QUACK! QUACK! QUACK!

A group of ducks flapped their wings as Eilownia tossed them pieces of lettuce.

The sun was shining brightly in the sky, beating down on them with its hot rays. A cool breeze blew through, keeping them from burning.

Marix’s gardens were much more beautiful than the ones at Evans Estate. They were slightly overgrown giving them a natural and enchanting feel and the large pond that sat in the middle of them housed many creatures.

Turtles lounged on some nearby rocks, fish flicked water in the air as they wiggled their tails, a few frogs sat on lily pads and a dragonfly buzzed overhead protecting its territory.

A few ducks paddled on the surface, enjoying the weather while the others stayed around Eilownia.

She giggled as they continued to quack and beg for more scraps, following her around like they were still baby ducks.

Lush trees provided shade over a stone bench which Marix sat on deep in thought.

As much as Eilownia’s giggles threatened to distract him, his mind was trapped in an endless stream of connecting puzzle pieces.

So far, the coins he’d seen from Norain did not have the jade leaf. The only ones from Norain with it embedded had been in Eilownia’s possession or her father’s possession. Thus, keeping the origin of those specific coins tied to the Evans household.

Unless Arlon had traveled to Norain to obtain the coins himself, which Marix knew couldn’t have been possible. Norain hated foreigners, and a trip like that would have HAD to go in the books, or be known by someone. No way it would’ve been able to stay a secret.

’Arlon has been against Eilownia this entire time, even to the point he’s trying to go against our father to stop our marriage....all while having her coins in his possession.’

Marix shifted on the bench and rubbed his chin.

’Although, Eilownia’s were oxidized and damaged....the only ones that I’ve seen to be pristine like that were Lord Evans’.’

"Marix! Marix look! They won’t stop following me~!" Eilownia laughed as she walked around with the ducks waddling after her.

He looked up and smiled.

"Whin. Can you come here for a moment?"

She headed over and sat on the bench next to him, tossing a few more pieces of lettuce to the ducks, "What is it?"

"Your coins. Yours show some damage. All of them were like that? You didn’t spend any of them in Viraaz? Or try to pawn them?"

Eilownia shook her head, "They’re all like that. Viraaz wouldn’t take them, not to buy things and they wouldn’t give me money for them either."

"Alright thanks."

"Do you want to try feeding the ducks?" She smiled, handing him a few pieces of lettuce.

"Sure. Go and enjoy yourself for a bit more. You need to get some sun and fresh air."

Eilownia left him to continue her stroll in the garden.

As he continued to think, he began to tear up the pieces of lettuce.

’So, the only way for him to have gotten them...was from Lord Evans? So why was he so eager to send Eilownia back? Was Evans paying him to? How would that plan even come into fruition anyways?’

He rubbed his temples as a migraine pulsed in his skull, frustrated at what felt like should be an open and shut case of reasoning.

’Even if Lord Evans had somehow paid Arlon to block Eilownia’s steps to a better future, Arlon wouldn’t be able to use the coins to buy anything. Did he plan on using them for the jade for the relief funds or something?’

"Marix~ It’s starting to get a little too hot. Let’s go inside." Eilownia approached, fanning herself.

"Of course. Let’s get you inside." He placed his hand on the small of her back and led her inside.

"Why were you asking about my mother’s coins by the way?" She questioned, tilting her head.

"I was just thinking about how yours had damage and the ones your father kept hidden looked pretty much new."

Eilownia smiled, "Did you think I wouldn’t recognize them because mine have been damaged for so long? I’d recognize them anywhere~ They’re important to me."

"I’m sure they are. They were one of the things you were aware she’d left you."

Eilownia laughed softly, "I wish she could’ve been here to see you and I get married."

"She’s probably watching you from somewhere." He grabbed her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

’If only Arlon wasn’t trying so hard to stop our marriage to begin with....’

Marix’s eyes widened, "I’ve got it."

Eilownia tilted her head, "Got what?"

He closed his eyes and shook his head, kissing her on the cheek, "Nothing. Go and have Jinya make you something to eat. I have something to take care of."

Before she could say anything, he was off and heading out of the door.

That night, Eilownia laid in bed in a deep sleep. The temperature had dropped a bit after the sun went down, although she found herself feeling a bit colder than usual.

She rolled over in bed and felt around.

"Mar....ix?" She mumbled as her hand searched the bed for him.

Just as she was about to open her eyes, she heard a creak in the floorboards.

A small, sleepy smile spread across her face, "Marix? Did you go to get a snack or something?"

No answer.

"Marix?"

Still, no answer.

After hearing what she was sure was definite footstep, she opened her eyes to see a blade glinting in the moonlight, about to come down on her.

She scooted towards the headboard and let out a horrified screech.

He was dressed in all black with his face covered.

"AN ASSASSIN! HELP!" Her pleas for assistance were followed by another blood curdling scream.

Just as the blade was about to come down on her, a sword pieced through the assassin’s core.

Blood sprayed on her and all around her as she let out another horrified scream and covered her eyes.

’THUD!’

She could hear the body being flung to the side, hitting the wall and then sliding down to the floor.

Her heart pounded in her chest, drowning out the sounds of him wheezing.

Tears filled Eilownia’s eyes as she panted hard for air.

A metallic scent filled the room and covered her clothes causing her to cover her mouth to stifle a gag.

"W-What just hap-!" She gagged again before swallowing the feeling, "happened?!"

She slowly uncovered her eyes to see Marix standing there over the assassin’s body, blood dripped down from his sword.

Eilownia scrambled out of bed and jumped behind him, shaking like a leaf as she sought his protection.

Marix kicked the assassin hard in the side with his left foot.

"Who sent you? Make it easier on yourself and just give me a name. I could end you nice and painless or torture it out of you. Which would you prefer?" He asked, pressing the tip of his sword against the assassin’s Adams Apple.

Marix’s eyes widened as he saw the assassin’s jaw bite down on something.

He let out a series of gurgles as foam soaked through the fabric that covered his mouth before his body went limp, his eyes open and staring under the bed as his head fell to the side.

"Tsk." Marix tutted as he knelt down and grabbed the assassin by the collar. He pulled him up and yanked his mask off.

It was a man he didn’t recognize.

"Cyanide." He scoffed.

"Eilownia go and get Jinya. Now."

Eilownia sniveled and nodded before rushing off down the hall screaming for Jinya.

Marix slid his hand down the assassin’s face, closing his eyes.

"That answered my question anyways, you fool."

Eilownia returned with Jinya who was clearly still half asleep, although the sight of a dead body on the floor seemed to wake her right up.

"What happened?" She asked as she kept her arm wrapped around a crying Eilownia in comfort.

"Assassin. Clean it up. I need to take care of my wife."

Jinya nodded and went to go wake up a few of the other maids while Marix led Eilownia to the bathroom where he began to clean the blood splatter off of her.

"Ae you alright?"

She was still trembling terribly.

"What happened? You weren’t in bed with me. Y-You were gone. They almost killed me....."

Marix pulled her into a tight hug and rubbed her back.

"I was hiding behind the door. I knew you would wake up and scream. I needed your scream to cover up the sounds of my own footsteps and movements. I promise you, you were never in any real danger."

She sniveled and wiped at her tears with the sides of her index fingers.

"You knew someone was going to come try to kill me?"

Marix nodded, "Someone else has some of your coins. I’m positive they wanted to eliminate you because they knew you would recognize them and in doing so, you would’ve ousted them."

"Ousted them? What? Someone has some of my mother’s coins?"

Marix nodded, "I’m going to need to launch a proper investigation."