The Death of a Tyrant's Concubine

CHAPTER 27 - Windcleaver

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【𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐉𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐄】

The next morning, the scent of roasted nuts and honeyed bread drifted through the halls. While walking, I carefully freed my silver locket from Vyvy's paw as it snored softly on my shoulder. Though the creature had killed me in past lives, I couldn't see it in such a light anymore.

"You're spoiling that thing. I swear it's gotten fat," Virella muttered, brushing nonexistent dust from the folds of her pink gown.

Despite her complaints about the color, she made it look regal. With gold embroidery catching the morning light as we entered the dining hall.

"I think it's earned a little spoiling. It's hunted most our meat," I said, scratching behind Vyvy's lopsided ears.

The dining hall was already crowded. Rows of long, uneven tables stretched beneath tarnished brass chandeliers, their ivy garlands beginning to brown at the edges. Ladies in pink clustered near the far end, their laughter echoing.

Heads turned as we entered.

Whispers followed.

"Oh, do toss a coin if you plan to stare so much," Virella snapped.

"Of course, the first thing you Daisies do is beg for gold," one of the women with long yellow hair retorted, sipping her tea as though a foul stench had appeared.

"Of course," I agreed as Virella and I took our seats. "We'll need to summon a tailor again for our next rank. Not all of us get to stay in pink for the rest of our lives."

The yellow-haired lady who I recognized from my first life sent a sharp glare. Lady Panella Duskwood. She had been executed for infidelity when she was caught with a servant in her bed.

Lady Panella recovered quickly, her gaze flicking to Vyvy.

"And what is that? Have you brought rats from Daisy?"

Some of the more ignorant ladies giggled while others remained frozen as stone, their eyes wide as they stared at the vylnir.

"Careful," I said softly, tilting my head. Vyvy stretched with a yawn, claws and dozens of teeth gleaming eerily. "It bites."

Lady Panella's eyes narrowed.

"Perhaps this little rat grows hungry and mistakes you for a wheel of cheese," Virella added with a smirk.

The laughter in the room shifted, breaking unevenly. A few ladies smothered their smiles too late, and Lady Panella's expression curdled.

"Beasts belong in the menagerie," she sneered.

Virella didn't miss a beat.

"Then perhaps you'd feel more at home there."

This time, the laughter in the hall was full and unrestrained. Lady Panella stood so quickly her chair scraped against the stone floor. Her eyes blazed as she fled from the hall with two other women trailing after her.

I let out a breath as the noise settled.

"You could learn to hold back," I smiled at Virella. "These women aren't our enemies."

"No, you're right," she said, dishing breakfast onto her plate. "Though they are my entertainment."

I shook my head.

After the dead birds that were left in our beds, I couldn't exactly blame her.

With the main perpetrator of Peony dealt with, the two of us continued our breakfast in peace and excused ourselves without any jibes from the other ladies. I headed toward my room to leave Vyvy to nap, but as I passed one of the chambers, my steps slowed.