A loud creak echoed through the inn as the eunuch forcefully pushed his doors open.
"Why can't I get a good sleep?" he grumbled, stepping out from his chamber and observing the scene from upstairs, in front of his chamber.
Princess Khillian looked up at the old eunuch, their eyes locking in a tense stare.
He squinted at her. "Little wench, are you the cause of this commotion?"
Princess Khillian scoffed, glancing at the guards before turning her gaze back to the eunuch. She chuckled slightly and said, "What a great day to be called a whore and a wench. Who is this walking dead?" she asked, smirking at him.
"Sharp tongue," the eunuch said with a grin. Then he frowned. "It should be cut off," he declared, flying down with his sword unsheathed mid-air.
Princess Khillian frowned, charging towards the eunuch.
The eunuch landed and struck at her with his sword. She blocked it, but the impact made her tumble. With her agility, she landed on her feet, sliding backward.
"That force... it's stronger than Lady Meiyers. Could this walking dead be a sovereign, or is it because of his years of practice?" Princess Khillian thought to herself.
"Fascinating. I thought you only held the sword to intimidate. Turns out you know something about swordsmanship, or was it by luck? Leave while you're still alive. That strike was not my limit, little wench," the eunuch taunted.
"Well, fight me with your limit," Princess Khillian said confidently, even though she knew she wouldn't win. She wanted to see him at his full power.
Having stayed at the capital for so long, she was unaware of many talents. If this person had been good, she could have learned from him. However, she sensed that this man was filled with evil from the moment he opened his doors.
"What a daring little wench," the eunuch grinned, and immediately an illusion of a beast with red energy appeared behind him, roaring ferociously.
"Sovereign," Princess Khillian whispered, gripping her sword firmly, gathering her essence to maximize her internal force.
Prince Eyrin opened his doors and spoke as he walked out, "Do you want to destroy this inn, Paozi?" he asked, descending the stairs with an air of authority.
His hair was untied and scattered, while he stood in his night tunic and trousers.
"You couldn't report to me about her but instead decided to handle it on your own. Just because you're old doesn't mean you should forget your rank, Paozi," he said calmly but firmly as he reached the last stair, looking at the eunuch.
Eunuch Paozi suppressed his power, lowering his gaze.
"What? You don't have a tongue to answer?" Prince Eyrin said as he walked closer to him, passing by Princess Khillian.
"I was wondering how I should address you. After all, we have an outsider here, a daring one," Paozi said, glaring at Princess Khillian.
"If I address you properly, she has to die. However, if I call you what I want to, then..." the eunuch's voice trailed off.
"My name is Eyrin, you know that clearly. Why will you address me any way you want? Do you want to call me son, or servant?" Prince Eyrin said with a grin, glaring at the eunuch while the eunuch glared back.
"Do you have a close relationship with this daring wench?" the eunuch asked.
Prince Eyrin smirked. "Guards, escort him to his chamber. I've heard enough from him tonight. Do not disturb this lady any further. Failure to obey will lead to consequences," he said, turning to the guards with a stern, cold expression.
"Yes," they chorused as they moved to escort the eunuch.
"Please," Loikr, the guard, said as he motioned the eunuch to his room. The eunuch scoffed, "These dogs," before starting to walk upstairs, escorted by the guards.
As the guards dispersed, Prince Eyrin said, "You find him annoying? I also find him annoying. He is a hundred and twenty-four years old and just won't die. I don't know why. He's in sovereign but hasn't entered the immortality phase."
Princess Khillian flexed her hand and placed her sword at his neck. "Who are you?"
Prince Eyrin smiled slightly, glancing at her from the corner of his eyes. "As I said, I'm Eyrin Arnin, the son of a rich merchant. I ran away from home; that's why these men are here. My father... it seems he doesn't like me to be too far from him."
Princess Khillian removed her sword but continued to look at him, still suspicious of his identity.
"I'm not leaving here," she said in a low but firm voice, their eyes locked in a tense gaze.
"I know," Prince Eyrin said calmly.
She turned and walked towards the stairs, and Prince Eyrin watched her as she walked away, her hair swaying gracefully with each step.
***********************************
As the eunuch entered his chamber, he furrowed his brows and said, "You, come here," pointing at the guards.
Loikr stepped forward, but the eunuch frowned at him. "Not you, you disgrace!" he spat.
Another guard then stepped out.
"The rest can leave," the eunuch commanded, and the others walked out, with the last one closing the door behind them.
The eunuch walked closer to the guard. "It seems that lady doesn't know who Prince Eyrin is. Let's tell her and see how she reacts. If she's an enemy, we'll just enjoy the show," he said with a dark chuckle.
***********************************
It was morning. In Princess Khillian's chamber, she stepped out of her wooden tub, the water adorned with delicate flowers. Her hair was tied up in a bun, and as her feet touched the floor, droplets of water dripped onto the ground. With her bare body, she walked gracefully to where her cleaning fabric was and dried herself.
She selected her garment for the day from her wardrobe, dressing herself layer by layer, from the innermost to the outermost, with elegant precision.
Then she sat down in front of the dressing mirror, lifting her hair and resting it on one shoulder as she brushed and styled it. Her reflection revealed a composed and poised princess.
Her eyes wandered to her lute, lying next to the wall. She contemplated whether she should take it with her. Deciding to do so, she walked over and picked it up before leaving her room.
As she stepped out, she accidentally bumped into a man, as if he had been waiting for her to emerge. The sudden collision caused a token to fall to the ground.
She knelt to help pick up the token, and as she did, she noticed the inscription: 'Imperial Guard.'