Mei Li's eyes narrowed on her newest prey as her hand came to rest on the hilt of her katana. She took slow, deliberate steps toward the assassin who was trying to break into the castle, the stone floor cold beneath her boots.

In a blink of an eye, Mei had her katana pointed at the assassin's back, causing him to freeze. "Come on now, you really thought killing the queen would be that easy?" Mei's voice was sharp and cold, cutting through the tense night air. She noted the slight movement of the assassin reaching for his weapon, the metallic glint catching the moonlight.

Idiot.

Mei didn't hesitate to eliminate the threat. Her katana sliced through the man's throat in a matter of seconds, warm blood gushing out over her sword and hands. The assassin's lifeless body landed on the ground with a loud thud that echoed in the silent courtyard. Mei Li's face remained stoic as she took a step back, wiping her katana clean on the dead man's clothing before sheathing it with a metallic click.

Mei grabbed the collar of the dead assassin's shirt and dragged him toward some guards standing in front of the castle. "Deal with him," she simply stated before walking inside, wiping her blood-stained hands on a cloth as she went. The castle air felt cooler after being outside, the stone walls muffling sound.

Upon entering the throne room, Mei located her queen. "An assassin has been dealt with, my lady," she announced, bowing respectfully before taking her usual spot beside the throne, posture rigid and alert, ready to protect the only person she cared about in this world.