Chat-Error/slightly-more-clean-ln · Datasets at Hugging Face

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Of course, Your Highness. The petite girl and the broad knight bowed as one.
Theodore had known Elsie, Lady Rishes maid, and Kamil, one of her guards, for a very long time. The two of them were born and bred in the slums, growing up hungry.
I wasnt expecting a chance so soon, said Elsie. She worked herself to the point of collapse, so it was the perfect opportunity to steal her away.
A pause. I have already searched her person, Kamil said. Shes unarmed, carrying nothing that would aid her in escape.
Such work ethic. Theodore glanced at the maid. Elsie, your complexion has improved so much. Im glad youve been eating better.
Its all thanks to you, Your Highness. Youre the one who referred me for the job.
No need to thank me. It was the perfect opportunity to get one of my supporters close to my brothers fiance, after all. You did an admirable job winning Rishes trust. Im appreciative beyond words. Theodore turned his attention to the knight. Kamil, youve had your work cut out for you too. My future sister-in-law is such a busy bee.
Nothing I couldnt handle. Acting as her guard was the perfect cover.
Theodore laughed. You werent so happy about it when my brother chose you for his personal guard and flatly refused when I asked for you instead, he said, referring to an incident from a few years ago. Theodores terrific fuss at not being given his way was known far and wide, but the fact that the knight in question was one hed brought up from the slums himself was not. Who knew that having one of mine in my brothers faction would be so useful?
Theodore took out a leather bag full of gold coins and tossed it to them. Elsie and Kamil bowed as they accepted their payment.
Thank you for everything thus far, Theodore said as he let himself out into the fetid alley. Keep up the good work.
On his way back through the dark alley, a raggedly dressed boy scampered up. Theo!
Hey, Wim. Hows the protection detail?
Good! Im gonna keep Anna safe until Mom gets home from work!
Theodore ruffled the boys hair, uncaring that it was matted and filthy. What a good big brother you are. But its late enough that the mission should probably continue with the two of you tucked in for the night.
What? But I wanna stay up and see Mom when she gets home! Wim wailed.
Its important for big brothers to make sure their little sisters get enough rest, right?
The boys face scrunched as he thought it over, before he nodded. Okay. If you say so, then Ill continue my duties from bed. Good night, Theo!
Good night. Sweet dreams.
Theodore watched until the boy was out of sight. He shook his head ruefully. A big brothers job, eh? As if my brother would have ever done that for me.
Theodores guard only responded with, Your Highness. At this, Theodore just shrugged.
Hed first visited these slums when he was very young, still holding hands with his mother. Shed done charity work here, in the imperial capitals refuse pile, where people who didnt matter were swallowed whole by debt and poverty.
Brother sees me the same way he does the people who live here. He pretends to care because he cant make me go away, but deep down, he doesnt give a damn. Thats all I am to him. A duty. Theodore kept his eyes on the pavement. But now Ive launched my counterattack, dear brother. I wonder how long Ill have to wait for you to lavish me with your attention?
***
In a small, dingy back room, Rishe fought to stay conscious.
As far as she could tell, shed been brought to the outskirts of the capital and locked away in what appeared to be a storage room. There was a window, but she was on the third floor. She heard a few people moving on the other side of the doormost likely posted guards.
Rishe sat in one corner, fighting her wavering vision, sluggish body, and aching head.
At long last, a distraction arrived.
Hey, Sister. How does it feel knowing youve been betrayed by your maid and guard?
Prince Theodore, Rishe acknowledged, letting out a sigh. At last, the person shed been waiting for made his entrance.
Theodore cheerfully smiled down at her from the door. So sad, and after you trained that girl so lovingly. Elsie told me all about your scheme to get the maids doing their jobs faster. Even the officials are talking about you and your system. Apparently, its going to fix the palaces staffing problem. My brothers brilliant bride, here to solve all his administrative issues. The smile dropped off his beautiful face. Youre valuable to him.
Her thoughts hazy, Rishe managed to ask, Why do this?
To make my brother angry, of course.
Thats it?
Theodores voice was unwavering as he spoke. Skilled knights. Brilliant attendants. A bride whos reforming the palace. My brother sees value in excellence and nothing else. I am so far beneath his notice that he doesnt even bother to hate me. I decided to change thatI want him to loathe me down to his core.
Rishe realized something then. Until now, shed been operating under the assumption that Theodore schemed to undermine his brother because he disliked him. Shed made a terrible error.
My brother doesnt even look at me, you know? Theodore said, chuckling. No matter what I do, he wont give me the time of day. He only bothered to acknowledge I was alive when I approached you. Id far rather be looked at as an annoyance than nothing at all! Theodores whole body was quivering, not out of fear but excitement. While hes mad at me, hes thinking of me! Its such a relief! Knowing that he considers me, even a little!
Rishe watched his fuzzy figure from her seat on the floor as he continued to laugh.
Fighting through her nausea and headache, Rishe smiled at him. Youre lying.
What? Theodores face twisted so briefly that Rishe would have missed it if she hadnt been watching closely. Youre just angry I captured you. Its not very becoming, Sister.
Then wont you deign to tell your poor, defenseless hostage why the two of you hate each other so very much?
Its none of your business.
You made it my business, Rishe said, when you dragged to me into your feud.
Theodore stuck out his lip petulantly, like a child. Fine. Whatever. Remember how I told you my brother killed our mother? Well, he did it because she tried to kill him first.
Rishe recalled the scars on the nape of Arnolds neck, numerous and at least a decade old.
She hated my brother as much as she hated my father. And Brother hated her in return. He dreamed of ending her life.
Rishe listened in silence.
I bet hell kill Father someday too. And when he does, being crown prince wont save himhell be a traitor, and theyll execute him. There will be no escape. Theodores voice was light, unknowing of the prescience of his joke. Our family is a mess because our father treats us like objects. Movable game pieces. And because my brother has severed all contact with his siblings, my sisters live elsewhere, on his orders.
Why did Prince Arnold hate your mother so much he wanted to kill her?
Theodore shrugged. I assume its because she tried to kill him first. Its only normal to loathe someone like that.
Rishe had thought hed answer that way, but she wasnt sure she agreed. To her eyes, Arnold wouldnt hold a grudge like that, or swear a vendetta. But trying to sort any of this out right now was impossibleshe was too ill to even think.
And now you know. Satisfied?
Yes. Very. Rishe mustered all her strength to smile at Theodore. You want to be close with Prince Arnold.
Wh Theodores blue eyes, so like his brothers, went wide as saucers.
You spoke about Arnold differently this time. When you told me about him in the chapel, you made him out to be a monster.
Have you lost your mind? Theodore turned his back on Rishe. Enough of this nonsense. Im going to go play with my brother now, so you be a good girl while Im gone. Ive posted guards at the door; you wont get far if you try to escape. Bye.
He shut the door behind him, throwing the lock. After his footsteps faded away, Rishe could still hear the presence of people outside in the hall. She let out a deep sigh and turned to a box in the corner of the room, drawing out thick winter curtains. Delighted, she laid them on the floor and curled up on top of them. Not luxurious by any stretch, but still far more comfortable than sleeping rough when she was a knight. And more importantly
At last, I can sleep!
Shed been fighting to stay awake before Theodore arrivednow that theyd spoken, she had no reason to bother. The headache and nausea were bad enough, but above all else, she was tired. So tired her whole body ached.
Rishe closed her eyes and fell asleep for just over an hour. It was a short nap, but it refreshed her mind. She hadnt completely recovered, of course, but she felt much better than she had before she fainted. As she stirred, she yawned.
Hmm, I think I still have Yes!
She pulled out a hidden vial of medicine, enduring its bitter taste as she gulped it down. It was a temporary measure, but once it kicked in, shed have more options open to her. Next, she smoothly rolled up the hem of her dress, retrieving the dagger she had fastened to her thigh with a ribbon.
This is a good-quality knife. Elsie brought it to me from the slumsPrince Theodore must be their supplier. Rishe pulled two gold hairpins from her hair. Accessories on most days, lockpicks on special occasions.
Ill have to thank Elsie and Kamil for their help later. They had, after all, been the ones to supply her the information on Theodore.
Dagger and her makeshift lockpicks in hand, Rishe stood up.
Shed confirmed before Theodores arrival that the lock had been tampered with, destroyed from the inside. Normally that would mean the door couldnt be opened from here, but Rishe could deal with that.
I think it should be around here.
She knelt before the door, locating a small pinhole underneath the doorknoba fail-safe in case the internal lock was broken. As she probed around with the golden pins, she went over her next moves. I hope Elsie and Kamil are okay. They did just betray Prince Theodore, and the people around here adore him.
Her maid had been working for Theodore all along.
***
Rishe had realized the possibility a few days ago when shed received his letter. The false missive had been slid in under the crack of her door, which could only be done by someone with permission to enter the detached wing. At present, only Rishe, her maids, and her guards had that.
The night Arnold visited her, word had spread quickly. Clearly, comings and goings were watched, and Rishe learned that no one unknown had been seen. Which meant the person who delivered the letter was a maid or a knight. The knights were unlikely; they had been with her when the letter was dropped off.
That only left a maid.
Perhaps Theodore hadnt bothered to explain himself, just given the order. He had also most likely ordered silenceno mention at all that he had ever drafted a letter to the crown princess.
Reluctantly, Rishe began investigating her maids during the hours she spent making the nail polish. She looked at their backgrounds, searching for criminal records of anyone close to them. Among her maids, just one of them had any sort of shady history: Elsie.
All the new maids were from poor families, but Elsie was the only one who had grown up in the slums. Her character reference for her job had been offered by a church in the district. Nothing so strange in a poor girl being sponsored by a charity, but something about it still felt off to Rishe.
She needed answers; she needed proof. Thus, shed asked the knights to summon her when she felt unwell. This would be the moment Elsie would show her hand. But the second Elsie came into the parlor, she burst into tears, saying, Please dont worry, my lady. Ill protect you no matter what happens, I promise. I promise.
Her small body trembled as she resolved herself to betray her patron.
What Rishe had not been anticipating was a knight to say much the same thing. Lady Rishe, I swear I will protect you as well. I was truly touched by your plan to help the slums. Elsie and I will deliver you to a doctor.
He was one of the knights who had been paralyzed by poison during the bandit attack on their journey to Galkhein. Rishe knew from Arnold that he was from the slums and that he had struggled night and day to become a knight.
Elsie, I dont care what kind of punishment he might inflict on uswe shall save Lady Rishe.
Yes. Stay here, my lady. Well
No, wait. I have a request, Rishe cut in. If Prince Theodore has ordered you to do something to me, I want you to do it. Obey him.
Why?! they asked in tandem.
Their guilty shock told Rishe everything she needed to know. Were you given any instructions, Elsie?
We were ordered to watch for a chance to take you captive, without any harm coming to you.
A strange order, Rishe thought then.
Im so sorry, my lady. Punish me any way you see fit.
My lady! I cannot say the same for myself, but Elsie has done no wrong. Due to her situation at home, she cannot afford to disobey Prince Theodores commands. Kamil wore a pained look on his face. Prince Theodore personally supports the slums, and everyone who lives there would likely do whatever it was he asked of them. To go against his orders is to go against the interests of your own friends and familyyoud be shunned. Elsie has nowhere to go.
But, Kamil, that goes for you as well! Elsie cried.
Im a knight, I no longer live in that district. And obeying this particular order would be a serious crime against our future princess.
Rishe listened to their exchange. We should continue this conversation later. For now, lets go.
Where?
To imprison me. Like Prince Theodore ordered.
Elsie and Kamil stared at her.
Blinking against her headache, Rishe turned over a paper she had used during her negotiations with Tully and wrote: I have gone to continue a discussion we began in the chapel.
Arnold was the only one who could interpret this. It had only been a week ago, and it would still be fresh in his memory. After that, Elsie and Kamil snuck Rishe out of the palace and locked her up in this building on the outskirts.
***
Prince Arnold should know from that letter that I left the palace of my own free will. Meanwhile, Prince Theodore believes hes successfully captured me. Neither of them will find fault with Elsie or Kamil.
Back in the present, she felt one of the hairpins come up against something heavy. She flipped it up and heard a click. Rishe stood, easing the door open, pausing to listen to the men talking on the other side.

Of course, Your Highness. The petite girl and the broad knight bowed as one.

Theodore had known Elsie, Lady Rishes maid, and Kamil, one of her guards, for a very long time. The two of them were born and bred in the slums, growing up hungry.

I wasnt expecting a chance so soon, said Elsie. She worked herself to the point of collapse, so it was the perfect opportunity to steal her away.

A pause. I have already searched her person, Kamil said. Shes unarmed, carrying nothing that would aid her in escape.

Such work ethic. Theodore glanced at the maid. Elsie, your complexion has improved so much. Im glad youve been eating better.

Its all thanks to you, Your Highness. Youre the one who referred me for the job.

No need to thank me. It was the perfect opportunity to get one of my supporters close to my brothers fiance, after all. You did an admirable job winning Rishes trust. Im appreciative beyond words. Theodore turned his attention to the knight. Kamil, youve had your work cut out for you too. My future sister-in-law is such a busy bee.

Nothing I couldnt handle. Acting as her guard was the perfect cover.

Theodore laughed. You werent so happy about it when my brother chose you for his personal guard and flatly refused when I asked for you instead, he said, referring to an incident from a few years ago. Theodores terrific fuss at not being given his way was known far and wide, but the fact that the knight in question was one hed brought up from the slums himself was not. Who knew that having one of mine in my brothers faction would be so useful?

Theodore took out a leather bag full of gold coins and tossed it to them. Elsie and Kamil bowed as they accepted their payment.

Thank you for everything thus far, Theodore said as he let himself out into the fetid alley. Keep up the good work.

On his way back through the dark alley, a raggedly dressed boy scampered up. Theo!

Hey, Wim. Hows the protection detail?

Good! Im gonna keep Anna safe until Mom gets home from work!

Theodore ruffled the boys hair, uncaring that it was matted and filthy. What a good big brother you are. But its late enough that the mission should probably continue with the two of you tucked in for the night.

What? But I wanna stay up and see Mom when she gets home! Wim wailed.

Its important for big brothers to make sure their little sisters get enough rest, right?

The boys face scrunched as he thought it over, before he nodded. Okay. If you say so, then Ill continue my duties from bed. Good night, Theo!

Good night. Sweet dreams.

Theodore watched until the boy was out of sight. He shook his head ruefully. A big brothers job, eh? As if my brother would have ever done that for me.

Theodores guard only responded with, Your Highness. At this, Theodore just shrugged.

Hed first visited these slums when he was very young, still holding hands with his mother. Shed done charity work here, in the imperial capitals refuse pile, where people who didnt matter were swallowed whole by debt and poverty.

Brother sees me the same way he does the people who live here. He pretends to care because he cant make me go away, but deep down, he doesnt give a damn. Thats all I am to him. A duty. Theodore kept his eyes on the pavement. But now Ive launched my counterattack, dear brother. I wonder how long Ill have to wait for you to lavish me with your attention?

***

In a small, dingy back room, Rishe fought to stay conscious.

As far as she could tell, shed been brought to the outskirts of the capital and locked away in what appeared to be a storage room. There was a window, but she was on the third floor. She heard a few people moving on the other side of the doormost likely posted guards.

Rishe sat in one corner, fighting her wavering vision, sluggish body, and aching head.

At long last, a distraction arrived.

Hey, Sister. How does it feel knowing youve been betrayed by your maid and guard?

Prince Theodore, Rishe acknowledged, letting out a sigh. At last, the person shed been waiting for made his entrance.

Theodore cheerfully smiled down at her from the door. So sad, and after you trained that girl so lovingly. Elsie told me all about your scheme to get the maids doing their jobs faster. Even the officials are talking about you and your system. Apparently, its going to fix the palaces staffing problem. My brothers brilliant bride, here to solve all his administrative issues. The smile dropped off his beautiful face. Youre valuable to him.

Her thoughts hazy, Rishe managed to ask, Why do this?

To make my brother angry, of course.

Thats it?

Theodores voice was unwavering as he spoke. Skilled knights. Brilliant attendants. A bride whos reforming the palace. My brother sees value in excellence and nothing else. I am so far beneath his notice that he doesnt even bother to hate me. I decided to change thatI want him to loathe me down to his core.

Rishe realized something then. Until now, shed been operating under the assumption that Theodore schemed to undermine his brother because he disliked him. Shed made a terrible error.

My brother doesnt even look at me, you know? Theodore said, chuckling. No matter what I do, he wont give me the time of day. He only bothered to acknowledge I was alive when I approached you. Id far rather be looked at as an annoyance than nothing at all! Theodores whole body was quivering, not out of fear but excitement. While hes mad at me, hes thinking of me! Its such a relief! Knowing that he considers me, even a little!

Rishe watched his fuzzy figure from her seat on the floor as he continued to laugh.

Fighting through her nausea and headache, Rishe smiled at him. Youre lying.

What? Theodores face twisted so briefly that Rishe would have missed it if she hadnt been watching closely. Youre just angry I captured you. Its not very becoming, Sister.

Then wont you deign to tell your poor, defenseless hostage why the two of you hate each other so very much?

Its none of your business.

You made it my business, Rishe said, when you dragged to me into your feud.

Theodore stuck out his lip petulantly, like a child. Fine. Whatever. Remember how I told you my brother killed our mother? Well, he did it because she tried to kill him first.

Rishe recalled the scars on the nape of Arnolds neck, numerous and at least a decade old.

She hated my brother as much as she hated my father. And Brother hated her in return. He dreamed of ending her life.

Rishe listened in silence.

I bet hell kill Father someday too. And when he does, being crown prince wont save himhell be a traitor, and theyll execute him. There will be no escape. Theodores voice was light, unknowing of the prescience of his joke. Our family is a mess because our father treats us like objects. Movable game pieces. And because my brother has severed all contact with his siblings, my sisters live elsewhere, on his orders.

Why did Prince Arnold hate your mother so much he wanted to kill her?

Theodore shrugged. I assume its because she tried to kill him first. Its only normal to loathe someone like that.

Rishe had thought hed answer that way, but she wasnt sure she agreed. To her eyes, Arnold wouldnt hold a grudge like that, or swear a vendetta. But trying to sort any of this out right now was impossibleshe was too ill to even think.

And now you know. Satisfied?

Yes. Very. Rishe mustered all her strength to smile at Theodore. You want to be close with Prince Arnold.

Wh Theodores blue eyes, so like his brothers, went wide as saucers.

You spoke about Arnold differently this time. When you told me about him in the chapel, you made him out to be a monster.

Have you lost your mind? Theodore turned his back on Rishe. Enough of this nonsense. Im going to go play with my brother now, so you be a good girl while Im gone. Ive posted guards at the door; you wont get far if you try to escape. Bye.

He shut the door behind him, throwing the lock. After his footsteps faded away, Rishe could still hear the presence of people outside in the hall. She let out a deep sigh and turned to a box in the corner of the room, drawing out thick winter curtains. Delighted, she laid them on the floor and curled up on top of them. Not luxurious by any stretch, but still far more comfortable than sleeping rough when she was a knight. And more importantly

At last, I can sleep!

Shed been fighting to stay awake before Theodore arrivednow that theyd spoken, she had no reason to bother. The headache and nausea were bad enough, but above all else, she was tired. So tired her whole body ached.

Rishe closed her eyes and fell asleep for just over an hour. It was a short nap, but it refreshed her mind. She hadnt completely recovered, of course, but she felt much better than she had before she fainted. As she stirred, she yawned.

Hmm, I think I still have Yes!

She pulled out a hidden vial of medicine, enduring its bitter taste as she gulped it down. It was a temporary measure, but once it kicked in, shed have more options open to her. Next, she smoothly rolled up the hem of her dress, retrieving the dagger she had fastened to her thigh with a ribbon.

This is a good-quality knife. Elsie brought it to me from the slumsPrince Theodore must be their supplier. Rishe pulled two gold hairpins from her hair. Accessories on most days, lockpicks on special occasions.

Ill have to thank Elsie and Kamil for their help later. They had, after all, been the ones to supply her the information on Theodore.

Dagger and her makeshift lockpicks in hand, Rishe stood up.

Shed confirmed before Theodores arrival that the lock had been tampered with, destroyed from the inside. Normally that would mean the door couldnt be opened from here, but Rishe could deal with that.

I think it should be around here.

She knelt before the door, locating a small pinhole underneath the doorknoba fail-safe in case the internal lock was broken. As she probed around with the golden pins, she went over her next moves. I hope Elsie and Kamil are okay. They did just betray Prince Theodore, and the people around here adore him.

Her maid had been working for Theodore all along.

***

Rishe had realized the possibility a few days ago when shed received his letter. The false missive had been slid in under the crack of her door, which could only be done by someone with permission to enter the detached wing. At present, only Rishe, her maids, and her guards had that.

The night Arnold visited her, word had spread quickly. Clearly, comings and goings were watched, and Rishe learned that no one unknown had been seen. Which meant the person who delivered the letter was a maid or a knight. The knights were unlikely; they had been with her when the letter was dropped off.

That only left a maid.

Perhaps Theodore hadnt bothered to explain himself, just given the order. He had also most likely ordered silenceno mention at all that he had ever drafted a letter to the crown princess.

Reluctantly, Rishe began investigating her maids during the hours she spent making the nail polish. She looked at their backgrounds, searching for criminal records of anyone close to them. Among her maids, just one of them had any sort of shady history: Elsie.

All the new maids were from poor families, but Elsie was the only one who had grown up in the slums. Her character reference for her job had been offered by a church in the district. Nothing so strange in a poor girl being sponsored by a charity, but something about it still felt off to Rishe.

She needed answers; she needed proof. Thus, shed asked the knights to summon her when she felt unwell. This would be the moment Elsie would show her hand. But the second Elsie came into the parlor, she burst into tears, saying, Please dont worry, my lady. Ill protect you no matter what happens, I promise. I promise.

Her small body trembled as she resolved herself to betray her patron.

What Rishe had not been anticipating was a knight to say much the same thing. Lady Rishe, I swear I will protect you as well. I was truly touched by your plan to help the slums. Elsie and I will deliver you to a doctor.

He was one of the knights who had been paralyzed by poison during the bandit attack on their journey to Galkhein. Rishe knew from Arnold that he was from the slums and that he had struggled night and day to become a knight.

Elsie, I dont care what kind of punishment he might inflict on uswe shall save Lady Rishe.

Yes. Stay here, my lady. Well

No, wait. I have a request, Rishe cut in. If Prince Theodore has ordered you to do something to me, I want you to do it. Obey him.

Why?! they asked in tandem.

Their guilty shock told Rishe everything she needed to know. Were you given any instructions, Elsie?

We were ordered to watch for a chance to take you captive, without any harm coming to you.

A strange order, Rishe thought then.

Im so sorry, my lady. Punish me any way you see fit.

My lady! I cannot say the same for myself, but Elsie has done no wrong. Due to her situation at home, she cannot afford to disobey Prince Theodores commands. Kamil wore a pained look on his face. Prince Theodore personally supports the slums, and everyone who lives there would likely do whatever it was he asked of them. To go against his orders is to go against the interests of your own friends and familyyoud be shunned. Elsie has nowhere to go.

But, Kamil, that goes for you as well! Elsie cried.

Im a knight, I no longer live in that district. And obeying this particular order would be a serious crime against our future princess.

Rishe listened to their exchange. We should continue this conversation later. For now, lets go.

Where?

To imprison me. Like Prince Theodore ordered.

Elsie and Kamil stared at her.

Blinking against her headache, Rishe turned over a paper she had used during her negotiations with Tully and wrote: I have gone to continue a discussion we began in the chapel.

Arnold was the only one who could interpret this. It had only been a week ago, and it would still be fresh in his memory. After that, Elsie and Kamil snuck Rishe out of the palace and locked her up in this building on the outskirts.

***

Prince Arnold should know from that letter that I left the palace of my own free will. Meanwhile, Prince Theodore believes hes successfully captured me. Neither of them will find fault with Elsie or Kamil.

Back in the present, she felt one of the hairpins come up against something heavy. She flipped it up and heard a click. Rishe stood, easing the door open, pausing to listen to the men talking on the other side.