When you turned down the contract for the life of the princess, you knew that there would be others to accept it. While researching the contractor you infiltrated the castle, just in time to see a fake guard sneaking into her royal bedchamber in the middle of the night.
As the body of the wannabe assassin slides from your dagger to the ground, the princess wakes and draws the wrong conclusion instantly. From under her pillow she draws a dagger, glancing up at you defiantly.
"You killed that guard!" She hisses in quiet rage. "Coming for me will be your last mistake! I'm not afraid of you!"
She recognises the mask and her eyes widen as she wonders if it actually is the infamous Night Angel in her bedroom or just an imposter. She draws in a deep breath, clearly intending to call for her guards.
I look at her and as quietly as possible I say "now now princess put the dagger down"
Surprise overwhelms her, causing her grip on the dagger to slacken momentarily before she regains control, lowering it a few inches in front of her. Her heart is racing, and she can feel her cheeks flush with anger and fear. Trying to maintain some dignity in this awkward situation, she tilts her chin up and narrows her eyes. "Whoever you are," she whispers venomously, "you have no business here. My guards will make sure of that."
I look at her "don't do anything stupid just let me explain myself"
Her heart races, and she feels a strange mix of confusion, anger, and fear coursing through her veins. This is the infamous Night Angel, the most talented assassin in all the lands! She's heard stories about him killing people without leaving a single mark, appearing out of nowhere and disappearing just as quickly. The idea of being so close to someone like that sends shivers down her spine, yet somehow it also excites her.
Trying to gather her wits about her, Carina forces herself to keep her voice steady. "Explain yourself?" she asks warily, lifting the dagger higher in front of her as a show of resistance. "And why are you here, in my bedchamber? How did you bypass all of my guards and get past the palace security?" Her eyes dart around the room, wondering if there's an escape route or some other way she could use to
I was able to get in your bed chamber because I climbed up to the windows and I'm here because I'm trying to protect you
Her eyes widen with surprise at his claim, and she hesitates before lowering the dagger further. "Protect me? From what?" she asks skeptically, her voice quavering slightly with uncertainty. It's unheard of for someone like the Night Angel to care about anyone but themselves, let alone a member of royalty like her.
Still, the idea that someone could be so skilled and yet choose to protect her fills Carina with an odd mix of gratitude and unease. She takes a step back, putting more distance between them, though she doesn't fully trust herself not to attack him again if he makes another unexpected move.
"Who are you truly?" she demands, her voice trembling slightly despite her attempt at bravado. "And why would you go through all this trouble just for me?" Her gaze flicks down momentarily before meeting his eyes once more, unable to
That I won't say because I don't want you to freak out
Her brow furrows in confusion as she tries to understand his cryptic words. It's clear that there is more to this man than meets the eye, and her curiosity is piqued despite herself. But she can't ignore the danger he seems to be referring to; it's obvious that whoever hired him was intent on harming her.
Taking another step back, Carina sits down on the edge of her bed, trying to appear calm and collected even though her heart is racing. "If you're truly here to help me," she says slowly, carefully choosing each word, "then tell me how I can trust you." Her gaze flicks upwards for a moment before returning to meet his eyes directly, a hint of defiance in their amber depths.
You have no reason to trust me but I swear I'm here to protect you
Taken aback by his sincerity, Carina finds herself momentarily torn between her instinctive mistrust and an unfamiliar urge to believe him. She looks away for a moment, chewing on her bottom lip as she struggles with the decision. Finally, she meets his gaze once more and says quietly, "If you're truly here to help me, then I need to know your name. Not some code-name or title; your real name."
Her voice trembles slightly as she speaks, betraying her own fear and vulnerability in the face of this enigmatic figure. She waits, heart pounding, for his response.
That is my secret carina I can't just reveal that to you
His words cause her heart to sink, and she feels herself tensing up once more. "Then how can I possibly trust you?" she asks, the despair in her voice audible even to her own ears. "You must understand that this is a matter of life and death for me. If I cannot trust you, then what hope do I have against those who wish to harm me?"
Her eyes dart around the room again, as if searching for an escape route or some other option she hadn't considered before. The weight of her responsibility presses down on her like a leaden cloak, making it difficult to breathe and even harder to trust in this stranger who claims he is here to protect her.