'This is bad'

Angelica looked around as she walked towards the Head assassin.

Seeing the knights unconscious on the ground lifeless, she clenched her fists.

If she did not follow his orders then he would kill the knights. Even if she does, there was a possibility that he might still kill the knights.

So she decided to take her chances by following his words. She has a higher chance of winning against this if she were to get closer to him.

The people around her were all focusing on her expressions trying to catch a glimpse of her state of thoughts.

Angelica stealthily checked the weapons hidden beneath her clothes.

They were hidden in an easily accessible position for her to take out and attack. But the current situation isn't something that can be won entirely by brute strength. The enemy might have more cards up his sleeve than what can be seen.

Angelica had her poker face on. She didn't react to their intimidating stares. She was in fact, hatching up a plan inside her head to save everyone and at the same time escape without having her life taken.

Ignoring his outreached hand, she stopped two steps in front of him overlooking the cliff.

The sea was being merciless as ever, with waves crashing against the mountain like a wild bull. When the waves pulled back following its repetitive pattern, rocks as sharp as diamonds were revealed.

"Wow. You are very obedient" He tapped his chin as if he was amused.

"..."

"Well that just makes things easier"

"..."

"I have to say this you are more beautiful up close"

"..."

"Angelica right? Angelica Ashford"

He started walking around her in circles while assessing her. His robe fluttered in the wind as he walked around.

"Or is it Frost now?" The head assassin's lips curved into a smile.

"..."

He stopped walking and stood behind her facing her back.

"You don't talk much do you....hmmm"

"Turn around"

Angelica slowly spun back and faced him while occasionally glancing at the people around her.

Suddenly the head assassin launched forward and grabbed her neck with his right hand.

"!"

"Focus on me" He said, pulling her closer and peering into her face.

Angelica had been counting the number of heads that were visible behind him. There were a total of fifteen snake masked assassins and twelve with black cloth hiding their faces along countless dead ones on the floor.

The others could be taken care of by her with enough effort. But the problem was the lunatic holding her by the neck.

Although she could not use magic, she had the basic alertness to its usage. He had a lot more powerful than that meets the eye.

Angelica could feel her anger rising by the minute.

'The key to winning against him will be the element of surprise. So no matter how much he tries to provoke me, I have to hold it in' Angelica bit her lips.

"Not even the slightest flinch.....what a fearless noble day" The head assassin provoked, with a light chuckle.

Angelica didn't panic or shiver or even budge an inch. She stared back at the purple eyes behind the mask, just as much as he did.

Of the countless jobs he completed, the victim would either plead for their lives or offer money desperate to save themselves.

To have someone and a young noble at that to face him without fear was new to him. This was something that he had never ever seen before.

He was intrigued for the first time in his life.

The sky rumbled again, lighting the area bright for a few seconds.

The head assassin removed his mask to reveal a handsome young man with purple eyes and black hair. He had boyish features on his face making him look younger than he was. The brightness from the thunder added extra effects to his face reveal.

"Hi.......I'm Jace" He said, smiling at her with his eyes creating like a crescent moon.

Angelica opened her eyes wide by seeing his face.

'Of course, the bad guy is a handsome piece of ass. The logic is obvious since this a romance novel' Angelica internally facepalmed.

Meanwhile, Angelica did not notice Jace moving closer and closer to her.

When she came back to her senses, there were only a few inches between the two of them.

Jace had never taken off his mask even in front of his employers. He always had a peculiarity to him keeping everyone at an arm's distance. This was the first time he had revealed his face to one of his prey or even talked to one.

Jace ran his bloodied finger across her fair face leaving a dark stain behind. He looked satisfied by her appearance.

"Red suits you more than any color princess, maybe I should dye you red" He commented with a twisted smile, anticipating a reaction from her.

"..." Angelica still wouldn't answer him.

"Still not going to talk huh?"

"Maybe I should start killing your dogs to make you talk?" Jace said while signaling his subordinates.

One of the masked men dragged out Sir Tate and held a knife to his neck.

"Stop!" Angelica exclaimed while reaching out to him.

"It's me you want" She stated, facing Jace with unwavering eyes.

"Let them go"

Jace signaled his men to stop with a snap of his fingers.

"Eh...taking the moral high ground here?"

"Mylady" Jace replied, with a mocking tone while tightening his grip on her neck.

He walked forward, yanking Angelica towards the edge of the cliff and hovering her over.

Angelica glanced behind her and took a peek at the ravaging sea below. If she were to fall down, she'll go straight to La La Land with an express ticket.

"Scared now?" Jace asked with a twisted expression. He wanted to see the fear of death creep in her eyes.

Yet disappointing him, Angelica still won't budge. This toy was turning him impatient and fascinated at the same time.

Before he could say anything, his right earring started to get warm.

"I would like to continue playing princess" He said, releasing his grip on her neck.

"Too bad I really liked you..." He got closer to her ear and whispered sweetly.

"For the first time in my miserable life. I'm tempted"

When he moved back a step he pulled out the hairpin that was holding Angelica's hair together.

The wavy platinum hair fluttered across her face making her fierce emerald green eyes shine in the process.

Angelica was standing on the absolute verge.

One slip and it will be over.

She could feel the strong wind pushing against her back moving her forward.

"But..." He started.

"It's getting late"

Jace smiled at her one last time before pushing her shoulder. But before she could fall he caught her right hand.

"I would never forget those beautiful emerald eyes princess" He kissed the back of Angelica's hand.

"Soo long" He said in a parting tone and let her go.

"!"

Angelica fell down the cliff like a fallen angel. It was a beautiful sight in Jace's eyes enough to captivate him.

Angelica fell down the same way her character was described in the novel. It was the way how the newly wedded wife of Archduke Edward Frost died.

Jace looked at his hand that let her go. In it was the bracelet he ripped off from her hand.

"Don't leave any witnesses. Let them see how they have failed in safeguarding their treasure" Jace ordered tightening his grip on the bracelet.

It was made of gold with a centerpiece shaped like a crescent moon.

It was how she appeared to him.

A crescent moon.

Lonely and alluring.

Jace closed his eyes and brought the bracelet close to his face.

"For you who will forever live in my memory" He confessed, kissing the bracelet.

The snake masked assassins disappeared into the night leaving the other men to clean up the mess.









The next day, the entire imperial capital shook with the news of the death of Duchess Frost.

'On the night of a stormy sky, the young duchess of Frost was killed when her carriage was attacked by unknown assailants.'

'An investigation team was dispatched by the imperial order of Knights to investigate the mysterious death of the young duchess'

'The Cursed Bride dies?'

Every newspaper in Volos even to the tiniest gossip tabloids featured prints with headlines on her death.

It was the story of the century. It was the hottest topic for more than five months with new information uncovered every day.

'Incomprehensible crime scene leaves experts confused'

'Survivors are being interrogated in a safe location!'

Prints were sold out in a flash that multiple productions were made. People of both noble and common birth were intrigued by the tragic news.

'Evidence point to monster attack'

'Body still not found!'

It was a day that everybody in the capital would not forget for years to come.