Author's Note: Hello! Oh, my gosh! Is this what I think it is? Two updates in a row? Yup! Aren't you so proud of me? You asked me how many chapters until Edward and Bella meet? The answer: ZERO. Read on!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.


Chapter 4

The night was cool and clear. The moon was out and shining brightly, as it guided the two ghost-like figures through their mission. They were dressed similarly, in dark clothes and a half-mask that covered the bottom half of their face.

They approached the port stealthily and hid behind a tree. One of them peeked out and watched as a man surrounded by five guards spoke to the owner of the boat quietly. He glanced around nervously as the owner nodded and walked away to prep his boat.

"I'll take three," Bella muttered. "You take the rest and get to the man before he does anything funny."

Seth glanced at his mistress worriedly. "Are you sure?"

She rolled her eyes. "Are you actually worrying about me?" She darted out from her hiding place and cried out as she lunged at the guards. Seth followed her quickly.

Taken by surprise, the guards yelped and barely managed to withdraw their swords. With three quick strikes with her own sword, Bella took down three of the guards with ease. Seth twirled gracefully and took down the last two with a single stroke of his knife.

Though alarmed, the man backed away quickly and fumbled for something inside his sleeve. He brought out a small white package tied with a rope.

"Stop him!" Bella ordered.

Seth, who was nearest to the man, kicked the package away from his hands. The poison flew into the air and landed in the water with a soft plunk.

The young man hit the back of the man's knees and forced him to the ground. He held his knife to the man's throat, warning him silently not to try anything funny.

Bella turned to the owner of the boat, who had been gaping at them in terror. "Go. Do not speak of what you saw tonight, or you will meet a similar fate. Do you understand?"

The owner nodded frantically and undid the ropes that were tied to the dock. He pushed away, and he rowed quickly, eager and thankful to get away.

"Search him," Bella instructed in a low voice.

Seth obliged, while his mistress began kicking the five fallen guards into the huge, deep river. They would never be found.

Seth showed her what he'd found. There were many different types of poisons found hidden in the man's body and his bag. There were also two books and a set of extra clothes inside the sack.

One of the books was a guide on poisons. Bella tossed it away with a snort after a brief look through it. The second book was much more interesting.

"You keep a journal, eh, fella?" she mused as she skimmed through it. "Isn't that a woman's job?"

Seth pressed his knife against his throat threateningly when the man moved. "Don't even think about it."

"So," Bella said, closing the journal with a satisfied smirk on her face. "It's old Ministers of Personnel and Finance up to their tricks again, eh? Looks like the Black Faction lost two of their biggest allies tonight."

The man's eyes showed terror. He wasn't supposed to get caught. He wasn't supposed to give the faction away.

Bella tutted. "Too bad. Won't they be shocked to hear that they were caught?"

"P-please," the man stammered. "Who…who are you? What do you want?"

"Who I am isn't important," Bella said. "You won't know even if I told you anyway. What I want is very simple. I wanted names, and I have it. Written in your own handwriting…" She waved the journal in his face. "Here it is."

The man gulped. "Please spare me. I only did what they ordered me to do… I've done nothing wrong."

"Ah," Bella said, looking almost sympathetic. "But killing people is a crime. And you'll pay for murdering innocent people."

The man barely had time to yelp before Seth's knife silenced him forever. His body landed on the floor with a thud.

Bella stared down at the body coldly. "It's called karma. Perhaps you've heard of it?"

The night was silent, with only the rush of the water echoing through the swaying trees. Coldness lingered in the air, and it seemed to radiate in every direction from the younger teenager.

"Job done," Bella said coolly. "Get rid of him, Seth," she said, nodding at the body. "I'd like to go home and get some sleep."


It was nearly two in the morning when they returned. But the lights were on in the master bedroom of the house, indicating that Charlie and Jasper were still up, waiting for them.

After a moment of hesitation, Bella bounded up to their porch and called softly, "Father." Seth waited behind her.

"Come in."

Bella glanced once at her brother-like bodyguard, who gave her a slight nod. He would stay outside and guard them. She slipped inside.

To her surprise, her mother, too, was still waiting for her, though she was suppressing her boredom by sewing. Her artwork was turning out to be beautiful, and the colorful stitches consisted of the Palace of Gardenia.

"Sit, Bella," Jasper said, greeting her with his easy smile. "I see you returned unscathed."

Renee looked up, and shrieked softly. "Not completely. You're hurt!"

Bella glanced down at her arm, which was splattered with blood. "No, Mother. This isn't my blood. Rest assured."

Renee pursed her lips and sighed. "Very well." She returned to her stitches.

"So," Charlie prompted. "Success, I hope?"

Bella took out the journal from her embrace and slid it across the table toward her father. "The man seems to have recorded everything that happened between him and the Volturi in his journal. The names are in there as well. The Ministers of Personnel and Finance are in for it this time."

Charlie flipped through the pages with an impressed smile on his face. "Great work. And the man?"

"He'll never be found."

Jasper smiled widely. "Good job, Bella. I'm proud of you."

"Am I free now?" she asked.

"No more requests," Charlie promised. "You are free."

A shadow of a smile flickered across her face. She rose and said, "Good night, Father, Mother. Good night, Jasper."

"Good night, darling," Renee said, while the men nodded.

"Free?" Seth teased quietly when she emerged from the room.

Bella sighed happily. "Free."


Edward strode briskly through the corridors, toward the main throne room, where his father and his cabinet were waiting. His official navy blue robes, with the royal family's coat of arms stamped on his chest and back, flapped around his ankles. He stopped in front of the double doors.

"His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Edward," one of the guards announced before he and his colleague opened the doors.

The ministers of higher rank were making an aisle from the throne to the doors. They were sitting, cross-legged, on the wooden floors, while their assistants sat behind them in blue robes. They bowed their heads to the floor as Edward walked in and bowed to his father.

King Carlisle nodded. "Edward. We were waiting for you." He gestured to the less grand, smaller throne to his left. "Join us, my son."

Edward's gaze flickered to the two ministers who were sitting nearest to the King, on one side of the aisle. They were proudly sitting in the spots His Majesty had put them in with trust in their loyalties. How dare they betray the royal family?

His gaze flickered to the other side of the aisle, where Charlie Swan sat with his son nearest to the King. Edward knew for a fact that the Minister of War and Defense would never waver in his loyalties.

His footsteps echoed as he approached his seat and sat down. His eyes roamed around the room at the ministers, and then flickered to the journal already in place in front of his father, on a desk.

"I have an announcement to make, gentlemen," Carlisle said with a bitter, cold smile on his face. "Something that took me by surprise. Something that I didn't know that was happening."

The ministers shifted, Black and White Factions alike. Their leader sounded so betrayed, so disappointed. King Carlisle of the Cullen clan royal family was known for his fairness and compassion. Everybody loved him and respected him for his justified ways. It wasn't good that he was disappointed with something.

"As I am sure you are aware of," Carlisle continued, "the people have been suffering from a mysterious illness. Dying…and leaving absolutely no symptoms whatsoever in what had killed them… Interesting, I thought."

His voice was slow and deliberate as he looked at each one of his ministers. "I thought that I should investigate in the matter. But it turns out…the Crown Prince had already taken action."

Edward felt the men stir, and caught the glare of some of the Black Faction. He stared them down.

Carlisle picked up the journal and held it up. "Do you know what this is, gentlemen?"

All of them looked up. Even the two proud ministers couldn't hide their curiosity.

"This is a journal…written by a man who specializes in poison."

Edward saw the Ministers of Personnel and Finance flinch. Their faces were turning pale, as they realized what this emergency gathering in the throne room was about.

"Did you know that this man invented a very special and unique type of poison?" Carlisle asked. "Once taken, the poison does not leave a trace…and kills a person quietly, but painfully. No trace…whatsoever."

Edward felt his father's anger radiating throughout the hall. It's starting, he thought. He's angry.

"The Crown Prince brought this journal to me, upon finishing his investigation," Carlisle said. "I read it through…and I discovered some very interesting information. It appears…that the man wrote down everything that his 'masters' had ordered him to do, including secretly poisoning the crops before giving it out to the commoners…so that they would be killed."

"But, Your Majesty," one of the Black Faction ministers called out. "Who in their right mind would dare to do that?"

Carlisle turned to him. "I agree. Who…in their right mind…would dare to do that…right in front of my nose?" He looked directly at the Ministers of Personnel and Finance, who were looking straight ahead, avoiding his eyes. "Lord Proctor?"

"Huh?" the Minister of Personnel said, startled. "Y-your Majesty?"

"Who do you think it was?"

Edward saw him starting to break a sweat. "I…I don't know, sir."

"Ah," Carlisle said pleasantly. "I see. You…don't…know."

The throne room was eerily silent. No one dared to speak.

"What about you, Lord Sanford?" Carlisle prompted. "Who do you think it is?"

The Minister of Finance jumped, looking incredibly nervous. "I…I don't know, sir."

There was a loud bang as Carlisle brought his fist down on the arm of his golden throne.

"Do not lie to me!" he shouted. His furious voice echoed throughout the room. Everyone flinched except for Edward and the Swans. "How dare you lie to me? Do you think I am blind? Do you mistake me for a fool? There is pure evidence right in front of your eyes, and yet, you still sit there, proudly, as though you own the world! You should be begging for your lives!"

The two men seemed to tremble, then threw themselves into the middle of the aisle, on their knees and bowing to the throne.

"Sir!" Lord Proctor shouted. "Please forgive us! We did not mean any harm to the commoners-"

"Have mercy, sir!" Lord Sanford cried. "We were mistaken!"

"Sir-"

"Your Majesty-"

"Silence!" Carlisle ordered. "You have no right to beg! How dare you? You betrayed my trust in you and decided to harm those we should protect! And you call yourselves ministers of the King's cabinet? Guards! Take them away and lock these traitors up!"

Four guards rushed in, and each pair dragged a screaming minister out of the throne room.

Even members of their fellow Black Faction look disgusted, as though they couldn't believe that their colleagues had resorted to such cowardly crimes without even consulting them.

"Royal Secretary!" Carlisle said. "There will be an immediate removal of those two traitors from the King's cabinet. Their status in society will be stripped to nothing, and they will be executed tomorrow. Their families will be banished to a remote island, far away from the Capital. Is that understood?"

The Royal Secretary, who stood on neither side of the factions, bowed. "Your orders will be carried out, sir."


"Great work, gentlemen," Edward said, as the Swans flanked him on either side while they walked back from the throne room. "You've done marvelously."

"Merely our duty, sir," Charlie said.

Edward paused when he saw another set of a train waiting for him outside his chambers.

"Grace," he greeted the lady attendant, who bowed. "Is the princess here?"

Grace smiled. "She was getting worried about you. She skipped her lesson with her teacher and rushed over here, insisting that she must see the Crown Prince."

Edward smiled and turned to Charlie and Jasper. "You may go, gentlemen. Have fun training your men this afternoon and doing paperwork. Now that the action is over for now, you might as well enjoy the free time."

They smiled before bowing and walking away.

Edward nodded at Grace before entering his chambers. He found his older sister sitting down by the table, next to the head chair, waiting for him.

Her posture was perfect. Her back was straightened as she leaned against the rigid chair, and her neat, elegant sky blue dress hugged her figure nicely. She stared straight ahead, her blue eyes piercingly beautiful.

"Hello, Alice," he greeted her, sitting down in the head seat. "What a surprise."

Alice turned her accusing gaze to her. "You promised me the last time that you won't risk your life anymore."

"I did," Edward answered mildly. "And I didn't risk my life."

"Then what's this about a poison expert and killing-"

"I didn't do the job myself," he interrupted. "It was Charlie Swan and Jasper."

Alice's eyes brightened slightly at the mention of Jasper, and a hint of a blush crossed her face. "Even so…"

"Are you getting worried for Jasper now?" Edward teased, grinning.

She cleared her throat and ignored the question. "So their men did the job, did they? Have you ever wondered who these men were? They have been helping you since years ago. Don't you think you should express your gratitude personally?"

Edward recalled the words of his father earlier, when they had been conversing privately. Carlisle had expressed his curiosity for these efficient men as well, expressing desire to meet them and thank them personally. In truth, he, too, was getting rather curious.

"I'll ask Lord Swan about it later," he said. "How's Emmett doing?"

"You tell me," Alice sniffed. "You see him more often than I do. While I'm inside, learning how to sew and learn the history of our family tree, Emmett and you are outside, learning to fight and use the sword. Won't you take me out to one of your soccer games with your friends one of these days, Edward?"

"It's spring," Edward said gently. "You'll get a tan. The sun is intense these days, sister."

Alice huffed and stood up. "Very well. I see how it is. You'll exclude me from your circle, as you always did."

"You know that's not what I'm doing."

"I haven't seen our cousin in a long time either," she pouted. "The next time you see him, ask him to stop by my chambers. And please, no more dangerous risks."

"I promise," Edward said. Anything to please his sister.

Her face softened as she reached up to tousle his hair lightly before sweeping out of the room.

Edward sighed. He felt stuffy. He wanted some fresh air.


She felt light and happy, free of all pressure. She and Seth strode through the dirt streets, watching pedestrians and merchants interact with each other. The street was busy and bustling with activity. It was always interesting to watch.

Bella narrowly stepped out of the way of a huge man who was waving his hands in exasperation upon hearing a price. Her dress had nearly ripped.

She scowled. This was why she didn't do dresses. Her mother insisted upon them. Now, whenever she was out in public, she wore expensive dresses that screamed out the fact that she was from a rich family.

Her left hand felt bare, as she always carried around a sheathed sword or a knife when she walking around her family's manor. She envied Seth, who was currently wearing regular, aristocratic clothes of a private warrior, with a sheathed sword in his left hand.

"I don't even know why I bother walking around the streets, Seth," Bella commented as she watched a child walking with her mother. "If I don't want to wear dresses at all, I shouldn't even be walking around in public."

Seth merely smiled.

They came to an intersection. As Bella was trying to decide which way to go, her eyes flickered to a man wearing a bamboo, circular hat and plain, commoner blue clothes.

He wasn't doing anything special, just asking prices for rice while a young man accompanied him. They looked like teacher and student.

Bella's eyes slid from him to a stand, where a woman was selling little knives.

"My lady," Seth warned in a low voice. "You're in public. Please, resist the temptation."

But she couldn't resist the pull of curiosity. She drifted toward the stand and peered at the various weapons.

"Bella," Seth whispered exasperatedly. "Mind your actions."

"What's wrong with looking through knives?" Bella asked, reaching down and picking up a silver knife. "Women carry them all the time for protection."

"You carry one around to play with it," Seth countered quietly, so that the sales lady could not hear him.

Bella smiled privately to herself. She put down the knife and turned to leave.

Suddenly, two kids came running through the streets, playing chase. They bumped into her, and she stepped on her long, cursed dress. She tried to stop herself from falling, but it was no use. She had absolutely no coordination when she was in these dresses.

Seth reached for her, alarmed, but someone else got to her first.

Bella caught a whiff of an almost intoxicating smell, something that smelled of men's perfume and orange blossoms. When the stranger grabbed her shoulders and stopped her fall, she'd had to fight the urge to brush him off. That wouldn't have been a very nice thing to do, and besides, he would've thought it was strange that a woman had such quick reflexes.

"Are you alright?" the stranger asked. He eased her back on her feet gently.

Bella turned to face a startlingly handsome young man around sixteen. He was wearing clothes of expensive silk. He looked like a son of a rich aristocrat family, perhaps of some high-ranking minister official in the King's cabinet. He had a man right behind him, who was wearing similar clothes.

"Yes, thank you," Bella said, bowing her head slightly.

Seth's eyes were as wide as coins. He looked ready to bow in respect, but the young man, too, had spotted him already. Upon recognizing him, he shook his head at the bodyguard slightly.

Seth was confused, but didn't acknowledge the young man. What was the Crown Prince doing outside the Palace walls?

Edward turned back to Bella, who was watching him suspiciously. "You're welcome. You should be more careful." He studied her, wondering if he'd seen her somewhere before. She looked rather familiar.

She was young, maybe around fourteen, but she was already starting to become beautiful. She had long mahogany hair that rested upon her shoulders, and she was wearing an expensive, silk dress of navy blue. Was she from a rich family?

Edward's eyes flickered back to Seth, who was avoiding his eyes, as though he was trying to dodge the obvious silent question in his eyes: Who is this girl that you obviously serve?

Edward had met Seth a couple times when he had come to the Palace with Jasper. He'd found the young man an interesting presence. Mysterious and quiet…excellent at sword-fighting and the martial arts.

Bella felt a flicker of annoyance. It had been the kids that had knocked her over, not her coordination.

"Well, well, who do we have here?"

Bella and Edward both turned. Seth and Edward's companion turned as well, warily.

Bella recognized the man with the bamboo hat from earlier. The teacher. She frowned when she saw that the elderly man's eyes were twinkling mischievously.

"Green…eyes," the old man said slowly, staring intensely at Edward. Edward felt vaguely uncomfortable. "Beautiful…emerald…eyes…"

"Master?" his student asked curiously. "What are you talking about?"

"'The green-eyed one of the royal family shall always be the sage king chosen by the heavens'," the old man hummed.

Edward froze as he recognized the familiar lines. His companion, too, tensed, glancing at the young prince.

Bella frowned as she, too, recognized the lines from a history book she'd read about Gardenia. The lines were a prophecy about the royal family of the kingdom, told nearly twenty years ago by a wise priest.

Common people knew the gist of the prophecy, but they did not know it word for word. Bella thought it was odd that this old man seemed to know it.

"You have beautiful green eyes, young man," the old man chuckled. "You've grown strong and wise. As I knew you would."

Edward was confused. "What?"

"And next to him, his future!" the elderly man exclaimed excitedly. He was looking directly at Bella, who couldn't help taking a step back. "His purpose of living and fighting…the poor child that will go through the hardships of an unfair life…our queen!"

Bella blinked. "Pardon me?" She was starting to think that this old man was quite insane.

"Child, do not despair," the old man said to her firmly. "Do not ever give up. Your time will come." He paused. "How very interesting. So this is how fate wants to play you two. Meeting when they are young…loving when they are young."

He smiled happily at the pair of them. "I can rest now that I have seen you healthy and strong. Come, child." He motioned to his student, and they walked off.

Edward was shaken. The way the old man had looked at him…it was as though he knew that he was the Crown Prince. How had he seen through his disguise?

Bella was annoyed. Insane old men these days…

She turned to the stranger that had saved her. "Thank you, sir. Now, if you'll excuse me…" She bowed politely before walking away swiftly.

Seth bowed slightly in respect before following his mistress.

"John," Edward said as he stared at the young girl's retreating figure. "Was it just me, or did she look really familiar?"

"Don't you mean beautiful, sir?" John asked, grinning as he recognized the lust in the prince's eyes.

Edward looked at him. "No. Definitely familiar."


AN: So? What'd you think of that old man? Getting interesting? And there was some action too... Personally, I think Bella's awesome in this story. Nothing like a girl kicking ass! Leave me lots of love and reviews! Keep 'em coming! And Merry Christmas!