Layla didn't immediately understand what was happening to her.
A moment ago, she had been by the patient's side, relieved to see her condition improving. Then, suddenly, strong hands had seized her from behind.
A rough cloth was pressed against her mouth, muffling her cry.
She struggled violently, but her wrists were immediately bound, her arms wrenched back with brutal force. Adrenaline surged through her veins. She tried to turn, to see the faces of her attackers, but they forced her head down.
Who were they?
Her heart pounded, her thoughts racing.
The hospital guards? The nobility, seeking revenge for her audacity?
Or worse… someone else.
She was shoved forward without mercy. She stumbled, lost her balance, but a rough hand grabbed her arm, yanking her upright with a harsh jerk.
— "Move. And stay silent."
The voice was low, sharp.
Rage exploded inside her.
All this for a single medicine? For trying to save a life?
Fury surged through her chest. She attempted a sudden movement, trying to free her hands, but the grip on her wrists tightened painfully, forcing her to give up.
They moved through the dark corridors of the dispensary, gliding along the walls like fleeting shadows.
No one stopped them.
No one seemed to notice what was happening.
The silence of the night was almost more terrifying than the abduction itself.
Soon, they reached the outside. The cool air lashed against her face.
Then, she saw it.
A cart, covered with heavy black cloth.
Her breath caught in her throat.
No.
Before she could scream, a merciless grip lifted her and threw her inside. She hit the hard wooden surface, landing on rough straw. The damp scent of wood and sweat filled her nose.
Behind her, the cloth fell back into place, plunging the cart into utter darkness.
The wheels creaked into motion.
She was trapped.
Layla fought the panic threatening to consume her. She took a deep breath, trying to steady the frantic beating of her heart.
"Think, Layla. Think."
Her breathing grew erratic.
What did they plan to do with her?
Take her before a tribunal? Throw her in prison? Or… something worse?
She shut her eyes, trying to push back the rising dread.
Layla jolted awake.
Her wrists throbbed from the tight bonds that had held them. The cold stone beneath her seeped into her bones.
Where was she?
Slowly, memories resurfaced. The infirmary. The sick woman. The stolen medicine. The looming shadows of the men who had taken her.
She shivered not just from the cold, but from the uncertainty of her fate.
Her gaze swept the dim, damp cell. A single torch flickered on the wall, casting eerie shadows around her.
She tried to move, but her strength was failing. Her throat was dry, her head heavy.
Yet, despite everything, a faint smile tugged at her lips.
"At least… I saved that woman."
That was all that mattered.
The suffocating silence of the prison wrapped around her.
She curled up in the corner, wrapping her arms around her knees, trying in vain to warm herself. Her clothes, already worn, were damp from the moisture in the air. The red marks on her wrists burned where the ropes had dug into her skin.
How long had she been here?
Hours? A full day? She had no way of knowing. There were no windows, no light only the slow, relentless dripping of water in the distance, a cruel reminder that time was still moving forward.
Her stomach twisted not just from hunger, but from fear.
What awaited her?
Execution? A public punishment?
She had heard stories of what happened to thieves in this kingdom… and though she had stolen only to save a life, she doubted that would make a difference.
Then, another thought struck her, cutting deeper than the rest.
The sick woman… Had she survived?
She wanted to believe her risk had not been in vain, that the woman was still breathing because of her.
But she had no way of knowing.
She shut her eyes, feeling frustration and exhaustion welling up inside her.
— "Hold on…" she whispered to herself.
But her body was failing. The fatigue, the hunger, the cold… all of it blurred together, dragging her toward a dangerous haze. Her head drooped, her eyelids growing heavy…
Until footsteps echoed down the corridor.
She snapped upright, heart hammering.
The steps were heavy, hurried. Then, the sound of keys.
The lock groaned, and the door burst open, flooding the cell with light.
She squinted, momentarily blinded.
A tall figure stood in the doorway.
She blinked, adjusting to the light and when her vision cleared, her breath caught.
It was him.
The prince.
But his face…
It was no longer the face of a noble amused by teasing her.
No. He looked… worried.
He crouched in front of her, his gaze sweeping over her her bruised wrists, her damp clothes.
— "Idiots…" he muttered through clenched teeth, his fury barely restrained.
He turned to the guards behind him.
— "You left her in here all night? Without food? Without even a blanket?"
The men immediately lowered their heads, frozen in fear.
— "W-We were just following orders, Your Highness…" one of them stammered.
The prince rose slowly, towering over them, his presence radiating something dangerous.
— "Get out."
No one dared to argue. In seconds, the cell was empty except for the two of them.
She… stared at him in disbelief.
Why this anger?
Why that look of concern?
She wanted to speak, but no words came. Her body was too weak.
Then, to her shock, the prince knelt before her uncaring of his royal garments touching the filthy ground.
— "Can you walk?" His voice was calmer now, but still tense.
She opened her mouth, hesitated, then nodded slowly.
— "Good." He extended a hand toward her. "Come."
She hesitated.
Was this a trap? Another humiliation?
But his gaze held no mockery.
Only… a weariness she had never seen in him before.
Slowly, she placed her trembling hand in his.
His fingers closed around hers, warm and steady. And with effortless strength, he pulled her to her feet.
The moment she stood, dizziness overwhelmed her. She nearly collapsed.
Without hesitation, his arm slipped around her waist, steadying her against him.
— "Careful."
She remained frozen in his hold, too weak to pull away.
— "Why…?" she finally whispered, her voice raw.
He didn't answer immediately.
Then, as he guided her out of the cell, he murmured:
— "Because I can't let you die."
And in that moment, she realized her punishment would be far more complicated than she had ever imagined.