"By the gods— you froze, didn't you?" Samantha exclaimed, her voice light and teasing, dripping with mockery. Her tone was playful, but there was an unmistakable sharpness to it, like she was savoring the moment. "Oh, calm down, beautiful girl. I'm just messing with you. You didn't think I'd be pissed off just because you made that question, did you? You don't know me well enough to think that. But, you know what? In the end, this is actually a good thing. Really, it is."
I blinked, a little thrown off by her sudden shift in tone. Her initial teasing had caught me off guard, but now, she was making it sound like a compliment—or at least trying to. "What's a good thing?" I asked, genuinely curious, though still unsure where this conversation was headed.
"The fact that you're smart enough to be cautious around me," she continued, her voice still smooth but with a dangerous edge. Her eyes glinted with that unmistakable spark of amusement that made me realize she wasn't someone to underestimate. "That's something most people don't have. Most people get too comfortable and forget that I'm not someone you'd want to mess with. But you? You've got the sense to be careful, and that's actually smart. I'll give you that." Her words were a mixture of praise and a warning, but there was no mistaking the underlying sense of power she exuded. "But you're lucky, sweetheart. Because I like you."
She took a deliberate, slow sip of her Bourbon, and as the glass lingered by her lips, her gaze remained locked on mine, calculating, sharp. She set the glass down gently on the table, and then let out a soft chuckle, the sound low and slightly mocking. It wasn't the type of laugh that reassured you—it was the kind that made you feel like you were part of some inside joke you didn't quite understand yet.
Then, she flashed a wicked smile. "You asked what the second and third in command do when the Golden boy is present in the kingdom. Well, honey, let me tell you something. A King can't do everything alone, can he? No, a King needs help. He's got his people to back him up, take care of the things he can't do himself." She leaned back in her chair, her confidence radiating like an aura, and for a brief moment, I could almost see her authority as second in command written all over her. "That's where we come in—Koji and I. We handle everything. We manage all the stuff that can't be done by just one person. We make sure the kingdom keeps running smoothly when Kai's busy with other things."
I nodded slowly, trying to wrap my mind around her words. It was starting to make sense, though I still felt like there was so much more I didn't fully understand. "That makes sense," I murmured. "But... can I ask you something? And please, don't take it the wrong way." I tried to sound casual, but my curiosity was getting the best of me, and I knew I was stepping into dangerous territory.
Samantha's lips curved into a devilish smile as she leaned forward just a little, her eyes narrowing with amusement. She was clearly enjoying this. "I'm listening," she said, clearly intrigued, her voice laced with something that made me feel like I was being lured into a trap. But I couldn't stop myself from asking.
"Why are you second in command if you're not a fae?" I asked, watching her closely, my heart pounding in my chest. I knew this question could be dangerous, but the words slipped out before I could stop them. The room seemed to freeze for a second, the tension thickening as the question hung in the air. Everyone around us, even Kai, looked at me with wide eyes, as if I'd just broken some unspoken rule. But Samantha only smiled wider, her expression shifting from playful to something far more predatory.
"I've been protected by this kingdom for a long time, sweetheart," Samantha replied, her voice lowering as if she were sharing something far more personal. "Since Kai's great-great-grandparents ruled over these lands, I've had their backing. They trusted me, they liked me—hell, all the rulers who came after them liked me too. But when Kai was born, and started growing up, well… he became known as the most powerful fae of all time. That's when things changed. When he took the throne, newly crowned and all, he thought it'd be fun to challenge me. He said I could be dangerous, but that didn't change the fact that he was more powerful than me."
Her eyes sparkled with the memory, and I could tell she relished in the recollection of the past. It was almost as though she enjoyed being underestimated. "Poor child didn't know what he was getting himself into. We made a bet—if he won the fight, I'd go out with him, no questions asked. But if I won, I'd become second in command. And we both know how that turned out." She leaned in slightly, her voice lowering even more as she looked at me with an almost smug grin. "Well, look at me now, baby girl. My position speaks for itself. We both know who won that fight."
I sat there, stunned into silence for a moment. I could hardly believe what I was hearing. "Wait, hold on—he challenged you to a fight, and you won?" My voice came out in disbelief, but Samantha nodded, her smile growing smugger by the second.
"Yeah, I did. After that, he didn't mess with me anymore. Well, except for that one time when he broke up my fight with Ryusei." She paused, her eyes darkening slightly at the mention of Ryusei, before continuing. "But that's a story for another time."
I glanced over at Kai, who remained quiet, his expression unreadable. My mind was racing, processing everything she'd just told me. The once seemingly untouchable Kai had been so sure of his own strength, and yet he had lost to Samantha. The implications of that were staggering, and I was still struggling to wrap my head around it.
Samantha was silent for a moment, watching me carefully as I absorbed the information. I couldn't stop myself from looking at Kai again, feeling a strange mix of admiration and disbelief bubbling inside me. And then, the absurdity of it all hit me. My lips parted, and I burst out laughing, unable to stop myself. It was a mix of disbelief, shock, and pure absurdity at how the situation had turned out. Kai, the King, the Golden boy, had lost a fight to someone who wasn't even fae. I couldn't help it—the irony was just too much.
The room was momentarily silent, everyone staring at me in surprise, unsure of what had just happened. No one was expecting me to laugh, especially not like this. For a moment, I couldn't stop. It was uncontrollable, almost as though I had been holding my breath for so long, and now I could finally exhale. The laughter came in fits and starts, echoing through the room as I wiped the tears from my eyes.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I managed to calm myself down. I cleared my throat and apologized, still chuckling. "Sorry," I said, trying to collect myself. "It's just... I didn't expect that. I mean, he's Kai, the King. And you? Well, I guess I really underestimated you."
Samantha didn't seem offended by my outburst at all. In fact, she looked amused. "It's alright, darling," she said with a smirk, clearly enjoying my reaction. "Most people do. But now you know the truth." Her eyes gleamed with a dangerous glint as she leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a lower, more predatory tone. "And just so you're clear—everyone loves me. The people, the kingdom—they all know who's really in charge around here. Don't get any ideas, sweetheart."
I nodded slowly, still trying to process everything that had just been revealed. It was clear that the dynamics here were far more complex than I'd ever imagined. Samantha's role wasn't just a title; she had earned her position through strength, strategy, and sheer power. And the fact that she was willing to throw Kai's challenge in my face—well, that was something I'd never forget.
"Alright, alright," I said, raising my hands in mock surrender. "I get it. No more questions... for now."
Samantha's lips curled into a satisfied smile, clearly pleased with my reaction. "Good. Keep your head straight, beautiful. You'll need it if you want to survive around here."