That was fine.His job was to help Berith rule over his people and keep them safe.He usually did so from a position that was more in the shadows than he was now, but he could deal with that.
He took a bite of his pastry and hummed as he looked around the room.Now that Lucifer had declared his intentions, everyone had something to say.Lucifer looked like he wouldn’t let anyone change his mind, so no one was trying, but they couldn’t just go out there and find Ramiel.The demon wouldn’t make it easy for them.
Ramiel had sent Jessamyn ahead to see how Berith and Lucifer would react.He’d always known she couldn’t win this fight.Sending her to defy Lucifer had killed her, which was what Ramiel had wanted.Now, he was the only one in charge, which meant that if he won the fight, he’d be the only one on Lucifer’s throne.
Dimri sighed.He really wished he could retire.He didn’t want to have to deal with a war.Unfortunately, he didn’t have a choice.
He could feel someone watching him, which wasn’t new.People knew who he was, and they usually gave him a wide berth, but that didn’t mean they weren’t curious about him.Hell, knowing that he was Berith’s spymaster meant that people wereespeciallyinterested in him, even though they were also afraid of him.Of course, no one had confirmation that this was what Dimri was to Berith.The official story was that he worked for Berith, and that was that, but unofficially, everyone knew.Sometimes, it made Dimri’s job easier, and other times, it made it harder.
The person watching Dimri right now was Roque, one of Berith’s closest friends and his bodyguard.He knew who Dimri was.He was one of the few who could confirm that Dimri was Berith’s spymaster because he’d been there during several meetings between Berith and Dimri.He didn’t have a reason to watch Dimri unless he thought that Dimri was a danger to Berith, which was ridiculous.
Dimri glanced up, and sure enough, Roque was staring.He didn’t look away when Dimri caught him, like most people would have.Instead, he grinned and winked.
Dimri looked away.It shouldn’t be so easy to fluster him, but there was something about Roque.Dimri had always found him attractive, but his physical aspect wasn’t what made him interesting.His long, branch-like horns, red glowing eyes, and short, messy, white hair were nothing next to his relationship with Berith.He wasn’t just Berith’s bodyguard.He was Berith’s friend and confidant.He was family to the prince, which made him all the more intriguing.
“Dimri?”someone called out.
Dimri blinked and glanced around the office.Everyone was watching him, which was a sure sign that he’d been distracted.From what he could tell, Berith had asked him a question, but he hadn’t answered yet, and everyone was waiting for him to do so.
He cleared his throat.“I apologize.I was distracted.”
Luckily, Berith wasn’t the kind of ruler who would take offense at that.“I think all of us are a little distracted right now.Lucifer and I were talking about how he should confront Ramiel.Do you think that taking him head-on is the right way to do this?”
Dimri was here to work, not to stare at pretty people.He needed to remember that and that being distracted could mean his death and the death of thousands of people, including people he cared about.
“Well, I understand why attacking instead of waiting for Ramiel to do so sounds like a good idea,” he said carefully.He didn’t want Lucifer to take offense.
Thankfully, Lucifer was an ally and a friend of Berith’s.He didn’t seem offended by Dimri’s words.Instead, he waved at Dimri to continue talking.
Dimri really should’ve paid better attention.
“We have to think of all aspects of this, though,” he continued.“I know that some of you here want to go out there and find Ramiel right now, but that would be a bad idea.”
“Why?”Roque asked.“He attacked us.People are going to expect us to get revenge.”
“Which is exactly what he’s waiting for.It’s what he would do, and he expects everyone to react the same way.”
“You talk as if you have personal knowledge of that,” Lucifer pointed out.
“I don’t, but I’ve made it my job to keep an eye on anyone who might be a danger to Berith and his throne, and he’s one of those people.You can’t tell me that you’re surprised by what’s happening.”
“I don’t think anyone is.You’re saying I should’ve stepped in and done something about him sooner?”
“You couldn’t have.No, what I’m saying is that we need to analyze all sides of the situation.He’s going to expect us to react to his attack.He’s counting on us doing so, and I don’t think anyone here wants to do what he expects us to do.Besides, I think it would be safer for everyone to find the spy he has in the palace before doing anything.”
“How do you know he has a spy in the palace?”Roque asked.
He was frowning as if the spy had personally offended him, which, in a way, was true.His job was to protect Berith.How could he do that when someone close to the prince was working against him?
“How else would his people have managed to get into the palace, so close to Berith’s family that his daughter had to protect herself with a knife?”
Dimri had been impressed by the princess, but maybe he shouldn’t have been.She’d always been fierce, just like her parents.She’d make a good ruler once she was old enough.
Assuming they won this war.If they lost, there would be nothing left of Berith’s family.Ramiel would make sure of that.
“How do we find the spy?”Berith asked.
“Wedon’t.Iwill find the spy.”
