Chapter 8 - Princess' Purity

                                    

                                          
EARTH
Veronica Delacroix stepped out of the black sedan, wiping the blood off her leather gloves with a silk handkerchief. The city lights glistened against the darkened sky, but for Veronica, they were nothing more than faint distractions in a world she had long since conquered. The moment she ended the spy's life, she had felt nothing—no remorse, no hesitation, only the cold efficiency that had become second nature to her. It was all part of her job, part of the game she played in the underworld. And she played it better than anyone.
The elevator ride up to her penthouse was as silent as the grave she had just created. Veronica's reflection on the polished steel doors revealed nothing of the turmoil she had buried deep inside—her perfectly tailored black suit, her cold, sharp eyes, and her neatly tied-back hair. She looked every bit the untouchable mafia queen she had built herself to be. Yet, since the arrival of Eleonor, there was something gnawing at the back of her mind, a thought she couldn't quite shake.
When the elevator doors slid open, the atmosphere in her penthouse greeted her with its familiar cold elegance. The lavish space was quiet, pristine, the sort of luxury that spoke of power and control. Veronica crossed the living area with the ease of someone who knew they were at the top of the world. But it wasn't the expensive decor, the view from the windows, or the wealth that filled her mind. It was the girl—no, the princess—locked up in the cell beneath her feet.
Eleonor.
Veronica hadn't expected her to survive this long, and yet the princess remained. No cries for mercy, no broken sobs—only that peculiar smile that always caught Veronica off guard.
With a sigh, Veronica descended into the basement level where Eleonor's cell was located. The guards stationed outside the cell straightened up the moment they saw her approach, their postures stiffening, and their eyes darting to the floor as if to avoid drawing her ire. But Veronica barely noticed them as she opened the door to the cell.
When she stepped inside, she was greeted by a sight that always seemed to momentarily disarm her.
"Veronica!" Eleonor's voice was bright and full of joy, as if greeting a long-lost friend. The princess jumped up from where she had been sitting on the small cot in the corner, her golden hair bouncing slightly with the movement, her face glowing with an innocent warmth that made Veronica feel like she had stepped into a dream. "You're back!"
Veronica paused, one hand still on the door handle, her cold mask faltering for just a moment. How was it that this girl—this princess, a captive in a world so foreign to her—could still greet her with such warmth, with such... purity?
This wasn't the first time it had happened either. Every time Veronica came to check on her, Eleonor would greet her the same way, as if Veronica were some beloved friend or family member who had just returned home from a long journey. It was unsettling, to say the least. Especially given how their first encounter had gone.
The first time Veronica had seen Eleonor, the girl's eyes had been filled with terror—an all too familiar look. Yet now, there was no fear, no horror. Only joy.
The princess's face lit up even more as she excitedly stepped forward, eager to share something. "One of your men," Eleonor began, her voice brimming with enthusiasm, "he showed me a magic trick with cards! I've never seen magic like that before. It's not like the magic from Eldoria, but it was so much fun! Look, I think I can do it myself now!"
Veronica arched a brow, momentarily stunned by Eleonor's excitement. She shot a glance at the guards standing just outside the cell door. Their faces were turned away, avoiding her gaze. They knew they had done something outside protocol—teaching a prisoner tricks, entertaining her. In any other situation, Veronica might have reprimanded them, but right now, something about the princess's innocence, her genuine delight, stayed Veronica's hand.