I swallowed hard, trying not to let his reaction shake me. I needed him on my side, but I couldn’t afford to seem too eager to please. “I told you I could do it,” I said, meeting his gaze head-on.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small, worn notebook. I flipped through the pages until I found the passage I had spent all night decoding. “Listen to this,” I said, my voice steady as I began to read.

“‘Only those who ••••••• •••• ••••••• can attain what you desire. Thus, all the power and wealth will be achieved without a broken mind.’”

The words sent a shiver down my spine, their meaning slipping just out of reach. I’d been puzzling over those characters for hours, but no matter how many times I read it, the answer refused to reveal itself. It was frustrating, like staring at a lock without a key. I know I have seen this before, but I can't remember where.

The prince’s eyes narrowed as he tried to piece together the cryptic message. “These are the exact words from the scrolls,” I said, watching his reaction closely. “But this,••••••• •••• •••••••, I can’t decipher what it means.”

His expression shifted from shock to deep thought. Silence fell between us, thickening the air with the weight of the unknown.

“If these characters are beyond my understanding,” I continued, my voice unwavering, “it will take others years to make sense of them. During tomorrow’s interrogation, you must deny everything. The prince will come for you personally, and he will make you talk.”

A flicker of defiance flashed in his eyes. “Ha! How arrogant.”

Leaning in, I spoke more urgently. “I’ll tell him I failed to negotiate with you. When he questions you, say the scroll belongs to the princess, not you.”

“Why should I say that?” Suspicion laced his voice.

“Don't worry, they won’t find your sister for days. I’m trying to help you escape,” I said, my tone softening to reassurance.

Doubt shadowed his face. Trusting a stranger wasn’t easy, I know, especially now. But he needed to understand that both us are not in a good situation, I need his cooperation in order for my plan to work “If you don’t say those words, I can’t help you. The prince believes ‘the heart’ in the scrolls is literal, well, someone suggested it and they all believe it. He’s been collecting hearts from those he suspects hold the scrolls’ secrets. If you die here, do you think your sister later?”

His face hardened. “I won’t let my sister be dragged into this.”

Frustration surged, but I kept calm. “We’re buying time. If you die, who will protect her? She’s lucky I found her yesterday. Can she survive hiding in the woods alone?”

His eyes flickered, it seems my words is striking a home run.

“How can I trust your plan? My life might be over and so heart before then,” he said, quieter now.

I lowered my voice. “I have acquired a pill that can stop your heart temporarily and heal you faster than any elixir. Well, not all wounds you will get during interrogation, but its effective enough for you to escape discreetly. After the prince’s interrogation, make sure you’ll take it. It’ll appear as if you died. I’ll handle the rest inside but after that is up to you.”

Suspicion lingered. “How do you know they won’t question my death?”

“I’ve never seen anyone survive his interrogation for more than a week.”

The tension hung like a storm cloud. I kept my composure, I wondered if I’d pushed too hard. My heart pounded in my chest, but I kept my expression calm. He needed to believe I was in control of this plan. I couldn’t afford to show fear—not now. ‘Please, don’t let all my effort go to waste,’ I thought.

My words hung heavily in the air, and for a moment, I wondered if I’d pushed too hard. My heart pounded in my chest, but I kept my expression calm. He needed to believe I was in control. I couldn’t afford to show fear—not now.

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He stared at me, his mind racing as he considered my proposal. Finally, he spoke, barely above a whisper. “What’s your name?”

“What?” The question caught me off guard

“I’m Tuk,” I said hesitantly.

“Is that your real name?” he asked, trying to read my face.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s real or not, right?”

“It matters to us knights who rely on trust,” he said firmly.

I hesitated.

Giving someone your name was like handing them a thread—one they could pull on and unravel the person I worked so hard to become. But right now, trust was a currency I needed, and it's not like he can find me in my world.

“My name is Sunniva. You can call me Sunni or Iva,” I introduced myself for the first time in this world.

“I’m Richard Helios, the last prince of Homonhon. I trust you, Sunniva, and will help decode this in return for your aid.” His vow was solemn, binding as if making a vow to a god.

“Are you done?” I promptly asked when he finished. I don't have time for this.

Silence stretched until he whispered, “Heart.”

He looked at me, a glimmer of realization in his eyes. “the word means ‘heart’ in our language. The last character ••••••• means heart and ••••••• means learned. Together, it translates to learned the heart, which can also mean love.’”

We both fell silent after he explained the word. The prince smirked. “Ha! That man can never attain my ancestor’s power because he doesn’t know how to love.”

His smirk was triumphant, but my mind raced in a different direction.

The realization hit me like a lightning bolt. The pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. Without a word, I grabbed my notes and scribbled down the fully translated phrase, my hand moving almost on its own as the weight of the meaning sank in.

What Richard said might make sense in his context, but not with the scroll. If the heart in the scroll meant the same as love, why change the character? Something didn’t add up.

A wide smile spread across my face as the truth of the ancient words unfolded before me.

> 📜

>

> ʘⲠ𝖫𝖸 7#❍53 ᗵ#❍ ••••••• •••• ••••••• 4Ⲡ 47741Ⲡ ᗵ#47 7#3𝖸 ☥351ⲅ3. 〒#ⵡ5, 4𝖫𝖫 ⚔Ϟ 4Ⲡ☥ ✥ ᗵ1𝖫𝖫 83 641Ⲡ3☥ ᗵ17#❍ⵡ7 4 8ⲅ❍|<3Ⲡ ᗶ1Ⲡ☥. 4Ⲡ☥ ᗵ34𝖫7# ᗵ1𝖫𝖫 83 641Ⲡ3☥ ᗵ17#❍ⵡ7 4 8ⲅ❍|<3Ⲡ ᗶ1Ⲡ☥. 4Ⲡ☥ ✥ ᗵ1𝖫𝖫 83 641Ⲡ3☥ ᗵ17#❍ⵡ7 4 8ⲅ❍|<3Ⲡ ᗶ1Ⲡ☥. 4Ⲡ☥ ᗵ34𝖫7# ᗵ1𝖫𝖫 83 641Ⲡ3☥ ᗵ17#❍ⵡ7 4 8ⲅ❍|<3Ⲡ ᗶ1Ⲡ☥.

>

> Translate:

>

> Only those who learn the heart'can attain what they desire. Thus, all power and wealth will be gained without a broken mind.

“No, I don’t think that’s right, but we can still use what you said,” I muttered, my mind racing. Ideas juggled in my head like a chaotic circus act.

“What?” The prince’s voice snapped me back to reality, like a cold bucket of water thrown in my face.

“It’s not love... it’s the heart,” I mumbled. I looked at the prince and stepped closer, placing my hand on his chest while he remained bound. I hope I’m right about this, I thought, recalling an unfinished scroll I had been decoding.

“⧨3Ⲡ1 4☥ ᗶ3.” The ancient words slipped from my tongue—a phrase I’d stumbled upon. If the power truly existed, this could be the key. But only a faint glimmer of light emerged, like a weary firefly struggling to glow. This must be the power the prince senses, I reasoned, or maybe just a reluctant spark.

“What are you doing?” he asked, confusion lacing his tone as if debating whether I was insane or just odd.

He's probably not the one with the key. The realization hit me like a brick. I fought the urge to groan in frustration and kept my expression neutral.

“I was told your royal family has two sons and one daughter. Is that true?” I asked, forcing an air of casual curiosity.

His face darkened, as though someone had extinguished the last flame of joy in his eyes. “My brother died protecting the border, along with my parents. It’s just my sister and me now.”

“So, she’s the one with the heart problem,” I said, almost to myself.

The silence between us grew heavy, punctuated by the subtle shift in his posture. “Why do you want to know?” His voice was cautious, weighing if I was a dangerous ally or a fool grasping at straws.

“If my theory is correct,” I said, urgency seeping into my voice, “then His Highness must never find your sister.” The realization felt like ice water down my spine. I must find the princess first before him. How did I almost miss this?

The prince’s eyes narrowed, confusion mixing with reluctant admiration. I must have stumbled onto something bigger than I thought.

“That’s what I’m trying to prevent!” he snapped, frustration burning behind his words.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed down the corridor. A surge of panic tightened my chest. Without thinking, I grabbed his collar, yanking him close until our breaths mingled. “Listen carefully,” I whispered, each word weighted with the risk of this plan.

“Richard, Prince of Homonhon—when you ‘die,’ I’ll place a bottle in your pocket. Spray it over yourself when you wake up. The scent will mask your trail and buy you at least a day. They’ll believe you died during interrogation. I’ll make sure there’s no trace left of you around.”

His eyes flickered between suspicion, confusion, and a flicker of trust that made my chest tighten.

“I’ll be waiting for you at the playground—that’s what your sister left for you. Don’t make this opportunity go to waste,” I whispered, barely keeping my voice steady. My fingers gripped his collar, feeling his pulse pounding under my thumb. The enormity of what I was risking pressed down on me, heavy and suffocating.

“We only get one shot at this,” I added, just as the guard’s footsteps drew near.

“Hey, visit’s over. They need you upstairs,” the guard warrior barked.

I shoved Richard away with feigned irritation. “This is pointless,” I snapped, storming out to sell the act.

I’m almost there. Just a little more, and I might finally go back. There's a way for me to go back. My pulse quickened, each beat pounding in my ears like a war drum. My hands trembled, and I clenched them to steady myself. There was no turning back.

As I emerged from the dungeon, a familiar voice called out, “Tuk! You’re safe!” It was Sire Leon, relief thick in his voice as he hurried to me.

The sight of everyone alive was a small comfort, but the weariness etched into their faces spoke of hard-won survival. “Sire Leon, everyone... I’m glad you made it,” I said, pushing Leon’s head away playfully as he leaned in for a hug. “But we’re not safe yet. We’ve got a problem with the scroll.”

Silence fell over the group, tension crackling like a live wire.

“W-what do you mean?” Marco’s voice trembled. I looked at the worry plain on their faces as my words sank in.

“See this?” I pointed to a small scratch on my neck, a parting gift from the prince I received yesterday. “He gave me this. It's because we have another unknown character we have to discover on the last scroll. ”

Their faces turned pale, understanding that there's another surprise in the scroll that we don't know about.

“Should we heal our wounds before collecting new ones?” I said with forced sarcasm, leading them toward the clinic.

The war was over, but its scars lingered well not physically I guessed. Strangely, my own wounds healed in days—far faster than seemed normal. Was it the ointment, or they have real healing abilities? Could their medicine be more advanced than ours?

I’m so stupid! Now that I think about it, all their products feel familiar, like relics from my world. Could the black market elixir actually be real? Guilt twisted inside me at the thought of using it on Richard, it worked in small animals... but I am not sure with humans, well if it didn't work, there was always Plan B.

What kind of era is this? I thought with a hint of exasperation. If I’d known I’d end up here, I’d have actually studied isekai instead of skimming its stories. Now, all I do was just going with the flow, but the flow I am currently riding seems like a big wave threatening to become a storm.

Marceau had risen as the sole ruler, promising sweeping changes. I’d taken too many risks, placed too many gambles. But how much longer could I keep this up? The question thudded in my chest, relentless and unnerving: Would I survive what was coming, or would it devour me whole?