Treacherous Decisions

Part 2

There was a specific window of time for when I could see my target. I had to attend the Festival of Starlight being held at the palace.

As you can imagine, my skills with your knowledge naturally made me the only one suitable for the job.

Garrick told me he didn't care for how I did it, but that I should do it quickly and discreetly.

So that is how I ended up at the palace on the evening of the Festival of Starlight.

Sneaking in was no issue. I knew the rounds thanks to you. I even managed to navigate the palace and not get distracted by the strawberry tarts.

That's not true.

I did feast upon the sweet morsels like they were the only thing keeping me tethered to this life. I should have brought you some, if I am being quite honest. Alas, you may have feasted upon them daily and I would never have known.

"It's like you've never tasted strawberry tarts before," came a snicker.

I looked up.

A girl had planted her hand on her hip and although I was taller than her, she still looked down at me.

I wiped away the crumbs from my mouth. "I have not."

She arched her brow and laughed. "You stuff your face like a goblin. How did you even get invited here?"

I shrugged and took note of her lemon-yellow dress and hair the color of barnyard straw. It was a truly disgraceful combination. "I wasn't invited."

Her mouth parted in shock. "You have the manners of a boar. How dare you enter without an invitation! May the gods curse you and your family." She twisted a ring made of diamonds and topaz on her left hand.

A feeling of empathy struck through me in jolts for the poor man who was bound to this unpleasant human.

"The gods don't listen to us anymore. And they would certainly never listen to someone as ill witted as you," I replied.

It was true. Anyone who would wear pearls with those shoes had to be mentally deficient. There was no other explanation.

Her brows drew together. "You snake! I shall have you cast out!"

She marched away presumably to find a guard to make good on her threat. Perhaps she might have found you, then I would have had much explaining to do.

I elected not to let her bother me and just avoided her presence for the rest of the evening.

Now, now, dearest sister, I must reprimand you. For you did not lavish upon me the tales of the resplendent palace of which you traversed every day. The obsidian floors and the gold crested walls embroidered with the finest tapestry this side of heaven. Alas, you did not tell me these things. Thus, I got distracted. So distracted, in fact, that I managed to walk clear into someone.

Devastating. Demoralizing. Dreadful.

Though, as a true gentleman, he did not let me fall. Rather he steadied me and ushered me into a dance to cover up my misstep.

There must have been something quite wrong with me, for my pulse seemed to relocate into my throat. Perspiration gathered in my palms and I dare say my struggle to inhale did not come from my tightly woven crimson corset (though, it most certainly was the culprit for the bruising on my ribs, no matter how devastatingly gorgeous it was).

Now, I will not selfishly withhold what my savior looked like, for I am not cruel like you. He had hair of the deepest ink, darker than the cloudy sky just before midnight. It had a boyish curl to it and hung just above his eyes. I must say, his cerulean gaze was as soulful as the temple songs on the cold season's solstice. Never had I seen someone smile as much as him. It was truly as if life was the rarest treasure he had ever been gifted. The corners of his full lips always seemed to be tilted up. He had a dimple on his left cheek. The mark was as if a fairy had come and kissed him while he was an infant. Her tiny lips seem to leave an indentation on his skin every time he experiences any type of joy.