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Chapter Six
Master Nicolo At Work
The next day, Nicolo and Balduin turned their competitive natures to fencing, an area where I had more knowledge.
They were both skilled with the blade (although I considered myself a match for either), though it seemed Nicolo had the edge: he was just a little sharper, a little faster, a little more deft. But perhaps I was biased, because after five close-fought rounds, it was again Balduin who came out on top.
True to his word, Gauthier had delivered on his promise to provide my squire’s uniform and I was now wearing my newly updated costume. When first I had met Nicolo for the day’s activities, I could almost feel his gaze like a physical thing as it wandered up my body, now displayed in my flattering uniform. The costume included skin-tight, brown, leather breeches that did nothing to hide the contours of my thighs, hips and ass. Above the breeches, I wore a plunging tunic that tucked into the hemline above my trousers. And, over the tunic, I wore a lace-up corset type vest that cinched my already small waist and only caused my breasts to nearly overflow their tight confines. Even though my getup was hardly considered feminine, it revealed my female shape much better than a frock ever could.
Nicolo wasn’t the only man to notice my newly improved uniform. Balduin had practically tripped over himself when I’d followed Nicolo into the room in which they practiced their fencing.
“My goodness, Gauthier certainly does a good job, does he not?” Balduin asked with an appreciative smile as his gaze roved my body.
“It helps that his canvas was a pert one to begin with,” Nicolo answered and his tone of voice wasn’t encouraging. Clearly, he didn’t like it when the prince made eyes at me.
“And have you been able to peruse this canvas yet, my friend,” Balduin continued as he licked his lips and his gaze traveled from my overflowing bust to the crux of my thighs. “Sans the paint?”
“Did you or did you not wish to spar with me?” Nicolo asked, raising his fencing sword.
***
After the two had practiced their swordplay for over an hour, I followed them outside where they took a walk through the Castle Gardens and then beyond them, into the expanse of green grassed embankment beside the Castle Lake. I walked a few strides behind them, Balduin’s guards just behind me. After walking for another hour or so, Balduin decided he would like to rest in the shade of the willow trees, bodyguards standing over their prince like statues.
It wasn’t long before Balduin’s rest turned into a nap and soon he was snoring and dead to the world. Nicolo, meanwhile, sat beside him and did nothing but stare out at the still lake, lost in his thoughts. I sat a ways away from him, the guards standing just behind me as they were wont to do. When I attempted to make small-talk with them, they refused to engage with me at all, utterly dedicated to their job. And Nicolo made no motion to even notice me, which I supposed was just as well because I had my own thoughts to see to—namely, how in the world was I going to assassinate this man when he was never alone?
The last day-and-a-half had already taught me a lot, but my main takeaway was that Balduin and Nicolo were close to inseparable, which meant their bodyguards were ever-present. Although the guards were protecting the prince not Nicolo, there was no way I could assassinate Nicolo while he was with Balduin. And that would prove to be a challenge.
“Are you going out tonight?” asked Nicolo of Balduin after the latter had awoken and we were now strolling back through the garden.
Balduin shook his head. “No, I’ve promised to attend a dinner for... Hazel’s husband – what’s his name?
“Duke Furiosa.”
Balduin nodded. “That’s it. Ludicrous name for a man as threatening as a walnut. The dinner is in his honor, which is also ludicrous.”
“Yes,” agreed Nicolo. “I hope you enjoy it.”
Balduin turned to face him with a frown. “You’re not coming?”
“I was not invited.”
Balduin snarled. “Hazel’s manners are in need of reproachment.”
“It’s really quite alright,” Nicolo started, but Balduin was angry and would be heard.
“She’s the bitterest of my sisters,” he continued while frowning into the distance. Then, apparently having thought of something of interest, turned back to face Nicolo. “You should have married one of them.”
“Then the others would be out to kill me,” Nicolo answered on a heavy chuckle. Like the guards, he’d ignored me for the whole last hour. “At least this way, all of them are angry with me, no less, no more.”
“Come along as my guest.”
“Why?”
“It will make Hazel furious,” grinned Balduin. “Which will, in turn, make Furiosa furiouser.”
They both got a hefty laugh out of that one.
“Do you think Furiosa has designs on the throne?” asked Balduin, suddenly turning to his closest friend with concern in his eyes.
