Enjoy~

Editing completed 31/7/2017

            •~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

The Prince placed a chess piece against his lips and studied the board - he'd been winning - by a lot. The chess board had been made entirely out of glass - knights, pawns, bishops all looked magnificent under the moonlight. Glass? What if you dropped a piece? The whole set would be useless...

"Checkmate, Petra."

The Prince's low voice pulled me from my thoughts as I cast my eyes down to the board. His knight had indeed been blocking Petra's King.

"Awh! I lose again..."

Petra sighed in complaint, glancing down at her losing move. Seems the two enjoy playing chess games. The battle lasted two hours... quite a while - if you're the person standing up. I felt a whine of discomfort sound at the back of my throat.

"Did you say something, foreigner?"

My name is (Y/N).

"No M'lady."

I muttered as the Prince rose from his white curled seat - hand crafted of course - and tilted his head.

"Luckily for you, the game is over."

Petra smiled and wished the Prince goodnight, turning on her heel and leaving through the marble doors, escorted by two guards. A rather brisk exit on her part. I expected her start a lengthy conversation with the Prince for at least ten minutes.

"It's late."

The Prince picked up a chess piece and held it between his fingertips, admiring the craftsmanship.

"You should rest."

I offered the Prince my advice to which he sighed, lowering the rook to the glass board.

"Hn~ You should do the same."

                   |~~~~|

Rain fell outside my room. I couldn't see much beauty thanks to my elegant window being blocked by heavy wooden panels, only allowing moonlight to slip through the cracks. I'd been attempting to sleep - only I felt oddly restless.

Why am I so alert? Is it the rain?

I rolled over and sighed loudly, listening to the calming droplets of rain against the roof. Maybe because it doesn't rain in Chi? I focused on the increasing downpour, only a noise I most definitely knew wasn't the rain earned my full attention.

It's hard to hear thanks to the weather... but it sounds like... rope tightening.

My eyes shot open in realisation; that sound I've heard so many times... I carefully reached for my blade and nodded in approval.

I need to leave this room and get out onto the roof... guards are just outside my door and hacking the boards with my sword will make too much noise...

No choice. Time to remove the boards the hard way. A heavy bookshelf stood near the doorway, I knew I could earn myself some time if only I could push it over.

Why must the Prince have such heavy, luxury items fill his palace rooms? I quickly placed both my hands onto the side of the shelf, heaving with all my strength until I sensed the wood starting to tip. I abandoned ship as the book shelf fell to the floor - creating the loudest sound of collapse imaginable.

SLAM

With the door now blocked - and floor slightly damaged - I withdrew my blade and fiercely began striking the wooden planks blocking my path.

"Foreigner! What's that noise? Open the door!"

I knew it would only be a matter of time before several guards gained entry into my room and arrested me on attempts of escape. One board fell from the window.

Then another.

I smiled at the great view it provided as well as the small gap I could easily fit through. I hastily climbed out onto the roof, rain no longer fell calmly like before - a storm broke out. I instantly began my search for the sound. The sound of rope tightening.

"Alert the Prince. The foreigners' escaping!"

Escaping? Surely the Prince won't believe this. We have a contact. Tightly clutching my blade, I jumped from the balcony and down onto a ledge as I closed my eyes and listened, the wind blew violently as the downpour caused my clothes to stick to my skin.

It's the sound of someone's bow and arrow... the rope that allows the arrow to fly and end someone's life from a distance. Someone had been sitting on my roof, aiming at the Prince's chambers.

Damn. I lost the assassin...

                                 |~~~~|

"Your Majesty! The foreigner is trying to escape!"

I'd already heard the loud crash below my chambers and assumed this fact already. I hastily jogged down the golden hallway with several other personal guards and immediately spotted her room.

The door was forcibly removed at the hinges and her room was a mess, books scattered the floor as well as the bookshelf itself.

"I want her found and brought to me, immediately."

Thunder struck in the distance as a low sigh escaped my lips. A part of me wanted this to be reasonable, but I could think of no explanation as to why.

"Go. Bring her to me."

The guards saluted and ran down the golden hallways, leaving me to scope the scene. I reluctantly entered the room and spotted several wooden boards hastily chopped down from the window using that curved sword.

"You fucking brat."

I mumbled, kicking debris from the floor.

"You can cancel your search party."

I glanced upwards to see the foreigner standing beside many broken boards, drenched and heavily panting.

"I hope you can explain yourself. If not, you know what happens."

The girl wiped her damp face as I studied her red checks and chest that the rose up and down.

"Someone was on the roof. If you hadn't of boarded up the window maybe they wouldn't of got away."

Her explanation calmed me (minus the stranger on the roof part) yet I'd been slightly suspicious, she crossed her arms and tilted her head to the side.

"You think the guards would of believed me? I acted with your safety as my top priority."

Fuck. Her explanation makes sense.

"I've even returned back to my room. I believe I've explained myself."

She'd been more talkative than usual, and as she spoke, I heard her accent for the first time. I quickly gestured to the bookshelf with a glare.

"Knocking that thing over wasn't necessary."

The foreigner shrugged her shoulders and picked up a scattered book, flicking through the pages.

"I did what was necessary. The guards would of arrested me before I could of broken down the boards and caught the assassin on the roof."

My eyes widened as she wiped her face, her breathing had returned to normal yet her hair stuck to her flushed features.

"Assassin? How did you know an assassin was up on the roof?"

The girl swiftly shut the book and looked out through the broken boards, admiring the view.

"I heard the stretch of rope - it's a noise an bow and arrow makes when an individual is taking aim."

How did she hear that over the rain? Surely hearing something that quiet would be impossible.

"You heard that?"

The foreigner tensed for a moment before sighing in defeat.

"In Chi... you get good training, I guess."

Our discussion quickly came to a close. I'd been satisfied with her reasoning as she followed behind me, stepping over the bookshelf and out into the golden hallway.

"You're bound to get sick now. It's fucking freezing outside."

The girls (E/C) eyes lowered to her soaked clothing with a simple shake of her head.

"I won't. This is nothing."

Out of slight respect, I decided the foreigner needed a hot bath for her bravery and overwhelming troubles.

|~~~~|

"A female servant must be present while you bathe. I need a witness incase you pull a stunt like that again."

I crossed my arms as we glared at each other in silence.

"Fine. I can always cancel the bath~ I requested it out generosity, you should be thankful."

My eyes widened as I frowned in disapproval. A maid had seen me bathe when I first arrived at the palace, but that was different. Prince Levi's threat instantly changed my mind.

"Okay, just don't cancel the bath."

The Prince smirked smugly at me and ordered a nearby female servant to run a bath, she bowed and began to walk down the hallway.

|~~~~|

My muscles relaxed under the water as hot steam rose up from the bath. I let out a pleasant sigh of relief. What a reward for chasing after some loser, I'll do it again if I get a bath this amazing.

I sank deeper into the warm water as the fragrance from the soap caused my eyes to roll backwards from bliss. I quickly lost track of time as the maid's eyes widened in surprise as she heard the Prince's voice on the other side of the door.

"I do believe it's been an hour, get out the bath, peasant - it's four o' clock in the morning."

Since the closed door protected my expressions, I glared fiercely in response to Prince Levi's insult and disruption of my precious bath time.

"No. You think there's baths this luxurious in Chi? I think I really would kill someone over this."

The Prince stifled a groan of complaint as he spoke once again.

"You can request a bath whenever you want. I've said before I'll provide anything to maintain your wellbeing - that includes enjoyment."

My eyes widened as I gave the maid a look of disbelief.

"Really?"

A loud thud sounded against the wood. I assumed Prince Levi hit his head against the door as he sighed frustratedly.

"Yes, you idiot, it's four o' clock in the morning and I can't sleep properly until I know your secure in another room - so hurry up."

I felt a little bit of something awaken within me. Compassion? The joy of having something nice done for me? Emotions in general?

"I am in a secure room, a room with hot water."

"Just get out the damn bath."

I reluctantly stood up from my hot water heaven as the maid handed me a fresh towel and a clean set of clothes.

"Very well."

The Prince remained quiet for a second before his footsteps could be heard fading away from the door. He walked away...

                               |~~~~|

A new day arrived and thanks to the bath, I slept rather well. The most enjoyable rest since living in Chi.

"Stop spacing out."

The Prince's voice caused me to turn towards him and lower my back forward - a half bow - because I'd been standing and he'd been sitting. 

"Forgive me. It won't happen again."

I'd been ordered by the Prince to answer formally whenever he spoke as people of rich and high status sat around the hall - used for my favourite occasion - afternoon teas.

The Prince took a sip of black tea with a sigh of relief, a table of young women caught the Prince's gaze as they erupted into quiet giggles upon being noticed by him.

"Damn. There's a queue for you."

I muttered as the Prince glared fiercely and demanded I lower my voice to a whisper.

"I'm aware. There's been a queue since I hit puberty, now keep quiet."

A snort escaped my lips as I raised my hand to cover my smile.

"I'm sorry. I won't speak again."

I stood by the Prince's side while we waited for Petra to arrive. She'd never arrived this late before and the Prince started to become suspicious.

"Something is off. Go and get her, foreigner."

I would of thrown my rattle on the floor and expressed how much I didn't want to go and escort Ms Ral, but we had an audience to impress so I tried to wipe the glare from my face and forced a smile.

"R-Right away..."

You're her damn fiancé, you go and do it.

I left my position by his shoulder and walked towards the sidelines of the room, something I'd been told by the Prince to do as walking near the tables is considered rude.

After leaving through the arch carved from marble, I quickly spotted Petra looking out the palace window. It's not until I noticed a stranger sitting beside Ms Ral, did I hesitate to approach her - something glinted under the light and I quickly spotted a blade.

A nobleman is angrily demanding money from her.

I quickly withdrew my curved sword and demanded he stopped.

"Stop right there or I'll cut you down."

Petra looked strangely relieved to see me. I noticed how she quickly got up from the windowsill and stood behind me while I threatened the nobleman.

"Please. It's hard trying to blend in with people, I'm running low on money, I had no choice!"

I would usually laugh at such pathetic behaviour, but instead lowered my blade - this occurred in Chi all the time - except people in Chi are far beyond poor. Not to mention killing a nobleman would definitely get me sentenced to the cells.

"You have enough money otherwise you wouldn't be in this palace."

Suddenly, he lunged for me as Petra let out a gasp of surprise.

"You serve the Prince right? He must give you plenty of money!"

Do I look rich to you, buddy? These clothes are a loaned from a maid.

His blade caught my check. I shouldn't of lowered my curved sword as I struck him in the nose with the hilt. He clutched his now broken noise and groaned loudly, flashing me a look of desperation - his eyes swirled with - 'please don't chase me' as he sprinted down the hallway.

"Leave him, foreigner. Levi will have him arrested, you and I both saw his face."

"If that's what you wish, M'lady."

I felt warm blood trickle down my cheek as I hastily wiped my face with my soft cotton sleeve. Petra turned to face me with a weak smile.

"Let's go to the Afternoon tea, shall we?"

I'd been expecting a 'thank you', but Petra looked like she wanted to, but couldn't. I merely added the incident to my 'good deeds with no appreciation' list.

I winced from the sharp sting of my face and wiped my injury again. Petra seemed dismayed before searching her pockets and removing a small piece of cloth.

A handkerchief.

"Don't think this makes us friends."

I silently accepted Lady Ral's beloved handkerchief and pressed the expensive cloth against my bleeding check.

"Thank you, M'lady..."

                   •~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

Thanks for reading!
Please comment and vote :3