Acceptance
This is a cut out of one of the fics I'm currently working on. It's turning out to be larger than my typical works, so I'm certainly taking my time with it.
Attano leans over to his daughter and kisses her on the forehead. She grimaces, although she does it very pretentiously. Corvo exhales, perfectly reading his daughter's facial expressions. Turning to Daud, the Lord Protector nods towards a door leading to a side corridor. Omega follows his partner as Emily gets up from the throne and walks away with quick steps rumbling through the room. She tries to stand straight, but Daud sees her legs beginning to give way, and the girl gets a little confused in her directions.
— She definitely needs some help. — Sometimes it seems to me that Emily hasn't changed at all in the last fifteen years, — Corvo says, combining a bit of laughter and disappointment in his tone. — She is already a twenty-five-year-old, adult woman. But it's like she's doing it on purpose.
— Maybe to get your attention. She loves spending time with you.
— She's not always interested in these political squabbles. Although, to be honest, they are not close to me either. Some ministers are really incompetent in their decisions. And in order to remove them from office, sometimes you have to let them make mistakes. Of course, they are always under control. But for the well-being of others, even we have to cheat.
— I'm not surprised. High society is filled with such filth.
Corvo continues walking all the way to the end of the corridor, where a solid oak door awaits them. It leads to the usual network of stairs, doors made of the same material, large, ornate chandeliers. Daud likes the atmosphere of this place in the evening. Candles softly illuminate the room without overloading the eyes. The closed curtains with the imperial symbol, slowly swaying from the periodic draft from the open windows, let in enough moonlight so as not to leave the entire lighting function on the chandeliers and candles. The carpet underfoot rustles pleasantly, giving off every step of the shoes. Corvo stops in front of a particularly impressive set of doors. Daud, hoping not to break his neck, raises his head. A carved figure of a gilded dragon looks at him from the top of the doorway. Instead of pupils, two massive rubies stare back at the assassin.
— An import from Karnaka?
— It's not hard to guess when you're a local, huh?
Daud snorts. This information is elementary for every resident of the south. Corvo opens the door by turning the key in the lock. The first thing that greets them is the smell of cleaning soap. They are definitely cleaning up here — the servants are not in the habit of ignoring even unused rooms — but this is not the fact that interests Daud.
— It's so...Empty.
— What do you mean?
— There is a lot of furniture, amenities, excellent living conditions. But there is no sense of presence here, — Corvo listens while Daud delves into the structure of the room. — There are no items of minor value here. The fireplace is not used at all, although a heating system and a fire are common in your castle for additional comfort. And the bed looks like it's being made once a week. When they change her sheets.
Attano nods until Daud finishes speaking.
— You're right,— Corvo corrects the wolfhound figurine on the shelf. — This room was originally intended for the spymaster. It was built at the beginning of the reign of Jessamine's father, Euhorn. It was intended for his own keeper of secrets, Sir Alder. But the head of his secret office preferred to be in his residence, and conducted investigations from his office on the third floor. Some of his personal belongings remained here, but after his resignation they left with him. Alder resigned immediately after Euhorn's death. Being a man of the old vision, he did not tolerate submission to women. Of course, female rulers have been seen on the throne before. But that didn't stop Alder from considering Jess an incompetent replacement for her father. Having a good memory, but not being vindictive, Jessamine pretended to let him off this with this trick of his. Then she hired Burrows, who served her for more than a decade.
— And a few years after the start of the investigation in order to eradicate the traitors, a plan about the rat plague matured in his head. And everything went south. — Daud bites his lip. He is well aware of his role in this mess.
— Burrows never had an overly pronounced intellect, — Corvo uses ordinary secular language out of habit, although Daud realizes that he is simply calling the Lord Regent an idiot. — His development, first of all, was hampered by cleanliness and sense of self worth. His unwillingness to connect himself with the people, to lower his self-esteem regardless of his station. Nevertheless, he refused to listen to warnings, advice, and historical facts. The Lord Protector closes his eyes for a while, as if going through his memories. Daud comes closer. Corvo puts his hand on his waist, massaging a piece of skin protruding from under his vest. Omega trembles slightly, but tries not to show it.
— You know, I still remember the look on his face, — alpha exhales. — When I was sitting over his bed, watching him. While he was wandering around the office like a caged animal. He knew he had nowhere to run. There was no place to hide. Even if he puts a hundred guards outside, I'll find a way to get to him. He was surprised at my ability to accurately, bloodlessly and irrevocably get rid of his supporters in the state. There was definitely no support for him among the people. Even if there were any, they probably didn't have much social prospects. He was constantly mumbling, looking over his shoulder in fear. I was clutching his record card. Caressed it with my fingers. I was wondering if it was worth getting rid of him in the traditional way. Or, for the first and last time, stain the blade with blood in the name of revolution.
— You decided not to do it. — Burrows buried himself six feet underground the moment he crossed my path, Daud, — Corvo turns to him, and the assassin swallows, believing every word.
— Crows don't just pick up after others. They sabotage, they lie. They lead animals to certain death.
Attano comes closer, towering over Daud. For some reason, omega doesn't have a shred of fear. Only adoration in the eyes.
— They also make friends with wolves. — With a crow like you, I won't become a wolf, but a chain dog... — Even better. I will definitely need the help of a bloodhound in my investigations.
It's going to be posted both in Russian and English languages.
