Chapter 3: Turmoil at the Banquet
2119words
Nobles dressed in gorgeous formal attire, adorned with exquisite ornaments, conversed and danced throughout the hall. The air carried the fragrance of rare spices—a blend known to elevate one's mood—making the atmosphere even more vibrant.
The Count stood in the center of the hall, holding a scepter with a massive sapphire embedded in it, emitting a faint glow. His voice, amplified through an arcane device, carried throughout the entire space.
"Thank you all for attending this celebration... By Her Majesty the Queen's favor, this crystal bracelet has been bestowed upon the future Duchess. This bracelet contains protective powers passed down through royal family secrets. Elena."
The Count summoned Elena, who stood and curtseyed gracefully. Her skirt subtly changed color with her movement—a characteristic of enchanted fabric that shifted hue and luster according to the wearer's emotions.
"Do not disappoint Her Majesty's great kindness. Tomorrow, go to the palace to express your gratitude to the Queen," said the Count, signaling the attendant to present the bracelet.
The bracelet rested on a silver tray inlaid with pearls. Made of pure crystal, it was covered with complex runes that gleamed mysteriously in the light. Such an item was extremely precious, typically possessed only by members of the royal family.
"Yes, Father," Elena said solemnly, then picked up the bracelet and slipped it onto her wrist. The moment it touched her skin, it emitted a soft glow and merged with her aura, causing the runes to shine even more brightly.
"So this is the betrothal gift. It's exquisite," a maid whispered admiringly. "They say this bracelet can ward off even the most powerful curses."
Isabella watched Elena wearing the bracelet with barely concealed envy. A fleeting green flash passed through her eyes—a sign of jealousy. Though she appeared gentle and kind on the surface, deep down she too longed for such honor and status.
Elena examined the bracelet on her wrist with great satisfaction. The gemstone seemed to respond to her emotions, its light growing more intense, the patterns of the runes becoming more defined.
In the midst of this joyful atmosphere, a sudden incident shattered the harmony of the banquet. Elena's hairpin was shot off by an arrow gleaming with blue light!
"Who dares!" the Count roared, his scepter immediately glowing with defensive light, forming an invisible barrier around himself and the surrounding nobles.
All eyes turned toward the entrance, where a squad of knights in black armor burst into the hall. Their armor was engraved with mysterious runes that glowed as they moved, displaying powerful protective capabilities. Their appearance immediately caused a commotion, with nobles retreating and seeking shelter.
"Wester Castle is quite lively today," the leading knight said, his voice carrying a special resonance that instilled awe in those who heard it.
Elena stared at the knight, her mind racing. "Who is he? His aura... doesn't seem like that of an ordinary human," she thought to herself.
The knight removed his helmet, revealing a handsome yet stern face. His eyes had an unnatural amber color, gleaming with golden light—a mark of ancient bloodline. A scar ran from his left eyebrow to his temple, adding to his mysterious and dangerous presence.
Outside, thunder roared and lightning streaked across the sky, forming unnaturally blood-red patterns, as if some mysterious force responded to the knight's appearance. Elena looked at the hairpin that had fallen to the ground, suddenly realizing that this scene matched exactly what was written in the Book of Fate.
"An arrow knocked down the hairpin? Why is it exactly as written in the Book of Fate? Could it truly be a book of prophecy?" Elena thought in shock, feeling a chill rising up her spine.
The knight approached step by step, passing by Elena and walking to the center of the hall. His footsteps were exceptionally clear, each step leaving a brief golden trace on the ground that quickly faded.
"You trespass into my castle... Guards, seize him!" the Count roared in anger, his scepter emitting threatening light, ready to unleash an attack.
However, the knight's reaction was faster. He darted forward, his sword already unsheathed, blue flames flickering along the blade. His movements were swift as lightning; before the Count's guards could react, one was struck down, spraying Elena with blood.
Blood fell on the ground, forming strange symbolic patterns that flickered with a faint red light before disappearing. Elena watched the fallen guard, pulling her dress away from the fresh blood. Strangely, the blood seemed reluctant to leave her clothing, forming thread-like connections, as if some force was at work.
"The Black Hawk Guards are investigating this case. Anyone who dares to obstruct will be killed without mercy," the knight said coldly, his sword flickering with dark blue flames that seemed capable of devouring life energy.
"What Black Hawk Guards! So brazen!" Elena thought, marveling inwardly. "Their aura... so ancient and powerful." She had never seen such powerful weapons and armor before.
Elena summoned her courage, gripping the knight's sword tightly. Her hands instantly covered in blood, but she did not back down. "Those who enter these lands unannounced are considered enemies of the lord. If you are an honored guest, present your family crest and visitation documents." There was a trace of authority in her voice—the privilege of noble blood.
"You... you are utterly lawless!" The Count slammed the table in rage, causing objects to glow and emit unstable waves of energy.
The knight withdrew his sword, the flames slowly extinguishing. He took out a badge from within his garments, and the symbol on it emitted an intense light, immediately causing everyone to feel an invisible pressure, forcing them involuntarily to their knees.
"The Black Hawk Guard has been ordered to thoroughly investigate the prince's private meetings with military officers and has been granted royal permission to act without trial. Bring the person to me," the knight said, his badge flickering with light, projecting the royal seal that formed a giant eagle pattern in the air, emitting an aura of authority.
Following his command, several Black Hawk Guard knights brought in a military officer. The protective charm on the officer was forcibly removed, emitting a faint light before extinguishing, leaving him without protection.
"Border Officer Henry Dumont... The prince is not allowed private meetings with military officers. Your Excellency, does the Earl know of this?" The knight's eyes flashed with a golden light that seemed capable of seeing through lies.
The Earl maintained a forced composure, though the glow of the scepter in his hand weakened, revealing his inner unease. "General Dumont is here? Neither His Highness nor I were aware of this."
"I came to visit my cousin!" General Dumont struggled to say. A faint energy fluctuation surrounded his body—the residual energy of the suppressed amulet.
The knight displayed the badge in his hand again, threatening: "If you utter even one false word, it would be as treasonous as deceiving the king." The badge emitted a blinding light, seeming able to pierce through lies and reveal truth.
"General Dumont... you must tell the truth!" the Count threatened, the scepter in his hand glowing slightly, releasing oppressive energy.
Under the double pressure, General Dumont finally broke down. "I came to meet secretly with my cousin. It has nothing to do with the Count."
"How dare you tarnish my reputation!" the Countess cried out in panic, the amulet on her wrist flickering unstably, revealing her inner turmoil.
"Uncle, what nonsense are you speaking?" Elena asked in shock. The blood handprint on her clothes flickered with a faint red light.
"Such a disgraceful event has occurred. Guards, drag her away from me!" The Earl shouted in rage, pointing his scepter at the lady and releasing a wave of energy.
"I didn't do it!" the lady cried out desperately, her amulet flickering intensely as it tried to resist the Earl's attack.
"Wait! There are still doubts about this matter. Take these two away," the knight commanded, waving his hand. Chains appeared out of thin air, wrapping around General Dumont and the lady—chains made of special energy that could suppress the abilities of those bound by them.
Seeing this, Elena immediately drew the short sword she carried. The blade instantly wrapped itself in faint red energy—energy that seemed to come from her blood, growing stronger with her emotional fluctuations.
"I dare anyone to try! Stay back, all of you! No one takes her away until this is properly investigated!" Elena shouted angrily. The energy on her sword intensified with her emotions, forming waves of red energy ripples.
However, Elena's resistance proved futile. The knight dodged swiftly, easily knocked her sword away, and grabbed her wrist. His hand glowed with runes that suppressed abilities, preventing Elena from channeling her energy.
"Miss Elena," the knight warned in a low voice, "do you want your father to die, or your mother to die?" His eyes flashed with golden light, revealing an authority that could not be defied.
Elena was frightened and at a loss, feeling an immense pressure that almost suffocated her.
At this critical moment, the lady broke free from the guards' control and rushed in front of Elena, forming a weak barrier to protect her daughter.
"It's all my fault, it has nothing to do with my daughter! I am willing to die to prove my innocence!" the lady cried desperately, her amulet glowing brightly as it released all its stored energy.
Then, under everyone's shocked gaze, the lady violently crashed into a stone pillar in the hall. Blood symbols appeared instantly on the pillar, then vanished. The lady fell to the ground, blood flowing from her head, forming a strange pattern.
Elena rushed to her mother's side and looked up to see the words in the Book of Fate hovering in mid-air, matching exactly what was happening now. The blood-colored text burned in the air like streaks of crimson lightning.
"Margaret died wrongfully by crashing into the pillar, Isabella slapped Alexander in panic... this is... why can I see these words?" Elena thought in terror.
She reached out to touch those characters, and strangely, everything around her suddenly froze, as if time had stopped flowing. At the same time, she discovered that the Book of Fate was written in blood, and the blood seemed to still be flowing, as if the book itself was a living entity.
"If blood congeals, fate is cast. The ancient blood art connects the web of destiny." A mysterious voice whispered in her ear—the voice seemed to come from far away, yet it echoed in her mind.
"This is... blood? Not ordinary blood... what creature's blood is this?" Elena thought in shock. She had never witnessed such an eerie phenomenon.
Time flowed once more, and the people around resumed their movements.
"It's terrible, the lady has no breath!" A maid cried out in panic, releasing a faint light from her hand—a basic ability to detect life signs.
Elena crawled to her mother's side, calling out desperately: "Mother! Mother!" Red energy unconsciously released from between her fingers as she tried to revive her mother, but it was already too late.
Lady Margaret breathed her last, her soul briefly appearing as a wisp of silver mist before dispersing into the air, embarking on its journey to the underworld.
Elena watched as her mother died, then saw Isabella rise to her feet. Recalling the content of the Book of Fate she had just heard, she murmured: "Margaret died unjustly against the pillar, Isabella slapped Alexander in desperation... If the bloodstains congeal, fate shall be forged..."
As she spoke, her eyes began to emit an unnatural red glow, as eerie as a blood moon, as if some ancient power was awakening within her.
From above, the phantom of an enormous blood-red book floated in the air. Its pages turned without wind, making rustling sounds. The text on the pages formed of fresh blood that seemed still alive, flowing slowly across the paper, forming constantly changing symbols and prophecies.
"The evening sparrow perches upon the blood oak throne, the arrow of divine judgment shatters illusions, the heart of beauty coils like a venomous serpent, and shall meet a violent death in the wilderness." The blood-colored text flowed across the page, then transformed into a crimson raven, flapping its wings as it flew out of the book and disappeared into the void.
The gears of fate had begun to turn, and an epic tale of bloodlines and destiny was unfolding.
