She's a Hero

pte

and guards lay flat on the stone ground, their faces pressed

, arms crossed, eye

," I said coldly. "I'm not le

Not even

g maids, stiff guards, all too ter

warned. "Speak now, or

ng. My pati

ay here until you're ready to talk

each step loud enough t

u here all day if I have to. No food. No water. You'll lie

voice finally b

her voice barely above a whisp

king eyes with her. She c

tone sharp. "You decid

trying to help,

your help?" I

wed hard, her h

me!" I

our Highness,"

e a favor, but all you've done is make a mess. No

pale with panic. "Please, no! It w

yes narrowed. "You should've thought about that befor

the rest o

I said coldly. "Not until

ings? Not my problem. They were born to serve, and if they

e stairwell. I didn't flinch - but the maids

later, she appeared at the top of the stairs, her gown

sight before her - servants sprawled

is?" she demanded, he

a good idea to go into my room without permissi

rrowed. "I told her

ugh. "And you think

ned, her voice l

N

ened. "I command yo

one." I shrugged, tossing a careless glance at the trembling ma

napped. "It was a simple mistake - not

uched my things, and now they're all

w clenched. "Y

lowering. "And I will. Maybe next time,

king down. I knew I was winning. She always thought s

gain, her voice stra

ed thinly. "

ly, her heels clicking hard against t

When she disappeared down the hall,

I muttere

terrified faces stil

oldly. "I'll decide wh

d and walked away,

ar when I stopped

me, his towering figure blocking my path. His

ious smil

ered, his voice firm a

onfidence to return. "No," I s

sharp, commanding, dangero

through the air. "They crossed a l

tone carried that weight - the one th

t he ignored me, walking straight to the te

" he sai

s hesitated, exchan

s time, and they scrambled to their feet

d, pointing a finger at them. "I don't care

own the hall, vanishing like shadows. Even the gu

h frustration. My father turned

id sternly. "We

What is it this time? Another lecture about being 'kinder

d. "This isn't a

etter than to push him too far. The last thi

gging my feet as I foll

e servants thought they were safe no

sed myself. They'll al