39 CHAPTER 38

Royal Palace, Eimorra, Trinitia

Almost an hour has passed after the attack. Lucius and Lirion returned back at the duchy while I was anchored inside the sitting room with the king, the prince, and Jack. Jack had to also send back his new butler too, since the king requested that the matter we're going to discuss is for our ears only.

"Your presence earlier was a blessing in disguise," the king remarked after sipping his tea. "You'd be a great marksman if you joined Stateland Yard."

Stateland Yard, the hounds of the king. Jack the Reaper's salvation. The bullets of the royal family. And at various occasions, they're his majesty's assassins, ready to get their hands bloodied so his remain pure. But this man is no pure saint, if Hell's looking for Satan's replacement, he'd be the top candidate.

"I'm quite flattered to hear them from you, your majesty," I replied. Please let me leave. I don't want to stay here any longer.

"About the matter why I called the two of you here," the king changed the topic. I guess he's being direct and had no intention in beating around the bush. "I want the two of you to escort the prince at a ball in another kingdom. I wouldn't be able to go, so the prince would be going in my stead. The celebration is the Pyrenian king's birthday."

"When would the event take place your majesty?" Jack intervened.

"The ball is in two days from now," he replied. "It's quite an unexpected request, but I was hoping that the two of you can leave tomorrow morning with the prince."

Jack and I exchanged glances. He seemed displeased with our sudden trip.

"But your majesty, who would look after the Stateland Yard while I'm away?" Jack retorted in a concerned tone. "The position for vice-captain is still vacant. I can't leave the management to the lower officials, I don't trust them."

"Ah yes I forgot about that part," the king sighed, dejected. Then momentarily his eyes lit up, the smile on his face doesn't look like good news. "I'll personally watch over them while you're away then."

"Then we'll prepare for the departure," Jack surrendered. "Oh and your majesty, would there be any theme for the event that we should be wary about?"

"I was told that it will be a masquerade ball," the prince replied. "We already prepared your clothes in advance, but you'll have to personally pick them up today at this tailor shop."

The prince rose up from his seat and picked out a piece of paper from his pocket and reached out to me. I cordially took it and inspected what's written on it.

The word 'Kingsburry' is written in all capital letters. If I'm not mistaken, there's only one Kingsburry tailor shop in the whole kingdom.

"I remembered that you wore a suit that had a similar design to the ones made by Kingsburry," the prince remarked noticing my fixation on the paper.

"His highness is observant," I replied. "My butler recommended it to me. I'm quite flattered how your highness remembered such small detail."

After the sudden proposal from the king, Jack and I both agreed that we both need a change of clothes, since ours have blotched marks of blood on our white sleeved shirts. We were quite the sight when we walked out of the palace gate, we were thrown some unwanted stares and loud doubting whispers. Still, those doubt withered away in the wind when they caught upon the travelling news of our brave act. The new duke of Renegal and the head of Stateland Yard, teamed up in a perilous fight against hooded assassins, to save the king in distress. It will be quite a stir after the capital finds out.

The sedan from the palace that gave us a ride came to a halt in the busy streets of Eimorra. The chauffer opened the door next to Jack. The chauffer bid his goodbye and we made our way to the antiquated shop that reads 'Kingsburry' in golden letters on a forest green sign. Its glass panes gleamed under the sun while it proudly showcased the men's clothes the mannequins wore.

As we approached its door, we were startled when it swung opened just when Jack tried reaching out for its doorknob. Gilbert was behind the door, he seemed to be expecting our arrival.

"Finally," he remarked. "We were expecting you. A messenger from the palace juest left moments ago, informing us of a visit from the officials that would be sent by his highness, the prince. I was expecting that you'd be one of them, the Stateland Yard captain didn't fit the other piece though."

"We're as surprised as you are," I entered the shop, exchanging smiles with Gilbert. "Everything took an unexpected turn, I'd say. Gilbert, I'd like to formally you to Stateland Yard's captain, Captain Jack Adler. We were acquainted in today's incident at the palace."

"It's a pleasure to have your presence in our humble shop, Captain Adler," Gilbert remarked. "Your actions today in the palace, together with his grace, became quite the buzz earlier this morning. We're grateful that both of you were there for the king."

"Oh please, spare me from your flattery. I am simply doing my job. I'm quite humbled to receive such compliment from you."

After we exchanged greetings with Gilbert, we were scurried in to the lounge. He's quite flustered after seeing the spots of blood on our clothes. He hurriedly made us strip our sleeved shirts and ordered his assistant to bring us clean ones. He was quite devastated after seeing the taints of blood on our white clothes, and lectured us how it could have been better for our clothes if we head fought naked. We bursted into laughter after hearing that statement coming out from his lips while adjusting our clothes for the ball. It didn't take long for him to finish the adjustments.

When I tried fitting on my clothes, I noticed that there are hidden compartments on the coat's upper sides. The compartments are big enough to hide two small revolvers.

"Did his highness requested for this?" I asked Gilbert while scrutinizing the compartments. "They're big enough to hide two small revolvers."

"I remembered your last request your grace," Gilbert replied. "And after knowing that it was for the prince's travel companions for a ball and with an officer included, my assumptions that an officer and his grace would be acting as his personal guards, were proven right after I checked that the size of his grace was similar to one of the sizes his highness sent."

His deductions pleased me. His assumptions were bold, but ingenious. It's such a waste seeing him sewing clothes when he could be a detective for Stateland Yard.

"Say Gilbert," I pondered. "Why be a tailor when you could be a detective at Stateland with your wits."

"His highness, the prince, said the same thing when I asked him if it's your grace's clothes that I would be making. I could have become someone far more greater and earn more money, but what is money for when you're not enjoying what you do? I'd rather live my life doing what I love. Seeing people happy after wearing my clothes is enough joy. And only in sewing clothes does my heart race. Don't you agree your grace?"

"Yes," I replied. "There's nothing more joyous than living your life doing what you love."

I've never felt so reassured in my whole life. If killing people for their sinful acts felt this reassuring, then I'd be pleased to live my life like this till its end. I'd rather be an executioner than just being an audience.

Who would have thought that my blood tainted hands could be put to use? That a psychotic hitman like me could be lawful in the eyes of Death?

"I've decided Gilbert," I remarked. "I think I'll have you make all my clothes."

A/N: Hi guys its been a long time! I just wanna tell you that Count Johannes last name is Verdeen, and not Everdeen. I think I've read too much Hunger Games lol.

And I'm changing pen names since someone tried to plagiarize my story by searching my stories using my pen name. I hope the plagiarist will turn into a new leaf. I'll do my best in shaping my writing style in 2021, and changing pen names is a new milestone.

Lucian is a European name which means star. And I kinda came up with Valroy.

-on the other hand, I wanted to showcase Gilbert more, so I gave him more screentime here. I hope you'll support him in the future!