The Man in Red 1

???'s POV...

Leaning on the princess's desk, I asked her softly, "Cynthi, do you have any requests? Could I do something for you?". Princess Cynthia looked up from her workload and pondered, "Hmm, Percy Hensler, find him. He's somewhere in the Eastern Empire is what I know from my brother— er, Xander. About yay high—" Cynthia straightened her hand and reached up to show Percy's height, "He's a commoner.. I think his mom runs a bakery? And uhm, Han said that Mister Hensler is stubborn. And that's all I got. I just need you to find him Xeno, okay? Then, interrogate him. See what he's like. His reactions. Make sure to set up a hidden camera, got it?" Cynthia looked up at me with her icy blue doe eyes. I was listening intently, "Yes, of course. I've got it!". I tried to act a teensy bit cute, but it seems that Cynthia hadn't realized and went back to her papers, so I exited through the balcony, frowning.

That very night, I had done all of the planning on what I'd say, and gathered intellect on him using the citizens of The Eastern Empire. Apparently, Percy Hensler's family didn't have a lot of money but they had enough to survive of off but, Percy's grandmother, Patricia Hensler, had been very ill, and they didn't have enough funds to provide her medication, so when Percy had came around with his basket of sweets, the customers had tipped a handsome amount. And the people had pitied the Hensler's, because Percy's father had died from assassination a few months after Percy had been born. I had also planned to find the bakery near eight fifty, so that I'd have time for preparation, ten minutes before Percy had started deliveries.

That morning it turned out that there were actually no preparations to make heh- so instead— since I was the early goose, I just paced back and fourth kicking the pebbles that the little kids had thrown in, until I heard the door bell chime! I threw myself against the brick wall and leaned so hard that I practically imprinted the brick's pattern on my back. After about, I dunno, I guess a minute-ish, Percy was still standing there at the 'Welcome!!' mat, so I just swooped in,pulled him into the alleyway with a girl move— the hair pull, and then knocked him out— which cost him a lot of damage. He let out a scream but his scream wasn't really— how do I say this— effective? Sounded like a goat in the forest? I dunno really, it just sounded weird and no one would suspect that it was a human screaming. Anyways, for a few seconds I just stared down at him trying to figure out how to carry a man who's older than me, and more jacked than me. So— guess what I did. It was so totally fun, I grabbed a few strands of his hair and dragged him all the way down. And then, I actually had to carry him to put him in the chair, but that was only for seven seconds so it doesn't count. Then I did a kidnapper thing— well all of this is a kidnapper thing. But trust me! I'm not a kidnapper! Well I am- but I'm not the bad guy! I'm the good guy, duh. I'm not Billie Eilish. But— I tied his arms and legs to the chair

Anywhoooooo, the guy was just sitting there, and drooling in his sleep, and he didn't look like he was gonna wake up for a lil' bit, so I just left the room— there couldn't be any harm in that. He'd be in too much pain to waltz out. Around nine thirty-five, I came back around and heard groaning. Looks like it was time for my slick entrance. I gave it a few seconds then silently and slowly opened and closed the door & walked up, "Ah, so you're awake", I told him. He had blood dripping from the top of his head to his cheekbone, and he tried to push up and you could see his mouth move a bit but then stick together, then he retreated & looked me up and down. And then he looked frustrated, I mean— I've seen Percy Hensler on the streets before, without the hood. Maybe he recognized me? Hopefully not.

Then finally, "W-who are you?.." he croaked out. He sounded like he faked being strong and as Cynthia said— stubborn because to me he sounded weak and didn't really seem that stubborn.

Anyways, I stopped thinking for a moment and decided to tease him, "Tsk, you don't know who I am? Well that's a shame, Percy Hensler. I was really looking forward to speaking with you!". I snatched a chair from against the wall and sat in it, backwards. Percy had no response to my remark and the room was just— silent. There was no voices. I only heard ten decibels, and that was because the roof was leaking, but that didn't matter. Percy finally spoke up, "What is your business with me?", again, he sounded like a major figurehead, but whatever. I'll go along with it, "Oh nothing.." I stopped for dramatic effect, "Just tell me everything you remember from today sir.", I looked up to stare right into his eyes. I'm here to find out more about his behavior and reactions, I'm not here to envy his biceps! His eyes were moving rapidly and he wasn't responding. To be honest, I find myself as a patient person, because I have to deal with this guy. I got annoyed so I kept saying, "Come on sir, tell me." til his eyes finally met mine again, "Well.. Today started off normal. I had woke up at six A.M and rolled out of bed. I brushed my hair and used hair spray.. and I supposed you don't need the rest of my morning routine.", I wanna see how he reacts to me, wanting to know every single itty bitty detail about his morning, "No, please tell me your whole routine Mister Hensler." He flinched. Not like that had been surprising, he'd been twitching and shaking this whole time.

"Why do you need to know my whole routine? Why is what I did today, any of your business? What are you going to do with this information man?", I ripped that fake soft royal smile I practiced in the mirror a gazillion times, and gritted my teeth, "Just tell me." I told him. He didn't speak for like half a minute, and he tugged my last string. This man has been such a annoyance, "Just go off." I stared at the ground.

I decided not to move immediately since, he was still injured, probably still in pain, but that boy— he stormed off! I had to slide to get to the door first and I stretched my arms out, and stood in front of the door, "Percy Hensler. You must not tell anyone about this meeting between you and I.", it was quite obvious that he wasn't gonna play by the rules so I added a bonus, "For if you do not follow through, let's just say something tragic and unfortunate shall happen in your home." You could see a big bump on his throat emerge then fall back, "Okay." he said.