I

Scarlet pushed the door open and she walked the familiar path down the aisle. Resolutely, she pushed the mental image of Vance hugging her out of her head and she walked straight into a wall...

Wait, it was Sam.

"Although I'm happy to see you, but I wasn't really expecting to see you here," Sam smiled.

He didn't send the note? Scarlet was a little confused. However, she knew she didn't really have a moment to lose. Looking at Sam, she tried her best to imagine what type of girls Sam may like.

"If you could destroy something, how would you go about doing it?" Perhaps, not beating around the bush is key.

Isn't that too obvious? The system retorted and Scarlet shushed it in her head.

"Well, that's a pretty interesting question but I'll probably just wait for the right moment and leave no stones unturned I guess. It pays to be very careful," Sam answered.

"Isn't there any other way? What if there was something worth fighting for?" Scarlet racked through all the scripts that she had seen. All villians usually had an Achilles heel. Now, what was his?

Sam looked at Scarlet for the longest moment before saying, "It's possible."

He smiled in a boyish way and Scarlet's heart did a lurch. She didn't expect herself to feel anything. These were character from another world! Her eyes followed Sam's lips and she decided that it was worth a shot.

Yes, of course it's worth a shot! Go, Scarlet. You'll have to close this deal, the system cheered her on and Scarlet leaned closer only to trip and fall on top of Sam, who made sure that she wasn't hurt.

Seriously, how could he be the destroyer? Scarlet thought, deeply perplexed. He seemed good-mannered and gentle. It almost felt like she was bullying a lamb with her aggressive stances.

"Don't mind me, I'll just get up," she tried before tripping again and her lips landed right on Sam's.

Should I say..... Finally! The system cheered ecstatically and popped confettis in the air.

Sam looked surprised before he decided to deepen the kiss. Scarlet had absolutely no qualms about doing what she needed to do with this mission.

In fact, this was a huge victory for her! She did a mini dance in her head.

Sam's hands tightened around her cheeks as he held her and she smiled a little when a voice interrupted their moment.

"Do you guys mind? It's a library, and I expected a lot more from you, Sam," a voice uttered. Scarlet heard the annoyance behind that voice and she pulled her head back.

The crown prince. Vance stood with his arms folded and his face hidden behind the shadows.

"Oh, and Sam, your Uncle's looking for you. He said it was urgent," Vance informed and Sam gave Scarlet a reassuring smile. He glanced at Vance before making a move.

"Are you sure you'll be alright?" Sam asked uncertainly at the door, pausing to look at Scarlet.

Vance was silent and stoic.

Scarlet nodded her head, "Yeah, I'll be making a move. I mean, what would a crown prince do to a commoner like me?"

She tried to laugh and Sam nodded and smiled lightly before making a move.

Once he was gone, Scarlet decided that she had to hurry scoot off too. She wouldn't want to stay in an empty room with the crown prince. And decided that she could probably back away very quietly and slowly. She was about to take one step back when Vance grabbed her wrist in an iron grip and stopped her.

"Your royal highness...?" she inquired with doeful eyes, trying her best not to show her dismay and the fear from his vicelike grip. Playing dumb seems to be the best way out. She'll just continue to pretend that nothing happened.

"Is there anything that you'll need? You can always let Lei know since I'm hired as her mentor," she emphasised on the word 'her'.

Vance looked at her stoically for the longest time. She couldn't read his emotions and he leaned closer but she ducked out of reflex. Vance looked at her with a frown, "Why the stark difference?"

Isn't it obvious? You're not my mission, she wanted to answer but she kept her mouth firmly shut.

"... You can have anyone you want, your highness. I'm sure there will be many noble girls or even princesses out there for you," Scarlet responded calmly. With the Crown Prince, she had to tread very calmly and carefully. Her fragile little heart could not suffer another violent pounding.

Vance didn't seem the least bit interested in answering her. His hand leaned closer and she dodged, which sparked a frown and she tried her best to remain still as he tidied and fixed her hair.

Very slowly, he leaned forward to kiss her.

"Time to erase that earlier kiss," he murmured before pulling her and enveloping her tightly.

-

Sam was kneeling before his Uncle. His neck was bruised and his back was bleeding from multiple torture wounds.

"You didn't forget your mission, did you?" his Uncle inquired in a nasal tone as he pulled Sam's face closer to his. His eyes savoured Sam's pretty face.

"No, how could I? When I'm dallying with them every day. They have our blood on their hands. I didn't forget what they've done to my mother and my sister...our people," Sam answered almost mechanically. His first tightened as his Uncle leaned and patted his head like a pet.

"What about the girl?"

"She's just a tool," Sam answered, devoid of any emotions.

"Good, hit him 50 times, and avoid the face, he'll need that to please me," his Uncle ordered before leaving the room as flamboyantly as he had entered.

--