Chapter 37 Unspoken Promises
Zephyr clasped his hands behitid his back, gazing down at her.
The spring breeze rustled the scrolls behind Sadie. The blue–gold hem of her gown rippled, while the surrounding blossoms spilled their honeyed scent. He almost mistook the fragrance exuded from her skin.
He withdrew his gaze with lazy indifference. “You have thanked me rather often,” he said, a faint curve lifting his lips. “I despise troublesome people. For my grandmother’s sake, I will not expel you… yet. But should you bother me again…”
Sadie lifted her chitt and met his narrow eyes. “Then I shall become someone useful to you.
E
“Useful?” He rolled the word on his tongue. “Miss Francis, your little triumph in Sunlit Arcade and the coins earned with my brother are child’s play to me.”
Sadie’s fingers tightened, yet she held her ground. His eyes were a dark, uncharted sea, currents hidden beneath the glass. One day, he would command armies, defy the throne, and claim a realm of his own.
Compared with that, her efforts were dust. Yet…
“I will,” she whispered, unwavering, “become useful.”
Their gazes locked, neither willing to yield.
It felt like a fragile blossom landing on a predator’s snout. The beast tried to shake it off, sneezed at the sweetness, then pressed one claw over the bloom, startled by its own reluctance to let go.
Zephyr’s eyes narrowed to a razor’s edge. He said nothing, merely gave her a long, unreadable look before turning away.
When Sadie finally tracked Alexander down, his little stall was swamped with customers, copper coins piling high in a wicker basket that glinted like a miniature mountain.
“Sadie, you’re a genius,” Alexander beamed, eyes narrowing with delight as he nudged the overflowing basket. “It’s only been half a day, and we’ve already earned a fortune!”
Her idea was disarmingly simple.
She wrote prizes like “toy doll,” “candied nuts,” “cakes,” “crystal sugar,” and “fine salt” on slips of paper, folded them, and dropped them into a bamboo tub.
For eight copper coins, a player drew one slip; whatever they picked, they kept.
Crystal sugar and refined salt were luxuries, so even with only a five–percent chance of winning them, curiosity and gambler’s luck packed the booth from dawn.
By noon, the tub of coins was full, and Alexander’s cheeks hurt from smiling.
Relying on lessons from her former life as a merchant, Sadie ran the numbers in her head.
“We’ll clear about two pounds of silver coins today,” she predicted. “The festival lasts three days, and once the novelty wears off, we’ll slow down; altogether, we should still net roughly five pounds of silver coins.
Alexander’s eyes flew wide. “That much?”
She had been expecting that reaction.
They really were the two poorest shadows in the Gates Estate. Each received a monthly allowance of hall pound of silver coins, barely enough for shoes.
Worse, Nicolas had lately docked all of Alexander’s pay in an effort to curb his cock–fights and dog–races. and he could not risk selling palace trinkets, so his purse was emptier than empty.
“We’ll split every coin down the middle,” Sadie said, eyes shining.
Thrilled, Alexander shoved up his sleeves. “A tiny stall making real money–brilliant! Let me shout the offers myself.”
Both siblings adored the sweet clink of coin.
Thus, when Zephyr and several officials passed by, they found the pair selling with such fervor that a stranger might think Nicolas starved them at home.
“Mr. Alexander is… quite interesting indeed.” Gregory chuckled, twirling his moustache. “Since I’m here, I’ll try my luck as well.”
Luck betrayed him. Ten draws yielded nothing but plain dried fruit and cakes.
While handing over the prizes, Sadie stole a discreet glance at the governor.
He was said to be an imperial protégé and had governed Aurelia Province for a decade.
Short, round, and amiable, he spoke to Zephyr with perfect courtesy, yet Sadie remembered the hillside conversation; this genial figure might have ordered the attempt on Zephyr’s life.
“Alas…” Gregory sighed, biting into a slice of cake. “My luck is dreadful today. Commander Gates, won’t you try your hand?”
“Come on, Zephyr,” Alexander coaxed. “It’s great fun.”
