My eyes kept darting around nervously… I really didn't want to be here a second longer.
"You."
Lana's voice sliced through the silence, snapping my attention toward her.
"You're really strange…" she said, tilting her head as she stared at me with a strange gleam in her eyes.
I met her gaze coldly. "What do you mean?"
She rose from her seat and walked over, her hips swaying like she had all the time in the world. She stopped right in front of me, her face barely inches from mine.
"I like your scent," she murmured, her voice almost a purr. "I've never liked anyone else's scent as much as I like yours."
"Huh?" I blinked, confused.
"My scent?" I looked down at myself, sniffed the air, probably looking like a complete idiot.
She burst into laughter. It was loud, almost childlike, and yet… there was something unsettling underneath.
"You're so cute," she giggled. "You're not like the rest of them, are you?"
I narrowed my eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?" Was she referring to me being without any wolf ability.
Lana didn't answer immediately. She turned, walked back to her chair, and flopped into it like a cat stretching across a sunlit ledge.
"You're really cute," she said lightly, tossing a lock of hair over her shoulder.
My stomach tensed.
"What on earth are you talking about?"
"Do you know where this is?" she asked, her tone seemed calm, but it was filled with something else. Suspicion?
I blinked. "The courtesan place?"
She chuckled, tilting her head. "Yes, that's quite obvious. I mean this is the hub of all kinds of information…and I'm the main dealer" Her eyes glinted as she leaned back against the wall, arms folded. "So tell me, how wouldn't I know that you're the healer's daughter? The one born without any power."
I stood straighter at that, my spine stiffening.
"So what?" I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. "What does that have to do with my scent?"
I didn't want to shrink before her. Not here, not in front of someone like Lana. So I lifted my chin and forced myself to look unaffected, possibly to look even proud.
But she only smiled wider, something calculating flickering in her expression.
"It's just quite interesting," she said slowly, "how a rare existence like you would have such an appetizing scent…"She stepped forward again, circling me slightly. "There's something very strange about you."
I clenched my fists at my sides, willing myself not to react.
She finally stopped and looked me dead in the eye.
"I've run this business for many, many years," she said, her voice low now. "I can tell when things aren't in place… and darling, everything about you screams out of place."
I was about to respond to her when the door opened.
"Your Highness," Lana said, bowing her head the moment Jesse entered.
"Leave us for a moment," he said curtly.
She nodded, but not without casting me a devious smile before gliding out of the room.
The moment the door clicked shut, Jesse turned to me. "What happened?" he asked, concern threading through his voice. "Why did you suddenly faint?"
"I'm sorry," I mumbled, brushing my hair back. "I just felt dizzy all of a sudden."
"Okay," he said, his gaze still scanning me closely.
"Lana… she said something about me. That I have an appetizing scent." I hesitated, then added, "Is that normal?"
He shook his head. "Do you want me to check if she's lying or not?"
He stepped closer before I could answer. My heart skipped.
"I—I didn't say anything like that…" I stammered, flustered.
He smirked. "But that's the first thing you brought up. Just stay still. Let me check."
He leaned in. I could feel his breath warm against my neck. My body tensed. Was I trembling? No, no—I hoped not.
"Bella…" His voice dropped into something deep and hoarse.
"Oh, Bella… you do smell very eatable."
"What—what—what?!" I could only stutter, eyes wide.
Then he pulled away suddenly, his tone going back to normal.
"That's Lana's special wolf ability," he explained. "She has an extremely strong sense of scent… one of the strongest in the kingdom." He straightened, folding his arms. "That's how she knew I was coming before I even arrived here. It's nearly impossible to launch a sneak attack on her."
I coughed lightly. "Cough—cough…"
"Then she'd be excellent in battles," I said, brows furrowing. "Why bother being a courtesan and serving nobles?"
He looked thoughtful. "Everyone has their own role to play. And I respect everyone's choices." He paused for a beat. "She might be just a courtesan but she's very valuable to me."
There was something profound in his words that made me lack sufficient words to reply so I just said.
"Um… okay."
"So, you're okay now, right?" he asked.
I nodded.
"Let's return to the palace."
"Oh… so soon? Are you done with what you came here for?"
"Mmh. I did."
"Why?" He asked, in a relaxing tone. "Do you want to look around more?"
I smiled at him and was about to nod my head.
But he didn't wait for me to reply then he smiled faintly. "We'll come some other time. Let's go."
As we stepped out into the night air, Lana stood by the entrance, bowing low with a teasing smile.
"Goodbye, Your Highness. Come back soon."
Jesse gave her a curt nod, and I tried not to look back as we left the courtesan house, heading toward the palace under the cover of night.
Just as we approached the gates, a royal guard came running up to us, out of breath but clearly urgent.
"Your Highness!" he said, bowing quickly. "The King is requesting your presence. The poisoner has been found."
"What?!" Jesse and I exclaimed in unison.