Dominance of Veiled Hearts

[[The next day]]

The room felt like a pressure cooker ready to explode. Rowell's voice trembled as he read from the scroll, his eyes flicking nervously toward the prince. We sat at a long, ornate table, the only sound was the soft, rhythmic tapping of the prince's fingers on the wood. Each tap sent a jolt down my spine, the tension building with every beat.

When Rowell finished, the prince leaned back. His eyes narrowed at the scroll like he was taking it apart in his mind. "So, it's about this heart again," he said quietly, his voice low and sharp. His face was scarily calm, like someone solving a puzzle where lives were at stake. The air in the room felt thick, and the walls seemed to close in as he spoke these scary words.

"All the previous holders of these scrolls had their hearts pulled out as you all suggested," he continued, his voice as casual as if he were commenting on the weather. "And we're still empty-handed. As expected it was not about the heart." His gaze swept over us like a predator surveying its prey. "Do you know what that means?"

My stomach felt sick. 'Hearts pulled out? Who the heck suggested that?!'  I felt awful. 'These people are monsters!' I was scared, but I tried to stay still. I knew that if I made even a small mistake, it could be very bad for my heart as well.

The prince's lips curled into a twisted smile. "It means the heart we need is in the Homonhon Empire. The right path is in there," he declared, almost too eagerly, his eyes gleaming with a madness I hadn't seen before. 

"Nixon, prepare the warriors. We're heading to Homonhon," the prince commanded, his tone flat and unyielding, like this was just another day at court.

Nixon bowed, his expression as cold as the prince's. "As you wish, Your Highness." He left without another word, leaving the rest of us to grapple with the brutal reality: we were heading into a bloody war.

I tried to calm down, but I couldn't. My hands trembled under the table, nails digging into my palms to keep them still. I wanted to say something, to somehow avoid going with them but as soon as I met the prince gaze I couldnt mutter a word. I have no strong reason to give him, I knew I couldn't escape. If I said or did the wrong thing without careful consideration, I would die right here. I had to survive—somehow but how?

I needed that last piece of the puzzle as well. If I had to drain my funds and risk my life to infiltrate the black market, so be it. In this world, survival meant becoming like them—cunning, ruthless, calculating. It was the only way to stay alive.

[[One Month Later]]

Day's turn to months, As the time for the attack drew near, the tension in the palace was suffocating. Warriors in red capes moved with precision, their preparations for battle a terrifying display of military power. The clanging of weapons, the synchronized march of feet—it was all a relentless reminder of the storm we were about to face.

The emperor's farewell speech hung heavy in the air, his voice burdened by the grim reality of war. We stood in line with the rest of the warriors, listening as his words echoed around us.

I felt out of place, my thoughts swirling with doubt and confusion. What was I doing here, dressed in armor, standing among these seasoned fighters? I couldn't shake the feeling that I didn't belong.

I had tried every excuse I could think of to avoid joining them, but nothing had worked. Now, here I was, facing the inevitable. The sinking realization hit me—this might truly be the end of my story.

Luckily, I was placed in the second to the third group, trailing behind the prince. Which made me felt safe even for a bit. My heart raced as I looked out at the endless desert. The sand stretched out like a barren wasteland, broken only by the silhouette of the distant palace. It looked like a mirage, barely visible through the shimmering heat. The desert, with its random waterfalls dotting the landscape, was like someone's bizarre idea of a resort in hell.

"Seriously, where do those waterfalls even come from?" I muttered, coughing as the swirling dust that made my throat burn.

Months of living on edge had worn me down to nothing. I was running on fumes, trying to survive in this insane world. Adapting to it felt nothing but exhausting. 

I looked at the desert, thinking about how empty it was, like my old life. This was the first time I really saw the place, and it felt like a dream now—how simple everything used to be. I used to work at home and only go out when I had to. But that day was special. I went out to buy some fancy shoes. Back then, I only worried about getting the right size. Now? Now I was with warriors, stuck in a war. How did my life spiral so far out of control?

--

After what felt like an eternity, the barren desert gave way to an unexpected paradise—lush greenery, vibrant flowers, and ripe fruits surrounded us. It was as if we had walked into a Canadian autumn. The contrast from the endless desert was jarring. The warriors quickly set up camp, scavenging for food and water, while I silently slipped away to find some peace.

Exhausted, I collapsed under a large tree by a glistening lake. When I saw myself in the water, it didn't feel real. Is this really what I look like as a warrior? I don't know if I was brave or just a fool to manage this far and be part of this war. 

For a brief moment, I allowed myself to enjoy the calm, though the absurdity of it all quickly snapped me back.

"I was so unlucky," I muttered, my mind drifting to the Isekai stories I used to binge. In those tales, the protagonists had better luck—they landed in worlds where they were powerful or privileged.

Meanwhile, I was just a normal woman, stuck in my own body, surrounded by people I had to outsmart to survive. "What do I have? A headache and a bunch of new muscles!"

I watched the prince retreat into the camp from afar, my nerves still frayed from our brief encounter. His gaze had been heavy, leaving an unsettling weight that lingered like a bruise.

Just as I tried to shake off the tension I am feeling, something unexpectedly passed in front of me, momentarily blocking my view of the prince's retreating shadow.

Two... plum buns appeared right in my line of sight.

Before I could process what I was seeing, I heard a loud splash. My jaw dropped, it was Leon appeared out of nowhere, already halfway through stripping down, tossing his clothes carelessly onto the shore in front of me. My brain short-circuited trying to keep up with the shape I really, really didn't mean to see.

My face turned beet red as I turn my head away, only to catch Leon now happily splashing in the lake, looking as carefree as a child, completely oblivious to the damage he'd done to my innocence.

I froze where I sat, my wide eyes glued to the scene still in shock. To my utter horror, more historians and warriors began casually undressing and jumping into the water one after another.

They didn't even glance my way, completely unfazed by the sudden and unapologetic showcase of bare bodies I absolutely never asked for.

"Oh gods, why am I seeing this? My eyes...!" My inner scream echoed as I slammed my eyes shut—too late. The damage was done. The image was already burned into my memory: muscles, bodies, and way too much... anatomy.

Leon's cheerful voice broke through my mental agony. "Tuk! Come in! The water's great!"

My stomach dropped. That idiot! I screamed internally, trying desperately to keep a straight face as warriors in the lake waved at me like they were auditioning for some kind of shampoo commercial.

They gleamed under the sun, their muscles and sun-kissed skin radiating as if they belonged on the cover of a fitness magazine. But of course, my brain decided to zoom in on the other details—the unflattering, unholy details. No, self, don't look down.

"I'm fine!" I shouted back, pasting on the most forced smile of my life. "I'll wash up later. I just need some rest!"

With trembling legs and the dignity of a crawling crab, I attempted to retreat. The water was too clear. Damn it, I saw things. A horrifying display of... variously shaped, long, thick mushrooms. Burned into my brain forever.

Just as I thought I had escaped, I froze. A pair of boots blocked my path.

Slowly, like a condemned soul looking up at their executioner, I raised my eyes. My heart lurched in terror before relief crashed over me. 

It was the prince.