I can already feel my Elder laughing at me, wherever she is at the moment. It'd be fitting too, considering I dropped my cousins on her doorstep before taking this job.

"So, allow me to repeat myself." The princeling gives me a tentative nod. "You went to me, an assassin who nearly took your head not even a week prior to this, to take me on as an Aldyn-damned retainer."

He nods again.

"And you do this because you supposedly received a vision of something terrible, that may or may not be coming for your kingdom in the coming years."

Another nod, more certain this time.

"And your family wouldn't, or rather couldn't take your word for it, as all you have to corroborate this claim is your vision. As while the Legeivian Royal Family was blessed by Aldyn, clairvoyance has never been discovered within your family."

A rather despondent nod.

"...Well, that is one incredible story. Honestly, if not for the fact you can't lie to save your life boy, I'd have called for the guards and the clerics."

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Ah, there's the indignation. Though it seems he's starting to feel hopeful again.

"So...you believe me?"

"No." Still as fun as always, but I guess I should stop now. "That was a joke, so stop sulking already boy." I reach out through the bars to ruffle his hair. "Though I'm more inclined to believe you were hallucinating, visions of the future gifted by something from above are hardly uncommon. Especially among blessed royalty like your family."

...Wait, why is he still looking at the floor?

"Err, little prince?"

Is he collecting his thoughts?

If so, why do I hear sniffl-

Oh.

Quickly lowering myself to get a better look, it seems I was right. The little clairvoyant is practically crying up a storm.

"Oh no." And it seems my words have made it worse. Good job, 'great assassin'. "Hey, it's okay, it's okay! I believe what you said, so don't cry!"

Instead of calming down from hearing my affirmations, it seems that I instead helped open the floodgates instead as he tries his best to hug me through the bars.

So here I am now, partly kneeling as a little prince cries his little heart out into my chest as I was preparing to escape before my execution. Fate really is a tricky one to deal with, but that can wait until later.

Now, I've done a lot of things in my life. I faced down bandits, guards, wizards, monsters, and many other foes under the sun. Put a weapon in my hand, and I'll gladly off whatever or whoever it is you want as long as you pay up, even more so if you give me something unconventionally valuable.

But how exactly do you even begin to try to calm down a child who you would've attempted to kill if you haven't failed to do so before?!