Lowell Brichalles
"..Am I that easy to read or have you truly dealt with enough assassins that we are all predictable?"
He noted the woman's shift in tone seemed far less stern, but he didn't know what to make of it.

" I'll leave you to decide that. And there is no doubt she plans to send someone to finish the job before you can be connected back to her. However, You seem to be someone that would make far better use to me than 6ft underground. "

Lowell Brichalles
"..Maybe. What do you have in mind, your Majesty?
If it is my strength you require, then you have it."

" I have more than that in mind, but I will settle for that at the moment. And, you don't have worry about taking anymore of those...jobs of yours. Even if I am sparing your life, I expect no one to work for free. "

Lowell Brichalles
He seemed surprised by this and gave the Empress a reluctant, but thankful smile.

"I would be grateful to serve. And largely in your debt. But..
..those jobs have been, so far, mainly a necessity to keep my curse under control. The money has been very appreciated but secondary.
If I am entirely honest with you, I am driven by my blade and its power to spill blood, but I do not wish for such a foul power to have hold of me here.
There is only so much I can resist of its influence on my mind. It was the reason I was ousted from my house, but I do not entirely remember the events myself."

She was quiet for a moment, before nodding. " I've heard the rumors, but those only go so far. But to hear it from the person himself, i have no choice to listen. Its understandable. If you wish to do so, then I will not stop you. I will still pay you for the work you will do for me. "

Lowell Brichalles
"Thank you, your Majesty. I will try to keep the jobs that I do take simple if that is the case. Things like disposing of bandits and petty thieves, definitely no more assassination attempts if you are to pay me yourself. What do you plan to have me do, might I inquire?"

" You will be my eyes and ears outside, and in some places, inside of the palace. There is only so much that reaches my ears from my servants. "

Lowell Brichalles
"Good person to ask." He chuckled a bit.
"So the sort of things I am looking for include..? Is this strictly out of your need for protection or am I meant more as a spy?

Either I believe I can do well, provided circumstances permit it. I believe there would be many here who would not take well to my presence, let alone trust me with my curse and the talk of what has already transpired."

" I would say you are meant to be more of a spy.

As for the others with your presence, one does not need trust to get information. And not that many know of what you actually look like. It would not be difficult to create a mannequin of sorts to take the punishment of attempted assassination for you, So as long as you do not speak of your identity, there should be nothing to worry about that. "