As they turned the final corner, the towering silhouette of Veledriana's mansion came into view. The grand estate stood illuminated by the warm glow of lanterns, its intricate architecture and sprawling grounds exuding an air of regal elegance.
Kaen halted in his tracks, gazing wide-eyed at the sheer enormity and splendor of the mansion. His cloak billowed gently in the breeze as he gazed, a mixture of awe and disbelief etched across his face.
"This." he started, pausing for words. "Is this your mansion?"
Veledriana stopped and turned to face him, a faint smirk playing on her lips at his reaction. "It is," she replied casually, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
Kaen blinked, his jaw tightening slightly as he tried to process what he was seeing. "You're royalty?" he asked, his tone incredulous but not unkind. "You didn't think to mention that earlier?"
Veledriana shrugged, sweeping a strand of silver hair over her shoulder. "You didn't ask," she said, though her voice had a hint of amusement.
Kaen ran a hand through his hair, his face still locked in a mix of amazement and incredulity. "You just. invite a stranger to stay at your royal mansion? Don't you think that's a little. oh, I don't know. risky?
She arched a brow, her smirk deepening. "And yet, here you are. If I thought you were a threat, you wouldn't have made it past the gates."
He looked at her with a pause, then a half-chuckle escaped his lips. "Fair point," he admitted, shaking his head. "Still… I didn't expect this. When you said you had space, I thought maybe a small house, an extra room, something in that line. Not…. He gestured toward the open, sprawling mansion, his bright blue eyes wide with dismay. "Not this."
Veledriana looked at him with softened expression. "It's just a place, Kaen," she said quietly. "A big empty house isn't worth much without the right people in it.
Her words seemed to catch him off guard, and for a moment, he studied her, his gaze searching as if trying to understand the person behind the title. Finally, he nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Fair enough," he said, his voice softer now. "But I still feel like I'm intruding."
"You're not," she said firmly, motioning for him to follow. "Come on. Let's get you settled."
Kaen hesitated for only a moment before falling into step beside her. As they approached the grand entrance, he couldn't help but glance at her again, his curiosity growing.
"So… what's it like?" he asked as they walked. "Being royalty, I mean."
Veledriana glanced at him, her gaze thoughtful. "Complicated," she said after a pause. "You will experience it by yourself"
Kaen looked up at her with raised brow, his lips twitching into a mocking smile. "Dinner with royalty. I guess I hit the mother lode tonight, Veledriana."
She shook her head and felt herself give just a small, almost pained smile. She couldn't remember the last time she hadn't felt the slightest knot in her chest or at the very least an underlying chill.
---
With them introduced to her family, which included her father, brothers, and sister, Veledriana took Kaen up to her private quarters. The tall, long staircase creaked somewhat beneath their feet, and the dimly lit hallway opened into her big, regal room. She pushed open the door and let her silver hair fall over her shoulder as she gestured for Kaen to come inside.
"This is my room," she said with a smattering of pride, though small voice in the back of her mind reminded her that isn't really her room. She caught herself, glancing at him and trying to push the thought away.
Kaen entered the room hesitantly, his eyes moving over the space in awe. The room was opulent, with velvet curtains hanging from the windows, a massive four-poster bed carved intricately, and a few expensive paintings hanging on the walls. A plush rug lay in the center of the floor, and the air smelled faintly of lavender and jasmine.
"It's…" Kaen trailed off, his voice full of awe. "It's better than I expected. I've never seen a royal room before, let alone stayed in one. It's…" He shook his head, clearly stunned. "I mean, I'm not exactly used to this kind of luxury."
Veledriana smiled as he looked around. Her focus wandered to the bedside table, where a small group of her personal belongings sat. But when her eyes passed over the room and came to rest on the bed, she stopped in her tracks.
There, flung casually over the back of a chair, lay a set of black lingerie—her black bra and panties, discarded and abandoned in her haste to get ready.
Kaen's eyes, following her gaze, widened in surprise. His face turned a deep shade of crimson, and he quickly averted his gaze, suddenly very aware of the situation.
Veledriana, noticing his discomfort, let out a laugh, the sound light and teasing. She couldn't help but find it amusing. "Don't worry," she said, her tone dripping with mischief. "I'm sure you've seen worse."
Kaen murmured to himself, clearly trying to gain himself back. "I… I didn't expect—" He swallowed and looked away, embarrassed as much as his face displayed.
Veledriana relaxed against the doorframe and raised an eyebrow. She put a hand across her arms as she laughed out the question. "So?".
Kaen cleared his throat again, still not looking in her direction. "Uh, everything's fine," he muttered. "I think I'm just still a little overwhelmed, you know?"
She chuckled softly before turning toward the adjoining bathroom. "You should take a bath. It'll help you relax," she said, a hint of gentleness in her voice. "I'll do the same afterward."
Kaen blinked, his face still flushed, but nodded gratefully. "Sounds perfect, actually. I could use one."
Veledriana gave him a small, knowing smile before gesturing to the bathroom. "Feel free to use whatever you need. I'll be right outside when you're done."
As Kaen walked toward the bathroom, Veledriana released a small sigh. This is getting complicated, she thought, but there was something about his presence that made the weight of her new situation a little easier to bear.