A Smile That Killed Me Once

Why was she here?

 

The woman sitting in front of me had long blonde hair and sharp golden eyes. She wore a black dress with a black fur overcoat. This was Elara von Aurelius. The Princess of the Aurelian Empire.

 

She looked at me with a mischievous smile. I felt my chest tighten. I wanted to scream. I wanted to reach for a sword that was not there.

 

I gritted my teeth. The frustration was a cold weight in my gut. I forced my expression to remain flat. I could not let her see the storm inside me.

 

“Come have a seat,” she said. Her voice was smooth like silk. “It has been a while since we last met. Let us have a chat.”

 

I did not speak. I moved quietly and sat in the seat across from her. Every muscle in my body was tense. My heart was beating violently.

 

“Why so quiet?” she asked. She tilted her head slightly.

 

“Oh sorry,” I replied. My voice sounded distant even to me. “I still have not fully recovered from the night I was attacked.”

 

I watched her eyes. I wanted to gauge her reaction. I wanted to see a flicker of guilt or a shadow of the monster who had stabbed me. I wanted to see the killer beneath the royal mask.

 

“I heard about the incident,” she said. Her smile faded into something softer. “Actually, I am here to talk about the same topic. I apologise on behalf of the Empire that we could not support you during the incident.”

 

I stared at her. My mind was racing.

 

What do you mean. Weren't you the one who tried cutting me down.

 

I thought these words but kept them locked away. Her expression really showed worry. It was perfect. It was a masterpiece of deception. She looked like someone who cared.

 

“It is not your fault,” I said. I had to keep face. “You should not feel guilty.”

 

If she wanted to play this game, I would play along. We chatted for a long time. She kept trying to strike up conversations to gain my attention. She acted like a concerned childhood friend.

 

I was only interested in pulling out her facade. I observed her face for any irregular movements. I silently brought up instances that only someone present at the moment would know.

 

Her expressions did not change a bit. So, she was always quite the actor. I would not be fooled again.

 

I kept glancing at her bare shoulders when we conversed. I was looking for the mark. I wanted to see if any traces of the wound I gave her were still there. I remembered the way my blade had sliced through the black fabric.

 

I could not find anything. Her skin was unbroken and pale. It must have naturally completely healed by now. Just as mine did.

 

Her expression started to become more sad. I had no idea why. I had tried to act as normally as I could. I could not be disrespectful to the Princess of the Empire after all.

 

“Now I would relay the message,” she said after quite some time. Her tone became formal.

 

“Lord Julius von Valerius. Heir to the Grand Duchy of Valeria. In light of the recent assassination attempt on the delegates from our allied Everwinter Kingdom, your presence is requested in front of His Imperial Majesty, Alaric, The Great Emperor of the Aurelian Empire.”

She paused. Her golden eyes locked onto mine.

“The audience is requested to share your insights into the assailants encountered and how the incident took place. You are requested to arrive at the earliest accompanying Princess Elara, your fiancée.”

 

I felt a chill run down my spine. I expected the Empire to pressure us. I did not expect them to call me specifically. And all while accompanying her.

 

The situation just took a turn for the worst. The villainess had a smile on her face again.

 

What was the Empire planning? What was she planning?

 

I looked at my father. He was a little tense from this revelation. We had to plan what to reveal and what to keep hidden.

 

I made the excuse of recovery again and we decided to fix the date of departure later.

 

I was in a very bad situation. I was walking into a den of lions. Explaining the incident was one issue but traveling with her was another.

 

I had even lost my magic. I was vulnerable.

 

But if I did not go, they would just barge in to investigate instead. That would leave room for more infiltrators to enter. It would reveal our weakness to the world.

 

The meeting was concluded. She was assigned to a guest room. I went back to my own room. I needed time to think.

 

I did not want her to stay in my castle after what she had done. But here she was, living inside like she had done nothing.

 

She had killed me once. She had tried it again. And now she was still trying to act friendly.

 

I was inside my own home but I could not tell anyone the truth. I needed to make allies again.

 

I spent the rest of the day silently observing what she was doing.

 

After she was done conveying the message she went to her assigned room to rest.

 

I could not know what she was doing when she was inside. But when she was outside, I just silently observed her from the sides.

 

In the afternoon she went to visit my mother. I was a little anxious at first. I felt a surge of protectiveness. But I knew she would not dare to do anything. Not when I was watching. Not when so many eyes were around.

 

Their conversation lasted for hours. I heard them laughing through the door. The sound made my skin crawl. It was a beautiful sound used by a monster.

 

It was almost evening. I went to the training grounds to practice. I could not let my sword lose its edge now, I needed it to be even sharper now.

 

I had made up my mind. I would go to the royal capital of the Empire. I would face the Emperor.

 

I swung my sword in the fading light. The air was cool. I focused on the rhythm of the blade. I focused on the burn in my muscles.

 

“Mind if I join in too?”

 

I stopped. I turned around.

 

She was standing there. Her hair was tied into a ponytail. She had changed into a shirt and pants.

 

She was going to join anyway.

 

She was always like this.

 

She asked but she had already decided.

 

I looked at her. The woman who had ruined my life.

 

“Do what you want,” I said.

 

I raised my sword again. The sun was setting. The shadows were growing long.

 

The journey to the capital would begin soon. I would be trapped with my killer for weeks.

 

I had to get stronger. I had to find a way to get my magic back.

 

I struck the training dummy with everything I had. The wood groaned under the impact.

 

She picked up a practice sword. She stepped onto the grass.

 

The game was continuing. And I was the only one who knew the stakes.

 

I would not die a second time. I would not let the fire start again.

 

I watched her move. She was graceful. She was deadly.

 

“Let’s see how much you’ve improved Julius,” she said.

 

I did not smile back. I only gripped my sword tighter.

 

The silence between us was heavy. It was filled with things I could not say. It was filled with the smell of smoke and the memory of blood.

 

We began to move. The sound of wooden swords clashing echoed through the courtyard.

 

I will watch her. I will learn her secrets.

 

The capital was a long way off. And the lions were waiting.

 

I swung low. She parried. Her movements were fluid and natural. Her movements now were different from when she was trying to kill me.

 

I stepped back and breathed. The air was getting colder.

 

I looked at her golden eyes. I saw the girl I used to love. I saw the woman who killed me.

 

I wondered which one was real.

 

I wondered if the girl I loved ever existed at all.

 

I lunged forward again. I did not use magic. I used my anger.

 

The sound of wood on wood was the only thing in the world.

 

I will survive this. I will save my family.

 

I will find out the truth behind the Nameless Order.

 

The stars began to appear in the sky. They were cold and distant.

 

I kept swinging. I kept watching.

 

I will not let her win.

 

The journey would be a test. A test of my patience and my resolve.

 

I will walk into the Empire. I will walk into the heart of the enemy.

 

And I will come back alive.

 

I gripped the hilt until my knuckles turned white.

 

The villainess smiled as our blades met again.

 

The fight had only just begun.