The evening had settled in, casting the grand mansion in shadows, its chandeliers shimmering like distant stars above the bustling crowd. Music played softly in the background, mingling with the laughter and chatter of the guests who filled the lavish hall. But amidst the elegance, Sergio and I, we stood in the corner, eyes scanning the room, watching carefully.
Sergio's gaze was sharp, his posture relaxed but alert, as though he had become one with the shadows of the room and I was standing beside him. The glittering array of noble gowns and suits around them did little to calm my nerves.
"Are you sure he's here?" My voice was low, barely more than a whisper.
"The stone is,"Sergio replied, his tone unwavering. "And where the stone is, the thief won't be far behind."
I frowned, scanning the guests. The opulence of the event—a celebration of a noble's engagement, I'd been told—seemed a stark contrast to the cold urgency of their mission. The thief could be hiding in plain sight among the rich and powerful. We couldn't risk drawing attention.
"He'll slip up eventually,"Sergio murmured, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the entrance. "But we can't let him get away ."
The evening was growing darker, and the light of the candles cast long, flickering shadows across the grand hall. My heart beat a little faster, his mind racing with the thought of the stone—.
And then, just as Sergio predicted, I saw a figure shift near the grand staircase. A man, dressed in fine clothes, but with eyes that darted about too quickly—shifty, nervous.
"There,"I whispered, pointing subtly.
Sergio nodded, the corner of his lips turning upward slightly in a knowing smile. "Now, we follow."
The two of us slipped through the crowd, unnoticed, blending in as we moved. The thief had started to move towards the side door—too quickly, too carefully. Sergio's eyes followed every movement, every twitch. The thief wasn't just acting suspicious. He was hiding something.
We reached the corridor just in time to see the thief push open the door to a private study, the only way out being the narrow hallway. Without missing a beat, Sergio grabbed my arm, pulling me swiftly into an alcove to avoid detection. We were waiting holding our breath.
The thief passed by, his footsteps quick, his coat swishing just above the floor. As soon as he was out of view, Sergio nodded toward the door.
"It's now or never," he muttered.
I didn't need any more encouragement. The two of us moved swiftly, shadows among shadows, reaching the study's door. Sergio pressed his ear to it for a moment, listening for the telltale sounds of movement.
"He's inside. Let's move."
The door creaked open just a sliver, and we slipped inside, unnoticed.
The thief was already standing by the desk, his back turned, rummaging through a drawer. But the glimmer of the stone—a faint blue glow—was visible on the desk.
"You're not getting away this time," Sergio's voice was steady as he stepped forward, the thief freezing mid-rummage.
The thief spun, eyes wide with shock, but it was too late. Sergio had already drawn his dagger, the blade glinting in the dim light of the room.
"The stone, now," Sergio commanded, his voice cold, authoritative.
For a moment, the thief's eyes darted, searching for an escape. But the door was behind him, and the windows were locked tight. He was trapped.
"You think you can stop me?" the thief sneered, his hand moving toward his belt, perhaps to draw a weapon. But Sergio was quicker.
With a sharp motion, Sergio closed the distance between them and knocked the thief's hand away. The thief stumbled back, the stone slipping out of his hand. The glow dimmed as it hit the desk, safe for now.
I stepped forward, my expression was unwavering, and with a swift motion, I pinned the thief against the desk.
"No more running," I said. "You'll return what you've stolen."
The thief's defiance wavered, his eyes flicking nervously between the two. But the weight of the situation was clear—there was no escape now.
After we wrapped up the things with the thief, we left the mansion unnoticed.
"Ahh... Finally!!! It was so tiring. " No really! I was exhausted.
"By the way, you didn't say anything back then. Who is the thief? You know him? "
"No. But I know the person who sent him. " Sergio 𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘥 .
"Who? " I asked.
"The princess. " He said.
"Why? " I asked once again.
"It seems I must extend my respects to the palace tomorrow. I had intended to pay a visit to His Highness regardless, and now, this presents a most opportune moment." He replied.
"Ehh.. What about me? "
"You shall remain at my residence, where you will continue to practice which I have imparted to you in the previous days."
Sergio came back from the palace, we returned to the mansion on the seventh day. Celestina had arranged everything for our arrival—quietly and efficiently, as always.
For some reason, I kept looking around for Inaya. I wasn't sure why, but I wanted to see her. Maybe to tell her everything that had happened… to talk to someone who'd listen. But she wasn't around.
We reached the mansion just around lunchtime. The air inside felt still, almost too quiet.
"Where is everyone?" I asked Celestina. She and Zeno were the only ones in the kitchen, busy with the dishes. Sergio stood beside me, looking just as curious.
"They've already eaten," she said. "Training wore them out, so they finished early and went to rest. Looked like they were starving."
I gave a small nod and sat down with Sergio at the kitchen table. We started eating without saying much. The food was warm, filling—after the week we'd had, it was the first real meal that felt like home.