Shrouded in the dark blue hues of the evening, the city appeared lifeless and forgotten. There was not a single person to be seen, and there were no lights coming out of the buildings.
The carriage stopped in front of a large tavern.
As the same knight from before escorted Alyssane inside, her thoughts never left the desolate emptiness, she asked, "What happened here?"
The Pleasure City, Moonshire, was supposed to be bustling with all sorts of people and pleasantries. She had heard how the Pleasure City was never asleep, never dull―instead, it was always alive with a heavenly festive air.
"There have been... disturbances," The knight replied, not wanting to explain it any further.
Her lips curved into a frown, what kind of disturbances could empty an entire city? She glanced at the knight with a confused gaze but he shut her question down even before she could say it.
"Not your concern," he dryly added, his face betraying nothing.
A small surge of frustration settled in her heart, but she silently followed the knight. He was a quiet person, fairly tall with a touch of sourness to expressions that never seemed to fade.
"What is your name?" Alyssane asked, trying to understand the extent of his cold hostility.
The knight's eyes narrowed, "Luke."
"I am Alyssane," she offered a polite smile.
He brought her luggage inside the room without caring to respond, and Alyssane followed with a resigned sigh.
The room was lavish, bathed in the golden glow of numerous lamps and candles. Velvety curtains veiled a huge bed, and there was a soothing evening breeze with a lingering smell of moist earth and rains.
Everything else felt uncomfortably expensive.
'It feels wrong…'
Alyssane hesitantly glanced at Luke, he was already silently looking at her. But since he didn't bother saying anything, she was not sure if she should ask him more questions either.
She turned and walked out of the room, Luke's steps soon followed and she whispered, "This must be the wrong room."
"No." He curtly said and placed a heavy hand on her shoulder, "And you're not allowed to wander."
Alyssane slowly nodded, returning back inside the room.
But a place that beautiful left her feeling uneasy, it seemed too deceptive, contradictory to who she was and the crimes they blamed on her.
There were so many questions, Alyssane was not sure where to start and what to say, or whether the brooding knight following her would even care to answer.
Right then, Luke spoke in a nonchalant voice, "Be very careful of your health. Everyone is easily falling sick these days."
He placed a bamboo box on her nightstand, "You must take these medicines every day."
Alyssane gave him a confused glance, but then she was momentarily distracted by how unusually tall Luke was. It won't be easy to outrun him if she ever needs to escape from right under his nose.
His lips twitched, "Stop staring."
"Sorry," she licked her lips and looked away, "But why am I in a tavern?"
"I wonder," Luke thoughtfully replied, he saw Alyssane fitter for a dungeon, and she thought that too, "But your trial is on hold for now."
To her confused expression, Luke added, "You were poisoned. That changes things, but you are still a convict."
Alyssane was having a hard time believing those words.
In the end, she was accused of murder and treason. The lavish room was no place for someone accused of such crimes. 'Is this some sort of test?'
'Maybe they are playing Good Knights before using their Bad Knight tactics on me…'
"Well," Alyssane carefully asked, feeling more lost than ever, "How am I a convict if I am also poisoned?"
Luke coldly cut her off, "Enough questions."
"Just one―"
"No." He sternly stated, "We are still investigating this situation. You will know things when you deserve to know. Understood?"
Alyssane nodded.
Luke left after that, and with nothing else to do, Alyssane sat by the window and stared at the city streets, lost in her endless thoughts. There was a lot she could not understand.
Perhaps, it was better that for the sake of her mind's peace.
But soon her thoughts returned to her dream. It seemed too real, it felt too real, and no matter how hard she tried she could not forget the way Kazmun had stared at her in those hazy glimpses.
'With such pure hatred…'
A soft ache throbbed in her heart, leaving her even more confused.
Even more nervous.
As soon as Luke arrived in her room again, Alyssane could not help but ask him, "Is Kazmun here now?"
"...Lord Kazmun," he corrected her after a pause. "He is busy."
"When will he come?"
"He may not," came the reply as Luke carried her dinner inside, he added with a narrowed gaze, "Wash your hands, and eat everything."
Alyssane was not sure if she should feel worried or at peace knowing Kazmun might not come. She brushed those thoughts away and walked towards the copper basin.
But she paused when she looked at her hands. There was a long line of a fading scar running across her palm.
'Was it always there?'
Her heartbeats started to grow erratic.
Alyssane averted her gaze, looking at the mirror and everything turned worse. Her eyes had always been a light, nearly unsettling, shadow of silver.
But now they were a shade darker, almost grey like the skies of a storm.
She let out a shaky sigh, 'It makes no sense…'