The night was thick with tension. Though Sir Edric had seemingly fallen for their deception, Arianne knew better than to relax. A man like him didn't simply accept information at face value—he would continue watching, waiting for any cracks in their carefully woven lie.
The fire in the training grounds burned low, embers flickering as recruits muttered in hushed voices. The mood in the camp had shifted, a mixture of unease and relief settling in. Kael leaned against a wooden post, arms crossed as he surveyed the soldiers.
"He's still watching us," Kael murmured under his breath as Arianne approached. "I saw him speaking with the general earlier. He may be trying to test Rian's loyalty."
Arianne's stomach clenched. "If he pushes too hard, we may have to do something about it."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "And what would that be? We can't exactly make him disappear."
"No," she admitted, "but we can make sure he finds nothing."
Kael sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "I don't like it, Ari. Every time we outmaneuver someone, another problem arises."
Arianne's gaze flickered toward Rian's tent, where the general had retreated earlier. He had been quiet since Edric's arrival, more withdrawn than usual. Was he struggling with their growing deception?
She had to find out.
A Confession in the Dark
Arianne made her way toward Rian's tent, her heartbeat steady but her mind racing. She needed to understand what he was thinking, how much he suspected—if anything at all.
She paused outside, hesitating for only a moment before pulling back the flap. The dim glow of candlelight flickered against the canvas walls, casting shadows over Rian's tense form. He stood by a small wooden table, staring down at a parchment, lost in thought.
His head lifted at her approach. "Arianne."
She closed the entrance behind her. "You've been avoiding me."
A tired smirk touched his lips, but there was no real amusement in his eyes. "Have I?"
She crossed her arms. "Sir Edric is pressing you, isn't he?"
Rian exhaled, running a hand through his dark hair. "He asks questions I don't want to answer."
"About me?" she guessed.
His silence was confirmation enough.
Arianne stepped closer. "You don't have to protect me, Rian. I knew what I was risking when I came here."
His eyes darkened. "I think I would rather take the risk for you."
The quiet intensity in his voice made her heart stutter. There was something unspoken between them, something she had been ignoring for too long.
"I need to know something," he continued. "You came here to hide, but you're more than a runaway soldier, aren't you?"
Her breath caught.
She had been so careful. So meticulous. And yet, Rian had still noticed the cracks in her story.
"Arianne," he pressed, stepping closer. "Tell me the truth."
She wanted to. She wanted to tell him everything—that she was the princess, that Kael was her brother, that everything they had done was to protect their family. But the words caught in her throat.
If she told him now, would she be signing her own fate?
Before she could speak, a sudden commotion outside the tent broke the moment.
An Unexpected Turn
A guard burst through the entrance, his face pale. "General! Sir Edric—he's—he's gone!"
Rian stiffened. "What do you mean he's gone?"
"We found his horse near the southern perimeter. It looks like he left in the middle of the night."
Arianne and Kael exchanged a look. If Edric had discovered something and left to report back to the king, their time was running out.
Rian turned to the guard. "Double the patrols. I want every inch of this camp searched. If he's still close, we'll find him."
The guard nodded and disappeared.
Arianne's hands clenched at her sides. "If he's gone back to the palace—"
"Then we need to get there first," Kael finished grimly. "We have to warn our brothers."
Rian's gaze flickered between them, piecing things together. But instead of pressing for answers, he simply nodded. "Then we leave at dawn."
Arianne stared at him in surprise. "You're coming with us?"
Rian's expression was resolute. "If this is as dangerous as you say, then I'm not letting you face it alone."
Arianne felt something shift inside her—something she couldn't ignore anymore.
Because Rian wasn't just her general anymore.
He was something far more important than that.