Princess Nara could not stay still any longer.
Her heart felt heavy, filled with worry and questions that refused to rest. Mara was gone, and no one in the castle seemed willing to tell her the truth. Every answer she received felt incomplete, like a story with missing pieces.
"I must see His Majesty," she said at last, her voice quiet but firm.
Elsa stepped forward quickly, worry written across her face. "Princess, please… the king is with Captain Alden. They are discussing important matters."
But Nara shook her head, her eyes filled with determination. "Then I will not disturb them. I will simply ask my question and leave."
Without waiting for another word, she turned and walked out of her chamber.
The long castle corridors stretched before her, silent but tense.
Guards stood along the walls, their hands resting on their swords, their faces more serious than usual. As Nara passed, they bowed respectfully, but she could feel their unease.
Something was wrong.
Her steps echoed softly against the stone floor as she reached the great doors of the throne hall. The guards bowed and opened them at once, and she stepped inside.
King Ryan stood near the throne, speaking in a low voice with Captain Alden. Both men turned the moment she entered.
Nara stopped a few steps away, lowered her head in respect, and spoke carefully.
"Your Majesty."
King Ryan gave a faint smile, though his eyes carried a quiet tension. "Princess Nara. You should have been in your chambers this time. It is not safe to wander today."
Nara lifted her head slightly. "Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I came to ask about Mara."
The room grew still.
Alden shifted slightly, his gaze lowering. The king remained silent for a moment, as if choosing his words.
"Mara is safe," he said at last, his tone calm but firm. "You do not need to worry about her."
Nara hesitated, her voice softer now, but steady. "If she is safe… may I know where she is?"
Ryan paused again, then answered without meeting her eyes. "She is helping with something important. That is all you need to know."
Nara felt a small ache in her chest.
"Your Majesty… everyone seems afraid. Even the guards. Please tell me—what is actually happening?"
For a brief moment, the king's expression softened, but his answer did not change.
"There are matters beyond your concern, Princess. You must trust me. For your safety, return to your room and remain there until I say otherwise."
Nara lowered her gaze once more. "Yes, Your Majesty."
She turned and left the hall, but this time her steps felt heavier.
He was hiding something. She was sure of it.
As she walked back through the corridor, a sudden noise broke the silence.
The sharp sound of armor. The distant pounding of hooves.
The air itself seemed to change.
A guard rushed past her, moving quickly toward the inner halls.
"Wait!" Nara called, stopping him.
He turned at once and bowed. "Your Highness."
"Why are you in hurry what is going on?" she asked, her voice tight with concern.
The guard hesitated only for a moment.
"Riders have arrived, Princess… soldiers from Lord Varyn's lands. They are at the gates."
Nara's breath caught. "Lord Varyn…? .This time"
The guard nodded, then hurried away.
Outside, the great gates of the castle opened slowly with a deep, heavy sound.
A dark carriage rolled forward, surrounded by soldiers dressed in black armor marked with a twisted symbol — a serpent wrapped around a sword. Their presence alone carried threat.
From the carriage, Lord Varyn stepped down..
His eyes burned faintly red, and even from a distance, there was something unnatural about him — something cold and dangerous.
"I have come for the girl," he said, his voice loud and sharp, cutting through the air. "Bring her to me. I will not leave without her."
King Ryan was already there, he stepped forward, placing himself firmly between Varyn and the gates.
"No one leaves my kingdom under your command," he said, his voice calm but powerful. "You will not take anyone from my castle."
Varyn smiled slowly, a cruel expression forming on his face.
"Then you choose conflict, King Ryan."
For a brief second, silence hung in the air.
Then Varyn lifted his hand.
His soldiers moved forward.
The clash began instantly.
Steel struck steel as swords met shields. The courtyard filled with noise — shouting, movement, the pounding of boots against stone. Dust rose into the air as the two forces collided.
Captain Alden moved quickly, his voice rising above the chaos. "Hold the line! Protect the king!"
The royal guards formed a strong defense, pushing back against Varyn's advancing men.
From above, Princess Nara stood on the balcony, frozen in place.
She had never seen battle before.
Her heart pounded as she watched men fight below her — the flashing of blades, the movement, the fear. Everything felt too real, too close.
Below, Alden fought fiercely beside the king, blocking strikes and keeping the line from breaking.
And behind it all, Lord Varyn watched.
Then, quietly, he turned to one of his soldiers.
"Forget the fight," he said in a low, cold voice.
"Go inside. Find the princess. Bring her to me… alive."
The soldier nodded and slipped away, disappearing into the chaos.
But Alden had heard.
His eyes widened, and without hesitation, he forced his opponent back and rushed toward the king.
"Your Majesty!" he shouted. "Varyn has sent a man inside—he's after the princess!"
Ryan's expression changed instantly.
"Fall back!" he ordered. "Guard the gates!"
Then he turned to Alden, gripping his arm tightly.
"Go. Take trusted men. Move her now."
Alden nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty."
Ryan turned toward Queen Natalie. "Natalie—he's after Nara . Nara must be hidden now!
Take her to the same place as Mara."
The queen did not hesitate. "I understand."
Moments later, Alden and Natalie burst into Nara's chamber.
"Your Highness, we must go—now."
Nara stepped back in shock. " leave, why? Where should we go ? "
"There is no time to discuss," Alden said firmly.
"You are in danger." Follow me". Alden added
Nara looked at her mother, "Where am I taken?" She asked in a worry
"You have to go Nara , for me , for your father". "We will talk everything after this". Queen Natalie said in a low voice.
A cloak was thrown over her shoulders. Elsa rushed to her side, helping cover her face.
They moved quickly through hidden corridors, their footsteps echoing softly as the sounds of battle followed behind them.
At last, they reached a small, hidden door.
Alden opened it.
Inside, Mara stood, startled.
"Princess…?"
"There is no time," Alden said, guiding Nara inside before closing the door behind them.
The lock clicked.
Silence followed.
Nara turned to Mara, her breath still unsteady.
"Mara… You were locked here all this time? I really don't understand what is happening?"
Mara lowered her eyes, her voice trembling.
"I think… it is because of me."
Outside, the fight still roared — swords clashing, men shouting, and above it all, the promise of vengeance burning in Lord Varyn's eyes.
The small room was quiet, except for the sound of the rain tapping against the stone walls.
A single lantern burned softly in the corner, throwing long shadows across the floor.
Princess Nara stood near the door, her heart still racing from the run.
Mara sat on the edge of the small bed, her hands shaking slightly.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Finally, Nara took a step forward. Her voice was low but firm.
"Mara," she said, "I need you to tell me the truth. Why did Captain Alden bring me here? Why were you hiding in this place?"
Mara lifted her eyes slowly. She looked tired, scared — but there was something else, too. A heavy secret.
"My lady," she began quietly, "I didn't want you to find out this way."
"Find out what?" Nara asked. "Everyone keeps whispering. Everyone's afraid. Even my father."
Mara sighed. "They're afraid because of the mark."
"The mark?" Nara frowned. "You mean… the red dragon?"
Mara nodded. "Yes. Lord Varyn is looking for the person who has it. He says that mark holds the power to cure him — or destroy him."
Nara stared at her. "But why you, Mara? Why are you the one they're protecting?"
Mara hesitated, then slowly pulled her sleeve down over her shoulder, showing the red dragon mark glowing faintly under the lantern light.
Nara gasped softly. "It's real…"
"Yes," Mara whispered. "The king ordered it to be drawn on me — to fool Varyn. He wanted to protect the real person who has the mark."
"The real person?" Nara repeated, confused. "What do you mean the real person? "
"Then who—"
Mara stopped. She looked at Nara with strange sadness in her eyes.
"My lady," she said quietly, "I don't think the king told us everything."
Nara stepped back, her heart beating faster. "What do you mean?"
Before Mara could answer, they both heard a faint sound from outside — footsteps echoing in the passageway.
Nara's voice dropped to a whisper. "Someone's coming…"
The lantern flickered. The air in the room grew cold.
The sound of footsteps grew louder — slow, heavy steps echoing through the narrow passage outside.
Mara's breath caught in her throat. She moved closer to the wall, her hands shaking.
Princess Nara raised her hand slightly and whispered,
"Mara… shh. Don't move. Don't say anything."
They both stood still. The lantern light flickered across their faces.
The footsteps stopped right outside the door.
Both girls froze.
For a long, tense moment, no one spoke, no one moved.
Nara could feel her heartbeat pounding in her chest.
Mara's eyes stayed fixed on the door handle, afraid it might turn.
The room was so quiet they could hear the wind outside — and the faint dripping of water from the ceiling.
Then, after a few seconds, the sound began to fade.
The footsteps slowly moved away… and then disappeared completely.
Nara waited a little longer before whispering again,
"I think they're gone."
Mara nodded softly, still trembling.
"Maybe it was just a guard," she said, trying to calm herself.
Nara shook her head. "No. This is a secret place. Few guards know we're here. Whoever that was… didn't want us to see them."
The two girls stayed silent for a moment, listening — but there was nothing. Only the soft hum of the lantern and the sound of their own breathing.
Finally, Nara sat down beside Mara.
Her voice was low but full of worry.
"Mara, please… tell me anything you know about this. I can feel it — this is about me, isn't it?"
Mara looked at her with sad eyes but said nothing yet.
Outside, thunder rumbled again — as if the castle itself was holding its breath.