Royal Blood: Chapter 25 (Patreon)

Chapter 25: Honest Men

I didn’t show it, but internally I was still shaking. Once again, I’d gone into a fight that should have seen me splattered against the wall, and it was only my prep and my plan that saw me through mostly unscathed.

Even then, it had come down to the extra knives Nezza picked up for us a few days ago. If she hadn’t blinded Gyeard, and instead went for the kill, he would have just splattered us both with two knives sticking out of his neck.

I blinked.

“You knew you wouldn’t be able to kill him.” I told Nezza.

“Yeah,” she replied. “I could see that he had a ton of Endurance. It was like…a shroud around him, protecting him.”

I let out a hiss. So she’d went for the eyes on purpose, knowing that it wouldn’t kill him, then she’d trusted that her dagger form and I would be enough to cut through the rest of his health.

“Thanks, you saved my ass.”

“No biggie.” I could hear the smirk in her thoughts. “We’ve got a bargain, don’t we?”

“Forget Marchessa, I’m tempted to make you a Duchess.”

“No! You promised Marchessa, and that’s what I want.”

I blinked at her sudden vehemence. I guess demons took their deals more seriously than I thought. I wasn’t sure I got the concept, but it was nice to see Nezz really coming into her own.

Guess I’d have to find another way to pay her back for saving my bacon.

While I’d been having this conversation, Magistrate Scionus finally gathered his wits. “I thought I’d find you a smear across the wall, your highness.”

“Yeah, well,” I shrugged, “turns out I’m pretty lucky.”

“Should I stay hidden?” Nezza asked.

“Yeah.” I didn’t see a reason to give away my trump card, considering that I would have been a smear on the wall without her.

He sighed, dispelling most of his magic, even as he wove another barrier around the both of us. I let him, mainly because if Scionus was here to kill me, well, he’d had the perfect chance to.

“My own bodyguard,” Scionus said. “He has been with me since before I took the posting at Port Royal no less. I thought him assuredly loyal.”

“Why didn’t you let him in then?” I quirked an eyebrow.

“Because you requested it.” He shook his head. “Regardless, there is little time. I am suddenly much more convinced of the traitors in the palace that have you so afraid.”

“Seems like it’s more than just that.” As we spoke, I quickly policed my own weapons, cleaning the two daggers and my throwing knife before secreting them away beneath Nezza’s borrowed cloak. “You said you’re Elysia’s man.”

“To the quick, your highness.” The man nodded, expression firming. “She has done more for me than I can ever repay.”

I laughed. “Yeah, my sister’s great like that. Ugh, fuck.” I stood up, rubbing my back. It was gonna be one massive bruise tomorrow. And I was gonna fail my mission too. “No way he was here just for me.”

At least I was still alive? Even though it was starting to look like I wouldn’t be staying that way. Go back to the palace and I’d get stabbed in the back. I knew too much, and to top it off, I would actually be a valuable piece on the board for Elysia. Whoever her enemies were, they wouldn’t sit quietly if I came out from the cold.

Going back to the boss without killing my target wasn’t even worth thinking about.

“You believe they’re targeting her highness’s interests.” Scionus folded his arms. “Valid, almost certain, at this juncture.” He nodded once, coming to a decision. “Regardless, the guard will be arriving any second now. It’s only because I have most of the men under my sway out searching for you that we even have this long to converse.”

“Well if you have a plan, I’m all ears.” I spread my hands. “I don’t really see how I’m getting out of this one alive.”

He paused. “It may be…that your best chance is actually to return to the assassins, that is, if you belong to the order I think you do.” When I raised an eyebrow, he elaborated. “There are only three major rings of assassins and other such scoundrels that still operate within the Empire.”

“I’m part of The Blackguards.”

“Perfect. They could care less if I’m actually dead, so long as I’m out of the way. It might have even been a clause in the original contract.” He nodded again. “In that case, this was probably a politically motivated assassination, would you agree?”

I bit my lip. “I was told someone wanted you out of the way because you weren’t taking bribes.”

“I shall resign tomorrow then.”

I shook my head. “My boss won’t like that. I mean, look at me: I’ve managed to scrape through this far because I’ve gotten lucky and my plans have mostly all worked. Boss is just looking for a chance to cut me loose.”

“Then,” Scionus said, “I recommend you make yourself indispensable.” He moved over to his enchanted safe, starting to open it.

As he did, I tried to wrap my head around this course of action. If I could convince Boss to not knock me, it was probably my best chance at survival. The palace was a nest of vipers that I’d survived so far by being no one. Normally, people didn’t just assassinate royalty because you were dead if you got caught.

But if I brought back conclusive proof that there was a high level traitor in the palace, the resulting investigation would leave no stone unturned. Even if the traitor was one of my siblings, they’d be discovered this time.

And so if they were dead anyway, might as well take me down with them.

Meanwhile, the Assassins were clearly working for someone, but they played by their own rules. In addition, the boss had protected me so far. I still didn’t understand his reasoning, but it felt like he was trying to give me a fair shake.

Or at least, whatever his definition of it was.

“Here.” Scionus pushed a thin gold case into my hands.

I flipped it over, tilting my head. It was about the size of a woman’s wallet, one of those long ones that never fit anywhere. There was a latch on the side, with the Imperial Seal drawn to a sharp looking point in the center.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“A Royal Messenger.” Scionus quickly pricked his finger on the seal, and it clicked open. “A master of defensive enchantments, it can only be opened by its intended recipients, or a member of the Royal Family.”

“That seems like a security flaw,” I said.

“And completely intentional.” He smirked. “The Emperor sees all, as they say.”

He quickly removed several of the documents inside. I recognized my sister’s handwriting. With a twist of magic, and what had to be several skills, he made forgeries of them. My eyes widened, he was feeding them false information.

“Not a skill I expected you to have,” I murmured.

“How can you expect a man to catch a forgery, if he does not know how it is made?” He smiled, placing the forged documents back into the Messenger. “At least, that is what the Crown Princess said in my defense, years ago.”

I blinked, before a smile flicked over my face. “She saw the best in you, huh?”

“Indeed.” He snapped the case shut, pushing it into my hands. “The years I have lived since then were a gift, one that I hope I may pay forward to you. Here.” He reached into his safe, pulling out a small, intricately carved cube.

This I recognized immediately. “A skill stone?”

“I converted it into a stone when I promised that I would never use it again.” He handed it to me as well. “Hopefully, it will help you sell our deception.”

I took it, silently.

Skill stones were formed by ripping out a skill from your system; they were the kind of things that were incredibly rare, even by people on their deathbed.

“Did it…hurt?” I asked.

He chuckled. “Like the nine hells. Still, I had actually despaired at finding someone to pass it on to.”

I shook my head. “I’m a nobody, why are you doing this?”

“Because your sister saved my life.” His smile turned wry. “Yours, your highness, has proved to be in a much more perilous position.” He pushed me towards the door. “Now go, we’ve wasted enough time already. I shall return to the Imperial City as fast as I am able, and we shall proceed from there.”

I nodded, darting back down the stairs, Scionus’s words ringing in my ears.

The building itself was still dark and empty, no guards showing up the moment our conversation ended. I didn’t even hear them coming as I slipped back into the basement. The servant guy was still tied up against the wall.

In a moment, I was safe back in the sewers, and blind to whatever else was happening up above.

“Y’know, one of these days I’m gonna have to meet this sister of yours.”

I laughed. The sound echoed off the walls as I started walking. “Yeah, let’s do that.”

I’d have to lay low for a while, until Scionus made it clear that I’d made him quit. I had nothing but his word that it would work.

I looked down at the skill stone I was still holding in my hand. With a flex of will, I activated it.

You have found a skill stone for [Deception]. Would you like to use it?

I almost laughed. That was a weight off my shoulders.

Scionus was an honest man, after all.