The night had passed, and Bruce and Arthur went for a run, sharing laughter as they reflected on the day’s events.

A lot had happened, making it one of the most memorable days they had shared together – dining, drinking, sharing heartfelt stories, and fighting bounty hunters.

As they returned to the castle, Arthur and Bruce retired to their rooms, eager to rest after a long day.

The gentle morning brought the sounds of birds tweeting, a refreshing breeze rustling the leaves of trees, and the scent of fresh air.

Bruce felt a sense of contentment, particularly with a beautiful woman lying beside him in bed.

As Bruce woke up, he initially thought it was a dream, attributing the sight of the woman to possibly having had too much to drink the night before.

However, reality soon set in, and he was shocked to find himself not dreaming.

Panicking, Bruce quickly covered himself with a blanket, suddenly aware that he was not wearing any clothes.

He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

“What the hell!” Bruce shouted.

The woman, with her blonde hair, fair skin, rosy cheeks, and twinkling blue eyes, was indeed a beautiful sight.

Her sheer attire revealed her graceful curves.

Bruce immediately averted his gaze, feeling it was inappropriate to look at a woman’s body without her consent.

The woman woke up to the commotion, and the first thing she saw was Bruce, a man with dark hair, brown skin, and a well-built body. Surprisingly, she seemed unfazed by the situation.

She reached for something under her pillow.

Bruce was taken aback as she pointed a knife at his face, demanding, “Who are you, and what are you doing in my quarters?”

Bruce replied, “What quarters? This is my room, woman!”

In an instant, both of them jumped out of the bed, and the woman’s knife remained pointed at Bruce.

“Don’t point that at me; it’s dangerous!” Bruce exclaimed.

The woman shouted, “Guards!”

Bruce dashed toward the window, clutching only a blanket to shield his body.

The woman followed him, jumping out the window.

As Bruce ran for his life, he passed Sebas, who cheerfully greeted him, “Hello, Sir Ghost! Would you like some coffee?”

“Maybe later!” Bruce replied, still running away from the woman.

Numerous servants along the way greeted him with “Greetings, Sir Ghost.”

The woman continued her pursuit, and Bruce could sense that if she captured him, it wouldn’t end well.

Bruce finally reached Arthur’s room, burst in, and woke him from his slumber.

“Hey, wake up! There’s a crazy woman who wants to kill me! Get up, you lazy piece of shit!” Bruce slapped Arthur to rouse him.

The woman also entered Arthur’s room and accused Bruce, “You’re clever, making my brother your hostage. Do you think you’re leaving this place alive after making a move on me while I was asleep?”

“What! You’re the one who made a move on me while I was asleep, you crazy woman!” Bruce countered.

Arthur, trying to understand the situation, rubbed his eyes and saw his sister and Bruce.

Seeing Bruce without any clothes and his sister in her sheer attire, Arthur misinterpreted the situation.

He glared at Bruce and said, “I can’t believe you’re that kind of person, Ghost.”

“What! Hey, you dumb prince, I didn’t do anything! When I woke up, she was in my room sleeping!” Bruce protested.

Arthur greeted, “Hello, sister. This is Ghost, and Ghost, meet my sister, Selene. Now, both of you, get out of my room!”

He hurriedly escorted them out of his room, much like a parent shooing away playful children, all the while nursing a hangover from the previous night’s excessive drinking.

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

Arthur slammed the door shut, leaving Bruce and Princess Selene outside.

Princess Selene continued to hold her knife, pointing it at Bruce.

Bruce raised his hands, inadvertently dropping the blanket he was using to cover himself. His body was exposed to the Princess.

Princess Selene was taken aback, quickly closing her eyes. When she reopened them, Bruce had already sprinted away.

As Bruce made his escape from the Princess, he sprinted at full speed, appearing as a blurred motion to the onlookers.

He urgently sought clothing since he was completely bare.

Princess Selene was astonished, watching as Bruce eluded her.

It was the first time someone had ever managed to escape her grasp.

She turned around and headed back to her quarters, only to realize that she had been sleeping in the wrong room.

She blushed with embarrassment and murmured, “Huh.”

Bruce noticed a set of black clothes hanging nearby along with a pair of pants.

He hastily grabbed the attire, slipping into them as quickly as he could.

His eyes then fell on a brown cloak, which he also snatched up.

As he was changing, a man returned from his shower and was taken aback to find Bruce pilfering his clothes.

He shouted angrily at Bruce, who simply gestured and said, “Sorry!” before making a run for it.

The irate man was so furious that he chucked his slipper at Bruce in frustration.

Bruce found himself wandering by the side of the Temple of God Mha-el, uncertain of his destination after narrowly escaping a perilous encounter with a mysterious woman.

His thoughts turned to young Annie from the Pearl Village, and he felt a strong desire to visit her.

However, he didn’t know which church she had been taken to.

Determined to find information, Bruce decided to enter the temple and seek guidance.

Inside, he came across a girl wearing a pristine white robe, distinct from the green and yellow attire of the temple’s usual inhabitants.

He greeted her with a simple, “Hi.”

The woman, Linda, reciprocated Bruce’s greeting with a friendly one of her own.

“Hello, I’m Ghost, and I was wondering if I could ask you something,” Bruce inquired politely.

“Linda, and of course, you’re not bothering me at all,” she replied. “I recognize you. You were one of the people who fought in the Pearl Village, right? I was there as well.”

Bruce’s relief was palpable as he responded, “Thank you, Linda! Do you happen to know the location of Ben’s church? I’d like to pay it a visit.”

Linda nodded and replied, “I know where Father Ben’s church is. I’m also a member of his congregation. I’ll be able to accompany you later. Can you wait for me?”

“Thank you,” Bruce expressed his gratitude. “I can wait.”

While Bruce waited, his stomach began to growl loudly.

He hadn’t had breakfast yet, and hunger was something he couldn’t endure.

With no money to buy food, he decided to head back to the castle.

Running as fast as he could, he leaped across rooftops and approached the protective wall of the castle.

Bruce swiftly made his way to Arthur’s room and knocked on the door.

Arthur opened the door with a sour expression and asked, “Again, what?”

“Handsome Prince Arthur, I really need your help,” Bruce implored, his eyes twinkling as he looked at Arthur.

Arthur felt awkward but inquired, “What do you need? I still have a headache from the drink last night.”

“I’m going to visit Annie, and I need some, you know. I promise I’ll pay you back,” Bruce explained.

“Did you spend all the gold you stole from Mordred again?” Arthur asked.

Bruce nodded, his eyes widening in gratitude as Arthur handed him a pouch of gold. “Thank you, kind-hearted and handsome Prince Arthur the Great!” he said, trying to flatter him for the money.

“Get out, and pay that back when you can,” Arthur replied, unimpressed by the flattery.

Bruce hastily left and headed back to the Temple of God Mha-el.

Along the way, he indulged in various street foods, devouring them like a ravenous beast.

However, Bruce was now cautious not to overspend the money given to him by Arthur, as he intended to donate it to the Church where Annie was living.

He waited for Linda at the fountain, observing the people walking by, children playing, and individuals in robes engaged in conversations.

Memories of the day he died on Earth flashed through his mind—people strolling in the park, parents enjoying time with their children, and elderly folks gathering, all exuding happiness.

As Linda exited the temple, Bruce approached her with a warm smile. “I’m sorry if you had to wait for me,” Linda apologized.

“No worries, I enjoyed people-watching while waiting,” Bruce replied.

“Let’s go; I’m finished here,” Linda suggested, and they started walking together.

As they left the temple walls, they ventured into the outskirts, where Bruce was once again confronted with the stark contrast between the lives inside and outside the walls.

His heart ached as he saw children lying in the streets, hunger in their eyes as they begged for food, and elderly individuals seeking spare coins as they could no longer work.

Linda noticed his distress and explained, “We want to help these people too, but we have our own problems to contend with. If we don’t address our issues, the children in the church will suffer, and some may end up cast out here in the outskirts. We won’t allow that to happen.”

“Is it a matter of money?” Bruce inquired.

“Yes,” Linda replied. “I visited the Temple of God Mha-el to seek their assistance. Due to the aftermath of the war in the Pearl Village, many orphans have joined the church, and our supplies are not sufficient.”

“What did the temple’s leader say?” Bruce asked.

“I didn’t speak with him personally, but he conveyed that they would provide as much support as they could. They also mentioned that we’re not the only ones in need of assistance, as many churches across the country require support due to the constant wars,” Linda explained.

Bruce was saddened by what he heard.

He had almost forgotten that he was in a different world now, one plagued by unending conflict.

While the Stoneheart Kingdom currently enjoyed peace, he couldn’t help but wonder how long it would last.

He was done with war and taking lives, which had weighed heavily on his heart.

All he desired was a peaceful life in this new world, living in harmony with the people who mattered to him.

While he recognized that he lacked the power to change the world, he was determined to protect those who were dear to him.

He hoped that it wouldn’t come to a point where he had to take another life to safeguard those he cared about, as he truly despised such acts.

“Don’t worry, Sister Linda. I’ll do my best to support the church. I won’t let these children continue to suffer; we’ll nurture them into good individuals,” Bruce assured her.

Impressed by Bruce’s mature outlook, Linda smiled and said, “Oh, don’t call me ‘madam.’ Just call me ‘Sister Linda.’”

They continued on their way, leaving the outskirts behind and embarking on a journey toward the vast mountains of the Stoneheart Kingdom.