As the food fell, Princess Denise unconsciously glanced at the scattered items on the floor. But as she looked down, her eyes accidentally caught sight of Eli's manhood as he approached her.
After seeing, the princess quickly averted her gaze. She swallowed hard, her body still trembling, but she forced herself to remain composed. "I'll send you another food later. I just wanted to thank you for helping me last night," she said, her voice steady despite her shock at the situation.
Feeling the weight of the moment, Eli quickly grabbed the towel and wrapped it around his waist.
Princess Denise, still avoiding his eyes, added, "And… I want to apologize if there was any misunderstanding last night that made them put you in the dungeon."
Eli, still embarrassed, replied, "It's nothing, Your Highness; I understand."
With her heart racing, the princess turned swiftly and left the room. Once she was gone, Eli could do nothing but bury his face in his hands out of sheer embarrassment.
"Sigh... It's probably better that's what she always saw than my wings," he muttered, trying to ease his embarrassment with a bit of humor.
As Princess Denise walked down the hall, she encountered Ramil carrying the items Eli had requested. He greeted her respectfully, but Princess Denise, seemingly lost in thought, didn't notice him and continued walking, appearing dazed. Ramil shook his head, puzzled by the princess's behavior.
Back in her room, Princess Denise lay on her bed, her feet still touching the floor. Staring up at the ceiling, she heard Jenn bustling around, preparing her beautiful dress for the feast.
"How was it, Princess?" Jenn asked, glancing over with a curious smile.
"It's fine," Denise replied, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. Her thoughts drifted back to the earlier incident, recalling how she had accidentally—yet intentionally—dropped the tray when Eli stepped toward her. The memory made her smile grow wider.
--------
As Ramil entered the guest chamber, he noticed Eli scrambling to pick up the scattered food and broken plates from the floor.
"What happened here, sir?" Ramil asked politely, bending down to help him gather the items.
Eli sighed, a hint of embarrassment coloring his cheeks. "The princess handed me the food, and it just slipped out of my hands," he said, using it as an alibi.
Ramil chuckled softly as he collected a few pieces. "That explains why the princess looked so flustered when I saw her earlier. Or she might have been quite surprised because she saw you in a towel."
Eli smiled awkwardly, knowing inwardly that the reason was far worse than that.
"I'm curious about the princess. Could you tell me about her?" Eli suddenly asked.
Ramil stood up, balancing a plate in one hand while brushing crumbs off his trousers. "Her Highness is the most beautiful person in the entire kingdom, inside and out, but she has been under a great deal of pressure lately. The kingdom of Veloria is struggling, and we are losing ground to the Lycans. Our territories are shrinking."
Eli's brow furrowed with concern. "How old is she?"
"She's twenty," Ramil replied with a heavy sigh.
'She seems too young to deal with all of this.' A hint of sadness crossed Eli's face as he pondered the weight of her responsibilities. "I didn't realize things were that dire. Is the princess coping well?"
Ramil nodded slowly, his brow furrowing. "It's difficult for her. With the king growing weaker, Princess Denise is the only remaining heir. Now, she faces a proposal from the Lycan king."
"The Lycan king?" Eli asked, intrigued. "Who is he?"
"Crixus," Ramil replied, a hint of disdain creeping into his voice as he picked up another plate. "His ambition knows no bounds, and this proposal places the princess in a precarious position. Some officials urge her to accept the alliance, while others advocate for resistance against the Lycans. Consequently, they believe General James should be the one to marry the princess instead of Crixus."
Eli's brow furrowed as he contemplated the potential consequences. If the Lycan king was indeed after the princess, danger was surely looming. He couldn't shake the feeling that the demon Asmodeus might be involved.
Eli paused, a thought suddenly striking him. "Who leads the vampires? I mean the nightwalkers?" he asked, curiosity piqued.
"Belga," Ramil replied, frowning slightly as he gathered the last of the fallen items. "While the nightwalkers can be a nuisance, they aren't as much of a threat compared to the Lycans. They're not aggressive like the Lycans are. Plus, their inability to walk in sunlight limits their movements."
Eli furrowed his brow, feeling frustrated. 'Where could the demon be?' It felt like trying to untangle a mess of string in his mind. 'How am I supposed to find him?' He clenched his fists, frustration boiling inside him.
—-----
Meanwhile, the heavy wooden door of the dungeon creaked open, and guards stepped inside, followed by a young woman named Mikhaela. Her long green hair swayed gently as she moved, her heart racing as she approached her grandfather's cell.
"Grandpa," she called softly, her voice barely rising above a whisper.
Enoch looked up, a mix of exhaustion and joy crossing his weathered face. "Mikhaela," he replied quietly, a faint smile breaking through his weariness.
"I've missed you so much," she said, leaning closer to the bars to keep their conversation private.
"I've missed you too, my dear," Enoch said, his eyes reflecting both pride and concern. "There are things we need to discuss."
Mikhaela nodded, understanding the weight of their words. "I hope you'll be more careful with your visions next time, especially around the officials, so they won't target you. They don't always understand," she cautioned, glancing around to ensure no one was listening.
"I know," Enoch said slowly, his voice low. "It's just difficult to keep such things to myself."
Enoch leaned closer to the bars, lowering his voice even more. "Remember the prophecy I told the king long ago? It is starting to unfold. The one about someone coming to restore humanity and stop the spread of evil—he is already here."
Mikhaela's heart raced at his words, her breath caught in her throat. "What do you mean? Here?"
"Yes," Enoch confirmed, his voice steady yet urgent. "I spoke to him here in the dungeon. I couldn't see his face well in the darkness, but he is real, and he's here. You must prepare yourself. He will need your presence."
Mikhaela's mind swirled with shock and hope. "I can't believe it!" she said, suddenly pausing as her brow furrowed in thought. "I've been seeing a light in my visions," Mikhaela admitted, "but it's still unclear. I don't know what it means."
Enoch reached through the bars, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "It means change is coming, and we must be ready for it. You have a role to play in this."
Just then, the guards entered, signaling that Mikhaela's visiting time was over. She felt a rush of sadness at having to leave her grandfather again. "Be safe, Grandpa," she said, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Stay strong, Mikhaela," Enoch said quietly, his voice filled with warmth. "We will see each other soon."