NOVEL NEXT Chapter 19: [19] Opportunity
That evening, I found myself outside Liora's chamber. The ornate double doors were guarded by two stoic knights who eyed me suspiciously but didn't stop me when I announced who I was. With a push, I entered her domain.
Liora's chamber was extravagant, just like everything about her. Velvet drapes in shades of gold and crimson framed the tall windows, and the room was lit by a chandelier dripping with crystals that sparkled like stars. Her throne-like chair sat near the center, elevated slightly on a raised platform. She wasn't sitting on it, though. She was sprawled on a cushioned chaise lounge, her blonde twin pigtails cascading over her shoulders like golden ropes. She glanced at me with mild annoyance as I stepped inside.
"What the hell do you want?" she snapped, not even bothering to sit up. Her arms were crossed, her petite frame radiating irritation as her blue eyes narrowed at me.
I closed the door behind me, walking closer but keeping a respectful distance. "I want to know who the assassins were," I said, keeping my tone steady. I'd learned quickly that showing any kind of nervousness around her was a bad idea. "Do you have any idea who sent them?"
Liora huffed, rolling her eyes as she shifted to sit upright. "Do I look like I have a crystal ball, idiot? If I knew, don't you think I'd already have their heads on spikes by now?"
I clenched my fists, trying not to snap back. "You're telling me you have no clue? Someone sent an assassin into your palace, and you don't even have a guess?"
Her eyes narrowed further, her voice dripping with condescension. "Oh, sure, let me just magically divine the answer while you sit there whining. Of course, I don't fking know! Do you think this is some cheap murder mystery where the killer conveniently leaves a trail of breadcrumbs?"
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Okay, fine. What about suspects? It's got to be someone with a grudge, right? A noble? Another kingdom?"
Liora swung her legs off the chaise and stood, pacing the room in frustration. "It could be anyone, Alec. Any one of those sycophantic nobles would love to see me fail, and an assassin is cheaper than actual political strategy. Half of them would stab me in the back if they thought they could get away with it." She turned to face me, her hands on her hips. "What part of this isn't obvious to you?"
"Then what's the plan?" I asked, crossing my arms. "We just sit around and wait for the next attempt?"
Her lips curled into a sly smirk, and I immediately knew she was about to say something that would make me regret asking. "Oh, no. I have a plan. And lucky for you, you're the star of it."
"Great," I muttered. "Can't wait to hear this one."
She ignored my sarcasm, walking back to her chair and plopping down into it like a queen addressing her court. "Listen closely, because I'm not explaining this twice. Last night's little fiasco might actually work in our favor."
"Our favor?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Someone tried to kill me. How is that a good thing?"
"Think, you moron," she snapped, flicking a strand of hair over her shoulder. "Everyone knows you were the target. That makes you interesting. Dangerous, even. People will want to know why someone would risk attacking you in my palace."
I frowned, trying to follow her logic. "And why is that a good thing, exactly?"
"Because it makes you valuable," she said, her smirk widening. "If someone approaches you—one of my political enemies, for example—they might offer you something. A deal, a bribe, a secret. They'll think they can use you against me."
"And you want me to take it," I said, realization dawning on me.
"Exactly," she said, pointing a finger at me. "Play along, pretend to be their little pawn. Get close to them, gain their trust, and then feed me everything you learn."
"Then don't get caught," she said simply, as if it were the easiest thing in the world. "Honestly, Alec, this isn't rocket science. You lie, you spy, and you keep your mouth shut. Surely even you can manage that."
I glared at her. "You're asking me to walk straight into a trap."
She leaned back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other. "I'm asking you to do your job. Or do you need me to hold your hand and guide you through it?"
I clenched my jaw, biting back the string of curses that threatened to spill out. "Fine," I said through gritted teeth. "But if this blows up in my face, don't act surprised."
"Oh, please," she said, waving a hand dismissively. "If it blows up, it's because you screwed up, not me. Just remember, you're representing me. Don't embarrass me."
"I'll do my best," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
"You'd better," she shot back, her eyes narrowing. "Because if you fail, I'm the one who'll have to clean up your mess. And trust me, Alec, you don't want to owe me more than you already do."
"Yeah, yeah," I said, turning toward the door. "Anything else, Your Majesty, or am I free to go?"
She didn't answer right away. When I glanced back, she was watching me, her expression unreadable for once. "Just one thing," she said finally. "Don't die. You're more useful alive."
"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence," I said, pushing the door open.
"Don't mention it," she called after me, her tone as arrogant as ever.
As I left her chamber, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd just been handed a loaded gun with no safety. This plan of hers might work, but if it didn't... well, I'd just have to make sure it did.
***
As I stepped out of Liora's room, my mind still buzzing with the half-crazy, half-dangerous plan she had for me, I almost walked straight into Eris. She was standing by the hallway, arms crossed, her usual stern expression softened just a little. She must've been waiting for me.
"Hey, Eris," I said, breaking the silence. "Thanks again for yesterday. You really saved my ass." I didn't hide the genuine appreciation in my voice; she'd pulled me out of the fire without even flinching, and I hadn't even gotten a chance to say it before.
Eris barely reacted, her gaze fixed on the floor. She shifted uncomfortably, like she wasn't sure how to handle the gratitude. Her voice, as usual, was short and to the point. "It's... my duty."
I gave a small smile. I'd gotten used to her bluntness by now, but there was a certain calm in it. Eris was a person of few words, but when she spoke, it was always precise. She wasn't the type to sugarcoat things or beat around the bush.
"You're a good one, Eris," I said, my tone a little lighter than before. I wasn't sure if she'd ever hear compliments like that, but I felt like I should throw one her way. The girl had saved me more than once now, after all.
Her eyes flickered toward me for a moment, and for just a fraction of a second, I saw something there. A blush, faint but undeniable, creeping up her cheeks. She quickly looked away, as if she hadn't realized what had happened.
I raised an eyebrow, a small grin pulling at my lips. "What? You blushing or something?"
Eris didn't say anything for a long moment, just staring at her boots. "No," she muttered, almost too quietly. "Just... not used to... talking like this."
I chuckled softly, shaking my head. "You don't have to get all weird about it. It's just a thank you, nothing more." I was trying to keep it light, but seeing her flustered was... well, kind of cute. Not that I'd ever tell her that. I had enough to deal with already without adding that to the mix.
She shuffled her feet a little, still avoiding my gaze. There was that little red tint to her face again, though she was trying her best to hide it. I couldn't help but grin wider. Damn, I didn't think I'd ever see Eris acting like this. She was always so focused, so serious. But now? I could see that I had some kind of effect on her, even if she wasn't quite ready to admit it.
"I... I should go," she said quickly, stepping to the side. "Goodnight."
I paused, considering just brushing past her and going to my own quarters, but something stopped me. I didn't know if it was the way she'd said it or just the lingering awkwardness in the air, but I felt a sudden urge to make sure things didn't get too weird between us.
So, I did what I usually didn't do. I reached out and placed my hand on her shoulder, just for a moment. It wasn't anything too intimate, just enough to let her know I was still there, still appreciative.
"Goodnight, Eris," I said, my voice a little softer than before.
For a split second, I felt her freeze under my touch, and then—almost immediately—her entire body tensed up. Her breath hitched for the briefest of moments, and I could feel the heat radiating off her skin. She didn't say anything for a few seconds, and I could almost hear her heart racing.
"Th-thank you..." she said, her voice barely a whisper, like she wasn't sure if she was even supposed to say anything at all.
I smirked, pulling my hand away. "You're welcome," I replied casually, trying to act like I didn't notice how much it had thrown her off. "Get some rest, okay? You've earned it."
Her eyes finally met mine again, and there was a softness in her expression I hadn't seen before. She was still blushing, though it was fading a little, and for the briefest of moments, I could see the vulnerability there—the one thing she never let anyone see.
"Goodnight... Alec," she said, her voice almost like a whisper again.
I gave her a nod and started to walk away, but then I stopped. I turned back to look at her over my shoulder. "Hey, Eris..."
She blinked, looking up at me. "Yeah?"
"You know... you could lighten up a bit sometimes," I said with a grin, walking backward toward my room. "You're always so serious. It's like you never have any fun."
Her expression didn't change much, but I saw her fists clench for a brief second before she shook her head, as if trying to shake off some frustration. "I don't have time for that. Duty comes first."
"Sure," I said, giving her a mock salute. "Duty. Whatever you say. Just don't burn yourself out, okay?"
She didn't respond to that. Instead, she turned, probably heading back to her post or whatever it was that kept her busy. I couldn't help but watch her go, the sense of lingering tension hanging between us. It wasn't anything big—nothing too dramatic—but it was there, and for some reason, it made my chest tighten. I wasn't sure if it was just me, or if I was reading too much into things, but there was something about Eris that was starting to make things a little... complicated.
But, whatever. I had enough on my plate already without thinking about that.
I shook my head, trying to shake off the weird feeling. I was getting ahead of myself. There were bigger problems to deal with—assassins, political schemes, spies, and a whole hell of a lot more that could go wrong. But for now, as I turned to head back to my room, I couldn't help but wonder about the girl who'd just saved my life.
Maybe tomorrow would be different. Maybe I'd have a clearer head. Maybe I wouldn't keep thinking about Eris when I should be focused on not getting killed.
But, knowing me, probably not.
Q: What would you do next?