The night air felt heavier than usual, thick with a tension that Arianne couldn't shake. The hushed voices she and Rian overheard earlier still echoed in her mind. Someone knew. Someone had discovered the truth about her identity and Kael's.
They returned to camp as quietly as possible, slipping into their tents without raising suspicion. But sleep refused to come. Arianne lay awake, staring at the canvas above her, her heart pounding in her chest.
Morning arrived too soon, and with it, the weight of the unknown pressed harder upon her. She needed answers. Who had spoken? How much did they know? And most importantly—what did they plan to do with that knowledge?
A Morning of Uncertainty
Training was more grueling than usual. Commander Alden had the recruits sparring endlessly, pushing them to the brink of exhaustion. Arianne tried to focus, but her mind kept drifting to the conversation from the night before.
Kael was beside her, his usual smirk absent. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
She frowned. "Not far from the truth."
He lowered his voice. "Did you find anything out?"
She shook her head. "Not yet. But we need to be careful."
Rian was at the other end of the field, issuing orders. Every so often, his eyes flickered to her, filled with a silent question she couldn't answer. Not yet.
By midday, Alden called for a break. Arianne took the opportunity to slip away toward the mess hall, hoping to overhear something—anything—that could help. But before she could enter, a hand grasped her wrist.
She spun around, only to find Rian staring at her, concern etched into his features. "What are you doing?" he asked, voice low.
"I need to know who it was."
His grip tightened slightly. "And what if they already suspect you? If you get caught eavesdropping—"
"I can take care of myself," she whispered.
His jaw clenched. "Arianne—"
Before he could say more, footsteps approached. They both stepped back just as two soldiers entered the mess hall, deep in conversation.
"I'm telling you, I heard them myself," one of them muttered. "The princess and the prince—right under our noses."
The other scoffed. "And you believe that? If they were really here, why would the king allow it?"
"Maybe he doesn't know."
Arianne felt her breath catch. If the king didn't know, that meant the person who had discovered them wasn't someone from the palace. That meant there was still a chance to contain the situation.
Rian grabbed her hand and pulled her away before she could linger any longer. They ducked behind a tent, hidden from sight.
"You heard them," he whispered urgently. "Someone knows, but they're not sure yet. That means we have time."
She nodded. "But how do we find out who it is before they get proof?"
"We need to be careful," he said. "And we need to act fast."
A Dangerous Game
That evening, Arianne and Kael met in secret. The youngest prince had always been a strategist, and she needed his mind now more than ever.
"So, what do we do?" Kael asked, leaning against a tree.
"We figure out who overheard us," Arianne replied. "Before they can spread the truth."
Kael frowned. "Easier said than done. If they're smart, they won't confront us directly."
"Which is why we force them to reveal themselves," Rian interjected, stepping forward.
Kael raised a brow. "And how do you propose we do that?"
Rian's expression darkened. "We set a trap."
Arianne crossed her arms. "You want to spread false information and see who reacts?"
He nodded. "If they think they know the truth, we feed them something slightly off. A small lie. If they act on it, we'll know who's behind it."
Kael grinned. "Clever. I like it."
Arianne, however, hesitated. "And what if they don't fall for it? What if they go straight to the king?"
Rian met her gaze. "Then we prepare for the worst."
The First Move
The next morning, whispers began circulating in camp. Arianne and Kael had made sure of it. A rumor had been carefully planted—that a nobleman's son had gone missing months ago, believed to be hiding among the recruits under a false name.
It was a calculated risk. If their spy believed it, they might try to connect it to the truth. And if they did, Arianne would be watching.
She spent the day observing the camp, noting every reaction. Some recruits laughed off the rumor, others barely paid it any mind. But one soldier—Captain Dalen—looked too interested.
Dalen was an older soldier, experienced but ambitious. He had always sought favor with the nobility. If anyone would seek to expose them for personal gain, it would be him.
That night, Arianne followed him. He slipped away from camp under the guise of a routine patrol, but she knew better.
Kael and Rian trailed her from a distance. As she crept closer, she could hear Dalen speaking in hushed tones.
"You were right. There's a noble in the ranks—maybe even royalty," he was saying.
Arianne's blood ran cold.
A second voice responded. "And the proof?"
"Not yet, but I'll find it," Dalen swore. "And when I do, the king will reward me handsomely."
Arianne turned to Rian and Kael. "We need to stop him. Now."
A Reckoning
Dalen never made it back to camp.
The next morning, when the soldiers gathered for roll call, he was missing. Whispers spread, but no one knew what had happened to him.
Arianne met Rian's gaze across the field. He gave a slight nod.
The message had been clear.
No one would uncover their secret.
For now, at least.