Lorelai could feel rage boiling within Rhaegar's body. His muscles were trembling underneath his attire and the princess was scared that he might lose control and do sothing unthinkable.
She could not understand what had happened. He had a perfect winning streak and then, out of nowhere, during the very last ga for the most expensive prize, the dark horse of his opponent had managed to win.
The stranger left the table, shaking the host's hand as he stood next to the cage. "Have him transported to this address," he offered the host a small card and nodded, turning back to face Rhaegar. "It was a nice ga, My Lord. I hope we can et like this again."
With another, now careless nod, he left the room while the host shifted his attention to the king. "Do not be discouraged, My Lord. You have been winning up until the last ga. Shall I arrange for your slaves to be transported too?"
Rhaegar replied through greeted teeth, the veins on his forehead bulging. "No need. My n will do the job."
"Very well then. Enjoy the rest of the night."
As the two of them were escorted out of the gambling room, the lively banquet was nearing the end.
The banquet hall was almost empty, and only a few couples were still exchanging hushed, secretive conversations in the dim corners of the room.
Rhaegar walked silently beside the princess, her small, cold hand tightly trapped inside his large palm. He was upset, perhaps even furious, and Lorelai desperately wanted to comfort him, but every ti she would raise her head and look into his face, her blood would run cold, and she would swallow back her words.
"He cheated."
Suddenly, the king stopped as they left the mansion, and pulled her away from the doors, hiding behind one of the large marble statues.
"Cheated?" Lorelai repeated. "How do you know?"
"Because I was cheating too."
That revelation made the princess recoil in surprise.
Truthfully, she should have expected this much; after all, Rhaegar's winning streak was just too good to be true. But who would have thought that there was still soone else who had managed to see through his tricks?
"Then what does that an? If that man could cheat as well, why did not he try to do it earlier?"
Rhaegar took a mont to think, then answered coldly. "He needed that slave. Either for himself or soone else."
Lorelai widened her eyes. "Do you think that man works for Duke Kalder? But... if he needed that slave to stay in his possession, then why show him to us in the first place?"
"To annoy ," the king said, his voice turning even colder. "Or warn ."
The princess gasped, rembering sothing important. 'The queen's note... was it their plan all along?'
Rhaegar offered her a questioning look but she only shook her head dismissively, resorting to changing the subject. "What are you going to do with the slaves you won?"
"My n will move them across the border, back to the Beast Kingdom. We have rehabilitation programs for freed slaves, the sages will help them get better."
"Good," the princess sighed in relief. "Thank you... Rhaegar."
For so reason, the sound of his na enveloped in her voice made the king feel a little better.
"Your carriage is here," he jerked his chin in the direction of the gates and gave her a light push, urging her to start walking. "I can't escort you further, I'm sorry."
"It's alright," she turned around and smiled at him her usual kind smile. "I am very grateful for everything you have done, King Rhaegar. No matter what others say about you, I want you to know that I do not think the sa."
He nodded and watched Lorelai walk away, a tall, slim usher running toward her, offering his assistance.
He then took out a black herbal cigar and lit it up, jamming it nervously between his lips.
'Then what do you think, princess?'
***
Alim wiped his long, wide sword with the fabric of his torn shirt, his bronze skin shimring under the moonlight. The bitter scent of his king's herbal cigars made him frown––while it was dicine to him, to his subordinates, it was nothing more than fragrant poison.
"An ambush?" Rhaegar asked as he blew a thick puff of gray smoke.
"Yes. As expected, Duke Kalder's n," Alim confird.
"He is so predictable, it's disappointing."
The king leaned back in his bed, pressing his back against the carved headrest behind him. "Slaves?"
"They are now being moved across the border. Gian's pack is going to watch over them from all the fronts."
"Good."
The news was reassuring, but Rhaegar still did not feel at ease. "Sothing is wrong," he spoke again, his voice cold, yet emotionless. "I have t soone very strange last night."
"Oh?" Alim arched his thick brown eyebrows, curious. "What do you an by strange?"
"A gambler who had cheated out of the gladiator slave."
"What? Soone was able to cheat you out?" Alim found it hard to believe but Rhaegar nodded, confirming his words.
"That's what I find so strange. He cheated the sa way I did."
"It cannot be... Are you saying that man was––"
"Yes," the king cut him off. "He was a Gypsy."
Rhaegar's words refused to sink into Alim's mind. While he was not very familiar with the nomadic culture of his king's people, there was one thing he knew for sure––betrayal was not an option for them.
And that could only an one thing––there was a traitor in their tribe. And he sided with the enemy.
"What do you want us to do?" Alim asked, ready to take orders.
Rhaegar put his cigar out and closed his tired eyes, feeling the tension finally leaving his muscles.
"Nothing for now. That man may not be one of them after all; perhaps he's rely a spectator. But do send Gian to check the settlent tomorrow. If soone is indeed trying to impersonate one of my people, I want to know who—and, most importantly, why."
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