Both Dahlio and Xinhua, the two stayed at home
Never going out as advised
While Jhony, Fenry and James looked closer on the matter more properly
Hunji kept watch on Jeon in the meantime
But as days passes by, Jeon's body slowly started to turn dark
Jasmine had recovered
But was advised to never let loose the ropes tied on Jeon
Jasmine tried to feed Jeon
But always failed as he never would eat them
And would always turn his head, letting out a loud otherworldly like screech
Enough to make anyone's ears to burst
And cause of not eating for so many days, Jeon's body grew thinner and weaker
Hunji felt completely helpless seeing this state
- { At Guillebeaux estate, around 5 o'clock in the afternoon } -
"This can't be it!" Jhony sighed deeply
Fenry narrowed his eyes as he stared at a specific list on desk
"I also don't understand anything... it has been around 5 days... and... around 100 children that were possessed dusted into ashes?!" James grip on the table tightened as he stared at the list
"That is also my question..." Jhony pinched the bridge of his nose
"If my calculations are correct... those who are possessed, can't stay alive longer than a week..." Fenry pointed out
Both Jhony and James froze at that
"A week... wait- how long has been for Lord Jeon?!" James asked he looked towards Jhony
Jhony's hand tightened to fists, "... 5 or maybe 6 days to be more precise..."
"We... don't have much time!" James voice trembled
Silence
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"I think I have a plan..." Fenry said
Jhony and James perked up hearing this
Fenry looked at the two
"But it is dangerous... and it can't be guaranteed it will work or not" He warned
"Well, we will hear it out and later decide it" James said crossing his arms over his chest
"Yeah and from the looks of it, we have to see through everything since many children's lives depends on it" Jhony stated
Fenry soon nods, "Alright... so... here is my plan..."
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- { With Dahlia } -
{ "This... has to work..." } Dahlia thought internally
She was currently at her desk
That book she brought was already open to a random page
She had taken a candle and light it up
She looked towards her door
{ "Ok... door is locked..." } She nods to herself
She took a deep breath
Then finally took the book and carefully held a specific page to the candle light
Putting heat at the back of the book's page
{ "Don't burn it... don't burn it... don't burn..." } Her hands started to get sweaty
Her fingers trembled slightly
The book was heavy as is
That holding out towards a candle light was enough tiring for Dahlia's hands
And cause of her hands being sweaty
The book soon tipped slightly to the side
A page soon caught fire
Dahlia gasped as she quickly threw the book on floor
"AH- FIRE!!!" She immediately rushed to the glass of water that was on her desk
She was about to splash the water on the book
But froze at the sight
The book didn't had any fire caught on it
"It is... not burned?" She carefully touched the book
It felt cold on her hand
She narrowed her eyes as she picked it up and began examining it
"It... appears to not be damaged..." She mumbled
She slumped on floor
{ "That is a relief it didn't get damaged..." } She thought as she looked down at the book
She bit her lower lip as the page still remained blank
"Hah... maybe... I should rest for now..." She mumbled as she puts away the book on her bag
Then later she blows away the candle light
- { After 2 days had passed away } -
Dahlia was ready for the day as she had gotten dressed up
She ate breakfast with her parents
But noticed that her brother wasn't present, again
{ "It has been... 2 days whole since I last saw my brother... wonder what happened..." } She thought internally
"Dear, have you seen Jhony around? I haven't caught a glimpse of him..." The Duchess asked as she looked at her husband
The Duke looked up to glance at where Jhony's seat is left empty
Then set his gaze on his wife
"I am sure it is nothing to worry about. He said himself that he will be staying at his swordsmanship teacher's place to sharpen up his swordsmanship. Don't you remember?" He assured her
"Yes... I remember that..." The Duchess nods as she resumed to eat her meals
"But I can't help but worry... he hasn't send any letters to us..." She began as she looked down on her meal
Dahlia hand's froze on her meal
"I did noticed, but it is probably nothing. Maybe the lesson is tough, leaving him be tired and all that... You know how he is" The Duke chuckled slightly
"How he is what? Stubborn as his father?" The Duchess shook her head as she couldn't help out a small smile
"Are you perhaps jealous my dear, that our son takes after more after me, than you?" The Duke raised a eyebrow at her
The Duchess scoffed faintly, "Jealous? Why would I be jealous?"
"Hmm, you sure? Your brows are narrowed" The Duke smirked
The Duchess lets out a sigh, "Dear, no talking during eating"
"You didn't answer me though-" Before the Duke can continue
The Duchess smiled at him
The Duke wisely and silently resumed to eat his meal
Clearly avoiding eye contact with his wife
Dahlia watched the entire thing
She let out a faint sigh before resumed to eat her meal too
- { After the meal } -
Dahlia soon started to take a stroll around her garden
She let the fresh air brush against her skin and hair
Sunlight streamed down on her
She stared at the flowers for a long time, dazed
{ "... My brother... I think he is still probably trying to find a way..." }
She closed her eyes briefly as she looked up
She saw the few birds flying peacefully in the sky
{ "Only if our parents knew that... he is secretly investigating something dangerous..." }
Her hands soon clenched into fists
{ "Why did I tell him about all this? Why was I this stupid! Why couldn't I be stronger? Why couldn't I just... have been as smart as him..." }
Her eyes stinged again as tears threatened to fall from her eyes
She rubbed her eyes, carefully
So the powder she wore to conceal the dark bags and the redness of her eyes, won't come off
Which will reveal her state
She looked back down at the flowers
Lowering herself as she began to caress a random flower's petals
{ "... I still haven't been able to make the words appear on that book..." }
{ "What can be done to make them appear?" } She sighed deeply
Soon she stood up straight as she was on her way to go back to the estate, towards her room
When she entered the estate
She notices her maids were looking around
"What's wrong?" Dahlia asked her maids
Scarlet immediately looked at Dahlia with Nathalie, "Ah! My lady!"
"Lady Lily from Memozino household has come to visit you" Nathalie said
"Oh, where is she? Take me there" Dahlia replied as she smiled
"Right away, my lady. Please follow us" Scarlet said as she turned with Nathalie and guides Dahlia away
She walked with them before she finds herself in front of guestroom
{ "Wonder why Lily came?" } She pondered on that thought
Scarlet soon opens the guestroom door
Dahlia entered as she found Lily
Scarlet closed the door after Dahlia entered, soon the two maids leave
Giving both Dahlia and Lily privacy
Lily was sitting at the sofa as she was sweating a lot
She looked towards Dahlia and got off from the sofa
"Dahlia... have you seen Lord Jhony somewhere?" Lily asked as she goes toward Dahlia
"Wait- my brother? Why?" Dahlia tilted her head
Lily looked down as her shoulders shook, "Well..."
She bit her lower lip, "I haven't seen my brother for 2 days now... he left after Lord Jhony came... to fetch him..."
She gripped the edge's of her dress, "Which... I presume is for that investigation..."
Dahlia froze, { "Wait... 2 days..." }
Her shoulders tensed up, "I too haven't seen my brother!"
Lily looked up quickly as her eyes widened, "Wait- you too?!"
"But I can say for sure the two are still investigating with Fenry brother" Dahlia soon patted Lily's shoulder
"Yet... what if something happened to them, which we don't know off?" Lily looked down again
"My parents are deeply worried... even if my brother gave a false excuse that he is staying at ... Lord Nen's house for horse riding..." Her eyes narrowed
"I know he went off with Lord Jhony to investigate... still... I am worried..."
"What is something happened to him during the investigation... cause..." She lifted her head
"No matter what... even if my brother is older than me... he is not a adult!" Her voice trembled
Dahlia felt a pang in her heart
{ "Well... she isn't wrong... both of our brothers are older than us... yet... they are still children... not adults..." } She thought internally
"I know that deeply well..." She replied
"Then- what can we exactly do then?!" Lily turned towards Dahlia fully
"I can't say for sure..." Dahlia's shoulders slumped down
"But... you remember the book I mentioned earlier which I brought from that realm?" Dahlia tilted her head
Lily nods, "Yes... I remember. You mentioned in your letters that the words suddenly vanished?"
Dahlia nods back, "Yeah, I have been trying everything to bring back the words... yet..."
She shook her head, "None appears to be successful..."
"Well... that really is odd for the words to disappear..." Lily mumbled thoughtfully
"Yes... that is odd... at first I could clearly see it... but now... it is... just gone..." Dahlia rubbed her arms
"See... clearly..." Lily repeated
"I don't understand... how could you actually see the words when you mentioned earlier it was too dark there... to even see the path?" She asked as she made eye contact with Dahlia
"It is true, there was darkness everywhere... but there was only a faint light source..." Dahlia began
"It is the red moon..." She nods
"Red... moon..." Lily shivered at that before she shook her head
But Lily froze as her eyes widened
{ "Wait-... what if..." } She thought internally
"Dahlia! When you came back... did you ever opened the book here?" Lily asked as she grabbed both shoulders of Dahlia
Dahlia's eyes widened
"What-... I- I have never..."
Her voice lowered, "I... only opened it... after Jeon was... possessed..."
Lily's grip on Dahlia's shoulders tightened, "Isn't that just odd? When you were there the words didn't vanish out of nowhere on that realm. Right?"
Dahlia's breathing hitched, { "Wait... that is..." }
She tried to think
It was true that she only saw words back then in that realm
Not once has the words disappeared like it did now...
Until... she came here
She hadn't opened the book since she was busy thinking about all the stuffs
Like being prepared when facing the king
Then later, her new lessons and classes
And lastly trying to reach out to her guardian
Not once has she ever checked or tried to read the book... until that possession incident happened
She snapped back to reality as realization struck her
"Wait-... Lily that is-"
Suddenly a loud crash was heard from the estate
Dahlia and Lily flinched at the sound
"What was that?!" Lily asked immediately
"I don't know- let's go!!!" Dahlia rushed out from the guest room with Lily
.
.
.
After moments, Dahlia and Lily both arrived at the living room
When the two arrived, the entire estate was in chaos then
"HOLD THEM TIGHTLY!!!"
"DON'T LET THEM ESCAPE!!!"
"WE NEED MORE MEN!!!"
"FIRST RESTRAIN SIR ZIN AND SIR FON IMMEDIATELY!!!"
"THE ROPES AREN'T STRONG ENOUGH!!! BRING A STRONGER ONE!!!"
Dahlia was completely frozen on spot
While Lily was behind her
Dahlia finally noticed her mother and immediately goes towards her
Leaving Lily on that spot as her Nanny had come up to her
"My lady, are you alright?!" Lily's nanny asked as she intentionally blocked a view from her, preventing her from seeing... something...
Meanwhile, the Duchess was pale in comparison
Her eyes wide open with fear and worry
Her body shook as she covered her mouth
Tears trickled down her cheeks
The maids were trying to calm her
But it was obvious with their expressions that they are all also tensed up
"Mom... what's wrong? What is happening?" Dahlia asked as she reached her mom
The Duchess immediately looked down, she lowered herself
Pulling Dahlia in a hug
{ "Wait- what is going?! Why is she crying?!" } She thought internally
When she finally looked over, just outside where many men trying to restrain two healers... assistants of Sir Trev
And... finally her eyes lands on the other two people
There her breathing froze completely
Her eyes widened in terror
"No..." Her breathing hitched
"Dahlia... please..." The Duchess's voice cracked a lot
"Don't... look..." She pulled Dahlia's head on her chest to block her view
Dahlia gasped as her breathing became abnormal
She panted a lot as tears trickled down her cheeks
She gripped her mother's dress tightly
"No... no... no... this... isn't...." Dahlia hiccupped as she closed her eyes tightly
Burying her face more on her mother
"Please... this... isn't... brother..." She chocked on those words
- { Outside the estate } -
The men had somehow restraint both Sir Zin and Sir Fon- who clearly works under Sir Trev
The two men were trying to free themselves
But the guards didn't let them escape from the ropes
Then... at the other end was... Jhony
Behind him was James...
Jhony was using his aura, clearly creating pressure that made many guards struggle to move up
He had a sword on his hand
James was the same
"Just- where is his grace! Did you even informed him?! And also informed Duke Memozino?!" Keoni yelled at one of the guards as he struggled to get up too
"We... informed his... grace and the... Duke... they are on their way... here" One of the guards informed
"This... aura... is intense..." Another guard groaned
"HANG ON!!! DON'T HARM ANY OF THEM!!! JUST RESTRAINT THE TWO SOMEHOW!!!!" Keoni barked the orders
"SIR, WE ARE TRYING!!!" One of the guards yelled out
When some of the guards managed to get up and about to bind Jhony with the ropes
That few guards were just inches away from Jhony
Jhony tried to cut off the hands of the guard
The guards immediately reacted and stepped aside, almost barely escaping
"Eugh... that was close..." One of the guards mumbled
"Hey-... where is Lord James?!" Another guard asked
"What- he was just here a few seconds ago-" Before the other guard could ask
{ { { Shk } } }
{ { { Shhhk } } }
Keoni froze completely as his eyes widened
He gasped as he witnessed the scene with the other guards
Everyone froze on spot
The few guards that had barely escaped a attack from Jhony...
Had each of their head chopped off...
Their heads fell on ground, near the person that had done it
It was... James...
He also had a sword while his aura was as immense
Blood had gotten on his sword and face
"Sir..." One guard looked at Keoni, his expression had gone a lot paler
Keoni jaw tightened as a vein popped on his neck
Sweat formed on his forehead
"They are... still... Lord Jhony... and Lord James... but..." Keoni couldn't finish
{ { { CLIP } } }
{ { { CLOP } } }
{ { { CLIP } } }
{ { { CLOP } } }
The many horses come just outside the estate, where the scene is taking place
It was the Duke Guillebeaux...
And Duke Memozino
The other men were behind the two Dukes
They all froze in spot as their gazes landed on the scene happening in front of them
The two Duke's eyes widened as their eyes landed on their sons
Their whole body began to feel cold
They had seen the expressions...
Both Jhony and James...
The two had wide smiles on their faces
While their eyes were
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Black