CHAPTER 4

King Ravinus stood on his balcony, the cool night breeze rustling his hair as he gazed out at the stars. Beside him, his cousin John Max leaned against the railing, watching him with interest. Ravinus's eyes narrowed, his mind preoccupied with the mysterious thief who had been evading him.

Suddenly, he turned and called out for his seneschal, Mr. Edward. The man appeared promptly, his expression serene as he bowed low. Ravinus handed him a sketch of the thief, his own hand having rendered the image with surprising skill.

"I want you to find out everything about this girl," Ravinus demanded, his voice low and urgent. "I want to know her name, her every detail."

Edward's eyes scanned the sketch, his expression thoughtful. "I think I knew her, Your Majesty," he said.

Ravinus's eyes snapped to his seneschal's face, his interest piqued. "You do?" he repeated, his voice rising in surprise. "Who is she, then?"

Edward hesitated, his eyes darting nervously to John Max before returning to the king. "I will find out for you, Your Majesty," he said finally, bowing low. "I will leave no stone unturned."

With that, Edward turned and left, leaving Ravinus in a state of deep confusion. Who was this mysterious girl, and why did Edward seem to recognize her? Ravinus couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this story than he knew.

As he stood there, lost in thought, John Max spoke up, his voice low. "Do you think Edward knows more than he's letting on, cousin?"

Ravinus's eyes narrowed, his gaze turning inward. He didn't know what to think, but he was determined to find out.

The words spilled out of Ravinus's lips like venom, his voice laced with a fierce determination. "Whatever it is, my dear cousin, I'll find out her." His eyes blazed with an inner fire, his jaw clenched in resolve.

But John Max's response was a stark contrast. His voice dripped with sarcasm and playfulness as he said, "If I was at your place, I may fall for her. Her eyes, oh my gosh..." He dramatically clutched at his heart, his eyes rolling heavenward as if he was about to be struck by Cupid's arrow at any moment.

Ravinus's reaction was immediate and sharp. "Stop being delusional," he snapped, his voice cutting through Max's theatrics like a hot knife through butter. His tone was a mixture of annoyance and amusement, a clear indication that he wasn't buying into Max's antics.

Max's grin only grew wider, his eyes sparkling with mischief. He knew his cousin's buttons, and he wasn't afraid to push them. But beneath the teasing, Ravinus's determination to uncover the truth about the mysterious girl remained unwavering. The game was on, and he wouldn't rest until he had all the answers.

With a confident stride, Ravinus walked away from the balcony, leaving Max looking after him with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. "I am going," Ravinus declared, his voice firm and resolute.

Max's eyes sparkled with intrigue as he demanded, "Where...??" He took a step forward, his interest piqued.

Ravinus paused, a smirk spreading across his face. "I know very well where she will be," he said, his tone dripping with confidence and a hint of mischief.

With that, Ravinus turned and walked away, leaving Max to wonder what his cousin had planned. The smirk on Ravinus face only grew wider as he disappeared into the night, his destination unknown.

Both of them stood outside the General's big house, hiding in different spots. Ravinus knew the thief would come here, and she did. The thief quickly went inside, looking for the room she wanted. She spotted the bag of gold and grabbed it. But just as she was about to leave, she knocked over a vase, and it broke loudly on the floor. The thief's heart sank as she knew she was in trouble.

The guards crept up behind the thief, their swords at the ready. Just as they were about to strike, Ravinus burst into the scene,he spoke"You are quite the traesure hunter.aren't you..?"his own sword flashing in the dim light.

With swift precision, Ravinus struck down the guards, his sword slicing through the air with deadly accuracy. The clash of steel on steel echoed through the hallway as Ravinus fought off the guards, his movements fluid and calculated.

The thief watched in awe as Ravinus dispatched the guards with ease, his swordsmanship a blur of motion. When the last guard fell, Ravinus turned to her, his chest heaving slightly with exertion.

For a moment, they locked eyes, the tension between them increase. Then, Ravinus spoke, his voice low and husky. "You owe me one."

Without a word, she leapt from the window and disappeared into the night. Ravinus followed closely, his eyes fixed on her agile form. They both converged on the old clock tower, the moon casting an eerie glow over the scene.

As they stood facing each other, they simultaneously removed their masks, the gesture symbolic of the futility of concealment now that their faces had been revealed. Ravinus's eyes narrowed, his voice laced with sarcasm.

"You're so cruel. Didn't I just save you, and you left me alone at that place like I'm a total stranger to you?" His words dripped with mock indignation, as if he was taunting her.

Her response was blunt. "You are."

Ravinus chuckled, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Still, you shouldn't have left me alone." His tone was playful, teasing.

She raised an eyebrow. "Your skills are not bad. I knew you don't need me; you can easily protect yourself from those untrained guards." A smile spread across his face, and he asked, "Are you praising me?"

The air was charged with tension, their banter a delicate dance of words and emotions. The clock tower loomed above them, its silent presence a witness to their charged encounter.

"What were you doing at that place?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Ravinus flashed his charming smile. "Umm... just came to watch you."

She raised an eyebrow. "Don't put yourself in danger because of me."

Ravinus's grin grew wider. "Danger? Didn't you just say they're untrained?"

She pressed her lips together, a hint of concern still etched on her face. "Yeah, but you wouldn't have been able to see King Warth if they catch you."

Ravinus's smile faltered for a moment, and he looked intrigued. "King Warth?"

She nodded, her expression serious. "Okay, thanks for tonight. I'm going. Goodbye."

With that, she turned and left, leaving Ravinus to ponder the mysterious mention of King Warth......

.

.

.

TAKE CARE...

"Shadows danced in the moonlit night, but the truth shone brighter when their masks fell, revealing hearts that spoke louder than words."

LaraibZafar~

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***