Beginning of Ludi festival

Caelus Residence...

"My lord...I have urgent news from the guild."

The servant brought the letter into his study and left after delivering it.

Rudolf picked the cutter and removed the seal.

The sender was from human realm.

"We lost them... If you want us to keep persuing them. Make arrangements for us through the portal. Or else consider the deal off."

The sender was from Central Alliance Guild.

He crumpled the paper in his hands.

"Curses....just when I thought I could bring that insolent fool back!" He cursed furiously.

He got up leaving half his paperwork and went out into the balcony.

He noticed Aurora seated alone in the gardens.

Her face looked tired. She had lost interest in everything.

She looked at the sky aimlessly.

Her personal maid even tried to get her to do her favorite hobby of arranging flowers.

She only shook her head refusing to even eat or drink.

Lucerne rarely visited them back home. He had become more occupied with the tasks in the palace.

He was given the charge of the inner palace guards division.

Rudolf felt a proud father to see him strive more than his other sons.

He was the most considerate one out of all of them.

Tiberius was forced to take archery lessons. Like Aurora he disliked bloodshed and killing.

He was highly disappointed to see him fail everytime.

But the latest instructor proved better for him. He was a slow learner.

He had always admired the alchemists. Judging by his behavior whenever he saw the Grandmaster of Alchemist tower or Canute.

He felt her subconsciously staring at him.

He briefly made eye contact and went inside.

Her eyes only showed contempt for him.

He felt a little remorsed over her changed attitude towards him.

She did not approach him or speak with him.

He had to devise another strategy t o bring back Octavius.

This time during the Ludi festival he had to convince Helios to set announcement of marriage between Lucerne and Melody.

"First of all, Blue Van traders. I need them to reopen the traders portal for them."

He left his office in a hurry to meet up with the owner of the merchant company.

"Then I will need to take up the Alchemist tower. Must open the portals."

"Tiberius...has he come back?" Aurora repeatedly asked him about Octavius.

"Not yet mother. You have to be patient. Brother will be woth is soon." He held her hand into his.

He was timid but acted maturely for his mother's sake.

Rudolf hurried out of the residence and onto the chariot that waited to take him to the headquarters of Blue Van.

Meanwhile at the imperial palace another series of unfortunate events had begun.

"Sister Aria! Is it true that you will be in charge of organizing the Ludi festival?" Melody entered her chambers to find her sister in a daze.

"Aria? Sister?" She waved her hand infront of her face to get her attention.

"What do you want?" Aria snapped back at her. Her mind was already burdened with the truth she had uncovered about Luciana.

There was no news from Cornelius either.

She feared to anticipate the worst.

"Sister...is something bothering you?" She sat beside her.

She solemnly shook her head.

Melody knew if her older sister was quiet it meant that something big mattered.

Getting her to say it out was a hard task. Even Luciana was like that.

She always felt left out among them.

Her eyes stung with tears.

Aria noticed her silently weeping.

"Wha-! Wait! What's wrong with you? Did someone hurt you?" Aria forgot her own worries for time being.

Melody shook her head in denial.

"Was it Lucerne? That brat! Did he say anything odd to you?" She denied it.

Lucerne was always sweet towards her despite her lack of interest in him.

"Did Father say something? Or was it Avlynn giving you a hard time?" She asked her multiple times.

"It's you blockhead of a sister!" She shouted and started crying.

"Ha~? M-me!?" Aria was dumbfounded as if someone strick her with a rock on her head.

"You dummy! Why are you acting like that? Sister Luci is gone too. She told you to take care of us. Why do you always leave me out like sister Luci did? She never confided in us about her own troubles. Hic! And now you're also becoming like her. Hic! I get scared that I will be left alone one day. Hic! What am I even to all of you?"

She wailed like a baby.

Aria hugged her and rubbed her back gently.

She was not good at comforting others like Luciana was.

"I'm sorry Melody... It's just that I have a lot on my mind these days... Nothing is like it was before. I too share some of your fears. So...even if it is hard to understand each other sometimes. But it still is better to either confide in with others or give them some space."

She sobbed and nodded at the same time.

"Atleast confide in me. Hic! Aren't we family?"

"Yes...I am there to hear your worries. So lash it all out. I'm listening."

Melody slowly started by telling her about the condition in Caelus Residence.

Lucerne looked more tired than usual. He had been busy with rescheduling the soldiers for the upcoming festival.

He rarely complained but the situation that his father had stirred for them was overwhelming to their house.

He requested his quarters to be moved to the main palace. Since then he had barely visited his estate to check on his mother.

Aria proposed the idea of allowing Melody to work with her.

Melody was better at selecting the venue for the festivities and lead the organizing part.

While Aria and Helios discussed the budget and contestants aswell as the envoys from the human realm with the ministers and the council.

She had made some flaws that Horos corrected for her.

It took her a week to look over the preparations of the grand event.

Gladiators from all over Amanécer were excited to participate in the games held every four years.

Even new participants from the human realm were given a chance to show off their skills and earn lavish rewards.

She was not as good at handling affairs as Luciana was but she gave her best to what her potential allowed her.

Above all else it was her favorite event. The day was closer. Soon she would witness the fruits of her labour.

"Now... let the games begin!" She smiled and looked out of the window at the new moon night.