Leopold walked the festival grounds disguised as a royal pathfinder.
In his hands was a royal warrant, rolled up and stamped with an official seal.
On either side of him were royal pathfinders, enforcers of the Queen's will.
And in his sight, was Arthur du Camille.
His expression was calm and his silver hair slicked back.
His eyes held a strained happiness.
He was talking with his daughter, Lady Chloe.
They stood near a central fountain. Banners strewn down as water poured down into the stone plates.
Lady Chloe, just barely eleven years old, was laughing about something.
Light and innocent, her smile brightened the afternoon sky, and her voice chimed like Sunday bells on a church morning.
Arthur folded his arms, a rare softness brushing over his hardened features. "I suppose." He teased, "But what would your mother say?"
Chloe giggled. "I assume she'd…"
Leopold watched the duo cautiously, giving subtle orders with his hands.
The pathfinders moved into position, discrete, disciplined, and dangerous.
Watching from a distance, was Charlotte.
She attended the event as a queen, hand in hand with Emmanuel as they talked with their daughters.
Elizabeth and Victoria.
"Mother? Is something wrong?" Elizabeth tilted her head curiously.
Victoria, who was reluctantly talking with Emmanuel, glanced over.
Her gaze followed her mother's, and she saw what was unfolding.
Soon everyone followed Charlotte's gaze…
— — —
"Lord du Camille, you are under arrest by decree of Her Majesty, Queen Charlotte du Ambur.
You've been charged with embezzlement, falsifying state documents, abuse of noble privilege, larceny, fraud against the city, province, and state level, and conspiracy against the crown."
Arthur blinked, before taking a step back. "What is this?" He hissed in confusion, shielding Lady Chole behind him.
"You dare bring such… fraudulent charges against me?"
Leopold narrowed his eyes as the royal pathfinders raised their rifles.
"Come quietly, Lord Camille." They demanded, taking a step forward.
Arthur narrowed his eyes as he reached a hand behind his back.
The pathfinders gritted their teeth as they gripped their rifles. "Don't do it."
The crowd fell silent as everyone took a step back.
The silence was deafening.
"Father?" Lady Chloe's voice echoed from behind him, trembling. "What's going on?"
Arthur remained silent as he gripped his pistol.
The royal pathfinders put their fingers on the triggers of their rifles.
"This is your final warning!"
Arthur closed his eyes as he held his pistol.
The weight was comforting, familiar, and oddly reassuring.
He knew he couldn't be taken alive, or that man… that shadowy figure who ruined his life would come to finish the job.
"Forgive me, my daughter," Arthur whispered with a quivering voice, before quickly drawing his pistol.
"Father no!"
"Open fire!"
As Chloe screamed in panic, the royal pathfinders opened fire.
Their aim was true as bullets tore through his head.
Panic erupted as adults and children alike began to scatter.
When the bangs came to a ringing silence, Arthur's corpse dropped like a heavy sack.
The pathfinders quickly moved to secure the body. "Get on the ground, get on the fucking ground!"
They forced his body down flat on the ground as Chloe stood there, her face painted in her father's blood.
Leopold watched over the scene with glazed eyes.
What was supposed to be a snatch-and-grab, turned into a murder scene.
Screams faded in the background as he looked to the sky. "Fuck…"
— — —
As Alexander walked toward Louise and Béatrice, He felt his hair stand on end.
Suddenly there was a blood-curdling scream, followed by gunfire and chaos.
He was quickly shoved into the ground forcefully.
As his body hit the ground, he saw André leaping over him to tackle Louise and Béatrice into the dirt,
As the two women hit the ground under his weight, Alexander turned his gaze towards the center of the chaos.
There he saw several armed pathfinders manhandling a corpse as Chloe was pulled from the scene.
She was shivering and weeping.
Alexander's eyes went wide.
What the fuck…. What the fuck just happened?!
"Clear the area!"
"Secure the royals!"
"Everyone to the main building!"
Orders were issued through the chaos as pathfinders flooded the grounds.
Alexander slowly pushed himself off the ground. His heart raced as his ears rang.
André helped Louise and Béatrice, taking their hands as he led them towards Alexander.
"Take Louise's hand." He ushered, Louise looked to André with wide eyes.
Her small form trembled before she reached out a hand towards Alexander.
Alexander took her, their fingers intertwined as André led them to the main building.
During the walk, Alexander watched as pathfinders herded the crowd towards the main building.
He also saw the Royals being ushered towards a carriage, flanked by a dozen royal pathfinders.
In the main building, André led the group into a secluded corner. "Are you okay?" He asked, kneeling before Louise and Alexander as they stood together.
Louise looked towards Alexander as he spoke first. "Y-yeah," Alexander replied, swallowing hard. "W-what was that? What happened?"
André sighed softly as he looked up to see the entrance flooded with panicked nobles and servants.
"Looks like the royal pathfinders tried to arrest Arthur… by the goddess… why would they do that here?" He muttered to himself, scratching his chin.
Béatrice watched André with a quiet frown.
"What happens next?" Alexander asked.
"Well… that depends on how wrong this arrest went," André replied as he stood up. "The death of a lord is not a simple affair."
Alexander felt a chill run down his spine.
"I'll go talk with the lead pathfinder."
André said softly, turning to leave before disappearing into the crowd.
Alexander watched him go.
He then turned to face Louise, who held her plush in one hand, and his in the other.
Louise met his gaze as she chewed the inside of her cheek.
"What?" She asked, her voice soft and curt.
Alexander shook his head.
"Nothing…" he replied, turning his attention towards the window.
As he looked out the window, Alexander felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him.
He was only ten years old… yet death greeted him at every corner.
From war to murder.
He was starting to become numb to it all.
He couldn't tell if that was appropriate or terrible.
Not a day passes without me wishing I hadn't been reincarnated…