I found myself standing in one of the largest rooms I'd ever set foot in—a room inside the magistrate's mansion. I gave a low whistle at the sheer luxury of it.
The space was vast, with high ceilings and smooth, polished stone walls that gave it a cold, formal air. A large window framed one side of the room, heavy dark curtains hanging beside it like silent sentinels, ready to shut out the sun when drawn.
At the center stood a canopy bed, its wooden posts intricately carved, the mattress covered with crisp, white linens that probably cost more than my family's farm. Two armored knights were stationed outside the door, their presence a constant reminder that I wasn't exactly trusted.
Not that I blamed them.
Their job was to protect the princess, and to them, I was nobody—a farmer's son who happened to stumble into the worst possible situation and walk out of it with royalty in tow. I wasn't offended. I was just surprised they hadn't thrown me in a cell already.
I looked toward the girl sleeping on the massive bed. Her breathing was soft and steady, but her face, even in rest, looked troubled. My fists clenched at the memory of the forest and the horrors she endured. At least she was safe now.
Earlier, we'd briefly met the magistrate. He bowed deeply to the princess, his movements precise and formal, before explaining that they would meet properly later once he'd sent word to the king. He glanced at me—sharp, cold, assessing—and said nothing. A strange man, tall and thin, with gray eyes that looked like they measured everything and everyone.
The princess would be taken to the capital soon, and I'd get my reward. A farm boy saving royalty—who would've thought?
That evening, I leaned out over the balcony, enjoying the fresh breeze. The city of Kirel sprawled below, rooftops and lantern lights alive with the hum of a thousand lives. I wanted to explore, maybe visit the Explorer's Guild, but I'd been forbidden to leave the princess's side after earlier events.
The sudden sound of frantic movement pulled me from my thoughts.
"Where?!" Her voice trembled, ragged with panic.
"Over here, Princess," I said softly, turning to face her.
Like a gale, she ran toward me, throwing herself against me so hard I staggered.
"Uff." I grunted as she clung tightly to me, her small hands grabbing fistfuls of my shirt.
The knights outside shot me such vicious glares I half expected them to drag me away then and there.
"You should let go soon, Princess," I muttered, rubbing my ribs. "Their hateful looks are starting to hurt."
"Don't care," she mumbled against my chest, refusing to move.
I sighed, awkwardly patting her back. She felt small in my arms, fragile, her trembling barely noticeable—but still there. Whatever strength she'd shown earlier was cracking.
"Fine," I said with a quiet chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. "But you're going to have to let go eventually. You stink. And so do I."
She pulled back slightly to glare at me, her expression unreadable in the dim light.
"I suppose we should take a bath," I added with a smirk. "I don't know about you, but I reek."
"Okay," she said softly, surprising me. "We should take a bath."
I froze, staring at her. "...Yeah. Separately, Princess. Separately. I'm not losing my head because someone saw me in a bath with you."
She blinked at me, lips curling faintly upward in what might've been her first smile since we met.
"Fine," she murmured, finally letting go.
I sighed in relief, though I could still feel the knights' glares on my back.
The bath chamber was adjoining the main room, lit by the soft golden glow of lanterns set into carved niches in the stone walls. Steam rose lazily from an enormous stone tub carved seamlessly into the floor, the water warm and fragrant with lavender or chamomile. The sound of thin streams of water trickling from ornate brass fixtures filled the space.
The attendants had entered, shooting me dirty looks as they guided the princess toward the bath. It had taken me ages to convince her to even agree, and the only way she relented was under one condition: that I stay just outside where she could "feel me."
What that meant, I had no clue.
"You there?" she called from behind the door.
"Still here," I said flatly, leaning against the wall.
There was a splash of water and what sounded like a soft sigh of relief, but the peace didn't last.
"Princess!" one of the attendants gasped, followed by the sound of frantic footsteps.
"Caelan!" the princess shouted.
I straightened. "Yeah? What's wrong?"
"You didn't answer me! I thought you left!" Her voice trembled, though this time it was tinged with anger.
"I didn't. I must've dozed off," I said apologetically, rubbing the back of my neck.
"You're tired. Come rest with me over here," she said, her tone suddenly soft—and far too suggestive.
The indignant cries from the attendants nearly made me laugh.
"Yeah... no," I replied quickly. "The king will turn my skull into a goblet if someone sees that."
"Then answer when I call you!" she huffed.
"Yes, Your Highness," I sighed.
"Disrespectful," I heard one of the attendants mutter.
Too tired to care, I leaned back against the wall, waiting for her to finish.
When it was my turn, they changed the water—of course—and I couldn't help but sigh as I sank into the bath. The warmth melted away tension I hadn't realized I was carrying, the floral scent filling the air around me.
I'd never had a bath like this before. Back in my village, water was heated by folks with fire Resonance Skills and lugged into wooden tubs. You'd pay a decent price for a few minutes of warmth.
This? This was the life of kings.
As I scrubbed the dirt and grime away, I couldn't help but think of how my simple plan—traveling to Kirel, joining the Explorer's Guild, and finding glory—had turned into something so complicated.
Absolute Detection had been a useful skill back on the farm. It helped me spot predators lurking around the Woolhorns and made fighting off the occasional bandit easier. It gave me a chance to survive.
I'd never imagined it would lead me here—wrapped up in royal affairs with a princess who refused to let me leave her sight.
I sank deeper into the water, letting out a slow sigh. "This was supposed to be simple..."
**
I stepped out of the bath, letting the warmth of the water linger on my skin as I adjusted the new clothes they'd given me. The outfit was far from what I was used to—no rough tunics or patched trousers here.
The shirt was made of soft cream linen, the fabric so fine it barely felt real, with sleeves that gathered at the wrists and subtle embroidery along the collar and cuffs. Over that, a fitted dark vest of smooth, sturdy material gave a sharper edge to the look, complemented by trousers tailored from deep gray wool. Simple yet expensive leather boots, polished to a shine, completed the ensemble.
I turned my arms, inspecting the cut and stitch. This was a far cry from the coarse, sweat-stained clothing of farm life. I'd always seen nobles wearing this kind of finery when they passed through town, but now I was wearing it myself.
Stepping out, I found the princess sitting outside the bath chamber in an ornate chair carved with intricate patterns—probably something the magistrate kept as part of his collection of unnecessary luxuries. She looked almost regal again.
Her blonde hair, soft and dry, fell neatly to frame her face, its earlier unkempt state a distant memory. A simple but elegant pale-blue dress flowed around her small figure, accented with silver trim. Seeing her like this—the dirt, fear, and pain washed away—was almost jarring. It was like watching someone reassemble themselves piece by piece until they became whole again.
I couldn't help but let out an appreciative weasel inside my head. She's definitely going to be a looker when she grows up. Whoever marries her would be one lucky guy.
The princess looked up from the book in her lap and flashed me a soft smile. It was small, but genuine, and it caught me off guard. I raised an eyebrow at her, surprised by the shift in her demeanor. She was starting to look like royalty again, but something about her smile reminded me of the quiet girl from the forest.
"You didn't have to wait," I said, shaking off the thought.
"What if you escape?" she replied simply, her voice steady.
"How?" I shot back, incredulous.
"I don't know, but I don't want to take any chances."
I rolled my eyes at that. Escape? As if I could. Even if I tried, the knights outside would probably skewer me before I reached the front gate. Hell, with the way things felt, I was probably being watched from every angle—any wandering insect in my radius might as well be under surveillance.
Before I could reply, a knight approached us, his armor clinking softly with each step. He bowed low to the princess, his tone formal and precise. "Your Highness, the magistrate is waiting for you in the dining hall."
The princess didn't hesitate. "He is to come with me," she said, authority pouring from her voice in waves.
"Yes, Princess. The magistrate has mentioned that your savior is invited as well."
"Good. You may go."
The knight bowed again before retreating, and I found myself staring at the princess in mild disbelief. She turned to me and caught my look, her head tilting slightly.
"What?" she asked, her voice softer this time.
I shrugged. "It's nothing. You just seem... different. I'm not sure if I should change how I interact or speak to you. I forget that you're royalty after all—a princess—and me... well, I'm just an ordinary man."
She closed the book with a faint snap and stood up. Her small hands smoothed the front of her dress before she stepped toward me. Instinctively, I took a step back, something about the look in her eyes making my spine straighten involuntarily.
She stopped right in front of me, staring up with an intensity I wasn't prepared for.
"Don't ever change how you speak to me," she said firmly. "Or how you act around me. I don't want that."
I opened my mouth to respond, but she wasn't finished.
"And you're not just an ordinary man."
She paused then, her voice dropping to a murmur, something so quiet I barely caught it.
"I will make sure of that..."
I frowned, tilting my head. "What was that last part?"
"Nothing," she said quickly, turning away before I could press further.
I watched her for a moment, still trying to process the shift in her demeanor. From the quiet, trembling girl in the forest to this—commanding, confident, and somehow still unsettling—it was a shock to the system.
I ran a hand through my damp hair and sighed. "What did I get myself into?"
She glanced over her shoulder at me with that same soft, unreadable smile. I couldn't tell if I should be reassured or worried. Maybe both.