The Devil's Den

Yerenica let out a tired sigh as she signed the last of the documents. Putting her quill down, she leaned back in the chair and groaned in relief as she stretched her arms above her head. Her entire body felt sore from having sat in the chair for so long.

[I could have avoided this if I took a few more breaks in-between work.] Yerenica thought as she stood up, wincing at the sudden pain that shot down her back. [But if I did that, then I would have never been able to finish it before tonight's dinner.]

It had been two weeks since the queen's ball, and Yerenica had spent every waken moment in her office, trying to finish the mountain of work that had to be completed. She slept late and woke early to rush through the reports, sign documents and write the necessary letters. It had taken a long time to finish, but she was finally done – save for one trouble.

It had been bothering her for months now. No matter how much she looked into it, Yerenica couldn't find a cause behind the fall in output of diamonds mined. The amount had dropped to a staggering level, and she knew if she did not take quick action and investigate the matter, she would eventually be faced with a devastating loss.

[I don't understand.] Yerenica frowned as she leaned against the table, fingertips skimming across the old book that lay open. Figures upon figures were written across the tattered pages, containing the transactions between the mines and its clients. She had spent hours poring over the old records, trying to find a kink in the log, but to no avail. Everything that was in the records matched the receipts she had. [If there are no flaws in the numbers nor past records of clients receiving more than agreed… then there is only one answer left.]

Embezzlement. It was a conclusion she had wanted to avoid arriving on, but there was no other answer. Especially not after the last letter she had received from Count Eldridge.

She had written him a letter a week ago, inquiring whether or not there was a strike going on. That was back when she had assumed that a dispute between the workers and those in charge may have been the cause for the drop in diamonds mined.

His reply came back two days later. According to Count Eldridge, there was nothing of the sort going on. It was just getting harder to find diamonds in the mines, that was all.

Even as she read his reply, there was a nagging feeling in the back of her mind that told her something was wrong. Was it just a coincidence that the amount had dropped right after she took over? The mines were thriving while it was run by her father and those before him. The sharp recession occurred only after she had inherited the business.

[I do not want to insult the people who have been working here longer than I have, but what other explanation is there? It's getting harder to find diamonds? What a pitiful excuse. Someone is changing these records before they come into my hands.]

Yerenica knew there was something more going on behind the scenes than she was aware of. However, not wanting to insult Count Eldridge with her suspicions, she had dropped the matter. She would hire a private investigator to look into the matter later. For now, she had something else to focus on that was of much more importance to her.

"My lady," The door to her office opened and Kirin walked in, "Are you done with your work?"

"I just finished. Is everything ready?"

"Yes. The maids have prepared your dress for tonight. They are waiting for you in your bedchamber."

"The maids," Yerenica paused, concerned, "Do they know?"

"No, they do not. They are under the impression that you will be attending a private dinner with a foreign client tonight. They do not suspect anything."

"That's good to know." Yerenica exhaled in relief, "Do everything you can to make sure no one finds out. Word must not get out about my dinner with the king." She glanced at Kirin as she spoke, feeling slightly guilty. Yerenica had told Cain that she wouldn't let anyone else know about the dinner, but she knew there was no way for her to sneak out of the manor without Kirin knowing. She had no choice but to tell him.

It should be fine. After all, it's Kirin. He won't speak a word of this to anyone.

"Of course, my lady."

"Thank you, Kirin. And I apologize for bringing up the news about my private audience with His Majesty out of nowhere. It must have been a shock." Yerenica said, walking out of the office. She had told him about the dinner only a few days ago. He hadn't been too pleased to hear about it, much less when she added that she was not allowed to bring anyone else with her.

"I would be lying if I said that I was not caught off guard." Kirin replied as they walked down the hallway leading to Yerenica's bedchamber, "What does His Majesty intend to achieve by asking you to take such a risk? If anyone were to see you entering the royal palace, it would cause a commotion."

"I was told that I would be escorted by his knights, so there's a low chance of getting caught."

"Still," Kirin frowned, "To go to the royal palace this late at night, especially without any of your subordinates… I cannot help but be worried for your safety, my lady."

"Don't be." Yerenica turned to him, a gentle and reassuring smile on her face, "It's just a simple dinner and conversation with my sister and His Majesty. I will be fine."

"If you say so, my lady."

"Please excuse me for now. I must get ready."

"Of course." Kirin bowed and turned away, the feeling of apprehensiveness in his chest becoming tighter.

Despite Yerenica telling him not to be worried, Kirin could not help but be so. He did not view the king in a positive light. The way he saw it, Cain was the sole reason for the downfall of the once prestigious Achernars. He was the man to blame for his lady being ostracized by the nobles. He was the reason for Minerva's absence in her younger sister's life – which had left a deeper impact on Yerenica that she let on.

It was safe to say that Kirin did not trust the man who called himself the king. He feared that Yerenica may somehow end up having the same fate as her older sister; getting shut off from the outside world and those beloved to her under the guise of 'safety'.

[No.] Kirin frowned, alarmed at how negative his own thoughts were. He shook his head, trying to clear away the doubt in his mind. [I must trust the lady when she says that she will be fine. It is only my prejudice against the Sirius Family that is creating all these suspicions.]

Kirin, just like his father and his father before him, was a quiet but loyal supporter of the Wisteria Family. He did not believe in Cain's claim to the throne, but that was something he would never admit out loud. Such an act would jeopardize his lady's safety and reputation, and get him beheaded for treason.

Maybe it was indeed because of his prejudice, but even as he waited outside of the gates with Yerenica who was almost beaming with ill-concealed excitement, he was itching to tell her not to go. Even as the carriage arrived, driven by two men dressed in dark cloaks, he wanted to tell her that she was making a mistake by accepting his invitation.

However, he held his tongue. After all, at the end of the day, Yerenica was the lady of the house who had made the decision to go, and he was the faithful butler who followed her every wish and command. It was not his place to speak out of turn and question her choices. So he simply smiled and told her to be careful as he helped her up.

As he stared at the carriage drive away into the quiet night, Kirin could not help but feel that he was watching his mistress willingly make her way to the devil's den.