Gorgeous Jewel
Chapter II Chapter 61

Lilia showed Marianne the sword she had drawn. "This...didn't this belong to Alice?"

Lilia answered him with a nod. That gloomy face was still unable to escape from his face. Lilia's heart was so bitter when she saw her best friend who was sucked into the black hole that now seems out of nowhere. His eyes were back in tears, he covered his face with both hands and sobbed.

Marianne saw Lilia so concerned. Something bad must have happened to her brother. Seeing Lilia's condition, Marianne took the sword and put it aside. He hugged Lilia and patted her on the back quietly. The two people close to Alice seemed to share lara.

After Lilia started to calm down, she rubbed her cheeks and eyes. Both eyes were still slightly swollen from crying for so long. Lilia then explained everything to Marianne.

During their journey to Strongfort's residence, Marianne hears Lilia's story. It was hard for her heart when she found out that for the second time she had lost her brother again. His breathing grew heavier and his chest hurt so much. Even so, the little hope of Alice still alive was still stored in his heart.

Their journey took them more than a day and finally their chariot came to the front gate of the Strongfort residence. They also got off the train. Lilia slowly stepped up while thinking about how she would convey that to Duke Strongfort. Accompanied by Marianne reassuring him, Lilia walked up to the front door.

The arrival of Saintess and the Princess was warmly welcomed by the couple. Liana and Ernard stood up with shady faces welcoming them full of manners. They let the two of them come in and visit him.

After sitting face to face, Ernard looked at the expressions of the two in astonishment, even more so as he looked at the familiar sword in Lilia's embrace. Ernard had also allowed them to not hesitate and accept his banquet but the princess only nodded and Lilia did not even dare to raise her head to look at the faces of Alice's parents.

Ernard's suspicions grew clearer in his mind, the silence and awkwardness and sadness emanating from them made a huge question mark in his heart. Ernard massaged the point between his eyebrows, he sighed and obliterated the silence between his guests.

"How's Alice doing?" Ernard asked to see Liliana.

Liliana was silent, guilt and Ernard's eyes were on her as if pressing her head to stay down. Without a word, Lilia stood up from her seat and gave the sword she had in her hand to Ernard.

Ernard stretched out his hand slowly and took the sword, he looked at it from top to bottom meticulously. "It's not wrong, this sword belongs to Alice" he thought.

Ernard glanced at Lilia and looked back at the sword.

Beside Ernard was Liana who continued to observe them. Ever since he fainted, he had no idea what had happened until Ernard told him everything. Liana was shocked and unceasingly worried about Alice daring to trade herself for her sake.

Her head was just beginning to guess the direction of their conversation as she looked at her husband's expression. "No, don't tell me Alice..." Liana hugged Ernard's arm as her body began to tremble in fear.

For a knight who died in the war, in addition to his body that was brought home for burial. Then the last thing the victim's family received was also valuable goods or anything belonging to the kstaria. And so, the only sword Alice always carries is a symbol that in other words that she has fallen in her fight.

"Alice.." said quietly Ernard.

Ernard clasped tightly onto the handle of the sword. Her chest felt heavy as she recalled the last thing her daughter did. Ernard had no idea it was Alice's last hug. If he knew this was the end, Ernard should have held Alice back and fought desperately that time. His feelings are chaotic and mixed. Should he be angry, but to whom? Sadness is useless. He could only hold that regret in his heart.

Iris who heard their conversation from the corner of the room, fell on her knees. He closed his mouth and shook his head.

"Sir .. is impossible! No way brother's dead!" His shouting.

Iris denied the news. Ever since her sister woke up from her coma, Iris felt that she was a different figure. Alice has become stronger even more than anyone she has ever met, Alice is much more powerful, more cool, besides Alice has shown the attitude of an older sister as she has longed for. That warm, loving smile, Iris couldn't bear to lose Alice when she started accepting her return as a sister. Iris was down, hoping that she would realize it sooner.

Ernard himself drowned in his daydreams. He just remembered that Alice had given him something. Ernard took out a wooden plaque from under his pocket. Spontan Marianne who saw the object hit the table with both hands. "That's.it's.." He stood up while pointing at the wooden plaque in Ernard's hand.

A strange talisman inscribed on top of the wooden plaque was Alice's last gift.

"Where did you get it?" Ask Marianne.

"This is Alice's gift before she goes to the temple."

Marianne hastily said. "Can I see it?" As he extended his hand.

"certain." Ernard didn't know what the engraving meant but it seemed like Marianne knew something.

After receiving the wooden plaque. Both Marianne's hands shook holding her. "Sister..." His whisper. Happy tears then dripped from his eyes soaked the wooden plaque.

"Yes... Maria?" Call Lilia familiar as she pulls the end of Marianne's shirt.

Marianne lifted her head and looked at Alice's two parents. "You take it easy, Alice's still alive." He then rubbed his cheeks and eyes. "This amulet, I mean this writing is a sign that Alice is still alive. Inside this piece of paper there is the power of Alice, when the paper is damaged then it is a sign that the person associated with this writing is gone, but look! This writing along with the paper and the wood is still fine. That's a sign that Alice is still alive. This technique, almost the same as tracking magic where someone will mark an object in order to track the existence of the object. Only, Alice's techniques were more complex. I believe he's alive."

The bright light of the tub re-lightened the room, the happiness that came suddenly reversed their negative emotions. Ernard Liana and Iris and Lilia were relieved after hearing Marianne's statement, but they remained concerned because Alice's whereabouts were still unknown.