Did You Get Scared?

Wedding dress…

Artie's eyes widened as her mouth opened again. Not only was she shocked that someone would be arranging her wedding dress now, but she was also intrigued that Miel was seemingly excited about the wedding. Could it be that he really wanted his father to have a new wife?

She then dropped her gaze and looked at the clear skies. "I… have no idea about the wedding customs of Ellis Plains… or Kingdom Achlys. I might have to rethink about it after learning what there are to consider."

Miel followed her gaze and took a glimpse of the blue skies. He then brought his eyes back to her dazzled face. "Let's discuss them on our way back, Lady Shen." He turned to the superior after, ready to leave. "Sir Sundance, let us head back to the castle."

Artie rode Lupina at the same pace as Sepia went, the ducal knights on a diamond formation to keep the archduchess and the seneschal protected. The entourage was now noticed by those who had remained in the plaza. Some people would chatter, but Artie Shen was a face that they had no recollection of. No one knew where she came from, only that she would be marrying the archduke in a few days.

[Warning: event anomaly! Someone is following your movements closely! Take shelter or activate Authority Conquest?]

'Huh?! Acti—no, no! I will remain indifferent!' Artie lowered her gaze and reached out to caress Lupina's head. 'Can you show me where the threat is coming from?'

Her eyes then moved to the side and saw a pointer hovering just behind the houses they were passing by. As she kept her eyes in that direction, she ended up seeing the shadow of a person lurking. It was broad daylight; someone was already trying to cause trouble? Artie squeezed some hair from Lupina's mane, regulating her breathing so she wouldn't go into panic if she got shot down. She already survived an arrow to the head.

'Don't worry, Artie. Everything would be fine. We're indestructible… at least perhaps until our character parameters would open...'

"Lady Shen, please duck when I say so." Miel's freezing voice echoed, and Artie felt like her heart palpitated for a few seconds. When she brought her eyes to his face, he was still facing what's ahead of them. However, the cold light of a blade coming from his fingers took her attention.

"...seneschal," Callum whispered as if also getting the cue.

"Now!"

Miel yelled as he swung his hand to the side, sending a small blade towards the direction of the shadow person. Artie only hugged Lupina while Callum raised his shield just a split-second after Miel's blade went past him. Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Three needles stuck against the shield, even piercing through the wood!

The other ducal knights unsheathed their weapons in case someone else attacked from their designated directions. In just an instant, the tension exploded. The people in the boundary of the city and the drawbridge were alarmed, as well as the soldiers watching the bridge.

However, Miel didn't move again. He kept his eyes in the direction of the shadow person even until Callum lowered his shield. When Callum tried to touch the needles, he spoke, "Those are poisoned at best. Do not lay a finger on them. Sir Sundance, with me. Sir Princesley, escort Lady Shen back to the castle with caution."

"Yes, seneschal." Callum nodded at the two others before Sir Sundance left the back as Miel broke off from their group. The formation changed, but the ducal knights hurriedly strode away with Lupina.

"Is it okay for us to leave them behind?" Artie frowned as she watched as Miel and Sir Sundance rode in the direction of the attacker. She had a feeling that the attacker wouldn't be abandoning the task just because they failed on their first attempt.

Her eyes then flew to the shield that Callum was holding up in defense. 'Poison needles? Are those really poison needles? I'm already getting hits? I wonder if it was because I helped in thwarting their attack. Does this mean that they knew I was out here? Or was it because an hour had already passed?'

Callum and the ducal knights didn't chat with the lady. They crossed the drawbridge while the soldiers and knights were on high alert. Artie managed to get inside the castle walls unharmed, but she kept on worrying about Miel and Sir Sundance. The attacker might get lucky somehow.

When Artie dismounted her horse, she quickly ran inside to look for Larkin. She entered his study and found him going through a lot of paperwork. He looked extremely busy with his brows frowned like so. However, she figured it would be more important at the moment.

"Larkin, I got attacked earlier."

Her voice was like a thin glass shattering in the dead of the night. Larkin stopped his pen in midair before putting it back on the quill set. His eyes lifted to see her worried face. "...where?"

"On my way back to the castle. Someone tried to shoot me with needles. Miel believed it was poisoned… but he took Sir Sundance and went to investigate. I was hoping we could..."

"Miel knows how to handle attacks. You don't have to worry about him." Larkin leaned on his chair and called Artie close with hand gestures. She walked closer to his side, and he reached out to hold onto her arm loosely. "Were you hurt? Did you get scared?"

Artie wanted to say that she would even fight if she had to, but then, she remembered the things that Heaven's Creation actually gave her as tips. Larkin didn't like women who would jump into trouble even if he would be giving them trust for the commitment. Moreover, she was already punished for endangering herself.

She only smiled and shook her head. "No, but I'm worried. If they continued to attack me, they might end up hurting other people—at worst, they might deliberately use the people against us again. We both know that it would be too hard for us not to respond to the calls of distress from the people."

"...stay in the castle until our wedding day." Larkin paused for a while as he slid his hand down to hers. "The risk would be too great if you were to leave my side again."

"Okay, but you have to promise me that you won't hide the situation from me." Artie used her other hand to press on her chest. "I am an angel so… I will have ways to find out the truth." She then twitched as Larkin gave her a seemingly familiar gaze—the trust-deducting gaze. "I… I only want to make sure that you won't get hurt in the long run! Remember what happened in the harbor…? You might collapse again!"

Artie twitched once again when she realized that her voice was gaining volume. She then looked away and used her hand to feel the snood with her fingertips. "I didn't mean to shout at you. I'm just terribly worried."

Larkin narrowed his eyes, but his expression was not anything hostile or disappointed. "Do you not trust me?"