"Mmhh," I grunted in pain, using my sword now rooted in the ground to support myself and my other hand to tightly press the huge gash on my abdomen.
The war King, Lord Theron, walked slowly towards me with his men. I remained in the same position.
swshh
He drew out his sword from its sheath and pointed the blade towards my chin. I held my breath, patiently waiting for death.
"General Zarielle," he laughed. "What a pleasant surprise," he continued with a smug expression. I glared sharply at him.
"Just kill me, what are you waiting for?" I yelled.
His soldiers drew out their swords and charged. He raised his hand without saying a word and they stopped at once, putting away their swords, and adjusted their stance.
"A small world indeed," his expression darkened. "You're King Arden's daughter… can't let you off that easily."
I drew my sword from the ground, ignoring the pain coming from my abdomen, and charged at him. With a clink, he used his sword to counter my attack. The force threw my aching body to the floor. I coughed up blood and clutched my abdomen, gritting my teeth in pain.
He walked towards me, threw his sword aside, and gripped my hair tightly.
"Hm, not bad". He smirked.
His other hand struck the base of my neck, and everything went black.
****
"Your Lordship," General Aiden bowed slightly. "We've cleared all their troops. The third princess of Valtheris is the only one standing."
I smirked. "Where is she?"
"There, Your Highness."
My eyes followed the direction his fingers were pointing, and it landed on a young and frail-looking body.
We walked towards where she was kneeling. I could not make out her features because they were covered in dirt and blood, but it didn't hide the fire in her eyes.
How did Valtheris get themselves this sort of woman, let alone a princess, in a kingdom filled with cowards. Unfortunately… she is king Arden's bloodline.
****
"Ohhh," I moaned. Where am I?
I looked around. The room was dimly lit. My hands and legs were tightly bound together by a rope. I struggled to reach for my knife pouch, only to discover that the knife was no longer there.
Huh… where did it go?
"Looking for this?"
King Theron smirked, my knife now in his possession. He tossed it on the ground and crouched down to face me.
"Why are you keeping me hostage? Do you really think he'll come for me?" I whispered, taking in laboured breaths.
"A father that kept his own daughter on the front lines of a battlefield… you really think he'll come for me?"
A sardonic smile graced my lips.
His expression shifted slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Get a royal physician."
"Yes, Sire."
****
I have that bastard's daughter in my possession, but… it feels like I'm holding the wrong princess hostage.
"My Lord."
"Speak."
"From our findings, the third princess has no real value in the palace..only as the fourth-rank female general of Valtheris. In comparison to her sisters, the first and second princess… rumours say she might have been a bastard, or adopted from birth."
Hmm… that does make a lot of sense.
The Valtheris are weaklings. All they do is stab someone in the back.
I clenched my fist hard until it turned white.
But this princess… she makes a better opponent.
I waved my hand, dismissing him, and grabbed the wine bottle on the table.
****Kingdom of Valtheris
"Your Highness, Your Highness!"
"Speak."
"Everyone was killed, but we could not find the third princess's body."
"What?" I stood up abruptly. "Pass a decree—anyone who finds the third princess will receive one hundred shekels of gold."
"Yes, Sire."
"You may leave." I signalled with a wave of my hand and coughed.
"Your Highness, you need to watch your health," Queen Valerie whispered softly.
I held her hand and tapped it lightly and smirked, everything is working according to plan.
****
"Your Lordship," General Aiden bowed slightly. "We received a report—The King of Valtheris is indeed searching for the third princess."
I smirked. She was trying to fool me.
"Your Lordship, the maid assigned to watch the princess has a report."
"Let her in."
"Sire!" She rushed in, panic written all over her face, and dropped to her knees. "The princess—she… she slit her wrist and… she's bleeding."
A smile tugged on my lips, she really thinks she can run away…
****
"Mm…" I groaned, slowly opening my eyes.
A blurry figure came into view. It took a moment before her face slowly took shape. She gently pressed a small wet towel to my forehead and smiled softly.
I pushed myself up slightly on the bed and coughed. She dropped the towel in a bowl of water, wiped her hands and gently patted my back.
As my vision cleared, I looked around—suddenly aware of the change in environment. The room was much lighter, spacious and beautiful. The table beside me had a bowl of fruits with a knife sitting next to it.
"Water… please," I said in a hoarse voice.
She nodded and hurried out to get it.
I looked around making sure no one was in the room with me and slowly reached for the knife.
Pain shot through my abdomen as I slowly shifted my body, forcing myself to reach for the table.
My fingers closed around the knife's hilt.
I took a slow, shaky breath. What's the point of waiting for death, when I can just end it all now? I pulled out the knife and without thinking twice, I slit my wrist with it. The once white blankets were splattered with droplets of red, crimson blood. "Ohhh"... I gasped.
The door suddenly pushed open. The girl that wiped my face rushed in, her eyes widened in horror and the water cup she was holding shattered into bits, spilling its contents all over the floor. She screamed and ran out of the room in a hurry. I bit my lips in pain.