A Beast's Tale

Chapter 19

The descending sun cast an orange and gold glow on the vase of roses and paired candelabras in the center of the table. I crossed my legs and sighed. If the prostitution ring were the sole topic of discussion, I would have left already, but I had enough information about the illegal arms dealing now to make Leon listen to reason. A preemptive strike on Obsidian's new weapons manufacturing facilities was necessary to catch them off guard and prevent another invasion. I didn't care to relive Bloodstained Rose Day twice.

This promised to be a long night. 

There was a knock at the door. The conversation came to a halt. This room served as a dining room under normal circumstances, but everybody knew better than to interrupt a round table meeting, when the royal family convened to discuss matters of supreme importance. If this wasn't an emergency, somebody was in trouble.

Sariel rose from his chair and answered the door. A nervous guard stood on the other side, breathing hard, face flushed and slick with sweat. He bent over in a hasty bow.

"Lord Sariel, my apologies, but there's been a fire in the city."

"A fire?" Leon asked. He and Licht were already pushing their chairs back and standing. "Where? How bad?"

"An old abandoned building on the western edge. It went up quickly, but with all the extra patrols pitching in, they had it almost under control by the time they sent me here. I'm sorry—maybe I should have waited—"

"No, it's fine. Jin, round up some more guards so there are no gaps in coverage. Yves, you're on point here. Sariel, set up another meeting. We'll have to reconvene later."

Sariel nodded. "Of course, Your Highness."

The door closed on the flurry of activity and the ongoing string of orders, creating a brief relative silence.

Clavis grinned. "And just when I was getting bored. An abandoned building suddenly going up in flames? What are the chances this is a planned diversion to clear the guards from a nearby area so some unsavory business can take place?"

"Hm, it's possible." Nokto stood and stretched his arms over his head. "I think LeBeau owns some property in the western part of the city. Guess I'd better hit the books again." He sauntered toward the door, yawning.

"I think I'll do a little poking around, too, see if there's any more fun to be had. Unless you'd rather I stay here and speak on your behalf regarding Ivetta, Chev?"

"Go."

He hopped to his feet. "Take it easy on him, Sariel. This is the first time Chev's even noticed a woman, and we can hardly expect a heartless beast like him to know how to navigate the complexities of love and lust, can we?"

He followed Nokto out, laughing as he went. I didn't bother stifling another sigh.

"That hellcat," Sariel said under his breath. He turned his lavender gaze and his thin smile on me. "Prince Chevalier, I know you hate wasting time, so I'll get straight to the point. What is the nature of your relationship with your maid?"

"I also dislike people placing an inordinate amount of importance on matters that are none of their affair."

"It became my affair the moment the king died and it fell to me to select the next Belle."

"No, it did not. Her candidacy for the role of Belle has no correlation with her employment. Even if she did not work here and you met her on the street, she would not agree to it. Belle must place her sole focus on learning about the state of the kingdom and each of the princes so she can determine who is best suited for the throne. Surely you can comprehend that her situation would not allow such single-minded dedication."