Falling for an Assassin

"Hey guys." Lily screamed and waved as she laughed running round the open space in the garden where the workers were clearing.

Suddenly, her leg hit a stone and she fell down, face to the ground with a loud thud. All the workers stopped suddenly and turned to look at her, their mouths forming a 'o' in wonder. No one was allowed to touch her except from her personal maid, Rebecca.

Rebecca ran to her immediately, helping her up.

"I can get up myself." Lily said, squeezing up her face.

"Why did you run out here?"

"Your father won't like it." Rebecca said and Lily sighed.

"It doesn't matter. Not like he's going to shout at me for long anyway." She replied and turned away, looking at the gate which seemed so faraway.

"Its so far. The gate. It's like something I'll never reach. " She whispered.

" Don't even go there. Not today.... You know your dad will never let you leave this compound. " Rebecca replied, holding Lily's shoulders and forcing her to turn away.

"But why? I'm old enough to go out now, aren't I?" Lily asked, staring deeply at Rebecca.

"You are just twelve, Lily. Not old enough yet. " Rebecca patted her hair slowly.

"But I'm almost... "

"Still twelve! " Rebecca interrupted.

Lily frowned and hit her hand off, running into her large room. She sat down on the bed and looked around slowly, placing her hand on her chin. It was so large, everything, everywhere. And she was tired of living in this large mansion alone.

Her father was just the kind of man who was never at home. That was why he hired so many servants and maids all around the house. Lily thought they were to keep her company but no, they weren't. They were not even allowed to touch her or talk to her. They were to treat her with maximum respect and every thing about her can only be handled by her personal maid, Rebecca.

Rebecca was her only friend even if she was old enough to be her mother. But that was the only person she spent time with. Even at that, the things Rebecca could do for her were still limited. And Lily wanted more.

She wanted to see above these tall walls with vines dropping around them. She wanted to see beyond the long curvy road that looked so long just too get to the gate. She wanted to look at bigger fountains than the one in her front yard. Maybe if her mother was alive, just maybe...

A knock on the door interrupted her and she moved to open it.

"Rebecca? " She asked as she looked outside.

"Surprise!" A manly voice said and she gasped, her eyes widening.

"Daddy!!! " She said as she jumped on him immediately, hugging him tightly as she smiled.

"When did you get back? " She asked happily.

"Just now." He said, carrying her inside the room.

"Just now? " Lily muttered.

"And you didn't go to the king first? I know you usually go to the king when you come back. " Lily pouted and her father smiled, patting her hair slowly.

"Well, today, it's you first. And you know why? " He asked and she smiled wistfully.

" No. " She said and Henry furrowed his brows.

"You don't why? Don't tell me you forgot your birthday is next week? " He asked and Lily pursed her lips.

"Don't tell me you remembered daddy? You always forgot my birthday. What makes the difference this year. I've come to hate it now. " Lily said slowly.

"I've never forgotten your birthday, Lily. " Henry replied.

"But you've never celebrated it with me." She argued.

"You know your birthday... "

"Because mum died that day, right? Because she died giving birth to me. " She interrupted sadly.

" Lily! No! " Henry said sternly.

"I also remember her on my birthday. That's why i don't like it. It's my fault. " She said, crying.

"No. Lily, it's not your fault. Don't say that again. " He said, hugging her.

"Okay, now to make you smile. You are going to celebrate your thirteenth year birthday. What a surprise! "Henry said lauging but Lily's face remained neutral.

" I don't want to celebrate it. " She pointed out flatly.

"Then what do you want? " Henry asked and her eyes lit up.

"I want to go outside the gates. " She said immediately and Henry's face went pale immediately.

"Lily, no! "He shot.

" Dad.. "

"I've warned you, you are not leaving this compound. Don't you know who you are? "

He asked angrily.

" But dad.. I want to also go... "

"Are you trying to make me angry? "He asked and she kept quiet.

" Lily.. "

"No, dad. I'm sorry. I would celebrate my birthday. Thank you dad. " She said and Henry sighed, staring at her for the last time before leaving the room.

A lone tear ran out of Lily's eyes immediately as she turned, lying down on her bed.

" I don't want to live like this." She whispered.

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"Miss." Rebecca called as Lily came down the stairs slowly, wearing a free white dress.

"Why are your eyes so puffy? " She asked and Lily sighed.

"Nothing. Just didn't get a nice sleep. "

Lily said. She walked towards the large dining room and sat on one end of the large table. The table was so large that it could take at least ten people on one side, yet only she and her dad ate on it. One person on each end, so faraway.

" Where's dad?" She asked, staring at Rebecca who was helping her dish her food.

"Hmm. He left. He went out." Rebecca stuttered slowly.

"To the king? " Lily asked curtly and Rebecca nodded slowly.

" Did he ask about me before leaving? " She asked again.

"Yes, he did. "Rebecca said immediately.

" You're lying. " Lily replied, looking at her.

"Actually......he did. He asked me to check on you, if you are okay and not crying. He also asked me to get you a beautiful and costly dress for your birthday. I'm so excited. " Rebecca exclaimed and Lily sighed. She stabbed the steak on her plate with a knife and looked at it interestingly.

" Sometimes, i wonder who is really my dad's family? Me? Or the king? What's so special about the king and his family? "She said slowly and Rebecca quickly placed a hand over her mouth.

"Don't let anyone hear you. The king and his family have the highest respect and integrity in this kingdom. "

" Really? How? Everyone is just as special. Just like me. I'm special. In this house....in this palace..." She said sarcastically.

"You just have to find the right place. Being special isn't enough. What's the use of being special when you are not where you want to be? " Lily added and dropped the fork and knife, moving the plate away as she got down from her chair.

"I'm not hungry. " She said.

"You have to eat. There is no hunger strike going on in this house. "

"Says who? " Lily asked and Rebecca's mouth widened hurtfully.

" Lily?" She called slowly. Lily just sighed and walked away, up the stairs and into her room.

"It's not your fault." Rebecca screamed behind her and sighed slowly, collapsing on the chair.

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"Happy birthday to you!"

"Happy birthday to you.....

Lily walked down the stairs slowly in her green ball gown that felt very uncomfortable to her. She wondered why everyone made a fuse about her own personal birthday.

What's more and worse? The king and the queen were here with their two sons. She didn't really think all her father's visitations would actually pay off like this. It was supposed to be elating but why did she feel all these was such a bore.

"Smile."Her father gritted his teeth whispering to her and she forced a smile out of her lips slowly.

"Why do you look so uptight? I expected you to be happy. It's your thirteenth year birthday after all. You are growing up.to be the adult you've always wanted to be." Rebecca said a little after the dance.

"Yeah. Only if it wouldn't take another year for me to clock fourteen. If I could clock fourteen and have another birthday tomorrow. I'll be glad. It's faster if I want to get out of here." Lily rolled her eyes.

"Lily..."Rebecca called and Lily sighed looking at her.

"I know what you want to say."She said.

"Living in a house like this isn't bad..."

"Living in a house like this isn't bad..."

"Oh really?" Rebecca laughed.

"You should consider it as a blessing. That many people can't afford to have." Lily completed and Rebecca laughed more, patting her head.

"Lily..."Her father called and she looked back at him.

"Come."He summoned her with a wave of his hand. Lily sighed and stared at Rebecca for a while.

"I'll be back." She said and held her gown up, walking to her father who was with the king and queen.

"Show your respects to the king and queen."

Henry said and Lily smiled a little, raising her gown higher and crossing her legs a little with a bow. The lessons Rebecca gave her were paying off. She had an hour class everyday on how to maintain composure and behave so royal, one would think her father was trying to usurp the throne.

"Wow, you look so beautiful, Lily."

"Thank you, your majesty, the queen."

Lily smiled pretentiously.

"Lily, the king has an announcement to make today. I'm sure you would be glad."

Henry said and clinked a glass,. making everyone turn their attention to them.

"Hi."Lily heard a voice whisper behind her and she turned to look.

"Happy birthday." He said slowly and she smiled a little.

"Thank you......

".... marriage..." The word 'marriage' flowed into her ear drums as she said thank you and she turned immediately to look at the king. She had not been paying attention because of the boy who was talking with her. She was pretty sure he was one of the princes.

"The celebrant today, Lily..." The king motioned to her to come forward and she did. He placed a hand on her shoulder lovingly and she smiled slowly, looking at the crowd.

"Would one day become the mother of this nation..." He said and Lily turned to look at him slowly, so also the crowd.

"She is the betrothed of the first prince as of today...."

"Wait, what?"Lily gasped, almost throwing the king's hand off her shoulder.

"Dad, what's going on?" She turned to look at her father, Henry and he smiled at her slowly.

Then she turned to look at the queen and then the two princes.... the one who had wished her especially, no doubt he was the first prince. She gasped a little as her throat itched and with watery eyes, she turned to look at Rebecca who had a sad expression on.

"You knew?"She whispered, looking at Rebecca's eyes.

"You knew." She whispered faintly again and with tears running out of her eyes, left the room.

"Lily!!!" Rebecca screamed as she ran after her.