Music filled Chase's ears as he walked into the main ballroom. Chase found the music to be quite pleasant, hearing the sound of all the violins and cellos harmonizing one another with the piano. He felt a little pity for regular humans. As an assassin, Chase was born with special non-magical abilities, including claws, enhanced hearing, and a hand judgment technique.

Chase's mind was everywhere. He was constantly thinking about Reese's request to assassinate the entire Azalea family, and the dilemma about who else was at his home when his family died.

The flames... they only grew bigger. Chase thought longingly.

He had been coming home from another mission to see his home on fire. He had seen his parents' and Dawn's bodies, already dead from the flames. Though they were assassins, all assassins had a fatal weakness to fire, which had made Flora a dangerous target. Chase had felt relief when he had managed to neutralize Flora's fire magic. He hadn't been sure if he could do it, but he took a chance, seeing that he had nothing to lose. There was still Amaryllis and Rose that could deal serious damage to him if his cover was blown, though. As for the other Azaleas, he wasn't sure how he would fare against their magic, but he knew that he would fare better against them than against Amaryllis or Rose.

His thoughts lingered back to the day his family died. He had darted up a tree and out of sight, and moments later he had seen a woman with wavy blonde hair walk past the tree he had been hiding in. He had a sense of who it was, but after Reese had came to him he connected the dots. Flora had gone out of her way to kill his family, and he didn't even know why.

Just then, water splashed onto his neck. Chase stopped in his tracks and looked up to see a lady wearing a green dress and white gloves with her mouth agape. Chase saw the empty goblet in her hand that once had water and opened his mouth to snap at the woman, but held his tongue when he saw a golden crown on top of her blonde hair.

A queen? Chase thought, narrowing his eyes slightly. She's not Amaryllis, though. When Chase took another look at her, he noticed the woman shared Flora's wavy blonde hair, and her facial features reminded Chase more of Flora than Amaryllis.

"I am so sorry." The queen instantly apologized. "I didn't see you."

Chase curtly bowed. "No apologies necessary, your Majesty."

He was about to walk off but the queen held out a handkerchief. He bowed his head slightly as he took it and began to dry his neck.

"What is your name?" the queen asked.

Chase replied, "My name is Chase, your Majesty." As long as he didn't reveal his last name, everything would be fine.

The queen smiled lightly in return. "I'm Queen Fern of Saffron."

Chase asked curiously, "What brings you to the Azalea kingdom, your Majesty?"

Queen Fern's eyes wandered around the room and set on her thirteen year old daughter, "My daughter, Iris, and I came to attend my sister's funeral, and to celebrate Princess Rose's twenty first birthday, apparently."

Chase widened his eyes slightly as he offered the handkerchief back. Fern graciously took it as Amber walked up with a pitcher of water.

"More water, your Majesty?" Amber asked.

Queen Fern shook her head. "No thank you, Amber." Amber and Chase locked eyes for a moment. Chase noted Amber's prominent ginger auburn hair, and how easy it would be to recognize this girl amidst a crowd. Amber finally looked away and continued on.

"I will take my leave," Queen Fern finally said. She placed a gloved hand onto Chase's shoulder. "I apologize again for running into you. You seem like a fine gentleman."

Queen Fern brushed past Chase. As she did, Chase noticed her lifeless eyes and her fake happiness morph into a blank stare.

I killed her sister. I didn't even think that Flora had other family members outside of the Azaleas. Fern didn't deserve this. One part of Chase's mind thought. The other part then cut in. Still, my family didn't deserve to die. I avenged them by killing Flora.

Did I? There's still the possibility that Amaryllis or Rose helped Flora. Chase looked around the room. He saw Rose and Lily near the thrones, talking. He turned his head the other direction to see the Lady Marguerite along with Ivy and Acacia on the other side of the room.

Speaking of Amaryllis, where is she?

--

Violet got back later than she expected. Rose's party had already started and she had lost track of time. She also needed to change into something other than her riding clothes. Violet had thought going riding would help clear her head. It did in a way, but all of the sad moments clouded her mind once more when she returned. In truth, Violet was in no mood to show up at Rose's party, but she had to.

"Everything alright, your Highness?" she heard Julian's concerned voice from behind her.

Violet forced a smile while leading Acorn back into his stall. "Yes, Julian. Everything is fine."

Julian raised an eyebrow, instantly hearing the lie in Violet's words. There was a tense silence. Violet locked the gate to Acorn's stall and was about to leave before Julian said, "You can tell me what's wrong, your Highness."

Violet gasped, not expecting to be caught. She looked to the ground and said softly, "I-I just don't know how everyone can just move on so quickly. They're all at a party right now, for goodness sake."

Her voice was filled with sadness, but Julian noted a bit of bitterness as well. He then noticed Violet's shaky hands and moved beside her, putting his hand into hers to comfort her.

"I'm sorry," Julian said sincerely. "Amber has told me that Princess Ivy and Princess Acacia are also in mourning. You aren't alone. Things will get better soon."

Violet smiled sadly before asking, "Why aren't you at the party, Julian?"

Julian put on a confused expression. "My duty is to tend the horses tonight before I head home, your Highness."

Violet gestured her head towards the stable exit. "Come to the party with me. I'll feel a lot better with you there."

Julian widened his eyes in surprise. His cheeks turned a slight shade of pink as he spluttered, "Are you sure?"

"Of course. I just have to change," Violet replied.

"T-Thank you, your Highness! It would be my honor," Julian continued, still not exactly sure how he should react.

"Let's go, then. We are already late," Violet said.

Both of them noticed that their hands were still interlocked with each other, but neither of them let go as they made their way out of the stables.

--

A pair of eyes observed the castle entrance from a tree moderately distanced away from the knights' line of visions. Thierry and another knight were standing guard, and there was currently no one in line to get inside.

The other knight exchanged a few words with Thierry before leaving his post, leaving Thierry by himself.

Devin saw his chance. A ray of of light from the sunset hitting his Red Phoenix tattoo as he fingered his dagger.

All I have to do is knock out that knight. He doesn't look that tough.

Devin was only fourteen years old, but he was tougher than a normal boy. All of the advice his father, Bryan, had given him flooded his brain, allowing him to picture knocking the Azalea knight out with just a dagger.

I can do this. Everyone is at the party. I'll use this chance to steal weapons from the armory.

Devin rolled his sleeves down to cover his Red Phoenix tattoo, placing his dagger inside one of his sleeves. He jumped down from the tree, landing lightly on the ground, and casually made his way over to the palace entrance.

Thierry regarded him warily, believing that the boy was just a passerby. However, his eyes narrowed slightly when he saw the boy approach him.

"Roll up your sleeves, please," Thierry merely said.

Devin moved his hand to roll his sleeves up, but he quickly drew his dagger from his sleeve and attempted to plunge it into the knight.

Thierry reacted fast when he heard the metal blade, dodging just in time and grabbing the boy's wrist. Thierry's grasp was so strong that Devin's hand released the dagger. It fell to the ground with a thud, emitting a sharp ringing sound from the metal striking the pavement. Devin gasped, not expecting Thierry to be so strong.

Thierry kicked Devin to the ground and grabbed his hands, holding them behind Devin's back.

Thierry saw part of the Red Phoenix tattoo from the boy's arm.

"You're a Red Phoenix," Thierry remarked.

The knight that left earlier returned, taking in the sight. "Thierry, what's going on?"

"A Red Phoenix tried to break in. Stay here while I bring him to the dungeons," Thierry ordered.

Devin tried to struggle, even attempting to kick the knight as Thierry dragged him to the dungeons, but Thierry didn't even flinch.

The knight was stronger than I thought. Devin thought to himself. He gritted his teeth in frustration as Thierry continued to push him towards the dungeons.

In contrast, Thierry could only look at the boy in pity, feeling slightly sorry for him. He looks pretty young. What did the Red Phoenixes do to him?

"Sir Thierry," a voice boomed from behind him. "What are you doing? You are supposed to be at the palace entrances."

Thierry turned, also dragging Devin with him. It was Amaryllis. She had a stern expression on her face, her eyes staring intensely at him. Her son, Aster, was beside her. Aster glanced at them for a moment, a look of confusion flashing across his face when he saw Thierry holding a boy.

"Your Majesty, a Red Phoenix tried to sneak into the castle. Shall I throw him into the dungeons?" Thierry replied.

Devin instantly glared at Amaryllis, finally recognizing her after seeing her stern green eyes.

Aster couldn't help but comment, his voice laced with disbelief. "This boy is a Red Phoenix member?"

Amaryllis replied sharply, "Aster." Aster quieted before she continued. "Yes, throw the boy into the dungeons. We'll deal with all intruders later. Thank you, Sir Thierry."

Thierry nodded and turned back to drag Devin to the dungeons. Devin turned his head to glare at Amaryllis and Aster, but to his dismay they were both headed the opposite way.