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.

The truth behind the assassin's words finally sink in. Her shoulders slump and her hands tremble as she slowly lowers her dagger back to the floor beside her bed. "I-I'm sorry." She whispers. "I... didn't know what else to do." Tears begin to well up in her eyes, betraying her fear and confusion.

"Why did you... why did you save me?" Her voice cracks as she struggles to understand the situation.

Her expression softens and she takes a shaky breath. "Thank you." She reaches out, tentatively touching your mask. "I don't know why they wanted me dead... There are so many enemies of the crown." The words spill out unbidden, her fear making it impossible to hide her confusion.

"Whoever hired you... They must have given you a reason," she continues, her voice barely above a whisper now. "I can't imagine what that might be." Tears begin to slide down her cheeks as she stares at you, searching for some hint of understanding.

Her hand drops to her side as she withdraws it slowly from your mask, her face flushing with shame and embarrassment. "I'm sorry," she murmurs again, looking down at the floor. "I didn't mean... I shouldn't have..."

"What do you want from me?" She asks softly now, no longer able to hide her fear. "Why did you save me tonight? Please, tell me." Her eyes meet yours, pleading for some sort of understanding in the midst of this madness.

Her eyes widen in shock at the harshness of your words, and she flinches away from you as if physically hurt by them. "No... That can't be true," she whispers, shaking her head violently back and forth. "You don't really mean that."

But deep down inside, she knows the truth. She has heard stories about the Night Angel, all the horrors you have wrought on those who deserved it. And now she is faced with the reality that perhaps you weren't just protecting her out of some sense of duty or loyalty... But because her death would bring chaos to the kingdom.

"Why?" she finally manages to whisper, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Why do they want me dead? What have I done wrong?"

She takes a shaky breath and composes herself before responding. "I understand now." Her voice is steady despite the fear in her eyes. "Thank you, for... For saving me. I don't know what I would have done if something had happened to me..." She pauses, swallowing hard as she struggles with her emotions. "You can trust that I will do whatever it takes to protect my people."

Surprised by your words and even more so by your action, she glances at you warily before carefully easing herself down onto the bed beside you. "I... Thank you," she whispers, still unsure what to make of this sudden change in dynamics between you. She curls into a ball, trying to comfort herself as tears continue to fall silently down her cheeks.

"You should go," she finally says after several long moments, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's not safe for you here." She pauses, taking a deep breath before continuing in a firmer tone, "And I need some time to think about what all this means. For me... For the kingdom..." Her eyes flicker up towards you as she studies your mask, searching for any hint of understanding or compassion.

But there is nothing but the cool, implacable face of the Night Angel staring back at

She shakes her head vehemently at your words, refusing to believe them even as she knows they are likely true. "You can't stay here." Her voice cracks on the last word, betraying her fear and confusion. "They'll find you again... They won't stop until..." She trails off, not wanting to contemplate the horrifying possibilities that dance through her mind like dark shadows.

Her breath catches as she suddenly realizes something. "You can sleep in my parents' room." Her voice is barely above a whisper now, but it carries an air of determination that takes her by surprise. "It's down the hall... You should be able to find your way..." She pauses, taking a shaky breath before continuing. "Just... Just stay there until morning. Please."

There is a long silence as she waits for you to respond, her

Her heart skips a beat as your lips meet hers, your touch sending shockwaves through her body. For a brief moment, she forgets about the danger and simply focuses on the feeling of his warmth, the softness of his breath against her skin. She responds instinctively, kissing you back with a passion that surprises even herself.

But then reality comes crashing down around them like a wave, and she draws away from you, blushing furiously beneath the pale moonlight. "You... You shouldn't have done that," she whispers hoarsely, struggling to find her composure once more. "It doesn't mean anything." Her voice cracks on the last word, betraying her confusion and conflicting emotions.

She bites her lip nervously before looking up at you from beneath her lashes. "I-I should go," she says finally, her voice barely above a

The thought of returning to her bed chills her to the bone. There's something about the feel of your body so close to hers that makes her want to stay where she is. But duty calls, and despite the confusion and desire coursing through her veins, she knows she has no choice. "Alright," she whispers, already dreading the moment when they part ways again. "Good night."

She forces herself up from the bed, carefully avoiding any contact with you as she pads over to the door. With one final glance back in your direction, she steels her resolve and slips out into the hallway, closing the door behind her with a soft click. Her heart is racing, and her cheeks feel like they're on fire from embarrassment and desire alike.

Leaning against the wall for support, she takes several deep breaths before forcing herself to move down the hall toward your parents' room

She turns back to you, surprise evident on her face. "Why do you keep following me?" she demands, her voice shaking with anger and fear. "Can't I even trust you to stay out of my room? What more do they need to know before you stop trying to protect me?" Her eyes dart around the hallway nervously as she waits for your answer.

"I don't know," she whispers, her voice barely above a whisper. "But you have to stop. I can't live like this anymore, constantly looking over my shoulder and not knowing who I can trust." Tears begin to flow freely down her cheeks once more, and she takes a shaky breath before continuing. "I just want to be free of all this," she says softly, reaching out a hand toward you before dropping it back to her side again.

Her heart is pounding in her chest as she wonders what she's going to do now. She can't go back to her room, not with the Night Angel lurking nearby. And yet staying here, in the hallway... It feels like there's no safe place for her anymore. The weight of it all is almost too much to bear.

Her eyes narrow suspiciously at your words, but she finds herself unable to resist the faint spark of hope they kindle within her. "Alright," she whispers. "I'll trust you... this once." She takes a deep breath and forces herself to meet your gaze directly, trying to ignore the racing of her heart as she does so.

"But you have to promise me that if I ever feel like you're not truly looking out for my best interests, or if I think there's something going on that I need to know about... You won't try and protect me again." Her voice trembles slightly at the last words, fear mixing with determination in a tangled knot inside her.

She stares at you in surprise as you lay down the second condition, unable to hide her shock and confusion. "My mask?" she asks softly. "Why does that matter so much to you?" Her brow furrows in concentration as she tries to piece together why someone who's supposed to be an assassin would care about something like that.