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Chapter Twenty-Three

Zorya

I walked past the other guests as they straightened.

"Is this why you wanted to come," Amoux asked as he walked beside me.

Spotting displeasure on the fifth princess's face, I smiled, looking away. "I can't be that petty in your eyes, can I?"

"It's not that you're petty; it's that you're a bit mad."

Stopping by the refreshment table, I plucked up a strawberry and turned it back and forth in my hand. "A bit; it looks like I should start trying harder."

"Why did you wish to come, Princess," Sena asked, picking up a glass of water. "There isn't anyone, at least that I know of worth meeting here."

Taking a bite out of the strawberry, I hummed. "It depends on your perspective of "worthy." Last night, I snuck out."

Sena's handsome face darkened. "Snuck out? Do you know what happens to students who leave Fhakian grounds when the gates are closed, regardless of rank?"

"Expulsion, but for me, that's not a concern," I grabbed a grape and tossed it in my mouth. "I was forced to attend the academy due to my "wild" behavior. My father's words, not mine. Anyway, focus, Sena," I chided him.

Amoux snorted, "Yes, Sena. Pay attention and do not derail the conversation. So, princess, in your own words, you snuck out and—."

"Went to the slums for a bit of a stroll, and on this long walk, along with my trusted knights, I came upon a very depressed beast man, a wolf-beat man to be exact."

The sound of a cough made me pause, and I looked away from the little cake I contemplated taking to see Amoux covering his face with hands and his shoulders shaking."

"Why are you laughing?" I wondered if my noble kindness was triggering Amoux. Then I felt a bit of pity; after all, would he have ever been able to experience noblesse oblige when he'd been running after my sister and ex-husband?

A heavy sigh from my other side drew my attention from Amoux, and I found Sena staring straight ahead his eyes narrowed and what looked like a vein ticking in his jaw.

Disturbed, I couldn't help but ask, "Sena, are you okay? Did you see someone you perhaps hate?"

He flinched as if I'd surprised him and whipped his startled gaze to me. "No, princess. I'm fine. I thought it must be hard for nobles to have foolish knights to serve them."

I shook my head and patted his arm. "That's kind of you to think about; finding good knights like mine is not easy."

Once again, I could hear Amoux scoff before he sounded like he was holding back his laughter. I decided to ignore him and continue telling my story.

"So, as I was saying, my dutiful and well-trained knights followed me in assisting this poor, poor beast-man to a bar where we met many of his friends. All big and strong but pitiful men who needed help. So—I decided to help them, and when I learned that the two top-scoring fighters in our school would be invited, I knew they wouldn't begrudge helping me."

I was eager to hear Sena praise me for my kindness. I did not feel guilty leaving out my strategic manipulation. He didn't need to know how cruel I could be...Wait, maybe it was too late. Well, I should balance it well with my kind act.

While I was lost in thinking about balancing my villainess behavior with my heroic appearance, two large hands landed on my shoulder.

"Princess, Zorya, I think I know my wish."

I looked up and met Sena's deep gaze. "Ah, can it wait?"

He leaned down closer, and I caught a whiff of his frosty smell. "No, it can't."

I glanced over his shoulder and spotted a few of the servants blocking the hallway, exchanging words before they walked away, disappearing down the long hallway.

"Are you sure?" I asked again, hoping he'd say yes. "I just really need to use the powder room, and I'm not sure I can hold back."

With another sigh that could move mountains, he finally let go of my shoulder and straightened. "Go, I can wait."

I smiled and patted him, "I'll be right back."

And I quickly walked in the same direction as the servants. Those I passed avoided my gaze and seemed to scatter to get out of my way. Children of rats would find it hard not to act as their parents did.

Just as I entered the hallway, I saw that it diverged into three different entrances that led deeper into the mansion.

"Which way?"

The shadows around the cracks shook and scattered, and two Panther tribe children appeared. Their skins were covered in intricate tattoos; one walked forward, grabbed my hand, and brought it to their head.

"Praise," the little one whispered, looking up at me with big purple eyes. His tail flicked back and forth.

I pressed my lips together to keep from releasing a squeal. This is why I wasn't allowed to be involved in their training. Placing a hand on his thick, curly hair, I rubbed a hand through it. "You both are doing so well, being my little shadows."

The lazily swaying tail immediately moved faster, and the corners of his stoic little face kicked up in the corners.

"Awe, you're so cute; tell me, little one, what's your name?"

"Shae."

I nodded and looked at the one who kept looking from Shae to my hand and then back to Shae. "And you, what's your name?"

Little ears that held swaying gold tinkling jewelry rang, and the little ones' faces turned bright red before they ran forward, grabbed my other hand, and boldly placed it on their heads. "Jui."

Softly smiling down at them, I gently rubbed their heads. "Well, Jui and Shae, can you guide me to the entrance to the secret path?"

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