Not Exactly

With steady breathing, the man named Kuro climbs the walls of the palace. With chalk on his fingers, he wedges them between the bricks, slowly making his way up, bit by bit. It was hard work, made harder by the necessity of remaining out of sight, but the man was experienced. He knew exactly where the patrol on the ramparts would be, and he knew exactly where he should be such that the shadows from the ramparts would conceal his position. His clothing was a dull grey, to blend in with the bricks, and he wore a hood over his face to obscure his identity. The guards here were lax and undisciplined, their routes predictable and their attentions more focused on conversations than on potential intruders. He had effortlessly vaulted over the gates into the courtyard, evading the wandering eyes of the two sleepy knights posted at the gate. The rest of the journey was surprisingly easy, with only the wall itself proving to be an obstacle, and not a particularly difficult one.

With each movement, he gets closer to his destination on the north tower. His client and his victim, a rare combination. She wanted to put him to the test, and he was glad for the challenge. His heart thumps in anticipation, as it always does when the hunt draws to a close. He knew she was close, and it wasn't just his instincts. Earlier that day, he had made random small talk with a servant of the palace when he was out shopping, and that was how he learned where the princess' bedroom was. Loose lips sink ships, as they say.

Would she be surprised? Surely she would be anticipating his arrival, given she had put him up to this in the first place. But it'd certainly be amusing if he caught her off guard. Would she panic and scream, thus ruining both of their plans? He was very curious, and soon he would find out.

Arriving at the window, he gently pries it open, bit by bit, until it was wide enough for him to sneak in. Then, with a light tumble, he found himself in the darkened room...

Alice found herself jolted awake, her previously pleasant dreams shattered by a gloved hand over her mouth. Even for the ordinarily stoic and composed princess, this was quite the rude awakening, and her instincts kicked in as she struggled and shouted. A moment later though, she recognized the dark eyes beneath the hood, filled with mirth and amusement as he watched her fruitless struggles. He was straddling her waist, keeping her pinned to the bed. One hand was on her mouth, and another hand was holding both her wrists above her head. To her embarrassment, her struggling had shifted her blankets in such a way that her left breast was exposed, and she could tell that he noticed as well.

Putting a stop to her own outburst, Alice relaxes her body to signal capitulation, nodding her head slowly in a shared understanding that he had won. In return, the assassin lifted his hand from her mouth, though he kept his other hand in place, leaving her completely helpless still.

"Looks like you're as every bit good as they say you are," Alice says with a **** smile. Even if she hired him, this was still quite a dangerous predicament. She had no doubt that a single movement of his arm would be enough to put an end to her ambitions. But, even within the fear, she could also feel a bit if excitement. This was the first time she could ever recall that her life was in danger, and it made her feel all the more alive. Somehow, her own vulnerability was sending tingles down her body. "Congratulations, you're hired."

"I appreciate that," Kuro replies, leaning in until their faces were far closer than she'd like. "And it looks like you're as every bit gorgeous as they say you are. No wonder you're the talk of the town whenever you decide to leave these gilded halls."

"Your skills were mastered over years of practice. My beauty comes naturally. I think we both know which one is more valuable," Alice counters. "So, are you going to get off of me?"

"...No, not yet I think," Kuro answers after a slight pause to think. "Perhaps I'll have some fun first."

"Men, always thinking with their dicks," Alice sighs dramatically, her chest rising and falling with her inhale and exhale. "Do you really think groping your client is going to get you hired? I don't what what they do in the east, but that's not how employment contracts are written here."

"Usually not, but I think you're the exception," the assassin answers. "I've spoken around town, asked plenty of people about you, you know? They all said the same thing. 'Kind, generous, friendly, and definitely not trying to **** her brothers to take the throne'."

"And what is that supposed to indicate?" Alice asks, now curious to see where he was going with this. Having an assassin who could obey was good, but having one who could think was even better. "Maybe I really am a perfect angel."

"Hilarious, but no. What that tells me is that you're an incredibly intelligent girl, capable of a masquerade that's fooling the entire kingdom," Kuro says. "And would a girl like that really forget that she hired an assassin to come into her room? Would a girl like that really strip naked and wait for him to intrude upon her? I think not..."

To add emphasis to his words, he runs his free hand along her exposed breast, using the coarse leather glove to toy with her rosy pink nipple. Then, he slowly peels away her blanket, leaving her top half completely exposed to his feasting eyes, all while he gazes at her steadily without breaking eye contact.

"...Perhaps you're right," Alice concedes. Indeed, she didn't forget about his arrival, but rather was more than willing to accommodate it by being the reward he would receive when he was successful. And now... Here he was. "And if that's the case... What's your next move?"