Chapter 8 Kasimir
KASIMIR
Shadows cling to my leather tunic as I hug the wall outside Hugo’s bedchamber. One hour ago two servants entered his room to help him prepare for tonight’s grand ball, and any minute now they’ll push open that door, and I’ll finally have my chance to confront the prince.
Ruby was right about the lack of guards. It’s been fifteen minutes since the last patrol passed Hugo’s door and even they were too busy discussing the upcoming after-party to notice me crouching by the tapestries.
At least that means I won’t need to bother gagging the prince.
My hand itches for my dagger as his door creaks open and the servants finally hurry out. Without making a sound, I dart across the floor and slip into his bedchamber heartbeats before the door shuts behind them.
The prince’s bedchamber is huge – about the size of the entire ground floor of my townhouse.
Surprisingly, it’s much more impressive than Ruby’s room, with huge gold-framed paintings on the walls and plush rugs covering the hardwood floors.
Still, even with all the fresh flowers decorating the furniture, they can’t hide the stench of that foul prince.
I grin as I spot his balding head hunched over a vanity.
He hasn’t noticed me yet, much too busy digging a flake of spinach from his teeth.
Slowly, I unsheathe my dagger and inch closer. When I’m finally close enough to meet the whites of his eyes in the mirror, a yelp tears from his throat and he spins around to face me.
“Help! Help!” he cries out, backing into his vanity and smashing several perfume bottles in his panic. “Get away! Help! Guards!”
Raising my dagger, I charge towards the wailing man until the blade presses against his fat throat.
The prince is tiny. Despite being double my weight, I can still see cleanly over his shiny head as my dagger holds him in place.
“Quiet, royal scum,” I hiss.
Hugo lets out a whimper.
“Fortunately for you, I work for the king, so you won’t die today as long as you cooperate.” The lie rolls off my tongue just like I rehearsed. Truthfully, I’d rather be hanged before I’d ever work for Sol, but Hugo needs to think I’m more than a lone vigilante for this plan to work.
“What is it? What does he want?” Hugo panics. “I haven’t done anything wrong. We made a deal and I’ve stuck to it. I haven’t bedded any of his daughters yet, and I won’t until I’ve married one. I promise!”
Growling, I snatch his hand and slam it down onto the wooden vanity table. His feelings towards underage girls aside, the thought of him even going near Ruby, or anyone she loves, makes me feel ill.
With a snarl, I force my dagger down onto his hand, pinning it to the wood.
Hugo howls in pain, but the sound dies out when I press a second dagger into his neck.
“This isn’t about the princesses,” I seethe, enjoying the way he’s wincing in pain. “This is about your intentions with the children in this palace.”
The colour drains from Hugo’s face.
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he blubbers.
I twist the dagger in his hand, grinning as he wails.
“Don’t think His Majesty hasn’t noticed.
He’s seen the way you treat the young servant girls here.
It’s disgusting. The king thinks you should rot in his dungeon.
” Another lie, of course. For all I know, Sol could be just like Hugo, but I cast that thought aside. One monster at a time.
“Please,” Hugo begs, “Sol and I are good friends. Surely he can look past a man enjoying life’s simple pleasures?
” He tries to chuckle, but it comes out more like a dry squeak.
“And he wouldn’t need to worry about it affecting any of his daughters.
I’m more than capable of fulfilling my own desires while keeping my future bride satisfied. ”
A snarl claws up my throat. If it weren’t for Ruby, I’d stab the fucker right here and watch him bleed out over Sol’s posh rugs, but she asked me not to kill him, so I won’t – at least not yet.
“The king wants you to leave, now,” I spit, pressing the dagger harder against his neck.
Hugo yelps. “But, but what about our deal! My bride!”
“No more bride for you.”
The prince’s cheeks redden, and for a second I think he’ll be stupid enough to argue. But when a bead of blood splashes against his doublet, his shoulders shudder and he lets out a defeated grunt.
“You can tell the king he’s got his wish,” he grumbles. “I’ll leave after the ball.”
“No.” My grip on my blade tightens. “You’ll leave now and never return.”
Hugo huffs. “But this is outrageous, I—”
“Now.” Another drop of blood lands on his collar as my blade punctures his skin.
“Alright! Alright!” he squeals. “I’ll leave now, just please, please put the daggers away.”
My lips twitch. “Of course, Your Highness.”
This is for you, my Ruby.
With a grin, I lower my blade before yanking out the dagger that pinned Hugo’s pale hand to the table.
Screeching, the prince sobs as he clutches his bleeding hand to his chest. “You scoundrel!”
“Do not disobey King Sol by ever thinking you’ll be welcome back here.” I use his cloak to wipe the blood from my daggers. “You have one hour to be gone from this bedchamber, or the king will have his guards drag you out through the ballroom.”
Hugo scoffs but doesn’t dare to challenge me. Men like him might puff out their chests and act all huffy, but deep down they’re cowards. Sick minds and weak bodies. That’s why they target the younger girls. Disgusting pigs.
I leave the prince’s bedchamber with a satisfied grin and my heart still racing from adrenaline.
I could go home now. The sun has long since set and it’s been over a week since I returned to Night Alley – but there’s a ball starting soon, and I’m in the mood to celebrate.
What makes it even more tempting is that a certain red-haired princess will be in attendance – one who’ll be wearing the particularly ravishing gown I spotted hanging over her chaise longue when I passed by her room this morning.
Breathing softly, I let my fingers skim the purple ribbon knotted tightly around my wrist.
There’s really no point hiding it any more.
I’m already too far gone. My work here at the palace may be done, but I’m certainly not.
Princess Amaryllis was mine from the moment I had her moaning against the wall in her bedchamber, and she’d be a fool to think a few diamond necklaces could ever come close to what I want from her now.
What I need.
You’re mine, Ruby. And now my work here is done, it’s time I collect my payment.