bChapter /bb124 /b

    ra’s POV

    “You.”

    The sharpness of Lance’s voice sent a jolt through my spine.

    I kept my gaze down, stiffening as if every muscle in my body had turned to stone. Thest thing I wanted was for him to recognize me–no, not like this.

    Not now.

    “You. Raise your head.” His voice cut through the air, insistent.

    My heart dropped. I had to have heard wrong. No way was he pointing at me, was he?

    Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him his finger unmistakably directed straight at me.

    A cold dread wed at my insides.

    Did Lance choose me? Out of all the girls here–he picked me

    The odds bwere /bunfathomable. There was no way this was happening

    In that moment, I knew what this meant. I could save an innocent girl from what wasing next. I could stop her fam enduring whatever torment they nned for her. It was the right thing to do, and yet… It also meant that my chance to kill Danton tonight would vanish. The whole bn/b–our entire operation–would copse.

    My mind spun into overdrive.

    What do I do now? Should I back out? bCan /bI weasel my way out of this?

    In a split second, a n formed.

    “My King.” I said, feigning a cough bas /bI put on my best sickly voice. “I bcaught /ba cold the other night. I’m afraid I’m not fit to serve you.”

    Lance’s gaze turned hard as he scrutinized me. “Really? Or is it that you just don’t want to keep mepany?”

    “No, no! Of course, I do. Serving you is the greatest honour in my life…” I responded, feigning humility. “But I’m worried I might give you the cold. I wouldn’t want to make byou /bill, My King”

    Andre, over the schemer, came rushing to my side, backing up my story with feigned concern. “It’s true, My King. This girl is sick. That’s why she’s wearing the veil. Please, there are plenty of other girls here who could serve you in bher /bstead.”

    I could feel Andre’s anxiety gnawing at him, but I had no time to worry about him now.

    From behind me, I heard Danton grumble on bhis /bbhorse/bb, /ba sneer in his voice. “A sick girl? What were you thinking, Andre? Get her out of here?”

    But then–miraculouslyb–/bLance raised a hand to stop them both.

    “Let her stay,” he ordered, looking bored. b“/bbSend /bba /bcouple of healthy girls to my tent tonight. bAndre/b, I trust your judgment.”

    A brief silence settled, then Andre lowered his head in submission. As Lance walked back to his horse, exhaled, my breath shaky but relieved. I’d dodged

    that bullet at bleast /bfor now

    The camp gate opened with a creak, and the guards ushered the girls inside, treating them like cattle. Andre quickly took charge, sorting t assignments, before grabbing my wrist with a firm hand. He pulled me toward the back, away from the chaos

    “Come with me,” he whispered, leading me through the throngs. “I’ll take you to Danton’s tent.”

    to their

    We moved bquickly/b, my heart pounding as I could still hear the sobs of the other girls. My stomach twisted at the sound.

    “What happens to them?” I asked, my voice low,

    Andre didn’t look back. “Something ugly… But it’s not our problem.”

    jerked him to a halt, spinning him around. “It is my problem! I’m saving those girls” hissed, my grip tightening on his shoulder

    He red at me, his jaw clenched. “How? What do you n to do, save them when we’re barely saving ourselves?”

    leaned in closer, my voice ice–cold, “When Danten bis /bdead and they find his body, chaos will break out in the camp. That’s when you open the gates for the girls. Let them escape

    Andre’s expression froze. I could see the hesitation in his beyes/bb. /b

    “Did you hear me? I demanded, shaking him slightly.

    tas gripped him harder. “I hear you. I’ll do it. But only if we make it through the night.”

    “Yes” Andre snapped, wincing a

    “Good.” I let go of him, my fingers tinging with frustration.

    We reached arge tent, and Andre pushed the p open. He looked inside, checking for any signs of life. It was en

    “Wait here,” he said, his voice tight with anity. “Danton and Lance are having dinner. They’ll send someone else to you. I’ll bring Danton backter.”

    I watched him, my eyes narrowing. “You’re shaking, Andre.”

    “H–am?” His voice cracked as he wiped his forehead.

    I didn’t need to say more. He already knew,

    “Yes, you are,” I said bluntly. “Keep it together. Danton can smell fear

    He clenched his fists, but his hands trembled. “How am I supposed to keep it together? We’re about to murder the Generall Under the King’s nose” Heughed bitterly, voice thick with bpanic/b. “This.. bthis /bbis /ba terrible idea. Maybe we should just quit…”

    SLAP

    Without warning, I pped

    him across the bface/b, the sound ringing in the air.

    “Better?” I asked, my voice low but sharp.

    Andre blinked, touching his reddened cheek, Yeah. Thanks”

    “Remember why we’re doing this Remember everything he’s done to you. This is your revenge,” I said, my voice hardening.

    Andre nodded silently, his face set with determination, “Right”

    He turned and walked out of the bentb, /bhis steps slower but more bmeasured /bthan before.

    Istood there alone, the silence heavy, my thoughts swimming

    Killing Danton would be easy. I didn’t fear the act itself. He wasn’t a great warrior, just a bman /bwho had brisen /bto power through his connections. bSubbing /bhim in the throat wouldn’t be difficult–what I had to fear was Lance getting in my way

    With no clock to guide me. I had no sense of time. The hours seamed to stretchedlessly. But then I heard amotion outside a girl’s desperate sobs cutting through the air,

    The guards threw a girl into the tent. She hit the floor hard, hands bound behind her bback/bb, /bband /bimmediately crumpled into herselfb, /bsobbing

    uncontrobly.

    “Please…she gasped through tears. “Please, I have a fiancé… I didn’t want this… Please

    One of the guards kicked her, his voice grating with disdain. “You’ll serve the General it’s a privilegelege

    The bguard /bleft, the tent door swinging closed behind him.

    The girl didn’t stop crying her body shaking as she huddled on the ground, clutching her knees

    I stepped forward, my anger boiling. There were too many girls like her. Too many girls forced into this hell every year.

    “Hey,” I said softly, kneeling beside her. “It’s okay. You’re going to be alright.”

    hey always ask for new girls.. And it’s my turn this year.. |–

    “No, I’m not,” she whispered brokenly, “You don’t understand… This happens every year. They a won’t make it

    I didn’t hesitate. Reaching under my bra, I pulled out a small de, barely the size of my thumb, and began cutting the ropes binding her wrists.

    “What are you doingb?/b”

    bg/b?” she asked, voice trembling

    b“/bShh,” I whispered. “Just hold still

    The rope frayed under my careful cutting, until only a single thread held it together, She could break free now, without much effort.

    “Listen,” I murmured, leaning closer. “When Dantones in…il he tries anything–anything–you break free and run. But not yet. Wait for the right

    moment.

    Her eyes widened in disbeliet “T Thank youb… /bBut what about you?”

    I swallowed hard be fine. Don’t worry about me

    y more,

    ore, but then I heard the unmistakable sound of boots boutside/b–heavy, deliberate.

    Iwanted to say I

    The girl’s face drained of color.

    The tent p flew open, and in staggered Danton, leaning heavily on Andre’s shoulder. His steps were unsteady, his eyes zed over with drunkenness. He shoved Andre baside/bb, /bslumping into a chair.

    “You!” Danton barked, slurring his words. “Come hereb!/b”

    He spread his legs bwide/b, a sick grin on his face. “Come sit on myp, girl. Let’s have some fun,

    My stomach churned as I met his gaze, but I kept my expression calm, ready for whatever came next. The n was in motion, and nothing–not even Danton’s filth–would stop me now.