The shadow stepped out, holding a sword. He wore knightly armour, with a mask that covered his whole face except for the eyes. Raising his decorated sword, he launched himself towards me. As he approached, I quickly threw the bottle of wine towards him. He instinctively rolled to his right. Within that small window of time, I jumped outside the window. I spun around and waved at him, then strolled towards the centre of the town.

There was a bar within the town; the only bar in a 20-kilometer radius. I opened the door and headed towards the counter. A mid-sized man sat there, drinking his beer. I also ordered a beer and sat next to him.

[Hawkeye]: Boy, why’re you walking around in your bathrobe?

[Edmond]: He came again.

[Hawkeye]: Hahaha, that’s already the fifth time this week.

[Edmond]: I always kill them, but another one always shows up again. So annoying.

[Hawkeye]: Don’t take my bed.

[Edmond]: Too late. I am heading to your house. Find an inn or something.

I left the bar and walked down the street in the direction of his house. Not long after I had stepped outside, I heard footsteps following from behind. I casually navigated into the dark alleys, stopped and turned around. The figure appeared in front of me, unsheathing his sword immediately.

[Edmond]: You’re too sloppy for a typical assassin.

[Knight]: You should have died in the hands of the barbarians.

[Edmond]: I understand the queen sent you.

[Knight]: I see you’re clever, but you have no weapon.

[Edmond]: I don’t need a sword to kill a rat like you.

[Knight]: You bastard.

At that, he charged towards me with his weapon. Quickly, I sidestepped and grab his arm. Using his momentum, I threw him down, grabbed his weapon, and raised it against him. The knight appeared very shocked and raised his arms in surrender. He tried to stand up but I cut off his fingers as a warning. He screamed in agony, twisting from side to side. Hawkeye then appeared in front of me, visibly happy.

[Hawkeye]: What do you have there?

[Edmond]: The common house rat.

[Hawkeye]: Mhmm. Look at that crest on his armour. Isn’t he a royal knight?

[Edmond]: I have never seen him.

[Hawkeye]: Hey, Rat. Who are you?

The knight, still squirming in pain, gripped his right hand that was dripping with blood. Finally, he raised his head to look at us. His face displayed a variety of emotions: disgust, anger and pain. He opened his mouth to talk, but nothing came out, so he tried again.

[Knight]: I was assigned to be your royal knight, you bastard of a prince. However, the nobles ordered me to spy on you, so I pretended to be one of your soldiers. You are blind and you don’t even know it.

He started to laugh like a madman and looked at me with judging eyes. I then cut off his entire arm in anger. Blood spilt everywhere and he screamed so loudly, that I swiftly beheaded him and walked away with an annoyed face.

[Hawkeye]: I never knew you had a killer side to your personality.

[Edmond]: I am leaving. Let the body rot there.

[Hawkeye]: The true hero is the bathrobe. It managed to stay on you.

Meanwhile, the queen busily prepared the castle for her son’s upcoming birthday celebration. She waved her hands as she instructed the maids to position everything perfectly. Cesar turns twenty years old this year, making this birthday very important, since many high-profile nobles will attend. She planned to make Cesar marry into the Gremory family, the most powerful knight family in the

kingdom. Suddenly, a maid appeared in front of her, holding a letter. The queen received it, then pardoned the maid, who bowed and retreated.

No official seal nor stamp graced the envelope in identification. After investigating the envelop, she opened it, reading the contents. The longer her eyes gazed at the thin, brown paper, the fiercer and fiercer they became. She threw the letter away in anger, then stormed off to her room.

[Elena]: How did he survive?!

Questions flared into her mind. She sat down and poured herself a cup of water. He may ruin the plans she needed for her son. With a knock on the door, her son walked in, greeted her, then looked at her.

[Cesar]: Mother, is there a problem?

[Elena]: He is still alive.

[Cesar]: IMPOSSIBLE!

[Elena]: We need to devise another plan.

She knitted her brows in thought as she walked towards him. Slowly, she placed her hand on his cheek. Then, she quickly turned and walked towards the window.

[Elena]: In two years, I will arrange for you to marry the daughter of the Gremory Family. You will need all the support you could get to be the next king.

[Cesar]: Mother, who is she?

[Elena]: Soon, all will reveal itself.

A few months later, I sat at my office desk in the palace, reminiscing on the battles I fought in the north. Even though I have been back in the capital for so long, I had yet to meet the King, and he still hasn’t formally asked for me. According to my intelligence, the king has been making preparations to publicly declare that he will soon choose his successor for the throne. Feeling anxious, I turned to Alex to question him.

[Edmond]: Where is the king?

[Alex]: I was only ordered to accompany you as your knight.

Alex answered, expressing his regret.

[Edmond]: How about the queen? I have not seen her in the palace.

I deliberately stared at Alex. His expression turned thoughtful, before he answered.

[Alex]: The queen lives in a different area of the palace.

[Edmond]: I am returning to my chambers. You're dismissed.

I turned around, opened the door, and left. The palace was enormous and luxurious. Both my office and my private chambers were located in this northern part of the palace. To reach my chambers, I strode through a grand hallway that was made of white marble, and lined with a long, ornate carpet. Various statues stood on both sides of the path. As I walked, a maid approached me and asked me.

[Maid]: Your Majesty, will you eat in the dining hall this evening?

I quickly answered.

[Edmond]: No, I plan to eat dinner in my room. Also, prepare the bath and bring me a bottle of wine.

Soon, I reached my residence and opened the door to my room. It was a large room, with a golden chandelier hanging from the center of the ceiling. A large bed sat on the left, decorated with the most lavish, golden fabrics that twisted around the wooden posts. Against the opposite wall, a couch sat facing the bed. Two large windows, covered in rose-pink curtains, graced the far wall with an adequate gap between them.

[Edmond]: James.

Soon a shadow emerged from the dark depths of the dimly-lit room.

[James]: How may I serve you, Your Majesty?

The figure answered. He was a man with long, white hair, which was tied into a low ponytail behind the back of his head. He stood in a well-balanced posture, and his eyes were blank and blue. He was fairly good-looking.

[Edmond]: Have you done what I asked of you?

Approaching me, he held out an orange envelope.

[James]: Here is my report.

I broke the seal, then opened the envelop. When I pulled out and read the contents of the page that was folded inside, my eyes widened. I could not believe what I saw.