[color=A0A0A0][h2]Fleuri Jodeau[/h2][/color]

The assassin wasn't loose for long.  Renar tackled her to the ground as she tried to flee.  Not that her escape attempt would have done much good, with the Crown Knights blocking the doorway.  She might have been able to get through a window, but given her small size, she'd probably just hurt herself if she tried.

Once she was knocked to the ground, Fleuri lost sight of her.  With the danger seemingly passed and the Crown Knights having the situation under control, he decided it'd be a good time to get a good look at this assassin, see how this would-be murderer would react.  He could tell so far that it was a female Nem, but not much else beyond that.

When Fleuri reached the Nem, she was in the process of writing something down with charcoal, surrounded by the other knights, her confiscated effects nearby.  From what he could discern from the assassin's trinkets, she was a member of the Velt Adventurer's Guild, likely a Coin based on the rogue's tools that she had been carrying.  Curious, he thought.  The Veltan Adventurer's Guild was a respectable, prestigious organization that would never stoop to attempted assassination of a Crown Princess.  Perhaps she was doing work on the side.  But why take a job so clearly out of her league, and one where her chance to escape and collect her payment was almost nonexistent?

As Fleuri watched what the Nem wrote down, however, the answer became evident.

[color=A0A0A0][i]Iron Roses...she's addressing us.[/i][/color]

[color=A0A0A0][i]Tyli Vosahn...probably her name.[/i][/color]

[color=A0A0A0][i]What happens to me doesn't matter...sounds like she never expected to make it out of this[/i][/color]

[color=A0A0A0][i]Please save my sister...ah, that'd explain it.[/i][/color]

Based on the Nem's written words, it sounded like she had been coerced into this.  Someone wanted the Crown Princess killed without anything leading directly back to them, so they abduct the sister of a Veltan adventurer, and threaten to kill her if said adventurer doesn't pull off this job- a job that'd almost certainly result in being either captured or branded the most wanted criminal across several kingdoms.

Fleuri could somewhat understand the girl's motivation, but it wasn't something he'd ever do.  His own sister Lisette would be aghast at the very notion of one of her siblings committing such a dark deed, even to save her life.

On the other hand, it also meant that they were relying on someone clearly out of their depth, and someone who'd sell them out immediately after being captured.  Surely their wicked plan wouldn't hinge all of its success on one unwilling participant?  It might not, Fleuri thought- there could be more surprises in store in case this one failed.

Even so, it was clear what their next task would be.  Wherever the masterminds behind this attempt might be hiding, they'd likely be holding the Nem's sister as leverage.  Once the would-be-assassin pointed them in the right direction, it'd be the Iron Roses' duty to bring these conspirators to justice and rescue the Nem's sister.

[color=A0A0A0]"Captain, might I assume that this is the beginning of a new mission for the Iron Roses?[/color]  It was fortuitous that the princess had asked the knights to bring their weapons.

[@VitaVitaAR]