“My son is not feeling well since this morning, he is staying inside his chambers, resting,” Phil told us, still raising his eyebrow.
“He is sick, Your Grace?” Ashnor clarified.
“Yes, did you not just hear what I said?” There is a hint of irritation in Phil’s voice.
He’s quite rude, even though we are still young, our titles are still above his.
“So, there are maids tending to him right now, then?” Nix asked this time.
“Yeah, yeah,” Phil replied with a tone that he is no longer accepting questions about his son.
Felix looked at us apologetically, “I’m sorry for the Duke’s rude behavior.”
Although Phil hear what Felix said, he did not mind. Instead, he just left without saying anything to us.
“Again, forgive him your highnesses, he’s always been like that. He was never like that when we were children. He changed after his wife died, even the Emperor took pardon for his behavior, since, well, he is still family.”
“Anyway, you four should just enjoy the banquet. You four are not going to be young forever, so enjoy it while it lasts.”
Again, he smiled lovingly at us, “I should excuse myself first, Your highnesses.”
“Thank you for your kind and warm advice, Duke Felix,” Ashnor spoke.
“You are very welcome, Prince Ashnor? Or was it Ashwin? Please do pardon my ignorance.”
“It’s Ashnor, and it’s okay Duke. Again, thank you. We, too, shall take our leave.”
Ashnor replied calmly as if he’s already really used to speaking with adults formally. And I guess, he is.
“Let’s go!” Ashwin pulled us away from the Duke.
“Should we go to Finnian?” Nix asked us.
“Can we even leave the banquet?” Ashnor also asked.
“Maybe we can? Grandfather even left early so why can’t we?” Ashwin answered.
“Okay, but let’s ask for permission first,” Ashnor suggested.
So we walked around the ballroom, again. Of course, we stayed off course from where the dancing is.
We continued walking when I saw Astrea standing alone near the double doors at the back portion of the ballroom. She seems to be waiting for something or someone. Does she not have any friends?
Before I could peel my attention away from her, I saw someone open the door slowly behind her. A child wearing a cloak. I could not see the person’s face due to the hood covering it, but my intuition tells me that I know that child.
Both of them left the ballroom, with no one noticing them, except me.
“What are you looking at Fifi?”
The boys looked in the direction I was looking and saw the exit.
“How about let’s just go out for a moment, visit Finnian, and bring him here immediately. No one will notice that we are gone!”Ashwin suggested.
“People will notice since they have been looking at us ever since the evening started,” Nix shrugged.
“I think we should go and ask for permission,” Ashnor stated.
“But mom and the others are busy-“
“No,” Ashnor cut Ashwin off.
“But we are not even sure if we are allowed to leave,-“
“I said, no. Let’s go.” We continued walking to where Lucil and the others are located.
“But we will not be gone for too long, and-“
“Ashwin,” Ashnor is already warning Ashwin.
“-Fifi kept on looking at the exit, she wants to go out, now!”
Ashnor’s strict expression became soft when he looked in my direction. I did not respond to any of them because I kept on looking at the doors, wondering who that child wearing a cloak is. Was it that child? I nerve knew who he was, not even his name. But I somehow know that it was him.
What is he doing with Astrea? Where are they even going?
“Okay,” Ashnor conceded, “But we still can’t leave without being noticed by the people.”
“Hmmm, I think we can,” with we all turned to Nix.
“What do you mean?” Ashnor asked.
“I know of a secret passage, I once stumbled upon when I was roaming around the palace.”
“Why were you roaming around?” Ashwin asked.
With that question, Nix blushed shyly, “Well, I have no one to play with… at that time. Anyway, come on!”
*****
Along a dark empty corridor, Astrea is walking behind Luke, trying to figure out where he was taking her. She looked around and wondered why this part of the palace has no knights guarding it. Is it because everyone is busy patrolling the perimeter outside that no one even bothered to put some knights inside?
Well, maybe that’s the case. Since they are so confident no one can get past their security, well no one, except for the boy in front of her.
They walked for a couple of minutes until Astrea became impatient.
“So, where are you taking me?”
Astrea asked with an annoyed tone but Luke answered her nothing.
“Are you dumb? Can you not speak?”
Again, no response was given to Luke.
“Hey! I am talking to you! You filthy bastard,” Astrea was about to hit Luke’s head but Luke caught her hand and squeezed it.
“Careful now, we don’t want to be seen,” Luke smiled calmly at her as if he was not hurting her hand.
“Y-you’re hurting me, let go!”
Astrea forcedly pulls her hand from Luke.
“My hand is throbbing in pain! What will you do if you will leave bruises on it?!”
Instead of being afraid, Astrea even felt more annoyed.
‘How dare a mere bastard lay his hands on me?! He is going to pay for this,’ Astrea thought quietly as she held her throbbing hand.
“Are you still going to ignore my question?! Where are we going? Where is Lord Finnian? He is not here!”
“Will you be quiet?!” Luke immediately stopped walking and looked Astrea eye to eye as he warned her in a quiet but threatening tone.
“Be quiet or else the dragons will find me, do you understand?!”
Luke massaged his temples as he looked away and continued walking.
“You really are not a gentleman. I am so glad we are not related by blood,” with that she rolled her eyes.
They continued walking for a while and she noticed Luke doing deep breaths and muttering something to himself.
‘Alright, this boy is crazy,’
“What are you doing?”
“Calming myself down.”
“Why?”
“Because I need to finish this job without anyone noticing.”
When Luke mentioned the word job, Astrea smiled widely to herself.
‘Ah, yes. The job, now I can get my revenge. Sometimes, uncle is very useful indeed.’
“Okay, we are here,” Luke stopped outside a room, “Come inside.”
“Is this where Lord Finnian is resting?”
Luke only shrugged as he opened the door for her.
“Oh great, at least you know how to open doors for women,”
Astrea went inside the room first then Luke followed and shut the door behind him.
The room was dark but is filled with joyful music from the ballroom. A table can be found with couches on either side. This must be a parlor room, where guests can wait and stay for a moment.
“So where is he?”
Astrea looked back to ask Luke but she was met by Luke’s crazy wild eyes.
And for the first time ever since she first interacted with Luke, fear enveloped her.
“W-what are you doing?”
Astrea stepped back, wanting to have much space in between her and Luke but her legs failed to move swiftly.
“Ah, yes. The job.” Luke slowly walked towards her like a predator taunting its prey.
“Do you even know what the job is?”
As he stepped forward the light of the moon illuminated Luke’s whole body.
Astrea shivered as she looked at Luke more closely and then something glimmered on Luke’s waist which caught her eye.
“Oh, I see you have noticed my friend. Well, let me introduce you to her then.”
Astrea tried to step back but she can no longer feel her own body. She wanted to scream but can’t.
Luke pulled the dagger on his belt slowly without breaking eye contact with Astrea.
“Unlike you, my friend is very sharp. Very, very sharp indeed.”
Luke put the dagger against his cheek as he closed his eyes caressing it.
“She is so cold tonight. She needs to be coated with something warm. Can you suggest something, ‘Lady’ Astrea?”
Luke stepped forward again, his smile never leaving his face.
He smelled the dagger and licked the dagger’s face.
“Do you also want to caress my dear friend?”
He pointed the dagger at Astrea.
“What? Are you already petrified? Can you no longer move?”
Luke slumped down on the couch next to him, “You are no fun. You are already afraid. You should make this more challenging for me, you know? I even have not taken any of it yet.”
“The dragons will be more aware of my presence if I go on a rampage here. So, be happy my mind is still clear and sane.”
He looked at Astrea standing stiffly feet away.
“So why can you not move already? Am I really that terrifying? Do not be afraid of me, I am still your cousin.”
Luke pouted for a moment then smiled wickedly as he looked at his reflection in the dagger.