THE Knight's Hidden Princess
Chapter 69: The Morning Assembly

Chapter 69: The Morning Assembly

I froze in my seat at the mention of that name. My heart thudded in my chest as I tried to remain still while keeping my expression neutral, trying not to let anyone see that the name meant something to me, that the very person they assume was the leader of the rebellion was in this room, with them, the black knight.

"The black knight?" Marina asked with a snort, "The name seems a little bit more dramatic, no?"

My breathing stayed even as my fingers held onto my dress beneath the tablecloth. It would be unwise for me to respond at this moment and in this setting. But gods, the irony of it all. All the guests at this meeting were unaware that their target now sat among them. The Black Knight.

"Aye!" An old men one of the nobles grumbled, "It is dramatic but the people seeing him as a savior is an issue. The rebellion’s have gotten more brave ever since the black knight decided to attack one of our own, Lord Skarde who is known for having the strongest fort but the black knight breached it as if it were nothing, single handedly too, he is one heck of a fighter." The man finished nodding his head and I think I could detect a hint of awe in his voice.

"So what? You are praising him now?" Reagan spoke and I froze in my seat.

I dared to look at Reagan and he had the same bored look on his face. His long slender fingers tapped the armrest with no purpose while his eyes surveyed everyone in the room and as I watched him I could feel my heart start to beat with fear. But from the way he looked, I do not think he will be spilling my secret.

"Not praising him to be exact, just that whoever he is," Lord Cromwell started his old grey eyes darting around the hall, "Whoever he is seemed to be someone familiar, someone who knows the in and out of this place, knows all of our defenses and weaknesses."

The room became silent after his statement. I stood motionless with my heartbeat loud in my ears while showing no expression.

"So," Marina asked, narrowing her eyes, "What you are saying now is that it’s someone within our ranks? That would be..."

"Unwise to miss." Reagan suddenly said and I felt my throat suddenly go dry, "Since Lord Skarde is a witness and unable to attend today’s assembly, do we have any witness we can think of?"

Miguel stepped forward, "Actually brother, there is and I found him." He said, puffing his chest out with a proud smirk on his face.

Dread settled in the pit of my stomach as I stared at Miguel who was now beaming as if enjoying the attention he now had in the court.

Reagan gave Miguel a single nod, "You may continue!"

Miguel straightened, still enjoying the attention he had and then with a smile he turned towards the door, "Bring him in!"

Then as if practiced, all of us turned towards the attention of the door that now swung open with a heavy click revealing a man flanked in by two guards.

Unable to hide my feelings anymore, my eyes widened a bit as I took in the man that was now strolling in, looking arrogant as ever as his eyes darted round the room with excitement probably looking for what to steal.

Fucking hell! I cursed inwardly as I glared at Finch from where I stood. This was Miguel’s so called witness, "What the hell is he even doing here?"

"Do you know him?" A voice suddenly asked and I turned to look at Marina who was watching me with a wary look on her face.

I immediately schooled my features. "What?"

"You don’t seem pleased for him to be here, so I’m asking if you know him?"

Shit, I didn’t realize I had spoken out loud! I thought before I heaved out a sigh, "No I don’t." I answered, "I’m just surprised a man like that is allowed into our midst."

Marina stared at me for a minute before she leaned back in her seat, looking ahead. "True, he doesn’t belong here. But he’s just here as a witness and that’s all."

I visibly relaxed immediately, glad she didn’t think too much about it but I could still feel eyes on me. I turned around only to meet Reagan’s gaze on mine. We held each other’s gaze for a moment with my expression remaining as still as that of a doll’s but on the inside I was a fluttering mess.

Reagan’s gaze didn’t waver. The intensity in his eyes scanned me methodically as if he wanted to see through me, peel back my every layer but I refused to show any signs of fear in front of him.

Then slowly Reagan looked away from me, turning back to look at Finch who now stood in the center, his gaze resting on Reagan.

"And this is?" Reagan demanded.

Miguel stepped forward but Finch was quicker. "Name’s Finch Crowley my lord, finest loan shark in the land and the best man for hire." Finch spoke with a calm tone yet his arrogance made my fingers desire to remove the smirk from his face.

Reagan’s gaze flicked over Finch with impartiality. "And you are here because?"

Finch’s gaze roamed over, "Why, because I am a victim, my lord of that arrogant scum, the black knight!" He said and his gaze hardened at that moment. "Cost me fortune, he did! Bloody geezer took what was mine and left me bleeding in the fucking street!"

"Language Crowley!" Marina warned, her gaze narrowing in disapproval.

Finch bowed his head immediately. "Apologies my lady, I’m just still sore over it, man ruined me and left me in the dust now I have to start all over!"

"But you called yourself the best hire in the kingdom, so you couldn’t handle one man?"

The room fell into a charged silence at Reagan’s words. He spoke with measured tone yet his words contained an undeniable cutting edge that caused Finch to momentarily lose his expression.

Finch’s hands moved nervously by his sides as he tried to hide his amusement with a disproving laugh. "Aye, I did, my lord. And I stand by it. Every individual faces situations which catch them by surprise even when they are at their very best. The man known as the Black Knight bears a special position among others. His gaze darkened, jaw tightening. "Fast. Precise. His movements before my actions seemed already known to him"

Reagan arched a brow up, then sighing he glances at Miguel, "I still don’t see why you brought whoever this is to the court."

"Finch Crowley sire!" Finch said and I could almost hear the anger in his tone. "And here’s the one thing you don’t know that I will tell you. I know who the black knight is."

That immediately made me at alert as I stared at Finch trying to see if he was bluffing or if he was telling the truth. My gaze narrowed on him but he had that arrogant smirk on is face which proved that he was serious and knew exactly what he was saying.

"And who is it?" I asked, speaking for the first time.

Finch’s gaze immediately cut to mine, his eyes narrowed on me as he tilted his head to the side. "I’m sorry but have we met before?"

What? I froze in my seat as Finch stepped closer towards me, his eyes narrowing as he continued to stare at me. "Just now, your voice, it sounds vaguely familiar. I’m sorry have we....have we met?"

Fuck, I knew I shouldn’t have said at anything, I shouldn’t have spoken at all! I thought to myself as my grip on the arm rest tightened, forcing myself to remain calm as Finch continued to assess me.

"Miguel, I think we’ve had enough of this meeting!" Reagan suddenly spoke and Finch regained his composure.

"But you haven’t even heard what I have to say." Finch said, his eyes widening in disbelief.

Reagan wasn’t having it. He waved Finch off, "I don’t need to." He said, "First you come into my home, all arrogant and boasting about your so called misfortunes and now you are going to look at my wife and act like you know her?" Reagan hissed in a deadly calm tone, "How can a lowly scum like you ask if you’ve met my wife? I should have you beheaded for it!"

Finch’s gaze immediately roamed over to me, his eyes filled with fear before he turned to look back at Reagan. "But this information is important my lord, if you don’t hear it..."

"Oh please, don’t pretend like you came here on your own free will, my idiot brother probably paid you for the information and told you that you would get more if you come here to me." Reagan’s gaze cut to Miguel whose ears were now suddenly red from embarrassment which meant it must be true, "So I regret to inform you that you wouldn’t be getting anything."

"But sire, I_"

"I think we are done here!" Reagan suddenly said standing up from his seat, "Meeting dismissed!" he said and without so much as a backward glance, he stood up and left the grand hall.

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