Looking at the woman in surprise, the man tried to remain composed. He thought that whether or not she was joking, he should not react or the truth will really be revealed. He knew this much. "King of Thieves, huh? That's quite a title." Enzo remarks. "But sweetie, that's not my name."

She just smiles as she walked towards him slowly. "Guessing games depends on both players. That is if it's between only two people. It will depend on their honesty. . . and their deception." The house owner explains calmly, but a smirk was planted all over her face.

He smiles, determined not to let her take control of the game. "Ah. So you're a psychic?" He asks calmly. "No. . . you're a card dealer. A shark from the sight of the Arcana on the walls of this house."

"Aish. If you would call me a card shark. . . I guess I am," She replies, chuckling a little in amusement. "But I haven't drawn all my cards yet." The woman adds bluntly. "In fact I am looking for them."

Enzo cocks his eyebrow at her. "Looking for them, huh? Trying to play mind games with me, woman?" He asks.

"Maybe."

"So have you guessed my name, yet?" He asks.

Chuckling to herself, the woman in the room sighs as she averts her eyes away from his. "What is truth? When will I know that whatever the stranger says is truth? Is this person worth trusting? DO I know that that person is a friend and not a foe? That's what I used to think when I was a little girl." She starts, tracing her finger on the tapestries on the wall. "And even now I am thinking such questions. Humans are the most deceptive creatures of earth. Not foxes, not crows, not snakes, the animals that are represented as creatures of lie and deception. It has always been us humans. Right now. . . you are wondering. . . you're wondering whether you could trust me. Right? You are currently wondering why I am so confident that you are Enzo." She continues, walking closer to him until she was just a few feet away from him.

"You're thinking about the obvious."

She smiles. "Denying that you are Enzo is only going to waste both our time."

"How do you even know that my name is Enzo?" The man asks. "How do you even know that there was such a title? And even if I'm Enzo. . . why would you say that I'm the King of Thieves when I'm robbing you just now?"

"Because I heard that he usually aims people with high sense of dignity. Rather than wealth." She calmly replies. "That was because his was taken from him. By a woman."

Images in the man's head immediately recall that night. He remembered the woman he thought was the love of his life. Only to realize that she was there to rob him of his dignity, leaving him in utter shame and depression.

"Why would you say that?" Enzo asks, trying to stay composed.

"Even if I fed you, gave you a room for you to stay," Says the woman, walking even closer to him. "Yet you still went down here to rob me. You were looking for my room, Enzo. You wanted to break me. That woman you thought loved you. . . you welcomed her with open arms didn't you?"

Dropping his head in shame, the man averts his eyes away from her. Tears started to brim from his eyes, quickly wiping them away with his sleeve. "H-How did you know that? Guessing again?"

Suddenly, the woman embraced him tightly, stunning him. For a moment, he was tempted to push her away form him, but her voice interrupts him, "It's okay. I've had my own depressions, too. I, too, was taken of my dignity. I thought that revenge was the best card that I could draw in this game of life, but I was wrong. Killing them didn't make me happy. I was in the verge of destruction until I was pulled back on my feet. Now I am starting a new life. I have started a new life. Join me, Enzo. Let's make better use of our lives instead of wallowing in our agony and depression. Join me." She concludes, pulling away form him.

Wiping his tears away, the man gazed into the woman's eyes, seeing compassion and kindness in them. In her eyes, he saw a broken woman who was now being mended back together. "But I tried to rob you. Even threatened to kill you." The man points out.

"It's fine! I forgive you!" She insists.

Stunned at her words, the man felt woozy at hearing such words. They were new to him. "W-Wha. . " He mutters, staggering on his feet, making the woman with him worry.

"Enzo! Are you alright??" She exclaims as the man sunk to his knees.

Staring at the floor for a while, he felt shocked. He later looks up, meeting her gleaming eyes again. Averting his gaze once again he says, "I. . . I have conquered many. Both in material wealth and in women's dignity and feelings. I could see that you are not an easy woman to handle."

"What?"

"I swear I will conquer your heart and make you mine." He boldly tells her, looking up to the woman.

She looked surprise for a moment, but her face softened into a smile. "Good luck with that." The woman replies.

****End of Flashback****

The men chuckle at the man's story, finding it hilarious that he was actually bold enough to even say those things straight to her face. Enzo, however, kept a composed demeanor as he drank his hot drink. Suddenly the three heard clapping of hands by the door. Turning to the sound, they met the eyes of Alfieri who had helped Angelica return to her room. His emerald eyes looked at them lazily with a smirk curled on his lips.

"Quite a story, huh?" The man remarks as he walked into the kitchen. "Surprisingly, the circumstances we had are quite similar." He continues, taking a seat with the other three.

"Is that so, Alfieri?" Asks a skeptical Abelle, pushing back his glasses as he leaned back on his seat.

Chuckling in amusement, the man places his elbows on the table, letting his chin rest on his hands. "Yep." He replies, smiling at the memory. "Even if it's been quite a while, I remember it like it was yesterday. ."

****Flashback****

Boisterous laughter filled the bar. It was filled with drunken men who drank their liquor quite heavily. Several women there wore skimpy outfits. They slithered on the men, letting them indulge into their lust and fun. Their minds were muddled, having forgotten their morality and succumbed to their flesh. It was chaotic inside; several men were wholly red from drunkenness that they have fallen into a deep slumber, unaware that they were being robbed. Others were loudly talking to each other, not even sober enough to understand what the other was saying to the other. Laughing in amusement, a young man sat on a couch with several whores leaning against him.

Some were grazing against him; others were smothering his neck with kisses, leaving red lipstick on his neck and jaw line. The young man himself was drunk, but still sober enough to keep his mind straight for the time being. Among the several women among them, the most attractive pulls him from the couch, disappointing the rest who were left behind. The woman held his hand as she led him up the stairs. Wondering what the girl was up to, the young man suddenly pins her to the wall.

"Where are you taking me?" He leers, letting their faces draw near to each other.

Giggling, the girl caresses his face, whispering to him seductively with their lips inches apart, "To somewhere private, silly." She replies. " I don't want those other bitches get close to you." The woman continues, combing the man's scalp with her fingers. "I get jealous."

"Jealous?"

"Mhm. I just suddenly felt this attraction to you," Explained the girl. "You. . . You seem different compared to those guys I've slept with before."

"How so?"

She shrugs her shoulders, quickly placing her arms around his neck. "I just feel it in my bones," The woman replies. "It's almost like. . . like. . . how do I explain this? I just feel that something is going to happen and you'll be involved in it."

Her companion chuckles in amusement, placing his forehead on hers. "What are you? A fortuneteller?" He joked.

Laughing at the man's sense of humor, the girl pushed him back a little and continued to walk to the room. "There is actually a fortuneteller who robbed all the men's money who are currently downstairs."

"Wow. Tricked them or something?"

"Some say. Others don't talk about it at all," She replies, stopping at a door. "Anyways, let's stop talking about a legend and enjoy ourselves."

"Agreed."

********

Grunting in pain as he felt himself get flung outside the bar, he watched the burly man before him throw him his baggage. He had a confused look on his face, seeing the girl's glare burn. His emerald eyes watch the door slam on him, making him sigh as he got up form the road. He swings his bag over his shoulder. The young man was starting to sober up, but none of the inns he came across to be willing to accept him for the night. Each time he passed by they refused him, saying that they didn't accept drunkards despite his surprisingly good looks. He continues on until the young man felt something wet drop on the tip of his nose. Looking up, he realizes that the cruel night was now laughing at him.

Scowling, he moves on as the rain gradually increases. Hurrying along, a cloaked figure runs with a basket in her hand. In the midst of her hurry, an apple drops behind her. The young man behind her picks up the fruit form the ground. His eyes follow her to return what she had dropped. Reluctantly, dashing after her the man soon sees the latter enter a unique looking house that deferred from the rest on the street. The door closes behind her by the time he had reached her. Feeling the need to return what was hers, the man steps over the small gate and then walks up the stairs. He hesitates for a moment to knock, but swallows up his fears and rapped on the door. In a moment a lovely face emerges from the house.

His eyes widened in surprise at the sight of her. She herself was surprised. "May I help you, sir?" The woman politely asks.

Revealing the apple to her he says, "You dropped this earlier." He bluntly replies.

Glancing at the fruit in his hand, her gaze became even more surprised. "Oh. I did? How kind of you to bring it all the way here." She gently remarks as he places the apple into her hand. "And I apologize for the trouble."

Smiling at her, he just chuckles. "No need for the apologies." The man says, turning away. "Anyways, I'll be going." He continues, starting to walk down.

However, the sound of her melodious voice stops him, "Wait." She says. "Are you looking for a place to stay for the night?"

Turning back to her in surprise, he met her kind eyes gaze into his. The man didn't know what to say after he saw her warm smile beaming at him with her arm ushering him inside. Without a word, he walks inside with the girl closing the door after.

Slumber escaped him as the night passes. Rolling and turning on the bed, he felt restless after meeting the kind girl. She didn't give him her name however, but she knew his, baffling him. His head was filled with questions running around his head, continuing to wonder about the girl who had told him his name, yet refused to give him hers. The woman told him that there were certain conditions that needed to be fulfilled before anyone would know her name. This only baffled the young man even more that he refused to sleep until he knew her name.

Lust suddenly swept all over him, making him feel a little upset with the incident earlier. Quietly throwing back the covers, he gets up from the bed and silently approaches the door, which he opens.

Thankfully the house was not big, and the man notices that there were eight rooms in both the second and third floor. He had checked all the rooms in the second floor and was approaching the eighth room already, thinking that the woman was probably there sleeping soundly. Placing his hand on the handle, he twists it open. Peeking inside, he proved his theory correct, seeing the sleeping maiden on the bed she was in. Silently he walks over to the bed, making sure that his footsteps were quiet and light.

The woman was sleeping peacefully with her hair spread all over her pillow. Her blankets were crumpled from her movements. She wore a spaghetti strapped blouse, revealing her chest and slender neck. It aroused him at the sight if her. Climbing on the bed, he soon found himself on top of her with his arms either side. Moaning a little, the woman's eyes flutter, feeling the bed move and creak under the man's weight. She sees his arm, making her look at the man on top of her. Her expression was surprisingly calm, almost like she was anticipating him.

"What are you doing?" She sleepily asks, adjusting her position. Lying on her side, the woman places her head on her arm, closing her eyes. "If there's something wrong you should just simply knock on the door instead of sneaking into my room and climbing onto the bed."

Panting, the man looks at her with determination in his eyes. "Y-You refused to give me your name. . . then suddenly you knew mine." He says, narrowing his eyes at the woman. "Who are you?? Were you at the bar??"

"No," She relies calmly. "Simply knew."

"Don't lie to me, woman! How could a total stranger possibly know one's identity!" Alfieri exclaims angrily. "Tell me. Or will you indulge me with your body to quench my curiosity?"

Opening her eyes, the woman underneath him locks her eyes into his. Without a word she reaches out to his face, caressing it. "I don't think that'll ever happen, because I am not like that whore you've seen naked tonight." In a flash the woman's hands slipped beneath her pillow and drew out daggers. It shocked him when he later found himself in her place with the home owner sitting on his stomach with the daggers on his neck.

"So this will how things work out?" The man calmly asks.

"You know. . . sleeping with every pretty woman your eyes lay on won't help you with your daily living. It won't let you forget about the woman who had left you years ago." The woman replies.

"H-How did you know that?" Alfieri asks, suddly looking at her coldly.

"I simply know." She replies. "I know that you've been hurt. I understand that."

"Tch. You don't know anything."

"Not everything. But I know something."

Defeated, the man grits his teeth at the sad memory of his love. "She was beautiful. We were in love. . . I don't understand why she ditched me for that bastard." He snarled angrily, tears starting to brim on his eyes. Embarrassed, he turns away from her.

In the corner of his eye, Alfieri notices the woman removes the dagger from his neck then suddenly hears metal clang on the floor. In the next second, he felt the girl lie on his chest, surprising him. Her arms were on him, almost like she was trying to embrace him. Her hair that spead on his chest smelled like mint, captivating him for a moment. He felt her chest inhale and exhale. The weight n his chest that he missed so much filled him with joy and relief. "It's okay. I believe that it is about time that you move on." She says. "Doesn't mean it's me though." The woman bluntly adds, getting off of him.

"You really confuse me." Alfieri thought.

Pushing him to the side, the woman grabs the blanket and places it on her as she started sleeping beside him. Glancing at the woman's back, Alfieri place his arms around her, making her stiffen at his touch. "If you continue that, I will cut your arms off."

****End of flashback****

"Unlike me, Enzo I has to be threatened with daggers. He's pretty lucky." Alfieri chuckles. "As a matter of fact, do you know why Enzo was picked to be Il Carro's contractor?" Alfieri asks, while he deviously grinned at the newcomers.

Pietro's eyes widened in curiosity. "No. Care to explain?" The young man asks.

"My pleasure. Remember Enzo mention something about conquering? Il Carro is a card that represent conquest." Explains Alfrier. "He swore to conquer the woman's heart. Well, among the four of us, I lived here in the house the longest, I have quite a headstart compared to you guys.." The man remarks, glancing around at his surroundings fondly.

"Eh?? Really??" Exclaimed a shocked Pietro.

Alfieri nods. "Four months if I remember correctly." Enzo replies for the latter.

"When did you arrive?" Asks Abelle.

"Just the other night." Enzo calmly replies. "Quite a surprise that you guys came along rather quickly."

Pietro smiles. "True to that."

Leaning back against his chair, Enzo looks at his friends with a serious look on his race, making his friends wonder what he was thinking. "Angelica said that the Festival of Lights will be a celebration for all of us." He comments.

"What did she say? Celebration?" Asks a confused Pietro, his bespectacled friend beside him narrow his eyes.

"She mentioned that we'll be having visitors then."

********

Laughter filled the summer air, mixed with honking and tooting of horns. Children tugged on their parents' sleeves, hoping to drag them to the attraction they wanted to see. Some children became absorbed with the clowns and the acrobats, who performed complicated tricks that filled them with awe. They point and giggle at the hilarious performers. Along the stalls, people games and enjoyed their time. Families ate their meal in the parks where lanterns have been set up for that evening. Everyone was excited to attend the evening festival where it was rumored that a special guest shall be performing for the townspeople and the tourists. It happens every year that a visitor would come along, it was something no one should miss.

People bought lanterns from a shop that sells special ones only during that season. They huddled to the shop, making the salesmen and saleswomen very busy. Coins tinkled on the counter as each customer bought. In the storage room, men carried one lantern after the other to the shop for the customers to purchase. They were all in smiles, happy that there were more people visiting that year, compared to the previous. They themselves were excited for the evening. They even purchased lanterns for their families.

Foreign tourists hopped form one shop to another, hoping to see something worth buying. They would scrutinize jewelry that was imported from the Mediterranean Islands. Some bought, some refused. Others just smiled as they walked by. Walking into an antique shop, two men dressed in royalty examined the products on display, seeing several dream catchers that they recognized, while some others were completely new to them. Both men were cloaked with their hoods down, the one with longer hair among the two was quite lively and enthusiastic, making him appear childlike compared to his stoic companion. He would show an interesting looking object to his companion who would just sigh and follow him around.

The tallest one among them is a tall man with dark olive skin with piercing golden eyes. His stark white hair was cropped short with two long locks adorned with beads. He donned a turban and was dressed in a violet shervani, a long coat-like garment that is native form their country, with a whit and blue sash-over churidar. He wears silver loop earrings and a decorative bindi. Around his right arm and hand were bandages.

Keeping an eye on the teenager with him, the elder one exasperatedly sighs at the excitement his companion has. His teenage companion is dark skinned and, like him has, piercing golden. He has purple plum hair that was kept loose around his shoulders, partially clipped with a gold clip into a ponytail. The young man wore a sizable scarf knotted at his hips and an off-white shawl held in place by a ruby brooch set in gold plate. Sporting large gold earrings, he also wore a decorative bidi like his companion. He wore white slippers and a long, heavily embroidered sherwani along with churidars. He, too, wore a cloak.

Passing by a stall that was selling some masks that immediately fascinated him. Quickly he turned to his companion who was observing an old woman smoking a pipe in her mouth. A monkey was on the woman's shoulders with a basket beside her. It was covered with a cloth, so the tall man couldn't tell what the basket contained. The younger of the two tugs on his companion's sleeve, causing the elder to turn to him. Pointing at one of the masks, the younger playfully puts in on, hoping to get his older companion interested, but didn't get the reaction he wanted to see.

"Found something interesting to buy, Pri—"

The teenager abruptly interrupted him with him, placing his hand on his mouth. "Don't call me that in public!" He whispers.

"Oh, yes." The older man corrected himself. "Found something?"

Smiling at him, the teenager hold up a mask that was decorated with such a way, that he swore that it was the most beautiful he has seen. "Could we buy this??" He pleads.

Cocking his eyebrow with his arms crossed, the older man replies, "Ask how much it is. Make sure that it isn't too expensive."

Nodding his head, the young man walks over to the stall owner who beamed at him. "How much is this?" He asks, handing the mask to the old man.

Taking it, he examines it as though he was contemplating what price it was worth. He turns to the customer. "This mask is from the Northern Country. Every once in a while some stranger would come along to trade it for something of equal worth," He explains, still examining it. "Hm. . . I'd say it's worth. . . fifty lire, I guess."

"Fifty lire?"

"Yes, sir."

Biting his lip a little, he turns to his companion with the news. "Fifty lire." He tells him.

The man narrows his eyes. "That's too expensive." He remarks.

"No! It's practically cheap if you ask me!" Objects the teenager. "We still have a lot from Mother and Father to last us a whole year of vacation!" He adds loudly enough for the old man to hear.

"Um, sir. I believe that this mask was traded to me for five decades," He says, pretending to scrutinize the mask. "I believe the mask is worth five times the price."

"Eh?! Two hundred and fifty lire??" The teenager exclaims, skeptical at the new price. The owner nods calmly in response.

Contemplating for a moment, the young man ponders whether it was worth it or not. His companion remains stoic as he just watches over the boy. Determined to buy the mask, the boy takes out a pouch from his side, taking out some coins. He walks over the greedy man who tries his best to keep his mouth from watering at the sight of the money. His hand hovers over the owner's hand with the money, but as he was about to drop it, a hand grabs his hand away. He gasps in surprise when he saw a hunched woman clutching his hand tightly. Too stunned to do anything, he just gazes at the short figure of the woman. His companion attempts to wrench her hand free, but she raises her hand at him. Both men examine her hands, only to realize that they were neither wrinkled nor bony, but rather the wrists were slender with smooth, youthful skin. Her head hung for a moment then she raises her head, revealing a pretty face. Suddenly straightening up, the men were surprised to see a tall woman among them, being the same height as the teenager.

"Don't be fooled," She suddenly says, still not letting go of his wrist. In her mouth was a pipe; making the older companion realize that she was the woman he was staring at earlier.

Swiftly she grabs the mask out of the owner's hands, surprising the latter. "Oi!" The owner yells angrily at her. "Y-You're that fortuneteller at La Ragnatella Del Destino Strada!" He exclaims with a horror stricken face.

"You got that right old man," She replies, smirking at him with mischievous eyes. "Tricking foreigners just because they announced that they have a lot of cash is quite shabby of you don't you think?" The woman asks, gazing into the owner's eyes.

Seething, the old man clenched his fists to be intimidated by a young girl who only stayed in Tiburio for only half a year. Glaring at her, he points his shaking finger at the woman. "Y-You witch! I don't get a lot of customers because of you!" He exclaims. "You tricking them by guessing their lives or future scared the hell out of them that they become skeptical to even glance at the shop!"

Chuckling in amusement, the woman cocks her eyebrow at him. "It's their fault for making the deal," She replied nonchalantly with a soothing voice. "And besides, I myself rarely get any customers. But. . . I don't cheat any of them. I didn't trick them either. All was done fairly."

"W-Who are you?" The boy asks nervously, gazing into the woman's gleaming eyes.

Glancing at the young man, she flashes a friendly smile. "I would love to tell you, but I don't easily give away my name." The woman enthusiastically replies. "Only the people living with me know my name."

His eyes widen in surprise. "Oh. I see."

A strong hand suddenly grabs the cloaked woman's wrists, making her glance at the hand's owner. It turned out to belong to the teenager's companion, who looked at her sternly. "I believe that it's about time that you release my companion's wrist? Don't you believe so, woman?"

She simply smiles and releases the boy. "Anyway, that mask only arrived yesterday morning." The woman continues as she backed away.

"Eh?!"

The woman nods. "Mhm! So if you ask me that would only be worth twenty lire," She replies as she walks back to her basket. The monkey who happened to be guarding it scurried up her arm and onto her shoulder, fascinating the boy. "Anyways, I have to prepare tonight's dinner. See you around." She cooed and walked away.

Following their eyes after the woman, the boy and his companion were struck with curiosity, wondering what her name was. Turning back to the old man, they refused the offer and walked off, much to the owner's disappointment. For the rest of the day, the two tourists visited shops and stalls. Full of smiles and life, the boy enjoyed walking around the city, visiting every attraction available. They continued until it was nearly time for the real Lights Festival to begin.

Around them fathers carried their children on their shoulders. Their kids would continue to point and tug on their fathers' hair, making them call to their kids to stop. Holding their wives' hands, they went off to wherever their children insisted to go. Several tourists continued along as they watched the attractions. Some felt tired walking around all day that they plopped on benches to rest their feet.

Walking along the town square, the two men continued walking around until they swore that they have gone to every stall and attraction available. "Aww, no more?" The boy asks himself as he glances around.

Placing his hand on the boy's shoulder, the tall man tells the boy calmly, "Prince Jahan, I suggest that we return to the hotel with the. . . prizes and souvenirs we've got."

Chuckling a little, the young man replies, "Not just yet! Azad, you haven't even tried any of the games!"

The tall man sighs, "Your parents gave you money for you to wisely spend on," Points out Azad. "I can't take a single cent from it."

"But it'll be my treat!" Insists the young prince.

Azad raises his hand, "No, my prince," The man replies. "We will continue on until we've sighted something that we haven't been to."

Sighing in disappointment, the prince holds his chin for a moment, trying to recall anything that they've missed. Suddenly remembering the woman who saved them from a dishonest shop owner from before. "La Ragnatella Del Destino Strada. . ." The boy mutters.

"My prince?"

"Could you stop addressing me like that?" Cried the boy. "We've been friends since childhood! Just because Father made you my entourage doesn't mean you can't treat me as an equal anymore."

"You do realize that I'm six years older?"

"Of course I would know that!" Yells Prince Jahan. "But could you just call me Jahan? The prince title is starting to annoy me."

Bowing a little, the man replies calmly, "If it makes you happy, then I shall gladly oblige." He patiently replies to the prince. "Jahan."

"What is it, Azad?" Asks the prince, wondering what his friend had to say.

"Do you remember what that old man who tried to trick us say her address was?" He asks. "You mentioned it just earlier.

Jahan smiles. "I was wondering if we could visit that fortuneteller." He replies. "La Ragnatella Del Destino Strada."

********

The sound of a tinkling bell jingles when the wooden door opens. Glancing around their surroundings, the men walked inside with their arms filled with their baggage. The young prince was filled in awe when he saw beautiful paintings on the walls of the shop. Looking around, he was became very much curious and peeled at all the objects in sight. Suddenly hearing doosteps, they whirl their heads to the sound, later than realizing them to belong to the black-haired woman before. She smiles at the sight of them and ushered them to the table.

"About time you arrived." The girl remarks. "The Festival of Lights start at sundown."

~~~

After two weeks of waiting, I reward you with this chapter!! It is approximately 5139 words!!

OMG.

Longest chapter I've evermade.
Anyways, thank you so much for waiting!!!

This chapter is dedicated to Lady_Estelle_Hani.

Love,
Raita