Beauty and her Beast (Nokto)

~Chapter 7, Part 2~

Rio: I don't know myself. I mean, I know I said that Sariel told me to stay behind... But that was a lie. 

Rio spoke the words casually, as if the lie itself was nothing, but worry creased his expression all the same. 

Rio: Why did I stay in the carriage? Was it some sort of sixth sense? A divine revelation? The truth is, I lost my memory. Ver found me passed out on the street three years ago, but I don't remember anything from before that. But that doesn't change the fact that I lied to you and Ver both, and I'm sorry for that. 

Nokto smiled thinly, but his eyes weren't smiling. 

Nokto: I take back what I said earlier. You're not like me-you're way more wicked. After all, I don't think that was a lie just now, was it? 

Rio: I'll take that as a compliment! Thanks!

Rio smiled brightly, and the two men placed the last silverware onto the tray and stood up again. 

Nokto: So what was it that was so important you had to throw an entire tray of silverware at my feet? 

Rio: Isn't it obvious?

Rio's smile never wavered, but all the friendliness seemed to drain out of it, and his gaze turned cold and sharp. 

Rio: I adore that woman with all my heart, and if you do anything to hurt her or make her cry, I'll make you regret it, prince or not.  ...Just thought I'd warn you!

Nokto sighed softly, but his eyes were suddenly sparkling with delight. 

Nokto: In other words, Belle had already tamed one wild beast before she even got here. 

As they sized each other up, a gust of wind set the nearby curtains swaying, and Rio turned quickly towards it. The breeze should have brought with it the scent of roses, but instead it brought a scent far more disquieting. 

Rio: That smell... 

Nokto: Hmm? Looks like King Highness is home. 

*with Veronica* 

Sariel had told me that Chevalier and Clavis had been sighted at the gates, and I hurried through the palace. (And supposedly they'd gone out in the first place to suppress some sort of disturbance at the Obsidian border, right? I wonder. I frowned to myself, thinking of the last thing Sariel had said to me. 'Be prepared', huh? I hope that doesn't mean what I think it means...) I smoothed my skirts, wishing I could calm my racing heart as easily, and then I spotted the two princes. As soon as they stepped through the door and into view, I understood what Sariel had meant. But even though I'd guessed his meaning, guessing was very different from seeing. Chevalier was covered from head to toe in blood more blood than I'd ever seen in my life.