I entered the prison, the cold air biting my skin as the heavy door creaked shut behind me. The dim light barely illuminated the stone walls, but I could see her clearly. For the third time, I stood in front of the Princess.
She sat on the other side of the cell, her back straight, hands resting elegantly on her lap. Her dress was torn and dirtied, but she didn't seem to care. There was no fear in her expression, just calm.
Too calm.
I stopped a few steps away, watching her in silence. She noticed me almost immediately and raised her dark blue eyes to meet mine.
"What?" she asked in a steady, quiet voice. "What are you staring at?"
I didn't answer right away. There was something about her, something unsettling. The way she held herself, the way she looked at me, it made my chest feel tight, like an unseen weight pressing against me.
Finally, I spoke. "You're happy."
Her eyes widened slightly, surprised. "Happy? I'm in prison. What are you talking about?"
I tilted my head, studying her. "Don't lie. You feel more at ease now than before we brought you here."
For the briefest moment, something in her expression faltered. Her fingers curled slightly in her lap, and she looked away.
"You're imagining things," she murmured, but there was no confidence in her words.
I stepped closer, my voice low and steady. "No, I'm not. You're hiding something."
Her lips parted slightly as if to respond, but she hesitated. I could see the conflict in her eyes, the way she weighed her words. "Don't you know the meaning of giving up. But you know what... I will tell you."
Silence.
"I… I heard something from my father," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Before I could speak, the heavy door behind me creaked open.
"Roy," a voice called urgently.
I turned slightly to see a guard stepping in, his face tense. "Daniel needs to see you immediately. It's an emergency."
I exhaled sharply, annoyed at the interruption. My eyes flicked back to her, and for a moment, the cold air in the room felt sharper, heavier.
I stepped back from the bars. "Whether today or tomorrow," I said, voice sharp, "I'll find out what you're hiding."
She didn't reply. She only watched me, her expression unreadable.
I turned and walked out, the sound of my boots echoing against the stone floor. But even as the door closed behind me, I couldn't shake the weight in my chest.
For the first time in my life, I felt weak in front of someone.
And I hated it.
I stepped into the reunion room, and the air was thick with tension. Conversations hushed, and all eyes turned toward the center, where Daniel and Yuri stood. Around them, Andrew, Sophia, Crimzo, and the soldiers who had fought alongside us in the mission to capture the princess were already seated. A few unfamiliar faces lingered at the edges of the room, new additions, perhaps.
I took my seat beside Andrew, who gave me a quick nod. Sophia sat nearby, her expression unreadable, while Crimzo leaned back in his chair, looking as relaxed as ever. Everyone was waiting.
Daniel didn't waste time. He stepped forward, his voice sharp and direct. "We've received an answer from Drayton. They've agreed to the trade."
A ripple of murmurs passed through the room, but Daniel raised a hand, silencing them. "The deal is this: the princess in exchange for every soldier of ours they captured. Two hundred and ten men."
That number hit hard. Two hundred and ten prisoners. Two hundred and ten men who had been rotting in enemy hands, waiting for rescue.
"The king has already approved it," Daniel continued. "But there's a condition. Drayton wants all their soldiers back, every last one, including those we captured with the princess."
Another wave of tension spread through the room. A fair trade. But no one here was naive enough to take it at face value.
Daniel's gaze swept over us. "I need a team to lead the exchange. We'll assemble additional forces as backup in case anything goes wrong."
Before anyone else could speak, Yuri stepped forward. "No," he said, his voice calm but firm. "We don't have time to form a new team. I'll take the soldiers I've already trained, two hundred men and a hundred for the backup. They're ready."
Daniel studied him, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. "Are you sure, Yuri? You're willing to take full responsibility for this?"
I glanced at Yuri, my thoughts swirling. He always seems so confident, so strong... but how strong is he really? I can't tell. Maybe this time, I'll get to finally see.
Yuri held Daniel's gaze. "I am. We'll handle this quickly and cleanly. If Drayton tries anything, we'll be ready."
Sophia leaned forward; her voice steady. "And if this is a trap?"
Yuri didn't hesitate. "We already got a backup, and we'll avoid the fight if we can, besides this it's difficult for them to put a trap if the princess was in the middle of this."
A thick silence followed his words. No one doubted what he meant.
Crimzo, who had been lounging in his chair, raised a hand lazily. "And what about us archers? If things go ugly, where do we stand?"
Daniel answered. "You'll stay hidden and cover our retreat if necessary. If it turns into a fight, don't waste your shots. Make them count."
Crimzo smirked. "Got it. Just give me a clear line of sight."
Daniel ignored the remark and turned back to the room. "This mission requires precision. No room for mistakes. We get in, we trade, and we leave. Any questions?"
For a moment, no one spoke. Then one of the unfamiliar men beside Daniel finally stepped forward. He was broad-shouldered, his dark brown skin contrasting against his military uniform. His sharp eyes carried the weight of experience, and his stance radiated discipline.
"We'll handle the training sessions while Yuri is gone," he said, his voice steady. "That way, he can focus on the mission without worrying about the upcoming team selections."
Daniel nodded. "Makes sense. Yuri, do you trust them to handle it?"
Yuri's expression didn't change. "I trust the right people."
Daniel clapped his hands together. "Then it's settled. Get ready. The trade happens in two days."