Royal Assassin

Chapter 11

When she reached the castle, she stealthily made her way to Justin’s room through the window just out of habit and to avoid people. She needed to get this task done and fast.

She rummaged through Justin’s books, the study table, on the bed and under the bed to locate his father’s diary. When she finally found the diary was on a side table, she set forth in flipping through the pages to find not just clue…but answers – the truth.

She crouched on the floor as she read the book. She would worry about the mess later. But the late King’s diary was incredibly long and thick, like an academic book. And Jaden was growing impatient. She needed to muster the last bit of her special strength to decode the real story of the war…of everything.

His young days…no

His love life…she’d definitely didn’t want to know that

His so-called marvelous idea…hmm…not bad for a fool

His declaration of war…almost to the good part…

And then…just as she was getting to the page where Justin last read it – the part Justin almost got the chance to know the identity of his father’s murderer, a piece of small, thin and old envelope fell.

Jaden picked it up and saw there was handwriting, and strangely it was addressed to her, in a sense…

This is a letter especially for Justin’s eternal lover, his beloved wife and if I may pray, also will be a beloved Queen to the people…

P.S. If you’ve succeeded in locating this letter, congratulations. Time is cruel and though time moves forward, history can set in motion even in the present. Therefore, with this truth I bore to you; please weigh them wisely of what you truly hold dear – vengeance or repentance.

Eternal lover sounded like a fated ring to it but Jaden dismissed those thoughts and totally ignored the book in her hands and ripped the envelope and scanned through the letter. And what she found made her gape, shocked.

All this time…the war…the perpetrator, the one who played the opposing King in chess, the one who was betrayed and truly betrayed…all of them were lies!

She sat down dumbfounded, regaining her mental state, trying to register the letter she just read which claimed to be the answers she was looking for.

But deep down, she may have already known whose live she should wagered on…

Vengeance? She still had unfinished business. And repentance? With how things were going; she finally felt resolute and absolute of what she was doing – she couldn’t stop, not yet. Looked like vengeance and repentance – she needed them both and neither.

This was just another task to cleanse filthy monarchs.

Jaden made her way out of her husband’s room and quickly ordered the servants to clean his room. She kept the letter but reluctantly left the book, even though it may be risky to fall into Justin’s hands, if he’d completed reading his father’s diary. She just had to chance it.

As she walked along the corridor, her ears were still sharp to pick up the noises of horsemen entering the castle’s gate. She would’ve presumed that her brothers and Justin had returned safely. But the sound was more than that.

It seemed they had visitor.

****

After Jaden cleaned herself up and coincidentally met up with Justin for dinner, Jaden was taken aback to see Ethan joining them for dinner. She almost wanted to scold Justin for not telling her.

“You don’t need to be so angry”, Justin retaliated, “Since he’s a cousin of mine, I thought there was no reason to be so formal about it…”

Jaden sighed, “Still…I’m not used to people”.

Justin didn’t understand what her problem was but people were definitely not a lame excuse, which was obvious from her immense popularity with them.

“Who’s Ethan?”

“Huh?” Jaden didn’t understand.

“Umm…in case you haven’t realized, you had a nightmare last night. And you were trashing around screaming a guy’s name which was Ethan. So who was he? Or should I say who is he?” He eyed her suspiciously.

“Why do you want to know so badly?” Jaden was growing exasperated with Justin’s antics. And she had just resolved to protect him.

“You’re my wife. And I want to know who the punk that hurt and still haunt you in your dream”, said Justin.

“It’s…just a thing in the past…”

“Doesn’t look like it to me”.

“I’m not in the mood to discuss it right now, Justin”, she hissed, as they finally approached the dining table and took their seats.

“Are you still mad about the fight? Cause look I’m sorry, okay”, said Justin as food were served in front of them.

Jaden was becoming incoherent. There was Justin blabbing how he was sorry and worried for her. And then there was his cousin that she could feel his stares was lingering on the two of them like a venomous snake.

She was fortunate that Cassandra came to the rescue as she commenced the hall to dine and she conversed with Ethan throughout dinner, as though knowing the uneasiness of Jaden confronting Ethan.

But she couldn’t just stay quiet all the time. Justin noticed how Jaden seemed awkward and reluctant mingling with Ethan.

“Aren’t you excited, Jaden? There will be a grand ball to commemorate my cousin’s and your marriage”, said Ethan charmingly. “Every Royal House across the horizon will be there”.

“I simply can’t wait”, said Jaden smiling too brightly. And she gulped down her drink as though swallowing disgusts. She knew what Ethan really meant of ‘excited’ was.

It meant that that was the deadline. And sure enough, when Ethan visited them, it meant he wanted to be alone with her later. She didn’t like the idea but she reasoned herself to not be afraid. But still a snake was still a snake.

Jaden and Justin walked together through the hallway after dinner. They were on their way to their rooms.

“I know I told you to be cautious of him. But he’s not a bad guy, Jaden”, Justin said as he recalled the events during dinner.

Sure you do, thought Jaden. “Hey, I’m just following your advice”.

At that statement, Justin giggled. “That surprised me. You did listen to my warning beforehand”.

But Jaden glared back at him, “Why? Do you feel so superior all of a sudden?”

“Not at all, Jaden”, his voice became much gentler, “I’m happy actually – more like reassuring, that you’re by my side”.

Jaden was taken aback by his confession. He always had this moment that made her feel conscious in all the wrong and yet right places.

When they reached Justin’s room, Justin spoke before he closed the door, “Thank you Jaden…for everything. I’ve learned a lot about your kingdom and your family. We should do this often. Exchanging knowledge, skills and cultures; the world would be a better place for everyone…”, and he stifled a yawn.

“You should rest, Justin”, Jaden instructed him. And he nodded at her words and uttered a good night.

When the door was shut, Jaden proceeded to her room, but this was one night she felt dreaded to go there. She wasn’t afraid of blades or knives and swords that hung and decorated her chamber. Infact she could wield them elegantly like feeling the breeze of a strong wind. But things that were alive – they were tricky to handle. Late Wilson and his son, Ethan, the people that damaged her, and Justin the man whom she confidently regarded him as enemy who became her husband.

It was no wonder she felt something off – because all of them were involved in the lies. That was why what she saw wasn’t what she got.

Jaden thought back of how she got the task to murder the enemy’s King, Justin’s late father – King Zachary. A person who still had conscience would never forget her kill. And it happened five years before, half a decade ago, before she truly grasped how warped everything it became was laid out before them because of the war.

She suffered horribly for the price the whole kingdom paid in order to ‘get back at the war’. And no in the end, as she realized, it wasn’t about winning the war, it was just about getting even. And when that was the truest purpose of fighting, then no one wins, and no one triumphs – only more scars and deaths are painted on the land. What a sin…

But even so, Jaden was still young and still scared. She foolishly believed their words even though she despised Wilson and Ethan, that what she was going to do would achieve peace. But it just set more fire.

She remembered how she successfully infiltrated the castle’s ground with ease, like any training she did. But surprisingly, as she located the King’s chamber, the window was wide open, as though inviting death, inviting her.

At the time, she only felt confidence and easy, too easy. She hopped onto roofs and quietly landed into the King’s bedroom. But what awaited her startled her instead – because the King greeted her.

“Ah…my guess was right”, the King said as he looked at Jaden who was concealed in black with only eyes the colour as tempting as flame and soothing as the ocean.

Jaden froze for a moment. She didn’t expect the King to be awake in the middle of the night. She instinctively posed in her combat stance.

“Are you the last princess of the Vast Kingdom?” the King asked his murderer.

Jaden was surprised. He knew. But Jaden didn’t speak and already had her sword pointed straight at the King.

“Alright, you must be the rumored legendary Ruby Assassin”, said the King sounding tired. “Are you flattered with such titles dear?”

Jaden only ascended her steps so her sword could reach the King even closer. “You killed our beloved King and Queen and started the war. I will finish you off to avenge these losses”.

But the King only smiled a thin smile as he heard her spoke. “Will you? Because I’m already finished”.

Jaden didn’t understand. Now she knew where Justin’s got a knack to utter such eloquence.

“I’m already sick to the bed, dear child”, and he let out a sickly cough that Jaden could see was liquid of crimson. Jaden was alarmed. She didn’t know that the King was sick.

The King noticed her surprise and his guess was right – this assassin in front of him, this young lady, this girl was still pure and naïve despites the countless blood she shedded out of others, and even herself.

“Let me tell you something, miss”, he said still coughing in between. “After that I would like you to kill me and alleviate me from this pain forever”.

And before Jaden could give a respond, he began, “I apologize that your country has to be involved in this matter. The truth was that the dispute was only on an internal basis. But it seemed these people would do anything to get this throne, even if it meant dragging your royal lines with them into this mess”.

Jaden didn’t know what to make of. But she was certain that the King was not really the mastermind of the war. But it didn’t make any difference to not try stopping it since he was the King. She felt furious but she realized royalties didn’t have a say in the end, do they?

“What are you proposing?” Jaden treaded carefully.

“I can’t say it now and I don’t have the energy to say more. But Jadelyne, when the time comes, you may have to be involved with my family more so than now. And by then, I could give you the real truth. I believe I can entrust the true tale of the war to someone who has spilled her own blood and others as well…”

After that, the King’s breath became haggard and he was struggling and writhing in pain. Jadelyne cut a partial skin and felt the blood that bled was poisoned.

It seemed someone had poisoned him. And as Jaden reflected on her memories, she had a strong guess who was the perpetrator. Because the King said in his last breaths, “It seemed they are afraid that you may not kill me, but I hope I’ve relayed enough knowledge for you to be more perceptive…”, and suddenly he was grabbing onto Jaden’s body, as though his body was depending on it. He was cold and trembling.

“Hey! Hey!” Jaden tried to wake some sense out of him.

“P-please…I rather die in your hands rather in this poison. Cleanse me from my sin, my failure to protect the peace…this is my last words…I’m no use now. Kill me now so my son can be King …”the King was tearing up and he didn’t look the least bit strong. But he wanted it and she had to do it, for her mission to succeed and to erase this man’s pain of living.

How pathetic…and yet she acknowledged his plead.

“Your wish is my command…” said Jaden. “But, if you want to relay me the truth in the future, then give me a clue of the present”.

“A book written by him and only read by him…” uttered the King almost inaudibly.

The King’s diary – and with that clue, she had gotten her first trail to the truth. She drew her sword through his heart. As the King was holding onto her, the blood also gushed and bled and stained on Jaden. But she was not afraid anymore with blood. Seeing blood only raised her senses. And the King’s last expression, she saw in the dark was a sad smile…of farewell and catharsis.

But because of the poison, the blood seemed to be oozing with unpleasant smell. And she thought it was time to let the whole world know; the King was dead. So, she opened the door and quickly made her way to the window to escape but it seemed passerby came too early.

And that was the first time Jaden saw properly Justin’s face. She knew from her readings that he was spoiled and couldn’t care less of the war, but his face that time looked horrified. During the time, she still considered him as a child, a meager 18 year old boy. She scared him by uttering those precious and haunting words that chased him in the darkest moment…

She finally realized that from the moment she got married, things and events were already starting to swirl into actions. The ‘poetry’ she recited on the night of the King’s death suddenly made her ate her words…

Red…Blue…

Blood…the night…

Chaos, fear, revenge, war…

Now she knew the truth, this time she would set things in motions, in her own way. She would no longer be a pawn in this game.

When she turned the knob and got into her room, the place was as usual was dimmed but a tall solid figure stood by her bed, quietly and dangerously just like a cobra.

The figure had his hands crossed and though Jaden couldn’t see it, she could sense that he was smirking.

He stood straight up and approached Jaden very slowly. Jaden could feel his stares slicing every inch of her dignity. But she willed herself to be strong – to be braver.

He was shaking his head as he said, “Don’t you think you’re having too much fun, Jaden?”

Jaden felt harder to breathe with that man around. But even if he was intimidating, she knew he needed her. After all, she was his weapon.

“Is it wrong? A girl just wanna have fun”, Jaden replied, knowing she would make him pissed. And it did.

Ethan harshly cupped her face between his fingers, forcing her to stare into his furious glare. “I would really hate to scar this pretty face of yours. What would her husband say about that if it did happen?”

If long ago, she would wince, now she was only staring back with pure determination and rebellions.

“And so what are you going to do about it?” she asked back instead. It only made him mad, of course.

“Why you ungrateful little…” and he pulled out a knife and seared through her right arm and jabbed it across her right thigh, producing a painful cut.

There were many times before she became a skilled assassin, that she was tortured and punished so severely for failing in a mission. The room before it turned into her bedroom was also a torture chamber in the middle of the night. Her blood had so many times splattered on the floor. And tonight, she was reliving the nightmare.

However, the pain even though was still immense, didn’t bother her so much. It was the fact that this time, Ethan’s knife was also soaked with poison – snake venoms. He would not stop, would he?

“You…” Jaden gritted her teeth and managed to hold herself steady by holding onto her dressing table.

“There, that’s better…” said Ethan as he saw Jaden’s furious gaze combined with her intense red color encircling her eyes even wilder than before.

“I will kill you”, said Jaden acidly.

“Not until you kill my cousin first. Or do you want me to kill your sister first? Or maybe the rest of your siblings?”

Jaden couldn’t argue this time. She was surging with fury. But she bit her lip instead.

“You’re only a mere tool. There’s no way you could outwit its master, its creator”, said Ethan. “You should already know who you should trust.”

And then, he bent so his face was inches away from hers and whispered, “Besides, aren’t I closer to you compared to your selfish husband? Haven’t I been with you longer than him? Surely you would know where my loyalty and sincerity lie with? After all, I’m your ally”.

Ethan strode off and got out of her room. Jaden almost immediately slumped to the ground as the door clicked.

That bastard, Ethan, Jaden cursed. Ally? She almost snorted. And then, she remembered Justin’s words, “I hope you don’t think of me as a mere younger brother and at least trust me as a husband or an ally in this foreign land for you”. She almost laughed as she bandaged her newfound cuts and scar. She realized Justin was reassuring for her, some kind of her antidote. She would hold onto his words for the night and possibly for a long time.

Jaden struggled to wake up because of the new poison diffusing into her system. She was hurting, sweating and nauseated. She wanted to remain in her chamber. But Cassandra suddenly informed that Justin had to depart early alongside Ethan.

She managed to find the strength to send him off. And Justin felt relieved that Jaden didn’t follow him back because he noticed she looked ill. He requested that Jaden would return for the ball after she had recovered.

How sweet, Jaden wanted to cockily say to him. But she couldn’t help to be dependent on Justin’s sweet words to play at her advantage. Because now as he ordered for her to stay longer at her kingdom, she had a chance, a spare time to concoct a plan.