"Please don't kill me! Please, I beg you!"
My voice cracked like dry wood. I wasn't just begging; I was breaking. My knees hit the cold earth, sending a jolt of pain through my already bruised body. My palms were sticky with my own blood.
"I have nothing!" I sobbed, the words tearing at my throat. "Please... I don't have anything left..."
The masked looters laughed-a cruel, guttural sound that echoed through the trees. Their shadows flickered in the dying light like demons conjured from my nightmares.
"Everything you have," one growled, stepping closer. "Or you die here like a dog."
"I said I don't-" My words dissolved into a gasp as my trembling hands clutched at my torn dress. "I swear on everything-there's nothing left!"
They only grinned wider. One of them cracked his knuckles; another ran a blade along his palm as if to test its edge.
The forest around me-the forest that belonged to the Solmira Empire-felt endless and empty. No guards. No travelers. Just me. Me and them.
I stumbled back, my heel scraping the edge of the riverbank. Cold water lapped below, dark and fast, a roaring mouth ready to swallow me whole. I couldn't swim. I couldn't fight. There was nowhere left to go.
Back meant death.
Forward meant death too.
"Do it," one of them hissed. "Take it from her."
"No-no, please!" I lifted my bloodied hands like a child pleading with a parent. "I'll do anything-anything but don't-"
They advanced. My lungs filled with panic.
One lunged. A heavy blow struck the side of my head. The world reeled; trees spun like a whirlpool. Warm liquid streamed into my eyes-my blood-and I hit the earth hard.
"Get up!" someone barked. A pair of hands yanked me upright by my torn collar.
"No, no, please-" My voice was hoarse now, almost gone.
Pain exploded in my side. A blade had slipped into me like a whisper. My breath caught and my knees buckled. I clutched my side, feeling hot blood seeping through my fingers.
"Please..." I whispered, my lips trembling, "please don't..."
The one in front of me raised his sword, slow, deliberate, savoring my terror. I could hear the metal sing as it cut through the air.
This was it.
Maybe this is the end.
I closed my eyes waiting for the pain and death.
And then-
I heard it.
The thunder of hooves, distant but undeniable.
horses.
The sound of hooves grew louder, a rolling thunder that shook the earth beneath me. Through the haze of pain and blood, I forced my head up. Shapes emerged between the trees - armor glinting like captured sunlight.
Soldiers.
Not just any soldiers - the banners on their spears bore the golden crest of the Solmira Empire. There were at least ten of them, riding in formation, their cloaks trailing like wings. And in the middle, surrounded as though she were a flame they protected, rode a woman.
Her presence made the very air feel different. Commanding. Dangerous. Her face was half-covered with a silken veil, but her eyes - even at a distance - caught mine for a heartbeat. Sharp, steady. Royal.
A Royal, my broken mind whispered. A princess? A commander?
Then__ before the hoofbeats reached us, before help could arrive,
Push her..! one of the attacker said and a strong shove struck my chest.
"No-!"
The river's edge vanished beneath me. My body tipped backward into open air, and then the world became water.
Cold. Dark. Endless.
I sank.
I didn't know how to swim. I didn't even have the strength to try. The wound at my side burned like fire in the freezing current. My limbs refused me, heavy as stone.
I didn't struggle. I couldn't.
My body floated for a moment, suspended between light and darkness. The river churned crimson as my blood swirled around me like ribbons. My arms drifted out, my fingers numb. My legs spread weightlessly, unmoored.
My eyes blurred.
So this is how I die.
The water muffled everything. The shouts above became echoes. The glint of armor on the bank fractured like shards of glass.
And then-movement.
A shape cutting through the water. A figure diving in - strong strokes slicing the current apart. Someone was swimming toward me, faster than the river drowning me.
I blinked, bubbles escaping my lips. No... impossible...
My mind felt soft, like it was unraveling. The face - if it even had one - flickered in my vision. Silver hair Golder hair? Or was that just the water's glare?
I think I'm dreaming.
My eyes, heavy and wet, fluttered once, twice.
Then blurred.
Then finally, they closed.
Darkness...
---
Flash back...
Princess Yasmin - POV
With the rising sun, the Palace of Solmira stirred to life.
The sound of armored footsteps echoed across the marble courtyard. Maids hurried along corridors, trays clattering with silverware and steaming breakfast. Distant bells tolled, their deep tones announcing the day's start. Every motion was practiced, every step measured. The empire thrived on order, and I thrived within it.
I stepped into the hall, dressed in obsidian and deep blue silks-the colors of House Solmira. My hair was pinned with perfect precision, my face a mask of unreadable composure. Every step, every glance, every subtle tilt of my chin had been calculated to convey control.
Princess Yasmin.
The crown jewel of Solmira.
Cold. Immaculate. Unshakeable.
The guards lining the dining room stiffened as I passed. Not a single soldier dared to breathe too loudly. No one dared to speak unless spoken to. I preferred it this way; discipline commanded respect, and fear ensured obedience.
Inside, my family was already seated.
My father, King Alaric Solmira, exuded authority even in repose, silver eyes surveying the hall like a hawk.
My mother, Queen Evaline, sat gracefully, her posture perfect, her smile serene yet distant, as though she measured every word before it could touch the air.
And beside them, my elder brother, Prince Kaelen, lounged with casual confidence, smirking just enough to show he was both present and amused.
Kaelen lifted an eyebrow as I took my seat. "Sister. Off to spill animal blood today?"
I reached for the goblet of chilled wine, my movements calm, deliberate. "Yes."
He chuckled, carving a piece of meat. "How merciful. I pity the creature already."
Father's voice cut through the soft clatter of dishes. Deep, measured, commanding. "Stay within the southern boundaries. Scouts have reported rogue looters recently."
"I will ensure they are cleared if I find any," I replied without hesitation.
Mother's gaze flicked to me, subtle but sharp. "Avoid bloodstains this time, Yasmin."
"I make no promises," I answered. Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she said nothing further.
Kaelen laughed softly, and the conversation drifted toward matters of state-news from distant provinces, discussions of taxes, trade disputes, and the subtle power plays of the court nobles. I listened, taking in every word, every nuance. To speak was optional; to observe was mandatory.
When the meal ended, I rose and excused myself. My morning ritual was complete.
Today was hunting day.
Leather armor clung to my frame, supple yet protective. My hair was braided tightly, freeing my face and neck. My bow was slung across my back, my sword resting comfortably at my hip. Ten elite guards fell into formation around me, silent and alert, shadows moving with precision.
The forest awaited, sprawling and verdant, the morning light slicing through the canopy in delicate, golden ribbons. Each step of the horses stirred the fallen leaves, sending up small clouds of earthy scent. The air was crisp and alive with promise.
We moved swiftly, but cautiously. Each crack of a branch, each flutter of wings made me pause, assess, and press forward with unwavering focus.
Soon, movement caught my eye-a deer, lithe and alert, standing in a sun-dappled clearing. My heart remained steady, every muscle coiled and ready. I slowed, nocked an arrow, drew the string back. Silence stretched across the forest like a held breath.
I aimed.
But then-a scream.
A woman's scream, sharp, desperate. It cut through the morning air like a blade.
The deer bolted.
I lowered my bow immediately. "Did you hear that?" My voice was cold steel, commanding attention.
"Yes, Your Highness," said a soldier, urgency threading his tone. "It came from the river bend."
"Move," I ordered.
Branches tore at my face and arms as we spurred our horses forward. The forest blurred around us, the ground shifting beneath the hooves in a rhythmic, pounding cadence. Every second stretched, anticipation tightening my chest.
And then I saw it.
The river.
The water shimmered under the morning sun, but the color was wrong-streaks of crimson marred its surface.
A woman, wounded, bloodied, struggling to stay upright on the bank.
A gang of masked looters surrounded her, their laughter cruel, their weapons glinting in the light. Her clothes were torn. Her eyes wide with panic. Her chest rose and fell in rapid, terrified gasps.
I reached for my sword-but before I could act, one of the men shoved her.
She tumbled into the river.
The looters drew their weapons in unison, jagged blades catching the sun. My soldiers responded immediately, steel ringing as swords were unsheathed. I stepped forward, my own blade singing free in my hand.
The clash was instant-iron against iron, cries and curses tearing the stillness of the forest apart.
One of the looters charged me first, swinging a heavy axe. I sidestepped, quick and precise, and drove my sword across his side. He fell with a strangled cry. Another came at me, dagger raised. I caught his wrist, twisted until I heard the crack of bone, and slammed my hilt into his jaw. He crumpled to the ground.
Around me, the fight raged. My guards moved like wolves among sheep, striking hard, shields raised, blades flashing. Blood sprayed the earth, the stench sharp and metallic. The looters fought viciously, but they lacked discipline. My soldiers-my soldiers were trained.
Still, they pressed us hard. One swung low at my legs-I leapt back, striking his neck with a precise cut. Another tried to flank me; I spun, boot slamming into his chest, sending him stumbling back into the riverbank.
The fight was fierce, fast, unrelenting. My men held strong, but I could not stay.
The woman-
I turned toward the river. She was gone from the surface. Only crimson ripples stained the water.
My chest tightened. That could only mean one thing.
No time to think.
I ran and leapt, plunging into the icy current.
The cold hit me like a blade, but I pushed down the shock, eyes scanning the depths. And there-below me-I saw her.
Her body drifted downward, pale against the river's dark. Her arms floated limp, her hair spreading like ink in the water. Her eyes fluttered once, then closed completely.
No.
I swam hard, arms slicing through the current, lungs burning with urgency. I reached her, caught her in my arms, and kicked furiously toward the surface.
When at last we broke the water, I gasped, dragging her heavy, unresponsive form with me. My guards' shouts rang from the bank as they fought off the remaining looters, but I focused only on her.
I pulled her to the river's edge, hauled her onto the muddy ground, and laid her down carefully.
Her face was ashen. Her lips blue.
I pressed my ear to her chest-nothing. No breath, no heartbeat.
"She's not breathing," I hissed. My jaw clenched.
There was no time to call for a healer. No time for hesitation. No other woman was here to do it.
So I did it myself.
I pressed my palms against her chest, pushing hard, rhythm steady. Once. Twice. Again. Her body rocked beneath my hands, but no response.
"Come back," I whispered sharply, pumping her chest again. "Breathe."
Still nothing.
I bent down, sealing my lips over hers, forcing air into her lungs. Once. Twice.
Pulled back. Listened. Waited.
No sound.
I didn't stop.
Again, chest compressions. Again, air. My hair clung wet against my face, the taste of blood and river water bitter on my tongue.
"She was under too long..." a soldier murmured behind me, but I silenced him with a glare.
Again.
Again.
Again.
And then-
A cough. Weak, strangled.
Her chest jerked beneath my hands. She sputtered, water spilling from her lips. She gasped, struggling, her whole body trembling with the fight for air.
I bent quickly, giving her breath again, guiding her lungs, steadying her rhythm.
Once more. Twice more.
And finally-her breathing evened out.
Her chest rose and fell.
Her eyes fluttered-then opened.