The Stowaway

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(GABRIEL'S POV)

We had been travelling for days, the landscape shifting from the dense trees of the enchanted forest to the jagged peaks of the Regalacaluche Mountains. The men were tired, but we pressed on, searching for the lost kingdom. Still, something about the supply cart had been bothering me for a while now—the faint rustling, the occasional bump. I'd brushed it off until now.

As we set up camp for the night, I went to the back of the cart to gather supplies for dinner. And that's when I saw it—an apple rolling out of the cart, followed by a glimpse of someone hiding in the shadows.

My heart stopped. No way...

I stepped closer, pulling aside the bags, and there she was. Isadora. Curled up and fast asleep among the food supplies.

What in the world is she doing here?

I crouched down, nudging her gently. "Isadora. Wake up."

Her eyelids fluttered open, her eyes groggy until they settled on me. "Gabriel?"

"Shh," I whispered, glancing around to make sure no one had noticed. "What are you doing here? You weren't supposed to come."

Isadora sat up, smoothing her hair, and then with a steady voice, she said, "I had to. I couldn't just stay behind while all of you are out here. The kingdom needs me too."

Her answer surprised me. She wasn't just being stubborn—there was real determination in her voice. She believed she needed to be here. Still, that didn't change the fact that this mission wasn't safe for her.

"You should go back," I muttered, trying to keep my voice steady. "This is dangerous. You don't belong here."

Isadora's eyes narrowed, not in anger but with the kind of conviction I'd rarely seen from her. "I'm not leaving, Gabriel. I came because I want to help the kingdom, and I know I can. You don't get to decide that for me."

I blinked, taken aback by her response. What the...? I didn't expect her to be so firm, so sure of herself. But I couldn't let her see how much her words hit me. I needed to stay in control.

"Well, it's not exactly a safe place for a princess," I replied, keeping my voice nonchalant, though inside, I was anything but. I wanted her far away from this mission. I wanted her safe.

"Maybe not," she said, standing up and brushing off her dress. "But I'm not just a princess. I'm going to be the future queen. And that means I have a responsibility too."

I stared at her, my heart racing. She wasn't backing down. Why couldn't she see that I was only trying to protect her?

I reached for her wrist, not to force her to leave, but to make her understand. "Isadora, I'm serious. This isn't about you being a princess or a queen. It's dangerous. You could get hurt."

She looked at me for a moment, her expression softening. "I know you're worried, Gabriel. But I'm not leaving."

Before I could argue more, a voice called out from behind us. "Gabriel, what's taking so long?"

I froze, my grip on her wrist loosening as one of the palace guards approached. His eyes went wide when he spotted her.

"Princess Isadora?" he stammered, bowing immediately. "What are you doing here?"

Isadora lifted her chin, calm but composed. "I'm joining the mission. You can report that to Prince Julian if you must."

The guard looked stunned but nodded, quickly excusing himself to inform the others. And just like that, she had cemented her place here.

I exhaled, shaking my head in disbelief. She wasn't going anywhere. What is she doing?

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Thank you so much for reading this chapter! I hope you're enjoying the journey so far—things are definitely heating up between Gabriel and Isadora, right? There's so much more to come, so make sure to hit that follow button to stay updated on the next chapters, and don't forget to vote if you're loving the story! Your support means everything. Stay tuned for more twists and turns!

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