Lara opened her eyes slowly, staring at the ceiling as sunlight filtered through the gauzy curtains.
She blinked a few tis, hoping yesterday’s catastrophe had been nothing more than a bizarre, wine-induced dream.
She stretched carefully, then froze as mories of silvery hair, glowing golden tattoos, and porcelain skin rushed vividly through her mind.
Lara groaned loudly, covering her eyes with her palms, as if she could push the intrusive image away through sheer stubbornness.
"No," she whispered hoarsely. "No, absolutely not. Stop it, brain."
Her brain did not stop.
Instead, it enthusiastically replayed the exact mont Serisa had stood from the bath, droplets of water trailing down her bare back, golden tattoos shimring in the steam-filled room. Lara cursed and rolled onto her side, burying her face in the soft, lavender-scented pillow.
"This is unfair," she mumbled into the fabric. "I chased a murderous assassin, almost got incinerated by a furious princess, and now my mind thinks this is a reward. Seriously?"
She sighed heavily. Clearly, her mind was a traitor.
Deciding it was best to physically wash away the inappropriate thoughts, Lara forced herself out of bed, shuffling miserably to the bathroom. She undressed with more violence than necessary, tossing clothes across the marble floor with irritated huffs.
She stepped into the shower and twisted the crystal faucet sharply toward cold. The icy water hit her skin with imdiate punishnt, making her gasp and shiver violently.
"Good," she grumbled, squeezing her eyes shut. "I deserve this."
But as freezing water poured rcilessly down her spine, Lara found, much to her frustration, the image of Serisa lingered stubbornly in her mind, almost brighter than before.
"I’m hopeless," she groaned loudly, pressing her forehead against the cool stone tile. "Entirely hopeless."
Finally, after she was thoroughly numbed and no longer capable of coherent fantasies, Lara erged from the shower, grabbing a towel and wrapping it tightly around herself.
She dried quickly, changing into her captain’s uniform, her movents sharp and irritated.
Breakfast would start soon, and Lara was both eager and terrified at the thought of facing Serisa again. The princess had every reason to demand her imdiate expulsion—or worse.
She glanced in the mirror, grimacing at her own reflection. "Behave yourself today. No flirting, no awkward comnts, and definitely no thinking about... you know."
Her reflection looked skeptical. She didn’t bla it.
She tugged her cloak on and left the room, walking quickly toward the dining hall, determined to appear casual.
As she entered, the first thing she noticed was the icy glare fixed upon her.
Princess Serisa sat at the long, polished dining table, perfectly composed, elegant in a silver gown embroidered with delicate gold thread.
Her mismatched eyes held none of the amusent they’d briefly shown yesterday. Instead, her gaze pierced Lara with a cold intensity that could freeze oceans.
Lara cleared her throat awkwardly, bowing to the queen and attempting to maintain professional dignity. "Good morning, Your Majesty."
"Captain Lara, please join us," the queen said graciously, waving toward the empty chair across from Serisa.
Of course, Lara thought bitterly. Directly opposite her. Perfect.
She sat stiffly, carefully avoiding Serisa’s cutting stare, instead pretending to be fascinated by the intricate silverware laid before her.
"Did you sleep well, Captain?" the queen asked pleasantly, breaking the silence.
Lara’s smile was forced. "Excellently, Your Majesty."
Serisa snorted softly into her tea, the first sign that her carefully cultivated composure had cracks.
Lara shot her a subtle glare, imdiately regretting it when their eyes locked again. Serisa’s expression hardened further, clearly recalling last night’s humiliation.
The silence thickened painfully.
Lara cleared her throat loudly. "The, ah, pastries sll wonderful."
The queen nodded approvingly. "Please help yourself."
Lara reached out, grabbed the nearest pastry, and stuffed it hastily into her mouth, using chewing as an excuse to avoid conversation.
The queen, unaware of the tension, sipped her tea. "We had quite the commotion last night, Captain."
Lara nearly choked, coughing loudly. "Commotion?"
"Yes," the queen said, her expression grave. "Four of our guards were killed—silently and swiftly—just after midnight. We found their bodies at dawn."
Lara instantly sobered, her embarrassnt evaporating into genuine concern. "Killed? Inside the palace?"
"On the outer grounds, near the southern gardens," the queen said solemnly. "We suspect the sa assassin you pursued."
Serisa finally spoke, her voice clipped and cold. "Or allegedly pursued."
Lara shot her a pointed glare. "I did pursue them. And nearly got myself incinerated by soone who decided bathing next to easily accessible windows was a wise idea."
Serisa’s cheeks flushed slightly, but her gaze remained coldly hostile. "You were trespassing."
"I was chasing a murderer!" Lara retorted hotly, ignoring etiquette entirely.
"Convenient excuse," Serisa said coolly, lifting her chin defiantly.
"Enough," the queen interrupted sharply, silencing them both. "This is no ti for argunts. Captain Lara, we believe you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Lara said gratefully, shooting Serisa a smug look.
The queen continued, expression serious. "But whoever this assassin is, they’re clearly dangerous and skilled enough to evade our guards. We cannot risk another attack."
Lara nodded, feeling guilt settle in her gut. If only she’d caught the assassin instead of embarrassing herself last night.
"What would you have do, Your Majesty?" Lara asked seriously.
The queen glanced toward Serisa, whose expression suddenly shifted from cold hostility to wary suspicion.
"My daughter’s safety is paramount," the queen explained carefully. "The assassin appeared near her quarters once already."
Lara’s heart stopped. She had a horrible feeling she knew what was coming next.
"I want you to stay close to Serisa tonight," the queen continued calmly. "Protect her personally. Catch this killer, Captain. Do whatever is necessary."
Serisa’s eyes widened in shock, quickly replaced by outrage. "Mother, that’s entirely unnecessary!"
"It’s necessary," the queen replied firmly. "Captain Lara is trained, skilled, and clearly experienced. I will not risk your life."
Serisa looked as if she might scream. Lara, despite herself, couldn’t resist smiling slightly.
"I would be honored, Your Majesty," Lara said calmly, her eyes flicking back toward Serisa. "I promise I’ll protect her. Professionally, of course."
Serisa glared murderously across the table. Lara t her gaze calmly, internally celebrating this sudden and delightful turn of events.
"Then it’s settled," the queen announced, rising gracefully. "I trust you both will manage."
As the queen left, Lara leaned forward slightly, unable to resist whispering to the furious princess, "Don’t worry, Your Highness. I promise I’ll keep my eyes where they belong this ti."
Serisa’s glare could have lted steel.
Lara only smiled brighter, knowing she was probably digging her own grave, but deciding at this point it was entirely worth it.
Tonight would certainly be morable—though whether it would end in heroics or humiliation, Lara truly had no idea.
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