Morning came, and the marquess' manor buzzed with activity as preparations were made for their journey back to the march. Sir Conrad arrived promptly to deliver his report.
"Did you find anything?" Rue asked.
"My lord, Princess Elery was seen walking outside shortly before midnight," Sir Conrad replied.
"Very well. You may go."
"So it was her. I need to find out how much she saw," the marquess thought.
Later, he made his way to the palace to escort the princess. Inside the carriage, as it began to roll forward, Rue couldn't help but glance at her from time to time. The princess, sensing his gaze, finally spoke.
"Is there something you wish to say, my lord?" she asked calmly.
"It will be a long journey to my estate," he replied with a polite smile. "I hope the travel doesn't inconvenience you too much."
"I can see you've gone to great lengths despite the short notice," she said. "I assure you, I'm perfectly comfortable."
"I'm relieved to hear that. How did you find the palace?" he asked, shifting the topic. "The gardens are always a favorite of mine. The one at the back, especially, I find it the most exquisite, though not everyone agrees."
The princess paused, locking eyes with him.
"I agree. It is quite beautiful," she said, her tone neutral. "And rather secluded… A perfect place for a secret rendezvous."
Rue's expression grew serious. Elery matched his gaze, her voice steady.
"I came here with a purpose, my lord. Whatever happened last night is not my concern. So you need not worry. The sooner we deal with this threat, the sooner I return home."
"I'll take your word for that," Rue replied, though a sliver of doubt remained. Regardless, they would have to work together. There was no room for mistrust now.
As they arrived at the Marquess' manor, the head steward hurried to meet them.
"My lord," he said breathlessly. "I'm grateful for your safe return. Please forgive my insolence, but Earl Edmund is here. He came as soon as he heard of your arrival. His daughter has been missing for two days and he wishes to speak with you urgently."
"I understand," the marquess replied. "Please escort Her Highness to her quarters. I'll speak with the earl immediately."
The manor was abuzz with activity, knights moving in and out, orders being shouted, and servants rushing about. The tension in the air was unmistakable.
As Princess Elery walked the halls with her knight, Sir Lucian, she took in the grim atmosphere.
"How was the bodies?" she asked quietly.
"It is as you suspected."
" And the situation outside?"
"It's not good," Sir Lucian responded. "The townsfolk are fearful, and the nobles are panicking. The number of missing persons continues to rise."
The princess's expression grew grim. "This is too familiar. It's just like what happened back home. If this follows the same pattern… it won't be long before they begin finding bodies."
She made her way to the marquess, intending to offer her assistance in the search, when the head steward came rushing toward them again, this time pale and shaken.
"My lord, the knights have discovered a group of bodies in the Labyrinthine Forest."
Without hesitation, the marquess and the princess rushed to the scene. The clearing in the forest was thick with the stench of burnt flesh and something darker, sorrow. Scattered among the trees lay the victims, their bodies twisted in anguish. Their skin bore deep cracks, as though burned from within, and the horror of their final moments was etched on their faces.
"What a ghastly sight," Princess Elery murmured, horrified.
"My lord, there's something you need to see," a knight said urgently. He led them to a body that stood out from the rest.
"We identified her by the insignia on her brooch. It's the daughter of Viscount Kenthel."
Unlike the others, her body was unmarred by fire. Her skin was pale, but her veins were dark and disturbingly visible, especially around her chest. A small hole lay there as if something had been removed.
"What have you found?" Rue asked, turning to the echo seer.
"She died in her sleep," the seer said quietly. "But I cannot see beyond that moment. Whoever did this… they possess mastery in high-level magic. As for the others..." she gestured toward the burned bodies "...they were forced to participate in a ritual. I'm sorry, my lord. I can see no further."
"You've done more than enough," the marquess said, offering a rare softness in his voice. "It must be a heavy burden to witness such things."
"There is one more thing," the seer said. She gently opened the girl's eyelid. Her eyes were pitch black.
Princess Elery gasped, her hand instinctively rising to her mouth. Rue turned to her.
"You recognize this?" he asked.
She nodded slowly. "I've only read about it. When a soul has been corrupted, the eyes turn black. It's a result of powerful dark magic… or the interference of a demon."
The marquess's gaze darkened. "A dark mage seems more plausible than a demon. Still… one powerful enough to corrupt souls?" He looked back at the girl's body. "Why? What do they hope to gain from this?"
He turned to his knights. "Have the bodies examined further. I want answers before we return them to their families."
Back at the manor, Princess Elery activated her communication crystal to speak with Lunara, the mage assigned to assist her.
"Any news?" she asked.
"I haven't found the dark mages yet," Lunara replied, "but I did track down a group of grave merchants. I believe they've had contact with them."
"Good work. Use a tracking spell on them and report back to me by tomorrow."
"Yes, Your Highness."
After the call ended, Sir Lucian noticed the thoughtful look on her face.
"Is something troubling you?" he asked.
Elery nodded, her eyes distant. "I can't shake the feeling that this goes beyond missing nobles or corrupted souls. I think… this might be tied to our family's curse."
"You believe a demon is involved?" Sir Lucian asked, his voice tense.
"I'm not sure," she said quietly, "but if it is… then this may be our only chance to uncover the truth."
Sir Lucian's expression hardened. "Her Majesty sent us here to investigate dark mages not to risk your life. I cannot allow you to endanger yourself chasing a hunch."
Elery reached out and gently held his hand, her eyes pleading.
"Then I ask this not as your princess… but as your sister."
Lucian exhaled slowly, conflicted. "If I sense you're in danger, I will report it to the queen without hesitation."
"Fair enough," Elery smiled, then pulled him into a hug. "Thank you, brother."
The next morning, Princess Elery summoned Lunara to deliver her findings to Marquess Mallory in person.
"I believe the next exchange will happen in Ripasa," Lunara said, unrolling a map. "The grave merchants seem to be moving in that direction. Considering their losses, there's a high chance they'll attempt to abduct more victims along the way."
Rue's expression darkened. Ripasa. The name struck a chord in his heart.
He recalled Lady Cecilia's last words to him—the promise to wait for him in Ripasa until the end of the spring festival. She had even sent a letter confirming her arrival there.
He clenched his fist, the weight of guilt and worry sinking into his chest.
"I hope nothing happens to her," he thought grimly.
"We shall depart for Ripasa immediately. Send word to Duke Labelle regarding our arrival," the marquess ordered, his voice firm. Without delay, preparations were made, and the group set off toward Ripasa.
In Ripasa, Lady Cecilia stood by the window of her room, a hopeful glint in her eyes as she looked out over the bustling streets below. The spring festival had brought color and life to the town and in her heart, the anticipation of seeing Rue again made everything even more vibrant.
"You're quite cheerful today, my lady. Might I ask the reason?" Zephora, her lady-in-waiting, asked as she entered the room with a warm smile.
"It's the festival," Cecilia answered, trying to sound nonchalant. "It's my first time celebrating the spring festival here… and I want to look stunning tonight after all, it's the last day."
She began sifting through her dresses with excitement, her hands brushing across silks and satins as she tried to decide.
Zephora, however, watched her with a touch of unease. "My lady… I heard rumors that a group of grave merchants may be headed this way. Perhaps it would be best if you stayed in tonight, just to be safe."
Cecilia waved the concern away with a lighthearted chuckle. "Ripasa is large. What are the odds of running into them? Besides, I'll be in a crowded area. It's safer there."
Still, she noticed the lingering worry in Zephora's eyes.
"I'll take Sir Rowan with me," she added gently. "You don't need to worry. You should enjoy the festivities as well."
Zephora, though unconvinced, nodded and moved to assist her. As she helped Cecilia dress and fix her hair.
On the road to Ripasa, the air was tense. The sky had begun to darken, and time was quickly slipping away.
Lunara and the other mages from Marquess Mallory's manor sat slumped in exhaustion, their breaths shallow after casting several high-level teleportation spells. The repeated use of magic had drained their mana to dangerous levels.
"We have to get there fast," Rue urged, pacing anxiously. His voice betrayed a rare sense of panic.
Princess Elery placed a calming hand on his arm. "I understand your concern, but your mages are already out of mana. Forcing them further would be dangerous."
"I'm sorry," he said, his eyes filled with unease. "But tonight is the final night of the spring festivities in Ripasa. The grave merchants, if they plan to strike, they won't let this chance slip by. The crowd, the chaos… it's the perfect cover."
Elery understood his fear. She had seen what the grave merchants were capable of and what they were willing to do.
With a quiet sigh, she stepped forward. "I didn't want to use up my reserves in case we encounter the dark mages… but we don't have a choice."
Raising her hand, a circle of glowing sigils began to form beneath their feet. Energy pulsed through the air as Princess Elery began to channel her mana.
"Everyone, stay close," she said, her voice calm but resolute.
In a flash of light, they vanished. Leaving only a whisper of wind behind them as they raced toward Ripasa.
In Ripasa, Lady Cecilia strolled through the lively streets with Sir Rowan trailing closely behind. The spring festival was in full bloom, lanterns danced in the air, music filled the night, and laughter echoed all around. But her heart beat for only one reason: the hope of meeting Rue at their promised place.
She scanned the shops as an idea sparked in her mind.
"Oh, that boutique looks charming," she said suddenly, turning to Sir Rowan with a practiced smile. "Please wait for me here. I want to try on a few dresses, it might take a while."
Sir Rowan nodded, politely taking his place in the boutique's parlor.
Inside the dressing room, Cecilia quickly approached one of the assistants and whispered her request. In exchange for a pouch of gold, the girl agreed to swap clothes with her and discreetly exit through the front.
Dressed in a modest cloak and simple garb, Cecilia slipped out the back of the shop and made her way toward the tavern where Rue had promised to meet her. Her heart pounded in rhythm with her footsteps, full of anticipation.
But as the night wore on, the festival slowly died down. Laughter faded. Lanterns dimmed. And still no sign of Rue.
She sat in the quiet corner of the nearly empty tavern, her fingers tightly clasped together as the minutes crawled by.
He's not coming.
"This can't be…" she whispered, eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Is this really how it ends?"
A soft knock at her table startled her.
"Pardon, my lady," the innkeeper said gently. "We're about to close."
Cecilia stood numbly, thanked him with a whisper, and wandered out into the quiet, now-empty street. The joy of the festival had vanished, only cold shadows remained.
She turned into a side alley, her thoughts a whirlwind of disappointment and pain, when a pair of unfamiliar men approached.
"What's wrong, my lady?" one of them asked with a smirk. "You seem heartbroken. How about we keep you company tonight?"
Her spine stiffened. "Leave me alone," she said firmly. "I'm not some cheap woman you can pick up on the street."
They laughed, ignoring her resistance.
Before she could scream, one of them pressed a handkerchief to her face. The sharp scent filled her nose and her vision began to blur.
"No! Let go of me!" she gasped, struggling, but her body quickly went limp.
The other man moved swiftly, casting glances around to ensure they were unseen as they dragged her deeper into the shadows of the alley.