Today is now August 27 and it's my birthday, mother and I were both wearing extravagant clothing, riding in a carriage with just the two of us inside and heading off somewhere. It was already dusk and we are about to approach nightfall.
As we are on the roll passing by, I asked mother, "Mom, where are we heading?"
"To a sacred venue. Today may be your birthday but luckily your birthday aligned with the event so we don't have to wait for 3 more years, this will be an event that implements adult youngsters like you to be a part of the society. Oh and of course your job establishment needs to be announced in public."
Your elegance is nowhere to be seen there, mom. Whatever the case, I'll need to be sneaky when I spot those knights. But then again, they might not be present in this flimsy town so I might be thinking too much.
The carriage stops and the coach states to us, "We have arrived, young sir, milady!"
I hoped off the carriage, carefree style. And in front of me is.. a parish church.
This place doesn't seem to fit the word 'venue' in my opinion, although the term 'sacred' is understandable. I was confused as to what I was supposed to make it up in here.
Mother also steps off the carriage in lady-like fashion and makes a dubious look in her face as she stared at me seemingly dumbfounded. She said, "What's up with that face?"
I just couldn't retort back so I went silent.
As I have nothing else to say, I walked straight inside the parish church.
Inside the so-called venue, you can see that a crowd is noisy, there's a display of shunning goods near the pillars, waiters and waitress upholding fresh appetizing drinks, and would you know, lots of feisty teenagers all around. As expected in the party trope.
While I was on the lookout, mother patted me on the shoulders behind me saying, "Lulu, I'll be talking with my colleagues over there so behave while you're in here, okay?"
"What?! Wai--" I turned around quick and she was already far from me. She was fast at taking actions that it irritates me.
She could've at least guide me to do something but she goes off on her own like usual.
"*sigh* I'll just see what I can do."
I started walking around passing each individual talking to one another, basically just being on the alert lookout with utmost caution.
I couldn't spot a single 'stellar' knight around, only night guards dressed in white and neat clothing.
Until a certain someone caught my attention.
A girl in a beautiful dress strolls around greeting anyone who talks to her. I got stunned by the beauty and elegance she makes. And then she made eye contact with me.
She glanced at me and I glance her back. Her pure white skin shines along her beautiful face. Normally, girls like her would get me to soothe and dote to her like a playboy. But, the reason why she caught my attention is because it was the same person that I just saved a couple of days ago.
While I was in a daze, she approached me.
Initiates a conversation, "Hello. I've been looking at you for quite a while. Hope I'm not disturbing something."
"Oh, no worries. I don't really have anything to do, just waiting. Nice to meet you, my name is Louie Quan Crowley."
I bowed down, one hand to the chest and formally introduced myself.
"Yes. My name is May Luciana Thee Alistair. The Noblesse Oblige Ceremony will take effect in a short while. May I ask your hand for a walk, gentleman."
She reaches out her hand as she pledged. The people surrounding us strained their eyes towards our direction to see the fabled princess making an invite to a random someone. My mother also sees us in the distance with her hand covering her mouth.
Even I was perplexed by the sudden invite of the fabled princess.
"It would be my pleasure."
I took her hand gently and walk to the side of the church to avoid piercing gazes. Ahead was a glamorous garden, neatly organized shaved bushes with sprouted flowers on a sparkling land of haven.
"Won't this beautiful garden a good place to take a stroll, milady?"
"Fascinating.. it's a good scenery to stall by."
This lady knows how to be elegant with her words. She, once again, starts another conversation.
"You know, I've always had this sense of familiarity when I first laid my eye on you. I don't know if we have known each other or maybe something happened between us before but, have we met?"
Her intuition apparently hit me spot on. I should be careful the next time I hear something about her. Let's see if she would buy with this reply.
"No, milady. I believe this was the first time I've ever seen you."
"Is that so.." She then smirked and continued, "Then please to meet you, gentleman. I know this is abrupt but can I ask you something?"
"Please, ask ahead."
For her to smirk right at that moment, this woman knows something's snickering. Now how should I handle this?
"Have you once wander around the city in the middle of the night?"
"I did walked around this town a lot but not past the midnight curfew."
"Is that so? It seems like we had something in common. We might be able to get along."
"Maybe so. I once pulled an all-nighter back when I was younger."
"Oh. Sounds like you're a playful one. Maybe I could share a secret no one has heard about."
"Oh.. I am all ears, princess."
She then looks at the sky while deep in thought, she started speaking thereafter.
"Back in the time I was kidnapped, I got beaten up quite badly all for the sake of the experiments. When I was being brought to the cell after such session, I watched all of the detained individuals get swallowed and sunk to despair by the drugs they were given. Some of them are suffocating and there's also times that their bodies turn into grotesque freaks made of flesh and then see those maniacal fuckers clean up their bloodied mess afterwards."
I cringed by the sound of the F-bomb, I bet if someone hears would do so as well.
On a serious note, hearing her story was just plain unpleasant, it must've been a horrific experience for her, watching tragedy unfold in her very eyes.
She continues on..
"That's until one day, those bastards was alarmed by the exposure news and had to relocate their equipment and important test subjects somewhere else leaving me for dust. That's where that person comes in, my health was so deteriorated that I can't stand back up, he help break the chains, replenishes my satiety and carried me to safety. I never got the chance to speak to him."
Wait. Somehow a part of her story doesn't align with what happened from before. I was intercepted midway at that time.
"I was hoping that he would attend on this event since he looked so genuine in his outfit. I thought that person would be you."
She is groveling.. giving her a chuckle as a reply would be a bad idea in this scenario so I better play it safe here.
"You've been through a lot, milady."
Well, I could've just unveiled the scenario from back then and just come out clean, but under this unsuspecting scenario.., too risky.
She looks at me in disdain, I smiled at her and I continued.
"Circumstances may call for both of you one day milady, so I say let's mind about the business in front of us. You could also say the same thing to that person, you know."
"... I guess you're right. We may meet again one day."
Now that concludes that midnight incident. Unfortunately for me, that wasn't the last of our conversation.
"Now Mr. Louie, care to elaborate about yourself. The night is long and nigh."
"Eh.. me?"
"Yes. You piqued my interest. I just want to know more about you."
Geez. Does she even know that there is still eyes peeking on this direction? And what is the ceremony doing taking this long?
"Hmm.. Where should I even start?"
"How about you tell me your intention with the Oblige."
"Okay. So everything comes from a desire, milady."
"Desire?"
I looked up the night sky as I continued speaking..
"Yes. That unrestricted desire one would make under a constant demand; to serve."
"To serve.. I must say it's a little bit short-sighted."
"Don't say that, milady. To 'serve' comes with different meanings. Sticking close to someone, spending time with someone, doing orders for someone, and most importantly.."
I looked straight into her eyes and whispered.
"Becoming someone.. I want to become a notable figure with a sole purpose of helping anyone."
"... Interesting.. If I may ask, what's the catalyst for this motivation?"
"Interest.. or rather intrigue."
When I spout that out, her eyes started glittering in amazement, perhaps mesmerized by the fact that I was not noble at all in the slightest.
Then she uncontrollably utter a question.
"Does your line of ambition drives you to do something out of the ordinary, like you do it with your life at stake?!"
Her curiosity just gone overdrive, I need to shift her focus away from intervening.
"Milady, I'm afraid I have to hold back answering for today."
It was difficult telling her that but it had to be done. Despite being ambitious, I'm still, in a sense, a noble.
"Whoops, to let my curiosity go awry... Excuse me for prying. I'll be careful with my words next time."
And that's princess for you, she knows where to pull back.
"I may have gone far with my words too, I apologize."
Talking with a royalty takes a toll on my mental health.
"Well then milady, what leads you straight through here?"
She smirked and follows it up with,
"Oh, I'm going to be the overseer of this event. At the same time, I've been scouting for potential allies in this remarkable town, but I may have found myself a golden egg."
"What?"
"Milady, please refrain from spilling too much details."
An unfazed-looking 'stellar' knight comes out of nowhere uttering the last sentence. Following up a sharp stare directed at me. I look at him back with a poker face, not backing down.
"Milady, who is this knight?"
"Oh. Let me introduce him. This is Arslan Sauvage, callsign 'Bravo'. My escort and guardian for today."
"Okay.. bravo huh.."
Nicknamed 'Bravo' paired with the name 'Sauvage' as his surname, that sounds random.
The knight looks at me intently, analyzing me from top to bottom.
After the knight's quick inspection, he changed his expression back to an unfazed look and said,
"Milady, the event is about to begin, you need to go back."
"My, our precious time is up but I'll be seeing you again. Now please excuse me, Sir Louie."
Saying this with a teasing attitude and the princess step forth towards the cathedral. The knight faced my way and left me a gesture..
"Let's have a proper talk if we happen to meet again, Sir Louie."
After that, he walks back to the crowded venue.
So much for a covert mission, those royalties are not messing around.
**
I thought he was the one for sure, but perhaps he wasn't.
But maybe I could use a man of his caliber. He may be more ambitious than he looks too.
"'To serve' huh.." I whispered.
Listening to him made me contemplated and re-enact about my purpose and reason for being born as a princess.
And maybe.. just maybe, bring the fight to the table against Brother Jun's subjects.
While I was contemplating, my escort started talking to me, "Princess, how was the meeting with the Crowley household's successor?"
"So-so I guess. Are you satisfied with that."
"Yes milady. You have no need to concern yourself about him anymore."
This knight is unpredictable in every way possible. I couldn't get a read on him no matter how I examine him. All I could do is keeping him in check and not let him do anything rash.
I don't have to doubt about this knight being one of brother's lackeys. But right now, I'm lacking in power and influence to put up a fight due to my brother's sneaky subordinates' interference.
I may need to recruit someone ambitious like Louie or an exceptional individual like the man clad in black that saved me.
But how should I make contact with the Crowley household without being noticed?
It was then the announcer sees me in the distance and declares onstage..
"And now, the Noblesse Oblige commences."