Ch. 12 A Dangerous Date.
Inigo stood in the market place, looking through the various shops for gifts that he could buy for the various women he had met so far. During his brief time as Prince Xander's retainer, the Nohrian Prince had kept Inigo busy with various chores and guard duties. It was rare for him to have any free time to himself now, and Inigo planned to make the most of it.
"Hmm, I wonder if any women would like these?" Inigo questioned, looking at some sea shell bracelets.
As Inigo continued to scan through the shops, he noticed that the crowd seemed to disperse from the streets as Camilla walked through, escorted by Severa and a pair of soldiers.
" Ah! Lady Camilla. Fancy meeting you here." Inigo was quick to greet the attractive woman standing before him.
" Why, Laslow. What coincidence! Out for a stroll?" Camilla greeted.
" Yes, a change of pace seemed in order. And it appears I chose just the place! Any day on which I run into you, Lady Camilla, is a fine day indeed."
" Are you really so pleased to see me?
" But of course! You're a welcome sight at all times, Lady Camilla." Inigo was quick to respond.
"Don't listen to word this numbskull says, Lady Camilla." Severa warned. "He says that to every woman he meets."
" Oh, is that so?" Camilla lifted an eye brow in suspicion.
" That makes me sound like a scoundrel! I wouldn't be so insincere as to say it to a woman who wasn't worthy. It's just that, to me, every woman meets that criteria..."
"Well, how gentlemanly!" Camilla sarcastically complimented.
"Yea, and how convenient." Severa added. "Really Laslow, I thought I already taught you a lesson about flirting with every girl you meet."
"Oh, umm, that." Inigo blushed, remembering Severa chasing him around camp. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I can't resist complimenting a woman of such elegance and beauty, and if I may be bold Lady Camilla, your radiance outshines the pack.
"Why, thank you." Camilla couldn't help but laugh at how thick this failure of a womanizer was trying to lay it.
"Tell me, Lady Camilla, what do you say we go out for some tea, just the two of us?" Inigo now offered.
"Tea with you? Hmm..." Camilla began to consider, with Severa nearly throwing a fit.
"Tea with him? Princess Camilla, please, you can't honestly be falling for his drabble." Severa tried to interject.
"Tell you what, Laslow, I'll do it on one condition." Camilla began to compromise. "Promise me you won't flirt with or woo any other woman, ever again. Do that, and the tea will be my treat."
" Wh-what you ask of me...it's impossible. There's simply no way." Inigo seethed
"Then enjoy your teatime alone." Camilla responded, walking away.
"See you later, Laslow." Severa smirked, following her liege.
As Camilla walked away, she placed a hand on her hip as she seemed to purposely move her rear from side to side with each step in a seductive matter; taunting Inigo.
Inigo could only sigh.
"Shut down again. Oh well, I suppose I'll just have to continue my practice."
Just as Camilla was nearly out of sight, Inigo's eyes caught a rather peculiar sight. Last time he had checked, the eldest princess had two retainers, why was Severa the only one with her?
Inigo watched as Beruka silently leapt down from the rooftops in a side alley, keeping her head hidden beneath a cloak.
"Oh hey, there's Beruka." Inigo noted. "Beruka!"
Inigo began to happily wave towards the assassin, drawing her attention.
Beruka gritted her teeth. She had been so careful not to draw attention to herself. How did this flirtatious fool see her? Her cover was going to be blown.
"Beruka, over here." Laslow once gained greeted.
"Laslow, go away." Beruka snapped in a hushed tone.
"What? Why I was only coming over to greet you. Why a lovely lady such as yourself is alone all the time is a true mystery. Why don't we have a chat? I bet I can get you to crack a smile!."
"What part of go away didn't make any sense?" Beruka barked, trying to look past Laslow and gaze cautiously into the crowd.
"Do you really dislike me that much? I'm sure you've got the wrong idea about me. Let's go have that tea, and I'll prove it."
Beruka, ignored Inigo's advances as she swore, "Damn, she noticed me."
"Who noticed you?" Inigo questioned. "Why are you staring so intently over there."
Inigo then noticed a young woman with purple hair, wearing a cloak similar to Beruka's. However, as soon as the woman sensed Beruka and Inigo's gaze on her, she slipped away into the crowd, vanishing from sight.
"Oh hey, that woman. Is that who you're looking at?" Inigo commented.
"Yes, and now I've lost her. This is your fault." Beruka snarled.
"I'm sorry. Why were you trying to stalk her." Inigo questioned.
"Because I believe she's an assassin hired to kill members of royalty." Beruka explained.
"What? But that can't be." Inigo tried to defend the stranger.
"Oh, why is that?" Beruka narrowed her eyes.
"Because now that I think about it, I recognized that woman. We actually had tea together the other night. She was such a charming girl. She seemed rather enthralled with me in fact. She couldn't stop asking questions about what it was like to be a vassal of the royal family. She seemed particular interested to know everything I knew about our beloved Princess Camilla...oh no."
"You idiot!" Beruka hissed. "I swear, if anything happens to Princess Camilla because of you, I will kill you myself."
Beruka then dashed into the crowd, leaving Inigo behind.
"Beruka wait!"
However, it was already too late. Just like her opponent, Beruka had instantly vanished in the crowd, blending with her surroundings.
"Oh dear? If what Beruka said was true, I need to do something." Inigo thought out loud, worried for Camilla and the other royals. However in times like this, there was only one person that Inigo could think of that could find a way to remedy the predicament.
Inigo quickly sought out Morgan who was accompanied by Owain, practicing their magical acts. There the fool-hearted gentlemen told his two friends his story. Owain could only rub his forehead as if in pain; his friend's naivety leaving even him in dismay at times.
"Really, you asked out an assassin, and you told her everything you knew about the royal family and the castle walls? Truly you have caused a most fiendish calamity." Owain commented.
"Yea, the fact that a girl was so interested in Laslow, probably should have set off some alarms." Morgan chuckled.
"Yes, well you don't have to rub it in." Inigo sighed. "The question is how am I going to rectify this situation?"
Morgan closed the book he was reading as he began to think attentively.
"Hmm, this is a big deal." Morgan commented, as he continued to work out a plan in his head. "Say Laslow, do you think you'd be able to find that woman again?"
"Perhaps." Inigo responded. "If it's one thing I'm skilled at, it's spotting a cute girl in a crowd."
"In that case, I think I might have an idea." Morgan began.
Later that day Inigo searched far and wide for his lovely assassin until he finally found her skulking in the market place.
"Well hello there, Long time no see." Inigo greeted with a friendly smile.
The assassin seemed to tense up as soon as Inigo approached. No doubt she had seen him with Beruka and would be on her guard.
"I've been looking all over for you. I saw you here earlier, but you ran off for some reason before I could get a chance to say hello."
The assassin stared at Inigo blankly. She was no doubly wondering if this was a trap being set by the young man who had been so foolish to give her information before. Inigo had to work fast. He could see her hand reaching for something behind her cloak; if he wasn't careful, a fight between them could easily break out, and the assassin would most likely use the panic in the streets to vanish.
"I was telling my friend all about you." Inigo continued. "About how we had such a lovely evening together, in which Beruka spewed off how you're nothing but trouble. Honestly, I never expected her to be the jealous type."
"Oh really? The assassin finally spoke up. "So you honestly took all this effort hunting me down just so you could ask me out on another date? Or is it something else, you desired from me?"
"What oh no." Inigo declined going slightly red as he gave a nervous smile. "Having the company of such a charming woman like yourself is more than enough."
The assassin looked at the smiling fool standing before her, as if once again weighing her options with him. Surely no one was this gullible. Then again, he had been more than easy to deceive at first. She doubted someone like him would have the capabilities of being this deceitful.
"Very well then, I accept you're invitation. Let's go." The assassin instructed.
"What...you mean now?" Inigo questioned with concern.
"Of course, why not? Unless you have other plans?"
"Plans? No, of course not." Ingio responded. "Tell me, where would you like us to have our date then?"
"Hmm, I've got just the spot, please follow me."
The female assassin lead Inigo through the streets of the capitol. Eventually they made their way to an old restaurant where the female assassin had requested a private room for the two to dine in.
"So, how are you getting used to the capitol?" Inigo asked the assassin, pretending to make small talk with her. "If I remember correctly, you just moved here a few weeks ago?"
"It's going about the same."
"Still working odd jobs? You know I could try to put in a word for you at the castle. They're always looking for new maids if you're willing to work hard. I'm sure you'd fit in fine."
"Oh really? That's quite generous of you." The Assassin smiled, as ideas began to form in her head
"What do you mean you won't let me enter!? Stand aside, for I, Odin of Jet Black, am here to apprehend a shadowy fiend that lurks from all corners!"
"Oh dear." Inigo groaned as he placed a hand over his face. Apparently Owain had forgotten his signal and was instead going to barge in early.
Odin's booming voice had instantly alerted the assassin as she jumped to her feet and drew a dagger.
"Now, now, perhaps he's looking for someone else." Inigo tried to calm the situation to no avail.
"Prepare to die!" The assassin hissed.
As the assassin lunged towards Inigo, he quickly drew a dagger of his own to block the attack.
"Sorry, but I'm afraid I didn't become Prince Xander's vassal with my charm alone." Inigo informed.
"While I always hate drawing my blade against a lovely woman, I can't exactly let myself lose my head over you."
Before the battle between Inigo and the assassin could progress any further, the young woman fell to the ground, drifting into a deep sleep. Morgan then rose out from Inigo's shadow with a victorious grin.
"Well, not exactly how I had it planned, but nothing like a little improvising to assure a safe success." The half dragon spoke.
"Now foul creature of death, prepare yourself to be at the mercy of my aching blood!" Owain barged in. However, upon stepping inside, he already found their target lying on the ground unconscious.
"I got my entrance wrong, didn't I." Owain finally deduced.
"Just a little." Morgan remarked. "But it looks like someone else is about to be right on time."
As if on cue, Camilla, along with her retainers forced their way into the room with a pair of soldiers. Beruka looked at the scene in dismay, as the three men stood over the unconscious assassin victoriously.
"Just for the record, this was all them." Morgan pointed to his two friends.
"I can't believe it." Beruka spoke in dismay. "You two actually managed to catch her."
"Well, it wasn't exactly how we had planned." Inigo admitted.
"Yea, but the results are what matters." Morgan reminded. "Looks like Princess Camilla and her siblings can sleep soundly now knowing that we've caught the assassin.
"Indeed." Camilla congratulated. "I must admit I'm impressed. This one has been slipping through our fingers for quite some time now. Guards take her away. I look forward to making her interrogation painful."
Later that day, Camilla walked along the halls of castle. She had just finished partaking in the tormenting of their new prisoner, getting what information she could from her. As the eldest princess walked past the ballroom hall, her ears caught the sound of music coming from inside. That was strange; the only time the hall was in used was during parties or for private instructions in arts of dance and music. Neither of which was scheduled to Camilla's knowledge. Fulfilling her curiosity, the eldest princess opened the door to see Inigo dancing around the ballroom as a phonograph played.
Despite Inigo's fool hearted philandering, his dancing skills were superb. The young man didn't miss a step as he elegantly skipped and spun around the ballroom floor; his arms and legs moving in perfect rhythm of the music.
Coming from a family of well-trained dancers, Inigo had been taught by his mother. While he still felt uneasy performing in front of crowds, that didn't stop him from practicing in private. Not only did it serve as a good exercise for him, but it also relieved stress. Despite being successful at capturing the assassin, he still felt anxious. Perhaps behind his constant smile, he was still nervous about residing in Nohr.
As the music reaches its climax, Inigo leapt into air, spinning multiple times, before landing on the very last note, posing as he bowed to his imaginary audience.
"Well Laslow, that was quite the show you put on. I must say I'm quite impressed." Camilla complimented.
"Oh, P-princes Camilla, I-if you're watching please say something sooner. Thinking about someone watching in secret is embarrassing." Inigo suddenly became flustered.
"My apologize, I was too entranced by your dance to say anything. I never knew you were so talented."
"I'm afraid I'm undeserving of such flattery." Inigo seemed to become quickly humble about his dancing skills. "That dance was only a practice. If I were to perform it for a real audience, I'd have a lot of work to do."
"Your style is one I didn't recognize. Is it from your home kingdom?"
"Close enough I suppose." Inigo informed.
"Hmm." Camilla put her hand to her chin as if thinking quietly to herself. "Laslow, wait here. I'll be right back."
The eldest princess left the room, where Inigo waited patiently as commanded; the young man concerned and confused by what idea Nohr's eldest princess had contrived. Luckily he didn't have to wait long as Camilla was quick to returned pulling Elise alongside with her.
"Laslow, I want you to become Elise's new dance instructor."
"W-what?!" Inigo suddenly burst.
"You see, my little sister here has yet to master the fine art of dance; a skill that is an utmost requirement if she is to become a proper lady. Therefore she needs a dance instructor, and I chose you."
"Hear that Laslow? You're going to be my new dance instructor. We're going to have so much fun; you're way less stuffy than my other instructors."
"Wait…but I haven't even… I'm afraid I must decline. My skills are mostly self taught and they are not worthy of taking on an apprentice, especially one of your stations."
"So you were able to learn all of that on your own?" Camilla asked, now seeming even more impressed.
"Well, I did have a good teacher when I was younger, but yes." Inigo admitted.
"In that case, I think you're more than qualified. It's one thing to learn skills from a mentor, but to gain them on your own takes even greater talent." Camilla spoke.
"Come on Laslow, I bet you're a great teacher." Elise tried to encourage. "Please."
"Oh very well." Inigo sighed. "I never could say no to a pair of pretty faces such as yourselves."
"Very well then, it's settled. Elise, you'll be taking dance instructions from Laslow starting immediately. I'll check up on you later to see your progress. I hope you both do well; succeed in this task Laslow, and I'll make sure you're well compensated."
As Camilla began to once again leave the room, she then paused at the exit before once again turning around to face the duo.
"Oh and Laslow, if your focus on Elise is anything other than dancing, then I promise you, I'll be thinking of some especially cruel and delicious punishment to inflict upon you."
Inigo let out a frightened gulp at the eldest princess's threat.
"I assure you, you have no fear. As long as you give me withering looks like that, I'd never dream of it."
