Vol.0 Ch.135 I Have Something to Tell You


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Crap... I wish I could have stopped her..." Mathew said as he slowly got up. Feeling the pain coursing through his body thanks to his Lightning Speed ability.


    <span ss="aiText">"She made her choice," Wina said.


    <span ss="aiText">Mathew was look<span ss="editText">ing at Wina and he noticed tears in her eyes<span ss="aiText">. "<span ss="editText">Are you alright, Wina?<span ss="aiText">"


    <span ss="aiText">She quickly walked over to him and gave him a hug<span ss="userText"> and put her head on his chest<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">I-I''m sorry... I should have spotted them... Two people died<span ss="aiText">.<span ss="editText"> Ingrid is dead, and I could have stopped this...<span ss="aiText">"


    <span ss="aiText">Mathew wrapped his arms around her and gently rubbed her head. "No. It''s not your fault. <span ss="userText">I should have noticed something when we searched the room. I''m the one at fault<span ss="aiText"> here.<span ss="userText"> And if it wasn''t for you the Prince—"


    <span ss="userText">Mathew stopped himself when he realized that Wina was able to fight extremely well and take down two assassins. And she wasn''t affected by the Galebane Fumes.


    <span ss="userText">''Why was she<span ss="aiText"> not affected? The <span ss="editText">toxin <span ss="editText">made the squires and me sluggish<span ss="aiText">. Unless... No... It can''t be! Can it? Is she a<span ss="editText">n <span ss="editText">assassin <span ss="aiText">too?''


    <span ss="userText">Mathew and Wina stood there in silence for a minute before Wina spoke.


    <span ss="userText">"Mathew... There''s something I haven''t told you..."


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes?" Mathew asked with a worried tone.


    <span ss="aiText">Wina took a deep breath. "My<span ss="editText"> real<span ss="aiText"> name is not Wina... <span ss="userText">And... I was hired to kill the... Prince... I''m an assassin, Mathew..."


    <span ss="userText">Wina looked up into Mathew''s eyes with tearsing<span ss="aiText"> out of hers<span ss="userText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"But I couldn''t go through with it! You are the first person that actually treated me like a person. <span ss="editText">The Queen, the staff... All of you... Have be a family I never had... I don''t want to be a tool to be used... They <span ss="aiText">see me as an object that is only useful until I serve my purpose and then I would be thrown away like trash.<span ss="userText">.. I''ve been trying to find a way out of this contract, but<span ss="aiText"> I can''t..."


    <span ss="aiText">Wina looked back down as she couldn''t take the look in Mathew''s eyes. She was expecting him to push her away and say that she was a monster.


    <span ss="userText">Mathew''s panic subsided and<span ss="aiText"> was reced by <span ss="userText">a bit of sadness and relief.


    <span ss="userText">''She''s an assassin with a heart of gold? I never thought I see the day...''


    <span ss="aiText">"I can''t believe it... You are a<span ss="editText">n<span ss="aiText"> assassin, huh?"


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes..." Wina said as she was trembling.


    <span ss="aiText">"Well... What now?" Mathew asked.


    <span ss="aiText">Wina''s head shot up. "You''re not mad!?"


    <span ss="aiText">Mathew<span ss="userText"> smiled, "Well, it is disappointing that I won''t be able to swoop in the save you. I was hoping to be your knight in shining armor. Like in those fairytales... But I guess it''s not so bad to have my love rescue me instead?... Of all the women in the world, I seemed to have fallen in love with a badass<span ss="aiText"> assassin,"


    <span ss="aiText">Wina''s face went red and she looked away. "Y-you idiot... Y-You are just saying that..."


    <span ss="aiText">"No, really. I don''t care if you are a<span ss="editText">n<span ss="aiText"> assassin.<span ss="userText"> You''ve shown me nothing but loyalty to the Queen, the prince, and most importantly, me.<span ss="aiText"> I don''t care if you a<span ss="editText">re a<span ss="aiText"> monster, a human, a demi-human, a<span ss="editText">n<span ss="aiText"> angel, or even a dragon. You will always be the Wina I fell in love with. No matter what," Mathew said with a smile.


    <span ss="userText">Wina''s heart skipped a beat and she wished she could have Mathew take her away. But<span ss="aiText"> her duty was first and foremost to the kingdom of Fiafyr. And she needed to find a way out of this contract with the Duke.


    <span ss="aiText">Mathew took a step forward and hugged Wina tightly.


    <span ss="aiText">Wina was shocked but then melted into his embrace. "Thank you..."


    <span ss="userText">At some point, Mathew got woozy from the toxin<span ss="aiText"> and <span ss="userText">stumbled.


    <span ss="userText">"Gah... I guess I''m not in<span ss="aiText"> tip<span ss="editText">-<span ss="aiText">top shape..."


    <span ss="aiText">"It''s the Galebane Fumes... Here let me get you a<span ss="editText">n<span ss="aiText"> antidote," Wina said as she <span ss="userText">reached into her assassin''s belt to pull out<span ss="aiText"> a green potion<span ss="editText">,<span ss="aiText"> and gave it to him.


    <span ss="aiText">"Thank you, Wina," Mathew said.


    <span ss="aiText">Wina shook her head. "It''s the least I could do for you<span ss="editText"> and the— Oh gods the Prince!<span ss="aiText">"


    <span ss="userText">Wina quickly ran over to the crib and saw the sleeping Prince. But his face was pale from the Galebane Fumes. It usually isn''t lethal but a child could<span ss="aiText"> die if it was left untreated.


    <span ss="aiText">"I-I hope you''re okay, my prince<span ss="editText">,<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText"> Wina said as she pulled out<span ss="aiText"> another antidote and a dropper and put a few drops in the infant''s mouth.


    <span ss="aiText">"What''s wrong, Wina?"


    <span ss="aiText">"Nothing, I hope... <span ss="editText">Galebane could be lethal to children. <span ss="aiText">But we better get him back to his mother."<span ss="userText"> Wina said as she was relieved to see the color returning to Quinus''s face.


    <span ss="userText">"Wina? Do you think the person who hired you? Also hired these assassins too?" Mathew asked as his body started to regain its strength as the antidote<span ss="aiText"> started to work.<span ss="userText"> But he was still in pain when he used his Lightning Speed ability.


    <span ss="aiText">"It''s <span ss="editText">un<span ss="aiText">likely<span ss="userText">... He wanted the prince''s death to look like a natural<span ss="aiText"> birthplication. These assassins <span ss="editText">were hired by someone who wanted him dead by any means necessary and they were trying to leave no witnesses<span ss="aiText">. The way they attacked was sloppy and <span ss="editText">they were impatient<span ss="aiText">. They were more amateurs than professionals. <span ss="userText">Even if they were skilled enough to not be detected until they attacked us<span ss="aiText">."


    <span ss="aiText">Mathew nodded. "<span ss="userText">Who hired you, Wina?"


    <span ss="userText">She paused for a second before responding to him<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Arch Duke ric Revelia... The King''s brother wanted<span ss="aiText"> the throne for <span ss="userText">his son<span ss="aiText">."


    <span ss="userText">Mathew''s face turned sour when he heard the Duke''s name<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">''<span ss="userText">So, you dare try to go against your own blood... The King needs to know<span ss="aiText"> about this.''


    <span ss="aiText">"We should get him back to his mother," Wina said.


    <span ss="aiText">"I agree, but <span ss="userText">we should check the remains of those assassins to see if we can find out who hired them... And I need to wake up are surviving squire. Can I give him that antidote<span ss="aiText">?"


    <span ss="userText">Wina looked at her hand that was holding the leftover antidote<span ss="aiText">. "Here."


    <span ss="aiText">She <span ss="editText">handed<span ss="aiText"> it over to Mathew and he <span ss="editText">took<span ss="aiText"> it.


    <span ss="aiText">"Thanks," Mathew said as he headed towards the passed<span ss="editText">-<span ss="aiText">out squire<span ss="editText"> who was covered in the purple blood of the dead assassin, <span ss="aiText">and gave him the antidote.


    <span ss="aiText">"Come on, wake up," Mathew said with a sigh.


    <span ss="aiText">He gently smacked the squire in the face.


    <span ss="aiText">*BAP!*


    <span ss="aiText">"Ugh! I''m up," <span ss="editText"> George <span ss="aiText">said with a yawn.


    <span ss="userText">It took him a few seconds<span ss="aiText"> for him to get his bearings and remember what happened.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">R-Robert<span ss="aiText">!?" George asked in a panic.


    <span ss="userText">Mathew just gave him a sad<span ss="aiText"> look.


    <span ss="aiText">"Damn it... Damn it!" George said as he mmed his fist into the floor.


    <span ss="aiText">"I''m sorry, George," Mathew said.


    <span ss="aiText">George took a few breaths and wiped the tears away from his face.<span ss="userText"> And he saw the purple blood all over him.


    <span ss="userText">"Fucking vampires<span ss="aiText">... We should have seen thising. <span ss="editText">I should have seen thising...<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText"> George cursed himself through gritted teeth.


    <span ss="userText">"We probably would have joined him and Ingrid if it wasn''t for Miss Wina. Come! The time to mourn the fallen will have to happenter. We need to search the remains of the assassins and try and find any clues on who hired them."


    <span ss="aiText">Mathew and Wina helped George up and the trio searched <span ss="editText">through <span ss="aiText">the remains of the assassins.


    <span ss="userText">"I found this note," Mathew said.


    <span ss="userText">"I''ve got nothing but blood-covered leather," George said with a sour face. As he was using his sword to poke around Violet''s remains.


    <span ss="userText">Wina was going through Ash''s remains and found a few pieces of folded parchment that were no longer legible thanks to them getting dyed by Ash''s blood.


    <span ss="userText">''Haah... This might be a map of the pce but<span ss="aiText"> it<span ss="editText">''<span ss="aiText">s impossible to tell what it is. And I doubt there is anyone else involved in this. So, we should be good. <span ss="userText">Huh? Is that a gold coin?''


    <span ss="aiText">"I found this," Wina said as she picked up the coin<span ss="userText"> and cleaned off some of the blood.


    <span ss="aiText">The coin had the royal seal of the Kingdom of Marn on it.


    <span ss="userText">All three of them came together<span ss="aiText"> and looked at the coin.


    <span ss="aiText">"It can''t be a coincidence, right?" George asked.


    <span ss="aiText">Mathew looked up and stared into the distance.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">It wouldn''t surprise me if they<span ss="aiText"> are nning something else... <span ss="userText">Let''s see what the note says<span ss="aiText">," Mathew said as he unfolded the<span ss="editText"> small piece of <span ss="aiText">parchment<span ss="userText"> he found.


    <span ss="aiText">Wina and George looked over his shoulder.


    <span ss="userText">When the parchment was opened they were greeted by Dark Elven writing<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"I can''t read this," Mathew said.


    <span ss="aiText">"Here, let me trante it," Wina said as she was familiar with the scripture of the dark elves.


    <span ss="aiText">"To the Assassin''s guild. This contract has been paid in full and you are authorized to kill Prince Quinus.


    <span ss="aiText">I will contact you if I am required to amend the deed.


    <span ss="aiText">Signed,


    <span ss="userText">The Dark Council."


    <span ss="userText">Mathew and George were confused<span ss="aiText"> by the writing.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">How did you learn the Dark Elven tongue?<span ss="aiText">" George asked.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">I traveled around the world quite a bit when I was a child,"<span ss="aiText"> Wina exined.


    <span ss="aiText">"The Dark Council, huh... <span ss="userText">I don''t know much about the Dark Elves. But I don''t think they have a council... I thought they were more of a matriarchical<span ss="aiText"> society. Do you know anything about them, Wina?"


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">They seem to keep to themselves... If I had to guess. These assassins were trying to frame the Dark Elves as the culprits... If we didn''t defeat them they probably would have let one of us live. While dropping this note in order to hide their true client. It''s a ssic assassin''s maneuver for lower-ranked assassins<span ss="aiText">."


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">How do you know so much about assassins<span ss="aiText">?" George asked.


    <span ss="userText">''Shit!<span ss="aiText"> Why did I have to say all that?'' Wina cursed herself.


    <span ss="aiText">"W-well...<span ss="userText">"


    <span ss="userText">Mathew cuts in, "Wina was an assassin when she was younger. Luckily she was able to escape<span ss="aiText"> her contract and join our ranks. That''s why we can trust her. She''s <span ss="editText">thest line of defense for the prince<span ss="aiText">.<span ss="editText"> No one would expect a Royal Wet Nurse to be a warrior. That''s why she was able to save us.<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText"> Mathew said the half-truth with a straight face.


    <span ss="aiText">"Huh?<span ss="editText"> I-I never noticed that you took down those assassins so easily,<span ss="aiText">" George said in confusion.


    <span ss="aiText">Wina<span ss="editText">''s<span ss="aiText"> face was bright red and she looked down.


    <span ss="userText">"I-I was sloppy myself... I forgot to wear my tearaway skirt and couldn''t get my dagger out quick enough... I failed Ingrid... And I might have saved Robert..."


    <span ss="aiText">Mathew put his hand on Wina''s shoulder.


    <span ss="aiText">"We all make mistakes. <span ss="editText">You were the only one immune to<span ss="aiText"> those Galebane fumes... But we can''t let the past drag us down. We will honor their deaths.<span ss="userText"> And learn from this... So we can live a better life for their sacrifice<span ss="aiText">and protect the prince from whoever is trying to kill him. Understand?"


    <span ss="userText">Wina''s heart was pounding<span ss="aiText">. The fact that Mathew trusted her after finding out that she was an assassin made her feel loved and epted.


    <span ss="aiText">She thought she didn''t deserve such kindness.


    <span ss="aiText">Wina looked back up at him and smiled.


    <span ss="userText">"Aye... You have done good, Miss Wina... I should have tried harder... Robert would have<span ss="aiText"> been alive if I wasn''t such a weakling," George said.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Was this the first time you had someone you know taken from you?" Mathew<span ss="aiText"> asked.


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes..." George replied.


    <span ss="aiText">"Then you <span ss="userText">have been blessed... This world is cruel, George. One minute you''reughing with your brothers and then in an instant, you''re wiping the blood off your face as a monster took<span ss="aiText"> their life before you had the chance to say goodbye. You can''t afford to let your emotions control you. That''s why we trained so hard. To steel ourselves against the horrors of this world. <span ss="userText">I wish I never experienced loss before I was ten, but it''s a hard truth we all must learn..<span ss="aiText">. <span ss="userText">We survive so their memories can live on. Do you understand?" Mathew<span ss="aiText"> said as he stared into George''s eyes.


    <span ss="aiText">"Y-yes," George said as he looked back at his <span ss="editText">superior<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="userText">"Alright. Let''s get the Prince to his mother."


    <span ss="userText">Wina nodded and walked over to the sleeping prince and picked him up. Just as she was about to walk to the door. She spotted Ingrid lying there on the floor. Her lips were blue<span ss="aiText"> and her eyes were open and empty.


    <span ss="aiText">''Ingrid... I''m sorry...''


    <span ss="userText"><Just live Wina... Just live...> Whispered a voice in her head.


    <span ss="userText">"Huh?"<span ss="aiText"> Wina was startled.


    <span ss="aiText">"Is everything alright, Wina?" Mathew asked.


    <span ss="aiText">"Y-yea... Everything is fine," Wina said.


    <span ss="aiText">Mathew and George nodded and went to the door.


    <span ss="userText">"Alright... Keep an eye out for any other assassins," George<span ss="aiText"> said as he opened the door.


    <span ss="userText">"It''s unlikely but I guess we should keep our guard up," Mathew said as he held his sword in his hand just in case someone was to attack them.


    <span ss="aiText">George and Mathew walked outside the room and waited for Wina.


    <span ss="aiText">Wina was still shaken from hearing a voice in her head. She didn''t think that Ingrid was haunting her, but it was odd that she was hearing her voice<span ss="userText">.<span ss="aiText"> She looked down at Ingrid''s dead body.


    <span ss="aiText">"Rest in peace, Ingrid..." Wina said.


    <span ss="editText">Then s<span ss="aiText">he walked out of the room and closed the door.