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nExtra information:

nThe world Anastasia was divided into five empires:

nNorthern Empire, Emperor Regna de Igneel

nSouthern Empire, Empress Melissa Onasis

nWestern Empire, Emperor Calliope Theodoropoulos

nEastern Empire, Emperor Garuda Solon

nand The Center Empire, Emperor Christopher de Anastasia

nAll the empires decided to go with the name Anastasia as the name of the world itself at the request of the first emperor of the Center Empire.

n

nMarinette (Sun-hee)'s POV

nOne, two, three...wow, I really made a lot of money just from selling real roses here. That guy who had white hair from before should take the flower and run off to propose to his lover again but instead, he kept on following us.

n

"Miss, why don't we--

"

n

"No.

"

n

"Just listen to me a little, please, pretty pretty please.

"

n

"My answer is no.

"

n

"Why?? I can make you rich in this empire.

"

n

"I don't care. I only want a little money to buy something to eat.

" Victor was somehow aggressive that day, as he kept on glaring at that strange guy.

nI ignored that white-haired and went on to a street shop to get something, it looked so good and delicious especially the aroma of the food.

nMy father used to own a street shop too back then, he used to tell me that it was where he met my mother for the first time.

nSigh...

nWhat was the use of thinking about that? I bought one for Victor too.

n

"Is it delicious??

"

n

"Mmhh...mmhh.

" he replied with a mouthful and gave me a thump up.

nWell, it was super good after not eating for a while, the hot food in the cold weather was really the best.

n

"Young lady...please spare me some change.

" an old lady with her hair turned grey walked up to me and reached out her hand in the form of lotus asking for some coins from me.

nI didn't hesitate to give her, she thanks me with a heartwarming smile.

nEven in that empire, there were also people who were poor which starving was normal for them, and those who were bored with spending money.

n

"Let me buy you something, ma'am.

" I rushed to the shop and bought a lot of bread for her putting it in one basket.

n

"May the mighty dragon bless you, young lady.

" I bowed at her receiving her blessing and she continued on her way. I started at her back when she was walking away into the crowd.

n

"Victor, you wait for me here.

"

n

"Where are you going??

"

n

"The toilet.

"

n

"Don't take so long.

" he sat on the bench with that white-haired guy, even as I was leaving, that strange guy kept pursuing Victor to agree on his business.

nVictor shaking his head continuously was really adorable...

nYeah...

n'The person you trust will stab your back.' if it wasn't for the warning, I might already trust that guy. I thought I was hallucinating at that time when I bowed at the old lady. I could hear her voice in my mind, when I turned my head up at her, she gave a smile.

nI was afraid.

nI will be lying if I wasn't scared that the person I trusted the most would stab me in the back. Eun-Kyung already did it to me once in the past, I...won't be able to experience that ever again.

n

nAt the center empire, Aurora's cousin's manor,

n

"Lady Aurora, I have to go somewhere...so please wait for me here.

" Herod dropped his smile and chilling tension around him when he heard the sound of the explosion.

nHe rushed out of the mansion vanished from Aurora's eyes even without listening to Aurora.

n

"Is that woman your friend??

" a tall man came out of the shadow asking Aurora as she was staring at the big door of the mansion.

nShe flinched by his sudden voice and turned back to that man who had the same pink hair like her and blue eyes.

n

"What?? Are you interested in her, cousin??

" turn out, that man was Aurora's cousin. He was the only child of her uncle and the person who will help her to take back what rightfully belongs to her.

n

"Nope, just asking. So what do you want from me, Aurora??

" he smiled asking Aurora, he kinda felt a little different talking to Aurora since the last time these two had a proper conversation was when they were young at the funeral of Aurora's father.

nEver since that day, Aurora's mother cut Aurora from all of her relatives, never letting her keep in touch with any of her relatives.

nAurora looked annoyed for some reason.

n

"I need you to gather people.

"

n

"Why??

"

n

"Are you not following the news at all these days??

" she asked him.

nHe took a while to answer and then muttered,

"I heard you helped the new duke from the falling chandler.

"

n

"Yeah, and??

"

n

"Wasn't that it??

"

n

"My legs were crushed, you idiot. I really can't believe you.

"

n

"I thought it was false since you're standing in front of me right now.

" he frowned raising his eyebrow.

n

"I can't tell you about how I could walk again, but for now please do me a favor.

" she asked genuinely at him.

nHe giggled and replied,

"Of course, you're like a sister to me. I'm glad you came to me.

"

nOnly one plan was left for the real plan to be successful, she bowed at him asking for his leave to find the people for the plan.

nBefore she left the main door, she suddenly remembered something...she walked shyly back to her cousin.

n

"Emm...can I have a wheelchair please??

" she completely forgot that she had to pretend to be a cripple at the moment.

n

"Alright, wait for me here.

" he rushed to get the wheelchair but he also remembered something he had been wanting to tell Aurora.

n

"Aurora...

"

n

"Yes?

"

n

"About the new duke Tristan, I think it would be best if you don't involve with him from now on.

"

n

"Why...??

"

n

"It's just unconfirmed information but...the emperor will send him on a mission.

"

n

"What kind of mission...?

" Aurora gulped even though she already knew the answer. She found it hard to believe that the tyrant emperor went as far as to send the new duke to go on a mission even after the incident happening a few days ago too.

n

"The mission is...

"

n

nThe royal palace, the throne room,

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"Duke Tristan Mortel, I asked for you here early today for the safety of our empire.

" the man with dazzling blonde hair with the golden crown on his head looking down at Tristan bowing at him from his throne made of gold and diamond with his captivating blue eyes.

n

"Tristan Mortel is at your service, your majesty.

" Tristan kept his courtesy with cold sweat knowing that what the emperor said next won't be good news. And at that time, little did Tristan know, that all of his family were in danger and he had to go on a faraway mission.

n

"I know you just went through a hard time because of the incident at your birthday party. But it's only you who can help me with this.

"

n

"I'm honored I could be a help for your majesty.

"

n

"There's a demon appeared in Mount Windigo. Duke Tristan, I'll ask for you to lead the army to defeat that demon who threatens the daily life of the people there tomorrow.

"

n

"I swear upon the empire and the goddess to bring the success back to you, your majesty.

" he bowed and left the throne room.

n'A mission?? More like an execution??'

nAll the knights who knew about the explosion back at the duchy took action immediately caught Tristan and brought him to the magic tower in the royal palace to prevent him from knowing that.

nIf he ever knew that, he will get an excuse to escape from the mission. It was the order of the emperor.

nBack at the duchy,

nThe whole room of Marinette was destroyed and the fire was everywhere. All the mages with the ability to control the water tried their hardest to subside all of those fires.

nPrince Philip was also on the site as soon as he heard the news about the explosion, he rushed to where Marinette's room was. But not her real room, but the one in the basement.

nWhen he set his foot in the duchy, he noticed something was off about the explosion. It wasn't an accident, someone set it up.

n

"Marinette!! Where are you??

" his heart couldn't handle the anxiety he was feeling at the moment, it beat so fast knowing that Marinette was nowhere to be found.

nOn the way out of the palace, Prince Philip overheard the conversation between Flynn and Richard.

n

"Lady Diana and lady Marinette were in the room, it exploded when they were having a conversation in the room.

"

n

"What were they talking about?

" asked Richard.

n

"I don't know about that, your royal highness.

"

n

"What about the duke??

"

n

"He was blown away by the explosion and was taken to the hospital.

"

n

"Good...all that left is Tristan...once Tristan is out of the way, the duchy will fall down.

" Richard chuckled at the end of his sentence making Philip shed cold sweat at the corner.

n

nBack to the moment,

nCough cough

nThe basement Philip entered was full of dust, all the furniture was covered with white cloths and spider web was everywhere sticking with his suit.

nThud!!

nA rock fell down suddenly, it was from the wall at the end of the room behind the bookshelf. Prince Philip walked there and pushed it to the side as if someone told him to do that. And the reason why he came here was also because of the dream he had last night, it was blurry but someone told him in his dream to go to the basement.

nA book was put on the floor, it was Marinette's diary book. The other one that Marinette wrote after Tristan's birthday party.

nHe was surprised to see the book lying there, and it was new at that. He was stuck between opening it respecting her privacy and the curiosity of knowing what was inside it.

nThat was when the wind flipped to the middle of the book as it was a fate for him to know the content of what Marinette wrote.

n'Prince Philip is an ally.'

nThe page only had one sentence saying that.

n

"I'm her ally??

" Philip couldn't find any answer about that but he grabbed that book and ran back to the surface.

nNo one noticed him in the duchy even the knight as he was like a wind passed by in the eyes especially since he was wearing the knight suit.

nA mystical purple phoenix just like Marinette's eyes soared through the sky and landed on the prince's right arm ready for his order.

n

"Mary, can you lead me to the owner of this?

" it was the female phoenix the prince was talking to. The phoenix flew around the diary Philip lifted it up and nodded at him.

n'She's in the northern empire.'

n

"Northern empire??!

"

nThe phoenix nodded again, the prince gulped and asked the phoenix again,

"Is she safe?

"

n'Yes, your highness. She's with the northern emperor right now.'

n

"What?? How did she get all the way there??

"

n'A magic spell. I think it is possible since the Mortel people have always been the special case and usually got the special ability from their ancestor, Herod.'

n

"Herod...?? When did I hear that name before??

"

nTo be continued....!

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