The target (3)

Mariette had read it in a book, it said there are some people in this world who can bear the pain of loving. Someone whose heart is vast and sincere, who can love even though he will be hurt. It seems one of those people is Elroy.

"Should we just turn aside, Mariette?" asked Louie in front of her. Sober up Mariette if she's dancing with Louie. "I guess I shouldn't have asked you to dance."

"Next time, please dance with someone other than me or Princess Louisa, Your Highness," said Mariette.

"You know that I'm avoiding those girls."

Mariette looked around her. It was obvious the young ladies at the debutante banquet this time wanted to dance with Louie. They were already dancing beautifully, but apparently, the prince didn't even glance at them. They must be very disappointed.

"Please remember that next year is your coming of age. His Majesty the King will definitely crown you as the Crown Prince," Mariette told him. "If that already happened, the match for you will definitely start to be questioned."

"Geez…"

"Isn't there a lady that catches your eye?"

Mariette and Louie looked in the same direction. It's just that somehow Mariette's instincts were sharper than usual this time.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a lump. Her hand then automatically pulled Louie and protected him from the knife's target.

A scream echoed in Mariette's ears. She could see the commotion in front of her and Louie's panicked face.

I'm sorry, the banquet got screwed, Mariette thought. She wanted to say that, but what came out was blood.

Because Mariette's sense of touch had died long ago, she didn't feel the slightest pain. She only knew she was having trouble breathing and her vision was dizzy–not a good sign.

The last thing Mariette saw before everything went dark was Elroy.

***

"I-I'm sorry. I… I really didn't notice. Should–"

"Prince Louie, if you know it's your fault, then don't cry like that," Anatole scolded. Louie turned tense in an instant. "After all, it should be security rather than you that's to blame."

There was a knock on the door, King Vallotton and Count Lavaud came into the room.

Everyone was waiting tensely for what King Vallotton would say.

"That person seems to have targeted Mariette from the start. He was sent from a family that wanted you," King Vallotton told Anatole.

Anatole lowered his head at once. He didn't know anyone crazy enough to want him. What's more, that person harmed Mariette.

"I have heard from Sir Elroy and Princess Louisa that there have been reports in the past, but Mariette herself has not been too concerned." Count Lavaud let out a long breath. "Mariette and the knights underestimated the threat too much and the attacker is too mad. Feelings of jealousy… are hazardous indeed."

"Then… how are things now?" Louie asked timidly.

"You can't say it's all right," said King Vallotton. "You'd better go see Louisa now and calm her down. She must be shocked because her debutante turned into a disaster."

"Yes, alright…"

Anatole watched Louie leave. "Sir Elroy… how?" he asked quietly.

Anatole still vividly remembered Elroy's quick response. The man immediately cut off the crowd and left Louisa alone with Ferdinand. The only thing in the man's mind must be Mariette alone.

Elroy's expression at that moment… Anatole was sure that Elroy was ready to die at that moment if Mariette died.

"He's just as shocked as Princess Louisa, if not worse. Until now, he has remained pensive and has not rid himself of Viscountess Tierney's blood," Count Lavaud said.

"His actions should be appreciated. If it wasn't for his first aid, Mariette might have…" King Vallotton shook his head.

"Sir Elroy was always there for Viscountess Tierney when she was badly injured. Isn't this too coincidental?" said Anatole.

"Has there been any progress on Sir Elroy's translation?" asked King Vallotton.

"Sir Elroy hasn't reported anything to me yet," Anatole told him.

"Naturally, the books themselves are difficult to translate, let alone describe," commented Count Lavaud. "But it's true what Sir Anatole says; it's all too coincidental."

"The witch I had the chance to meet didn't have time to say more. He always said that the curse is closely related to the destiny of two people."

"Fate to die together?" snorted King Vallotton in disgust. "How could those witches talk about destiny when they ruined the destiny of those innocent humans."

Anatole and Count Lavaud glanced at each other. It's no longer a secret that King Vallotton and Queen Odette don't love each other. But after her death, those feelings turned into hate.

"It is late. We'd better get some rest," Count Lavaud suggested quickly. "The most important thing now is that the perpetrators have been caught. We'll find out how the interrogation went tomorrow morning."

The small group disbanded. King Vallotton goes with Count Lavaud to confirm the final state of affairs. Anatole went to the Prince's Palace. He wanted to give the twins a small consolation.

But what he found was Elroy.

The man was sitting on the floor in the foyer, looking out over the small garden. Behind him, the window of the room where Louie and Louisa were relaxing was still shining. The twins and Ferdinand must have been inside while Elroy decided to be alone.

"The first flowers to bloom in spring…" Elroy said.

Anatole followed where Elroy's eyes went. Some daffodils still blooming in one corner. Anatole remembered that Elroy had given it to Mariette. Flowers he said he picked from someone's shop yard.

"I gave the flowers with much hope*, but it's been the last two times that Her Ladyship has been seriously ill."

*[daffodil flower means "new beginning"]

"Do you believe in flowered prayers? Like a child," growled Anatole with disgust. He clenched his fists tightly. "Mariette's curse won't be lifted by something so ridiculous."

Elroy sounded forced into a laugh. "I know. I just… I want Her Ladyship to be happy and aware that the people around her are genuinely paying attention."

The image passed through Anatole's mind. The image of Mariette kissing the flowers Elroy had brought solemnly. Anatole had stopped by Mariette's study just then and noticed that she had kept the daffodils in a vase. Mariette kept the flowers well.

And Anatole was annoyed by it. How could Elroy, who had just arrived, get Mariette's attention? Was this damn curse and destiny all over again?

This is not fair.

"Sir Anatole?"

Anatole's fist suddenly hit Elroy. His knuckles ached from hitting Elroy's strong bones. But he kept hitting him and Elroy made no attempt to hit him back.

This is not fair.

Anatole had done almost everything he could. Anatole had already spent much of his time. Nevertheless, Mariette never really saw him. Then this guy shows up and messes everything up, including threatening Mariette's life.

"Sir Valent?! What are you doing?!"

"Anatole! Are you mad?!"

If Elroy hadn't been around, none of this would have happened. Mariette would settle down and live on without ever feeling her heartbeat. For Anatole, it was better than dying just for feeling love.

"You'd be better off dead, Elroy!"