Hana had prepared a cloth dipped in herbs as she was wiping me clean. It had a distinct smell and it didn't bother me because my mind was elsewhere.
Since we didn't want the poison to go down to my body, she was making sure, each and every clothes were being cleaned after the use.
"Sister Bianka... I'm almost done." She said.
I nodded.
I was feeling light since my makeups were removed and hair was down. I was wearing a light kimono since I wanted to take a little sleep...
There was a knock. It made Hana a little alert but I knew, if we were in Shinkyo, no one would be able to enter.
I said, "Come in."
It was Miku. Mila had told me about her. She had come with Hiroshi.
Hana smiled as she went there and said, "Sister Miku! I'm glad you are here..."
Lady Miku smiled and nodded as she entered, behind her a little girl and a boy entered.
Hana greeted her as well. They all had red hairs. Maybe they were her sister and brother.
Hana said, "Luka! Lina! It's been long!"
It seemed she knew them from her last visit in Komaki. Hana had told me all about their incident.
Luka was really small and he was really shy as he was hiding behind Lady Miku and Lady Lina. And Lina looked really outgoing as she entered and asked, "Elder sister, that's the princess!"
Miku shushed her, "Shh... Don't talk like that!"
But her sister didn't even listen as she came running toward me, her eyes sparking with excitement. And then her eyes fell on my belly.
My belly wasn't that big yet but in a thin clothing, it was visible...
She exclaimed pointing at my belly, "See, see, elder sister! She has large belly! Do you get large bellies once you become a princess?!"
Lady Miku's face turned red and she hissed at her, "Lina! Stop right there!"
Hana hadn't noticed my belly until now as she looked at it with even more curious gazes as she nodded.
And I couldn't help but laugh. The bad mood I was having somehow subsided.
"I—my apologies, Princess Bianka... She hadn't learnt a thing about etiquettes and such..." And her eyes glared at Lina who had two large potatoes coming out on her head.
Lina grumbled, "When had you learnt about it...? Last time I had seen you cursing—"
And a smack had flown toward Lina's head as she got shut in a blink and another potato had formed on her head. It was Miku's smack as she looked at me and smiled nervously, "Ahaha... Please forgive my little sister... I will be sure to teach her some manners..."
I laughed as the sisters started to argue and both Hana and I laughed at their arguments. They looked very close.
While I was watching them, I felt a little sad that Rose couldn't be able to join me now...
She would find it very amusing.
I felt sad the next moment as my chest felt heavy. I would have to talk with Arashi and let him know about it but I was scared...
I just wished that it all turned out false somehow...
----
(Third person's POV - Omniscient)
It was crowded as Jito looked around, his eyes were wary and fear latched on them. But it was glad that it was a large crowd.
He rubbed his hands on his sleeves and went to an inn of the busiest market of Wansai. The Wanada market. It was a large gathering of many marchants from all over Wansai and others countries with whom Wansai had a friendly relation.
It was not only a rich hub for royals or nobles, it also had different markets for peasants to wealthy people. All of them could come here and buy or sell whatever they liked.
However, Jito wasn't here to buy or sell. He simply came here to enjoy his time. Probably some women and strong sake...
It was the first time he had received such a large amount. No way he would waste an opportunity like this...
He would spent to his heart's content!
He looked right and then to his left as he went toward the inn. The inn was already filled with a swarm of people. He had heard they provided women too.
He went and took a table as a table boy came. He looked quiet young around seventeen or sixteen. He asked with a smile, "What would you like to have, mister?"
Normally, anyone who was working in such a busy day would have a sour face but he didn't have that. Jito was quiet impressed. He said, "I want all the special food your inn offers. And the strongest ale!"
The boy seemed happy as he eyed him and asked, "Of course, mister! But would you please forgive me for asking this..."
Jito was happy as he nodded. He was far from displeasure as he said, "Yes, what is it?"
He said, "At first glance, I thought you wouldn't be able to afford our last course meal but it seems it's not the case..."
Jito nodded with a smug look. Of course, he couldn't afford it until he was paid with that much coins. Even his ragged clothes were giving an expression that he was a begger.
But he said, "Ah! Well, young lad, I may have found a treasure..."
The boy seemed really excited as he came near and whispered, "A treasure?! What kind?"
Jito said, "Well, I can't tell you that but I can tell you that it gives a lot of money..."
The boy looked a little sad as he said with a sigh, "Mister, if I tell you the truth, I'm not very pleased with working here... They make us work for longer hours but pays so little... I just want some good money for myself since I want to be like you. Order first course of meals and live a lazy life..."
Jito added, "Also woman..."
The boy nodded as he grinned, "Yes, a lot of woman."
Jito said thinking it wouldn't be bad to tell him a little much. He pointed his finger at him to come closer so others can't hear.
The boy came near as he said, "You know I met this man and he told me to put poison in someone's drinks... And in return he gave me three gold coins! He also said if I succeeded, he will give me three more...and I got three more today."
The boy looked at him with shocked eyes, "And how's that a treasure?"
"Because he said now I can work with him whenever he wanted me. Fufufu... That means I would be making a lot of money from now on..." He said with a large grin on his face as the boy smiled.
But somehow his smile looked more colder than ever.
Two men came behind Jito without his notice as the boy said, his eyes glinted darkly at him, "Ah! Too bad then, mister. You won't be able to make a lot of money now."
Jito looked at him with a pair of confused gaze, "Eh? Why? I can always go to that man and ask for work..."
The boy nodded, "I see... So maybe you can be a little useful to me as well..."
Jito was a bit surprised at the boy's audacity. He was a mere little peasant who was working but he was saying it like he was some—
And then his eyes fell on the sword that was hanging from the boy's belt. It was a dark one.
Jito's eyes turned wide as he attempted to run immediately from there however, the two men behind him had already caught him and slammed his head on the table.
Jito screamed, "Please, please, let me go! I did nothing!"
The boy now smiled with an evil intent sipping out of him, "You didn't? What are you saying? You just confessed me that, mister..."
The boy's voice sounded like he was mocking him yet his voice was laced with a darkness that made Jito shivered. Who was he?!
Jito asked, "Wh—who are you?"
The boy smiled as his eyes looked down at him. It made Jito almost cry as his heart thumped loudly in his chest, "My name is Kairo and I'm one of Prince Rian's men whom you've poisoned..."
Kairo whispered as he reached Jito's ear, "And you're going to help me reach your master... otherwise I will make sure to melt those gold coins and pour it down to your throat."
Jito gulped... The threat wasn't a fluke since that boy meant every words he spoke.
That boy was Prince Rian's man! Why did he fell for his innocent and cheerful face! He thought he was not harmful!
And from then he noted in his mind that he should keep his mouth shut always however, if he come out alive, that is.