Princess Makes Counter Offer

[IsabellaRose]

Your breath is unsteady, your mind racing. You are beaten. The weight of your father's death, your kingdom's fall, and the cold steel of the knight's grip around your wrist remind you of that with every thudding heartbeat. But submission is not your only option.

You lift your chin, just slightly, enough to show him you are still a Valoryn. Enough to make him hesitate, even if only for a second.

"I won't beg," you say, your voice quieter than you intend, but steady. "And I won't pretend I have the power to fight you."

His smirk remains, but there’s a flicker of curiosity in his sharp eyes. He waits, letting you speak.

"But killing me would be a waste," you continue, forcing steel into your words. "And forcing me into servitude?" You shake your head slightly. "You can take my body, but you can't take my loyalty. I would be a prisoner, not an ally. A caged wolf waiting for the moment to sink my teeth into your throat."

That makes him laugh, a low, amused sound, and his fingers ease their grip, just slightly. "And what, Princess, do you think you have to bargain with?"

You breathe, gathering the last shreds of your strength. You don’t have an army. You don't have soldiers loyal to your house waiting in the shadows. But you have your name. You have knowledge, of the kingdom, of its allies, of its enemies.

"I can give your king more than my submission," you say, watching his expression carefully. "You need me. Not as a servant, not as a prize, but as a key. You can take the castle, but you won't hold it for long. You need the noble houses to bend the knee, the people to accept your king." You tilt your head slightly, testing him, pushing the moment just far enough. "And who better to make that happen than the last surviving heir of House Valoryn?"

His smirk fades, replaced by something more calculating. You can see the gears turning behind his cold gaze. He doesn’t dismiss you outright. He doesn’t laugh this off. He's considering it, and that means you still have power.

Finally, he exhales, tilting his head. "An interesting offer," he muses. "But tell me, Princess, why should I trust you? A wolf, as you said, waits for its chance to bite. If I let you live, if I let you move freely, what assurance do I have that you won't turn on me the first chance you get? Why not just force you to submit to my king, or better yet, take you now, breed you myself?"

His grip doesn't loosen. His gaze is locked on yours, sharp and waiting. Measuring you.

• If you press your advantage and try to convince him you are more valuable as an ally than a captive, click here.
• If you feign obedience, let him believe you are pliant, let him think he is in control, and try to find a moment you strike, click here.
• If you play to his desire for you, give him your body so you can survive to escape later, click here.
• If you give up and give in to him, knowing you cannot overpower him and your arguments are weak, click here. <link forthcoming>

Edited Thursday at 01:40 PM by IsabellaRose