When the Serial Killer Next Door Gained Harem System

Chapter 149: Full of Rocks

A large enclosed carriage slowly climbed the slope, pulled by two powerful horses. Heavy curtains covered its windows, hiding whoever was riding inside. Four mounted guards surrounded it, two riding ahead and two bringing up the rear. Judging by the polished armor and embroidered banners hanging from the carriage, whoever was inside had to be nobility.

I got to my feet and stepped toward the road.

The moment they spotted me, all four guards drew their swords.

"Halt!" the guard at the front barked. "Royal business. Move aside."

"I’m heading to the Merygold mansion," I said, raising both hands. "This damn slope nearly killed me. Think you could help me out?"

The second guard gave me a skeptical look. "A kid like you? You know there’s an entrance fee, right?"

"Doesn’t matter," the first guard said without taking his eyes off me. "Move aside."

"Look, I just need..." I let out a tired sigh. "Alright. Fine."

"Good."

"Stop." A woman’s calm voice came from inside the carriage.

The lead guard immediately straightened in his saddle.

"Your Majesty..."

The carriage door opened.

A woman stepped out first, dressed in elegant royal attire, followed closely by Tornhawk...

The Queen.

"Oh," I muttered under my breath. "Shit."

The Queen stood there for a few moments, her high heels sinking slightly into the soft dirt. She lifted one hand, and Tornhawk immediately stepped forward and took it. With his help, she carefully walked across the uneven road toward me, stopping only when she reached the edge of the cliff where I stood.

Tornhawk bowed his head respectfully before letting go of her hand. The Queen linked her hands together in front of her and met my gaze with the same unreadable expression as always. Well... so much for staying unnoticed. Out of everyone who could’ve passed by, it just had to be her.

"Walker," she said with a quiet exhale. "Wherever I go, I seem to find your face. I wonder why."

"Coincidence, Your Majesty," I replied with a forced smile. "I’ve always wanted to see what a noble wedding looks like, so I gathered enough coin and decided to attend."

"Tornhawk."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"If he tells me another lie, kill him."

"With pleasure, Your Majesty."

Well... that certainly raised the stakes.

"Now," the Queen continued as Tornhawk slowly drew his sword, "let’s try this again. Why are you here?"

What a joke. No matter which answer I gave, it would end badly. If I admitted Cadence was the third suspect, she’d immediately ask why I had hidden that information from the Crown. If I kept lying, Tornhawk looked more than willing to make good on the Queen’s order.

"I have my reasons, Your Majesty."

Tornhawk tightened his grip around the hilt of his sword. "You dare keep secrets from the Queen? I should cut you down where you stand."

The Queen raised a single finger without taking her eyes off me, and Tornhawk immediately fell silent. "What reasons would those be, Walker?"

"If I tell you the truth, I’ll probably be hanged," I admitted. "If I don’t tell you the truth, I’ll probably die here instead, so I’d rather keep my mouth shut, Your Majesty."

She looked at me for a few seconds before speaking again. "Now you’ve made me even MORE curious. Tell me something else instead. How did you obtain the entrance fee?"

"The hundred and fifty gold?"

"Yes."

"I... managed."

"How?"

I let out a slow breath. At least this part wouldn’t get me executed.

"I worked for Garmonna."

The Queen waited for me to continue.

"I used my... powers."

She tilted her head ever so slightly. "What exactly does that mean?"

"Speak properly," Tornhawk growled. "You’re addressing the Queen."

"I used my blessing on her," I admitted. "She paid me two hundred gold afterward, Your Majesty."

"I see." The Queen gave a faint nod. "Notorious Garmonna."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I’m sorry for taking up your time. I won’t keep you any longer with my unwanted presence."

I bowed politely.

"If you’ll excuse me."

"You deliberately make yourself appear harmless," the Queen said before I could leave. "You lower your head, speak softly, and make yourself seem insignificant so people underestimate you. It’s an effective way to move beneath their notice."

I shook my head. "I’m not trying to do that, Your Majesty. I only meant that..."

"Get in the carriage."

She turned around and started walking back.

"I don’t mind walking," I said. "Besides, my boots are covered in dirt."

She stopped without looking back.

"I wasn’t asking, Walker. Get in the carriage."

I sighed quietly. There really wasn’t a choice. "Very well. Thank you, Your Majesty."

Tornhawk stepped aside just enough for me to pass and looked down at me with open contempt.

"Move," he said coldly. "And don’t give me another reason to swing this sword."

Our pace slowed as I walked toward the carriage. Tornhawk offered the Queen his hand once again, carefully guiding her back across the uneven dirt road. Once they reached the carriage, I stepped ahead of them, opened the door, and gave a small bow.

The Queen looked at me the entire time without saying a word before stepping inside. Tornhawk climbed in after her.

I followed and sat beside Tornhawk. The carriage had two padded benches facing one another. The Queen sat alone across from us while Tornhawk occupied the seat beside me, leaving me feeling more like a prisoner than a guest.

I reached for the carriage door and tried to shut it.

It didn’t budge.

I frowned and pulled it again before trying to close it a second time.

It still refused.

Tornhawk let out a long, disappointed sigh. "Useless bastard."

He reached across me, pressed a small latch hidden beneath the handle, and effortlessly swung the door shut until it clicked into place.

Awkward.

I leaned back against the cushioned seat and shifted awkwardly, suddenly very aware that I was sitting inside the Queen’s personal carriage.

"Keep moving," Tornhawk called toward the front.

"Yes, sir," the coachman answered. "Hiyah!"

The horses started forward, and the carriage rolled uphill with a gentle sway.

"Walker," the Queen said. "Does your blessing affect men as well?"

I shook my head.

"No, Your Majesty."

"I see." She folded her hands neatly in her lap. "Have you ever used your blessing on another woman against her own will?"

"No," I answered immediately. "I’m not that kind of person. Never."

She held my gaze for a few seconds before crossing one leg over the other. The movement forced me to pull my own legs back a little to give her enough room. Sitting shoulder to shoulder with Tornhawk certainly didn’t help. Between him glaring at me and the Queen questioning me, I felt like I’d accidentally wandered into the wrong carriage.

"I, um..."

"You once told me there was someone you loved," the Queen said. "What happened to her?"

The question caught me completely off guard. For a few seconds, I couldn’t answer.

Sarah...

"She died."

The Queen remained silent.

"How?"

I drew a slow breath.

"She was... the best student in her school. Always at the top of every class. She worked harder than anyone I knew."

My eyes drifted toward the carriage window.

"And then..." I swallowed. "I was... it’s a long story, Your Majesty. It isn’t worth your time."

"If you wish to tell it, I’ll listen," she said calmly. "If you don’t, I won’t force you."

I kept looking out the window for another moment before shaking my head.

"I’d rather not."

She simply nodded. "As you wish, Walker."

Damn, this was weird.

I was sitting inside a carriage with the Queen herself and her pain-in-the-ass general. Tornhawk hadn’t looked away from me even once since we’d gotten in. I was convinced that if I breathed the wrong way, he’d find a reason to draw that oversized sword of his. Seriously, what was this guy’s problem?

A few quiet minutes passed before I heard the coachman shift on his seat.

"We’re getting close, Your Majesty."

"Good," the Queen replied calmly. "I was beginning to tire of this uneven road."

I glanced toward the small carriage window beside me. Unfortunately, it faced the wrong direction. Instead of the mansion, all I could see was the sea stretching endlessly beneath the darkening evening sky. The last traces of sunlight reflected off the water, making it shimmer beneath the growing twilight.

I considered leaning forward to peek through the opposite window, but with the Queen sitting across from me and Tornhawk practically breathing down my neck, I decided against it. Watching the sea was the safer option.

The carriage suddenly lurched as one of the wheels rolled over another large rock.

All three of us bounced in our seats.

Tornhawk, being considerably taller than the rest of us, struck the top of his head against the carriage ceiling with a dull thud. His face immediately twisted with irritation.

He slammed his fist against the wooden wall.

"Drive more carefully!"

"My apologies, Sir," the coachman called back. "The road is full of rocks."

Tornhawk clicked his tongue.

"Gods... We should dismiss her, Your Majesty."

The Queen didn’t even look up.

"Calm yourself, Tornhawk. We’re almost there."

He muttered something under his breath and folded his arms.