I Became the Tyrant’s Helper

Convinced that the rumors circulating among the employees were real, Sever hurriedly asked, “I’ll what? Meet her tomorrow? What do you mean?”

“Aren’t you always complaining that I am short on workers and that you’re being severely overworked? She will be your assistant. Starting tomorrow.”

Sever’s eyes widened to the size of dinner plates at the statement. Mesmerized like a person who had heard something unbelievable, his mouth quivered before he came back to his senses. His blue eyes shone with disbelief as he stared at Ray. “What the hell are you up to now? Who the hell is that woman you hired out of the blue to be my assistant?”

“A woman who will bring physical evidence to light where there was just circumstantial evidence and speculation before.” Ray grinned as if his own words pleased him, and his green eyes glittered in satisfaction.

Sever swallowed hard and asked, unaware that he had lowered his head. “Does this mean you’re going to use her to catch Seraf? How, if I may ask? And who is she?”

“She will gather whatever information she can about Seraf. One certain thing is for certain though; she has the token.”

“The what? Token? What kind of token?”

“Listen carefully to me. She told me she’s an orphan. This is the first time I’ve heard of a child that was born in Seraf.”

“You’re right… It’s the first time I’ve ever heard of it as well.” Sever’s expression was serious as he listened to Ray talk about the past.

Ray continued, keeping his eyes on Sever, “So Sev, I want you to find out what happened with Duke Seraf back then, and what kind of people her parents were.”

“I will. I’ll gather whatever information I can.”

Ray sat down at his desk, turning his back on Sever’s solemn expression.

Sever quickly realized that Ray was going to end up staying awake the entire night. He gathered the medical box and the pile of documents into his arms, scooping them off the table. He knew Ray had been through a lot since leaving the castle, and he wanted to tell him to get some rest.

But Ray had been suffering from insomnia for so long already.

Sever knew this well enough as he stepped carefully to stand in front of the desk. “While you were gone, I gathered the agendas that you have to urgently deal with and brought them here. There aren’t that many, but I’m sure it will be morning by the time you finish with them all.”

With so many people wanting to end his life every night, Ray couldn’t possibly sleep.

Sever had said the agendas were urgent, but Ray thought otherwise. Perhaps I don’t have to deal with them all today.

Sever had only done this out of consideration so that Ray wouldn’t have a long, lonely night. And Ray knew this. With a soft sigh, he reached out and took the documents from him.

Sever left the room in silence with the medical box in hand. This left Ray to the company of nothing more than the sound of rustling paper and the tapping of his pen.

***

The next morning, Ahel had finished all her preparations just in time, as there was a knock at the door. It was perfect timing on her part. She stood up, went to the door and opened it, coming face to face with the servant who had brought her here.

“Follow me ma’am. I”ll take you to where you’ll be working.”

This was the second time this morning Ahel had seen him. The first was when he’d brought her clothes. The servant had said Ray had ordered him to bring her something to wear, as he knew she hadn’t brought any clothes. This was fairly obvious by her severe lack of luggage when she’d come to the Imperial Palace.

Ahel glanced down at her outfit, nodded, then followed the servant when he turned to walk down the corridor.

Morning in the Imperial Palace was the busiest time of day. This was when all the hired help were moving around the halls that had been quiet only the night before.

Ahel was suddenly overwhelmed with embarrassment as she followed the servant. She could feel the stares of the others piecing into her.

Why are they looking at me like that?

She felt so alone now. Sure, the servant was walking on ahead of her, but she wasn’t with Ray like she’d been the night before. There was nothing special about her that everyone should be so fascinated by her. But the workers all smiled curiously at her as she passed by them. Some of them even whispered among themselves, all the while never taking their eyes off her.

Did something happen last night?

It was difficult for her to take in all these new changes, after just having woken up in a new place. She wondered if they’d stared when the servant had brought her clothes. The thought of that made Ahel frown.

Suddenly, the servant stopped in front of a door. It was a strangely square-shaped door that could be opened on both sides.

Ahel stopped him from opening the door for her. “I can do it myself.” There was no use getting used to others doing it for her when she could do it herself.

Wordlessly, the servant slowly turned around and headed back in the direction they had come, leaving her alone in front of the door.