She's the Prince

Chapter 8

A Dangerous Revelation

The tension in the air thickened as Captain Callan's dagger glinted dangerously close to Prince Ares' neck.

"What are you doing?" Ares demanded, his voice steadier than he felt, though a tight knot of fear coiled in his stomach.

"Who are you?" Captain Callan shot back, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.

He knows. He knows I'm not Prince Ares, Aria thought, panic surging through her veins.

"Tell me who you are," the captain pressed, his grip tightening on the dagger. "Speak, or I'll cut your throat."

Ares swallowed hard, feeling the cold steel bite against his skin. He's serious about this. The gravity of the moment pressed down on him.

"You need to listen," Ares managed to say, his heart racing like a caged bird. "Can I trust you?"

Captain Callan's gaze bore into him, calculating. "That depends on your answer. Lie to me, and I won't hesitate to kill you."

Ares grabbed the blade with shaky fingers, but Callan's focus stopped him. After what felt like a lifetime, the captain carefully took the sword from Ares' neck.

Taking a deep breath, Ares steeled himself. "Before you hear my story, promise me you won't tell anyone."

"You're a hypocrite. Why should I trust you?" Callan shot back, skepticism lacing his words.

"Why did you ask me who I am if you don't intend to believe me?" Ares countered, desperation creeping into his voice.

"Promise first," Ares insisted, his heart pounding in his chest.

Callan raised his right hand to his chest. "In my honor, I promise."

A flicker of relief washed over Ares, though he still felt the weight of uncertainty pressing down. "Now, let me explain."

"I am a woman," Ares said, gauging the captain's reaction. To his surprise, Callan merely stared at him, unblinking.

'I must not look away from his eyes; he needs to believe me,' Aria thought fiercely, the panic bubbling beneath the surface.

"I don't know how it happened," Ares continued, the words spilling out. "I woke up in Prince Ares' body after an accident. My family and I—"

"Are you saying you've merged with Prince Ares and you're not from the Celestial World?" Callan interrupted, his brow furrowing deeper.

Ares nodded, fear clawing at her throat. "In my world, everything is modern. Phrases like 'fella' and 'wazzup'—you'd only hear them there."

"What proof do you have?" Callan challenged, doubt shadowing his expression.

"I have no evidence beyond my words and actions," Ares admitted, desperation clawing at her voice. "But I remember something from before I lost consciousness. The sky was dark..."

"What do you mean?" Callan asked, his intrigue growing.

"There was an eclipse. I heard about it on the news," Ares explained, a spark of hope igniting within him.

Callan frowned. "Eclipse?"

"Yes, an eclipse. There are solar and lunar eclipses. The first happens when the moon's shadow crosses the Earth's surface, and the second when the Earth casts a shadow on the moon."

Callan's eyes lit up as if he had found a thread of truth. "What you're describing sounds like syzygy."

"Huh? I don't understand," Ares replied, confusion flooding him.

"Syzygy is when celestial bodies align," Callan clarified, skepticism still evident. "Does Prince Ares have any memory at all?"

Ares shook his head, frustration bubbling to the surface. "No memories. I only know I heard a loud noise and glimpsed vague images. They might be fragments of Prince Ares' memories."

"Have you been told anything about—"

"I've said enough. You're the only one who dares to ask me like this," Ares interrupted, a flicker of defiance igniting within her.

"Don't tell anyone else," Callan warned, his tone sharp.

'Shouldn't I be the one saying that?' Ares thought but held her tongue, feeling the weight of the unspoken words.

"Why do you still look like that? Don't you believe me?" Ares pressed, frustration boiling.

"Are you truly a girl?" Callan asked, disbelief etching his features.

"I'm a student in my world—graduating in engineering. I'm twenty," Ares replied, her irritation simmering just below the surface.

"You're a student and an engineer? But you're a woman..." Callan couldn't mask his disbelief.

"In my world, men and women are treated equally. If a man can do it, so can a woman," Ares stated defiantly, a fire kindling in her chest.

"You're a strange girl," Callan remarked, a hint of admiration creeping into his voice.

"There's nothing strange about me. I'm just a normal woman who can't figure out why I'm in this man's body," Ares insisted, frustration boiling over.

Callan smiled slightly, but the warmth of his gaze was undercut by lingering doubt. "In that case, we have an agreement. No one will know what we discussed."

"If Lord Zodor finds out that Prince Ares is gone, what will happen?" Ares asked, her voice tinged with anxiety.

"Everyone here believes in Sorcerers. He could summon one to force you out of Prince Ares' body."

"And if that happens? I don't know where I'd go, or what would happen to his body if I left," Ares replied, her heart racing with dread.

"What's your real name?" Callan asked, shifting the conversation.

"Aria. My name is Aria."

"Then, Aria, you must continue pretending to be Prince Ares. They mustn't learn the truth, or you both are at risk. Change your actions and words so they believe you're the surviving prince while we figure out our next steps."

"I can act like Prince Ares, but I know nothing about him," Ares admitted, despair creeping into her tone.

"I don't usually spend time with him, but I can teach you how to fight," Callan offered, determination flickering in his eyes.

Ares nodded, determination rekindling. "Okay, I'm part of my university's judo team."

"You might also ask Prince Ares' two servants. They know him well," Callan suggested, his voice steadying.

"Good idea. I'll ask Samiya and Alora," Ares said, but then hesitation crept in. "But there's one more thing."

"What is it?" Callan frowned, his attention sharpening.

"The princess who visited is engaged to Prince Ares."

"What's the issue with that?" Callan asked, confusion evident.

Ares sighed, weighing her words carefully. "I could postpone the wedding, the reason is Lord Zodor grieving his children."

"So, what's the problem?"

"The princess always kisses the prince. I pulled her hair the last time she did," Ares confessed, embarrassment flushing her cheeks.

Callan couldn't help but laugh, though it was tinged with disbelief. "Those are Prince Ares' lips, not yours."

"Still, the feelings this body has are mine, not his. Do you know how strange it feels to be kissed by a woman?" Ares retorted, irritation flaring.

"In that case, I'll come by often so she doesn't see you at the palace," Callan promised a glint of determination in his eyes.

"Will you really do that?" Ares asked, her heart racing.

Callan smiled warmly, but uncertainty lingered in his gaze. "I'm going to protect you, Aria. I'll look after you."

Ares blushed as their union and dangerous road weighed on him.