章節 13: Chapter Thirteen

Raphael agreed to walk Maria back to the church, then go to the library with Anita to further do research on the so-called Unknown Royal.

Together, they would find out who they were, why they chased Maria, where his father was and, hopefully, how he's connected to them.

Raphael allowed Anita to bumble around the pathway lazily, skipping and spinning from one side to the other, until the paths became more crowded. Women walked past and gave sideway stares that Raphael loathed; judge, disgust filled stares. With a tap on the shoulder, Anita calmed down and walked normally, occasionally circling trees they passed.

"I'm a nosy person," Maria suddenly informed.

Raphael pressed his lips together to hide his grin. "Yes?"

"So, I'm not going to feel guilty asking this. But what on earth was Sam talking about?" Maria asked, "And how did you meet him?"

Raphael blinked at the question. "Uhh… I met Sam maybe a year ago now." Raphael rested the back of his head on his hands as he arched his back to stretch as he walked, "Under… complicated circumstances."

"Why do they call you Phantom?"

"Because I'm that ghostly," he replied pocketing his hands.

Maria nudged him with her elbow, "I'm serious. That was weird. What was all of that?"

Raphael hummed, catching the sideway glance of Anita, as he decided what to do. They had an entire operation running, they were almost finished, two more artworks and then it was done. Maria knew nothing about it, understood none of his nicknames and didn't recognise him from the papers. He couldn't jeopardize their mission, and he didn't want to endanger Anita.

"Not to sound rude, but I'm afraid that is none of your concern," Raphael stated. Maria attempted to pry at him further, but he wouldn't budge. Raphael laughed at her third attempt, "You really are a meddlesome person."

"Curious," Maria corrected, "I just don't understand how Sam can help us. How old is he anyway? Fourteen?"

"Fifteen turning sixteen," Raphael informed.

Maria shook her head, in obvious disbelief, "I just don't understand how he could help us."

Anita hummed, "Umm, Maria-"

Raphael hushed her as he pondered explaining how he knew Sam, quickly deciding it was fine. "Have you heard of an Inspector Riley?" he asked, to which Maria expectantly shook her head. "He's a local inspector with the police. Sam's his kid."

Maria hugged her violin close. "So… you think because he's an inspector's kid he'll be able to find out about these Unknown Royals?"

Raphael shrugged. He didn't know what to expect from Sam. "But If someone can find anything, its Sam. I don't know how helpful the police would be in this situation, and I doubt they'd believe a bunch of kids were attacked a gang of silver knights on the first night of the Fete de Paris. Even saying it out loud, it seems absurd." Maria admitted she hadn't thought of it like that.

Raphael attempted to lighten the mood, "Sam wants to be like Inspector Riley, except… not an Inspector?" Sam had attempted to explain it many times to him, but it became more confusing with every conversation. "I assume something like a Private Detective, maybe an eye for hire. Apparently, they're in high demand currently."

"Why wouldn't Sam want to be a police officer or an investigator?" Maria was puzzled by this.

Raphael sighed, as none of what he knew was fact, but a theory. "I think Sam and the Inspector butt heads a lot. Disagree on too many things, fight about moral and ethical standpoints and so on. Sam just thinks there's a different way to uphold the law."

Evidence of Fete de Paris was still plastered on trees and fencing, posters and flyers decorated anything it could stick to. Throughout all streets, red, blue and white confetti littered the ground, more in some neighbourhoods than others. Despite the main celebrations happening at night, stalls were still set up and people of all ages and types littered all streets singing in French and running around waving the flag. When Raphael closed his eyes, he could faintly hear a lute and smell pastry treats.

Raphael stopped by a large poster of Fete de Paris, this one also advertising the Festival Ball in the palace. Raphael often found it in ill taste to promote this event when commoners weren't invited. From his recollection, it was royalty, titles and wealth that got you an invitation to the Ball, a social event amongst the fabulously wealthy and absurdly influential. The poster was very structured, blue border, red crown and gold writing stating precisely where, when and why. He was surprised the poster was still in pristine condition.

"What did you do to celebrate the first night Fete de Paris?" Maria asked, "You already know how my night went."

Raphael chuckled at her quip, glancing at a poster directly beside it, advertising a similar event as the Royal Ball, but for laypeople. Unlike the royal poster, this one was significantly less quality but was more colourful and spontaneous looking. It was certainly more inviting than the Royal Poster.

"Did you know its against the law to cover a Royal emblem?" Raphael said comparing the two posters. "This means posters, announcements, symbolic attire and anything that belongs to the Royal Family." Raphael saw Maria had tucked away her necklace. "Technically you're committing treason."

Despite the information, Maria folded her arms, unimpressed as he heard her fingers drum against her violin. Raphael rested his hand on his hat, "We started out late. Got complimented by several women who thought we were adorable looking and went to one of the main market streets to eat treats." Raphael described their night in as much detail as believable. Including the puppet show, the music, the outfits people decorated themselves in and their encounter where they danced. However, he added that Anita felt overwhelmed by the crowds, so they went for a walk in the quieter streets, far enough away to lessen the noise, but close enough to see any potential fireworks.

Raphael knew to lie well there must be truth to it, be it through the smallest of details or explaining a scenario one wished had happened. He did wish he had seen the fireworks that night and described his disappointment over not being able to see them. Excluding the fact, he couldn't see them from the inside of the Louvre and because they were fleeing guards.

"When we were heading home we ran into you," Raphael finished.

"Has that ring ever done that for you before?" Maria asked.

Raphael spotted it still on his hand, the jade ring no longer glowing. He was good at lying on the spot, but he felt compelled to tell her he only got this recently. "No, never." He wasn't lying, "That's the first time I've ever seen it do that. It was quite a shock."

"Me too…" Maria seemed to remember it, her eyes widening at the mention of it.

"How long have you had that pendent for?" Raphael asked.

"Apparently, I got it from my parents when they left me at the orphanage," Maria informed holding the gold necklace to look at the Royal Inscription. "But it's never glowed like that before."

"Let me see," Raphael reached for it, prompting the soft glow of both the ring and pendant. Shocked, the two jumped away from each other with a gasp. Anita stopped skipping in time to watch them step away from each other and the glow subsided. Raphael reached forwards again, this time not touching the necklace. The jewellery shined brighter the closer they got to one another.

"That wasn't doing that at home…" Anita said.

Realising there was no danger, both Raphael and Maria stepped closer again. "Perhaps they're part of a set?" Maria suggested.

"That wouldn't explain why they glow," Raphael informed. Both jewellery pieces ceased glowing, despite being so close to one another. "This just seems random now…" He rubbed his hand against his forehead and through his hair, heaving a sigh. "First it glows on its own, then it shatters a sword and now it just decides to randomly light up." He pinched the bridge of his nose in thought.

Maria stumbled, reaching a hand out to Raphael. Shocked, he caught her. She didn't seem to lose consciousness but was in such a state of dizziness she couldn't regain her posture for a few seconds. Anita held the other arm as together they held her up and continued walking slowly down the street.

Maria managed to walk on her own in time for the three to be on the same street as the church. The church would often decorate the exterior to liven up and participate in the various festivals around Paris. Raphael recalled dozens of flowers, planted and tended to by Mr Vickers, for a Flower Festival, a big one being Christmas where they offered a festive area to get together to sing hymns, assist in decorating a tree and donate or give one another presents. For Fete de Paris, colour appropriate flags hung from the metal gate, four different advertisement posters had been stuck to the walls and, Raphael assumed, further décor perhaps in the church grounds.

Which he was content with never seeing.

Like usual, a pair of nuns stood at the gates smiling and talking to passers-by. One of them saw Maria with Raphael and Anita, jumping on the spot in surprise as she nudged the nun next to her and quickly running through the gates. The other nun started running towards Maria, arms outstretched as she reached her and embracing her, expressing her concern and worry as she checked Maria for injuries and fussing with her clothes and asking endless questions about where she was.

Maria could hardly explain she was fine.

Raphael stood by Anita, waiting silently for the fretting to cease so he could make a proper farewell. Other nuns came around, some in a similar state of hysteria while others waited by the gate, Maria yet to say a word.

Sister Wendy emerged from the church and parted the nuns to have her turn at worry. "Oh Maria! Where have you been? You had us worried sick!" She pulled Maria into a hug.

"I'm fine, Sister Wendy, honestly." Maria pulled away, physically overwhelmed as she hushed all the nuns' worries. "I just got lost during the festival," she lied, "I didn't feel it safe to attempt walking home in the dark, so I stayed at a friend's house."

Raphael hid his amazement well. He knew how to lie, but he was impressed by Maria's flawless execution. When Sister Wendy saw him, she gave a look, not of disdain, but of mild annoyance. "Raphael," she acknowledged.

Raphael gave her his best smile and an over-the-top polite bow involving the removal of his hat. "Sister."

He was pushing a boundary, and he could tell, but he also didn't care. Sister Wendy shifted from one foot to the other, knowingly unable to curse or say anything spiteful as technically he wasn't being disrespectful.

Anita, rolling her eyes at Raphael's over-the-top manners, smiled, ��Hello Sister Wendy."

The nun held a similar notion for Anita but portrayed it in a far kinder manner. "Hello, dearie." She turned her attention back to Raphael, "Is this true? Did you so happen to run into Maria last night?"

Raphael nodded, "Yes."

"And she spent the night with you?"

"I didn't touch your precious child of the church, Sister Wendy," Raphael assured with his hands up. "We met her earlier in the night, then found her later lost and exhausted. Seemed rude of me not to offer a place to rest."

This prompted murmurs among the nuns. Sister Wendy excellently hid her irritation as she thanked Raphael. "It was very kind of you, Raphael," she said folding her arms, "We'll be sure to keep a better eye on her for future."

Raphael waved a hand. "It was no trouble really. Lovely girl." Raphael wanted to see her again, he found it refreshing to talk to someone his own age. "Would love to get together again," he said a little louder, so Maria could hear.

Sister Wendy snapped, "I highly doubt that." Her assurance Raphael found laughable but remained silent as she continued. "Maria here won't be with us for much longer anyway, so I doubt you'll be seeing her again before she leaves."

"Oh?" Raphael looked to Maria for conformation, but Wendy continued.

"Yes. She is. And you won't get to see her again," she sneered.

"Sister." Maria placed a hand on her shoulder, making her silence her gradually snippy snap. "Yes, it's true. I'll be gone over the next few days. This was always meant to be temporary."

Raphael thought about her words the previous night about being an orphan.

Is she getting adopted? At eighteen? He mused glancing down at Anita.

Anita had gradually clasped Raphael's hand during the exchange, but also acknowledged the situation with a quizzical look.

"What are you getting up to then?" Raphael asked. While shocked he was also genuinely saddened, having to suppress a sigh upon hearing this news.

Maria seemed happy, but before she could say Sister Wendy, once again, interrupted. "I'm afraid we aren't allowed to disclose that, remember Maria?"

Maria seemed shocked and nodded, "Oh yes. I almost forgot about that." She scratched at her face, covering her mouth from Sister Wendy but allowing Raphael to distinctly watch her mouth, "Tell you later."

Sneaky, Raphael thought as he grinned.

"Now if you'll excuse us, we need to make sure certain affairs are in order." Wendy ushered Maria to the church grounds. The group approached the gates, Raphael and Anita stopping at the foot of the gates offering a mere wave as a final farewell.

Maria glanced over her shoulder and saw they weren't following. She tugged her arm from the nuns, "Did you want to come in for a cup of tea perhaps?" she offered.

Raphael dismissed the offer. "No, I don't plan on intruding. Besides, I must take this one to the library," he explained nudging Anita.

Anita smiled and gave a big wave. "Have fun with your affairs." She grabbed Raphael's hand, tugged it down the path before running off.

Raphael watched her go to the brick wall, out of sight of the nuns and leaned against the wall, her childish façade fading as she waited. Maria pressed her lips together but suddenly had an idea. "Then I would like to invite you to something!" she exclaimed, "Both of you."

At the thought of a party, Anita made a face, a face of discomfort. Raphael leered, "An invitation?"

"Miss Stephany…" Sister Wendy warned, but Maria ignored them.

"To the Festive Ball," Maria informed.

Both Raphael and Anita raised an eyebrow. "As in the one at the palace? The Royal Festival Ball?"

Maria smiled nodding, "That's the one."

Anita pushed off the wall, making gesturing to ask what was going on. Raphael brushed her away as he considered the invitation. "How did you get an invite for that?"

The nuns snapped at Maria, saying it was inappropriate for her to invite one of the laypeople without the consent of the Royal Family. Maria continued to argue, "I'm allowed to bring a partner, aren't I? Or has that been revoked from me?" Maria asked.

"That's with the intention of bringing along your Guardian, Maria," Sister Wendy chimed in, "Not a random child, whom I can honestly say, is an arrogant, stubborn and manipulative boy."

Raphael sighed folding his arms, "Please, don't hold back Sister Wendy."

She ignored him, "And rude. He has no place in the palace nor do you have the right to invite him to such an event."

Raphael could see in the corner of his eye Anita pressing her hands against her mouth, stifling a laugh as she rested her forehead against the wall, kicking at the ground.

"With all due respect, Sister, it is my choice in accordance with their invitation." She pressed a finger to her chin in exaggerated thought, "'If so choosing, you may invite another at your own accord at your own choice.'"

Raphael suspected she had read this invitation many times. People go their entire lives without even roaming the front gardens of the palace, without getting past the gates opened only by the palace guards for carts and cars to go in and out. Some can only dream of what the inside of the palace looks like, provoke the imagination of children to guess and assume. He wouldn't have been surprised if Maria could recite the entire invitation word for word.

Sister Wendy wasn't budging, and the other nuns also insisted she not invite Raphael and Anita. Raphael quickly became uncomfortable, unsure whether to let it play out or to simply decline the offer. Anita's laughing fit had finished, turned to confusion as she peered around the brick fencing, leaning through the gate to look at the arguing.

The gate creaked and swung further open, further than Anita was expecting, and she almost fell onto the property of the church.

Raphael lurched forward and caught her arm, pulling her back towards him before she could brace herself against the ground. The sudden movement gained the attention of some of the bickering women.

Raphael took this moment of attention to speak. "Maria. I do feel its rather inappropriate to argue with the Sisters in front of complete strangers," Raphael stated. This statement seemed to jar Maria, as she went silent. Raphael continued, finally letting go of Anita as he tilted his hat, "We'll just take our leave now, ladies. It was lovely to make your acquaintance, Maria Stephany." He bowed to them. "Anita?"

Anita curtsied.

Maria sighed, turning on her heels and marching into the church without another word. Raphael didn't take offence but ignored the attempted chatter of Sister Wendy as he walked away, Anita sticking close behind him. "I didn't think Maria was Royalty…"

"You don't have to be Royalty to be invited, Anita." Raphael pondered the reason why Maria had an invitation. One only needed to match one of three criteria; one, Royal blood, two, marriage into Royal blood, or three, some form of audience or friendship with the host/s of the get together. Maria, while a nice enough girl, didn't strike Raphael as Royalty, early marriage type or being friendly with the Royal Family. Merely what she said, an orphan child from the country coming to Paris.

Anita walked in front of Raphael, turning to face him as she walked backwards. "How do you suppose she got an invite?" she asked.

Raphael shrugged, "Maybe they know who her parents were, and they were friends with the Queen perhaps."

"Wasn't she an orphan?"

"Sometimes people find parents, Anita. People can become orphans for a lot of reasons," Raphael informed, "Sometimes they die, sometimes they can't be taken care of, sometimes they can go missing-"

"Or they're just unwanted?" Anita's words were solemn.

Raphael's eyes widened, putting one hand on each of her shoulders as he knelt to her size. "Anita, you are not unwanted," he assured.

Anita sighed, eyes downcast, "But logically-"

Raphael put a finger to her lips. "No buts. You are not unwanted, Anita. You never were, I assure you of that."

"How would you know?" Anita asked.

Raphael held an arm out for a hug. Anita accepted, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and heaving a long sigh. "Because how could no one not want you, Ann? You're a bright kid, you're important, you're valued." Raphael rubbed her back gently. "Anita, your parents died. There's nothing they could do, I'm certain they had no choice in such a matter, but you do now. You have choices, you know that." Anita's chest trembled from shaky breathing. "Don't be sad, Anita. Don't be sad."

Raphael often wondered where the line between a guilty lie and a non-guilty lie was. He would feel guilty about some lies, for a short amount of time, but often felt no fault for his lies. But this one lie, 'your parents died. There's nothing they could do,' often haunted Raphael every time he had to say it. He had no clue where Anita's parents were, only that she was here, and her parents weren't.

The pair stayed in an embrace on the sidewalk until the pair heard someone call their names. "Raphael! Anita!"

There was a strange tone between yelling and whispering, combining the two made no sense, yet was often somehow done by people.

Maria had opened her windows, leaning out and waving to them, calling out quietly. Anita sniffed as she pulled away from Raphael, the pair looking to Maria as she continued to call out to them. "Hi Maria," Anita said waving.

Raphael straightened and approached the brick fencing, looking for a means to climb up. A tree was further down the path and stretched over the fence into the grounds. "Wait here one moment," Raphael instructed walking to the tree and scaling the trunk. He shuffled his way up and climbed across the branches. He stood on the brick wall and balanced his way across to Maria's window.

He sat on the wall facing Maria. Maria was high off the ground, despite the height of the wall Raphael had to drastically lift his head to look her in the eyes, "Fancy seeing you here."

Maria rolled her eyes. "Haven't seen you in forever."

"Far too long," Raphael replied.

Maria ducked away from her window, searching for something out of sight for Raphael. He attempted to peer inside, but beyond the light bulb of the room and her curtains, he couldn't see many aspects of Maria's room. She emerged a moment later with some paper, which she delicately folded against her window sill.

Raphael got back on his feet, guessing what was coming next. Maria presented a paper aeroplane, making sure he could see it, as she flicked it towards him. The aeroplane was made of heavy paper, making the paper fall rather than glide. It barely made it to Raphael on the wall.

The paper was thick, almost like cardboard and rough to the touch. Raphael slowly unfolded it, the golden beige coloured paper revealed to say, 'YOU'RE INVITED TO THE ROYAL FESTIVAL BALL.' It was written in red ink.

"It's the invite," Maria informed, "They already know I'm coming. I insist you two come with me."

Raphael looked to Anita, who shrugged at the offer. "It didn't seem like your nun friends there were keen on us accompanying you."

Maria shook her head. "It's ultimately my decision, and I want you both to come. I insist."

Raphael nodded, "How can we say no then?"

Maria gasped, looking surprised by Raphael's words, before nodding, happy. "Excellent. If you just show them that invitation they shouldn't have any issue letting you in. I will meet you there."

Raphael nodded, "Sounds great."

Despite the distance between the talking duo, the young thief suddenly heard the loud name of Maria. Startled, Maria quickly farewelled Raphael before closing the windows and shutting the curtains. Before Raphael could be seen, he hopped off the wall and stood by Anita.

"Do we have to go?" Anita asked folding her arms.

Raphael raised an eyebrow, "Anita. One does not simply decline a Royal Invitation."

"Then I'll be the first, I don't want to go." Anita stamped her foot.

Raphael found her stubborn outrage cute. "Very well. I won't make you go." He read the details of the Festival and widened his eyes, "You'll be by yourself for this evening though. The ball is tonight."

Anita was amazed by the short notice. "What are you going to wear?"

"What's wrong with my suits?"

"You look like your Phantom persona. Do you really think no one is going to tackle you because of that?"

Raphael laughed, "I've survived this long, I think I'll make another night." His assurance was met with amused scepticism. He messed up her hair, "Come on then. We're off the to the library."