### **Chapter 12: The Prince's Bargain**
The tension in the air was almost tangible as Lena and Prince Adrien stood facing each other in the heart of the Enchanted Forest. Lena could feel the weight of his gaze, his dark eyes searching her face for answers she wasn't ready to give. She had just learned of an ancient curse that threatened not only Ravenscroft but possibly all of Valoria, and now the crown prince of the kingdom was standing before her, in a place where few dared to tread.
The forest was silent around them, as if it too were waiting for what would happen next. Lena's mind raced. She needed to proceed carefully, to understand what Adrien knew and what he wanted.
"You seem surprised to see me, Lady Seraphina," Adrien said, breaking the silence. His voice was calm, but there was an undercurrent of something she couldn't quite place—curiosity, perhaps, or maybe suspicion.
Lena forced herself to stay composed, adopting the persona of the cunning Lady Seraphina that this world expected her to be. "I am, Your Highness," she replied smoothly. "The Enchanted Forest is not a place I would expect to encounter the crown prince. What brings you here?"
Adrien tilted his head slightly, his expression inscrutable. "The same thing that brings you here, I suspect. A search for truth, and perhaps a way to change what seems inevitable."
Lena's heart skipped a beat. Did he know about the curse? Was he involved somehow? She decided to probe further, keeping her tone light. "Inevitable? That sounds ominous, Your Highness."
A faint smile touched Adrien's lips, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Ominous times call for ominous measures, Lady Seraphina. I know more than you might think. Ravenscroft Castle has always been a place of power, but power often comes with a price. A price that, it seems, is now coming due."
Lena felt a chill run down her spine. Adrien's words were too close to what the voice from the tree had told her. "And what do you suggest we do about this… price?" she asked carefully.
Adrien's expression hardened slightly, and he stepped closer, lowering his voice. "There are forces at work that you and I cannot fully comprehend, but that doesn't mean we are powerless. You are not the only one seeking answers, Lady Seraphina. The curse that plagues Ravenscroft is an old one, tied to the very foundation of our kingdom. But I believe it can be undone."
Lena's mind whirled. Adrien was confirming what she had just learned, but how did he know so much? She needed to find out more, but she couldn't reveal her hand just yet. "And how do you propose we undo it?" she asked, keeping her voice steady.
Adrien paused, studying her for a moment before speaking. "There are ancient relics, forgotten by most, that hold the key to breaking the curse. One of them lies within the ruins of the old kingdom, hidden deep within this forest. But finding it will not be easy, and even if we do, using it will require great power—and a great sacrifice."
Lena's stomach twisted at the word "sacrifice." The last thing she wanted was to be forced into a position where she had to choose between saving herself and saving others. But she had to know more. "What kind of sacrifice?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Adrien's gaze was intense as he answered. "The curse was born from blood, and it can only be ended by blood. The relic we seek is the heart of the curse, but to destroy it, someone of the Ravenscroft bloodline must be willing to offer themselves as a conduit. It is the only way to break the curse's hold on the land."
Lena's heart pounded in her chest. Harrison. Adrien was talking about Harrison, or perhaps Vivienne. The thought of either of them being used as a "conduit" for such dark magic was horrifying. But she couldn't let her emotions show. She needed to think, to plan.
"And if we don't?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.
Adrien's expression grew darker. "If we don't, the curse will continue to spread, consuming not only Ravenscroft but all of Valoria. The darkness will not be contained, and it will bring ruin to everyone in its path."
Lena swallowed hard. She was trapped in a story that was spiraling out of control, with no clear way to save the people she had come to care about. But she had to try. She had to find another way—one that didn't involve sacrificing Harrison or anyone else.
Adrien seemed to sense her hesitation. He took another step closer, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. "You are strong, Lady Seraphina, stronger than most give you credit for. I believe you have the will to do what must be done. But you cannot do it alone. Join me in this quest. Together, we can end this curse and save Valoria."
Lena's mind raced. Could she trust Adrien? He was the crown prince, with his own motivations and secrets, but he was offering her a way forward, a chance to do something meaningful. And yet, the price he spoke of was too high. She needed time to think, to weigh her options.
But there was no time. If Adrien suspected she was stalling, he might grow suspicious, and she couldn't afford that. She needed to keep him on her side, at least until she figured out what to do next.
"Very well, Your Highness," she said, her voice firm. "I will join you. But we must tread carefully. The forest is full of dangers, and the curse will not let us break it easily."
Adrien nodded, a faint smile of approval on his lips. "Indeed. But with your cunning and my resources, I believe we have a chance."
Lena forced herself to return his smile, though her mind was still reeling. She was now bound to a dangerous bargain, one that could lead to the salvation of Valoria—or its complete destruction.
"Then let us proceed," Adrien said, turning to lead the way deeper into the forest. "The ruins are not far, but we must remain vigilant. The shadows here are alive, and they do not take kindly to intruders."
As they walked, Lena's thoughts churned. She had no idea what they would find in the ruins, or how she would manage to save everyone without fulfilling the dark prophecy that Adrien had laid out before her. But one thing was certain—she would do everything in her power to change the fate that seemed to be closing in around them.
The forest grew darker as they ventured deeper, the air thick with tension and the promise of danger. Lena's heart pounded with each step, but she forced herself to remain calm, to think of the story not as a reader, but as someone who could change its course.
She had come too far to fail now.
In the distance, the first crumbling stones of the ancient ruins came into view, shrouded in mist and shadow. Whatever secrets they held, Lena knew they were the key to everything. She just had to find a way to unlock them—before it was too late.