Erythro: The Prophecy Unveiled

The moment the departing guest vanished from sight; Prince Sebastian seized the opportunity to emerge from his concealed position. With swift, determined steps, he made a beeline for the palace's royal library. Meanwhile, in the bustling hallway, a flurry of activity unfolded. A maid, her face etched with worry, darted about, her eyes scanning the area for the head servant or the butler. Spotting only a cluster of servants, she lowered her voice to a hushed whisper. "There's been an attack – a wolf attack!" Her words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken dread.

A collective gasp rippled through the servants as they exchanged startled glances. Questions poured forth like a relentless tide: "What?" "What do you mean?" "How did you know?" "Where did it happen?" The maid, overwhelmed by the sudden interrogation, took a deep breath to compose herself. "The guest who just left is actually a regent," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "I overheard their conversation with the king at the castle entrance. There was an attack in Perstone City, right after the Helios festival. The regent believes the culprit was a black wolf. And the worst part? There was a red parade!"

Her voice rose in alarm as she recounted the terrifying details. A hush fell over the crowd as the gravity of the situation sank in. Some servants gasped in horror, while others exchanged fearful glances. Madeline, seemingly oblivious to the escalating tension, looked puzzled. "The red parade? What does that mean?" another servant asked, their voice filled with confusion. Another maid, face pale, tried to explain. "I don't know the specifics, but I've heard whispers about a prophecy. They say a black wolf, a monstrous creature capable of devouring humans, is involved. This red parade... it might be a sign that the prophecy is unfolding."

The maid's eyes landed on Madeline, and a spark of interest ignited within them. "You, kid!" she began, her voice carrying a hint of accusation, "I know you were at the Helios festival, right?" A barrage of questions followed: "Did you see the parade? Do you know anything about the attack?" Madeline's face paled as she struggled to comprehend the sudden interrogation. Emily, who had been observing the scene from a distance, hurried over to Madeline's side. "Maddie doesn't know anything about it," she interjected, her voice firm. "She was with Betty at the market, not in Perstone."

A collective murmur rippled through the group as they exchanged disappointed glances. With a sigh, they turned their attention back to their tasks, leaving Madeline and Emily alone.Madeline offered Emily a grateful smile. "Thank you," she whispered. Emily returned the smile, reaching out to help Madeline with the floral arrangements. "I'm sorry for running away earlier," Madeline uttered. "It's alright," Emily responded looking at the girl beside her with a smile.

A moment later, a figure emerged from the shadows of the hallway. It was Rose, a former low-level maid who had recently been elevated to a higher position. Her demeanor was markedly different from before; her head held high, she strode purposefully, her every movement exuding an air of newfound authority. A ripple of discontent spread among the other maids. "Look at her," one whispered, her voice laced with envy. "Does she think she's royalty now?" Another maid giggled snidely.

Rose ignored the whispers, her focus unwavering. Rachel, unable to contain her irritation, called out, "Where are you going? Aren't you going to help us here?" Rose turned to face Rachel, her expression one of disdain. "Why would I?" she retorted, her voice dripping with contempt. "This area is for low-level maids, not for someone of my status." A gasp of shock erupted from the group.

"Mind your tongue!" someone retorted, their voice trembling with anger. Rose merely smirked. "I've been assigned to clean the upper rooms," she explained, her tone laced with sarcasm. "The royal chambers, which are off-limits to all of you, of course." Rachel refused to back down. "You might be cleaning the royal rooms, but you're still a maid, just like us," she insisted. Rose's lips curved into a smug smile. "Perhaps today," she replied, "but tomorrow evening, I'll be one of the guests. So, I suggest you all behave yourselves and provide impeccable service." With that, she turned and continued on her way, leaving the other maids fuming.

"You're lying!" someone interjected, and the rest of the maids quickly agreed. "Right, it's impossible. What do you mean by 'guest'? Maids are prohibited from setting foot in the royal ball except when serving." Another maid chimed in, "Maybe she's just one of the servants at the royal ball," and they all laughed in response.

Rose halted in her steps and chuckled. Turning to face the maids, she covered her lips with her hand and said, "Oh, you're mistaken. I am attending the royal ball. If you don't believe me, see for yourself." With a confident smile, she added, "Oh, I forgot, you're prohibited from entering there. How pitiful," before walking away, leaving the maids in stunned silence.

The maids were taken aback by Rose's words and demeanor, their expressions reflecting a mix of surprise and disbelief. Emily, on the other hand, simply shook her head, a resigned look on her face. Noticing Emily's reaction, Madeline asked, "We're not allowed at the royal ball?"

"Of course not," Rachel replied. "Only nobles, royals, and affluent families are invited. We, as low-level maids, are not allowed to set foot there. While the high level and mid-level maids are strictly there to serve, not to attend." Her tone carried a hint of frustration, highlighting the divide between their worlds.

It was early in the evening at the castle library, and Prince Sebastian was deeply engrossed in his reading. Piles of books were scattered across the table, creating a maze of literature through which the prince navigated with focused determination. He was absorbed in the pages of one of the many volumes before him, oblivious to his surroundings.

Larry, his attendant, entered the library and approached the prince. Noticing the prince's complete immersion in his books, Larry quietly observed the disarray on the table. Among the scattered volumes, he picked up one titled "The Great War." As he examined the titles of the other books, he saw that most of them were about prophecies, wolves, and historical events.

"Your Highness, His Majesty the King is looking for you. Dinner is ready," Larry announced. Prince Sebastian, startled by Larry's sudden presence, glanced up from his book. "I'll be there," he replied, briefly resuming his reading before another thought struck him. "Larry, you're a former regent, aren't you?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

Larry raised his eyebrows in mild surprise. "Yes, Your Highness. You seem very busy. Is this an assignment from your teacher?" he inquired. Prince Sebastian shook his head. "No, it isn't. I've been trying to find information about black wolves. There's nothing here, not even in the book about the Great War. I've heard they are just myths, legends, and stories to scare children. When I asked my teacher, he evaded the question and dismissed it as mere folklore."

The prince's expression grew serious as he continued, "I'm starting to think there might be more to it than just tales. Do you know anything about black wolves, Larry?" Larry's gaze softened as he considered the prince's question. "Your Highness, some knowledge is buried deep in history, hidden from common discourse. Perhaps there is more to discover, but it requires patience and the right sources," he said thoughtfully, his mind already turning on the reason for the sudden question.

"And where did you hear about it, Your Highness?" Larry asked as he sat down across from the prince. "I have a book about a girl in a red robe. It was one of Mother's books. I found it among the things she left behind," the prince replied. Larry was momentarily stunned. "That book was banned throughout the entire empire."

"But why?" Prince Sebastian asked, clearly perplexed.

"I don't know the details," Larry admitted. The prince leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I overheard the regents earlier. They were talking to Father about a recent attack by a black wolf. And the red parade during the Helios festival—I believe it has some connection to it." Larry's expression turned thoughtful as he absorbed this new information.

Larry stared at the young prince for a moment, marveling at how perceptive and intelligent the boy was. "Unfortunately, we won't find any information about it here. I believe all the books on the subject were destroyed by the Ordinance," Larry said. "Alright, I'll go eat then," the prince replied, standing up from his seat. As he prepared to leave, Larry added, "You could ask your father, the king, directly if you want to learn more, Your Highness." The suggestion hung in the air, leaving Prince Sebastian with much to ponder as he made his way to dining room.

As Prince Sebastian entered the grand dining room, he was greeted by the opulent sight of the table laden with sumptuous dishes. His father, King Alexander, sat at the head of the table, radiating authority. To his right sat Princess Vivienne and her husband, Sir Roland Claudio, the head of the military. The air was thick with an unspoken tension as Sebastian took his seat.

"Father," Prince Sebastian began cautiously, "I have a question about the black wolves. Why—"

Before he could finish, the king's face darkened with anger. "That is not a topic for discussion at the dinner table, Sebastian," King Alexander snapped, his voice rising. "Those stories are forbidden for a reason. Do not mention them again."

Feeling the sting of his father's reprimand, Sebastian fell silent, his gaze dropping to his plate. King Alexander's stern demeanor did not waver as he turned his attention to a different matter. "I hear you have been spending time with the servants," the king said, his tone icy. "A prince has no business fraternizing with the help. It is unbecoming and will not be tolerated."

Princess Vivienne remained silent, her expression unreadable, while Sir Roland Claudio glanced sympathetically at the young prince. "With all due respect, Your Majesty," Sir Roland interjected gently, "there is value in understanding and respecting those who serve us. It fosters loyalty and trust." The king's eyes narrowed. "This is not a matter for debate, Roland. Sebastian will follow the proper decorum expected of a prince. He is forbidden from mingling with the servants."

Prince Sebastian bit back his frustration, his knuckles whitening as he gripped his fork. "Yes, Father," he replied quietly, swallowing his resentment. The rest of the meal passed in strained silence, with only Sir Roland occasionally offering the prince a supportive smile.

As dinner concluded, Prince Sebastian excused himself, his mind swirling with unspoken questions and unresolved emotions. He left the dining room, feeling the weight of his father's expectations pressing heavily on his shoulders. Sir Roland's gaze followed him from behind.