Delilah's expression shifted, guarded but composed. "I'm not the future princess, and the guards will come if you don't leave."
"Guards?" Vin smirked. "They're as silent as the night itself. Trust me, I'd know if they were coming." He stepped closer, his movements slow and unthreatening. "I just wanted to satisfy my curiosity. Now that I have, I'll leave—unless you'd like to chat."
Delilah pressed her lips into a thin line, a frown forming on her face. "I don't even know who you are."
Vin approached her, removing the black leather glove on his right hand. He tilted her chin up with his bare fingers. "Now, now, don't frown that pretty face of yours, princess."
Delilah froze, her cheeks flushing. "As I said, I'm not the future princess!" She turned her head away from him, avoiding his gaze.
"Oh, I didn't mean that. You're *my* princess, not anyone else's—not even the Prince's." He cupped her cheeks, gently squishing them. "Look at me, will you, Princess?"
Delilah reacted immediately. "Oww! That kind of hurt, you little—" She had no choice but to meet his gaze. His hood still concealed part of his face, but his red eyes shone clearly, staring softly at her. "Omh!" Without thinking, she bit the hand that had touched her cheeks.
"Yowch! You're a feisty one, aren't you, Princess?" He pulled his hand back, clutching it tightly. He noticed the mix of saliva and a tiny amount of blood on her lips from the bite. Slowly, he reached out and wiped the blood away with his thumb, cleaning the mess.
Delilah sat there, stunned, watching as the stranger casually touched her lips. "Who... are you? Do you know me?" she asked, tilting her head slightly as he finished.
'Vin' let out a small smirk and cover his mouth with his hands "How cute.." he murmured.
Delilah frowned, unable to decipher what he just said.
He squatted down in front of her with a relaxed composure. "Would you believe me if I said I was a villain who stumbled upon you while you were sleeping? Oh, and I'm not a stalker, by the way." His red eyes gleamed as he looked at her.
"A villain...? Like... 'Vin'?" she asked in a voice just above a whisper.
"Maybe. Would you still believe me—or even talk to me?" 'Vin' smirked at the sight of her hesitant, wide-eyed expression.
"No. He killed so many people—unless you're a villain with valid reasons," Delilah said, shaking her head and clutching the fabric of her nightgown.
"What if he have his own valid reasons? What if he was killing those who had wronged others, but people misunderstood him?" He raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing yet curious.
"Then... I might believe him. But there's always a chance he's faking it," she replied, looking away, unsure of whether she wanted to believe his words.
"What's the point of faking it when no one is there to believe him?" He chuckled softly, pulling down his hood and standing tall before her. His dark purple hair and crimson eyes gleamed in the dim light. "Pfft… So, will you still consider being my first friend, Delilah?"
Delilah stared at him, her gaze tracing his broad shoulders, his leather harness holding a small dagger, and his belt laden with strange, unexplainable items..perhaps it was poisoned weapons. His cloak was dark and shrouded him in mystery. When she heard her name slip from his mouth, her eyes snapped back to his face.
"I never told you my name, did I?"
"I have my ways, Princess. Now, are you going to answer my question? Don't leave me hanging." 'Vin' chuckled.
"I'd rather leave you hanging there," Delilah smirked, attempting to look brave. "Why? Can't take a joke?" She peeked at 'Vin' who now stared at the ground.
Suddenly, 'Vin' grabbed both her arms and pushed her back into the chair. The sudden movement drew a gasp from her lips as he leaned in, so close she could feel the coldness of his breath. His grip tightened, and though his touch was ice cold, his gaze radiated warmth.
"Maybe you're right... I can't take a joke," 'Vin' said in a low voice. "But whether we're friends or not, I'll come back to you, okay?" He released her arms and stepped back.
Turning away, he smiled softly over his shoulder. "The next time you see me... call me Velias. Whichever you prefer. See you soon, Princess." With that, he disappeared into the shadows.
Delilah sat frozen, her heart racing. Her hands instinctively touched the spots on her arms where his grip had been. "Velias..." she whispered, the names tumbling from her lips.
Shaking her head, she brushed the thoughts of him away and walked to her bed. The soft silk pillows and warm blankets were a welcome comfort. She let herself fall into them but bolted upright a moment later.
She rushed to her study table, fumbling through a stack of notes. "Oh no… Tomorrow night is the Crown Prince's monthly ball." She groaned in frustration, then laughed bitterly to herself. "Hah..What a perfect week! I wonder if the kingdom is so rich that they can hold these balls every month…"
Smiling through her annoyance, she wandered back to her bed.
*I don't want to see Arthur…*
Her thoughts drifted, unbidden, to Velias—
Maybe… just maybe… he'll be there.
.
.
.