Ask Away, Your Majesty - Chapter 11
Pico’s mouth dropped open and he nervously glanced sideways at the sight of Kyle’s furrowed brow.
Pfft, he’s pissed! Kyle’s pissed!
With a grunt, the chair slowly slid back, and Kyle stood up like a mountain. Somehow, Lorienne could feel his shadowy presence looming over her.
Hmm, was that half a word too much?
Gulp, her mouth felt a little dry.
Knock, knock, knock.
All three heads turned at the same time. It seemed like someone was knocking nervously at the door of Loftis. Seizing the moment, Pico quickly pulled down the hood over Kyle’s head.
“We’ll take our leave now, Miss Mage!”
Pico quickened his pace and yanked the door open. As he stepped through the threshold, the person knocking from outside caught a fleeting glimpse of the two men exiting Loftis.
Standing outside in the darkness, the visitor appeared to be a nobleman by his attire alone. Clad in fine fabrics from head to toe, the young man exuded sophistication. Despite his tall stature and clean-cut appearance, his eyes scanned Lorienne up and down with an ominous glint. She was reluctant to let him inside.
He slipped inside as soon as Kyle and Pico left, even though Lorienne hadn’t given him permission.
“Come back in three days. I might not complete everything, but at least half should be possible,” Lorienne spoke formally, unable to use a casual tone in front of another customer, although her attention remained fixated on Pico.
She turned toward the new customer. The man who had already entered was giving Loftis a cursory glance, displaying an expression that suggested, “Nothing much here.”
“What kind of potion are you here for?”
“Well, I came here looking for medicine, but… Can you provide something else too? I was searching for a woman wearing glasses.”
The man slumped into a chair, adopting a casual posture as he spoke. Lorienne stopped in her tracks just as she was closing the door. The sound resonated sharply, catching the attention of Kyle and Pico, freezing in place alongside Lorienne.
Lorienne was embarrassed, not having been in this situation before. To complicate matters, it felt especially embarrassing to encounter such a situation in front of the self-asserted imposter of an Archduke.
She placed her hand on the door and said, “If you came to find a woman, you’ve got the wrong place. Please leave.”
“I told you I needed medicine, and I’m here for medicine, but you’re very much my type. Small, slender, wearing glasses.”
Lorienne’s grip on the door tightened.
I’m not gonna give you an illusion. I’m going to send out a real lightning bolt. But why aren’t those two leaving and just standing there!?
It would be easier for her if Kyle and Pico would just go away and pretend that they didn’t notice anything. All she had to do was float a pole and chase the bastard away. She didn’t know why they were standing there, stiff as a board, like they’d been the ones insulted.
“They say you’ll make anything for me for the right price, and you’re known for loving money. If you’ve got something you can sell for more than potions, why don’t you sell that too? It’s easy, it’s convenient, and you make a lot of money.”
The man raised his hand, teasingly pinching his thumb between his index and middle fingers. Then, he ran his tongue gently over his lower lip. It was overt s*xual harrassment.
Still unaware of Kyre and Pico’s presence just outside the doorway, the man smirked at Lorienne. “Why not sell your body?”
“No. Not for sale. So leave.”
The man rose slowly from his seat and approached Lorienne. Despite his considerable height and build, she stood her ground, refusing to avert her eyes.
“I thought you weren’t usually so cocky, but the rumors were true.”
“Haven’t you heard the rumors about me chasing away troublemakers?”
“Oh, those iron rods? You think I won’t survive if you shock my body? It’s just for the ignorant and penniless fools. They’re afraid of that kind of thing. I’ve got plenty of barbs like that, you know. I don’t think someone like you could dare shock me with them. Unless it’s just for today?”
