Chapter 10.3

"Beldor allows his youngest son – his baby – to marry a cheap dancer," she exclaimed with the haughty tone of a noblewoman and genuine surprise. "Yet he always emphasizes the importance of marrying his sons into appropriate unions."

"What are you doing here?" Ero retorted brusquely.

"First of all, I suppose I should greet you on behalf of my mother."

The woman leaned on the table, never taking her scrutinizing gaze off the supposed couple. For a moment, a smug smile played on her lips.

"Rumors are already circulating in Saron about alleged marriage plans, and she would love to meet the happy bride." The woman revealed her white teeth in a grin. "The old woman will be greatly disappointed. She's hoping for a pretty noblewoman. Miri keeps avoiding the topic whenever your fiancée is mentioned."

In a sudden shift, her voice turned to sheer contempt.

"Now I understand why."

"Alina is a nice girl," Ero defended his girlfriend. "You're certainly not here to congratulate us."

"Actually, I'm looking for someone," the woman admitted. Both could hear Marno grinding his teeth at the previous topic. "There are rumors about a murderer who can be reached through this school."

Yesterday Alina was called a bounty hunter, today she's already called a murderer. That, along with the noblewoman's tone, didn't make her any more likable.

But her father did well to summon her. After all, she decided which missions to undertake and when. If it ever went according to her wishes. And for this, there was only one answer.

"Regretfully," Alina called out sternly, returning the commander a similarly arrogant look as she received. "Our school does not negotiate with King Teron's lackeys." She raised her index finger in a punitive gesture. "A strict prohibition by King Ylias. Any other assignments for our students outside the country require his consent as well."

"What about Ero?" The woman's superiority remained unchanged. "Doesn't he fall under that category, or since when does King Selon allow a citizen of one of the most respected noble families to spend more time in enemy territory than at home?"

If she hoped to gain an advantage in her negotiations, Alina had to disappoint her. Moreover, she was raised to be a strong girl who didn't succumb to blackmail, especially concerning the school.

Alina rolled her eyes briefly in annoyance before the pretty color in them defiantly sparkled at her counterpart.

It was solely thanks to Beldor that father and daughter could present themselves like this. Not intimidated by the position, no matter whose it was. Whether it was the commander of Saron, Miro, or Ura. What mattered was what the kings desired.

Both Selon and Ylias were on their side.

While King Selon couldn't withdraw soldiers, he sent a few of his subordinates here to solely protect him or his nobles.

Meanwhile, King Ylias often invited Ero. The boy was a perfect chess opponent for him. Intelligent, witty, and simply pleasant company as long as his son spent his studies abroad.

That's what Alina threw at her counterpart.

"Ero can come and go in Miro as he pleases," she informed the commander. "He is a welcome guest in our king's castle." Her voice became more emphatic. "All negotiations regarding the school must be conducted through the king, should you or King Teron have any concerns."

The soldier seethed.

"Bring me that cold-blooded murderer," she demanded. "My army is lying in wait, just awaiting a signal from me. If you don't obey, this school will lie in ruins at dawn!"

Ero's eyes widened under the threat, just like Marno's, but Alina remained calm.

"You can't do that!" the boy exclaimed in a desperate gasp. "You can't simply attack someone in Miro without consequences for King Teron."

The woman before him laughed.

"I'm not acting on behalf of the king, but in my own interest."

As cold as the steel from which her gaze seemed crafted. Without pity or the like, the commander pursued her path. Anyone who thought to obstruct her would be ruthlessly crushed. It was truly believable of her to have stabbed her own sister in the back.

Such people disgusted Alina.

"Marno's school enjoys special privileges!" Ero fought the battle alone.

Over the years, this place had become his home, not his father's villa, but the small hut he shared with various students.

"Neither of the kings can attack the school. King Teron had to sign that agreement too."

"Dearest Ero!" the commander interrupted him with a single twitch of her cool demeanor. "The people still speak reverently of a village that once defied the kings."

She leaned forward, a cunning smile on her lips. Enjoying the mere thought of it.

"What a bold leader they had, to force the kings into such a pact. But not even that stopped me from attacking them. Your father can surely tell you the rest."

Alina bowed her head sadly, sensing she wouldn't be able to resist. The commander had no reason to lie. What would she gain from it?

"The only thing you truly achieved back then was plunging your poor mother into deep sorrow," Ero exclaimed indignantly. He didn't even bother hiding how much he despised this woman with straw-blond hair.

Even Alina's decision was made easier by this. Moreover, if she were to expose who bore this rather unflattering reputation, the woman wouldn't believe it.

Alina leaped from her supposed fiancé's lap. She even had to wriggle out of his quite firm grasp, hoping to bind her to him.

Yet she wasn't even considering dropping this charade.

"Ero, let the adults talk," she called out in a childish innocence. Gestures and tone that struck a sensitive nerve with this woman.

She felt it was the greatest insult to be disregarded by such a stupid peasant. And from Alina's perspective, she could continue seeing it that way.

Alina didn't like the woman.

"You promised to buy me new dresses," she would still need to find out in which of his castles her king currently resided. King Ylias had a tendency to have a new castle or a small residence built. Thus, he spent most of the year traveling, enjoying different parts of his vast kingdom.

Ero would be a great help in this. After all, the king liked the young nobleman. He didn't quite see Alina at his side as a real fiancée, more like a brief distraction, as he called it. Yet he gladly announced his attendance at a possible wedding.

They needed to find out what protection they could get from Nerre's threats. Besides, Alina was tired of this woman badmouthing her or her school. She could bother Marno with that, but not her.

"Alina, didn't I buy you five dresses a few weeks ago?" her father's stern voice cut across her.

A tone that always made her flinch earlier.

"What kind of wear and tear do you have, girl?"

"It's all my audience's fault," she protested loudly, with no intention of being intimidated by anyone. "They just don't like the dresses on me as much and keep ruining them."

Unfortunately, it was true. Some of those people got rough and tried to assault the girl. Only a few missions remained peaceful for her.

Her gaze shifted to Ero, who was playing her fiancé today. Sometimes she wished he would stand by her side during the missions and protect her from intrusive onlookers.

Unfortunately, this seemed impossible, as he turned his head away now, sensing her thoughts.

"I've had enough!" Her fists hitting the table sounded even before her shout. "What do you think you're doing?"

Immediately, the small group in front of her looked to Nerre, but she already held her sword in her hands. Equally surprising was her next action.

Alina was about to take a step away from her when the blade slid under her chin.

"Bring me that infamous angel immediately," she commanded with an impatient tone. "If you don't obey, I'll make sure your little daughter has one less problem."

Her teeth were revealed in a grim smile. The eyes glaring with pure rage.

Alina raised her finger to the blade.

She wanted to push it away with a slight nudge, but in the attempt alone, it swung back, this time even closer to her skin.

It was a massive blade, double-edged and sharpened daily. A single swing of it could be wielded by the woman with deadly precision, not like Alina, who never took risks but fought in her own cunning way.

The woman before her still didn't intend to hurt her. But soon, if no one intervened. At best, the blade would cut through her skin, leaving an ugly wound.

For her, it was one of the worst thoughts of all the things that could happen.