I won't fall for the queen who burned my world-Chapter 221: Side - : Lara the player part 3

Lara tossed in bed for what felt like the hundredth time, groaning into the fluffy pillow that smelled a little too much like lavender and goodness.

The Celestial palace was many things peaceful, immaculate, annoyingly bright but it wasn’t built for people like Lara.

People who preferred taverns where the barmaid knew your name and your worst habits, or barracks where sword fights counted as bedtime lullabies.

But that wasn’t the reason she couldn’t sleep.

No, the real reason was that thick, suffocating aura of murderous intent pulsing quietly from somewhere outside her room, like someone had accidentally left a door open to a dungeon.

She stared at the ceiling, arms crossed stubbornly over her chest.

"Really?" she whispered into the darkness, scowling at no one. "I just got rejected by the only interesting woman in this sparkling citadel, and now you’re expecting me to play hero?"

The aura didn’t answer. Obviously.

Lara flipped over dramatically, burying her face into the pillow again.

"Why me? There are at least twenty fully armored guards probably pacing outside in their shiny armor," she muttered bitterly. "I’m in pajamas. Ridiculous, comfortable pajamas. It’s beneath my dignity as a terrifying captain."

She waited.

The aura only intensified, a sharp pulse of violence that had Lara sighing deeply.

"I’m not doing it," she insisted to the empty air. "Not tonight. I’m tired. I deserve beauty sleep. It’s too cold outside. And my boots are way too far from my bed. Completely unreasonable."

The murderous presence outside thickened even further, dark and ominous, almost impatient.

"Oh, come on!" Lara sat up abruptly, glaring at the delicate silk curtains that fluttered gently in the moonlit breeze. "Fine! Fine, fine, fine. I’m getting up. But let the record show I’m deeply irritated about it."

She swung her legs over the side of the bed, grumbling continuously as she tugged on her boots with lazy annoyance, deliberately loud in protest.

"A princess rejected me. I deserve rest. Or alcohol. Definitely alcohol. This is cruel. Malvoria would probably just set the palace on fire and call it efficiency."

Fully dressed, she stomped over to the balcony door, wrenching it open with entirely too much force, half hoping the noise would scare the mysterious killer away.

It didn’t.

The night air was colder than she’d expected. It bit sharply against her skin, sending shivers down her spine. She wrapped her cloak around her shoulders, sighing dramatically into the starry darkness.

"You better be a very interesting assassin," she muttered under her breath, stepping silently onto the balcony’s edge and then dropping quietly onto the smooth marble floor below.

The Celestial palace was eerily beautiful at night. Moonlight shimmered on polished marble pathways.

Crystal lanterns floated gently, casting pale, dancing lights that whispered and swayed. Vines of glowing flowers curled along the walls, creating shadows that moved too much for her liking.

And there, standing silently near the entrance to the royal wing, was the intruder.

Lara paused, squinting through the shadows. She studied the figure carefully.

They wore dark clothing, close-fitting and practical. A hood obscured their features, but the knife in their hand glistened silver beneath the lanterns, its blade etched with runes.

Lara grinned slowly.

"Okay," she whispered appreciatively, stepping behind a marble pillar, "that’s more like it."

This night had improved slightly.

She moved closer, staying within the shadows, careful not to reveal her presence. The killer moved like someone trained—steady, silent, predatory.

Lara respected skill when she saw it. That didn’t mean she wouldn’t ruin their night, though.

Quietly, she followed, tracing each careful step, matching their careful stride. Her own heartbeat quickened slightly—this was infinitely more interesting than politics, infinitely more exciting than Celestial banquets.

She narrowed her eyes as the assassin turned sharply, suddenly heading toward a different corridor.

Lara followed immediately, breathing controlled, muscles coiled with readiness. They weaved through hallways, ducked under arches, and slipped between pillars. Lara found herself almost enjoying it.

Almost.

Then suddenly, the intruder halted, standing perfectly still beside a large, intricately carved window. Lara ducked behind another pillar, peering cautiously around its edge.

The assassin lifted their hand and pressed gently on the window frame. Light shimmered around them, softly glowing. A spell, maybe. Lara frowned, readying herself to leap.

Then, without warning, the figure faded into thin air.

"What the—" Lara hissed, stepping forward quickly, eyes wide. "Teleportation? Really? Now you’re just being annoying."

She glanced around, irritated. Nothing moved. No footprints. No lingering aura. Just—

Wait.

Why did this window look suspiciously familiar?

She leaned forward, pressing one palm to the cool marble wall, peering curiously through the gap.

Her breath caught.

Oh.

Oh, gods, no.

There, visible through the thin curtains, immersed in a bath filled with softly glowing water, was Princess Serisa.

Hair cascaded in damp waves down her back, golden tattoos glimmering against porcelain skin. Her expression was serene, eyes closed, head tipped back gently against the bath’s edge.

Lara’s heart thundered violently.

This was not ideal. This was, in fact, incredibly, dangerously bad.

She started to back away, very carefully, praying to every deity she’d ever insulted that she hadn’t been seen.

But Serisa’s eyes suddenly flicked open, fixing immediately on the shadowy figure outside her window.

Their gazes locked.

"Oh—" Lara began, stepping quickly backward.

Golden magic erupted around her ankles, twining upward like vines, solidifying instantly.

"Oh, gods—no, no, no!" Lara yelped, tugging futilely at the glowing bonds. "Princess, wait—this isn’t what it looks like!"

Before she could finish, the magic surged violently, pulling her forward.

The world shifted dizzyingly, the cool night air replaced instantly by warm, fragrant steam.

Lara stumbled forward, nearly falling face-first onto the polished tile. She righted herself quickly, raising her hands defensively.

"I swear, I wasn’t—"

"Captain." Serisa’s voice was sharp, edged with a clear threat. She’d stepped from the bath, hastily wrapped in a sheer robe, dripping water onto the marble floor. Her mismatched eyes flashed furiously. "Explain yourself. Immediately."

Lara swallowed. Hard.

This night had truly taken a turn.

"I swear on my life, Princess, there was an assassin," Lara began quickly, heart hammering violently in her chest. "A very sneaky, very inconvenient assassin. Who teleported me right here, deliberately, probably laughing. Not me, them—"

Serisa’s expression didn’t soften. If anything, it grew colder. "You expect me to believe you were heroically chasing a mysterious intruder, only to conveniently find yourself peering into my private chambers?"

"Yes?" Lara offered weakly, grimacing at how pathetic it sounded. "Would you believe ’wrong place, wrong time?’"

"No," Serisa snapped.

"Worth a try," Lara sighed.

The princess tightened her robe with tense dignity, glaring daggers. "You’re trespassing, Captain. You’re fortunate I didn’t incinerate you on sight."

"I appreciate that," Lara said hurriedly, stepping back against the wall as the golden bonds still pulsed dangerously around her ankles.

"Truly, Princess. I would love nothing more than to leave you and your beautiful... bath... immediately."

Serisa took a deep breath, calming slightly, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. She raised a hand and released the magical bonds with a flick of her fingers.

Lara stumbled slightly, regaining balance quickly. "Thank you."

"Whoever this assassin was," Serisa said slowly, still suspicious, "you should have alerted the guards. Not chased blindly after them yourself."

"In my defense," Lara said with a sheepish grin, "I didn’t think an assassin would lead me to your bathing chamber. Though, thinking back, it was probably intentional. I did insult several important people tonight."

"You do seem the type," Serisa replied coldly.

Lara laughed awkwardly. "I’m deeply misunderstood."

Serisa’s eyes flickered over her once, twice, assessing.

"I suggest you return to your quarters. Quietly."

"Yes, Your Highness," Lara agreed immediately, relief washing over her.

"And Captain," Serisa said, eyes sharp. "Never speak of this."

"Of course not," Lara replied hastily, already stepping toward the door. "Consider it forgotten."

Serisa watched her carefully, eyes calculating. "Goodnight, Captain."

"Goodnight, Princess," Lara said, voice far too bright.

She slipped quickly from the room, shutting the door silently behind her, leaning back against it heavily, heart still racing.

"What," she whispered, rubbing her eyes tiredly, "did I do to deserve this?"

She groaned, knowing tomorrow would likely be infinitely worse.

Not only had she made a complete fool of herself in front of the only woman she’d ever truly embarrassed herself with—but she’d also completely failed to catch the assassin.

She sighed, pushing away from the door and walking slowly back to her room.