Lady Selene grinned triumphantly and grabbed Elias's hand, tugging him toward the door. "Let's go!"
Once they were outside the prince's chambers and out of earshot, Elias turned to Lady Selene with a questioning look. "What's so urgent, Lady Selene?"
She bit her lip, suddenly looking a little nervous. "Well... I wanted to show you something."
Elias raised an eyebrow. "Show me something? Couldn't that have waited until later?"
"No," she said firmly. "It has to be now. It's something secret."
The system chimed in again.
Elias sighed internally. Whatever this "something" was, it was clearly important to her. "Alright," he said. "Lead the way."
Lady Selene beamed and began leading him through the palace halls. They took a series of turns that Elias hadn't expected, heading toward one of the less frequented areas of the palace.
As they walked, Elias couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. He glanced over his shoulder a few times, but the halls remained empty.
Finally, they arrived at an old, unassuming door. Lady Selene pushed it open, revealing a small, dusty room filled with books, trinkets, and other forgotten items.
"What is this place?" Elias asked, stepping inside.
"It's a secret room I found a while ago," Lady Selene said, her voice hushed as if sharing a grand secret. "I come here sometimes when I want to be alone."
Elias looked around, noting the disarray. It didn't seem like anyone else knew about this room, or if they did, they didn't care enough to maintain it.
"And you brought me here because...?"
"I wanted to share it with you," she said simply. "You've been so nice to me, and I trust you."
Elias blinked, taken aback by her sincerity. He wasn't used to such open kindness, and it left him momentarily speechless.
"Thank you, Lady Selene," he said finally. "I'm honored."
She grinned. "Good. Now, let's look around. There might be something cool in here."
Elias chuckled and joined her in exploring the room. Despite the strange start to the morning, he found himself relaxing in her presence. Whatever secrets the day held, he was determined to protect her, just as the system had urged.
______
Despite being a servant, Elias did not have great stamina. It was bad to the point that even a young Lady like Selene could outlast him and drag him around.
The morning sunlight bathed the secluded garden in a warm glow, but Elias couldn't help but notice the tension etched on Lady Selene's young face as she sat on a stone bench, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
It had taken some effort to lead her here undetected, slipping away from the ever-watchful eyes of the guards trailing them.
The path had been winding, with Selene darting through narrow corridors and Elias carefully guiding her until they reached this quiet spot. Now, away from prying eyes, the air between them seemed heavy with unspoken words.
Elias knelt on the grass in front of her, tilting his head to meet her downcast gaze. "We're alone now, Lady Selene," he said softly. "You can relax."
Selene's lips pressed into a thin line, her small shoulders trembling slightly. She didn't look up, and Elias could feel her hesitation like a tangible weight in the air. For all her usual bravado, something was clearly troubling her deeply.
Elias decided to wait, giving her the space to speak on her own terms. Instead of pressing her, he allowed the silence to linger, broken only by the rustling leaves and the occasional chirp of birds. Selene kicked at the grass lightly with her shoes, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her dress.
After a few moments, she let out a long sigh and glanced at Elias, her blue eyes conflicted. "Elias, why do you think everyone treats me like I'm made of glass?"
The question caught him off guard. He blinked, straightening slightly. "I'm not sure what you mean, Lady Selene. You're strong, and everyone knows that."
She shook her head, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. "That's not what they think. Not my family, not my tutors, and definitely not the court. They all think I'm just supposed to sit still, smile, and... and be proper." Her voice wavered with frustration.
Elias studied her for a moment. "Is that what's bothering you? Someone said something, didn't they?"
Selene hesitated, then nodded. "My tutors. They keep telling me that learning the sword is pointless. That as the future crown princess, I don't need to waste my time with such things. They say it's unladylike." She clenched her fists, her knuckles whitening. "But I want to learn. I want to be strong. Is that so wrong?"
Elias sat back on his heels, his expression thoughtful. "Of course it's not wrong. Wanting to be strong is admirable."
Her eyes lit up briefly before dimming again. "But they don't see it that way. They think I should focus on my studies and etiquette, on being perfect for Aedric and the empire. They don't care what I want."
Elias frowned, his chest tightening at the sight of her distress. Lady Selene was still so young, and yet the weight of her future was already pressing down on her. "What about Prince Aedric?" he asked. "What does he think about all this?"
Selene snorted softly. "Aedric doesn't care. He barely listens to me half the time. He's always so focused on himself."
Elias felt a pang of sympathy for her. While he knew that Aedric cared for Selene in his own way, the young prince often struggled to express his emotions. "I think Prince Aedric cares more than you realize," he said gently. "But even if he doesn't show it, that doesn't mean your feelings don't matter."
Selene glanced at him, her expression softening. "Do you really think so?"
"I do," Elias said firmly. "And I think it's brave of you to stand up for what you believe in. You shouldn't let anyone make you feel small for wanting to learn the sword."
Her lips quirked upward in a small smile. "You're always so nice, Elias. That's why I trust you."
Elias's heart warmed at her words, though a pang of guilt followed quickly. He wasn't supposed to get too close to these children—his mission and the system's constant reminders were clear about that.
But moments like this made it hard to maintain the emotional distance he was supposed to keep.
"I'm glad you trust me," he said sincerely. "And if there's ever anything I can do to help, just let me know."
Selene hesitated again, her gaze flickering away. "There is something you can do," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.
"What is it?"
"Don't let them stop me," she said, her tone resolute. "If they try to take the sword away from me, promise me you'll help me. Even if it's just sneaking me into training sessions or sparring with me in secret. I don't want to give up, Elias."
Elias hesitated, torn between his role as a servant and his growing loyalty to Selene. He knew that going against the expectations of her family and tutors could bring trouble, but the determination in her eyes made it impossible to refuse.
"I promise," he said finally. "I'll help you."
Her smile returned, brighter this time. "Thank you, Elias. You're the best. But you are also too soft. At this rate, you will keep worrying me."
Before Elias could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps made both of them stiffen. He turned toward the source, his body tensing instinctively. A moment later, a familiar voice called out.
"There you are!" Head Maid Sasha appeared at the edge of the garden, her expression a mix of relief and exasperation. "I've been looking everywhere for you two. Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused?"
Selene shrank back slightly, but Elias stepped forward, bowing his head apologetically. "I'm sorry, Head Maid Sasha. It was my fault. I thought Lady Selene could use some fresh air."
Sasha's sharp gaze landed on him, and Elias could practically feel her disapproval. "That may be, but you're not to wander off without informing someone. Do you understand?"
"Yes, ma'am," Elias said obediently, keeping his head low.
Sasha sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Come along now. Both of you. The prince will be furious if he finds out you've been sneaking around like this."
Selene stuck out her tongue playfully as Sasha turned away, and Elias had to stifle a chuckle. Despite the scolding, Selene's mood seemed lighter now, and he couldn't help but feel relieved.
As they followed Sasha back toward the main palace, Elias glanced at Selene out of the corner of his eye. She caught his gaze and gave him a small, grateful smile.
Whatever challenges lay ahead, Elias knew he would do everything in his power to keep his promise.