The Assassin's Lover

Chapter 1:

Chapter 1:

I told no one of the mysterious man named Nathaniel that had come into my room. In all honesty, I doubt anyone would believe me. I would rather not acknowledge it than get scolded for making up stories. No matter how true that story was.

I could still feel the kiss on my hand. The warmth and softness of his slightly chapped lips. The calluses on his hands, showing that he had spent many hours a day working hard.

The dress I was to wear to the ball had already been halfway made. I tried it on. I looked more ready for a funeral than a party. It was what they wanted though. They thought it suited me quite nicely. Nadine's dress was stunning as always. It wasn't even complete and it was already a dress that I would love to wear.

“Why do you let them treat you like that?” Lucia asks me as we leave my dress fitting.

“What do you mean?” I ask her.

“That dress would be more suited for a widower, not a young lady. A princess no less.” she says.

I shake my head. “You know I cannot go against what they say.”

“If your father knew-”

I cut her off. “My father wouldn't give a damn if he did. Quite frankly I don't believe he even remembers my name. He does not care how I am dressed or treated. I am here to play the part of a princess, even though I may not look like one.”

She sighs. “We are going to change that.”

“What do you mean?”

“I'm going to make you a gown that is worthy of a princess.” she said.

I grab her arm. “You will do no such thing. If I do not wear the gown I am intended to wear then I will be punished. Besides, the ball is tomorrow. You would have to work through the night to have it completed.”

“I've been working on this dress for a while now,” Lucia admits.

“What?”

“I'm tired of you not wearing what you were born to wear. They dress you up in old drapery for their own personal glee.” she says. “Just for once will you wear something that doesn't make you look like a widower.”

I close my eyes, imagining a beautiful gown. “All right, I'll do it.”

“Wonderful!” she cheers. “I'm off to get it now.”

With that said, she scurries off towards her chambers to fetch the dress. Relaxing against the wall of my bedchambers, I wonder what exactly I have gotten myself into. Nadine and Regina will be furious when they find out. Especially when the one that they had wanted is almost complete. Ugh, that horrid dress.

“I must destroy that damn dress.” I said to myself.

“Should a princess be using such language?” came a deep voice.

I look around to see him lounging about on my bed. “Nathaniel, what are you doing here?”

“I'm here to see what you look like in the daylight,” he tells me. His dark eyes look me up and down, as if he were a wolf and I his prey.

I could feel my cheeks warm up at his words. “What are you really doing here?”

“That is the truth, my princess.” he grins. “Now what damn dress are you speaking of?”

“One that I was meant to wear to my sister's ball.” I admit.

“What is wrong with it?”

I sigh. “The looseness of the dress for one. It falls off of me. The material irritates my skin. Not to mention the horrid color. It is black. As black as a widower's gown in mourning.”

“Why would a princess wear something like that?”

“Because I was told to,” I sighed.

“The king would put his daughter into something such as that?”

I shake my head. “My governess and sister would though.”

“If that, in your words, damn dress was destroyed, what would you wear?” he questions.

“My hand maid, Lucia, has apparently been working on a gown for me in secret. She believes that I should wear that.”

“Then indeed you shall wear that. Don't worry about the dress you were meant to wear, it will be gone.” He gets off the bed, kisses my hand, then disappears out the window as if he had never been in her.

I ran to the window to see where he went. It was as if he had vanished into thin air. There was not a trace of Nathaniel.

“What are you doing leaning out the window?” Lucia asks me.

I turn to face her. “Nothing.”

“Here it is,” she says, lifting a large bag on top of my bed.

I got over, opening the bag carefully. Inside was a gorgeous emerald green dress. Gold arm bands had been sewn into the sleeves. There was a golden belt that went around my waist. The silky material caressed my skin as I ran my hands over it.

“It's beautiful,” I tell her.

 She smiles at me. “Fitting for a princess.”

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Picture of the dress on the side

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