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Ordered by the Crown Prince and the King, I was ordered to patrol around their rooms to catch any rats who were spying on the Royal Family.

I hardly didn't believe them because I mean like, who would be crazy enough to spy on a Royal Family who was visiting a very powerful Empire when they are the VIP guests. I mean surely the security would be incredibly high right?

Apparently I was wrong.

I caught someone just casually walking on the grounds just beneath the Royal’s rooms. Judging by his black clothes he was a spy but when I saw he had a sword he was maybe a clumsy assassin.

I quickly locked him up trying to threaten him by giving me his information.

He was probably a clumsy one who was assigned to kill because he had no money. So he wasn't entirely bad if I just gave him the money. That partly explained why he had long hair. Maybe to sell his hair.

But then I caught a scent of soap. He had a bath just today. So maybe he wasn't exactly a money dude. And as I was pressing him, I noticed the fabric of his clothes. It was soft to touch and smooth. Which was extremely expensive. This person is a professional, or his sponsor is a noble, I had thought.

Suddenly he tensed and before I could lock him up more harder, he kicked me right on the shins and pushed me away. What incredible strength he has. I must not underestimate him despite the face that he had a small body compared to me.

“Who are you?” he asked. That's when I realized it was a she, not a he. Although she had a deep rich voice it was definitely a woman's.

Should I beat her up quickly? She might be easy to handle. I wasn't fond of killing people who didn't harm other people, and she didn't harm anyone yet so maybe i should not kill her just yet. Just scare her away. But her confident posture and the way she said “Who are you?” sounded like an army commander; loud and clear and threatening.

Just as I watched her think, I attacked hoping to catch her off guard.

She was incredibly quicker and stronger than I thought, that instead of catching her off guard, I was the one caught off guard.

“Who are you?” her tone sounded scary which made me wonder what her eyes might look like. Maybe they looked scary. Then we came face to face and the trees rustled by the wind.

The moonlight shone on her face. Her blue eyes seemed to be sparkling, maybe it was the trick of the moonlight. They were so startling I was about to lose my grip, just to stare at those eyes. I really wanted to have a full look of her face--- so that i can recognize her if i can see her again. I had to cut her mask off.

She was pushing hard with her sword trying to cut off my mask.

Wait, blue eyes? Or was it maybe even green. Come to think of it, I have a feeling it had a faint silverish grey or maybe it was the blue. Those kinds of eye color were a rarity in this Empire that only descents of the Imperial Family had. Well, unless you were a member of another Kingdom's family who were blessed by a god. Then was she perhaps a hidden child from the Zeron Family? Just what if what if, i harm her and she reports to the Empress, would the Halio Kingdom be destroyed? Although I didn't care less about what happened to the Kingdom, I did care about the people who lived there.

I had to stop the fight, even though I was close to ripping off her mask.

I threw my sword, which was one of the unique techniques we learn in the Royal Kingdom, to catch the opponent off guard and quickly stab them.

But I just threw my sword and raised my hand trying to show that I surrender.

She either didn't realize that I surrendered or she realized but just finished me off anyway since she swiped her sword across my mask.

I braced myself, waiting for my nerves to register the pain from the cut, but I didn't feel anything. I touched the sides of my cheek. No blood.

I spoke half true half life since I don't completely trust her. She was just too good. Maybe all loyal servants who served the Imperial Family were this good. Well, I hope that they don't suddenly fight you into a deal. Otherwise I would lose all deals and maybe become their servant to repay the debts---- which I didn’t really mind.

Without thinking it through I asked “Who are you?” I absolutely had no expectations that she was going to answer my question but she answered my question.

“And I was sent by the Empress herself.”

Ok so my suspicions were confirmed. So truthfully in work we weren't exactly enemies but were working under our masters. But the only difference was that she was working under someone who she most likely respected highly. I would do the same if i were her, i would respect the empress as well. I think that everyone respected their Empress.

“Do you respect her?” I asked.

Just then we heard the knights coming, and I quickly turned around and ran to the entrance of the guest palace, hoping that there were no maids I would run into.

As I was heading inside, I wondered how she was able to get inside the quarters of the imperial guest palace. Maybe she was disguised as a maid in the Imperial Palace so it would be easier to move around the Palaces.

I found myself back at the Crown Prince’s room. I knocked.

“Come in.”

I entered.

“Well, weren't you quick patrolling today?” he asked as he set down his pen and turned to face me.

I quickly changed back into my normal clothes.

“I know. The knights were patrolling around as well so I left.`` I handed the clothes back hoping he wouldn't notice the cut part. If he asked…. Well, I’ll just tell him that the mask made it hard to breathe.

“Mmm. is that so?” he studied me, just for a second before I turned around and headed for the door since I had no other business to see my spoiled, annoying brother.

“Hey.”

I stopped in my tracks. I hated how I couldn't ignore his orders. I tensed.

“What?”

“How do you feel about becoming the first consort for the Empress?”

I was relieved that he didn't say anything about me meeting another spy.

“I don't care about those kind of stuff.'' I snapped as I left the room, my heart pounding.

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