Aksaberyl
Ortpe Hand Sweep

..."Poison in my right hand, whip in my left hand and two masks in my face. Can you survive me?"...

...~ Chalya Aleth Arambel ~...

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The festival is still going on but the core of the festival is still not going on. Wasa said, the point is the reading of a letter from the Crown Prince to the people represented by the Royal Secretary. Only after the gift from the Crown Prince and the dance is done massively here.

And now I was in the middle of a magic attraction show after a while following the mysterious man. Actually, I have seen several performances because I followed the mysterious man ranging from mask performances, opera performances, gelut performances, sword performances, dance performances to magic attractions. All I did without thinking, but it felt like Wasa didn't matter, she even asked me repeatedly.

"Do you like the show? or is there something you want to do again?"

Sorry Wasa, I feel guilty when you ask that.

It was indeed that I enjoyed the fireball show at first but after my eyes and the eyes of the mysterious man met, it was, my chest was pounding and my feelings were becoming unsettled so I reflexively followed him so as not to lose track of him without thinking about you.

When Wasa left to give money to those who were showing magic attractions, the mysterious man who was standing not far from me left. I followed him immediately without waiting for Wasa to return, I will see him again.

Now my mind is focused only on the mysterious man lest I lose track of him.

The man walked so fast, I even half ran to follow him but before long he stopped suddenly and looked to the right.

Ehh, why stop? have I been found out?

I put my body aside, pretending to see a toy in my hand but my eyes were watching it from here.

He doesn't realize I'm following him?

I tried to look at her and then I saw my toy and when I saw her again she started to leave. With a feeling of shock and wide strides I followed him back.

The mysterious man walked faster, I even ran faster to follow him. My breath is very short when running and makes me tired in a moment.

Tired of me stopping to follow him, the mysterious man still walked without looking back. I think he realized that if I followed him, the man's back moved further and further down the dark path and disappeared.

I gave up following him intending to turn towards the magic attraction earlier to meet Wasa but my steps stopped when I saw a handkerchief I was about to step on.

I picked it up and noticed the hand-wiped emblem, an Alpine Chough Bird emblem with a double-edged dagger in its beak as well as a name imprinted under the bird's feet, Ortpe.

Chough Alps are birds that can fly at an altitude of 8000 meters and build a nest at an altitude of 6500 meters. I know this bird because I've seen it in one of the books my grandmother bought.

But is this a symbol of something? what is from the group?

"Hey the destined child!" call someone.

I turned to the source of the voice and found an old man walking over to me. Judging from his clothes is not a noble nor is he like the ordinary people I see in this festival. He was wearing a vagrant-like outfit yet I could feel a strong aura from him.

Who is this guy?

"Can you show me what's in your hand?" tanyakanya.

I had to reject it, as I thought. I don't know what kind of world I live in, I also have to be wary of strangers because my life could be a threat.

"No, I'm busy!" I answered and walked away from the old man, but his words stopped me without turning back to look at him.

"I'm guessing it must be a forbidden handkerchief" he chanted. "The handkerchief has never been seen since the mass slaughter" he continued.

I just kept quiet and thought to what kind of attitude, should I continue my steps or turn around and hear this old man's words further?

"Do you want to know the continuation?" tanyakanya.

But I was still in my position, the old man did not speak anymore. I thought he was gone so I decided to ignore him and went straight to Wasa but a pat on my right shoulder surprised me.

"Don't touch me!" I pulled that hand off my shoulder.

But there was no expression he showed after the tepis, that expressionless flat face looked at me sharply. "Well .. I can't stay here either, I'm just saying that your first clue has been revealed, you just need to find out more. Do not try to approach the person you were following rashly, you do not know the double-edged dagger in his hand will stab you. Believe in something you believe in from the heart and check again is there something missing from you? the thief is near you."

After the old man said the warning to me he immediately left but I prevented him. Questions! I have something to ask this old man.

"What do you mean—"

"Don't ask me, I'm just saying as your provision to survive in this world. Something you choose must be accountable for" he said.

I stared at the old man in front of me, not asking him to give me a warning. He who came to me himself gave me a warning and when I had not finished my words he forbade me to ask what he meant.

How should I behave to this old man?

I turned my brain to remember one question I hadn't answered, because I didn't answer the question so he gave me a warning? or ...

"I know what you're thinking but I can't say it" he said.

Well, if you can't say it, but does the question still apply?

"I'm sorry if I was just being rude" I said politely, the first point to improve the relationship should be to apologize. "But what do you mean about handkerchiefs with mass slaughter?"

He just kept quiet for a while and looked at me sadly. "Ortpe .. on the symbol is Ortpe. Ortpe was one of the strongest family names in the kingdom but all of his family members died horribly in mass slaughter except for two people but now only one person remains. And the mass slaughter not only happened to the Ortpe family but also to one other family whose name is haram to mention."

This old man's words made me feel suddenly uneasy, "What's his surname?" ask me.

He did not answer and walked away from me, I was about to chase him but stopped when a hand pulled me and made me accidentally bump my head into someone's chest.

"I've been looking for you since, where have you been, Beryl?" tanya Wasa was worried.

I let go of my hand and took a breath, calming this agitated feeling I had to do first rather than answer the question.

The handkerchief I found was immediately stored under the cloak and the two hands of Wasa turned my body to make me face him.

"So I got lost while looking around this festival," I answered lying.

Sorry Wasa ...

"You should wait for me, we can go together and not get lost" he said.

If I had invited you, it might have been a fistfight with the mysterious man and I wouldn't have been able to meet the old man who gave me a warning, Wasa.

But I can't say that to this guy. "Yes, next time I won't do this."

Wasa just nodded then pulled my hand to follow her. I followed him resignedly, at least he wasn't worried anymore that it had made me grateful.

"Where are we going?" ask me who's trying to line up the steps.

"To the core of the festival, we have to get there!" yells.

Not far from where I was, Wasa and I were also with other people gathered around someone. Wasa said the person in the middle was the Royal Secretary in charge of conveying the Crown Prince's message.

After the people gathered together the Royal Secretary on direct duty to deliver the Crown Prince's message, I listened carefully and caught a familiar name.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Aksa Oliga de Ramor? I don't know where I heard this name.

This gem I can sell and make money, after this festival I will sell it!

I stared at Wasa who was also following me to get one jewel but she suddenly gave it to me. "For you, I have money."

"Eehh, but this is a gift from the Crown Prince, it's a pity that you love me" said I reject the jewel.

"Nothing, I already have a lot at home. Just for you, take it." He put his jewel in my hand.

"But— aahh yes .. why I forgot your good looks! moreover, you are a Knight, the Crown Prince will definitely get more gems, yes," said I lethargic, this man is certainly richer than me.

"Yes, you could say so" he replied awkwardly. "But don't be lethargic! I'll be friends with you without status."

"Well, if you force me to accept it, but how much money would I get if I sold this gem?" ask me, even though I still accept the gem.

I am not having any money.

Wasa was thinking about my question, I noticed her thinking face. It turned out that he looked funny when he was thinking, let alone his eyebrows that rose to the top.

The cool me looking at her face suddenly she turned towards me, our eyes met but shortly after she was styling like a model in front of me. "How about, I'm handsome, right?"

I immediately shook my head quickly but my reaction made her unacceptable.

"Just you said I was handsome but now it's changing" he said.

"I saw it wrong this morning."

But he still did not accept and brought his face closer to me, a little more our noses would touch. Seeing his actions I instantly reflexively pinched his arm and made him instantly scream.

"Damnah! it's pinched." He rubbed the skin of his hand that I just pinched firmly.

"Mending is pinched rather than slapped, do you want me to slap?" I then turned my face away from him.

This man is very dangerous for my heart health.

"You are the only woman who dares to pinch me without fear" he whispered in my ear.

"Is this a compliment?" I satirize and try to get away from her body but she just laughs harder and doesn't answer my questions.

I looked at him, "Aahh .. regarding your question earlier maybe if it was sold for three silver coins but depending on where you sell it, "he replied.

"Where do you know to sell?" tannya

I shook my head, I don't know anything here. How can I sell it for granted, maybe later I will be tricked because I don't know anything.

"Here I help sell so I can get more money" he bargained.

Can I trust him? he said he's been friends with me since I was 10. Okay .. I'll try to believe it.

I was a bit worried because I used to be tricked by someone I already considered familiar. It's not much, but it's about trust and after that I've had little faith in others.

"This ..." I handed him two jewels.

"Tomorrow I leave the money to you, now let's follow them!" he yelled and immediately pulled me towards the people who were in pairs.

After this dance together, huh?

I looked around me, all in pairs of both the old young and the children. Their faces looked happy, I remembered something. Before I came here, I also saw things like this while heading to tourist attractions.

I'm envious...

"Come!!" said Wasa.

"I can't dance, you with the others" I refused. "Let's say we're hiding our identities, if we dance we'll look flashy" I continued.

"Yes, too, what a pity .." he said.

So, Wasa and I just watched the dance performance in front of us, as the song rotates everyone in pairs moves in rhythm, it's beautiful.

Suddenly I remembered the old man's handkerchief and warning, where should I find out more about his warning?

"What else is it? your face always seems to be thinking seriously" said Wasa.

How about I ask Wasa about this? Aahh no! I can't ask any questions. Ta ... but didn't I give a little room to believe it? should I ask?

"Let's just say that if anyone sticks up, I'll help you as much as I can" he continued.

All right, I'll try.

"Do you know about Ortpe?" ask me carefully.

He looked at me in shock,

it must be something that is forbidden to ask carelessly. Duh ...

"No, I didn't ask that" I said.

"Where do you know about that?" tanyakanya.

I shut up, I can't answer more.

"May ..." He called my name and made me want to not see it.

"For more I don't want to tell you, but because I don't know why I'm asking you" I said honestly.

"Let's come with me."

He pulled my hand away from the crowd and led me down one of the narrow passages that only one person could walk through.

"Listen, that name you can't say carelessly because you could be in trouble if you're not careful." He gave me a warning, just like the old man.

"I'll tell you but you have to promise not to ask anyone about this name, promise?" tanyanya, I nodded in agreement and promised her.

how dangerous is that name here?

"The Ortpe is one of the strongest families in the kingdom and belongs to the royal family as there is a legitimate relationship. Her Highness the former Queen was one of the Ortpe Families but after the Queen's murder due to poison made her family slaughtered by the royal party. Everyone was familiar with the Ortpe Family Massacre. Do you know Crown Prince Aksa Oliga de Ramor? He was the son of Her Majesty Queen Serrez Nar Orpte, only the Queen's son was still alive but the Crown Prince did not wear the Ortpe Family title from his mother." Wasa explained in a slow and careful voice.

So like that, the pantesan alone must be careful about talking about families that belong to the royal family. "I understand what you're saying, but why did the Queen kill her and get her family slaughtered? isn't that unnatural? moreover, he said it was a royal family because he married King de Ramor," I asked.

"That's because the perpetrator of the Queen's murder was from the Ortpe Family because the King ordered to slaughter them except for the Crown Prince who was not involved at the time" he replied.

So, what the old man meant was the former Crown Prince and Queen but he said there was one more family that was not mentioned by name. Should I ask again?

But somehow there is something that props up from Wasa's answer, it is impossible for the Queen's family to do it? there is no way they kill the Queen who was higher than them, usually the family will protect each other family members. I thought like that, but the world I live in right now might just turn around with the world I used to be.

"Is there anything else you want to ask, Beryl?" tanyakanya.

"No!" I said quickly

I held back my curiosity regarding this, for me this information was at least enough for me. Moreover, we are in the wrong place, next time I will ask him further.

"Well, let's go home, huh? it's midnight too." He took me home, so it's better to go home.

I followed her steps towards the place where the horse she had tied up earlier but without me noticing there was someone not too far away from me was monitoring me away.