Chapter 34 Spilled Ink +20 Free Coins After several beats of hesitation , Fiona finally drew a breath and asked the question that mattered most . " Where is Mr. Callum ? " She had decided - against her usual caution - to plead for the maid's sake . Hope lifted a trembling finger toward the bend in the gravel path . " Take that corner . A pavilion waits just beyond it , and Mr. Callum is inside . " Fiona's voice softened , yet authority threaded every syllable . " If he asks what happened , tell him I bumped you and upset the ink . Say nothing more . " Realization flashed across Hope's face . She dropped to her knees on the moss - slick stones and bowed until her forehead touched them . " Ms. Fiona , I will never forget your kindness ." Callum , who had turned the corner just in time to witness the scene , found himself oddly mute . Am I truly so unreasonable ? I may run a strict camp , but at home , I do not flog servants at whim . What if Ms. Fiona now believes I am some heartless brute ? He then retreated to the pavilion . Barely a moment passed before Fiona's figure appeared , light as a petal borne on a breeze . She wore a gown of down - white silk , embroidered so finely it seemed frost had settled upon her skirts . A pale pink plum - blossom jewel gleamed on her brow , turning her wintery beauty playful and bright . The sight made an unexpected heat crawl up Callum's neck , and he had to glance away , suddenly shy . " Mr. Callum , " she said , voice lilting as she executed a delicate curtsy . Even the simple act of bending at the waist held a soft reserve , like a blossom folding at dusk . Yet Callum knew this supposed blossom had claimed first place in the archery trials ; beneath silk and grace lived sinew and steel . He cleared his throat . " Ms. Fiona ." Fiona folded her hands . " I have come to apologize . I bumped your maid , spilled her ink , and the fault is mine . Please do not punish her . I possess quality ink at home , and I will see it sent to you . " Callum straightened , tone earnest . " Think nothing of it . I rarely punish those around me , 1/3 58 14:43 Fri , Oct 10 Chapter 34 Spilled Ink unless they betray their master . This is a trifle . " He felt compelled to explain himself further , lest she assume he was a tyrant . After all , he was no snarling beast . +20 Free Coins More than anything , he did not want Fiona's first impression stained by fear . She was , after all , the only woman whose skill had ever earned his genuine respect - and , given the chance , he would welcome a friendly bout with bow or blade . Their conversation drifted to polite pleasantries , and only later did Fiona realize he had never asked how she knew the maid belonged to him . Because he remained silent , she wisely let the point rest . " Mr. Callum , may I ask one more favor ? Please do not mention this meeting to Lord Soren . He might misread my intentions . " Callum nodded . " Agreed . It remains between us ." Looks like Soren worries far too much . Callum suddenly realized that in Fiona's estimation , Soren still fell a step short of him . The thought left a shy , almost boyish sweetness blooming in his chest , a taste he had not felt in years . In her previous life , Fiona had stood to Callum as a niece - in - law . Their private conversations had been scarce , but even then , she had known the stern façade hid a kind core . Grandmother should have chosen Callum . He is easier to approach , not so cold , and - most importantly - free of any childhood sweetheart . A man like that would make day - to - day life bearable . Yet I could never consider him . Because once , however briefly , he was my in - law . Anything more would feel perilously close to breaking the order of things . She left the pavilion quickly , yet the faint , honey - light fragrance she carried seemed unwilling to fade from the night air . Callum remained alone in the lakeside pavilion for a long while , listening to crickets sing against the bush of evening before he finally rose and headed toward Radiant Lodge , Soren's quarters . Inside the lodge , Soren had stripped to the waist . A vicious slash ran two inches above the heart and an inch below the shoulder . Though tightly bandaged , fresh crimson still seeped through the linen , bright against his skin . " That wound is no trifle . Why force yourself back so soon ? " Callum asked , brow furrowed as he surveyed the dark stain spreading across the bandage . 2/3 14:43 Fri , Oct 10 Chapter 34 Spilled Ink 58 +20 Free Coins " I refused to miss Naomi's birthday , " Soren replied , as calm as if the injury belonged to someone else . Callum held his tongue . Soren had never been the pampered sort . " If I acted half - dead , the Sixth Prince would grow suspicious , " Soren added lightly . He preferred to bury the matter ; spies for Zephyr were certain to learn of the injury soon enough . " The Sixth Prince fears Mr. Saunders ' web of connections . Now that a crack has opened , he wants you to tear it wide and haul everyone out at once , " Callum said . " Do you already hold proof of Mr. Saunders ' bribery ? " " I do , but this is not the moment to move against Mr. Saunders , " Soren answered . Matthew had served two emperors . Half the court owed him favors ; many were former students , and countless ribbons of profit tied their fortunes together . Information flowed to him first - and in politics , information was worth more than gold . If such a man could be turned , he would be an unrivaled asset . Unfortunately , Matthew stood firmly in the Fourth Prince's camp .