"Cheer up," Rinaru said, drinking from his glass of wine. "I got the treasure for you like I promised. At least that's something to earn a little trust in me." Mailee said nothing and pushed her carrots around on her plate. It took Rinaru thirty minutes to clean out and bind the wounds on each her hands and her refusing to let him see her stomach. She glared at him. It wasn't her intentions to save him, but her body mostly moved on its own. Apparently, daring rescues weren't part of her reputation that her father wanted of her. "Wasn't learning how to rely on others part of your training?"
"No," she said sourly. "My father told me that relying on others is a nice way for being called weak."
"Your father?" Rinaru asked, setting down his glass. "The king of Ashia? King Lucifer Galanodel?" She looked down towards the small treasure in from of her. It was strange to think that all the risk that they took were for a ring called: The Serpent Ring. The ring was covered in silver scales, and what looks like to be stained with blood in places. What came with it was a paper with just the item's name on it.
"My father was the one who trained me." Her father would have flogged her saving Rinaru, jeopardizing her own safety and relying on help from him too.
"He trained you personally?"
"For a time he trained me himself, and then brought in tutors from all over the relms. The fighting master's from Toria, poison and herbalism experts from Oxtrad... Once he sent me to Mélamar to the monks and priestess of îdh. No price was too high for him. Or me," she added, fingering the serpent ring. "He didn't bother to tell me until I was fourteen in human years that I was expected to pay him back for all of it."
"He trained you and then made you pay for it?" She shrugged, but was unable to hide the flash of anger.
"Many of the royal families in Ashia goes through the same experience: they get to a certain young age to start training, and then bound to their families until they can earn back every coin that went into their training, upkeep, and wardrobe."
"That's despicable," he spat, and she blinked at the anger in his voice--anger that, for once, was not directed at the climbing. "Did you pay it back?" A cold smile that don't reach her eyes spread across her face.
"Oh, down to the last copper. And he then went out and spent all of it on my half siblings. Over five hundred thousand gold coins. Gone in three hours." Rinaru stared from his set in disbelief. She shoved the memory down so deep that it stopped hurting. "It's in the past and that is where it will stay." She said, stopping the subject before Rinaru could inquire further.
"So you didn't answer me on the wall, why did you save me?" He smirked a flirty grin, changing the subject. "Shì wǒ de shuàiqì wàibiǎo hé wǒ mírén de gèxìng, bùshì ma? (It's my handsome looks and my charming personality, wasn't it?)"
"Kǒngpà bùshì nàxiē shì zhěngjiùle nín. Bùcuò de chángshì. (I'm afraid it's not those things that saved you. Nice try though.)" He blushed in embarrassment once he realize she knew his kingdom's language. Mailee's smile began to tug at her lips-- and soon found it reflected on his face. He tossed a piece of bread at her, which she caught in one hand and threw it back at him. He caught it with ease. "Báichī. (Idiot.)" She said, grinning now.
"Fǒurèn xiǎojiě. (Miss denial.)" He returned, grinning too.
"I really hope you die."
"Aw but I will miss your wonderful presents, Princess. And you will miss my nice tone body," he said. Mailee felt her blush on her cheek spread, and it was all Rinaru could do to duck from the apple she chucked at his head.
It wasn't until she went to comment that they heard ear piercing screams throughout the halls that night. They both turned immediately to the closed door that leads to the hall tense attention. And then there was silence once more.
"What the bloody hell was that?" Mailee asked out loud as she got up from her seat.
"Don't know, but whoever it was they might need help. Want to come with me to see what happened?" Rinaru got up as well from his seat and started to approach his chamber door to the halls to investigate. Mailee shrugged with some sarcasm in her voice.
"Why not. I just love helping others and going face first towards danger." They both went on the hunt to see where the screams came from.
YOU ARE READING
The Mirror Guardian
Random((Book One of The Guardian Series.)) She was the Flame of Light craving peace... They say she is powerful. They say she is the Flame of Life. They say she instill fear into the hearts of many. It is even said that the Devil himself is afraid of her...
