Clandestine

3: Bargains and Odds

"Yes, I am the firstborn daughter of the Bavel royal family." I said against my will, fist curled as I admit.

I was young when we fled the kingdom as it surrendered to the Empire. So the title of a 'princess' does not suit me at all. My blood is no longer that of royalty.

I have never spoken about this topic to anyone at all. It's embarrassing how I'm admitting this to someone I barely know just because he backed me up in a corner. The way I don't have a choice angers me most.

"Was that the best way you can think of to hide your mark?" The guy asked as if he finds me ridiculous.

"I did not plan to interact like that."

"And yet you did."

I tried so hard to not be recognized by hiding this stupid diamond shaped birthmark on my forehead. All of my family members exclusively possessed this, and it sure do look like its only purpose is to trouble me!

If I didn't have it, everything would've been much easier. Apparently, everyone can easily recognize if you're a traitor regardless of how you hid using a hood.

I consoled myself desperately, knowing that the truth is that it's my fault for getting into a useless fight and inevitably foiling my plans.

Im no ordinary person.

I can sense danger. I have the ability to see one's future misfortune.

Eversince I was young, I had always received awfully vague visions. All of which are strictly implied misfortunes. Never about blessings nor normal situations. All I ever saw was if danger was coming their way.

And even if I cannot tell mine or sense if I'm entering danger's path, the ability have always been to my advantage.

It was how I was able to get my hands on the Labyrinth key-- the main highlight of my intent. I was threading on thin ice, I made sure all steps were careful.

I've mapped out a whole plan. Getting into a fight in that tavern and getting recognized as one of the members of Bavel's royal family, more known as the 'traitors' wasn't a part of it.

I can't believe that I'm only few steps away from reaching my goal and it all went down the damn drain.

"Eat up." His hands were on his hips and I can only look at him and glare as he stood in front of me, unfazed by the annoyance I show.

"Give that back." I said, ignoring him and the tray of food that he settled in front of me.

"Hm? I'm not hearing you." He faked a yawn.

"...Please. It's mine." I can barely hear my own voice.

"As far as I know, it was yours. But you no longer have a kingdom, Princess. This rightfully belongs to the empire." He had the audacity to smile!

"Don't call me Princess!"

"So should I address you as a thief? Or maybe you'd prefer to be called as the traitor? Which one?" He sarcastically smiled.

I f*****g hate him. I sighed and looked down.

Play safe, Azure.

Truthfully, I was scared. I am a traitor in this land and I only placed heavy addition to my offense by stealing the sacred key. I am fully aware that this man is probably here to arrest me, execute even if you look at it.

But then again, if he was here to kill me, he could have done it earlier. Instead he used a tranquilizing arrow and brought me here--my wounds from the man back in the tavern that wounded me using his nails were even bandaged properly. Surely, he must have some use for me, right? I have to know why and use it to my advantage.

I should try.

"Fine...But before that, who are you?" I asked calmly.

"No one special."

His face looks so extremely punchable.

"Please answer me seriously."

He chuckled, raising both hands as he pointed my food. "Eat up first. Let's talk later."

And so I did. He reassured me that he didn't put any poison or any of the sort on the meal, and as much as I distrusted him, I had no choice.

A curtain on the walls was slightly parted and I can definitely see that it's morning and there is light outside-- the complete opposite of yesterday. That means I slept here right after he caught me. I observed more as I sip from the glass he had given.

The storm had passed. When I touched the raindrops yesterday, I had the intuition that heavy storm will visit the region. Having contact with some people from the crowds and seeing how there's storms in their near future, I concluded that the storm would shake up that night.

I let my eyes roam around more.

The room isn't just decent, it's absolutely refined and classy. I'm not sure if I'm currently on a manor, but it looks like that at most. I looked over the guy.

His structure is lean, I couldn't tell if we are the same age or he's younger than me. He has dark brown hair--almost black and his skin is very fair, in contrast with the tan skin of mine.

The guy looked just as sophisticated as this place, I can already see it from the way he moves and from his clothing. There is really no doubt he's a noble.

Or so I thought once again.

My eyes rested on the chair he's sitting on and noticed the coat properly folded on it.

Squinting my eyes, I tried to confirm if I was seeing right. My chest drummed.

If I'm not mistaken, the coat has the crest of the Imperial family. Maybe...he's more than just a simple noble.

"You finished?" I almost flinched when he asked, eyes focused on me like he was watching me observe.

"Ah." I looked at the tray, clearing my throat. "Yes, I am."

He unfolded his legs and settled the news sheet he was reading on his hand as he stood up. Then he placed his free hand on his nape, looking up, before settling it on his hip.

"How are you feeling?"

"Fine." I was not. I am upset and angry and mad and scared. But filtering my words and actions is the best course for this moment.

"Good."

"About--" I was about to speak when he suddenly threw the news sheet beside me.

I closed my eyes firmly.

“What was that for?” I furrowed my brows. He almost hit me!

“What else is the use of a news sheet? Read it.” He folded his arms.

He could have literally handed it politely. Not throw it that way!

Irritated, I straightened the slightly creased sheet due to his lack of care. After seeing numerous headlines about the Labyrinth key, I flipped the papers.

‘Bavellis screams; A round of stampede resulted to several lives claimed.’

“Turn to the next page.” he commanded.

‘One life lost: A 43 year old man was found dead on a street in the town of Escorva, Bavellis Duchy.’

I then read the article about it. I already had an idea about what it's about even before he handed me the sheet. But seeing it now, I shifted my gaze uncomfortably.

Knives. Bandits. Danger.

“Familiar?”

Very.

“Why did you ask me to read that?” I questioned. Even if I already knew the answer.

The vision I saw came true. The middle-aged man that made a scene at the tavern yesterday ended up dead. In that evening too.

“Let's settle this nicely now.” He declared, folding his sleeves up to his elbows before reaching his hand in front of me. “Greetings, my name is Keiran. Sorry for the mess yesterday.” A frown visibly made its way to my face. “...And for tranquilizing you. I had to do what I had to do.”

“... Azure.” I said my name as introduction, hesitantly looking at his hand.

He leaned more, offering it to me.

“I'm not a stone, you know.” He remarked when I only stared at it.

Still hesitating, I slowly accepted it.

When he shaked our hands, nothing happened. Nothing showed up in my head. That just means that he's safe and he's not in danger anytime for now.

Although I wished he was.

“What are you looking at?” My forehead creased. He was still not letting go of my hand.

“How do you feel?”

“I feel fine, thank you.”

He looked like he was about to speak but he put his thoughts into a halt. He then let go of my hand.

“Okay so, that's good. Let's move on.” He returned to his seat and I just awkwardly sat at the edge if the bed.

“Do you have any idea why I showed you that?”

Like a child being scolded, I answered. “Obviously.”

“Well then, what can you say about it?” It feels like mocking.

I scoffed, meeting his eyes. “Look, I'm aware of all the mess I caused. I knew the consequences before I did it. If you want to put me in prison, then go ahead. Execute me? Alright. But I'm not taking blame for what happened to them, it was them who decided to create wreckage and fight against the Imperial soldiers so recklessly--”

“Wait what?” He looked confused, then his expression changed to amusement as he let out a chuckle. “Jeez, calm down. I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about this.” He pointed the part of the news sheet that's all about the man who died.

“What about it?”

“Come on, don't play this game with me now.” He boredly said.

“Yeah that's the man that had bad blood with me on that tavern. Is that your concern? I don't have anything to do with him. If you think I killed him, then you're wrong.”

“Ah.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “You know damn well what I'm talking about.”

“What are you talking about!”

“You know it.”

“No I don't.” I denied.

“Yes you do.”

“I don't!”

He sighed, leaning on his palm.

“There's really no use of denying, Princess.”

I pursed my lips, gathering the patience left on me to stop the urge to just lash out.

“How can I deny something that I don't even know?”

“Hmm. Not sure.” he still spoke in his bored tone. “You tell me.”

“Tell you what?”

“That you can foresee situations.” Keiran declared. “And you saw what's about to happen to that boy back in the tavern, that's how you got caught up in his mess. Because you tried to save him.”

I was silenced. Not because I'm trying to calm down or anything, but because I knew he was right.

Except for one thing.

I cannot foresee situations, I can only foresee danger and death.

“Is that not the case?” he asked again, obviously circling my mind around the fact that he got it right.

Seeing me quiet and serious, he gave a smile, his elbows rested on his knees as he clasped his hands.

“Now, let me make a preposition.”

---

I'm completely distraught. Just yesterday, my plan was sailing smoothly.

The next blink, I'm here as the plan is going on a whole different direction on a different ship on a different time on a different vast sea.

Escorted by a new asshole who suddenly just boarded my boat, or perhaps it was I who boarded his.

What the hell happened?

I sat down, head busy drowning on processing my thoughts.

Before he can even discuss the so called 'preposition' of his, somebody knocked on the door and called him. It was shocking that he told me--in a soft manner, to wait for him in this place. The matter seemed serious.

What shocked me more is how he was addressed. I cannot believe Keiran is the damn second prince of the Mezocal Empire. The very empire who conquered my kingdom! He never even mentioned that! How can he leave such an important detail? He must be scheming something! So that was why he was so familiar when I saw him on the tavern!

“Hah.” I gripped my hair and stared at the ceiling. I watched the lights reflect on the chandelier which flawlessly was made of silver and gold colors. As pretty it may get, it didn't relieve me one bit.

I'm going to have a heart attack at just the thought of being in the palace.

I don't think Keiran wants me alive, otherwise why would he bring me here? My head would cost a valuable sum of bounty for stealing something of such a high degree. Furthermore, I am considered a traitor. Although not officially banished from the empire, it is just as bad as that! And what's worse is that I'm stepping on the palace ground?

What was he thinking!

I tapped my feet and bit my nails. It's been an hour after he left.

He's the prince. A child of the emperor and empress. What makes me think I can trust him? He'd only sell me out, that's for sure. And to think that he's aware of my identity--and ability.

Fuck. This is stressful.

I already looked around. I am not sure if I could trust him, especially that I'm still kept in the dark about his offer. I don't know why he's keeping me nor do I have an idea about it.

Who knows if everything is just his plan to present me to his father, the emperor so I could be punished?

Okay but he already had the chance to do that when I was unconscious. Why didn't he? He also figured out the gift I have of sensing danger and misfortunes. Surely, he had something in mind where I can be of help?

But this isn't making any sense!

He left me new clothes and necessities in this room. But what for?

I covered my face. This is driving me crazy. Should I trust him?

I was the best when it comes to intuition. All my plans have always been carried out. My guts have always been right.

So how is it that my mind is splitting so much? Decision making has never been hard to me, until now.

Sanity was slipping through my fingers. After that nerve-wracking moment where I was on a verge of a breakdown, I made new plans.

I cleaned myself and changed wardrobe on the baths and grabbed my hood. I made sure I left no traces in the room and forcefully broke a window using a pipe from a drawer that I also forcefully snatched from the structure. I didn't even dare consider the idea to exit using the door.

Lastly, I strapped the sling bag onto my belt.

Screw everything. I'm leaving!

Or not.

Because what are the chances of realizing that you're placed on a room on a high floor in the exact middle of a huge establishment?

In my case, the odds are very high.

Ah, this sucks.