CHAPTER 6

Chapter-6-Lisha

The next morning, I made sure to resume early, arriving before most of the staff. Leon was already there, seated by the long desk in the clinic, going through records. His head lifted the moment I stepped in.

“You’re early,” he said with a smile.

“I thought it's the best thing to do.” I replied simply.

“Good,” he said, pushing aside the book he was writing on. “Come, let’s start with the routine checks.”

He handed me a small tray of instruments, and together we moved from patient to patient, checking bandages, changing wrappings, listening to complaints. Leon spoke softly to each one, while I passed him some herbs. For a brief moment, it almost felt normal.

But not everyone saw me that way, from the corner of my eye, I caught the disapproving stares. Two nurses whispered near the shelves.

“She's a mere slave ” one said silently, not even bothering to lower her tone when I passed.

“She didn’t even impress at recruitment,” the other added, rolling her eyes. “And yet here she is.”

I kept my face still, I hadn’t come here to be liked. My goal was far greater, I'm here to find a weakness in the system, an opening to shake this kingdom from within. And when the time came, I would kill the king, and if fortune allowed, his sons as well. No petty hostility could shake me.

By afternoon, the clinic had settled into its rhythm untill announcement came that prince Lucan is coming.

Word spread quickly that he had sustained an injury during training.

Immediately, the atmosphere shifted. No one was themselves anymore. The female staff were suddenly glancing into anything that could reflect their image, fixing their hair and touching up their faces.

Even the male attendants stood straighter and more alert. Leon alone seemed entirely unbothered, continuing his work as if nothing unusual was happening.

Their nervous energy was contagious, and I found myself getting nervous as well.

Prince Lucan stepped inside with three men. One of them, the bold face one, was the same who had come for Leon yesterday. So it had been for the prince himself.

Lucan was taller than I had imagined. His presence filled the room effortlessly. His features were sharp, the royal radiance seemed to glow from him an aura that made every other man in the room look smaller.

My heart skip a bit. He was easily the most handsome man I had ever laid eyes on.

But beauty did not blind me. He was palace born. Worse, he was the king’s blood. That alone made him my enemy, takkless of the fact that he's now the head of the Royal knight hunters, a group of people dedicated to end werewolves.

Leon greeted him casually, as though Lucan were an old friend.

“Training again, my Prince? I told you, one day you’ll tear something more serious.”

Lucan chuckled lightly. “And then you’ll finally have work worth your skill.” he said in a deep voice.

I kept my eyes lowered as they came closer. Lucan eased himself onto the bed. His injury? A shallow cut along his forearm. Nothing more.

I almost laughed. All this drama for this? Three men had escorted him as though he carried a mortal wound.

Leon applied ointment steadily. I handed him bandages and tools, trying not to meet Lucan’s eyes. But I felt his eyes heavily on me.

Rumors whispered in the marketplace echoed in my mind, Prince Lucan could see through people, could sense a werewolf even in disguise.

My hands trembled and began to sweat as I set the equipment tray on the table.

“Leon,” I said silently, “may I be excused to the restroom?”

Just as I turned to leave, Lucan gave a nod signal to his men, and they stepped into my path, blocking the way.

I forced my breathing calm and turned back slowly. The prince was no longer on the bed. He stood directly behind me, close enough that I could smell him.

He stared directly at me.

“Where are you from?” he asked quietly.

The room seemed to fall silent. Every staff member stilled, waiting for my answer.

Before I could speak, Leon quickly answered, “She’s from the public registry. Assigned as a maid, but I noticed her skill. I thought she’d be more useful assisting me here.”

"I believed she's not deaf and dumb Leon." He answered.

I held his gaze as calmly as possible, trying to make my voice not to betray me.

“From the outer provinces, my lord,” I said.

Lucan tilted his head slightly to the side, studying me as carefully as possible.

“The outer provinces are broad,” he replied. “Which one?”

“North, Norvale.” I answered quickly.

He smiled though his eyes remained on me.

“Strange,” he said softly. “I’ve met many from the north. None carry eyes like yours.”

I began to feel heat. He was testing me.

Leon broke the tension with a light laugh.

“My prince, must you interrogate every helper of mine? She’s new, give her peace.” He said jokingly as much as I thought possible.

Lucan gave a small nod, his eyes never leaving me. “Hmm.... hmmm.” He studied me carefully, almost as if he could read the thoughts behind my silence. At last he said, “Very well. You may go.”

I turned and walked out as steadily as I could, forcing each step to look calm though my insides were in chaos.

Once outside, I hurried down the corridor,  at the end of the corridor, I entered the washroom, splashed cold water on my face, my knuckles had whitened.

But then the thought struck me, anything thing said in that room regardless how small it's, the body language, I shouldn't miss any, though he seems to be close with Leon, I don't know how often he comes here, and at this junction, every detail matters.

I breathe in and out steadily. My better judgment urged me to leave it alone. Yet curiosity and duty were stronger. Quietly, I retraced my steps back to the main clinic.

I slowed down, as I walked on my toe, until I reached the door. Pressing myself flat against the frame, I leaned closer. My heart beat skipped, but I held my breath and tilted my head against the door as my ear grazed the wood.

I heard Leon voice first.

“The king must not know you do such things, my prince.”

I froze. What things?

A arrogant laugh followed. “Ah, ah, ah, those girls won’t utter a word. Besides, they enjoy my company.”

Anger and disgust rose in my chest. So that was it. He spends his nights with peasant girls while pretending to be noble.

But Leon’s tone became more serious. “It isn’t about what the girls say. The king has his own men. If word reaches him, it could ruin your standing.”

“Don’t trouble yourself,” Lucan replied. “Just send another beautiful one my way tonight. Before duty forces me to marry some pale, dull lady of on one rich man.”

A womanizer? I'm not shocked. I almost turned away, but something held me. Perhaps there was more.

Then Lucan’s voice dropped, serious. “We won’t be here tomorrow.”

I began to listen attentively again.

“You have a mission?” Leon asked.

I pressed harder against the door, ear aching for every syllable.

“Yes,” Lucan said. “We ride at dawn. Word came that some wolves escaped during the last raid on Stoneborn Village. They fled to Windborn. Tomorrow, we finish what was started.”

My stomach twisted as sweat drenched my back. Before I left home, Perrone and some windborn folks are moving together.

Leon’s voice was low now. “It is a great responsibility the king has entrusted to you, my prince.”

Lucan gave a scoff. “Responsibility? No... I would rather call it a burden.”

Then, suddenly, I heard one of his men whisper, “Wait.”

I remained perfectly still, straining my ears. Then came the faint sound of footsteps approaching the door, the kind of sound a human would have missed, but my sharpened senses caught.

They’ve heard something.