A Love From A Different World

Chapter 120

Aelin stared blanked face at the wall from her bed, her hand having just slipped underneath her dress when their connection was abruptly severed. Well, that ended quickly, she thought.

The assassin hadn't expected her conversation with Azriel to take this direction, but she hadn't complained one bit.

Retracting her hand, Aelin couldn't help but curse the male; he had gotten her hot and bothered only to disappear.

Looking out of her window, Aelin reasoned that it was time for her to leave her room anyway. The High Lord had allowed her to reside in her quarters since that dreadful dinner, but his patience must be waning. Though, she knew, he would not push. After all, Aelin was his shiny new weapon, and he could not risk it malfunctioning.

Slipping a finely crafted adorned pin into her hair, the female left her room, her face transforming as she did. Purposefully, she looked around clumsily, as if she was nothing more but a harmless, little lost lamb. As she did, she heard footsteps approaching her.

"Lady Celaena," Called out to her. It was a male, who barely looked older than her, with green eyes, brown dull hair, and a spray of freckles across his nose.

"Yes?"

"Good morning my lady, the High Lord request's your presence in the gardens."

As if apprehensive of this stranger, Aelin took a step back and observed him with suspicion, "Who are you?"

"I am Kealis, my lady." He gave her a seemingly innocent smile. "I'm a Lord Beron's squire, M'lady."

She recognized him, of course. He followed her 'father' around like a lost puppy. It was different from how the rest of the household staff acted around that damned family. The servants reminded her slightly of her own lovely maids back in the Night Court. Nuala and Cerridwen were far more talkative, of course, and prettier to look at. However, there was a distinct similarity between her maids and those of the Autumn Court; their ability to remain invisible was impressive indeed. They did not actually disappear, but the fear they possessed towards Beron, and in some cases, Eris, allowed them to become nothing more than status.

Kealis, however, was different.

On her first day there, Aelinhad scouted the staff, analyzing who would be easy to bribe or threatened into betrayal and those to keep an eye out. And while Kealis seemed overtly cowardly, he was nonetheless ever so enthusiastic in serving his master. Aelin dismissed her earliest theory that he was sleeping with the High Lord easily enough. He was playing a role as well, she was sure, of being the ever so helpful servant, and she as certain that her theory was correct.

Knowing that he was no threat, and that she could easily slit his throat before he could squeal, Aelin continued playing her little role. Looking at him with obvious suspicion she said, "I haven't seen you around before..."

"I do not tend to stick out, M'lady." The male gave her a sympathetic smile but she read right through him. It was a smile a servant gave to his horrid master, trying to appease his ridiculous demands while cursing them in his head. "And you have been isolating yourself in your room for the last few days."

The Autumn Court was filled with snakes. But was she really complaining as a queen of lies?

Keeping her rising smile at bay, Aelin looked around the empty hallways anxiously. "Where is he? My...father." She said the last word quietly, selling the story of her barely coming to terms with her world-tilting news.

"Right this way, Lady Celaena."

She followed close behind, her hands clasped tightly together, her fingers fidgeting with her head bent down unsure.

The assassin almost let her smirk let slip when they made their way down the stairs and toward the gardens. Her little performance hadn't been for Kealis, of course, but for the prying eyes and ears that had been watching their exchange.