Eryndor remained on the bed, still looking at the Shadow Guard.
“Anything else?”
The elf hesitated.
“Nothing else, Your Majesty.”
“Good.”
Eryndor rubbed his temple.
The matter of her clothes could wait until he had slept.
He had barely rested for a week and a half, and He had barely rested for a week and a half, and he had no intention of sacrificing what little time he had left for sleep.
His gaze shifted toward the bathroom door.
“And prepare food for her.”
The Shadow Guard blinked.
“Food?”
“Something light.”
His expression hardened slightly.
“She’s barely eaten for two days.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Eryndor leaned back against the pillows.
“And tell the others guarding this room that I’m going to sleep.”
The elf straightened.
“If she attempts to harm me or sends any information outside, you have permission to kill her immediately.”
There was no hesitation in his voice.
“Understood.”
The Guard disappeared into the shadows as silently as he had arrived.
Eryndor closed his eyes.
He intended to think about everything later.
The strange clothes.
Her combat abilities.
How she had appeared in his chamber.
The missing pieces of her story.
Later.
For now—
Sleep.
°
°
°
°
Within moments, exhaustion finally claimed him.
The bathroom door opened.
Veyra stepped out, her freshly washed hair still damp.
She had dried herself and changed back into her own clothes, completely unaware of what had been discovered about the fabric while she was inside.
A towel rested over one shoulder as she rubbed the ends of her hair.
Then she stopped.
Her eyes landed on the bed.
Eryndor was asleep.
Veyra stared at him.
For several seconds.
Her expression slowly turned unimpressed.
Is he stupid?
She looked around the room.
Then back at him.
He’s seriously sleeping like that?
She frowned.
I’m literally here.
Didn’t he even consider that I might try to kill him?
She stared at him a little longer.
What kind of king does that?
Before she could think of anything else, the door opened.
A maid entered, pushing a small, elegant food cart.
Veyra’s eyes immediately moved toward it.
The cart was far more elaborate than she expected for what was supposed to be a simple meal.
The maid stopped and bowed.
“Your meal, Lady Veyra.”
Veyra blinked.
She looked at the cart.
Then at the sleeping king.
Then back at the cart.
‘…At least they feed their prisoners well.’
The maid remained by the cart for a moment, making sure everything was in order before finally bowing and leaving.
The door closed behind her.
Veyra didn’t move.
She waited a few more seconds.
Then she glanced around the room.
Once.
Twice.
A third time.
Her eyes briefly settled on Eryndor.
Still asleep.
She looked toward the shadows where the guards had disappeared.
Nothing.
‘Good.’
Only then did she approach the cart.
She picked up the spoon and dipped it into the food, moving it around enough to leave a few convincing marks.
She repeated it with the other utensils, making the meal look touched.
Then, one by one, she carried the food into the bathroom and quietly disposed of it.
When she returned, she glanced toward Eryndor again.
Still asleep.
Veyra walked toward the table beside his bed.
A glass of water sat there.
She hesitated.
Then took it.
Just a few small sips.
She put it back exactly where she had found it.
After that, she waited.
She even rubbed her lips lightly and glanced at the empty cart as though making sure she had taken enough time.
A few more minutes passed.
Finally, she walked to the door and knocked.
It opened shortly afterward.
A maid entered, saw the nearly empty dishes, and smiled politely.
“Was everything to your liking?”
Veyra gave a small nod.
The maid collected the cart and left.
The door closed again.
Veyra watched it for a moment.
Then—
She let out a long, relieved breath.
‘One problem solved.’
She glanced toward the sleeping king.
At least he hadn’t woken up.
Veyra slowly walked toward the sleeping king.
She stopped beside the bed.
For a while, she simply stared at him.
He really was asleep.
Her eyes drifted toward his ears.
She raised her hand.
‘Finally.’
No guards stopping her.
No irritated king telling her to keep her hands to herself.
This was the perfect opportunity.
Her fingers moved closer.
Then she stopped.
Something felt…
strange.
Veyra lowered her hand slightly and looked around the room.
Nothing.
She glanced toward the corners.
Then behind her.
Nothing.
She narrowed her eyes.
‘Did something just happen?’
She wasn’t sure.
She lifted her hand again, pretending to reach for his ear.
Then suddenly looked over her shoulder.
Nothing.
Veyra stared for another second.
‘Maybe I’m just being paranoid.’ This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
She turned back toward him.
Her fingers moved closer again.
Just before touching his ear, she stopped.
“Hmm?”
She blinked.
She stared at his ear.
Somehow…
It wasn’t as interesting anymore.
Her brows drew together.
‘Why?’
Then it clicked
She muttered quietly,
“Maybe their reactions are what’s interesting.”
She slowly lowered her hand.
That must be it.
It was probably much more fun when they were awake and actually reacted to her touching them.
“I’ll try again when he’s awake.”
She turned away—
Then abruptly looked around the room again.
Her eyes moved from one corner to another.
Nothing had changed.
Yet that strange feeling was there again.
Veyra stood still.
“…”
She couldn’t explain it.
But she was almost certain something had happened.
Again.
Veyra turned her back toward Eryndor, facing the rest of the room.
She lowered herself onto her knees beside the bed.
Then she reached over and shook his shoulder.
“Oi, oi.”
Nothing.
She shook him again.
“Wake up.”
Eryndor’s eyes slowly opened.
He stared at her through half-lidded eyes, clearly struggling to remain awake.
“What is it?”
Veyra glanced around the room again.
“I think there are other people here.”
Eryndor blinked.
She continued, lowering her voice slightly.
“I don’t think we’re alone.”
For a few seconds, he simply stared at her.
Then he looked around the room.
Nothing appeared out of place.
His eyes returned to her.
“…What?”
“There are people here.”
Eryndor’s expression remained blank.
‘What is she talking about?’
He slowly pushed himself upright.
Veyra looked around again, trying to find whatever had made her feel watched.
Eryndor watched her for a moment.
Then, apparently deciding that this conversation required far too much effort for someone who had just fallen asleep, he reached out.
Before Veyra could react, he lifted her from the floor like inconvenient stray cat and placed her on the bed beside him.
“Hey—”
He gave her a small push toward the pillows, making it clear that he expected her to stay there.
Veyra stared at him.
Eryndor rested a hand against her back to keep her from immediately getting up again.
“Just sleep.”
He gave her back a few slow, absentminded pats.
“There are no other people.”
Veyra’s eyes widened.
She looked toward the empty corner of the room.
Then at him.
‘There definitely are.’
She stared at him in disbelief.
‘Is this man seriously telling me to sleep when I’m telling him there are people hiding in his room?’