Lucy chuckled at his flustered expression and responded, "Oh, I was just teasing you. And yes, it's unfortunate that the soldiers are inspecting carriages today." She glanced out the window as she buttoned the last button of her coat, making Cassian's disappointment even more palpable. "Something must have happened at the castle.
The soldiers aren't just inspecting carriages—they're also going in and out of houses, shops, and restaurants."
Cassian, trying to shake off his frustration about missing out on seeing Lucy's breasts, looked around with a scowl. "I don't care what's going on," he said, his tone dripping with frustration. "Why does it have to happen today, of all days?" His irritation was clear as he grappled with the timing of their misfortune.
She shifted a bit closer to him, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. "Don't think of it as stopping; it's just a pause. We can always pick up where we left off another time."
Cassian felt his anger dissipate slightly at her words and nodded in agreement. Just then, they felt the carriage come to a stop, and soldiers approached each side of the door. "aunt Lucy?" To their surprise, the soldier checking their carriage was none other than Lucy's nephew, Tyron.
"Tyron?" Lucy exclaimed, her surprise mirroring Cassian's as he greeted his benefactor with a respectful bow. "Sir Tyron."
Tyron looked at Cassian with a smile and said, "You're here too." He then turned to the soldier at the other door, "This one's clear. You can move on to the next."
As the soldier moved to check the other carriage, Lucy, her worry evident, asked, "Where have you been? I've been looking for you almost daily."
Tyron didn't immediately answer. Instead, he opened the carriage door and said, "I'll explain everything later. For now, hop out of the carriage."
Confused, Cassian and Lucy stepped out of the carriage, their earlier excitement now overshadowed by the sudden turn of events. Tyron, looking somewhat flustered but determined, took their fare from them and grabbed a few of the bags Lucy was holding.
"You can't go into the castle in this carriage," Tyron explained, glancing around nervously. "Something's happened, and I can't discuss it here. Follow me."
He led them to a line of sleek, black carriages parked a short distance away. Soldiers were inspecting the passengers boarding these carriages, and Tyron directed them towards one. "This carriage will take you to the castle. I'll explain everything once we're through this."
Cassian, still processing the unexpected change, tried to ask more questions. "But why all this secrecy? What's really going on?"
Tyron, glancing back at the soldiers and his other duties, responded quickly. "I can't say much right now."
Lucy, sensing Tyron's urgency, placed a reassuring hand on Cassian's arm. "Let's just go. We can get answers later."
Without waiting for further questions, Tyron hurriedly handed over their bags and gave them a brief but firm nod. "I'll explain everything after this."
Cassian and Lucy, unable to get more information, reluctantly climbed into the black carriage. As the door closed behind them, they settled into their seats, with some other passengers.
Soon, they arrived at the inner castle, which was bustling with more activity than usual, but this time, it was only soldiers hurrying back and forth. Smoke billowed in the distance from what appeared to be noble mansions, a sight that sent a chill through the air.
None of the other passengers commented on the chaos, and when Cassian tried to ask, Lucy quickly squeezed his hand, signaling for him to stay quiet. The tension was palpable, and it wasn't until they were the only ones left in the carriage, heading deeper into the castle grounds, that Cassian could no longer hold back.
"What's happening, Miss Lucy?" he asked, his voice edged with concern.
Lucy, her face shadowed with worry, glanced out of the carriage window before answering in a hushed tone. "It looks like a terror attack from the duchy's enemies. I can't be certain, but things are going to be tense for a while—maybe months, maybe years."
Cassian had only ever heard stories of wars and battles. His personal experience was limited to drunken brawls or the torment he endured when the system first activated. He hadn't read much about warfare, and Lucy hadn't clarified who might be bold enough to attack the Scarlet Duchy.
As far as he knew, there were only a few forces capable of such a feat—the royal family of this kingdom or an empire's army. The Bloodfire Legion, after all, was the third-largest and most powerful military force in this part of the world.
"Who would dare attack the Scarlet Castle?" he asked, his tone filled with surprise.
Lucy sighed, glancing out the window as she spoke. "There are always some brainwashed fools daring to do the unthinkable. But their bravery often leads to their demise." She paused for a moment, then added, "You don't need to worry about these things, Cassian, nor do I. It seems the attack was only on the outer castle. The inner part appears untouched."
As they entered the inner castle grounds, Lucy's words rang true. There were no signs of smoke or damage, but the increased number of guards made the tension in the air palpable.
As the carriage rolled deeper into the inner castle, the atmosphere shifted from the chaos outside to a more controlled and watchful environment. The heavy presence of guards, their armor clinking as they patrolled in tight formations, made it clear that while the inner castle was untouched, everyone was on high alert.
"I hope Lady Katherine returns safely," Lucy said as the carriage came to a stop in front of Lady Katherine's residence. Cassian, following her out of the carriage, asked, "Where is she coming back from?"
"She went to attend a ball at some earl's castle. As part of her duties to the duchy, she usually has to attend two or three of these events every month. It's exhausting, but it's just part of being a noble," Lucy explained.
But to their surprise, as they approached the entrance, it seemed Lady Katherine had already returned. They spotted Fuyuko walking toward them, having accompanied her to the ball.