Chapter 25 - Visit

Most of the servants were busy decorating the hallways in preparation for the grand event. Among them, Madeline held a bouquet of freshly picked red roses in her hands, their vibrant color contrasting beautifully against her simple maid's attire. Beside her was Rachel, another maid, who shared in the task of placing and arranging the flowers along the corridors.

"It's like a dream, the royal ball," Rachel murmured dreamily, her eyes half-closed as she imagined the scene. She clasped her hands together near her face, embodying the picture of a wistful maiden. "Dancing with your prince charming while wearing an exquisite gown... I wonder when it will be our turn," she added with a deep sigh, her thoughts drifting to a distant realm of fantasies and hopes.

Madeline watched Rachel silently, her expression one of quiet curiosity. "Oh, Maddie, you'll never understand since you're just a kid," Rachel remarked with a hint of playful condescension before turning back to her work, her hands deftly arranging the roses. "In your dreams, Chel," a male servant chimed in sarcastically from across the hallway. He was busy polishing one of the windows, his teasing comment eliciting a ripple of laughter from the other servants. Rachel rolled her eyes, but a small smile played at the corners of her lips.

The butler, Barry, overheard the commotion and strode over with a stern expression. "Be quiet and focus on your work!" he chastised sharply, his voice carrying authority. Immediately, all the servants fell silent, turning their attention back to their tasks with renewed diligence. Satisfied with the restored order, Barry nodded curtly before moving on to the other hallways to oversee the decorations there, ensuring everything was progressing smoothly for the upcoming event.

A sleek black carriage arrived at the castle door, its polished surface gleaming in the sunlight. From within emerged two men, both dressed impeccably in black. The first man stepped out, exuding an air of sophistication with his top hat and a cane held gracefully in his right hand. Following him was another man, clutching a stack of folders, his demeanor more reserved but equally formal.

As they made their way towards the entrance, a maid cleaning a nearby window noticed them and softly commented, "There are visitors." Her words caught the attention of several other maids, who couldn't resist sneaking a glimpse through the window. Rachel, intrigued by the unexpected arrivals, turned to her fellow maid and asked, "I wonder which nobles they are?" Her curiosity was shared by the others, as the presence of the distinguished visitors added an element of mystery to their day.

Barry stepped forward to greet the guests, his demeanor respectful and professional. "Good day, Sir. This way, please," he said, gesturing for them to follow him into the castle. As he led the men inside, Emily, was hurrying down the hallway with her arms full of decorations when Barry intercepted her. "Are you done with your task?" he asked, his tone firm but not unkind. Emily bowed her head in acknowledgment. "Yes," she replied.

Without missing a beat, Barry gave her a new directive. "Get the guests tea and biscuits and place them in the guest room. Hurry!" he commanded. Emily nodded quickly and turned on her heel, rushing off to the kitchen. Her focus was solely on her new task, and she didn't spare a glance at the distinguished visitors as she sped away to fulfill Barry's orders.

The two men entered the palatial guest room, their presence commanding immediate attention. Regent Ryan removed his top hat and coat, handing them to the butler with a practiced ease. He settled into one of the plush chairs, exuding an air of authority. Regent Ronald followed suit, placing the folder he had been holding on the center table. He began to peruse the room, his eyes keenly taking in the lavish decorations. His fingers lightly brushed over various ornate objects until one particular item caught his attention—a collection of fangs displayed inside a glass box.

Intrigued, Regent Ronald leaned closer to examine the peculiar exhibit. "What is this?" he inquired, directing his question to Barry. "Fangs of dogs, wolves, and other animals," Barry replied succinctly, his tone professional and measured. A sly smirk spread across Regent Ronald's face. "Do you have a black wolf here?" he asked, his eyes glinting with curiosity. Barry met his gaze with a serious expression, maintaining his composure. "None," he answered briefly, leaving no room for further discussion on the matter.

"Ronald, don't touch anything. That belongs to the King of Carthage," Regent Ryan chided, giving his companion a pointed look. Turning to the butler, he added, "We've already sent a letter to His Majesty."

"Yes, sir. His Majesty will be here shortly," Barry replied, before leaving the two guests alone in the room.

Barry encountered Emily in the hallway, nearly colliding with her in his haste. "Give that to the guests," he instructed, gesturing to the tray she was carrying. Emily nodded and proceeded to the guest room, carefully opening the door and placing the tea and biscuits on the center table. She then bowed her head respectfully and took her place by the side of the room, ready to assist if needed.

A few moments later, the king entered the room with Barry trailing behind him. "Good morning, gentlemen," he greeted, his presence commanding immediate attention. The two men promptly stood up and bowed in unison, showing their respect to the monarch. "Good morning, Your Majesty. We apologize for the interruption. We understand you are busy with the preparations for the royal ball," Regent Ryan said, his tone courteous and respectful.

"It is alright, don't mention it," the king said with a dismissive wave, gesturing for the men to sit down. He then settled himself onto one of the plush couches, exuding an air of composed authority. "I believe this is about the recent attack," he began, his tone serious and direct.

Emily, who had been standing quietly at the side, was taken aback. 'Attack?' she wondered, but she maintained her composure, continuing to stand silently and observe. "Yes, Your Majesty. Regarding that matter, we still cannot confirm if the wolf involved was indeed a black wolf," Regent Ryan began, his voice measured and serious. "According to the locals, there have been no sightings of wild wolves in the forest. This incident is unprecedented, the first of its kind," he explained, glancing at his companion for support.

As if on cue, Regent Ronald handed the folders to King Alex. The king received the documents and began skimming their contents, listening intently to the regents' discussion. "But the odds were, the victim's body is missing," Regent Ryan continued. King Alex paused his reading and looked up, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean?"

"The body was missing when the guards arrived at the scene," Regent Ryan elaborated. "When we arrived, we ordered a thorough search of the house and the backyard. We discovered that the body had already been buried by someone. The house belonged to a woman with three children. Tragically, the woman died of sickness, leaving her children alone. The two younger children perished in the wolf attack, but the eldest child was missing."

"We believe he was the one who buried his siblings; there was even a flower placed on the grave," Regent Ronald added. "What is his name?" King Alex inquired. "Thomas," Regent Ryan replied. The king's gaze sharpened. "I believe that is not all," he said, looking intently at the two regents. Regent Ryan exchanged a glance with his companion before continuing, "We also inspected the surroundings. There was a trail of blood leading into the forest, and some tree branches were broken. We found an arrow stuck in a tree; its tip stained with blood."

"Blood? Where is the arrow?" King Alex asked.

"It is in the ordinance. We are investigating the blood, and the results will determine if it is from a black wolf," Regent Ryan replied. "When will the results be available?" the king inquired. "In three days," the regent answered. "Alright, please inform me as soon as the results are in. If you need anything for the investigation, do not hesitate to ask," the king said, rising to his feet, prompting the two guests to do the same. They all left the room and walked down the hallway together. As they passed by, Prince Sebastian, who was heading to his room, noticed the serious expressions on his father and the guests. Curious, the young prince hid in a corner of the palace to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"Regent Ryan, what is your assessment of this attack? Do you think it was a black wolf this time?" the king asked. Regent Ryan hesitated for a moment before responding, "Yes, Your Majesty. The arrow I mentioned earlier had an engraving on it."

"An engraving?" the king asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Yes, 'Venatores Sacri,'" Regent Ryan confirmed.

The king narrowed his eyes in contemplation. "That name doesn't ring a bell. I've never heard of it before," he said, clearly puzzled.

"Venatores Sacri is an independent organization, distinct from the clergy," Regent Ryan explained. "It is run by priests who are believed to be exorcists and demon hunters. Their mission is to hunt black wolves, monsters, demons, and all enemies of the church. Many consider them to be a myth, and even some within the church doubt their existence."

The king listened intently, his expression thoughtful. "Or perhaps the church has been concealing their existence," Regent Ryan speculated. "In any case, we plan to visit the cathedral to inquire with the clergy about them," he added.