Cedric tucked the rose away as soon as he left the balcony. Waiting for him at the exit was his second in command. Axel bowed at the prince’s entrance.
Before Cedric could ask what was on his mind Axel already had the answer to it. "The princess left the square over an hour ago with Alfonso. Elias is still on their trail." Axel inford and he clicked his tongue.
"Tsk, I guess as much." He closed his eyes for a mont, hissing between his teeth to get his thoughts clear. After the last incident, he ca across that stranger with an anonymous presence, the voice hadn’t bothered him for a while now
He opened his eyes exposing his clearer gold eyes. In the background, loud music resud again; Cedric guessed another presentation was about to start.
"At least she isn’t here; if the sorcerers are to show up, it is mostly likely at the square," Cedric ntioned, looking at the positive side of things, and if things took a downside, she was clear from danger with Elias and Alfonso, at her side while he took care of his obligations.
"It would have been better if the festival was cancelled. This is taking too much risk" Axel ntioned as Cedric walked past him while he followed a few steps behind.
"That would have caused chaos. The people would have been alard thinking this is bigger than it was. Kaiden pushed on with the festival to create an illusion that the kingdom isn’t shaken by them." Cedric explained. The truth was that they had hints of a possible attack during the festival.
On the day of Abrielle’s parent’s arrival in Vitalis, Callista had co across important Intel hinting about the sorcerers’ next movent. It was the strongest lead they had gotten in a long while and that was the reason for her unannounced appearance.
After that, the idea of postponing the festival was suggested by Callista, but Cedric and Lucian turned it down even before it was proposed to Kaiden. The festival had already been delayed because of the winter food shortage, it was already quite late to even celebrate a new year.
Security was tightened but yet they were able to compromise the security. It only spoke of how tricky the sorcerers were, the ghoul that appeared during Cedric’s duel was their work.
But then why would they want him dead unless soone in the royal family was involved. This solidified Cedric’s first suspicion that a mber of the royal family was involved with the sorcerers, and the first prince already had a couple of suspects.
Axel understood what the prince t. Cedric made his way out of the pavilion, the square was more crowded than it was earlier. "What is the next performance?" Cedric asked, feeling disturbed.
"The parade, your highness. It is the last performance which will still be ongoing while the lanterns are being lit." Axel explained to Cedric as they wove through the crowd.
"I think this year the lanterns might be after the parade," Cedric comnted.
In the middle of the square, the parade had already started as they slowly made their way out of the square. Cedric soon realized a problem, their initial guess was that the square was the location most likely to be attacked because of the population
But with the parade, people are likely to gather everywhere they go. That was a big problem. Cedric’s eyes darkened at the thought. "Lucian ntioned seeing so suspicious sightings. Instruct the shadow knights and also send word to the king that more attention should be given to the parade."
Axel left to relay Cedric’s instructions imdiately; the air seed pleasant tonight, although it was a bit chilly because of the ti. Around him were little groups comprising lovers and family. Mothers with their children, fathers throwing jokes. Lovers smiling at each other while watching the parade under the bright moonlight.
Then the feeling hit him, and a long sigh left his lips. Cold mist forms in front of his nostrils as he breathes heavily. ’ You don’t have ti for this Cedric. It is all a temporary setback.’ he reminded himself.
Ti went by slowly, and the parade procession got to the main roads; their parade included dance, drama, and music, so many more exciting displays. It was a parade of many colours and the ti was almost midnight.
The parade was ant to circle around the inner sector of the mainland before returning to the square at midnight.
Abrielle and Alfonso lingered on the streets; she avoided the square, scared of sothing that never happened. She lived in her delusion, telling herself she didn’t care, hoping the more she lied, the more it would sound like the truth.
"I think we have stayed away for too long; we should head back," Alfonso ntioned; it was getting close to midnight, and he was sure the parade had already started by now. He wanted to see it with her.
"One more minute," Abrielle requested as she went through magic stones from a roadside peddler. These stones were low quality but they were still pretty.
Her ears perked up on hearing distant sounds of instrunts and singing closing in. Her eyes glimred. "Where is that coming from?" She asked Alfonso, finally abandoning the magic stones. They were deep inside the city away from the major road.
Alfonso smiled, hearing her question, "I am sure you have never seen it before; it is the spring festival parade." He replied.
"A parade," Abrielle said as her mory clicked in place, rembering a parade was ntioned in the main book; it was when Lucian gave Callista the gold rose and professed his feelings for her. Unfortunately, he didn’t get the rose in this story, and this greatly worried Abrielle, wondering if she was going to have a backlash for it.
"Yes, since it is close to midnight they should be getting close to the square after circling the inner city. We should hurry up if you want to see it." Alfonso urged her.
Abrielle smiled at the peddler before moving away. "Let’s head back then." She responded Alfonso gave her his hand, but she refused to accept it, walking past him. He smiled at her response. "I know a shortcut."
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