When I heard about what happened in Astéria's class I was in the middle of my drawing class. I didn't think I was the artist type but I loved painting and was quite talented at it. However, hearing the news from my classmates, I let go of my brush and ran out as fast as I could. The teacher didn't even have time to notice that I was already far away. I immediately went to interrogate Astéria but felt something was wrong when I couldn't find her anywhere. I finally found out which teacher took her away and ran to her office but as soon as I arrived I saw Astéria holding the teacher by the neck and raising her from the ground. I quickly closed the door making sure that no one saw them and ran up to Astéria's side, grabbing her arm. I was a trained professional and one of the best in the country but even I wasn't strong enough to stop Astéria so I quickly gave up and called her name:
"Astéria! Astéria! What the hell are you doing? Let her go! You can't kill a teacher inside school!"
Who was I kidding? Astéria was scary and of course she could do anything she wanted. With her brain washing abilities she could get away with anything and I didn't need to be a genius to know that she was doing this for Poehina. The number of times I caught her terrorizing people was concerning. No matter if people looked at Poehina the wrong way or whispered something about her, Astéria would torture them mentaly not leaving any proof. And that was only the best case scenario. She must have been very angry if she was using her hands.
Making sure that Astéria wasn't killing anyone became my third job. Actually it was my fourth after the Emperor asked me to stay close to Sverre. He didn't recognise me but needed someone on his side as Sverre's fiance so he could manipulate him. I had to stay a year and then I was free. A year was a long time but Sverre didn't notice who I was so it was okay. I was just playing a role anyway and despite being polite to me, Sverre seemed to hate the idea of marrying me. I had no idea why he chose me if he hated it so much. Alastair thought he could get close to Poehina this way knowing that we were friends but Sverre had nothing to win and regretted it immediately after.
Anyway that wasn't the question right now, I had to save this teacher's life:
"Poehina won't like it if you kill the teacher.
-I won't let her die."
Astéria was terrified of killing because she didn't want to get on Poehina's bad side but she was terrible at this. She perfectly knew how to kill but she would have already killed thousands of people if I hadn't been there. She was too strong for her own good and as soon as the torture became physical I had to intervene.
"She is turning blue! If you don't let her go now she will be dead and Poehina will immediately know it was you!"
Astéria immediately let go and the teacher collapsed on the ground. I rushed to check her heart beat and had to reanimate her. After a minute her breathing finally came back and I sighed. I wasn't paid enough for this. I had to quit my first job. I couldn't take this anymore. Why did I have to come back here? A year was way too long and Astéria's friendship was exhausting. I loved her but I needed a long vacation or a huge paycheck.
"You really have to control yourself. How can you be all shy in front of Poehina and lose it the second she turns her back?
-She angered her.
-I don't care what the teacher did. She doesn't deserve to die.
-She didn't die.
-No thanks to you!"
I took a second to calm down:
"This is happening more and more lately. If you can't torture people properly then stop."
I was talking to a wall so I had to give up. Astéria walked up to the teacher and grabbed her body before dragging her out.
"Where are you taking her?
-To the others."
I frowned before following Astéria to her mansion's basement where there were about ten cells, most of them filled with people. They shivered as soon as they saw us arrive and retreated as far away as they could. The teacher was thrown into an empty cell and Astéria locked it. Her face was expressionless and I shivered. Astéria turned away and walked up the stairs, me close behind her.
"Leave.
-No thank you, I don't want tea. But it's very nice of you to ask."
Astéria glared at me and I forced myself not to retreat.
"What are you going to do to that woman?
-Nothing.
-I wonder why I am not convinced.
-She'll be fired by tomorrow. No one will hear about this incident."
I pretended to lock my mouth:
"I am a grave."
I would have loved to stay more but I was exhausted. I wanted to go home and sleep but I had to go to the palace for tea. I went there once every now and then and I hated it. Sverre was being very polite but he didn't hide the fact that he didn't want me there. I didn't care but couldn't help being frustrated. Did you think that I wanted to be here? I had other plans too but you put me in this situation. It was entirely on you! And what did you mean you didn't want to marry me? I was a catch. Anyone would have killed to have me by their side. Was he blind? I mean... Yes but that wasn't what I meant.
Despite being irritated to death by this guy, I had to continue acting as the madly in love person I was supposed to be and to do my best to get closer to him. The King had been very specific: I needed to get close to Sverre. I wasn't going to spy on him or anything. The King only needed someone by his side if he ever needed Sverre to do something. Moreover a beautiful love story was a positive image and that was what his son needed. Not that the King cared about his happiness. He was ashamed of his son and needed him to disappear in a marriage until Alastair was old enough to ascend to the throne.
"I baked this cake myself. I used roses for the cream.
-I thank you for your kind attention."
Not seeing the reaction I wanted, I had to add:
"Because roses are the symbol of love."
Still nothing. I rolled my eyes. I seduced a lot of men into my bed both for my job and outside of it. Why was this guy being so complicated? I already tried being touchy and flirty with him but he only pushed me back with a disgusted face. I wasn't going to force him to touch me so I only had sweet thoughts left. This was hard. Usually it was enough to smile to have men at my feet but this one was different. Why did he have to be so complicated? He never had a girlfriend. He must be all shy and excited at the idea of having someone in love with him. This was driving me crazy!
"This is so nice!"
Fortunately Alastair was there to save the day. I knew that he wanted something from me but for now he just flattered and complimented me when Sverre ignored me and that was more to my liking.
"Wow! This tastes really good. You have a talent for this, Miss Saber."
He turned around and handed his best friend, Jeronim, a piece of my cake. The latter was always following Alastair around and I heard that he was studying to be his personal knight. He never talked and never participated in the conversation. He just stood there straight as a pillar. Despite this he wasn't uncomfortable to be around because he always smiled warmly when our eyes met. I kind of liked him and felt bad that he had to follow Alastair everywhere around. He didn't seem to think the same thing however because a slight blush appeared on Jeronim's cheeks and he tasted the cake handed to him straight from Alastair's hand. Having grown up together, they must have known each other well.
"It really is good."
The crown prince smiled:
"Right? I am so happy that you are here Miss Saber. Our tea parties were never as lively before."
I held back from rolling my eyes and just smiled. Of course he never spent any time with his brother before. Just tell me what you want. I was busy enough as it was.
"I heard that you also attended the tea party at Poehina's mansion. Was ours a bit as entertaining as hers?
-It is. Poehina was so nice and organized a tea party to help me get to know our classmates.
-That is really nice of her. Poehina always looks out for others and she really enjoys tea parties. Maybe you could come with her next time."
Being really uncomfortable I immediately agreed. Sorry Poehina and sorry Astéria but I was tired. I couldn't take it anymore. Killing people was way easier than having to look after a psycho killer and having to spend exhausting hours talking to an annoying self centered crown prince and his brother that ignored you from beginning to end. Poehina was an adorable person and I liked her very much. I wanted to get closer to her and this way I could see her more without a crazy dog glaring at me. Moreover she was strong and was the only person in this stupid city that wasn't crazy and annoying. She would surely help me. She kind of owed me after dumping Astéria on me. I noticed that she left us alone as soon as Astéria and I became "friends".
However I didn't think that the end of the tea party idea would turn into a bloodbath. A minister that was against the King's ideas decided to use the fact that Poehina broke up with the Prince to his advantage. Other people didn't know yet but Ministers found out and he thought that after killing her he could accuse Alastair of doing so and could get him off the throne. I immediately noticed that we were being followed but the next second they were gone and I had a terrible feeling. After tea I immediately rushed to Astéria's basement and sure enough what I saw made my blood freeze.
Astéria was crouching there, covered in blood, pressing on someone's neck. I wanted to run up to her but had to jump over tens of bloody bodies. When I finally reached her I screamed:
"What are you going again? I thought we said no killing!
-I am healing him. He is losing too much blood.
-Why would you pull his vocal strings out if it is to cure him afterwards?
-She told me not to kill. But she said that we could fight back if they started. He can't die. He wanted to hurt her. He'll have to suffer."
Astéria's eyes were terrifying.