My distinct plan making had carved out desired results. It had almost been a week since I demanded for a prince and what not infront of the Queen, and Her Majesty had not bombarded me with any suitors. Yet. She may start at any moment and then all my attention would be sucked out of what I deemed important. Ever since Alex had told me the condition of the Legion, I couldn't stop thinking about it. Couldn't stop thinking about Victor as well.
I prayed to all Gods above that Victor was oblivious to all this information and had not turned to walking the dark path like Wilius had. If he had, I could no longer trust anyone. I had known Victor all my life and trusted him with belief. I trusted him with extracting secretive information for myself, if one wanted to measure the intensity. Yes, our relation has always been on hot and cold ice....but we never detested each other even if we reach the epitome of having the possibility to. If he ded not, I would still be mad at him for allowing such negligence come forth.
At the moment I had to melt the ice in between us that we had been maintaining since a few days. Our last conversation had ended with a very nasty arguement and I had so easily managed to provoke him. I wondered....if this time we could let go of the past.
Victor was standing at the far end of the ballroom, sipping in some lemonade and conversing with some other ladies. I restlessly tapped my feet to think of a way to start a conversation with him and not ignite more disagreement.
I rolled my eyes and breathed out as I kept wondering. And then my sight rested on the Queen. Talking to a man of some sort and her lips forming my name.
Oh great lord. Save me.
My steps immediately stalked across the room and towards Victor faster than I had known. All to avoid another setting with a stranger.
"Vi- Your Grace!" I basically shrieked at the surprise of the other giddy ladies. I curtesied and smiled eagerly.
"Your Highness." All of them returned greetings and awkwardness flared on all of their faces. "Wonderful evening, is it not, Your Highness?" A young lady asked out of no where.
"Yes. It is quite." I replied vaguely, but my entire attention was on Victor. I tried to converse with him through my eyes by giving him a very stern look. "A wonderful evening." I foolishly repeated.
There must be some kind of innate understanding between me and Victor. For he almost immediatley understood what I wanted to imply with my expression. "Might I ask a dance from you, Your Higness?" He asked, putting his hand forward.
"Oh. Yes ofcourse." I said with a fabricated smile. All the other young lady were left upset upon seeing this.
We entered the small sea of dancers and started our part. I breathed a sigh of relief at managing to escape the Queen's grasp.
"So," Victor started with small smile. "I thought we were not on speaking terms."
"We clearly weren't." I snapped. "After you so evidently argued with me the last time."
Victor chuckled. "Well, you do so easily manage to get on my nerves. With your inexplicable sense of 'curiosity'."
I gulped. Curiosity was only a small part of why I wanted to know about sensitive situations. Early on in my years, yes. It was greatly. But not anymore; I wanted to do so much more. "Well, you will certainly continue to feel the same way for sometime unfortunately." I wanted to be truthful with Victor. I didn't feel like spouting pretty words and get him for my plain benefit. Perhaps I could tell him the truth atleast and still have the benefit.
"I cannot be mad at for you for too long, Amber." He said softly and swayed me around the floor graciously.
There he goes again. Whispering these sweet words that have absolutely no effect on me. It discomposed me mostly, for I never understood what he meant with such statements.
I managed to put up a smile but immediately lost all motivation to keep it going when Victor stated further. "However, you should understand that I cannot tell you everything that you ask me. You should take in note of the nation's security."
"Whatever do you state from this?" I said, a bit offended. "Do you think I would ever want our security breached?"
"No, no. I did not mean that. However Amber, you cannot order me at your whim. I have no other way to explain this.....to you." Victor emphasised deeply.
I pasted a reluctant smile on my face again. "I realise." I said, but I didn't say that just for his sake. I actually realised the truth that I was refusing to see for so much time. Until now, I had always thought that I could ask Victor anything and he'd give me the information. Often importuning and arguing....however I always thought he would come around and cajole my demands. I needed to understand he had duty to King and country...not to me. I would have to do this myself.
The song ended and we let go of our hands, and perhaps his support to. I curtesied and breathed out, trying to make sense of my realisation.
Yet before I could retreat to the shadows of the hall, my gaze was caught by a figure standing at the far end. He was there again, and somehow I immediately knew who it was. The scorpion man, that's what I addressed him as.
Suddenly I felt the air around me turn very warm and a strange sensation passed through my skin all over. I stayed rooted in the exact same position where the dance ended, looking out at him. Slightly embarrasing, honestly, for a lady. My eyes followed him talking to someone and then walking out the room, all alone and by himself.
I gulped nervously as his sight vanished from before me and my senses came back to me. I adjusted my throat loudly and went near the lemonade stand to quench my questionable thirst. A few ladies came up to me and spoke some things but I was too invested in the gardens outside.
"Excuse me." I said and stepped in the gardens, probably spiking up a scandal.
The wind whispered and howled greatly while the grass gossiped as I ruffled through to the scorpion man, who was standing at the fence that surrounded the gardens' boundaries. Something told me to not go further. Retreat and not make contact as I decided after the last time, but I couldn't stop myself. This would definately not end up any good.
"Searching for another constellation?" I reached besides him and leaned on the fence.
His head tilted slightly, acknowledging my presence. Upon seeing me, he gave me a warm smile and had a very welcoming countenance.
"Well, not without you." He teased and caused us both to chuckle.
"Perhaps some quiet then? Like the last time?" I asked again, taking in the eerie silence that had spread around.
"Fortunately, there is no need for it tonight. I came to seek the moon. Some said it is today." He looked back at the sky. I lifted my eyes as well, only to find nothing but stars sparkling around.
"Cannot glimpse through, can we? The night is beautiful regardless." I sighed.
"Hmm." He lingered, still searching for it.
"Seems like the moon has hidden itself. Not wanting to grace any eye with it's presence." I perked.
"Yes. It has. Behind the clouds, perhaps. Too shy to meet it's admirers." He said fondly.
True compliments always work, for the Moon peeked through almost immediately when he completed. From behind the dark clouds, luminating bright like a diamond and gleaming from our sweet words.
"There it is." I pointed out and both of us smiled, admiring it with all our attention.
"Some fanciful tales claim that moonlight could tie two shadows together if they keep staring for too long." I commented, pulling a silly fact from my studies.
"I see. I never knew that." He said further. "I wouldn't mind it."
I smiled nervously, "Well, I was a student of Astronomy when I was young. My governess used to tell me some silly facts at times."
"I have a lot to learn from you then. I could do with some worthwhile knowledge." He said, his voice genial.
We continued to marvel at the beauty up in the sky for a few more minutes, until both of us forgot quite forgot the track of time. It was only when the clock struck twelve and announced the start of the new day, were we bought back to sense.
"Unfortunately," The man checked his pocket watch. "I have to be somewhere early tomorrow morning. But I'd like to ask of you.....perhaps a dance the next time we meet. You could tell me more about your studies."
The thought made me blush, so unlike myself. "I should like that."
____
I returned to the palace in high spirits, different from usual. Almost every ball in the past had ended in some kind of difficulty for me. Sometimes because I did something diabolical in the Queen's eyes, or sometimes not doing anything at all. The idea of a dance never excited me, yet I felt the exact opposite after today's encounter.
However, there was a greater situation that had come to pass. Victor's withdrawal. That concerned me. Or perhaps it no longer did. Victor's involvement had not failed to stress me and definately failed to give me any leads. His presence would no longer pester me and he could go on being the awful Army general that he was.
Poison can never leave my speech.
Suddenly, I stopped. Whispers flared acrross the corridors around Wilius's corridor, tugging at my ear. The torches on the wall flickered with uncertainty and gloom, indicating me to not go any further. But if one know me, I never turn down a challenge.
I followed the voices through the long dark hallway from where the hurried whispers were sourced from. Hushed and hurried whispers that seeked replies almost immediately. Soon enough, I was able to recognise the voices.
Wilius.
"Here is this month's money. It was quite tricky to get them this time, so be alert. Not a word to anyone, alright? Off you go."
And I immediately knew who the other men were. Vigilantes.
<<>>