The Ruler's Rift

True Treasure

Amber could only hope that Celeste understood. Later that night, after the Mystearlian had gone off to bed, Amber stayed up and dusted the fluted pillars in the high corridors. The servants always missed the fine details. Work helped to suppress the guilt, too.

Only for so long could dusting the palace distract Amber, however. They had come so far. In a rather short time, Celeste went from hating Amber, wanting to exact revenge on her, to laughing with her and reviving an ancient gala together. The assassin's panic attack had threatened to undo it all.

Although brown eyes were lidded with exhaustion and sorrow, Amber's ears worked fine. They were keener than ever, and they alerted her to the tapping of paw pads against carpet. She looked over her shoulder, afraid to see Lucy but somehow even more annoyed to see Nova. The fox stopped as they locked eyes. "You're up late, Amber dear," the Sharcanid teased.

"...You're here late," Amber sassed. "Gala logistics making you work overtime?"

"I choose to live in my mansion. I could live here if I wanted to," the fox insisted.

The way Celeste talked about Nova said otherwise. Amber nearly laughed to herself. Nova continued, "Anyway, I was on my way out, but...since you're here, I do have a little proposition for you."

"I'm not interested, sorry," Amber sighed.

"Hear me out."

"No." Amber tucked the feather duster into her belt and started down the hall.

Paws scrambled against the carpet and soon the wealthy dog skidded in front of Amber, halting her. "15 million galactic gold coins to resign," she spat.

Amber paused, eyes round as the moons. "What?"

"Listen, honey, I won't sugarcoat," Nova laughed, "you're doing awfully as advisor and I hate to see how poorly you're managing her royal majesty."

"Uh-huh..."

"I know she'd be better off without you. You couldn't even see how great your own sister was."

At that comment, Amber had to snort. "Oh yeah, she was lovely..."

Tall, fluffy ears folded back. "Don't speak sarcastically about her...ugh. Disrespect like this is exactly why you shouldn't be royal advisor. So accept the money, do whatever you'd like with it, and resign tomorrow morning."

Wrath rose up in the assassin. She growled, "You think I'll abandon my niece for some chump change?"

"Enough money to live your immortal life comfortably is chump change?" Nova argued. Her heavily-makeuped eyes narrowed into slits. Her bushy tail flicked.

"Any amount is peanuts if it means abandoning my family."

"How cute coming from someone who stuck a sword in her little sister's head."

"You're oversimplifying and you know it. Go home."

"Tch. Your loss, darling." With an almost animalistic snarl, Nova walked down the corridor until she was out of sight.

Amber huffed, not as stoic as she pretended. Deep anger brewed in her at the mere thought of being bribed. What a pretentious dog. A stupid one, too - that is if she truly thought Amber couldn't see that there were more personal motives than simply being 'unfit' for the position. Envy always shimmered bold green, visible from miles away.