Mercenary in the corridor

The morning rays sneaked through the thick curtains of the dark room. Karaza jolted awake, alarmed. Antonio was leaning on the coffee table, eating cereals.

She looked at the window then at a board on the wall. Slightly confused.

"I don't have a mission today do I?" She asked for a good measure.

"No, we are doomed though. Also good morning."

In the furthest corner of the palace property the duke was playing with three children in a small hut, filled with toys and physical therapy devices. The young master and his mercenary watched from a distance as the duke was running after the youngest to catch him in tag only to trip.

The oldest laughed while sitting on the bed in warm clothes. Though the laugher got mixed with coughs.

The middle was in the middle energy wise, taking his cane to walk after stepping out of the physical therapy walking bars. Heading to tickle the man on the floor.

"No one would believe they were bedridden in a coma, you're one mad hero." Antonio said, elbow nudging her.

"I'm mad exhausted actually." She said despite some softness in her voice.

"So what's the calamity now?" She asked.

"The Marquis offered to send his second son to be my escort or something."

"I thought they didn't approve of you very much."

"Papa's money is a magic trick."

She blinked before speaking.
"So what's the plan?" She looked at the three happy kids.

"Can't let them know they're alive I suppose?" She continued.

"The hut is far and discreet enough right?" He said, even his tone not taking his side. The wall of rose behind them was good, but not that good.

"If he gonna stay here he will find out sooner or later, one way or another. Isn't the Marquis sending him to keep an eye on y'all to begin with?"

"More or less, if we fall he could kick us. If we rise he was there for us. To be honest I admire his brains." Karaza look at his smile.

"But what about his son?"

"I saw him at his brother selection, so I have a theory."

'The kids can't handle a move right now.' She recalled.

"I shall stay here in the mean time then. Hope you're theory is correct."

The young master recalls the look on his face while the west king honor his older brother with a knight title in public. Eyeing him from a safe distance in the applauding crowd.

"Don't worry, I think I know the face of a hungry man." He said, the shine of a hungry man in his eyes.

As the infamous man arrived, Karaza was washing the dye off her hair in the shed's sink near the peaceful hut.

She held a laundry basket with a maid uniform and brown hair. Dry of course. The miniature axe on her wrist picking up noises.

'The weeks are passing peacefully. Well the Marquis shouldn't be in any hurry.' She thought as she bowed to henry as a maid, pushing the cleaning cart as she existed his room.

At the silent knight in the hut attic her eyes were close, axe to her forehead. The young master opened the door quietly

"Please don't creep on me when I have a weapon young master." She said with a low voice.

"Sheesh, I thought you were a sleep. What's you're doing?" He raised an eyebrow.

"I can only hear noises so if someone wrote a letter to leak information I wouldn't know."

"So why picking up sound waves any way."

"I'm trying to see if I can decode the pen scribbles on a paper and extract the letters from the sound."

"Ma'am you're scary strong as is."

Moment of silence were cut by his curious question.

" Did you thought of all the specifics before you wished for your power?"

"Nah, I just was good at hearing so I thought why not." She balanced the axe handle on the tip of her finger.

"I think it's about time for me to make a wish."

"I see."

"So I should wish for something I'm good at?" The dry reply didn't stop him from digging.

"As long as you're not desperate."

"Come on give me something."

"I don't wanna be responsible for a calamity."

"Information would help with that."

"The perfect wish doesn't exist. Nothing productive about chasing that."

"So you regret your wish sometimes?"

The stars light faintly bathed the attic. Dim shine on the dull, worn out blade, a shine that reflected on her eyes.

"I do, but I love it. For better or for worse."

Silence woke again as her words sunk in his mind. He sat there staring at the floor.

"That was heavy."