The marquess and his group arrived at Duke Labelle's manor, only to be greeted by chaos. Servants rushed through the halls, and knights mounted in haste, their armor clanking as orders echoed through the estate.
"What happened?" Rue asked, his voice tight with urgency.
"It's Cecilia," the Duke answered grimly. "She's been missing since earlier this evening. I've dispatched knights to search, but there's been no word. I should've returned earlier after receiving your report…"
His voice faltered, laced with guilt and distress.
A wave of dread washed over Rue, his composure cracking. The color drained from his face.
Princess Elery gently placed her hand on his. "We'll find her," she said firmly, her voice steady. "If she was taken by the grave merchants, Lunara may be able to track her. She placed a spell on one of their groups. But we have to confirm first if they're involved."
"Is there a place you think she might've gone? Somewhere personal?" she asked.
Rue blinked, then his eyes widened in realization. "Yes, she mentioned a tavern in her last letter. It's where we were meant to meet."
"Then go," Elery urged. "Take Sir Lucian with you. If there's any chance she's still there or nearby, we can't waste it."
"I'm your knight," Sir Lucian said, stepping forward. "I can't leave your side."
"Yes, I've used mana but I'm not helpless." Elery raised her left wrist, revealing a slender bracelet set with a glowing gem. Her brother wore a matching one. "Her Majesty gave us these. A one-time teleportation enchantments. If I'm in danger, I'll call for you."
Lucian hesitated, his jaw clenched. But seeing the determined glint in her eyes, he finally nodded.
Lunara suddenly turned toward them. "They're on the move, Your Highness. The grave merchants, I can sense the spell shifting."
"Then we have no time to lose," Elery said, straightening.
Rue and Sir Lucian, along with a few knights, set out toward the tavern. Meanwhile, Princess Elery, Lunara, and the other mages followed the magical trail into the night.
In the dark, damp stillness of a cave hidden deep within the Labyrinthine Forest, Lady Cecilia stirred. A pounding headache throbbed in her temples, and her limbs felt heavy, the aftereffects of being drugged. As her vision adjusted to the dim light, the cold reality sank in. She was inside a prison cell, carved out of the stone walls, surrounded by terrified women.
Among them, a frail voice called out, "Are you Lady Cecilia of House Labelle?"
She turned her head and saw a gaunt young woman, her noble bearing dulled by exhaustion.
"Yes… and who are you?" Cecilia asked, her voice hoarse.
"I'm Isabelle, daughter of Earl Edmund," the girl replied. "They took me two days ago. The duke must be out looking for you now. They've likely been searching everywhere."
"I haven't returned… of course they're looking," Cecilia murmured. She glanced around at the cell, the oppressive air thick with fear. "Where are we?"
"In the grave merchants' den. Somewhere deep in this forest," Isabelle answered grimly.
Cecilia's memory came rushing back, the tavern, the alley, the handkerchief. Rue… what if he came and I wasn't there? What if he thinks I abandoned him? Panic bubbled inside her.
"I have to get out of here," she said, stumbling to her feet. She grabbed the iron bars but the moment her fingers touched the metal, a violent shock coursed through her body. She collapsed to the floor with a gasp of pain.
"My lady!" Isabelle rushed to her side. "The prison is enchanted. Magic is laced through every inch. Escape is impossible… we've all tried."
Their moment was cut short by familiar, mocking voices.
"Hm… someone's feeling bold today," said one of the grave merchants as he approached, followed by his companion.
Lady Cecilia pushed herself upright, defiant even in pain. "What do you want? Money? My father will give you anything you ask. Just let us go."
The two men looked at each other and burst into laughter.
"Always the same," one said. "Nobles think gold can buy their way out of death. The one beside you said the same thing. So did the last girl before her."
One of them stepped closer and reached through the bars to grab Cecilia's face. "Such a waste of a beautiful one, though."
"What are you doing?" a cold voice snapped.
All heads turned as a figure entered. Cloaked in black, his face hidden behind a raven-shaped mask. A burned sigil glowed faintly on his left hand.
"I told you to prepare them. No time for foolishness," he said sharply. "The duke and the marquess are scouring the area. It's only a matter of time before they reach us. Finish the preparations."
"Tch, fine," one of the merchants grumbled.
They entered the cell and began dragging out the commoners.
Cecilia's heart jumped. "Did you hear that?" she whispered to Isabelle. "My father and the marquess are coming. We'll be rescued."
But Isabelle didn't share her hope. She stared outside the bars, her body trembling.
"I just hope they find us before our turn," she said, voice barely audible.
A scream pierced the silence.
Lady Cecilia spun around just in time to see a woman pinned down by the two merchants. The masked figure placed a glowing purple shard against her chest and began chanting. The shard pulsed and the woman's body convulsed as her veins turned black. A horrible cry escaped her lips before her body ignited in eerie flames, consumed in moments.
"Another failure," the masked man muttered, unbothered.
He moved on to the next.
Cecilia eyes widened in horror. The scent of burning flesh filled the air. "No… no, no, no…" she whispered.
"I don't want to die," Isabelle sobbed beside her.
Cecilia gritted her teeth as tears welled in her eyes. Rue… please… find me.
In the dense shadows of the Labyrinthine Forest, the group moved cautiously, their steps muffled by moss and fallen leaves. Lunara halted abruptly, her eyes scanning the thicket ahead.
"This is where I lost them," she said, her voice tight with frustration. "Their trail ends here. There's magic layered over this area, powerful and deliberate."
A shimmering veil cloaked the path ahead, almost invisible to the untrained eye, yet unmistakable to those attuned to the arcane.
Princess Elery stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "This is no ordinary barrier. It's woven with multiple enchantments designed to mislead, hide, and repel."
She drew a deep breath and lifted her hand, the gem on her bracelet glowing softly. "Step back. I shall deal with this."
Planting her feet firmly on the ground, she began to chant, her voice echoing with quiet power:
I am earth, and the earth is me
I shape the path that sets me free
Let every wall that blocks my way
Turn to dust and fade away
The ground rumbled beneath them. Trees groaned as their roots twisted and pulled, responding to her call. Vines slithered across the earth, unweaving the spells that bound the forest. Bit by bit, the illusion crumbled. The barrier shimmered, then shattered like glass, revealing a narrow, hidden path snaking deeper into the woods.
A cold wind swept through the opening, carrying with it the faint scent of ash and something fouler.
"They're close," Lunara said, gripping her staff tightly.
"Then we must move swiftly," the princess replied. "There may still be time."
And with that, they entered the hidden path.
A woman in a raven mask entered the cave swiftly, her presence silencing the chaos.
"Your barrier has been broken. Have you not felt it?" she said coldly.
"What?!" the masked man turned, alarmed. "Who is it? Is it the marquess?"
"I sensed the presence of several mages. But whatever tore through the barrier... it wasn't magic. Not the kind we use."
"Damn it! We still have six more to process. She's going to be furious." The man cursed, handing the purple shard to her. "You handle this. I'll fix the barrier."
He stormed out, leaving the woman alone in front of the prison cell. She took her time, her eyes glinting behind the mask as she surveyed the remaining captives.
"Now… who should go next?" Her voice was calm, almost teasing, as she tapped the shard lightly against her palm. Her eyes settled on Lady Isabelle. "You."
"W-what?" Isabelle gasped, dread crawling up her spine.
The two grave merchants grabbed her arms, dragging her from the cell.
"No!" she cried, struggling.
"Stop it!" Lady Cecilia lunged, grabbing one of the men's arms in an attempt to pull him back. But she was shoved hard, hitting the ground.
"Oh? Do you want to go next?" the woman asked with feigned amusement. "Fine. Take her too."
One of the men grabbed Cecilia roughly and dragged her alongside Isabelle.
"I hope you survive," the masked woman said cheerfully as she pressed the glowing purple shard to Isabelle's chest.
"Aaaah!" Isabelle screamed, her body writhing as black veins spread through her skin.
"Stop!" Cecilia shouted, thrashing in the man's grip.
Suddenly, the cave shook violently. An explosion echoed from outside, sending dust and stone raining down. In the moment of distraction, Cecilia stomped hard on the merchant's foot and landed a sharp kick to his face. He crumpled. Without hesitation, she charged the woman in the raven mask, slamming her into the wall.
A burst of unstable magic erupted from the impact, flaring out and knocking Isabelle away. The woman groaned, dazed, her mask slipping off and clattering to the ground.
Cecilia froze. "Y-you... Aren't you one of the Empress's ladies-in-waiting?"
The woman touched her face instinctively and realized her mask was gone.
"N-No!" she stammered, turning away to retrieve it.
While she scrambled, Cecilia rushed to Isabelle, who was weak and barely conscious from the blast.
"Come on, we have to go," she whispered urgently. They slipped out of the cell area while the rest of the cave stirred with confusion.
Outside, chaos reigned. More explosions rocked the forest and the guards were disoriented.
"You have to flee, Lady Cecilia," Isabelle said weakly. "I'll only slow you down…"
"How can I leave you behind?" Cecilia said, holding her up. "The marquess and my father are coming. We just need to hold on a little longer. You'll be treated, I promise."
"There they are!" a grave merchant shouted in the distance.
Isabelle turned to Cecilia with pained resolve. "Run! I'll buy you some time!" She shoved Cecilia forward and began stumbling in the opposite direction.
"Isabelle!" Cecilia cried, torn.
But the sounds of pursuit were growing louder.
Cecilia had no choice but to keep running. Her legs ached and her breath came in ragged gasps as the forest blurred around her. But then she came to a sudden stop.
A cliff.
She skidded to a halt at the edge, the sheer drop below swallowing the moonlight in shadows. Panic rose in her chest as she turned back.
"So this is where you are, you odious woman."
The woman from the cave emerged from the trees, her face twisted with rage.
"You've seen my face," she hissed, her voice venomous. "I can't let you live."
Black mist surged from her feet, devouring the plants it touched. Cecilia instinctively stepped back, her heel too close to the edge.
"Cecilia!"
Her heart leapt at the sound of a familiar voice. The marquess. She saw him riding hard toward her.
"Your Grace!" she cried, taking a step forward.
But the cliff edge, already weakened by the creeping mist, crumbled beneath her.
In a heartbeat, she was falling.
"No!!" Rue shouted, urging his horse faster but the woman had already vanished into the black mist, leaving only silence behind.
He rushed to the cliff's edge. The drop was steep, jagged rocks and thorns littering the path far below.
No one should have survived such a fall. And yet… his eyes searched for any sign. Any miracle. "Search the bottom!" he barked at his men. "She might still be alive!"
At the foot of the cliff, Lady Cecilia lay broken and barely conscious. Blood matted her hair, her limbs numb and useless.
Is this it? Is this how I die…? He'll be devastated...
A faint groan slipped from her lips. Her vision swam, but through the haze, two black-robed figures came into view.
They were arguing.
"She's not supposed to die!" one shouted, the voice tense with fury.
"She's important to our Lord's plan. Or was this your plan all along?"
"She saw my face!" the other protested, the woman who had caused her fall. "What was I supposed to do?! Let her walk free?!"
"She's not just anyone!" the first growled. "You jeopardized everything!"
The woman fell to her knees. "Please. Have mercy. Don't tell His Lordship... I'll fix this. I promise!"
"I'll think about it… after you do fix it."
The figure vanished into the mist.
As the haze cleared, the woman approached. Her outline sharpened, and despite the pain, Cecilia recognized her.
"Z-Zephora?" she rasped. Her voice barely more than a whisper. "H-help… me…"
Zephora knelt beside her, eyes scanning her broken form. "This is why I told you not to leave. If you had just listened..."
She pulled out a glowing green shard, "You can't die yet. It's still early… but consider this a gift. Maybe I've grown… attached to you," she murmured.
"But maybe death would've been better."
She pressed the shard to Cecilia's chest, channeling dark magic into her body. The pain was unbearable. Her nerves screamed as the shard embedded itself deep inside her.
And then, nothing.
Her breath halted. Her heart stopped.
Zephora looked down at her, a bitter smile curling her lips. "I guess this is for the better. Goodbye, Lady Cecilia."
She brushed a kiss against her forehead, then disappeared into the mist.