Eglon's smile twitched. For the first time, something dark flickered in his eyes. But it lasted only a second.
Then Ruth lifted her chin and continued, her voice cutting through the air like a blade.
"You must have a lot of guts to imprison a prince and a princess of Lionara."
That hit home.
King Eglon's fake gentleness cracked like a mask dropping. His expression turned sharp, his eyes cold. "So now you're saying anything just to scare me? That's cute," he said with a bitter smile. "But I'm glad you realize it. I am cold hearted."
He took a step closer to the bars, shadows clinging to him like a second skin.
"There's no way King Ikechukwu would let his children come here," he sneered. "He didn't even want to send cavalry to rescue you. Not even after your engagement to his son was announced. So no, Ruth, there's no way they would be here."
Ruth didn't flinch. Her next words hit like a thunderclap.
"Are you sure about that?"
Something in her voice made the guards tense.
