The corridor leading to the holding chambers was dimly lit, the torches along the stone walls flickering with uneven light.
The deeper they went, the colder it became.
Esmeralda slowed her steps ever so slightly, her expression unchanged-but her eyes more alert. She recalled that in the book, she had to stay in this place before being beheaded in the guillotine.
"...You certainly know how to choose locations," she remarked, "If intimidation was the goal, you've succeeded."
Rael walked ahead of her, unbothered.
"It's effective."
"Unpleasant."
"Those tend to overlap."
"...I still prefer tea."
He almost smiled.
Almost.
The iron doors at the end of the corridor creaked open.
Inside, the air was heavier-thick with the scent of rust, damp stone, and something faintly metallic.
Rael stepped forward, and the atmosphere shifted instantly.
The guards straightened.
The prisoners stilled.
Authority didn't need to be announced.
It simply entered the room with him.
Three men sat restrained against the far wall.
Their clothes were worn.
Their posture tense.
Their eyes sharp-despite the exhaustion.
Esmeralda studied them quietly.
Not nobles.
Not assassins.
Not even particularly disciplined.
Just men who had taken a job they didn't fully understand.
"...You chose poorly," she said lightly.
One of them flinched.
Rael glanced at her. "...You're enjoying this."
"I'm observing," she corrected.
"...With commentary."
"It improves the experience."
Rael stepped forward, stopping just short of the prisoners.
"You've already been questioned," he said calmly.
No raised voice.
No visible threat.
And yet-
Every word carried weight.
"...So I'll make this simple."
The man in the center swallowed hard.
"...Y-Yes, Your Highness."
"Who hired you?"
The question was direct.
The answer-unchanged.
"We don't know."
Silence.
Rael didn't react immediately.
Instead, he studied them.
Measured breathing.
Subtle tension in their shoulders.
The way their eyes moved-
Not lying.
Or at least-
Not skilled enough to lie convincingly.
"...You accepted a commission without knowing your employer?"
"That's not unusual," the man said quickly. "We deal with intermediaries."
"Describe him."
"Covered. Face hidden."
"Height?"
"...Average."
"Build?"
"...Average."
Rael's gaze cooled.
"Are you sure you're not missing any details? I might just cut your heads off right now."
"W-wait! Your Highness. The voice was a bit high pitched. Though I am not sure since the commissioner always made sure to speak less words."
"...I see. How helpful." Rael looked at the guard near them who jotted what the abductor had said.
Esmeralda stepped closer, tilting her head slightly as she examined them.
"...You're not very impressive," she said bluntly.
The man looked offended. "...We completed the job."
"You kidnapped a woman who escaped within hours."
"...That wasn't part of the plan."
"It rarely is," she replied.
Rael exhaled quietly, though there was the faintest trace of amusement in his expression.
"...Focus," he said.
"Yes, Your Highness," she replied sweetly.
"Payment," Rael continued.
"How much were you offered?"
The men hesitated.
"...Speak."
A number was given.
The room fell silent.
Esmeralda blinked once.
Then-
"...That's it?"
The disbelief in her voice was unmistakable.
"You kidnapped me for that much?"
The man shifted uncomfortably. "...We didn't know who you were at first."
"That doesn't make it better."
Rael's expression darkened slightly.
"...That amount wouldn't even secure a proper escort," he said.
"Half upfront," the man added quickly. "Half after delivery."
"Delivery to where?"
"...We weren't told."
Silence settled heavily over the room.
Rael's fingers tapped once against his arm.
A small gesture.
But deliberate.
Calculating.
"...So," Esmeralda said slowly, "we have an anonymous commissioner, and a payment so low it borders on insulting."
"Yes."
"That eliminates most high-ranking nobles."
"Correct."
"They wouldn't risk exposure for something so... poorly executed."
Rael glanced at her.
"...You're analyzing this well."
"I always do."
"...Debatable."
"Rude."
"...Accurate."
Rael turned back to the prisoners.
"There's more," he said.
Esmeralda raised a brow.
"Oh?"
"They were given specific instructions."
"Which were?"
"To keep you alive."
A pause.
"...How considerate."
"They were also instructed," he continued, "to avoid unnecessary harm."
Esmeralda glanced at her shoulder instinctively.
"...And yet I was shot."
"You ran."
"...Again, details."
Rael's gaze sharpened slightly.
"...The arrow was a reaction," he said. "Not the objective."
Esmeralda hummed.
"...So whoever hired them didn't want me dead."
"No."
"Just... removed."
"Yes."
The pieces began to settle.
Not neatly.
But enough to form a shape.
"...This wasn't political," Esmeralda said slowly.
Rael didn't respond immediately.
Then-
"...Not entirely."
"Then personal," she concluded.
Their eyes met.
And for a moment-
There was no need to explain further.
"...Someone with a grievance," Rael said.
"Or resentment," Esmeralda added.
"...You have quite a list of those."
She smiled faintly.
"...I'm well aware."
Rael stepped back, the interrogation effectively over.
The guards moved, taking their cue.
The prisoners were dragged away, their protests echoing briefly before fading into silence.
The room felt emptier after they left.
But heavier.
Because now-
This wasn't just an incident.
It was intent.
Poorly executed.
But intentional.
As they walked back through the corridor, the torches flickering once more-
"...You'll have increased security," Rael said.
"I refuse."
"You don't have a choice."
"I always have a choice."
"Not this time."
"...You're very controlling."
"You're very reckless."
"...I prefer capable."
"I prefer alive."
A pause.
Then-
"...Fair," she admitted quietly.
They reached the end of the corridor.
Light returned.
Air felt lighter.
But the tension remained.
"...You're taking this seriously," she said.
"Yes."
"...More than necessary."
A pause.
Then-
"...You were taken," he said simply.
No elaboration.
No explanation.
But something in his tone-
Firm.
Unyielding.
Unmistakably personal.
Made her pause.
"...I handled it," she said.
"I know."
"...Then why-"
He stopped walking.
Turned to her.
"...Because I won't let it happen again."
Silence.
Complete.
For once-
She didn't argue.
Didn't deflect.
Didn't tease.
"...You're troublesome," she muttered instead.
"And you're a liability."
"...That's harsh."
"...True."
A pause.
Then-
"...Still," she added quietly, "...thank you."
Rael didn't respond immediately.
But his gaze softened-just slightly.
"...Don't thank me yet," he said.
"Why?"
"...We still don't know who did this."
And that-
Was the real problem.
Because somewhere-
Someone had tried to remove her from the board.
And next time-
They might do it properly.