Chapter 26 A Truly Great Man
A Truly Great Man
Ileft the manor dressed in the simplest thing I could find in the closet the next morning: a pale blue blouse, cleanly pressed, and a pair of black trousers.
Flat shoes finished off the look, making just enough sound on the cobblestones to announce my arrival as I moved.
Tarran and the Carls met me at the front of the house, dressed in similar clothes.
“So, any ideas on how we approach this ball?” I asked, breaking the silence as we passed a fountain that spouted water in intricate, arcing patterns.
Tarran glanced at me, her expression serious. “We need to be cautious. This place is not just about beauty and luxury. There’s an underlying current, something not quite right.”
“I noticed that too,” I murmured, thinking back to Relick’s too perfect, unnerving smile and over the top hospitality. “Do you think the challenge will be straightforward, or is there more to it?”
“Its never straightforward,” Tarran replied with a shake of her head and a wary smile that made butterflies erupt in my belly. “These kings always have some hidden agenda, some test that goes beyond what’s obvious.”
“Great,” I muttered. “Just what we need.”
Ahead, the streets widened into a grand plaza lined with towering columns. At its center stood a statue of a literal knight in shining silver armor, his sword raised nobly to the sky. Around the plaza, merchants set up stalls displaying everything from jewelry to exotic-looking fruits.
“I wonder if they have any more of those candied figs,” Carl-One mused, eyeing the stalls with interest.
“Maybe we can gather some information,” I suggested, looking around at the bustling crowd. “Find out what we’re walking into.”
Tarran nodded her agreement, her curls bouncing with the movement. “That’s a good idea. We need to know as much as we can before the ball.”
As we made our way through the plaza, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. It wasn’t just curiosity or admiration from the locals. It was something more deliberate, almost predatory, in the way some people glanced at us before quickly looking away.
“I don’t like it here,” Carl-Two muttered, adjusting his floppy hat nervously. “It feels…wrong.”
“Keep your wits about you,” Tarran cautioned, her gaze sweeping the crowd. “We can’t afford to let our guard down.”
The plaza was stunning, but it felt more like a cage than a shopping center. Every hedge was trimmed with obsessive precision, each fountain and statue gleaming under the light. They all seemed to exist in strange, perfect harmony, like they were all part of the same hive mind.
Tarran and I walked side by side, our eyes scanning the crowd, but no one made eye contact, no one speaking above a whisper. It was as if a hush had fallen over the courtyard.
“Think we’ll get anything useful from these people?” I murmured, glancing at Tarran.
She looked around, her face a perfect mask. “I don’t know. They’re…off.”
I noticed what she meant. The townsfolk walked with careful grace, their smiles bright but strained. As we passed a stall selling silk scarves, I decided to take a chance. An older woman with bright blue eyes and a wrinkled smile was arranging the scarves on a wooden table before her.
“Excuse me,” I said, trying my best to sound casual. “Do you know much about the King?”
The woman blinked at me, a strange flicker of hesitation crossing her face before she returned her smile. “Oh, King Adonis?” she asked, her voice syrupy sweet. “He’s a great man. Very good. Always so gracious. Always thinking of his people.”
I raised an eyebrow, trying to read between the lines. “Is he…welcoming to newcomers?”
Her smile faltered just a fraction. “Oh yes, very.” Her voice suddenly dropped a few degrees. “He treats everyone like family. Now, if you’d like to purchase a scarf, we have beautiful ones of the finest silks…”
I could feel Tarran’s gaze on me, but I didn’t push the lady further. “No, thank you,” I said with a forced smile, and we moved on, the woman’s face burning in my mind.
Tarran’s eyes darted to a younger man selling ornate crystal jewelry. His display glinted in the sunlight, a rainbow of color dancing in the sun. “Want to try again?” she asked dryly.
I shrugged. “Why not?”
We approached the stall, and the young man greeted us with a dazzling smile, his voice smooth. “Ah, welcome, welcome! Perhaps you’re here for something beautiful for the ball? The King always appreciates the finer things in life.”
I nodded, trying to keep the conversation going. This one seemed much friendlier than the last. “Actually, we were hoping to learn more about the King. What can you tell us about King Adonis?”
He tilted his head slightly. “Ah, the King is…a man of rare qualities. A man of vison who knows what his people need. A man who gives freely, without question!”
I frowned, sensing the same rehearsed, almost robotic quality to his words. “And what about the ball?”
“The grandest of occasions,” he said enthusiastically, his hands sweeping over his wares. “Everyone who is anyone is invited. The king expects only the best of the best! Beauty, grace, charm.”
I glanced at Tarran, who looked less than impressed. “So it’s all about appearances?”
He grinned, unfazed. “Well, what else is there in a kingdom like ours? If you want to make an impression, you must look the part.”
The smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, and I had to bite my tongue to keep from snapping something sarcastic. Instead, I turned back to Tarran and nodded, signaling it was time to move on.
“Guess it’s not happening today,” I muttered, frustrated.
“Not unless you want to try a different approach,” Tarran replied, her voice tinged with amusement. “Maybe the King will tell us everything we need to know over dinner.”
“Right,” I snorted, feeling the tension in my shoulders stiffen. “Maybe we’ll get all the answers we need while we’re stuffing our faces with fancy, overpriced food.”
We wandered back to the manor, our progress slow, and my irritation grew with every step. The courtyard, once beautiful, now felt like a trap.
As we entered the manor, Relick was waiting for us at the door, that same unnervingly perfect smile on his face. “Ah, you’re back,” he said smoothly, ushering us in. “The King is looking forward to having you for dinner.”
“Great,” I muttered, trying to shake off the frustration that had followed us all the way back. I trailed Tarran through the grand hall, the scent of food welcoming us.