Chapter 6: Up we go
Flying up the stairs the mercenary followed the maid. Anxiety, opportunity and a healthy dose of fear described his face as he headed for the soon to be queen's chamber.
It was a privilege being allowed to sell his goods on the castle grounds- being called by the ruler personally either was a sign of very good luck or undefined miss fortune.
Stopping short, the maidservant as well as the mercenary quickly fixed their clothes as they had arrived in front of the heavy oak door leading to the mistress.
"My lady, the mercenary, arrived," the bespectacled maid announced solemnly.
"You may enter." Words of order yet not spoken in anger reached the mercenaries' ears and the door opened.
Ray's of light filled the corridor. The sun had decided to take it's path right by the lady's window as it showered everything in the color of riches.
Jewels of immeasurable worth glimmered in the golden light as the lady turned to face the mercenary.
Surprised by the beauty her pale face presented, matched by nothing but the newest of snow, the mercenary was at the same time taken aback by the short hair.
It was unusual for noblewomen to cut it this short,and yet the way those strains barely brushed above the collarbone had something insanely alluring to it.
Quickly remembering his manners the mercenary bowed.
"My lady," he greeted quickly, the reason for his visit moving back to topic. "I heard you wanted to see my goods?"
A glance was cast as the mistress turned to her maid.
"If you would excuse us."
Perplexion grazed the servant's expression as she looked at the mercenary, then back to her lady.
"... my lady?"
But it seemed the mistress was not up to engage in any questions.
"Have you not heard my order?" Her gaze was hard, her tone not to be misunderstood. The mercenaries' expression showed one of puzzlement as well.
Bowing quickly the maid backed to the door.
"As you wish."
Alone with the queen? It was unheard off to even be invited into the castle, not to mention-
"Rise."
Quickly straightening his posture the mercenaries stance tensed. The queen's eyes were equally mesmerizing as they seemed unforgiving for any grave error.
"What is your name?" She questioned, and for a slight staggering second the mercenary staggered to get out his name.
"Matthew," he stuttered in a quick inelegant fashion.
"Matthew who?"
Feeling his nervosity spike the mercenary fiddled with a piece of cloth wrapped around his hand. It served nothing but the sheer purpose of not harming his skin when moving heavy goods. A most welcome asset but right now in the queen's chamber it felt dirty and improper.
"...I am afraid I have no surname, my lady. I'm from a rather poor family in Istal. A wife and child are all that count to my riches," he quickly informed, the pressure on his mind increasing by the minute as he lowered his gaze to the ground.
"How about we increase those riches?"
Surprised, the mercenary lifted his head.
"My lady?"
Sparing him no glance the mistress of the castle reached behind her back. A knife was picked from the top of the vanity table. Patterns of roses crafted from silver and gold twisted their way up the handle and the blade glimmered in a freshly sanded sharpness
"I have had something stolen from me. A knife, resembling this to the last detail." Eyes of velvet matching the dress like jewels rested in the knife before returning to the mercenary. "I want you to find the knife and the thief who stole it, and bring both to me. Alive."
Tearing his eyes away from the undoubtedly expensive object the mercenary stuttered.
"My lady I'm a simple mercenary, I would´t know how-"
"Mercenaries aren't simple." The queen's words were equally harsh as they were true. "You meet people, know your trade, I bet you have better connections than most considering you are offering your goods on the castle grounds."
"M-my lady!" A hand was raised as the mistress signed for silence.
"Queen." She emphasized, reminding the mercenary of who he was currently facing. "You seem to forget who I am to marry at the end of this week."
Confidence defined her presence as her unwavering stare crumbled the mercenary's resistance. She wasn't as suffocating as the king, but only by small measure. But it was clear that she wasn't going to accept anything but complete devotion. "Bring me the thief before the wedding and you will be paid your weight in gold."
Swallowing shortly the mercenary hesitated. His weight in gold was more than he could earn in a lifetime. His family would have nothing to fear, his daughter could wear beautiful dresses, maybe even marry above her status with an adjusted wedding dowry.
And yet he hesitated.
The thief might have acted on a false impure impulse, but thieves rarely stole from ladies because they were trying to gain riches.
It might have been a child. Innocent and starving. All gold in this world wasn't worth drowning his hands in the blood of a young person.
"... why is the knife and thief of such importance? If I dare ask?"
Lady Kururi's expression relaxed. An expression of gentleness caught the mercenary, by surprise.
"It is what my late mother received on the day of her wedding. An old sentimentality if you will. It would be as if she were watching if I were to carry it during the ceremony."
Relief washed over the mercenary as the heavy weight of choice was lifted off his shoulders.
Straightening his stance he nodded, before bowing to the lady.
"Understood, my queen."
A soft smile spread across Izaya's expression, assuring the man of his good deeds as he turned to the door.
Opening shortly Izaya caught a glimpse of the maidservants. Quizzical expressions covered their faces as they quickly moved aside.
They had been waiting, wondering and gossiping perhaps.
Flying back shut the door finally closed and the raven sighed deeply.
He wasn't quite sure whether it was something to be proud of, but the mercenary seemed to have bought his act wholeheartedly.
Really. Considering he was a man it was quite funny how easily he convinced everyone of the opposite.
This entire set of events still took a toll on his body it seemed.
Exhaustion defined his expression as he settled onto the vanity table's chair. The sun, gleaming lovely as it was, didn't exactly help either as the chambers started to warm up in heat. Usually Izaya would welcome any kind of warmth spreading to his usually rather cold body, but right now it caused the air to flir and densen in a way that suffocated.
Feeling his surroundings become too thick to breathe he moved to the door.
Gasps of surprise and hurried stances of attention were taken by the still present maidservants as Izaya emerged from the chambers.
"I will be taking a short walk," he announced curtly. It wasn't a question, it was merely an act of information.
"It is quite cold outside my lady-", quickly hurrying into the maid's chamber next to Izaya's, the freckled maid pulled what seemed to be a heavy mantle.
Not minding the women at all, Izaya advanced down the stairs.
He needed fresh air.
Cold was exactly what he was looking forward to.
With a soft creak the massive gates of the castle opened. Heads were turned for an impolite second as the knights and various mercenaries glanced towards the castle in curiosity. But no more than a few seconds passed until they minded their own business again, giving Izaya his much sought space to breathe.
It was indeed fairly cold. Puffs of air took form in front of Izaya's face as his eyes trailed across the scenery.
The arrival of the knight and general circumstances when arriving had distracted him greatly.
It was only now that he got to take a good glimpse at the castle grounds.
Stairs of marble descended into an array of foreign flowers, healthy trees and carefully trimmed shrubs. A fountaine void if water was set into stone in the midst of all, leaving enough space for a carriage to circle it.
Past the greenery a street brimming with life came to sight. No borders or anything of the sort separated the castle and the marketplace, now filled with buzzy noise of chattery.
Dozens of people were trying to get a good deal on the newest goods. Women were laughing and comparing fabrics to use for sewing. It was a lovely sight to get lost in.
The soft sound of multiple feet hitting the steps followed Izaya as the maids emerged from the castle.
"My lady," the freckled maid panted softly as she bowed, holding out the mantle she had grabbed on the run.
Feeling the cold ride its way up his spine Izaya nodded curtly before throwing the heavy fabric over his shoulders.
Short steps were taken. The market was huge, and Izaya was more than curious.
"Lady who?"
"Lady Kururi, the king's fiancee."
Whispers and scraps of gossip immediately caught his ears as he made his way into the street.
Of course.
Arriving at the castle for a wedding everyone had only recently gotten informed of and passing out in front of the gate had to cause quite the rumors.
Not to mention who he was getting married to.
The monster. A carefully crafted sharade of courtesy wasn't going to trick him into neglecting the rumors.
"...-when she passed out?"
Stopping shortly, Izaya's attention rested on a couple kids. In a corner they had gathered, chuckling as their eyes glittered in excitement.
"Would you believe it?"
"No way, the king carried her?"
"On his strong arms right into the castle!"
"Stop it you three!" the mother emerged from her stand and quickly scurried them off while casting short glances at Izaya.
Ah.
She was probably afraid Izaya would arrest them on the spot for such a trivial matter.
Pulling the mantle just a bit closer to his neck the raven moved on.
Pathetic.
So it was the king, Shizuo, that had picked him up after fainting in front of the castle. Carried him to his room too.
A man had to carry him to his room.
His father would die from shame if he were to know of it.
"Newest crafts right here!"
Turning his head to the right Izaya looked at a mercenary. Sitting in his pile of goods it seemed he was selling all kinds of carved woods. Chairs, tables, but also small artificery like embroidery and fancy bracelets.
Ah.
Izaya's guts clenched for a brief second.
A chessboard.
It was beautifully carved. Each pawn was decorated with the finest details and polished to the point they glimmered in the light of the sun. It possessed a striking similarity to the one at home.
The one his siblings used to challenge him with.
Mindlessly taking the rook, Izaya twisted it in his hands. Kururi's favorite. It was the one pawn he had to take first in order to ensure his victory.
Placing it back, Izaya's eyes narrowed. One week.
Izaya had handed Mairu a knife when they left. Just in case. Embroidered with roses of gold and silver. It was just one of the many gifts the girls had received from the eager contestants. And seeing as they were both beauties, some took an effort to present both with the finest gifts.
The knife was but one of those gifts that had turned in double.
If the mercenary found the knife, he would find his siblings and then-
"My Lady."
Jerking into motion Izaya's glance shifted.
Eyes of the deepest brown looked at him in curiosity as he faced no one other but the king.
A white linen shirt covered his chest and a leather belt strapped a sword of steel to his waist. His gaze was faking gentleness, his stance menacing. He was tall.
Muscular in all the right places. Picking a fight with this kind of man wouldn't end pretty.
What was he doing here?
"Is something wrong?" the king questioned as Izaya had failed to reply anything in return.
"No, not at all." The stupor of meeting the guy that had apparently carried him up the castle had had an impact too big to ignore.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" the king questioned, only causing Izaya's body to tense.
The king was just a walking pretense.
Better than his father, it was frightening really. Looking at him even Izaya had trouble seeing anything but innocent curiosity in his question.
But what he saw when he rode on that horse that had been the real king.
This felt very much like a facade.
"I heard you called a mercenary?" the king questioned further.
Izaya tensed- but kept his appearance upright.
"I hope it's not a bother?" Smooth like honey the words rolled off his tongue. Innocent and sweet.
Even the king seemed to be perplexed at a woman's charm.
"Not at all. Please, do make up for everything our castle may lack."
How generous. Who was he trying to fool? The common folk? The maids?
Looking at the two like the main act of a theater, Izaya did them a favor and bowed curtly.
"Thank you for your kindness."
They were hollow, shallow words.
"Do you like the game?"
Following the blond's gaze Izaya let his eyes travel to the chessboard.
Was he actually curious?
Or was it just a masquerade? Surely had to be.
They were surrounded by people after all.
"I certainly do, you can join me for a game if you wish, my king." Izaya offered politely.
A soft snort, however, met his ears and he looked at the king with a puzzled expression
"You are aware we are supposed to be husband and wife by the end of the week, right?" The king suddenly questioned, a slight whiff of amusement laying in his voice.
What?
"Drop the title."
Ah.
Bowing softly once more the raven rolled his eyes where he wasn't seen.
"If you wish." Empty words. That's all they were, and suddenly the king sighed.
"... is that all you say?"
Izaya barely got to raise his face before his wrist was grabbed with a yelp.
Almost losing the coat the raven stumbled after the king as he made his way through the masses.
"Wait, what-" and suddenly there was a horse.
Beautiful. Black. Strong. It had to have cost a fortune and only the best of care while upbringing.
Letting go of Izaya's wrist the king hoisted himself into the saddle.
A hand was offered and the blond cocked his head sideways.
"Get on."
Two on one?
Goosebumps traveled down Izaya's spine.
No way. Riding so close to each other- it was way too risky. His physique might be fairly feminine but his body was still that of a man.
He was bound to notice something.
"I would rather not, I'm not too fond of horses," Izaya quickly lied.
"Or afraid."
A frown appeared on Izaya's expression in reflex.
As if.
"I'm not-" but he didn't get to end his words. Quickly, with ease, as though he didn't weigh anything at all the blond reached around the raven's waist and hoisted him up onto the horse.
Izaya was delirious-
"Don't worry, you won't fall."
What was with that man?! Was that how he treated a woman? Did he not know of any decency?!
to be continued~
Uff Shizuo already kidnapping his wife- if you expected this story to be slow I will gladly disappoint you xD I have quite the events planned for the next few chapters, not to mention until the grand wedding day C: C: C: C:
Ohoho so much drama
be prepared xD
Anyway, welcome to week 2# of my trying to update 5 chapters haha this time- I only managed 2 updates tbh xD Sns and Impostor haha
Has been a bit of a stressy week, but I will try to get more updates out next friday xD Should be more than possible haha
Also! Just for those who are wondering, SD the originified version was announced for tomorrow the 10th December, but since I´m having someone draw a better cover for my books I need to wait until that is done before I can publish it :3 Aka- it will take a little longer xD A week I´m guessing, around christmas I should be able to upload :3 I will also update the bcd book in the coming week (WITH page numbers x'D) and the new cover :3
Well then, with that being said, see you on friday in the next update~! :3