When midnight arrived, everyone was in position. Prince Philip stood in his room, tense and waiting. A soft knock on the door made him turn. A palace servant entered, carrying a tray with a warm drink. The smile on his face seemed genuine, but there was a glint of wariness in his eyes that did not escape Philip's notice.
In our hiding place, Deputy Knight Captain Gord and I were concealed inside the prince's large wardrobe. The space was cramped and smelled of wood, making me feel slightly claustrophobic. We had been ordered to observe and move if any danger arose. Cold sweat trickled down my temple, despite the chill of the night.
Gord peeked through the crack in the wardrobe door, his eyes sharp and focused. "Stay alert," he whispered to me. "We don't know what Princess Rosaria will do. Be ready for anything."
I could hear the tension in his voice. In my jacket pocket, I felt the weight of the Glock I was carrying. My fingers brushed the grip, the warmth of the metal oddly comforting. At my waist, there was a knife—a weapon that might be crucial in an emergency.
The servant spoke softly to Philip, inviting him to sit and enjoy the drink. Philip, though appearing calm, remained vigilant. "Thank you," he said, his voice steady but firm.
As the servant turned to leave the room, my eyes were fixed on the door, which slowly closed. I felt my heart beat faster. Every second felt like an hour, and every little sound heightened my alertness.
Once the servant left, the room returned to silence. Prince Philip walked to the table and eyed the drink suspiciously. "Johan, Gord," he called quietly but loud enough for us to hear.
We emerged from the wardrobe and quickly approached Philip. "Did you notice anything suspicious?" I asked.
Philip nodded. "This drink. I'm not sure about it. Something feels off."
Gord moved closer, carefully sniffing the drink. "There's something strange. It might be poisoned."
I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. "We need to act immediately. This could be a sign that they're planning to move tonight."
Philip looked at us seriously. "Alright, we need to prepare. Johan, you and Gord get your weapons ready. We must be prepared for anything."
I nodded, feeling adrenaline course through my veins. "Understood, Prince."
Gord patted my shoulder. "Let's make sure the prince stays safe. No matter what happens."
With the Glock in my hand and the knife ready, we braced ourselves for a night filled with tension and danger. We knew this was only the beginning of a long battle ahead.
...
Moments later, another figure arrived. Gord and I were in our respective hiding spots, ready for anything. Prince Philip lay feigning sleep on his grand bed, breathing slowly to maintain his calm.
The figure moved stealthily, a shadowy silhouette in the dim room. I carefully observed every movement. From his build, it was evident he was a man. He approached the prince with slow steps, his breath nearly silent.
When the man raised his hand, it became clear he was holding a knife aimed at the sleeping Prince Philip. Tension gripped me as I waited for the right moment. My hand tightened around the Glock, feeling the strain in every muscle.
The man drew closer, the knife glinting in the faint light from the window. Without wasting a moment, I slid out from under the bed, aiming the Glock swiftly. In a split second, my gun was pointed at the hand holding the knife.
Bang!
The gunshot echoed through the room, loud without a suppressor. The man was startled, his knife clattering to the floor. In his panic, he stepped back, clutching his arm where the bullet had hit.
Prince Philip immediately rose from his feigned sleep. "Johan! Gord!" he called urgently.
Gord emerged from the shadows, leaping with lightning speed and grabbing the man before he could flee. With the strength and skill of a seasoned knight, Gord pinned him to the floor, pressing down on his arm and back firmly.
"Who sent you?" Gord demanded, his tone intimidating, his face showing restrained fury.
The man remained silent, his eyes wide with fear. "I... I was just following orders..."
"Prince, what should we do?" I asked, keeping the Glock trained on the man. My mind raced, considering our next steps.
Philip approached us, his gaze sharp and contemplative. "We need to interrogate him. Find out who's behind this."
I nodded, looking at the man who had attempted to harm the prince. "Alright, let's start with the basics. What's your name? And who ordered you to do this?"
The man trembled, his breath coming in gasps. "My name... my name is Aldric. I... I'm just a subordinate. The order came directly from... from Princess Rosaria."
Hearing that name, Gord and I exchanged glances. The tension thickened. Philip sighed deeply, restraining the boiling anger within him. "We must act swiftly. There's no time to lose."
I nodded, feeling the adrenaline surge. "Yes, Prince. Let's prepare everything and move quickly. Time is running out."
With decisive actions and strong determination, we prepared for what was to come. This threat had to be neutralized, and the prince's safety ensured. That night, we weren't just protecting a prince; we were safeguarding the future of the kingdom.
...
As we stepped out of the prince's mansion, the cold, silent night enveloped us. I had sent word to my comrades to be ready, but with our one-way communication devices, I couldn't receive any updates from them. Nonetheless, I trusted they could handle the situation.
The moment the door opened, we were met with a grim sight. Outside, a squad of soldiers had surrounded us. Their armor gleamed under the moonlight, weapons at the ready, eyes sharp and alert.
"What is the meaning of this?" Prince Philip demanded, his voice echoing with authority.
"Prince, we are ordered by the king to bring you in. We ask for your cooperation," said one of the knights leading the squad. His voice was firm, but there was a hint of fear hidden behind his words.
"Zedra!! Mind your tongue when speaking to the crown prince. I didn't train you to be disrespectful to the royal family," Gord snapped, his eyes blazing with suppressed anger.
"Vice-captain, this is a direct order from the king. We are authorized to use any means necessary to bring Prince Philip before him," Zedra responded, his voice firm but with a reluctant respect.
The tension in the air thickened. The soldiers tightened their circle around us. I could sense their unease, and I knew this situation could explode at any moment. I whispered to Prince Philip and Gord, keeping my voice low so the other soldiers wouldn't hear.
"Hey, this situation is dangerous. I don't trust that they were ordered to bring you in the middle of the night like this. According to our plan, I can't take any chances. So, follow my lead. When I say retreat, fall back. We'll use the back route," I said, my eyes never leaving the soldiers encircling us.
Prince Philip and Gord exchanged glances, then nodded slightly. I could see the tension and determination in their eyes. Time seemed to slow down, each second stretching into minutes.
I glanced toward the back door, only a few steps from our position. This escape route was our only hope to slip away without unnecessary bloodshed.
"Retreat," I whispered, firm and clear.
With swift and coordinated movements, we started to back up and slammed the door shut. The soldiers quickly realized our intention and advanced to block us, but we swiftly locked the door. The loud thuds of soldiers trying to break in echoed behind us, but there was no time to waste. We sprinted toward the back exit.
Fortunately, the back route was sparsely guarded. Only a few soldiers were on duty, casually unaware of the chaos unfolding at the mansion's front.
"Keep moving!" I commanded, ensuring everyone maintained a swift pace.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a smoke bomb, quickly pulling the pin. With a practiced motion, I threw the smoke bomb toward the cluster of soldiers at the mansion's front.
The bomb exploded with a loud hiss, and within seconds, thick smoke enveloped the area, obscuring the soldiers' view as they tried to pursue us.
Amidst the panic and confusion, we kept moving forward. The narrow, winding path behind the mansion seemed like a safe escape route.
"Keep going, don't stop!" Gord's voice rang out, filled with determination and vigor.
Prince Philip ran beside me, his breaths heavy but steady. He showed no signs of fear, only a strong determination to escape this perilous situation.
We navigated through several small alleys, trying to put as much distance as possible between us and the mansion, staying out of the soldiers' reach. The streets grew darker and quieter, giving us a slight sense of security, though the tension still hung in the air.
When we finally reached a point far enough from the mansion, I paused to ensure everyone was still with us and safe.
"Is everyone alright?" I asked, looking around at Prince Philip and Gord.
"Yes, we're safe for now," Philip replied, his eyes still filled with resolve.
"We need to keep moving before they find our trail again," Gord added, his eyes scanning our surroundings vigilantly.
I nodded, knowing our struggle had only just begun. However, with determination and thorough preparation, I was confident we could face whatever lay ahead. "Alright, let's keep going. We can't stop now."