4
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I touched my lips repeatedly, I was still shocked that she even kissed me. I knew Elizabeth was a flirt, but this was something else. It wasn't on the cheek, it was a full blown kiss on the lips. And I kinda wanted it again.

I walked out of my room for dinner and saw my other Knights gossiping to each other, I didn't care. It wasn't about me, it was probably about Pepper. She was the top Knight and dealt with the Unspeakables. I only met her once and saw her fight once, she was incredible. She was the first and I saw why. She was quick and clever, hell she didn't even actually have a weapon. She used gauntlets to take down anything. I wish I was that powerful, but I did like my cutlasses. They were nice.

I walked into the hall and noticed Elizabeth talking to Shire, her butler? Assistant? Something close to her. Shire was holding a scroll and nodding to Elizabeth, who was babbling away. I sat in my usual chair and Elizabeth noticed me.

"Darling! You came out, thank my dad for that." She laughed.

The rest filed in and we waited.

"Before we start dinner, I need to say something." Elizabeth spoke swiftly and her outfit was different. It now had feathers.

"This concerns all of you, so you better pay attention." She took the scroll from Shire and rolled it out. "This is a list of you in order of kills each of you caused."

This happened once every two months and was a big deal to the lesser known Knights. I was usually in the top ten, but it didn't matter. Nothing ever happened with the top ten, only the top five.

"We'll start from ten, which is Maze. Nine is Clarisse. Eight, Emma..." She droned on until I heard my name.

"Two, Clothilde and one, Pepper." She looked over at me, smirking.

How did I manage to get second? It made no sense, I cannot go from six to two in a matter of- wait. Those two kill I did for Elizabeth, they must've boosted me up. Meaning five, four, and three tied or were close.

"The list will be posted in the training hall tonight if you didn't hear your name, now enjoy dinner!" She handed the scroll back to Shire who rushed off immediately.

The meal tonight was steak. It was a nice steak with green beans and wine. I devoured it in five minutes flat. I looked down at my plate and Elizabeth left.

"Darling, come with me." I followed behind her.

We were alone in the hall and she pushed me against the wall.

"Elizabeth what are you-"

"How do you think about of me?"

"Excuse me..?"

"Am I attractive to you?" She raised her eyebrow, grinning.

"Uh..yes, very.." I wasn't going to lie, she was.

"Oh really now..?" Her eyes were on mine and her smile remained.

"Y-yes.."

"What do you like most about me?"

"Your..your voice.."

"My voice? Do you mean my accent Darling?"

"Y-yes and your hair..it's soft, so soft.." I tried looking away, but she pulled me back into her gaze.

"I know it is, but thank you for appreciating it." She didn't ask anymore questions. She pulled me in closer and closed it by putting her lips on mine.

It was sweet and short. She had her hands in my hair and I had mine on her shoulders. Sadly, she pulled away and smirked.

"Later perhaps." She left me against the wall, swaggering away back to her office.

-

Elizabeth was something. Something that I couldn't live without and I was experiencing this now.  How had I not expected this or predicted it? She was Satan, literal perfection nothing less. I should've seen this coming from a mile away, but I didn't. I went with it or ignored it.

But she ignited something and it was here to stay.

I stayed in bed, reading a random book I picked off the shelf. The book was somewhat interesting, but not the best thing I've ever laid eyes on. It was a about a girl who got kidnapped and thrown in a cellar. The writing wasn't the best, but it was decent. Characters were bland and not the best. The main character was a cliche damsel in distress and a whiny little girl.

I hated her.

I finished it in about two hours since I would cringe and take time to reflect the stupidity of the figurative language that the author added. Then the fact the main love interest has "icy blue eyes," not just any blue, "icy blue." Cringe, cringe so hard. And they were shockingly the villain! Oh my, how surprising!

I threw the book on the floor and ended up falling asleep with the sound of fire burning, just like every night.