The morning sun shone brightly over Ashford.
Inside the carriage...
The atmosphere couldn't have been more awkward.
Neither of them spoke for several minutes.
Levi finally broke the silence.
"...So."
"Where exactly are we eating?"
Seraphina blinked.
"...Truthfully?"
"I don't know."
Levi looked at her.
"...You don't know?"
She nodded sheepishly.
"I just wanted to spend some time with you."
"I figured..."
"You live in the capital."
"So you'd know somewhere nice."
Levi stared blankly.
"...Are you serious?"
'I've barely ever gone out to eat...'
'Wait...'
'I remember hearing about a place.'
'The Velvet Boar.'
'Father occasionally held royal banquets there.'
'Hopefully it's actually good.'
He cleared his throat.
"...The Velvet Boar."
"I've heard it's one of the finest restaurants in Velmora."
Seraphina smiled.
"It sounds nice."
A second later...
She tilted her head.
"...Do you know where it is?"
Levi looked away.
"...Honestly?"
"No."
Seraphina couldn't help laughing.
'He can be such an idiot...'
'...Why do I still like him?'
She peeked outside the carriage.
"The coachman should know."
"...Right?"
Levi nodded.
"...Good idea."
'...Am I just bad at talking to girls?'
Seraphina leaned towards the front of the carriage.
"Could you please take us to The Velvet Boar?"
The coachman answered confidently.
"At once, My Lady."
Levi quietly sighed in relief.
'Thank goodness he actually knew where it was.'
-
Twenty minutes later...
The carriage stopped before an elegant three-storey restaurant.
Golden lanterns hung from polished wooden beams.
The aroma of roasted meat drifted through the streets.
Seraphina's eyes sparkled.
"...Woah."
"This place is beautiful!"
She looked around excitedly.
Levi admired the building...
Before his attention shifted elsewhere.
Several strangers lingered nearby.
Some pretended to browse market stalls.
Others appeared to be chatting.
Yet...
Their eyes constantly wandered towards the restaurant.
'...'
'Something feels wrong.'
Before he could think further...
Seraphina grabbed his hand.
"Come on!"
She dragged him inside.
The hostess quickly guided them to a quiet table near the window.
Seraphina smiled brightly.
"Let's order."
"...And you're paying."
Levi chuckled.
"...Yeah."
"...Yeah."
"Fine."
Seraphina pumped her fist.
"YES!"
"Thank you, Levi!"
Levi smiled.
"You're welco-"
He paused.
"...Seraphina."
She tilted her head.
"...What?"
"...Nothing."
They ordered the restaurant's famous roast velvet boar along with fresh bread and fruit juice.
Nearly thirty minutes passed.
The dishes were finally placed before them.
Steam rose from the perfectly roasted meat.
Seraphina clasped her hands together.
"It smells amazing..."
Just as they reached for their utensils...
CRASH!!
Every window in the restaurant shattered simultaneously.
Glass exploded across the dining hall.
Masked figures dressed in black cloaks rushed inside.
"SERAPHINA!"
"GET DOWN!"
Levi immediately overturned the table.
A dagger struck the wooden surface where Seraphina's head had been moments earlier.
She stumbled backwards.
"A-Ahh!"
Levi drew Azhir.
Steel flashed.
The nearest assassin lunged.
One clean slash.
Blood splattered across the floor.
The body collapsed.
The remaining assassins surrounded him.
Levi stepped forward.
Imperial Rainslash.
His blade danced like relentless rainfall.
One strike.
Two.
Three.
Within seconds...
Five assassins fell one after another.
Seraphina hid behind the overturned table, trembling.
"W-What's happening?!"
The remaining attackers suddenly parted.
A tall man stepped forward.
Unlike the others...
He carried himself with confidence.
His sword rested casually upon his shoulder.
He smiled.
"...Interesting."
"You've got talent."
"Tell me."
"What's your name?"
Levi pointed Azhir towards him.
"Levi."
"Son of King Maverick Ashbourne."
The man's smile widened.
"...How fortunate."
"We only came for the Duke's daughter."
"And now..."
"We've found the Crown Prince as well."
"Two birds."
"One stone."
He bowed slightly.
"I suppose introductions are only fair."
"My name..."
"...Is Tharic."
Levi's expression remained indifferent.
"I don't waste my memory on weak men."
Tharic laughed loudly.
"HAHAHAHA!"
"A man moments from death..."
"...Still talks proudly."
Levi shrugged.
"...Didn't ask."
"Dipshit."
Tharic's smile disappeared.
"You'll regret that."
He vanished.
Steel clashed.
The restaurant echoed with the sound of swords colliding.
Tharic attacked relentlessly.
Each strike heavier than the last.
Levi parried.
Dodged.
Countered.
Neither gave an inch.
Tharic grinned.
"Give up."
"You're only delaying the inevitable."
Levi answered calmly.
"...Never."
Their swords collided once more.
Levi twisted his wrist.
Azhir slipped past Tharic's guard.
A shallow wound opened across the assassin's shoulder.
Blood dripped onto the floor.
Tharic smiled.
"...Not bad."
Both men stepped back.
They inhaled slowly.
The room became silent.
Even the remaining assassins stopped moving.
Levi lowered his stance.
Azhir seemed to hum.
"...Sovereign Fangstorm."
His body exploded forward.
Two crimson arcs crossed one another.
Like the fangs of a hunting wolf.
Silence.
Tharic stared blankly ahead.
Blood poured from his chest.
He coughed violently.
"...So..."
"...This..."
"...Is how I die."
Levi walked past him.
"...Pity."
One final slash.
Tharic's head fell to the floor.
The remaining assassins stared in horror.
Without another word...
They fled.
Levi immediately turned.
"SERAPHINA!"
"ARE YOU HURT?!"
A shaky voice answered.
"...I-I'm okay..."
She slowly emerged from behind the overturned table.
Levi let out a relieved sigh.
"...Good."
Seraphina looked longingly at the untouched roast.
"...B-But..."
"...The food looked so delicious..."
Levi glanced at the ruined restaurant.
Broken tables.
Shattered glass.
Blood covering the floor.
He swallowed.
"...Yeah..."
"...I don't think we're paying anymore."
He looked towards the palace.
"...We need to report this to Father."
His eyes wandered across the destruction one last time.
'...'
'This is going to become a much bigger problem than just an ambush.'