Liridia

Chapter 11: Money, Money, Money

Liridia
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People are beginning to distrust the king. And why wouldn't they? His dead wife and their Queen was found dead on the floor of her quarters, clutching a dagger and lying in her own blood. As soon as the official told people that the possibility for riches was inside the castle, they concocted their little webs of fake.

People start making up ideas like 'she wasn't happy with her life, so she killed herself', or 'I saw a cloaked figure heading out of the castle near dawn.' And most people have the attention span of a carpet beetle, and sit there scratching their heads like 'well I wouldn't know anything.'

I have to get back into the castle. I know that. But to find Aldwin's sister, not explore the unexpected death of Queen Kiida. So I have to tell a lie. I'm not the greatest at lying, to be honest. And I have a tell that I hide so well most people don't see it. I bite the inside of my cheek, but I've learned to conceal it so if the occasion rolls around that I'm taken hostage, I don't die.

So I make up a little something that involves me, 'a detective from the next town over', ' me 'insisting that I take a look around for clues' and finding that pesky sister of Aldwin's. And gods, will he be annoyed when he sees me come back some weeks past the agreed time that I would be back. But... me coming back with his sister in tow, that's another story.

Where will they hide? I can't protect them, but I can't allow this war to happen. I think to myself absentmindedly.

I pass the tavern, the tailor and the blacksmith and I make my way through the little clumps of people clogging the narrow walkways. I come to the castle and a certain stiffness surrounds me. I pass the two guards and they open the door for me, and I walk into the now empty hallway. As soon as the door closes behind me, I see the wooden engraved sign pointing me in the right direction.

'3rd door to the left' it said, I walk slowly and carefully through the long hallway, peeking into doors and through archways. The cool stone sends a shiver down my spine, and I continue closer to the sign.

I look around the corner right next to the sign, and see two guards standing stock still at the third door.

Guess that's the door.

I straighten up and walk casually to the door, the guards still standing as if a giant stick has been shoved up both of their ârses. I walk in front of them, one of the guards looks at me with something like recognition in his eyes. I decide it's best to not look at this one, and both of them simultaneously reach for the door handles.

The doors open with a flourish and I see a line of people waiting for their time with the king, his advisers and his son. Oh  Versiim, god of all things holy, why did he have to be here?! Well, my face just went bright red, even through the darkness of my skin I could feel it going pink. I take slow breaths to ease the  flushed-ness, so I don't look like I've been out in the sun for eight days without a head scarf.

I went over and over through my story, detective, search for clues in castle, get Aldwin's sister and leave... at least that's the plan.

The woman in front of me is wearing a black tight-fitted dress that hugged her curves and accentuated everything that men drool over. Breasts, âss, hips, breasts, âss, hips, breasts, âss-

"I am deeply sorry for Queen Kiida's passing. I'm sure we all are. But I have information regarding who killed her. It was a man that went to the ball, I saw him cross the ballroom at a leisurely pace, talking to random people as he went," she went on, all eyes on her, "and I saw him walk up the stairs and into the hallway. I didn't see him come back down."

"And can you describe this man?" The Prince says, interrupting his father. She smiles a small, almost victorious smile and goes on about how he had dark unruly hair, dark eyes and was wearing a plain black and gold tunic and pants.

"We shall take this in account while on the investigation, thank you for your time." The prince once again interrupted, his father starting to go red in the face with annoyance. I step forward and curtsy, though I'm in a plain off-white tunic and dark brown trousers. The Prince stares at me curiously, then with annoyance, then not at all. Wow, tough crowd.

"What is your name? Where do you hail from and what information do you bear?" The king asks bluntly.

"My name is Liona, I am a detective, I hail from Grestori, the next town over and I believe that if I can get the chance, I can find out who killed Queen Kiida." I say evenly, biting my cheek so hard I taste blood. The prince now looks at me with fresh curiosity, looking over my tunic and tilting his head ever so slightly. I try to control the blush emerging onto my face by not looking at him, but I can feel his eyes staring into my tainted soul.

"Grestori, you say? Interesting. Come closer." The king orders abruptly, taking me by surprise.

I step forward and he looks at my face for a long time, I start to sweat when he orders me to 'stand over next to that guard.' I walk timidly to the man he pointed at and stand next to him.

We stay like that for who knows how long, at first I thought the guard was sizing me up, looking up and down, lingering on the curves. He had light brown hair and smouldering blue eyes, would've made any woman weak at the knees. Not this time, honey. I summoned the demon in me and glared at him so suddenly that he looked away in fright. I shuffle closer to him and he stiffens. I lean towards his ear so the message is loud and clear.

"You look at me like that again and I shall see to it that your eyes are gauged out with a quill." I whisper venomously.  The corners of his lips rise in a small smile and my jaw tightens.

"That's cute. Such a nasty person for someone who works for the good guys." He whispers. "But don't worry, I'm not the one looking at you like a turnkey dinner." He points with his eyes in the direction of the door. The guard who looked at me when I came in is now inside, staring at me. I see his dark eyes and want to kick myself for not recognising him sooner. My breath hitches and the cocky bâstard next to me smirks.

Oh Versiim, you've got it in for me today. Why Aldwin?

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Vote to see the guard's eyes gauged out with a quill! *Liridia evilly laughs*

Yo guys!!! It's been 84 years! I've grown a beard, I live in a hobbit hole and my best friend is called Frodo.

Naw, I ain't Gandalf. But I admit, he's kinda the Mary Poppins of the Hobbit. Wow, that just made me think of Gandalf as Julie Andrews and Julie Andrews wearing grey robes and a beard, comment, which do you guys reckon is better?

Honesty, my brain is a fuddled right now, supposed to do a monologue, an assignment about rocks and a Japanese assessment. Great. At least I summoned the power within to tap Publish, it took a lot of effort. And I'm lazy.

Anyway, I'll make sure not to leave you guys hanging for so long (Master of Awesomeness 1 audibly sighs with resignation and rejection) but don't worry (collectively high fives everyone so they don't feel sad) I gots you covered.

Love you guys, keep sending me those fab ideas and 🙌praise Versiim, god of all things holy🙌

Bye for now, EmmsieBear.