Ch 49 - The Countertrap
In the middle of a wide-open plain, the night had reached its darkest hour. Even so, several bright sources of light could be seen in the distance, standing out against the thick darkness. As they drew closer, a number of camps gradually came into view.
It was clearly a military camp, judging by its solid defenses and the soldiers standing guard along the outer perimeter.
Several campfires burned across the area as the soldiers prepared their meals. Smoke rose steadily into the night sky, and the largest tent stood at the very center of the camp, as if it were the most important place where all strategies were planned.
At first glance, it looked like an army preparing for war or something similar. Even so, the number of tents was much smaller than expected. There were only around a dozen tents, and the total number of soldiers probably did not even reach one hundred.
Inside one of those tents, several people had gathered around a large table with a detailed map spread across its surface.
"They have weak defenses," one of the commanders said to the other four men gathered around the table. "Their city walls are easy to breach, and their army is too small."
"I heard they have a massive orc warrior."
"It doesn't matter how big he is if he's alone. Ten of us would be enough to bring him down without much effort."
One of them then pointed at the map in front of them.
"We'll focus on the assault once we receive orders from above. If the negotiations fail..."
One of the men standing inside the tent had a much larger build than the others. He wore a suit of red-and-gold knight's armor, while his stern face and long brown hair gave him an imposing presence.
"This will be the easiest mission we've ever carried out," he said. "Prince Caelan made a mistake by choosing us as his enemy. He should have known better than to provoke us."
The man was Knight Commander Naldrom.
"Stonegate has long stood as the kingdom's eastern stronghold. We station many of our finest knights here to repel any threat that comes from the east," he continued.
"As Knight Commander, I won't allow a force this insignificant to threaten our kingdom's peace."
Naldrom clicked his tongue.
"We'll remain here and wait for further orders. The moment negotiations collapse, we'll move without hesitation. Make sure every man and every piece of equipment is ready to march at a moment's notice."
"Yes, Commander Naldrom."
One by one, the others left the tent until only Naldrom remained.
He removed his gauntlets, then unclasped the crimson cloak draped over his shoulders and placed both on the table beside him.
A moment later, the flap of the tent shifted as someone stepped inside.
"Who's there?" he called.
The man turned around as someone was already standing inside the tent, only a short distance away. The figure was tall, with a commanding presence, wrapped in a long hooded cloak that concealed both their head and face beneath its shadow.
"Ha, ha, ha." The man let out a quiet laugh. "You really never change, huh? You always love showing up out of nowhere just to startle people."
He spread his arms with an easy smile as the cloaked figure approached. A few moments later, they stopped only a step away from each other, facing one another in silence.
The mysterious figure slowly pulled back the hood, revealing the face of a woman. Her fair skin looked flawlessly smooth beneath the warm light, while her soft golden hair was braided into a ponytail that rested neatly over her left shoulder.
A moment later, she slipped the cloak from her shoulders and let it fall onto the floor. Beneath it, she wore a fitted ivory outfit adorned with elegant black and gold accents, the soft fabric embracing her mature figure with effortless grace.
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It highlighted her full chest, her slender waist, and her wide hips, while the warm glow of the crystal lamps gave the pale fabric a gentle golden sheen.
"My lord," the woman greeted calmly.
"I'm sure you've missed me more than you care to admit, Lady Sliora," the man replied with a playful grin.
A faint smile touched Sliora's lips.
"You're remarkably good at concealing your presence," he continued. "I have to admit, your stealth is as sharp as ever. You nearly slipped all the way into my tent without anyone noticing."
"I would never allow myself to approach my lord carelessly," she answered in a soft voice. "Besides, I always bring news worth hearing, don't I? You deserve nothing less than my full respect... though I suppose making a dramatic entrance has become a habit of mine as well."
"You never fail to say something like that, Lady Sliora," the man replied with a chuckle.
Sliora stepped even closer until she stood directly before him. Despite the Knight Commander's impressive height, she matched him almost perfectly. She gently rested one hand on his shoulder.
"So, what good news have you brought this time?" he asked. "Did you come because that arrogant fool of a prince sent you?"
"You know I never act without purpose, my lord," Sliora replied with a calm smile before giving him a gentle push backward.
For a few moments, they held each other's gaze as he slowly took several steps back. Eventually, she pushed him down onto a plush armchair.
The man simply laughed, an amused smile spreading across his face as Sliora gracefully perched herself on one of the chair's armrests.
She crossed her legs with effortless elegance, and the slit of her long skirt revealed a glimpse of her smooth, fair thigh. Under the soft glow of the crystal lamps illuminating the tent, her skin reflected the light with a gentle, almost radiant shimmer.
The man's gaze slowly drifted toward the woman's exposed thigh. His eyes lingered there for a brief moment before he quietly swallowed. Almost without thinking, he reached out, intending to brush his hand against her skin.
Before he could, Sliora gently caught his wrist. With an amused smile, she guided his hand away and placed it back on the armrest.
"My lord," she said with a soft chuckle, "you truly are an impatient man."
"You always know exactly what you're doing, Lady Sliora," he replied with a helpless smile. "For a moment, I thought you had come only to deliver a report. Instead, you insist on teasing me first."
"I thought this was simply how we worked together, my lord," she answered, her smile growing just a little wider. "Or was it not what you were hoping for?"
The man let out a quiet laugh before his expression became more serious.
"Tell me about His Highness, the genius Caelan. What is he planning? Where has he imprisoned Opopo? And what is his next move?"
"You give His Highness too much credit, my lord," Sliora replied calmly. "We all know how capable he is, but even the cleverest man can become trapped by his own schemes. I believe he will eventually fall into the very trap he has prepared for others."
"So you really don't intend to get to business right away," the man said with a knowing smile.
Without answering, Sliora's hand slowly slid to his waist. She unfastened the sword hanging at his side before drawing it free and casually tossing it onto the carpet, where it landed with a dull clatter.
Her fingers then moved to the clasps of his armor, undoing them one by one.
"My men are waiting outside," the man murmured. "Are you certain this won't attract their attention?"
"For someone of your rank," Sliora replied without pausing, "you still worry far too much about what other people might think."
The silence between them stretched as she continued removing each piece of armor. Before long, the Knight Commander sat bare-chested before her, his well-built physique illuminated by the warm glow of the crystal lamps that filled the tent.
After a few moments, they remained in that position. Sliora slowly ran her fingertips across the man's bare chest, tracing the firm muscles beneath her touch.
"What have the nobles prepared this time?" she asked, her voice calm and almost playful.
"To get rid of His Highness, of course," he replied without hesitation. "He's a useless prince. Cast aside, unwanted, and if he were to disappear tomorrow, hardly anyone would mourn him. Even after everything he's done, he still believes he can do whatever he pleases. He has no idea how deep the pit beneath his feet has already become."
"His Highness may still be immature," Sliora said with a faint smile, "but most of what he does is nothing more than youthful recklessness. Surely you don't intend to treat every foolish mistake as if it were part of some grand scheme."
"No, not at all." Naldrom let out a quiet chuckle. "Even if he looks like an idiot, I'm convinced he's nowhere near as foolish as people believe."
"Oh?" Sliora tilted her head, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Since when did the great Knight Commander start giving compliments to the prince he claims to despise? Careful, my lord. If someone overheard you, they might think you've become one of His Highness's admirers."
"Including the way he sent someone to my tent tonight."
Sliora met his gaze with the same teasing smile.
"Then perhaps tonight is meant to be... unforgettable," she whispered. "Whether we leave as allies or enemies, neither of us will forget what happens before dawn."
"Yes," Naldrom answered, his smile disappearing in an instant. "Tonight will be the night you lose your life."
The color drained from Sliora's face. Shock flashed across her eyes as she instinctively tried to rise.
She never had the chance.
Naldrom's hand shot forward, closing tightly around her throat.
In one swift motion, he rose to his feet, forcing Sliora backward as his grip tightened around her neck. She gasped for air, both hands desperately clutching at his wrist as she struggled against him.
"You didn't really think I'd be fooled that easily... did you?"