TRISTAN ARCHIBALD POV
(the masked rider)
I stood there, staring at the grass swaying in the night breeze, but my mind was anything but calm. The betrayal weighed heavily on me, like a storm cloud I couldn't shake off. The attack on the Swazi kingdom was brutal, but what gnawed at me was the emblem they used, my emblem.
Who would dare misuse the symbol of my empire? What was their motive? Each unanswered question just tightened the knot of frustration in my gut.
A sound broke through my thoughts, the soft crunch of footsteps. I turned sharply, instinctively gripping the hilt of my sword, ready for anything.
It was Nala.
Her presence surprised me. She approached with quiet determination, the moonlight casting her in a ghostly glow. Her stance was defiant, her dark eyes locked onto me, filled with curiosity and a quiet rebellion I was starting to recognize as her signature move.
"Why are you wearing a mask?" she shot out, her voice slicing through the silence.
I hesitated to answer. Her tone was direct and probing, but I turned away as if her question didn't deserve a response.
"Did you not hear me?" she pressed, stepping closer with purpose. "I asked why you're hiding behind a mask."
Her question hung in the air, her determination pushing against my silence like a gust of wind. I refused to let my guard down. Finally, I replied, curtly, "It's nothing."
"Nothing?" she echoed, skepticism dripping from her words. "You expect me to buy that? Why would someone like you need to cover up unless you've got something to hide?"
Her words hit hard, but I kept my cool. Her sharpness was just a reminder of the fire she had. "Believe what you want," I said flatly.
She studied me, her gaze piercing, but before she could say more, I muttered, "Come. Let me show you around."
I led Nala through the castle grounds, pointing out places that held meaning for me. We walked past lush fields bordered by well-kept gardens, the scent of blooming flowers filling the cool night air as I spoke.
"This is my mother's village," I said. "My grandmother gave me this big plot of land, and I built the castle here. Everything you see is connected to her memory."
Nala's expression softened as she took in the beauty around her. "It's beautiful," she said, her voice sincere.
We walked in silence for a bit, the heavy air filled with unspoken words. The tension between us hung around, but neither of us broke it.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps interrupted the stillness. A guard approached, moving quickly and looking urgent. He bowed deeply before speaking.
"Your Majesty
The words slipped out before he could catch himself. My glare froze him, and he went pale. "Sir," he corrected quickly, "there's something urgent I must report."
The weight of his mistake hung in the air, and I could feel Nala's eyes on me, probably piecing it all together.
"Speak," I commanded, keeping my voice steady despite my irritation.
The guard hesitated, glancing at Nala. "Sir, it's something that needs your immediate attention, privately," he said carefully.
I nodded and turned to the maid who had been waiting nearby. "Show Princess Nala to her chambers," I ordered, my voice a bit softer but still firm.
The maid bowed deeply. "Of course, Sir." She gestured for Nala to follow.
But Nala didn't move right away. Her gaze stayed on me, her expression unreadable, but I could tell she had questions brewing. "You still didn't answer my question," she said, calm but challenging.
I stepped closer, lowering my voice just for her. "Some answers will have to wait, Princess," I said quietly, choosing my words carefully. "For now, trust what you see, not what you think."
She studied me for a moment longer, her dark eyes searching mine. Then, with a slight chin lift, she turned and followed the maid, saying nothing more.
Once they were out of earshot, I turned back to the guard, my composure hardening. "What's going on?" I demanded.
I have told you this before," I said, my voice cool and commanding, but carrying a hint of control that left no room for debate. "Don't call me by my title, Not here, not now. Right now, I'm just me. When we're with her, it's 'Sir,' but when it's just us, it's 'Your Majesty.' Got it?"
"Of course, Your Majesty," the guard replied without missing a beat, his tone respectful but carrying an understanding of how crucial this was. He knew better than to push me, especially now when everything hung in the balance.
I nodded slightly, giving him the go-ahead to share the message. Each moment reminded me of the tightrope I was walking. In one life, I was the Emperor, the ruler. In this one, I was just a guy hiding behind a mask, keeping with my identity.
"Your Majesty," the guard started, urgency creeping into his voice. "We got a letter from the Empire. It's urgent. They need you back in the capital. Your uncle, Zachious, has been causing some serious trouble while you are gone. He's taking advantage of the power you left him. Just yesterday, he went to the market and forced vendors to give him their goods without paying. He didn't just take what he wanted; he wrecked their stalls, destroyed their stuff, and threatened them.
A cold fury brewed inside me. My fists clenched at my sides as I felt the sting of betrayal wash over me. My uncle had always been stupid, but this? This was beyond anything I could have imagined. I'd trusted him with a responsibility, and he'd turned that trust into a weapon for his greed. It was unacceptable.
The guard paused as if considering his next words carefully. "And the worst part, Your Majesty he's spreading the word that you authorized his actions. People are terrified, thinking you're the one causing this chaos."
My blood ran cold, that deep-cutting betrayal burning through me. To have my name, which stood for everything I'd worked for, dragged through the mud like this fanned the flames of my anger. Zachious had messed up big time something he'd soon regret.
I turned sharply to the guard, my expression hardening. "Get my horse ready right away. We're heading to the Empire tomorrow. I won't put up with his stupidity any longer. Make sure a trusted guard stays behind to keep this place secure while I'm gone,
The guard bowed, understanding how serious this was. "Right away, Your Majesty," he said, his voice steady, aware of what lay ahead.
As I rushed down the hallway, my head was spinning with frustration. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going, my mind tangled up in a mess of feelings I couldn't quite name, caught between my responsibilities and the unease from a confrontation earlier. Suddenly, I bumped into someone. Instinctively, I reached out and steadied her, grabbing her waist as she wobbled, and the swiftness pulled her close.
For a split second, everything seemed to freeze. My breath hitched as I realized it was Princess Nala. Her delicate form pressed against me, and I caught a whiff of her perfume that filled the space between us. Our eyes locked, her surprised expression hinting at something unspoken that stirred something deep within me.
Her lips moved slightly like she wanted to say something but couldn't find the words. My hand lingered a moment too long on her waist before I pulled it back, startled by how intense it felt. I straightened up, my voice coming out softer than I intended as I asked, "Where are you going?"
Her cheeks turned a shade pinker, whether it was embarrassment or something else, I couldn't tell. She blinked up at me, clearly taken off guard by how close we were. "I… I thought you'd gone to your room already," she stammered, her voice shaky for the first time. "I was headed back to mine, but then… I decided to step outside for some fresh air."
There was a slight tremor in her voice that hung in the air between us. "I see," I said, trying to steady the pounding of my heart. "I was just on my way back to my room too."
She narrowed her eyes a bit, looking like she was trying to figure me out. "What if… we took a walk instead? Maybe talk a bit?" She hesitated, glancing down for a moment before meeting my gaze again with a tentative smile. "I'd like to get to know you better."
Her suggestion caught me off guard, and I stiffened. "You don't need to know me," I shot back, my expression hardening without thinking.
She flinched at my tone but quickly bounced back. "Please," she said softly, her voice full of sincerity, almost like she was pleading.
I hesitated. There was something in her eyes, a mix of vulnerability and determination, that made it hard to say no. After a moment, I conceded. "Alright," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.
We started walking side by side down the corridor, the silence feeling both heavy and oddly soothing. Our footsteps echoed against the stone floors, with the flickering torchlight casting dancing shadows along the walls.
Eventually, she broke the silence, speaking gently but confidently. "Let me start, then. I'm Princess Nala."
I couldn't help but chuckle a bit at her formal introduction. "I already know your name, Your Highness."
Her eyebrows shot up at that, but I just nodded, a small grin creeping onto my face. "I know more than just your name, you are 22 years old, 5'8 feet
Her eyes widened, and she gasped softly. "How do you know that?" Her genuine curiosity was clear in her tone.
I glanced at her, feeling the weight of her gaze. "I just do," I replied mysteriously, my voice lowering.
She stopped walking suddenly, turning to face me. Her expression was serious, eyes searching mine. "Why?" she asked after a moment. "Why did you save us?"
Her question hit me hard. I took a deep breath, searching for the right words. "It's my job," I said, keeping my tone steady despite the storm inside. "To protect you, your brother, and your kingdom. That's all you need to know."
For a moment, we stood there in silence, tension thick in the air. Her gaze softened, but there was still a hint of doubt in her eyes. Before I could say anything else, a voice called out from the end of the hallway.
"Sir," a maid said gently, "Dinner is ready."
I exhaled slowly, breaking eye contact with Nala. "Come on," I said, my voice firm but not unkind. "Let's go have dinner."
She nodded quietly, still processing what we just talked about, and we walked side by side toward the dining hall. There was a sense of understanding between us,
As we stepped into the hall, the warm glow of candlelight lit up the long table where Daniel was already sitting. The quiet clatter of silverware and soft conversation filled the room as we took our seats.
During dinner, I found myself sneaking glances at Nala. The way she expressed herself, her manner, and how her eyes occasionally flitted toward me as if trying to read my thoughts, all captivated me in ways I couldn't explain.
When dinner wrapped up, I stood, lingering on her for just a second longer than I meant to. "Goodnight, Princess Nala. Goodnight, Daniel," I said lowly and sincerely.
Nala looked up at me, her eyes shimmering with a mix of emotions I couldn't quite figure out. She didn't say a word, but I could sense the unspoken connection lingering in the air.
"Wait!" she exclaimed abruptly. "You haven't answered any of my questions!"
I replied calmly, "You'll get the answers you seek tomorrow,