Suddenly, the wooden door leading to the basement swung wide open, and the shadow of a man, illuminated by the light of a candle, entered the dungeon.
The other women shrank back in fear, huddling in their spots, especially when they heard the jingling of keys and the sound of footsteps.
The man stopped in front of the iron bars where they were imprisoned and scanned all the women inside.
Those inside couldn't see the man clearly because he blocked the light from the oil lamp hanging on the dungeon wall.
Viana simply smiled at the man as he unlocked the door with the keys in his hand.
When the man opened the door and stepped into the dungeon, he knelt before her. She said, "What took you so long?"
"Forgive me, Your Majesty. There were a few obstacles, but the soldiers have secured everything," the man replied, still kneeling before her.
Viana extended her hand and said, "Take me out, Reyes. I feel a bit weak."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Reyes immediately grasped the Princess's outstretched hand as he stood up. But when she attempted to stand, her legs felt weak, and she nearly fell if he hadn't caught her.
He immediately lifted her body and carried her, intending to take her out.
Meanwhile, the royal soldiers had begun entering the dungeon, and they all stood in front of the prison cell.
"Wait, Reyes," she said, and he stopped.
She turned to look behind Reyes and saw the women, still frightened, now gawking alternately at Viana and the royal soldiers standing outside the prison cell.
"You're all safe now. Go home," she said to the women with a gentle smile.
They stared in shock, but one of them quickly got up and stood, followed by the others.
They immediately bowed respectfully to Viana, saying, "Forgive us for not recognizing Your Majesty."
She simply smiled, then turned to Reyes and said, "Let's go home."
He walked out of the dungeon, carrying the Princess in his arms.
The soldiers lined up outside the prison cell saluted her as she, carried by Reyes, passed by them.
As they walked out, her smile grew wider when she saw the Love Percentage screen above Reyes's head showing 14%.
He looked back at her when he noticed the Princess gazing at his face and asked, with a slightly confused expression, "Is something the matter, Your Majesty?"
Viana was slightly startled but then pretended to hide her face in his chest and replied, "Nothing, just a little tired."
***
Viana, now back at the palace, was lying down and enjoying a foot massage after soaking her feet in warm water.
Her eyes were closed, intentionally letting her mind go blank to relax after all the tension from being abducted.
Suddenly, Reyes, the soldiers, and the servants inside and outside her room simultaneously greeted, "Greetings, Your Majesties, King and Queen."
She immediately sat up on her bed and saw her mother, Queen Issabella, running toward her, ignoring everyone's greetings.
Her father, King Clive, was also walking quickly in her direction.
"Mother, Father," she hurriedly tried to get up from her bed, but the Queen had already embraced her, leaving her startled by the sudden hug.
"My child! Thank goodness you're safe," sobbed the Queen as she held her tightly in her embrace.
Viana's eyes widened as she glanced at her father, now standing beside the bed with a relieved expression.
In her past life, her parents did love her, but they rarely showed this kind of concern.
This made her feel guilty for worrying them with her reckless actions.
She hugged her mother and said, "I'm fine, Mother. You don't need to worry."
But suddenly, the King turned and noticed Reyes, who was wearing a Royal Guard uniform, different from the other soldiers in the Princess's room.
"You!"
His voice thundered as he pointed at Reyes.
"Why did you allow the Princess to be abducted?"
Reyes, with his calm expression, stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "It is entirely my fault, Your Majesty."
Viana, hearing her father about to scold her personal Royal Guard, quickly interjected, "Father, it was all my idea. He was just following my orders."
The King, who had been visibly angry with his face flushed red, lowered his hand that had been pointing at Reyes and turned to his daughter, asking, "What do you mean?"
Taking a deep breath and holding her mother's hand, who was also looking at her with a confused expression, she began explaining everything—from the start of their undercover mission to the very end.
"Reyes stayed on guard outside the place I was confined, Father. So, in truth, I was safe," she explained with a smile.
Hearing his daughter's explanation, the King sat down in the chair that the servants had placed beside the Princess's bed.
He held his forehead, gently massaging it.
Viana then got out of bed and hugged her father, who was surprised by her sudden embrace.
Since she turned fourteen, it had been customary among nobles that a girl of her age was forbidden from hugging or kissing their father.
However, the Princess now defied that custom, even softly kissing the King's cheek.
"I am so grateful to have parents who care for me deeply," she said with a smile, holding both of her parents' hands.
And she was genuinely grateful to both of them.
Her parents now felt an overwhelming mix of happiness and relief as they listened to their daughter's story about the abduction, occasionally gasping in surprise.
The soldiers and servants, who had been stunned earlier when the King scolded Reyes, were now smiling as they watched the family.
Reyes, too, although his face didn't show much emotion, had a faint smile at the corners of his lips as he observed the Princess.
When Viana turned to look at him, she noticed the Love Percentage displayed on the screen above his head now showed 15%.
Seeing that, she smiled at Reyes, who was now looking back at her smile, feeling a slight flutter in his heart.