Smile

Cassandra walked down the alley. As soon as she finished what she bought from the shopkeeper, she joyfully walked home when a crowd of people was gathering in the center of the town.

It startled Cassandra when people started running towards the gate. She grabbed one hand of the people that passed by her.

"What's happening?" she asked the man, the man confusedly looked at her but answered, "The grand duke has returned," the man said as he raised his sword and started running toward the gate and yelling.

Cassandra was curious what the commotion was about but what he really wondered is what the grand duke's face looked like so she shoved herself against the crowd, luckily she was small so it was easy to get in front.

She saw a bunch of knights on horses. They looked tired, most of them were wounded and the rest of them were carrying their comrades with some of their limbs missing. Then there's a wagon at the back that brought the dead knight from the battle. Cassandra felt bad for them because of the war they sacrificed themselves in.

She looked at the front she saw three knights at the center but they looked different like they are higher ranking knights they wear a different type of cloth on the right side was a girl and the left side was the man that save her in the mist forest Edward "I didn't know Edward was a high-ranking knight,' she mumbled

In the front there's a young man that wears an elegant uniform with black and gold he turns his head toward the crowd that's when she saw his face, she saw well-defined cheekbones with an intense stare broad chiseled titan shoulders on a frame-worthy of Adonis himself and a black hair falling down to his shoulders.

Staring into his deep, dark black eyes, one could get lost within their mesmerizing gaze, as if falling through a canopy of bright evening stars.

"The rumor was wrong," she exclaimed

[Notice: Grand Duke of the north]

Name: William Zhain Dietrich

Level: ???

Title: ???

Skill: ???

Status: extremely tired and annoyed

"what's this?" she wondered as soon as she saw the notice board on the head of the grand duke, she blink again but it did not disappear then she saw she can also see the other people's level and name also their skills.

"But why is the grand duke level was hidden?" she thought "appraise," she said while looking at the duke, trying if it will work.

[notice: level too low to see more info]

As they marched inside the town, people started cheering for them, but their stony faces remained. Cassandra looked at them with pity.

"They might be a victor but a lot of demi-humans died in that raid," she mumbled, as the troops continued their parade up to the castle. Most of the demi-human followed them maybe for the feast of victory.

Cassandra was left there standing. She was wondering if she would follow them too or not, but in the end, she followed them not because of the victory party but because of the grand duke.

"I just saw an angel so I need to look at him closer," she said and started slowly following the crowd.

A big brown gate was open to the people at the castle to enjoy the victory party. A lot of demi-humans attended the feast. Upon arriving at the castle they sat on the chairs that were prepared for them.

Cassandra looked around. There are a lot of wooden tables and chairs for the soldiers to sit in. They placed a big candle chandelier in the middle, with some small chandeliers around it. A big pillar surrounded the hall as the servant brought out the feast.

They bought different meat with some fruits and wine for the drinks. People piled up as they cheered and congratulated the knights for their bravery.

Cassandra walks towards the pillar at the side to hide. She looked around and saw the grand duke sitting at the center of the. Hall. She looked at him and notice that he wasn't happy.

"Does he ever smile?" Cassandra whispered. Until now, the grand duke never once smiled as soon as they arrive at the town.

"The duke never smile," a woman's voice suddenly said behind her, she was startled for a second and looked back she saw a young woman wearing armor, her hair is red and it looked like she has some snake scales on her face and body.