Lina stood in the great throng of nobles, courtly advisors and groupies that dangled around court. She was going to positively strangle Xellos for getting her into this when she got her hands on him! She was tired of courtly functions, she was tired of tricks, she was tired of Being polite to people she couldn’t stand. She wanted to blow everything up and just leave.

But she couldn’t. And she was sick of that, too.

He was an obnoxious, self centered bastard, and deserved to die! Why couldn’t she just accept her job and get rid of him?

Because it wasn’t his fault.

He could have changed.

So could you. She shoved that thought to the back of her mind. She hated him. Why did he need to explain it? There was no explanation. She just hated everything about him. He was everything she could never stand.

He’s just like you.

Shut up! She told her mind sternly, Just shut up! I DON’T need to be telling myself all the things I’m angry at him for!

You’re angry because they’re true.

She ignored the voice and sat down at court.

"Any new matters?" The King asked, not really expecting anyone to answer. No one ever did.

"I have one." Zelgadis said loudly, so everyone heard her. The king winced. Oh no, buddy boy, he thought viciously, You aren’t gonna get to ignore me and pretend you didn’t hear.

"Yes?" The king replied unwillingly, "What is this matter brought before state and room?"

"The townsfolk of the capitol city require better night guard." He said evenly. "I have thorough proof that the commanding officers are taking bribes left and right, and the people are suffering. This is in the capitol. This is supposed to be the safest place in the kingdom, yet the crimes here are as high if not higher than the widespread areas surrounding it." He glared at his father. "The duty of a king is to protect his people." Zel didn’t have to say the rest. Now that this matter has officially been brought before you, you cannot ignore it.

The king swallowed. The most terrifying point in your life is when you realize your children are no longer puppets for you to control and understand.

Zelgadis had never been his father’s puppet. And he vowed he never would be.

"Then maybe the one who brought this mater to the Room’s attention should deal with it?" A voice from the side called out. Zelgadis spun to see Lina. In her eyes was an unmistakable challenge. Think you’re pretty hot stuff, eh? Let’s see you deal with it. I don’t think you can.

Zelgadis’ father nodded. "An excellent idea. Zelgadis? I give you full command of this matter."

"I will not disappoint you, honored father." Zelgadis said though clenched teeth. Ohh, that little vixen. How dare she challenge him like that! She would regret it…

"My first order is that every leading official of the watch is sacked." Lots of angered and badly disguised faces at that. Ah, they had enjoyed bribing the officers to get the law to bend their way. Well, he was going to change that. If he died, he was going to make it damned hard for them for them. That was one lesson he’d learned from Lina. IF you’re going down, take them with you.

"I wish all new ones to be new graduates that I shall select myself." He said calmly. Many relieved sighs all around. Youth=malleable. Fools. Youth was enthusiasm. Just-educated lads, ready to go forth and protect, that’s what would be in charge. People who cared.

Lina smiled. Zelgadis wanted to order her to death right there. But that would let his father know he knew about the assassination, and that would make it that much harder to evade. And the bitch knew that. She knew he didn’t dare do a thing to her. He was absolutely ready to scream.

Lina smiled at Zelgadis’ face. He was especially temperamental today. Good. She could use that. He deserved that, at least, the bastard. That self centered idiotic bastard.

Xellos also grinned. Ohh, they were seething with hatred for each other. In so short a time, too! Their personalities must clash. And He’d bet anything Lina knew she was giving him a three-course meal with this one, and that was adding to her annoyance.

Life was good.

* * *

She was pissed. She was enraged. She was really, really mad. And she couldn’t for the life of her think of a logical reason she should be!

Angela stalked through the halls towards the empress’ chambers. That new girl in court, Linda. She was making Zelgadis’ head turn. And that pissed her off. Zelgadis was hers. He belonged to her. No stupid little upstart in a skirt was going too steal something she worked so hard to own!

I’m angry that she stole him because it’s my job to keep him. She thought. That was perfectly reasonable, and, of course, true. I seduced him and she’s undermining my handiwork. Of course. Of course. Those were perfectly reasonable excuses for this anger…

No red haired brat just into court is going to steal a prince from me!

Angela told the page curtly that she wished to see the empress. He hurried to obey. Little minx, I’ll get her for this, you just wait. The page opened the door and she stepped inside the empress’ private rooms.

"You wanted to report?" The empress lounged, Zellas-style, on a long couch, drinking a glass of wine. You’d think she’d get drunk with all the wine she consumes, Angela thought, but she never has in the entire time she’s employed me.

"I have…ah…damaged the prince sufficiently, madam." Angela smiled sweetly. "He is now used goods." The empress laughed.

"I never tire of the way you phrase things, Angela. ‘Used goods?’ Just come out and tell me, you dance the mattress waltz with him." She took another sip of wine.

"Ah…yes, something like that." Another thing. The empress was always extremely…ah…

As she would say, a pompous, rude alcoholic. Angela thought wryly. "I have something else you might not find so enjoyable." She stated.

"Hmm? What, pray tell, might that be?" The empress leaned forward.

Angela hesitated. Would the empress kill her for this? Professionals tell all, Angela reminded herself. "It seems The new girl, Linda, has…caught his eye." Caught his lower areas, more like. Damn that vixen! She’d seen the glances they gave eachother. She’d seen the way everything they said to eachother had a secret meaning, oh yes. And she was mad.

"Ah, yes, the newly acquired Linda Minavers." The empress had seen those two. Poor Angela. She would have chuckled if she knew Angela would not get offended. The poor girl had it all mixed up. The two absolutely despised eachother. The hidden meanings were purely cruelties, and secret glances were hate-filled.

But…There was also the glances that were appreciative, if annoyed, of the intelligence and competence they saw in eachother. Hmmm. This might be worth looking into…

"I don’t see why this is a problem." The empress said lightly. "If more than one woman is with him, it moves him from a love struck lover in the public’s eyes to a woman user. That can be a big difference." She smiled at Angela, who was utterly awestruck. "However, if it bothers you, you have my permission to get rid of her. Covertly, of course."

Angela sputtered. "W-what? Why should it make any difference to me?"

"You’re obviously infuriated, Angela. Keep in mind, it’s not healthy for a seductress to fall in love with her conquests." She turned beck to her wine, a clear dismissal.

Angela fumed as she headed back to her rooms. Her? In love? Never. She was too interested in her own hide for that. But…that girl still plagued on her nerves. Okay, she’d work with that. She had permission to get rid of her…

But it wasn’t love. Never.

* * *

Zelgadis bit back a screaming retort, intent on keeping himself in check. If he blew up, she’d win.

"I fail to see, miss Minavers, how that could be in the least bit true." He would kill her, he would kill her, just watch, he’d strangle his father and then tear her apart with is bare hands…

"Oh, but surely you must see…" She calmly picked apart his explanation to pieces. The rest of court, listening while pretending not to, was getting very intrigued. They’d started listening when the voices started getting Tight and strained. Obviously they were on a tight subject.

"I insist," She finished, "That the roast beef is better."

"The hot pot is superior, I assure you."

The court gave a collective sweatdrop and turned back to their conversations.

Of course, there were ten thousand hidden meanings and emotional jabs in the simple dissagreement they had just had, but the court didn’t know that.

"I personally cannot see how a connoisseur of your caliber could not see that the hot pot is of extreme excellence." Meaning she was a glutton, a hog, and had unbelievable bad taste. It was all in the tone.

"Well, I can understand why you would have inexperience at eating, those people who attempt to keep their figures in such a way tend not to taste food…" He was amazed. She just came out and said it! To the prince! What an egotistic…

"I assure you, I am in perfect health. I do not starve myself." He gripped his napkin to keep from killing her.

"Oh? I didn’t see you eat more than a bagel all day yesterday. And you were in court the entire day, you couldn’t have consumed a single bite I didn’t see." Agh! Stupid, stupid, Lina, She thought…You practically came out and said you were watching him all day! Well, just pretend you didn’t.

Slip up! Zelgadis thought triumphantly. "Oh? I don’t remember talking to you the entire day…are you certain I didn’t leave?" He smiled charmingly.

He saw her hands tighten on her napkin, then relax. "I was sitting facing you the entire time. I couldn’t escape looking at you, much as I tried." There. Chew on that.

His smile froze, then returned. "Pardon me for such inconvenience, then. I shall attempt to persuade my father to move your seat where you cannot see me, if it pleases you."

Oh no you don’t, I need to be able to watch you…"Oh, do not worry, my prince," The prince part almost came out in a growl, she’d have to be more careful. "I assure you, I am fine, do not trouble yourself on my behalf, your elegance." She worked not to clench her teeth.

"Oh, but it would be my pleasure to help such a lovely lady," He replied, flashing one of those charming smiles the ladies here swooned over. In fact, she heard someone hit the floor behind her, and someone telling someone else it was only a swoon. She would kill him…

"Believe me, it’s quite all right." Escape, escape, he’s winning! "Oh dear, I am feeling quite drowsy…too much wine, I fear." She hadn’t had a drop all night. Hated the stuff. "I really must be getting to bed before I faint…"

Zelgadis knew se hadn’t had a drop all night. Escape, will you? I think not. "May I escort you? A lady alone in the dark halls is hardly safe."

Great. You bastard, I can’t refuse without sounding rude and giving you a reason to be outwardly evil to me…"Why, I would be delighted if you came, but it’s really not necessary."

"Please, I insist."

"Do not trouble yourself…"

"I insist."

Damn it. "Well, if you must take time out of your social occasion to escort me to my rooms, do not let me stop you!" Ohh, now it sounds like you’re enamored of me. And court half believes it already. What will you do about it? She stood.

"I make it my business to keep my people safe, and this extends to every lady, be she even a dislikable toad."

OHHH! She’d get hi, he was beyond dead, he was going to die in a very painful way, he was never going to get away with this…

They were both too annoyed at each other to notice the daggers Angela threw their way as they left.