A/N: First of all, I'd like to thank you for taking your time to read this. I sincerely hope you like it! That being said, I haven't decided yet if I want to write this as a bunch of one-shots that take place years after one another, or as a whole story. I'd like if you could tell me what you think! Also, if you don't mind, could you drop a review? I'd be more than thankful! Anyway, here is the story! Enjoy!

The young man was lying down in his quarters, staring at the cold, metal ceiling above him. He would be in the great city of Dunwall within the hour, and if it was the seasickness or the nervousness the was causing the tight notch in his stomach, he couldn't tell.

The Royal Protector. The words were toying with his head. He still couldn't believe that he was serving under the Duke of Serkonos, but being a protector of the future Empress? It was all too much for him. 'It's not that different from being an assassin, really' The Duke told him 'You're still killing people'

The words, of course, were far from comforting. He didn't want to leave home, but there wasn't another option. He was certain that a man- no, an assassin - like him wouldn't have even been considered for the role if it wasn't for the way the Empire was practically falling apart. Emperor Euhorn had somehow managed to tie it all back together, and to ensure that Serkonos, the richest part of the Empire stayed, he agreed when the Duke suggested that he send his personal assassin(He didn't tell the Emperor what Corvo was, of course) to guard his daughter, as a way of showing that the people of Serkonos were trusted. The Emperor was understandably hesitant, but it was better than yet another war.

Still, the Emperor had enough sense to insist he meet Corvo first. They spoke for half an hour when the Emperor visited Serkonos, and when Euhorn decided that Corvo would do, the Duke had him on a boat for Dunwall two days later.

A few sharp raps on the door brought Corvo out of his thoughts.

"Yes?" He jolted upwards

"Sir, we should be at Dunwall Tower in less than an hour," the voice spoke, "Duke Ariano requests that you meet him in his quarters."

Corvo put his feet on the wooden floor. "Tell him I'll be there soon.", he said, trying to not sound tired.

"Of course, Sir"

He pulled himself out of bed, put on his clothes, brushed his teeth and combed his hair within fifteen minutes. Getting ready quickly was a skill he acquired when he started living with the Duke. Sometimes Ariano would have a guard wake Corvo up in the middle of the night and have him attend a party because someone that had done him wrong would be there, and they 'needed taking care of'.

The man had a way with words.

He heaved opened the heavy metal door and made his way to the Duke's chamber. No doubt Ariano was eager to lecture Corvo how to behave, as if he hadn't spent the last few years doing exactly that. For someone that was almost never sober, he had quite a bonton set out for everyone around him. Still, there was something about him Corvo liked. Maybe it was just that- they way the man almost never cared about anything as long as there were cigars and whiskey within reach. More than once, the man had told Corvo to "Shut the fuck up and have a goddamn drink" when Corvo would ramble on about a previous mission, or worry about a conspiracy against the Duke.

He felt that he needed someone like him in his life.

Two guards waited for Corvo in front of an oak door lined with gold. They were dressed, as always, in expensive clothing that no guard should have to wear. They opened it and let Corvo in without saying a word.

The room was covered in smoke so thick, the young man almost choked. He'd gotten used to the way the Duke always had a cigar in his mouth, but in a small room without any windows, it was borderline unbearable. The sharp smell of whiskey only added to the charm. The fat man at the end of the room, however, didn't seem to mind at all.

"Well, well, well, you got here fast", Ariano chuckled. Another puff of smoke curled through his yellow teeth, past his lips and wove its way into his grayish beard. The man leaned back in his leather chair and put both feet on the table in front of him. "Sit down"

Corvo made is way to the chair in front of him, observing his Master as he did so. The Duke was dressed in a purple-yellow striped silk shirt that was so small on him he was surprised how the buttons didn't burst. Over that he wore a coat of the same purple hue, and pants that were rolled up to his ankles. The gold chains, bracelets and rings that covered his ebony skin made him look even more ridiculous. The man looked like he was leading a circus show, and not going to see the Emperor.

He poured Corvo two fingers of whiskey and slid it across the the table to him.

"No thanks," Corvo politely declined, pushing the glass away from him "I'd prefer to stay sober today"

"Whatever you want," The Duke said, unamused, before taking a swig from his. He slammed the glass on the table, causing it to make a clunk sound that echoed throughout the room. He then let out a heavy sigh and rubbed his temple. The atmosphere in the room quickly shifted.

"You know how big this is, right?"

Corvo let out a forced, somewhat painful smile "I wouldn't have been losing sleep over it if it wasn't"

"Kid," He put out his cigar and pulled another from his coat pocket, "You're going to become the Royal Protector. You know when this has happened before? Someone not from that damned Gristol protecting the Empress? Here's a hint: never" he spat out, his voice somewhat threatening.

Corvo squirmed in his seat."I won't disappoint you." he burst out, then bit his tongue. By the look of the Duke's expression, he should have just shut up.

"I know you won't." Ariano said. He pressed his lips into a thin line before continuing, "Just know you shouldn't be taking this lightly. Everyone thinks Serkonos is full of nothing but merchants and whores, and you've been given one hell of a chance to prove 'em wrong. You're presenting us all, Corvo, just don't fuck around."

Corvo sunk in his seat and silently nodded. He'd never seen the Duke so serious in his life. There's a first time for everything, I suppose.

Jessamine sat next to her father, trying to contain her excitement. She had already choked him with questions, all of which he had failed to answer. "You shall see for yourself soon enough, little dove", he told her calmly as always. Why wouldn't he just tell her? She shuffled in her seat, trying to loosen her corset that had been tied a bit too tight.

Next to her overwhelming eagerness, she also felt a pang of nervousness. She looked up at Jax, her father's bodyguard, who looked terribly unamused. Despite being around him her entire life, she hadn't known him to well. He wasn't cold, no, but he was quite the dark horse. Besides that he was obedient and that he liked chocolate (she had found this out when she gave him a box as a gift for finding her cat), she knew nothing about him. Then again, it didn't bother her too much. He was nice to her, and that was all that mattered, right?

Suddenly, the sound of drums, followed by trumpets and other instruments Jessamine couldn't name filled the air with a concoction of serious and playful notes. Within seconds, she saw them slowly exiting the waterlock.

First, the Duke's guards came out. They all had dark hair, combed back with oil and smooth ebony skin that contrasted their bright suits. The men's broad shoulders and tall build allowed them to tower over almost all the Girstol guards, making them look borderline pathetic in comparison. They aligned themselves in a perfect line around the courtyard, all of them walking in perfect synchronization with the beat of the drums.

Jessamines guessing was interrupted when her eyes averted themselves to the dancers. The women were almost as tall as the men, all having matching long legs and strangely braided hair. They wore golden jewelry and vibrant-colored clothing that tugged at their full hips as they swayed back and forth, their arms flowing around them like a summer's breeze. Jessamine felt hypnotized as she watched them move with unmatched elegance, each of them as beautiful as a nightingale's song.

Next, the gifts. Opened chests revealed the pounds and pounds of jewels and gold inside them, as bags of spices released piquant smells that nipped at Jessamine's nose. All sorts of gifts, from diamonds to strange foods filled the courtyard. She suddenly really, really liked Serkonos.

Finally, a short, chubby man walked into the courtyard. The Duke of Serkonos! A voiced announced. The fat man had tried to walk elegantly, yet horribly failed and ended up looking like a duck waddling on ice. He didn't interest her at all, however, the young man behind him did.

He looked so strange. Most of the people barely wore enough clothing to cover themselves, yet a dark outfit covered his ivory skin from his shoulders to his feet. His night-like hair tickled at his jaw, barely passing it, softly cloaking his cheeks. Jessamine could describe for days about what made him stand out, but his most fascinating feature were his ice-colored eyes. When they glanced up at her-or was it her father?- for a brief moment, she felt a chill run down her spine. She didn't even know him, and already he scared her.

Yet somehow, he interested her beyond words.