The streets were empty, so no one witnessed the assault as I staggered and placed my hand on the wall to maintain my balance.
I looked at the assailant blankly as I kicked him in 'the-place-that-should-not-be-mentioned' and chopped at his neck.
He slumped to the ground, unconscious. I made my way to the backdoor of the store and slipped into my office.
I called Cassandra over and said, "There's an unconscious man outside the store. Why don't you have him sent to Miss Lila's place telling her not to send her dogs here."
"Miss, you're bleeding!"
I waved my hand at her. "It's nothing. Don't call me 'Miss' when we are here. I am Master Edmund. Besides, it's just a small wound. It'll heal in two days. Hurry, take him away before he wakes up."
She reluctantly took her leave, looking at me again and again before closing the door behind her.
After she left, I lifted my shirt up to look at my wound and cursed at that man. "That damn guy, stabbing so deep! Does he want to kill me?!"
I paused for a bit. "Of course, he wanted to kill me. But I have to attend the Duchess' birthday party tomorrow! How am I supposed to go with a wound like this!!! Damn! It hurts....! I can't even excuse myself from the party without a plausible reason...."
I tried to think up ways to skip the party as I wrapped up the wound. Just as I was done with wrapping it up, Cassandra came in. 'Whew, so close. If she'd seen that wound, she would have definitely gone and killed Miss Lila.'
"Mi...Master Edmund, I had the stray dog sent to the bitch's house."
"Cassandra, language!"
"But that stupid witch tried to have Mi...Master killed! I can't stand her!" She complained.
"Alright, just let it be. We'll talk about it later. Have you finished what we came here for today?"
"Yes, naturally! I can't have Mi... Master Edmund strain his wound so I finished your work!" She said smugly.
I laughed at that cute face only to pull at my wound and scrunch up my eyebrows.
.
.
.
I wasn't able to escape from it.
I mentally cried as I lifted my skirt slightly and bowed to the Duchess. "I wish the Duchess a very happy birthday and a long life of good health."
'Damn! My waist! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!' I tried my best to maintain my smile amidst all the pain.
"Dear Aster, there's no need for such a grand greeting. I am happy with just your presence at my birthday party. Also, just call me Aunty, dear." she pulled me up.
I smiled. "Yes, Aunty." I slowly took a few steps back and maintained a little distance from her.
'No way. If I had done that, by tomorrow everyone in the city will believe that I do not respect the one and only sister of the king. Do not underestimate the power of young noble ladies.'
Suddenly, I noticed her smile as she looked towards a particular direction in the crowd.
My eyes followed her line of sight to land on a conspicuous patch of reddish-brown hair weaving through the crowd.
'Oh no.'