The sun was approaching the middle of the sky, and the South Stadium was already in full swing and buzz. A bunch of shopkeepers gathered at the entrance, praising their products.
Lord Trevelyan stopped in the shadow of a column a little further from the main arch leading to the square in front of the stadium. All around him have turned into a spontaneous market just for this day. Although his imposing figure still stood out, this noisy and colorful background distracted some attention away from him.
Today he tried to dress to better mix in the crowd despite Lotre's constant grumbling. His butler always took everything extremely seriously. Therefore, when the former jailer found out that the master was planning a real date today, and even with the bride-to-be, the usual dressing in the morning turned into a true battle.
Devon literally had to run away from home, taking with him a nondescript brown frock coat, since those pompous outfits that Lotre tried to cram him into made his skin cover with unnaturally huge goosebumps. Devon didn't even want to know why or when his butler had the idea to buy those pompous rags.
Nevertheless, Anastasia has simply surpassed herself today. Her emerald gown shone like a jewel in the sun. The bouncy curls escaped out of the neat hairstyle, and now Lady Rutland looked more like a free spirit of the meadow who suddenly appeared in the middle of the city.
"Lady Anastasia." - once again called Devon, seeing how the girl, too engrossed looking at some trinkets, once again moved too far from him. She was already surrounded by peddlers, and street rascals, like spiders, that caught a butterfly in their web. His low, firm voice made these deceivers quickly back away from such a tasty target the first few times that happened. These rogues were not fools, and noticing his imposing figure wrapped in a dark aura, standing in the shadow of the column, they immediately realized that such a person is not to play with.
However, Anastasia has already gone through almost everything on display in the shops closest to him. So no matter how much Devon growls at her, she could not restrain her curiosity.
This time, the young girl's attention was attracted by a dirty boy selling cheap woven bracelets. Ignoring Devon's shout, the girl came closer to the rag that was lying right on the ground. The little boy immediately jumped to his feet and started to praise his product in every possible way. The child's face instantly became red, and his eyes started to water, filled with such hope while he gazed at Stacy. Anastasia melted like candy in sunlight.
It was such ab obvious trap!
Devon clicked his tongue in annoyance, noticing how Stacy's aura shone with the bright blue of compassion. The girl did not even notice that the boy was not alone here. But such a trick was nothing new to Devon.
Seeing that something was wrong, the man unglued himself from the wall, constantly keeping in sight several more street ragamuffins slowly approaching Anastasia from behind.
Black Judge saw many thieves during his service, so he concentrated his attention on the one further from Stacy. Like he predicted, As soon as Anastasia bend over to get a better look at the trinkets in the boy's hands, this beggar dived into the crowd like a fish, slipping through the stream of people with the obvious goal of attacking the unsuspecting girl from behind. Noticing this, Devon immediately sped to cut him.
But the agility and dexterity of these urchins surpassed even his expectations. At that moment, a completely different boy emerged from behind the nearest shop, snatching the girl's handbag, and disappeared into the crowd.
These rascals knew Devon was watching! Flashed through the head of the Black Lord.
The second boy, who was diverting his attention and even little seller, took off in all directions, scurrying away like mice. Gritting his teeth, Devon rushed after the thief.
"Stay here!" - he threw, running past Anastasia, who looked around in puzzlement. The girl still didn't realize what happened. A second ago, she was talking to the unfortunate boy and was almost ready to buy all his bracelets at a high price. The next moment, the boy, for no reason at all, jumped off and vanished from the sigh. And now even Black Lord was running around like a mad horse...
The thief so cleverly maneuvered between people that for a second, it seemed to Devon that there was no chance to catch up with him. Stumbled over another peddler, the Black Head cursed, realizing that he had lost the boy out of sight. He was about to surrender when suddenly the crowd in front parted like waves, exposing a small space. In the middle of it, a man was silently holding a frantically struggling boy by the scruff, the very thief which Devon was chasing.
Seeing approaching Black Lord, the boy began to squirm desperately as if trying to wriggle out of his own clothes, but the stranger held on tight and did not even sway despite the boy's dire attempts. Realizing that the boy was not going anywhere, Devon slowly walked closer and looked from the thief to the man.
Imagine his surprise when the Black Lord realized that his savior was no other than Konrad. As before, not a drop of emotion was reflected on the man's indifferent face, even when their gazes met. And the aura, as well as last time, was completely absent.
It was so weird. The ever-swirling fog of emotion clouded everyone in the crowd but not him. Konrad stood there like a rock in the middle of the mist, so clear and calm, as if not alive.
Yet that wasn't the only thing that struck Devon. Arm! Konrad was holding the kicking kid with his Right Hand! How is this possible ?!
Lord Trevelyan stopped a couple of steps away, picking at Konrad's hand secretly, and was about to greet and thank the young man as a green hurricane hit both of them from behind.
"Konrad, leave the child alone immediately!" - Anastasia shouted as she swept past Devon in the whirl of frills and curls. The girl directly grabbed the boy expecting that her old friend would immediately release his victim.
But everything just went wrong.
Konrad suddenly lifted his hand up as if trying to prevent Anastasia from touching the thief. Yet this stubborn girl had already clung to the unfortunate ragamuffin like a tick. Thus Anastasia was flang up in the air together with the boy.
Devon froze in astonishment, not knowing what to do. Not every strong man can easily pull up a child of about 10 years by an outstretched arm like this. But Konrad also hoisted up an eccentric girl in a heavy dress ... Even he would hardly pull such a trick, especially considering how Konrad's face did not flinch one bit in the process.
"Konrad !!!" - Anastasia's shout finally distracted the Black Judge from marveling over the other man straight. Devon chuckled, noticing Anastasia's sorry state but still hurried to rescue the girl, who was now floundering in the air, clinging tightly to the pale boy.
"Stacy, let the boy go." - Devon commanded, trying in every possible way to keep the notes of laughter rushing out and to make his voice as strict as possible.
At the same time, he cast a wary glance at Konrad. The shadow of confusion was reflected on this guy's face as if the man himself did not know how to behave in this situation further.
Their eyes met, and Konrad, as if reading Devon's thoughts, started to lower his hand so that the girl's feet could touch the ground. But as soon as the Demon reached out to tear Anastasia from the boy, something strange flashed in Konrad's eyes. The man pressed his lips together and jerked his hand back sharply, raising both of them again and taking a step back. Stacy screamed in surprise, and the boy wheezed, slightly strangled by such a maneuver.
"What the!" - Devon snarled, trying to grab onto his ward again, frustrated over this absurd situation. But this crazy guy again bounced to the side, waving the pair hanging from his hand like cat bait.
Devon was about to punch this madman when his gaze caught a strange green glow on Konrad's skin, slowly rising up his neck to his chin. It was very similar to the one he saw on Calisto when she knocked over the tray from the table on their second visit. It glowed each time Devon reached his hand to Stacy.
What is it? Is it because Devon tried to touch Anastasia?!
Then how should he proceed?
But his string of thoughts was broken by an even and melodious voice.
"Konrad, stop making a ruckus." - Lady Marsters commanded in a quiet but firm tone, slowly approaching them. The guy immediately dropped his hand, as if accustomed to strictly and instantly follow orders.
However, as usual, Anastasia was apparently not ready to surrender so easily, absolutely not noticing how much attention they had already attracted from onlookers.
"Let the child go too." - the girl demanded as soon as her feet touched the ground and tried to snatch the unfortunate boy from the tenacious fingers of Konrad. However, the stubborn guy also did not intend to let the girl get the thief.
"Dirty." - he drawled a short response and pulled the boy away. Devon was ready to intervene again, seeing that the situation went in circles, as a sharp roar of command literally made him jump.
"Enough! Both of you - disperse!" - Cali barked in a voice that would rather fit one of the captains of the Red Castle.
Surprisingly, Anastasia immediately took a step back, finally letting go of the boy and even crouched slightly like a frightened puppy. Konrad simultaneously released urchin's collar, making him flop to the ground with a noise.
Cali approached the boy. His face was pale, and the eyes were swimming as if he was completely out of it.
"Bag." - She demanded abruptly, holding out her hand. The boy barely focused on her. The next moment his haggard face twisted, and tears spurted from his eyes.
"Cali, how can you be like this?! The poor kid has been through so much!" - Anastasia exclaimed, trying to get closer to the thief again, but Devon blocked her way. He certainly knew what this rascal was playing at. But what surprised him more was Calisto's behavior.
Her attitude and bearings seemed to add volume to the image that had been haunting him for days in dreams and in reality. Now he was no longer surprised that this slender, refined aristocrat could live in the Ligarchy for six years. But was she really just a servant? Is it possible to hide this aristocratic pride and habit of giving orders? Devon was almost sure that she acted like this on instinct because she was so used to it. And that was very suspicious.
Meanwhile, Calisto did not even think to retreat.
"He is a thief." - Lady Marsters stated matter-of-factly, literally nailed Anastasia to the spot with her cold gaze. - "He ought to return what was stolen and answer for his deed."
"I did not steal!" - The boy howled, looking pleadingly at Anastasia. These ragamuffins could survive on the street without any help from adults and knew precisely how to squirm themself from any situation. And to act pitifully was one of their strongest weapons.
Devon was not even surprised to see how tears immediately welled up in Anastasia's eyes, and she was ready to rush to protect this rascal. Only Lady Marsters was faster. The girl took a decisive step forward and loomed over the boy.
"Choose. Either you hand over the bag and get off with forced labor on the Marsters' estate, or Lord Trevelyan, Head of Black Castle, will deal with you according to the law. However, there, I bet you will not only confess to anything but also betray your whole gang. "
Her voice was cold and menacing. The little beggar instantly became quiet, shaking like a leaf. But he still kept his round eyes on Calisto. Even when she pointed at Devon. The boy still stared at her, as if afraid to look away from the dangerous predator.
That was strange. Why this girl seemed more frightening to this boy than the presence of the Black Lord himself? Devon took a step forward to get a better look at Cali's face. It was so uncommon to deal with someone who has absolutely no emotional aura. Only now he realized how much he relies on his abilities even in simple communication with people.
"Cali, how can you ..." - a new cry from Anastasia stopped Devon, her fiery aura full of righteous anger for a second made his eyes water. That why he lost the chance to registered what happened next. Little thief's expression became ashen. The boy suddenly hiccupped loudly and then began nervously rummaging in his bosom.
"I beg you! I beg you, Lady! I will do whatever you want! Here is the bag! Please forgive! I beg you!"
With trembling hands, he took out Anastasia's purse and carefully laid it in front of him, then crawled away and curled up into a ball, continuing to beg for mercy. But Calisto was not particularly impressed.
No pity, no anger. Throughout this entire scene, Devon was unable to notice absolutely no sign of any emotions. The girl just silently lifted the purse from the ground, dusted it off, and handed it to Anastasia. Stacy accepted the thing as if instinctively, amazed at such a calm and indifferent face of her friend.
"Lady Marsters ..." - Devon began, finally deciding that this was the very moment he should step in. He is Arrila's Lord of Justice, after all. But his words were cut short when he saw how Konrad silently picked up the boy shaking on the ground and just walked away. Cali only gave a quick glance at the retreating back of her companion, then turned her gaze back to Devon and bowed elegantly.
"Lord Trevelyan, I apologize for not greeting you right away." - she said in the same melodic tone, then turned to Anastasia, nodding friendly, as if they had just met. - "You look amazing today, Stacy."
It was so unexpected that Devon and Anastasia froze at the same time, not knowing how to react. What was that? It all looked like Konrad and Cali had just quickly gotten rid of the interfering garbage bag on the way. And that's all ... Like flicking a stone with the toe of a boot and move on.