t w o

"You are telling me that you must kill the crowned prince?" Gareth hissed as he dragged Gisella through the Marketplaza, her arm wrapped tightly around the bend of his own arm.

The Marketplaza was an area within the kingdom where the villagers set up small shops and sell goods to gain silver, or on rare occasions, gold. Most of the villagers lived in their shops, some afraid that someone will steal something when no one is there.

"It is what Morgan said I must do," Gisella hissed back as she was pulled along roughly, people bumping into her injured shoulder as they went, however, Gisella did not cry out in pain but merely bit her bottom lip to keep herself from doing so.

"And you really think you are going to get away with it," Gareth laughed humorlessly as they made their way towards Morgan's shop.

"Morgan never said I had to come out alive," Gisella said softly, "Only that I must kill the crowned prince."

"Even if that means getting yourself killed in the process?" Gareth snapped, his eyes blazing with anger as they came upon Morgan's shop. "You know Gwen would disapprove," he said before throwing the curtain to the side. The two stepped into the small hut where the dark skinned man was standing at the opening window, serving bread to customers in exchange for silver.

"How dare you send Gisella on such a dangerous mission?" Gareth demanded.

Morgan ignored the young man and continued with his trade with the woman. When she left, Morgan drew the curtain in front of the window before he turned to face the two young assassins. "It is her duty, live up to the honor with which her parents once served."

"She shouldn't have to honor her parents by getting herself killed," Gareth snapped, pushing Gisella down onto the floor to sit. The brunette started pacing back and forth, giving Gisella a headache the longer she watched him, so she turned her gaze away. "It is an impossible mission."

"Not impossible," Morgan mused as he watched the young man pace back and forth. "Hard indeed, but not impossible."

"It will be nearly impossible for her to get out alive," Gareth seethed through clenched teeth. "And how do you suppose she even get into the kingdom, it is heavily guarded."

"Women are not thought to be deadly creatures such as assassins so she will not be a suspect in the killing of the prince for she, while being a woman, is also a practically homeless orphan girl," Morgan explained, his gaze flickering between Gisella and Gareth. "There will be a ball tonight, where the Prince will be looking for someone to be his Princess. Every eligible lady of the kingdom is invited, meaning Gisella will have easy access with entrance."

"So there is a possibility she will make it out alive, yes?" Gareth asked, his eyes shining with hope. It warmed Gisella heart to know that he cared deeply about her and her safety.

"If all goes well, then yes," Morgan said, causing Gareth to blow out a relieved breath. However, his next words struck the both of them. "However if she fails to kill him in any way, the revolution will have no choice but to kill her themselves."

"What?" It was Gisella's turn to speak as she shot up from her sitting place. "This was never part of the arrangement. You said if I failed, death was a guarantee, but I thought you meant by the royal family, not my own people."

"Maybe you should ask more questions and listen more young Weilder." With that, Morgan turned around and re-opened his shop.

Never once in her seventeen years of existence did Gisella imagine herself attending a Royal Ball held by the royal family within the confines of the castle. Never once had Gisella ever imagined that she would step even a toe within the grounds. But here she was, arm in arm with her closest friend.

Nikolett Reeves was considered a 'proper lady'. She was born to a nobleman and his mistress and she lived much more lavishly than what Gisella was use to. Her dress was beautiful and looked brand new. It was a rather puffy ball gown, pink in color. Roses lined the neckline and the bottom of the dress. Her feet were clad in white heels, which looked like death machine's to Gisella. On a normal day and in flats, Nikolett naturally towered over Gisella, but since the latter had refused to wear heels, the former was like giant. Nikolett's dirty blonde hair was pulled up into two braids which lead into a tight bun.

Gisella felt she paled in comparison to her dear friend. Her dress which still slightly puff, was no where near as puff as Nikolett's dress. Her own dress was light purple in color, with flowers looking pieces stitched into the waist of the dress. Her own blonde hair was pulled into a slightly looser bun, strands of her hair framing her face.

The castle was illuminated with brightly lit torches and Gisella could feel her heart pounding in her throat, the rhythmic beat doing nothing to calm her nerves. She wanted so badly to wipe the palms of her sweaty hands on her dress, but she could not, for the dress was her mother's and she didn't wish to ruin it.

"Is this not exciting?" Nikolett exclaimed, her bright blue eyes gazing all around the massive foyer. "Oh Gisella, can you believe we were invited to a royal ball," Nikolett exclaimed dreamily, her arm still holding onto Gisella's arm tightly. "And to think, the Prince will find himself a bride tonight. Maybe he will chose a common girl, like I."

"Doubtful," Gisella scoffed with a shake of her head. "The King and Queen would never let their son, let alone their heir to the throne, marry a common girl from Piriza, goodness, they may not even allow him to marry a common girl from Colalum, Conterna, or even Reignor. My, they may even have a bride already picked out and he may not even have a choice."

"Such a pessimist, dearest Gisella, you mustn't think like that," Nikolett scolded in the most motherly tone she could muster. "You are much too beautiful to be such a pessimist. If anything, you look like a royal and, my, I'm sure you could pass as one."

"Me? A royal?" Gisella mused, her eyes twinkling playfully. "Only in dreams. You are much too kind, my dear Nikolett."

"And you are much too modest, dear Gisella," Nikolett retorted with a mischievous smile, her bright eyes twinkling in the dimming light as they reach the ballroom. Inside, people were dancing, twirling to the soft music. As Gisella's eyes swept the room, they came to rest on the raised platform where the royal family sat in their thrones.

The two biggest thrones were reserved for the King and Queen. The King was a large man with dark brown hair with gray streaks and a brown beard. His dark brown eyes twinkled with happiness as he watched his people dance. Gisella was unsure what it was about him that made the revolutionists so angry, but whatever it was, Gisella knew better than to ask question. 

The Queen was a stern-faced lady with pin straight black hair and stormy green eyes. She wore a slim white dress with a rather revealing neckline. She was the late wife to the king and unlike her husband, Gisella could see why the revolutionists hated her. She liked to take control and she was manipulative, everyone in the kingdom knew that.

Next to the Queen was the throne for the Queen of Conterna, Queen Alarena, elder sister to Prince Alexander. She sat straight in her chair, her soft brown hair pulled into a braid. Her dress was a soft blue color with beaded embroidery around the neckline and ruffles along the bottom. Her face was bare of emotions as she watched everyone. Gisella wondered where her husband, the king of Conterna, was at such a time.

On either side of the four main royals were the much younger children, children of the late Queen and half siblings to Prince Alexander and Queen Alarena. 

Princess Marcella was stepping off the raised platform wearing a beautiful white gown with silver stitching on the bottom in the shape of a flower. Her raven colored hair was pulled into a bun, messily at that, and her soft green eyes glowed with happiness as she held the Prince of Reignor's hand as he led her off towards the dance floor.

Prince William and Prince Calum, the two twins stood behind their mother in matching blue suits, their shaggy brown hair and matching green eyes watching coldly out into the crowd. Of all the children, the twin terrified Gisella the most, something about them making her skin crawl.

Princess Azlyn, the youngest of all the royal siblings, stood next to Alarena's throne wearing a small pink gown, her brown hair pulled into a small bun. She giggled at her elder sister's words, whispered into her ear.

The Prince, heir to the throne, was nowhere to be seen and Gisella silently cursed under her breath as she untangled her arm from Nikolett's, excusing herself from the girl who was giggling with a man who seemed much older than her.

 "Gisella, where must you be going?" Nikolett called after her, but Gisella merely ignore her as she pushed past groups of people, her mind set on one person. When she bumped into a hard body, Gisella recoiled and stumbled backwards, however before she fell, someone caught her wrist and pulled her tight against their body.   

Flustered, Gisella looked up into the eyes of Prince Alexander. The maiden pulled away sharply, causing herself to bump into a few guest behind her. Blinking rapidly, Gisella found herself sputtering the foul words she had come to hate so much, "Your Majesty." The blonde found herself cringing at the way she sounded, breathless and lost. She dipped low, flaring her dress out the way she had been taught to when in the presence of a royal.

Prince Alexander bowed his head, his dark brown hair falling over his stunning leaf green eyes. "And you must be?" The Prince inquired curiously, looking Gisella up and down.

"Gisella Weldier," she spoke quietly, her gaze directed towards the Prince's clean shoes. She hated acting as though she was the dirt underneath his shoes, but really, she was just that, a poor orphaned girl helping to take care of her so-called family. "I am a commoner of this region."

The Prince nodded, but before he could say anything, screams erupted from across the ballroom, snagging both of their attention. A young girl, merely in her twenties, was supporting a man with balding hair, the side of his white dress coat stained with red. Gisella's eyes widened and she looked around frantically for the assassin that had snuck in.

Gisella had not expected for there to be other assassins within the kingdom. She had believed it would be just her, however, she knew that the chances of Morgan sending her off alone were slim. That man's death was probably a warning for Gisella to hurry up her mission. Another scream erupted, this time further away, a girl falling to the floor as blood pooled around her.

"Assassins," the prince hissed under his breath, his gaze turning towards where his family was located.

The royal family was being rushed off their platform, probably to a safe room where they will be kept until the castle has been cleared out. Gisella felt a warm hand envelop hers and she looked up in surprise at the Prince as he started to drag her down the hall.

The maiden stumbled after the Prince but after a few seconds, she was knocked down, a hard body on top of hers. A terrified Gisella looked up into ice blue eyes, the rest of his face hidden behind a mask. A scream tore through Gisella's throat as a blade dug into her side and the man hissed the word "Traitor," into her ear.

Traitor? She was no traitor to the revolution. However, she realized how her situation must look, the prince dragging her away to safety.

Gisella fumbled with her shoe for a moment, but she managed to pull out the blade that Morgan had given her, which she had tucked safely into the underneath of her flat. Thrusting the blade upwards, Gisella made contact with the man's shoulder before pulling the blade back out and kicking with her foot, causing the man to fall backwards.

Gisella felt the Prince help her up and together, with him holding up most of her weight, they made it to a flight of stairs where a few servants ushered them downwards. Stumbling, Gisella held on tightly to the Prince until they came to a door, where yet another servant opened the large steel door and pushed them inside.

Once inside the safe room, Gisella collapsed in on herself, falling to her knees on the floor, her hand was blood soaked with her own blood, the blade still tightly clasped in her hand. Her mother's old dress was stained, useless and ugly now.

"Why have you brought this girl in?" The Queen screeched, raising herself out of her chair as she made an attempt to grab at Gisella.

Alexander grabbed Gisella's arm and pulled her roughly away from the late queen. "She brought no harm to me, Marnia. She killed one of the assassins."

"Did she now?" The King asked from his place, still sitting with his eyes focused on the maiden, still crouched on the floor in a dress soaked in her own blood. "What is your name, little lady?"

"Gisella Weldier," the blonde grimaced as she spoke, putting a hand to her wound. She was bleeding, but not heavily, just heavy enough to make her feel faint. Her head was pounded and the bright lights of the safe room and the loud voice of the queen was not helping.

"Weldier," The King repeated, stroking his beard in thought. "Where have I heard that name from?"

"Charles," Marnia spoke, her face as pale as a sheet. In her hand was Gisella's blade, which she had dropped when Alexander pulled her back. The queen approached her husband before handing him the blade, which he inspected closely.

"Ah, Magna and Lumen Weldier," Charles spoke, causing Gisella's dull brown eyes to snap up to his, curiosity sparking in her at how he of all people, knew her parents.

"Your parents, I presume?" Charles spoke, to which Gisella nodded. "Well, they were brilliant people, I will give them that. But they were dishonest and disloyal citizens of Piriza. Assassins who killed my dear love, Penelope. They were killed for their crimes."

A gasp left Gisella's parted lips. She hadn't ever found out the reason for her parents death, however she had always assumed they were killed during a mission.. Gareth had always told her that they had died when she was young but he had never told her that they had killed the early queen, Alarena and Alexander's mother.

"The young girl must be thrown in the dungeon," Marnia exclaimed and when Alexander went to protest, she cut him off. "She is an assassin, much like her parents. I bet she has come to kill you Alexander."

"No, I would never," Gisella lied, pushing herself into a sitting position at Alexander's feet. All Gisella cared about was saving her own skin and not ending up like her parents. "I knew not that my parents were killers, especially of the dear queen. My parents were killed before my one year celebration."

"Father, we cannot kill the poor girl," Alarena stated, taking a step towards her father, who looked up at his eldest child with a fondness that Gisella had never known possible.

The king sighed and turned his attention towards the girl on the ground. "Do you have any siblings, dear Gisella?"

"Five," Gisella said. "Three elder and two younger."

"How do you have two younger if your parents were deceased by your first celebration," Marnia accused, glaring daggers at Gisella.

"My little siblings, Gale and Gally, are not really in any relation to me, nor are my elder siblings, Gareth, Ginny, and Gwen. When my parents never came home, my neighbors, the Clutons, took me in to be one of their own."

The king nodded and handed the dagger over to his daughter, who took it in her hands, careful not to get any of the blood on her. "How old are you, my dear?"

"My eighteenth celebration will be in one week," Gisella stated, leaning her back against Alexander's legs. The prince didn't seem to mind that she was using him to keep her upright.

The king nodded. "The king and queen of Conterna have recently passed and their eldest, dear Alarena's husband, has taken over the throne. His sister, her eighteenth celebration recently passed, has been deceased for many years. We shall work something out with the new king, since Conterna owe us many favors, and we will announce you as the long lost Princess of Conterna and you shall be hereby engaged to my eldest son, Alexander."

Before either of them could say anything, the king continued. "And since you are a Weilder, I guess you have connections to those revolutionists," Gisella hung her head in shame. "To spare you life, you will spy on them for us and report back with everything you learn, understand?"

Marnia gasped, her eyes fuming with rage. "You will allow the daughter of the assassins who killed Penelope to marry, dear Alexander. I thought we had talked about Princess Cornelia of Reignor being best fitted for Alexander to marry."

Charles grinned and shook his head. "I have changed my mind. Dear Gisella is an orphan and no one has any proof that she is the real daughter of the Weldier's. She has also been a common girl her entire life, which will appease to the common folk that she be the bride of of Prince."

The steel door opened and one of the servants came in, his head bowed. "Everyone has left and the castle has been clear, Sir."

"Good now, Alarena, please, help this girl to the infirmary."

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A/N:

Because this chapter is posted much later than I had intended for it to be, I made it a little bit longer. Please tell me how you guys are enjoying it, I would love to hear from you guys!

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