Panicked voices filled the small house in the vicinity of a humble village in the province of Rone Kingdom. One woman wearing a smudged apron is sweating furiously and another one is running back and forth as she carry the order of the lady in the apron.
The woman is hunched at the edge of the bed, in front of her is a pregnant lady in the middle of giving birth. They could hear the constant voice of the man outside of the room asking how is her wife fairing.
It's a tradition in the kingdom wherein a woman giving birth isn't allowed in the same room as the father of the child. It is considered taboo.
The man is pacing left and right. He didn't know what to do. He could hear the cries of his wife and yet can't do anything.
He's a proud knight of the village but he can't do anything to help his wife who's clearly in pain.
"Push!" The woman shouted and the wife responded with a loud groan.
"Another one, I already caught a sight of the child. One more time!" A tired groan left the wife. The assistant kept on whispering encouraging words and continousely wiped the sweats rolling down her forehead.
"Almost there!" A loud yell resounded throughout the room followed by a small cry of a newborn baby. The wife let out a sigh and closed her eyes in relief.
The man outside felt the noise lessen and opened the door. What greeted him is the sight of her wife holding their daughter.
The baby's eyes is as green as the precious stone. Her hair almost looked like a blood poured on top of her head. Paired with a fair skin and a plump cheeks.
The lovers worry and nervousness completely vanished. The wife lovingly looked at the newborn baby with great care.
"Oh, how precious. My dear, what shall we name our daughter?" She asked, clearly looking tired from the labor.
"Rei... Reiney. She shall be Reiney Perques."
The newborn let out a delighted moan as if agreeing to her name.
At the same time in the capital, a splendid mansion is bustling with noise.
The news of the baby being born into the house is spreading like wildfire. The House of Vixon finally have a heir.
The babies cries filled the room and the two lovers looked lovingly at their newborn babies.
'Finally, i can now quietly passed away without worry'
The man thought as he gazed at her wife happily carrying the newborns.
'The future of Vixon lies in your hand'
"Dear." The wife called out. Her voice is weak and she could barely move her hands. The arms carrying the babies is trembling.
"Luciel."
One word is all take for all of them to understand what it meant. Luciel Vixon. The future heiress of the this Dukedom.
The man took the babies out of her arms and carefully picked them up. He looked awkward and nervous as the babies are clearly upset at the sudden intrusion in their time with their mother.
The man glanced at the maids in the side, he nodded at her and she took the signal. The maid stepped up and carried the child in his stead.
It's dangerous.
He's not used to carrying such a small and frail lifeform in his arms. One wrong move and all hell might break loose.
The wife's breathing suddenly became unstable and trembled.
"Madam!"
"What's happening!?"
The doctors rushed in and looked at the man for approval. He didn't think twice and nodded. A group of five ladies restrained the madam and the doctor checked her eyes and her breathing rate.
"She's having a seizure. This doctor would like to put his life on the line and ask if all of the attendants without medical knowledge leave this room." The doctor bowed in front of the Duke.
"Save her or you will not be able to see the dawn of tomorrow." His voice releases chills and the doctor shivered from fear.
All of them left the room, leaving the five ladies and the doctor inside the room with the madam. The doctor's hands is trembling as he performed the procedures. One of the ladies noticed it and hissed at the doctor.
"Please, senior. Calm yourself."
Outside the room is the Duke with his trusted knight, Filon.
"Bring me their families. If i gave you the signal, kill them."
"Yes, my lord."
One of the assistants guarding the door heard it and relayed the message to her peers. Despair is visible to her face. She don't want to die.
No one wanted to die.
And then the worst thing happened. All of them looked at each other and the doctor shaked his head sideways.
Filon went with his team and barged into their houses. Dragging them without remorse. Woman, man, children and even the elders.
That's how much power the House of Vixon holds in this kingdom. Killing is accepted as long as you have power and fame.
Feeling strange, the Duke knocked in the door. There's no response, silence completely filled the other side of the door.
He didnt hesitate to use his sword to open the door and his eyes dimmed. His body shook from anger and he tightly gripped the hilt of his sword.
Shocked gasp and cries came out from behind him.
The doctors and his assistants are nowhere to be seen. The window is left open with the sheets in the bed tied to the railings.
He silently approached his wife in the bed, her jewelries are nowhere to be seen. He holds her hand and feels how warm she still feels.
But she's not breathing and her pulse is gone. Slowly, he felt her body going cold. He used his coat to cover her exposed skin and stood up.
Murderous aura can be clearly felt around him. How foolish of them to run. They can never outrun a hungry beast.
"Kill them." He muttered.