"Rise and shine, folks! Today''s a day for opening those wallets wide, to give a little extra to those in need, alright?" Harriet said, her voice breaking into sobs, which soon had all thedies in the room tearing up in empathy. "The princess is right," they echoed, their voices a chorus of agreement.
I was utterly dumbfounded.
As Helen and I made our rounds, I suddenly found myself whisked away into a corner by a firm hand. It took me a moment to realize it was Lily, who pressed a finger to her lips before whispering, "So you actually showed up. Thought you wanted to keep a low profile, living like an average Jane."
I pulled down my mask, a smirk ying on my lips. "And miss out on witnessing this country''s absurd extravagance firsthand?"
Lily''s lips curved into a cool smile. "So, ready to be the heroes this country needs? Harriet''s fiancé hails from the most powerful nation in the region, a ce bursting at the seams with wealth. Their queen bore twins, but tragedy struck, and they were left fighting over the throne. The younger brother vanished without a trace, while the elder set his sights on Bravend''s mineral riches, sealing the deal with an engagement to Harriet. Strong allies make for a bold stance, it seems."
This was all news to me,pletely shattering my understanding of the situation.
"And what''s my role in all this? I can take Harriet out of the picture, but I''ll need someone to distract her fiancé with a little flirtation."
The moment Lily outlined the n, I got the gist.
"You''re suggesting I seduce him?"
If Max found out, he''d hang me out to dry.
"Max would have my head. But what about Helen?" Her gaze shifted towards Helen, who kept watch from a few feet away.
If we were talking about quality, Helen was indeed the perfect candidate for the job.
"When do we strike?"
"Tonight. My people are alreadyying the groundwork. Harriet''s nning to use Kate as the grand finale of their little auction. I''ll take Harriet out then, and you''ll swoop in to save her and her sisters."
Lily''s touch was gentle as she spoke, "I told you once, ire, I wanted you to lead a normal life. My days are consumed with violence; I don''t want the same for you."
For the first time, I felt the warmth of kinship, embracing her tightly.
Lily was the first person I could truly call family.
"There''s nothing like having family," I thought, a newfound sense of belonging warming my heart.
"Stay safe," she whispered, slipping something into my hand before disappearing into the crowd. Helen approached, a look of concern
etched on her face. "Your siste
she''s brimming with a killer''s intent."
GLAS
I didn''t respond, instead examining the emblem in my hand - a leopard engraved
on a copper seal, the symbol of Bravend.
"Is this Bravend''s royal seal?"
Helen, ever the skilled assassin Max had trained, recognized it immediately.
"Is my sister entrusting me with
legacy?" The thought struck me
hard. Why did it feel like every
family
connection I made was doomed to end in tragedy?
"Helen, I can''t lose her, not her."
But Helen shook her head, "She''s prepared to risk it all, even her life. No matter what you do, she won''t back down."
The room, already dim, plunged into darkness, save for a spotlight that suddenly illuminated the stage.
And my eyes, they were fixed on Lily.
Feeling utterly powerless was a sensation I detested. Step by step, I moved
closer, even as Harriet began her frantic search for Lily.
Lily approached, and Harriet clung to her, "Were you off seeing that noblewoman?"
Lily''s face remained impassive. "No."
And there I was, not far off, catching the cold re Harriet shot my way.
"Tonight''s auction highlight: two beautiful women, up for grabs to the highest bidder to take home as their wife."
The man pushing arge ss box
onto the stage was Kate''s brother-
the same guy I''d seen at the café,
still wearing a mask and keeping his head down, personally offering his
sister up for auction.