Thief of Twilight

Part One: Chapter 18

That night, I took refuge in Yohan's bedroom. But to be honest, I wish I had just stayed in my room with the doors locked. Dinner was extremely uncomfortable. I felt like everything I did was being watched by Lord Baldwin. Everything from how I ate to how I addressed Yohan. I just hope Yohan didn't notice anything. Thankfully, Dahi was leading the conversation. Beom and Lord Baek seemed interested in the business that is no more than a front to the rest of the world. No one knows that the items from Baldwin Industries are stolen priceless heirlooms and treasures that they've obtained illegally with my assistance. But they do have other exports such as glass and spices. But that's just in Khurut. That's not including the exports from the facility in Ainde.

As I sketched a wolf on the parchment in my lap, I glanced up to see Yohan smoking from his pipe. He seemed tense but I couldn't figure out why. Is he nervous about working with Lord Baldwin? He should be. I should advise him not to. He'd listen to me, right? Emperors, well rulers in general, listen to their wives or future wives right? Maybe I can talk him out of it. The longer Lord Baldwin stays here, the more Yohan will be at risk of getting hurt.

"Is everything alright?" I looked up from my drawing.

Yohan pulled his pipe from his lips and blew a cloud of smoke in the air above his head.

"I guess not..." I lowered my eyes.

Yohan crossed his legs and leaned back against the table. He's such a big guy. He's a total monster in comparison to me.

"If you want to talk about it...you can..." I muttered. "If you're nervous about working with him...maybe I can help..."

"I'm not worried or nervous about that." he said.

"Then what is it?"

He pursed his lips. "I don't like how he touched you."

"...Huh?" when did Lord Baldwin touch me? "Wait...are you talking about when he kissed the back of my hand?"

Yohan nodded his head sharply.

"Ha-ha! Yohan, are you serious?"

"I don't like it."

"Are you jealous?"

Yohan stuck his pipe between his lips.

"Yohan, you don't have anything to worry about." I sighed. "Lord Baldwin is from Ainde. That is how they greet one another in a formal manner." besides, Lord Baldwin would never see me as anything other than a tool. No matter how much I try, he will never see me as anything more regardless of how much I like him.

"How do you know that?" Yohan narrowed his eyes.

"I mean..." maybe I answered that a little too quickly. "Ainde is...conservative but...they are a little open-minded. When a woman and a man greet one another, the man will kiss the back of the woman's hand. When it's two men, they will shake hands. When it is two women, they will kiss each other's cheek."

Yohan cocked his head to the side. "What do you know about Baldwin Industries?"

"It's a trading company with two locations. Ainde and Khurut. The company was founded in Ainde by his father, Thomas Baldwin. When the company started to grow, another facility was built in Khurut. Lord Baldwin took over the location in Khurut while his father oversaw the location in Ainde. I do not know who owns the location in Ainde at the moment." that has always been a mystery. I doubt even Dahi knows.

"What are their main exports at both locations?"

"In Ainde, it is lumber, wool, and leather. In Khurut, it is glass, jewels, and spices." I looked up at Yohan. He set his pipe on the table atop a gold tray.