Note:

This chapter is dedicated to Kelly Goodwin, for gifting this book another spacecraft earlier. Thank you, thank you! 

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However, that feeling only lasted for a brief second before Gewen unconsciously stepped back.

"What are you doing?" He could feel Kira's murderous aura and he suddenly felt the urge to fight. However, he didn't want to hit a girl, no matter how dangerous she was to him.

"So, you're sent by Emmelyn's scummy husband, huh?" Kira asked him angrily. "I've heard how badly she was treated by everyone in Draec. You all have to pay!!"

"No! There has been a grave misunderstanding," Gewen said hastily. "I came here, risking my life, because I want Emmelyn to hear the truth. She has misunderstood her husband. It was all a big mistake!!"

"What misunderstanding? What mistake??! It was obvious that her scummy husband chased her away and put a bounty on her head," Kira shouted menacingly. "How could you all do that to her?!"

"Wait, wait.. So, you know about the bounty too?" Gewen was pleased to know that Kira seemed to know a lot. It means she must be really close to Emmelyn. "Did you also know about the second bounty?"

"Yeah... my poor friend. So many people want her head..." Kira looked very sympathetic at the mention of Emmelyn.

She hated those people who could be so heartless and hunt her friend, even though Emmelyn was the kindest person she had ever known.

"No... no... no... that's actually the source of the misunderstanding. Her husband LOVES EMMELYN and NEVER WANTED HER HEAD. Emmelyn was wrong," Gewen said. "I came here to straighten the fact. Please... listen to what I have to say first before judging."

He looked so sincere and there was something in his eyes, a look of helplessness, that made Kira finally tend to believe him. Her body slowly relaxed.

Seeing how Kira no longer emanated a murderous aura, Gewen touched her shoulder very, very carefully and pushed her gently away from him. He sighed and said, "Can we talk in a more decent place? I can explain everything."

Kira cast her glance around them and realized Gewen was right. They were both standing in the middle of the market, not far from the coat maker, and the sun was almost gone. Snow was falling and the temperature had dropped so low.

"Yeah... we can go to a tavern and grab a cup of wine or something," she nodded. "There is one over there."

At the mention of a tavern, Gewen's heart bled again. He didn't even have a single copper coin with him. How would he pay for his wine? It was too embarrassing. He also never let women pay for him, and he was not going to start today.

"Forget it. I changed my mind. Let's just talk here," he said weakly. "I will explain to you what happened, so you can please help me ask Emmelyn to let me see her."

"It's fucking cold here," Kira grumbled. "We either talk in the tavern or not at all."

She turned around and got ready to take her horse, not paying Gewen any more heed. Gewen became panicked. He couldn't let this opportunity slip.

He was so lucky to meet Kira, who was actually Emmelyn's friend and she was now staying in the royal palace!

Kira was his best chance to find Emmelyn and complete his mission!

Gewen bit his lip and finally relented. He decided to tell Kira the truth. "I cannot go with you to the tavern. I don't have any money. You know I was robbed."

It was hella embarrassing that Gewen couldn't help but look away to hide his reddened face.

"I know you're broke. Of course, I'll pay for the wine," Kira said as a matter of factly. "Come on, let's go. It's freezing out here!"

"No," Gewen shook his head. Even though he was now poor, in the enemy's den, and might not be able to go home alive after he tried to talk to Emmelyn, Gewen still had his pride as a man. He would not let a woman pay for him.

The former womanizer said firmly, "I am actually not a salt merchant's son. I am a young lord from a respected family in Draec. I must not let a woman pay for me. You are too  kind, but I would have to decline your offer."

Kira clicked her tongue impatiently and grabbed the man by his collar, "Cut that crap. I am too cold. I need wine."

Before Gewen could resist, she had dragged him to a tavern a few buildings away from the coat maker's shop and entered.

Before he knew it, Gewen was already sat on a chair and a swift waiter had come with a big jug of fragrant-smelling wine and two cups. The waiter poured wine into the two cups and gave one each to Gewen and Kira.

"Drink before you talk," said Kira firmly. She immediately downed her wine and reached out her cup to the waiter, asking for a refill. The impressed waiter quickly poured more wine into her cup.

Meanwhile, Gewen was still dumbfounded. He didn't remember how he could end up in this warm tavern, with a nice smell of warm ale and wine wafted in the air.

Suddenly, he felt so thirsty and hungry.

"Just pay me back next time if you really don't want me to pay for your drink," Kira told him impatiently. "Or, you can also pay the wine with your body."

"My body?" Gewen's heart fluttered when he heard her last sentence. He gulped unconsciously.

Gewen had been practicing abstinence for two months and avoided sex like the plague, but maybe it would be okay to sleep with Kira because he was about to die anyway, right?

"Yes, yes. You are big and strong. I can use you to help me around. I need someone to carry stuff for me," Kira explained. "Now, just drink that goddamned wine."

Gewen didn't know why he suddenly felt dejected. So, Kira only wanted to use his body to carry around stuff? Was she not at all interested in him sexually? Whyyy???

This realization really hurt Gewen's ego.

He was finally feeling heartbroken enough to forego his pride and chug on the wine.

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