<span style="font-style: italic">Absolute chaos...</span><br/><br/>That was the only thought that came into her mind as she watched the scene unfolding before her eyes. She should have guessed that, being trained as he was, he'd have known her native tongue. It was a cheap shot she'd thrown, but she couldn't help it. Something about him and his cocky arrogance set her off. To make matter's worse, her father had gone off once again.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">This shouldn't be so hard!</span>she thought exasperatedly.<span style="font-style: italic">It's for the good of the people. If I have to be followed around by some cocky assassin who doesn't even want to be here, then so be it. At least my people won't be without a ruler.</span><br/><br/>Yet, against even her better judgement, she was rather impressed with Alan. The way he handled her father's ill-tempered repute was admirable, and Elisa had to stop herself from saying anything in his aid as the urge swelled up inside. No longer able to stand off to her side perch, she strode back into the group, her dress swirling around her as her hair slid off her shoulder and moved to fall behind her back, her steps fast and impatient. Placing herself betwixt the two, her back was to Alan as she addressed her father as Alan finished his polite fuck-off.<br/><br/>"Father, I'll admit I was in the wrong. I shouldn't have said what I did, and I'm to blame for this. So, how about I show him to his room and answer any questions he has?" She dipped into a slight curtsy, her eyes not leaving his. "It is, after all, my life he's come to protect, right? We should at least get better acquainted, routines worked out, etc etc."<br/><br/>The king seemed rather put out by the idea of a lowly assassin spending more time with his daughter than necessary. He couldn't find flaw in her reasoning, but that didn't make him feel any better. Giving one final look to his daughter, he nodded. "You're right. Assassin," he addressed Alan, his look still torn between trying to kill the blighter and allowing him to draw breath. "My daughter will answer your questions as she's suggested, and your free to roam the grounds, find whatever security flaws you think of and fix them. Though I can assure you, there's nothing," he added hastily, a smug grin on his face.<br/><br/>Coming up from her curtsy, she turned to Alan, hands clasped in front of her. "Shall we, Alexander?" Her tone polite, Elisa wanted this as painless as possible. The sooner he could find the threat, the better off they all were. Leading him out of the bay, she shot one final look to her father along the lines of "Behave" and started the trek to his end of the estate.<br/><br/>"So, what do you need to know?"