The walk to the lower levels of the Iron Palace was long.
Stone corridors narrowed as they descended beneath the fortress. The polished marble of the upper halls slowly gave way to rough stone and colder air. Torches burned dimly along the walls, their light flickering across iron doors and shadowed passages.
The deeper they went, the quieter the palace became.
Theresia looked around openly as the guards escorted them down the corridor.
"So this is the prison?"
One of the soldiers glanced back.
"…Yes."
She nodded thoughtfully.
"It's smaller than I imagined."
Nine walked beside her with her hands bound in front.
"You imagined prison?"
"I read about it once."
Nine stared at her.
"You read about prison."
Rhea walked calmly between them.
"Tia enjoys learning about unusual subjects."
"That's not unusual," Nine muttered.
"That's concerning."
The guards exchanged uneasy looks.
Most prisoners were frightened.
Or angry.
Or begging.
These three were… talking.
They reached the end of the corridor where iron-barred cells lined both sides of the hallway. Most were empty, though a few prisoners watched quietly from the shadows as the group passed.
A guard unlocked one of the doors.
The iron gate groaned open.
"Inside."
Nine stepped in first without hesitation.
Theresia followed, still studying the stone walls with curiosity.
Rhea entered last.
The door slammed shut behind them.
The lock clicked.
For a moment the cell was quiet.
Then Nine stretched her arms behind her head and glanced around.
"Well."
"I've definitely been in worse places."
Rhea sat down neatly on the stone floor, folding her legs beneath her.
"That is not very reassuring."
Nine shrugged.
"Just stating facts."
Across the small cell, Theresia walked up to the iron bars and looked down the corridor.
The torches.
The guards.
The thick stone walls.
Her eyes brightened.
"This is amazing."
Nine blinked slowly.
"…What?"
She turned around, completely sincere.
"I've never been in prison before."
Nine stared at her.
"You're excited about that?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
Rhea laughed quietly.
"You would be."
Theresia leaned against the bars, still looking around.
"I always wondered what a royal dungeon looked like."
Nine rubbed her temple.
"We're the prisoners."
"I know."
"That's the interesting part."
Nine turned to Rhea.
"Is she serious?"
Rhea nodded gently.
"Unfortunately… yes."
Nine leaned back against the wall with a sigh.
"You're impossible."
Theresia didn't seem bothered.
Instead she glanced down the hallway again.
"They'll question us again soon."
"That would be the logical next step," Rhea agreed.
Nine smirked faintly.
"Of course they will."
She gestured vaguely upward.
"We appeared in the king's chamber."
"To them we're either spies…"
"Or assassins," Rhea finished calmly.
Theresia tilted her head slightly.
"That sounds serious."
"Because it is," Nine said.
Theresia considered that.
Then she nodded.
"Well… at least they didn't execute us."
Nine gave a short laugh.
"Low standards, but fair."
Rhea sighed softly.
"Tia… perhaps we should not treat imprisonment like a sightseeing trip."
Theresia smiled.
"I'm just trying to stay positive."
Outside the cell, two guards stood watch.
One of them shifted uncomfortably.
"They're too calm," he whispered.
"I noticed."
The second guard glanced toward the cell.
Inside, Nine had already stretched out across the narrow stone bench.
Theresia was still examining the corridor like she expected to discover something interesting.
Rhea sat quietly with her hands folded.
None of them looked afraid.
The guard frowned.
"…What kind of prisoners are they?"
Neither of them had an answer.
Far above the dungeon, the Iron Palace was still awake.
In a quiet corridor near the war chamber, three young nobles walked together.
Valen's expression remained stern.
Rowen looked thoughtful.
Lucien wore a faint, unreadable smile.
"They appeared inside the king's chamber," Valen said.
"That is not coincidence."
Rowen nodded slowly.
"But they showed no hostility."
Lucien spoke last.
"They weren't afraid either."
His eyes glimmered with quiet interest.
"That may be the strangest part."
Silence followed them down the corridor.
Because one question still remained.
How had three strangers appeared inside the most secure room in Rovenwale?
And perhaps more importantly—
What would happen if they did it again?