The dinner time at the inn was quite different from what Morrigan had expected. She didn't really know what she expected. Perhaps a simple dinner where each group would be seated at different tables like in a restaurant. Perhaps something more akin to what she was used to at the castle with everyone enjoying a meal at a single long table. What she knew for sure was that she wasn't expecting this.

Once she, Deziara and Viana stepped into the 'dining hall' all of their noses scrunched up at the same time. Demons were hollering, laughing and chugging one glass after the next of what Morrigan assumed to be some cheap alcohol. Viana's expression completely darkened when one of the drunks started singing a ear-screeching tune on the top of their lungs.

"I will eat in my room," she said and left before anyone could object.

"Wow, this place looks like fun!" Azrael exclaimed and jumped straight into the drunken fray, grabbing the first cup of liquor that he saw.

"Blessed darkness, it's the princesses," one demon from the crowd called, and the whole cheer instantly stopped, their eyes locking on them. Morrigan and Deziara paled.

I don't really want to appear as stuck up, but this is just… so different from what I'm used to. I thought this was supposed to be a fancy inn, not some roadside tavern.

For a solid minute, everyone just stared at them while they stared back. The only one who appeared unbothered was, of course, Azrael who was already scarfing down some sort of meat. At times like these, it was hard to believe that he was actually a noble, with how he acted. As this stare-down continued, the servants and guards behind the princesses began to fidget a little.

"Good evening to all of you fine demons! I hope you all enjoy your well-deserved meals and time of leisure. My servants and guards will join you on this fine evening if you don't mind," Morrigan said, channeling her etiquette lessons into her words. She hoped to divert the attention away from herself so she and Deziara would be able to slip away to their rooms just like Viana had.

"Of course, Your Highness! We'll treat your people as our own," one of the drunken demons said, and others cheered in agreement.

"Wonderful. Now if you three would be so kind as to bring our meals to our rooms, the rest of your evening would be free," Morrigan said to the three demon maids closest to her. They nodded eagerly, their eyes sparkling at the promise of free time. Meanwhile, the guards poured into the dining room and joined in the cheer, successfully turning the attention away from Morrigan and Deziara.

They did not waste their time and quickly went up to the second floor, to their assigned rooms.

"I was worried we'd actually have to eat there," Deziara sighed in relief as they reached the second floor. "Sneaky Viana just leaving us out of there for the wolves."

"I'm sure it wouldn't be so bad," Morrigan chuckled awkwardly, although she also didn't relish the idea of eating there. She never enjoyed rowdy gatherings, not even when she was a human.

"Did you see what was happening there? It was like a room full of Azraels," Deziara exclaimed, and Morrigan shivered at the thought. One Azrael was bad enough.

"Yeah… I don't think anyone will mind much if we eat in our rooms," she said. Just as she said that the innkeeper appeared from out of one of the rooms, a giant smile on his face.

"Princesses! Have you eaten yet? I've prepared a feast for you downstairs. Our regulars have already started eating and you should definitely join," Horace said excitedly. Morrigan wondered whether he had already 'prepared' the garden for Haku, although judging from his cheerful expression, the matter must have been settled peacefully. Or maybe he just accepted the unfortunate consequences.

"Oh, I feel so tired after the journey today, so I shall retreat to my room and rest there," Deziara said in an overly exaggerated manner and disappeared into her room.

You sneaky little… You're no different from Viana.

Morrigan grumbled internally at her sister but managed to plaster on a smile for the innkeeper. She wondered whether he'd accept the same excuse, but he spoke up before she could.

"That's a real shame. I asked the cook to work extra hard on today's dishes and she seemed so excited for your Highnesses to try them," Horace had a sad downcast expression, like a puppy that had just been kicked by its owner.

Oh, no… Please, don't make that face. I'd still eat her cooking even if I was eating it in my room.

But his expression was so pitiful that in the end, she couldn't reject him. Five minutes later she was in the middle of the fray with Azrael singing loudly to her right, while Galandir sat on her right.

"So where'd your sisters go?" the elven boy asked curiously.

"Don't ask," Morrigan grumbled as she ate the stew that was presented to her. At least the food was good.

***

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Morrigan tossed and turned in the bed, unable to fall asleep. She couldn't understand why her eyes wouldn't stay shut no matter how hard she tried to keep them that way. Her belly was full, her body was tired and her mind wanted to sleep and unwind after the long day. The bed was also comfortable enough, although nowhere near as large as her own bed. But she couldn't expect any place to match the Demon Castle.

For a moment she considered calling her father for the second time that evening. She had already contacted him once through the pendant that he had gifted to her. But that was together with her sisters, all of them taking turns talking about the things they saw that day. Lady Lily had also joined the conversation from the other end. Perhaps what she needed was some one-on-one time with her Father.

But Morrigan dismissed the thought. It was already late and the King no doubt was tired from his daily duties. He needed to rest as much as the next demon.

"Oh, I know! I'll go take a look at how Haku is doing," she muttered to herself and quickly got dressed. Morrigan considered just slipping through the window in her shadow form. But she was not in the Demon Castle anymore. Going alone could be dangerous.

It's best if I go together with the guards.

Morrigan left the room and saw two demon guards standing vigilantly by her door, carefully observing every movement around. They startled a bit when they came out of the room.

"I'd like to go see Haku. Would you accompany me?" she asked the guards. They looked at her with a stupefied expression and then it looked like their eyes got glazy with tears.

"Our Princess finally deems us worthy to come along with her," one of the guards said.

"She is finally growing up," the other guard nodded in agreement, wiping away a tear from the corner of his eye.

"What do you mean? I always–" Morrigan trailed off and she thought back to all those times she's decided to go anywhere. She'd turn into her shadow form and leave the poor guards behind, often making them play catch-up through the whole Demon Castle. "I'm sorry."

At that point it looked like the guards would really start to cry, that's how touched they were.

"Do not worry, Princess Morrigan! We will accompany you wherever you go," one of the guards said.

"And protect you no matter what," the other one added. At that point, she realized that she didn't even know their names, although these two particular guards had been assigned to her for years.

Would it be too rude of me to ask their names?

"Thank you. Would you remind me of your names?" she asked quietly, a bit embarrassed about her lack of knowledge. It was quite unsightly for a princess, in her opinion. But the guards didn't look offended in the slightest, quite the opposite they appeared pleased about her interest.

"Of course. My name is Seon, Your Highness."

"And I am Jin."

"Thank you for always protecting me. I'd like to go see Haku now," she said with a smile. Both of her guards smiled back widely.

"Of course. We'll make sure that nobody disturbs you."

She nodded and with the reassurance of their presence descended downstairs the dark inn. Little lights were shining on the stair railings, so nobody would accidentally tumble down in the middle of the night. Morrigan believed it looked rather picturesque and pretty.

Once she was outside, she saw that her dragon friend still wasn't sleeping, but rather trying to get something from Galandir, who was looking rather annoyed at the dragon.

"Is everything alright?" Morrigan asked, looking curiously at the scene before her.

"Oh, this rascal just won't go to sleep," Galandir grumbled, desperately trying to keep the dragon away from whatever it was that he held behind his back. "And he keeps asking for more snacks when he's already eaten extra today. You realize that if you eat all the snacks now, you won't have any later!"

"Haku," Morrigan said in a low, warning tone, and the dragon turned his attention to her. "You're supposed to be a good dragon on this journey. Do you remember?"

Haku lowered his head guiltily. It actually took a lot of convincing for Lucius to allow Haku to come along on the journey. Alphegor never seemed bothered by the fact, but the older demon always worried about the little details that the King overlooked. For example, the issue of where a giant dragon would sleep during their journey or whether he could injure somebody by accident.

It was only due to Morrigan's incessant begging and later a full-on demonstration of what a good and obedient boy Haku was that Lucius relented and allowed the dragon to come. And only under the condition that he wouldn't cause any trouble. At the first sign of it, Azrael would have to teleport the dragon back to the Demon Castle.

"You know that if you cause trouble Azrael will teleport you back," Morrigan said sternly with her hands on her hips. Haku shook his head, indicating his unwillingness to go back. She walked up to her friend and gently caressed his snout. "I don't want you to leave either, Haku. So be good and go to sleep. I'll stay with you until you do."

The dragon perked up at this and gave her an affectionate nudge. Then he curled up on the ground, keeping Morrigan in the middle, making it feel like she was in a warm bundle. She sat down on his front paw which was now large enough to serve as her chair and gently patted his scales to calm him.

"Leave it to Princess Morrigan to tame a wild beast," Galandir snorted, watching the scene with a smile.

"Haku is not a wild beast. He's a sweetheart. And I know you know that, Galandir," she chuckled.

"I don't know. He might listen to me at times, but this dragon has quite the character."

"He wouldn't be a true dragon if he just obeyed everyone like a dog," she chuckled and relaxed against Haku's side. Her eyes began to droop from the comfortable warmth of her friend, and she felt herself slowly falling asleep. But just as her eyes were about to close, she noticed someone staring at her from behind the corner.

Haku growled menacingly, both Seon and Jin unsheathed her weapons and rushed towards the strange figure while Galandir conjured an orb of light which instantly illuminated the whole area. Morrigan managed to catch a glimpse of a large, likely male figure before it disappeared into the darkness.

"What was that?" she asked dumbfounded.

"It appears that someone is stalking us," Galandir said bitterly.

"Do not worry, Your Highness. We'll make sure that you are safe. Leave everything to us. We will bring this topic up with the guards and make sure that the stalker is caught," Seon said confidently. Morrigan nodded at him but she had a feeling that the matter would not be settled so easily.

As soon as I leave the castle, trouble always follows. I'll have to keep my guard up at all times.