“Right,” the princess said. “I have heard about you many times before, a kind heart who doesn’t even lift a single finger in violence even under threat of death. It is my pleasure to finally meet you, and I look forward to working with you in this town for the good of all.”

Heard about me before? She should be thinking about me as a violent Imperium noble or as Negative, an apathetic guy who lazes about all day. Where did she get this idea that I’m a kind-hearted, innocent soul, and why is she saying I am not prone to violence when she just watched me kill people? Something is off. Lucas studied her for a moment out of the corner of his eye, trying to piece together the clues.

Valerie hissed in a hushed tone, barely loud enough for Lucas to make out. “Kind? My blue, heart-stitched britches he’s kind!”

Lucas gave the room one more cursory glance, making sure that all party members were in place. Nick had taken up a position leaning against the railing next to one of the ports in the floor, and Bonnie had presumably taken up her position directly behind the king’s throne after disappearing against the wall, although he had no way of really knowing until he could see her again. Odds were that she was right up against the two guardsmen stationed there, but they would never detect her thanks to the cloak and her class’s natural stealth skills.

“Actually,” he said, looking at the king, “it’s not that. I’m confident that I would one day earn such a valuable gem if I worked hard enough. Sadly, there’s just one problem.” He glanced over at the princess, who still clung to his arm. “I’m already going to be in your debt for what I’m about to take.”

The king began to look a little apprehensive. “Excuse me? What do you mean? What do you plan to take?”

“The jewel you have given me is beautiful, but it is only the second most beautiful gem I have seen. I’m afraid this princess”—Lucas freed his arm from her grasp and wrapped it around her waist, tightly pulling her against him—“is mine now.”

“Young man!” the king shouted indignantly as he began pushing himself up from his wooden throne, but Bonnie’s blade was on his neck before he could rise up even halfway. The two guards next to her stood frozen in shock, paralyzed by confusion and clearly unsure of how they should act.