Request

The castle dungeon was cold, its stone walls covered in moss, lit only by sparsely placed torches. Ethan sat on a stone bench, hands resting on his knees, as if it were just another pause in his day. He didn't even seem to notice the light chains on his wrists, which he considered nothing more than a formality.

The guards who had brought him there murmured among themselves, casting curious glances his way. "Do you think he was with the assassins?" one asked in a low voice. "Doesn't look like it," the other replied, uneasy. "But it sure is suspicious, him showing up at the exact moment."

Ethan kept his gaze fixed on the ground, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

The sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor. The rhythm was steady, controlled, almost graceful. The guards straightened immediately. Ethan looked up, curious, when she appeared.

The princess seemed to have changed into a more ornate dress, and looked like she had put on more make-up. Up close, there was something strange about the way she kept her face neutral, like someone who had memorized human expressions but didn't truly feel them.

She stopped in front of the cell, her gaze fixed on Ethan, as if she were examining something curious. The silence stretched on longer than most people could stand. Ethan, however, stayed seated, staring back with his usual calm smile.

"You don't look nervous," she said, her voice low and firm. It wasn't a question. "Not at all," he replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Should I be?"

The corners of her lips almost moved but didn't form a real smile. "It's unusual," she remarked, tilting her head slightly. "You're in chains. And no one in the castle seems to know who you are."

"Maybe that's for the best," Ethan replied. "Mysterious men tend to be more interesting, don't you think?"

A short silence. Her gaze seemed to glint, not with emotion, but with assessment, as if she were mentally noting something she found useful.

"Interesting…" She turned to the guards. "Open the cell."

The men hesitated for a moment but quickly unlocked the door and unlocked his chains. Ethan rose slowly, stretching his arms as if waking from a short nap, and met her gaze. "And now?" he asked in a quiet voice.

"Now, come with me," she said, her tone as neutral as before, not matching her gentle voice. "I want to find out who you really are."

Ethan nodded, following her without protest. They walked through the dark corridors, the sound of their footsteps echoing against the stone walls. The guards stayed behind; it was just him and her now.

During the walk, she didn't say another word. She simply moved forward, her dress swaying lightly, always holding her chin high. Ethan took the chance to observe every detail: the control in her stride, the lack of hesitation, the way she showed neither fear nor haste. She was definitely not a frightened princess who had just survived an assassination attempt, she was someone used to controlling everything around her.

They arrived at a heavy door of dark wood. She opened it, revealing a room lit by magical lamps. It was a modest but elegant hall, with leather armchairs, a low table, and discreet tapestries on the walls.

She entered first and gestured for him to come in as well. Ethan obeyed, always calm, always smiling. She closed the door behind them, shutting out any witnesses.

"Let's talk," she said, her tone as cold as before. Despite her apathetic expression, Ethan could see the curiosity in her eyes.

She sat first, crossing her legs with elegance. With a minimal gesture, she indicated the armchair opposite her. Ethan sat without hurry, resting an arm on the back, his body leaning slightly toward her, a clear sign of interest.

For a moment, they simply stared at each other. Her eyes still reminded him of an abyss, as if she were trying to see through to his soul. Ethan, in turn, kept his serene expression, as if her scrutiny was almost amusing.

"Tell me who you are," she began, her voice soft but carrying a command. It wasn't a request.

"A traveler," Ethan replied, his tone unchanged. "Who happened to be passing by."

She didn't react immediately. Her fingers drummed lightly on the armrest, the only sign of impatience. "And why were you there? Don't pretend it was coincidence."

"Let's just say I'm good at showing up where I'm needed," he said, shrugging.

There was a silence. She leaned in slightly, her eyes locked on his. "You show no fear. Not even suspicion. That's rare… even among nobles."

"It's not like I had a reason to show either of those here," Ethan said, tapping his fingers on the armchair as well. "But, honestly? I'm not very good at being afraid."

Her expression changed subtly. It wasn't a smile, but something close: a slight raise of an eyebrow.

"You saved my life," she said, though there was no gratitude in her voice or on her face. "I should thank you. But don't think that makes it a debt."

"I wouldn't expect that from you," Ethan replied. "No princess would owe that kind of debt to a stranger. Especially those who rule more from the shadows than from the throne."

The words made the air between them heavy for a moment. Her eyes narrowed. "Careful," she said, in a calm tone that sounded almost like a threat. "Too many words can become a noose."

"And the right words can become a key," Ethan shot back, without losing his smile. "You understand that better than anyone."

She leaned back in the chair. For a moment, something like amusement, or maybe genuine interest, shone in her gaze. "You're not flattering me," she said, surprised. "Or trying to run away."

"I prefer honesty," Ethan said, his voice firm. "At least at the right moments."

There was another moment of silence. Like Ethan, she studied every reaction of his, every pause. And Ethan let himself be seen.

"You're not from here," she said, not as a question, but as a statement. "Someone of your caliber would be known."

"I appreciate that, but what about you?" Ethan asked, leaning in slightly. "You don't seem like just a princess either. There's more to you, isn't there?"

The question made her fall silent. For a moment, she seemed less like stone and more human, but only for a moment.

"I'm simply someone who prefers to command pieces on the board rather than be one of them," she answered, in the same cold tone as always.

Ethan nodded slowly. "I, on the other hand, like to walk onto other people's boards and flip them upside down," he said.

She uncrossed her legs, leaned back, and watched Ethan for a moment longer before speaking: "Tomorrow, I want you to attend a hearing with the ministers. I want to see how you react in front of the rest of the court."

Ethan just smiled. "As you wish, Your Highness."

She said nothing more. But her eyes, unlike her still apathetic expression, seemed to shine with interest, desire... or just pure curiosity.

When night fell over the castle, Ethan was no longer under guard surveillance. Instead, he had been "invited" to spend the night in one of the inner chambers reserved for special guests, luxurious, but clearly still a gilded cage.

Sitting in a chair by the window, he watched the city lights outside, reflecting on the delicate game unfolding. The princess had made it clear she wanted something from him, though she never said exactly what. Ethan, in turn, intended to find out how far her control reached.

Later, as the corridors fell silent, it was finally time to move.

With careful steps, he left the room, creating his cloak again to help him blend into the shadows. He passed sleepy servants and distracted guards, always trying to take the least watched routes.

He arrived at a small room at the end of a side corridor. It seemed to be a meeting room, discreet, but where important documents could be left forgotten for a few hours.

He pushed the door slowly. Inside, there was a long table, nearly extinguished candles, and a shelf full of scrolls. Ethan approached, examining without haste. And soon, he found it.

Among financial reports and trivial notes, a scroll with orders for the ministers, discreet but clear: maneuvers to increase tension between rival noble families. There was no explicit signature, but comparing it with other texts signed by her, the writing pattern left no doubt.

He tucked the scroll under his cloak. Not to blackmail her, that would only ruin their good relationship. But it would be foolish not to have some insurance.

On the way back, he was not interrupted. The court slept, unaware that a stranger was wandering the halls. Arriving at the room, he sat again by the window, looking at the lights outside.

At that moment, he thought of her. The princess.

The hero would come to this city to try to help in the civil war at the king's request. And it would be there that the princess would develop her love for him.

The nobles would then manipulate the poor princess who would then help them to win the hero's heart. Such a tragic story.

But it was clear now that it wasn't love she was going to feel. She didn't seem capable of feeling such an emotion. She must have simply found him interesting, just as she did with Ethan now.

And considering everything he had seen and learned, it was quite clear that she was the one manipulating the others.

Ethan, however, felt neither anger nor fear. Only interest. People like that could be dangerous, but they were also useful. If she wanted him close, he could use that to get even closer to the truth.

His goal was to prevent the war from starting before it affected the neighboring kingdoms. And he realized he simply needed to convince the princess not to do anything foolish.

Dawn would come soon, and with it the promised audience, where he would see the princess before the other nobles.

In the silence, Ethan leaned back, his face lit only by the moonlight.