With reluctance, Freen followed him out to one of the balconies overlooking the ballroom, separating them from the rest of the guests. The soft glow of the moon and the distant music drifting from the ballroom did little to alleviate the heavy tension between them.

Once they were alone in the dimly lit corner of the balcony, Prince Renard's façade dissolved, revealing the true extent of his malice. "You've become quite bold, haven't you, Princess Freen? Accusing me of sabotage in front of everyone."

Freen's heart raced, and she could feel the weight of danger pressing down on her. She struggled to maintain her composure, knowing that her situation was growing increasingly wrong. "Like I said before, I did no such thing! I haven't said a word about any of you trying to sabotage me during the tournament."

Prince Renard's anger simmered beneath the surface, his grip on Freen's arm tightening for a moment before he released her. He paced back and forth on the balcony.

"You dare to accuse me, an Alpha, of foul play," Prince Renard hissed, his voice dripping with disdain. "You think your little charade can go unpunished?"

Freen's heart pounded louder with each passing moment. She scanned the ballroom below, desperately searching for any sign of Rebecca's, but the sea of guests made it nearly impossible to spot her.

"I haven't accused anyone," Freen replied, her voice trembling but defiant. "I don't know what you're talking about. The investigation hasn't even begun. I didn't even know that you were one of the heirs that tampered with the tournament."

Prince Renard stopped pacing and fixed his cold, calculating gaze on Freen. "Don't play games with me, Princess. You may be a champion in archery, but you're still an Omega. You have no place here, and you will learn to stay in your lane."

Freen's breath caught in her throat as she realized the depth of Prince Renard's prejudice and his will to silence her. She needed to get back to the safety of the ballroom and find Rebecca. Panic began to well up within her. As Freen's fear grew, she couldn't control the release of her pheromones, a clear sign of her distress. She knew that, in this moment, she was vulnerable, and she needed to find a way to escape Prince Renard's menacing presence.

------------------

Meanwhile, Rebecca had finally retrieved the glasses of water and was carefully weaving her way back through the packed ballroom. Rebecca expected to find Freen waiting right where she had left her but to her dismay, Freen was nowhere to be seen. Confused, Rebecca scanned the sea of elaborately dressed guests, thinking perhaps Freen had simply wandered off. But there was no sign of Freen anywhere.

Unease pricked at Rebecca's mind. It wasn't like Freen to just disappear without saying anything. She had seemed exhausted only minutes before, not inclined to stray far. Something wasn't right. Still clutching the full water glasses, Rebecca began pushing through the crowds more urgently, calling Freen's name over the music and chatter. Her heartbeat quickened when she got no response.

Frantically, Rebecca began to discreetly ask some of the guests if they had seen Freen. Most of them were too engrossed in the festivities to have notice anything unusual. As Rebecca continued her frantic search for Freen, her heart sank further with each passing moment. Freen's absence was deeply unsettling, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible might have happened.

Just then, Rebecca suddenly spotted Lord Harrington. He was the very person who would lead the investigation of the archery tournament. Not hesitating for a second, Rebecca approached Lord Harrington, her voice trembling with urgency.

"Lord Harrington, please, I need your help. Something's happened to Princess Freen. I can't find her anywhere, and I fear she might be in danger."

Lord Harrington's brow furrowed in concern. "Princess, please, take a deep breath," he replied, setting his drink down. "Princess Freen probably got caught with another engagement. What makes you worry so?"

Princess Rebecca's voice trembled as she struggled to convey her frantic worry. "I just... she suddenly disappeared. I went to get some refreshments for both of us, and when I returned, she was no longer there, where I left her. I know something must have happened! ...She wouldn't have left without telling me. I'm sure it's one of the heirs from the tournament. I was worried about this happening, and that's why I tried to stay with her... I should have asked my handmaiden to fetch us some water...."

Lord Harrington studied Rebecca's distressed face, seeing how genuinely alarmed she was. "Very well," he said gravely. "Show me precisely where you last saw Princess Freen. We will conduct a thorough search - starting with where you last saw her to her quarters, the grounds, questioning guests and staff. Hopefully we will locate her promptly, safe and sound."

"And princes... Everything will be alright. We'll find her, and I promise you, we won't rest until we do," he reassured her with a gentle squeeze of her shoulder.

------------------

Back to Freen

Freen's escalating fear only seemed to grow Prince Renard's confidence further. He took a step closer, his eyes narrowing. In a swift and violent motion, he slapped Freen hard across the face, the force of it causing her to stumble backward and collide with the wall of the balcony. Pain seared through her cheek, and she could taste the metallic tang of blood on her lip where her teeth had cut into the flesh.

Freen cried out in shock, raising a trembling hand to her mouth. Her heart raced as she tried to figure out a way to get herself out of the dangerous situation. But she didn't see a way to break free. She pressed herself against the wall, trembling with a mixture of fear, anger, and helplessness. The dimly lit balcony offered no escape, and the music and laughter from the ballroom below were muffled. Freen desperately wanted to cry out for help, but it was as if her voice had deserted her in this moment of dire need.

Hot tears stung her eyes but she blinked them back, refusing to show any more weakness. Her cheek and lip throbbed, but defiance rose in Freen's heart, quelling her earlier panic. She would not cower before this loathsome prince. Freen had bested cruel, powerful men before, and she would do it again.

Drawing herself up, Freen met Prince Renard's scornful gaze unflinchingly. "Striking a defenseless woman reveals the feebleness of your character, not mine," she stated, her voice steady despite her rattled nerves. The sounds from the ballroom suddenly seemed very far away, leaving her entirely at his mercy. But she knew help would come if she could just buy time and keep him talking. Rebecca had to have noticed her absence.

Prince Renard let out a cruel, mocking laugh. "You dare lecture me about character? You're nothing but a deceitful little snake who has slithered beyond her rightful place." He grabbed her chin forcefully, his fingers digging into her bruising skin. "I think it's time someone taught you a lesson in respect."

Freen refused to flinch, glaring defiantly up at him even as her heart hammered with dread. She had to keep him talking, buy herself more time. "You call me deceitful yet attack from the shadows," she shot back. "Why don't you share what this lesson is really about? Perhaps your bruised ego after being bested in the tournament?"

Renard's expression contorted in rage and he slammed his fist into the wall just inches from Freen's head. She jumped despite herself. "You need to learn when to hold your tongue!" he snarled. "By the time we're through here, you'll be begging for mercy."

With a menacing grin, Prince Renard leaned in close, his hot breath against Freen's ear sending a shiver down her spine. "You see, Omega, you're nothing in the grand scheme of things. I'll make sure you understand your place."

His threat hung heavy in the air between them. Freen frantically tried to calculate her next move, alone and trapped with this dangerous, unhinged man. She had to escape...and quickly...

With her heart pounding and adrenaline surging, Freen made a desperate attempt to break free. She pushed against Prince Renard with all her strength, managing to create some distance between them. In a panicked rush, she tried to run toward the entrance back into the ballroom, her vision blurred with tears and pain.

Prince Renard, seething with anger, lunged forward to grab Freen again. Just as his fingers brushed against her arm, the balcony door swung open suddenly, flooding the dimly lit space with the bright light from the ballroom. In the doorway stood Rebecca and Lord Harrington, their expressions shocked seeing Freen's condition.

"Freen!" Rebecca cried, rushing towards her. But Lord Harrington held her back. "Let her go, Prince Renard!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with worry and anger.

Lord Harrington, too, was taken aback but he didn't want princess Rebecca to get into any harm. Instead, he strode forward, placing himself between the cowering princess and Prince Renard.

"Stay back!" he commanded Renard, whose chest heaved with barely contained fury.

Prince Renard, caught off guard by their sudden appearance, hesitated for a moment. His eyes darted between Rebecca and Lord Harrington. Realizing that he was outnumbered and that the situation could quickly escalate, he reluctantly released Freen.

As soon as Prince Renard released her, Freen's legs suddenly weakened, and she crumbled to the floor, her body trembling with shock and fear. Rebecca rushed towards Freen, her concern and anger evident. She knelt beside her, gently cradling her in her arms.

"Freen, oh Freen," Rebecca whispered, her voice thick with emotion. She tenderly brushed a strand of hair from her battered face. Freen's split, swollen lip and the angry red welt on her cheek made Rebecca's stomach twist with anguish and rage.

"It's going to be alright," she murmured soothingly, though her heart ached at seeing Freen in that shape. "You're safe now. You don't have to be afraid anymore."

Freen clung to Rebecca, taking comfort in her familiar scent of roses. Her pheromones, released in response to fear, continued to linger in the air. But gradually, Rebecca's presence helped dissipate the distress signals. The sweet floral notes of Rebecca's natural fragrance replaced the overpowering pheromones that had filled the balcony just moments ago.

As Rebecca tended to Freen, Lord Harrington turned his attention to the still seething Prince Renard. His expression was like stone as he stepped forward. "You will come with me this instant, Your Highness," he commanded, his tone brooking no argument.

Prince Renard's lip curled in contempt, but Lord Harrington cut him off before he could retort and grasped Renard's arm. "Make no mistake - there will be consequences for your behavior. Assault against a member of a royal household is no trivial offense."

Freen, still reeling from the encounter, started crying softly, trying to muffle her sobs against Rebecca's shoulder. As she clung to Rebecca, she could taste the metallic taste of blood that lingered in her mouth. Her cheek throbbed with a sharp, persistent ache, and every movement of her jaw sent waves of pain through her face. Rebecca, her heart heavy with anger and concern, gently stroked Freen's hair, offering what comfort she could in this distressing moment.

Her anger flared as she held Freen, her eyes flashing with fury as she glared at Prince Renard. "You should be ashamed of yourself!" she seethed, her voice laced with rage and disappointment. "Attacking an innocent person like this. is utterly inexcusable"

Prince Renard glared back at Rebecca, his eyes filled with defiance. "Ashamed? I have nothing to be ashamed of. She should know her place, and so should you," he spat back.

As Rebecca continued to cradle Freen and exchange heated words with Prince Renard, he made a sudden, desperate attempt to break free from Lord Harrington's grip. With a swift movement, he elbowed the investigator in the chest, causing him to stagger backward. Lord Harrington quickly signaled for the palace knights to secure Prince Renard and they swiftly moved in, surrounding him and ensuring that he couldn't escape again.

With a stern nod, Lord Harrington instructed them, "Take Prince Renard to the dungeon. He will await the king's judgment there."

The knights moved swiftly to carry out the orders while Prince Renard offered no more resistance as he was led away.