To the north of the Royal Capital, an ancient arena stood, a relic from a time long past. Though it had been constructed many years ago, the marshlands stretching toward the Ureri River to the northeast had rendered the ground unstable, leading to its abandonment for quite some time. Recently, however, workers had been gathered for repairs, as plans were in motion to repurpose the arena for some unknown purpose.
Most of the laborers hailed from the impoverished districts of the Royal Capital, laying down hastily assembled cobblestones on the damp earth. Nearby, a waterway connected to the capital flowed, and with the rainy season upon them, the stench had become unbearable, prompting efforts to cover the waterway with wooden planks.
“What do you think they’re going to use this old arena for?” one worker mused.
“I heard the king is supposed to come for the seating area. They’re putting in quite a bit of effort. Maybe it’s for some kind of ceremony?” another replied.
As the men engaged in their work, they exchanged idle chatter. While they were grateful for the employment, many questions lingered in their minds, and they were often left in the dark about the tasks they were assigned.
“Hey, have you heard that another one has gone missing…?” one man asked, his brow furrowing.
“What? Again? I don’t get why they’d run away when the pay isn’t bad,” another responded.
The worker’s expression darkened. Lately, it seemed that laborers had been disappearing one by one without a trace. The work was far from easy, but the wages were decent, making it an opportunity that those living in poverty wouldn’t easily abandon.
“Lately, there’s been a lot of talk about Undead Beasts… I can understand why someone wouldn’t want to get too close to the river…” one of the men said, casting a wary glance toward the Ureri River.
Crown Prince Alexis and his fiancée Amanda were visiting the lower districts of the Royal Capital, accompanied by a guard of royal knights. This visit served as a pretext for meeting with the commoners Kevin and Chelsea.
Despite their efforts to dress modestly to avoid drawing attention, their royal status made them stand out. However, having visited the commoner districts several times before, the commotion was kept to a minimum.
Suddenly, a child rushed toward their carriage. The guards quickly intercepted the boy, but over their shoulders, he cried out with tears in his eyes, “Your Highness, please help! My father has disappeared!”
Alexis and Amanda exchanged solemn glances. It was rare for commoners to approach them directly during such visits, but today felt different; the atmosphere in the streets seemed off.
The boy’s desperate plea was not the only sign of distress; the residents watching from a distance wore anxious expressions, as if they had something to say. A middle-aged woman, likely the boy’s mother, stepped forward with a pale face, taking the boy into her arms while her gaze pleaded with Crown Prince Alexis.
“…Several people have suddenly gone missing lately. My husband, and others too, just vanished without a word… We have no idea why…” she said, her voice trembling.
With that, she knelt down, pressing her forehead to the ground while still holding the boy. Normally, the guards would quickly distance themselves from any commoners approaching, but they were taken aback by the woman’s desperate demeanor. Among the gathered residents, several others also knelt, bowing their heads toward Alexis.
“Just to be safe, let’s investigate,” Alexis declared, and Amanda nodded in agreement.
In a chamber of the Royal Castle, Elliott was fitting garments alongside Emily, under the watchful eyes of Count Agreas and his wife, who were overseeing the final adjustments of the dress.
The castle servants present couldn’t help but harbor a sense of bewilderment, though they kept their thoughts to themselves. Clad in a beautiful dress adorned with delicate lace, Emily appeared to be enjoying herself, yet her conversation with Elliott felt oddly stiff.
The two had changed since their earlier days of carefree affection, where they would cling to each other without a care for decorum. Now, they rarely made eye contact, and their words seemed to carry an unspoken tension, as if they were struggling to express something.
Some speculated that Marianne’s lessons in etiquette had instilled a sense of formality in Emily, while others thought it was merely the emotional turbulence that often accompanied an impending marriage. Yet, despite their attempts to rationalize it, a shadow of unease lingered in the hearts of the servants.
The couple simply followed instructions, donning their outfits and listening to explanations, but an unsettling gloom seemed to overshadow the otherwise joyous occasion of the Holy Knight’s grand debut.
Only Count Agreas and his wife maintained a serene, inscrutable smile as they observed the proceedings.