The air in the hidden wing was stagnant, heavy with the scent of fear and unwashed wool. But as Marin moved between the cots, her presence brought a warmth that the stone walls hadn't felt in years. She didn't use her sword; she used her hands, lifting the smallest children with a tenderness that made Robert’s heart ache with pride.
"The side exit is guarded by three men," Robert whispered, his eyes glowing faintly violet as he peered through the shadows of the doorway. "But the main ballroom is the only way to get this many children to the carriage without being spotted by the perimeter snipers."
"Through the ballroom?" Marin looked at the thirty frightened children clinging to their cloaks. "Robert, there are two hundred nobles out there."
"Exactly," Robert smirked, checking the edge of his hidden dagger. "No one looks at the floor during a waltz. And besides... we have the best distraction team in the Kingdom."
The Signal
Through their mental link, Robert sent a pulse of energy to Marek, who was currently "entertaining" a group of elderly duchesses near the grand orchestra.
Marek’s eyes sparked. He turned to Silica and Marley, who were standing by the giant chocolate fountain. "Ladies," he whispered. "Stage four. Give them the grand finale."
Silica grinned and pulled a small, enchanted firecracker—a gift from Malric—from her pouch. Marley grabbed a stack of silk napkins and tied them together.
BOOM.
A shower of harmless, multi-colored sparks erupted over the buffet table. At the same time, Marley "accidentally" tripped into a waiter carrying a tray of crystal flutes. The crash was deafening, drawing every eye in the room toward the mess.
The Invisible Procession
"Now!" Robert signaled.
He draped his shadow-mantle over the first ten children, effectively making them part of the darkness. Marin took the lead, her emerald dress billowing as she walked with a graceful, noble stride. To any onlooker, she was simply a lady heading toward the balcony for air. In reality, twenty children were ducking and weaving behind her skirts, perfectly timed to her movements.
They moved along the perimeter of the ballroom, shielded by the chaos. Silica and Marley began a "playful" chase through the crowd, zigzagging between the dancing couples. Every time a guard looked toward the children’s shadows, Marley would "stumble" into them or Silica would loudly ask for help finding a lost earring.
The Confrontation
They were ten feet from the grand entrance when the music stopped. Lord Verath himself, his mask a snarling gold wolf, stood at the top of the stairs. His eyes went straight to the suspicious bulge under Robert’s shadow-cloak.
"Lady Montclair," Verath called out, his voice cutting through the chatter. "Leaving so soon? And with such... heavy luggage?"
The room went silent. The nobles turned.
Robert didn't flinch. He stepped in front of the children, his violet mana flaring. Marin drew her hidden short-blade, the silver steel reflecting the chandelier light.
"The King's business is finished here, Verath," Marin said, her voice dropping the "noble" act for the cold tone of a commander. "We found what you were hiding in the walls."
Verath snarled, signaling his personal guards. "Kill the 'Shadow' and the girl. I’ll deal with the King later!"
The Unity Strike
Robert didn't wait for the guards to reach them. He looked at Silica. "Get them to the carriage! Go!"
Silica and Marley didn't hesitate. They gathered the children and sprinted for the doors while Marek provided cover with a flurry of throwing knives that pinned the guards' sleeves to the woodwork.
Robert and Marin moved as one. It was the "Trial by Combat" all over again, but refined. Robert swept through the guards like a gale of violet wind, while Marin provided the crushing force. With a single, synchronized strike, they blew the mansion's double doors off their hinges, creating a clear path for the escape.
The Victory of the Dawn
By the time the sun began to peek over the horizon, the children were safely tucked into the royal carriages, wrapped in warm blankets provided by Lady Elara, who had been waiting in the shadows with the extraction team.
Marek, Silica, and Marley stood by the gates, panting and laughing, their masks discarded.
Robert walked over to Marin, who was watching the last carriage pull away. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, silver pin—the crest of the Verath family he had ripped from the Lord's cloak before they left.
"Another house fallen," Robert noted, tossing the pin into the dirt.
Marin leaned against him, her head resting on his shoulder. "And thirty more lives started. Not a bad night's work for an undercover couple."
Robert smiled, kissing her temple. "I think the 'chaos team' deserves an extra dessert tonight."
"Two desserts," Silica yelled from the gate, making everyone laugh.
The mission is a total success. The King is thrilled, and the people are starting to talk about the "Unstoppable Pair."
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWC7rp7TJm1
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYATpEKO0Tk
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHaGmRRzVD
and then Add to home screen.