Mira looked at them, then at the other servants who stood silently behind the door, their eyes full of love and tears.
Her crying burst forth—
not a cry of weakness,
but a cry of someone who found those standing beside her in her battle.
She leaned her head on the old woman's shoulder, her body trembling.
She cried… and they cried with her,
gathering around her like a shield,
as if saying to her:
"You will not walk this path alone, Mira."
---
The gray morning…
The sun was not shining as usual.
Even the birds sang softly that day,
as if they knew that Mira… would never be the same again.
In the palace hall, her father stood, his face stern,
and said in a merciless voice:
"You will not return from there until he loves you.
Understand well…
either Sam… or nothing."
She did not answer him.
She only looked at him with eyes wet from betrayal.
Eyes that spoke thousands of words without her lips uttering a single one.
Then she turned away silently…
and left the palace with steady steps,
as if dragging her wounded heart behind her, weighed down by orders.
---
In Nara's palace, the atmosphere was different.
Roses filled the entrance, and golden light danced on the walls.
Nara awaited her, wearing a soft pink dress, like joy itself.
She opened the door herself,
and when she saw Mira… she smiled like a child who saw her old doll return after a long absence.
"Miraaa!"
She called out happily,
and ran towards her, hugging her tightly:
"Finally, you're back… I missed you!"
Mira didn't respond but tried to smile.
She pressed her lips and raised her eyebrows,
but her face did not fool Nara.
Despite the decorations and joy…
there was something in Mira's eyes that did not belong to this place.
She tried to look fine,
but her gaze asked silently:
"Who am I now… and why have I returned?"
A heavy day… and a silence that stings the soul.
Mira sat near the window,
watching the sky, her mind restless…
Her eyes were sad,
her thoughts drifting in waves of questions, doubts, and regret.
Is this love?
Or just an escape?
The more she thought,
the more she felt that "Sam" was not pure love…
but a small window she opened to breathe from her prison.
She clung to him because she thought he was her salvation,
the different one,
the light at the end of a tunnel her father forced her into.
"I didn't love him…"
She whispered to herself, as if finally admitting the truth.
"I was running away with him, not to him."
Sam was nothing but a dream she hung many hopes on…
But when the heart is wounded, it confuses love… with survival.
The sunset swallowed the horizon, and the sky wore the red of farewell.
But nothing in Mira's heart bid farewell to its sorrow,
as if sadness settled and began to plant its roots.
She got into the carriage and sat in heavy silence.
Nara bid her farewell with a warm smile,
but Mira was saying goodbye to her childhood,
to pretense,
to weakness.
"I will not return to that palace… not tonight."
She said firmly, looking at the guard.
He glanced at her with surprise,
"To where?"
"To anywhere where no one knows me… take me to the villages."
The carriage rolled between hills and fields,
children running barefoot, sheep following their mothers,
wildflowers dancing to the tunes of the wind…
But nothing could soothe the broken heart.
"What kind of sorrow is this? Even the beautiful nature no longer brings me joy…"
Mira murmured, resting her head against the glass of the window.
The carriage stopped suddenly.
"Why did we stop?"
"The horse is tired… it needs food and rest."
Mira slowly got down,
and began gazing at the field with a distracted look.
"Let's return, my lady… the darkness is falling, and this place is dangerous."
The guard said cautiously.
But she looked at him and smiled with a painful sarcasm:
"Don't you understand yet? I'm running away… not just from home, but from everything."
The guard approached her fearfully:
"But we can't spend the night here, I don't know anyone in these villages, and this place is unsafe, especially for you…"
Mira stopped, stared at him, then looked up at the sky.
Her voice was a whisper, yet as strong as a storm:
"Am I not human? Don't I have the right to run away?! Even if it's into nothingness?!"
She sat on the ground,
hugging her knees to her chest, and buried her face in her arms.
She cried.
She cried with the anguish of a woman forced to be something she was not,
she cried her disappointments, her father's voice, and the slaps of his wife,
she cried because no one taught her how to save herself.
Night settled.
The moon hung above them, silently watching the weariness of the day etched on their faces.
Mira sat silently near the carriage,
placing her hands on her stomach,
whispering to the guard with quiet regret:
"Sorry… I didn't think about food. I just… wanted to escape."
The guard smiled softly: "Don't worry, my lady… I just hope bandits don't notice us. Here, all we have is to pray for tomorrow."
Mira looked up, then stepped toward the carriage,
climbing onto it lightly despite her exhaustion.
The guard gasped in shock:
"My lady!!! You'll fall! What are you doing?!"
She answered with a weary but determined smile:
"Sleep… tonight, I'm the one who will watch over the place."
"But…"
"Don't argue. I won't let you tire any more. Even if I fall, it will be by my own choice."
He tried in vain… no one could overcome Mira's stubbornness.
Hours passed,
and the night began whispering its cold songs,
Mira fought sleep, trying, resisting, trying…
But sleep won in the end.
With the first rays of dawn,
Mira awoke to a cold breeze teasing her hair...
She opened her eyes, startled:
"What happened?! How... how did I fall asleep?!"
The guard laughed as he tightened the reins:
"Excuse me, my lady, but you were as calm as a breeze… you slept deeply. I didn't have the heart to wake you."
Her face flushed with embarrassment, and she looked down:
"I'm sorry… I thought I could manage."
"It's alright, you tried, and that alone is enough."
The carriage slowly resumed its journey toward the city,
and Mira was lost in thought, gazing at the road, her eyes half-closed from exhaustion.
Her heart was still heavy, but lighter than yesterday...
---
She arrived home.
She asked one of the maids to prepare food for her guard,
while she went to the kitchen herself.
She ate quietly as if she hadn't eaten in days,
then withdrew to her room.
There, the old woman awaited her—
a tender heart and wrinkled hand.
"Sleep here, my little one,
here there's no screaming, no pain… only warmth."
Mira held her hand tightly and whispered,
"I'm still not full of sleep…
and if the witch comes, don't wake me!"
The old woman laughed:
"Hehe, you mean your stepmother?
Don't worry… if she enters, I'll chase her away with the broom!"
Mira laughed for the first time from her heart,
then slipped into a peaceful sleep,
as if the old woman's shoulder was a temporary home...
but more beautiful than all palaces.
Arthur entered the kitchen, hesitating,
his eyes searching for her.
"Has she slept?"
he whispered softly.
The old woman answered, pouring warm tea:
"Yes, not in her room, but she's comfortable like this...
as if the earth embraced her pain."
Arthur looked at her, then whispered as if speaking to the wind:
"What miserable luck surrounds this beauty?"
But peace did not last.
The castle echoed with the sound of the danger bell,
shouting through the house like an approaching earthquake.
Mira jolted awake,
"What's happening?!"
The old woman whispered, standing quickly:
"Wake up! She's here... the witch."
Mira laughed, rubbing her eyes:
"Oh, alright then… the witch it is!"
She ran lightly, quickly fixing her hair,
and descended with a steady smile...
The woman awaited her in the hall.
Her gaze was like knives,
a look that made you feel she did not see you… but tried to devour you.
"Where were you?!"
she asked with venom in her voice.
Mira answered calmly with a smile:
"I slept in Nara's palace, as you asked."
"And what about Prince Sam?!"
"We talked, we laughed... things like that."
The woman screamed angrily:
"Fool! If you fail in this mission… we are all doomed!"
But Mira did not flinch.
She smiled faintly and said in a sly tone:
"Don't worry, auntie… I won't disappoint you."
Then whispered to herself:
"A white lie, Ella… it's all a white lie, and I won't fail you, Mira."
---
Soon after, Mira was running in the small palace garden.
Laughing, rolling with the children, throwing flowers,
and that laughter—absent for years—
returned, even if just for a moment.
Arthur was watching her from afar,
and said with a smile:
"Finally… she's laughing."
The old woman approached him,
"She must have had a wonderful night with Prince Sam to be this happy!"
Arthur looked around to make sure no one was listening, then whispered:
"Grandmother… she never saw the prince."
"What?!"
"She asked me not to return home… so we went to the forest."
"To the forest?!"
She gently tapped his shoulder,
"You fool! Don't you know how dangerous it is?"
He bowed his head sadly:
"She was heartbroken, unable to face the house… and I couldn't say no."
The old woman sighed, eyes brimming with tears:
"Oh God, every time this girl feels at peace… they break her again,
Every time she tries… they bury her alive."
Arthur whispered,
"I hope Prince Sam loves her and saves her from that witch."
The old woman laughed softly:
"The title 'witch' really suits her…"
They both laughed, but the laughter was fragile… like crying behind a mask.
Evening fell, and the servants' footsteps quieted in the palace.
Everyone sat at the table… a family dinner flavored with fear and worry.
The light was dim, and the candles flickered with hesitant flames,
But Martin's voice was stern, clear as a knife:
"Mira… tomorrow you will go again."
"Every day… until Prince Sam falls in love with you."
Mira raised her eyes calmly and replied in a quiet tone hiding a suppressed scream:
"As you wish, Father."
But her stepmother was sharper, devouring her with her gaze:
"And what have you decided to do, dear?"
Martin sighed and rested his forehead on his hand:
"I don't know, my dear… the debts are growing, and the Minister of Justice threatens me!"
"He clearly said… if I don't pay, he will expose everything!"
He paused, then hit the table with his fist:
"Damn it! We were friends… brothers, how could he forget what I did for him?"
"He sees me drowning… and stands against me!"
Mira watched him with wide eyes, thinking quickly, then said coldly and confidently:
"If you are truly friends, then you must know his weaknesses."
Her stepmother slapped the table with her hand and shouted fiercely:
"Are you talking about men's affairs?"
Mira looked at her steadily, her eyes burning with unfamiliar sparks:
"These are not men's affairs… they are ours, this is our fate!"
"How can I sit idly by when I am meant to be sold like a doll?!"
Tension filled the room…
Martin looked at her in surprise, as if something had broken and risen inside her at the same time.
His wife whispered through clenched teeth:
"This girl… she's not who she used to be."
The night was heavy, and the table smelled of dinner…
But the words were more bitter than the food.
Martin slammed the table, his voice erupting like a volcano:
> "If only I had given birth to a son!!!"
---
Mira gasped, but this time she didn't run away.
She lifted her head and stared directly at him, her heart trembling, yet she said:
> "Father… your words are harsh.
What difference would it have made? Tell me, I promise… I will do whatever you want!"
He sighed in anger, almost choking on his frustration:
> "Then I would now be proud of him…
I would see him among the princes, with the ministers, not sitting with servants laughing and playing…
Damn it!!!"
He struck the table again, standing up violently:
> "I have lost my appetite for food."
His wife glanced at Mira with a venomous look:
> "Are you happy now?
You've made your father angry!"
Mira… said nothing.
She was helpless…
Not because words were lacking,
but because the pain left inside her nothing but ashes that could not speak.
She sat alone after everyone withdrew,
one hand on her heart… the other wiping a tear that refused to fall.
> "Being among princes? What nonsense is this…
As if all I am is worth nothing just because I am a girl!"
Hours passed…
The palace was silent, except for the sound of her uneven breaths as she thought, planned, fought between herself… and what was demanded of her.
"How do I start?
Where… do I begin?"
...…
The next morning,
Mira awoke to the groans of accumulated fatigue in her body,
her eyes revealing the traces of long sleeplessness,
her mind restless,
and her frustration a heavy companion.
Despite it all, she rose with heavy steps,
prepared as usual to visit Nara's house,
seeking the warmth of familiarity amid the frost residing in her heart.
But… upon arrival, she was shocked by the scene before her.
The hall was full of life.
The princes, Minister Jack, and even Nara's brother, Oliver, were all there, waiting for her.
They greeted her warmly, as if they had been awaiting a long-lost ray of sunshine.
Oliver stepped forward, his smile wide and playful:
— "Don't you remember me?!"
She raised her eyebrow, her voice shy:
— "Sorry… if you introduce yourself, perhaps I'll remember."
He laughed, raising his hands in surrender:
— "How could you forget me? I used to play with you a lot when you were a child."
She smiled shyly, trying to find in her memory a trace of those moments, but found only an empty space soaked with sadness:
— "My memory betrayed me… I'm sorry."
She sat among them, quiet. Her silence was louder than their laughter. Everyone laughed, joked, and exchanged stories — except her. She was there in body only, her heart somewhere else.
Minister Jack, with his piercing eyes, noticed her unusual stillness and suddenly raised his voice with a suggestion:
— "I propose we take a trip to the sea. I've arranged a special barbecue feast in honor of Miss Mira."
She froze in place, astonished, then muttered awkwardly:
— "No… no need. I'm enjoying myself right here with you all."
Jack smiled confidently, his tone leaving no room for refusal:
— "Everything is already prepared. The servants and some guards are waiting for us near the sea."
She looked at him in surprise. What was with this man?!
Why did he interfere with the pace of her day like this?
And why did her steps falter every time he spoke?
Despite all that, she found herself in the carriage, beside them. Everyone was enjoying themselves, laughter spilling out the windows, and the breeze playing with strands of her hair.
She sighed…
And whispered to herself:
"Just today… I will smile. I'll cast the sadness behind me, at least for this day. As for the plan… I'll think about it later, with a clear mind and a heart that doesn't tremble."
….
The Royal Island — The Heart of the Hidden Tale Amid the Sea
With the first touch of sunlight on the water's surface, the island began to appear like a green jewel floating on a blue carpet of light. The royal boats approached slowly, their oars creating a musical harmony with the gentle waves.
The trees swayed shyly as if waving a welcome, and the scent of strange flowers with unknown names drifted into the visitors' noses, refreshing the heart before the mind.
At the island's edge stood a wide rural house made of carefully polished wood, its roof of golden straw, and windows decorated with wildflowers growing in clay pots. It looked like a house from an old book, unbelievable to be real.
The house's courtyard was paved with smooth white stones, at its center a small fountain flowed with a musical tone. Around it sat a few royal guards quietly watching their children running in circles, while their women handed out toasted bread and dried fruits on wooden tables.
The atmosphere... safe. Warm. As if war and worry had no path to this island.
Not far away, small alleys paved with old stones branched out, leading to an ancient market that seemed born from tales.
Shops made of dark wood hung small bells on their doors that emitted a gentle chime whenever someone passed by.
Vendors displayed pearl jewelry, hand-embroidered shawls, and perfumes kept in bottles as if from the age of legends.
The market was lively but quiet. Not crowded, but organized, as if the island's inhabitants timed their steps with the heartbeat of the place.
In a corner of the market, an old lady was noticed telling a story to three children sitting around her, her voice soft but like tales told near the fireplace on winter nights.
And there... atop a small hill overlooking the sea, stood a stone watchtower, from which the entire island could be seen, the sea swirling around it as if it were a princess indulging in a blue cloak.
....
[The Island – Market Scene]
Mira walked slowly, as if afraid to disturb the silent story unfolding around her. Her eyes wandered to every corner, observing the closely packed wooden houses, the colorful fabrics fluttering above the heads of passersby, and the voices of vendors calling out in a warm tone that filled the heart.
Beside her, Princess Darin stepped forward, smiling lightly and said playfully,
"It seems you forgot, Mira... We came here when we were little, remember?"
Mira startled, then laughed with genuine surprise,
"Really?! How could I forget a place like this? It's like it just stepped out of a magical tale."
Behind them, Nara's gentle voice came like a morning breeze,
"It's okay, Mira... Let's just enjoy the view."
Mira turned to her, smiled, and gently touched her hand,
"And so it is, dear."
Minister Jack stepped forward with his beloved serious look,
"Let's walk a bit through the market. If you like anything... don't hesitate to ask."
But before he could continue, Sam, the future ruler, placed his hand teasingly on his shoulder,
"Trying to look generous? Listen, if you like something, just tell me!" Then he burst into loud laughter.
Darin laughed and said playfully,
"Don't steal the spotlight from Jack, Sam!"
Sam approached his sister and whispered, winking,
"I'm not stealing it... I just don't like it being taken from me!"
Jack laughed, placing his hand on his heart,
"You're the original, our prince... Who dares to steal the spotlight from the future ruler?"
Mira raised an eyebrow and winked slyly,
"If we keep talking about lights and generosity all day... the world will darken and we won't see a thing!"
She suddenly dashed lightly through the market, her dress dancing with her steps, and her laughter leading the way.
Darin followed, calling out,
"Wait for me, you crazy one!"
Then Nara joined them, hesitating in her steps,
"I... I'm coming too, wait for me!"
Mira turned and laughed warmly,
"Whoever reaches the house first will be the commander... and the rest must obey!"
No sooner had she finished her sentence than Rai's laughter burst out as he ran behind her,
"Then I will be the commander tonight!"
---
But Edward did not allow him to have the glory alone; he overtook him shouting,
"Do you think you can outrun me?!"
Their feet struck the ground like a chaotic symphony full of life. Between laughter and another, Mira slipped off her shoes, lifted the edges of her dress, and ran with all the energy she had, her hair flying in the air.
Jack stopped for a moment watching her, a slight smile forming on his face, until Sam, panting beside him, said,
"Did... did the princess really take off her shoes to win the race?!"
Mira laughed without replying, increasing her speed.
Nara ran calmly, her breaths coming in gasps, and Darin glanced back at her jokingly,
"At this pace, Nara, you'll be last!"
But the surprise came when Sam overtook them, taking the lead gracefully, with Mira stubbornly following close behind.
They all reached the courtyard of the house, breathing heavily, and Mira raised her hands declaring,
"Yaaay! I won!"
Rai and Edward collapsed on the ground, gasping,
"We're... completely tired."
Sam looked around and said,
"Where is Oliver? I don't see him."
Jack quietly pointed,
"He's with Nara... she couldn't keep up with us."
Mira lowered her dress, pulled her hair behind her back, then walked confidently and said with the boldness of a child and the dignity of a queen,
"And the ruler and commander tonight... is me. And all of you will obey my orders!"
Darin winked at her teasingly,
"Even Prince Sam?!"
Mira approached her, gently pressing her finger near her face as she whispered,
"Today... I have no authority over me!"
Sam laughed, bowing slightly in a mock respect,
"You got it, Princess... today only!"
At that moment, Nara appeared slowly walking with her brother Oliver; her hair was tousled, and a faint blush colored her face.
Jack asked them worriedly,
"Why were you slow?"
Oliver replied, looking at his sister,
"She stumbled... so I walked with her."
Mira rushed to Nara and asked anxiously,
"Is your leg alright? Sorry... I made you run fast!"
Nara shook her head shyly,
"No, it's not your fault... I was just careless."
Mira smiled gently, touching her hand and saying,
"As long as you're smiling... you're alright."
Then she took her hand and walked with her toward the door.
Everyone entered the house, laughing and panting from exhaustion, while Jack raised his hand and said,
"Bring us some cold juice, please!"
Sam sat down on the ground, leaning against the wall, and said,
"Wonderful... We need something to refresh our throats after that run... or I'll declare a rebellion!"
...….
[In the courtyard – Sunset time]
Jack glanced at the sky, which had begun to be embroidered with soft orange threads, and said in his calm voice, hands behind his back,
"Since we have rested, how about we prepare the barbecue?"
Sam turned to him with a mock surprise,
"What?! And where are the servants? Aren't we on a royal vacation?!"
Jack smiled — that smile whose meaning you can never tell if it's serious or teasing — and said,
"We are here to enjoy ourselves, Sam... Preparing the barbecue ourselves will be much more fun. Believe me."
Mira raised her hand enthusiastically and jumped up,
"I'll marinate the chicken and meat!"
Rai shouted from afar, waving a small stick like a torch,
"And we... will light the fire!"
Mira laughed and said,
"Then, come on, girls... to the kitchen! The rest is waiting for us!"
Mira entered with some maids and began chopping vegetables and seasoning the meat with impressive skill. Her hands worked swiftly, and her eyes followed the spices as if she knew their secrets from birth.
Darin and Nara sat at the edge of the table, silently admiring Mira.
Darin murmured with a smile, leaning toward Nara,
"The mountain eye taught you to be... it seems a house, not a girl. I think I'll ask you for my brother!"
She chuckled softly, full of surprise and playfulness.
Nara looked at her nervously, her words stumbling,
"Wh-which one of them?"
Darin raised her eyebrow and said rebelliously,
"Choose whoever you want!" Then she laughed softly like a silver chime.
Mira lifted her head from behind the seasoning plate and joked, waving a wooden spoon,
"And what if I refuse?"
Darin looked at her confidently and said,
"Who dares to refuse you?"
Mira blinked and stretched lightly, then said,
"Then... ummmm... I'll choose Jack!"
Eyebrows rose, laughter erupted, while Nara felt a comfort she didn't know the source of, and something inside her chest suddenly relaxed. Her worries faded, and a small smile settled on her lips.
Darin approached with her royal mischief,
"Really? Why Jack specifically?"
Mira shrugged lightly and said,
"I like his strong personality."
Darin nodded as if solving a mystery,
"Oh, I see then?"
Then she tilted her head and asked,
"Do you like him?"
Mira answered without hesitation, her tone blending childhood with stubbornness,
"No, but he's interesting. A serious and strict man… and me? Childish!"
Darin laughed out loud,
"Exactly! And the lioness needs a lion!"
Laughter rose from the kitchen, each one carrying a mix of secrets and joy.
Outside, the fire burned successfully at the hands of Rai and Edward, smoke rising lightly into the sky painted with warmth.
Mira came out with the servants carrying dishes, trays of marinated meat, accompanied by aromas that opened appetites and hearts.
The evening began to pulse with life—the sound of laughter, the smell of barbecue, and the soft lights dancing above the wooden tables.
And the island… witnessed a new tale, written with the pulse of friendship, the warmth of family, and the sparkle of unspoken glances.
...….
[Dinner courtyard — Night filled with laughter and warmth]
Laughter echoed around the dinner table, and the night had spread its velvet cloak over the island, while stars shyly twinkled above their heads.
Glasses of juice clinked softly, and the aroma of grilled meat filled the air, as small tongues of flame danced in the wood-fire pit at the center of the courtyard.
Mira, seated amid the gathering, rocking slightly on her chair as if a mischievous idea was brewing in her mind, raised her hand and said with childlike enthusiasm,
"How about a game?!"
Oliver laughed with light sarcasm,
"A game?! We're not kids, Mira!"
But she showed no annoyance, replying with shining eyes,
"Are only kids the ones who play?!"
Sam intervened with a deep laugh, leaning on his elbow,
"Let's hear what she has, Oliver… she is the commander tonight, isn't she?"
Rai took a bite of bread and said with a mouth full,
"It will be a mischievous night… if we surrender to Mira's orders!"
Darin gently ignored their teasing and leaned toward Mira,
"Don't listen to them. Tell us, what's the game?"
Mira smiled and pointed to a small glass bottle placed in the center of the table,
"Truth or Dare… We spin the bottle, and whoever it points to must choose: either reveal a truth or dare to carry out a command! But… no escaping!"
Jack frowned a little and said skeptically,
"Don't you have another game?"
Mira gave him a look full of challenge enough to ignite a battle and said,
"Don't be cold… let's enjoy tonight!"
Then she continued with a mischievous smile,
"But I have a better idea… a new game: let's all scatter and hide!
Whoever is found first… loses, and starts searching for the others.
The last person who remains hidden… is the winner!
And they get to make a wish that we all must carry out!"
Sam jumped up excitedly like a child who just found treasure,
"I love that! Hide and seek… a great idea! I'll start hiding right away!"
Mira shouted laughing,
"Then… one, two, three… get ready… gooo!"
The group scattered like butterflies through the island's alleys, each searching for a safe corner to hide their laughter and breaths.
.....
[Inside the house – Small room behind the kitchen]
Darin slipped inside lightly, surprised to find Nara sitting on the floor with her hand over her mouth, trying to stifle a laugh.
Darin said, closing the door behind her,
"Oh! How did we think of the same spot?!"
Nara replied shyly,
"It's a coincidence… but a nice one."
They laughed quietly, then Darin exclaimed,
"Aaah, we lost together! Let's go find the others."
….
[At the Stable]
Oliver crawled quietly between the horses, hiding behind a wooden barrier, avoiding even taking a breath.
Rai and Edward found a spot among the servants' houses, hiding behind a worn curtain, exchanging challenging looks as if it were a game of chess!
---
[In the Forest]
Darkness began to swallow the edges of the trees, and the air carried cold breezes that crept down to the bones.
Mira walked slowly, trying to control her racing heartbeat:
"Ah, why did I choose the forest? Should I get out now?"
She sat beneath a huge tree trunk, folding her arms across her chest.
But… the sound of footsteps approached.
A low voice, familiar… teasing:
Jack:
"Not a wise choice, Princess."
Mira lifted her head and looked at him in the dark,
"How… how did you find me?!"
He smiled, raising his eyebrows,
"I don't know! My tracking sense is strong!"
She laughed softly,
"We've lost…"
Jack sat beside her and said,
"The forest is dark… Weren't you afraid? Didn't you hear it's full of snakes?"
She gasped, then came closer and clung to his shirt cuff,
"Really?!"
He replied with a calm smile,
"The place isn't truly safe… Let's walk quietly, so no one hears our steps."
But she didn't know he hadn't found her by chance...
He had been following her since the moment she left and invented the snake story just to create a moment to get closer to her like never before.
---
[Back at the Barbecue Courtyard]
Everyone returned one by one, laughing and telling where they had hidden.
Sam was nowhere to be seen.
Rai shouted, clapping his hands,
"Everyone's here! Sam! Come out!"
Suddenly…
Sam jumped down from a tree above them!
Edward exclaimed in shock,
"You were there the whole time?!"
Sam laughed triumphantly, brushing the dust off his sleeve,
"You asked to hide… but didn't say where! Hahaha!"
Mira clapped and said,
"So, you're the winner… you can make a wish, and we'll all grant it!"
Darin approached and said,
"What's your wish then? Don't be shy."
Sam answered in a low tone, with a mysterious glance,
"I'll ask later… not now."
Darin raised her eyebrow,
"Don't you trust us?"
But Mira smiled and quietly said,
"It's alright, Darin… he has the freedom to choose."
Sam nodded with a slight smile, but in his eyes… there was something else.
Something unspoken… for now.
[Night — Above the Sleeping Island]
Night fell, lights in the small houses went out, and windows drifted to the whispers of the sea. Everyone surrendered to fatigue, stretched beneath blankets woven of silence and warmth.
Everyone... except Jack.
He sat in the stone courtyard, the fireplace's flame had died out, but his heart... was still burning.
Something inside him stirred, fluttered, like a swarm of butterflies settled in his chest refusing to leave.
He leaned his head against the wall, closed his eyes, and...
Flashback:
While the girls were in the kitchen, Mira laughing and joking with Darin and Nara, Jack was standing behind the wall, eavesdropping — not with malice, but with the curiosity of an old child who had forgotten how to laugh freely.
Then he clearly heard her say,
"I'll choose Jack, I like his strong personality."
His breath caught, and he smiled without realizing...
As if something inside him cracked open, releasing a tiny light... very old, but not dead.
Another memory — Childhood:
Ten years old... standing in formal clothes before his strict father.
"Learn the affairs of the state!"
"Read this decree!"
"Hunt the deer with your bare hands!"
He saw the bleeding rabbit, his eyes filling with tears. His father slapped him,
"Don't cry! Be a man!"
In a corner of the palace, girls played with dolls, laughing without fear.
And he?
Learning things he did not understand, burdened with a kingdom he didn't know how to rule, running through the corridors of power while his age barely allowed him a free run in a garden.
Then he remembered her...
Mira.
The breeze that blew over him whenever their families gathered with Martin's.
She held his hand, pulled him along, laughed at him, and he laughed with her.
They ran… hid… secretly ate sweets behind trees.
She was the only one who made him feel like a child...
And that he had the right to be happy.
But she left...
To "Mountain's Eye" with her father, and years disappeared, as if something sacred had slipped out of his life.
And he remained...
Alone.
....
Years passed... and he heard she had returned.
He almost ran to her, leaving behind offices, maps, and soldiers.
But he resisted.
He wondered...
Had she remained as she was? Or had the days shaped her into another woman?
But now...
Now, as he saw her laughing, hiding behind a tree, and fearing the snakes he had invented just to stay near her... he felt something returning to him.
Something called: longing.
Then a question struck him...
Why did she go to the forest alone? Why didn't she sleep in her house? There was something mysterious... he had to find out.
**
[Dawn — The light awakens the island]
The sun rose, but the brightest light was on Jack's face as he gazed at Mira from afar.
She stood on the balcony, her hair flowing, her eyes still half-closed from sleep.
He loved this scene...
He loved waking up and seeing her here, not just in memory.
**
Sam came out of the room, stretching,
"It's time to go back, Jack. We've had enough fun."
Rai turned in surprise,
"Is there an emergency?"
Sam:
"We have our duties… and our kingdom can't be ruled alone."
Then he glanced at Mira, raising his eyebrows,
"Princess, you were the commander tonight, but… I'm the prince today! Your time is over, and mine has begun!"
He laughed his usual laugh.
Mira bent slightly and said kindly,
"It was a fun day… don't hold anything against me, Prince."
Sam laughed out loud,
"I'm joking, Mira. I enjoyed the trip, and we must do it again someday."
Darin approached Mira and whispered in her ear with a wide smile,
"I think Prince Jack is thinking about you… Shall I call you my future brother's wife?"
Mira's cheeks flushed red,
"Darin?! Stop it! There's nothing like what you're thinking!"
Darin laughed,
"Oh, the lioness is shy?! Who would've thought?!"
Nara quietly came closer, eyes filled with unspoken curiosity,
"What are you whispering about?"
Darin placed her hand on Nara's shoulder and joked,
"Nothing, my dear… let's get ready to leave."
**
They boarded the boats one after another, as the waves began to reflect the blue of the sky.
Yesterday's laughter faded, and the journey back began…
But Mira's heart was no longer the same.
A light heaviness… nameless, yet settled deep in her chest.
Something between longing… and worry.
Waiting for her was the house…
And her stepmother.
**
She greeted her with a deceitful smile,
"If you do what your father asked… we will all survive."
Mira nodded silently, saying quietly,
"I'm going to see grandmother… excuse me."
Her stepmother smiled coldly and sarcastically,
"Do you know how to do anything other than fool around with the servants?!"
Mira gasped inside… like an arrow struck her,
But she suppressed her anger and continued silently on her way.
She had returned from an island that felt like a dream…
To a reality that knows how to sting the heart without making noise.
[Grandmother's room – Morning – golden light filtering through the window]
Mira entered quietly into grandmother's room, that corner that still kept the warmth of yesterday, whispering life to her again.
She threw herself into her arms as she had done since childhood, as if grandmother's chest was the last refuge when the world feels tight and noisy.
Grandmother stroked her hair lovingly and smiled,
"I knew you would come to me, your face can't hide what's in your heart, my little one."
Mira chuckled softly and looked up at her,
"I came to rest… and laugh a little. What do you think about a joke to lift the weight off my chest?"
Some of the servants entered and sat on small cushions near the fireplace, and the room filled with a warm familiarity, like a moment from a pure time.
Mira, her eyes sparkling with her old mischievous spark, said:
"A woman gave birth to twins, and the doctor came to announce the news to her husband.
He frowned and said,
'The first one is mine… but the second, whose child is that?!'"
Grandmother gasped with laughter and slapped her knee,
"Hahaha, he must have been drunk! What a fool!"
Everyone burst into laughter, and one of the servants asked for more stories.
Mira raised her eyebrow and said with a more playful tone:
"They asked a girl: How old are you?
She said: Twenty.
They asked: And how old is your mother?
She said confidently: Thirty.
The woman was surprised and thought, Poor thing! Her mother married at ten!
The girl quickly replied,
'No, my mother married at nineteen!'
One of the women laughed and said,
'How did she marry at nineteen, you're twenty, and she's thirty?!'
The girl clapped her hands and whispered in astonishment,
'Oh my God! When did my mother grow up?!'"
The servant chuckled,
"Hahaha, looks like her mother's age is stuck at thirty!"
Grandmother laughed until tears came to her eyes and said with a voice broken by joy:
"Beautiful, Mira! Do you have another joke?"
Mira stretched a little and placed her hand on her chest as if preparing to tell a great story:
"Two men wanted to rob the house of a bald man who lived alone.
They heard he hid some money in his bedroom.
One of them went inside while the other kept watch.
After a few minutes, the first thief came out laughing loudly!
The second asked,
'What's so funny? Did you find the money?'
He replied,
'No, I didn't find anything... but the bald man keeps a box full of combs!'"
Grandmother laughed, shaking her head in amazement,
"Combs?! And what does he do with them?! Combing his memory?!"
Laughter rose, warmth filled the room, as if time stopped for a moment to grant them pure comfort...
And amidst laughter and words, Mira felt she belonged to this place... to grandmother's embrace... and to stories that resembled her own heart.
But... as if joys never complete their arc,
Mira's stepmother entered with a voice sharp as a sword:
"Enough play… get up and go to Nara's house.
Prince Sam will surely visit her today. Try to catch his attention; maybe he'll pull us out of this debt!"
The atmosphere tensed... and happiness shrank like a flower whose light was extinguished.
Grandmother bit her lip, her heart crying out:
"What kind of woman is this? Didn't she hear our laughter? Does hatred ever arise without reason?!"
As for Mira, she shook her head with broken resignation:
"As you wish, aunt…"
She stood up, straightened her dress, hurriedly adorned herself, and then left where Arthur was waiting beside the carriage.
The carriage moved silently down the road...
And in her heart, a thousand desires to escape.
---
[Nara's palace garden]
Nara greeted her warmly, like rain after a dry summer,
hugged her and said joyfully,
"You finally came! I was waiting for you!"
They sat in the garden, laughing and playing...
But when Nara asked the servants to prepare lunch, Mira replied quietly,
"I'm sorry… I don't want to trouble you. My family is waiting for me."
Nara held her hand,
"No... don't leave, Prince Sam and Darin will arrive soon, stay with us."
Mira hesitated, then smiled,
"Alright… I won't stay long."
Moments later, the prince's carriage arrived, and Sam stepped out accompanied by Darin.
Nara eagerly asked,
"Where is Minister Jack?"
Sam replied simply,
"He has some work to do."
Darin ran up to the two girls and smiled,
"What were you two talking about?!"
Mira lightly said,
"Just ordinary talk… no secrets today."
Then Ray came laughing from behind:
"Sam... it seems you'll be escorting three princesses today!"
Sam was surprised:
"When did you catch up to us? I didn't even feel your presence!"
Ray laughed:
"I have my own plans!"
Everyone sat down, lunch was served, and laughter scattered like fragrance.
Even Nara's parents came in to welcome the princes...
But Mira... felt something like a lump in her throat,
as if she were invisible, uncounted, forgotten.
Suddenly, she stood up:
"Excuse me... my family is waiting for me, I must leave."
Nara followed her with hesitant steps,
but her mother grabbed her hand and whispered something that made Nara stop.
---
[The way back... the forest]
Mira boarded the carriage, and Arthur said softly:
"Home? Or... the forest?"
She replied without hesitation:
"Do I have any refuge but it?!"
He said with concern:
"I fear bandits might sense us; we won't escape them!"
Mira smiled, a pained smile:
"Let whatever happens happen... it can't be worse than what I'm in."
They arrived at the forest.
Mira got off and sat on the ground, her eyes on the sky, her heart hanging between clouds and pain.
Arthur shyly said:
"I brought what you like... red watermelon seeds, and dried figs with walnuts... I know you love this mix."
She looked at him surprised:
"Really? Why all this kindness?"
He smiled, looking away:
"It's not an ordinary night... I wanted it to be less lonely."
She looked at him with a mischievous, playful glance:
"Arthur... can you sing?"
He laughed:
"Singing?! The sound of hungry sheep... more melodious than my voice!"
Mira burst out laughing from her heart:
"Hahaha! Good! Then listen to my voice, because I sing better!"
[The forest — midnight — Mira's voice rises with longing]
She sat under the sky, raised her eyes to the stars,
closed them, then began to sing in a soft, broken voice,
as if the wind carried it far away
***Every day I walk alone, my path so dark and cold...
Where are you, my love? Your presence lights my road.
Enough of coldness, enough stubbornness... be gentle with me, oh narcissist in my fate.
Your ghost visited me in my dream, a beautiful dream... I wish it never ended.
If only you knew my state, when I see you laughing with another...
A fire burns in my heart, no Antarctic ice can quench.
I know you toy with my love, confident I gave you my heart.
And every day... I walk alone, my path so dark and cold.
*****
Mira fell silent, as if the stars feared her tears,
while Arthur kept staring at her for a long time, seeing for the first time Mira not laughing... but bleeding through her voice.
He didn't speak, only said:
"If it were up to me... I'd be the road no one could ever extinguish for you."
What Mira didn't know was that two eyes were silently watching her from behind the trees...
Jack, sitting quietly, hidden in silence unbroken,
listening to her voice, that tender sad melody that slipped into his heart like nothing ever had before.
....
When she sang, it felt as if the whole world fell silent to listen to her...
He sighed, placing his hand on his chest as if holding back emotions that rebelled against him:
"Ya Mira... how much I wish to hold your hand... to tell you how much I love you...
But there are many things I must accomplish first...
I fear you might get hurt... if they knew you are my weakness, you might become prey..."
He kept watching her until she fell asleep under the sky,
like a pure being born from the moonlight, unlike this harsh world.
---
[Dawn – The warmth of the first light]
Mira woke up rubbing her eyes, then laughed:
"I've fallen asleep again... in front of the sky!"
Arthur was preparing breakfast, smiling as he said:
"I'm glad to see you laughing... surely the witch awaits you!"
Mira laughed sarcastically:
"Ahh... that cunning one, why did my father marry her anyway?!"
Arthur replied quietly, mixed with sincerity:
"I think it's a matter of interest, Miss. I don't believe he loved her."
Mira laughed more, with a painful innocence:
"Ha ha ha! It would be such a disappointment if his marriage was really out of love!"
Arthur came closer and imitated her humorously:
"Oh dear, you're back from work! Oh dear, let's prepare dinner together!"
Mira covered her mouth from laughter,
she laughed until tears filled her eyes,
a little child for a moment, forgetting she had cried the night before...
From afar, behind the forest,
Jack was still there, smiling tenderly:
"As long as you laugh... I will keep watching you from afar, until the time comes... to be by your side."
---
Let's go to Nara's house before heading home...
Inside the carriage, Mira gazed through the window...
How many days will I keep going to Nara's house? What am I doing? Am I selling my dignity? Or offering myself as a sacrifice to a prince who doesn't see me?!
When she arrived, Nara greeted her with a fleeting smile, before a girl with icy eyes appeared behind her:
Talin... the daughter of the Minister of Justice.
Her welcome was cold, as if Mira was a stranger to this world,
and whenever Mira tried to speak, she felt her words evaporate into the air.
Nara blended with Talin, their laughter light but painful...
those moments were enough to slap Mira awake with reality...
She stepped back a little, then whispered to herself:
"My father was right... I am trapped between two fires.
Here, power is stronger than the heart, the truth, and anything else."
She took a deep breath and said firmly:
"I'm sorry... I must return home."
[The Market]
But she did not return...
Instead, she said to Arthur quietly, opposite to the storm raging inside her:
"We won't go home... but to the market."
Arthur nodded without asking.
Mira walked on foot through the old market alleys,
walking among the people, watching, asking, listening.
One merchant complained:
"The wheat is scarce... and winter is at the doorstep."
An elderly woman said while filling a bag with grains:
"Last year, we barely survived... this year? Only God knows."
A rebellious man said harshly:
"Raylan is the reason! Bandits are looting the trucks!"
Another said:
"Don't blame Raylan... the rains weren't enough this year!"
Mira raised her eyebrow and asked:
"Who is Raylan?"
She didn't get a clear answer...
But in some eyes, there was a hidden respect,
and in others... fear.
---
[The Forest – Evening]
Mira sat under a tree beside the river, eating a little of what she bought.
Then she turned to Arthur and said:
"Who is Raylan? Tell me the truth."
Arthur sighed and said slowly:
"Raylan... is the leader of the bandits. He owns the forest as if it were his fortress.
Bold, smart, untouchable. People fear him, and some consider him a hero."
Mira asked seriously:
"Hasn't the state caught him?"
He replied bitterly:
"They caught him once, but... there is a powerful hand inside the palace helping him.
He escaped as if the palace door was wide open."
Mira was silent...
And in her mind, she began to weave new threads...
The market wasn't a coincidence.
And Raylan was not an ordinary criminal.
And she... was no longer an ordinary girl.
---
[The Burning Return – Father's Office]
Her steps were not ordinary, but quick and fiery.
As if something great had started to burn in Mira's heart.
She stormed into her father's palace,
then ran to his office without waiting for permission.
He raised his head toward her with angry eyes:
"Why did you come back so quickly?!"
She raised her hand, catching her breath:
"Let me rest first... I have important news!"
He sat silently, watching her tension.
Mira approached and said firmly:
"Talin... the daughter of the Minister of Justice, was there.
I think you were right, but... we have a trump card.
It's not in Prince Sam's hands this time."
Her father folded his hands under his chin, reserved:
"And what card do you mean?"
She said:
"The small traders complain about the corruption and scarcity of wheat.
Winter is at the doorstep, and the grains are spoiling in the stores.
If we brought wheat... lentils... and rice from neighboring lands,
we would rise again—not as the needy, but as those who hold the reins of the market."
Suddenly, he slammed his fist on the table:
"Do you know how much debt we have?!
Do you think I can't do it?
The land of 'Ain Al-Jibal' no longer supports me.
Where are we supposed to get the money from?!"
She raised an eyebrow confidently and said:
"Throw a party at our palace... and leave the money matter to me."
He stood up, his voice loud and angry:
"A party?! Do you think this is a child's game?!"
But Mira was unshaken...
She stepped forward:
"I need to see how the traders think,
what they plan, and what they fear.
The first step...
will be a blow to confuse them, and a deal to raise us up."
Her father fell silent, then asked skeptically:
"And what exactly will you do?!"
She said with eyes shining with determination:
"We will make them believe we have surplus grains.
They will think we possess what they do not...
and they will be forced to pay first, even before knowing the truth."
The idea shocked him; he stood and shouted:
"Are you mocking me?! Deceiving them?! It's a risk!!"
She moved closer, placing her hand on his:
"I know... I know you are suffering.
But... this time, let me be your right shoulder.
Lean on me... just once, and trust me."
Her father fell silent...
A long gaze passed between them,
carrying more than an agreement—
it was the beginning of a treaty between the past... and the future.
[The Party of Secrets... Igniting the Market]
At dawn, Martin moved like a king who had reclaimed the shadows of his power.
He sent his guards, clad in their deep crimson uniforms, to every corner of the capital...
A small piece of news, but it struck the ears of the market like thunder:
> "Tonight at Martin's palace... a royal feast.
A celebration of wealth's return,
and a special offer to traders of rare fresh grains...
quantities unmatched by any kingdom but ours."
By the time the sun had set, the carriages began to arrive.
The great merchants on horses adorned with gold,
the small traders in simple clothes with hidden ambitions.
Noble wives and the eyes of spies,
all surged toward the palace that was thought to be dying.
---
[A Night Under the Moon]
The palace looked as it hadn't in years.
Candles hanging on ancient walls glowed warmly,
classical music played by violin strings,
and red curtains fluttered with the night's breath.
White and ruby flowers blossomed in the garden's corners,
lights spilled onto the floor like a golden mirror.
Martin stood proudly,
welcoming his guests with a mysterious smile,
and Mira... wearing an ivory dress, her hair tied like a halo,
walked among them with calm confidence,
as if she knew who came to judge, and who came to spy.
At the far end of the garden, a long dark wooden table was set,
upon it were samples of wheat, lentils, and rice...
wrapped in fine linen fabrics,
surrounded by tall candles reflecting on faces with a gleam resembling greed.
[The Shock to the Minister of Justice]
In his palace, the Minister of Justice stood behind his window,
watching the guards distributing invitations and glasses of wine along the streets.
He muttered in frustration:
"What is Martin plotting? Isn't he bankrupt?
Where is all this coming from?"
He paused for a moment, then shouted to one of his guards:
"I want a detailed report... now!"
---
[The First Strike]
In the heart of the party, Mira stepped forward softly toward the table,
raised a glass of juice, and said confidently:
"We know the market is exhausted... and winter is near.
But here, in this palace... we hold what will restore balance."
Silence fell.
Then she continued, holding a small sack of grains:
"Limited quantities, high quality...
but we will not sell them today, only... announce their presence."
Eyes watched, hearts trembled,
and whispers spread like fire through dry wood:
> "Is it possible? Do they really have stock?"
> "Where did they get it from?"
> "There must be a mysterious hand behind them..."
But Mira knew... this was only the beginning.
The scent was rich, the lights glowing,
and Mira stood in her white dress, her radiant face holding the sack of grains like a weapon of another kind.
Minds began to believe, breaths hesitated,
until an elegant laugh cut through the crowd like an arrow...
"Really? Grains?"
Everyone turned…
and there stood the Minister of Justice entering through the crowd, with a sly smile and eyes that seemed to pierce like daggers.
He wore a black cloak embroidered with golden threads and walked as if the ground itself was paving the way for him.
He approached until he was close to Martin, murmuring loudly enough for all to hear:
"Tell me, Martin… where did you get this from?
Last I heard, you were bankrupt—
or have you decided to play the part of the wealthy?"
Whispers spread among the crowd…
Faces froze…
Martin's face flushed with anger, his fist trembling, but he didn't know how to respond…
Then…
Mira stepped forward.
She lifted her head with courage and looked straight into the Minister's eyes:
"Are you surprised to see a girl speaking about trade, sir?
Or are you surprised our palace hasn't crumbled as you wished?"
Murmurs rose, but she continued confidently:
"Times change, and history isn't written by idle chatter…
If we have little today, we have wisdom and willpower—
And whoever holds these… holds the market."
The Minister's smile shrank slightly… but his voice remained mocking:
"Lovely words, Martin's daughter…
But trade is not a subject for parties…
And the market respects no tales, only gold!
Who will guarantee your trade if it falters?
Who puts their name and reputation on the line for you?
Who… dares?"
A heavy silence fell…
Eyes awaited the answer,
And for a moment, even Mira felt the ground shake beneath her feet…
Then came the voice…
"I do."
Everyone turned,
and there was Minister Jack stepping forward from the crowd,
his face calm but his eyes sharp as a sword…
He stood beside Mira and said in a strong voice:
"I am her guarantor.
If her trade stumbles, my name alone is enough to cover the debts.
Would you like a signature, Your Excellency?"
Some ladies gasped,
and the minister's muscles tensed with undisguised surprise.
He stared at Jack, as if his mind searched for a loophole—but found none.
"Y-you? Why?"
Jack stepped closer and whispered coldly:
"Perhaps because I believe in those who possess courage...
And because I do not fear women who know their worth."
Then he turned to everyone and said sternly:
"And if you're asking about gold...
I put my name on the scales.
Who dares to outbid me?"
A dreadful silence fell...
Then the applause began—
Slowly at first... until the entire garden was filled with clapping.
The merchants were impressed,
Martin found his voice again,
And Mira stood tall, feeling as if a mountain was guarding her back.
---
[A Silent Coronation Moment]
The party ended...
But its echo lingered in the palace halls like a victory hymn heard only by those who fight in the shadows.
Candles melted slowly on wooden tables,
Servants cleaned the cups,
And Martin stood alone behind the long table...
Before him, a pile of signed contracts,
And to his left, bags of gold received by his trembling hand after long years of defeat.
He could not believe that words spoken through his daughter's lips
Had restored his dignity, buried for years beneath the rubble of losses.
A moment...
As if time itself paused.
He closed the box holding the contracts,
Then slowly turned around...
And there she was—
Mira, standing in her white dress,
A gentle weariness in her eyes,
But wearing the victorious smile of a queen.
He stepped toward her... silently at first,
Then embraced her tightly.
"Forgive me..."
The words burst out of him like an internal explosion.
"I used to see you as fragile, thought you didn't understand this world...
But tonight, you did what strong men have failed to do."
Mira gently squeezed his hand and said,
"I only wanted to be your support... as you were mine when I was small."
They sat together on the balcony,
The night still whispering its stories through the leaves,
And the palace buzzing with the echo of change.
Martin looked at her, voice low, tinged with worry:
"But... Mira, the lands of 'Eye of the Mountains' don't have such grain supplies—I know them well.
Where will we get the goods?
Have we awakened the beast while we're unarmed?"
Mira smiled...
Her eyes fixed on the moon as if drawing a secret from its light, then said:
"Leave it to me..."
Silence fell...
But her eyes shone with a light her father had never seen before...
The light of a new plan...
Towards the heart of the forest, where a man named Raylan dwells...
A man hunted by the state... yet holding the keys to the black market.
---
[Wolf's Lair]
The forest was not still...
Sounds around her whispered like secrets,
And mist slithered between the trees as if spying on her every step.
Mira walked calmly and confidently,
Behind her, Arthur guided the horse with anxious eyes.
This place did not promise safety...
It was more like a snake's den, hiding hungry fangs behind its trunks.
Arthur slowed the horse's pace and whispered,
"My lady... the heart of the forest is no place for nobles.
It belongs to Raylan, and entering it is like stepping into the wolf's mouth."
She turned to him, a sly look in her eyes,
Then whispered with a challenging smile:
"And what's wrong with that, Arthur...
Let the wolf see me.
Let him take me to his lair—that's exactly what I want."
Arthur gasped silently...
But he knew then that no one could stop her once she made up her mind.
And so she walked on...
Drawn deeper into the shadows.
[The Unforgettable Encounter]
Mira was led deep into the forest,
Surrounded by a band of men with hard eyes and furrowed brows.
One tried to cover her face with cloth, but she raised her hand and stopped him with a look.
"No need... I can see my way just fine."
She said it with confidence that made the man step back without argument.
They brought her to a wooden cabin perched atop a massive tree trunk,
A wide door, guarded by a man wielding a sword longer than himself.
The door opened...
And before her stood a tall, broad-shouldered man,
Eyes that seemed to read her intentions before she spoke.
Scars marked his cheek, a long scar ran along his arm.
Raylan... the Wolf himself.
He sized her up from head to toe, then said with a tone laced with sarcasm:
"Really? A princess... in my lair?
Have you lost your way, or have you... come to me on purpose?"
Mira did not flinch...
She stood like a queen, her eyes locked on his.
"If I were searching for a lost path... I wouldn't come to the lord of the forest.
I'm here to make a deal... a deal we both profit from."
Raylan chuckled,
A rough laugh befitting a man who built his glory from danger and wounds.
"A deal?!"
He stepped closer until he could feel her breath, then said:
"Even the men who enter here don't dare say that.
So tell me, girl... what makes a princess think she can negotiate with the one who bites the state?"
Mira raised an eyebrow with a clever smile:
"Because I don't represent the state... I represent interest,
And because I know the forest alone holds the grain the kingdom needs,
And simply because... I'm the only one brave enough to knock on your door without fear."
Raylan fell silent...
Then leaned back and sat in his large leather chair,
Folding his hand beneath his chin, he said:
"Sit then, Princess of audacity...
And let's hear what you have."
[Negotiation in the Shadows – The Birth of the Black Market]
Raylan sat on his leather chair, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied the girl standing proudly—unlike any palace maiden.
He spoke in a tone that was more a warning than a question:
"The black market isn't a chess game... here, moves aren't measured by cunning but by blood.
What is it that you want, Princess?"
Mira answered without flinching:
"I want the stolen goods."
He fell silent.
Then burst out laughing— a rough, explosive sound like cracking stone.
"Are you mad? You're asking me to give you what I've stolen?
No one ever left here with anything without leaving behind a corpse or a broken arm."
Mira stepped forward, placing her palms firmly on the table, her eyes shining with quiet cunning:
"I won't take them... I will sell them.
In my name, in broad daylight.
I'll open a gate for you to a world you cannot enter."
Time seemed to stop in Raylan's eyes.
"You want to be my face?"
She smiled faintly:
"No, I want to be your white shadow."
He flipped a dagger in his hand, then asked:
"And why do I need you? I buy and sell as I please."
She replied:
"Yes, but what you have now is just a trade of fear...
People buy from you in whispers, and flee at the first guard's whistle.
But I... I will sell openly, at legitimate tables, under the names of great nobles, and with my signature."
Raylan looked to his men and asked:
"And the price?"
She said firmly:
"Three conditions, no more.
First: no weapons sold, and no harm to the poor.
Second: half the profits paid to me in cash, every week.
Third: you stay away from the palace lands, and any village protected under my name."
Raylan shook his head:
"Strange conditions... you want to be the shadow merchant, yet impose morals?"
Mira stepped closer, looked into his eyes and said:
"I don't want money alone, I want order.
Our trade won't be chaos... it will be the strongest illicit exchange network,
But with rules that will terrify the state itself."
Raylan fell silent… the moment stretched like a thousand years.
Then finally smiled and said:
"You have this... but I add one condition, Princess."
She raised an eyebrow:
"And what is it?"
"If one of us betrays the other...
Blood will be the ink with which we sign the end."
He extended his hand toward her.
She reached out her hand... and with one handshake, the pact was sealed.
What would later be known as 'Mira's Shadow.'
The most dangerous secret market in the kingdom's history.
[Shadow's Flame – Organizing the Market and the Birth of Alliances]
In one of the back alleys of the city, where the law's voice does not reach,
A luxurious carriage stopped, painted in royal blue.
From it stepped a man with a light beard and hawk-like eyes—Syrus, one of Raylan's loyal men.
He wore the attire of a noble merchant, yet behind his sharp gaze
Lay the secrets of the forest and blood.
Mira awaited him, cloaked in a dark mantle that hid her identity,
Accompanied by Arthur, who remained alert, glancing left and right as if danger might emerge from the walls.
Syrus approached and whispered:
"The first shipment—five sacks of wheat, two of lentils, and one of rare rice.
All carefully stored... is the market ready?"
Mira replied calmly:
"The market never sleeps, and people are on the verge of exploding with hunger...
This is only the beginning."
She raised her hand, and a number of workers dressed as merchants appeared,
Organized and trained, they took the goods and began unloading them into back rooms of the old palace,
Which had been turned into a "noble warehouse," unnoticed by anyone.
---
[Inside the Market Corridors]
Mira established "Temporary Selling Licenses"
In the names of small allied merchants.
Goods were sold at reasonable prices,
But with precision—no one could cheat on weight or quality.
Everything was recorded in a small ledger she always carried,
With the cover titled: "The Shadow Never Lies."
Even the servants bought from her,
And goods passed from the "shadows" to the palace's own table.
---
[Father's Worry – Martin's Talk with Mira]
In his office, Martin stood behind the window,
Watching the carriage leave the market, holding a glass of red wine.
Then he turned to her and said:
"You know... what you're doing is not courage—it's playing with fire.
If anyone finds out you're behind this,
You won't find death... you'll wish for it!"
Mira stepped closer, looking into his eyes:
"I'm not running from fire, Father...
I'm lighting it to illuminate our path."
He bowed his head... then smiled sadly.
"You resemble your mother more than I thought."
---
[Danger Approaches – Jack Meets the Minister of Justice]
In a luxurious hall, amid wine glasses and candlelight,
The Minister of Justice sat, swirling his glass in hand,
His eyes heavy as they fixed on Jack.
He said slyly:
"Tell me, Jack...
Have you heard anything about the market?
Grains are suddenly being sold, in abundance,
Even though I know perfectly well that the Martins are bankrupt!"
Jack raised an eyebrow but said nothing, merely ran his hand over the table.
The minister added:
"I suspect a hidden hand behind all this,
And coincidentally... it seems Princess Mira frequents the market quite often these days."
A few seconds of silence, then he added with a sly tone:
"Honestly... I suspect Princess Mira is hiding something bigger than mere visits."
In a swift motion, Jack grabbed his glass,
Crushed it in his hand until the shards flew, and wine spilled across the table.
Blood dripped from his palm, but he didn't flinch.
He leaned toward the minister and said in a low, fiery voice:
"Listen well...
If I hear again your tongue daring to touch the Martins,
Be sure... your family's neck will bleed before your eyes."
Silence fell.
The minister swallowed hard.
When Jack gets angry… men fall without a sword being raised.
[In the Shadows… An Empire Grows]
Mira watched the city from the rooftop of the old palace,
Her eyes glowing with light and a plan,
And in her heart, a fire no one could see,
Whispering to herself:
> "The day will come…
When this world buys wheat from my name,
And the minister will fear my shadow."
...
[Chapter: Eyes of the Shadows]
The Minister of Justice could not remain silent about this sudden rise of the Martin family…
Wheat was being sold, the market was moving, people were smiling…
And Mira, that girl everyone mocked for her "commercial fantasies,"
Had become the talk of the town.
— The minister spoke coldly in his meeting hall:
> "I want eyes… in every corner.
Whoever watches over Martin's daughter shall be rewarded with twice the gold.
I don't want rumors… I want evidence, one crack to pull the rug from under their feet!"
He planted spies in the market, among the servants, even among the merchants.
One of the palace girls was forced to get close to the servants in Mira's palace…
And a "fake merchant" was sent to buy large quantities from the market to observe how things were going.
[But Mira... She Knew]
From day one, she knew the foxes would come out of their dens,
So she planted "deliberate lies,"
And spread "rumors crafted by her own hand."
She sent fake messages to the market traders,
Making it seem as if she was buying from "a northern noble,"
And gave the palace girls false news about an upcoming visit
From an ambassador of a foreign country seeking to propose to her.
Even her trade books… she duplicated—one copy fake, showing heavy losses!
Everyone who watched her… saw nothing but chaos and cleverly designed lies.
---
[The First Strike]
One dim night, the minister sat with one of his spies—the fake merchant—
And whispered to him:
> "Have you found out where the goods are coming from?"
– "No, sir, they're not coming from Mira,
but from a man named Sirous, seems from the North…"
– The minister whispered:
> "Oh… that's the first clue."
He sent his men to track Sirous, but they vanished in the forest…
No one returned, except for a note that read:
> "The shadow cannot be caught."
---
[Mira Flips the Table]
In the market, Mira distributed a small announcement,
bearing a forged royal seal, which read:
> "By order of the Crown Prince,
the local market has been supported with grains to stabilize the economy.
We thank Miss Mira Martin for her efforts in organizing the market."**
Here… the people believed.
Even Jack, upon receiving the announcement, stormed into the minister angrily:
> "Did you send the support?! Why didn't you tell me?"
– The minister was stunned:
> "Me? I did nothing!!!"
Here the minister realized Mira… had lost his trail,
and planted an illusion that could not be denied before the public.
If he spoke, he'd seem jealous…
If he stayed silent, people would think he was her friend and supporter!
Jack stared at her for a long time…
A girl not only strong… but born to play politics with the cunning of kings.
---
[End of the Round: The Minister in Shock]
In the ministerial council, everyone praised Mira, lauding her role in supporting the market.
One noble whispered:
> "The minister never planned this. It's Mira… she saved the winter."
The minister stared into the void,
his hand trembling,
whispering to himself:
> "This girl must be stopped… or she will take everything from me."
---
The Forest and the Secret
Winter came like a heavy visitor, and the earth wore its white cloak,
but Martin's heart regained its beat and began to fight back.
Deep in the dark forest, where secrets hide among the branches,
Raylan, the bandit leader, stood bidding farewell to Mira with a gaze full of pride and sorrow:
"I never thought a girl could lead a battle with such determination… but we succeeded."
Mira laughed warmly, then turned to ask him:
"And where will you go now?"
He answered with a smile tinged with sadness:
"To the south, where no one knows me, where I start a new life.
But if you need me, send me your request, and I will come."
He bid her a light farewell and departed with his troops through the shadows of the forest.
On her way back home, Arthur accompanied her, but someone was waiting...
Jack, standing at the edge of the forest, eyes overflowing with sadness and doubt.
Mira was shocked; she didn't expect to find him there.
He stood before her with an unusual calm and strength.
Jack: "Leave us alone, Arthur."
He turned to Mira with a gaze mixing pain and curiosity:
"Do you think I didn't know?
Since the first day you came here, I've been watching you in secret.
Why don't you sleep at home?
The forest wasn't just an escape — it became your strength."
Mira sat on the ground, her face turned up to the dark sky.
She began to speak with muffled sorrow:
"My father is drowning in debt, forcing me to go every day to Nara's house because he knows Prince Sam is there.
He wants to use me as a tool for survival, but I refused... there are other ways."
Jack sat beside her and said quietly:
"So you were running away from Sam and from your father..."
Tears began to flow, and she said with a broken tone:
"My father has nothing to do with this, please.
I will bear any punishment, just don't hurt him, please..."
Jack placed his hand gently on her head, his voice soft but firm:
"I witnessed your plans with Raylan, the enemy of the kingdom, but I looked the other way.
Your game ended successfully; do you think I will expose you?"
She looked at him in surprise, and he continued:
"I'm glad you didn't lose your dignity, that you didn't chase after Sam in vain.
How was the deal with Raylan? Is it over or is there another game?"
Mira answered confidently:
"Raylan will leave the south and will no longer be a burden."
Jack smiled:
"You turned that wild thief into a noble man."
He leaned closer and whispered:
"Your plans helped my support; without me, you wouldn't have survived."
Mira was startled and asked:
"What do you mean?"
He replied with eyes shining with determination:
"Your game ended, but mine hasn't started yet.
Go home and rest, tomorrow we will talk."
She asked fearfully:
"What are you planning? What do you want?"
Patting her head gently, he said:
"Don't be afraid, tomorrow you will know... hehe."
She looked at him with questioning eyes, and he smiled with a fake innocence, then said:
"Let's go, I'll take you home."
To be continued