BEATRICE
We were only about an hour from our visit to the most powerful man in the city.
I spent the whole day calming Mina down. Her coughing worsened since we got home and I didn’t know what to do about it.
“I’ll be fine..” She finally said, her voice was as weak as a mouse. I could hear all the mucus-like substance in her lungs. The bags under her eyes were dark, opposite to her weakened skin.
Tears started running down my eyes. I couldn’t do anything to help her. Not back in the arcade. Not right now when she’s been coughing for the past 3 hours after crying her eyes out over her Meistec boss trying to kill us. My heart stung until it reached my throat.
My eyes so were filled with tears that I had to blink to look at Mina’s beautiful face again. She was smiling. Barely. I tried to return her gesture, but I failed as I noticed her starting to cough again, her lungs struggling for air.
I finally let the water filling my throat and heart loose. I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t help but cry over how weak I felt.
At that. At seeing my sobbing, Mina hugged me as tight as she could, which didn’t have the slightest amount of pressure. Her shaking arms tried to stay stable on my back as she rasped, “Please. Be happy. Don’t ever let me slow you down.”
*
I walked through the black iron gate that suddenly opened as I neared it. Stange. I began my steps on the long pebble pathway that led to a large mansion that looked like it was built over 100 years ago.
I stopped a few steps in and looked back to see the whole path behind me leading toward the gate. It seemed Roland bought a magic path rock to transport anyone right to his doorstep if they stepped on the right pebble. They were a rare luxury.
Before I could reach to knock on the dark oak door, it just opened up for me. How many magic items did this man own?!
Right. I reminded myself that he owned a magic artifacts company.
Walking inside, I saw a chandelier in the ceiling. It hovered over the space between two large spinning stairs that lead to the second floor, which was cut in half in front of the stairs, leaving me in the foyer to the ceiling of what would’ve been the other half of the second floor.
Fancy.
The floor beneath me was a red carpet that I could swear would be made of the softest wool. I would lay down on it if it wasn’t for the fact that this was the richest man in Semora and I was nothing but a guest to him
“I do not see why he has such interest in you.”
Oh gods. I felt my heart skip a single beat hearing a deep voice near me. I lifted my head to look at the well-built man standing in front of me.
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My heart skipped another beat and I felt my chest tighten at the sight of him. He would definitely destroy me if he was a Meistec. I bit my lower lip with a shiver running down my spine at the thought. His reply to my reaction was crossing his thick arms over his tough chest.
“Apologies,” he continued with a slight frown on his face. “I did not mean to startle you. My name is Idris.”. He placed a hand on the right side of his broad chest. “I am a friend of Roland’s.”
Idris?!
Another shiver crawled down my spine thinking of that name. “I— Idris?” the words didn’t come out as I expected. “Like the dragon Idris?” My hands couldn’t stop shaking.
Idris arched a brow and gave me a look that said, “Are you stupid?” Despite his incredulous expression, Roland’s home was the closest any building was to that dragon’s forest.
Gods.
I had brought my dagger this time as a precaution. In case had a little unpleasant surprise waiting for me. But I didn’t expect a damn dragon to be here. Much less, the dragon Idris. From what I heard, he was a destroyer of worlds. He had once incinerated an ancient prosperous civilization with a single exhale of his flames. Another time, he had broken the spine of the person that called him an iguana. Then, once he had isolated himself, he had killed anyone that trespassed into his newly claimed territory.
My trembling only stopped when I felt Roland’s hand on my cheek. “Madame,” he softly called out. “You are safe. I promise.” His voice was as subtle as his smile.
My face flushed with what might’ve been embarrassment or anger. I didn’t know why it might’ve been either of those emotions. I just knew it wasn’t me getting a crush on a man who possibly murdered over 150 people in a matter of minutes. ‘Sent them away’ my ass. Besides, I had a girlfriend. I wasn’t going to cheat on my partner.
I blinked out of my daze to Roland looking past me, then assessing my purple purse, which was currently home to my dagger. The more unpredictable the spot, the less suspicious they are. Once his eyes were back on me, he finally said, “You came alone.” Not exactly a question.
I crossed my arms and raised a smooth brow, “Yes, I did. Mina didn’t feel well. She stayed at home.”
His lips curved into a frown, “I can help. I can cure her of her illness.” He offered me a hand and I could see a spark in Idris’ eyes as he stared at his friend.
No. He couldn’t help. Mina’s illness was too severe for even the best doctors to cure. Her illness has been bad for years, and it had gotten worse just last night. So no, he couldn’t help. I wasn’t going to let him help.
I crossed my arms over my chest and raised a brow, “How do you plan on helping, exactly? Not even magic has been able to help Mina. So, how do you plan on helping her?”
Roland offered an apologetic smile “Madame, I have a magic substance that will cure her.”
“With all due respect, Mister Roland, you can’t. You’re not a doctor. You don’t know her symptoms. You don’t know what she’s been through. How do you even know you can cure her?”
“I have my ways. How about you tell me over some dinner what symptoms she’s going through and I’ll see if she can be cured.” Roland’s hand still stood as an offer to me.
My face heated for a moment until I realized that I was desperate for a cure for Mina’s illness. There were so few options at the moment. I didn’t want to let her fate fall into the wrong hands, but I wanted her to have even the slightest chance of living and being truly happy again like she used to.
I guessed he did save us yesterday. Somehow. Maybe there really was the slightest chance we could dance under the moonlight again.
I took Roland’s hand, which turned out to be slightly colder than I expected, and followed him to the dining room to the left of the foyer. Looking at the door frame of the room, my eyes were drawn to the long gold chain hung delicately on it like it were just an ornament and not an expensive piece of jewelry meant to be worn on an expensive outfit. There was also an array of gold rings, necklaces, bracelets, and other exquisite pieces of jewelry not so elegantly scattered on the ground leading toward the entrance of the dining room.
Entering the room, I opted for the seat at the end of the table. The centerpiece was a bowl of fruits, while the rest of the table had some more gold jewelry scattered for decoration. The chair, however, boasted a cushion so soft I almost wanted to sleep right here right now.
Could Roland show off how rich he is any more than he already has?
I adjusted a bit on my seat. Looking up from my thighs, I found Roland setting a plate of black goo of some sort in front of me, his gentle smile giving me a slight sense of discomfort.
I raised my brows as I asked, “Are you trying to poison me?” There was no humor in my voice, as I truly thought he was trying to poison me by feeding me this…thing.
Idris, who had decided to sit on the opposite end of the table, cleared his throat and looked away while suppressing a grin so I wouldn’t be able to see his face “Excuse me.” he muttered, his voice as tight as a knot, betraying a hint of sustained laughter.
I couldn’t help but let a smile tug at my lips, “So, the lizard does have a sense of humor.”
Roland chuckled under his lips as he sat on the seat on my right, “Apologies for my cooking, madame. You do not have to eat it if you do not want to.” He used a hand to pull his seat closer to me. Strong. His smile stayed as he asked, “How about we get down to business?”