"I-It’s not like we’re *thieves!*" Abigail stammered, stepping in front of me like she could shield us both with her tiny frame. “You can call our parents if you want to—my mother, she’ll—she’ll explain everything!”

I groaned under my breath. “Abi, stop...”

But General White didn’t even look fazed. His lips were pressed into a hard, disapproving line. “The guards are already letting them in,” he said flatly.

“What?!” I stepped forward, grabbing the lapels of his uniform in both hands before I could stop myself. The fabric was stiff, like him.

“My mother trained here,” I said, clutching tighter, desperate. “Before she became queen. She lived and bled in this place. And I—*I*—just wanted to feel that, to be like her, to *train* for once instead of being locked in a castle with nothing but tea parties and stupid corsets!”

He didn’t say anything at first, but I saw it—the faintest blush crawling up his cheek, like I’d cracked the wall just a little. His breath caught, and for one second, I thought he might actually listen.

Then he cleared his throat, stepped back, and his mask snapped right back into place. “You tampered with military files. Broke into the holy temple. *Assaulted* King Jasekot’s General.”

“Assaulted?!” Abigail practically dropped to her knees. “Please, General, I swear we didn’t mean to! We didn’t know! We’re sorry—we’ll never come back! Please don’t curse us or—banish us—or feed us to wolves or whatever it is the temple does to trespassers!”

I reached down and pulled her up before she could grovel herself straight through the marble floor.

“No one’s feeding anyone to wolves!” I hissed. “Come on!”

We bolted.

My slippers slapped against the pristine hallway as we ran, Abigail practically glued to my side. I thought we had a chance, thought maybe we’d slip through a side hall and climb over the wall again.

Then I slammed into something solid.

Or rather—*someone*.

Gods, not again.

Prince Kail looked down at me, the same smug smirk tugging at his lips. He had the gall to chuckle, like this was a joke. “Running away already?” he drawled. “Because you *stole my horse*, too. You're building quite the record, Princess.”

“I didn’t *steal* it!” I snapped, straightening up. “I *borrowed* Finley.”

“Borrowed?” Kail raised a brow. “Without permission? While trespassing on restricted grounds? Hm. I’m sure the legal definition of ‘borrowing’ agrees.”

And of course—just my luck—*his father* showed up next.

King Jasekot’s presence could suck the joy out of a room like a black hole. He stood tall, dressed in blood-red robes, and looked me and Abigail up and down like we were insects stuck to the bottom of his boots.

“I’m deeply dissatisfied,” he said with a voice so cold it might’ve frozen time. “To see a princess of Lurchester and the daughter of Queen Kano act with such blatant disregard for sacred rules. This is a disgrace.”

And just like that... my heart sank.

The doors behind us burst open again, and in walked my father, King Lurchester, with Ivy practically glued to his side like she’d been waiting for her entrance. Her expression screamed *drama*. She crossed her arms and gave me a slow, judgmental once-over.

“Oh, of course,” she said, lips curled into a smirk. “Only Destiny would think *breaking into the Temple* was a good idea. Must’ve been for attention, right? Didn’t spill enough tea on nobles tonight?”

“Shut up, Ivy,” I growled.

She didn’t. She slithered up beside Kail and looped her arm through his. “You poor thing. Are they harassing you again?”

Kail made a face like he’d bitten into a rotten fruit. “Don’t touch me.”

Ivy blinked, stunned, but before she could start whining, my father stepped between them and glared at me.

“Destiny.” His voice wasn’t angry—not yet. Just tired. “I thought you were smarter than this.”

“I *am* smarter than this,” I shot back. “But no one’s ever gonna let me prove it!”

He didn’t respond.

Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, Queen Kano came storming in, red hair blazing like wildfire, her guards trying to keep up. She ran straight to Abigail and wrapped her arms around her daughter.

“My *gods*, Abigail! What were you *thinking*?!”

“I—Mom—I didn’t know—!”

“No,” Queen Kano snapped. “You *knew*. And Destiny—” She turned toward me, her eyes sharp but somehow sad. “As much as I love you, and you know I *do*, this was reckless. And I blame you. You led my daughter into danger.”

“Wait, that’s not fair—!”

“Enough.” My father raised a hand. “Destiny will not be leaving the castle grounds unaccompanied from now on. I apologize to you, Queen Kano. To both Your Majesties. And... to General White.”

General White had followed us silently down the hall. He stood behind the kings, arms folded, his expression unreadable—but his eyes flicked to me once, just for a heartbeat.

Not angry. Not disappointed.

Just... *curious*.

He gave a small nod. Almost invisible.

Then he turned and walked away.

And just like that, it was over. No training. No adventure.

Just royal punishment and a pile of shame that felt like it would never stop growing.