'Can I Really Do This?'

"Knights, stand down!" Lancelot ordered, holding his arm out as he narrowed his eyes at the rogue leader. His voice was sharp, unwavering. "Let the princess go."

"Oh? And why should I?" The rogue leader asked, pressing his blade closer to Athena's neck. She winced, a choked sob escaping her lips as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.

"D-Do you know who we are? We... We are His Majesty's harem! That girl is also part of the harem!" Surprisingly, Scarlett was the one who screamed at the rogue leader, her voice laced with desperation.

The rogue leader and his men burst into laughter, the cruel sound echoing through the battlefield.

"Ya think we didn't know that already, eh? Ya think we're idiots?!" One of the rogue men sneered, pointing his weapon at Scarlett. She instinctively took a step back, fear flashing in her eyes.

Lancelot kept his stance firm. "What do you want?"