The holding cell was cold, its heavy wooden walls blocking out most sounds. I led the princess inside, chaining her hands to the wall. Her resistance had subsided, but her sharp gaze told me she wasn't going to make anything easy.
I pulled the scarf from around my neck, letting it rest loosely on my shoulders as I sat across from her. She didn't look at me immediately, but her eyes flickered briefly to my chest before she turned away.
"Now, answer my questions," I said flatly. "Where were you going, and why?"
She lifted her chin, her eyes meeting mine. "You expect me to cooperate? That's bold of you."
"I expect you to be smart," I replied. "The sooner you answer, the easier this gets for everyone."
She let out a soft, humorless laugh. "Do you think I'm afraid of you?"
"No," I admitted. "But fear isn't necessary to get the truth."
For a moment, we stared at each other in silence. Then her eyes flicked again to my chest.
"What are you looking at?" I asked.
She hesitated. "That scarf. What's under it?"
I frowned. "Why does that matter?"
Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she looked away. "No reason," she said, but her voice had softened.
"You don't remember me, do you?" she murmured.
I frowned. "Should I?"
She shook her head. "Never mind."
I didn't like the shift in her tone. "If you have something to say, say it," I said coldly.
She smiled faintly. "It won't matter. You're too focused on following orders."
I stepped forward. "That's right. My job isn't to entertain riddles. You're here because you're valuable."
Her expression hardened. "Valuable. That's all people mean to you, isn't it? Just tools to get the job done?"
"This isn't personal," I replied sharply. "You're not here to make friends. You're here because my orders demand it."
She's tired, I can feel that, maybe tomorrow, I will know what she's talking about. As I turned to leave, her voice stopped me. "What is your goal, Roy?"
I turned back. "My goal?"
She nodded, her tone calmer. "You don't seem like the type to blindly follow orders. So, what do you want? Why are you doing all this?"
I hesitated, then leaned slightly against the doorframe. "I want a world where people can live… in peace."
Her eyes softened, and she tilted her head slightly. "Still the same Roy," she murmured.
I straightened. "What did you say?"
She shook her head with a faint smile. "Nothing. It's a noble goal. But you'll need more than strength to achieve it."
Her words unsettled me. "Get some rest. I'll be back tomorrow."
As I stood by the bars, I noticed she was shivering. The cell wasn't just cold—it was harsh. She tried to hide it, but the trembling in her hands gave her away.
I should have left. But something kept me there.
Without a word, I unlocked the cell and stepped inside. Her eyes widened.
"What are you doing?" she asked, suspicious.
I ignored her, kneeling to untie her hands. The chains fell, and she rubbed her wrists, her gaze burning into me.
"You think that's going to make me talk?" she said angrily.
I sighed and pulled off my cloak. "You'll freeze here."
She frowned, pride flashing in her eyes. "I don't need your pity."
"It's not pity." I leaned closer. "Your death isn't for my benefit. Take it."
She hesitated, then instinctively gripped the fabric when I draped it over her shoulders.
She muttered, "It doesn't change anything."
I met her gaze. "I don't care if it does. Just stay warm."
As I turned to leave, she whispered something too quiet to hear.
Outside, I stopped a guard. "Tell Daniel I didn't get anything useful. Let her rest—she might talk tomorrow."
The soldier nodded, and I returned to my quarters. The moon was high when I finally dropped onto my bed. Andrew was still awake, sharpening his blade. He glanced up as I settled in.
"So," he said, amused. "What'd you get out of the princess?"
I stared at the ceiling. "Nothing. She's stubborn. Either hiding something or just playing with me."
Andrew grinned. "Maybe she's hiding how she feels about you. I mean, you are handsome."
I shot him a glare, but he just laughed.
"She's not the type that care about looks," I muttered. "She's... complicated. Seems sad about something deeper than being a prisoner, And I feel that there is something in it that belongs to me."
Andrew's smirk faded. "Roy, if something's going on with her, you don't have to handle it alone. I'm here."
I appreciated his words but wasn't ready to accept them. "This isn't your problem. I'll deal with it myself."
He studied me. "You don't always have to carry everything alone."
I closed my eyes. "I know. But this is different."
Andrew leaned back. "Alright. But you know where to find me, little brother."
I let sleep take me, his words lingering.
By morning, the camp was alive with routine, soldiers training, blacksmith hammers striking metal, orders being shouted. But my focus was fractured.
I went through my routine, sharpening my sword, checking my gear, but my mind wasn't fully present. The training grounds stretched wide and rough, dry and cracked like a place near a desert. Cold wind tugged at my coat, the cloudy sky letting in slivers of sunlight. Something about it felt strange, like a shadow I couldn't shake.
"Roy," Andrew called, pulling me from my thoughts. He tossed me a water bottle with a knowing smirk. "You've been distracted all morning. Thinking about a certain someone?"
I took a sip. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Right," he said, leaning against a pillar. "You're totally not thinking about how stubborn she is and how she knows exactly how to get under your skin."
"She doesn't get under my skin," I muttered.
Andrew laughed but didn't push further. He just nodded and walked off, leaving me alone with my thoughts again.
At midday, I decided to check on her. The camp buzzed with activity, but I moved with purpose, not telling anyone where I was going. No need to give Andrew more reasons to tease me.
As I neared the prison, my footsteps echoed on the stone floor. The guards nodded as I passed, and I opened the heavy door to her cell.
She was sitting on the bed, her back straight, hands resting lightly on her lap. My cloak still draped over her shoulders, and for a moment, she looked almost peaceful.
But then she saw me, and the defiance returned. "What do you want now?"
"I'm not here to interrogate you," I said simply. "I just want to talk."
Her eyes searched mine before she let out a quiet sigh. "Then sit, Roy. Let's talk."
I took a seat on the bench across from her, resting my elbows on my knees. The cell was dimly lit, the only light coming from the small, barred window near the ceiling. For a moment, neither of us spoke.
She pulled the cloak tighter around herself, her fingers gripping the fabric. "You don't seem like the type to make casual conversation," she said finally.
I shrugged. "I don't waste time on things that don't matter."
"And yet… you're here."
I didn't respond right away. The truth was, I wasn't entirely sure why I was here. Maybe I wanted to understand what she wasn't saying. Maybe I wanted to see if her defiance was just a front. Or maybe… maybe I just wanted answers for myself.
I looked at her, my voice steady. "Who really are you?"
She smiled faintly. "Did you remember anything?"
Something inside me twisted at her words. In my mind, I answered her, not aloud. Why does my heart tell me this girl is someone close to me? I feel it… but my mind and body refuse to accept it. I… and for the first time in my life, I feel weak in front of a person.
I clenched my fists slightly before asking, "What should I remember? Can you tell me?"
Her smile faltered, a shadow passing over her face. "Maybe it's better not to remember. For both of us."
I studied her, keeping my voice cold and steady. "Can I know why?"
She looked away. "Trust me, you won't."
Her words unsettled me more than I wanted to admit. My thoughts felt scattered, like fragments of something just out of reach. I exhaled slowly, pushing the feeling aside.
"I should go," I said finally. And I know exactly where I should go. The professor...
I stood without another word and turned to leave. She didn't stop me. She only watched as I walked away.