"Isn't the gift excessive?" Wren asks her spirits as she stares at the mountain of toys with different kinds of gems embedded on it it. Some were on the eyes, paws, ears, forehead and bellybutton.
"Nah, we can sell this one day if you planned to elope with someone." Both Cervi and Wren had a look of disappointment to Boaife. Elope? who on the right mind will do such a thing? Besides, right now the most important thing is that she figured out where to dump the gifts.
"Maybe he's spoiling you because you will marry his grandso--- hmmp!" Wren made Adara to shut up and she sighs.
It is scary to think off. Especially since she never wanted to attract unnecessary people to keep the possible idea of marrying her to Zairon.
"Really, I feared being killed by him." She mumbled and plops down on her bed as she listened to the birds chirping at the veranda.
Unusual day because the castle is quiet and the adults were busy. She doesn't see her parents that much and she can tell that they were still looking for the merchant who sold the Hanubi plant.
A merchant like that can't hide in a short time. Unless, he had some help or maybe he was silenced before they could get him.
"Haaahhh... Even if they can't find the merchant the marchioness will have her head chopped off." Wren blurted out and slept once more before hearing a loud screech.
Adara, Boaife and Cervi could only look at the veranda and a warm breeze flow inside and a sound of flapping wings can be heard.
"Wren! Let's hang out!" Laxus shouts outside while riding the dragon. They couldn't spot Lexus, but they know how inseperable the two was when it comes to mischief.
"Wren is sleeping," Cervi says and closed the door causing Laxus to jumped over and open the door loud as it can be, "Nothing can stop me. I need Wren to come with me." Cervi said and looks at Boaife
"You didn't do anything!" She shouted and tried to strangle Cervi, completely forgetting that Laxus is inside and, well, Adara just watched everyone do their things while she plays with her hair with some flowers she plucked out.
Laxus grabs Wren and puts her on his shoulder and still sleeping soundly. The only way to wake her up must be the time where someone's in the middle of murdering her.
"Wait! Why didn't you stop him?!" Boaife asked and Adara could only smile.
There's nothing wrong if she let the twins take her master. They couldn't possibly do something to harm her.
Unknown to her, they are doing something that will harm her, "We're going too fast, Lexus!"
Laxus gripped Wren tightly and holds to his brother. Eventually, he didn't plan it all alone and what she didn't know is that they are going to the imperial palace.
What for? Well, the Emperor called the twins a few days ago to do something at the Laboratory.
"Why did we have to bring Wren?"
"The Emperor asked for her!"
It is simple. Lady Agatha wanted to have a tea with Wren and her son. She simply wanted to help her son in winning Wren and they were clueless about it.
"He's doing well after I left him under your care." That was the first thing Prince Asterion said after seeing them in the Palace Garden until his gaze falls to Wren's sleeping figure.
Wondering if his eyes is playing tricks or maybe the Vacarella twins had finally resorted into kidnapping, "We didn't kidnapp her." It's like he knows what the Prince's mind and he pointed her.
"She will wake up any moments now you'll see."
Zairon came after he saw a huge thing flew above him and somehow, even if it's far away he could see Wren's figure. It was nonsense skill per as Theo said. He did realize the reason why rushed over the garden.
"Oh, Zairon why are you here?" Prince Asterion asked and it happened. One ridiculous motion that only Lexus could understand.
Prince Asterion couldn't hide his surprise after he saw Wren jumping from Laxus's grip and acting like she wasn't confused as to why she's here.
"Wren? When did you wake up?"
"I told you she'll be awake," He reminded him again and patted him while he walked away trying to drag the dazed prince away from them. Unfortunately, Laxus came to his senses and shouted, "HEY! What am I gonna do 'er?!"
He didn't answer and looked at the two behind him. As clueless as he may be he's going to say something stupid that will wake Wren up.
"Hey, I don't care if ya like each other, but don't'cha think yer too young?"
It has been on his mind for a while now and he couldn't help himself to ask about it. He shouldn't since Prince Zairon is affected too much and it makes him embarrass, though it will be misunderstood by Wren as usual.
"we don't. Anyway, why am I here? I remember I'm sleeping in my room." She says, "Right. We're here because of the Emperor while ya are being requested by Lady Agatha."
He then looks around and thinks that she can manage on her own to find the third concubine here at the garden and she's safe here. He could visit the training area.
The Problem is that, if anyone knew he left Wren to the Third Prince he can feel people chasing him out. Worse, Caesar's sword will be at his neck.
"Is that so? Then I should go right now... But where will you go?" Her question made him snap at his thoughts and finally said, "I'm gonna go to the knights. Your Highness, take care of Wren!"
Wren curses as she watched him leave her there, "Where's Lady Agatha?"
"Mom will be at her favorite spot, near the fountain." She hummed and walked fast, clearly to avoid Zairon.
She still can't believe that she didn't feel that she's been moved and she's questioning her own spirits. Weren't they supposed to keep her from harm and yet here she is?
"You have grown the last time I see you!" She looked up and saw Lady Agatha in good spirits, unlike her frail and thin like appearance last time. She can see that she gained weight and her eyes are like blooming flowers.
"Nice to see you again, Lady Agatha. How are you?"
Lady Agatha smiled, "I'm doing well~ Come, let's eat and have a chat over there." She led her to a small table with an umbrella over their heads, "Zairon, don't just stand there. Sit beside Wren and Me."
Zairon obeyed and somehow he sliced one piece of pie and gave it to Wren.
Lady Agatha smiled, only to realize that her son is taking care of Wren so well that he didn't give her mother a slice, only at a later moment that she received one from Zairon.
"I heard you and others have been attacked?"
It wasn't a total attack. More like they were barged into and tried to kidnap Lane.
"Yes, my Lady. They want Lane as far as I know. They still kind of do it and she's persistent."
"Well she couldn't hurt you anymore since she's locked up in the dungeons and the security there is tight."
She said and urged Wren to eat more as she talked about the time she had been bedridden. Of course, she didn't let the opportunity to pass her and spoke about Zairon. A typical mother that loves her son.
"You came here to add another extra layer spell in her cell."
Lexus draws a rune in front of him and lets out his mana to flow around, warm orange light envelops the whole cell wherein the Marchioness resides now.
"..."
"You know, at the laboratory I made a magic tool that could help record a memory~" Lexus scoffs.
Nonsense, video recording should be discovered after five years or so, not today. It is obvious that the prince wants to see him scowl.
He had an idea about it after sensing the Prince has been following him ever since he came out of the Emperor's office. Prince Asterion didn't bother to hide his presence, like he's letting Lexus know that he's behind him.
"What are you developing this month?" He inquired and a hint of mischief flashes in his eyes and Lexus could only smirk, "I'm developing a scroll that could tell if someone loves you."
A lie. But he was sure that Prince Asterion will believe him and it will pique his interest. Indeed, because in the future it was Asterion who made that scroll out of curiosity of love.
"Interesting." He was deep in thoughts and a sinister feeling crept up to his spine and as he looked behind, its eyes gleamed bright at the dark cell.
It was different from how he remembers the Marchioness.
"Hey, you're trembling." He wouldn't realize it if someone didn't point it at him. Truly, he could feel something dark behind the cell, though he once fought a dark wizard before.
"You... you who change the order!"
Its shrilling voice hurts their ears and even the guarding knights faint upon hearing it.
"You couldn't change it. Everything will go how it was supposed to be..."
The dark cell suddenly lit up and Marchioness's face appeared rather odd. It was sluggish and its form is like melting wax, however the gaze it gave is still there.
Asterion called for knights to look outside for the Marchioness as it seemed she escaped before another layer of magic was placed.
"A dummy...? No. A dummy couldn't speak." Lexus mumbled and turned away.
He already had an idea where she could be. Surely, she would be where her son is.
A hearty laugh roared inside the cell then it spoke again, a chilly manner that seemed to sink into his mind, "Whatever you do... it will go according to his plan... you can't change it!"
A drool pools under its lips as it crawled up to the iron bars and its face flushed red in ecstasy, "The one we need... we will get it one day... from you... and you will give it to us."
"Hey, she became weird!" Asterion exclaimed and ran beside Lexus, "I think she's not a mere dummy."
"It should be obvious to you."
"Hihi... the girl... we need her. I can already smell her blood dripping on us... it's brimming with powers."
Girl? The two stopped and somehow they knew who it meant. Seeing the two kids stop, it giggled and said, "hihi... I know she's like you... But much more powerful... aahh... her blood I wonder what it would taste like!"
He glances over his shoulder and suddenly, the dummy is on fire as it screams in agony. He couldn't care less about what it says because at the end of the day nothing can stop him from changing everything. But the last thing it said has been engraved in his mind. A sense of foreboding is creeping up to every part of his body telling him that he needs to find the Marchioness.
And also he needs to tell the Duke about Wren being possibly a target of someone.
"We should go back to the palace," Asterion said, grim and his smile faded while a Rune appeared below, "why?"
"That's where the Marchioness will go."
"Wren! Where were you?" It's been half an hour since she disappeared.
All they know is that she went to the bathroom and time passed and she didn't come back. The knight and maid that were with her were passed out and a black smoke covered the bodies.
"Oh-Oh dear, gather every knight and search the area! We must find her, quickly!" Lady Agatha felt her legs wobbled with worry. This is the first time a noble has disappeared in the palace.
It can only mean that the security has been lax. What worries her more is her son who ran off with Theo.
"Ah, I sincerely pray she's away from harm,"
"What's happening here, Lady Agatha?" Her eyes opened and saw Lexus and Prince Asterion. "W-Wren has disappeared."
Lexus couldn't hide his fear and another servant came rushing in, blood splattered in his clothes and it made everyone's heart to pound.
"My Lady! Your Highness... Master Laxus was found near the gates, bath in his blood! He's currently been brought into the clinic."
Lexus whitens and his heart thrums loudly. "Someone go to the Emperor and tells His Majesty about this. Lexus go home and..."
"I'm sorry about this. We will find the Marchioness along with Wren." Prince Asterion continued and instructed the knights.
He suddenly remembered the words it said earlier. Blood. It wants Wren's blood.
"Search faster her life may be---"
"Oh stop it! I said I can manage!" They all turned and saw Wren in disheveled state with her three spirits and Zairon. She's grumpy as she walked towards where Lexus was.
"She almost killed the Marchioness and I found her at the entrance of forest." He must meant the one behind the palace and...
She's safe.
"I told you not to trust her cousins too much." Boaife reprimanded Adara once more before patting Wren, "That woman have to die. She almost tried to kills this girl."
Prince Asterion nodded and said, "I apologize that you have to experience this kind of event here at the Palace. Don't worry, as the First Prince of the Empire I will make up to you."
Wren had her mouth opened and waved her hands, "No. I'm not hurt besides..."
"Eventually her sentence will be faster now since she escape Prison and she attempted to murder a child."
He didn't let her finish at all and it finally hit her that this guy wanted to do something to her. He may be easygoing and mischevious, but he's uptight to things like this.
"Thank goodness you're fine." Lady Agatha hugged Wren and cried.
Zairon could only watch her mother and saw that Lexus had been slumped on his seat. Everyone had become worried today and when the Emperor heard this, he was enraged that he instantly had someone kill the Marchioness in front of him.
While Laxus is still unconscious, they finally know the reason why Laxus is in that state, it was because he tried to reach Wren when the Marchioness threw some powder in him and eventually, she stabbed him.
But, the time when they came home, what awaits them were the adults in furious. It was much more scarier than the time he saw that thing in the Dungeon.