The Heir's Secret: 1-2 Defiance

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The Heir's Secret

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The future ruler of the duchy is determined to defy the duke and become a deserter...

Info

Style: No dress-up component Rewards: 3,000 , 600 , 1 , 1 , 1 , Blueprint: Unchanged Intent

Unchanged Intent

Dialogue Choices

There are no dialogue choices in this stage.

Transcript

Expand for script.

• Galloping hooves thunder through the camp, momentarily distracting the guards and messengers from their duties.
• The youth tightens the reins and brandishes a long whip, issuing commands from atop her horse.

• Langston: Let him in.

• Guard: Sorry, this is the Duke's order.

• Langston: I will apologize to my father myself.

• The youth dismounts and marches towards the messenger, ignoring the guards' dissuasion.
• The messenger looks stunned at the sudden turn of events. The youth clears her throat, snapping him back to reality.

• Langston: Is it a letter from Mrs. Melly?

• Messenger: It's from Mr. Walter. He instructed me to deliver it to you in person.

• Cyrus takes the letter and hands her cufflink to the messenger.

• Langston: The long journey must've been tough on you.

• The messenger's expression becomes even more solemn.

• Messenger: Please read the letter as soon as you can.

• The messenger leaves in a hurry after handing the letter to the youth.

• After returning to her bedroom, Cyrus opens the envelope.

Master Langston, Mrs. Melly is very ill and she wishes to see you one last time.

• Langston: Mrs. Melly...

• Cyrus crumples the paper in her hand and forces herself to stay calm.

• Langston: (My father must have found out before I did, and has been trying to stop me from returning to Leto.)

• Cyrus' father is studying a sand table when she arrives at the camp.
• He has his back to Cyrus, and seems completely absorbed in analyzing the model.
• Cyrus stands silently to the side. She knows her father dislikes being interrupted while he's deep in thought.
• After a prolonged silence, Hernando's deep voice resonates through the tent.

• Duke Hernando: A soldier who abandons service is known as a deserter.

• Cyrus recognizes this is a warning to her. She starts speaking, her voice a little hoarse.

• Langston: Father, that's why I've come to ask for your permission.

• Hernando doesn't turn around.

• Duke Hernando: You're a bright child, Cyrus.

• Duke Hernando: You should know my answer.

• Hernando topples a tower on the sand table and leaves, his coat lightly brushing against Cyrus' arm.
• He doesn't even look at Cyrus.

• The sun soon sets, and the moon rises above the treetops.
• In the dimly-lit tent, the youth speaks, this time with no hesitation.

• Langston: I'm sorry, Father.

• The camp is quiet at night.
• Cyrus prepares some food and weapons, then heads to the stable. She'll need Tobi for her next adventure.
• Tobi seems to understand what her owner is trying to do, and obediently lets her untie the reins.
• They manage to leave the camp without anyone noticing.
• The youth buries her doubts deep in her heart, and forges ahead fearlessly.

• Langston: Tobi, I'll leave it up to you now.

• The youth tightens the reins. Tobi's hooves move quickly as she gallops through the wilderness.
• Tobi rarely gets to run freely in the north. The cavalry here trains in heavy armor, and the training is typically rigorous.

• Langston: Tobi, you and I are rebelling.

• The cold wind stings the youth's cheeks.
• Cyrus suddenly recalls her father sending her a letter two years ago telling her to come up North.
• Back then, she was twelve years old.

• Mr. Walter is overcome with strange dread after receiving the letter from the North.
• The expedition to the north is being led by General Levy, who has been in charge of Master Langston's daily training for the past few years.
• Despite his confidence in General Levy's abilities, he cannot help but nag his guards.

• Mr. Walter: General Levy, please forgive my persistence. I must say, I'm quite concerned about young Master Langston's well-being, given that he is still just a child.

• Mr. Walter: The journey to the North is a long and arduous one, and the weather can be unforgiving.

• Levy, with his well-groomed stubble, erupts into hearty laughter that breaks the tension.

• General Levy: Oh Walter... You underestimate the resilience of the Langstons!

• General Levy: Hernando, too, was of similar age when his father led him on a journey to the North.

• General Levy: He and I grew up together, yet at his age, he did not possess the same level of composure and serenity that Cyrus does now.

• General Levy: There's no need to worry.

• Mr. Walter, however, lets out a long sigh, appearing even more disheartened.

• Mr. Walter: While I have faithfully served the Langston family for three generations, Master Langston is the only one I have had the privilege of witnessing grow up.

• Cyrus catches a fleeting glance from Mr. Walter.

• Mr. Walter: When tensions rose during the border war, the Duke arranged for the Duchess to seek refuge at her father's house before he left to ensure her and their unborn child's safety.

• Mr. Walter: I had hoped both mother and child would receive better care there, but little did I know what fate had in store for the Olive family...

• Langston: (Olive... is my mother's family.)

• Mr. Walter: It was Mrs. Melly who eventually brought Master Langston to the Duke's residence.

• Mr. Walter: The arrival of a newborn baby sent everyone into a flurry, but it also filled the cold and austere Duke's residence with happiness.

• Mr. Walter: We all treated Master Langston as if he were a member of our own family...

• General Levy's face turns somber before Mr. Walter can finish his sentence.

• General Levy: Although it's not my place to remind you, Walter, you must remember -

• General Levy: Regardless of how much you adore Cyrus, keep in mind that he's Hernando's child and the future ruler of the duchy.

• General Levy: The future of the Langston family rests upon his shoulders.

• General Levy: It's his destiny, and he can't escape it.

• General Levy raises his voice slightly. Cyrus averts his gaze.
• She is well aware that the last sentence was directed at her.

• At night, someone gently knocks on the door.
• Cyrus knows it's Mrs. Melly. She typically visits her late at night.

• Langston: Come in, Mrs. Melly.

• Mrs. Melly approaches Cyrus with quiet, delicate steps.
• She respectfully stands by the youth's bed, surrounded by the darkness of the night.

• Mrs. Melly: Master Langston, the military camp in the North is quite unlike the Duke's residence. You'll be on your own there, so you need to be extra careful.

• Langston: Don't worry, Mrs. Melly.

• Mrs. Melly is momentarily stunned, and her dark and dim pupils lose their focus.
• She appears to be looking at Cyrus, but the youth knows she's thinking of someone else, someone who has long vanished from this world.

• Mrs. Melly: Miss Demeter used to enjoy teasing me. She'd wonder why I had so many worries despite being younger than her.

• Langston: (It's my mother's name...)

• The youth subconsciously clenches the bedsheet, her heart racing. This is the first time Mrs. Melly is bringing up her mother.
• When she was younger, she had countless questions about her parents, and her own identity.
• Why did her mother die? Why did her father never care about her? And is she a boy or a girl?
• But every time she asked Mrs. Melly about these matters, she would only receive stern warnings in response.
• Master Langston, Miss Demeter sacrificed her life for you.
• If you truly care about her, you have to refrain from mentioning these matters in front of anyone, including your father—Duke Hernando.
• And so, young Langston buried his doubts deep within his heart.

• Mrs. Melly: You look just like Miss Demeter, Master Langston.

• Cyrus instinctively raises her hand and touches her own cheek.

• Langston: I do?

• Mrs. Melly suddenly snaps back to reality.

• Mrs. Melly: Remember, you must never let anyone discover your secret, Master Langston.

• Mrs. Melly: Don't let your mother's sacrifice be in vain.

• Langston: But... what if...

• Mrs. Melly: Master Langston.

• Mrs. Melly lifts her head.
• She stares intently at her young master.

• Mrs. Melly: People who know this secret should not be alive.

• Mrs. Melly: That includes me.

• Langston: Mrs. Melly?

• A thought hits the youth.
• Mrs. Melly's spirit may have long since left with her mother, and all that remains is a vessel bearing both her mother's and grandfather's wishes.

• Cyrus and Tobi continue on their journey.
• It is early spring, and the weather remains chilly, but it is not as harsh as it was two years ago when she first arrived in the North.
• The snow has melted, and the trees are adorned with fresh buds.

• Langston: Life's wonderful, isn't it, Tobi?

• Tobi responds with a long, hoarse neigh.
• Neither of them knew that it was too early to celebrate.

• The frozen soil begins to thaw with the arrival of spring.
• Following a long and unforgiving winter, the swamp now presents an innocent facade, patiently awaiting unsuspecting prey to stumble into its trap.