BLOODY LOVE'S
Chapter 1

Mary raised her face, put her hands on her forehead to protect her eyes from the daylight. He looked up at the tree, knowing that the person he was looking for must be on the highest branch, hiding there to escape the duties his family had given him.

"Jose!" Mary exclaimed, her hands stretched forward, trying to shake the tilia tree free of charge. Let alone the trunk, not even the branches are moving. "Jose, down!" yell again.

There was a sound of friction on the leaves from above, but no further movement. The mood is still quiet. Only occasionally did the sound of wind sound.

"Jose, it's me! Downhill!" This time Maria lifted her long skirt to the calf, kicking the tree in front of her excitedly.

"That's not a good princess attitude!" a voice sounded from above the tree.

"You are not acting like a good young master either" Maria assailed, trying to find where the man she was talking to was hanging, but her gaze was covered in leaves. "I met your uncle! He's looking for you!"

There was another rustling sound from above, then something collapsed falling on Maria's side, making the girl shift one step. He's not surprised. Something that fell it—which is a man of his age—has often jumped beside him in the way just now. Their age is only one year. Jose is older than him and just missed his 23rd birthday last August.

"You mean Uncle Marco?" Jose lifted up his body, smoothed his waves of black hair with his fingers. In his other hand was a thick book. "You didn't tell him I was here, did you?"

Mary pulled a leaf that was stuck on the man's shoulder. "I think he knows."

"Then let it be. Uncle can come here by himself if you want." Jose plopped down on the short green grass docked below them. The book he brought down to the side of his body. Maria followed Jose's example, lying next to him. This is their favorite place since childhood because it is cool and close to the lake. Seven meters away from them, a bluish-clear lake stretched wide.

"I heard they chose a lot of women for you." Maria closed her eyes, nudged a little of Jose's arm for the man to shift and gave him some shade. 

"Yes, women who don't even know how to dance yet."

"No problem. You're the only one teaching. Educating your own bride is not the dream of the men?" 

Jose laughs. "I'm too lazy to educate myself."

Maria smelled a smile. "Well, that's right," he said, getting louder because Jose wouldn't shift. "Change places! It's hot in here."

"You should wear a more compact coat and dress, not a dress like that." Jose grumbled, but eventually got up and switched places with the girl beside him. "Where's Susan? You came with him, right?"

"This dress is not so dirty" said Maria. "Susan? In-house. Wh why? You want to play with her?"

Susan is Mary's lady-in-waiting. Usually the woman accompanied Maria everywhere. Jose looked at his comrade with a mixed expression. "If your father knew his daughter went alone to see Men—"

"He's going to nag me" said Maria, "but you're Jose."

"And I'm not a man?"

Maria laughed when she heard it. It is impossible to sleep on the side of just any man. But his family and Jose's family have been friends for a long time. The two are more like brothers than ordinary friends. No one will comment even if they are alone.

"I usually go without Susan and you never protest" Maria added. He smiled looking at Jose's face. "You just want to take the conversation off our topic, yeah. How do your girls look? Beauitiful? Uncle Marco's choice must be pretty."

"They're not girls*me," Jose corrected. "Obviously. All the red hair. Longer to see those red hairs, I must be colorblind."

"Omong empty!" Maria chuckled, "But the red hair suits you. The rules are like that. Red hair should marry black hair."

"Weird tradition. Married because of hair color?" Jose glanced at the honey-haired head beside him. "You yourself? I heard this month your family received a lot of proposals."

"Yes, three are coming. But, oh yeah, I didn't come to discuss this with you!" Mary rose. Eyes sparkling. "I got an invitation to Sir William's house!"

"I think you better discuss this with your girl friend. The dance and so on are not my forte."

"Will you find out if I like Sir William?"

"That's the goal, right?"

"It doesn't have any, does it?"

Maria pinched Jose's arm, which gave an overreaction of pain.

Bjork is the name of the city they live in which is flanked by dead volcanos and oceans. Bjork is one of the autonomous regions in the Kingdom of Albion, with the Lieutenant Governor as the administrative leader.

Since the last governor was ill until his death, the Jose family helped arrange the city from behind. Until now, Bjork's power was still left empty. The council of the people and the council of the nobility were still arguing over the status of Bjork as it was a port city with many interests.

Even with all the hustle and bustle, Bjork has long been gripped by horror. The girls disappeared suddenly. At first, two girls disappeared. Then three people disappeared. In the end even adults also lost—t no matter what gender. An investigation was conducted, but no results were made. The public assumes that there is a movement of human recruitment or trafficking of women. As the crowds grew in unrest, curfews were imposed and police patrols were doubled from five in the afternoon to the top. This caused quite a bit of debate, but out of fear that their family would vanish without a remnant, the commotion disappeared by itself.

"Where do you think they went? Is it true that everything was kidnapped for sale?" Maria shudders. He leaned his body into the tree. I felt cold as if someone was staring hatefully. But there was no one other than the two of them there. "I've read about women who were made slaves. They were tortured and diep—"

"Marya." Jose rolled over, stacking his body with both elbows. The man's eyes shone. "Nothing's gonna happen to you. I promise."

"So sweet, Jose." Maria smiled, her face looked more relieved. "Eh, briefly. This is not what I want to talk about! You always switch topics! Sir William invited me to his party."

"Which Sir William, you mean? My name is William, but old Billy's the guardian of the tomb."

"Abroad! You didn't know Sir William? The new guy who bought the former governor's castle house!"

"Eh? The house was bought?"

Mary looked at her friend in wonder. "You don't know? I think Uncle Marco was right, you should have been forcibly dragged into social circles." 

Jose laughs. "Who can catch me? I want to see if anyone can catch up to this runaway jago."

"It shouldn't be something you're proud of, Jose."

"I'm proud of my speed."

"Yes, yes, you have shown it often" said Maria with a smile. "Now listen to me first. Where were we? A castle? Yeah, I'm invited there tonight at seven. You don't know this means you weren't invited?" He put on a disappointed face. "I can't leave if I don't have a bodyguard."

Jose understood which way this conversation was headed. "You're asking me to be *footman*?"

"*Escort*!" maria's Correction. "You're less tall to be *footman*!"

"The person who is less tall is contested by many women, you know."

"Women who are after your treasure?" olok Mary. But then he closed his mouth regretfully.

The Argent family is an old family that can be said to be the foundation of this kingdom. Even though Jose was a fourth son, many families were interested in volunteering. Most of these people are of course eyeing a connection with Marquis Argent who is Jose's uncle.

Not many see Jose as he is because Jose rarely appears in relationships and parties. Instead of going to the capital to socialize, Jose prefers to laze around in Bjork. Jose also never wanted to come to the Discussion Building which was held by the elite as a place of association and a show of ability.

"Sorry," Maria said quietly when Jose was silent. He felt guilty for missing out. There are things that should not be made jokes, no matter how familiar they are. "I don't mean—"

Jose raised his face quickly, staring directly into Maria's blue eyes, giving her a jolt of surprise.

"You didn't bring the invitation?"

"What invitation?"

"Invitation of Sir William. We were talking about that, right?" Jose asked in wonder.

"Eh? I-I brought it, anyway ..." Maria pulled her handbag into her lap, reaching into one of the pouches attributed to the sweet key. A thick piece of paper with lace ornaments and gold writing he carefully took out and handed it to his friend.

"Ah, I remember this flirtatious invitation," Jose said as he nodded. "Sir William's. I feel like I once knew that name. After I remembered it, it was true that I had read it before. I got this invitation too." He handed the paper back to Maria. "I can accompany you."

"Are you quiet because you're thinking?"

"Given," the man's correction.

"You heard what I said, didn't you?"

"About what?" Jose tilted his head.

"Ah, come on, it's okay." Mary looked back, but found nothing. There are only green grass and long trails. There's no one.

"Why?" Jose's urgent, curious. "You've been looking back?"

Maria had just felt it again, a feeling as if they were being watched fiercely. But he nodded, feeling silly. "It's okay."

***