[ Hah. Lyric smiles knowingly and looks back at him with a sense of triumph. ]
I think I know why you're here. [ And she has no means of stopping him, if he so chose to act. She's ten and unarmed, and he's got well over a foot of height on her. Outsmarting him is one thing, but if he decided to run, or attack her... well.
Her expression doesn't waver, and she continues. ] You're after my father, aren't you? [ The words leave her mouth with no trace of malice or judgment - she says it like it's a fact of life, like how the sun rises in the east and Plegia's a shithole.
In another part of the castle, nearby enough for both of them to hear, a commotion starts. "Hey! Get back here!" But her eyes stay locked on him. ]
[Hearing the shouts from the other - the real - guards makes Vero tense immediately. His eyes dart around, looking left and right and everywhere, to find an escape route. There's a window but they're on an upper floor so there's no saying if he'd survive the drop and there's still.. the matter of the princess.
The princess standing there asking him why as if she doesnt know. Vero grits his teeth, clenches his hand. He doesn't want to hurt her. She's done nothing wrong and he's not a monster, despite his original intentions.]
Your father's a lunatic too obsessed with the damned cult to care about his people. He's letting Plegia burn, become a laughing stock, and we're suffering for it. The Plegian people. We couldn't -- we can't stand for it any longer.
[Add "bad mouthing the king" to the list of crimes Vero's committed in just a couple hours. He knew he was probably going to die here, so this is it. He braces himself for either the guards or the princess or whoever to come at him.]
[ It's not the first time Lyric's heard words like his, and she knows it won't be the last. And it hurts. Cuts deeper than any assassin's blade ever could.
She raises her hand slowly, voice dropping to almost a whisper, almost too soft for him to hear. ]
... You don't want to die, do you?
[ She doesn't give him a chance to respond - she just grabs him by the wrist and tugs, trying to get him off balance enough so she can run back to her room with him in tow.
[That's certainly not what he expected. Lyric gets what she wants and Vero is pulled off balance and into a run behind her whether he wants to go or not.
He has no idea what she has planned but it cant be good whatever it is. It'll either be bad for just him - she's going to imprison or worse. Or, and he thinks he's afraid of this one the most in the moment, it'll be bad for the both of them. She's going to do something stupid because she's a child and thinks she can save him and they'll both end up on death row for treason.]
[ Crazy? Yes, probably. But Lyric can't help but think everyone in this castle is at least a little crazy.
She doesn't respond to his shouts until she tugs him into her bedroom (much too dull, much too lifeless for a child her age) and shuts the door behind them both. It's then that she looks up at him, a serious expression on her face. ]
If my father won't stand for you, then I will. [ Which she realizes is a bit of an odd thing to say to an assassin, but- ] If you were a bad person, you would have killed me by now.
But I'm not wrong. [ Lyric crosses her arms. ] You're not here to steal the throne, or throw Plegia deeper into turmoil. You're doing this for the people, not just yourself.
That's why I can't let you throw your life away. I can't let you do this.
[ She walks past him, toward the back of her room. ] You're not the first to try and kill my father, and you won't be the last. But even if you did succeed, Plegia wouldn't accept a ten year-old queen. [ The words sound ludicrous even to her, and she's referring to herself. ] And none of the men by my father's side would be any better rulers. Nothing would change.
[ Lyric steps back toward him and motions for him to lean down a little. Once he does, she balances on her tippy toes and whispers in his ear. ]
I don't think you're wrong. [ About what, she won't make clear. She lets him stand at his full height once more as she continues. ] You must be strong, if you thought you could take down my father. And I need someone who understands what's going on outside the castle.
I don't know when I'll become queen - [ Not tonight, at least. But it could be soon. ] - but I want to be ready.
[Vero HATES that he's being won over by a child. He gives it one last fight.]
Who deserves better? Princess Lyric, with all due respect, you don't know me.
W-who's to say I won't use this as an opportunity to get closer to your father and kill him still? You're not ready to be queen? That's not my problem. I haven't killed you yet but --
[He can't even finish that. He does not want to kill Lyric. ]
You're right. I don't know you. But you're a citizen of Plegia, and you're here because you're hurting.
[ Her practiced poise breaks - her voice cracks. ] I hate what my father's doing. You - all our people - deserve better than this. [ She takes a deep, shuddering breath. ] But I can't do anything on my own.
That's why I need you. If you want to manipulate me, or betray me, that's fine - I'm smart enough to see through that. [ lyric you're ten ] But I'm willing to do anything I can to become the ruler Plegia deserves.
[He's hurting but Lyric's hurting too, isn't she? He clearly isn't the first person to try and assasinate her father - how many of those other people have come after her as well?
Lyric is ten but she knows too much. She's seen too much and she has too much to carry on her shoulders already because of her pissant father.
She's still an idiot for even proposing this, but Vero can't say he doesn't agree with all her reasoning.] ...If you're going to make decisions like this on your own then someone has to look out for you when the consequences finally reach you.
[ Lyric's shoulders slacken instantly, hearing those simple words. Her relief is very obvious. ]
Thank you. [ She steps toward him again and rests her hand gently against the back of his. ] I promise to protect you, too.
[ She looks up at him, and though she's the one who looks tired, in her pajamas and everything, she tilts her head slightly in the direction of her much too large to be for a ten year old bed. ] You should stay here tonight - things won't calm down until morning. [ That, she knows from experience. It usually takes a bloody execution to change the tension in the air back to the normal amounts of tension. ] Get some rest.
[ Lyric looks incredibly uncertain for a moment - and while she'll get into bed, she makes a point of sitting up and continuing to face him. (A stubborn tiny princess.) ]
[ Quietly satisfied with his answer, Lyric gets nice and comfortable under the covers. Her eyes begin to droop as soon as her head hits the pillow, but she still thinks to ask something important before she drifts off completely, voice heavy from sleepiness. ] What's your name?
[The reality of this whole situation hits Vero again and he has to take a moment to just close his eyes. He pinches the bridge of his nose.
She's hired him on as a retainer without knowing anything about him, including his name. And he already knows he would do anything in his power to protect her.
This is not how he expected this night to end at all.]
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It's not impossible - I've met them all. [ She turns her nose away from him with a huff. ] A princess needs to know everyone protecting her.
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I've scouted the castle for days, princess, and Validar has hired at least one new guard most of those days, there is no way you've met all of them.
[...]
Us.
[Fuck.]
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[ Hah. Lyric smiles knowingly and looks back at him with a sense of triumph. ]
I think I know why you're here. [ And she has no means of stopping him, if he so chose to act. She's ten and unarmed, and he's got well over a foot of height on her. Outsmarting him is one thing, but if he decided to run, or attack her... well.
Her expression doesn't waver, and she continues. ] You're after my father, aren't you? [ The words leave her mouth with no trace of malice or judgment - she says it like it's a fact of life, like how the sun rises in the east and Plegia's a shithole.
In another part of the castle, nearby enough for both of them to hear, a commotion starts. "Hey! Get back here!" But her eyes stay locked on him. ]
Why?
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The princess standing there asking him why as if she doesnt know. Vero grits his teeth, clenches his hand. He doesn't want to hurt her. She's done nothing wrong and he's not a monster, despite his original intentions.]
Your father's a lunatic too obsessed with the damned cult to care about his people. He's letting Plegia burn, become a laughing stock, and we're suffering for it. The Plegian people. We couldn't -- we can't stand for it any longer.
[Add "bad mouthing the king" to the list of crimes Vero's committed in just a couple hours. He knew he was probably going to die here, so this is it. He braces himself for either the guards or the princess or whoever to come at him.]
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She raises her hand slowly, voice dropping to almost a whisper, almost too soft for him to hear. ]
... You don't want to die, do you?
[ She doesn't give him a chance to respond - she just grabs him by the wrist and tugs, trying to get him off balance enough so she can run back to her room with him in tow.
Lyric won't let him die. Not yet. ]
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He has no idea what she has planned but it cant be good whatever it is. It'll either be bad for just him - she's going to imprison or worse. Or, and he thinks he's afraid of this one the most in the moment, it'll be bad for the both of them. She's going to do something stupid because she's a child and thinks she can save him and they'll both end up on death row for treason.]
W-What are you doing?! Are you crazy?!
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She doesn't respond to his shouts until she tugs him into her bedroom (much too dull, much too lifeless for a child her age) and shuts the door behind them both. It's then that she looks up at him, a serious expression on her face. ]
If my father won't stand for you, then I will. [ Which she realizes is a bit of an odd thing to say to an assassin, but- ] If you were a bad person, you would have killed me by now.
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That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. [It's said with no bite. He sounds defeated actually. She's right.]
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That's why I can't let you throw your life away. I can't let you do this.
[ She walks past him, toward the back of her room. ] You're not the first to try and kill my father, and you won't be the last. But even if you did succeed, Plegia wouldn't accept a ten year-old queen. [ The words sound ludicrous even to her, and she's referring to herself. ] And none of the men by my father's side would be any better rulers. Nothing would change.
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There's also the fact that he still thinks he's going to die. Because, honestly -- ] Then what are you going to do with me?
Let me go and the guards kill me on the spot, or I'll be stupid enough to try this again.
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[ Which could be a very anxiety-inducing thought, if not for her next statement. ] I'm keeping you here as my personal retainer.
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I take back what I said earlier; that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard.
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I don't think you're wrong. [ About what, she won't make clear. She lets him stand at his full height once more as she continues. ] You must be strong, if you thought you could take down my father. And I need someone who understands what's going on outside the castle.
I don't know when I'll become queen - [ Not tonight, at least. But it could be soon. ] - but I want to be ready.
You deserve better.
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Who deserves better? Princess Lyric, with all due respect, you don't know me.
W-who's to say I won't use this as an opportunity to get closer to your father and kill him still? You're not ready to be queen? That's not my problem. I haven't killed you yet but --
[He can't even finish that. He does not want to kill Lyric. ]
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[ Her practiced poise breaks - her voice cracks. ] I hate what my father's doing. You - all our people - deserve better than this. [ She takes a deep, shuddering breath. ] But I can't do anything on my own.
That's why I need you. If you want to manipulate me, or betray me, that's fine - I'm smart enough to see through that. [ lyric you're ten ] But I'm willing to do anything I can to become the ruler Plegia deserves.
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Lyric is ten but she knows too much. She's seen too much and she has too much to carry on her shoulders already because of her pissant father.
She's still an idiot for even proposing this, but Vero can't say he doesn't agree with all her reasoning.] ...If you're going to make decisions like this on your own then someone has to look out for you when the consequences finally reach you.
[Sure, Vero, sure.]
I'll be your retainer.
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Thank you. [ She steps toward him again and rests her hand gently against the back of his. ] I promise to protect you, too.
[ She looks up at him, and though she's the one who looks tired, in her pajamas and everything, she tilts her head slightly in the direction of her much too large to be for a ten year old bed. ] You should stay here tonight - things won't calm down until morning. [ That, she knows from experience. It usually takes a bloody execution to change the tension in the air back to the normal amounts of tension. ] Get some rest.
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Don't worry about me. You, on the other hand... [Should go to sleep. It's past your bed time.
Vero takes a seat in the nearest chair. Probably near her desk.] I won't move from this spot, I promise.
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You really won't leave?
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You have my word.
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[ Quietly satisfied with his answer, Lyric gets nice and comfortable under the covers. Her eyes begin to droop as soon as her head hits the pillow, but she still thinks to ask something important before she drifts off completely, voice heavy from sleepiness. ] What's your name?
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She's hired him on as a retainer without knowing anything about him, including his name. And he already knows he would do anything in his power to protect her.
This is not how he expected this night to end at all.]
Vero. My name is Vero.