Since I didn't really have clothing, I was forced to sew some makeshift trousers and a cloak. I wanted to get back to the castle before the princess came. With that in mind, I sent Alex, who stayed around the shop silently watching me work each day to let Marcella know I would come to the castle.
Once I donned my pants and cloak, I headed out of the shop alone. My two guards needed to stay at the shop, but after seeing me, they didn't seem worried about me going alone. They had seen my creations that were all stored in my inventory. These 6 days had clearly brought my stats to new heights, but I wanted to wait and show Marcella before I even looked at myself.
But, before that, I needed to get myself some new clothes. Since tonight was my first night as an adult with Marcella, but also my last night with her for a month or more, I wanted to look my best. I really wish that we had more time together, considering how close we had gotten.
Navigating the streets of Havenby, I made my way to one of the finer clothiers in the city, hoping they would still be open at this hour. The shop, a quaint establishment with a reputation for quality, welcomed me as I pushed through the door.
The attendant, a middle-aged man with a tape measure perpetually draped around his neck, looked up from his ledger. His eyes widened upon seeing my stature, quickly replaced by a professional gleam of opportunity.
"Good evening, sir!" he exclaimed. "What can we do for you tonight? Some fine evening attire, perhaps?"
I nodded, my voice a deep baritone that I was still getting used to. "Yes, exactly. I... well, I've recently come into a new... position, and require appropriate clothing. The best you have, and quickly."
The attendant sized me up with a practiced eye. "Certainly, sir. We have some ready-made suits that may fit you, or we can make some adjustments as needed. Please, this way to try them on."
After being ushered into a fitting room, I tried on several suits, each better than the last. The final choice was a dark blue suit, tailored to perfection, fitting my newly acquired form like it had been made for me.
"Marvelous choice, sir," the attendant praised, clearly pleased with his handiwork. "A truly sharp look."
Satisfied with my appearance, I paid for the suit and left the shop, now fully prepared for dinner at the castle. There was an air of confidence in my steps, a newfound poise that I carried through the castle gates, past the guards who had been warned I might look older, and into the grand hall that led to Marcella's quarters.
Upon seeing Marcella, I was struck by her beauty and grace. She was dressed in a stunning gown that complemented her figure, and her eyes shone with a mix of surprise and admiration as she took in my transformed appearance.
"Gideon," she breathed, her voice a mixture of disbelief and delight. "Is that... Really the same little boy I just had lunch with?"
"In my defense, I was never really a little boy from the start," I chuckled as I walked into her room, talking her into my arms. It felt so natural Marcella leaned into the embrace, her head resting against my chest for a moment before she pulled back to get a better look. Her eyes traced the lines of my adult face, taking in each feature as if committing them to memory.
"You look... incredible," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "And while I've enjoyed our time together these past weeks, I can't help but feel we are meeting for the first time all over again."
"I know what you mean," I replied, my own heart beating with a mix of excitement and anticipation. "But I promise, I'm still the same person underneath. The same man who's determined to make a difference and return safely to you."
With a deep breath, I took Marcella's hand, and we made our way to the dining room where a private table had been set for us. The meal passed in a blur of shared glances and conversation that flowed seamlessly from laughter to deep discussions of the future.
As the dinner came to an end and we lingered over dessert, I decided it was the perfect time to reveal my heightened stats. Drawing forth my status screen, I watched Marcella's eyes widen in awe at the numbers that danced before her.
"Your growth is astounding, Gideon. The work you've done, the skills you've developed... it's no wonder the king places such faith in you," she said, her voice a mix of pride and concern.
I smiled reassuringly. "I will do everything in my power to end this conflict and protect our lands," I said, reaching for her hand again. "But for tonight, let's forget about wars and responsibilities. Tonight, we're just Gideon and Marcella, enjoying each other's company."
And so we did, talking, drinking, and laughing until the stars blanketed the night sky, allowing ourselves to enjoy a serene moment together in a world that was bracing for the storm to come.
The next morning I woke up with my first slight hangover, but the naked pressing into me with a moan sobered me up real fast. I turned my head to find Marcella's beautiful eyes staring back at mine, and then everything from last night came back to my mind in a rush.
Her smile felt like the first warm light of dawn after a long, harrowing night. A soft blush colored her cheeks, and she nestled in closer as if trying to hold onto the silence of the early morning that shrouded us in its fleeting peace.
"Good morning," Marcella whispered, her voice husky with sleep and something more tender. The poignant realization that this moment was a precipice, a precious pause before the plunge into chaos, filled the room.
"Morning," I replied, my heart full. The weight of the coming day settled on my shoulders once again, but her presence—a reminder of what I was fighting for—made it a burden I could weather.
We lay there for a while longer, holding each other, until the inevitability of sunrise and duty pulled us from the cocoon of bed sheets. After a shared beleaguered sigh, we disentangled ourselves, getting ready to face the world outside the chamber walls.
After we kissed, Marcella leaned in, kissed my cheek, but then whispered, "I might have news for you when you get back. Maybe the promise of a future Heir?"
The words sent my heart into a fluttering chaos, a mixture of fear, hope, and overwhelming joy. For a split second, everything else—the war, my father, the unknown dangers lurking—melted away, leaving only the sheer enormity of her words.
"That's... incredible if it does come to pass," I managed to say, finding her gaze with eyes that must have mirrored the storm of emotions I was trying to navigate.
"Truly," she said softly, her own emotions playing across her face. "But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Just... keep it in your heart as a reason to return safely to us."
I nodded, the weight of her possible revelation, and its implications, dampening the fire of my adventure-tempered spirit. But maybe that wasn't a bad thing. Maybe it was the temperance I needed—something personal and vital to fight for amidst the grander scale of kingdoms and wars.
After we parted ways, I took one last glance back at Marcella. She was a pillar—strong and unwavering, the future Queen who could one day carry the promise of continuity for our people. A bittersweet smile graced my lips.
With that thought anchoring me, I stepped away and began the final preparations for my journey. I had battles to wage, a kingdom to aid, and now, perhaps more than ever, a compelling reason to survive.
The journey to Corundum would be fraught with challenges, but with my newfound strength, the support I had in Marcella, Kuka, and Daelen, and now the potential of a new life linked to my own, I felt ready to face whatever lay ahead.