"Akira, what the hell is going on in your mind?!" Nilingon ko si Cepheus na halatang naggugulumihanan sa mga sinabi ko. "I don't understand why you suddenly want to do this! Have you been brainwashed by Grand Prince Remus?"

"Why? What's the problem with it? Don't you want to execute this plan with me?" Pinagtaasan ko siya ng isang kilay bago humalukipkip. "Akala ko ba it's you and me against the world, Ceph?"

Napasinghap siya sa sinabi ko. His expression was filled with doubt and uncertainty. "Do we really have to comply with his plan? Is there no other way around this? This feels so wrong! Besides, hindi siya ordinaryong target lang, Akira! Did you even think through this plan?"

I smirked at his response. "Why not? You know that I am only doing this for the sake of our beloved Camp Asteres. And why shouldn't we follow his orders? Nakalimutan mo na bang ako ang nag-iisang anak ni Grand Prince Remus? I am the sole heiress to the throne, and this is my best opportunity to prove my worthiness."

He immediately frowned at my words. "Haven't we agreed to support the secret organization's goals when we joined forces with them? This plan is foolish and completely contradicts what they stand for! Why do you suddenly want to burn bridges with them?"

"Ceph..." I said, trailing off and placing a gentle hand on his broad shoulder. "Did you, perhaps, forgotten that you were a citizen of Asteres first before you became a member of Callix Sage's organization?"

Napansin ko ang bahagyang pag-igting ng kanyang panga ngunit nanatiling tikom ang kanyang bibig. I walked closer to my father's throne and ran my fingers over its intricate details. As I felt his cold gaze following me, I turned to face him. "To whom do you truly serve, Cepheus? Are you choosing to work for the Grand Princess of Nephos, or... are you working for me, Akira Cassiopeia Gray, the next Grand Princess of Asteres?"

Cepheus immediately knelt on one knee and bowed his head before me. "I only belong to you, Princess Akira..." I could sense his unwavering loyalty towards me.

"Good." With a slight smile on my lips, I gazed around the vast hall of the Asteres palace and slowly made my way towards the throne of my father. Sitting on the throne, crossing my legs comfortably, I looked at Cepheus sternly. "Always remember that I only belong to Asteres and I would never bow my head to anyone. I hope you stop questioning my decisions for the land of the unseen from now on, my dear Cepheus."

Umangat ang kanyang ulo kaya muling nagtama ang tingin naming dalawa. I could see the confusion and concern on his face, but I remained composed. I tried to hide my wicked smile by playing with my lips using my index finger as I sat comfortably on my father's throne. "From what I am seeing right now, I believe the reason why you are hesitant to join me in pushing through this dangerous plan is that you've already had a change of heart after joining the secret organization," I said, carefully observing Cepheus' expression for any sign of agreement or disagreement.

"I'm not hesitant, Akira," mariing pagtanggi ni Cepheus. "I'm just confused as to why you are suddenly acting like this. Noong una ay hindi ako makapaniwala na sumang-ayon ka sa layunin ng organisasyon ni Prince Callix, and now you're telling me you suddenly want to oppose it? I don't understand what's going on in your mind!"

I raised a brow and crossed my arms. "What's hard to comprehend about my sudden change of plans, Ceph? Baka nalimutan mo na kung sino talaga tayo? Aren't we supposed to be the villains of Kingdom Galaxias? Isn't it time we stopped pretending to be the heroes of this kingdom?"

As he slowly got up from kneeling, he eyed me suspiciously. "Have you been plotting this all along, even before we joined hands with the organization, Akira?" hindi makapaniwalang sambit niya.

I let out a small chuckle as I rose from the throne. "Ngayon mo lang na-realize? Did you really think I would go that far and let Camp Asteres fall apart?" I slowly walked towards him, and when I was close enough, I lifted his chin with my index finger. "I may have joined that stupid organization, but I am still my father's daughter, Cepheus Anders."

Iniwas niya ang kanyang mukha mula sa kamay ko bago bahagyang umatras at tumalikod sa akin. "No matter what you choose, you know that I will always support you, Akira. Just let me know when we will proceed with the plan," malamig na aniya bago naglakad palabas ng palasyo at hindi na ako muling nilingon pa.

Marahan kong ipinikit ang aking mga mata at hinilot ang sentido. Ugh! This stubborn man and his damn principles!

"Akira, the forest surrounding the Galaxias palace has been cleared. Shall we proceed to the back entrance?"

I slowly opened my eyes and met Cepheus' pair of blood-red eyes. Isinuot ko ang nakababang face mask at inilabas ang aking revolver. Agad akong tumango at sinenyasan ang iba pang assassins na maghiwa-hiwalay pagpasok namin sa sikretong entrada ng palasyo upang magmanman habang isinasagawa ko ang plano.

Using my binoculars, I observed the window of the room that we are planning to infiltrate. Nang makitang patay na ang ilaw nito ay napaghinuha kong maaaring tulog na ang aming pangunahing target. After all, we had planned to infiltrate the Galaxias palace in the middle of the night and timed it perfectly when the royal guards were changing their shifts.

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ni Cepheus at tumango sa isa't isa na tila ba nagkakaintindihan. We moved quickly, climbing up to the second floor of the palace quietly and making sure not to make any noise or raw attention to ourselves. Nang makarating sa tapat ng pinto ng silid ay agad akong naghanda sa pagpasok, ngunit bago ko pa man mapihit ang door knob ay nagulat ako nang biglang hawakan ni Cepheus ang aking pala-pulsuhan.

Ibinaba ko ang suot na face mask at tinitigan siya nang matalim. "What's wrong with you, Cepheus?!" I mouthed angrily.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked me, looking concerned.

I glared at him. "Look, if you don't want to help me, then get lost!" nauubos ang pasensyang singhal ko sa kanya bago iritadong kinalas ang pagkakahawak niya sa akin. "I can do this alone. Leave!"

Itinaas ko muli ang aking face mask at tinalikuran siya bago sinuot ang bitbit kong gas mask. Nilabas ko ang dalang smoke bomb at walang pag-aalinlangang ibinato ito sa silid pagkapihit pabukas ng pinto. Isa-isa kong ipinasok ang bala sa aking revolver habang hinahanap ang aking primary target sa loob ng silid.

I sensed a small movement from across the room, and immediately my guard was up. "Si-sino 'yan?!" tanong niya. Natunugan ko agad ang panghihina sa kanyang boses habang umuubo dahil sa tindi ng usok.

Agad nahanap ng aking paningin kung saan nagmumula ang boses na iyon kaya naman walang pag-aalinlangan akong naglakad palapit sa kinaroroonan niya. I approached the target cautiously, planning a surprise attack. Nang maaninag ang kanyang mukha ay nakumpirma kong siya nga ang target ng aming plano. "Target found," I whispered into my earpiece, signaling my fellow assassins surrounding the Galaxias palace right now to wait for further instructions.

Dahan-dahan akong naglakad papalapit sa target at kinasa ang aking revolver. "Well, well, well..." panimula ko na siyang kumuha sa kanyang atensyon bagama't hindi niya ako nakikita dahil sa kapal ng usok. "If it isn't the king of Galaxias and my beloved grandfather, King Sherbet."

"A-Akira?" Nang marinig kong sambitin niya ang pangalan ko ay walang pag-aalinlangan kong itinabon sa kanyang ilong at bibig ang panyong may taglay na kemikal na nakuha ko mula sa mundo ng mga manna.

"I'm sorry it had to be this way, Lolo," I said coldly as I placed the muzzle of my revolver against his left temple. As soon as I saw him lose consciousness, I leaned in closer to his ear. "As a good granddaughter, I won't let you feel the pain of dying at least." Without hesitation, I pulled the trigger, the sound echoing throughout the room.

"Target dead, mission complete. Prepare for departure in 5 minutes," I calmly said as I looked at the lifeless body of the king, who I had placed on his throne in the middle of the vast hall of the Galaxias palace.

Tinanggal ko ang suot na face mask at yumuko upang magbigay-pugay sa hari sa huling pagkakataon. "May your soul rest in peace, King Sherbet of Galaxias. I hope you can still forgive your beloved granddaughter for all her sins."