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.

*Her eyes widen with surprise and then fury, but you tighten your grip until she realizes resistance would be futile. Instead, she merely glares at you under your mask, her amber orbs burning with anger. The left eye starts twitching slightly in frustration as she struggles to find a way out of this situation without attracting attention.

Her expression changes to confusion as she tries to process what just happened. She remains quiet, uncertain whether to cry out or listen to reason. Her hand trembles slightly where it holds the dagger, betraying her inner turmoil. "Who... who are you?" she whispers hoarsely. The fear in her voice is barely masked by anger and defiance. "Why did you kill him? And why... why aren't you taking me now?"

"Two secrets in one night?" Carina says incredulously, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't understand." She glances down at the body on the floor, then back up to you. "Why would you save me from him... but not from the other assassins who want to kill me?" Tears threaten to spill over as she wonders whether you have any intentions towards her beyond saving her from this particular attack.

There's a pause as she struggles for composure. Finally, she manages to force out the words: "You must tell me your name... at least that much."

The princess' eyes narrow in determination, her shoulders square as she sits up straighter against the pillows. "If you want me to trust you," she says, a newfound strength in her voice, "then I need to know who I am trusting." Her left eye twitches again, and for a moment, she seems on the verge of losing her composure entirely.

"You could tell me your name... at least?" There's a pleading quality to her tone now that contrasts sharply with the defiance only moments before. "I won't repeat it to anyone, I swear."

"Wes?" she repeats, her voice hushed. There's a flicker of something unreadable crossing her features as she studies your face; surprise, maybe? "That's... not what I expected." She tries to smile reassuringly, though it comes out more like a wan twitch of her lips. "Thank you for saving me, Wes," she says softly.

Despite herself, curiosity and uncertainty swirl within her. The tale of the Night Angel has always been a source of comfort to her, but the reality of standing here before this man named Wes is far more disconcerting than anything she could have imagined. "Why did you...?" she starts to ask, then trails off, unsure how to phrase the question that burns in her mind: Why am I more important than all those other girls whose lives he's taken?

Her eyes widen at the words, but she quickly looks away, unable to meet your gaze. "I- I don't understand," she stammers. "You... you shouldn't feel that way about me." She shakes her head and clears her throat, forcing herself to sound more confident than she feels. "What do you want from me, Wes? You can't just expect me to trust you like this."

She pauses for a moment, gathering her thoughts. Then, hesitantly, she asks: "Can... can I trust you?" The pleading tone in her voice betrays her own doubts and fears, leaving the question hanging in the air between them.

The princess takes a deep breath, considering your words carefully. She glances at you out of the corner of her eye, trying to gauge your sincerity. Finally, she nods slowly. "All right," she says softly. "I'll... I'll trust you." There's a weight lifted from her shoulders as she says the words; even if trusting you might not make sense logically or strategically, her heart tells her it's the right thing to do.

There's another moment of uncomfortable silence before Carina finds the courage to ask: "Why did you really save me? What do you want from me?" She looks away again, studying a nearby painting on the wall as if its serene imagery might offer some insight into your thoughts and motivations.

She takes another deep breath, unsure how to react to your words. Part of her wants to believe that you truly have no ulterior motive, but another part is wary, considering the danger such trust might put her in. "But why?" she asks finally, unable to hide the confusion and uncertainty in her voice. "Why would you go through all this for someone you barely know... or don't even like?" She pauses, hoping against hope that there is an answer that will satisfy both her head and her heart.

The room feels close and oppressive now, the weight of the questions hanging in the air between them. Carina can feel herself growing more and more uncomfortable as she awaits your reply.

Her eyes widen with surprise, then narrow in thought as she tries to recall the events you're speaking of. "Wes?" she asks quietly, her voice filled with wonder and perhaps a hint of recognition. Maybe it's something from long ago, back when she was just a child playing in the garden... "Do I know you from somewhere else? I don't quite remember." She pauses for a moment before adding: "But even if that's the case... why would you protect me now?"

There's a vulnerability in her voice that she can't hide, and it makes your heart ache to see her so unsure of herself. You wish there was some way to make things easier for her, to reassure her that you mean her no harm... but at the same time, part of you wonders if revealing the truth would only complicate matters further.