Page 7 of Magic of Sins

“Please.”

The servant has stopped. With an outstretched arm he points to the room on his right. The door is open. I take a hesitant step forward. The white carpet is pristine, and I automatically wonder what a hassle it must be to keep it clean. No whippings happening here, that’s for sure—I suppose it would be hard to get the red stains out. A strange thought, born out of my lingering fear that I’m going to be punished for something.

A rustling of fabric, then someone is approaching me.

“Kaya! May I call you Kaya?”

The voice is soft and bright. The young woman it belongs to is about my age, maybe a year or two younger. She’s wearing a long, gray skirt made of tulle and a black top. Tulle! I haven’t seen such fabric in a long time. If someone like me were to wear it on the street, it would probably cause offense. People would accuse you of extravagance. But I guess the princess of the Empire can take some liberties regarding such things.

It occurs to me that I’ve never heard her speak before. In public, she always stands two paces behind her father. Alwayssilent, always smiling. Arms folded behind her back.

Now she approaches me, and I sink into an awkward curtsy, almost tripping over my plain gray skirt.

“Your Royal Highness, it’s an honor—”

Her giggle interrupts my carefully prepared speech. She covers her pale, heart-shaped mouth with her hand. Hernakedhand, I note with some surprise.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh. But these formalities are always so silly. I’m Ophelia. And please, stop whatever it is you’re doing right now before you break both your legs!”

I guess my curtsy is far from perfect, even after learning how to do it properly in school. Right foot forward, the left toe of my boot touching the ground, then bend my knees.

Embarrassed, I don’t dare to look at the princess. Instead, I let my gaze wander furtively around the room. We’re in a dining room. On a long, polished wooden table, I spot a pot of tea and two cups on a tray. Out of the corner of my eye I see movement. There’s someone else in the room. A guard, dressed all in black. The dark-skinned young woman wears her unruly black hair tied in a thick braid, and when I look at her, she returns my gaze with piercing dark brown eyes.

I didn’t know there were women in the palace guard.

When the princess notices my astonishment, she giggles again.

“This is Erin, my personal guard. But don’t worry, as long as you don’t intend to harm me, you have nothing to fear from her. After all, you’re here becauseIwant something fromyou.”

Right. The letter.

My thoughts return to the formal letter and what a contradiction it is to this friendly, bubbly person in front of me. Her request must be very serious for her to choose such words.

I follow her to the table and at her invitation sit down on one of the chairs. I stay perched on the edge, ready to jump up at anytime and run away. The princess notices with an amused smile and pours us tea. Earl Grey. It’s still steaming. I feel its warmth on my cheeks as the princess slides a cup over to me and I bring it to my lips.

“So.” She rests her elbows on the table, her hands pressed flat to the wood. Her fingers drum thoughtfully on the tabletop. “I don’t really know where to start.”

All of a sudden she seems nervous, and that makes me tense as well. I restlessly slide back and forth in my chair. The guard stirs at her post, shifting her weight from one leg to the other. Though she doesn’t move from her spot, it feels like we’re all moving closer together for the reveal of a secret that must never leave this room.

“You might be interested to know that the Royal Guard caught Caden Nicholas Nox,” Ophelia finally says.

I shrug, blankly.Caden Nicholas Nox.I’ve never heard that name before.

“He is one of the most dangerous sin mages of all time. Some even call him the King of the Underworld,” the princess explains. “He owns large portions of East Virtue, and his voice carries weight among his peers. He also possesses sensitive information that reaches into the highest political ranks.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

My mind is desperately trying to put the puzzle pieces together, but they just won’t fit.

“Well.” Ophelia stands abruptly and paces beside the long table. Her footsteps sound muffled on the carpet. “I said the Royal Guard caught him, but that’s not really true. Caden Nox turned himself in. He says he has information about a cabinet member who… about a sinner in the king’s cabinet.”

I involuntarily hold my breath. That is a serious accusation. And it would be a scandal if it ever came out.

“But …?”

My mind is full of questions. Why would the princess believe this Caden Nox? How does he even know about the sinner in the king’s cabinet in the first place? And what in all the seven virtues do I have to do with any of it?

Ophelia stops and raises her hands in a placating gesture.

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