Kieran was a handsome man, and her rescuer. This prince sitting on the throne was also a very handsome man.
Emily liked and could appreciate handsome men.
No amount of handsome men in the world could make up for the sheer amount of confusion she felt.
The man - who she still assumed was the prince by context clues - leaned forward with interest, eyes roving over her almost uncomfortably intense. "The keybearer?"
Kieran turned to her. "Emily. Tell Prince Adrien how you arrived."
"I-I don't know, I-" Kieran gave her a patient, supportive look. She swallowed, and turned her gaze back to the prince.
"I...just...woke up in the forest a little while ago? I was riding home on the last train of the night back from work, and then I closed my eyes just for a moment - really I was just - I suppose I was a bit too tired...."
She was getting sidetracked.
"I- I woke up in the forest. When I went looking for someone to explain how I got here I met these..things..."
"Orcs." Kieran offered helpfully.
"O-Orcs..." She slowly nodded, looking over at Kieran and then the prince. "And then he saved me and took me here."
Prince Adrien squinted at her and then slowly nodded. "...I see. And you believe her story, Kieran?"
The red-haired knight nodded. "I believe it to be so. Look at her unusual garb."
"Mmh." The man nodded then, and then stood.
The prince pressed his hand to his chest once he stood, and...bowed.
"Keybearer. You honor Verilonia with your presence."
"..I-what??"
"You must be exhausted, and injured. Please, let me heal you and bring you to your rooms, where you can rest and refresh yourself."
He reached out to take her arm.
"Wait." Kieran held his arm out in front of the prince, and the prince's brows furrowed, glaring at Kieran's hand.
Kieran gave a slight smile and withdrew his hand. "If I may, my prince...you shouldn't touch the keybearer. Not before the ceremony to induct her as the Keybearer. It would be improper."
Adrien looked unhappy.
Kieran bowed again and continued. "As her protector, I will escort her to her rooms."
The prince sighed. "Very well."
"Come." Kieran gestured to Emily, and she was too shell shocked to protest, following after him.
'What on earth is going on here?'
"Where are we going...?"
"To the baths. To heal your feet. You're leaving a trail of blood everywhere."
She blushed, embarrassed. She wasn't sure why she felt embarrassed, it wasn't like she was asking to bleed all over the floor, but it did seem a bit inconsiderate.
"Please - don't feel bad." He smiled gently, touching her cheek with his hand.
"A young woman with no skills, armor, or weapons surviving an encounter with no less than three orcs is incredible. Be proud of the marks you bear that prove this."
The blush on her cheeks deepened, but...it did make her feel a little better.
Kieran walked her through a hall.
"So...uh...I'm a 'keybearer'...?"
"Not yet officially, but yes."
"I just...woke up in the forest."
"Yes. You're the keybearer. A young woman with green hair and purple eyes will appear, and her arrival will herald the beginning of the end."
"...That--" She shrank away from him a little. "You're...not going to kill me to stop the end are you?"
His laugh was warm. Kind.
She liked it.
"No." He shook her head. "The Keybearer's role is not to destroy the world, but to save it."
"I-...don't think you have the right person-"
He smiled. "The role of Keybearer is to find the 7 keys and unlock their power, not to fight in the battle. Don't worry. In the ceremony you'll learn more about it."
"The 7 keys?"
He nodded. "The prophesy states there are 7 keys hidden in this land that only you can perceive and release. When combined, they will unlock the ultimate power."
Ultimate power, huh...? Sounds kinda cool.
"Do you know anything about them?"
"No. That wasn't included in the prophesy. Prince Adrien is an expert on the prophesy, though. I only have casual knowledge of it." He gently gestured toward a door. "Here, you can bathe and have your feet bandaged."
He led her inside and bowed to her.
"I will wait here until you are finished. Please take your time."
"A-ah...yes. Thank you."
It wasn't like she had a choice.
She stepped into the baths, and looked around, and then stared.
The baths were huge. Bigger than her apartment. And she felt terrible about tracking bloody footprints through it. But she'd been doing that all through the palace, she supposed.
"Hello?" She called out cautiously, and a servant came rushing from a door off to the side.
"Oh, look at you! Poor thing. Don't worry, we'll get you fixed up in a jiffy."
It was a bit difficult to be bathed by another woman when she wasn't used to anyone bathing her, but Emily was exhausted, and confused, and the woman was kind and gentle, and before she knew it, she was being wrapped in a soft, fluffy robe and her feet were being bandaged.
"Thank you so much, ma'am."
"Oh, no need to thank me! It's no trouble darling." The woman was older than her. Almost old enough to be her mother.
It was...comforting.
"Here. Let me dress you. We've been waiting for the Keybearer's arrival for some time, so we have prepared her quarters and some clothing."
She nodded and let herself be helped into a clean dress.
It was soft.
"Thank you. I'll...be careful not to dirty it."
The woman laughed. "Oh, nonsense. This is nothing. You're the Keybearer, after all!"
She gave the woman a slightly confused smile and a nod, then looked back over her shoulder. "Kieran is waiting outside, isn't he?"
"Oh! Of course! I'm sure he'll show you to your room."
She nodded, and the woman bowed to her. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. We're here to serve the Keybearer."
"Ah. Thank you. I'll...keep that in mind."
She left the baths and the woman, finding Kieran leaning against the wall outside the room, a relaxed expression on his face.
He was...really quite handsome.
"Kieran."
He smiled and bowed to her. "Are you feeling refreshed?"
"I am. I was told that you'd show me to my rooms?"
He nodded and stood straight.
"Yes. Right this way."
Her feet were bandaged, but...still a bit tender. She leaned heavily on his arm as they walked.
She could feel her face burning, but she resolutely tried to ignore her stupid blush.
He led her down the hall and into a large room with a gigantic canopy bed. It was covered in a mountain of pillows, and there was a vanity and a wardrobe.
"You may change in the wardrobe if you like. The servants will be washing the garments you arrived in now. When you're done exploring your room and getting comfortable, rest. You look exhausted."
She nodded, and...he didn't move.
She stared at him.
His hand reached up to gently caress her cheek. "Your eyes...are the color of the amethyst gems."
She gave a nervous chuckle that she hoped didn't make it so obvious how charming she found him.
"Then...then yours are like rubies."
He smiled at her and gently pulled away. "Rest. You've had a long day."
She nodded, and watched him turn and walk out of the room.
It was a little silly, but...she found herself missing his warmth when he was gone.
He's just...a good guy.
She shook her head, and lightly smacked her cheeks.
"Agh, stop smiling...!"