"It's Daddy. Can I come in?" The voice echoed.
Amira's heart nearly stopped. She glanced at Aren, panic flashing in her eyes.
Aren didn't waste a second. He dove behind the thick, heavy curtains by the window. They were large enough to swallow him whole, and when he let out a tiny laugh, it was too muffled to reach anyone else's ears.
"Come in!" Amira said, her voice surprisingly calm, though her hands trembled slightly.
The door creaked open and her father, the king, stepped inside. He scanned the room slowly, his sharp eyes searching every corner. But the curtains hung still and heavy, hiding Aren completely.
The king's face softened as he looked at his daughter.
"My brave Amira," he said warmly, walking toward her. "I came to congratulate you again on your success. You did what many failed to do. You brought back the Milu gems."
She gave him a careful smile, nodding. "Thank you, Father."
He placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "You've proven your strength and your loyalty to this kingdom. I am proud of you."
She looked down, her breath catching in her throat.
The king paused, then leaned in slightly. His voice dropped lower.
"But listen closely. If you ever get the chance… destroy that Laughing Blade. Get rid of him once and for all."
Amira's eyes flicked up quickly, but she held her expression.
"He is dangerous. Foolish, yes, but dangerous. You must not let your heart weaken, even for a second," the king continued.
She swallowed hard. "Yes, Father."
The king patted her shoulder again, more softly this time. "Good. Always remember — your kingdom first."
Then he turned and left, his cloak sweeping behind him. The door clicked shut, leaving an echo in the room.
The moment he was gone, the curtains shifted. Aren stepped out slowly, brushing the heavy fabric off his shoulders with a playful flick.
"So… planning to get rid of me, huh?" he teased, raising an eyebrow with a crooked smile.
Amira whipped around, her face pale, but instead of shouting, she let out a shaky laugh.
"It's not what you think," she stammered.
"Oh? Then what is it?" Aren said, stepping closer with a mischievous glint in his eye. He twirled his whispering dagger in his hand like he was about to carve an apple instead of start a fight.
She glared at him, but her lips trembled like she was holding back a smile.
"You realize you love me," she said suddenly, her voice almost too quiet. "I know your tricks, Laughing Blade. If it weren't for something greater… you would have taken my head already. But you can't."
He stepped back slightly, feigning surprise. "That's my weakness, huh?" he teased.
She snorted. "Exactly."
He added "Cant you just stop repeating yourself, you've said that already"
Aren chuckled and leaned closer again. "Okay fine… I don't want to fight you. Maybe because .... It's okay"
She rolled her eyes but didn't move away.
Aren smirked. "Well… if you're not going to give me my gems, at least serve me some fruit or something. You can't even host your unexpected guests properly?"
She shook her head, crossing her arms. "You're impossible."
He leaned even closer, lowering his voice to a soft, serious tone. "I'll come back for you. And I'm not leaving without my gems."
Then he paused, his eyes searching hers.
"And hey… what are you doing like this? I planned your escape. I didn't betray you. So why did you betray me?"
Amira opened her mouth to answer, but the words wouldn't come out.
Aren just gave her a small, sad smile, his fingers brushing her hair lightly.
"Goodbye for now, Princess," he said, stepping back toward the window. "But don't forget… I never leave without what's mine."
With that, he slipped out into the moonlight once more, leaving Amira standing alone in the room, her heart thudding against her ribs like a war drum.