Chapter 52 Chapter 52

Chapter 52 Chapter 52
Liora’s POV

“Please, mother. I truly cannot stand it any further. I should be training with the other warriors. Are you not worried about what the people will say? Even worse, what they are already saying?” I tried to reason with her, using every trick I knew could work on her, but she just would not budge.

She barely glanced at me “You will remain indoors until we figure out who wants you dead. Besides, the people will always talk. You know that more than anyone.”

I almost rolled my eyes at that statement.
“That’s not what you used to say” I murmured underneath my breath.

“Repeat that” she said, suddenly glaring at me.

I bowed my head immediately, straightening my back in the process. “I said nothing, mother”

After a few seconds of probably pondering whether to just do everybody a favour and just kill me or not, she finally looked away.

But I really did not get it. My mother was usually the kind of person who would expect me to be on my feet as soon as possible. The usual her would tell me that I would heal faster if I did the things I was supposed to.
The usual her would have had me on my feet as soon as I woke up on the day of the incident.
But she was hell bent, and so adamant on the total opposite.
I really could not understand why.

It had been three weeks since the incident, and I finally healed completely over a week ago. Yet, my mother would not let me out of the building. Even when she was not home or on official duty, I was being watched constantly. All day, all night.
So, even sneaking out was completely out of the question and basically impossible.

So, I stood in frustration in the middle of her study, thinking of another argument that could work. I have been at this for almost two weeks now with no results to show for it.

“If that’s all you came here for, then leave” she said and I almost groaned in annoyance.
Breathe, Liora… just breathe.

“Mother, I can help.” I said.

“With what?” She asked, as she shifted a pile of notes to the side and pulled another closer to herself.

“With finding the assassin” I said and she paused in her movements, before looking up at me.

“How?” She asked and I held my breath.
This was the best reaction I had gotten out of her so far.
I knew I could not screw this up.

“I am the only one that saw him. The people looking for him outside do not even know what he looks like.” I explained.

She tilted her head to the side in thought.
“Neither do you. And you gave us descriptions already. So, what difference can you make?”

“I’m still the only one who actually saw him. His build, his aura… no one else can spot it better than I can” I said, and she narrowed her eyes.

“You are not making a very valid point here” she stated and I sighed.

Okay, one last shot.

“There’s one thing I could not describe” I said and she tilted her head to the side again.

“And what might that be?” She asked and I subcounciously held my breath.

“The way he fights,” I paused, gathering my thoughts before I continued, “the way he moved while we fought, his skills, everything… I’m the only one that knows it”

“For all we know, your people could have come across him without knowing it.” I added.
“Or not” she said.

“But as long as the probability still exists, there’s a chance we’ll lose him right under our noses” I argued.
“It’s been three weeks, mother. And he still hasn’t been found. We do not even have clues yet. Like that is not bad enough, people are suspecting that something is going on. We are not doing a great job of keeping it a secret”

She set down the ink quill that she was holding and clasped her hands together as she leaned forward.

Okay… moment of truth.

A beat of silence passed between us and I subconsciously held my breath. I had no way of knowing whether it would work or not.

“Fine” she finally said, and I could not help but smile and sigh in relief.

“But.” She cut off my brief moment of happiness, and I bit my bottom lip nervously.

“If you can’t bring me something concrete in three days, you’re coming back here” she said.

What?! Oh, come on!”
“Mother, three days is impossible! They've been looking for three weeks and they’ve found nothing. How am I supposed to work with three days?!”

“You are not them.”
That was all she said, but she definitely made her point.
Leave it to my mother to make everything unnecessary complicated.

“Also, you’ll move with people. I'll have some guards follow you. Just in case he shows up” She said.

No, no, no.
How was I supposed to see Kysen without her finding out?!

“The best way is to bait him. If he sees guards, he will not come out of hiding” I tried to reason with her, but she just was not having it.

“They will move discreetly. Under no circumstance will I risk the throne.”

“But-” I attempted to argue but she cut me off.

“Enough. That's the end of this discussion. You will be guarded at all times and you will find me something within three days or you’re stuck here again. And that’s final.” she said, slamming a book close in the process.

My hands balled into fists, my nails digging into my skin in attempt to stop myself from saying something that will agitate her.
“Thank you, mother” I said, making sure it did not sound as forced as it was.

I bowed in reverence, “I shall take my leave now”

With a dismissive wave of her hand, I left her study, my mood even more sour than it was before.
Well, there goes my rendezvous with Kysen.
Down the drain.