Dear Immortal Tyrant

Lina didn't touch any dish, but the pastries. She ate half a bun, but that was it. For the past few days, she ate the smallest nibble here and there. Today, she kept the plate of small pastries that ranged from flaky rolls to sticky bread.

Minutes before dawn, Lina woke up. The sky was a deep hue of dark blue, for the sun had only just woken up. She quickly got dressed in the most fitted clothes she could find. Then, she took the sword from the table.

"For Teran."

Lina cut her hair off. She let the strands fall to the ground, then gathered them up beforeleaving them on the table, and tied up what little she had left. Her hair barely reached her shoulders now. The one thing that Kade always loved to touch. She had discarded with one cut.

Lina fixed her hair into a small bun. Then, she broke off a chair leg, slid it through the door handles to prevent anyone from entering. Lastly, Lina hooked the sword to her waist, jumped out of the window and snuck off.

If Kade wasn't going to call off the war, she was going to take matters into her own hands.

- - - - -

"Commander, what are you waiting for?" Sebastian murmured.

The final speech of the day was given. Soon, the army would be marching towards the middle ground of the war. Unlike the strategic attacks of the previous war, this one was more allocated. They'd meet on the battlefield and fight to the death.

Whichever side's leader was killed was the victor.

"For my wife," Kade responded.

Kade knew she wasn't coming to see him off. She didn't have to. He was going to return victorious with Atlan's decapitated head. He wanted to torture the man, but the declaration of victory was the death of the other side's captain. He needed Atlan dead.

Kade suddenly debated stabbing Atlan in the chest, enough to immobilize him. That way, Atlan would be captured and brought back as a prisoner of war. At the thought, his lips curled.

In the corner of his eye, someone shifted. He turned to see it was a young and thin soldier climbing onto a horse in the far end of the army.

Kade was highly amused that war was advancing upon him, but the soldier was this late. Nonetheless, he didn't want to delay the journey.

"Let us march to the compromised lands!" Kade announced.

In unison, the loud and solemn voices of the people rose in the air.

"Yes, Captain!"

- - - - -

Lina didn't think the journey to the war would be this difficult. They had traveled before the sun even tipped in the sky. Nightfall was quickly catching up with them, but no one took a break. She was exhausted from the sun beating down her back. Her thighs were sore from clenching onto the horse saddle all day long. She was thirsty and hungry. Her starvation from earlier paid back in tenfold.

The entire time she traveled by horseback, she could barely see Kade. He was in the front of the line, leading this battle. The Seventh Prince was tall and majestic, inspiring awe even from the most tired soldiers.

"We'll rest here."

Lina was relieved by Sebastian's announcement. Due to fatigue, she nearly slipped off her horse when she dismounted

"Hey, what's your name?"

Lina stiffened at the voice behind her. She wore a helmet that covered her entire head and face to hide her identity. She had stolen it on her way to joining the ranks. The crest of Ritan and sword hung from her waist, but she didn't have a proper identification plate. Swallowing back her fear, she aimlessly guided her horse to the rest of the group.

"We're all going to die in this war, why should my name matter?" Lina muttered, forcibly lowering her voice to sound like a man.

Lina stroked the mane of her horse, her heart aching at the sight of him. She had rode this horse from Teran to Ritan. Now, she was riding this horse to war. The horse was oblivious of this fact as he warmly nudged his head into her hand.

"What do you mean we're going to die? We'll return victorious with spoils of the battle. Don't you know The Beast is leading this expedition?" The soldier harshly barked at her, slapping her on the back.

Lina jolted at the force, nearly tripping over her own feet. She was skilled in swordfighting, but had lost too much weight. She felt like a strong wind could knock her to the floor.

"R-right…" Lina trailed off, watching as another soldier poured horse feed into a shallow wooden log.

"So, you never gave me your name," the man noted. "You have quite the girlish voice and body too."

Lina froze. She knew female soldiers were allowed in the army, but not that many were present. She realized she should've stuck with them, instead of the male side of the expedition. The reason she chose to disguise herself as a male was because Kade wouldn't search for her amongst this crowd.

Lina knew he was smart enough to keep an eye on the women soldiers, in case he saw someone familiar.

"I was sick the past week," Lina stated.

"Ah, poor lad, you've lost all your muscles then," the man retorted.

Lina didn't respond. She took her small sack of supplies from the horse's saddle and walked off. She wasn't here to make friends. She was here to stop the war.

Without another word, Lina headed beyond the trees. She loved the forest. It intrigued her. She was calmed by the scent of nature, soothed by the sound of small animals, and amazed by the neverending beauty of trees and plants. She plopped down by a tree, took off her helmet, and began to take small nibbles of her food.

"...captured…"

Lina's ears pricked up at the sound of a voice. She quickly put her food back into the backpack and pulled on the helmet.

"I want him alive," Kade stated.

Lina's heart skipped. He was close. She knew she couldn't runoff. He had a great sense of hearing. The smallest movement would trigger his attention. Thus, she held her breath and remained still.

"My dear dove should get the liberty to look her assaulter in the eyes as I brutally torture him," Kade leisurely commented, leaning upon the bark of a tree.

"Of course, Commander," Sebastian nonchalantly responded. "By the way, I saw this letter—"

"Who's there?!" Kade snarled, straightening up.

Kade spun at the feeling of a presence close to him. Before he could take a step forward, a lone figure slipped from a tree. He narrowed his eyes on the scrawny soldier. Something about the boy seemed familiar.

"M-my apologies Commander… I wanted to eat away from my squadron," the soldier stammered out, lowering his head.

"Have you just started puberty?" Kade seethed, approaching the tiny man. The boy's voice was unnaturally high.

"Y-yes… I'm only fifteen," Lina lied.

Lina was worried when he was just three steps away. Kade scrutinized her intensely. She kept her eyes glued to the ground, so he wouldn't be able to recognize her. This metal helmet revealed nothing of her face, except her eyes and small holes for the nose.

"Show some respect," Sebastian relented with a loud sigh. "You're in front of your Captain, greet him without a helmet."

Kade stared at the soldier expectantly.

Lina was scared. She didn't know what to do. If Kade found her here, he'd send someone to take her back. They were only a day's journey from Ritan.

"I have scars on my face," Lina blurted out. "It'll be unsightly."

Kade narrowed his eyes. "So?"

Lina shakily tucked her fingers in front of her. She couldn't get caught this. Soon! She had things to do. Something about Kade's cold demeanor made her wish for his kindness. It was only today that she realized he was gentle with her…. Just as he was gentle with Priscilla.

"So it'll hurt your eyes?" Lina responded.

"Commander," Sebastian slowly began. He was suspicious of this soldier, whose accent sounded nothing like Ritan's.

"Boy," Sebastian addressed. "Show the Captain your identification."

Lina froze. She didn't have that. Suddenly, she took a step backward. It would be impossible to run from these two. Kade would catch her before she even began sprinting.

"I left it near my horse, let me fetch it—"

"How do you have that sword?" Kade snarled.

Kade instantly recognized the expensive hilt on the weapon. Upon closer inspection, fury surfaced from within him. His face grew ominous. Suddenly, he grabbed the soldier by the collar and yanked him forward.

"Why do you have the Princess' sword?" Kade spat out.

Lina froze. When she looked him in the eyes, everything stopped. He knew. Realization dawned on him. Immediately, her helmet was taken off.

"Lina."