The King's Paramour

¬ FASHIRE

I paused, astounded by her audacious declaration of herself as the King's prostitute. The sheer boldness of her words grated on my nerves.

She did hold power thanks to her position, and I supposed the guests wouldn't have much to talk about if she wasn't ashamed about her situation, but this causal admission of hers was deeply disconcerting.

"You are not lost, are you?" I mused aloud, treading cautiously. 

Advising her against being in this forbidden part of the castle would only serve to stoke her curiosity, but for her to be here and not even have known about this place. The old fool would have at least warned her at one point not to approach this wing of the royal castle. And yet, here the minx was.

"Lost?" Her eyes roved about the room, a mischievous glint dancing within them. She cast her gaze from wall to ceiling, to the opposite wall, and finally to my feet.