Chapter 563
Chapter 0563
"He has a short temper," Nicholas said. I knew what he was suggesting, that this was bound to have happened sooner or later with someone with that type of disposition.
Zale's look of apology returned. "We have failed in the past. If we had been sterner with him, perhaps the now would be different. But we cannot change the past. We can only correct the present." He waved to the lines of soldiers standing ready behind him. "We are at your disposal."
*Ronan is after Piper. I don't care about anything but keeping her and Elva safe," Nicholas said.
My heart raced, hearing him say such things so casually, not just to me but to others.
"We will take every precaution to keep Miss Piper safe," Zale said. "We can keep most of the security forces patrolling the water, though we can bring some onshore to guard the doors, if you would allow it."
Nicholas considered it. "I'll have to consult Nathan and my brother to fully decide our best course of action. Though if your forces are patrolling the water, surely Prince Ronan would be unable to reach the shore?" There was a question in his voice, and suddenly the air around us tensed. I held my breath.
Ambassador Zale lowered his head. "Unfortunately, Prince Ronan received some war training before he gave it up to live in the luxury of the palace."
That didn't sound good. Content belong to NôvelDráma. Org.
"What kind of training?" Nicholas asked.
Zale sighed. "Espionage. He's quite good at stealth and deception, though his short temper kept him from truly being proficient. There are no need for actors in our kingdom like there are yours, else he would have surely exceled."
*Stealth," Nicholas said, saying the word flat, like he couldn't believe it.
"Yes," Zale replied.
Nicholas cursed under his breath.
"If fact, I might suggest that guards at the doors might not be enough," Zale said. "If we were to be truly diligent, in terms of Piper's safety, I recommend we post a guard inside of her room as well."
"Inside my room?" I gasped. A stranger? Right there beside me? Watching me sleep?
Even for my own safety, I couldn't wrap my mind around that. I would never feel safe with a stranger looming over Elva and I while we were most vulnerable.
"Absolutely not," Nicholas said, stern, and I sighed a little in relief. We were on the same page about this.
Let him assign guards at my doors and windows, if he felt such a thing necessary. But I would not have a stranger with strange weapons standing over my bed.
"It's only for her safety," Zale said.
"I have my own guard on the door," I said.
Zale shook his head lightly. "A merfolk trained in stealth could find his way through the window, or through the guard. It is too risky to leave her unprotected."
I hated when people talked about me in the third person like I wasn't standing right here. I understood to the ambassador, the prince was the one he needed to convince and I was just a bystander. But I held some responsibility in my own safety, thank you very much.
Nicholas looked at me sideways as if sensing my anger. His eyes held mine, but he was guarded now. I couldn't tell what he was trying to convey, if he was trying to convey anything.
After a moment, his demeanor became more determined, and his attention returned to Zale once more.
"I will not allow anyone else to stay in Piper and Elva's room," he said.Belongs to NôvelDrama.Org - All rights reserved.
Zale lifted a scaly brow. "Anyone else?"
"That's correct," Nicholas said, with conviction. "I will stay in their room and guard them myself."