Extra-Changing Fate

Chapter 14 == A coincidence or not?==

"My, my... it seems our paths have crossed again, my Lady," a voice drawled, laced with amusement.

I froze, turning slowly to see Killian leaning against the shadowed wall of the alleyway. The man I had bested in chess just a few months prior.

"Killian, was it?" I replied, a hint of surprise in my tone.

He straightened, a theatrical flourish in his movements. "I'm quite honored that the young Lady remembers this commoner's name!" he exclaimed, a wide, almost mocking smile stretching across his lips.

Commoner?

My brow arched. He must have thought me incredibly naive if he expected me to believe that. His very bearing, the effortless grace of his posture, spoke of a refinement that no ordinary person possessed. His eyes held an intelligence that sparkled with more than just wit.

"Commoner?" I stated, my voice cool. "Would a commoner possess the skill of a chess expert?"
He chuckled, a low, melodious sound. "If I'm not a commoner, then am I some noble? Surely the Young Lady knows better than to place me within those lofty circles."

I offered a small, knowing smile. "Who knows? There are always those who prefer to remain hidden, their true origins a mystery. They could be noble or common, but in your case," I paused, my gaze sharp, "I'm quite certain you're a secret, perhaps an illegitimate son of some unsuspecting noble."

A flicker of shock crossed his features, a brief crack in his carefully constructed facade. It was enough to confirm my suspicions.

I turned to leave the dim alleyway, eager to escape the lingering tension and head towards the bright openness of the park. The person I truly sought wouldn't likely appear today; the information guild was notoriously discreet.

"It seems Lady Alyssa's intuition is quite remarkable... you almost guessed correctly who I am," Killian said, falling into step beside me, his pace matching mine.

"Really? Not that impressive, though," I demurred, my eyes scanning the surroundings for a particular sign. "There are many with a far sharper knack for guessing than I."

"You know, Lady Alyssa," he said suddenly, his tone shifting, "I didn't like you in the past."

I stopped dead in my tracks, my mind momentarily blank. Had he just confessed... feelings?

Wait – in the past? The only time we had met was during our chess match. Surely he was just teasing.

"Then do you like me now?" I countered, a playful challenge in my voice.

He smirked, a mischievous glint in his eyes, and leaned closer, his face mere inches from mine. "You've certainly caught my attention. I'm still trying to decipher these... feelings I have for you." A faint blush crept up his neck, making him appear surprisingly flustered.

My own cheeks warmed unexpectedly. Was this... punk actually serious?

"Then you'd best cease those feelings immediately, Sir," I stated firmly, taking a step back. "You have no idea who I truly am."

"And you don't know who I truly am either, does that not make us a perfect match?" he called after me, a hint of playful desperation in his voice.

I halted, a gesture of defiance rising within me. I flicked him a dismissive finger before turning and practically running towards the shop I had finally spotted.

Clutching my burning face, I vowed silently that I would avoid him at all costs in the future. He must have been momentarily blinded by the illusion of "Alyssa's" beauty, for he knew nothing of the face I usually wore.

"Hello, Miss! What can I get for you?" a cheerful waitress asked, her smile bright as I settled into a small table.

"I'd like a steak," I stated, my voice direct. The waitress didn't bat an eye at my abrupt request. "And how would you like that cooked, Miss?" she inquired politely.

"Very well done," I replied, offering a small, almost conspiratorial smile.

"Right this way, My Lady," she said, her smile widening as she led me towards a seemingly ordinary door at the back of the restaurant.

Beneath this unassuming eatery lay an information guild, a shadowy network owned by someone who held a similar rank in the underworld as my own politically powerful cousin.

The books painted a grim picture of this individual: ruthless, evil, and utterly without mercy. They claimed he would play a significant role in the future war between our empire and the Golden Empire of the Gold Continent, a conflict predicted to erupt in approximately four years. A war where, according to the predictable narratives I often read, the heroic prince would return victorious, because the main characters always did, their triumphs seemingly preordained despite any obstacles.

"What can I do for you, My Lady?" a voice inquired, pulling me from my thoughts. I turned to see a man with a perpetually wide smile, the secretary of Kian, the guild's elusive owner. He was known only as Smiley, a fittingly ironic moniker for a man rumored to be Kian's brutal enforcer during the upcoming war.

"I need to meet the owner of this place," I stated plainly.

Smiley's smile didn't falter, but his eyebrows rose slightly. "I'm sorry, but I am perfectly capable of handling your request."

"But my request is for the owner's ears only," I insisted.

"I'm afraid the boss is currently unavailable," he replied, his smile unwavering, though a subtle twitch in his eye suggested I should simply state my business.

"That's strange... Kian told me he would be here today," I said, a deliberate lie. Smiley's smile vanished for a fleeting moment, replaced by a look of genuine surprise.

It wasn't truly wrong to bend the truth for a moment, was it?

"Did the Boss tell you his identity?!" he asked, a hint of panic in his voice. I blinked, playing innocent, and decided to continue my fabricated story.

"Yes, he mentioned last night that he would be here," I confirmed, watching his reaction with interest. His face now conveyed a mixture of shock and disbelief.

"Wait, the two of you actually met?! Oh my gosh, it seems the Boss wasn't lying after all!"
Something felt off about his reaction, but I decided to let his misunderstanding continue. Perhaps he assumed I was some clandestine acquaintance of his boss.

But that was odd. Surely he would recognize me, the infamous Black Sheep of my family. Why was he reacting as if my meeting with Kian was a secret?

"Anyhow, please wait here, and I'll inform the boss of your presence," he said, hastily disappearing through another door. I nodded, settling into an uncomfortable silence.

Would I even be able to reach an agreement with this Kian? And please, please let him not be some ancient, lecherous old man!

"My, my... I couldn't believe that Lady Alyssa would come to see me after our little encounter earlier!" a familiar voice suddenly purred. I looked up sharply, my jaw dropping in disbelief as Killian stood in the doorway, a bright, knowing smile illuminating his handsome features.

What kind of bizarre coincidence was this?
It seemed my carefully constructed lie had been instantly, and hilariously, exposed.

_____

Happy Birthday to my Grandmother!

I decided to update today since it's my grandmother's birthday and I was feeling good today🥰🥰

Anyhow....happy 4k+ reads😊😊 everytime I opened my account to see the reads kept on increasing🎉

And I'm happy that every loves this book🥰 so stay tune in the future updates,or next week♥️