Leticia and Aleph arrived in one of the cities near the Spring Kingdom's capital and checked into the inn Daniel had recommended. The inn, a charming blend of Eastern and Western styles, welcomed them with a cozy atmosphere. During check-in, the attendant, with a mischievous smile, inquired if they were a couple and led them to a room specially decorated for newlyweds, replete with romantic and suggestive details.
"What did Daniel suggest?!" Aleph thought, embarrassed. "Princess Leticia, I will request that they change our room."
Before he could do so, Leticia interrupted him, her face flushed.
"There's no need, Aleph," she said softly. "It would be strange to refuse, since… we are a couple."
Aleph was surprised by the sudden response and the absence of the formal address. That simple "Aleph," without the title of "Sir" or "Knight," created an unexpected intimacy between them. On impulse, he decided to reciprocate the informality, calling her by her name.
"Leticia," he said with a gentle smile, "if you don't mind… I think this room will help disguise our identities."
With a brief bow, Aleph wished her goodnight and settled onto the comfortable sofa in the room, giving the bed to Leticia.
The Spring Kingdom, protected by a powerful magical barrier impenetrable by the Shineideas, offered a safe haven for Leticia and Aleph. This protective shield reassured Aleph, who knew that here, at least for now, Leticia would be safe.
While exploring the main city, Aleph encountered a familiar face: Kirin, an old friend. Leticia discreetly moved away so they could speak privately.
"That young lady is the princess of the Winter Kingdom, isn't she?" Kirin asked with a curious look. "Why are you escorting her?"
"What do you want, Kirin?" Aleph asked, getting straight to the point. "Do you have a message from Master Yoshi?"
"The message is from the Autumn Kingdom," Kirin replied, handing Aleph a sealed scroll.
Aleph opened the scroll and read its contents, his expression turning serious.
"Why didn't you go directly to the Autumn Kingdom?" Kirin questioned with a wry smile. "What's keeping you here? Don't tell me you're… stalling to spend more time with the princess?"
Aleph stared at him without answering. Kirin laughed, amused by his reaction.
"Don't tell me you haven't noticed!"
Kirin glanced in Leticia's direction and gestured to Aleph.
"Your princess is surrounded by parasites. At this very moment."
With a final wave, Kirin said goodbye and disappeared into the crowd.
Leticia was looking at a display window with some Spring Kingdom-style dresses when some young men approached her, and one of them spoke:
"That dress would look lovely on you, miss. That blue color would match your eyes perfectly."
He moved closer and spoke just so she could hear.
"But it would look much better without it."
Leticia was surprised, as she hadn't expected such a direct approach from a stranger.
"Thank you for the compliment, but I'm spoken for."
"He's not even here. How about we take a walk?"
Leticia noticed that the other two were surrounding her, preventing her from escaping. She couldn't cause a scene, but she couldn't allow this situation either. One of them put his hand on Leticia's shoulder, and when she tried to move away, the other one moved closer to touch her arm.
"We can keep you company, my love."
Before she could react, Aleph appeared like lightning, firmly gripping the arm of the man who was about to touch her and pulling him away abruptly. He stood between Leticia and the young men. When the three saw Aleph's icy glare, they realized they had no chance and, without a word, moved away. They had been trying to pull her into a hidden alleyway.
Aleph looked at Leticia with an expression of concern, but also confusion.
"Why didn't you do anything against them? Why did you act as if you were defenseless?"
She looked at him, a little surprised by the question.
"I'm strong, I could defend myself," Leticia replied, trying not to show insecurity.
Aleph turned quickly to her, walking towards her, and said calmly:
"Are you sure about that? What if the person is stronger than you?"
Before Leticia could answer, Aleph pressed her against the wall with a firm gesture, pinning her arm above her head. Leticia had never seen him act this way, and the shock made her question him, her eyes searching for answers.
"What… what are you going to do?" she asked, her voice trembling.
She couldn't break free, and her heart raced. Aleph slowly leaned in, his face inches from hers. Leticia felt his warm breath on her skin, Aleph's intense gaze penetrating her eyes. A mixture of fear and excitement coursed through her. She closed her eyes instinctively as Aleph's lips were just centimeters from hers.
However, at the last moment, he stopped, pulling away quickly.
"Sorry," Aleph murmured, stepping back abruptly, his face flushed. "I didn't mean to frighten you. It was just a… warning."
Aleph was visibly embarrassed by his actions.
"Thank you… for the warning," Leticia replied, still breathless, her heart pounding in her chest.
They walked in silence to the bookstore without exchanging a single word. When they arrived, Leticia went in alone, and Aleph waited outside.
"Why am I losing my patience? This shouldn't be happening. Why did I do that? It makes me just like those harassers," Aleph thought, pacing back and forth, immersed in his own thoughts.
Inside the bookstore, Leticia saw several young women chatting animatedly, and, curious, they approached her.
"Excuse me," one of them began with a shy smile, "is that young man your… boyfriend? He's very handsome!"
"Are we… engaged?" Leticia replied, a little hesitant.
"You make a beautiful couple," the young women said excitedly.
Accustomed to a formal and pragmatic environment, Leticia had little experience with the intricacies of romantic relationships. The young women, on the other hand, seemed to be experts on the subject. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Leticia decided to ask for advice.
"Our engagement is arranged," she explained. "How can I know if he… likes me?"
The young women looked at each other, a little surprised, before answering.
"What do you mean, 'how'?" one of the young women asked, incredulous. "When you're in love, it's so easy to tell!"
The young women began sharing tips and personal experiences, talking about the signs of passion and the nuances of romance.
"But… the hard part is being loved back," one of them said thoughtfully.
"When there are problems involved, it gets much more complicated," added another.
Realizing that Leticia was more confused than before, one of the young women smiled and said:
"You must be from another kingdom, because here everything breathes romance!"
With that, they became animated.
"I know!" exclaimed another. "Let's recommend some books! After all, you're getting married soon!"
Enthusiastically, the young women chose three romance novels and handed them to Leticia, who received them with surprise. This was the first time she would have access to this kind of reading.
"I have an idea…" one of the young women said with a mischievous smile. "Why don't you take advantage of the situation and test it out with him? He's your fiancé, and he's been waiting for you for so long!"
"But… what could I do?" Leticia asked uncertainly. "I want to thank him for everything he's done for me."
"Since he helps you so much…" the young woman began, and, leaning closer to Leticia, whispered a few suggestions in her ear.
Leticia's face turned completely crimson. After a moment of embarrassed silence, she thanked them for the books and hurried out of the bookstore, her mind buzzing with the young women's daring ideas.
One of the young women, seeing her hasty departure, asked the other:
"What did you tell her?"
"Nothing much," replied the other with an enigmatic smile. "Just a little push. He's handsome, she has to seize the opportunity!"
Back at the inn, Leticia replayed the bookstore girls' daring advice in her mind.
"I need to thank Aleph for everything he's done for me," she thought restlessly. "The journey is ending, and soon I won't have this opportunity anymore. But… can I do it?" The memory of the bold suggestions made her blush. "I don't know if I can be so… direct."