“Make way for the Royal Guard!”

Krystal ducked under the arm of the herald bearer and tried to lose herself in the crowd. She gripped her dagger tightly, afraid that someone might jostle it out of her grip. She couldn’t afford to fail. Not when she’s come this far.

But the crowd roared and pressed against her as the first of the Royal Guard wound their way through the gates of the castle town. Krystal quietly cursed as she pushed back against the hot bodies jammed against her back. But the large man she accidentally shoved frowned at her and her in front of him, directly in the line of sight of Captain Moonbyul-yi.

Their eyes met and in that fraction of a second Krystal felt an apoplectic rage well up within her.

I swear on my life I will kill you and avenge Amber.

Moonbyul lifted an eyebrow at her, as if she heard Krystal’s thoughts. Krystal ground her teeth, longing to lift her dagger and stab Moonbyul through the heart. That would wipe that self-righteous smile right off of her face. But her personal agenda would have to wait. She had a job to do.

Behind Moonbyul rode the Princess, Yeh Shuhua. Krystal had never seen her before—it was said that the Princess was not allowed to leave the castle because too many assassins were after her life. So Krystal took the chance now to study her. The Princess looked straight ahead, expression never wavering. Her skin glowed in the pale moonlight, as if she were a luminescent pearl. Alth