Leaving the throne room, I let out a faint sigh and began following Thum. He glanced at me briefly, then turned his gaze forward, resting one hand on the hilt of his sheathed sword. I kept my eyes on the ground, hoping he’d stay silent and avoid starting any unnecessary conversation.

“You did good,” he said after a moment. “Most people entering the throne room crumble under the pressure.”

“It was difficult,” I admitted. “I crumbled under the pressure.”

“Oh, don’t be like that,” he replied, chuckling softly. “I’d even go so far as to say you looked… unimpressed by it all. Which is… weird.”

“Hmm…” I grunted noncommittally. “It’s nothing like that, of course. I’d be disrespecting the Queen if I agreed.”

“And possibly lose your head. Or swing from a tree,” he joked, his voice carrying a dry humor. “Depends on her mood, I guess.”

We walked in silence for a while, descending the staircase and heading down a long corridor. The palace was buzzing with activity—guards rushed from one end to the other, rooftop archers patrolled with bows in hand, and every guard carried their swords at the ready instead of leaving them sheathed.

Even the maids weren’t exempt. They had daggers strapped to their legs, concealed beneath their skirts but easily within reach. It seemed no one was taking any chances tonight. A single mistake, and it would cost their Queen’s life.

“May I ask you something?” I said, breaking the silence as we passed a few patrolling soldiers.

“Sure,” Thum replied without breaking stride. “What is it?”

“What happened to that woman---Suzan?” I asked. “Did you find her?”

“No,” he said, his tone somber. “We went to your village and found what seemed to be her base. But it was empty, like they’d been gone for quite some time.”

“You think she and her mother skipped town?”

“Hard to say, Axel,” Thum admitted. “By now, they could be anywhere… damned maniac cannibals.”

“Hmm…” I muttered, more to myself than to him.

We stopped in front of a large door, which Thum pushed open with ease. Inside was a spacious and well-furnished room. The double-sized bed sat between two tall windows, a chest at its foot with a pink cushion perched on top for seating. A wardrobe stood to the left, its ornate carvings matching the rich wooden furniture scattered about. On a small table beside the chest were bottles of wine and glass cups, neatly arranged.

The rug beneath my feet was soft and vibrant, its strange patterns woven with deep reds and golds. I could probably sell this rug back in my world and buy myself a small fortune.

“This is rich,” I said, taking in my surroundings.

“It is,” Thum replied. “Don’t hesitate to step outside if you need anything. The maids will assist you.”

“Alright. Thank you, sir.”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

He gave a quick nod and stepped out, closing the door behind him. Left alone, I wandered over to the window and gazed out. The streets below were eerily quiet, with only guards patrolling and the occasional stray animal moving through the fog and drizzle. The sight made me appreciate the security of the palace; I could’ve easily been out there, braving the rain and lurking dangers.

Sighing, I turned back and sat down on the bed. It was firm yet soft, a far cry from the lumpy excuses for beds I’d encountered before. I tested its comfort by bouncing lightly a few times before laying back, letting my muscles relax.

“Still alive, at least,” I murmured to myself. “Could’ve been worse, Ax. Could’ve been way worse.”

As I closed my eyes, my mother’s voice echoed faintly in my mind. I shifted to one side, pulling the blanket over my face to block out the dim light filtering through the curtains. Her voice came again, persistent, though I couldn’t make out her words—just the sound of my name after a sentence. Exhausted and unwilling to deal with it, I turned to the other side, gripping the blanket tightly.

“Let me sleep…” I muttered under my breath.

Outside my door, muffled voices disrupted the silence.

“Are we under attack?” a maid’s anxious voice asked. “They gave me this knife, and I don’t even know how to use it!”

“First of all, that’s a dagger,” a guard replied. “Second of all—maybe? I don’t think we’re under attack. Yet.”

“What kind of maniac would attack the Queen in her own palace? That’s madness.”

“Elves. It’s always elves. Always.”

Their conversation trailed off as they walked past my door and disappeared down the hall. If there was an attack, I silently hoped the elves would focus on the Queen. I had no desire to get caught in another crossfire.

Somehow, despite the noise and my racing thoughts, I managed to drift off for a moment. The world around me slowed, the sound of rain outside the window filling the silence. Just as peace started to settle over me, a knock at the door jolted me awake.

Groaning softly, I rubbed my eyes, slid off the bed, and shuffled to the door. Opening it halfway, I found myself face-to-face with a young boy.

“Hello,” he said.

He had short blonde hair and striking blue eyes, looking no older than eight or nine. Two guards flanked him, standing stiff and alert. I recognized the boy from earlier; he had been seated at the table in the throne room when I’d rushed in to deliver the Queen her dagger. Up close, though, there was an air of maturity about him that seemed out of place for his age.

“Hello,” I replied, my voice groggy.

“I’m Boey,” he said. “The Queen’s son.”

“Oh… right,” I muttered, blinking a few times. “I didn’t know she had a son.”

“I just returned to Kinowa. I was in Gatay with a friend,” he explained. “On the way here, I couldn’t help but notice the destroyed forest.”

“Yeah,” I said, my tone flat. “That was me.”

“Impressive!” he exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. “How did you do it? They say you’re in F class.”

“I have no idea,” I said. “It just happened.”

“And you saved my mother,” he added, tapping a finger to his chin. “I guess I should’ve started with that. Makes it sound like destroying the forest was more important.”

“Huh…” I replied, unsure how to respond.

“I also—”

“Lord Boey,” one of the guards interrupted. “The Queen is expecting you. We shouldn’t keep her waiting, especially with the current situation.”

“Ah, you’re right,” Boey said, nodding. He turned back to me and extended a hand. “Goodnight, Axel.”

“Goodnight,” I replied, shaking his small hand.

He gave me a wave and walked off with his guards in tow. I shut the door, lingering for a moment before heading back to bed.

“This family is full of weirdos,” I mumbled, collapsing onto the mattress. “And the kid might’ve taken the cake.”

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