"Mhm, you took too long. Maybe I should kiss you and teach you a lesson." He said with a smile.

My eyes bulged out of my head.

'Come on, think Aloia' I told myself. Then an idea popped into my head. I knew just what to do.

I leaned my head forward, our foreheads touching.

"Mhm, look who came around", the captain said with a smirk.

"You wish", I whispered in his ear. I reeled my head back and threw my forehead at his nose.

"Fuck!" he yelped as he fell off of me.

"Oops", I said innocently as I got up and into a fighting stance. "You ready?", I asked him holding my dagger tight in my fist. If he thought he could get away with what he just did, he was terribly mistaken.

"Fiesty, I like it" he said with a smile, wiping the blood from his nose with the back of his hand.

"Wow first a child predator, now you're also a sadist? The list just keeps growing and growing" I said with a smile, circling him.

"Remind me, was it you who was just pinned to the ground blushing because I was about to kiss you?", he said taking a step forward with his hand ready to punch.

I quickly swerved around to the other side. "I think you still have a little something over there", I told him pointing to his bloody nose.

"Very funny" he said.

I pushed forward trying to punch his terribly handsome face. How could someone look so attractive with a bloody nose? God really does have favorites.

He caught my hand and pulled it towards him, wrapping his arms around my body.

"You never asked for my name, you know." he whispered into my ear. I felt his lip against my ear brushing it softly. That bastard.

I quickly stepped on his foot with all my power and escaping his grasp. I was ready to swipe my foot under his leg when I heard branches being break behind me.

"Shit!", I whispered, turning to face the sound.

I felt someone tug me from behind and wrap their arms. I was about to scream when a hand went around my mouth.

"Shut up unless you want to get caught." The guard said talking into my hair. He pulled me behind a tree and crouched down. The front of his chest pushing again my back. "But, don't worry I'll make you scream some other time from pleasure."

I rolled my eyes. Honestly, he's too arrogant for his own good.

"By the way, my name is Caspian, since you were dying to know", he said. I just knew he was smirking while saying that, I didn't have to face him to know that.

Another twig snapped from behind the tree. Slowly, Caspian peeked from behind the tree.

"What is it?" I muttered into his hand.

"I'm not sure, I can't get a good look at it", he said turning his head back.

"You can take your hand off my mouth you know", I told him. I don't need another part of him closer to my body then it already was.

He took his hand off my mouth and wrapped it around my stomach sending butterflies through me.

"Is it gone?" I asked trying to ignore his hands. If I wasn't home soon then I won't be able to get enough sleep. If that happened, then I won't have enough strength to fight with my father.

"Oh" he said, "It's just a deer".

I got out of his grasp and stood up, brushing the dirt off my clothes.

"Need a hand?" I asked him.

Caspian was still sitting at the trunk of the tree, slouching his arm on his knee.

"Nope, just admiring the view", he said while winking at me.

I rolled my eyes and started to walk away. I picked up my dagger, strapped it into the harness. I was about to leave when Caspian called out.

"Wait."

"What?" I muttered, not facing him and fixing my clothes.

"Are you going to the ball tomorrow?" he asked.

"Fuck, it's tomorrow?" I said, throwing my head up towards him.

"Actually, it's today. Well, you know what I mean." He said stepping closer to me.

"I have to go, I forgot." grabbing my bag on the floor. "And to your question" I said with a pause "I guess you will have to find out". I winked at him and started to run in the direction of my house. He isn't the only person who can flirt.

But the ball, how can I forget. As much as I didn't want to go, I have to make sure Ali was safe. Maybe I could find a man to court her. Or better yet, I could kill the Pinkerton boy. It wouldn't be hard. He was dumb as a rock, and his family would have one less mouth to feed.

But this was for me to think about tomorrow.

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"Ali stop fidgeting" I scolded my little sister as we drove in the carriage. We were already late due to Ali not being able to choose what shoes to wear.

Ali spent the whole day putting on makeup, curling her hair, and putting it in the most extravagant updo. She forced me to tie her corset so tight that I wasn't sure she was breathing for 5 minutes until she adjusted.

Then she sat me down and tried to do the same. However, I only let her put on a golden shimmer for my eyes that bring out their green. As for hair, she curled it and tried to force it into an updo, but I just tied my hair half-up half-down with a satin ribbon that matched my dress color.

I didn't see the point in any of this, we were all to be wearing masks anyways. It's a part of our kingdom's traditions; everyone wears a mask including the royal family, so when the prince chooses a lady, it isn't for her status but rather for love. It's all too cliché for me. In my opinion, he is going to choose the girl with the biggest breasts.

I spent the majority of today planning the death of Richard, the oldest and only eligible boy from the Pinkerton family. Of course, he would be at the ball with everyone else in the kingdom. The only problem is the masks. But I figured the Pinkertons were a poor family, I would just have to dance with whoever seems in the worst attire. I will find the men's names from thereon. When I find him, which I will, I'll take him out to the garden and ask him to go to the forest with me for a romantic midnight stroll. Then comes the hardest part, slitting his throat. I figured it would do the ladies in his family justice from the abuse they suffered from him.

When Ali and I were getting dressed I made sure to add a new accessory. I strapped my new dagger and harness to my thigh when Ali turned around to complaining about her complexion. I tuned her out completely.

"Alright, put your masks on. We are getting near the castle", Father said without facing me. He was a coward, but I will deal with him at a later time.

As we both put on our masks, Ali peeked out the window of the carriage and gasped. I looked behind her head. Although I did not have amazing taste, the palace looked beautiful.

(Palace of Versailles is the reference)

I could hear the music from the interior of the palace. It was beautiful, and although I wouldn't say it out loud, I knew I would enjoy the night.

The carriage came to a stop and the door was opened by a chauffeur. Father stepped out first being that he is an arrogant asshole, and I let Ali go ahead of me since she looked as if she was about to burst if she did not get out of the carriage in the next minute. I stifled a laugh.

I stepped out of the carriage, not taking the chauffeur's hand that was offered as helped. I was perfectly capable of getting out of a carriage without help. And even if I fell, it wouldn't be the end of the world. My blood-red dress swished at my feet as we approached the palace.

Father offered his arm to Ali, and not to me. But even if he had I wouldn't have taken it.

"Go in ahead of me", I told them. Ali frowned, but I knew it wouldn't last. She was looking forward to this night far too much to let a minor inconvenience like me bother her.

"Don't take too long", Ali said "We are already a bit late".

"Don't worry", I told her with a smile. I turned to my father and narrowed my eyes at him as my smile faded. As they walked away as I turned around.

'Take a deep breath', I told myself. 'We are doing this for Ali, she is far too sweet and kind for that boy, so is any girl. No one deserves to be abused in marriage. I am doing society a favor.'

I turned back around and confidently walked through the corridor. I noticed the hall was lined with guards on both sides as I walked swiftly to the two big doors at the end of the hall.

As the guards opened the door, I realized I was walking straight into the ballroom.

'Fuck.' I cursed to myself. 'There goes the thought of not drawing attention. But if I am going to do this, I might as well do it well.'

(Replace Cinderella with Aloia)

All eyes were on me as I walked down the steps slowly. The waltz that the orchestra had been playing was stopped. I felt the dagger strapped to my thigh pressing against my skin. As I walked down the steps I realized I was the only lady wearing a dark-colored dress or even a red dress.

My eyes scanned the room for the Pinkerton boy. I knew I had to kill him tonight, there were no other options. However, I couldn't tell. Every male in the room, rich or poor had their face in a mask.

'I guess I'll have to do a lot of dancing tonight' I thought to myself.

As I made it to the last step I walked to the left side of the room. The waltz started playing once again as I resumed walking and everyone returned to mingling.

Just as I thought I was safe I felt two arms come around my waist and mouth and pull me into a room.

"I knew you would come darling", someone whispered roughly into my ear as they put their hand on my thigh where my dagger was strapped.

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Hey y'all! First off, THANK YOU FOR SO MANY READERS!!

Second off, sorry to leave you on a cliffhanger again ;)

Third, this chapter would not be what it is without my best friend Emily's help so PLEASE go follow her insta: emilyymatias

I wrote a longer chapter this time because I think my pervious chapters were a bit short.

Anyways any comments, recommendations, questions etc. please comment them here!->