Page 30 of Cursed By Gold

Darius returns my smile warmly. "That sounds lovely."

We fall silent for a moment until Darius speaks again. "You seem hesitant to share much about your life." His voice holds no judgment, merely curiosity.

I sigh and look him in the eyes. "I've had to keep many secrets to survive this long," I say honestly. "Trust does not come easily to me."

Darius nods in understanding. "Some wounds leave deep scars," he says quietly. "But know this—you will always find true refuge in a heart open to mercy and grace. Whatever your past holds, that is all that matters now."

His kind words move me deeply. I take a long breath and feel some of the tightness in my chest loosen.

"Thank you, Darius," I say softly. "Your words give me hope"

The tension finally breaks as Darius laughs delightedly. "And that, my friend, is all I ever wish for!"

Darius rises to his feet, extending a hand to help me up. "I bid you good day, Scarlet," he says with a bow. He raises my hand to his lips and presses a gentle kiss there. "May the gods bless you in these trials.."

“The same for you, Darius. And thank you... for everything."

He inclines his head, a twinkle in his eye. "The pleasure was all mine." With that, he strides from the hall, his cloak billowing behind him

My Spy

Remme

Isift through the contestants' answers to our first challenge in my office. The papers crinkling between the fingers of my golden gloves. Some are clever while most are obvious guesses. Several I set aside as people to watch for possible connections to the thieves guild even though they can’t be the woman I am looking for. There’s been several more large scale thefts and no clues as to who has done it. Irritating would be an understatement for this. The longer this goes on, the weaker I appear to my court. Already I have to be careful not to reveal too much to them. The last thing I need is an attempt to overthrow me.

Footsteps in the hall slow as someone nears the door. I glance up from my papers and call out, "Come in!" The door opens, and a man steps inside the room, pausing to take in its contents.

Recognizing my visitor, I gesture for him to sit down in the chair across from me. "You encountered one of the contestants?" I ask, my tone stern.

Darius bows slightly before taking his seat. "Yes, my king. A woman going by the name Scarlet."

I narrow my eyes, scrutinizing his expression. "And what did you observe?"

"She hides details of her past but shares skills in healing and gardening," Darius begins, his voice steady. "She helped another contestant who was poisoned. I’m not sure she will last long in the tournament. I found her lost in thought, alone in the dining hall after the event."

I lean back, processing the information. This does not sound like the ruthless thief I seek. Yet, her observational skills and the peculiar circumstances around her actions keep her in my sights. I had seen her skills with daggers and agility myself, after all. I need more details. "What exactly did she do when the contestant was poisoned?" I inquire, my voice cold and precise.

Darius nods, understanding the gravity of my question. "She acted quickly, instructing the servants to bring boiled water and ginger root. Her hands trembled, but she managed to administer the remedy effectively. The poisoned man’s condition improved almost immediately."

I mull over Darius's words. A healer, not a killer. Yet, the fact that she possesses such keen observational skills and remains calm under pressure makes her a person of interest. "And what of her demeanor afterward? Did she seem... concerned or calculating?" I probe further.

"Concerned, my king. She appeared genuinely worried for the man's life. But there was also a moment where she seemed to be lost in thought, perhaps contemplating her next move," Darius explains.

I tap my fingers on the desk, deep in thought. "Something doesn’t add up. Still, she remains a suspect. Her skills could be a façade. We cannot afford to overlook any possibility."

Darius nods in agreement. "Indeed, my king. I will continue to observe her closely and report any significant findings."

"Good," I say, my voice firm. "Learn what you can, but do not reveal your intentions. We must tread carefully."

Darius bows his head. "It shall be done, my king." He leaves silently, the door closing with a soft click behind him.

As soon as Darius departs, I pull out another submission—Scarlet’s, and read through it carefully. The writing is neat and precise. She has deduced that the foreign dignitary is Lady Emilia, the ambassador from Andorra. Scarlet explains her reasoning:

Lady Emilia was wearing jewelry in the Andorran style, though dressed in the competition leathers like the rest of us. Her hair was done up in the intricate braids typical of Andorran women. When she spoke, her accent had the distinctive Andorran lilt.

It is a well-reasoned answer, demonstrating keen observational skills. Yet Scarlet's nature does not match that of a ruthless thief. Of course, a good thief wouldn't give themselves away with thief-like answers, would they? Perhaps I'm overthinking this.

I pull out the other submission that correctly identifies both dignitary and country—Rose. Her answer is also logical but lacks Scarlet's precision. Still, her observation skills make her a suspect.

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