I am Princess Amira Ravensford… and I.... am about to die.

Steel flashed behind me—swords raised, boots crushing dead leaves as they chased me through the jungle. Their breaths were heavy. Mine was worse. My lungs burned, my legs trembled, yet I ran with my full strength which was collapsing with each step.

I knew I couldn't outrun them.

So I hide into the bushes, thorns tearing at my skin as I crouched low and pressed myself into the shadows.

Footsteps were approaching.

Closer.

Closer.

I clamped a hand over my mouth and held my breath, praying even my heartbeat would stay silent. Their eyes scanned the darkness like hunting beasts searching for wounded prey.

"Agh," one of them muttered. "What are we going to do if Princess Sophie finds out we didn't finish the task? She will tell him and he wi—"

The other soldier grabbed his arm sharply. "Are you mad? Never speak about them. No one must know who sent us. If you do, I'll kill you myself before they will."

Sophie.....

It was Sophie ..... It was Sophie who wanted me dead. Tears rolled down my eyes.

The world inside me shattered.

We had argued earlier this morning—but I never imagined she would go this far. Never imagined she would send swords after my life. I was about to do what she wanted . She could have let me talk to the Father . we would have find the way but she... she thought killing me would be an easier option, a better option.

The soldiers moved deeper into the jungle, their voices fading as they searched elsewhere.

And I... I was sitting their with tears rolling down my face. I came out of the bushes .

I started walking ahead thinking about our argument in this morning.

Sophie had angrily rushed into my room and before i could even say something, before i could even react, she slapped me .

I couldn't even process whats happening . She tightly grabbed my shoulder and said ,"you ... are you happy now Father's favourite daughter." She was crying, her eyes were filled with anger and hatred . She grabbed my shoulder harder ."Why ... Why it has to be you . why ?". She shouted.

I ,clueless of what this is all about, asked her calmly."what happened Sophie, what did I do?"

She glared at me with her red angry and teary eyes, "You asked dad to marry Prince Auxtin , didn't you ?. You knew I liked him ....how could.... how could you do this to me."

" What", I gasped. "What are you talking about , Me.... marrying Prince Auxtin ?... I don't know anything about it , who told you such a thing. " I said, pulling my self free from her tight grip.

I tried to calm her ,"Sophie, I am not marrying anyone . Who told you all this . "

She laughed bitterly "Oh please Amira , stop. Stop this so called.... i am innocent act of yours, save it for father ok . I heard it myself . Father told your mother about your marriage to Prince Auxtin "

Her eyes were full of hate , which was nothing new but this time it was intense. that hate , that rage looked so tarryfying .

" I don't know anything about any of it. but if you want to marry Prince Auxtin , I will talk to father about your marriage. I wil---"

"Oh really , what are you gonna tell him , hmm?" She mocked ," Are you gonna tell him that Father, please allow Sophie—the youngest child—to marry Prince Auxtin while your eldest, precious daughter remains unmarried? And he will say, 'Of course! It is perfectly fine . Its completely alright - to marry off my youngest child first instead of my beloved eldest daughter."

She was right Father wouldn't let her marry before me. " Let me think of something, I will find a soluti-"

" I will find it, and you , will not like it" she said and stormed out of my room .

What is all this about. What marriage. Father didn't told me anything about any marriage. How can there be my marriage talks without even me knowing.

I forced myself to stop shaking and without wasting any second went to find Father. I had to clear everything. I could not let this happen. There is allready enough hatred in us , I don't want to increase it more.

I reached his chamber and waited outside for him to return from court.

That was when I saw William walking toward me.

William—my stepbrother and the future king.

Cold. Fierce. A man who always bent the world to his will, by any means. It seemed he, too, had come to see Father.

I lowered my eyes, pretending not to notice him, lost in my thoughts of what I would say.How i would convince Father .

William stopped beside me.

I looked up.

"Amira," he said in his icy voice. "What happened between you and Sophie? I saw her leave your room in tears. I have never seen her like that."

"It is a misunderstanding," I replied. "I will explain everything to Father. I am going to speak to him."

Even as I spoke, fear twisted inside me. I did not know how I would convince Father. Although he has always fulfilled my every wish and listened to me but this time , this time I hae to find a good reason for not marrying Prince Auxtin .Father might agree to let me refuse the marriage, but how would I convince him to let Sophie marry Prince Auxtin instead?

Just then, a man came running toward us, gasping for breath. He bowed quickly.

"Prince William… Princess Sophie has taken a horse and left the palace."

William's eyes darkened.

"What?" he snapped. "Why did you let her go?"

"She was too angry, Your Highness. She would not listen to us." the man replied.

William turned sharply to me.

"If anything happens to her, I will—"

I cut in saying ,"We must find her first. She is not thinking clearly. We have to reach her before something terrible happens."

William and I hurried toward the main gate.

He turned to the gate commander and demanded, "Which way did Princess Sophie go?"

"She rode east, Your Highness," the man replied.

William's voice rose in fury. "Why did none of you go with her?"

The soldiers stiffened in fear.

"Our man tried to follow her, Your Highness, but she ordered us to stay back. We could not disobey her."

William clenched his jaw. "BRING MY HORSE. NOW."

I stepped forward. "I will go with you. I will help find...."

He turned on me sharply. "You have already done enough. Stay here. I will find her."

"But I didn't do anyth—"

He did not let me finish. He mounted his horse and ordered his men, "Make sure Father knows nothing about this or I will kill all of you with my own hands."

Then he rode away.

I stood there, helpless, my chest tight with worry.

One of his men bowed to me. "Your Highness, please return to your chamber. If His Majesty , or any one else , sees you here like this, it may cause trouble."

I nodded and turned back, though my heart refused to rest. I could not go to Father now , it will cause more problems which i didn't want.

Lost in my thoughts, I saw Sophie's chief lady-in-waiting hurrying through the hall, her face pale with fear.

I stopped her. "What is wrong?"

She bowed quickly. "Your Highness, have you seen Prince William? I must tell him something about Princess Sophie."

My heart skipped. "William has gone to search for her. Do you know, where Sophie went?"

She hesitated, her hands trembling.

"Your Highness… Princess Sophie—"

Her voice broke.

"Please," I said softly. "Tell me if you know anything. I really wants to help Sophie"

Tears filled her eyes. "She was crying… very upset. She said many things. She said she would…"

She stopped.

"What did she say?" I pressed.

"She said she would jump into the river and .... ends her life. She said ' it would be better than living like this," the woman burst into tears.

"But I do not know if she meant it. She was angry and speaking without sense."the women continued .

My blood ran cold.

William had gone east.

But the river lay to the southwest.

I grabbed the woman's shoulders. "Stay calm. I will go and find her and try to tell this to Prince Henry , he can handle everything way better than us"

I ran to the stables and mounted my horse, riding toward the gate.

The gate soldiers blocked my way.

"Your Highness, if you leave, Prince William will definitely kill us."

they were right , William is merciless, but I have to find her , it would be great if William find her but what if ... what if she really meant to .... no nothing would happen. I tried to shake dark thoughts away .

"Then come with me," I said to them.

"But, Your Highness—"

"You will not refuse my order," I said firmly. "Either you ride with me, or I go alone."

They looked at one another in fear… then bowed.

Ten soldiers rode with me toward the riverbank.The wind cut against my face as my heart pounded wildly. Dark thoughts filled my mind.

Please be alive, Sophie.

Please do not hurt yourself.

If anything happened to her I would not survive it.

I could never live knowing that because me me, something bad happened to Sophie too ...

We reached the riverbank.

"Spread out and search everywhere," I ordered the royal guards.

They rushed in different directions at once.

I was along the shore, my voice breaking as I called her name.

"SOPHIE! SOPHIE!"

The wind carried my voice across the water, but there was no answer. Just the sound of flowing river. I was shaking in fear, dark thoughts were building up in my mind . Please Sophie be safe .

Then I saw it.

A piece of blue cloth lying near the edge of the river.My heart stopped.I jumped down from my horse and moved toward it slowly, fear tightening around my chest.

With every step, I prayed it did not belong to her.

But when I reached it, I knew.

It was torn from Sophie's dress—the very one she had been wearing when she left the palace.

Terror rushed through me. I picked up the cloth peice.

"SOPHIE!" I screamed and ran toward the river.

Suddenly my foot caught in the tall grass and loose stones. I fell hard—and at the same moment, a sharp pain tore through my arm.

An arrow had struck me, grazing my skin.

I hissed with pain ,and rolled into the long grass, hiding myself. I saw my arm ,the blood began to flow down my arm .

My hands trembled as I tore a strip from Sophie's cloth and wrapped it tightly around the wound.

The guards were far away now as I had sent them in all directions.

I was alone. Who would have shot an arrow at me.

I lifted my head slowly and looked around while hiding my body .

Through the trees, I saw them.Several figures moving toward me. Their faces were covered with dark cloth. They carried swords and bows in their hands.My breath caught in my throat. They were looking at my direction. They were definitely after me .

but Who were they?

Why were they after me?

Fear took over my body. They were approaching near. I crawled through the tall grass and after some distance forced myself to stand, then ran—blindly, desperately—away from the river.

And that is how I came to be here.

Lost.

Wounded.

Hunted.

In the jungle.

But now that I knew it was Sophie…I did not know what to do anymore.

Should I keep hiding ? Or should I let them end my life? Perhaps ending my life would be better for everyone.

For Sophie.For my mother.

But Father…

My father had always loved me. Cherished me.

Memories flooded my mind—his hands feeding me when I was small, his laughter when he granted my every wish, the way he looked at me as if I were his greatest treasure.

My chest ached.

Tears filled my eyes as I lifted my face to the sky, trying to hold them back. Trying not to let them fall.

The night was clear.The moon shone brightly above me, surrounded by countless stars. They looked blurry through my tears… yet painfully beautiful.

Then—A growl echoed through the jungle. My heart skipped a beat in fear.

I turned back .From the bushes, two shining eyes stared straight into my soul. My whole body got cold as ice. I couldn't breath anymore.

It growled again, louder now, and slowly it stepped out of the shadows into the silver light of the moon.

A..... leopard....My body froze.I could not run. I could not scream. My senses went numb . I couldn't hear or feel anything—except the terrible presence of the beast before me.

The leopard's eyes gleamed in the moonlight, piercing through the darkness like lanterns in the night. It crouched low to the ground, its muscles tensed and ready to spring. The air was thick with tension as it took a slow, deliberate step closer to me.

I stood frozen, my heart pounding in my chest like a drumbeat in a silent night. The growl grew louder, a menacing rumble that vibrated through my entire body.

It took another step closer, its tail twitching like a whip. I tried to move, but my legs were heavy, as if rooted to the spot. My vision narrowed to a single point - the leopard's open jaws, lined with sharp teeth.

It lowered its body, ready to leap.

And just as it sprang—

My strength left me.I collapsed to the ground. And everything went black.

My head felt as if it were spinning. The world seemed to move around me.For a moment I felt like I am on a horse. I tried to open my eyes but failed, and everything went blank again.

.

.

.

I felt water droplets on my face. I clenched my face and eyes tightly. I tried to open them, but no matter how hard I tried, my eyelids would not lift.

I heard some faint male voices. It was feeling like echo.

"She is waking up," one voice said.

"Go check her, see if she's awake." a deep voice echoed.

"Why me? You go and check her."

"That's my order. Go and check her." A deed voice commanded.

I could hear them, but my eyelids felt too heavy to lift. Suddenly, I felt a tap on my shoulder and a voice said, "Hey… hey? look she isn't responding."

"Splash some water on her," that deep voice ordered from behind.

Water splashed onto my face again. This time, I forced my eyes open.

At first, I could only see two blurry figures.

I blinked several times until my vision cleared.

Two unfamiliar men in their mid-twenties were standing in front of me. I glanced around. The place was small, shabby, and completely unfamiliar.

"Who are you?" I asked weakly while still lying on floor. "And where am I?"

"I'm leaving. You talk to her," one of them said and stormed out of the room.

The other man hurried after him. "Wait, Richard—" He glanced back at me with his cold eyes and then followed him, saying, "Where are you going? Come back here."

Only then did I realize my hands and legs were tied. I struggled against the rope, and that was when I noticed my wounds.

There was a yellow paste on my injuries. My arm—where the arrow had struck—was wrapped in clean cloth. I smelled the paste. It had a strong medicinal scent. It was some kind of herbal paste.

A bowl filled with the same yellow paste and a leaf lay on the floor near me.

I heard their voices again from outside.

"Richard, let's go. We need to talk to her."

"It was your idea to bring her here. You deal with her."

"I will… just come with me, Richard. Look—"

Their voices grew quieter, and I could no longer hear them.

Where am I? I wonder.

The room is shabby and dim. It looked like a kitchen,pots lie near a small hearth, and firewood is piled against the wall.

But near the door, a thin bedding and a few clothes are spread in the corner—proof that this place is not only for cooking, but for living too.

It is a terrible day.

So many things happened that my mind can barely keep up. My chest feels tight, my head throbs, and my thoughts refuse to settle.

Things that do not happen in a whole year happen to me in just one day. Today feels as if time itself is racing, pushing every moment forward before I can breathe.

Every moment brings something worse than the last, it feels as if this day is determined to break me.

Are these the same people Sophie sends after me—the ones who hunt me in the jungle?

Then why do they treat my wounds?

Why do they save me?

They were trying to kill me… weren't they?

Unless Sophie does not truly want me dead. Maybe she only wants me out of the palace for a while—long enough for Father to agree to her marriage with Prince Auxtin.

But that makes no sense. She is not in her right mind right now. She must be so upset about this marriage thing. If I go missing, Father will not think of weddings. He will search for me with every soldier in the kingdom. There will be no marriage while I am lost.

Then why…?

It must be something bigger than Sophie.

Father would never decide my marriage without even speaking to me unless the reason is serious.

My thoughts drift to King Gabriel.

A ruler feared across many lands. He has fought and won wars against countless states in recent years. His hunger for power never ends. Any kingdom that does not bow to him becomes his enemy. Those who hurt his pride are crushed beneath his armies.

There are rumors about him—whispers of a hidden warrior who fights his battles. A man so skilled that he can face hundreds alone. A genius of the battlefield. The shadow behind every victory.

Perhaps that is why Father chooses this path. Prince Auxtin belongs to a powerful empire. A good relation with his kingdom could protect us from the threat of King Gabriel. A marriage… for safety. For survival.

I am still lost in these thoughts when the door opens. They both enter the room again .

I lift my gaze to meet theirs.

So one of them is Richard… though I still do not know the other man's name.

The second man looks nothing like someone who belongs in this shabby place. His posture is straight and proud, as if he is used to standing before kings. His fingers are heavy with finely carved rings, their stones catching the light even in this dim room. His clothes are made of rich silk, dark and smooth, the kind only nobles and high-ranking men can afford.

The hut is poor and worn, yet they both look as though they come from a palace rather than a village.

The man steps forward and speaks in a cold voice,"What were you doing in the forest, covered in blood?"

His voice makes my stomach tighten. I have never met him before, yet something in his eyes and tone feels full of anger—anger meant for me.

Maybe I am imagining it. Maybe this terrible day has made me too sensitive.

But then… why is he asking me what I was doing in the jungle? Were they not the ones hunting me on Sophie's orders?

I try to gather my thoughts, but he suddenly raises his voice making me flinch.

"I asked you, why you were in the jungle. Are you deaf?" He shouts .

The sharp sound of his voice makes me flinch. A chill runs down my spine.

I swallow hard before speaking."What do you mean, what was I doing?" I say, my voice trembling.

"I was running for my life… from you. From the people trying to kill me."

My words make them look at each other in confusion." us… trying to kill you?" he asks, clearly puzzled.

And now I am confused too.

What is happening? Are they not the same people who were hunting me? If not… then who are they?

I hesitate before asking, "Who are you?"

The deep voice answers sharply, "Listen. You are not in a position to ask questions. I will ask, and you will answer. UNDERSTOOD? Now tell me what I asked you."

Why is his tone filled with hatred?I have done nothing to this man.

"Aren't you Sophie's men?" I ask slowly, my brows lifting. "The ones who were in the jungle?"

My words make him let out a bitter scoff.

"Oh , so your own sister send people to kill you," he says with a crooked smile. "What else can one expect from a family of traitors? Betrayal runs in your blood."

They are not Sophie's men…?

Anger burns in my chest. How dare he speak of my family like that?

"That was a misunderstanding," I say, trying to defend us. "And who are you to speak about my family?"

"Family?" His eyes darken. He drags a stool forward and sits in front of me, leaning closer ."What kind of family sends killers after one of their family member huh ?" he says, tilting his head, his jaw clenched.

" huh Family?" He lets out a sharp, mocking chuckle. "A house full of traitors and betrayers… calling themselves a happy family."

"Let me go," I say, struggling to untie the rope around my wrists.

"As I already told you," he replies coldly, "you are no princess here. You are a captive. Your orders mean nothing."

He steps closer, his eyes hard.

"Now, let's talk about your family. Tell me, little princess… how is that miserable tyrant George? Is he doing well?"

"It is King George," I answer, lifting my chin and meeting his gaze.

"ANSWER ONLY WHAT I ASK!" he shouts suddenly, his voice exploding with anger and making me flinch backward.

He grabs my shoulder with crushing force. His fingers dug into my arm, nails biting into my skin.

"How is he hmm?" he demands. "How are his relations with the neighboring states?"

My eyes fall to his fingers—and I notice the same yellow herbal paste dried on his skin.

Is he the one who treated my wound?

Pain shoots through my arm as I try to pull away, but he shakes me violently.

"You will answer every question," he snarls, "or I will throw you into the wild and let the beasts tear you apart piece by piece."

Terror grips me. My arm hurting very bad where he holds me, but I stay silent.Who is he?A spy?

"Arthur, that's enough," Richard says sharply from behind him. "Stop."

But Arthur does not release me. Rage still burns in his eyes as he tightens his grip. My injured arm,that has been wrapped in clean white cloth, now darkens with fresh blood. Blood has started to drip down my skin.

As Richard saw the blood dripping , he rushes forward and forces Arthur's hand away, pulling him back.

"What are you doing?" Richard snaps. "She is bleeding!"

Arthur's gaze drops to my arm. The fury in his face slowly fades.

"It is not her fault that she is his daughter," Richard says firmly. "Your father would never have allowed harm to women, children, or the helpless. Don't be like her family . This cruelty—this is George's way. He wins by hurting the weak, stepping through the helpless women and child. . "

Arthur looks at me again. The hatred in his eyes is gone now, replaced by something else… something heavy and troubled.

Then he turns and storms out of the room.

Richard moves to an old wooden cupboard near the door and takes out a clean cloth. He kneels in front of me and carefully begins wrapping my arm again.

"My father is not what you say he is," I whisper.

Richard scoffs softly as he ties the cloth.

"We know exactly what kind of man he is."

"Agh—" I hiss when he tightens the knot.

His eyes lift to mine.

"Oh… sorry," he says quietly, stepping back.

"What are you going to do with me?" I ask.

"If you have any more wounds, use the herbal paste," he says, walking toward the pots at the side of the room.

"Please.... Please let me go," I beg. "I will not tell anyone about you. I am of no use to you. If you think you can learn something important from me, you are wrong."

He glances at me as he takes food from a pot.

"I m..mean.. I don't know anything," I continue desperately. "My father never tells me about the state or politics. We never talk about such things. I know nothing." I treid to convince him to let me go.

He brings a plate and a jug of water and places them in front of me.

"Eat," he says.

"Please… don't kill me—"

"We will not kill you," he interrupts, "as long as you do not do anything foolish."

He walks toward the door.

"Then let me go," I say again. "I am of no use to you."

"We will," he replies without turning back, "when the time comes." and he closes the door behind him .

He leaves, and now I am alone.

I twist and pull at my wrists, trying to free myself, but the rope is tied so tightly that my hands barely move. And who ties a rope to full hand length , even my fingers aren't free.

I hook my bound wrists around my knee and push with all my strength that i lost my balance and I fall hard to my right side.

I lie there, breathing heavily while my wrists still around my knee.

It flet like my skin around the rope gonna tear open —but the rope .... rope does not loosen even an inch.

I struggle back up into a sitting position and try again. I press my wrists against my knee and push harder than before. This time I topple to my left but still pushing my knees against the rope , still refusing to give up.

By the time I stop, my chest is heaving and my body feels weak and useless. I lie there for a moment, trying to catch my breath, trying to regain every bit of strength that has left in my body. Then I force myself up again, it tooked me a whole minute to get up into sitting position. I felt like the world around me is spinning. I shook me head, blinked a few times .

This time ,I lift my tied hands to my mouth and bite at the rope, trying to loosen it. After only a few seconds, my teeth begin to ache—but the rope does not budge.

"What kind of rope is this?" I mutter. "It's not loosening at all."

"Agh… aishh… umm…" Frustration escapes me in broken sounds and I shake my wrists violently trying to let my frustration out.

My arm hits the water jug. The jug tips over.

Water spills everywhere—soaking my clothes.

"Wow…" I sigh bitterly. For a moment, I even consider grabbing the plate of food and dumping it over my head too, since that seems to be the only thing left untouched.

cause myy hair were hanging messily all over my face, making me look like a ghost. Dust clings to my clothes, my skin, even my hair. My arm... my arm no longer looks like my arm at all—yellow herbal paste and dirt cover it so thickly that my real skin barely shows through.

Irritated by the hairs over my face, I try to push my hair back with my bound wrists, but the rough rope scrapes my face and refuses to let my hair stay in place.

My frustration rises until I let out a weak, helpless sound —like the kind people make when they wake up crying and don't even know why.

Aghhhhhh... I slump again.

"Forget my hands… I'll free my feet first," I whisper.

I bend forward, dragging my bound hands toward my ankles, reaching for the rope around my feet.

I am about to touch the rope on my feet when the door opens, freezing me in place.

I lift my gaze to meet theirs. They look at each other, then back at me.

Arthur almost… almost smiles.

But Richard—there is nothing almostabout him. He bursts into laughter.

He laughs so hard that one hand presses against his stomach while the other clutches the wall for support, as if he might collapse any second.

"Wha—what happened to—" Richard can't even finish his sentence before breaking into louder laughter.

Heat rushes to my face. Humiliation burns in my chest.

I know i looked messy , I try to push my hair away with my tied wrists, but that rough rope , refuses to let it settle.

Arthur strikes Richard's arm, trying to silence him.

Richard looks down, biting his lips, struggling to stop—but his shoulders , they were going up and down like vibrating, as he continues laughing quietly.

Right now, I don't know what frustrates me more—my situation, Richard's laughter ...or the loose strands of hair irritating my face.

I jerk my bound wrists violently against my hair this time .

"Aghh—" I hiss as my hair gets tangled in the rope, that make both of them to look at me again.

And that laughing machine Richard starts all over.

I try to pull my hands away, but my head follows with them.

"Agh!" Pain shoots through my scalp.

Richard, still laughing, covers his face with one hand and pushes Arthur forward with the other .

Arthur steps closer, looking at me—then quickly looks away, I guess to avoid laughing at me .

He kneels in front of me, lowering himself to my level.Both of us avoid eye contact.

Slowly, he reaches toward my head, trying to untangle my hair from the rope.

I turn my face away, but I can still feel the warmth of his breath.

"Aah…" the sound slips out of me when my hair pulls painfully as he tried to free them from rope.

Our eyes meet for a brief second—Then Richard's laughter erupts again behind us.

Arthur turns ."Go and prepare a bedding for her," he orders.

Richard leaves the room.

Arthur continues, more carefully now, loosening the strands without hurting me further.

As he works, my eyes fall to his chest. There—near his collarbone—is a scar.

That looks like a sword wound.

He frees my hair and notices my gaze. Instantly, he straightens and steps back.

Richard returns with a mattress in his arms. His eyes stay lowered as he spreads it near me.

But suddenly, he freezes—both hands pressed to the floor, shoulders shaking again as he struggles not to laugh.

Is this man serious? How can he—

My thoughts break when Arthur's cold voice cuts through the room.

"Why haven't you eaten?" he asks, staring at the untouched plate.

"I don't want your food," I answer, irritation slipping into my voice.

"Oh.. Let's see , for how many days, that princess attitude of yours lasts," he snaps.

" days ?, What do you mean..... days?" My voice trembles. "Please… let me go."

He ignores me. Turning to Richard, he says, "As we discussed—you sleep near the door. Make sure she doesn't run."

He finished and heads toward the door .

I swallow and shift awkwardly against the wall, and with hesitation I pleased "I… I can't sleep like This. I'm dirty… and the mattress will get dirty too."My fingers twist into the rope nervously."Can I… bathe?"

Arthur turns back, mocking.

"Of course, Your Highness. Anything else?"

His voice rises sharply. "Is this your palace? Are we your servants?"

"You'll sleep like that," he says coldly.

"And if the mattress gets dirty, you will wash it in the morning."

He leaves.

How long will I have to stay like this? I thought while resting my head against the wall and take a slow breath.

Richard places his bedding in front of the door, blocking the exit.

He hangs an oil lamp near me and lies down, pulling the blanket over his face.

I am trapped in a room with a stranger man .

Father must be worried. ahe would have sent his man to find me everywhere. I am sure they will find me soon. What would be happening in the palace right now?

I am lost in my thoughts when I hear Richard's muffled laughter beneath the blanket.

Why is he still laughing?

He can't even see me now, hidden under that blanket, yet the sound, keeps coming.

Then he turns, facing the door.

ugh… what a day!

And judging by my situation, the night is going to be just as long.

I glance at the old mattress beside me and pressed it a little .

It is hard—nothing like the soft beds, of the palace, ths comfort of the palace. I sighed.

Dirt clings to my skin. My clothes feel stiff. My mind refuses to be still.

With this filthy body, this rough mattress, and these wild thoughts racing through my head, I know sleep will not come.

His laughter sounds again.

Why isn't he asleep yet?

Should I say something to him? I thought a little , should I ? ..and he laughed again.

"JUST SLEEP ALREADY!" I shout across the room.

Instead of stopping, he laughs even louder.

I roll my eyes in frustration.

That Man !.... he is really out of his mind.

My thoughts shifted from him as i felt , the dirt on my face and arm itch against my skin.

I pull my knees up and search for a cleaner part of my skirt .

Then I wipe my face against it… and rub my arm the same way, trying to get rid of at least some of the filth.

It barely helps—but it is all, I can do.

Still, the itch does not leave. The dust clinging to my skin keeps me restless and uncomfortable.

My gaze falls on the plate nearby.

Wait… how am I even supposed to eat , with my hands tied like this? Even my fingers cannot move properly.

huh ! Princess Attitude?

How did he even expect me to grab the plate, or the food ? Did he expect me to lick food from the plate.... like a cat?

I should have thought this earlier . Princess Attitude ?

What did he got , the stubbornness, the audacity.

I heard Richard again, but thus time — its his snoring .

Why ..... just why . Am I not already suffering enough from the dirt and this itching —and now his snoring fills the room as well, loud and careless.

I cannot bear it anymore. Tears slide down my cheeks.

Why is this happening to me?

Why am I here, suffering like this, when I have done nothing wrong?

None of this, none of this would have happened if Sophie had just listened to me.

The chain of my thoughts keeo going and the night drags on endlessly. My thoughts race without mercy, one after another, refusing to let me rest.

I do not sleep even for a moment.

By the time the sky begins to pale with the coming dawn, my body finally grows weak with exhaustion. My eyes start to burn and feel heavy.

I pull my knees close to my chest and rest my head against them.

Slowly, unwillingly, my eyes close.

…

…

…

Time slips away without me knowing.

At some point, lost between darkness and light, my body surrenders to sleep for a short while.

"Wake up."The sharp voice jerks me awake.

Arthur , Standing right in front of me.

I yawn and rub my tired eyes, stretching my stiff arms while scanning the room. Richard is already gone somewhere.It looks like mid-morning now.

My eyes return to Arthur. He is staring at the untouched plate.

He looks at me and says,

"How long are you planning to starve… until you die?"

I lift my bound wrists and hold them up to him. "How do you expect me to eat like this? How am I supposed to hold the plate or pick up food, hmm?"

Realization flickers across his face.

For a moment, he looks stunned—caught off guard and speechless.

Just then, Richard returns. He carries a bowl filled with vegetables. He walks toward the clay stove , sets the bowl down, and than adds firewood to the stove .

Arthur glances at him and starts walking in his direction.

"Wait—" My voice trembles. "I… I want to clean myself. Can I , take a bath?"

Before I can say another word, Arthur grabs a knife and turns toward me.

My eyes widen and I start dragging myself backward.

"W–Wait… I just said that because… because…" My voice breaks, and the words tangle in my mouth.

"It's okay if I don't bathe for one day. Please… don't kill me for this."

They both look at each other again. And then Richard — that walking laughing machine — starts giggling.

I stared at him in confusion and disbelief.

Arthur steps forward and kneels down to my level, with a knife in his hand and beginning to cut the rope around my wrists.

Ugh… I've made a fool of myself again.

I glance at Arthur's face while he works. His sharp facial features makes him look , good . he is quite —

He suddenly lifts his eyes. I quickly look away, avoiding his gaze. He also , quickly lowers his gaze and continued doing his work.

My eyes meet Richard's instead. He is still giggling.

"What…?" I snap at him.

The sound of my voice makes Arthur look up at me. His sharp gaze, his black eyes ,sends a shiver through my body, making me miss a heartbeat.

Sunlight slips into the room and reflects off the blade in his hand, flashing into my eyes. I swallow hard in fear.

"I-I mean… like… if someone, you know… if someone kidnaps you and then walks toward you holding a… a big knife…" My voice trembles.

"That's scary. It's normal to think they might… kill you."

Arthur smiles faintly and lowers his gaze, finishing his work. Richard's giggling continues in the background.

I shoot Richard a look that makes him drop his eyes and focus on cutting the vegetables.

Arthur cuts the rope around my wrists first, then moves to my ankles.

"Get up and follow me," he orders in his commanding voice.

I push myself to my feet. My knees feel weak, almost numb after being bent all night.

As I take a step forward, my balance slips. I start to fall—but a strong grip, catches my arm.

Arthur steadies me and helps me stand upright again.

The moment I regain balance, he pulls his hand back sharply.

"Are your legs injured too?" he asks. His voice sounds calmer now.

"No… it's just… I was sitting all night, so my legs are numb. I just need a moment." I finish speaking and gently shake one leg, trying to bring back the feeling.

He waits silently. When I nod to show I'm fine, he turns and starts walking, and I follow him.

I follow him out of the room. Warm sunlight spills over my face, and fresh air fills my lungs. After the suffocating darkness inside, the outside feels strangely soothing.

I look around slowly. Beside the room I was kept in, there is another small hut—maybe Arthur's room. The walls are rough, made of wood and clay, and the roof looks old but strong.

All around us stands a dense forest. Tall trees rise like silent guards, their branches tangled together, blocking most of the sky. Sunlight slips through the leaves in thin golden lines, falling on the ground in broken patterns. Birds chirp somewhere far away, and the air smells of soil and wood.

It is beautiful… almost unreal.

But my heart tightens instead of relaxing.

This beauty is a cage.

No road. No houses. No sign of people. Just endless trees in every direction. I search for a path, for any opening—anything that could lead me out—but I see none.

I don't notice when Arthur stops. I am still walking, distracted by the jungle, when I suddenly bump into his back.

"Ah—" I hiss. It feels like my head just hit a wall.

He turns to face me.

"Sorry," I mutter lowering my head .

"Here." He points to a shabby little hut made of branches and dry grass. "That's the toilet."

Then he turns slightly and gestures to another hut, a bit bigger but just as rough. "That's for bathing."

He steps back . We are a few meters away from both huts.

I look down at my dress—dirty, stained, and wrinkled. I know I will have to wear it again today. I shake it lightly, trying to dust off the mud stuck to the fabric.And than I start walking toward the toilet.

"I'm standing right here," he says coldly. "Don't even try , to run , or do anything stupid."

I nodded and went inside, did what I have to, and come back out.

He is still there. Same place. Same posture.

Now I walk toward the bathing hut. After a few steps, I glance at him from the corner of my eye. He hasn't moved.

I go inside. There is a bucket full of water sits in the corner, with a small jug beside it. I dip my fingers in. The water is cold. It isn't winter, that I cant bathe in cold water—but I am used to warm baths.

I took off my clothes and fill the jug and with a deep breath i pour it on me .The moment the cold water touches my skin, I gasp.

Goosebumps in my whole body and me breathing heavily.

I gathered all my courage, fill the jug again, take a deep breath, and pour it over myself.

When the water hits my wounds, pain shoots through me.

I gasped the same with every jug of cold water and it was getting more and more tough everytime.

After I finish, goosebumps cover my entire body. I stare at my clothes—still dirty, still stained.

"What's the point of bathing if I have to wear these, dirty clothes again?" I whisper to myself.

But I have no choice So I put them on.

Before stepping outside, I pull apart the grass and branches just enough to make a small gap and peek through.

He is still standing there—motionless, like a mountain guarding the path.

He is, about six or seven meters away.

If I run now… can I outrun him? My legs are not injured. I can run.

But... he looks strong—broad shoulders, steady stance, the worrier body , looks built for chasing.

If he catches me… will he kill me? They will tie me up again.

And what if next time they don't even let me out to bathe?

My chest tightens. But if I don't run, I stay here.

In this forest.

In these huts.

With them.

And if I do run…

I might live.

My life is already falling apart. What more can I lose?

I step out of the hut and stand in front of the door. Arthur is watching me.

My heart pounds so loud .

What should I do…

what should I do…

I took a little step towards him , lowering my head and searching any secape tgrough jungle from the corner of my eyes.

As I am walking slowly towards him he turned towards the hut .

Before fear can stop me —

I turn.

And run.