In this moment in the Drayton empire
The halls of Drayton Palace were eerily quiet, the usual murmur of servants and guards quieted by the news. The king sat on his throne, his features sharp and a deep frown set in them.
Deep lines were etched into his forehead and around his mouth. His piercing blue eyes held an icy intensity. His expression was nothing but anger.
"How did this happen?" his voice boomed through the room, frightening the guards at the doors. "My daughter, taken under our eyes!".
His minister, his closest confidant, stepped forward, he had a complete white mask on his face. "Your Majesty, we've sent scouts in all directions. It's only a matter of time before we know who did it."
The king slammed his fist on the arm of his throne. "Time? Do you think we have time? The Ingocian Empire is watching our every move. We cannot afford mistakes."
At the mention of Ingocia, murmurs stirred in the room. Near the shadows on the edge of the room stood a group of hooded figures. Their faces were hidden. They did not speak, they did not move, but their stillness spoke volumes.
The king's gaze flickered to his son, who stood beside the minister, his arms crossed. The prince, his son, with his tall, athletic build, had an aura of quiet authority. His dark hair was tied back, and has piercing eyes.
"The safety of the princess is important," the prince said in a deep, steady voice, "but it is not as important as her meeting with Ingocia means to us. If her capture is delayed… it weakens us."
The king nodded slowly. "She is a piece in a larger game. Losing her would be costly."
The minister stepped forward, his voice cautious. "We must also consider her intentions, Your Majesty. Maybe her kidnapping wasn't entirely forceful. There are… questions about her plans before this incident. Plans she did not share."
The king's eyes narrowed, suspicion gleaming in his gaze. "Do you think she knew?"
"Maybe," the minister replied carefully. "But it's unclear."
One of the hooded figures moved slightly. The sound drew attention, and though their faces remained hidden. The figure spoke, his voice low and deliberate. "What matters now is action, not speculation. Find her. And if she is working against the Empire's interests, deal with her accordingly."
The king leaned back, his anger barely contained, his sharp eyes scanning the room. Silence filled the room, with only the faint crackling of torches. Outside, the wind howled over the empire's walls, carrying a sense of unease.
Near the foot of the throne, a young woman knelt, her hands shaking as she clutched her dress. Her soft brown hair was simply tied back, and her pale skin showed the lingering effects of illness. Her name was Elena, the princess's loyal servant and her friend, and her absence during the princess capture had not gone unnoticed.
"You were supposed to be by her side," the king said in a low but scathing voice. "But you were nowhere to be found."
Elena raised her eyes, hers filled with guilt and fear. "Your Majesty, I was ill, I couldn't stand..."
"Enough!" the king voice echoing through the hall. "Excuses won't bring her back. You failed in your duty, and I will never forget that."
Elena bowed her head, tears threatening to fall, but she said nothing.
Suddenly a soldier entered carrying a letter, bowed before the king and held it up. "Your majesty, a letter from the devotion empire."
"Devotion?" The king turned his attention to his son, "Read it, son."
The prince stepped forward, his expression calm, he opened the message and started reading it silently.
Though there was a hint of frustration in his eyes. "They've proposed a trade between their captured soldiers for the princess. They claim they want to avoid unnecessary bloodshed."
A murmur rang through the room, but it was quickly silenced when one of the hooded figures spoke. Their voice was calm but threatening. "This is clearly a trap. We must agree to their terms, lure them in, and then crush them. Let them know the price of crossing Drayton."
The prince's eyes narrowed. "We don't have time to set traps. Every moment we waste, it makes us look pathetic, we need to quickly agree with them and end this."
The king raised his hand, silencing everyone. He rose from his throne, his presence casting a shadow over the room. "You have made your point well," he said in a cold, deliberate tone. "But this is not about time or tactics, it is about strength. We are Drayton. We do not beg, nor do we negotiate with our enemies."
He then turned his cold gaze to his son. "Prepare a trap. Kill them all."
The prince hesitated for a moment, then nodded, his expression unreadable. "As you command, father."
The king's lips curved into a cruel smile. "I count on you, my son."
The decision was made, and the tension in the room grew. Elena, still kneeling, silently clenched her hands together, her heart heavy. She knew that the princess's capture was only the beginning of something much bigger.
The meeting is over, and the king dismissed everyone with a wave of his hand. Keven, the prince of Drayton, stepped forward in the hall after everyone else had left, his dark, piercing eyes falling on Elena.
"Elena," he said, his voice steady and cold, "come with me."
She looked up, her expression a mix of confusion and fear, but she didn't argue. Rising slowly, she followed him, the echo of their footsteps filling the silent corridors.
Keven led her to a small, dimly lit room tucked away in the far corner of the palace. The room was simple, with a table, a few chairs, and a large map spread out across the surface. Once inside, he closed the door behind them and turned to face her.
"I need your help," he said bluntly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I'm planning to avoid the fight entirely. If we can trade without bloodshed, it'll be better for everyone."
Elena's eyes widened in shock. "What! But you disobey your father's orders and..."
Keven cut her off, his voice calm but firm. "Listen. There's a group in the shadows, Elena. They're controlling everything."
Elena hesitated, her voice faltering. "W-why are you telling me this?"
Keven's gaze turned, "Because you're the only one I trust here..." then he looked back at her. "As the princess's maid, you're free to move about the palace. I want you to gather information and eavesdrop on the conversations of everyone that was in the meeting if you can."
Elena looked at him, her fear giving way to cautious hope. "You want me to spy?"
Keven's expression didn't change. "Secretly. No one should know. Watch who comes and goes especially around the West Wing late at night."
Elena's chest tightened at his words, understanding the weight of what he was asking her to do. "I'll do it," she said firmly.
Keven nodded, his gaze softening again. "I know you will. That's why I trust you with this."
For a moment, the room was silent. Elena could see the weight he carried, the conflict between his loyalty to his family and his hope to stop the endless cycle of violence caused by his father.