I've had to slay nobles, mages, uppity mercenaries, and sometimes even Lord Canaan. That last one pops up a lot, now that I think about it.
Yet despite all that, to think I'd fail to assassinate a mere prince. Then again, how does one ever truly take magic fully into account when planning for this sort of thing?
I shuffle around for the umpteenth time, trying to get as comfortable as possible given the amount of shackles, before finally relaxing at finding a position where the shackles don't bite into my skin as much.
Of course, the world is rather petty as it always is, for I could hear the entrance to this section of the prison slam open and the usual accompanying footsteps. Grumbling to my heart's content, I slowly rise to my feet and stand in front of the bars.
"So, what will it be today, you grumpy, decrepit-" Anything else I was about to say was promptly forgotten when the origin of the footsteps comes into view, and is very visibly not the familiar warden I thought it was. "Well, this is a bit of a surprise. What exactly are you doing here, princeling?" I ask in a deliberately neutral tone. "Without an escort, at that."
Yes, you are reading this correctly. The quarry that I sought to kill as part of a job is currently standing in front of me, patched up with plenty of bandages while somehow looking every bit as petulant as he did before. I was expecting insults, gloating, maybe even him trying his best to snidely announce the day of my execution. Whatever else he could say, I was definitely not expecting this.
“You, come work with me!”
“....I beg your pardon?”
That certainly wasn’t what the little prince expected from me, given the look on his face.
“Didn’t you hear what I said, I said work fo-!”
“No no, I heard you the first time loud and clear. I was just wondering whether it is possible that madness can take root in someone so young.”
“Wha-?!” Ah, the ever-familiar look of childish indignation. How I've missed it, though it seems that this one was somewhat short-lived. “Ahem, I will pretend to not hear that. As I have said before, I’m looking to employ you.”
Rolling my eyes, I just raise my shackled arms. “I think you might be forgetting the little issue where I’m scheduled for an execution for attempted assassination, on you, no less.”
“You don’t need to remind me.” The little prince grumbles out as he glares at me, rubbing at the scar on the side of his neck. If only I managed to plunge the dagger just a little deeper, but oh well. Wait, he's saying something. “There are ways around that, however.”
Hearing that, all I could give in response was a furrowed brow as I sat back down against the wall. Of course, the shackles immediately start biting into my skin again.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Alright, let's start thinking. What exactly in Kortian’s name could he truly do to change what anyone would say to be a foregone conclusion?
After all, even with his status as a member of the royal family, he would still be unable to-
….Wait a minute, the royal family.
To say that I leapt to my feet would be an understatement. It’d be more akin to snapping from one point to another. “You can’t possibly mean that. You’re still just a prince, and not even the eldest at that.”
“So what?” He asks with a rather annoying raised brow. Is this how the others felt when I did it to them? “You think I can’t do it?”
“Of course I don’t! By the law laid down by Aldyn himself, a royal pardon can only be given by either the King or Queen!”
“Or by any particularly meritorious member of the royal family.” Was all that the brat said in response.
Is this what it feels like to deal with stubborn children? If so, I will have to apologise for placing my cousins in your care so often, elder.
“I’d really hate to rain on your little parade, princeling." I say in the driest tone I can muster. "However, I do have to remind you that that specific clause refers to ‘military merits’, and I know for a fact that the closest approximation to a fight you’ve encountered in your short time in this world is when you were caught by your personal guard while you were sneaking around the palace after curfew.”
Oh, he seemed surprised that I knew of that little incident. Though I wonder if humans are supposed to be able to get that red.
“Of course I know! That's the reason why I came here to give you this offer in the first place!"
....Wait, what?
"You went to visit the assassin who nearly killed you," I begin, just baffled and more than a little confused at this point. "to place me in your employ, and you plan on using me to gain enough merits in order to bestow me with a royal pardon?"
The prince looked more sheepish as most of that previous bravado disappeared. "Well, that's not inaccurate...."
"Then allow me to take back my previous statement. You're not mad," Oh, it seems some hope returned to his eyes. How unfortunate. "rather, you've somehow managed to exceed every measure of idiocy that I know of."
Before he could begin what is most certainly a well thought out retort that will certainly convince anyone however, I quickly cut him off. "What sort of prince resorts to working with an assassin, one that just made an attempts on his life not even a week ago I might add, instead of quite literally anyone else in the Kingdom that isn't on the level of a village idiot?" I state in as calm a voice as I can muster. "What is it that drove you to seek help from me of all people?"
It seems that might have stumped him, as he repeatedly opened and closed his mouth with no words coming out in response. I was just about to just shrug, sit back down and do my best to ignore the little prince when I hear the faintest hint of a mumble coming from him.
"What was that?" I ask half-heartedly.
This time, he says it just loud enough.
"....Because there's no one else I can go to for this."
...I really am not a good fit for this kind of work. Palming my face, I let out the loudest sigh yet and turned back around. Though the look of surprise on the little prince's face manages to at least wipe away some of the dismay.
"Talk, you have 30 minutes."