It was a nice laugh and the sound of it made Kamigani blushed and she could feel the heat rush over to her face. She never heard someone laugh so beautiful and it was making her nervous her palm was becoming sweaty which made her quickly place the goblet on the table to avoid it slipping.
The wine tasted like Heaven but she could not register the taste since she was busy trying to control her heart beat that was beating fast and was increasing with each second and if Xanxier was closer to her he would certainly hear it.
It was hard looking at him laughing gracefully looking like he was a god enjoying his time in his garden, all it lacked were beautiful maidens severing him wine, musicians playing him soft music. He looked so peaceful and his blue glassy eyes seemed to be glowing and she couldn't help but try to imagine him without the veil which made her blush she knew her face would had turned red.
Her eyes trailed to his hand and his long fingers, his pure white fingernails looked like it was polished and she wanted to hold that hand. She wanted to fit in with hers to compare it with Ienlouch. It would probably be so soft, she watched him wiped the corner of his eyes before gazing into the distance still chuckling.
It was normal to compare things but seeing Xanxier across her was like seeing a distant gem that cannot be touched. He was certainly a gem from Heaven and his laugh made her a little relaxed.
Kamigani quickly took a round shape cookies and started eating it to hide her hands that were shaking a bit, she moaned registering the taste of it. she blushed in embarrassment and Xanxier gestured to her to eat more which she shamelessly did. She had to live a pleasant life without regret in the palace and even if her head would dangle on the noose one day, so be it.
"Will you like to be free?"
Kamigani blinked twice thinking she heard it wrong but she clearly heard him right. She tried to form words wondering if this was finally her chance to be free "Yes I would like to be free." Her voice dripped with hope that she tried to conceal, her eyes on the porcelain jug and she could feel Xanxier intense gaze on her.
"Are you afraid Kami?" He asked after some time.
Kamigani frowned, there goes the sobriquet which sounded so pleasant to her it made her feel a little special. She tried to place why he threw that question at her only to see her hands were still shaking, she quickly grabbed her cloth trying to control it. "A bit." She replied honestly.
It was actually getting easier to talk to him, there was no tension but her shaky hands was the result of being nervous which she considered normal. She was seated drinking wine and talking to the highest authority in Autumnshell, why won't her hand shake?
But it was all nonsense. Her hands were shaking because she was scared of him seeing through her, scared of seeing she was trying hard to maintain her composure. She had always considered herself strong but right then she wasn't.
"I will not eat you Kami, drink your wine also remember to breath slowly." He said softly.
Kamigani quickly drank her wine slowly and Xanxier poured her more."Thank you your Majesty." They didn't talk for a while and her hands stop shaking also her heart beat slowed down and she felt a little relaxed.
Xanxier gaze at the distance. "I tried to keep slavery away from Autumnshell but I failed."
Kamigani doesn't know how to reply to his question but him being silent means he was expecting a reply from her. She stared at her hands thinking of how to reply. "Autumnshell is great."
"You should look at me when talking." Xanxier said softly.
Kamigani quickly raised her head and she found it difficult not trying to think of that face she saw that night. She wanted to see it again then she realised he may be preventing people to see his face since he was a very handsome man but still that was slightly not right, no one goes around wearing masks until during The Queen's festival which only happened once a year even without a Queen the festival must take place.
Being a guard or an Assasin might require the use of it but a beautiful person doesn't need it. Beautiful people were always flaunting their looks.
"You are not a slave anymore Kami neither is Huare or Tutina, when we arrest your mistress Ayante along with all the slaves traders out there I will release all of you with funds to start your lives." He stated.
Tears willed up Kamigani's eyes even though she tried to control it but she started crying like how she did looking at those flowers. It was all their dreams to be free and they all foolishly gave in to fear not even trying to see if they could have an audience with the King and seek for refuge.
Kamigani knew the King was a great ruler but none of them know he wasn't aware of the slave trading and Kamigani thought he would also had a lot of slaves serving him but he looked angry when Tutina told him they were slaves and does not know things like that exists in his Kingdom.
Kamigani wanted to run over and tell Huare and Tutina they don't need to commit a great crime and offend Heaven anymore. They only had to trust the King.
Kamigani quickly stood up and kowtowed. "Thank you your Majesty."
Xanxier quickly look away. "Stop doing that everytime."
Kamigani quickly took her seat. "Thank you your Majesty." She repeated.
"You are now my personal maid but only in name, you don't need to serve me all the time or be with me all the time, you don't have to be in my study, you can just bring my meals for the day, draw my bath and come when I summon you."
"I am grateful your Majesty." Kamigani bowed.
"When I get to the bottom of this you can choose to leave the palace and live your life."
"Thank you your Majesty." She smiled.
Xanxier froze for a second like he was in a daze then he quickly looked away. "What do you think it means when someone tried to murder a King?"
If Kamigani was still drinking she would have probably choke to death. Her mind went chaotic. Why would he ask that? Her eyes darted around before meeting his steady gaze to avoid looking suspicious. "I do not think I possess that knowledge to give you a suitable reply your Majesty." She replied, she was a bit glad her voice didn't shake but it was a different case for her heart.
"Nonsense....., now tell me the reason someone would try to murder another?" He explained in a different term still referring to his initial question. "Look at me and relax am not going to eat you." He reminded her nonchalantly.
Kamigani was embarrassed, one single mistake could land her neck on the noose or her head on the spike. She swallowed a lump on her throat. "For power."
"And?" Xanxier asked staring at her not for once breaking eye contact.
"Revenge." The eye contact was making her so uncomfortable even though the gaze was so gentle.
"And?" Xanxier asked raising his perfect eye brow.
"To obtain money." It was the reason Ayante ventured into that business. She blinked only to see Xanxier was expecting more.."For love." She blurted out.
Xanxier frowned looking lost. "Love?"
"People kill for love." She started biting her lower lip racking her brain for a suitable way to pass across an explanation. "Like when a woman falls in love with a man, the man's rival may get jealous and order for Assasins to kill him or do it himself... or a mistress of a man can kill the wife of the man she is in love with." She nodded like she agreed with what she was explaining. "Some people also kill a person they were unable to obtain and call their own."
Xanxier frown deepened as he placed his index finger on his cheek. "Hmmmm." He started tapping his finger on his cheek. "How?"
"Like when a powerful man...." Kamigani stopped abrutly, using powerful man can interpret as the King. "When a powerful man like a powerful Minister." She stopped once more as sweat broke on her forehead. She had to tread carefully.
"Say a King for your example."
Kamigani was starting to get nervous again. "When a King love a woman and the woman fall in love with another man, the King may send Assassins on their trail to murder them even though the King may love her dearly." She explained and heave a relieved sigh. It was what Cecil told her, she told her love was a complicated emotion, even though she had never fall in love but she was able to understand.
Xanxier started nodding in understanding. Kamigani spotted some figures at the distance and she turned to see the King's guide walking towards them, the Prime minister and five servants trailing behind them.
Xanxier noticed them too but didn't say a word, he only took a swing of his wine, his eyes narrowed at the figures approaching looking quite displeased.