Chapter Two #2
I knew that was going to happen, but there was nothing cooler than a secret door.
“Mind your step,” she warned me.
“Thank you,” I said, sweeping past her into the dimly lit corridor.
Her footsteps echoed behind me, and my heart pounded for a second until the passage opened into a bright room that was decorated far more extravagantly than the tea shop had been.
“Is the guild leader here?” I asked.
Allegra paused. “Is that who you were hoping to see? He only sees the most important clients.”
“If you knew who I was, he’d be coming to see me.”
She eyed me with curiosity. “Excuse me for a moment.”
She disappeared through a door on the other side of the room, and she was gone for all of a minute before she came back out.
“Unfortunately, he’s not here today. Someone else will be out in a moment to assist you.” She bowed her head. “Please take a seat while you wait.”
She disappeared down the passage before I had a chance to respond, and I gritted my teeth at her quick escape.
The click of the door as it closed sent a shiver down my spine.
No. This was no time to be afraid. I had to be confident.
If anyone had an extensive list of the most eligible young bachelors in this empire, it would be Illusion. This was the quickest and easiest way to find a husband and get out of the future betrothal with Kalon.
Even if Ezra didn’t come out today, I’d make sure he saw me, even if I had to keep coming back.
The Ezra in the book was a powerful mage with links to the magic tower, and some of his business dealings were shady. That was the whole reason the bandits were after him in the first place—the magic stones he created and traded on the black market were just toeing the line of the magic laws.
Which was why he kept his identity as The Duke of Alansia’s son and heir hidden.
The Duke of Alansia was the only noble in the empire with more outright power than Marquess Vermillion, so the fact that his heir engaged in questionable magic stone trading and ran an elite information guild was something Ezra wanted kept under wraps at all costs.
It was also what I was going to use to blackmail him into helping me.
I had no intention of following the original Alicia’s path in life, but if a little villainy helped me get what I wanted, then I wasn’t against dipping my toes into it.
More importantly, I needed to use that information to get him on my side and turn him into an ally of mine before Lillia and Torin could sink their claws into his guild.
The door on the other side of the room clicked, and I turned to face the gentleman who’d come to speak with me.
He was handsome.
Of course, he was. I was living in a romance fantasy novel. Everyone here was handsome.
His dirty blonde hair was slicked back from his face, revealing a scar that stretched down across his right eye and cheek. His deep blue eyes regarded my hooded self with unabashed curiosity, and he had the menacing aura of someone who could kill you in a heartbeat.
He was Jinx, Ezra’s right-hand man, and quietly known as the deadliest assassin in the empire.
“I hear you’re looking for the master, my lady.”
“I’m not here for tea,” I quipped. “Is it true he isn’t here?”
“He’s not, I’m afraid. He’s out on other business.” He held out his hand. “Jinx at your service.”
I offered him my hand, and he brushed a faint kiss over my fingers. “Do you have a way to contact your master?”
“Yes.”
“Would you mind doing so?”
“I can’t contact him without your name, my lady.” Jinx’s lips twitched upwards into a wry smirk.
“You had my name the moment I stepped out of my carriage,” I said firmly, yanking down my hood. “Do not play me for a fool.”
I was a lawyer in my past life, you moron.
“Ah, Lady Alicia Vermillion, there’s no need to be so hostile.” His eyes twinkled. “The master really isn’t here, or of course he’d be handling your request himself.”
“When will he be back?”
Jinx shrugged. “Whenever he’s done.”
“And when will that be?”
“Whenever he’s done.”
“Is this how you treat all your prospective clients?”
He smiled. “Perhaps. What can we help you with? It must be important if you’ve come to us, my lady.”
“Hmph.” I pulled my hood back up over my head. “I will speak with your master and nobody else. My maid will be returning in two days, and I expect her to return to Vermillion House with a time arranged for me to meet with your master in person. If not, I will be back, and I will kick up a fuss.”
I didn’t wait for his response before I turned around and walked through the dimly lit passageway and knocked on the door. Allegra pushed it open, and I stepped back out into the hallway.
“Where is my maid?”
“I shall fetch her for you, miss.” She disappeared into the waiting room and popped back out with Bella in tow. “If you take that door behind you, there’s another staircase and a quiet exit. Just turn left in the alleyway to make it back to the main street.”
I glanced at the door marked with ‘no entry.’ “Thank you. Bella, we’re leaving.”
“Yes, my lady.” Bella bobbed her head in acknowledgement of Allegra and stepped in front of me to open the door.
I passed through it and started down the stairs. Neither of us said a word until we reached the alleyway.
“Are you all right, my lady? You weren’t in there for very long.”
I nodded. “Yes. Let’s hurry back to the carriage. I’d like to return before anyone else realises I went out.”
I was sure the news would make it back to the marchioness regardless of my efforts since she always had people spying on Alicia within the household, but my priority was really to get back before she did and I was forced to run into her.
“Yes, my lady.” Bella scuttled along behind me until we reached the carriage.
The coachman jumped down to open the doors for us, and after helping us in and receiving his order to go back to the estate, got back in the seat and set off.
Bella’s eyes flitted towards me before darting away. She did this several times as we left the town, and I finally sighed.
“Go on, ask,” I said.
Bella flinched. “I’m sorry, my lady. That was rude of me.”
I waved my hand. “The tea shop is a front for an information guild.”
“An information guild?”
“Yes. Illusion is their name.”
“How did you know about their location, my lady? Aren’t they the most famous guild in the empire? I’m sure hardly anyone knows where they are.”
“I have my ways,” I said mysteriously. “I need them to find me information on eligible bachelors in the empire who are searching for a wife.”
Bella gasped. “I thought you didn’t want to get married.”
“I don’t, but the recent incident has changed things.” I met her gaze. “I do not believe I am safe at Vermillion Manor anymore. We both know that what happened to me was no accident.”
She cast her gaze downwards. “I suppose you’re right, my lady. But why must you use an information guild to find a marriage partner? Would the marquess not aid you?”
I sniffed, turning my attention back to the scenery outside the window.
“I have no control over anything in my life, and the last thing I wish to do is allow him to have the sole say on who my husband will be. At the very least, I should like to present him with some options that I find favourable.”
“That’s very wise of you, my lady.” Bella smiled, and it was the warmest smile she’d offered me since we’d left.
I reached across the carriage. “I’m sorry if I worried you.”
“Please don’t think anything of it.”
“I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to return there in two days. I wish to have the guild master handle the request personally, but he’s quite tricky to get hold of. I’m hoping you’ll get a meeting time then.”
She nodded. “Yes, my lady.”
“Thank you.”
The carriage came to a stop, and I removed my cloak before handing it to Bella.
“Do you have what I asked you to prepare?”
She reached into her pouch and pulled out a smaller one that was full of coins. “Right here.”
“Thank you.”
The coachman opened the door and offered me his hand. “My lady.”
I placed my hand in his and stepped out of the carriage with a smile. “Thank you. What’s your name?”
His cheeks pinkened. “Harry.”
“Harry. My maid, Bella, will need to return to the same place in two days. I’d appreciate if you could ensure she makes it there and back safely.” I discreetly placed the small pouch of money in his palm. “And it’d be best if you could keep these trips between us.”
He glanced down at his hand before closing his fingers around it. “As you wish, Lady Alicia. You have my word.”
“Thank you.” I gave him my brightest smile, causing his cheeks to get even redder. “Bella, I’m parched. Bring some tea to my room.”
She bowed her head. “Of course, my lady.”