Chapter 5- You Don't Think Like A Child
1995 Words
"Jerrison must count himself lucky to be a human. If he was a beetle, I wouldn't hesitate to crush him. Nevertheless, he'd better make good use of his remaining days before I make him shut up forever because I won't rest until he pays for everything he said about my mother! " Dawn was so lost in her musing that she didn't notice that the guard had returned
"Hey you! What are you doing over there?" Jerrison asked and Dawn only stared at him
"I'm standing? Or should I say, leaning on the pillar?" She said, propping one leg on the pillar with an elbow resting on it. The guard muttered a curse under his breath before opening his mouth to speak but she beat him to it
"Hey you!" She called and he gaped at her, clearly confused
"What are you doing over there?"
"The hell!? I'm doing my duty!"
"So you're saying your duty switched places?"
"I'm not sure I understand what you mean"
"What happened to West Hall? Hmm?" She said with a raised eyebrow and his eyes widened
"You were eavesdropping? You little rascal!"
"I was eavesdropping, yeah. But I'm not really sure it's nice to call a young innocent child like me ' rascal ' " she said and he scoffed
"How long were you there for?"
"Say about thirty minutes?"
"Come over! You shouldn't be there" he said, looking around
"I'm quite comfortable where I am. But you can come over if you like?"
"Your highness!" He bowed to someone behind her
"Try again. I know Consort Elena doesn't come out until after eleven o'clock. It's barely half past ten!" She said, checking her nails absent mindedly
"Fine!" He said, straightening up angrily. "Enough of this nonsense! You really need to get away from there"
"I really liked that bow, y'know. No one has ever bowed to me before. Especially in such respectful manner. Can you do that again?"
"This is it! I'm coming over" he said and stomped angrily to where she was
"Finally" she sighed mockingly
"Wait a second. You look familiar" he said with a thoughtful gaze as he drew near
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. You look a lot like that woman's daughter. Wait...so you're not a boy?"
" Do I look like one?"
"For such a small girl you sure do talk a lot"
"Thanks. It's not every day you get compliments y'know?"
"It wasn't a compliment" he said with a bored expression.
"I'd love to take it as one. So you were talking about a woman?"
"The Emperor's woman? Well, you look like her daughter"
"What happened to 'Emperor's slut' "
"You weren't supposed to hear that"
"But I did. It's too late to go back now"
"Well you can't blame me. This is something everyone knows . It's nothing new".
He said and a smile slowly appeared on her face
"Really!?"
"Yes. So get used to it!" He said and yelped as she suddenly grabbed his right hand and clamped her teeth on it.
"I wouldn't shout so much if I were you. You shout like a woman. That was a compliment, by the way" she said and bit his hand again. He whimpered and struggled to get free. Soon blood flowed out by the sides of her mouth but she still wouldn't let go. He tried to kick her but she moved out of the way and he ended up hitting the pillar. He yelped.
"That wasn't part of the scheme. I hope it doesn't hurt too bad?" She said staring down at his leg pitifully. She rubbed her tongue over her teeth then spat the blood on his clothes. He looked at her in awe
"Don't give me that look. It'd have made a mess of the floor. Now where were we? You were saying every one knows my mother is the Emperor's....? Emperor's what? Is that slut I hear?" She asked and he struggled to free his hand but her grip was surprisingly tight
"Tsk. You must have been a very stubborn boy while growing up. Just look at how you struggle! Don't worry, I'm here to help you change that" she said and lowered her mouth to his hand. To her utmost surprise, he began to cry.
"You're a girl. You shouldn't be so vicious. How do you feel having blood in your mouth?"
"Very displeased. But what has to be done must be done"
"Please I'm begging you. Don't bite me again. Just let go already"
"I thought we were having fun here? What's with the pleading and the face? You look relatively pathetic"
"Your mother is not a slut. She's the Emperor's woman. Infact, she's the most beautiful woman around here" he said with pleading eyes and she bit down on his hand again before letting go
"There. At least you shouldn't be able to hold chopsticks properly for a week!"
"I'll make sure the Emperor hears of this"
"I'm not stupid. The Emperor won't care about a guard's injury but I wonder if the Emperor will care if he knows who has been tampering with court records and who has been stealing court artifacts"
"Shh! What kind of child are you? You shouldn't know too much. It's detrimental to your health!" He said looking around cautiously while she stared at him, bored
"What are you? A doctor? You're quite funny, Jerrison. "
"Don't talk to me like that. I'm not your age mate."
" Of course you aren't. And so what if I talk to you the way I want? What would you do about it?" She asked amusedly as he pulled out his sword
"I'll cut off your tongue. That'd ensure you don't say too much"
"I'm not scared of the metal scrap in your hand. I can bet on both of your legs that you can't even use that weapon. You don't have the guts to cut off my tongue but even if you manage to, well you won't be able to cut off my hands to stop me from writing down what I know because you won't live to tell the story" she said with a smirk
"I'm shaking!" He scoffed. "But I warn you, kid. If anything we discussed here is heard some where else, I'll make you and your mother miserable"
"Are you trying to threaten me?" She asked with a short laugh.
"Well, congratulations because it's working. I'm mortified!" She said and laughed again
"What's so funny?" He asked with a frown and she turned serious immediately
"Now listen. You can't threaten me 'cause your life is basically in my hands. I know you have the map of the soldier's garrison and division in and out of the city. Imagine what would happen if I reveal this to the Emperor. I also have all the evidence I need to back up. I don't need to do it personally but I have a way to make it get to him. What do you think, Jerrison?" She said with a smirk as she watched him heave in anger
"The Emperor won't believe you. There's no way he'll listen to a child's nonsense" he said and she straightened up with a fake shocked expression
"Won't he? We both know what kind of Emperor he is. Always looking for threats to his life and throne so as to find excuses to kill people. Don't you think he'd be interested in hearing the story about the artifacts and map? Uncle Jerrison, didn't I say it just now? I'm not stupid. You don't think I'll run into the morning assembly to report you, right? There are so many ways to get the information across."
"What are you?" Jerrison asked and Dawn frowned before climbing up the pillar so that she now reached his chest.
"I'm not a thing. Uncle Jerrison, what do you mean?"
"You don't think like a child. Let's not even talk about how you got to find out my secrets. Who are you? Are you some old man reincarnated in a child's body?" Jerrison asked and she rolled her eyes.
"You're really amazing, Uncle Jerrison. You're actually in the mood to ask if I'm a reincarnation or not. Do you believe I'll tell the Emperor your dirty deeds!?" Dawn threatened with her voice increasing. Jerrison quickly hushed her while looking around.
"Fine. What do you want?" He asked finally in surrender and she reached out to pull his neck down to her level
"Just stay away from my family. I don't want to ever hear you say a bad word about my mother again. Understand?"
"Yeah!" He said as she let go of his neck. "How did you find out about all these things anyway? I can't believe I fooled everyone including the Emperor except a little child." He said incredulously and she scoffed.
"A magician never reveals the secret of his magic" she replied with a smirk and he scoffed
"That'd sound better if you truly had magic!" He said and her eyes lit up.
"Of course I do. Let me prove it to you" she said and clasped her hands together, closing her eyes. He watched her curiously as she muttered incoherent words.
"Now turn around. What do you see?" She asked when she opened her eyes. Jerrison frowned as he looked around
"Nothing!" He said and turned around. He didn't expect the foot that came in contact with his chin. The force threw him about fifteen meters away
"Damn! What was that for? Why are you so brutal? How can you kick with such strength?" He asked while looking at her warily.
"Could it be true that an old monster reincarnated in this girl? That would be such a pity. " He thought.
"To correct your brain's defect. It's so easy to fool you. Have you heard of anyone who has magic? Anyway that kick was for two reasons. Firstly, to put your brain back in order of course and secondly, to seal our deal. Do you have any questions or objections?" She asked with mock concern.
"None at all. Little kid, I'll let you go today but next time it won't be so easy whether or not you know my secrets!"
"Whatever. Just go already!" She rolled her eyes and he left after giving her a last look.
"I thought so!" She said with a devilish smirk
"You call yourself a martial artist and a palace guard but I could easily kick your face." She clicked her tongue disapprovingly and crossed her arms proudly.
"That's not entirely your fault, after all I am not an ordinary martial artist. Even some generals won't be my match." She giggled softly, looking very proud and accomplished.
"Just a little more height. I just need to grow a little taller and I'll be able to take them all down. The difference in height makes it easy for me to be bullied but I am Dawn Winslow! Dawn Winslow is the God of All Bullies. I can never be bullied. Those who bully me will surely suffer!" She giggled again with her eyes sparkling with mirth.
"Who are you talking to, Dawn?"
"Oh mother! You're back" she turned around with a smile and took the empty flower pot from her. Freya looked very tired
"My question, Dawn. Who were you talking to?"
"No one, mother. The place is empty as you can see. I was just musing aloud"
"Well you shouldn't! Walls have ears, you know?"
"I know, mother. It'll never repeat itself" she said and smiled when her mother gave a nod of approval.
"Let's just go home, Dawn. I don't know how long I can keep up!"
"Are you okay, mother?" She asked in worry as Ting rubbed her forehead
"I'll be fine, don't worry about me".
"Okay. Let's go home then" she said and they strolled back together
Author's Note: Lady Cara is the official in charge of Consort Pearl's clothes.
- Writer
