"It's a simple question, the first one that is."
Emerelda rolls her eyes, "Well, get on with it."
He turned serious, his face all cold, "Why did you run away?"
She looks away, "I have a goal."
"What is it?' He quietly asks.
"That, I cannot say." She looks back at his gold eyes, they were a deep molten honey. "I don't know you're intentions."
"No," he narrowed his eyes at her, "My intentions are simply trying to find out why the heir of Garlin is talking a walk in the city at night, alone."
She swallowed, and waited. Growing up she had learnt that when a person lies they could not resist thinking the thought of truth right away. Yet, as both of them watched each other eye to eye, she heard nothing. Either he was telling the truth, or was a genius.
"Well?" he urges, "If you think I would drag you back to the palace and reveal all you're secrets, you are wrong. I have no interest in royal drama."
She scoffs, "Says the man asking the questions."
He shrugs, "I've got boredom and curiosity."
"The very two awful combination,"
"I can only agree."
Silence. He waited arms crossed on his chest. She stared trying to figure out what lie she could come up with. But no, there was no point. Why does it matter if he knew? She was enjoying the little game.
"I was trying to seek someone." She finally said.
He raised an eyebrow, "Really? And you don't think you would go unnoticed once the sun comes up?"
She frowns, "Whatever do you mean?"
He waved a hand, "I'm sure you cut your hair and replaced your gowns to the clothing of a male servant." He nods to the window, "It's only the matter of hour before the kingdom finds out you have disappeared."
Emerelda hid her smile, "That won't happen, I assure you."
He tilts his head, "Oh? My, you left prepared. Or…" he smiles, "Almost most of the high status knows where you're off too."
Emerelda huffed, "Are you done with the questions?"
He raised a finger, "Just one left."
"Three questions, how humble of you,"
His smile grew into a smirk, "And who are you out to seek?"
A moment of heartbeat, then, "The assassin,"
The new stranger blinks, then he burst into laughter, "The assassin?"
She found this frustrating, "Yes. Both me and you know exactly who I'm talking about."
"Yes, yes, the stories weave through the city like wild fire. Hard not to know especially since on every paper you'd see the name bold on the title." He grins, "And what would you do once you found the assassin?"
Without hesitation, she replies seriously, "Kill them."
Without hesitation, he laughed louder. Emerelda got very annoyed. "Why are you laughing?" she demands.
He wipes a fake tear, "Oh, you can't be serious." She didn't say anything, "You are? This is very amusing indeed."
She stood up abruptly, the chair falling behind her, "You think this is some amusing joke to you?"
His grin grew, "Why yes. Have you not heard my laughter?"
"I'll have you know," she points a finger at him, "That I am serious. I would kill the assassin."
He raised his eyebrows mockingly, "How?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"How are you going to do it? Last time I checked you were surrounded with four drunken men."
"And you're point?" She forces out.
"You said you wanted to kill the assassin, correct?" He taps his fingers on the table, "And how do you plan that if you can't fight? Need I to remind you? The assassin is tenfold of all those men put together, without the intoxication of course."
She couldn't help and laugh, "So you think I'm just a small, stupid, helpless maiden."
"Yes, with absolutely no strength."
She shook her head, a large smile on her lips, "I'm not a fool. I learnt the ways of the Midnight Assassin by reading every report after its victim."
He looked amused, "Ah, you've been studying. How reliving to find out that the princess of Garlin is reading the reports of the greatest assassin in the city of Garlin. Though," He rubbed his jaw, "You mention to kill, with zero skills you have. You and I both know you won't survive to even strike the Midnight Assassin. You're life would flash in the gleam of the Assassin's eyes, ending right there and then. The only reason you sacrificed your comfort living was because of revenge. You want to avenge a death that means to you dearly. A death you truly love to make you kill a master mind murderer, despite knowing you'd die."
"No," she said.
He went on, "Oh yes. And I assume you have no plan, just walking around hearing the minds of citizens perhaps?"
"No."
"A fool really, you don't think the greatest assassin would be stupid? Not everyone is like you Princess, naïve."
"I am not naïve!" She yells, "You take me as a fool but you are wrong. I am not throwing my life away to the wolves. The assassin is a 'mastermind', but I am much smarter."
"Enlighten me."
"The assassin obviously has a gift. One could not kill their prey and disappear without a single witness."
"You'd be surprised."
She ignored that and continued, "He has the gift of speed. The Midnight Assassin is named that simply because they strike at midnight. They are known with their signature kill-"
"A slit on their throat," He murmurs.
"Exactly, meaning they use a sword for the job." She starts unbuttoning her cloak, "So you see, although I don't have a clue on how this assassin looks like, their style of kill is very familiar; speed, a long sword, and a slit on the throat to finish the task given." The cloak fell to the ground, and his eyes widen.
"You think I am a fool Emmett Jackson? Or should I say the Midnight Assassin?"