We woke up and made our way to the washroom. I eased myself into the bathtub, its warm water inviting me to relax. Elara and Mother slid in beside me, their bodies pressing gently against mine. The intimate closeness of their warmth stirred a mix of comfort and indulgence.

Their hands roamed over me, the gentle friction washing away the remnants of sleep. Each caress was unhurried, deliberate, and nurturing, their touch lulling me into a state of serene ease. The sensation of their skin against mine awakened a fuzzy warmth that coursed through my body, cocooning me in bliss. After a time, they began cleansing themselves, and I reciprocated, my hands moving over them as we shared the tender intimacy of bathing together.

We emerged from the washroom stark naked, and I finally felt awake. "I need to take care of something now," I said as we walked to the closet. I donned a simple silver robe, and Mother and Elara did the same.

I leaned in and kissed Elara, my lips brushing against her soft ones, then turned to Mother and did the same. "I will be back soon," I said, turning and walking out of the room.

"I should go to my room too," I heard Elara's sweet voice as she spoke to Mother while I walked down the hallway.

I descended a grand staircase, then another, and yet another, finally reaching the lower floor of the castle, where I saw Eldon standing.

"Greetings, my prince. I hope you have been well," he said, bowing.

"I'm good, Eldon. How have you been?" I asked.

"I am the same as the last time we met," he replied.

"Good. Take me to where Lucian is staying," I instructed.

"As you wish, my prince. Please," he said, signaling to a corridor beside the staircase. I walked beside him as he led me to the room. This floor was less grand than mine, though by no means of lower quality. Anything subpar would tarnish the honor of House Aestherisin. Perhaps it was simply that the personal royal floor where I stayed was so lavishly exaggerated that this floor felt ordinary in comparison. Still, it was splendid for a lower floor. Guards in white armor stood at intervals, while servants bustled about, carrying items to and from rooms. Everyone stopped and bowed as I passed. This floor was busier than ours, which only allowed a select few servants for maintenance while preserving the family's privacy.

I had been here before, shortly after coming into this world. Lost in thought, I barely noticed when we stopped before a white door. It was visibly larger and more ornate than the others in the corridor.

Eldon knocked on the door and announced, "His Highness, the prince, is here to see you." The door opened instantly.

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"Greetings," Lucian said, bowing in the doorway. He wore a simple casual shirt and trousers. His light blue attire created a sharp yet harmonious contrast with the white and silver backdrop. He looked as he always did—calm and respectful.

"One night, and your demeanour has grown even stiffer," I teased, stepping into the room.

"You may continue your work. I'll call for you when I'm done talking," I said to Eldon. He bowed and retreated as Lucian closed the door and walked inside. The room, though not as grand as ours, was far from modest—a luxury suite by any standard.

I sat on the sofa, and Lucian stood before me. "Okay, stop being so formal. Come and sit," I said, gesturing to the other end of the sofa. He complied.

"At the academy, things were different. But this is the castle, the house of the Lord. Here, you are the future lord—the current heir," he said. "I feel I must give my due respect."

"I brought you here as a friend, and we shall remain friends," I said casually, leaning back on the sofa. "As for being the lord or heir, I'm not officially either. That's why I needed your help. Remember?" I added, signaling to him as a reminder.

"I remember," he replied.

"Then stop overthinking. We've already decided everything beforehand. We're friends, not a king and his subordinate," I said firmly.

"Now, about what I'm here to discuss. First, I'll take you to meet Elina after this," I told him, watching his eyes light up.

"Second, this is a guest room on the first floor, and you're not a guest. You're my friend and trainer. I'll arrange for you to move to a permanent room on the second floor," I added, glancing around the room.

"And third, you need to decide—do you want Elina to stay with you in your new room?" I asked, his eager expression giving away his answer before he spoke.

"Yes, I most definitely want that," he answered eagerly, anticipation clear on his face.

"Good. These are the main things I needed to discuss. Once this is settled, I'll arrange a training facility for us on the second floor where we can train," I said.

"Now, with that out of the way, how are you feeling in the castle?" I asked.

"Small," he admitted. "Everything here is so grand it makes one feel insignificant. It's not my first time in the castle, but my feelings haven't changed." making me chuckle. I imagined how overwhelmed he'd feel if he entered the royal family's private floor, which I was sure he hadn't. Otherwise, he wouldn't have made such comments about the lowest floor.

"You'll get used to it. Change your perspective. Think about how this grand castle, these towering walls, and all these luxuries surrounding you are all built to serve you and to fulfil your needs," I said, watching his expression.

"I'm afraid only the one sitting high above, on the true seat of power, can think like that. We below still live to serve ," he replied with a smile.

"Well, you make a valid point too," I said as we indulged in some small talk.

"Now that you're more relaxed, let's meet the mystery girl," I said, standing and walking to the door.

I opened it, and the guard stationed outside bowed. "Call for Eldon," I instructed before turning back into the room.

"That reminds me, how do you know Eldon?" I asked, recalling their earlier interaction.

"Oh, we met a few times when I entered the castle. Even the last time, when I sought the lord's permission to leave for the academy, Eldon was present beside the throne," he explained.

"I thought you two knew each other on a more personal level," I said, smiling.

"No, nothing like that. We've only exchanged greetings in passing," he replied as Eldon arrived at the door.

"You called for me, my prince?" Eldon asked.

"Yes. Now lead us to Elina—the mystery girl of ours," I said as Lucian came and stood beside me at the door.