Chapter 104: 104 — A Small Scratch

"I won’t die because an arrow scratched my hand," Cynthia scoffed.

"A scratch?" Lucian raised an eyebrow, looking at the deep wound on her hand.

Cynthia nodded.

"Your Highness, you should stop putting yourself in danger like this," he sighed, letting out his frustration. It seemed she had sworn to embrace every danger around her without caring about her own safety.

"When have I ever done that?" Cynthia smiled as if she had truly never done anything where her life was in danger.

"You drink poison for me then become unconscious for a week, you fight demons like a knight despite being a woman and injure yourself, you catch a flying arrow as if you were catching a flower thrown at you..." He paused, to catch his breath.

Cynthia looked at him, blinking in surprise. Did he keep track of everything she did so far? A soft chuckle escaped her. It wasn’t that bad to put her life in danger, after all. At least it had some effect on him. Enough to make him, a heartless and cold man, agitated and run out of breath.

"My, are you worried I might die? But you are the one who would be the happiest if I were to, Your Highness," she slowly approached him, keeping her gaze locked onto his.

"It’s not like that. As I said before," he paused, his gaze moving around as if he was searching for something— an answer to her question. "I simply don’t want another war," he finally replied.

Cynthia halted her steps, giving him a faint nod of agreement. That was indeed the only reason for which he would ever show concern towards her. Yet her mind raced as she tried to understand why he had been so caring recently. Was there a threat she wasn’t aware of that could initiate a war? Because he never behaved this way in her past life once the peace treaty was signed between both of their kingdoms.

***

Walking around in her room, Cynthia couldn’t shake off the possibility of the start of another war. In her past life, her brother had given his life in order to avoid another war briefly after his marriage. She believed that was caused by Duke Dorian’s household; however, if there was such a thing, then her brother’s life was in danger!

Just as she stood in front of the window, watching the dried trees in the garden, she noticed the flicker of a violet light reflected on the window’s glass.

"Your Highness," Arlot greeted, bowing to the young lady.

"What brings you here, visiting me without permission?"

"I visited that place as you instructed before coming here, Your Highness."

"And what happened?" She demanded, turning to face him.

Arlot paused, shaking his head.

"That man said he couldn’t believe my words. I might be lying— that you were the one who sent me."

Cynthia chuckled upon hearing his answer. She did expect that man— Ying to be alerted; however, she needed to test him, to ensure he wasn’t a man who went around spouting nonsense about a group of secret investigations without taking the proper security measures.

"Why... are you laughing?" Arlot demanded, letting his curiosity get the better of him. He merely ever asked Cynthia why she reacted the way she did because she remained incomprehensible to him. However, this time he was genuinely intrigued.

The person he was asked to meet could be called rather beautiful for a man. He has golden hair, almost like golden and red eyes like ruby gemstones. Although he dressed in a rather different outfit than other commoners, the lack of manners in his attitude couldn’t hide his origins. He kept touching Arlot all over, as if they were friends or knew each other for years, ignoring the possibility of his discomfort, leaving him wondering if that man did the same to his mistress, who despised the little amount of physical contact.

"I’m laughing because I didn’t expect less from him."

Arlot looked at her without speaking further although a discomforting feeling stung inside him.

"If I recall correctly, you said he was a shapeshifter."

Cynthia nodded.

"He will be pretty useful. I will find a way to meet with both of you at the same time so he can rest assured and convey messages to you. Oh! Hand over that object," she extended her hand wrapped in a white cloth his way.

Though hesitant, Arlot placed the round pendant on Cynthia’s palm.

Seeing the clothes wrapping her hand, a few stains of blood visible through it, Arlot grimaced.

"What happened to your hand?!"

"A small scratch," Cynthia chuckled, clasping the pendant in her palm.

"Your Highness," he paused before exhaling deeply, his gaze still fixed on her hand containing that shapeshifter’s pendant.

"What is it?"

"It’s nothing..." he simply replied, lowering his head. He couldn’t tell her that he was worried he might become useless to her if she were to have another shapeshifter who could execute her commands. He was merely a tool to her and if she had someone more efficient, his value would only deteriorate.

Noticing the hesitation in the voice of the man before her, Cynthia slowly approached him, her gaze searching for his which only searched to avoid her.

"I despise it when there is even a lingering doubt among my people."

Hearing so, Arlot quickly looked up, a crystal clear fear in his eyes.

"Y-Your Highness... There’s no doubt. I have more faith in you than myself," he said in a low voice.

"I hope this doesn’t change."

"But—," he quickly bit his tongue, stopping himself from speaking about the worries that clouded his mind.

"But?"

"Is there anything else I can do for you?" Arlot asked, trying to change the subject, desperately hoping Cynthia wouldn’t notice his unease about the new man she had engaged in her affairs.

"Investigate Duke Dorian."

Arlot looked at her, perplexed by her command. Understanding his confusion, Cynthia parted her lips.

"He has said some rather strange things. I need to know what he had been up to."

Arlot nodded obediently. He did not have the right to question her however, his worries slightly eased when she answered the question rising in his mind without him having to ask her. It simply showed how much understanding they shared.

Surely that man won’t ever be able to share this kind of bond with Her Highness.

He mused, a faint smile forming on his lips.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read