Page 32 of Kingdom of Crowns and Daggers

Dismissed, the four of them begin their walk back to the barracks, leaving me alone with Joha. I’m breaking my own rules by leaving the king without four guards, but we all know I can protect Joha better than those four put together.

“You’re too harsh on them.” His voice is threaded with amusement.

Raising my brow, I turn to look down at Joha, who doesn’t glance up from his book. I swear he does this on purpose to mess with me. It’s either that or he genuinely doesn’t care about his own safety. The risks he takes are making me go prematurely grey, one of the reasons I keep my head shaved.

“They are your guards, Joha. You’re too easy on them! They didn’t even know I was here. If I was an assassin, you would be dead by now.”

Being alone, I don’t bother to hold back my frustrations. Right now, he’s my pain in the ass friend, and I’ll speak to him as such. He will always be my king, but there are occasions when he needs to hear the truth without it being brushed over with courtly, flowery language.

Lowering the book to his lap, he looks up at me with a grin, his eyes sparkling. “I guess it’s a good thing you’re not an assassin then.” He smiles and sits upright, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. Taking in my frazzled state, he raises a brow and tilts his head to one side. “I take it this isn’t about my guards.”

Perceptive as always.

“Yes,” I snap back, crossing my arms over my chest. “Your betrothed . . . ,” I seethe, the words tasting acidic on my tongue. “There are rumours going around about her, and they are only getting worse. Queen Mother has already heard them. You need to sort it.”

Waving off my concern, he stands and smiles at me in a way I’m sure is supposed to reassure me. “Oh, they are only rumours. Don’t worry about it, old friend. Everyone will soon forget it, and I’m sure they will welcome her.”

Something about what he says suddenly triggers something in my mind, and a memory rushes to the surface. I’m in a similar position, except the male standing opposite me was the old king, Joha’s father.

He looks like an older version of Joha, the familial resemblance between the two uncanny. He squeezes my shoulder in a comforting gesture, his smile filled with kindness.

“I’m honoured that you think I deserve your protection, Orion, but I have my own guards.”

I had yet to join the guards, and Joha and I were practically joined at the hip. Due to this, I spent a lot of time around the king, and honestly, he acted more like a father figure to me rather than a ruler.

The previous night, I’d overheard a rumour about one of the king’s guards. After sleeping on the information, I’d immediately gone to see him the next day.

“I don’t trust them, Your Majesty. I heard that one of them is a thief from the city.” My young face is pulled into my signature frown, my body tense and full of nervous energy.

Realisation fills the king’s eyes, and some of the good humour leaves his expression. “I know the rumour you speak of, but I’m choosing to trust the guard in question. He’s worked for me for a while now.”

Startled by his response, I shake my head. “But?—”

He stops me before I can get started, squeezing my shoulder again and giving me a kind but firm smile. “Orion, you will make a brilliant guard one day, but you must learn to trust others.”

The memory fades away, and Joha’s face replaces that of his father’s. The old king was too trusting, and I had been right about the guard. Many priceless treasures were stolen, but thankfully no one was hurt in the process.

Joha seems to be following in his footsteps. It means that he’s a fair ruler, but he is also manipulated by others. He immediately trusted Alyx, an assassin nobody trusts. Then there’s me, who is at the complete opposite end of the spectrum.

Shaking my head, I cluck my tongue. “You’re just like your father. Too trusting.”

Joha’s eyes flash at the mention of his father, and I immediately feel bad for bringing him up, but he smiles, hiding his sadness. “Is that a bad thing, old friend?”

No. The old king was a great man and kind in a way that nobility doesn’t tend to be. He always saw beyond his own needs and genuinely tried to help his people—not just the lords and ladies in his court, but the workers in the city too. However, that’s not the point I’m trying to make right now, so I simply raise a brow.

“It is if you want to survive long enough to have this grand wedding of yours,” I point out.

Rolling his eyes, Joha turns and takes up his spot against the tree trunk once more, facing towards the lake. “Stop moaning and come sit down with me for a bit.”

Grumbling, I do as he says, mumbling my complaints under my breath as I sit beside him. This is exactly what I disciplined the guards for, but I’m constantly aware of my surroundings and who is close by. I may make it seem like a chore to be here with Joha, but I love spending time with him like this. It reminds me of a simpler time, when it was just the two of us.

I suppose with Alyx around, things will never be simple again.

Why does that thought send a thrill through me?

Chapter

Eighteen

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