“It has been a long time since I was last here.” I whisper to myself. Boats come into Ante transferring goods to be sold at the market. The city hustles and bustles along with a pace familiar to me. I hear the uncanny sound of somebody from Monza trying to speak Arrian.

Despite the nostalgia within me I feel a distinct urge to return to Belnuo. That is where I made my home. It is the life that I chose. At least I don’t need to worry about making it a seem natural. The more people that know about this and the sooner the better.

The people of Ante will fall in line after remembering that nobody is out of the reach of the emperor. I slowly walk towards the castle. There is a secret entrance into the castle only known to a select few people.

Once Inside I will merely have to blend in. I begin practicing my accent. Years living in Belnuo has softened my accent to make it hardly noticeable but with a bit of practice I should be able to get back into using it.

I walk into the forest just outside of the city. I don’t remember the exact position that it was placed but it shouldn’t take long. I am just looking for a specific rock.

Ah, here it is!

I walk through the passageway. Before entering the castle I put on a brown wig and dress into the clothes of a guard. Hopefully they have slackened their standards. Nobody would get away with this in Belnuo but, in all fairness, it is rather difficult to pretend to be a member of the royal guard.

I quickly make my way to where the guards rest. I just need to get my bearings and keep up the lie until nighttime. I walk into the room and greet some of the guards there. They just grunt in response. They are too tired to even care who it is.

“They just keep making us work double-time. The stupid archduke is being paranoid.” One of them complains, the rest just make an affirmative sound in response. “Does he really think anyone cares what he does here? I am sure everyone in the east wants to pretend we don’t exist.”

“Haven’t you heard?”

“Heard what? Day in and day out I just stand there at watch, nothing happening.” They all just laugh, I cover my eyes and pretend to sleep. They hardly have any schedule as demanding as that of a royal guardsman.

“The Emperor has been fighting with the chancellor, rumors have it the archduke is planning on making an attempt at the throne.” One of them informs him. Information seems to spread slowly. I am just going to assume that it is because the people of Ante like to keep to themselves and mind their own business.

“Wait, what?! For real? Wanna place a bet?”

“Twenty silver coins that the archduke takes the throne.” One laughs and one after of another they all place their bets on the archduke. I am getting a bit peeved that nobody is betting on Michael. I am here to assassinate Antonio, how stupid must they think their emperor is?

“Fine, a gold coin on the Emperor, you guys are a bunch of loons.”

“We are loons?”

“Yes, the Emperor is probably dealing with this as we speak. Planning for all possible outcomes.” The rest just laugh and brush him off. I think I hear one say that this was a sad bet, they would hardly earn anything from it if only one person was dumb enough to bet on the emperor.

“I’ll join then, I place two gold coins on the emperor.” I say handing over the coins.

“Haha, go back to dreaming you sleepy head.” I merely sit back down and close my eyes again. The rest of the people grumble and join me in resting. A person in charge shows up and orders us to do stuff but I just silently bide my time until it is midnight.

Once it is I change out of my guardsman uniform and change into a dark blue cloth that should hide me. The moon isn’t out tonight and this causes it to be very dark. I slip through the shadows until I am below Antonio’s window.

After about half an hour I have managed to climb into the room.

I have the distinct urge to start yelling at the discipline but wisely choose not to. Taking out my vial I dump the poison into Antonio’s mouth before quickly covering it and his nose. He struggles in a futile attempt unaware of what is happening for a few seconds before the poison takes place.

I then turn him over and look at his back to make sure he has the imperial sigil. Once this task is done I quickly take my exit. I will have to write a letter to informing him of the good news.

Finally out of this place. Only took me one day to do it too.