The Assassination 1

Dominic moved quietly down the dimly lit hallway, the weight of the portfolio in his hand almost seeming heavier with each step. His gaze swept over the walls, noting the opulent, dark wood paneling and the intricate carvings that gave the Hawricks Manor an eerie atmosphere. I knew the Hawricks had wealth, but this… he thought, his mind racing, I didn't expect it to feel so suffocating in here.

As he advanced, a guard suddenly intercepted him, his eyes glinting as they fell upon the portfolio. The guard's lips curled into a greedy smile. "The Seldings finally delivered the item, huh?" he laughed, snatching the portfolio from Dominic's grip.

Dominic kept his expression neutral, though an inner chill ran through him as he thought, That portfolio could be dangerous if opened carelessly. He maintained his composure, blending into his disguise, saying only, "It's not advisable to open something meant for the Master."

The guard looked him over with a smirk. "Who are you, the new recruit? Listen, boy, anything that arrives goes through us. If this is gold, we'll keep a bit for ourselves and make a run for it. How about that, kid?" he chuckled arrogantly, clutching the portfolio as if it were already his.

Dominic clenched his fists but held back, watching the guard closely, a flicker of silent calculation in his eyes. As the guard unlatched the portfolio, a thick plume of powder billowed out. The guard immediately waved his hand, coughing, while Dominic instinctively stepped back, staying out of reach of the dust.

"What in—?!" the guard muttered, fanning the air. "The Seldings put too much perfume on this thing. Are they that bad at making deliveries?" He coughed again, his face twisting in frustration.

Dominic's eyes narrowed, suspicion blooming. "Perfume? The Seldings would never be so careless,"he thought, his mind racing. "That powder…" But his suspicions were confirmed in the next instant. The guard's breathing became labored, and his coughing intensified until it was mixed with gasps of pain. His hands flew to his face, clawing at his eyes.

"My eyes… I can't see!" the guard screamed, his voice tinged with terror. He stumbled back, the skin on his face starting to redden and blister. Dominic took another step back, horror flashing in his gaze as he witnessed the terrifying transformation.

The guard's screams turned guttural as blood began streaming from his eyes, now sunken and hollow, leaving nothing but bleeding, empty sockets. His skin blistered and peeled where the powder had touched, decaying rapidly as if eaten away from within. His breath grew ragged, turning to blood-choked gasps. In seconds, his entire body convulsed, bones cracking as they corroded from the inside,his respiratory system underwent erosion and his bones from the neck fading away until he collapsed in a twisted heap, blood pooling around his ruined form.

For a moment, Dominic could only stare, the shock gripping him in a way that was foreign, chilling. "The Seldings are even more ruthless than I realized, My family the Bruswards isn't up to that level we've underestimated them...."" he thought, a wave of disturbed awe and unease washing over him. "They're willing to deliver a death trap just to strike at the Hawricks, just because they failed in doing their job"

Dominic forced himself to shake off the horror, letting his usual calculating calm return. Though his hand trembled briefly, he took a steadying breath, his mind coolly assessing the situation. I have to be cautious. He donned a pair of rubber gloves from his coat pocket, approaching the portfolio warily. Carefully, he closed it, feeling its deadly weight in his grip.

Just then, a maid rounded the corner, her eyes widening slightly as she noticed him. "Sir, are you lost? The Master's office is just down this hall, to the right," she said, her voice polite, unaware of the grisly scene just behind him.

Dominic nodded with a slight smile, concealing his inner tension. "Thank you," he replied, his voice steady as he adjusted his grip on the portfolio.

"This could be of great use for the military," Dominic thought, his mind calculating every possible advantage. If the Seldings are in possession of such powerful weapons, they're a far greater threat than anyone realizes." A grim realization settled over him. "Goldyewn's confidence suddenly makes sense… Evangeline's life was at stake, and I've been underestimating just how dangerous these people are."

Dominic's gaze hardened, his mind formulating a plan. I need to eliminate the Seldings as a threat to Verdaselles, and fast. He'd seen all manner of toxins, powders, and drugs in his years of fighting, but this powder was something else entirely—deadly, efficient, and entirely unexpected. He would need more information if he was going to turn this against them.

"Perhaps Mr. Anthony has knowledge of this powder," he mused, knowing that any edge he could gain would be essential in dismantling the Seldings' power.

At the Hawricks' Office

Honan leaned back in his chair, a wicked gleam in his eyes as he fidgeted with his fingers. "It might not be that easy to get rid of her, considering she's a royal family member," he mused, voice dripping with disdain. "But with the Seldings on our side, we're more than confident. They're our biggest hope."

Eric, laughing, pushed himself up from his seat. "Of course, Father… but I'm exhausted. I'll get some sleep now. See you later." He headed toward the door, pausing only when a soft knock interrupted his exit.

"Come in," Honan called.

The door opened, and Dominic entered, his posture impeccable as he maintained the disguise of a Hawrick guard. Eric paused briefly, sensing something oddly familiar about the newcomer, but shrugged it off, leaving the office and shutting the door behind him.

Dominic moved forward, keeping his head slightly bowed. "Master Hawrick… the Seldings have sent this to you," he said, placing the portfolio on the desk in front of him. A gleam of intelligence sparked in Dominic's gaze as he scanned the room, noticing the positions of the guards in the office, assessing each one with practiced calculation.

"The Seldings are already planning to rid themselves of the Hawricks after their failures," Dominic thought. "It's almost poetic… reminds me of when Father used to make an example by cutting off someone's fingers for incompetence."

Honan's eyebrow rose as he regarded the portfolio with interest, a greedy smile forming on his lips. "Oh? The Seldings are being generous… perhaps they've sent the gold as promised." He stood up and reached for the portfolio, but a sudden pressure against his forehead stopped him cold.

Dominic pressed the barrel of his gun into Honan's forehead, his gaze sharp, cold, and unyielding. Honan froze, his hands raised in a gesture of surrender, but a faint, defiant smirk played on his lips.

The guards reacted immediately, aiming their weapons at Dominic, their eyes darting between their master and the disguised intruder. Dominic's grip tightened on his gun, pressing it harder against Honan's forehead. The silence was thick, charged with tension.

"Give up your life, Honan Hawrick," Dominic said, his voice low and deadly.

Honan's chuckle broke the silence, slow and sinister as though he was savouring the situation, even as he faced his own end "interesting...a guard willing to go against me "He murmured "His eyes gleaming with amusement "You're either very brave or very foolish"He continued.

Honan grabbed for Dominic's gun, yanking it from his hand in one swift motion. He threw a punch, but Dominic dodged, stepping back with a smooth, calculated ease, his eyes cold and unfeeling. It was as if Dominic were going to suck his soul, watching without emotion, detached yet entirely aware of every movement in the room.

"Who are you? A spy of the Sarogaths? Or has the Seldings sent you to betray our alliance?" Honan demanded, cracking his knuckles and rolling his neck, preparing for a fight. Dominic watched him with a quiet amusement, an unsettling smirk playing at his lips.

"Your worst nightmare… and death itself," Dominic replied, removing the guard's cap from his head. His pigtail braid fell down his back, revealing his unmistakable identity. Honan's eyes widened in recognition and shock on the strawberry blonde hair color.

"Brusward…?" Honan gasped, taking a step back. "What business does the Seldings have with the Bruswards? They never mentioned any alliance…"

Dominic's smirk deepened as he calmly drew another gun from his side, aiming it directly at Honan's head. "To claim your life," he said, his voice as icy and steady as his gaze.

Honan's eyes narrowed as he raised his hand, signaling the guards to attack. "Kill him!" he shouted, attempting to snatch up the portfolio from the desk.

But Dominic moved with precision, sidestepping the first guard who lunged at him and delivering a powerful kick that sent the man sprawling. Another guard aimed his gun, but Dominic spun low, grabbing the guard's arm and twisting it sharply, forcing the weapon to discharge into the ceiling. In a swift, fluid movement, Dominic disarmed him and took him down with a fierce elbow strike.

Honan tried to make a run for the portfolio, but in a final, deadly movement, Dominic leveled his gun, his aim exact and merciless. A single gunshot echoed through the room. Blood splattered across the desk, and Honan slumped forward, his head striking the table with a heavy thud

Dominic stood at the lifeless bodies his expression calm and indifferent as though the chaos were nothing than a day's work.

The guards roared with fury, charging at Dominic, their faces twisted in rage. Dominic remained unflinching, his gaze cold and calculating. In a single, precise move, he aimed his gun at the portfolio on the desk and fired, releasing a cloud of the deadly powder into the air. He sidestepped a guard's wild punch, firing another shot into the portfolio to ensure the powder spread through the room, then tossed a smoke bomb to deepen the haze. As the smoke billowed, Dominic slipped from the office, moving with lethal efficiency as the guards were left coughing and disoriented.

"Where is he?! He'll pay for killing Master Honan!" one guard barked, eyes darting through the thickening cloud. But then a strange, sweet fragrance caught their attention, hanging in the air like a sickly perfume. They glanced around in confusion, whispering uneasily, wondering why the Seldings would ever bring such an odd fragrance.

Suddenly, one guard doubled over in agony, screaming as his skin began to blacken and rot before their eyes. Panic swept through the room as others noticed the same grotesque transformation spreading across their own bodies. One by one, they clawed at the door, desperate to escape, but Dominic had already locked it from the outside. Their screams of horror and pain echoed from behind the door as the effects of the powder took full hold.

Outside the office, Dominic's expression remained indifferent. He listened to their cries without a flicker of emotion, his mind already focused on the next move. Stroking his gun as if it were a favored weapon, he calculated his route to find Eric, another Hawrick who needed to be dealt with. Each step he took was quiet and precise, his mind clear, his purpose unwavering.

Just then, a group of guards stormed in from the hallway, alerted by the sounds of chaos. Their eyes landed on Dominic, who stood there calmly, gun in hand. Recognizing his intent, they charged, weapons raised to cut him down.

Dominic's gaze hardened, a hint of dark amusement in his eyes as he leveled his gun at them. He positioned himself with a calculated stance, ready to eliminate each threat in a sequence like he was playing a deadly game of chess.

Verdaselles Palace

Richard and Magdalene stood in silence, their eyes locked in a moment that seemed to stretch into eternity. The twilight cast long shadows across the palace grounds, deepening the quiet tension between them. Magdalene glanced up at the sky, realizing it had grown dark. She lowered her gaze, struggling to find her words.

"Yes... I remember that, Richard," she murmured softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Her fingers fidgeted nervously as she tried to steady herself.

Inwardly, she recalled the past year, when Lady Evangeline had confided in her with a desperate request. She remembered how Evangeline had been on the verge of collapse, crushed under the pressure of her engagement and impending marriage to Dominic—a man she could scarcely stand. As Magdalene's memories swept over her, her heart raced, recalling every emotion and the choices she'd made for her mistress's sake.

Flashback: A Year Ago, During Evangeline and Dominic's Engagement

Magdalene sat in Hong's dimly lit office, the quiet hum of the clock marking the seconds as Hong reviewed a document. The seasoned man finally looked up, setting the paper down with a faint smile.

"I understand your concerns, Magdalene," he said, his tone measured and calm. He slid a thin file across the table toward her. "These three candidates meet the standards. It's now up to your mistress to decide who she wants. Take this to her and return with her decision."

Magdalene nodded, reaching for the file. "Thank you... old man," she replied with a reserved but appreciative tone. Hong chuckled, his laugh warm and reassuring.

"It's nothing, Magdalene. Anything you need, you know where to find me. You're a good acquaintance of mine, after all. And besides... you're better off in the Sarogaths' house than with the Bruswards," he added, his eyes twinkling with pride for her choice.

Magdalene managed a small smile as she stood, leaving the office with the file in hand, determination hardening in her heart.

Flashback: The Following Day

Wrapped in a dark cloak, Magdalene waited in the chill of early evening. She clutched the file tightly as she scanned the surrounding shadows. Finally, she heard footsteps—a steady, confident stride—and her heart leapt. A tall figure approached, cloaked and hooded, moving with silent purpose. As he drew near, he reached up and lowered his hood, revealing a face that was both striking and familiar.

For a moment, Magdalene was breathless as she took in Richard's features: his piercing eyes, the strong set of his jaw, and the quiet intensity that radiated from him. She instinctively lowered her own hood, her cheeks flushing as she found herself captivated by his presence.

Their eyes met, and Magdalene felt something inside her shift—a feeling both new and unexpected. She hadn't realized then how that moment would linger with her, but now, standing before Richard in the present, she could feel the same spark as if it had only just happened.

She looked away, swallowing nervously. Back in the present, she could feel the impact of that meeting, her emotions deepening with every stolen glance.