On the second day, nothing much happened. The day was merely dedicated to reflection and beauty.
In the morning, Marysville visits the Temple of Paranei, the "Goddess of Dreams". Accompanied by her Mother, Luis and the high priestess, she participates in a ceremony where she lights a candle for each year of her life, making wishes and offering prayers for the future.
In the afternoon, she undergoes the Rite of Purity in the temple's sacred gardens. Dressed in a pure white gown, she is bathed in the crystal-clear waters of the Moonlit Fountain by her ladies-in-waiting, symbolizing the purity of spirit and the beginning of a new chapter.
As for the third and last day, Marysville was awoken by her maids to get her ready for the trials that involved demonstrating her elegance and intellect.
Marysville was once again treated like a doll by her maids, getting her dressed for the upcoming event.
In the morning, nothing much happened since it was dedicated to getting the palace ready for the final event this evening.
The evening helds the final and last event of the ceremony, the grand ball where Marysville would take part in her first dance with her fiance the king of this kingdom and at the same time, the announcement for their engagement.
That's what was supposed to happen, but just the part where the ball was about to start, something terrible happened.
Inside the grace palace, where the grande ball is being held. The hall has some nobles chatting at each other, murmuring as they talk.
The start of the ball was surprisingly peaceful as it could. Nobles dancing at their partners, classical musicians that smoothly strums or hums their instruments.
And finally, the part where Marysville would partake in her first dance, partnered by either any of her brother or father, but since Marysville has been engaged with Anastasious, the fiance should become the dance partner.
Anastasious slowly walked in the center of the ball, Appearing among the crowds. Waiting for the lady to show up at the door connected to the outside.
His appearance did not shock the noblemans, what shocked them was the fact that the king was in the center of the ball, waiting for the lady to dance. And this is a sign that the man waiting at the center will be Marysville's first dance.
The door opened, slowly showing the elegant dress and Marysville who was behind the door.
A blue, layered ball gown with intricate lace details and gold embellishments. It features a sweetheart neckline, puffed sleeves, and a fitted bodice. The skirt is voluminous with multiple ruffled tiers.
Just the time when Marysville was about to enter the ball. A man covered in black clothing and hood suddenly dashed towards a noble man stabbing them in the gut.
"Kyahh!!!"
This small accident caused the whole hall in uproar.
Anastasious who's standing still at the center was the bandits next target. Just when the man was about to dash towards Anastasious, a bunch of knights came to them shielding Anastasious behind. Then suddenly the lights of the palace went out.
—
"Everyone… Please calm down, it's easier to evacuate if your minds are calm." Luis shouted.
While Martinez on the other side was busy helping the nobleman to get out of the palace, same goes to Lucio who's outside the palace guiding the nobles outside.
The siblings were busy calming the other nobles, forgetting the most important thing—Marysville. Marysville was nowhere to be found but they were too busy noticing that.
It was like a one time massacre.
An hour later.
The hall that was so peaceful before, has now become a battlefield fighting against a bunch of bandits. They have successfully rescued all the noblemen and ended the ceremony like that because of the sudden attack.
Luis, who's currently fighting with a bandit inside the hall, noticed something unusual about them. He saw that one of the knights had a hard time dealing with the bandits so Luis proceeded to help the knights.
Dashing towards the bandit who's guard is low, raising his sword and slits the bandit's back.
The bandit disappeared like a created illusion.
Just as I thought…
Seeing this, Luis has finally noticed what's wrong with the enemies.
"These guys are not just normal bandits, some of them are an illusion created by a person blessed with stigma!" Luis shouts.
Why the hell does it feel like I'm forgetting something right now. Luis thinks feeling uncomfortable.
Just when the hall has finally quiet down. Leonard suddenly appears shouting everywhere with a revolver in hand.
"Ma… Marys… MARYSVILLE!!!."
The shout alerted Luis, finally realizing about Marysville.
Reo arrives in the hall and approaches Leonard, he then kneeled on the ground.
"I'm very sorry, Grand Duke. They took the lady about an hour ago and…I lost them while following behind because of a disturbance they sent on my way, but please rest assured, a tracking device was on the lady's pendant that she's wearing right now. The lady is aware of the tracker so I'm sure she can trust us arriving on time."
Reo looks down on the floor with his hand clenching and eyebrows frowning.
It's good that Marysville did not take off the pendant last night… or maybe she purposely did not take off the pendant cus she was expecting something like this to happen today.
I'm sure I saw a glimpse of it… the time when she was abducted, she looked so calm as if she was expecting it. She was acting like she knew that was bound to happen.
Leonard looks so troubled. "I see..." He put away the revolver he's holding, putting it back to the revolver case that is placed on his right leg. "Lucio… where is Lucio?"
A knight went on running outside calling for Lucio.
Minutes later Lucio finally arrived on scene.
Leonard approaches Lucio looking the him seriously.
"Lucio, go with Reo and the soldiers to rescue Marysville, while Luis, me and the knights remain here." Said Leonard in a worried tone.
"Yes-" Lucio was about to accept his father's order but Luis enterups.
"Father, please leave Marysville to my care. As the older of the siblings, it is my job to take care of the youngest." Luis confidently said.
I'm worried Marysville might be using her stigma right now.
Luis was worried that Marysville might be fighting right now using her stigma, that's why Luis offered himself to come instead of Lucio.
—
Later on, around the city, there are cars moving together in a coordinated manner.
"Is that a car parade?"
"I think that's some high class celebrity followed by a bunch or guards!"
The strangers walking around the capital were wondering why there's a bunch of cars following each other.
—
Inside one of the cars, having Reo as the driver and Luis sat on the back seat.
Luis legs were cross seated near the window deep in thought.
Luis looks at Reo. He looks so calm, despite his owner being kidnapped.
Reo, who's currently driving the car, glanced at the rear view mirror and saw Luis looking at him, Reo glanced at the cellphone in front of him before uttering a word.
"Lord Luis, I have been meaning to ask this since we entered the car—why did you choose to come instead of Master Lucio?" Said Reo
Luis went silent before answering Reo's question.
"Maybe because I know something about her that the family shouldn't know about."
Reo smiled. "Is that so…"
Minutes after driving, Reo suddenly stops the car.
"We have arrived." Said Reo
They were still inside the Capital, but on the Outskirts side. In front of them is an abandoned mansion. The once-grand house now left empty and neglected, with peeling paint, broken windows, overgrown gardens, and a general air of decay and desolation.
Luis immediately got out of the car looking at the abandoned mansion.
Reo followed Luis out grabbing the phone inside the car and closed it gently.
"Lord, I recommend you go first while I wait here to command the soldiers." said Reo
Luis merely nods as a response.
"Please be careful." Reo suddenly threw the smartphone to Luis.
Luis was able to catch it perfectly. In the smartphone, there is a small green dot and a red dot.
"The red dot symbolizes the smartphone's location while the green dot symbolizes Marysville." Said Reo.
"Thankyou." Luis looks at Reo seriously before turning his back running on his way inside the abandoned mansion.
Reo secretly smiled behind Luis' back. Seems like the young lord knows the lady's big secret.
—
Inside the mansion, Luis was busy looking for a stairs to get up to, and a bunch of bandits suddenly showed up blocking Luis' way. They acted as if they were expecting someone's arrival.
There are about eleven of them, slowly surrounding Luis as they form in a circle.
"Enemies already after arrival." Luis' smirks as he finds the situation hilarious. "How nice of you to treat your guests like this." Luis sighs in confidence.
The bandit in front of Luis smiled creepily. "I love it.."
Luis looks confused. "Love what?"
The bandit laughs like a maniac before answering Luis' question.
"...Your confidence." Suddenly dashing towards the unarmed Luis, swinging the sword he's holding attempting to kill Luis in one swing.
Luis merely stepped back to dodge the straight forward attack. His beautiful turquoise iris was looking at where the sword was going with a calm expression.
"Is that all you've got?" Luis smiles playfully and says to the enemy.
This angered the enemy. The bandit stopped swinging his sword after that one swing. With a silent decisive motion, the bandit gestured towards the enemy. The command is clear. "Attack now!"
All the eleven bandits charge towards Luis, underestimating him for not having any weapon on his hands. But this was a very wrong move.
Luis might be unarmed but he is still someone who's blessed with stigma. A person blessed with the stigma of light.
Luis remained still waiting for the enemy to get close to his range.
One of the bandits reached to his side attempting to grab him by his blindspot, the man was smiling at Luis creepily, but Luis was actually aware of the man's doing.
Luis grabbed the man by the face and blasted it. The parts of the bandits head splattered anywhere. That single kill of Luis made the bandits face turn blue as they found the scenery nauseating.
Without realizing it, Luis iris has turned gold, which signifies he was angered by the bandits. He then picks up the sword of the man he killed.
The bandits stepped back, having their guard up.
"What's the matter? Why did you all stop coming towards me?" After picking the sword, Luis straightened his posture looking at them with a smiling face.
Seeing Luis covered with the blood of their colleague, the bandits were starting to doubt themselves if they could really win the fight. Looking all uncomfortable.
"Come on, get closer to me so I can end all of this faster."