The bustling marketplace buzzed with life. Colorful stalls lined the cobblestone streets, filled with all sorts of goods—glimmering jewelry, vibrant fabrics, and foods Noah had never seen. His eyes darted around, barely able to keep up with the new and fascinating things in front of him. It was the first time he was truly out among the common folk, breathing in the vibrant atmosphere.
As Noah continued going from one stall to another and talking to the vendors, behind him, Bella and Captain Ronald exchanged glances as they stood nearby. Disguised as a simple guard and maid, Ronald remained stoic, but a certain warmth passed between them. Bella nudged him with her elbow, her smile playful.
"You look too stiff," she teased, her voice low so no one could hear. "Relax a little, we're supposed to blend in."
Ronald chuckled, but his posture remained upright. "I am blending in. Just… keeping an eye on things."
"Always the serious knight, aren't you?" Bella said, leaning in slightly as her lips curved into a mischievous smile. "I suppose that's what I like about you."
Ronald blinked, the words catching him off guard. His gaze lingered on her for a moment, and in that fleeting silence, a quiet chemistry sparked between them, unspoken but palpable.
Bella smirked, relishing the small victory of getting under his skin. She glanced away, her eyes sweeping over the crowd as she assessed the area. The joyful scene unfolded around them, but something was amiss. Her sharp instincts picked up on it, the slight unease in the air.
Bella, who had been teasing Ronald earlier, now had her senses on high alert. Her sharp eyes caught sight of a group of shady men loitering near a jewelry stall. They weren't interested in the sparkling wares. No, their eyes were fixed on Noah and his party. One of the men, a lanky fellow with a scar running across his face, exchanged glances with the others, giving a subtle nod. They began to spread out, their intentions clear.
Ronald had noticed them as well. He shifted his weight slightly, his hand hovering near the hilt of his sword. His senses were finely tuned, always on edge, especially in public places like this. From their looks, they seemed like street thugs. They were looking at her group as cash bags.
It was not something to be surprised about, even though they were disguised as commoners but still, they looked like people of high class.
So it was normal to catch the eyes of some thugs.
"They've been tracking us since we entered the market," Ronald murmured to Bella, his voice barely audible. "They're waiting for us to move to a quieter area."
"I know," Bella replied, her voice cold. Gone was the playful smile she had earlier. Her eyes hardened as she glanced toward the group of robbers. "Foolish insects."
Meanwhile, Lilith, ever aware of her surroundings, had sensed them from the start. Though she appeared relaxed, happily engaging with her son, her senses were heightened, especially since Noah was with her. The presence of the hoodlums lingered at the edge of her awareness like a constant buzzing in her ears. And it irritated her.
Enough was enough.
"Bella, Ronald," Lilith called softly, her voice barely audible above the noise of the market, yet both of them heard her clearly. The two immediately made their way to her side, leaving Noah by the fruit stand, still talking to the vendor's daughter, blissfully unaware.
"Get rid of those flies," Lilith commanded, her eyes hardening.
Bella's gentle smile twisted into something far more sinister. "With pleasure," she said, her voice taking on a cold edge.
Ronald glanced at Bella and couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine. The contrast between her usual bright demeanor and this current, darker side made her almost frightening. He, too, felt a certain anger simmering beneath his calm exterior. How dare these filthy criminals ruin his moment with Bella? And how dare they think they could harm anyone under his protection?
Bella and Ronald moved swiftly, disappearing into the crowd like shadows. The hoodlums, still unaware that they had been spotted, continued to watch the group, their excitement growing as they whispered among themselves, waiting for Noah's party to move to a less crowded area.
Their wait, however, would be short-lived—and their lives even shorter.
Bella reached the first one, the man with the scar over his eye. He stood at the edge of a stall, unaware as Bella silently approached from behind. In a fluid motion, her dagger slipped out, gleaming under the sunlight. Before the man could react, Bella had sliced through his Achilles tendon, silencing his scream with a swift slash across his throat. Blood sprayed, but Bella moved quickly, disappearing into the crowd before anyone noticed the body crumple to the ground.
Ronald had his own prey in sight. Two of the robbers stood in an alleyway, waiting for their signal. He approached them casually, hands at his sides, before drawing his sword in a flash. The blade cut through the first man's torso with brutal efficiency, the second robber staring in horror as Ronald rammed his sword into his chest. He died with wide, terrified eyes, slumping to the ground as Ronald pulled his blade free without a second glance.
Across the market, Bella moved with lethal grace. She cornered another robber near a vegetable stall. The man saw her too late. She smiled a sickeningly sweet expression, before slashing at his legs, severing the tendons. The man screamed, but his cries were cut short as Bella slit his throat with a precise flick of her wrist. His body fell to the ground in a heap.
One by one, the robbers fell, each more violently than the last. Some were stabbed, others beheaded, and one unlucky man was burned alive by a fire spell Bella conjured in her palm. The flames consumed him, his agonized screams drowned out by the bustling noise of the market. No one even noticed as his charred remains crumpled into ash.
The gang of thugs, once eager for an easy score, now lay dead or dying in the shadows of the bustling marketplace, unnoticed by the happy, chattering crowd.
By the time Bella and Ronald finished, the gang of robbers had been wiped out. The marketplace remained blissfully unaware of the carnage that had taken place just out of sight.
Lilith smiled as Bella and Ronald returned, wiping the blood from their weapons with calm efficiency. "All done?" she asked casually.
Bella nodded, her sweet smile back in place as though nothing had happened. "Yes, My Lady. All taken care of."
Ronald stood beside her, his expression unreadable, though there was a certain satisfaction in his eyes. "They won't be troubling anyone anymore."
Lilith gave them both a nod of approval. "Good. No need for such vermin to ruin our day."
Meanwhile, Noah was still chatting with the fruit vendor's daughter, completely unaware of the bloodshed that had occurred mere feet away. To him, it had been just another peaceful day at the market.