"Are you nervous, Princess?" I inquire as I notice her fidgeting with her gown, a telltale sign of her anxiety. We're nearing the kingdom, and her apprehension is palpable.

"Of course, Isaac. It's all so sudden—leaving home and meeting the man I'll soon marry," she confides.

"Please, Princess, try to stop fidgeting. It's becoming rather bothersome," I gently admonish, to which she pouts. Though I've known Princess Amelia for only three years, our bond is strong, and we've become good friends.

"Isaac! Don't speak to the princess like that!" Kyle scolds me, sensing my tone.

While they, too, are close to Princess Amelia, they maintain a respectful distance, mindful of their status. I, however, am less constrained, having lived a less regimented life.

At last, we reach the kingdom gates, where a vibrant red and gold carpet stretched from the entrance to the castle. The townsfolk had gathered, showering our carriage with flowers as a welcoming gesture to the princess. She graciously waved back, beaming at each citizen. As we approached the imposing castle, soldiers—more accurately, warriors—lined up in formation. Stepping down from the carriage, I assist Princess Amelia out of the carriage, while the others tend to the luggage. We're met by Prince Nikolai.

"Welcome, Princess Amelia," he greets with a smile, though I detect a hint of insincerity.

"Thank you, Prince Nikolai," she responds politely.

"Please accompany me inside the castle to meet the King and Queen," he invites, gesturing towards the imposing structure.

As we enter and proceed to the courtroom, I absorb the surroundings: the guards, the weaponry, the intricate interiors—all facets of the grand castle. Amidst it all, my gaze locks with a woman who regards me with a scrutinizing gaze. Recalling her presence behind the prince during our arrival, her warrior-like attire confirms my suspicion.

The prince's greeting ends our silent exchange. As he swings open the massive courtroom door, we step inside, feeling the weight of curious gazes upon us. A clear distinction emerges: they don silver armors, while we don darker attire, devoid of hoods and masks—hallmarks of our assassin's code, forbidding the revealing of our faces.

"The King welcomes Princess Amelia of Asterradia and her retinue," announced the Prince. The princess bows in acknowledgment and signals for us to follow suit.

"Please, raise your heads," the King requests.

"This is my father, King Claudius," Prince Nikolai introduces, "and my mother, Queen Beatrix."

"Greetings, Your Majesties," Princess Amelia addresses them respectfully. "It is an honor to be in your esteemed presence. We bring a token of gratitude from my father, the King, and my mother, the Queen, of Asterradia." Josie then presents a gift basket and places it on the table.

"Princess Amelia, your thoughtfulness is appreciated," King Claudius remarked. "Though I must admit, I didn't anticipate your companions."

"Forgive me, Your Majesty," Princess Amelia responded. "These are members of the royal family's retinue. This is Isaac, Josie, Leo, Mason, and Kyle. I request their presence as they have been invaluable in ensuring our safety during potential threats."

"Very well," the King acquiesced.

Truly, the King's concern seems fleeting, contingent upon his own interests. Suddenly, Prince Nikolai interjects.

"Princess Amelia, allow me to introduce you to the royal family's attendants," he announces, gesturing towards them. "This is Violet, Silver, Chris, and Julian." Each of them bows respectfully to Princess Amelia. "Violet also serves as our army leader, ensuring your safety," he adds. 

"Now that the introductions are complete, Princess Amelia and her entourage, please accompany Violet to your sleeping quarters," the King declares. "Rest well; tomorrow, we shall commemorate your arrival."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Princess Amelia responds, and we join her in a bow.

"Princess, if you would kindly follow me," Violet invites, approaching us.

Exiting the courtroom, we trail behind her, ascending to the third floor of the castle. The climb is arduous; Personally, I prefer navigating by leaping across rooftops or through the branches of trees, but we refrain from voicing our complaints. Despite our weariness, we remain on edge since our arrival in the kingdom. Meanwhile, what troubles me most is the familiar sound of the woman's voice, though I can't quite place where I've heard it before.

We make it to our rooms, adjacent to Princess Amelia's. It's reassuring to discover that Josie and the princess will share a room, while us boys will bunk together. Stepping into Princess Amelia's opulent chamber, we begin arranging her belongings.

"Please extend your hand," Violet requested, halting our movements. The princess complied, offering her hand to Violet, who fastened a gold bracelet adorned with a moon crest onto her wrist. She repeated the gesture for each of us in turn.

"What's this?" Josie inquired.

"It's a protective seal," she replied, offering no further explanation as she departed. A protective seal? I ponder to myself, questioning the need for magicians to ensure our safety. A chilling realization strikes me: her voice resonates with the woman who detected our presence during our infiltration of the castle a few days ago. She's the one who effortlessly pinpointed our exact location.

I couldn't dismiss this revelation. No one, not even our king or fellow assassins in the village, could detect my presence as swiftly and effortlessly as she did. My contemplation was abruptly interrupted by Josie's inquiry.

"She holds the position of army leader, implying considerable strength among her male counterparts," Josie speculated.

"Indeed, she appears youthful, yet undoubtedly formidable," Princess Amelia remarked while arranging her belongings.

The leader!

"I'll be stepping out for a bit. Keep an eye on the princess," I inform Kyle with a tap on the shoulder, disregarding Princess Amelia's calls as I exit the room. She's never been fond of my inquisitive nature, always sensing what's on my mind. Yet, my curiosity prevails, especially when it pertains to the princess's safety.

Employing my assassin's expertise, I scaled rooftops and leaped from one to another until I descended into the town. Aware that observing the guards wouldn't yield information, I opted to navigate through the bustling streets instead. To my surprise, amidst the chaos, I spotted Violet. Her demeanor as she traversed the marketplace suggested she was conducting a thorough inspection.

Tracking her movements, I skillfully balanced on a tree branch, observing her below. She moved with a mechanical precision, devoid of any emotion or expression, even as the townsfolk greeted her. I can't shake the feeling that she's watching me, even amidst the bustling crowd.

Suddenly, she halted, appearing momentarily lost in the crowd. Caught off guard, her gaze swiftly met mine, piercing through the distance. I found myself immobilized, locked in a silent exchange with her, realizing that this enigmatic woman holds more secrets than I initially thought.