-~*~-
A car stop at the familiar gate and out came two stunningly handsome young men in their respective formal attire. Every passerby starts to look in awe and admiration as the two men stands so elegantly. When I said awe and admiration, I mean it. There is no one that is jealous of the angels before them.
Luyao is wearing a half navy blue, half white coat. He has many tiny details that is made of silver, even the thread of the clothes. His hair is styled in a slick back style with a few strands staying just inches away from his forehead. Semi attach to his shoulder are long coat in the color of dark blue with a few accent of silver and baby blue as secondary color.
He raise his wrist to see his watch and twisting his head to the gate they are waiting to be open. "It's already 7 in the evening. They aren't supposed to be taking so long."
"Relax, girls take bit longer than us to dress. Give them some chance." Kazuto response while adjusting his sword by the side of his waist. Luyao didn't get a sword but have a readily double dagger at both side of his belt. How about I talk about Kazuto's attire while waiting.
Unlike Luyao who wears a two coloured coat, Kazuto wears a white coat with gold accent. His buttons, stitches, and laces are all made of gold. However to be bathe in full white is not something gorgeous. He wears a red long coat that he wore normally. This red coat is something essential to his title as the Young Marquess of House Ryuichi. To say overall, the color is more important than the style. Of course, the details are made out of gold.
He re-touch his hair that he had style to be half split in the middle and has the bangs be curled inwards slightly. After he finish retouching his locks, he decided to try to knock to see if anyone is behind the gate.
*Knock Knock*
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No response
"NOOOOOO!!!!!" A yell coming from the inside instantly put both male in an offensive mode and barge through the gate forcefully. Looking around the premises, they see nothing. No footprints. No shadows. Heck, not even a single sign of foreign guest coming in.
They hear the scream yet again, but before they could get to them a voice outright yell back. "WE ARE GOING TO BE LATE BECAUSE OF YOU!!!" Irene came out of the door that belongs to Yanyi while half of her body is still inside. She seems to be struggling in pulling something or someone out of the room.
"I'm not going with this outfit, Irene! It's too much!" Ahh... That screams belong to Yanyi. The reason why it sounds like a cry for pain is because she is. She is struggling with the pain of embarrassment.
"Come on, it can't be that bad." Kazuto tries to ease the situation a bit but ended up getting a yell from the girl inside. At last, Irene has had enough and came back inside. Thinking that it will take more time, both males tries to sit on the railings before a loud *SMACK!!!* came to their ear.
They hear some of the things Irene said after they suggest that she had slap her somewhere. "I have paid for this tailor made outfits a long time ago, young lady. And if you refuse to be out in public with this dress, I will seriously re-chain you back to the bed and make sure that the chain is so tight that you won't be able to scratch yourself from mosquitoes bites after I left you in the middle of the damp sewage behind this house. Understood?" Nothing is said from the other side which makes both male thinks that they somehow reach an agreement.
The brunette came out of the room with a simple innocent smile on her face, acting as if nothing happened. "Well then, how about we get ourselves ready." Irene is wearing a slim fitted dress with an off-shoulder style in the color of light emerald color. Part of her dress is in the color dark mint which makes it more noticeable. Secondary to this is a white scarf wrapped around her arms.
Her waist and chest is adorned with various jewelry looking accessories. He hair was beautifully curled near the end. Some of her strands are braided and left it to be dangling between some of the normal strands. She had even created a little swirl crown to tie some of her hair into a tiny side ponytail.
"Yanyi!! Come out right now!" The beautiful maiden call for her friend to come out. With reluctant and mostly fear for her own head, Yanyi came out of her room looking down away from the two male by the balcony. To sum up how she looks is harder than finding a solution to case.
Yanyi is adoring a simple shoulder strand style dress with a ballgown skirt in the color of dark blue with a white ombre beneath. Her waistline as well as the upper part of her top is decorated with multiple shades of blue roses as well as tiny butterfly shaped gemstone and few beads of pearls. Pairing with this beautiful gown is a pin shoulder shawl made out of sheer fabric. The edge of said piece is adorned with yet again, butterfly and roses.
Her hair was put in a double crown hairstyle that came in the end with a tiny ponytail. The rest of her hair is beautifully curled and even has a tiny tinted white dye at the end of each strands. Her bangs are put to one side and half of them are put alongside the crown. Pinning this hairstyle in place is a custom pin made by her best friends that has the motif of butterfly and roses. Needless to say, the closest words you can describe her is a goddess.
"So~. What do you guys think?" Irene came and push her friend forward to where they are all standing to show her true creation of Yanyi's possible beauty. Each man are speechless but because of their own partner.
Kazuto is eyeing Irene's giddy smile with her whole attire and was beyond words. His mouth start to open up but no word can be put out. If fairy is real in this world, then she would be the earth fairy. Just the way her brown hair matches with her green dress. It reminds him of the forest that he used to play when he were younger.
"Wow... Irene. You look... mesmerizing..." The heat got up to her cheeks which makes her turns away from Kazuto and becomes a shy puppy just like her friend. "Thanks..." with a little tone is all she can say to the Young Marquess Ryuichi that had complemented her.
Speaking of her friend, while Kazuto is focusing on Irene, Luyao's eyes can't turn away from Yanyi's face. There's not much difference in his expression from the usual stoic one. But his ears are turning red by each seconds he stare. Yanyi notice the stare and felt even more uncomfortable.
Her palms starts to travel up to her arms and her eyes seem to produce possible tears any seconds now. Such account cannot not be seen by Luyao. Thus, he take away his glance from Yanyi and pretends to clear his throat. He walks over to her and stand behind her.
With her hands within his palms, he leads Yanyi to their car and Kazuto brings Irene to the vehicle right behind them. Yanyi's silence speaks volume to Luyao as she felt as if she was view as another being to be worshipped. Easing her worries, Luyao sent the following words. "You look normal like any other day."
When a girl heard someone call them normal when they put on a ton of effort on an outfit, she would be livid. But not Yanyi. She had knew that her beauty inheritance came from her mother. Many had called her beautiful and stunning just by wearing a normal daily attire. She knew that by dolly herself up, or rather letting her friend do the work, she was more beautiful than ever.
Hearing Luyao calling her normal feels better. At least not everyone is eyeing her as if she was a piece of jewelry. "Thanks. That makes me feel better." She said before sitting inside the car the male drove in. Irene came from the other side into the back passengers seat while Kazuto drive the car to their home.
-~*~-
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~At the Ryuichi Banquet Manor~
It is bustling with many aristocrats coming in from different district to either build relations or showing off their power. Each major house has their traditions in conducting a banquet. The Ryuichi's would start their occasion with an outside greetings between guests and the house owner. Aside from that it is also per traditions that the young masters would be the last to come as to show their importance to the society.
The awaited vehicle came through the giant gate, making way to where everyone is currently chatting around. Of course, the infamous young masters of the house is all the young lads and ladies could ever talk about. Some are envious, some are jealous and some admire them for their charming knight faces.
Heck, there's even a whole red carpet prepared for them with security on both side as to prevent anyone from touching the young masters. The vehicle stop right before the red carpet and out came the two charming prince from the driver seat as well as the passenger seat. The screams coming from the youth for attention is horrific to the ears. HECK! SOME EVEN TRIED TO THROW THEMSELVES OVER TO TOUCH THEM!!
While usually they would be walking down the carpet already, they seem to be going to the back door to let someone out. And low and behold, the screams starts to die down as two gorgeous beauty came forth from the back of the car, holding tight onto their respective partners' hand. Those who are jealous of the young masters handsome faces starts to be in awe towards the beauty of those goddesses like individual,
Irene takes a hold of Kazuto's arms by wrapping hers around his and walking down the red carpet. They had a little whisper of chit-chat for themselves. Wondering what they are talking about. Yanyi and Luyao is not far behind with Yanyi's eyes continuously looking down to the floor, afraid of any cat calling. She already got some even when she didn't look at the crowd.
Luyao feels her body started to shift closer to his. He takes a closer look and see that her eyes is about to spill tears from fear. He himself heard those cat calling tune coming from the male side of the crowd, mostly and can't help but feel as if he need to put someone in execution.
Stopping their track for a short minute, he starts to take off his pin on coat and stands in front of Yanyi. Drapping his coat on her shoulder he makes sure that Yanyi's focus is solely on him and no one else, even if she's not able to see him face to face. Gently, he creases her face and whisper, "Close your mind away from the public's eyes. Focus on me only, okay? You look normal just like any other day. Nothing is different from the normal you. Focus on my words only. Alright?"
Not looking at him, but still being able to feel his hands, Yanyi's hand starts to grip those on her cheeks and give him a somewhat firm nod, the best he can. Luyao stands on the side to which most of the calling came and holds his arm to hug Yanyi's shoulder closer, making the use of his stoic face to giev out warning to those who tries to make inappropriate infliction to his partner.
Yanyi grabs onto Luyao's coat more tightly, covering her body and leaning in closer to his touch. Yanyi is a girl that is brave and has a resounding mind, But when it comes to such thing as inappropriate as this, she is equivalent to a helpless kitten. There's hardly any time she receive such comments in Ashrin as she was known as the Young Marquess of Xue. But here is different. No one knows, yet, of who she is. Which makes her invulnerable to such actions.
They make their way to the balcony of the main banquet manor and are greeted by the Ryuichi couple, parents' to Kazuto and guardian for Luyao. Ikuto Ryuichi and Vaiden Ryuichi Balmonr. "Well there is my boys, *sigh* and you brought your partner with you." Vaiden come over to cup Irene's face and give a glance to Yanyi, wanting to also cup hers but was stop by her husband.
"Honey." His voice is intermingling with the tone of stern as caring. Yanyi give a glance to the head of the house and saw that he is watching her with a knowing eyes. "Seems like my cover was blown over." She thought to herself.
Luyao move over and bring Yanyi to have a conversation with the Marquess while the Marchioness is fawning over her baby boy and his partner. "Uncle, this is Yanyi. I believe that you had guess who she is. But as of right now, she is currently the skilled detective I told you about."
Ikuto — "Ah~ So you're the detective that helped to solved that banquet case. Thank you, young lady."
Yanyi — "It's nothing. Merely doing my work as the protector of citizen is all"
Ikuto — "Hahaha! I wish your father is as much as jokester as you are."
"Uncle, I believe that you'll be able to provide our request for this evening." Luyao twist the story another way, not wanting the situation to drive another way. He was specifically speaking about inviting those four people to see who is it that they are catching.
"Of course. Why would I not help to keep the city's peace in balance." His eyes darted to where Yanyi is and saw how her kitten like demeanor before had change 180 to serious mode. "This girl is still to young for this world." He thought to himself.
Vaiden makes her way to where the three is changing business and cling herself to her husband. "Actually there's something that we would like to announced tonight. And~ we figured that using this ball as a place to show it is much more believable than a mere mingling around."
Kazuto who is their biological child is also confuse to what the announcement is about. Giving his brother a glance Luyao shrugged, oblivious to the sitaution just as much as Kazuto is.
Both Marquess and Marchioness starts to strode towards the balcony gate, watching the people mingling, gossiping and enjoying the first part of the banquet. Taking a glass cup and a silver fork, the Marquess ring it to grab the audiences' attention.
Ikuto — "Everyone, I would like to give a warm thanks to those who are able to make it to tonight's banquet. This banquet is not only commemorating the bond we have as the society that is responsible not only for the empire's stability but the peace and harmony of the citizen as well."
Vaiden — "However, tonight's banquet is a more special banquet than every other annual commemorating banquet over the years before. Tonight is also the night that we welcome a new member to the Ryuichi family."
Everyone started to gasp in surprise and pure ecstasy. The Marchioness is nearing her 45 years of age and she hadn't been able to conceive for nearly 2 decades because of her abdominal problem.
Kazuto had been begging for a younger sibling for so long when he was younger, but understand that if he were to get another playmate, his mother will have to pay a huge price. He can never sacrifice his mother for his own joy. Thus, he stop asking for a new baby and be contempt with having Luyao as his brother.
Slowly he approach his mother and father in shock to the new revelation. He is filled with both worries and happiness. "...Mother?..." He called like a lost puppy looking for his mother. Vaiden can never let go of her baby boy and give out a reassuring smile.
"Sweetie, you'll be a big brother soon! This time, no one has to pay the huge price!" She said with honey covering tone, changing them to pure joy. The amount of words and feelings that Kazuto is experiencing is unbelievable. "I'll... I'll be a big brother..."
Irene came over and patted his shoulder with a smile on her face. She herself is the youngest child and just thinking of those moments where she saw her older brothers sparkling eyes when she did something simple. Truly, she was love by everyone is her family. "You'll be a great big brother."
Before she knew it, she was lifted to the air by Kazuto. Hugging her without thinking and twirling her to show his joy is something no one expect to see. "I'll be a big brother! A Big Brother!!" He chants while Irene holds for dear life to his neck.
The old couple can't help but see two joyous occasion in front of their eyes. One is the new member of the family and the other is the possible love blossoming inside their heir. Turning back to the audiences that had been chatting among themselves about the news, they continue their speech.
Ikuto — "My wife's conditions had been the bottle neck of our attempts. Now that she's able to conceive again and for the last time, I wish for everyone to give the new member of Ryuichi a warm welcome."
Vaiden & Ikuto — "Cheers to everlasting peace!"
"Cheers!" all the guests raise their glass up in the air. Yanyi take a peek to Luyao and saw the all ever stoic face actually can carve a small smile. "He must be happy to have a new sibling. Albiet not blood related." With that away, they all make their way inside for the true occasion.
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Before doing the job of mingling around, the four of them meet up at one of the balcony to discuss what they are going to do. They had prior relate to the situation and what they are looking for. Generally someone would not walk around with a necklace or pendant waving around their neck during this occasion. This is the reason that they must somehow able to strike conversation with them.
"So, we'll split up and mind our own business. Seeing how everyone had saw the commotion just now, they will want to spark a chat with any one of us. So be vigilant and act normal." Yanyi give out instruction before dismissing everyone to be on their way. Irene and Kazuto decide to walk side by side for a while before going away. Luyao decided to take Yanyi on a small walk so that people won't be suspicious of their relation.
Relation in which they enter together. What? You can't just leave your partner away when you're the one that brings her to the banquet in the first place.
"Have you had any dinner?" Luyao didn't want the atmosphere to feel awkward which entitle him to strike a conversation. Yanyi's face filled with sudden realization makes everything clear to him. "I... Um... Hehe... Haven't eaten anything from lunch yet..."
Luyao — "You're joking?..."
Yanyi — "No..."
Luyao — "I suppose these light dishes won't suffice?"
"Can you get something else?" Her tone is not one of pleading or begging but more to curious. Usually in her family, you are not allowed to eat any full meal until the banquet is over or until you eventually decided to retire for the night. However, she is not in Ashrin right now neither in her family manor. She can't just ask for a full corse meal out of no where.
"I'll try to get something that can be eaten in private but still fill your stomach. If you want some drinks take some from the food stall." Luyao leaves Yanyi alone and went away to request for a meal. Yanyi is more than happy to wait for her meal. Wearing such outfits without the help of 5 maids can take a lot of time. Irene had time to eat lunch but she bet that she is also becoming famished from dinner.
Speaking of dinner, Yanyi felt quite thirsty. Eyeing the drink table she saw a couple of fruit punch and decided to take a sip from one of the cup. Yes, there are wines, but believe me when I say. If she takes a sip of wine, she will be taking 3 bottles of them sober and the she'll be drunk. She knew she can't resist them by tasting, thus she implored to not even touch them without proper supervision.
While she is happily sipping her whine and listening to the ambiance of the hall filled with music, a hand was offered to her. Confuse as it wouldn't be Luyao to suddenly do such a thing, she raise her head and saw a man who seems to be in his mid 20s gently smiling at her. "May I accompany my lady for a dance tonight?" He said, trying to smother his words with honey.
Quite dissatisfied with his action, Yanyi said a simple "No, thank you." And try to make her way elsewhere. That is when another hand was offered to her. "He didn't see the value of such fine piece of art. May I take you to the dance floor, my goddess?" Yet another weird person asking her for a dance.
She, Again, decline them and tries to make a beeline for a way to escape. Keyword, tries. She didn't escape in the end as even more men tries to make their way and offering a hand for a dance with her. Yanyi tries to move away while being polite but the amount of men around her forces her to slowly move backwards.
Hitting a pillar, she starts to panic and with fear close her eyes to pray for someone to help her. Suddenly she felt herself lunge to the left as if she's being pulled away. Opening her eyes and seeing her face right in front of the infamous Inspector's chest, she tilt her head upwards to see his eyes.
Luyao's hands tighten the hold behind her back and holding tight yet with gentle on her wrist. Looking down and meeting her gaze he said. "Are you okay?" Yanyi answered with a timid nod without the confirmation of her own consciousness. Luyao's eyes turns to glare at the flock of male in front of him. His glare is like saying "Keep your hands away from MY partner!" Like a predator keeping their precious prey away from other animal.
Seeing Yanyi still in fear, he figure that it won't be a good time for food. At least, before she do something. He then came out with an idea that perhaps has been tried by other people. But not him. "You want to dance before food? It'll make the food taste more delicious." Yanyi's eyes starts to sparkle when she heard the word food.
Seeing her eyes shining with anticipation, Luyao takes that as a good sign, he lead her to the middle of the hall. The song before had stop playing and is on the ready for the start of the first dance of the night. The violin, cello and harp came together to create a melody fit for a dance. They dance a simple waltz with Luyao leading Yanyi.
Luyao — "Do you want to know what I get you?"
Yanyi — "What?"
Luyao — "I ask the chef to make a simple spicy cabbage soup, chilly flake fish and a bowl of rice. I hope it suffice you for the moment."
Yanyi — "Of course it does! At least I won't be hungry all night!"
Seeing her smile in delight brings something to Luyao. He doesn't know what it is but he can feel as if the top of his ears are turning hot. He smiles in return and continue to lead Yanyi to the finished of the song in which the audiences claps in applause. Some at least. Those men that failed to get Yanyi's hand to dance is filled with resentment.
Some had even tried to catch her for another dance after her dance had finished with Luyao but was stared down by the male. His eyes are throwing daggers that shows, "None of you shall touch my partner." And they walked away to a secluded balcony that is large enough to hold a tiny table and chairs.
Luyao had priorly ask a waiter to serve the food here and wait until he came back to continue his work. Yanyi's arms and feet started to move quickly to the chairs and take the chopsticks. With proper manners and attitude, she eats the meal prepared in front of her. Luyao sits on the other side of the table and watch the banquet inside while waiting for Yanyi to finished her meals.
Sometimes his eyes would wander to where the girl in enjoying her food and saw the pure joy of her smile while chewing. I guess those old quotes are right to some extent. The way to a person's heart is through food. "Have you found anyone suspicious?" She ask before popping another spicy cabbage in her mouth.
Luyao — "No. Not a lot of people came to the dance floor which is where we are facing right now. Though I seem to find a group of people that might have included almost all of our suspects."
Yanyi — "Where?" *crane her neck to see the inside of the hall*
Luyao — *Pointing towards the end of the room* Seems like Irene and Kazuto has been busy."
"congratulatory greets, I guess." Luyao pointed and Yanyi turn to him with the chopsticks in her mouth. He saw the dishes before him and it was clean as crystal. She had finished the whole meal while being her less than 15 minutes. "It's not good biting your chopstick." He takes her hand that are holding the said item and put them away from her mouth.
"Are you not going to join for a congratulatory session too?" She asked while cleaning her plate to be on top of the silver tray. Luyao clap to call a maid and clean the dinner of his partner. He then stand up and offer a hand for Yanyi to take. Seeing her confuse expression, he explain within the following sentences.
"The best and fastest way to digest food is to go for a walk. Want to walk for a while in the garden?" I swear, if any of the girls aside from Yanyi hear this sentences from the infamous inspector, they would melt on the spot. Thinking that it would be a better idea to let the digestion on track. "This manor is not where you all live, right?"
Luyao — "Yes. This is specifically build for banquet or party purposes. It is not that far from the main manor. Uncle didn't like it for an unwelcome personal guest coming through the gate."
Yanyi — "Huh. It's quite different from my manor."
Luyao — "How so?"
Yanyi — "For starters, the family's banquet hall is somewhat connected to the main house. Not directly connected but there is a pathway that lead to the main house without worrying of entering the main gate."
Luyao — "So people enter through your main gate to get to the banquet?"
Yanyi — "No. There are two gates for my house. The primary main gate and the secondary main gate. The primary is solely for the personal guest of the family members. The secondary gate act as a business pathway. Guest for either banquet or personal business takes their carriages or cars through there. Banquet guest stop at the hall while the business guest will be escorted to the main house."
"Wow. That's quite the long way to take." They have some other conversation, mostly revolving around the structure of the their house. They reach the center of the garden. In here lays an open gazebo on top of a lake. A bridge lays as a pathway to reach the said platform. There is a table and chairs over on the platform, assuming to be used for tea time or what not.
Yanyi ran herself to the platform, leaving Luyao somewhat behind the dust. The moon is shining ever so brightly in full. Showing its glory to the world. "The moon is beautiful isn't it?" She said out of the blue as she look over to the dark sky. Luyao who had just reach the platform is frozen by the view in front of him.
The blue light from the moon is shining the pale white skin of his partner. Embracing and enhancing the bright color of her hair. Her silver eyes are glittering even more than a diamond could. Her attire that is embracing the color of the night makes her an equivalent to that of a goddess. Never had he seen a person who is as beautiful as her.
Subconsciously he said, "Yes it is." Without looking over to the sky and instead having his gaze plastered to the maiden before him.
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Entering the hall again, they make their way to where Irene and Kazuto is. They seem to have parted ways with the other suspects. "Hey, we saw you guys talked to those four. What did they say?" Yanyi asked them about the development of said case. Instead of giving a report, Kazuto proceed to throw a slight shade to both Luyao and Yanyi.
Kazuto — "Look who we have here. The Inspector and the Detective lovey dovey away from their job."
Luyao — "Respect, Kazuto."
Kazuto — "Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I should first pay respect to who exactly? This is your job, Luyao."
Luyao — "You also have a responsibility in this., Young Marquess Ryuichi."
"Okay, okay that's enough. Kazuto, just tell them." Irene takes a hold of his hands and gently tug on his sleeves. Seemingly trying to calm his temper down. Kazuto gaze a glance to the girl who is supposed to be his partner. Seeing Irene giving a soft look in delight, he can't help but sigh in defeat.
"They just came over to congratulate me. Then we starts to walk about the exports and imports of the state more. Nothing seems off about their conversation." Yanyi then inquires by looking to Irene who she knows has a profound sense of hearing. Where did she gets it? Probably from her late mother.
She shakes her head. Guessing that she didn't particularly found anything that could pinpoint any of them on having the said item. "But, if you guys want to talk more with them we can go over to the Marquess and Marchioness. It hasn't been long since they left and they did say about paying greets and congrats to both of them."
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-~*~-