The room was silent, the air thick with tension. Junior shifted his weight, his sword heavy in his hand as he stared at Eira. Her piercing blue eyes locked onto his, unblinking, unwavering. She stood a few feet away, her posture relaxed but ready, her muscular frame radiating power. Her lips curled into a faint smirk as she tilted her head, her voice cutting through the quiet like a blade.
"Don't think I'll go easy on you just because you're the prince," she said, her tone laced with challenge.
Junior's grip tightened around the hilt of his sword, his jaw setting as he met her gaze. That's what I expected you to do, he thought. "Don't make it easy on me just because I'm the prince," he replied, his voice steady despite the unease twisting in his gut.
