Melissa glanced around, then slowly lowered her knife and hung her head. “In that case, there is nothing I can do. Punish me as you must, be it with torture, execution, or otherwise.”
“Hmm? Giving up already? You’re surprisingly rational. I suppose that’s a good thing. Don’t be so hasty, though—I never said I wouldn’t hire you.”
She looked up at him, suspicious.
“You see,” Rashid continued, “I don’t blame you for trying to kill me.” Teacup in hand, he returned to facing her and relaxed into his chair. “You aren’t acting on some personal grudge, are you? You’re here purely by circumstance—because you just so happened to have this task thrust upon you.”
“I...suppose that’s true.”
“In that case, why not work for me? I can pay far more than whatever you were promised.”
Melissa’s eyes widened. “Is this not a rather strange turn of events? You called me incompetent not even a few minutes ago.”
“Indeed. And you are. You’re having a carefree chat with the person you’re meant to assassinate.”
“Then why—?!”
“Because you aren’t to blame,” Rashid said plainly. “Yes, I think I have taken a shine to you. I’ll do you a favor and hire you now before your current employer cuts you loose. Here, how’s this for compensation? Consider it an advance payment on your wages.”
Still smiling, the boy held up three fingers before reaching into his pocket and taking out just as many white coins. He placed them on the table and awaited a response, but one never came; Melissa’s eyes were glued to the money.
“Hmm?” Rashid leaned over, looking surprised. “Is it not enough? Was your previous salary higher? In that case—”
“Wait, please.” Melissa’s expression was inscrutable. “What merit is there in hiring me? Haven’t you considered that I might still try to kill you?”
Slowly, the boy shook his head. “You’re not concerned for my sake, are you? I said you were compassionate, but good grief... To answer your question, maybe I just don’t care.”
“I...don’t understand.”
“You asked why I’d want to hire you, and there are two simple reasons. One, I don’t have anyone my age to speak with. And two, I think it’d amuse me to have you by my side. That’s about it.”
“And you expect me to believe that?”
“You don’t need to. I don’t mind either way,” Rashid said with his usual smile. “Now, if you’re content to move on, I wish to ask about your birth. And the ornamentation on your knife... I think I’ve seen it before. In one of Sarenza’s neighboring countries, such blades were used during ceremonial dances—though I think the nation collapsed as a result of all the debt they owed us. To that end, I would assume...you’re someone from that country—and of rather high birth, no less. So they clapped you in chains when your homeland fell apart, then sent you here to kill me. Or something along those lines.”
Again, Melissa was speechless.
“Well?” Rashid asked, studying her expression. “Am I right?”
“I...shall leave that to your imagination.”
“Ah ha ha. You really are bad at lying. The truth’s written all over your face. Unless this is all an act, of course—then you’re a phenomenal actress. This is just a guess, but something about you tells me you were easily coerced. They don’t have someone in your family hostage, do they?”
Melissa responded with a glare. “Lord Rashid, is it really so amusing to toy with those beneath you?”
“Sorry, sorry. Your reactions are so funny that I couldn’t resist. I didn’t mean to seem malicious—truly, I didn’t!”
The boy laughed so hard that he had to clutch his stomach. By the time he’d calmed down and wiped the tears from his eyes, Melissa’s stare was colder than he’d ever seen it.
“So, how about it?” Rashid asked. “Will you work for me or not? Based on your circumstances, I’m willing to let you ‘keep’ your current job. I imagine you’d prefer that, wouldn’t you?”
“Still, I cannot see what you have to gain from this...but I suppose I have no choice.”
“I get someone to talk to—I thought I made that clear. Well, there’s also the real reason, but I doubt you’d take me at face value.”
“I suspect not, no.”
“Hah. Then I won’t tell you. So, are you in or not? I really don’t mind what you pick, but”—Rashid gestured to the three white coins on the table—“the way I see it, working for me isn’t too bad a deal.”
Melissa glanced out the window, then sighed and bowed politely. “I gratefully accept your generous offer, Lord Rashid...under the condition that I may continue to make attempts on your life during my service.”
“Ah ha! Honest to a fault, aren’t you? You could have done that without telling me, you know. I knew you weren’t cut out for this kind of work.” Rashid picked up the coins, deposited them in Melissa’s pocket, and then handed her his teacup. “Now, brew me another, won’t you? It’s a shame to waste this pot, but I was so caught up in our conversation that it’s gone cold.”
“At once, my lord...”
“Ah, and—another word of advice.”
Melissa paused on her way to make more tea, keeping her back to the boy.
“About the poison you slipped into my cup... In this situation, it would have made more sense to use something fast-acting. Plus, avoid tampering with delicate drinks such as tea; the change in smell is easy to detect. Put some more thought into your next attempt, all right?”
Still grasping the tea set, Melissa’s hands began to tremble again. The boy’s smile widened in response.
“But enough about that. My tea, Melissa? I’m still waiting.”
More silence. Then, “Yes, Lord Rashid.”
Under the many eyes watching her from the garden outside the window, Melissa slowly poured tea into her new employer’s cup.