Unconditionally Beloved. Pt 4 (daily post)

Zebub, a short, scruffy, cunning man who had helped her, through his master, get the legal rights to beg on the streets was standing before her. Although grateful to him for giving her a source of livelihood, she knew he was a greedy man, as he made her give him sixty per cent of all she got.

“How did you find me?” She asked in surprise.

 “Need I tell you, Kuroi, that my master knows all things, and his eyes are on you! Never mind that. You have with you, a big catch. The master knows that you are with Prince Zova and has asked me to grant you an offer of a treasure chest if you are willing to do his bidding.”

Kuroi’s eyes widened at this. She knew that Zebub’s master was a wealthy merchant who possessed great power and resources, but a treasure chest was more than she had ever hoped to get in her lifetime. “What does he wish and why would he offer me such a great reward?”

“All you need to do is convince the prince to meet my master by noon tomorrow, at the same spot we frequently meet to collect your payments. He only wishes for an audience with the prince as he has a business proposal for him.”

“I do not believe I can make the prince do anything…”

“But you can! And he shall surely do as you say.” Zebub stated confidently.

“Why are you so certain?”

“As I said, the master knows all things.” He responded evasively and went on trying to convince her. “Besides, how do you know the prince is not plotting an evil scheme against you? You will be better off accepting my master’s offer since he has helped you in the past. You must not trust a man you have only met a few hours ago.”

Kuroi did not doubt that Zebub stood to gain an even greater reward from the deal but considered his words valid. She had remained untrusting of the prince and had considered that he had an evil plot against her. Having listened to his story of how she became a beggar, she considered that it could have been a made-up tale to pin the blame of the missing master life-gem on her. Since she was an unknown street beggar, the royal family could use her to cover up for their incompetency. Someone must have told them that she had no memory of her past, hence they came up with the plot to lure her into what could only lead to the death sentence.

“Do not worry, Zebub, I shall bring the prince to your master.” She said, decisively. This brought a large smile to the man’s face. He only left after getting her to swear that she would not fail him. She felt a bit uneasy, knowing Zebub was a trickster, but pushed her doubts to the back of her mind.

‘Better the devil you know than the one you don’t know,’ She thought to herself.

By the next morning, Kuroi mustered up the courage and requested that the prince go with her to meet the man to whom she owed her livelihood. Prince Zova surprised her by agreeing to it without hesitation. She had expected contention and had planned several strategies to convince him to go with her. Petros seemed to be restraining himself from saying his mind, but she knew that he was angered by her request.

The prince ordered his men and Petros to take them to the requested location in his carriage and Kuroi began to feel guilty for not being completely honest. If he had given her a hard time, she could have felt better. She again considered if what he had told her was the truth even though it was an incredible tale. She decided, that even if it was, she had nothing to lose, as Zebub’s master only wished to offer a business proposal. She could get the chest and still stay with the prince regardless.

They left the carriage on the streets she had been picked up from the previous day, as it could not go through the rest of the way. Prince Zova ordered his men to remain with it, whilst Kuroi guided him and Petros to the meeting point. Kuroi was happy with this and led them through an empty alley to an open space behind some dilapidated buildings that were no longer in use.

As expected, Zebub was there, and beside him was the most intimidating man she had ever seen. He was a fair-skinned man, tall enough to be considered a giant and had eyes that were an unusual red colour. She assumed he was Zebub’s master as his eyes were set on the prince like he was the only one present.

“Prince Zova, what a pleasure to meet you in person. I have an offer that is too good to refuse.” He said with such a sinister smile that made Kuroi shudder. “I wish to make you the ruler over my kingdom which shall be greater than Salem. All you need to do is swear your allegiance to me, that you shall be loyal to me and me alone.”