Ethereal - Through Rose Colored Glasses

Chapter 3

Krados’ brain stopped functioning for a few minutes and he stood rooted to the floor while Adela beamed and skipped out the store. Zenon picked up the chair and walked back into the kitchen to take a pause on whatever fatal experiment he was conducting in the name of cooking.

Krados moved to the edge of the door to check on Adela and saw her standing against the onyx wall opposite the store and looking around, admiring the complex architecture. When she caught sight of him, she turned away sharply, making her long wavy hair whip against her dark skin. 

It might have only been for a second that they had eye contact, but he didn’t miss the way her lips thinned or the glint of anger that passed through her eyes. He smiled wryly as he leaned back against the doorframe and looked away from her. It was better for everyone that way, anger and fear were the only emotions he was meant to elicit.

He looked back in the room where Zenon was now dusting off his blazer and putting it on.

“Where’s your brooch?” Zenon asked, nodding at his empty lapel.

Krados shrugged and Zenon shook his head lightly as he adjusted the chains of his golden rowan tree leaf brooch with a pearl on it, one of his many accomplishments.

“You are recognized as one of the strongest.” He started walking towards Krados. “You should be proud of it.”

Krados scoffed and started moving out the door. “They’re twelve others. It’s not really special.”

He might not have cared about the brooch but he was most certainly proud of his ranking, he had worked day and night to get stronger and a little piece of gold couldn’t possibly account for all his hard work. And besides, there were more important matters on his mind, like the tall girl who was walking in front of him. 

He turned to Zenon who was whistling and looking wherever Krados didn’t. “Why?”

Zenon turned and looked at him with a confused expression on his face. Despite being almost double Krados’ age, Zenon had the mind of a ten year old child. He was well known for his spiteful antics that Krados had the unfortunate pleasure of cleaning up after. He still shuddered when he remembered how he kowtowed to the emperor when Zenon had released poisonous scorpions into the palace just because one maid had said he was ugly.

“You never do anything without a reason. Is it to spite Lady Erix?”

Lady Erix and Lord Zenon had been sworn enemies since the day they were born and they never missed any opportunity to ruin the other’s day. Still, hiring Adela as a maid just to spite Lady Erix was dangerous to both her and the empire. Krados looked at the floor that was gradually transitioning from the green jade of the market section to the brilliant sapphires of the central square.

“Turn right.” He shouted towards Adela.

She didn’t respond or even acknowledge that she heard him, but she turned left anyways. The empty street slowly started becoming populated and some people bowed in greeting as they walked by. 

“Tsk. Why are you calling her a lady. That old boar should have been put down long ago.”

Krados rolled his eyes and kept his eyes forward, making sure that Adela didn’t slip away. “You’re both old. Too old to be bickering like children.”

Zenon pouted to himself and continued mumbling on. “I’m not that old.” He brought his hand to his face and ran his fingers over the tan skin. “I still look better than that exhausted piece of fabric.”

Krados bit back his laugh and tried to steer the conversation back to its original course. “Back to Adela.”

Zenon clicked his tongue and frustration passed over his face for a few seconds before he schooled it back to normal. “Let’s just say I’m helping a friend.”