Bab 21: A royal demand
(Lina)
Just moments ago, Nicholas had left with Lady Elara, their laughter echoing in the halls. It was like a knife twisting deeper into my heart.
I shouldn't have been surprised by Nicholas's kiss; he had made it clear he wanted her. But seeing it happen right in front of me felt unbearable. I should be over him by now.
I had every reason to be, but it was hard when I was still tied by duty and expectation.
'System, what should I do now?' I asked as I leaned against the cold stone wall for support.
'New mission unlock: Find a guard and demand that they release Kieran. If you succeed, you'll level up and earn 10,000 coins. Fail, and you'll go back down a level and lose all of your coins.'
Kieran. Isabella's friend, her protector. He didn't deserve to be locked up because of Nicholas's jealousy. I couldn't let that happen. I needed to act quickly.
I pushed myself off the wall and made my way down the corridor, my footsteps quiet. The air felt heavy, thick with tension and unspoken words. I approached the dungeons, a place I had never wanted to visit but now felt compelled to.
I turned a corner and spotted a guard stationed outside the door to the dungeons. He was a tall man, his armor gleaming in the flashing torchlight, but his expression was hardened, a reflection of the dark secrets held within the stone walls behind him.
"Excuse me," I called out, forcing my voice to stay steady despite the knot in my stomach. "I need to speak with you."
The guard turned to face me, and I could see a glimpse of recognition in his eyes. "Princess Isabella," He said, bowing slightly. "What brings you here?"
"I need to see Kieran," I stated, crossing my arms and straightening my posture. "You have to release him."
The guard hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I'm sorry, Your Highness, but I can't go against Prince Nicholas's orders."
I felt frustrated when he said that. "But I have just as much right to this place as he does! I'm the princess, and I have a duty to my friends." My tone sounded urgent. "You know he doesn't belong down there."
"He's in there for a reason," The guard replied, his voice low and careful. "Prince Nicholas is… well, he's very possessive of you. He thinks Kieran was flirting with you."
Nicholas's jealousy had turned into something far darker. "You have to understand, this isn't just about him. It's about me too. I am responsible for the safety of everyone here, including Kieran. If he suffers, I suffer."
The guard shifted uncomfortably, glancing down the corridor as if expecting Nicholas to appear at any moment. I could see the conflict in his eyes, torn between his duty to the prince and his respect for me as royalty.
"Please," I said, softening my tone. "Just listen to me. You know I'm in charge of the guards too. You should be following my orders as well."
He opened his mouth to argue but then closed it again, brow furrowing in thought. I could see the gears turning in his mind. Maybe I was getting through to him.
"But, Princess, if I let you into the dungeons and he's not released, what do I say when Nicholas finds out? I'd be risking my position."
"Then help me! I can't do this without you," I urged, desperation creeping into my voice. "You know Kieran's good. He's always had your back during the training. You have to remember that."
The guard's jaw clenched as he thought about my argument. For a moment, silence enveloped us. My heart raced. I could feel hope blooming within me, but it was a fragile thing, easily crushed.
"I don't want to end up in the dungeons myself," He finally said, voice heavy with resignation.
"Then help me get him out. I'll make sure you're safe. I'll stand by you, I promise."
He looked into my eyes, searching for sincerity. I could see the struggle within him, but the determination in my gaze must have struck a chord.
"Fine," He said, pulling out a small key. "But this is risky, and you can't let anyone else know."
My heart leaped. "Thank you! You don't know what this means."
"Follow me," He said, slipping the key into the lock on the dungeon door. He glanced back at me, a hint of fear in his eyes. "Just remember, if we get caught…"
"I won't let that happen," I promised, stepping forward as the door creaked open.
As we descended the narrow staircase into the darkness, my heart raced with eagerness. The air grew colder, and the faint sounds of distant murmurs echoed around us. I could only hope that this would lead us to Kieran and the freedom we desperately needed.
Finally, we reached the heavy door of the cell, and my heart pounded in my chest. "Kieran!" I called out, desperate to see him.
"Isabella?" He replied, his voice filled with surprise and relief. "Is that you?"
"Yes! I'm here!" I shouted back, my voice echoing in the corridor.
The guard turned the key in the lock, and the door creaked open slowly. As the light spilled into the cell, I caught sight of Kieran, his face worn.
"Isabella, you shouldn't be here," He said, stepping closer to the bars. "It's too dangerous."
"No, it's not," I replied firmly. "I won't let Nicholas keep you locked away because of his jealousy. You did nothing wrong. You were just being yourself."
Kieran looked at me, gratitude showing in his eyes. "I didn't mean to put you in danger."
"Enough of that! I'm getting you out of here," I insisted, stepping closer. "I don't care what Nicholas thinks. You deserve to be free."
The guard looked uneasy, glancing over his shoulder. "We need to hurry. If anyone sees us—"
"Let them see!" I snapped. "Nicholas is going to pay for what he did. I'm not afraid of him."
The guard hesitated, looking back at Kieran, then at me. "You think he'll just let this go?"
"He won't have a choice. I'm not just some princess hiding in the shadows anymore. I'm taking charge," I stated, feeling the fire within me ignite.
With a deep breath, I reached for the door. "Let's go."
The guard opened the cell, and Kieran stepped out, relief washing over his features. "Thank you, Isabella. I knew you'd come for me."
"I'll always come for you, Kieran," I replied.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed through the corridor, and my heart dropped. "Quick!" I hissed. "We need to find somewhere to hide."
But as we moved deeper into the dungeons, I knew we couldn't stay hidden forever. I needed to confront Nicholas. He had crossed a line, and it was time he faced the consequences.
As we rounded a corner, I caught sight of a guard approaching, and I grabbed Kieran's arm, pulling him back into the shadows. "This is it," I whispered, my heart racing. "I'm not running anymore. We're going to confront him."
"What do you mean?" Kieran asked, his brow furrowing.
"I'm tired of hiding. I won't let Nicholas bully us any longer. We're going to stand up to him," I said.
"Princess Isabella, this could end badly," The guard warned, his voice low. "You don't know what he's capable of."
"Maybe not, but I won't let him control me. I'm done being afraid," I replied, meeting Kieran's gaze. "We're going to make him understand that he can't treat us this way."
"Are you sure?" Kieran asked, concern noticeable on his face.
"Yes! We deserve our freedom, and I won't let anyone take that away from us. Not even Nicholas," I said, my voice firm.
The guard looked between us, and I could see the uncertainty in his eyes. "If you're going to do this, then we need to move quickly. Nicholas is not going to take this lightly."
We nodded, and I took a deep breath, ready to face whatever came next. "Let's go. It's time he learns that I'm not just a princess in a castle—I'm someone who will fight for what's right."
I was ready to fight for Kieran, for myself, and for our future. Nicholas would pay for what he had done, and I would make sure of it.
No more running. No more hiding. It was time to take control of my destiny.
Hadiah
-- Hadiah diterima Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
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