[ one hour before the execution, 6:00 pm ]
[ Victoria City (Aubridge), MistFortune Camp ]
The camp took the shape of a fortress, its square perimeter hemmed in by high stone walls that resembled a castle. The materials used to build the fortress was solid like the wall that divided the kingdom into two.
Within, tree buildings dominated: two positioned opposite one another, and a third set off to the East side, its shadow stretching across the cobblestones.
To the ouest side of the paired buildings stood the heavy iron gate.
From the gate, a straight path led to a circular platform raised just a few centimeters above the cobblestones.
Officers moved briskly across the grounds, while other guards patrolled the corners where sparse trees clung to the walls. Snipers lingered in the upper windows, their sihouette barely visible move through, watching and preparing their snipers.
At the heart of the raised platform, a stage had been assembled, wide, draped with red curtains at the sides, and a stairway on both sides. A few officers carried pieces of the unfinished wood to the center. The people in charge worked methodically as they took the pieces and began hauling them into place. At last rose the grim silhouette of a guillotine, its frame stood tall in the center of the stage.
Fire torches flared around the edge of the stage, casting restless shadows across the front row chairs. The rows were being arranged by the officers in charge of the organisation, around fifty or more chairs were placed and everything was perfectly aligned under the officers' supervision.
Beyond the stage, the building opposite loomed with a high balcony large enough to hold a retinue. Fine chairs were being placed there, reserved for those of higher rank, meanwhile guards outside clustered in discussion, their voices low and high coming from every corner with urgency.
The officer standing on the edge of the stage tapped his headset.
"Albert? Albert? Can you hear me through this?" The officer adjusted his microphone.
"Yes, I can hear you very well." Said the man from the other side of the line. "How's the set? Did they put them up yet? The guests will be here in…fifteen minutes."
"Yes, they finished a few minutes ago, the set is done. Everything is done. I've talked with chief Kharji and he sent us a few more officers for extra protection, you know?"
"…—es.. yes—chief—f—harji—is—…—g.. ah—w—bh—ey..—tng."
The officer raised an eyebrow. "Huh? Your voice glitched. What did you say?"
"… Your stage presence is crucial, make sure to report anything that goes wrong or is suspecious during the execution. You got that, Ben?"
"Understood."
Then from the rows, a voice came. "BEN! The guests are here." He pointed his hand at the opening gate.
Ben jumped from the stage and patted the officer's shoulder before walking towards the guests that were being accompanied by another few officers.
"Welcome! If it isn't my favourite Lady!" Ben bowed down and kissed her hand. "Lady Marguerite De Lysandre. You are getting prettier every day."
Lady Marguerite pulled her hands away. "Hmph! I haven't seen you since the Banquet we held. Quite blabbering."
Ben laughed lightly as he escorted Lady Marguerite inside the main building.
Lady Marguerite came with her two lady-in-waiting: Elise and Ann. The officers who were accompaning Lady Marguerite escorted her two lady-in-waiting to a room while Ben and Lady Marguerite climbed the high stairs.
Lady Marguerite's outfit was a peachy-colored gown with puffy sleeves, all ruffles and ribbons, with a sapphire brooch gleaming at her waist. Her long blonde hair tumbled down her back, half gathered by a cherry-red bow that fluttered with every step.
"Did you come here with your father?" Ben asked.
"No, my father stayed at the palace witht the others. I simply came here out of boredom." Lady Marguerite lifted her dress with each step. "My father might come with his majesty and the High Lord."
"Ah, I see. Well, I'm pretty sure there's not much to do here."
Once they reached the hall, Ben stopped. "I can take you to your seat," Ben paused. "…or I can show you around." His voice softened.
Lady Marguerite looked at Ben with a shy smile.
- - -
The balcony doors stood ajar, letting the garden's cold air slip inside. Lantern torches glimmered below them, casting shadows over the marble paths.
Lady Marguerite rested her hands against the stone railing. Ben stood beside her, closely.
"Did you come here for me?" Ben asked quietly. "I'm fairly certain you didn't travel all the way to victoria just to watch the queen lose her head."
"….pfft. Of course not." She titled her head, her gaze fixed on the garden below. "I came here for another purpose."
"Another purpose?" His eyes flicked toward her, sharp with curiosity.
Her chin lifted, though her voice softened. "…to be honest, I didn't want to come here at all. But a breeze carried a secret to me." A faint sinister smile appeared on her face. "And it wouldn't let me rest."
"A secret?'
"Don't tell anyone," she murmured. "But—from what I heard among the ladies back home… rumours drifted from Victoria. They say a card is meant to drop near
"….A card?"
"As in—skill card?"
Lady Marguerite nodded. "I'm not even certain myself. Recently, I hired a butler and sent him ahead to look for it while I remained at the palace under my father's watch." Her fingers tightened around the railing. "I couldn't exactly wander freely."
"Has he found it yet?" Ben asked.
"Not…yet. He'll be joining us for the execution. You'll see him standing beside me."
"…You know more than what you're saying," he said. "What part of this rumour made you come all this way—and hire someone to hunt it down?"
"Is it an S-rank card?"
Silence filled the surrondings.
"Are you not going to answer?" He pressed.
She shook her head slowly. "No—well, it's just…" she exhaled. "The rumours called it [rare]. I assumed S-rank at first. But when I listened closer…" Her voice dropped. "Some say it might be an SS-card. One that appears only once every five hundred years."
"An SS-card??"
"
Ben stepped back, tugging the lapels straight. "Interesting, do let me know iif your butler did found the SS-card."
"…What..? Are you leaving?" Marguerite turned her head toward Ben.
Ben turned his gaze to Lady Marguerite as he ran a hand through his hair.
"Yeah. I've got to be there, to escort the upcoming guests."
Lady Marguerite mumbled something under her lips as the door creaked open.
⪻────────𖤓────────⪼
Ben hurried down the stairwell, his footsteps echoing in the empty hall, a low whistle slipped from his lips.
The headset went off with a slight tap.
Zzzrrttt—
["—I'll let you know, sir. Ben? Ben? Can you hear me?"]
One, two tap. "Yeah, I'm here."
["L—Listen, I just got an update on the transfer operation. Uh apparently, Ereckwas right about making a dummy cart."]
"Ereck? The new lunatic from Sir Kharji's group?"
["Yeah, they uhh two people attacked and unfortunately, there will be a little delay. So make sure all the guests are here and has everything."]
Just as Ben rushed to push open the door, a silhouette caught the corner of his eyes. He turned his head, gaze fixing on a girl perched at a table across the room, facing the hallway.
She wore a dark green-black dress, her ponytail tied with a black bow. Loose curls bounced at the ends of her hair with every movement. Leaning over a generous spread of pasteries,she stuffed one into her mouth while clutching another in her free hand.
Ben slowed. His fingers slipped from the door handle, the whistle fading as he took a few careful steps forward. Albert's voice still droned on sosmewhere behind him.
"Enjoying the desserts, ma'am?" Ben said, clasping his hands behind his back as he peeked at her from behind.
The girl turned quickly, her ponytail swaying in a smooth arc. Her cheeks were swollen with food; she stopped chewing for a brief moment as she looked at him.
Ben smiled. "Judging by your attire, you must be from Rosette. Are you one of Lady Marguerite's ladies-in-waiting?"
She smiled back through her teeth, crumbs of cake wedged between them. Cream was smeared messily around her lips.
"…Hehe. You're very smart," she said. "You're right. It's—it's me. Ann."
Ben tilted his head.
[Ann?]
"Are you, uh… newly hired?" His voice wavered.
"Oh no," Ann said, waving one hand. "Well—depends how you define newly hired. I've been… working for a few months now, actually."
Ben titled his head upward, a slow ohhh escaping as the pieces fell into place.
"Newly hired!" He drifted back a few steps, unaware of the movement. "Newly hired!" He pointed at her, a few laughs slipping out.
"Ann… I see." He cleared his throat. "Because the 'Ann' I know doesn't look like you. How do you spell your name?"
Ann brushed her hair back. "Sorry. I—I wasn't taught spelling." She coughed lightly. "I'm illiterate."
"But I can tell you my father's last name!"
"…It's alright," Ben said coolly. "That makes perfect sense."
"Well, um. It was nice meeting you." He gave a short salute and turned toward the door.
"W—wait!" Ann reached out, her hand settling on his shoulder. The touch stopped him. His body shifted, head turning to meet her stare.
"Are you one of Marguerite's friends?!"
Ben faced her fully now, his gaze hard and scornful. His lips trembled, but he bit back whatever threatened to escape.
The hall fell into dead silence for several long moments before he finally spoke. "It is Lady," ben said, his voice firm, each word carefully pronounced. "Lady Marguerite. And that is none of your business."
He shruged her hand away and strode forward. His steps sharp and decisive. As he walked, his hand swept across his coat in irritation, wiping away the stain she'd left behind.
"Fucking pig."