Maverick drops us off at the villa, and I stretch my limbs, feeling the weariness of the past days settle in my bones. Being a 4-star mage now, the mage tower has certainly increased my workload, but it's not like I have anything else better to do.
Valendor wastes no time in heading to the kitchen to prepare dinner, and I can hear the clattering of pots and pans as he gets to work. He ropes Haroun into assisting him, and I can't help but snicker to myself at the thought of Valendor using a 5-star swordsman as a meat tenderizer.
I decide to take a moment for myself and head to my room to freshen up. The warm water of the bath feels soothing against my skin, washing away the dirt and grime of the journey. After changing into more comfortable clothes, I make my way to the kitchen where the delicious aroma of cooking fills the air.
*
Two hours later, we're all getting ready to eat, and I can't help but notice Haroun strolling around the house shirtless as usual. The man is practically allergic to shirts.
Feeling hungry, I decide to sneak into Valendor's kitchen to steal a piece of steak. Just as I'm about to indulge, Haroun appears out of nowhere, trying to take a bite out of my spoils. I attempt to evade him, but his swordsman reflexes kick in, and he easily catches me.
"Hey, hands off!" I protest, but it's too late. We're caught red-handed.
"What's going on here?" We hear a cold voice behind us, and we both freeze. Oops.
Turning slowly, we're met with a furious-looking Valendor, his eyes narrowing into daggers.
"We can explain," I begin, but he's not interested in hearing it.
Before we know it, vines wrap around both Haroun and me, lifting us into the air and sending us flying out of the window. It's a good thing Valendor's deadly garden is right below, as we manage to detangle ourselves and land somewhat gracefully.
Brushing ourselves off, we head back inside, where Valendor is waiting for us with crossed arms and a stern expression.
"Great, you're here. I'm done," he says curtly, as if he hadn't just thrown us out of the house a few moments ago. So violent.
"What smells so good?" A soft voice says, breaking the frozen silence in the room. I feel my heart skip a beat as I turn around slowly, hardly daring to believe my ears.
There she is, standing there as if she never left, wearing one of my shirts. The sight of her takes my breath away.
We haven't had much time with the princess since her return, and sometimes I've wondered if my memories of her were real or just an exaggerated fantasy fueled by my emotions from a few years ago. But now, seeing her again, all doubts vanish. She's even more beautiful than I remember, and my vague memories couldn't have done justice to her image.
A small smile plays on her lips, and in that moment, it feels like I've fallen in love all over again. Every inch of her is familiar yet different, and I find myself unable to look away.
As Valendor walks towards her, I notice how he effectively towers over her now. He says something to her, and she smiles back at him, her eyes sparkling with warmth. It's a sight that blinds me momentarily.
She opens her arms, and Valendor steps forward to hug her, lifting her off the floor in a warm embrace. They share a moment before he gently sets her back down. She then turns to Haroun, and they exchange a few words before he, too, lifts her into his arms. I can't help but feel a twinge of jealousy, hoping he doesn't accidentally crush her delicate frame before I get a chance to hold her.
Haroun carefully places her back on the floor, and I realize I've been standing here dumbly the whole time. I must look like a complete fool, staring at her with wide eyes and probably a dumbfounded expression. How embarrassing.
"Nikolai," she says my name, and I swear it sounds even more beautiful coming from her lips. My brain finally catches up with me, and I realize she's standing there, looking up at me with amusement twinkling in her eyes.
"Won't you give me a hug? It's been over 2 years after all," she says, her voice soft and inviting.
I can feel my heart pounding in my chest as I reach for her, intertwining her arms with mine. The feeling of her warmth against me is overwhelming, and I can't help but let out a shaky breath.
"I don't think my heart can handle that right now," I manage to say softly, my voice barely above a whisper. It's true, my heart feels like it's going to burst with emotion, being this close to her again after all this time.
As she opens her arms, I can't resist the pull any longer. I step forward and envelop her in a warm embrace, feeling her softness against me, inhaling her familiar scent. Feeling a surge of boldness, I wrap my arms around her legs and lift her up, her legs instinctively wrapping around my waist as she squeezes me just as tight.
I bury my face in her hair, inhaling deeply, savoring the moment. When I finally open my eyes, I'm met with the sight of open-mouthed Valendor and Haroun staring at us in disbelief.
Clearing my throat, I gently set her back down on the floor, trying to hide the obvious flush that has spread across my face. "Dinner," I manage to say, my voice slightly hoarse from the unexpected surge of emotions. It's the only thing I can think to say, trying to act as if nothing out of the ordinary just happened.