chapter 22
Soldier's Tent — The Hollow Aftermath
John sat alone in the soldier's quarters.
The tent was alive with quiet noise—low laughter, armor shifting, distant conversations—but none of it reached him.
He just stared forward.
Blank.
Empty.
Through the small window slit, fireworks still bloomed across the night sky.
Red. Gold. Blue.
Beautiful.
Meaningless.
They exploded one after another, painting the heavens in celebration for a moment that felt far away from him.
John didn't move.
A soldier nearby finally nudged him lightly.
Soldier: "Hey, John."
John blinked slowly, as if returning from somewhere far away.
John: "…Yeah?"
Soldier: "Miss Esabell is here for you."
That name pulled him back just slightly.
John: "…For me?"
He stood slowly, brushing dust off his uniform. His movements felt heavier than usual, like his body didn't fully belong to him.
He followed the soldier out.
---
Outside the Tent — Esabell's Question
The cold night air hit his face instantly.
It helped—but only a little.
Esabell stood near a wooden bench under a flickering lantern. The warm light softened her expression, but her eyes were serious.
She didn't smile immediately.
That told John everything.
They sat.
A long silence stretched between them—not uncomfortable, but heavy with things unsaid.
Finally—
Esabell spoke.
Esabell: "So… what happened last night with the Princess?"
John stiffened slightly.
John: "…Nothing."
He looked away immediately.
John: "Just forget it."
A pause.
John: "Do you have other business here?"
Esabell studied him carefully.
Not judging.
Just… understanding.
Esabell: "It's okay if you don't want to talk."
Her voice softened.
Esabell: "I didn't come to pressure you."
John exhaled, bitter.
John: "No… it's just… I think I messed everything up."
He rubbed his face.
John: "Maybe I rushed. Maybe I misunderstood everything. Maybe I'm just… impossible."
His voice dropped lower.
John: "Or maybe she just… isn't interested."
Esabell's eyes widened slightly.
Esabell: "Really?"
John pointed faintly toward the distant palace lights.
John: "You saw the engagement, didn't you?"
Silence.
She nodded.
Esabell gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
Esabell: "Don't decide everything so quickly."
John frowned.
John: "Then what am I supposed to think?"
Esabell hesitated.
Esabell: "That there might be things you don't see yet."
John let out a dry laugh.
John: "There's always something hidden, isn't there?"
His voice sharpened slightly.
John: "That's what makes it worse."
Esabell opened her mouth—but stopped.
Because she knew he wasn't wrong.
The silence between them returned.
Longer this time.
Heavier.
---
Princess Chamber — The Ring That Doesn't Belong
Candlelight flickered across the royal chamber.
The Princess sat alone.
The engagement ring rested on her finger.
She turned it slowly.
Once.
Twice.
Like she was trying to understand its weight.
Cold.
Foreign.
Unnatural.
Princess (thinking softly): "This ring… it doesn't belong here…"
Her eyes lowered slightly.
Princess (thinking): "…I should remove it."
Her fingers hesitated.
But didn't move.
A knock interrupted her thoughts.
Guinevere entered.
Her expression was sharper than usual.
Guinevere: "Still nothing."
The Princess looked up instantly.
Princess: "Nothing?"
Guinevere shook her head.
Guinevere: "No Marco. No signal. No trace. It's like he disappeared before the engagement even started."
The Princess slowly leaned back in her chair.
But her fingers kept turning the ring.
Again.
Again.
Guinevere lowered her voice.
Guinevere: "I don't like this. Something feels wrong."
The Princess's expression hardened slightly.
Princess: "It's worse than wrong."
A pause.
Princess: "Stonehaven doesn't hesitate when it comes to control."
Guinevere narrowed her eyes.
Guinevere: "You think they're involved?"
Princess: "I think they're capable of anything."
A heavier silence settled.
The candle flame flickered.
Princess: "Even children disappearing… even sacrifices…"
Her voice darkened slightly.
Princess: "Nothing is beyond them."
Guinevere's tone sharpened.
Guinevere: "And people still believe this kingdom is stable?"
Princess: "They believe what they're allowed to see."
A pause.
Guinevere leaned forward.
Guinevere: "When did you learn all of this?"
The Princess looked down.
For a moment, her voice softened.
Princess: "Not here."
She stood.
Princess: "I've been to Stonehaven before. Years ago. As a trainee."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Princess: "Even then… there were protests. Missing children. Silence from the crown."
She clenched her hand.
Princess: "Nothing changed. It only became quieter."
Guinevere: "And now?"
Princess: "Now they're afraid to speak at all."
A pause.
Princess: "That's why I sent Marco."
Guinevere's eyes sharpened.
Guinevere: "To investigate?"
Princess: "To find what they're hiding."
Her gaze hardened.
Princess: "If we find proof… everything changes."
A quiet pause.
Then—
Princess: "…And I end this marriage."
---
Marco vs the Giant — Chaos and Precision
The cavern shook violently.
The giant roared again, its stone fists crashing down.
BOOM.
Marco barely dodged.
Dust exploded around him.
Red-haired man landed lightly on a broken pillar, watching the chaos like it was entertainment.
Red-haired man: "Wow… that thing is seriously annoying."
He stretched lazily.
Red-haired man: "But… kinda fun."
Marco blinked.
Marco (thinking): Who is this guy…?
The giant swung again.
The red-haired man flipped midair effortlessly, landing behind it.
Slash.
A chunk of stone cracked off.
Marco's eyes widened.
Marco (thinking): His movement… no wasted motion…
The red-haired man grinned.
Red-haired man: "Hey! Don't just stand there!"
Marco snapped back into focus.
Marco: "Right."
Together, they moved.
Not coordinated at first—
But quickly adapting.
Strike.
Dodge.
Counter.
The cavern became a storm of movement.
Marco struck joints.
The red-haired man shattered weak points with reckless precision.
Red-haired man (laughing mid-fight): "This is actually starting to feel good!"
The giant staggered.
Its movements slowed.
Marco's breathing grew heavier—but focused.
Marco (thinking): One more push…
They exchanged a glance.
No words needed.
They lunged together.
CRACK.
The cavern trembled.
The giant collapsed backward, stone cracking across its body.
Silence.
Then—
Red-haired man: "Now that was fun."
Marco exhaled.
Marco: "…We're not done yet."
---
Palace Gates — Guinevere Blocked
Morning light spilled over Stonehaven.
Guinevere stepped forward—
Stopped.
Crossed spears.
Guinevere's eyes sharpened instantly.
Guinevere: "Move."
Guard: "King's orders. No one leaves."
Guinevere's voice dropped.
Cold.
Dangerous.
Guinevere: "You're blocking me?"
Guard: "Direct orders."
A pause.
The air changed.
---
Royal Chamber — A Dangerous Silence
The King sat still.
The Prince stood before him, holding a sealed report.
Prince: "Kayan's report came in."
King: "Speak."
Prince: "They encountered resistance."
A pause.
Prince: "And I think… the Princess is involved."
The King's eyes narrowed slightly.
King: "Unlikely."
Prince: "She's intelligent. She may have noticed something."
The King leaned back slowly.
King: "Then we proceed carefully."
A pause.
Prince: "We could still remove her problem before it becomes one."
Silence.
Then—
The King's voice dropped.
Cold.
Sharp.
King: "Are you suggesting murder?"
The Prince froze slightly.
King: "Do you understand what that would cause?"
He leaned forward.
King: "Wars. Demands. Collapse."
A long pause.
King: "We are not fools."
His voice lowered.
King: "Until the marriage is complete… we do nothing reckless."
A final warning.
King: "Or you will forget your place."
The Prince lowered his gaze.
Prince: "…Understood."
...CHAPTER 22ENDS...