After Eli declared that he was from heaven, a stunned silence fell over the throne hall. For a moment, no one moved or spoke. The air felt heavy with disbelief, and shock spread across the faces of those gathered. Some widened their eyes in surprise, while others exchanged confused glances, their mouths hanging open as they tried to understand his words.
Then, King Philip, with a stern expression, suddenly burst into hearty laughter, a sound that echoed through the grand hall. The tension broke, and soon everyone else joined in, their laughter filling the room.
King Philip, still chuckling, looked at Eli with a twinkle in his eye. "I like you, Eli," he said warmly. What had been a serious situation moments ago had turned into a moment of light-hearted amusement.
'Whew…' Eli thought, wiping an imaginary bead of sweat from his brow. He managed to keep a straight face but was inwardly relieved. 'At least they didn't throw me in the dungeon. Yet.'
As the laughter subsided, the throne hall returned to a respectful silence. King Philip stood and addressed Eli formally. "I, King Philip of the Kingdom of Veloria, wholeheartedly thank you for helping my daughter, Princess Denise." He glanced at his daughter, who acknowledged his words with a graceful nod.
"To show our gratitude," the king continued, "I invite you to join us at the feast tonight."
Eli stood there, unsure how to react to the unexpected turn of events. Should he be pleased by the king's gratitude or insulted by the laughter that followed his confession? He couldn't decide.
'Well, what matters is that I'll have a decent meal out of this,' Eli thought, his stomach growling in agreement.
King Philip clapped his hands, and a servant quickly approached. "Prepare the guest chamber for our honored guest," the king ordered. "Eli, you will stay in one of our finest chambers during your time here."
Eli bowed his head in gratitude. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
The servant led him through the grand corridors of the palace to a spacious and elegantly furnished guest chamber. The room was adorned with rich tapestries and a large, comfortable bed. A window overlooked the palace gardens, offering a serene view.
As Eli settled in, a knock came at the door. A young man entered, bowing respectfully. "Good evening, sir. I am Ramil, assigned to assist you during your stay. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to ask."
Eli smiled, appreciating the gesture. "Thank you, Ramil. Could you please bring me some nice clothes? I'd like to take a bath."
Ramil nodded and left to fetch what Eli needed.
Alone in the room, Eli's mind raced. Should he accept the king's hospitality by staying, or should he continue his search for Asmodeus outside the palace? The thought of a comfortable bed and a warm meal was tempting, but he had a mission.
He sighed, weighing his options. 'If I stay, I might learn more about this kingdom and its people,' he thought. 'And… Perhaps I will always see Princess Denise.' A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth at the thought.
'Alright,' Eli decided, 'I'll stay for now. This could be a good opportunity to gather information and rest.'
As Eli prepared for the evening feast, a mix of excitement and curiosity filled him. This kingdom clearly had secrets, and Eli was determined to uncover them.
Meanwhile, in Princess Denise's quarters, she and her handmaiden, Jenn, were preparing for the feast. Jenn couldn't contain her excitement and admiration for Eli.
"Princess Denise," Jenn began, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm, "did you see Eli earlier? His physique is incredible! Those muscles and abs… it's like he was sculpted by the gods themselves."
Princess Denise tried to maintain her composure, pretending not to be affected. "I didn't really notice," she said nonchalantly, focusing on adjusting her gown.
Jenn raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Oh, come on, Princess. I've known you since we were children. You can't fool me. I saw the way you looked at him."
Princess Denise's cheeks flushed, but she kept her gaze steady. "I was just being polite. He is our guest, after all."
Jenn giggled. "Sure, and every woman in the throne hall was just 'polite' too? It was like a spell had been cast. He's not only handsome, but there's something about him… so strong, yet gentle."
Princess Denise found herself unable to suppress a small smile. "He did make quite the impression," she admitted.
"See? I knew it!" Jenn said happily. "I think he likes you too, Princess. Didn't you see the way he looked at you? Those gray eyes…" she suddenly felt giddy.
Denise shook her head, trying to hide her smile. "Let's just focus on the feast. There's much to prepare."
As the afternoon wore on, Denise began to think more about Eli. She realized he hadn't eaten since his arrival and decided to bring him food herself. It would be a chance to thank him personally.
Jenn, ever supportive, said, "That's a lovely idea, Princess. It will show him how grateful you are."
Princess Denise nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Jenn, could you please prepare a tray with some food for Eli?"
With the tray in hand, Princess Denise made her way to Eli's guest chamber. Her heart raced with each step, her mind rehearsing what she would say. Outside the door, she took a deep breath before knocking gently. It's just gratitude, she told herself, though her heart pounded.
Inside the guest chamber, Eli was enjoying a relaxing bath, the warm water soothing his muscles. The bathing area was separated from the rest of the chamber by a decorative screen, providing a sense of privacy. He had just settled into the tub when he heard a gentle knock at the door.
"Who is it?" Eli called out, his voice echoing slightly in the spacious chamber.
"It's Princess Denise," came the reply from the other side of the door. However, Eli, too relaxed in the tub, didn't quite catch the name.
"Come in," he said, assuming it was Ramil.
Princess Denise entered the room, carrying a tray of food. Eli, thinking it was Ramil, confidently stood up to grab a towel, since Ramil was a man, so it didn't matter to him if he was completely exposed. He stepped out from behind the screen, only to find himself face-to-face with the princess.
Both of them froze, eyes wide in shock. Eli's face turned crimson as he quickly moved to grab the towel. At the same moment, he noticed Princess Denise's hands trembling, the tray of food teetering precariously.
In a split second, Eli made a decision. Instead of reaching for the towel, he lunged forward, hands outstretched to catch the tray, his focus entirely on preventing the food from falling. The tray was about to fall, and Princess Denise's eyes were still widened in panic.
But despite his best effort, he couldn't reach in time. The tray fell to the floor with a clatter, food scattering everywhere.
For a moment, there was silence. Eli's heart pounded in his chest, his breath still caught in his throat from his failed attempt.
And once again, Eli is standing in front of Princess Denise completely naked. This time, wet and much closer.