Deep in the dark, damp dungeon, faint voices echoed between stained walls.
"...The Rikaner Kingdom's Royal Family betrayed humanity. They conspired with the Ratfolk to march north and the Demons to descend south, leaving the Rikaner Kingdom in ruins between the Rat Tide and the Demon Tide. That is the truth as I know it..."
The figure standing before the Cell murmured, "You still won't change your story?"
The silhouette inside the cage held her head high. "You've abandoned the honor of the Montreal family."
"How many more days can you last? I'll come back once more. That will be your last chance... assuming you're not just a pile of bones by then."
Heavy footsteps and firelight receded, and darkness swallowed the place again.
Clank—clank—
The prisoner rattled her chains in the dark and pressed her dry, cracked lips to the wall, drawing what little moisture she could from it. She was nearly asleep in that position when a magical flash appeared in the Cell, making her squint.
In its faint light, a gift box appeared before her, with a letter resting on top.
[To Princess Sails:]
It's Annan. Do you remember me?
Your Younger Brother probably never expected me to survive, much less make it to the Tartun Empire. I'm a respected Champion Sorcerer now, you know?
I'm doing well here. The Golden Families follow the rules far better than the Montreals back home. I figure you're alive—who invites bandits in to slaughter their own family?—but I doubt you're doing well, because Your Highness is an upright person. Year 1000 of the Saint Laurent Calendar is almost here. Where I come from, we exchange gifts for the New Year, so I've prepared an Apple Pie for you. I hope you like it.
The letter and gift box that had