phin

rnity of jolting travel, th

im palace. The gates were shut, and the stone dragons c

ragon's Rest. It looked less like a p

ntract to the guards at the gate and left without a

the immense doors, fe

path. One of them, a man with a face like stone, spoke without emotion. "The Prin

le," I said, holding out the contract. "I am

eyes filled with a dismissive contempt. "The P

had no intention of a

ere taking their toll. My energy was bottom

e wall beside me. Use glucose solutio

rough me, steadying me. I cou

a reason they couldn't refuse. My gaze fell on the system interface in my m

was the first step of my survival plan

clear, ringing with a conviction I didn't entirely feel. "Go back and t

empty courtyard, carry

rd stared, their faces

outing? The Prince's injury... even the kingdom

on, choosing my words with surgical precision. "His Drag

hunderclap. Their expressions s

e, a top-level secret. A discarded bride from an o

t to sharp suspicion. "You... ho

smile. "You only need to repeat my words exactly to Pr

ertain that when Gideon heard the word "p

, a claim that could be a matter of life and death for that same prince

here," he

urried through

ping my hair across my face. My palms were slick w

I would be executed as a fraud, or I w

my system interface, the words [Main Quest: Sur

n, the heavy gates that had be

ppressive weight, shot out from the dar