The Assassin

Hello

Luella carefully side-stepped the swarm of guests that surrounded her, never losing sight of her target, as they swiftly attempted to move out of her way with an apology. Oliver stayed close behind. Her pulse quickened with each step that takes her to this infatuating stranger. She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination but she was almost positive her heart started beating in time with the music. Her eyes trained on him, the previously impossibly loud noise of the ballroom was drowned out by the sound of blood rushing to her cheeks. Then, suddenly his eyes met hers and her pace slowed. She was taken aback by the sudden spear in her chest, but what she didn't know was that he felt the exact same, tenfold. 

"Hello." Luella began with a genial smile.

"You're the princess." Was all that came out of his mouth, he admired her natural beauty, though he was quickly snapped out of his daze when he noticed the very tall man standing behind her with a dark blue uniform on and white gloves, the matching dark blue hat he wore only served to make his height much more terrorizing. The guard stood frozen in place with a menacing glare looking down upon him, the sword rested on his left hip glistened with intent. If you were to cover him in plaster you would think he was a statue, a statue with a vendetta. 

Even with the intimidating guard staring him down, the image of the princess's clear skin, big dark brown eyes, rosy cheeks and lips that were surrounded by dark tight-curls intruded his thoughts. She looked up at him with the most genuine look he's ever seen. Out of everyone here why was she talking to him?

"Yes, I am." Luella said amused, "What's your name?" She asks. He takes a moment to wrap his head around the question aimed at him. "I-I'm Phillip." 

"Phillip? What a handsome name." Luella bats her eyes. Phillip caught the movement causing his face to flush. He realized how ridiculous he must've looked with his mouth hung open like a trout so he quickly tried to make conversation. 

"Oh! How rude of me, your highness." He bowed deeply, his cloth cap fell off his head. The princess attempted to suppress laughter, putting a hand over her mouth but gave in and let out a giggle. A confused Phillip looked up finally realizing what she was laughing at. 

"S-sorry." He picked up his cap after a few failed attempts. "It's fine." Luella said. Phillip was just happy she was still smiling and didn't think he was a fool...well, she still might he's a fool but at least she wasn't upset. He wrung his cap in his hand not knowing what to do next, his eyes kept darting from the floor to her face and back. The racing words in his mind began to muddle together so much he wasn't sure if he was even thinking anymore. 

"So what made you come?" Luella filled the gap between their conversation. Phillip was grateful she finally said something, unfortunately he didn't quite hear what she said. "What was that?" He said snapping out of his worry. 

"What made you want to come here?" Luella asked again tittering.

The lower-class man's face slightly fell. "Oh well, I wanted to bring my mother to dance but she was too busy with her duties. She still wanted me to come so here I am, though I don't have much of a reason to be here anymore." The young royal could tell his mood dropped significantly when he mentioned his mother being withheld from enjoying something she most likely doesn't experience often or at all judging by Phillip's clothes. 

Luella felt pity for him, she looked upon his saddened face. Phillip's eyes met hers, panic struck his face. "N-not that I don't want to stay, it's a very lovely party!" Luella's sympathetic expression returned to its amused one, his jitteriness was very entertaining. 

"What duties was your mother occupied with?" She asked curious as always.

"Oh, my mother works as a hatter."

"A hatter!" Luella yelped, she noted her outburst and looked at Oliver apologetically and faced the startled Phillip. 

"I love bonnets, I like to make mine especially outrageous to irk my mother. I have one with four hummingbirds on the brim that look as if they're fighting over a flower." Luella laughed as Phillip shyly joined in. She wiped the beginnings of a tear from her eye and let out a satisfied breath. 

"Well," She began. "I know I'm not you mother, but would you like to dance?" She held out a welcoming hand. Luella could feel the icy glare piercing the back of her head making the previously warm room feel like a wet, bare dungeon. Oliver was definitely one of the more lenient ones when it came to her antics besides her father. Sure, walking around her ballroom accompanied by her guard was okay but asking a man to dance? Unacceptable, unladylike, indelicate. Yet, Oliver did nothing. 

Phillip stared at the inviting gesture flabbergasted, he quickly scanned the room to see if anyone else was seeing that same thing he was. Surely enough, guests were already chattering among themselves about the princess's behavior. Her hand stayed firmly where it was waiting for an answer.

Slowly, Phillip placed his cap back onto his head and laid his hand into hers. Luella's face instantly lit up and placed her other hand on his shoulder. 

He was having so much trouble finding a partner to dance with just a few minutes ago now he was elegantly gliding across the ballroom floor, well, as elegant he could be and with the princess nonetheless. It causes for his earlier question to pop back in to his head. Out of everyone here why is she talking to him? But, the man doesn't have time to ponder as he tries to focus on not tripping over the air.

The steady, soft music began to pick up pace, a bouncy rhythm drifted into the air. Luella kept her eyes on Phillip, glad that she was able to inspect his features much closer now, he had a baby face and slightly chapped lips. His Greek-shaped nose fit his face perfectly and his shrunken pupils were now relaxed, reflecting the ballroom lights beautifully. He seemed to have noticed her looking but didn't mind as he was doing the same. The couple continued to get lost in each other's eyes, dancing their very own waltz with the queen unaware as she attempted to mend her own blunder with the king. 

"What is it that you wanted to speak with me about?" King Charles asked concerned. He knows Beatrice could be quite picky at times but he enjoys obtaining what the queen wants most, he likes the challenge. She sighed and closed her eyes for a moment before opening them. 

"I was a bit harsh earlier, I apologize for being rude especially when you've just arrived from an expedition. I pray you can forgive me." Beatrice ended with head held low. The floor and her fidgeting hands were all she could see when the king's hand entered her vision and lifted her chin. 

"Of course I forgive you." Their hands interlocked and he pulled her in gently for a kiss. Beatrice was engulfed with guilt. Charles isn't a bad person, he bears no malicious intent yet she constantly can't help but hate him for standing in the way of her and Fredrick's love. It wasn't her choice, he was an arranged marriage. Just another scheme by Charles' father to expand the Hillington Empire and Charles continues the agglomeration of villages, kingdoms, and domains that have been taken by his family, some peacefully and some by force. Luckily their arranged marriage kept Beatrice's home from being ripped to shreds but the thought of what would have happened if she hadn't married Charles still plagues her mind. 

"Was that all?" The king asks. Beatrice gives a soft laugh "Yes, I guess I was just being silly." She says. "No, it wasn't silly at all. I'm glad you came to talk to me, I understand that I could be gone for long periods of time and it's probably taking its toll on you." 

The queen notes the irony of his sentence for it was his returning that had made her irritated. She simply nods her head in agreement "That must be it."

The king smiles understandingly to his wife and takes her by the arm. "I think it's time we show Luella her gift." He says. "I think she'd like that." Beatrice responds. They walk together down the hall heading back to their thrones ready to reveal the princess's birthday gift. 

Oliver watches Luella glide across the floor with ease as Phillip leads them. It's been a while now hasn't it, the king and queen should be coming back any second now. Oliver continues to look over Luella trying to find an opportunity to interrupt them.

Oliver wastes no more time as he takes quick but steady steps through the ballroom and stands near Luella, she takes notice and pauses. "What is it, Oliver?" Phillip has a nervous posture assuming he did something wrong. "Your highness, the king and queen should be coming back soon. You'd ought to return to your throne." 

Luella gave a light groan but she knew he was right. "Well, I should be going." She says turning to Phillip with a smile. He nods his head and returns the gesture, "Thank you, for the dance."

"Thank you." Luella says. She quickly waves goodbye and returns to her seat not wanting to get in trouble by her mother, seconds later when she sat on her chair the king and queen walked in, arm in arm. Luella gave a 'that was close' look to Oliver and he gave a slight nod back as if to say 'you're welcome'. Beatrice sat back down on her throne and Charles stood up tall silencing the orchestra. 

Everyone in the ballroom immediately snapped their attention to the monarch. He cleared his throat before his booming voice echoed through the room. "Thank you to all my loyal subjects who attended this ball today, for we are not only here to celebrate the conquering of Rubaros but for Princess Luella's nineteenth birthday!" The crowd gave an enthusiastic roar with claps mixed in with the noise. 

"I've brought something with me that can only be found in the caves of Rubarian land." Charles turned to his daughter. "Luella, please stand next to me." She stood up quickly excited to receive her gift she's been waiting for for a few hours already. Her father called over a servant with a red velvet pillow, a cloth was covering something that laid on the pillow. Charles slowly revealed an Opal Diamond necklace, it sparkled under the candle lit chandeliers that illuminated the grand ballroom. Luella's pupils fixated on the shiny, pastel stone, the many colors on the diamond looked as if it was reflected onto the stone through a glass of water. It was beautiful. 

The princess turned around hastily and waited for her father to place the necklace around her neck. The cold metal touched her pale skin as it finally drooped high on her chest signaling to her the piece of jewelry was secured. 

"Thank you, father it's beautiful." Luella said to Charles while admiring the stone she was turning over in her hands. The crowd cheered once more, the princess returning back to her throne. King Charles continued to babble on, something else about Rubaros but Luella blocked the noise out, only focusing on her new present. 

*      *      *

A fun but tiring night it was for the princess, the king allowed Luella to dance for the remainder of the night, unfortunately, not with Phillip but it was still enjoyable. She twirled and swayed with almost every gentleman at the ball and luckily she never had to wait too long to be invited to another dance, she is the princess after all. Yet, she couldn't take her mind off Phillip, Luella caught glimpses of him on the dance floor. Half happy he finally wasn't awkwardly standing around, half jealous he wasn't awkwardly standing around because of another woman. But if she were to steal him away even after they'd already had danced would be very rude, not that she necessarily cared but she didn't want to be scolded by Oliver later. 

Luella laid on her bed, her belly full and her feet aching. It was a wonderful feeling. She kept dreaming about Phillip when a knock on her door cut into her fantasy. 

"Who is it?" 

"Oliver."

"Come in." The tall guardsmen opens the door and stands just outside her room respectively. "You know when I said come in I meant you could come in." Luella says. 

"Thank you, but no thank you. I just came to check in on you and see if you're doing well." Oliver stated. The princess rolled her eyes and scoffed, the guard made a face of disapproval. 

"Sorry." Luella apologized, "But if you really wanted to check in on me then you would sit down and have a proper chat." She said motioning to a luxury chair draped with a soft velvety blanket. 

"It wouldn't be appropriate for us to be alone together." 

"You're my guard, we're alone together all the time."

"I meant inside your room."

"You wouldn't do anything to me anyways."

"That is beside the point, it's very much frowned upon for a grown man-"

"To be alone with a grown woman?"

Oliver let out a huff of air through his nose as if he were laughing. "You've just turned nineteen today, you're hardly a 'grown woman'." Luella crossed her arms and pouted. "Thank you, for further proving my point." He said. 

"Well, if you must know I was having a wonderful night until you knocked on my door." The princess sassed still pouting.

 "That's very rude of you to stay especially since I'm  the reason you had such a wonderful night." The guardsmen's posture began to relax as their playful banter continued. 

"Please, I would have been able to dance with Phillip even if you hadn't let me leave my throne." Luella said standing up and walking towards Oliver.

 "Phillip?" He teased. Luella's cheeks turned a light pink, she held the knob to her bedroom door. 

"Since no one is in my room having a proper conversation with me, I'll be closing this door now." She said snarkily. 

She quickly went to shut the door but stopped right before it was fully closed and peaked from out of the slim opening. "Thank you, for letting me dance." She said with a smile. 

Oliver grinned back with a small nod. "Of course. Good night, your highness." 

"Good night." Luella returned and closed the door.