Shadow Betrayal: An Assassin's Story

13 - FLORAL, FIASCO AND FALLS - 13

A double update!? I'm nice aren't I?

I honestly wish my life had background music so I could actually understand what the hell is going on?

Enjoy!

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Raven's POV

"You incompetent girl! Absolutely useless. Did you think I wouldn't notice you with the prince? Foolish!" Madam Senka shrieks, her face a deep shade of crimson, veins bulging with anger. Her voice pierces the air, each word dripping with venom. Apparently, my brief encounter with Prince Lucian had not gone unnoticed.

And as much as that insufferable prince irritates me, I'd take him over Madam Senka any day. Or more like Always-Yelling Senka. Does she ever shut up?

"I hired you because your mother—my dear, begging friend—pleaded with me! To stop your father from throwing you out of his house like the failure you are!"

Stupid woman. If only you knew who I really was and what I was capable of. I could skin you alive, roast you, and no one in this forsaken castle would be any the wiser.

"You strut around like you're someone of importance! You think you can do as you please?"

Her voice grates on my nerves, and I feel my fingers twitching toward the dagger hidden beneath my dress, the only useful part of this itchy monstrosity they call clothing. Sorry, Madam Senka, but your time is about to run out.

Just as my fingers graze the hilt of the blade, a commanding voice breaks through the chaos.

"Senka!" Lucian's voice booms from the doorway, sharp and authoritative. Madam Senka freezes, her tirade cut short as her eyes widen, her mouth forming a shocked, silent 'O'. Lucian steps into the room, a lazy grin playing across his face, as though he had interrupted a far less deadly confrontation.

"I can assure you, this young lady wants nothing to do with me," he says, his voice dripping with mock seriousness. "If you must know, I'm the one responsible for last night's... incident. And as for firing her, well, that won't be happening."

Madam Senka's face pales, her fury evaporating in an instant. She stammers, her voice barely above a whisper, "I-I-I apologize, young sire... I had no idea..."

He smiles. "No worries, Senka. Now, if you don't mind, I'll be stealing this young lady for the day."

"Of course, young sire. Shall I pack lunch for you?" The fear is almost palpable, rolling off her in waves. Don't worry, Senka. You'll have far bigger things to fear soon enough.

"That would be lovely, Senka. Pack enough for three. Koen will be joining us."

Senka gives a shaky nod, her gaze flickering to me. Her eyes widen ever so slightly when they meet mine—a swirl of surprise, fear, and... recognition. I frown. What's gotten into her? Why does she suddenly look terrified of me?

I'll deal with that later. Lucian's hand presses lightly against the small of my back, guiding me out of the room.

"Thank you," I murmur as we exit. It's barely above a whisper, but he catches it. A flicker of surprise crosses his face before his usual grin returns.

"You don't say that often, do you?" he teases.

I shoot him a glare in response, which only widens his smile.

"Well, my dark-haired beauty, allow me to introduce Koen—my best friend, bodyguard, and general buzzkill." He gestures toward a tall, armored man standing by the doorway. Koen's face is all hard lines and stoicism, his pale blue eyes unreadable beneath neatly trimmed brown hair. His expression doesn't shift, as though smiling were a foreign concept to him. He reminds me of Faolan. Though, to be fair, I've never actually seen Faolan's face.