The Duke’s Daughter is an Assassin

On the night of a festival, a big fire occured at one of the noble’s house. Many people witnessed how the flame engulf the mansion and turned it into ash. No one heard a scream nor saw someone come out of the mansion. As the people filled with curiosity began to gather, the knights of the Duke Vermillion came and started dispersing the crowd. Soon enough everyone was sent to their homes and the knights started to investigate the fire. The mages started to put out the fire for the knights to easily approach the burning mansion. It took the mages almost an hour to totally put out the fire and made it safe for the knights move. “Look over there!” a knight wearing a black cape shouted as he points toward a direction opposite theirs. “What is it?” asked another knight trying to figure out the silhouete at a distance. As the knights hesitate to move forward the shadow, Duke Vermillion started to walk towards it. He is followed by his right hand man and most trusted knight, Sir Alister. The two gentlemen is taken aback by the sight they see when they reached the shadow. It was a girl, probably at the age of 13. The girl is standing in the middle of the rubble and ashes of the mansion. She is staring at the night sky blankly, not moving an inch even though two people are already in front of her. She is covered with blood and bruises. Holding a knife on one hand and an ice spear on the other. The Duke figured out instantly that this child was the cause of the fire. “Every one stay back!” he ordered the others. He waited for the others to get to a safe distance before he approached the girl. Seeing how the girl survives the fire at the ice spear she is holding in her hands, there is no doubt that the child is a magic weilder like the duke and the mages. What the Duke can see is that the child resembles the famous assassin in the empire. Ash blonde hair, lifeless clear blue eyes, fair skin, magic emmanating from the body - all fit to the famous assassin. All the more reason to believe that this child and the famous assassin is the same person. The child wears a blood soaked dress and her hands are also covered with blood. There are also burnt corpses around the child and the place where the Duke is standing. Weak hearted people will not stand the sight they are in especially the burnt smell of flesh and the smell of blood that lingers in the air. “Child, why are you here?” the Duke asked, hoping for a response. Silence. The child is like an empty shell. It seems like all the life in that tiny body was sucked out. “Be carefull!” shouted Sir Alister as the Duke slowly stepped closer to the child. The Duke is only three steps away from the child when suddenly ice started to form and slowly covering the child’s body. He immediately casted fire magic to negate the effects of the child’s magic. With this he realized that the child is not trying to hurt anyone anymore and she is just trying to end her life. A thought suddenly come across the Duke’s mind. “This child can be usefull.” The Duke saved the child, not because he is a saint or out of his good will but because of her use for the future. “Have you lost your purpose?” the Duke ask the child knowing that he will not get a response. “Then, i will give you one. Live. Live with me and be my child.” the Duke said, loud enough for his knights to hear. If anyone can see the knights, they might burst out of laughter. All of their jaws dropped after hearing the Duke said those words. No one would have possibly believed and imagined that the Duke would take the girl as his daughter. Though many women aspire to be the Duke’s lover, no one is lucky enough to catch his eyes. He is one of the most eligible bachelors in the kingdom. He may be blessed with looks that of a God, silver shiny hair, dark red eyes, sculptured like body, wealth and power, but still alone in this life. The Duke is known to this as well as being the most powerful magic wielded in the empire. Since the child seem to hear what the Duke says, she tilted her head and look at the Duke’s eyes. The Duke reached out his hand. Patiently waiting for the child to reach out hers. All the knights were shocked and in awe with the scene. It’s like a God reaching out to his abandoned and pitiful child. What shocked them the most was when the child starts to cry. A silent cry. Tears started to roll down the child’s cheeks. Without a single sound, the child let out her tears which she was holding back for 6 years. Slowly the child reached out her hand. This is the second time. The second time someone reached out to help her in the depts of despair. “Come my child. We are going home.” the Duke said while intently looking at her eyes. The crying child slowly stepped forward to the Duke. However, due to exhaustion, it seems like strenght left her legs. Before the child falls, the Duke quickly catches her. He carried the child and started marching towards the knights. It was his second time carrying a child. This feeling is still new to him. In an instant, the child is asleep. She is sound asleep feeling that she is in the safest place in the world. The Duke keeps marching towards his carriage, followed by Sir Alister. “Are you sure about this?”. asked Sir Alister after mustering up all his courage to ask the Duke. “Of course. This child will be of great use.” the Duke replied while still holding the child as he sits down in the carriage. “I will prepare the necessary procedures.” Sir Alister said knowing that no one can change the Duke’s mind. A child is saved from the sea of fire in the middle of the festival night. One of the most powerful Ducal house decided to take in the child as the daughter of the Duke. What will happen when the child wakes up? What future can there be for a child who wishes to die.