Yuki by nicolette andrews

Author:nicolette andrews [Andrews, Nicolette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: nicolette andrews

17

Yuki paced the length of her room. Why had she agreed to work with him? It was clearly part of his convoluted plan to seduce her. But as much as she tried to convince herself this was the truth, she couldn't shake the look in his eyes. He seemed sincere. If he were planning on trying to seduce her, would he really go to such lengths?

There was a knock at the door and she almost jumped out of her skin.

"Yuki, it's me," Hotaru said from the other side.

She glared at the door, wondering if it was too late to change her mind about trusting him.

"Are you going to let me in?" Hotaru said.

Yuki exhaled heavily before going to open the door. He greeted her with a grin, that damn smile. It would be her undoing. It left all her defenses at her feet and made her stomach flop uncomfortably. Get it together, don't fall for his charm.

"Shall we?" He gestured down the hall and she followed him out.

"Where are we going exactly?"

"We're going to follow the staff around."

She shook her head. "What good will that do?"

"The only people who have had access to the presents were my men on the transport and your servants."

"Perhaps you should question your own men."

"I have, and I've found no evidence of their involvement."

"I highly doubt the servants here would want to hurt me. They're practically family."

He shook his head. "Let's just watch and see."

She sighed heavily. But she'd agreed to work with him, the least she could do was play along. Perhaps she'd find evidence to condemn him—she hadn't completely ruled out his guilt.

His grand plan was not sophisticated. They mostly followed around the service under the guises of Yuki giving him a tour of the palace. When they were in an empty room where a servant was cleaning, she was showing him a mural. When a servant was wiping down a hallway, they were admiring the barren trees in the nearby garden. It was foolishness, all of it. All she got were strange looks from the servants who must have thought she'd gone mad. Everyone knew she had no interest in marrying, and that she'd even entertain a suitor was completely out of character.

After hours of fruitless spying, Hotaru made an announcement. "This won’t work if they know we're watching."

"Clearly." Yuki rolled her eyes.

"I think we should set a trap."

Yuki narrowed her eyes at him. "You're not going to use me as bait, are you?"

He waved away her concern with a flap of his hand. "I wouldn't dream of it. The would-be assassin is trying to make me look like the culprit, so all we must do is give you another gift and wait for it to be tampered with."

"How do you intend to do that?"

"You'll see. Wait here."

Hotaru jogged off, leaving her standing in the middle of the hallway. She watched him go with a confused expression. They weren't far from his rooms, and when she saw him go into his chamber, she started to get an inkling of what he was planning.

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