Our plan was to have whoever was behind this to come to us. The only problem was we didn’t know who that someone was. Samuel's friend had given us a name of a man who worked in the castle, though, I had already forgotten it. I could use him to bait the man we were searching for.
Hands behind my back I glided as I made it closer with each step to my destination. Servants moved to the edge of the halls as I passed them. I was beaming, which probably was strange for them. Particularly, because I wasn’t exactly a happy person. Luke should be here soon, so there was no use in waiting. Gripping the doorknob, I opened it. I looked around at the old records I would probably never read. It wasn’t very spacious, and shelves were on each side of the walls. There was dust collecting on them. The man, however, was standing with a book in his hand. I watched as he wrote in it. He hadn’t heard me come in, which I believed an accomplishment. I was by no means quiet with my entrance. Since he was distracted, I decided to have a look at the papers he had spread across his desk. I skimmed over them, but none caught my attention. He still hadn’t noticed me, so I sat in his chair. I crossed my legs and tapped on the arm rest while staring at the man. He seemed to be in his thirties and his looks were average. His parents were either hideous creatures or he’d received the short end of the stick. The day the attractive genes were being passed out he must have been passed out and unaware. Tired of waiting for him to notice me I cleared my throat. “It would seem anyone can just walk in, and you wouldn’t have a clue.”
His surprised gaze flickered in my direction. I pretended not to see, reaching for a book on the shelf. His sole job was to organize the books, yet the room looked like a pigsty. Why hadn’t he already been fired?
I tilted my head staring at his hand resting flatly on the desk. Killing him wasn’t in my plan. And I didn’t kill even if they did deserve it, at least not myself. That was someone else’s chore. I wouldn’t get my hands dirty with others’ blood, but that didn’t mean I would do nothing. He made a shrieking noise, probably from the pain he was feeling right about now. I watched as red droplets trinkled out around his hand. Well, it was more like flow out of his hand. I wanted him to run to his superiors. I wanted them to set motion to their plans.
I lowered myself to his eye level, and talked slowly making sure each word I spoke was unmistakably clear to him. “Do you have something you would like to tell me?”
He murmured a quick no as water fill his eyes. I raised my eyes, no longer looking at him. If he didn’t want to answer so, be it. I twisted the knife only to get a loud scream from him. “I will not ask again.”
I heard Luke talking to someone outside the door. He shouldn’t have been, no one should’ve been here except for the few guards he brought in case they were needed. And I did mean a few. I didn’t want anyone to find out about our friend here. I recognized the voice, though. My hand was still holding the knife in place as the door opened and the footsteps came closer. The disturbed, but faintly upset voice asked, “Scarlett, what are you doing?”
I kept my eyes down, unwavering in my stance. I grinned, chuckling a little. I met his gaze. “What does it look like I’m doing?” From the corner of my eye, I noticed Luke and the two guards who followed him in. The guards glanced at Samuel when he used my name, expecting me to put him in his place at his blatant disrespect. They weren’t wrong. It would been disrespectful had it been them.
“I don’t want to know, but I know that you shouldn’t be doing it. Especially not yourself.” He turned to one of the guards, scolding him on my behalf. “Why would you allow her to do that? Go over there and relinquish her from it.” The guard was both bewildered and confused at what he was supposed to do and who he was to listen to.
Not waiting to see who he would choose I pulled the knife from inside the man’s hand. There was a loud pitched screech that followed, but I ignored it. Blood rushed out; the puddle surrounding his hand satisfying to watch form. I waved my empty hand towards my audience, “There’s no need for that.” I swiftly grabbed the handkerchief from the bookkeeper's chest pocket and wiped the crimson liquid from the knife until it was spotless. When I finished, I put it back into the pocket I’d gotten it from. I looked into the man’s eyes and smiled as I did. I faced the newcomers once more. Samuel was already crossing the room to me. I held my empty gaze to him as he held both my arms and searched me for bruises or any other type of injury, really.
When he saw none, he asked, “Aren’t you supposed to be refined?” He glimpsed at the crying man before his gaze landed on me again. He whispered, “Why are you handling this?”
“I am refined,” I answered.
“Not according to the etiquette book, I was reading.” He was berating me based on a book I had read multiple times. It was in my office, of course I knew what it said. I almost didn’t catch him taking the knife out of my fingers and slipping it into his pants pocket. My gaze hardened. I wasn’t sure I understanding what was happening. I was being led out of the room into the hallway. “Luke, I’m sure you can deal with this situation,” he said. I caught the annoyed expression Luke was sending him before I exited. I stayed silent the entire time until I was somehow sitting on my own bed. How did he even know where my room was?
“Wha…what are you doing?” Embarrassment washed over me. A feeling I rarely felt. He was searching my drawers and chest, what for I had no clue making me completely forget about what I wanted to say.
“You have a stain from the…um, you know, on your dress. I’m trying to find another one.” I blinked trying to comprehend and moved my head to the side so he couldn’t see the heat rising in my cheeks from my blushing. I tried to calm myself forcing the...emotions …. I had swarming in me to go away. I pointed in the direction he needed to rummage through. Not too long after he pulled out a cream-colored dress. It was simple, which I was thankful for. He handed it to me and sent me to my own bathroom to change. Once I finished, I came back out to find him sitting on my ottoman at the foot of my bed. When he saw me return, he stood. I crossed my arms and turned slightly away from him. That only made him step closer, enough where he was now inches away.
“You’re…mad? Why?” I tried to resist glancing upwards, but I couldn’t help myself. He was staring down at me, and it took me a minute to remember why I was upset with him.
“You interrupted me.” Was I really upset with him over that? I kind of enjoyed watching him worry about me. That’s what made me feel so confused in the first place.
“I told you. You shouldn’t have been doing that.”
“What should I be doing then?” I questioned.
“How about for starters not making snarky comments to other people? No threats? Being more graceful and polite?” I grimaced listening to the list of demands he had. There was no way I could do all of that. At least that was what I was thinking before I felt him comb his fingers through my messy hair. My thoughts suddenly flew out the window. All I could feel was his breath on my ear as he leaned closer to speak. “But just so you won’t hurt yourself trying to do all those I’ll let you release your internal anger on me, instead of the others,” he said. His chuckle sent a shiver down my spine. Again. I breathed in without meeting his eyes. I stared straight ahead trying my best to hold myself back from blushing in front of him.
“No remark? I’m surprised.” Hearing that my eyes flickered to his. Was he trying to seduce or annoy me? I couldn’t tell, but both were happening, and I didn’t know which to respond to. I placed my hand gently on his shoulder while resting my foot behind his without him realizing.
I smirked at his confused expression before pushing him backwards. He tripped over my foot losing his balance. He landed on the ottoman that I hadn’t forgotten was behind him. His eyes widened in astonishment as he complimented, “Nice move. I thought I had gotten you back, but apparently not.” He stared up at me with…admiration? How was he so proficient in his flirting skills, but unable to handle being teased back. I shook my head and realized my lips had formed a smile in response to his. A sting ached in my chest. There was no point in giving him hope. I knew that. I just couldn’t stop myself from disregarding mu own advice. There was no this was going to work out.
“We can’t. This needs to stop. It will only put you in danger,” I told him sternly. I wouldn’t be the cause of him falling victim to the possibility of any harm. My fingers scrunched into a fist or tried to. I still had my hand on his shoulder, except now it was only holding onto him tighter.
“Are you afraid of me getting hurt? Or are you afraid of your feelings?” I frowned. Was it wrong that I feared both options? I didn’t want him to get hurt, but I also didn’t want to deal with my own emotions. I wanted a clear head when making decisions. I couldn’t do that if he came into my mind every waking second of the day. I was already having trouble controlling my thoughts. “I went to a tavern where the person we suspected tried to murder you was at. I’d say I am already in danger.” I stiffened. A soft grasp on my waist kept me in place. His voice lowered as he continued, “If it’s the second, it makes me content knowing that I have some kind of effect on you. Honestly, I was starting to doubt myself.”
That was obvious. He didn’t know that I felt as if I was going to melt. He was so straight forward with his feelings. I couldn’t even mutter mine. “I-”
I couldn’t finish what I was going to say. A knock sounded on my door. Neither of us moved. I raised an eyebrow questioning if he would. All he did was smile. Since none of us were budging I wouldn’t waste time. “Come in.”
A young maid walked in with her head bowed. “What is it?”
I saw her glance at us before swiftly lowering her gaze again. A pink shade started trinkle over her face. “The…court members…have called for a meeting. They heard you were back.” I rolled my eyes. They had to make a fuss. I caught a glimpse of Samuel throwing me a “behave yourself” look at me. I also didn’t miss how his grip tightened on my waist.
“Alright, tell them I’m coming.” She scurried out of the room as soon as I finished speaking. “I think we made her uncomfortable,” I said.
“I did nothing, but sit here,” he said amused. As I had done many times before I rolled my eyes, removing his grip.
“It seems I am needed. Goodbye.” Without waiting for a response, I started my way to my door. Facing the door, I couldn't contain the whirlwind of emotions surging through me. I was close shattering in front of him. Allowing him to see me flushed and nervous was a stab at my pride. The corner of my lips rose. I was curious. What would his reaction be if he did see me like that?
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