Plans Behind Steam

“Finally!” Kristel exclaimed, or so she tried. Her excited voice eased drastically while she sank into the hot bath. The heat was so intense steam fogged the whole chamber. The Princess preferred it hot, it felt as if the water was giving her a full body massage and breathing in the steam calmed her inside. She found it incredibly easy to release all the morning tension from her muscles; the heat steadily invigorating her for the day.

“There we go.” Lady Katherine followed right after, easing her naked skin into the water. Her hair was tied up in a towering bun just to control the volume of it and her meiyal core floated on the side of her temple. She let out a relaxed and refreshed exhale of comfort. “This is the life.”

“I hope it’s not too hot?” Kristel barely managed to shed a tone of worry. The Lady was never fond of hot baths last time she recalled.

“I got used to it. Frein has a thing for hot springs, really hot ones. It rubbed off on me, I guess. I wouldn’t mind some alcohol right now, but maybe that’s too indulging for the morning?”

The comfortable silence that followed the rhetorical question had little disturbance save for the mild echoes of the hot bath.

“Why Frein?” Kristel asked without thinking it through and barely even turning towards the Lady. Katherine rested her head on a piece of folded towel she placed by the ledge of the bathing chamber. It took her a while to respond.

“Why he’s the Visitor?” she clarified.

“Why choose him to be your boyfriend—lover? You had so many suitors before you left. You can practically choose any of the nobles. And I’m sure you already know this, but he doesn’t have much time. So, I can’t help think but why…”

“It actually hurts if I stop and think about it.” Katherine’s voice turned into a whisper, almost muttering to herself. “I don’t want him to go, but he wanted to see beyond his world. And I want to show him who I really am, show him where I came from. I want him to say he still loves me after all of that.

“I don’t really remember when it all started. He asked me out on a date; I said yes, and we just kept seeing each other after that.”

“He’s a smooth talker, then,” Kristel concluded. “He does have that air around him.”

Katherine scoffed at the comment. “Oh, I wouldn’t be too sure about that. He’s straightforward sure, but that’s just how he handles his nerves.” She smiled, reminiscing. “Eventually, my Heart’s Will stopped working on him. I just knew after that; I can’t let him go.”

Kristel smiled as well. “I’m glad you found someone.”

“Who knew, right?” Katherine laughed softly. “Sometimes I wonder what I would be if I didn’t go to his world.”

“I wonder the same thing,” Frein’s voice echoed inside the bath chamber. “From time to time.”

Kristel immediately sank herself deeper into the water and crossed her arms to cover her breasts. Her legs curled in self-defense. She was well hidden behind all the steam, but she was so caught off guard that her instincts kicked in.

Katherine did the opposite. She stood and would’ve had her whole nakedness visible in plain view if not for the haze. She walked slowly towards Frein’s voice, causing ripples in the hot water that brought a massaging sensation on Kristel’s skin.

“Peeking on the Princess, Frein? Even for you, that’s a little too bold,” Katherine said. Kristel could barely see her from the fog. She stopped in the middle of the chamber, hands on her waist and standing in front of who could only be Frein. “She could order your arrest—or maybe even execution—just for that, you know.”

“I got in here first. I just fell asleep.” Frein sounded tired, or extremely relaxed. The effects of the hot bath could never discriminate. “I apologize, Princess, if I caused you any trouble. I think it’s best if I take my leave.”

Bubbles came out when Kristel tried to speak. She tried again. “No, it’s alright, Frein. Stay however long you like.” The Princess finally managed to regain her composure, putting down her defensive arms and legs. “Just no peeking.”

“I’ll take you up on your offer then.” Frein’s voice was carefree and listless, removed of any strain or embarrassment or care for the current situation.

Kristel saw Katherine kneel forward, sinking beyond the cover of steam. The Princess considered eavesdropping with her Siffera but decided against it, quickly realizing that words not meant for her were better left unheard in this particular situation.

“Sorry about that,” said the Lady as she returned and dipped back into the water. “He’s a real gentleman, so you can rest assured.”

“I’m not worried,” said Kristel. “If you trust him, so will I.”

“So, will you be joining us for later? I believe Frein already told you about it.” Katherine meant the visit to Elizzel in Mount Rindea.

“Yes, he did. I’ll go with you. Frill will stay behind and look after Xiv.”

“It’s a plan then.”

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“Wake up... It’s time to wake up, Xiv.”

The first light was always a blur, and waking up in an unfamiliar place didn’t help Xiv fix his vision. He slowly turned his head, acting as if asleep, while his clearing eyes scanned the room. He found his old clothes neatly folded on the side table which brought his attention to the fresh ones he was wearing right now. Rather than let his panic drive his movements, he continued looking around with more caution.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

There at the far corner, sitting beside the study with her head resting on her arms, he spotted Frill.

Xiv moved to the side, rolling out of bed as quiet as a vork stalking its prey. He moved not to hunt, but to observe the Aria in Red’s—quite a dramatic title—face while she slept.

Elegant.

The scarlet silks of her hair moved in rhythm with her breathing, brought about by the slight touch of slumbering meiyal floating all throughout her body as though she was underwater. She looked tired and still wore the same dress she had last night. At the very corner of her mouth, a strand of liquid slowly ran down to her chin.

Xiv failed to hold back a soft chuckle. It was enough to spring Frill awake. Her hands moved like lightning, knocking him down on the floor in an instant. She placed all her weight over him and Drew a small meiyal dagger pointed straight at his neck with speed and efficiency of a Lord Knight—not that Lord Knights could Draw meiyal weapons.

“What are you doing?” she asked, almost half-asleep.

“Getting pinned down out of my own free will.” Xiv slowly moved a hand over his chin. “You have...uhh…” He made a wiping gesture to complete his message.

Frill checked with the back of her knife hand. She flushed almost as red as her hair when she found out.

“Are you going to stay like that? Should I just go back to sleep like this?”

The Aria slowly slid away and erased her dagger from reality. Xiv cautiously stood, making sure he wouldn’t provoke her unnecessarily.

“Come.” Frill headed for the door. He followed.

This was the first time Xiv had ever set foot in an Iristan household. He immediately scratched part of that thought as he quickly realized the pristine and magnificent obsidian walls. This was a residence made for a noble. The grand courtyard outside the prestigiously large windows didn’t shy away from verifying his theory.

Frill led him to the kitchen and directed him to a small dining table.

“How are you feeling?” she asked while preparing something behind the kitchen counter.

Xiv recalled all that had happened last night and how he should not be alive anymore. It was an eerie recollection. “I feel fine, surprisingly. What happened?”

Frill was silent for a while. Xiv could only hear the clattering of plates and utensils.

“Lady Katherine saved your life,” she explained, returning with food he didn’t recognize. They were circular in shape. Rice, lobster bits, sliced fruit and vegetables wrapped in seaweed. “She mended your core. She also prepared this meal. I don’t know what they’re called, but she said to dip it in soy sauce before eating.”

Frill poured the black colored liquid on a saucer and took one of the wrapped things. She dipped it gently over the sauce and reluctantly ate it. She chewed once, then her eyes closed almost instinctively. A second later, she turned away and continued to chew her food.

“You should try it. It’s not Iristan made, but it’s quite tasty.”

“Not Iristan made?” Xiv questioned. He hesitantly took one and dipped. He stared at it for a while, wondering what it would taste like. The lobster didn’t look cooked through at all.

“It’s a recipe from the world Lady Katherine returned from.”

“Where are they, anyway?” Xiv asked out of curiosity.

“They went to the Rindea Mountain Range to meet someone. No more questions, you’re still a prisoner, you know.” Frill grabbed another, dipped, and took it in one mouthful.

“That man earlier was—”

“Frein, yes, the Visitor.” Frill frowned and threw daggers with her eyes. “Eat or I won’t leave any for you.” She was on her third one.

Xiv hesitantly took a bite and the blast of fresh flavors whetted his appetite more than it filled. He realized how hungry he was and took one after the other in quick succession. He ate so fast he forgot to breathe, forcing the food down by thumping his chest in panic.

“I didn’t say choke yourself with it, idiot.” Frill casually passed him a glass of tea.

Xiv washed down the food and breathed out his relief. He heard a subtle chuckle and he quickly looked up only to find Frill turning away.

“You laughed, didn’t you?” he asked, smiling.

“No.” Frill covered her mouth with a hand and forced down what could have been a cough, or a snort, or a sneeze. Xiv was unconvinced.

“I honestly mean no harm, my lady,” he began. “While it is true that I remain your prisoner—” both by status and by heart, he thought. No way would he say it out loud, though. “I much prefer a normal conversation with you. I’m more than willing to spill all that I know about the plans against Irista—”

“Why?” Frill’s tone was clearly different, cautious and probing. “Why would you give up such information so easily? And why should we trust you?”

Xiv thought for a while, considering all possible directions of this conversation. Truth was always his best answer. “I want both Vyndival Kingdom and Irista Nation to coexist again. If I don’t make the first move, then who will? King Urzic is far too stubborn to listen to me, so here I am.”

They stared at each other for a while. Xiv could feel the heat rising from his nape all the way to the back of his ears, but he maintained eye contact.

“Alright, fine.” Frill finally sighed. “Frill Veli.” She stretched out an open hand. “That’s my name.”

Xiv already knew Frill’s name but was wise enough not to tell her.

“Frein said this is a gesture of good faith and peaceful acquaintance. You should say your name and then shake my hand.”

“He did the same thing last night.” Xiv reluctantly followed. He held her hand and forced himself to ignore the electrifying sensation that followed. “Xiv Arcturus.”

“What can you tell me about this?” Frill pulled a piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to him. Xiv had almost forgotten about it. Before his eyes could read the contents, they had vanished and changed.

> Sorry, it doesn’t work that way.

“Same thing, huh,” Frill commented while leaning over to read the paper. Her scent, a sweet aroma of a flower Xiv recognized but couldn’t remember the name, teased his sense of smell.

He forced himself not to get distracted. “You recognize this paper?” he asked.

“Answer first.”

“I just found it by the window in the house where I stayed.”

“And what did it originally say?”

“That I have to risk my life to gain your trust.”

Frill sighed and returned to her seat, popping another of the seaweed-wrapped lobster into her mouth.

“So, you recognize it?” he asked again.

“Yes, but whoever wrote them didn’t leave a name either. And the letter disappears like that if I show it to anyone.” She gestured for him to take another bite while picking another.

Xiv followed, but quickly recognized a probing stare as if she was studying him. “Something wrong?” he asked.

“I’m not sure if you get this often, but has anyone told you how crazy you are?”

“Crazy how?”

Frill just gestured all around her.

Xiv smiled. “Back in Vyndival? Once or twice…every few days.” He popped the lobster in for emphasis.

Frill conceded. “Well, you are crazy. Take more rest after you eat. We’ll talk about Central when the Princess returns.”

----------------------------------------

Hello reader,

*This is the first time I'm posting this, but I will copy this to Chapter 1 as well.*

Shallren here. I apologize for this abrupt interruption. If you're not aware, piracy has been an increasing concern lately. Scrapers sweep through stories to copy them and repurpose them to sell to Amazon without the author's permission. To alleviate this, I've decided to include an in-chapter disclaimer that Brymeia: The Visitor is still an RR exclusive.

In order to protect the authenticity of this work, I will be including this quick disclaimer at the end of random releases (since the scrapers don't always include the author notes, and don't check the chapters at all):

"If you're reading this, Brymeia: The Visitor, in other website/platforms other than Royal Road, it means that it's been scraped by pirates without my permission. If you would be so kind, please let me know by sending a message to Shallren at Royal Road. Thank you."

Thank you so much for understanding this interruption and for your support so far.