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You sat in the corner of the grand throne room, your eyes fixed on the imperial family as they partook in their morning meal. The opulent surroundings and the air of authority that permeated the chamber were not lost on you, and you couldn't help but feel a sense of unease at being in such close proximity to the most powerful figures in the land.
Suddenly, the tranquility of the scene was shattered by the arrival of a frantic royal knight, who burst into the room, his face flushed with exertion.
"Emperor Phil!" the man cried, his voice laced with urgency. "The outskirts of Fanculo have been breached by the enemy! The Scile Village has been burned to the ground, and the Chief is being held captive!"
The emperor's expression remained calm and composed, even as the three most formidable royal assassins in his employ turned their attention to the knight.
"Calm down, Horace," Phil said, his tone measured and authoritative. "Tell me what you saw."
Horace hastily unrolled a map, his trembling fingers tracing the area marked in red. "The region within this circle has been burned, my lord," he reported, his voice wavering.
"And who exactly did you see commit this atrocity?" Lorenzo asked, his piercing gaze fixed on the knight.
"I-I saw Ervanszian assassins do it!" Horace stammered. "He almost killed me, but he said I should come and inform you that you have until sundown to surrender the orb, or he will push in and invade all of Las Ventas."
The mention of the Ervanszian assassins and the demand for the orb sent a chill down your spine, and you couldn't help but exchange a knowing glance with Lorenzo. The implications were clear - this was a direct challenge, a threat that could not be ignored.
"Who told you this?" William inquired, his brow furrowed in concern.
"I-I don't know if I'm right, but his name was Kaide Ledger," Horace replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
Your heart sank at the sound of the familiar name, and you could see the recognition in Lorenzo's eyes. This was no mere coincidence - the pieces were falling into place, and the stakes had just been raised.
Emperor Phil let out a heavy sigh, his expression grave. "The only thing we can do," he said, "is prepare for battle. Lorenzo, ready our defense army. Eret, take your group and spy on the enemy - you know what to do when they attack. William, evacuate the villages near Fanculo and take them to Wingardia."
The trio of assassins nodded in unison, their faces set with determination as they set out to carry out the emperor's orders. You, on the other hand, remained rooted to the spot, your mind racing with a thousand questions and a growing sense of dread.
As the trio of seasoned assassins prepared to carry out the emperor's orders, a voice suddenly cut through the tense atmosphere.
"What about me, Phil?" Thomas stepped forward, his expression one of determination. "I'm a royal assassin too, why am I not assigned to anything?"
Emperor Phil's lips curled into a slight, almost imperceptible snicker, though his voice remained composed as he addressed the young boy. "Thomas, you've only been a royal assassin for a week, and you're still a twelve-year-old child. I don't think you're capable of fighting against the enemies."
Thomas's brow furrowed in defiance. "But Phil, I know I'm young, but my mind is well beyond my age. This could finally be the chance I have to prove myself."
"ENOUGH!" Phil's voice boomed, cutting off the boy's protest. "You will do no such thing. To your room, now!"
Thomas glared at the emperor, his frustration evident, before turning on his heel and storming out of the throne room, Toby trailing closely behind him.
Emperor Phil's gaze then fell upon you, his expression softening ever so slightly. "(Y/N)," he said, "please watch over Thomas for me. He's a bratty little kid, but we all care about him. Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."
"Of course, my Emperor," you replied, bowing low before following the two boys out of the room.
As you made your way through the grand halls of the palace, a sense of unease settled over you. Emperor Phil had entrusted you with the task of bringing Thomas some books and toys, hoping to distract the young boy from the brewing conflict in Fanculo.
However, as you approached Thomas's room, you were met by an anxious-looking Toby, who quickly pulled you aside.
"(Y/N), I have something to tell you," he said in a hushed voice, his eyes darting around nervously. "It's about Thomas. He... he did something very foolish."
Your heart sank, a surge of fear gripping your chest. "What did he do now?" you asked, struggling to maintain your composure.
Toby's words only served to heighten your concern. "He disobeyed the emperor's orders and rode a carriage heading to Fanculo," he revealed. "He said he wanted to go fight the enemies. He said he wanted to be a hero and prove to everyone that he's not a burden."
You gasped, the implications of Thomas's actions weighing heavily on your mind. Fanculo was a dangerous, war-torn region, and the presence of Kaide Ledger only added to the peril.
"Toby, we have to tell someone," you said urgently. "We have to tell the emperor. He'll send William or Lorenzo to bring him back."
But Toby shook his head vehemently. "No, no, we can't do that," he insisted. "The emperor will be furious. He will punish Thomas. I can't let him do that. Tom's been going through too many things already."
You swallowed thickly, acknowledging the truth in Toby's words. The emperor's wrath was not something to be taken lightly, and Thomas had already endured more than his fair share of hardship.
"Then what do we do?" you asked, feeling utterly helpless.
"We go after him," Toby declared, his eyes burning with determination. "We find him and bring him back ourselves. We won't tell anyone. We'll make it look like he never left. We'll make it look like he was in his room all along."
You stared at Toby, incredulous. "Toby, are you crazy?" you exclaimed. "We can't do that. We can't leave the palace. We can't go to Fanculo. We can't face the enemies. I'm just a maid, and you're just a child. We have no weapons. We have little to no skills. We have no chance."
But Toby's gaze remained unwavering, his voice tinged with desperation. "Please, (Y/N)," he pleaded. "Please, help me. Thomas is like a brother to me. We can't let him die, we can't just leave him there. We have to save him. We at least have to try."
As you looked into Toby's sincere, brave, and foolish eyes, you saw a reflection of Enzo's own determination and loyalty. And in that moment, you knew that you couldn't abandon him, couldn't betray him, couldn't ignore his plea.
Letting out a resigned sigh, you nodded. "Okay, Toby," you said. "I'll help you. I'll go with you and I'll try to save Thomas."
Toby's face lit up with joy, and he threw his arms around you. "Thank you, (Y/N), thank you. You're the best! You're my hero!"
Hero, you thought wryly. You felt more like a fool.
Nonetheless, you followed Toby to the stables, where you both saddled up horses and prepared to embark on a perilous journey to Fanculo, your heart racing with a mixture of fear and determination. You had no idea what awaited you, no certainty of finding Thomas, and no guarantee of survival.
All you knew was that you were in for more trouble than you had ever bargained for.
