Forest of Lies
I crouched high among the thick branches, my body perfectly still, cloaked by illusion and leaves. The scent of blood and churned earth filled the air. Below me, the once-proud royal escort lay scattered like broken toys. Nearly fifty soldiers groaned in pain, their armor dented and torn by the monstrous bear that now roared in victory.
Only The Prince of Eastgarden and his four remaining guards still stood.
Perfect.
I had waited for this moment. Not too early. Not too late. Just enough to be the hero they needed.
The Giant Bear, a hulking beast twice the height of a man, its fur matted with blood, charged the prince with a deafening roar. Its massive paw swung in a killing arc that would have crushed the prince’s skull like an egg.
Now.
I dropped from the tree like a shadow.
My boots hit the ground, and I lunged forward, sword raised. I caught the bear’s paw with my blade, the impact jarring my bones. The prince stumbled back, eyes wide with shock.
“Who?!”
“No time!” I growled, voice low and rough.
Fighting without revealing my true elven strength was exhausting. Every swing, every parry, I had to hold back. My current sword was cheap human steel, and it showed. The bear’s next brutal strike snapped it clean in two with a sharp crack.
Damn it.
I rolled sideways, snatched a fallen soldier’s blade from the mud, and drove it upward with calculated precision. The steel sank deep into the beast’s chest. The bear let out a final, earth-shaking roar before collapsing in a heap.
Silence fell over the clearing.
I straightened slowly, breathing hard, letting the adrenaline settle. Then I moved quickly among the injured soldiers, pressing my hands to their wounds. I used only the weakest healing magic, enough to stabilize them, not enough to raise suspicion.
The soldiers began to cheer weakly.
“Hero!”
“He saved us!”
“Thank the gods!”
But the prince… he didn’t cheer.
The Prince of Eastgarden stared at me with sharp, calculating eyes. His gaze lingered too long on my face, my hands, the way I moved. For a moment, his brows furrowed deeply, as if he could see through my illusion. My stomach tightened.
He suspects something.
Then, just as suddenly, his suspicion melted into a wide, charming smile. The shift was too smooth. Too convenient. It made my skin crawl.
He walked toward me and gripped both of my shoulders firmly.
“What’s your name, warrior?”
I met his gaze steadily. “Eldan Goldriver, Your Highness. I’m not a warrior. Just a traveler passing through these woods.”
His smile deepened. “Well, Traveler, you fight with the skill of a legend. Do you even know who I am?”
I shook my head. “No, Your Highness. I can see you’re royalty, but I only arrived in this kingdom recently. I don’t know the noble houses.”
He laughed, a rich, confident sound. “I am Prince Therion Eastgarden, heir to the Kingdom of Eastgarden. You saved my life today, Eldan. And the lives of my men.” His grip tightened slightly. “I always repay my debts. Tell me, what do you desire? Gold? Land? A title? Name it, and it’s yours.”
I pretended to hesitate, lowering my eyes in humble gratitude while my mind raced.
This was the moment.
I had planned to ask for a minor position, perhaps a guard in the outer barracks, so I could get close to the royal maids and begin extracting information. But before I could speak, the prince continued, his eyes gleaming with that strange, satisfied light.
“Actually… I have a better idea.”
He released my shoulders and stepped back, looking me up and down like a prized horse.
“You will return with us to the palace. A man with your skill and courage deserves more than a traveler’s life. You’ll stay as my honored guest… and perhaps as a new member of the royal guard.”
My pulse quickened.
The palace.
Exactly where I needed to be.
I bowed my head. “You honor me, Your Highness.”
As the surviving soldiers helped the injured onto makeshift stretchers, Prince Therion walked beside me toward the road where fresh horses were being brought. He kept glancing at me sideways, that calculating smile never quite leaving his face.
I ignored the unease in my gut.
My mission was simple: infiltrate the palace, seduce or befriend the royal maids, use them to steal their inside secrets, weakness and deliver them to my people before the war began in earnest.
Nothing more.
But as we rode out of the Whispering Woods, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Prince Therion had plans of his own.
The journey to the capital took several hours, but the moment we emerged from the Whispering Woods, the atmosphere completely changed.
Citizens lined the wide stone roads, waving banners and shouting Prince Therion’s name with genuine joy.
“The Prince returns!”
“Long live Prince Thorne!”
Children ran alongside our horses, throwing flowers. Women blushed and called out his name. The prince rode at the front, smiling and waving like the perfect golden heir, but I noticed how calculated every gesture was.
Popular, charming, and dangerous.
The palace of Eastgarden rose ahead like a monument to human ambition. Massive white marble walls gleamed under the afternoon sun, topped with golden spires that pierced the sky. Lush gardens surrounded the main structure, filled with exotic flowers and fountains that sparkled like liquid diamonds. It was breathtaking and exactly the kind of decadent display my people resented. This kingdom’s wealth had come at the cost of the ancient forests we elves had protected for centuries.
We entered through the grand gates. Servants and guards bowed deeply as we passed. Prince Therion led me straight into the heart of the palace, through towering halls decorated with priceless tapestries and glowing crystal chandeliers.
The Royal Court was even more impressive.
The massive throne room was filled with nobles, ministers, and several younger princes. At the center sat King Aldric Eastgarden on a magnificent golden throne. He was a stern, broad-shouldered man in his fifties with a neatly trimmed beard. Flanking him were his four wives, all beautiful in different ways, dressed in luxurious silks and jewels. They watched everything with sharp, curious eyes.
Prince Therion stepped forward confidently, pulling me with him.
“Father,” he announced, his voice echoing through the hall. “I have returned from the hunt, but not without incident. We were attacked by a Giant Bear in the Whispering Woods. Nearly all our soldiers were injured. If not for this man, Eldan Goldriver, I would not be standing here today.”
All eyes turned to me.
Therion continued dramatically, recounting the battle in vivid detail, praising my bravery and skill. When he finished, the king studied me carefully for a long moment.
“You saved the life of my heir,” King Aldric said, his voice deep and authoritative. “The Eastgarden Kingdom owes you a great debt. Name your reward, Eldan Goldriver. Whatever you desire shall be granted.”
I bowed respectfully, keeping my expression humble.
Before I could answer, Prince Therion spoke again, that same unsettling smile playing on his lips.
“Father, a warrior of Eldan’s caliber is too valuable to simply send away with a bag of coins. I believe he should remain in the palace as our honored royal guest. He will learn our customs, our ways, and our system of governance. In time, we could appoint him to an important role in the royal guard or even as a personal protector. His skills could prove invaluable to the kingdom.”
The king raised an eyebrow but slowly nodded.
“A wise suggestion, my son.” He turned to me. “What do you say, Eldan? Will you accept our hospitality?”
I bowed deeper, hiding my racing thoughts.
“I am deeply honored, Your Majesty. I accept with gratitude.”
The court clapped politely. Servants immediately began whispering. But inside, my mind was spinning.
Too fast. Everything is moving too fast.
Prince Therion had pushed for this with suspicious enthusiasm. That calculating smile of his never reached his eyes. He was planning something, I was sure of it.
As the formalities concluded and people began to disperse, Prince Therion placed a hand on my shoulder again.
“Come, Eldan. There is someone special I want you to meet.”
He led me out of the main throne room and down a wide corridor toward the royal gardens. My heart beat steadily, but I stayed alert. This was my chance to begin observing the palace layout and identifying useful targets, particularly the royal maids.
We stepped into a sunlit courtyard filled with blooming flowers and marble statues. And then…
She appeared.
A Princess stepped out from behind a flowering arch, and the entire world seemed to freeze around me.
Gods above…
She was devastating.
The princess was wearing an incredibly bold royal gown in shimmering sapphire blue and gold. The dress clung to her body like a lover’s hands, the deep plunging neckline barely containing her massive, heavy breasts that swayed with every step, creating deep, soft cleavage that made my mouth go dry.
But what completely destroyed my composure were her thighs.
The gown had extreme high slits on both sides, rising all the way to her wide hips. With every movement, both of her thick, plush, juicy thighs were completely exposed, pale, smooth, and mouth-wateringly full. They pressed together sensually as she walked, the soft flesh visibly jiggling with each hesitant step.
She looked incredibly uncomfortable, one hand subtly trying to pull the fabric over her exposed beautiful thighs, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
I couldn’t breathe.
How can a human be this beautiful? This… lush?
My cock twitched hard in my trousers. In over two hundred years of life, I had never seen a woman who affected me so instantly. Those massive thighs… I wanted to drop to my knees and worship them right there.
Prince Therion placed a firm hand on my shoulder.
“Eldan,” Therion said with that ever-present smile, “Allow me to introduce you to my beloved sister. This is Princess Liora Eastgarden.”
Princess Liora looked up, her large emerald eyes meeting mine with a mix of shyness and curiosity.
And for the first time since entering this kingdom, my mission felt dangerously compromised.
