The Chains of Deception

The accusation came at dawn.

Lucian had barely finished sharpening his blade when the heavy thud of boots echoed through the barracks. The royal guards—three of them, armed and grim-faced—marched straight toward him.

He knew something was wrong the moment he saw Cedric trailing behind them, a smirk curling his lips.

"Sir Lucian Valemont," Cedric announced, voice dripping with false authority, "you are hereby under arrest for treason against the crown."

The room went still.

Lucian's fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword. He could not have heard that correctly.

"Treason?" The word tasted foul on his tongue.

Cedric gestured lazily, and the guards stepped forward. "Come quietly, and you might live long enough to explain yourself."

Lucian didn't move. His mind worked rapidly, piecing the puzzle together. Treason. Treason. He had been a loyal knight, fought for this kingdom, bled for it.

And now, they accused him of betraying it?

Magnus.

This had his stench all over it.

The guards weren't common foot soldiers. These were King Aldric's personal men—handpicked for their loyalty. Which meant…

The king had already been convinced.

Lucian's jaw clenched. He could fight. He could easily disarm them. But that would only solidify their case.

So, instead, he lifted his hands. "I surrender."

Cedric's grin widened. "Good choice."

The guards seized him, yanking his sword from his grasp and forcing his arms behind his back. Iron cuffs clamped around his wrists, cold and heavy.

Lucian kept his face blank, even as they shoved him forward.

But inside?

He was already planning his escape.

---

The Throne Room

The accusations were laid out before the court within the hour.

Lord Magnus stood at the center, addressing King Aldric with a voice smooth as silk.

"We have uncovered undeniable proof," Magnus declared, pacing with slow, deliberate steps. "Sir Lucian Valemont has been conspiring to overthrow Your Majesty."

A murmur rippled through the room.

Eva, seated beside her father, went rigid.

"What proof?" she demanded.

Magnus turned to her, ever the patient deceiver. "Letters, my lady. Correspondence with rebel forces outside the kingdom. Detailed plans to weaken our military from within." He gestured to the guards, who held up several parchment scrolls—each bearing Lucian's forged signature.

Eva's breath caught.

It was too perfect.

Too precise.

Lucian, a traitor? No. Impossible.

But King Aldric studied the documents with a furrowed brow. "This is… troubling," he admitted.

Eva shot to her feet. "This is a lie."

Magnus sighed. "I understand your attachment to the accused, Princess, but—"

"I am not attached to him!" she snapped, then hesitated. "I mean—"

Magnus' smirk deepened.

Lucian, standing in chains, spoke before Eva could flounder further. "Your Majesty," he said evenly, "these letters are forgeries. Anyone who knows my handwriting can confirm it."

"A poor defense," Magnus countered. "We have witnesses."

A shadow stepped forward.

Eva's stomach dropped.

Sir Cedric.

The king's advisor.

He bowed. "I regret to say, Your Majesty, that I have seen Sir Lucian meeting with suspicious figures near the city's edge." His expression was sorrowful, almost pained. "I never wanted to believe it, but…" He shook his head. "Loyalty to the crown comes first."

Eva could have strangled him.

The lies were piling up. And the king was listening.

Lucian, however, merely lifted a brow. "Tell me, Cedric, do you rehearse betrayal in front of a mirror, or does it come naturally?"

A few gasps filled the room.

Cedric's lips twitched in irritation, but he quickly masked it. "Mockery will not save you now."

Lucian tilted his head, gaze cold. "No, but the truth might."

Magnus clapped his hands. "Enough." He turned to the king. "Your Majesty, with all due respect, we must act swiftly. Treason is punishable by death."

The words sent a chill through the hall.

Eva's heart slammed against her ribs.

She turned to her father, voice urgent. "You cannot truly believe this."

The king exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple. "The evidence is strong."

"Lucian has been your most loyal knight." She stepped forward. "Would he truly betray you?"

King Aldric hesitated.

For a moment, Eva thought she had gotten through to him.

Then—

"Perhaps he would not," Aldric admitted. "But I cannot ignore this." He turned to the guards. "Sir Lucian Valemont is to be imprisoned until further notice. His fate will be decided once the truth is fully unveiled."

Eva clenched her fists.

It wasn't an execution. Yet.

But Magnus had won this round.

And from the satisfied gleam in his eyes, he knew it.

---

The Dungeons

The cell was damp, the air thick with mildew.

Lucian sat against the cold stone wall, shackled and bruised, but his mind was clear.

He had been expecting Magnus to make a move.

Now, the question was—who would move next?

A shadow flickered outside his cell.

Lucian's eyes narrowed.

A guard?

No.

The figure stepped closer, and moonlight illuminated familiar golden hair.

Eva.

Her eyes burned with fury.

"We're getting you out of here."

Lucian arched a brow. "Oh? And here I thought you preferred me behind bars."

Eva scowled. "Shut up."

He smirked.

Even now, when the world was crashing down, she was still her.

Lucian exhaled, leaning his head back against the wall. "You shouldn't be here, Princess."

She stepped closer, gripping the iron bars. "I have to be here. This is wrong."

Lucian studied her. Determined. Stubborn. Beautiful.

"You're playing a dangerous game," he murmured.

Eva's chin lifted. "So are you."

A pause.

Then—

A slow, amused smile tugged at Lucian's lips.

He had always known she was trouble.

And now?

She was about to prove him right.