The two girls talked until the sun rose, their voices soft and filled with laughter as they exchanged stories, memories, and secrets. Eventually, their eyes grew heavy, and they fell asleep in a tangled pile on Valeria's small bed in the cottage.
At noon, Asher had grown impatient. Tired of waiting, he barged into the bedroom, ignoring Elias's half-hearted attempt to stop him. "Wake up, sleeping beauties!" he called loudly as he yanked the blanket off them.
Valeria was sprawled limply on top of Katherine, her arms draped across her friend like a lifeless doll. Katherine stirred first, squinting at Asher with a groggy glare. "You're heavy…" she grumbled, nudging Valeria off her. The bed was small, and the motion sent Valeria tumbling to the floor with an unceremonious thud.
Asher shook his head at the pitiful display, clearly unimpressed. "At least you're awake. Lady Lohra, it's time to leave. Your father is probably sick with worry by now." He turned his gaze to Valeria, who was still sitting on the floor, rubbing her bleary eyes. "Oh, and Valeria, you've got drool on your face."
Valeria's face turned bright red as she hastily wiped at her mouth with the back of her hand. "Get out!" she snapped, her embarrassment fueling her frustration. "This is the bedroom of two ladies, and a knight has no business being here!"
Katherine, equally annoyed, grabbed a pillow and hurled it at Asher, though he dodged it with ease. "A day hasn't passed yet!" Katherine protested, her voice sharp with irritation. "I arrived in the evening yesterday. And who gave you permission to address Valeria without her title, you brutish knight?"
At this, Valeria blinked in surprise, her sleep-addled mind catching up. She hadn't realized it before, but Asher really had stopped addressing her with formal titles. Her curious gaze lifted to him, studying his face. The faint scars etched into his features caught her attention for the first time. He had a rugged, rough-hewn handsomeness that contrasted sharply with the king's angelic beauty. The king's pale hair and light eyes made him look otherworldly, almost like a celestial being but Asher's dark, piercing eyes and pitch-black hair gave him the appearance of a demon. And yet, their personalities couldn't have been more opposite.
Wait. Why was she thinking about Asher's appearance so much? She shook her head to dispel the thoughts, feeling confused and a little flustered.
Meanwhile, Asher seemed equally uncomfortable under Katherine's scrutiny. "I… Valeria… I mean, the lady… never said it was a problem," he stammered, looking uncharacteristically flustered.
Valeria decided to end his suffering. "It's fine. You don't have to address me with a title," she said softly before adding firmly, "But Katherine will stay until evening."
Her tone left no room for argument, and Asher let out a frustrated groan but ultimately relented. "Fine. A few more hours. Elias and I will go out to get some necessities for you, my lady," he said, emphasizing the title as if to regain some sense of control. His tone darkened as he added, "But you both will stay here and not leave the cottage. I swear, if you do, you'll never see daylight again." With that ominous warning, he turned and slammed the door behind him.
Valeria frowned, her earlier annoyance replaced by unease. The way Asher had called her "my lady" didn't sit right with her. It felt like a wall had been erected between them, a formality that suddenly felt suffocating.
"So…" Katherine's voice broke through Valeria's thoughts. She turned to see her friend grinning mischievously. "…we're going to ignore Sir Asher's orders and leave the cottage, right?"
Valeria frowned. "That's too dangerous, and you know it. What if someone recognizes me? Asher told me there are pictures of my face everywhere."
"Come on, Valeria," Katherine coaxed, grabbing her hands and giving them a playful squeeze. "You'll wear your cloak, and I promise no one will see you. When was the last time you got fresh air? Months ago? We'll be careful, I swear. Just for half an hour."
Valeria hesitated, torn. The thought of stepping outside, even briefly, was tempting. The cottage felt more like a prison every day. She sighed, her resolve weakening. "Are you sure nothing will happen?"
"I swear," Katherine said, her tone reassuring as she pulled Valeria to her feet.
----
Moments later, the two young ladies wasted no time and soon found themselves at the outskirts of the small village. Valeria wore a heavy cloak with the hood pulled up, shielding her face. The fresh air was a welcome relief after the stuffiness of the cottage. The last time she had been outside, it was the dead of winter when snow blanketed the ground, and the world had felt lifeless. But now, spring had arrived. The snow had melted, flowers were in bloom, and the trees were alive with fresh green leaves. A gentle spring breeze fluttered her cloak, forcing her to hold the hood down to keep it from blowing back.
"Isn't this great?" Katherine sighed happily. "Just walking outside like we're two normal girls."
Valeria smiled softly, her voice a whisper. "It's perfect." She was careful not to speak too loudly, as if afraid the peace might shatter with her words.
But the heavens seemed to have other plans. As they strolled along the quiet path, Valeria's gaze fell on a crumpled piece of paper on the ground. She bent to pick it up, only to feel her stomach churn in dread. It was a wanted poster with her face on it. Beneath her likeness, bold letters declared a reward of 300 gold coins for her capture. The king's obsession with finding her was disturbingly evident.
Her heart raced. This had been a mistake. A terrible mistake. "Katherine, we need to go back. Now," she said, her voice tinged with panic.
Katherine noticed her distress and nodded. But just as Valeria turned to hurry back to the safety of the cottage, she collided with what felt like a wall. No, it wasn't a wall. It was a man.
She stumbled, but before she could fall, a strong arm wrapped around her waist, steadying her. Valeria's breath hitched as she looked up, her heart pounding in her chest. The man's face was unnervingly close to hers, his bright smile making her skin crawl. His mismatched eyes—one dark blue, the other pitch black—seemed to bore into her very soul.