A week after the second weapon trial had passed,
Under the guise of moonlit night, a horse-drawn carriage bearing the crest of House Libertas moved along the stone-paved road that ran through the grass fields of Middenland.
At the end of that road stood a magnificent mansion built from the purest white marble and the finest oak. Its fences were made of black-painted iron, surrounded by hedges of vibrant flowers and verdant bushes.
"Spring Palace" was its name. It served as the venue for tonight's royal soirée, in which I, Victor, a humble baron, turned out to be the lowest-ranking noble in attendance.
After my carriage passed through a checkpoint guarded by royal knights in fine steel Gothic plate armor and purple capes, it parked in front of the grand, ornate oak doors. An elderly gentlemanly butler stood before them, checking the invitation passes of the attendees, most of whom were high-ranking nobles.
Seeing this, I stepped out of the carriage in what I believed to be a glorious manner. I extended my left arm outward while the cape on my back fluttered in the nighttime wind. My leather-booted foot stepped down the carriage stair in such a firm and dignified way that I could not help but think to myself how cool I looked.
"I'm so cool right now," I thought proudly, smirking.
That was until I sprained my ankle and fell down the stair, face-first onto the ground below.
*Ouch!* I exclaimed as everyone nearby shifted their gazes toward me, some even giggled, showering me in absolute embarrassment.
Yet one among them, a young woman with long black hair styled in a gothic fashion, wearing a jet-black noble dress, approached me, her skin was as pale as a blood-drained corpse, and she held a finely crafted black parasol patterned with dead trees and bats.
"Need help, mister?" she asked gently, extending her hand.
"Thanks" I hurriedly replied, as she pulled me up with a force clearly unfitting for someone who looked as young as she did.
I ended up half-standing on one knee, my face resting awkwardly against her shoulder.
"The princess is awaiting you. Come quickly," she whispered into my ear in a cold and haunting voice that made my skin crawl, then she pulled me fully upright until I could stand on my own.
As I was about to thank her properly and ask whether she was one of the co-conspirators in our plan, she disappeared into thin air.
I stood there in confusion for a second, unsettled by her sudden disappearance. But with the mission of meeting the princess in mind, I shrugged it off and walked toward the front door like any other noble.
"Welcome to Spring Palace, Lord Victor, Baron of Vindia," the butler announced respectfully after checking my invitation.
As I stepped into the mansion, a torrent of quiet scorn and whispered insults reached my ears. They came from high-ranking nobles who looked down upon me, a mere baron from what they considered a backwater city.
I ignored them and searched for my colleagues.
The first person I recognized was Valeria, standing amidst the grand hall of white marble and red carpet. She was engaged in an in-depth conversation about banking with several nobles dressed in luxurious clothing and jewelry that glittered beneath the crystal chandeliers' light.
She looked busy, It seemed important, so I decided not to interrupt.
The second person I recognized was Elena. She currently moved with the speed and footwork befitting a seasoned warrior while being chased by a literal horde of noblemen seemingly enchanted by her beauty, they offered bouquets of flowers, luxurious gifts, and some even proposed making her their concubine, all while their actual wives stood nearby with visible veins bulging on their foreheads in clear disdain.
She was clearly having a hard time. I should not barge in and cause more trouble.
The last person I recognized was Arina, surrounded by a group of noblewomen discussing perfumes, clothing, and cuisine.
I was about to approach her when the topic shifted to gossip about the complex relationships among high-ranking nobles. Arina called someone, quote, "a high-class whore who sells out her own pristine vagina for the vague promise of a minuscule and insignificant plot of land."
As she spoke, everyone in the group, including Arina, raised their ornate silk fans to cover their mouths and giggled.
So… she was enjoying herself.
I should go meet the princess on my own instead.
With that in mind, I looked around for a servant or guard to ask for directions.
Just as I was about to approach a maid carrying glasses of champagne on a silver platter, the pale woman's voice from earlier whispered beside my ear again.
"It's quite a secret meeting. You shouldn't tell this to anyone."
I turned my head, my skin crawling once more, no one was there, yet her voice continued.
"Let me guide you. We have a tight schedule tonight. First, turn left at that corner…"
I followed her instructions through the pathways and corridors until I reached a vast library filled with so many books that my own small collection seemed like a grain of sand in a desert by comparison.
As I stood in awe, the library doors suddenly closed shut behind me.
When I turned around, a pair of crimson red eyes stared back at me.
The young woman from earlier now stood before me.
"Pull that red book" she commanded, pointing her pale finger toward a shelf behind me with a cold and intimidating demeanor.
I swallowed and did as she instructed.
When I pulled the red book, the large bookshelf split open, revealing a gray stone staircase descending into a dark basement below.
"This is suspicious" I thought as I swallowed nervously.
"The princess is waiting for you down there. I'll go as well" the young woman said as she suddenly appeared beside me and began descending the stairs.
With some hesitation, I followed her, a suspicious and frightening stranger, down into the dark basement hidden behind a classic bookshelf secret entrance.