Roman slowly woke, the disorientation of sleep lingering in his mind. His senses were still fuzzy, and his thoughts felt sluggish as he tried to make sense of everything that had happened. As his eyes fluttered open, he froze when he saw Scarlett leaning over him, her face inches from his.
"Good morning,Prince Roman," she said softly, her tone serious yet strangely calm. There was an undeniable intensity in her gaze, as though she was reading him in ways that unsettled him.
Roman's heart raced. "Good morning, Scarlett," he managed, trying to sound composed. "What's going on?"
Scarlett didn't pull away. Instead, she maintained her focus, studying him for a moment longer. "I remember now," she said, her voice almost distant as she considered something only she knew.
Roman blinked, trying to catch up with her words. His mind was foggy, but it didn't take long to understand what she meant. Despite their brief interaction, Scarlett always had this uncanny ability to speak as though everything was clear to her, even when it wasn't for him.
"Do you remember?" she repeated, her gaze never leaving his.
Roman hesitated for a second, his mind grappling with confusion. "I think I'll remember soon," he said, unsure whether that answer would satisfy her.
Her gaze deepened. Scarlett knew better than to accept vague responses, but she didn't push further. Instead, she sat back and allowed him to regain his bearings.
Roman couldn't help but notice her posture—it was too close. She was sitting on him, straddling him with the kind of ease that made him feel more vulnerable than he liked. He tried not to focus on the discomfort, but his mind raced with the tension in the air.
Shifting uncomfortably, he tried to divert his attention. "So, what's your task for today?" he asked, forcing himself to sound casual.
"I'm off to slay dragons," Scarlett answered without missing a beat, her voice flat, as if it were an ordinary day.
Roman blinked. There was a certain stoic determination in her words, and it sent a strange pang through his chest. She said it so easily, like it was just another day at work. It was both awe-inspiring and intimidating. He couldn't help but feel the weight of her strength.
Before he could speak further, Scarlett moved her hands to his shoulders and, with a calm strength, pushed herself off him. She stood up and adjusted herself, moving with the same casual grace that had marked every action so far.
"It's morning," she said. "I've got work to do."
Roman nodded slowly, his thoughts still scattered. It was hard to focus with everything happening so quickly. Breakfast was called, but Scarlett ate separately, joining her men in the barracks. Roman took the time to eat alone, his mind racing over all that had transpired.
Afterward, he was summoned to meet his brother, James—the General of the Royal Army. Roman couldn't help but feel a sense of unease around his older brother, even though James always seemed to carry an air of nonchalance. The General's short blonde hair and broad shoulders gave him a commanding presence, and his smile always held a hint of mischief that made Roman's stomach churn with nervous energy.
"Ah, little brother, we finally meet face-to-face," James said, grinning as he leaned casually against the doorframe of his office.
Roman stood tall, trying not to let his brother's playful nature get under his skin. "So, you're the second prince, huh? The second son of the royal family?"
James chuckled. "That's right. But today, I'm your teacher." His grin widened as he gestured to the room around them. "This is where we'll start your lessons."
Roman's frown deepened. "Lessons?" he repeated, already dreading whatever was to come.
James motioned to the desk, the map spread across it, as well as the various military papers strewn about. "You need to learn how to survive in this world. Politics, economics—those can wait. What I'll teach you first is how to handle yourself."
Roman crossed his arms, clearly skeptical. "You mean handling soldiers and—what else?"
James smirked. "Handling women, little brother. You'll need it more than you think." He leaned back in his chair, raising an eyebrow. "We don't want you embarrassing yourself, do we?"
Roman winced at the memory of his wedding night. "Are you serious?"
James chuckled. "Of course I am. You've married someone formidable. And if you slip up, she'll make sure you never forget it. Believe me, this isn't some fairy tale marriage. If you're not careful, you could end up in a lot more danger than you realize."
Roman tried to take in his brother's words. "So, what should I do?"
James shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Take it slow. Scarlett's fierce, but you'll figure it out. Don't worry about the politics for now, just focus on surviving her temper."
Roman didn't know whether to be relieved or more anxious. He felt overwhelmed by the weight of James's words.
The conversation shifted, and Roman seized the opportunity to ask about his more pressing concern. "How do I understand the language here? I don't remember ever learning it."
James raised an eyebrow, then smiled knowingly. "It's not as complicated as you think. Your body will automatically translate the words. Your mind will pick it up." He leaned forward slightly, a hint of seriousness entering his gaze. "It's not a new phenomenon. People from other worlds have been brought here before, and this is how they adapted."
Roman's eyes narrowed. "So, it's instinctual?"
James nodded. "Exactly. You'll get the hang of it soon enough. Try speaking your old language, though. Let's see how much you remember."
Roman tried to form a sentence in his native tongue, but his tongue felt heavy. His words were slow and clumsy, as if his body couldn't keep up with his thoughts. "I can't speak full sentences yet."
James's face softened in understanding. "You'll catch up. It's just a matter of time."
Roman felt a sense of reassurance, though it didn't completely dispel the lingering unease he felt about his situation.
One last question nagged at him. "What about Ellie [Vice Captain] ? I don't trust some of the things she's been telling Scarlett."
James sighed, rubbing his temples. "Ellie's... eccentric. Her job is to make Scarlett more human, more relatable, if she can. It's a difficult task. We don't always agree with her methods, but she's the only one who can do it."
Roman frowned. "So she's been teaching Scarlett strange things on purpose?"
James gave a reluctant shrug. "Ellie's a second daughter of a low-ranking noble, from a family that's been training war horses for generations. She's eccentric, yes, but she gets results. Even if those results aren't always... normal."
Roman didn't know whether to laugh or be frustrated. His wife—his new wife—was being taught like a war horse. It was absurd, but it was the truth of this world.