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Chapter Eighteen

Dalton POV

"I told you she hasn't truly opened up to us," Cirilo said from where he sat on his bed. We'd returned to the knight dormitory after Princess Zorya had not so gently shoved us all out of her room and shut the door in our faces. Cirilo leaned back against the headboard. "She's got a grip like a dragon on gold for the why of her actions. And you need to stop trying to figure them out."

I removed my belt and laid it along with my sheathed sword across my bed. "You're not curious? Why does she hate them so much, and why does she seem hell-bent on ruining their chances at success?"

"Don't you remember? I'm being paid a hefty fee to report her movement to the Emperor, Empress, and the 4th prince. You should be happy I'm not going out of my way to dig up information about her or what she's plotting on," Cirilo argued.

He was right. I should be grateful that he wasn't going out of his way to find out more information about her. The princess had been spot on when she'd pointed out that Cirilo was the type to sell himself to the highest bidder, only she didn't know that the usual move he'd make was to give up everything, but so far, he'd barely told them anything. Aside from the things that could be hidden as others were involved.

Even now, he'd sent off a pigeon with information about her fight with the Heptads' youngest mistress, but he'd worded it so it appeared to be nothing but a young girl's fight.

"Still, it isn't normal how she insights anger in that exiled prince. I'm worried that he or his ban of friends will make a move against her, and we won't be there to protect her."

"Hm, my money is on the crazy princess at all times," Cirilo said carelessly.

I rubbed a frustrated hand over my face. He wasn't understanding me, and maybe I wasn't really expressing myself right.

The idea of the princess in harm's way made my stomach tight with anxiety. Since the day she so daringly entered the knight's practice grounds, her purple eyes sparkling wickedly as she flaunted her authority, I've felt captivated.

It didn't help how she teased me with her touches and taunts.

"I'm going to go bathe."

I left the room maybe some cold water would clear my mind. The thoughts I was having about her were inappropriate.

From her actions earlier, she didn't see me as someone she could confide in. It was up to me to become someone she could trust and to do that; I needed to throw away these desires.

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