Chapter 15✨

Rishe sat in quiet dejection. Without the trading company's connections, she couldn't appeal to powerful people, and she couldn't prevent the war. Without that, her happy life wouldn't last. And as loath as she was to admit it... Rishe hated being met with Tully's disapproval. She'd wanted to take her old boss for everything he had.

Also, something he said was still bothering her. That couldn't have

been an accident ...could it?

"Speaking of weddings, what about you, my lady?" one of the maids

cried. "How did His Highness propose to you?"

"Oh, I've been wondering too!" chirped another. "All the girls in the

city are dying to know!"

He said specifically that he'd be staying in Galkhein over the next

couple of days. He even told me how to find the name of the inn.

"My lady?"

The maids gave her concerned looks as Rishe began to smile. "I'm so

sorry. I'm feeling a bit indisposed. I think I'll retire for the night." The maids all chimed in with concern. Rishe waved them off.

"No need. I'll join you for tea another day. I won't require dinner this

evening either."

"As you wish, my lady. We'll be sure to let you rest."

"And we'll have plenty of tea ready tomorrow morning!"

Rishe thanked the girls for their understanding, then went to her chambers and locked the door. In her hands were a few packets of herbs.

***

"You're in fine form tonight, sir."

Kaine Tully strode down the streets of Galkhein's capital, flanked by his employees, who commended him on his festive enjoyment of the local spirits.

He was in a good mood, his shirt half-unbuttoned, nearly humming with pleasure as he said, "Galkhein has wonderful liquor. We should buy up the whole store to sell up north."

"Why would we do that, sir? You'd just drink our profits down before

we even got them in the wagons!"

"Yes, yes, hilarious. Not wrong, though." He laughed with his men as they made their way back to the inn. He'd have preferred to bring a woman or two back with him, but he had his reasons. "Say, I'm still thirsty. Another round? I'm sure the tavern floor can pull a decent pint." Indeed, raucous voices floated from the taproom. The mood seemed to be good tonight.

"Sir, I've been thinking..." One of his employees was so drunk he could barely stand. "That was the Galkhein crown princess! I can't believe you just blew her off!"

"Working with royals is bad business, you dolt. Believe me, I know."

"Isn't she fifteen? What did she do to you?"

Tully snorted, swinging open the door to the inn. "Listen, that little

girl is-"

"Welcome back, Mr. Tully."

That voice sobered him instantly. Tully forced a stiff smile. Sitting

poised at a table was Lady Rishe, the future crown princess.

"Thank you for your invitation," Rishe purred. "So very kind of you." It took a lot to surprise Tully, but the sight in front of him caught him completely off guard. He'd predicted she would come, but not so soon. He thought she'd disguise herself, but he truthfully had not anticipated the mousy brown of freshly dyed hair.

No, that wasn't what surprised him. What drew him up short was the score of unconscious men seated around her, half-full mugs still gripped in their hands.

"Would you care to join me for a drink, Mr. Tully?"

Tully had to clear his throat several times before he managed to ask,

"What happened to those guys?"

"Oh, we bet on who could hold their liquor, and they lost." Rishe grinned and tilted her glass. "Don't worry, I'm not here for drinking games.

I was hoping we could continue our discussion."

***

The inn Rishe sat in was near the imperial palace. She'd asked the innkeeper to clear out everyone who'd passed out. The onlookers of the drinking game were gathered around excitedly.

"Ya sure can hold your liquor, missy! I couldn't challenge ya since I don't drink, but lemme treat you anyway for putting on such a good show."

"Why, thank you," Rishe said.

"Here, try this! The chicken with melted cheese goes great paired

with wine."

"This is delicious!" Rishe said. "Thank you."

Rishe looked with satisfaction at the food and drink piled on the table. She wished she could relish her victory, but her adversary sat across from her, watching her coolly.

When their eyes met, Tully offered a crooked smile. "Well, I certainly wouldn't have anticipated that you'd drink my men under the table while you waited. What a fool I was."

"Oh, they were your employees?" Rishe asked, her voice airy. "We were having such a good time, though I admit we got rather carried away." Naturally, Rishe knew who they were. During her time working with

the Aria Trading Company, Rishe had beaten all of her coworkers at a drinking game at their very first banquet. The ones she'd competed against tonight were the very same people.

Tully wore the same look then too.

Rishe had been brought up at court—she had a high tolerance for

spirits. "Drink?"

Tully accepted the glass she pushed toward him, eyeing her. "You did

a fair job with your hair."

"Thank you. The color does stand out—I figured this would be easiest." She'd dyed her hair chestnut brown with the herbs the knights picked on their journey to Galkhein. It would wash out easily with hot water-very useful for temporary disguises. "I'll trade the recipe for the chance to do business.

Tully laughed. "Nice try." He leaned forward on his elbows, eyes

glinting. "You can do better than that. And I suspect you will."

Rishe let that wash over her. His surety made her nervous. What did

he know?

"Shall we open negotiations, my lady? First, a toast."

"Please address me as you would anyone, the disguise is worthless if you keep 'my lady-ing' me. Besides..." A pause. "Hearing it from you is odd."

Tully gave her a quizzical look. "Well, okay. If that's what you'd prefer." He raised his mug, and Rishe clinked hers against it. Tully drained half of his in one go, letting out a long breath.

"Just "miss,' then. Anyway, stop with the charade. I know this isn't

about a dress."

"Yes, tricks don't work on you, it seems."

"Glad that's been established." Tully drained the rest of his drink.

"My instincts tell me you aren't a customer. You're a potential partner."

So he had lured her out here. Once again, Rishe felt how truly out of her depth she was. But she had no choice but to get him on her side. He had once been her boss and her ally, but now things were different.

"Tell me every little detail about whatever moneymaking scheme

you've concocted."

"Mr. Tully."

"I'm not agreeing to anything until I know exactly what you're doing.

Despite how I look, I'm very good at my job. Whatever you hope to bring in, I can double it."

"Mr. Tully."

"I'll come up with the perfect strategy. Now, tell me—"

"I cannot."

He gave her a sharp look. "What?"

"I cannot disclose my plan. Nevertheless, I want to be able to depend

on the Aria Trading Company when the time comes."

His mouth twisted into a grin. "That's quite a bold ask, miss. You want a handshake deal based on...what? Promises and starshine? I don't do that sort of business."

"You'll be well compensated, of course."

"You're expecting me to go in with you for the potential of profit?"

Rishe wished she could blurt everything out—tell him that in the next few years, her husband-to-be would kill his father and throw the world into turmoil. Obviously, she held her tongue.

"Listen, miss. When I decide whether to go into business with a

person, I mostly go off my instincts. But I also emphasize-"

"Previous results and track record, correct?"

Tully looked stunned. She had completely caught him off guard.

"How do you..?"

"I'll sell something in the city. If it is well received, and you judge

me worthy of your time, can we talk?"

Tully stared at Rishe a moment before he burst out laughing. "Oh, go

on. A gamble? Now that's how I like to do things!"

Believe me, I know. Next you'll tell me to hit a profit goal in a

specified time frame.

"You've got one week. I look forward to seeing what you come up

with, miss."

Rishe smiled, emptied her glass, and then stood up. "We have an agreement, then. Thank you for your time. Ah, and when your people wake tomorrow, give them this."

Tully held up one of the little packets of herbs. "Oh? What's this?"

"They'll find out," Rishe said and made her exit.

***

Rishe returned to her balcony with the rope of bedsheets left dangling

in the courtyard, pulling herself up hand over hand. The inn was only ten minutes from the palace, but sneaking out had been an ordeal. She moved quietly across stonework to conceal her footsteps from the guards posted at her door.

It seems I wasn't missed. In the morning, I'll have to hide beneath the bed curtains until Elsie brings me hot water. I've got to get my hair color back to normal before anyone starts asking questions.

Rishe pushed open the glass door to her chambers. She gasped.

Arnold sat in the room's only chair, legs crossed. "You're out late."

"What are you doing here?"

Rishe hadn't seen him since the party a few nights ago. He didn't yet

have his own chambers in their detached palace, and she'd heard he was still laboring under a mountain of work. As far as Rishe knew, he'd only been here once. Why did his second visit have to be the night she snuck out?

"You met with the merchant from the Aria Trading Company today, no?" Arnold asked. He stared at her with his chin propped on his fist, as usual.

The lamp by the bedside flickered, flames guttering. The chamber

was too dim to read his expression.

"I was waiting to know what you intended to buy, but I didn't hear from you all day. I asked your guards for a report, and they told me the merchant declined your contract." Arnold stood and took a single step toward her. "A curious thing for him to refuse a future empress."

Sensing danger, Rishe reflexively took a step back, despite knowing there was nothing behind her but the wall. A few steps more and she'd be cornered

"When you singled out the Aria Trading Company, I figured you already had a relationship with them. My fiancée doesn't seem the sort of woman to choose business partners recklessly, after all."

Arnold's high buttoned collar was undone, loose enough to reveal his collarbones. One might expect that to make him look vulnerable, but on the contrary. The moonlight glittered on his scarred neck and marble-like features. He looked amused on the surface, but something savage stalked in his eyes. Rishe thought again of a wolf.

"I was curious. I took a break to see you, but even from outside I

could tell your chambers were vacant."

When Arnold killed her, they'd stood at about this distance. Was that

the past? The future? Regardless, her heart sped up. Tension winched the space between her shoulders tight.

The aura of threat was different this time, though. Rishe couldn't

have given it a name.

"I did tell you to live however you like. Getting angry would be illogical. I dismissed your guards and decided to patiently await your return."

"Your Highness-"

"How interesting." Arnold pressed his hands to the wall, trapping Rishe between his arms. He grinned wolfishly. "I suppose even a woman like you fears a man late at night, alone in her chamber."

Rishe sucked in a breath, stunned by the comment. Then she realized

she was angry at herself, not at him. She shouldn't have let him read the fear in her eyes. Besides, she'd made a tactical error.

"I'm sorry," she said from the heart.

The twisted grin slid off Arnold's face. He looked down at her in

silence.

To be continued....

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