Aedric's grip on his quill tightened. He couldn't hear their words, but he didn't need to. Seeing Elias give someone else his attention—especially Lady Selene—was enough to ignite a spark of jealousy in his chest.
"Your Highness," Master Horace said hesitantly, noticing the prince's distraction. "Shall we continue?"
Aedric didn't respond. His eyes were fixed on the scene below, his expression darkening with every passing moment.
"Your Highness," Master Horace tried again, this time with more urgency. "It's important that we—"
"Be quiet!" Aedric snapped, slamming his hand on the desk. The sound echoed through the room, making the tutor flinch. "You're annoying me."
Master Horace's face went pale. "I-I apologize, Your Highness," he stammered. "But these lessons are crucial for—"
"I said, be quiet!" Aedric's voice rose, his tone sharp and commanding. His sudden outburst made the tutor fall silent, his head bowed in submission. It was clear the man was terrified of further provoking the prince's ire.
Satisfied that he'd made his point, Aedric turned his gaze back to the garden. His jealousy simmered, but a part of him knew he couldn't act on it—not yet. Instead, he seethed in silence, his irritation growing with each laugh that reached his ears.
Meanwhile, in the garden, Elias was doing his best to keep up with Lady Selene's energetic whims. She darted around, pretending to fend off imaginary foes, while Elias played the reluctant knight, holding up a stick as his sword.
"You're terrible at this," Lady Selene teased, pausing to catch her breath. "Knights are supposed to be brave, you know."
Elias managed a small smile, though his thoughts were elsewhere. The oddities in his life—the hallucinations, the strange spikes in his body temperature—kept creeping into his mind. But for now, he pushed them aside, focusing on keeping Lady Selene entertained.
"You're not exactly a princess in distress," he replied lightly. "You're too good at saving yourself."
Lady Selene laughed, her cheeks flushed with exertion. "That's because I'm strong," she declared. "Stronger than Aedric, even."
Elias couldn't help but chuckle at her confidence. "I don't doubt it, my lady."
Their playful banter continued until Lady Selene grew tired and plopped down onto the grass. "Elias," she said softly, her tone more serious now. "Do you think Aedric doesn't like me?"
Elias froze, unsure how to respond. "Why would you think that, my lady?"
She picked at a blade of grass, avoiding his gaze. "He never plays with me anymore. And he always looks mad when I talk to him."
Elias sighed. "The prince is… complicated," he said carefully. "But I don't think he dislikes you. He just has a lot on his mind."
Lady Selene seemed to consider this, her expression thoughtful. "Maybe," she said finally. "But I still like you better."
Elias's cheeks warmed at the unexpected compliment. "Thank you, my lady," he said softly. "But I'm just a servant."
"You're my knight," she corrected with a grin. "At least for today."
Elias chuckled, bowing his head. "As you wish, my lady."
Despite the warmth of the moment, Elias couldn't shake the feeling that trouble was brewing—especially with the way Prince Aedric had been acting lately. And as much as he enjoyed Lady Selene's company, he couldn't ignore the tension that seemed to follow him wherever he went.
The mid-afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the palace gardens as Lady Selene twirled around, her hands clasped behind her back. Her delicate face lit up with an adventurous spark as she turned to Elias, who stood awkwardly behind her, still holding the stick she had declared his "knight's sword" earlier.
"Elias," she began, her voice dripping with mischief, "I've decided that you're going to accompany me outside the palace."
Elias froze, his expression shifting to one of alarm. "My lady, that's not possible," he said quickly. "We're not allowed to leave the grounds without an escort. It's against the rules."
Lady Selene pouted, her lower lip jutting out in a way that would have been endearing under less dangerous circumstances. "Rules are boring," she declared. "Besides, isn't a knight supposed to obey his princess?"
"I—" Elias hesitated, searching for the right words to convince her otherwise. "I'm not a real knight, my lady. I'm just a servant. If we leave without permission, we'll both get into trouble."
Lady Selene frowned thoughtfully, tapping a finger against her chin. "Hmm," she mused, before suddenly breaking into a grin. "Fine. If you won't be my knight, then I'll be yours!"
Elias blinked, completely caught off guard. "What?"
"I'll be the knight, and you can be the one who follows me. You're not brave enough to lead, anyway," she teased, sticking out her tongue. Before Elias could protest, she grabbed his hand and began pulling him toward the garden gate. "Come on, Elias! It'll be fun."
"My lady, wait—!" Elias stammered, trying to resist, but Lady Selene's determination was unyielding. He sighed, resigning himself to her whims. He had no choice but to follow her, knowing that if anything happened to her, it would be his responsibility.
From the study window, Prince Aedric had been watching the entire exchange. His lessons had long since fallen to the wayside, his attention fixated on Lady Selene and Elias.
The sight of Lady Selene grabbing Elias's hand and dragging him away made Aedric's chest tighten with annoyance. She was supposed to be his fiancée, his companion, not Elias's. And Elias—how dare he go along with her so easily?
"Your Highness, are you listening?"
Aedric's tutor, Master Horace, cleared his throat nervously, trying to regain the young prince's focus. But Aedric didn't even glance at him. Instead, he stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor.
"Where are you going, Your Highness?" Master Horace asked, his voice laced with concern.
Aedric ignored him, marching toward the door with a determined scowl.
"Your Highness!" the tutor called after him, scrambling to gather his notes. "Please don't wander off! You have responsibilities to attend to—"
"If you're so worried, then follow me," Aedric snapped, not bothering to look back. He pushed the door open and stormed down the corridor, his tutor trailing behind him in a flustered state.
Master Horace muttered under his breath about the prince's impulsive nature but knew better than to argue further. Wherever Aedric was headed, trouble was sure to follow.
Outside the palace walls, Lady Selene practically skipped along the cobblestone path, her energy boundless. Elias trailed behind her, his gaze darting nervously between her and their surroundings. He had never been beyond the palace grounds without permission, and the knowledge of what could happen if they were caught filled him with unease.
"My lady, we really shouldn't be here," he said for what felt like the hundredth time. "What if someone sees us?"
Lady Selene turned to him with a playful smile. "Then we'll tell them we're on an important mission!" she said brightly. "Every knight and their companion goes on adventures, you know. How else are they supposed to become heroes?"
Elias sighed, knowing that reasoning with her was futile. "At least stay close to me," he pleaded. "It's not safe to wander off."
Lady Selene rolled her eyes but complied, stepping closer to him as they continued down the path. Despite her carefree demeanor, there was a flicker of excitement in her eyes, as though she relished the thrill of bending the rules.
Unbeknownst to them, Prince Aedric was following at a distance, his expression dark with irritation. He had no intention of confronting them outright—not yet. Instead, he wanted to see just how far they would go without him. The fact that Lady Selene seemed so happy with Elias only fueled his jealousy.
"Your Highness, we should turn back," Master Horace whispered urgently as they crept along the path. "If anyone finds out you've left your lessons—"
"Shut up," Aedric hissed, his sharp tone silencing the tutor immediately.
They continued their pursuit, staying far enough behind to avoid being noticed.
Meanwhile, Lady Selene and Elias had reached a small clearing by a stream. The gentle sound of flowing water filled the air, and the sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled patterns on the ground.
"This is perfect!" Lady Selene exclaimed, spinning in place with her arms outstretched. "Don't you think so, Elias?"
Elias nodded hesitantly, though his gaze remained watchful. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were being followed, but every time he looked over his shoulder, there was nothing there.
Lady Selene plopped down on the grass and patted the spot beside her. "Sit down, Elias! You're making me nervous, pacing around like that."
Reluctantly, Elias sat, though he remained tense. "We shouldn't stay long, my lady. If anyone notices we're missing—"
"Stop worrying so much," Lady Selene said with a pout. "We're not doing anything wrong."
Elias opened his mouth to respond, but the sound of rustling leaves interrupted him. His heart leapt in his chest, and he instinctively moved to shield Lady Selene.
"Who's there?" he called out, his voice trembling slightly.
A moment later, Prince Aedric emerged from the trees, his expression stormy. Master Horace followed close behind, looking utterly exasperated.
Lady Selene's face lit up at the sight of Aedric. "Aedric! What are you doing here?"
"I should be asking you that," Aedric snapped, his gaze narrowing on Elias. "Why are you out here with him?"
Lady Selene tilted her head, confused. "We were just exploring," she said innocently. "Elias is my knight today, remember?"
Aedric's jaw tightened. "He's not your knight. He's my servant."
Elias flinched at the possessive tone in Aedric's voice but said nothing. He knew better than to speak unless spoken to.
Lady Selene frowned. "Why are you being so mean, Aedric? Elias didn't do anything wrong."
"I didn't say he did," Aedric muttered, though his glare remained fixed on Elias. "Let's go back. Now."
Lady Selene hesitated, looking between Aedric and Elias. "But—"
"Now," Aedric repeated, his tone brooking no argument.
Elias stood quickly, bowing his head. "Yes, Your Highness."
With that, the group began their trek back to the palace, the air thick with tension. Lady Selene walked ahead, her excitement from earlier now subdued.
Aedric kept close to Elias, his presence oppressive, while Master Horace followed behind, muttering quietly about the day's chaos.
Elias's mind raced as they walked. He knew he had crossed a line by following Lady Selene out of the palace, but her safety had been his priority.
Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that this incident would only deepen the animosity between him and Prince Aedric—and perhaps, make his already complicated life even more difficult.