In the Kingdom of Thaloris, particularly within the Croceaus Territory, the situation was far from something that could be articulated with mere words.
For the past two days, the entire territory had become a veritable fortress, with no flights or escape routes available, leaving its inhabitants feeling like cattle awaiting slaughter.
Fear was palpable in the hearts of those who had embezzled funds or attempted to share information with rival noble families.
"How can they target us? We have served the Croceaus family loyally for years!" A man slammed his fist on the table, frustration bubbling over when his secretary reported they had been unable to reach the Marquess.
The man's voice rose like a thunderclap, his anger so intense it felt as if he were ready to snap the poor secretary like a twig.
The last two days had turned the territory into a trap, with numerous individuals dying one after another, executed by the Marquess's bodyguards and not just her, but also by several small groups of five people who were supposed to protect them but had turned mercilessly against them.
"Damn it! Get in touch with Alfred! We must inform the Marquess about Dominic Rivia Aurelia's betrayal!" the man roared, the memory of the woman—a central figure in this chaos—stirring both fear and fury within him.
She had become an army on her own, slaughtering anyone who crossed her path without hesitation.
Her reputation had spiraled into that of a demon, thought to have lost her mind and no longer under any semblance of control or restraint.
"Y-yes, sir," the assistant stuttered, hastily pulling out his phone to dial the number of the main Croceaus family's butler.
:: Hello? ::
"Hello, Mr. Alfred, I am—"
"Hand me the phone, damn it!" The man snatched the phone from his assistant, stepping outside while loosening his tie, beads of perspiration forming on his brow as anger surged within him.
He pressed the phone to his ear, demanding, "Alfred! Has that woman lost her mind?"
:: No, she was always like this. ::
"Don't joke with me! I'll speak with the Marquess myself; contact him now!" The man's temper flared further as he sensed the nonchalance in Alfred's tone, even amid the crisis where lives were being extinguished lawlessly at the hands of that terrifying woman and her loyal henchmen.
Panic tightened around him as he envisioned who might fall victim to her next.
:: The Marquess is busy. May I know your name? ::
"What? My name? It's me! The mayor of East Province!" He exclaimed, dread choking him as he recalled how mere days ago, the mayor of a neighboring province had been gruesomely killed.
A chill ran down his spine as he remembered the chilling tales of other officials whose lives had ended violently, helpless against her brutality—even their armed guards had proven ineffective against the rampaging monster.
There were even reports that bullets were literally dissolving or turning to dust even before reaching an inch of her body.
She was in her element, wind whipping through her hair as she gripped the jet ski handles, steering with ease and pushing the throttle as if the ocean was hers to command.
Her golden eyes sparkled behind dark sunglasses, and her black bikini and lipstick made her look like she'd just stepped out of a glossy magazine shoot.
Behind her, Avendial sat in stark contrast, calm and composed with his arms folded over his chest.
His silver hair fluttered in the sea breeze, glinting under the sun, while his blue eyes were hidden behind dark shades.
Dressed in a relaxed beach outfit, he barely looked like he belonged on the back of a speeding jet ski, his face unreadable, almost as if he were back in the comfort of his estate rather than crashing through ocean waves.
"I love this date!" Aecilia twisted the handlebars, cutting a sharp turn that had the jet ski tilting dangerously close to the water's surface.
She felt the thrill, the kick of adrenaline, and shot forward even faster, leaving a spray of saltwater in their wake.
"Hahaha!" Her laughter echoed as she zigzagged through the waves, glancing back with a mischievous smirk.
----
"Marquess! Have this, you look adorable," Aecilia grinned as she shoved a pile of teddy bears into Avendial's arms, their bright colors and soft faces a stark contrast to his blank expression.
Beside her, Avendial's arms folded around the ridiculous heap of plush toys.
He didn't flinch, even as one of the bears tipped sideways, its floppy arm covering his face. "Adorable isn't exactly what I'd aim for, Aecilia."
Her grin only widened as she gave a playful shrug. "Well, consider it a new look." She leaned back, admiring her handiwork like a proud artist, while he continued to give her that patented, unamused stare from behind the wall of bears.
Before he could protest further, she seized his arm and tugged him toward a nearby photo booth, nearly knocking over a bear or two in the process. "Come on! Time for photos!"
He didn't have much of a choice as she yanked him inside the tiny booth, pulling the curtain closed with a flourish.
They squeezed together, and she clicked the start button before he could come up with any objections.
'1....2....3...'
The countdown began, and she turned to him with a gleeful grin.
"Now, smile!"
After going through the events of all day, while doing different activities, Avendial for a moment only thought one thing.
'I should have just let the world be destroyed.'