Kathrine was sitting in the carriage looking outside the window in front of Carlos, who was occupied reading a book.
Kathrine turned toward him, noticing the book he was reading.
Kathrine tried to start a conversation with him since it was a bit of an awkward silence. "What are you reading?"
Carlos lifted his eyes from the book to meet her gaze and smiled gently. "The emperor counts on me to help him take some decisions, but since I don't have much info about ruling, I'm reading a book about it to know how to act wisely."
Kathrine nodded. "That means you're pretty close to the emperor, right?"
Carlos closed the book and placed it aside, looking deep into her eyes as if trying to read her soul. "Yes, why are you asking? Wanna meet the emperor?"
Kathrine was surprised "no no at all, just wondering..."
Carlos chuckled. "It's easy to read your intention, Katherine."
Kathrine flinched and frowned. "What do you mean?"
Carlos's smile widened and laughed. "You want to know more about the emperor? Why is that? Do you wanna know him to steal him from his fiancé?"
Kathrine was shocked and got flustered. "w-what?! Why would you even think like that??"
Carlos laughed. "I don't know, you tell me, why are you asking about Lucifer out of the blue?"
Kathrine flustered. "It's not for weird things! It's just... that Lily told me a bit about him... she told me that it's prohibited to talk or say his name and that his powerful and merciless... and since you said you're helping him, that only means you're pretty close to him... and wanted to know more..."
Carlos laughed hard. "Oh Kathrine, and here I thought you were reasonable. Kathrine, there's some truth in her words but also some rumors that you shouldn't believe."
Katherine's face flushed a bit at Carlos' laughter and felt like she was an idiot for asking him, but then Carlos continued speaking.
"It's true that Lucifer is powerful and merciless, but you know that a ruler must be strict with his people if you don't wanna have a civil war and lose your safe place, and for me, I've met him many times, he's cold with those who he doesn't know, but amusing with the others."
Kathrine looked at him deeply in his eyes. "Why should I trust you? It's not even a week since I've met you? Why should I trust your words and be sure that you're telling the truth?"
Carlos chuckled playfully. "You're right after all. Trust is something fragile that we can't give easily. But you know well that I don't have any reason to lie to you, don't forget that I've helped you to not find yourself in the mental hospital, if I wanted to harm to you, why would I've rescued you?"
Kathrine fell silent. -He's got a point... but why can't I shake the uneasiness that sets in my heart whenever I'm near him... and... why do I feel exposed in front of him... as if he can read me like an open book... this is getting creepy.-
"I didn't ask for your help, 'hero' plus I don't know your real intentions, but I know one thing... that I'll be watching you. I'm not dumb, Carlos."
Carlos laughed heartedly, "Do whatever you want, little human, I'll always be nearby for you."
Katherine glared at him, clenching her fists. But before she could say anything, the carriage came to a halt. The door opened, and Carlos stepped out first, turning back to offer her his hand.
Kathrine took it and left the carriage, then let go of his hand. She looked at him. "You said we're gonna meet your younger brother."
Carlos nodded."Exactly, he's still inside the academy. It seems the sage is being annoying and didn't let them leave early."
"The sage?" Katherine asked his, wanting to know more.
Carlos nodded as he walked to the academy gates"The sage is ensuring that Marco and his class are having a good education and learning about the empire since they'll take the lead after us, they're the new generation for any family, and for Marco his going to take my position If I retire or something happens to me."
Kathrine followed him, listening to his words. When they arrived in front of the gates, there were many guards securing the entrance.
-why are there so many guards? Well, I guess I should have expected it since this academy seems to accept only prestigious and wealthy students...-
Kathrine looked at Carlos, still surprised by the many guards in the gates, "why so many guards for one entrance?"
Carlos smiled, "Two reasons." he posed, then continued."The first is because this academy is for prestigious that obliges them to add more security. Secondly, because of my idiotic brother."
Katherine was taken aback by the second reason he said,"For the first reason I can understand but the second one.." She poses then continued with clear confusion in her words, "Your brother?.."
He nodded, "Yeah, that idiot doesn't know how to follow the rules and stay in one place..." Carlos sighed."You'll understand when you meet him."
Katherine and Carlos waited in front of the gates they stayed in silence till a shadow appeared in the distance, approaching them until the figure stopped in front of them.
It was a young man who resembled to Carlos a bit with black short hair and gray blue sapphire eyes.
He stopped in front of them, but the young man received a glare from Carlos.
The young man spoke first, his voice carrying a hint of nervousness "wow brother, why so angry? I didn't do anything!"
Carlos sighed tiredly. "You always get into trouble. In other words, I don't have to believe what you said." The young man felt offended by Carlos' words but didn't think much of it as he noticed the girl that was standing next to Carlos.
Katherine looked at him, surprised by the interaction between the two men.
Carlos noticed it and looked at Katherine first"Katherine this is my brother Marco." Then he looked at his brother "Marco this is Katherine she'll stay with us for a while. Be nice with her."
Marco's eyes were filled with excitement like a child in a candy store as he smiled widely and approached her, looking into her eyes and turning around her, but stopped quickly after feeling something hit his head when he raised it to look at who did it he found he brother giving him a glare.
Carlos placed his hand over Marco's head a bit forcefully as a way to tell his brother to be respectful, then he looked at Katherine. "Excuse him. He usually gets over excited when he sees a human around."
Katherine replied with a slight smile. "No need to apologize. did he never see a human around?"
Marco shook his head no. "The only humans I've seen around are Lily and her brother, and it's wonderful to meet other humans!" He exclaimed with a happy face, having fun in meeting Katherine.
But all Katherine focused on is one sentence. 'Lily and her brother', she looked at Carlos then at his brother and asked, "Lily's brother?"
Marco nodded, smiling. "Yes, Lily has a little brother. If I'm not wrong, his name should be Noah. I haven't seen him in a long time, I wonder where he is right now..."
Before Katherine could answer, Carlos spoke up. "I took him to a safe place away from some demons. He's going to an establishment with a fake identity. He won't be back after at least a few more months since they aren't allowed to leave."
Marco was surprised by his brother's words since he didn't know anything about that. "Oh, now I understand why I haven't seen him around near Lily like he used to do."
Katherine proposed with a smile, "Why don't we visit him? I'm sure he's missing his sister and would be happy to have some visitors."
Carlos interrupted their conversation. "No, we can't."
Marco was confused by his brother's words and asked while Katherine stood silent, trying to understand what was going on. "Why can't we, Carlos?"
Carlos observed his brother's and Katherine's reaction but then smiled calmly. "You know some demons don't appreciate humans around."
He paused, staring directly into Katherine's eyes." and if someone knew he's a human. he'd be killed immediately."
He glanced back at Marco and with his calm smile" that why I told them to not let him receive any visits till things are safe for him and Lily in the meantime she works for us as a gratitude for us helping her brother and protecting him."
Marco nodded understandingly, feeling empathy for Noah, but he knew his brother had everything under control and was going to do everything to keep him safe.
Katherine felt something off.
-something... is wrong... I don't understand what is happening here... why are they nice? He did say it... demons hate humans... then why helping me, Lily and her little brother?... No matter how I think of it, I can't understand... it's giving me a headache.-
Katherine was in deep thoughts, she kept trying to analyze something she couldn't. It was hard, too difficult for now, she thought for a while, but her train of thought came to a halt as she heard Marco calling her "Oi, from earth to Katherine, you alright?"
Kathrine looked at Marco surprised "oh, y-yeah, sorry... I was a bit distracted since I hadn't known that Lily had a big brother... and Carlos was protecting him..."
Carlos answered her words, "It's okay, maybe you're still tired. It wasn't good for me to propose going out without questioning your condition, I apologize about it." he stopped a bit observing her facial expression carefully and then continued, "we can go back home if you're tired."
But Marco intervened, " Oh, no, no, no, you're not taking her anywhere. You brought her here, and I want her to see what the capital looks like, plus you promised me to have fun and buy some pancakes!"
Carlos stared at his brother, and before he could answer his brother's words, Katherine expressed, "I wanna have a look around too... it's okay. One hour or two won't be such a big deal."
Carlos stood silent but then nodded, "As you wish..."
Marco smile widened and grabbed Katherine's hand. He started walking fast toward a nearby park, leaving Carlos behind, but he was quick in terms of catching up with them.
Carlos glared at his brother, "Don't pull her this way. You can see clearly that she is already tired and has difficulty keeping up with you."
Marco halted and looked at Katherine. Carlos was right she looked a bit tired. Marco lowered his head in sadness and apologized, "I'm sorry Katherine... I didn't mean it..."
Katherine smiled sweetly, "Don't worry, I'm fine, let's just have fun just like you wanted."
Marco's eyes sparkled with joy, and then he continued walking toward the park, "You'll enjoy staying with us, believe me when I say that to you, Kathy."
Katherine started into his joyful eyes, "Kathy?" But he quickly answered with his wide smile. "Yup, a cute nickname instead of calling you Katherine."
Katherine giggled, "It's been years since I haven't heard this nickname, but I still like it."
Carlos kept walking silently behind them, looking at the interaction between Katherine and his brother he shrugged, not minding it. A hint of smile appeared as he saw them having fun chatting.
Marco arrived near a Café He had seating areas with tables and chairs decorated with some flowers. Many were lined up in front of the Café seemed like a well-known place.
Marco spoke, "I'll line up with them. In the meantime, you two go and take a seat."
Carlos nodded. "Sure... but bring me pancakes with raspberries. what about you, Katherine?"
Katherine thought for a while, "Maybe I'll take chocolate pancakes..."
Marco smiled happily, yet when he was gonna leave, a boy pumped into Katherine from behind, Katherine turned to see who pumped into her but found only a little child, he had torn clothes with short horns, Carlos glanced at him with the side of his eyes giving the boy a side glare, but Marco just stood there looking at the little boy.
Katherine smiled, "you alright, little child?" She raised her hand about to place it on the boys head, but the boy slapped it and was about to run away. Yet a guard appeared in the front and stopped the boy, his eyes cold and dark, then a second one arrived from behind. The first guard spoke, "You stole this food and money from their proprietor, By royal law, you must be punished." The guard the arrived second raised his sword only to be stopped by Katherine.
"Leave that boy alone! You can take back the food and money but don't hurt him." Katherine shouted at the guard with the sword, but the guard didn't flinch. However, he approached her, placing his hand in her neck, bringing the sword near it, his eyes darkening as he muttered. "Anyone who gets on the way to applying the law is gonna be punished as well, especially if it's from a human who is a demons enemy."
Marco was about to shout Katherine's name, but he stopped. before the guard could use his sword to harm her, a huge shadow covered him when he lifted his eyes, Carlos was there standing behind Katherine his hands behind his back with a raised head, looking at the man from above looking deeply into his soul through his eyes giving the guard a murderous look ordering with a commanding voice, "take your filthy hand from her. Don't you dare think about hurting her, one scratch, and you'll be 6 feet under the ground."
The man trembled, letting the sword fall to the ground. The guard stepped away from Katherine, letting go of her as quickly as possible, and then he knelt, his voice lacing with fear. "Sir, I'm really sorry, it won't happen again."
Carlos stared with disgust at the guard and then grabbed Katherine's arm and pulled her toward himself, but what made them froze with Marco what the yell of fear of the child.
Kathrine turned turned hurriedly to see what happened, and her eyes met the figure, met the figure of the first guard raising his sword at the young boy, while the boy tried to protect himself by hiding his face behind his arms.
Kathrine was about to run to protect the boy, but the guard already beheaded the boy with his arms.
The two arms fell to the ground, and the head felt seconds after then the body of the little boy.
Blood filled the ground in front of the Café entrance. The scared face of the boy remains even after being beheaded, Blood flows from the child's head, which rolled a little on the ground, and more came out of his lifeless body. The boy's hair was colored with deep red color after it was a beautiful white.
Katherine's eyes widened in shock. she wanted to help the boy but couldn't. She didn't want to see a soul leaving such a young body. That was too much for her. Katherine's heart rate quickened, and her breathing became labored and ended up throwing up at the side of the street, tears filling her eyes.
Marco and Carlos rushed next to Katherine Marco, who held her, trying to calm her down after she finished vomiting. Meanwhile, Carlos was furious, threatening the two guards with only one single glare, which made them understand that they were in a huge problem.
Marco held Katherine tightly, feeling both concerned for her about seeing a scene like this and angry at the guard who killed the little boy.
Katherine couldn't stand up anymore, but Marco helped her as he grabbed her arm and placed it around his neck.
He took her to the nearest carriage Carlos following from behind and made her enter it and sat next to her. Katherine looked through the window at the small crowd that gathered around the body. However, she couldn't move a muscle. Marco placed his hand over her head, making her lean into him while comforting her with a hug. That was all he could do, just a hug. No words will ever help her forget the incident.