"Are you comfortable, your highness?" the knight asked, his voice hushed.
"As comfortable as one can be under watch," the princess replied, her gaze unwavering. "But I suppose that's the price of seeking truth, even for a princess."
The knight shifted uncomfortably. "But your highness, you've only just returned to us. You deserve to be pampered, not confined."
"Did the Duchess not deserve the same?" she countered, her voice sharp as a newly-honed blade. "Her status was no less than mine, yet she was subjected to interrogation without a word of protest from you."
The knight's silence filled the room, a testament to her words. The princess allowed a small, knowing smile to grace her lips.
"I appreciate your concern, Sir Knight. But I assure you, I am quite capable of enduring whatever is necessary to uphold justice."
