Selene

3: Unknown [EDITED]

"100,000 gold coins!" I rejoiced with happiness – this was enough to make me wealthier than a noble! "100,000!" I repeated in glee.

Just to kill a measly fly.

"A girl...!" My eyes shone with tears of happiness. "Just an Imperial Princess!"

The Empress herself had assigned me this task – of course, she paid me handsomely. I was, of course, well-aware of the Empress always hiding a catch within her riddles, but even then...! All I had to do was remove a seven-year-old from the World!

And even if I was caught, I had the contract! Then Kingdom Hikari would be answerable to Eric Yami – and it might even turn out to be a war – but I would make it out alive, and that was all that mattered!

Oh, just the heir of Yami!

"You must keep in mind that she is Eric's chosen one, so there is no saying as to what she is capable of." That Head Maid, most loyal servant of the Empress had given such an unimportant advice. How strong could a seven-year-old even be?

Lost in my joy, I paid no heed to those words. I did not think much even though it seemed way too easy after all the perks I had and would receive.

I even had the keys to the Hikari Palace, and both the Imperial Princesses were subjected to be there on a fine Tuesday evening with an old man, some Priest!

I personally found Priests despicable. They just cursed you before dying. However, in my eyes, a curse was nothing compared to 100,000 gold coins.

Yami... so probably the Magic user. It was said that the finest mages came from Yami citizens. If not, I would just kill both – wouldn't make a difference. In case of the Empress raging out, I could switch sides and reveal her to the Emperor.

And, since the girl was so young, her Magic mustn't have unlocked.

The well-kept and oiled gates flew open, guards lining the path in attention position. I had never thought I'd see such a day in my life. The beautiful marble statues, the fountains, the flower beds. I had entered the Palace under the disguise of the Empress' brother – and no one even suspected a thing!

Though of course, Hikarian Royal families always had several children – and sometimes, they also turned out to be threats to the Heir Apparent – the Palace security was lacking.

I felt the Empress' piercing gaze upon me from her balcony; she soon disappeared into her chambers not wishing to be present during the scene.

This was such an easy task – almost as if it were an insult to my skills! One Priest, two kids – that is all.

How I had underestimated my target just because I was able to tear down the Priest blocking my way.

Killing that old priest was certainly nasty; blood splattered everywhere. His holy white robes were colored fresh. But, at the same time, it increased my over-confidence.

He cursed me on the name of God, that I would be killed even more painfully than he was. I just laughed it off, though I was beginning to despair inside. Yami did have strong Magic users after all... their curses and oaths were not to be overlooked.

Money, yet, continued to blind me. My payment will only be done if I complete the task.

I ended up making an amateur mistake.

I forgot to keep the other heir's strengths into the equation – one of them was a skilled sword master.

That girl's brown eyes were filled with rage, her tiny hands clenched into fists, her body trembling with anger.

"I'm not here for ya," I said, wiping my nose. "I'm huntin' for her." I pointed at the other child, the Magic user.

"You dare lay a hand on her..." She pursed her lips. If it were not for the eye and hair color difference, I wouldn't have been able to make out any difference between the two of them.

It reminded me of the Emperor, his brown eyes gleaming with distrust and hatred, and his favorite words seemed to be: "Such audacity."

Only then it came to mind.

The sword fighter was Yami's Heir Apparent – brown eyes, blonde hair. The Magic one – green eyes and brown hair – was just for show!

I took a deep breath, recalling my strategy to hunt both and turn myself in, when required. This relaxed me slightly.

Hikari's princess hid behind her sister, at the verge of tears. She was only gathering up her energy to scream loud enough for the whole Palace to hear. Behind her frightened eyes lied concealed, complex calculations of the situation.

But the other was calm. Awfully calm for a child of that age.

I recalled a few children used to literally 'freeze' in shock. This kid was probably no different – and I was supposed to be careful while killing her!

I internally sighed at the maid's cautioning words.

"Poor kid." I laughed. Her eyes were fixated on my weapon and continued to follow the blade as I waved it at her face. Out of amusement, I carelessly passed on my sword. "Here ya go," I said, sounding noble and mighty. "I don' fight with defenseless kids."

Ah, I didn't seem to have realized I had handed it to the wrong kid.

The sword was too heavy for her, but miraculously, she was able to grip it tight with those hands of hers.

"Impressive." I dared to chuckle once more.

She rotated it clockwise, and entertained, I followed the sword's blade, saying, "Kid, that's the wrong way."

We took two rounds that way.

Then suddenly, the sword cut through air with intense speed, anti-clockwise, straight into my neck.

"Do you know," she asked maliciously, "how many times a guillotine is required to fall upon one's neck to chop it off and how much force is required?"

Her sword dug a little deeper.

I coughed up blood. Was she waiting for an answer?

"I don't know either, uncle," she said mockingly. "Since I don't have enough strength, it might take longer than a guillotine..."

How I hated this stupid guillotine joke. Her Father always kept saying the same and issuing Royal Decrees to sentence people to death. She seemed to be referring to the fact that the guillotine is required to fall upon one's neck several times to snap the muscles and crush the bones – sometimes not possible with only one swing.

She was doing it on purpose. My blade was sharp enough to kill the Priest in two blows.

But she kept rubbing it in, removing it...

The Royals were always rumored to be smart, but, the Emperor had even twisted the words sly and manipulating into well-educated. That was what made him superior and qualified enough to be the Lord of this land.

This child was certainly his – a perfect candidate for the throne of Yami.

Selene Yami deserved to be crowned. That blood-stained seat her father sat on was made just for her, after all.

I frantically prayed for my death to come sooner, my head to roll off already – but that Priest's words didn't fail to come true. Coughing blood, I looked painfully at the sky already darkened and sprinkled with stars – and I saw the moon.

Just for the greed of money, I ended up in such a situation. But I was a murderer from the start, and I had no salvation anyway.

But that Head Maid wasn't warning me for nothing, after all. I saw her in a different light only then.

Her face red and stained with tears, Hikari's Princess finally let out a high-pitched scream.