Chapter Sixty-Two

Chapter Sixty-Two
Aita calls to inform me that my bath is ready, peeking around the doorframe of the bathroom with a disapproving frown that takes up her whole face when I don’t respond immediately. As much as I stook up for her loyalty, I cannot allow myself to forget that there was a mole inside of Ascian’s estate, feeding information to Vespertine back here in the palace. Though the previous Prince may no longer be a threat, that doesn’t ensure that the mole won’t find someone else to work with. If some of the servants from the estate are moving to the palace, the likelihood of the traitor following is too high for comfort.

Seeing Aita’s impatience, I hold a hand out to save her from barraging me with threats of what she will do if I don’t immediately take my bath. “The water will stay warm,” I assure her. “Just a moment,” I turn back to Toshiro with a warning look, knowing that I’ll have to inform him about our findings at the estate.

Seeing my expression Toshiro’s lips quirk downward. He knows that I reassured him that Aita could be trusted and that there was nothing to worry about in terms of trusting her enough to speak freely, so the fact that I am withholding my words until she leaves us is telling enough for him to pick up on. He turns his eyes on Aita, cutting her off as she complains about the way she thinks my outfit is more of a threat to my immune system than cold water. “Please, Ma’am,” He says, not unkindly despite his taut jaw muscles. I can tell what a strain it is to be polite for him, but he must have noted Aita’s displeasing personality. “Just a moment. I will see to it that she is readied for bed, so you may take your leave.” As if to confirm that I won’t need her help with anything, he casts me a glance to confirm his words. I nod in agreement, which seems to also satisfy Aita.

She snorts and steps out of the bathroom, giving Arcane a very wide birth as she walks around the fireplace. “Very well. There is a nightgown ready for you, but I could not find a towel for my life of me. These lazy Pixies would not give one to me.”

I offer a reassuring smile as she makes her way to the door, her head barely surpassing the height of the door handle. “They are stubborn,” I give her, glancing towards the wardrobe. I cannot be sure where they actually reside inside of the palace, but I’ve grown to associate the clothing cupboard with them. “Thank you for your help, it is good to see you. Will you be able to find your room alright?”

Aita reaches her webbed hand around the knob, turning to look back at me over her shoulder. “Of course. I will be back in the morning with your breakfast.”

Toshiro interjects with a grateful nod. “Understood, we will be expecting you,” He assures her with a terse expression. He waits until she leaves the room, the door locking automatically behind her, securing us inside. He turns back to me, his eyes catching the firelight, the shadows dancing across his features. “What is it?”

I fidget with the ring on my finger, twisting it around. “Maybe nothing, just something I never mentioned. Ascian may have brought it up, but as we were storming the palace he informed me that we were living with a spy in our midst at his estate. Since I do not know who it was, having some of the wait staff moving over to the palace may set them back onto our board again.”

Toshiro watched me play with my jewelry, though his eyes are unfocused as he considers the news. “I was not informed of that. Thank you for telling me that, even though you trust in your Maid wholeheartedly.”

I nod, understanding what his words translate to. ‘Thank you for trusting me more.’ “Being surrounded by Faeries who already want me dead, it would hardly be ideal to have a spy working against us, too.”

Toshiro nods in agreement, turning to glance towards the door, throat bobbing as he swallows in consideration. “Indeed, it would make things more complicated. I am still unsure about that human you insist on keeping in your company, as well.”

I glance up at him, my fingers falling still against the band of Ascian’s ring. “Still?” Though I would love nothing more than to grill him about why he didn’t take my word for Cosmio’s harmlessness, my eyelids feel suddenly heavy. The weight of the information I’ve stumbled upon has finally caught up with me, it seems. I’m just grateful not to be trembling anymore.


Toshiro regards me with an unreadable expression, making me wonder what is going on behind his eyes. “Everyone is a threat unless they prove otherwise. He has already betrayed you before, correct? What makes you believe that he is suddenly so trustworthy? It seems to me that he hops from owner to owner, depending on who can prove the most useful to him.”

It takes me a moment to understand what he’s getting at. “That may very well be the Faerie that poisoned my wine,” I conclude, briefly closing my eyes. As much as I would like to place more faith in Cosimo than that, I can’t deny his nature. He has done it twice before, so what’s to keep him from doing it a third time? Yes, he faced the punishment by losing his tongue, but the fear brought on by that may not be enough to change his heart.

Toshiro gives me a moment to feel the gravity of the realization before he continues, ensuring that my mental capacity can handle the rest of his suspicions after the day I’ve already had. “Have either of us actually seen his supposed missing tongue?” He asks slowly, his brow raised slightly.

I stare at him, feeling my limbs go cold. “No,” I say, having to agree with him. Who’s to say that he isn’t simply a spy for Haela? What’s keeping him from being the one who poisoned my wine upon her request? I sigh heavily, placing my head in my hands. As much as I hate to admit it, Toshiro is right. Cosimo played sick today while we were busy studying, which means that he is unaccounted for during the time frame that the poison needed to be planted. “If that is the case, though, why would he bother? Cosimo has witnessed for himself that you check my food for poison.”

Toshiro nods as if he has already considered that. The replay of his prolonged eye contact with the Chaplain as he drained the poisoned wine flashes into my mind again, making much more sense all of the sudden. I remember the nervous expression on the Golden Faerie’s face as Toshiro displayed his tolerance for the toxin, instead of dropping dead. Seeming to come to the same conclusion as Toshiro, I nod once begrudgingly. “It seems as though we should attend tomorrow’s service,” He tests, gauging my reaction to his suggestion.

I sigh. “It seems to be the case. What do you propose we do about Cosimo?” The glint in his eyes tells me exactly what he would do if it were up to him. Catching on to the warning glare in my eyes, though, he knows better than to suggest whatever horrible thought he has in his mind.

Toshiro shrugs noncommittally, taking a seat at the chair beside me. Apparently, he finds himself able to relax a bit more, now that it is only the two of us inside of the room. It seems that both of us have become acclimated to each other’s company after such a short time, even if he does show his comfort through endless banter. Catching on to my thoughts, he narrows his eyes slightly, though not unkindly, as he leans back in his chair, tipping it onto the two back legs. “Don’t give me that. Why bother asking what I would do, if you won’t like what I have to say?”

I shrug, mirroring his actions and tipping my chair back precariously, as well, feeling the fire warm my back. “As my Guard, your opinion matters to me,” I admit, using my feet on the table to balance myself. “Aside from whatever horrors you’re devising, tell me something I would actually agree to. There must be a less drastic measure to take for the time being.”

Toshiro’s eyes flicker to the legs of my chair, seeing it wobble as I try to hold my balance. Even with my feet against the table to help, my muscles aren’t strong enough to keep th echair still, unlike his. He makes it look easy to remain still, as if his chair is being anchored by cables that keep him grounded. “Well, in that case,” He starts, shooting forward as my chair tips backward, too far for me to correct. He wraps his arm around the leg of my chair closest to him, giving it a firm jerk with his arm that brings the chair back onto all four legs against the floor.

Heart pounding from the adrenaline of nearly falling, I sit upright in my chair as my brain process what happened. Toshiro still sits with his chair tipped backward, hardly waveiring as he reached to correct mine. He ignores by incredulous look and folds his arms, frowning slightly. “Don’t do something so reckless. What I was saying, is that we will not do anything for the time being. If the human is a spy, we do not want him to know that we suspect him. Allow him to keep joining your company and I will survey him until we can be sure. Now, go take your bath. It’s getting late.”