Vincent had already left the manor by the time Elaina's tea was served, walking through the city as the sun was descending.

He knew he had screwed things up wit hElaina, he'd gotten bloodthirsty after the engagement with the spies, and then finding out about the murder of the cities mayor, and just how poorly the wretched fake mayor had tried to hide it.

“Stabbing him and then the curse was probably a little much. I was trying to scare him, but I scared Elaina instead.” Vincent muttered to himself.

He kept an eye out for a certain shop, and in particular for small family groups that he could talk to.

The war had displaced thousands, many fleeing before the hordes of the empire set upon them, hearing of the ruthlessness that they showed to those that were conquered, so even the streets of his relatively minor demesne were rapidly filling up with refugee's.

“Damn. I need to get something set up to house all of these refugees.”

“Please sir... do you have any food? Or a little coin? Me and my daughters... we havent had more than a cup of soup in days.”

Vincent focused in on a small group of women, one woman in her thirties and two in their teens.

Vincent reached into his purse and fished out a coin, and held it out to the woman, but hesitated in releasing it as she grabbed it.

“Can you cook?”

“What?”

“Clean?”

“I mean... of course...”

“Your daughters?”

“What?”

“Can they cook and clean?”

“Of course... what are you talking about?”

“I'm trying to offer you and your daughters a job.”

“Oh... I... what?”

“Sorry, I'm tired, I just got in a fight with my fiance, there are spies in my city.” Vincent sighed.

“I am Vincent Ustral, Prince of this kingdom and lord of this land. I just arrived with my fiance, and my manor has been shut down for some time, and we have only minimal staff. I need more maids and some ladies in waiting for my fiance.”

The woman's mouth moved up and down as she processed what vincent had said, before finally throwing herself to one knee in front of him.

“Your highness.”

This made Vincent pause. Not because she showed obeisance, but because she knelt like a soldier instead of curtseying.

“Were you a guard?”

“I was part of Lady Dellawain's personal retinue sir.”

“Dellawain... I fought with her nearly a year ago. What are you doing here?”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“My lady fell, and the imperials burnt out her holdings. I was one of the few of her retinue to survive. I managed to retreat and made it home. My daughters were hiding under the floorboards, but my husband...” She closed her eyes and tried to keep her emotions from her eyes.

“Rise. What is your name?” Vincent commanded.

“Annabelle Tettenhoffen M'lord.”

Vincent looked her up and down.

“Were you able to salvage any of your equipment?”

“Unfortunately I have been forced to sell all but my sword. All that was not destroyed in the fighting that is.”

Vincent nodded at this.

“Well, your skills would be valuable, I believe that someone will be coming to try to kill me and my fiance soon, and having a maid near her with combat experience.”

Annabelle went stiff.

“Are we expecting an attack here sir? I thought we were well behind the front lines.”

“We are miss Tettenhoffen, it is not the city that is likely to be attacked, but myself and my fiance, specifically by assasins. We flushed out a group of spies and uncovered some corruption here just as we arrived, so I am afraid we've stirred the hornets nest.”

Annabelle looked downcast at this.

“Sir... I'll serve you without hesitation, but... I am afraid of putting my daughters in danger. If you are right about assasin's coming after you...”

“While I cannot guarantee their safety, I believe they will be safer around me and my fiance than elsewhere. If I am correct you won't be in any more danger guarding us than you will on these strees.”

Vincent motioned to the streets around them. While it was obvious the people of the town were trying to keep things up, the refugee's lining the streets were starting to give the surroundings a run down feeling, and it definitely did not feel safe.

“In addition, you will have my own guard around the premisis, and Elaina herself is a potent diviner, so she should be able to sense trouble before it shows up. Does this make you feel better about the safety of yourself and your daughters?”

Annabelle nodded, then called behind her. “Girls! We have work! And a new place to stay!”

Two younger girls... Vincent blinked, younger, they must have been barely younger than him and Elaina. The two young women joined their mother from where they had been sitting on the side of the street.

“Now, there is one more thing you can help me with.”

“Oh? What is it my lord?” Annabelle asked, her two daughters looking up at him.