Enjoy~

Editing completed 31/7/2017

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Standing under a marble decoration is just as boring as it sounds. I soon felt my patience run low as the rich walked past me - cast me a dirty look - and then sat down to enjoy luxury meals. Right in front of me.

The afternoon soon came to a close as the Prince gestured for me to return. I left the marble arch and carefully avoided knocking anything expensive from any tables.

"See anything?"

I shook my head and crossed my arms.

"No. Nothing."

The Prince stood up and sighed, gesturing for me to follow behind. We received many smiles and greetings as we past certain rich individuals, but the Prince seemed robotic - this scene had happened so many times, it no longer meant anything to him.

"I have sword practice now. Feel free to watch or train with guards."

I glanced down at my curved sword with a nod, the Prince walked towards an extremely large wooden door, decorated with carved butterflies and entered a barren room with smooth flooring.

Several guards had been sword fighting, others watching. I quickly noticed an area up a flight of stairs - similar to a stage. I assumed the Prince would practice his swordsmanship over there.

"The foreigner... I'll make sure my sword pierces your heart."

These are the comments I received seconds after the Prince left to practice. My lips twitched into a smile - how empty his threats would be - once I drew my sword.

"I see. Don't blame me if I accidentally kill you then."

The guard stiffened for a few seconds before laughing and hastily drawing his blade. My eyes cast around the room and quickly spotted the Prince watching from above.

A test of my skills perhaps?

Lowering my stance (this had been done in my village) and tilting my blade to the side, I'd given myself the advantage - being able to see his movements as well as block a few seconds quicker. I exhaled and forcefully lunged my blade, only his sword flew from his hands and landed with a clank against the smooth floor.

Did I really go all out on a guard just because he bragged about his skills?

The guard hadn't realised his sword had even left his fingertips as my curved blade made contact with his neck, careful not to cut his skin.

"You win, you win. Don't injure me-"

I sighed loudly and lowered my blade. My hopes were up for no reason it seems... turning my back on the guard, I met eyes with Prince Levi, who merely looked down upon me and then withdrew his sword to start his own practice.

I'll watch the Prince, I guess.

                                    |~~~~|

Prince Levi's entire presence had been so elegant. That sword - adored with jewels, sparkled under the light as a third guard submitted or completely lost to the Prince's fierce strikes.

Seems he's more than capable of defending himself. I'd been standing with my back against the wall - practice had ended rather swiftly for the two of us. I soon spotted the Prince walking down a flight of wooden stairs leading to the lower floor.

"Nice work."

"I should be saying that to you, am I even needed for your protection?"

The Prince rolled his eyes and clicked his fingers for me to follow behind him. I furrowed my brows with an annoyed sigh at his fleeting figure yet trailed behind anyway.

"You're required... my abilities are not to your standard just yet."

They never will be. I trained in my village for hours in the dirt - your skin hasn't touched dirt once. The Prince nodded stiffly as the two of us walked down a quiet hallway, he suddenly turned his gaze to me.

"I'm visiting the assassin that tried to kill me. I need information."

I nodded as we made a right turn towards the prison area. The palace was huge and multiple guards saluted as we walked past.

"If he can't speak our native language. I'll leave translations to you."

Wow thanks.

"As you wish."

I knew we'd started to reach the prison area once touches decorated the walls, a large metal door had only been a few steps away. Two guards stood in front, but quickly moved aside as the Prince approached.

We entered the prison.

Multiple cells had been against the wall - far too dark to see anyone inside. I hoped people were not kept here for a long periods of time. The Prince stopped and stood opposite a metal cell, meeting eyes with the assassin who sat chained to the wall inside.

"Why did you attempt to end my life?"

The assassin gently scratched his neck, looking rather nervous.

"Are you the Future King? Damn, scary as hell..."

I recognised the familiar tongue - he did not speak native to this Kingdom. It's rather refreshing to hear someone's voice from Chi.

"Translate, you brat."

I turned towards him and repeated more or less what the assassin had said.

"He thinks you look scary-"

A loud metallic clang echo'd around the dungeon as the assassin flinched in surprise. Prince Levi kicked the bars. Seems he's very impatient.

"I don't have time to play games. Why did you try to end my life?"

"He wishes to know why you attempted to assassinate him."

I quickly spoke Prince Levi's translation as the assassin crossed his legs and looked towards me with a cheery smile.

"That guy is worth a lot of gold - if killed. I need the money. Chi is a very different place now."

I sighed; Money really does make the world go round.

"You have a high bounty if killed, he needs money."

The Prince nodded his head and swiftly turned on his heels, clicking his fingers demanding I follow behind.

"You're from Chi right? Damn lady... hot as hell."

I tensed up and felt my hand tightly grip the blade of my foreign sword. Flirting in a dungeon when your life could end at any second? What an idiot.

"An assassin as bad as you shouldn't be spouting such crap."

The Prince turned to me with a fierce glare, his red cape swishing behind him.

"We are finished here. Leave immediately."

I gladly followed after the Prince who exited out the metal door, leaving the cells behind.

"You can't converse in that language without my permission, so you'll have to inform me of what was said between the two of you."

I crossed my arms as we stepped out into the long hallway, the guards took their old positions and blocked entry to the dark cells.

"It really wasn't anything of importance..."

The Prince seemed more frustrated by my words as his eyes shone with rage.

"You will tell me."

Having the guards as an audience to the Prince's tempter tantrum quickly caused me to turn my back on him.

"It seems he's a flirt... he liked my appearance."

The Prince clicked his tongue in annoyance, dismissively walking down the hallway. We remained silent for a couple of minutes.

"Everything you've said to me must be true, if not, I won't hesitate to have you hung."

I felt angered by his response, but remained silent out of fear I'd let my emotions slip. We'd already had the whole trust conversation and the liar talk. How very out of character for somebody so composed as him.

"Answer me."

The two of us soon arrived outside the throne room, guards held open the marble doors as I admired the carvings of a bear roaring into the sea.

"I've told you before: I'm not a liar."

The Prince jogged up the red-carpet covered steps and collapsed into his throne with a tired sigh, massaging his temples. It hit me like a ton of bricks as realisation flooded my brain.

He's panicked over the assassination attempt and lost his cool. It seems my words are not enough - I must convey using actions.

I lowered my left knee to the floor and raised my hand over my heart - something regularly done in Chi to a master viewed as a god. (Sebastian's kneel to Ciel)

"There really is need to worry, if someone attacks - I will take your place - I will be the person that dies as a result."

After a few seconds I stood up, meeting the wide eyes of the Prince who sat with his lips slightly apart before quickly clearing his throat.

"Tch. Seems I've made a contract with a loyal woman."

He acknowledges me as a woman? Is that even allowed since he's the Prince?

The Prince looked oddly reassured as he sighed and adjusted his sword. I sensed our new alliance and took my place by his side. A king and a thief - fates sealed by a twisted contract.

"I have a few questions to ask you."

I crossed my arms, tilting my head towards the many glass windows covered with plants of many colours. Daisies, roses, tiger lilies.

"I'd like to politely decline."

The Prince went quiet for a few seconds before he offered a compromise.

"In exchange, I'll let you ask any questions about myself."

Now this is different. Anything of my choice, huh? I'd been an idiot to decline this offer.

"Fine, ask away."

The Prince's silver eyes lowered to my sword, frowning upon seeing the inscription while pulling his white glove up.

"When my father set fire to your village, did anyone of close attachment die?"

I suspected this to be a question, luckily for me, no one of special emotional attachment had died. At least, that's what I tell myself.

"No. I knew people, but I'd never been emotionally invested in any of them."

The Prince slowly nodded, resting his chin onto his palm with a interested vibe about him.

"How did you escape the fire?"

My insides churned at the Prince digging up my personal life. A life I'd tried to forget.

"How everyone else did. Ran and didn't look back."

The Prince looked distressed as he lowered his head, almost guiltily. I sighed loudly and crossed my arms, watching an elegant chandelier glimmer softly. I quickly reminded him of our compromise.

"My turn~"

"I have one more thing to ask."

He quickly cut me off as he cast his eyes to the long red carpet, leading to the marble doors we entered through.

"Was there... anybody you held particularly close... a lover?"

A small smile graced my lips once I noticed Prince Levi re-phrased his first question when he didn't get the answer he wanted, he also refused to look at me, probably due to the nature of the question.

"If there was?"

"Answer me, damn peasant."

I shook my head and muttered:

"No."

The Prince removed his crown and placed the gold onto his lap, studying a small ruby centred in the very centre. I quickly realised that jewel was the ruby I'd stolen only a few days ago.

"I do believe I can ask three questions of you now."

The Prince nodded and lifted his crown onto his head once again, he glared yet didn't deny me.

"Why did your father burn down my village?"

The Prince pulled a loose piece of string from his glove and sighed, looking up with a distasteful frown.

"He told me it was for fun, but I suspect it had something to do with the way your village held your blades - the power your people wielded as well as speaking a different language scared him... so he eliminated what kept him awake at night."

I tightly clenched my fists, reflecting upon the thousands of happy memories I spent living in my village.

"Your fathers envy blinded him. Our village was formed upon love and respect."

The Prince crossed his legs, tilting his crown to stop raven hairs from landing in front of his eyes. I asked my second question;

"Your marriage... why are you going through with it?"

Prince Levi's eyes widened; it looked like he hadn't anticipated his marriage being mentioned.

"We are merely engaged. That is all."

Oh. I see... he's just waiting for the whole thing to blow over.

"You look like you wish to add something."

The Prince's eyes were sharp and facial features defined, I waved my hand signalling I wouldn't comment any further.

"No... my apologies. I don't need to ask anymore questions."

The Prince raised an eyebrow, his lips twitched upwards into a smirk.

"Are you sure? You won't get another chance~"

I nodded my head as the Prince exhaled and rose from his throne, stretching his back. I flinched upon hearing two marble doors click softly - only to reveal Petra beside two armoured guards.

"Hey Levi..."

Speak of the devil.

"Good afternoon, Petra."

Petra looked rather relaxed considering the incident that occurred in this very room. I strictly recall her crying.

"I wanted to know if you'd like to continue our chess game... before... the guy... tried to..."

The Prince sluggishly walked down a lavish red carpet with a curt nod of his head.

"I'll definitely beat you this time, Levi!"

My day ended rather peacefully as I watched the future King and Queen play a heated chess game.

Tomorrow would be very different.
              
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