathed his sword.

"I have no personal ill will against you, your Majesty, please understand that much."

She sighed. " i dont either. But unfortunately for you, i have a consort to question. " she suddenly grabbed the chair, throwing it at the wall.

The guards, hearing the ruckus immediately rushed into the room. The empress smiled faintly at him, turning and leaving as the guards surrounded him.

Lowell Brichalles
Also, as expected. Failed job or not, he didn't intend on staying around to entertain anyone, let alone a bunch of high horsed royals. He had braced himself already for the possibility of a trap or non-payment, so this he could handle.
Lowell bit back a snarl as the Empress left, vowing to take her on in a fight of his own accord some day.
He felt the sword pulse again, granting him strength and renewed resolve to fight as he gripped one of the guards by the chest with his claws and began electrifying them through his armor with his open palm.
The others cut into his chest fur and flesh with their swords, fueling his rage as he drew his sword again, throwing the dead guard to the side.
It didn't take him long to cleave through the other two with his electrified blade as the scent of his own blood and seared flesh clouded his senses, leaving him a snarling, panting mess as the other two dropped lifelessly to the ground.
He'd have to check his wounds later, but for now, he needed to recompose himself if he intended to get out of here intact.
The noise of the scuffle would obviously draw attention to himself, but in this state, he just hoped it would only be anyone that knew how to fight back.

He was right; it drew several more guards to the study, who immediately attacked once they saw their fellow guards dead.

Seraphina had a slight hope they would kill him. That way, she could hang his body in front of Dianas palace, then later send her his head.