Anne Mary accepted to come after I wrote to her that we would be alone. I also convinced Shannon.

In the end, with two chatty ladies, my Duke allowed me some time alone with my friends.

He ordered two knights to never leave me out of sight, and he also assigned the maid to follow me wherever.

Everything proceeds according to the plan.

I walk to the Lady's office and turn back.

«I need to take some books from here. I promised my friend, so I can't appear empty-handed,» I explain to the knights.

They look at each other, communicating something with their eyes.

«You're men, so you can't get in. Please, just wait outside here. In case I need help,» I shrug. «It will take a single minute!»

The maid follows me in silence, especially careful. I haven't asked for her name yet. I'll have to, sooner or later.

It's impolite to call someone that saved your life with: «Hey, you!»

«Here...» I whisper while walking to the library. I select some random books and turn to the door. «Oh, just a moment!»

I run to the desk and search among the papers. My hand hits the inkpot, unintentionally, and it falls on the carpet.

A black stain widens on the corner of the table and the desk while I grab my head.

«Oh, no! The carpet, the table... Hurry up and bring something to clean it... Before the wood absorbs the ink...»

I walk to the door with the maid, and she runs out with her small steps.

«Please stay with the guards while I'm away,» she says before disappearing.

When I reach the door, I stop walking and close the door.

I walk back to the centre of the room and wait.

This is such a good chance that no one would resist trying.

In a hurry, I rummage in my pouch in search of everything I will need.

In fact, the secret passage I've discovered one day while exploring moves, and a tiny figure gets out.

I throw the first object against the assassin, and she catches it midair. With her reflexes, it couldn't be different.

I smirk cunningly, while she narrows her eyebrows confused.

«That wood had been soaked in poison for a whole night,» I reveal, showing her my gloves. «You'll die unless you drink the antidote. It just happens that I know where it is.»

«What do you want?» she mutters, leaving the wooden cube fall on the ground. «Where is the antidote?»

«I have half of it on me, while the other half is hidden in a place you won't reach in the few minutes you're left with,» I say. «Now, shall we sit down and talk?»

«Give me the antidote, you bitch!»

I walk to the lower table and step away after leaving a vial on it.

The assassin drinks it in a hurry, her eyes throwing daggers.

«Where is the other half?»

«You have a few minutes to tell me who sent you. After, it won't be that relevant anymore...»

«I won't survive if I tell you.»

«You won't survive if you don't.»

«Grahm,» she spits out.

«Which one? Father or son?»

«Grandfather,» she mutters.

Oh, there is even a male descendant. I didn't know Elisabeth had a brother, other than a sister.

«So, the Duke. Why did he send you?»

«How could I know?»

«You're right,» I nod. «But I already know the answer to that. Now, who do you work for? The Blue Roses? I've never had the luck to meet one of their assassins before. Are you even one of the inner disciples? I doubt you would have been recognised so easily if you weren't.»

«I'm one of the best!» she protests.

«Oh, then I don't have to fear that the next they send will surprise me.»

«There won't be a next,» she mutters. «I accepted the mission privately.»

«Oh, so Duke Grahm couldn't afford to hire the guild... Was it too expensive?»

«Oh, no. He offered more money that one can imagine. However, the guild has rules and stuff... Well, I don't.»

«What kind of rules?»

«No killing royals or those in line for a throne. They don't want to go political, so...» she shrugs. «Will you give me the antidote, now?»

«Before giving you the other part, I have a few conditions.»

«Yeah, sure... What do you want? I can kill Grahm senior for you.»

«Can you?»

«Of course. He has crap security. I would be able to infiltrate and leave unnoticed. Not like this damn place. I've used all my tricks and techniques just to have a peek of the bedroom.»

«That's how you knew what to instruct the stableboy.»

«Correct,» she says. «You caught me.»

«You said you hate me. How can I be sure you won't kill me once I give you the rest of the antidote?»

«I do hate you, but I hate dying more.»

«What a pity...»

«If I kill that guy for you, we'll be even.»

«Mhm, that seems interesting,» I chuckle.

The door opens, and the maid storms in. She stops right in front of me, shielding me with her body.

«Everything is under control,» I reassure her, even though she doesn't lower her guard.

«I'm sorry for being late, my Lady,» she replies.

«You're just in time. It's almost over.»

«Over?» the assassin repeats, and her eyes widen. She grits her teeth and moves a step in our direction.

She presses her stomach with her hand, and she starts coughing. Blood flows down her lips and eyes while she shouts in anger.

«You slut!» she yells. She would kill me with her bare hands, she would tear me apart. I can read it in her dying eyes.

She falls on the floor, while blood starts dripping from her nose and ears. It's a horrendous scene, and I'm glad the maid already brought the necessity to clean the mess.

«You lied!» the killer stutters with her last breath.

«I can't afford to leave you alive. It's nothing personal. I hope you won't hold a grudge,» I explain.

The guards are looking at the scene with funny expressions. It's hard to tell whether they're more surprised or frightened.

«Go!» I order, trying to wake them up from their daze. «Call my husband, hurry!»

I want to get it over with this matter and continue to live normally. I've already lost too much time for a stupid assassin.

My plan worked thanks to the killer's qualities. First of all, I knew she would appear the first second I was alone.

Then, I've noticed that she doesn't throw daggers. Didn't. She's dead now.

Well, she always ran after me with a knife, but never once threw one. It would have been easier for her if she could strike from a distance.

Also, she didn't use gloves. Probably to get a better hold on the weapons.

There was a big bet on whether she would catch the flying cube or just dodge it, but my instinct clearly knew she wouldn't move her wounded waist. The injury left from the maid's attack seemed deep and serious.

Not to mention that it seemed off, for her, to retreat in front of me. I'm a weak woman, untrained and unarmed. It's not weird that she understated me.

Alexander steps in this office for the second time, and I stop my flood of thoughts.

Now, I have to survive someone's wrath.

With his usual quick wits, he observes the scene and reconstructs what has happened. I take my gloves off and get rid of the pouch. In it, I have a vial of real antidote. In case things went the wrong way.

«Now, we can relax,» I exclaim, smiling happily.

«You soaked the wood in poison?» Alexander asks, quite bothered.

«Oh, that would have been too dangerous. It's sticky because of the sugar. The poison was in the first vial.»

«Which you made it pass off as an antidote to a venom that doesn't exist.»

«Correct,» I chuckle.

«If anything went differently from what you've planned, you would be dead now!»

«We'll never know because it did go as I planned.»

«Thea, you baited an assassin out. Do you understand how dangerous it is?»

«I do,» I nod. «But I couldn't live like that anymore. I can't sleep, and you can't relax. It's difficult. And also, she hurt you, even though indirectly.»

«I didn't ask you to get revenge.»

I try hugging him in search of comfort.

«Now it's over,» I repeat. Now, the next issue is that damn Elisabeth Grahm. But I can wait some time before striking. I'm not too impatient, and she won't separate me from my Duke unless I die.

«Oh, Thea, you...»

I can't hear the words my husband says because darkness fills my world. I lose control over my muscles, and I start falling until the last bit of my consciousness disappears.

I realise that I'm fainting, but I can't do anything against it. I just let slumber take control, and I hope to rest as I haven't in a long while.

It's over... The words echo in my mind, and my lips distend in a calm smile.

I can stop worrying continuously. I can take a break.