Page 45 of Cursed By Gold

Sofia meets my gaze unwaveringly. "We set the stage for temptation few could resist."

"This just may work."

Sofia bows her head deferentially. "It will work. I shall prepare the arrangements at once, Your Majesty."

As the door clicks softly shut behind her, I wish I could share in her conviction. But doubt gnaws at me. I force the negative thoughts away, straightening to my full height. I cannot afford to show weakness or indecision, not when so much is at stake.

Striding to my desk, I sift through the dispatches and reports. Buried amongst them is the one that started this renewed fervor - a smudged parchment I have read over a hundred times since I wrote it several weeks ago. It describes in detail the infiltration of my private chambers, the attempt on the Bodian crown. But most unsettling of all, it speaks of a woman who somehow resisted my deadly touch.

I trace a finger over the hastily scrawled words, a phantom ache rising in my chest. She slipped through my grasp as insubstantially as a dream. But the memory of her lingers, the only living being to touch me and live in over a decade.

In the solitude of my study, I allow myself a moment of painful longing. What might it be like to feel the warmth of another without fear of death? To touch and be touched beyond the borders of my gilded cage? I banish the treacherous thoughts almost as quickly as they form. Such foolish fanciful wishes will only bring misery.

Still, questions persist. Who is she who can withstand my curse? Some dark sorceress? A mistress of ancient arts? Or perhaps merely someone immune, a random quirk of fate? I know that at my coronation I was given a blessing of someone who could withstand and help me control my curse, but no details as to why. What makes them so special?

I pace to the window once more, staring unseeing at the cloud-strewn sky as my mind turns over possibilities. Something nags at me, some instinct that circumvents reason. The timing of this mysterious thief targeting my most treasured possession feels too coincidental.

My jaw tightens as pieces begin falling into place. The Bodian crown would fetch a fortune for any common criminal. But if their intention was mere profit, why risk twice attempting the same heavily guarded target? No, this speaks of a deeper motive.

I tap my fingers on the stone sill, thoughtful. When gossip of the attempted theft spread, it undermined faith in my rule further. As if this faceless woman mocks my inability to stop her.

Could the two be connected? This elusive guild rises as my authority wanes. The more brazen their antics, the more pressure mounts for me to rectify the situation. Have they positioned themselves as symbols of my supposed weakness?

The thought sends a spark of fury through me. How dare they! Manipulating perception and politics to cast doubt upon my crown. If this is some coordinated ploy, I swear they will regret toying with forces beyond their capability.

I glance down at the dispatch, possibilities turning over. The mysterious woman who can withstand my touch - if she is one of them, it would make sense. An attempt to unbalance me, make me seem feeble and distracted.

My hands tighten into fists, crumpling the parchment. Very well. If it is a game they want, I shall oblige. They seek to manipulate me with my own desire for connection? I will find this woman and learn her secrets, by force if necessary. And when I unravel whatever grand scheme they have devised, the retribution will be swift and merciless.

I smooth the parchment carefully, a predatory anticipation building within me. "Enjoy your brief rebellion while you can," I murmur to the silent room. "Soon enough your games shall come to an end."

The thieves guild has overplayed their hand this time. I shall turn their attempts to undermine me against them. Find the weaknesses in their armor and tear the whole rotten enterprise down once and for all. They believe themselves so clever, so untouchable. But even mist disperses before the light of the rising sun.

Soon there shall be nowhere left for them to hide. And when I am through, not even memories will remain of their sedition.Power and rule belong to the crown alone. These lingering shadows will threaten my kingdom no more.

Of one thing I am now increasingly suspicious of - the mysterious thief who breached my chambers could be connected to this thieves' guild. If she is one of them, I may be able to find her and through her, trace the lines back to unravel their entire web. She may prove the loose thread that threatens to destroy everything they have built.

And I now possess potential bait to draw her out again, tempt her into the light where she cannot evade me - the Bodian crown. She has revealed interest in stealing it, and I could use that to entrap her if she is indeed one of them. Soon we may see who ensnares who in this game of shadows.

I roll up the parchment carefully and place it in my desk drawer. Sofia is right, I must have faith. This contest is not over yet. If and when we clash again, perhaps the advantage will be mine. I touch two gloved fingers to my lips, recalling the mysterious thief's brief warmth. If she is one of them, we shall meet again, my elusive thief, under circumstances of my choosing. She may come to regret ever provoking my ire.

The shadows have lingered too long already. It is time for the light to pierce every crevice and extinguish them for good. My kingdom has no place for those who deal in deception and defiance. Order and obedience shall be restored.

Interviews

Scarlet

The solarium's warm, golden light filters through the large windows, casting intricate patterns on the tiled floor. Despite the tranquil atmosphere, tension hangs thick in the air. I trace the carved patterns on the table, seeking solace in the intricate details as Rose's self-assured smile burns into me from across the table. Darius sits beside me, his smile plastered on. It’s clear his goal is to charm everyone here.

A petite journalist with kind eyes and her hair piled high on her head with a spare quill stuck in it takes a seat, her quill poised over her parchment. "How are you all feeling about the tournament so far?"

Before I can respond, Rose leans forward, exuding an almost smug confidence. "Challenging, but certainly not anything I can't handle." Her eyes glimmer with a hint of challenge as they meet mine. "Some of us thrive under pressure, don't we, Scarlet?"

The dig doesn't go unnoticed. I square my shoulders, refusing to be baited. "Indeed, some of us do," I reply evenly, holding her gaze. "Though others seem to simply enjoy hearing themselves speak."

Rose's smirk falters momentarily before she masks it with a sip of tea. Darius, seated beside me, grins mischievously. "You know, if this were a contest of who can make the most enemies, I think we'd all be champions by now," he says with an amused laugh.

I smile at his teasing remark, the tension easing slightly. Darius has a way of lightening even the most charged situations. My gaze falls on the tray of refreshments, the sight of the cranberry-orange scones offering a small comfort. I take one, savoring the burst of tart sweetness as it melts on my tongue.

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