The Red Thread of Destiny

Trapped in the middle of chaos

After receiving the artifact that he managed to win, Stella actually intends to go home quickly. However, unlike his wish of wanting to return unnoticed, the magic stone that was the medium of the teleportation gate was troubled thus blocking everyone from going home.

Without any outside help, they were all stuck at the auction site. Except for having teleportation scrolls, those who were left obviously had no choice but to wait for help calmly.

"Here you go" whispered Stella, staring flatly at the crowd on stage.

It had been half an hour they could not get out and it had been during that as well the nobles who did not have magic scrolls made a fuss. Most of those who are impatient can see Stella making the pretext of 'busy' as a diversion of fear. As for the others ... stand with a trembling body as if the first time to see the bad side of the world.

Just be true ....

To be honest, this isn't the first time Stella has been caught in this shitty situation. However, among all the experiences that Stella has been through while in the east, only this time Stella saw many people panic with a situation that could be said, is not too much to worry about.

For Stella, troubled mediums of magic were common. Already well considered one of the bad possibilities that could happen, Stella even felt their situation now was not exactly chaotic.

Compared to panic because of being trapped, Stella was more worried about the drowsiness that began to attack her. Until he falls asleep in this place ... Stella could not guarantee her safety as long as she was unconscious.

"Miss, aren't you bored?"

Really, deh. Stella absolutely cannot lower her guard! Besides the possibility of the rescue team arriving quickly, the male figure he had just defeated was also unbelievable.

Though Stella believes she has acted as cold as possible so as not to be disturbed. However, as if deliberately unaware of Stella's subtle rejection, the man continues to talk to her.

"By the way, we haven't met, have we? My name is Dante Hadrian Cassie. You can call me Dante."

In addition to being insensitive, Stella did not think that the man was also stupid. When everyone can hide their identity, Stella believes that only Dante can introduce himself openly while undercover.

Is it because of his family name?

Stella is not sure whether the attitude Dante shows is purely stupid or deliberately bragging. The two club netra who stared straight without containing the slightest doubt towards Stella, was very disturbing.

"Yes? Then?"

In addition to his incredible confidence, strange events related to Dante previously made Stella unable to be friendly just like that. So, no matter how friendly the smile that was painted on Dante's lips, Stella had no intention of welcoming his outstretched hand. Stella will not touch that hand before she gets an answer to the strange vision that comes without being asked.

"You don't want to be friends with me?"

"No. Thank you." Thank you."

The informal conversation Dante had from the beginning of their interaction was also another factor in why Stella did not want to engage with Dante.

Stella had absolutely no intention of making this coincidence a friendship. Even if they were both from the Duke's family, there was no reason for Stella to get into a close relationship with someone pretending to be intimate with her at their first meeting.

"You sure, Miss? Isn't adding acquaintance a good thing? Why did you refuse him?"

Okay, that's enough. Stella's patience began to almost reach her limit.

Judging from the proud pitched chatter that Dante let out, can Stella concluded Dante's hick. I don't know what the purpose is to keep persuading Stella. Trying to get an artifact or a connection with her family, Stella will not serve the undercover purpose that Dante is trying to put on her.

"The monster?! Why are there monsters here!?"

Although this is not exactly good, the screams of someone on stage became Stella's savior from Dante's sickening ravings. The sleepiness that had previously attacked Stella, was now defeated by annoyance mixed with shock. Amidst the cries that began to put each other down, Stella's eyes were now wide open, no longer heavy.

"Is there an attack?!"

Not throwing away the opportunity, Stella used the panic of the people as an excuse to dodge.

Stella pulls herself as far away as possible from Dante who is frozen in place. While paying attention to the situation, Stella seeks a safe place that she can use to take shelter as well as assess.

Monster wolf.

Stella notices the presence of a monster that suddenly jumps towards one of the organizers. The brutality of the monster as it devoured humans, further destroying the conducive atmosphere within the room.

Why would a monster exist in a place like this?

Amidst crammed conditions of people racing to get off the stage as soon as possible, where the source of the chaos began, Stella took a different course of action.

While some people were still busy dumbfounded, trying to digest what was happening, Stella had already secured herself behind the chair.

Isn't this auction place not selling monsters? So, where did it come from?

As Stella knew, even though it was illegal for the auction venue it was impossible to take the decision to contain as much losses as selling monsters. In addition to being dangerous and impossible to control, if it remains desperate to sell monsters, it means indirectly looking to die.

If they dared to include monsters in the auction section, it was the same as having the Emperor destroy their business.

"Dire Wolf's son" whispered Stella, having managed to see well the kind of monsters that spread fear to the visitors. The presence of a wolf monster twice the size of a human height despite being young, looks very strange even for Stella.

How could?

From what Stella knew, Dire Wolf was a flesh-eating monster that was extremely sensitive to mana. The strength of the physique that the monster possessed, was twice that of an ordinary wolf. But, the reason why this Dire Wolf himself became the most avoided monster besides his strength was; his steps were too fast, quite difficult to avoid even for experienced hunters.

"Hey, don't push me."

The increasingly uncontrollable runaway current, began to interfere. Everyone who was racing to save themselves, making Stella's hideout no longer safe. In the midst of the chaos, Stella was dragged along by the flow of humans. The number of people who started to become aware of their dangerous situation, further aggravated the already deafening sound of screaming.

It's hazardous.

Besides being sensitive to mana and having a strong sense of smell, Dire Wolf is a monster that does not like a lot of sound. The reason why Stella was quite awkward about Dire Wolf's unexpected existence, was of course because these monsters tended to avoid crowded places, especially human territory, creatures that they hated so much.

"Oh."

The magnitude of the insistence of the frightened people brought Stella along swayed full of obscurity. Different from him who has been quite often met with emergencies starting from childhood, the capital people who are not trained in self-rescue, it makes their creepy conditions feel more dangerous.

I can't just shut up.

But, how is it possible?

For the second reason, to be honest Stella felt it was a little forced. If so, Dire Wolf's son ran away. Shouldn't a crowded place like the capital be the worst choice because the hearing is so sensitive?

The first option is stronger.

That's right, the possibility of someone accidentally bringing Dire Wolf to the capital, feels much more acceptable. Although Stella herself did not know how that person could catch even the point of bringing the beast here, the hard work and purpose that person did to the existence of Dire Wolf in the capital, was, clearly not having good intentions. Judging from this extremely intentional mess, for some reason Stella had this premonition of chaos was the beginning of a grand plan.

...~o0o~...

Her short platinum blonde hair flew following a gust of wind. Noticing the star with its two ocean-blue neutrals, his lips curved as he accidentally caught the brightest shining star in his vision.

"Mr Orfeo. There's a letter from the palace."

A knock on the door from someone he knew very well, distracting Orfeo from the star. Asking the figure to enter, Orfeo now found a gray-haired man bowing respectfully while handing him a letter placed on a silver tray.

"A sign from the Emperor."

The emblem of the crown stamp is surrounded by the lilies he now receives, Orfeo noticed. When he saw the stamp, without the need to read it, Orfeo could already feel the danger sign. Orfeo could not help but have a bad feeling as he opened the letter and started reading it.

"There's another attack."

The unusual order of the Emperor written in the letter stated that the assault case was still confidential. With the help of the witches, only a certain person would be appointed to secretly complete the attack this time– before it sniffed out the public completely.

So His Majesty decided to minimize the psychological impact for the people.

Orfeo nodded in understanding. In addition to trying not to bring anxiety to the people of the empire, with the secret of this attack, the Emperor also intended not to provide a gap for the nobility. If the corrupt nobles learned of this attack, it could lead to doubts not only for the Emperor, but also for the succession rights of the Princes of Ormanda.

A wise decision.

As a Duke who was in the highest position after his brother died, Orfeo was able to understand well the decisions taken by the Emperor. Sitting in power amid greedy people is not easy. As long as Revian Crown Prince Corsten Ormanda did not yet have a powerful ally, this weakness the Emperor tried to hide would be useful to solidify his son's standing.

Prince Rhodes will also join.

The absence of a quarrel between the princes of Ormanda is something Orfeo is very grateful for. Although factions between princes formed behind the scenes. As long as the second and third princes had no desire for the crown, the worst possibility such as the existence of a civil war, thinner could happen.

"Davion Jovaan."

Among the several names written, there was one name that felt familiar. Whether it was true that it was the name of the person Orfeo knew or not, but considering that the name was written earlier than the names of other witches, Orfeo just hoped that now the news of the child was fine.

"Tern— this time"

"Master! Young Miss Stella is not in her room!"

The arrival of the other maids who were so sudden in the absence of any manners, distracted Orfeo from the letter in an instant. His brows furrowed as he watched the messy appearance of the maid.

"Have you looked for him?" orfeo asked as he threw the letter from the Emperor into the fireplace. As soon as he confirmed that the letter had now changed its form– to ashes completely, Orfeo looked at the waiter who had just brought the news with a demanding look, wanting to get an answer immediately.

"All the places have been checked, sir! However, no matter how much I deploy people to search, we cannot find Young Miss anywhere!"

The frustrated scream from the servant, transmitted to Orfeo. As the older brother of Stella, Orfeo did not believe that his sister had to disappear when she had just received unpleasant news.

"Stop the search in this mansion, Stacy. I think I know where this bad boy went."

Orfeo breathed a tired breath. Indeed, it's not once Stella's disappeared twice. However, considering that Orfeo had just gotten some unpleasant news, Orfeo could not help but feel upset. Orfeo did not like his sister was more likely to harm himself, rather than directly inconveniencing Orfeo, as his brother.

You just have to say what you want to me, Stella!

The loss of Stella in this inopportune moment, really made Orfeo feel frustrated. That was enough, their first brother alone had already lost his life. Orfeo did not want the most terrible thing to happen to his sister, who could now be trapped in a dangerous situation.

"Gather the knights and tell them to search the cake shop that just opened!"

Orfeo's strict orders, Stacy immediately worked without asking much questions. After making sure the female figure in charge of being the personal servant of her sister was gone, no longer in her room, Orfeo walked over to her butler who was now handing over some magic tools.

"Theodore, you know what to do as long as I'm not around, right?" orfeo asked, trying to repeat the readiness of the butler. Their only two years of age were different from Orfeo who was much younger, than a servant, Theodore actually felt more like an older brother to him.

"I'll make sure no problems occur in the mansion as long as you're gone, Mister."

Theodore who showed seriousness, brought a line of smiles to adorn the thin lips of Orfeo. It was not wrong that Orfeo appointed Theodore to the highest position among the servants. The attitude of someone who has put all his life on the basis of loyalty is very satisfying to see.

"good. Then, when Julia wakes up to this commotion, tell her to just wait at home."

Orfeo added another task for Theodore. Before Orfeo left, he wanted his wife to stay calm. Orfeo does not want to worry about Stella making the baby in the womb Julia threatened in danger.

"I'm following your orders, Sir."

Feeling that there was nothing more to note, Orfeo tore through the paper that had been graced by an intricate pattern from one of his artifacts.

In her present condition, the precious gift that Stella had bought for her as a bribe in the past, Orfeo did not think it would be useful. Although Orfeo could have used the power of his aura to get to the destination quickly, in order to save more time, teleportation paper was much more useful.

I hope I'm not late.

Without wasting time, once Orfeo had arrived at the shopping area, Orfeo immediately ran to find a cake shop that might be addressed by Stella.

As an older sister, no matter how difficult Stella was to be reminded to always listen to her words, Orfeo could not let her sister be in danger. As the only family left, Orfeo would not let his little sister bear such a huge burden as their first Big Brother, just because Stella had the same red thread strength.

Please ... use your escape skills well, Stella.

There are several places mentioned in the letter that got the attack. Among all the names written, the illegal auction house hidden behind the cake shop recently opened, becoming the first place Orfeo will check out.