Hitman's Tenet

Chapter 2

"Prince Authur Fictus is the unknown, fourth son of the third son of the first daughter of- wait.... what?"

"Daughter of Duke Benjamin The Fifth, of House Thirdor."
"Yep. Thirdor. Right." I tug anxiously at my hair, and stare out at the trees. They all melt into a green blur.

"We'll be approaching the Thirdor's home here in a few," Crow remarked, tightening his hold on the horse reins.

"By the way..." Crow's voice falters, and the horse skitters. The cart rattles, shaking me with it.

"I know you've just gotten into the role of playing a prince, but we're gonna need you to attend a ball."

My hands start shaking.

"I know that you aren't crazy about meeting new people."
"Are you kidding?!" I snarl, clenching my fists. "You guys said I'd only be posing as a figurehead."

Crow says nothing.

"All of you lied to me."
"Jay, we need you to attend this ball."
"If this is your way of trying to get me to talk to people, that's funny. Real funny."

Crow's voice has risen now, and I shrink back.
"Jay, we need your help. That means one hundred percent commitment. Whether you like it or not, suck it up."

"I can't do this." My voice is now shaky, and I long for even just an ounce of the debonair that Crow carries himself with.

"You will," he says, Crow's voice now firm and steady.

"If it's any consolation to you, this isn't about about going to the ball anymore," I mumble. "You went against my back and put me in a situation I don't want to be in- no. I can't be in."

Crow is quiet again, and we sit in silence for the rest of the ride.

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Me and Iva walk into a white room with high quartz pillars, encrusted with gold. The ceilings are vaulted, and crystal chandeliers hand from the ceilings.

I walk past a sculpture of a man riding a cloud, raising a hand at the sky. It looks as if he's cupping an object in his palm, but upon further inspection, he is holding nothing. His expression is cross, and seemingly fixated on something in the distance.

"Admiring the statue, I see. You have good taste, I designed this specific one myself." Turning around, I come face to face with The Chairman. My boss.

I bow, keeping my gaze trained on the ground.

"Sir."
"I trust you've been busy at work, checking up on the guests?" The Chairman instructed me to survey every guest, and make sure no potential theif gets by us.

Then to eliminate any possible threats, small or large.

Of course though, when The Chairman says "us", he means me and Iva. Heaven forbid that The Chairman gets his hands soiled with dirty work, right?

But, regarding his assignment, I've very much neglected it.

"I have just arrived, but already have progressed significantly," I lie. The patterned tiles on the floor are beginning to swim in my vision.
"Good. It would be a shame if I had hired a lazy employee." He stalks off, greeting other nobles by name, and I finally lift my gaze.

I stroll aimlessly among the guests, nodding and pretending to enjoy the conversation.

After about an hour has passed, I decide that I've had enough of "gathering infomation."

No one piqued any suspicion, and I wonder, like many times before, if The Chairman had misjudged the situation.

Leaning against a table, with many assorted treats and drinks, I gladly help myself to some food.

Surveying the room, I notice another person, around my age, standing near the other end of the snack table.

His blue eyes are incredible.

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I watch as a girl, in a deep orange dress, strides over towards me. She has tanned skin, and a strong jawline.

I glance around, wondering if there's someone behind me, but there's no one.

I swallow a sip of the drink in my glass, grimacing at the saccharine taste. I take a deep breath.

Her dress reminds me of a sunset, and it flows with her movements, like water. It's a simple outfit, and looking around at the other noble folk, it's a unique choice.

A matching orange flower decorates her honeyed hair, which is tied up into a bun. Loose strands frame her warm, open features.

"Hey!"

I'm frozen to my spot, unable to speak. I slowly take another sip of my drink.

"It's pretty stuffy in here, isn't it?"

I nod. She has brown eyes.

"Seems like I wasn't the only one who decided to make a break for the snack table," she teases, a glint in her eyes. "My name's Amber by the way."

"Ah... yeah," I awkwardly mutter back. Her eyes crinkle into moons when she smiles. "Arthur Fictus. My name."

Amber talks for some time, and while I don't follow the conversation, it gives me a few moments to collect myself. And then she asks me:

"Would you care to join me in ditching this place?"

We end up on a balcony, under the stars. I take another swig of my drink. Tapping my fingers against the railing, and I'm suddenly aware of the situation.

I am no longer with a crowd. I am in potential danger. I don't know anything about this stranger. I can't trust her.

But she seems kind.

I'm starting to feel a bit sick from the sweetness of my drink.

I suddenly blurt, "So is this some ploy to get me kidnapped?" As soon as the words leave my mouth, I regret them. But Amber winks at me, and smiles.

"If I wanted to kidnap you, I'd have done it ages ago."
"Right."
"By any chance, could I-" A girl, who looks very similar to Amber, bursts through the glass doors and into the balcony. She's extremely out of breath, and wide-eyed.

"Amber, he's leaving, we gotta go. I'm so sorry to inturrupt you guys, but me and Amber really should head out."

"Oh. Arthur, my apologies. It's-" I wave Amber off, and she smiles gratefully. I watch her slip off, disappearing back into the fray.

I finish my drink and immediately dump it into a trashcan.

"Never again," I mutter. And then I catch something out of the corner of my eye.

Two shadowed figures run through the castle grounds, and towards the woods.