Story of Season: Winter

Chapter 5's

The palace is now filled with nobles who were present at the engagement party between the Crown Princess of Whittaker kingdom and the prince of Ash Shaif kingdom. The guards were keeping a tight guard, the selected elite troops did not lower their guard in the slightest. Every guest who entered conducted a strict inspection, no one was allowed to carry any weapons other than the guards in the Palace.

Far away, Delphy watched every guest who entered the Palace. Crystal herself was not out of her sight. The feeling was a little bad today, it felt like something was stuck. After all the guests entered the Palace, Delphy tried to blend in with the others so as not to look suspicious.

Prince Erd, who had always been near Crystal, had Delphy keep his distance. His vigilance is prioritized in high-bodied men with slightly brownish skin. Delphy approached Bach who was closest to Crystal. Regardless of the daughter of a noble who was chatting with Bach.

Delphy greeted kindly, "May I join you guys?"

The noble princess agreed with a reddened face.

"Are you okay, Miss? Your face looks red." Although having a stale relationship with the nobles is not his specialty, Delphy did not care.

"I-I'm b-good good s-only."

Bach stared dejectedly at Delphy, "It's not usual for you to join my chat Delphy."

"It seems, this noble lady brought me here, Prince." Delphy smiled kindly at the noble lady before him, "If I may know, what is your name Miss?"

"I'm Rosiana, nice to meet you Mr. Delphy."

"I haven't even introduced myself."

"Nobody doesn't know you, Delphy." Bach replied in an annoyed tone.

Stale base conversations that often avoided Delphy, now he even started it. Nothing looks suspicious until the dance. "It looks like you guys want to dance together, then I'll step down first."

Music plays, guests dance to the beat. Some choose to step out of the middle of the room not to follow the dance. In the middle of the room, Crystal and Erd danced together. In the eyes of the guests, they look very harmonious, while in the eyes of Delphy they look to keep their distance. The relationship of one party to be exact, it was clear Crystal was feeling uneasy.

The sound of the music getting louder, the dance party reached its climax. Until all the invited guests decided to stop dancing, choosing to see the grace of the Crown Princess who danced with the Prince from the next kingdom who looked very gallant.

Until, the hanging lights look swaying. Delphy pulls Crystal right before the lamp nearly injures him. Prince Erd himself moved away from the center of the room. The atmosphere that had been pleasant in an instant became tense. The arrow shot right beside Delphy to make a scratch on his face.

Delphy tries to hide Crystal with his body. "Richard!!!! Take the Crown Princess somewhere safe!!"

Richard who had just entered the Palace hall immediately brought the Crystal with him. Crystal just fell silent, too afraid to make a sound, even if only to ask the state of Delphy who was hit by arrows.

All the guests were running around trying to protect themselves. "CLOSE THE ENTIRE EXIT HALL!!!" Delphy ordered whatever he had in mind. There is no time to think.

He ran to find the King, with his own eyes he had to make sure his father was safe. He saw the King who remained in his seat without flinching even though the Queen who was in fog next to him invited the King away from the Hall.

"Dad!!!" As powerful as Delphy shook the King's shoulder. There's no answer. Delphy asks the elite soldiers to secure the Queen first while he resuscitates the King. It's getting increasingly foggy. The King looked empty. Strange, he thought.

"Where is Commander Claude?!!" Delphy asked who the soldiers were around.

There was no sahutan, the entire army was busy securing the nobles. The arrow shot back, at him from the top window, almost hitting himself again. Delphy ran over while shouting, "Take the royal family first!!!"

Where's Prince Erd, Inner Delphy. He ran out of the hall. On top of a tall tree he saw a black-robed figure with arrows. Delphy had not been able to chase after him, his hand was pulled by someone. "Don't go after him, we have to make sure the palace is safe first."

"Sister Colden, what are you doing here? The safety of the royal family should take precedence!"

"All the royal family is safe, including my father. Just stay with yourself."

Delphy threw Colden's hand, "It's not time to argue."

Delphy re-entered the Hall, while the Palace guards were busy making their way around after getting help. Some were also chasing after the person in black robes earlier on Delphy's orders.

Elite soldiers surrounded Delphy waiting for his next command, "Stay on guard at the guest's premises, do not lose attention to Ash Shaif's working family."

Colden approached Delphy, "Commander Claude arrived shortly after you exited the Hall. Some nobles and Blaze were hit by arrows, but there were no serious injuries. Thanks to a strict escort and a swift soldier of course."

Delphy did not answer anything, his hand holding his hair in frustration. He had no idea what was going on, who the black-robed man was. Too many questions in his head. What this incident has to do with Ash Shaif's kingdom, he has absolutely no idea. There are no variables to make a hypothesis.

Surprisingly, all this time the window above never opens at night even when the party and instead opens tonight, whether this is a coincidence or not, today's janitor must be interrogated.

"Commander Claude is back, isn't he?" While staring at the door of the Hall that was closed Delphy asked.

"Yes, Commander Claude is currently beefing up security."

"Then I'll go." Delphy ran out of the palace.

Seeing his stubborn younger sister, Colden followed Delphy without commenting. If it had been like this, nothing could deter the white-haired girl.

They walked down a small path between the houses, passing a shortcut to catch up with the Palace guards who were also chasing. Delphy who often came out of the palace knew exactly the best hiding place. Moreover, with the palace guards chasing it was very impossible to go far from the palace.

Several times Delphy jumped over the wagon that blocked the road into the forest. Colden is silent, he does not know the purpose of Delphy at this time. Colden first went down the street.

They reached the shallow riverbank with large tree trees around it. There were no palace guards in sight. Delphy could not see clearly because of the darkness at night. Only with the help of moonlight they cast aside the river.

"Be careful of wild animals." Delphy said slowly.

"Be careful of the rocks." Just as Colden finished his sentence, Delphy almost fell down if Colden did not hold his body.

"Thank you."

Not so far away they left the river, across the river now there is a small hut. "Slow down your voice, we've caught the prey."

Although not understand Colden still agree. They crossed the river through the rocks. As much as possible does not cause sound. Unfortunately, almost to the other side, Delphy slipped instead. Her body was soaked. Colden tried to help her.

Wet, Delphy tried to get up. Their attention was distracted by the black silhouette. "THAT'S!" Shouted Delphy.

Colden ran first followed by Delphy. Pursuing in the middle of the forest that night was extremely disadvantageous. It was very difficult to see the state of the land they were passing through, plus the people they were chasing were often fused in the darkness.

It seems like the goddess of luck is siding with them. The prey they were chasing was caught in a fall. Very cliche but really makes them thank the goddess of luck.

Delphy lowered his hood while Colden locked his movements. His face looked very foreign to them. Men with narrow eyes and thin cheeks.

Delphy pointed his sword at the man's neck, "Who are you? Where you from? What motivmu? Who ordered you?" The question just flowed from Delphy's mouth.

With no answer, Delphy drew his sword closer until blood flowed slightly from the man's neck.

The man stared intently at Delphy, "I'm Volta, that's all I can say."

Suddenly Delphy kicked the face of the man who claimed to be named Vola. "I'm not negotiating if you know. You just have to answer all my questions and obey my orders."

Volta threw out his saliva mixed with blood, "I mean, there's one more piece of information I can give."

The impatient Colden further strengthened his lockdown until Volta cried out in pain. "Don't be stale, tell me all the information you have."

"It's just the beginning." Volta's short answer succeeded in dispelling his consciousness after Delphy again kicked his head harder.

"I hate incomplete information." Delphy kept his sword and walked out of the forest. "We leave him to the kingdom."

That night no one realized what was really going on. Volta kept his mouth shut despite being tortured by the kingdom. There is no clarity on the events of Crystal's engagement night with Erd. A few days later, as usual, and a month later. Crystal and Erd are officially engaged, while their marriage is yet to be decided.