Nyssa blinked. "I thought you said you were the Queen. What do you mean by fellow prisoner?"
"Aren't you a princess? How're you a prisoner?" She deadpanned.
Nyssa gulped.
"Can you come closer?" Nyssa heard the Queen whisper.
Nyssa suddenly felt Oren's hand over her arm. He didn't want her to go. The 'queen' wasn't to be trusted. It was odd how she could immediately understand him.
"I know you don't trust me. But rest assured, I have no plans of hurting you. In fact, that's far from it."
Gently pulling away from Oren, she stepped closer to the bars. Her eyes met Ingrid's, and she softly gasped.
Ingrid blinked. She was used to that reaction. People always stared at her as if she were something ethereal.
Nyssa noticed her apparel and ornaments. There was no doubt about it. She was the Queen.
"Why are you here?" Nyssa asked quietly. "To mock me? Or out of pity?"
Ingrid tilted her head, studying the girl's features.
"Blossoming," she said suddenly.
"Huh?" Nyssa raised a brow.
"No wonder you attracted him." Ingrid inhaled slowly. "I heard about… what happened to your kingdom and your family. I came to offer my condolences."
Nyssa narrowed her eyes. "I don't understand. Why…?"
"Because they died?" Ingrid replied dully.
Nyssa bit her cheek. Blunt, very blunt for a queen.
"I get that," Nyssa said slowly. "I mean… does that mean you're not in support of your husband's actions?"
Ingrid noticed her wary look and offered a soft smile. "I am not."
Nyssa's brows lifted.
At the far end of the cell, Oren listened intently, his frown deepening. He wondered if the Queen had ulterior motives.
Nyssa nodded. "Thank you for your kind gesture." She turned to walk back, but Ingrid called out.
"Wait."
Nyssa met her gaze again. Ingrid exhaled. "I actually came here because I wanted to talk."
Nyssa watched her, waiting.
"Your story saddened me," Ingrid continued. "It hurt to see how many people Damon has hurt, taken from, destroyed, all for his selfish interests." Rage flickered in her eyes and voice.
"I just wanted you to know you aren't alone."
She offered a small smile but Nyssa didn't return it.
Ingrid sighed. "Nyssa, I know how you may be feeling right now. All hope lost. Having no one…" Her voice wavered, then steadied. "It's horrible."
Nyssa stepped closer. "Were you… abducted too? From your kingdom?"
Ingrid glanced around, alert for guards or hidden ears. Then she turned back, her smile sad.
"Not really," she said. "But I was forced into marriage."
Nyssa gasped softly. "I was too," she whispered.
Ingrid nodded slowly.
"But… why is he doing all these?" Nyssa's voice trembled. "Why did he slaughter everyone? Why?" Tears formed in her eyes and threatened to fall, but she blinked them in.
Ingrid reached through the bars, taking Nyssa's hand. "Nyssa, Damon is a beast. And I cannot wait for his downfall."
Nyssa frowned. "You hate him too?"
Ingrid let out a bitter chuckle. "If I was willing to tap into forbidden magic just to avoid bearing his child, you can imagine."
Oren's head snapped up. Forbidden magic? She was a magic wielder?
Nyssa stepped back slightly. "W-what do you mean by that?"
Ingrid smiled. "My mother was a water manipulator. From a small kingdom, more like a minor village, Lore."
Oren's eyes widened. Lore had been wiped out too. He moved closer.
"Then how did you end up marrying someone who swore to eradicate magic entirely?"
Ingrid jumped back, her heart leaping to her throat. Someone had spoken behind Nyssa.
She noticed Nyssa remained calm, then frowned. "I thought you were the only one imprisoned."
"She was," Oren said, stepping fully into view. "How I ended up here is a long story."
Ingrid's gaze settled on him.
"You are a magic half-breed," he continued. "Then you should be on our side, right?" He raised a brow.
Nyssa shot him a questioning look. Ingrid stayed silent.
"I came here through teleportation," Oren added.
Her eyes widened. "Tele… forbidden magic?"
"Yes."
She studied him closely. "You seem healthy."
"And so do you," he replied flatly. "I came with the intent of helping the princess escape."
Ingrid's gaze snapped to Nyssa, who hesitated, unsure if sharing so much was wise. But she trusted Oren.
"You planned on escaping?"
"Well… a bit," Nyssa admitted, swallowing.
Ingrid sighed. "If only you knew how much I craved freedom. But it was impossible for me."
Oren watched her carefully. "You claimed you used forbidden magic. How was that possible in a kingdom that forbids magic entirely?"
"I never wanted to marry Damon," Ingrid said quietly. "Then he took advantage of me, leaving me no choice."
Nyssa gasped in horror. Damon truly was that kind of man.
"My own father didn't care about my happiness," Ingrid continued. "I was a tool for power. So out of desperation, pain, and rage, I yielded to the magic. I sealed my womb, denied that monster a child, and my father the benefit of a royal grandchild."
Nyssa gulped. The woman before her carried terrifying courage.
"Isn't it risky to discuss this here?" Nyssa whispered. "What if we're caught?"
Ingrid glanced around once more. "You're right. I won't stay long. I just wanted to… see you."
But Oren wasn't finished. "My plan was to escape with the princess through teleportation."
Ingrid turned to him.
"But I can't."
She frowned. "Why? Do it, then. If it keeps you both safe."
Oren chuckled darkly. "My magic isn't working."
Her eyes widened, then narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"I can't manipulate anything. It's as if something repels it."
The Queen stepped back instinctively, her hand moving to her belly.
"I can't feel the magic essence either," she murmured.
Oren nodded slowly. "Then my hunch is right. I think, no… I know your husband has obtained the Onyx Stone."
Ingrid blinked. "What?"
"The only anti-magic substance powerful enough to nullify magic entirely."
Her eyes darted as realization dawned. "That's why… but how? The stone no longer exists."
"As we all believed," Oren replied.
Ingrid exhaled shakily. "I think I should leave."
"Wait," Oren said. "This may be the last time we speak. I'd rather it be meaningful."
Nyssa frowned at him. What was he doing?
"I'll try visiting another time," Ingrid said. "I don't want to raise suspicion."
"It may already be too late," Oren said quietly. "This might be the last time you ever hear from us."
Her brows creased. "What do you mean?"
"Your husband has sentenced the princess to death. In two days."
A sharp gasp escaped her lips as her hands flew to her mouth. Nyssa turned away, the weight of the sentence crashing over her again.
Ingrid shook her head, horrified. "What?"
"You knew he would kill her," Oren said evenly.
"I never knew his plans!" Ingrid rushed toward Nyssa's direction."Oh, my dear… that's heartbreaking. What will you do?"
"We don't know," Oren replied. "We're helpless."
Suddenly, footsteps echoed. Heavy boots were approaching. Nyssa gasped. It was the guards!
Ingrid stepped back as Nyssa and Oren retreated into the shadows of the cell.
When the guards arrived, Ingrid spoke disdainfully, loud and cold. "A prisoner like you should be grateful. It is not easy to grace the dungeons of a mighty empire."
She then turned with a practiced smile. "Oh, you didn't have to come."
"We came to ensure the Queen's safety," they said, bowing.
Ingrid's lips twitched. Indeed. Casting one last glance at the cell, she dusted her skirt and walked away gracefully, with the guards following behind.
When the sound of footsteps faded, Nyssa rushed to Oren.
"What was that?" she whispered urgently.
"You told her everything. What if she tells Damon?"
Oren smirked faintly. "Call it an innate ability or whatever. I can sense when someone is lying. She was telling the truth."
Nyssa looked down. "But was there any need to tell her?"
"Yes."
She looked up. "Why?"
"Because I have a plan."