Chapter 10: A literal stab to the back

After quickly dressing in her nightgown, Gabi tiptoed out of the room with a small bottle clasped tightly in her hand. She made sure to move silently, not wanting to disturb Ethan's rest.

Once she was out of the room, she let out a small sigh of relief and glanced around to make sure no one had seen her.

After Gabi left the room, Ethan's eyes snapped open, and he sat up in bed, his gaze locked onto the wardrobe where Gabi had retrieved something. He watched her leave, a slight frown on his face.

As soon as Gabi was out of sight, Ethan's thoughts drifted to the erotic sight he had just witnessed. He couldn't help but feel a stirring in his loins, and he shifted uncomfortably in bed.

"I almost forgot what it felt like to have a boner," he muttered to himself, his hand absently rubbing at the bulge in his pants. Finally, he fell back onto the bed, his body covered by the blanket as he tried to calm his aroused state.

Gabi, clutching the small bottle in her hand, made her way to the castle's kitchen where she encountered Quin's priestess, Anna. The blonde-haired woman was a vision of loveliness, dressed in a stunning black gown that accentuated her features.

"Oh, I hope he likes it… hehe," Anna crooned, arranging food on a tray in preparation to take it to Quin.

Gabi approached her, trying to act casual. "Hi Anna, what are you up to?" She inquired, attempting to hide the small bottle from view.

Anna turned to face her with a smile. "Oh, just bringing some food to Quin. You know how he gets when he's hungry," She joked, eyeing the bottle in Gabi's hand curiously. "What have you got there?".

Gabi's heart skipped a beat as she struggled to come up with a convincing answer. "Uh, just some medicine. I was going to give it to Ethan since he's been feeling under the weather lately," She lied..

Anna arched an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity flashing across her face before she shifted her focus towards the food in front of her. "I have always wondered, Gabi," She spoke, "I've never really seen him speak much. Is it possible that he's looked down on himself because he lacks magical abilities?".

Gabi's countenance shifted as she pondered over Anna's question. "I'm not sure," she replied hesitantly, averting her gaze from Anna.

Despite Gabi's lack of a concrete answer, Anna's heart felt lighter knowing that there were individuals who looked after him, particularly since he appeared to be a bit of a loner.

"At least, it's comforting to know that someone is watching over him," Anna remarked as she picked up her tray. "Both you and the sword hero seem to be the only ones who care for him...well, goodbye."

As Anna made her way past Gabi, Gabi suddenly placed her hand on Anna's shoulder, causing her to stop in her tracks. "Wait," Gabi uttered, her eyes fixed on the ground.

Anna turned around to face Gabi, curious as to what she had to say. "Is something wrong?" Anna asked, noting the solemn look on Gabi's face.

Gabi paused for a moment, her hesitation palpable, before finally speaking up. "I...I'm sorry," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes remained downcast, refusing to meet Anna's gaze.

Perplexed, Anna could only muster a brief,

"Eh?" in response.

But before Anna could make sense of Gabi's apology, the latter suddenly lunged forward, snatching the knife from the counter and plunging it into Anna's back with unrelenting force.

The sudden assault caused Anna to gasp for air, her body writhing in pain as blood began to seep through the fabric of her clothing.

Meanwhile, Gabi still clung onto the hilt of the knife, her knuckles white with rage as she muttered under her breath, "I don't deserve to be with a defective hero."

The room fell silent, the only sounds echoing through the air were Anna's labored breathing and the clanging of the knife hitting the floor.

….

The Scythe hero, Quin, stood tall with a commanding presence in his room, which was adorned with various weapons and battle gear.

He gazed out of his window, his piercing blue eyes scanning the dark environment outside, observing the castle guards as they patrolled the grounds.

"Can't believe it's been five months now…" He mused to himself, his hand absently grasping the curtain.

A sudden knock on his door interrupted his thoughts. Quin's expression brightened at the sound, a hint of excitement creeping into his features. "Come in," he called out, his voice firm and authoritative.

As Gabi walked in with the tray of food in her hands, Quin turned towards her and furrowed his brows. "What are you doing here?" he asked, looking around as if expecting Anna to walk in behind her.

Gabi's face remained composed as she approached Quin and placed the tray of food on his bed. "I came to give you your food," she replied, her voice gentle and even-toned.

Quin eyed her suspiciously, his grip tightening on the edge of the bed. "Where is Anna?" he asked, his voice stern.

Gabi shrugged, feigning ignorance. "I don't know. She said she had some other duties to attend to and asked me to bring you your food."

Quin didn't look convinced, but he didn't press the matter further. "Very well," he said, picking up his utensils to start eating. "Thank you for bringing me my food."

Gabi nodded and turned to leave, her expression remaining calm and collected as she made her way out of the room.

Gabi stood by the door with a calculating expression, her mind racing with anticipation.

She counted down silently, her fingers tapping against her leg as she waited for the moment to strike. Suddenly, a groan echoed from inside the room, followed by a loud thud.

Quin's voice called out, confusion and pain evident in his tone. Gabi's smile turned sinister as her countdown reached zero. With a sense of purpose, she opened tn4 door and strided towards the bed where Quin lay, clutching his head in agony.

"What have you done?" Quin growled, his eyes darting around the room in panic.

Gabi merely chuckled in response, her hand slipping into her pocket to retrieve a small blue bottle. "Just a little something to make you more compliant," she purred, holding the vial up to the light. "Now…I want you to put a baby in me".