CHAPTER 45 - An Exceptionally Clueless Mortal
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Cavriel's eyes lingered on me only for a heartbeat before he schooled his expression into a mask of calm neutrality. He walked beside Ser Bastian to Sylvos' desk, as if nothing about this scene was strange.
"Is it wise to speak of these matters in front of a concubine?" Bastian asked, eyes flicking briefly to me.
Sylvos didn't even glance up from the documents he was reviewing.
"She's not only a concubine. She is my Beast Warden. She will be involved in these matters."
The harsh lines on Bastian's tanned face deepened.
"There is already a spy within the court, perhaps several. Allowing her to hear this could be dangerous..."
My heart raced as I glanced at Cavriel, and for a fleeting moment, our eyes met. Then, just as quickly, we both looked away.
"It doesn't matter," Sylvos said, unbothered. "Even if Driftwoode knew every one of my plans, it would not change the outcome. Besides," his lips curved faintly, "I will catch the spy once the war begins."
My blood turned cold.
What was he planning?
Ser Bastian exhaled through his nose, defeated.
"Very well. Then to the matter at hand, my family has begun producing swords for the war effort, but my uncle has halted production due to his daughter's demotion."
Sylvos groaned, pressing his fingers against his temple.
"Bronwyn brought it upon herself."
Bastian inclined his head, his black hair brushing past his shoulders.
"The punishment was just, Your Majesty, but if you want weapons, I advise soothing the old man's pride."
Sylvos' black eyes narrowed sharply.
"Is the Blacksteele family threatening me?"
The knight immediately dropped to one knee.
"Never, Sire. I only mean to prevent further friction."
The tension in the room thickened. Sylvos leaned back in his chair and studied Bastian before nodding once.
"No need to worry. I'll make the old man cave."
With quick, decisive strokes, he wrote a letter, then sealed it and handed it to Bastian.
"Deliver this to the Orchid Madam."
Bastian accepted the letter, but his dark brows furrowed.
"May I ask what the contents of the letter are?"
"Mm. I'm demoting her to Clover."
Bastian's eyes widened.
"Your Majesty—"
"If the Blacksteele family offers no help, I will assign Bronwyn a rank befitting her contribution," he interrupted dismissively.
Bastian paled, bowing his head.
"I'll speak to my uncle. So please, reconsider..."
"You have one week to change the old man's mind." Sylvos leaned back, satisfied. Then his gaze slid to Cavriel. "As for you, you're relieved of escorting duties. The war draws close, and I need my knights focused on training the soldiers."
Cavriel straightened, his jaw tight.
"Understood, Your Majesty. I'll see to it at once."
He turned to leave, but not before his eyes flicked to me one last time. I felt a little stab in my chest at the disappointment in his eyes. Then he was gone.
Once the door closed behind the knights, silence settled thickly over the room. I remained bundled on the bed, clutching the furs around me, painfully aware of Sylvos' gaze. He leaned back in his chair, watching me with a smile as if he knew exactly how uncomfortable I was.
I contemplated dressing once he busied himself again, but it seemed he was waiting for me.
Finally, I could no longer bear it. Gritting my teeth, I threw off the furs and darted toward the orange gown the handmaidens had left. The air was cold against my bare skin, and my heart raced as I snatched up the drawers and pulled them on as quickly as I could.
The gown was next. I slipped it over my head, the heavy fabric cascading down to my ankles. But the laces at the back tangled, and I struggled to reach them.
"Need help?" Sylvos chuckled.
"I'm fine," I said quickly, fumbling with the ties.
Rising from his chair, he closed the distance with the quiet grace of a predator.
Before I could protest further, his hands brushed mine aside, and he began lacing up the gown.
I stiffened under his touch, but he worked swiftly, pulling the ties snug before resting his hands briefly on my shoulders.
When I turned, he was smiling down at me.
"The color suits you well," he said.
I shrugged.
"You should see me in black."
His smile deepened, dark eyes glinting.
"I look forward to it."
My heart gave an awkward thump, and I quickly looked away, pretending to smooth the gown.
We sat together for breakfast, the table laden with enough food to feed all of Clover castle. He kept the conversation casual, asking about which foods I preferred. And no matter how brief my reply, he paid attention like every detail mattered.
Once the meal was done, I expected to be dismissed so he could see to his endless duties.
But instead, he stood and offered his arm.
"Come," he said suddenly. "Walk with me in the gardens. It should be quite beautiful with the snow today."
The refusal rose instinctively to my lips, but I swallowed it.
I had to play the part...
"That would be lovely," I said softly, linking my arm with his.
A handful of knights and attendants fell into step behind us. Though they didn't bother me, I couldn't say the same about the servants passing us by. Each and every one of them gaped and whispered amongst themselves.
Outside, the garden lay blanketed in white, the snow catching the morning light like scattered diamonds. For a while, we walked in surprising peace.
Sylvos asked about winters in Drakfjord, his voice curious. And I answered earnestly, if only to let the time pass by quicker. After some time, he slowed.
"I have plenty of work awaiting me," he admitted reluctantly. "I'll escort you to Dahlia before I must part ways."
I nodded, smiling genuinely at finally being relieved of him.
With that, Sylvos escorted me through the snowy courtyards, our arms still linked. Along the way, we passed several concubines, each one fixing me with venomous glares while I offered them smiles in return.
Finally, we reached Dahlia Castle. The building towered above us, even grander than Lavender had been. And there were several more guards too, their armor glinting under the pale sun.
At the entrance, Sylvos turned to me. His hands caught mine, his grip warm and firm.
"I'll see you soon," he promised.
I forced a smile.
"You should focus on your duties first."
His eyes lowered at my response. Then he leaned in and kissed me gently, his lips lingering longer than I expected. When he pulled back, a faint smile curved his mouth.
"I better get to work then," he said.
I only managed to hold his gaze for a heartbeat before he turned and left, his cloak billowing behind him.
Thank the gods I'm finally rid of him...
Turning toward the towering doors, I stepped into Dahlia Castle.
Almost immediately, a familiar voice rang out, bright and teasing.
"Is this any time to get here?"
I blinked and found Virella standing there, her hands on her hips, curls bouncing as she tilted her head at me.
"Virella!" I smiled. "You already got here?"
She grinned, flipping her curly hair over her shoulder.
"Of course! Did you really think I wouldn't get promoted? I told you I'd reach Dahlia."
I chuckled, shaking my head.
"It seems we were both lucky..."
For a second, her smile faltered, just slightly.
"At least we don't have to deal with that ghost now... She was such a strange girl."
My mood damped at the reminder.
"We should visit her tomorrow," I said.
Virella nodded.
"I'd like that."
With nothing else to be done, we walked deeper into the castle together.
Virella eagerly led me through the grand halls, her voice full of excitement as she pointed out every luxury we passed. I already knew the layout from my first life, but I didn't interrupt her. I let her chatter on, enjoying the brightness in her eyes.
"They even have a steaming room!" she gushed as we passed a side hall.
I smiled.
"That sounds wonderful."
Everywhere we went, the other Dahlia ladies watched us. Their glares burned, but none of them dared to approach.
I suspected earning the emperor's favor last night had something to do with it...
At last, Virella pushed open the door to my assigned chamber. I stepped inside and drew in a slow breath.
It was larger than my room in Lavender. A brass bath gleamed in front of a hearth already crackling with fire. The bed was massive, draped in soft brown furs. A sitting area occupied one corner, a dining table the other. And a wide balcony opened to the snowy courtyard below.
"Not bad, huh?" Virella said proudly, spinning in a small circle.
"Not bad at all," I grinned.
She clasped her hands together.
"Want to go to the steam room together? We should celebrate!"
I shook my head gently.
"Later. I have some matters to settle first. I'll fetch you when we have to report to the Dahlia Madam. Then we can relax after."
She pouted for a moment but nodded.
"Alright. Don't take too long."
With a final flip of her hair, Virella left me alone in the spacious room.
I glanced around, my eyes scanning every corner until they landed on the desk. There, resting neatly side by side, were Raincatcher and Windcleaver. I quickly crossed the room and grabbed Raincatcher, holding the blade up so I could see my reflection in the polished steel.
"Ryn," I whispered, searching the room through the silver surface. "Ryn, are you there?"
But he didn't answer.
"Ryn? This isn't funny..."
Still nothing.
What was happening?
He'd never taken this long to appear...
"Ryn, answer me, please."
Desperate, I angled the blade to get a view of the whole room.
Then, movement caught my eye.
In the far corner, where the shadows pooled thick and dark, I saw him. Sitting on the floor, knees drawn slightly up, his posture heavy.
My breath caught as I slowly walked toward him, clutching Raincatcher tightly.
"Ryn..." I said softly, checking the reflection again.
Finally, he glanced up. His eyes glowed an unnatural green in the dim light, and the sight sent a shiver down my spine.
"You weren't answering me..." I said uneasily.
The elf looked different... Drained.
The shadows clung to him like they weighed him down. His grayish skin looked ashen, and his pointed ears drooped flat.
"The last time I saw you," he said, his voice hoarse, "you were running to intercept the letter.
.. and then you vanished. I didn't see you again until now.
" He dragged a hand through his feathery black hair, his sharp nails catching the light.
"I thought you'd been caught. I thought. .. you died again..."
Guilt twisted inside me.
I hadn't expected him to be so affected by my absence.
"I'm fine," I said quickly, kneeling next to him. "I was just..."
"With the tyrant?" he finished for me.
My body locked up.
Then sagged.
Tired, I sat down in the corner next to where Ryn was in the reflection. I leaned my head back, watching the ceiling.
"Nothing really happened," I assured him. "This life is different, Ryn. I feel it. Everything is going well. I tamed the vylnir, intercepted the letter, and managed to earn Sylvos' favor. All I need is Pyree to fight with us and we win."
He glanced down.
"I hope so."
Seeing him like this hurt more than I expected.
"I'm truly sorry for not coming back," I said. "How can I make it up to you?"
I expected his usual perverted comments, but there was none of that.
"It's fine," he said simply.
It really wasn't...
I sighed, then offered a smile.
"You know... I had no idea you could play music so well. Are all elves this talented?"
The green in his eyes faded slightly.
"Elves created music," he said. "Of course we're good at it."
I blinked.
"Wow, I didn't know that."
"Mortals rarely live long enough to know anything."
"Hey, technically I've lived a couple hundred years by now," I joked.
He glanced at me with a deadpan look.
"You're an exceptionally clueless mortal then."
"Says the elf stuck in a dagger," I laughed.
His eyes changed to violet as he laughed along.
"Fair enough," he said.
???
Some time passed as I organized my room, arranging my belongings where I wanted them.
Though I was worried whether the vylnir would find my new quarters, the creature eventually found its way.
It flew into my room through the balcony before shifting into its feline form and curling on my bed, utterly spent from who knew what.
I smiled at Vyvy and offered a few extra dried plums for yesterday's hard work. The creature devoured them happily, its many teeth snapping with contentment.
Done with most my tasks, I went to fetch Virella. Together, we met with the Dahlia Madam, a short, plump woman with a warm smile. She eagerly took our information, welcoming us with such kindness it almost felt strange after all the venomous glares from the other concubines.
Afterward, Virella and I enjoyed the steam room together, the thick mist curling around us as we soaked. We laughed and joked, with Virella commenting on how Sireen would love this place.
When evening finally came, we each went about our business before meeting again for dinner. The meal was lavish, and the wine sweet. By the time I returned to my room, I felt pleasantly tired.
I set Raincatcher on the pillow beside me and brushed my fingers over the hilt.
"Goodnight, Ryn," I whispered.
He appeared beside me in the blade, smiling softly.
"Goodnight, Rainey."
???
The next morning, Virella and I headed to see the Seneschal. There was nothing new about the matter. It had become routine by now. We received our promotional gold, allocated part of it to Lavender, and collected transfer slips for our new handmaidens.
Done with our errands, we both headed toward Lavender castle to visit Sireen—
When suddenly a hand grabbed us both, yanking us into a shadowed garden.
I reacted instantly, drawing Raincatcher from my hip. But when I saw who it was, I stopped mid-motion.
"Cavriel?" I breathed.
Virella instantly smacked the back of her brother's head.
"Are you insane? You nearly scared me to death!"
Cavriel tensed up, his green eyes shifting between Virella and me.
"I have to speak with Raine," he said at last.
"Well, go on then," Virella snapped, crossing her arms. "This better be good."
He hesitated, jaw tight, before finally speaking.
"Do you still intend to help us overthrow Thornmont?"
Virella smacked him across the head again.
"Do you have clams for brains? Would she send her sisters all those letters if she didn't?"
Cavriel frowned, rubbing the back of his head.
"Then why did she share the emperor's bed?"
Heat instantly shot up my neck.
Virella groaned, throwing her hands up.
"Men are so stupid! What do you expect her to do, Cav? Tell the emperor, 'No, sorry, I hate you and want to overthrow you,' while he's on top of her?"
My face felt like it would burn to a crisp.
"I didn't sleep with Sylvos," I said quickly. "We only... slept. Together."
Virella arched a brow, skeptical, while Cavriel looked slightly relieved.
"So why is he so obsessed with you then?" Virella asked. "I sort of just assumed you had honey between your legs or something."
If I could bury my head in the ground, I would.
"No, it's not like that," I explained. "He just... seems to be intrigued by my disinterest..."
Virella smirked knowingly.
"The conqueror probably wants to get conquered," she said.
Cavriel choked, his ears turning red.
"There's no need to discuss it further," he said sharply. "I only wanted to make sure Raine was still on our side."
He sighed, his shoulders slumping as he turned to me.
"Also, I wanted to make sure you'd still be fine to train without me. I'll be busy for a while now. And I won't be able to send or receive letters for the time being too."
A pang of disappointment ran through me.
I really needed Pyree's help, and staying in contact with my sisters had been crucial.
But I forced a small nod.
"Then I'll leave the matter to my sister until the war begins," I said. "I trust them."
Cavriel exhaled slowly, then straightened.
"It'll be alright," he said. "Driftwoode is ready for Sylvos. Without his fleet, he'll be at a disadvantage. Our king might not have much will to fight, but the people will protect their kingdom to the death."
I smiled at his determination.
"That's good to hear."
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After Cavriel had left, Virella and I were allowed to enter Lavender castle with special permission from the madam. Sireen greeted us like we'd never even left, and the three of us spent the day chatting and laughing in the garden.
I considered retrieving the letter I'd left in the wall, but ultimately decided it was safer here.
As twilight bled into night, Virella and I reluctantly took our leave. The moon had already risen high by the time we neared Dahlia, torches flickering nervously in their sconces.
The moment the guards caught sight of us, they rushed forward, pale-faced and tense.
"Princess Raine! You must go to your chamber at once," one of them urged desperately.
My brows drew together.
"Why? What has happened?"
The guard swallowed, his hand tightening on his spear.
"The emperor is here."
My jaw nearly hit the stone beneath my feet.
Has that man actually gone insane?
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