I'm Trapped Inside a Prince as the Most Powerful Entity-Chapter 68: A Strange Safe Place

The world spun. It was a dizzying feeling that made it hard for Alina to breathe. One second, they were in the Whisperwood Forest.

The next, they were in a beautiful, sunny garden, even though it was almost evening. They stood in a huge, perfect garden with carefully shaped bushes and sweet-smelling magnolia trees.

Alina’s heart jumped. This isn’t Crestport... it’s... She saw a marble fountain she knew. The palace garden! This was where she’d first met Prince Eric, which felt like a super long time ago.

Panic washed over her. She had wanted to go to the Baron’s house, not suddenly appear in the super-guarded royal palace. Around her, the other rescued people stared, looking shocked and confused.

Their bare feet sank into grass so soft it felt like velvet. They had no idea where they were.

Eric blinked, looking at the familiar garden with surprise. He felt a little guilty. He had snuck out of the palace early that morning without telling anyone. He knew his parents would be worried sick by now, as evening was coming. He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling nervous.

Alina’s father, still holding her mother’s hand tightly, stepped closer to Alina. He looked incredibly tired and very worried. "Alina..." he said, his voice scratchy, "do you... do you know where we are?"

Before Alina could answer, Eric stood up straighter. He forced a smile, trying to calm the confused and scared crowd. "Please," he said, his voice clear in the quiet, "don’t worry. This is the safest place in the whole kingdom. You’re in the royal palace gardens."

Everyone gasped. They looked around, their eyes wide with shock, and then understanding. They were standing on special royal ground, a place most had only heard about in quiet, respectful whispers. The garden was more beautiful than anything they had ever imagined.

Alina’s father squinted at Eric. I’ve seen this young man before, he thought, trying to remember where. The memory was close, but he couldn’t quite grab it.

Suddenly, a loud shout broke the quiet.

A group of Royal Guards, wearing red vests and shiny silver helmets, rushed into the garden. They moved fast, clearly alerted by the sudden arrival of dozens of strangers on the perfect lawn.

"Who are you?" shouted the captain of the guards, pointing his sword. Its shiny surface caught the last bits of sunlight. "How did you get past the palace walls? Give up now!"

The people who had just been freed felt a new wave of fear. They had heard good things about King Noor IV, but being on royal property without permission was a very serious crime, one that could get them executed.

A shaky old man, his face full of fear, was the first to react. He dropped to his knees and threw his hands up. "We give up!" he cried, his voice cracking.

That broke the spell. One by one, the others sank to the grass. Miners, with red, sore marks on their wrists from chains, knelt next to merchants who had lost their nice clothes and their pride.

Alina’s father gave her mother a quick, sad look. Then, slowly, they knelt too, putting their open hands on the grass. The few who were still standing quickly did the same, until only Eric and Alina were left standing.

Alina’s heart pounded. She could feel everyone—her parents, her brother, the scared strangers—looking at her, waiting to see what she would do. Her own legs felt wobbly. Finally, with a deep sigh that sounded more tired than scared, she bowed her head and slowly knelt on the soft grass next to her family. She carefully put her hands behind her head, like people do when they surrender.

The garden was quiet and tense. Dozens of freed people knelt on the perfect lawn, their hands up or behind their heads, showing they gave up. The Royal Guards spread out around them, their swords still ready to attack if anyone tried anything.

How did so many people get in here? the captain of the guard wondered, a drop of sweat running down from under his helmet. He had already used his crystal communicator to tell every guard post inside the palace walls.

But no one had reported a break-in, and no alarms had gone off. This many people appearing at once was impossible. Is this a trick? he thought, imagining terrible things, like an assassination attempt.

Then, as he looked over the kneeling people, his eyes stopped on the one person still standing: a young man with blond hair. His sleeves were torn, but his golden-blue eyes were unmistakable, even in the dim light.

The whole group of guards recognized him at almost the same time.

"P-Prince Eric!" one guard gasped, sounding shocked and worried.

Another guard repeated the name, not quite believing it. Instantly, they changed their focus. The guards, who had been pointing their swords at everyone, now aimed them directly at the prisoners.

They moved to make a protective circle around the prince.

"Your Highness, get away from them!" the captain ordered, his voice sharp and urgent.

To the soldiers, it looked like the prince had been kidnapped. They thought these rough-looking people were kidnappers who had snuck him out of the palace last night. Now, for some bad reason, they were back on royal land, using the prince as a shield or to make demands.

Eric saw the panic in the guards’ eyes. He slowly raised his hands, palms open, trying to show he meant no harm. "It isn’t what you think," he said, trying to sound calm. "Please, everyone, stay calm!"

The guards hesitated, their swords shaking a little. They were torn between their duty to protect the prince and his surprising order.

"Listen to me," Eric went on, his voice getting stronger even though his heart was racing. "These people are not enemies. I rescued them. They were prisoners of the Spider Syndicate. I brought them here for safety."

A gasp of shock went through the kneeling crowd. The prisoners, many of whom only knew their rescuer as a quiet young man named Eric, now stared at him in disbelief.

They realized they were just steps away from royalty, and that their savior was the kingdom’s own prince! Whispers of "The prince?" and "The Third Prince of the kingdom..." spread through the group like wind in tall grass.

Alina’s father’s eyes lit up. He remembered! Parade day! He was standing next to the King on the royal platform! He swallowed hard, feeling a mix of amazement and deep worry.

Before the guard captain could decide whether to lower his sword or call for more guards, a new noise came from the east side of the garden. Heavy boots stomped on marble, and armor clanked urgently, getting louder and louder.

The King himself walked into the garden.

King Noor IV’s fancy cloak whipped behind him as he moved. He looked angry, scared, and very worried all at once.

In the last day, his youngest son had almost been assassinated, had disappeared from the palace, and now, was apparently in the middle of a crowd of strangers. But he also looked a little relieved to see his Royal Guards had the strangers surrounded, their swords shining.

That relief vanished when he saw Eric. His son stood with his arms spread out, not behind the guards, but protectively in front of the kneeling people, as if shielding them from the very swords meant to protect him.

"Eric!" the King boomed, his powerful voice cutting through the tense silence. He walked faster, reaching his son in moments. "Are you hurt?"

The Royal Guards stood straight, and their line opened up to let their king pass. The prisoners, if they could, bowed even lower, their foreheads almost touching the soft grass. Only Eric stood his ground. He slowly lowered his hands but stayed between the captives and his father’s guards.

"I’m all right, Father," he called out, trying to sound calmer than he felt. "These people are victims. They were prisoners, taken by the Spider Syndicate. I brought them here because the palace is the safest place for them."

The King stopped just a couple of steps from his son. He looked carefully at Eric’s face for any sign of injury, fear.

Seeing none, he looked at the kneeling people: Alina, her hand now on her younger brother’s shoulder; her tired parents; the thin miners with raw, red marks on their wrists from broken chains; and the once-rich merchants now in tattered clothes. King Noor saw they weren’t dangerous. They just looked exhausted and terrified, like people who had been through a lot.

The angry, hard tone in King Noor’s voice softened, though it didn’t completely go away. He turned to his guards. "Lower your weapons," he ordered, his voice firm.

The shiny sword points dipped towards the ground.

"We will hear their story," the King announced, looking back at Eric and then at all the rescued people. "But we will do it inside, where everyone can be taken care of and questioned safely and properly."

Everyone sighed in relief. Eric finally let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. Alina reached out and squeezed her brother’s small hand. Beside her, her father bowed his head deeply, silently thanking the King.