Of course, staying in his chambers was better than sleeping in a prison cell.
But was she really going to let him have the last word?
Absolutely not.
She looked at him unimpressed.
“You could just give me a room.
Why are you making me sleep in your chambers?
That’s improper.
If you want someone with you, you should have a wife.”
The morning light shifted through the windows, dust motes drifting through the air between her and Eryndor.
His green eyes narrowed as her words hung in the chamber.
“I don’t have a wife.” His voice was flat.
His scarred chest rose with controlled breathing.
“And I don’t give you a separate room because I can’t trust you.”
“You knocked out two guards.
You know about the spies.
You heard border information.”
‘And somehow, Knows how to appeared out of nowhere inside my chambers.’
‘She’s a risk I need to control.’
“Guest rooms have maids.
Guards.” His jaw tightened.
“My chambers only have me.”
‘There would be others who could report to the council members, and I have no intention of giving them another opportunity.’
He stepped toward the door.
“That’s why you’re staying there.
Not because of propriety.”
Veyra bit her lip.
‘But what if rumors spread?
If people find out I’m staying in the his chambers, I won’t be able to get married!!!!’
She stared at him for a moment.
‘Of course…
I’m in a fantasy world now.
Elves, magic, kingdoms…
Apparently I’m supposed to end up with an elf or something!!!’
Her expression suddenly turned serious again.
“Then who’s going to take responsibility for this?
Are you going to marry me or something?”
Eryndor stared at her.
“Then who’s going to take responsibility for this?
Are you going to marry me or something?”
Eryndor stared at her blankly.
“Why would I?”
His voice was completely flat.
“You should have thought about that before appearing in my chambers.”
His gaze narrowed slightly.
“I’m in a difficult position because of you as well.”
The corner of her mouth twitched.
He was really provoking her.
“Well….
If you want to solve the problem, the rumors have already spread.
They started moments after you appeared two days ago.”
“It’s already too late to fix it.”
He was already walking away as he said it, leaving her behind.
She walked two steps behind him.
Somehow, two guards were already following them.
She walked about two steps behind him, her eyes wandering over his back.
Then her gaze drifted toward his ears again.
She stared for a few seconds.
‘They really are different.’
The thought surfaced again
‘I want to touch it’
She slowly moved closer, reaching out toward one of his ears, her fingers stretching as she tried to touch it.
The moment she got close, the two guards behind them reached for their swords, drawing them slightly from their sheaths.
“Keep your hands to yourself.”
Eryndor’s voice carried a faint hint of mockery.
Veyra immediately pulled her hand back and stepped away, glancing at the guards.
She clicked her tongue.
“Tch ….I was close.”
Her eyes returned to Eryndor.
“But why are you the only one whose ears don’t move like the others?”
She tilted her head.
“I was watching everyone during the council.
All of their ears moved except yours.”
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“Do you have a glitch or something?”
The corner of Eryndor’s mouth twitched.
Eryndor ignored her question and continued walking through the corridors.
Veyra glanced around as they moved.
There were more guards than before.
The two who had followed them from the council chamber joined the others stationed along the corridor, their eyes following her carefully.
‘So the security really did increase.’
It made sense.
Someone had somehow managed to appear inside the king’s private chambers.
Of course they would not take that lightly.
She glanced at the guards again.
Their ears barely moved.
She had noticed the same thing during the council.
The elves’ ears reacted to their emotions, but only slightly.
The nobles seemed trained to keep their feelings under control, and the guards were no different.
And Eryndor…
His ears hardly moved at all.
‘Still weird.’
She looked at them for another moment before following him.
They eventually reached the familiar doors.
Her first destination in this strange world.
Two guards opened the doors for the king.
Eryndor stepped inside.
Veyra hurried after him before the doors could close behind her.
The moment he entered, Eryndor’s gaze went straight to his bed.
For a moment, he simply stood there.
A week and a half.
That was how long he had gone without proper rest.
Night after night, there had always been something demanding his attention.
And now…
Finally.
Finally, he could sleep.
‘I swear if someone waked me up this time …’
His gaze slowly shifted toward Veyra.
His expression remained unchanged.
Then his eyes traveled over her.
Her clothes had been presentable enough when she first appeared.
Now…
Not so much.
The reason was obvious.
A day in a cell, followed by two fights, had left her clothes wrinkled and disheveled.
Eryndor sighed quietly.
He snapped his fingers once.
One of the guards immediately stepped forward and opened the door.
“Bring some maids”
The guard bowed.
“Your Majesty.”
“Have them prepare a bath and bring her suitable clothes.”
The guard nodded and left immediately.
Eryndor’s gaze returned to Veyra.
Veyra’s eyes widened.
“Wait.”
She looked toward the door the guard had just left through.
“I-I can bathe by myself.”
Eryndor’s gaze returned to her.
“I d-don’t need anyone to help me.”
She hesitated before quickly adding, “And I don’t need new clothes either.
I’ll wear these.”
Eryndor stared at her.
For the first time, her reaction seemed genuinely panicked.
‘She doesn’t want a maid near her.’
His eyes narrowed slightly.
‘Is she afraid they’ll hurt her?’
Considering what had happened to her since arriving, it wasn’t an unreasonable fear.
But the clothes…
His gaze moved over them again.
They were dusty and wrinkled from the cell.
There were still traces of the fights she’d been through.
No one would willingly choose to wear the same clothes after that when clean ones were being offered.
‘That makes no sense.’
He remained silent for a few seconds.
Then he changed his order.
“The maids will prepare the bath.
They won’t assist you.”
Veyra looked at him cautiously.
Eryndor continued, “Your clothes will be washed while you bathe.”
He paused.
“They can be dried with magic and returned before you’re finished.”
Her expression eased slightly.
“So I can wear them again?”
“Yes.”
She nodded quickly.
“Then that’s fine.”
(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)