The Beginning of Authority (part2)

The meeting concluded, and one by one, the attendees left the grand hall, their expressions ranging from frustration to quiet contemplation. Outside, the rain had started to fall gently, its droplets glistening under the dim light of the torches lining the palace entrance.

Victorious the elder twin and Alexios the younger twin paused by the doorway, their golden hair catching the faint glow of the lanterns. Victorious scowled slightly, brushing a raindrop off his coat. "This rain is unbearable. I despise getting wet for no reason. Let's head back home immediately."

Alexios, however, tilted his head back to look at the sky, a faint smile gracing his lips. "Don't you find it calming? It's like the rain is cleansing everything washing away all the tension from the day."

Victorious rolled his eyes, his tone laced with sarcasm. "We have an empire to return to." Without waiting for a reply, he strode toward their waiting carriage.

The brothers stepped into the opulent carriage, its wheels softly creaking against the cobblestone road. Inside, the elder twin stared out the window, watching the rain streak down the glass. "I despise this empire," he muttered, his voice low. "Everything here is chaotic, from their petty disputes to their disrespectful people. I want to return home as soon as possible."

Alexios, on the other hand, seemed proud, his gray eyes glowing with satisfaction. "At least we proved ourselves today. Father is starting to rely on us. That's an achievement in itself."

Victorious didn't respond immediately, though a faint nod betrayed his acknowledgment..

(After two weeks)

Over the following days, the solution has been successfully completed that had plagued the merchants. Their diplomatic prowess calmed tensions and opened new channels of cooperation. Their efforts were praised throughout the Lulibre empire.

While before the two weeks, Alice had her own challenges. She eventually managed to mend her earlier mistake with the red haired man. Once he realized that the incident was his daughter's fault, he approached Alice to apologize. In an unexpected gesture, he even invited her to his home for tea as a way to make amends.

Alice sat on the modest chair, her fingers gripping the teacup lightly, though she hardly drank from it. The man, who introduced himself as Cassius, observed her with a curious expression, his piercing dark eyes making her uneasy.

"So... how old are you?" he asked suddenly, his tone casual but intrusive.

Alice blinked, caught off guard. "What kind of question is that?" she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

"And are you married?" he continued, ignoring her discomfort.

"Ehh..."Feeling the awkwardness intensify, Alice attempted to steer the conversation elsewhere. Placing the teacup on the table, she forced a strained smile. "By the way, where is your daughter's mother?"

She expected a typical answer perhaps something sad or mundane. Instead, Cassius let out a dry, humorless chuckle and leaned back in his chair. "I sold her as a slave," he said matter-of-factly, his voice devoid of emotion. "Spent plenty of time with her, had my fill. Didn't need her anymore..We also need coins.."

Alice's golden eyes widened in shock, her breath catching in her throat. How could someone be so heartless? she wondered, her mind reeling. But she didn't voice her thoughts. "Anyway, you reminded me to get home before sunset." The atmosphere in the room had grown suffocating, and she quickly stood up, making an excuse to leave.

As Alice stepped onto the cobblestone path, her heart was racing with a mix of anger and disgust. She muttered to herself, her voice filled with confused. "What a heartless man! That poor puck doesn't deserve a father like him."

She crossed her arms as she walked briskly, trying to shake off the unsettling encounter.

As she wandered through the dimly lit street, her thoughts still swirling, she spotted Adam. He was wrapped in a long black coat, shivering visibly from the cold. His blond hair was slightly damp, and he was futilely trying to brush a stray strand out of his eyes. When he noticed her, his pale pink eyes lit up with faint recognition.

"Why didn't anyone tell me it was this cold?" he muttered, his teeth chattering slightly. Then, narrowing his eyes, he added, "Oh, wait... you're the one who helped me, aren't you?"

He stepped closer, studying her face as though trying to piece together a memory. He was shivering a little from the cold because it had been raining a little while ago...while alice wondered why this man wasn't at the inn.

"Adam.. Go back to the inn.. The place is not safe after sunset.." Alice said calmly, her eyes widening when she noticed this man's attractiveness. Adam looked up at the sky. "What do you mean? Do you have vampires?" He sighed.

"Holy water will do-"

"No..There is no such thing..but there are scary things..not even holy water will keep them away" She said, really worried about him. She saw him as just a handsome man who doesn't know Directions, looking for peace.

"Oh? Then I have to go back...but let's meet again. We can be best friends until I find my way to the capital." He winked at her and told her to walk towards the inn. Alice froze and opened her mouth in shock as she looked at his back.. Did he just wink at her?!

Is this a wink or a lead balls?

Alice blushed while muttered this to herself and hurried her steps to get home. She did not understand anything that was happening now.

(In the present)

It started to snow...yes, it was winter, Alice's least favorite season...as for the villagers who were dying from the bitter cold. Finding a way to stay warm was difficult and food shortages and Health problems.

But luckily for Alice, Sebastian van Mortem invited her to stay in his castle. Alice really wanted to. She was tired of living in fear about the scary situations that seemed to happen to her.

As the snow began to fall in soft, swirling flakes, Alice couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. Winter was never her favorite season, and this year it felt especially harsh. The chill in the air seemed to seep into her bones, and the villagers were suffering, their faces drawn and pale from the bitter cold. The supply of firewood was running low, and food was becoming scarce. People huddled together for warmth, and there was a sense of helplessness in the air.

But there was something else, something darker lurking in the village. The strange occurrences seemed to intensify as the days passed. People whispered of mysterious figures that had been seen in the woods, of unsettling sounds that echoed through the night, and of dreams that felt too real to be simply dreams. Alice had always been sensitive to the atmosphere around her, and lately, it felt as though an invisible weight was pressing down on the village.

She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She had enough to worry about without letting her imagination run wild. But luckily for Alice, Sebastian van Mortem invited her to stay in his castle. Alice really wanted to. She was tired of living in fear about the scary situations that seemed to happen to her.

The invitation from Sebastian to stay at his castle was a welcome reprieve, one that would take her away from the unsettling sense of dread that had settled over the village. The castle seemed like a safe haven, far removed from the troubles that plagued her daily life.

Despite her unease, Alice had packed her things in a hurried fashion, eager to escape the village's chilling grip. She'd received a message from Sebastian earlier that day, offering her a place in his estate for as long as she needed. The thought of staying with him was both comforting and troubling. She had never fully trusted the mysterious man, but he had shown kindness toward her, and at this point, that was all she could ask for.

As the carriage moved through the snowy landscape, Alice couldn't help but wonder about the strange chain of events that had led her here. What was it about her that seemed to attract trouble? The encounter with Cassius, the unsettling meeting with Adam, and the mysterious figure she had seen on the horizon it all seemed to point to something much larger than she could understand.

Sebastian's castle loomed ahead, its dark silhouette stark against the white backdrop of snow. As the carriage approached the gates, Alice's heart fluttered with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. She had no idea what awaited her within the castle's walls, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking into something far more dangerous than she had anticipated.

The carriage came to a halt, and Alice stepped out, her boots crunching in the fresh snow. She looked up at the towering structure, her breath forming a cloud in the cold air. The front door opened slowly, and Sebastian appeared, dressed in his usual dark attire, his expression unreadable.

"Welcome, Alice," he said, his voice smooth and warm despite the chill in the air. "I'm glad you could make it."

Alice nodded, swallowing the nervous lump that had formed in her throat. "Thank you for the invitation. I... I hope I won't be a burden."

Sebastian offered a small, reassuring smile. "Not at all. You are more than welcome here."

As they entered the castle, Alice couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. The walls seemed to close in around her, and every step echoed through the halls, adding to the eerie atmosphere. The air inside was warm, the scent of burning wood filling her nostrils. Despite the comfort of the fire, she couldn't shake the unease that had settled in her chest.