The balcony where Iris and Leon were watching the opera was one of the VIP rooms and was on the two upper floors. Inside there are only two large chairs with drinks and soft pillows.
Leon helped Iris to sit down. When he realized something, "You're wearing it, Iris..."
"You have chosen especially for me. I want to appreciate it by directly wearing it. I purposely chose this dress as well to match the hairpin you gave me.", Iris smiled gently.
Iris appears to be wearing a white dress with some gold parts.
Leon watched Iris without saying anything. For a moment he seemed to be lost in thought of something.
Iris looked nervous, "Isn't it a good fit?"
Awakened from his reverie, Leon shook his head with a smile.
"No, Iris. The dress is perfect for you. I'm just… glad you're wearing my present. The hairpin used to belong to my mother."
"Then this hairpin… is like your family heirloom. Is it alright for you to give it to me...?"
"That's fine. Rather I want you to have it, Iris. The hairpin matches your dress perfectly. White has always been the color that suits you. In fact, too suitable for you…", Leon replied trying to convince Iris.
Iris looked at him in confusion at Leon's last words.
Leon however turned his head away from Iris' gaze and sat down on his chair.
The song was sung and the stage curtains began to open.
The opera they watched told the story of a street dancer named Maria whose beauty fascinated many people. Many men chase after Maria, including a Viscount named Jose. but Maria always refused them all. Until Maria accidentally met a soldier named Caesar who was defending a servant who was beaten by Viscount Jose. Maria falls in love with Caesar when he defends the servant from Viscount Jose...
Leon secretly glanced at Iris who seemed to be watching the opera performance seriously.
"You liked the show?" Leon whispered into Iris' ear.
Iris looked at Leon with slight surprise, "Yes. Though this is not the first time. But every time I watch opera I get carried away by the story."
"It's good that you enjoyed it, Iris. It was not in vain that I invited you here."
For a moment Iris seemed to hesitate to say something. But in the end, she looked at Leon, "Leon, there's something I want to ask..."
"What is it, Iris?"
"Your words earlier, Leon...the last thing you said...as if we weren't the first time we met...are my feelings right?"
For a moment Leon was silent and tried to hide his surprise. Surprised not by the question asked but by not expecting Iris to have the courage to ask that.
But suddenly something happens in the Grand Center opera house.
There was a loud bang and from the middle of the stage gunshots were heard and several people wearing masks were seen storming the stage. Screams of fear were heard and chaos broke out in the opera house.
A mob of people wearing masks and armed appeared.
Not only on the stage, but below in the audience seats and on the balcony where the VIP rooms were including the room where Leon and Iris were.
"Raise your hands! This building is under the control of The Free Insurgents!", he shouted while aiming his weapon at Leon and Iris who stood in shock.
Leon reflexively pushed Iris behind him to protect her, "Who are you guys? What's your goal? You will not get away from this!"
"Shut up! No one told you to talk!" answered the gunman while hitting Leon backwards.
"Leon!", shouted Iris while approaching Leon.
A few drops of blood appeared from Leon's mouth.
Leon stared back at the rebel with a face of disapproval. He glanced right and left. It seemed that there was only one rebel standing guard in his room.
Seeing that there was a chance to escape, Leon immediately lunged and pushed him back. Leon took Iris' hand and told her to run away.
But they had only taken a few steps down the hall when members of The Free Insurgents appeared on the other side. Immediately they surrounded the two of them.
Leon realized that he had miscalculated.
"Don't hurt her." Leon said as he put Iris behind him.
One of the rebels hit Leon hard. Not quite enough. He hit Leon several times.
Leon tried to endure the pain he received.
Iris, who couldn't bear to watch it, immediately tried to stop the rebellious actions, "Stop it! It's enough!"
But the rebel didn't care about Iris and pushed her with all his might, "Don't disturb!"
Iris, who was pushed hard near the balcony in the passage, lost her balance and fell from the balcony.
"IRIS!", Leon tried to reach her but it was too late.
His hands were unable to reach the fallen Iris.
Iris, with her vision starting to blur, saw Leon who was calling her but her consciousness started to fade when she fell.
But before she hit the ground floor, suddenly a shadow moved quickly and caught Iris. In a state still unsteady, Iris tried to see who is her savior.
A man wearing a helmet that covers part of his face.
"Hold on," said her savior.
Then he jumped and dodged The Free Insurgents while holding Iris in his arms.
The Helmet man lunged swiftly and took Iris away from there.
Iris who still felt dizzy and her head was spinning. Slowly her eyes closed and her consciousness faded away.
=====
Isabel was walking back to the Grand Center Opera House.
Malcolm who saw Isabel from a distance approached her.
"Where have you been? Did something happen?" Malcolm asked with a worried face.
Isabel shook her head with a crumpled face, "No. Nothing happe-."
Her words were not finished suddenly heard a loud bang from the opera house.
The ground trembled around them. Many of the people around turned their heads in the direction the voice came from.
People seemed to be shouting while pointing at the opera house building which suddenly had light shining from below forming a protective layer around it.
Isabel stared with a pale face realizing what was happening. She immediately ran into the opera house followed by Malcolm.
Her steps stopped when she arrived at the light surrounding the opera house, "Iris…. no…she's still inside."
"Would you like me to come in?" Malcolm offered himself.
Isabel shook her head slowly with her face still turning pale, "No. It's useless. This opera house is already surrounded by a magic wall… We can't go in and those inside can't get out…"