The morning came sooner than I expected. The pale light of dawn filtered into the room, soft and indirect, never quite reaching the windows and balcony directly. Still, it was enough to pull us from the warmth of sleep.

“Morning, lover boy,” Lariel murmured, her voice still thick with sleep. She leaned in, her golden locks spilling over her shoulder as her lips met mine in a tender kiss.

Before I could reply, a knock echoed sharply against the heavy wooden door. We exchanged a glance, still tangled in the blankets, half of my torso exposed to the cool air.

"Yes?" we asked, still wrapped in blankets, half of my torso exposed.

"Breakfast is ready, my Lord and Lady," said a female voice from behind the curtain.

"Huh?" I said, looking at my elven lover. Was I back in that world with five-star hotels and room service? To be honest, I was starving.

The server came in, rolling along a wooden table with several trays, each with its own silver lid. She lifted them up one by one, revealing boiled eggs, fruit and sourdough bread. A small bowl had what looked like honey. It was a nice little breakfast. Perhaps too European to my taste, but, well, this would be a five star treatment in this time and place.

The server left shortly and we had a beautiful time eating in bed, feeding each other and talking about life.

And I was left to think... Those daydreams of my youth. They were becoming true. This was... Crazy. The fantasy of any young nerd was becoming true before my eyes.

I was glad I could go through it. It was beautiful. And it was damn stressful too.

"You know," Lariel said, a piece of sourdough bread in her hand, droplets of honey sliding down her fingers. She had to catch it before it stained the bed, then lick her fingers before continuing. "I've heard that Lord Kent is very wealthy. I was thinking, maybe he'd get me some materials to paint."

From what I’d seen, paper and parchment were not that easy to come by, much less paint.

"Now that would be interesting," I said, right before wrapping my fork in some fatty looking ham and chewing it. Next I got a slice of cheese and popped it in my mouth.

This felt like heaven.

Hell, I was sure Alynna would be in the seventh heaven when trying that thing. It felt just a tiny bit... goaty. Like a mixture of parmesan and very light goat cheese, with all the right hardness and umami flavors.

Next, I chewed on a juicy green grape.

I was ready to plunge back into the conversation.

"Yes!" I said. "I'm really curious to see you paint.”

She looked up, thoughtful. "What if I paint you? Imagine your face in the castle hallways, like the great warrior and conqueror you’ve always been."

I blinked. That was perhaps a little too much attention for my taste. I did enjoy being the center of attention sometimes, but to be a painting made me a tad bit uncomfortable.

"Wouldn't it be dangerous?" I asked. "What if you paint a mural here, someone from court comes and they see my face in it, then figure out that Kent is on our side and kills him and all of us?"

She giggled.

"Connor, you’re a bit paranoid sometimes.”

I shrugged. "Well, if it's something private. I guess it'd be alright."

"Indeed, lover boy, now it's a crazy time and place to paint you into the palace halls up in the city. But... I’m ready to paint something beautiful. Imagine this. You know? What if I paint both of us? You as Arthamium, and me as his beloved wife."

"Wow. I see. That's really interesting.. I kind of like the sound of it."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

She cleared her throat, blinking nervously.

"And to be honest, I've attempted it before."

"Wait. What do you mean?"

Lariel gave me a sheepish look, her cheeks tinged with a light blush. "I mean... I’ve painted us in murals before. I didn’t really get your face right, from Aria’s visions, you know. But it was something."

"That's super interesting. You should've shown me, Lariel. Where did you paint it?"

"Did you see those caves south of the elven village? Maybe you couldn’t see them. There were hills down there. It’s actually full of caverns, some of them connected. That's basically where we practice and learn those arts. I had my little cave full of dreams, prophecies, hopes, and everything you can imagine. I'd like to show you some of that one day."

"I'd love to see it. I know you're talented at everything you do, so you must be the best artist I've ever seen."

She ran a hand through her hair. "It's not that amazing, but, well. It's what comes from my heart."

"That makes it all the more amazing."

She giggled, her bedroom eyes growing fonder.

"My Connor. It's so much fun spending time with you."

"Tell that to me. You personally light up my days. And, you're full of surprises."

She leaned in, shutting her eyes, her tender lips slightly bucking forward for a kiss. I went ahead to get it.

Until a hard knock on the door took us out of it.

"My Lord and Lady," said a voice. This time, it was male and full of urgency. "You are summoned to Lord Kent's court hall. It is urgent. We have received news from the city."

We exchanged glances.

"We'll be there," I said out loud. Behind the door, the hard boots of the messenger scrapped loudly against the ground, almost like drums in a field.

I opened my eyes wide, took a deep breath and got out of bed. I was, again, completely naked. I leaned over to the cupboard, opening it and finding sets of washed clothes.

“What’s all this?” I muttered, running my fingers over the smooth linen shifts stacked to one side. The fabric was soft but sturdy, clearly meant to serve as an underlayer. Beside them hung tunics of rich hues—deep reds, royal purples, and earthy greens—all adorned with subtle embroidery along the hems. Gold thread traced patterns of vines and leaves. The craftsmanship was excellent.

On the other side were jackets in the Alabenian style. In my view, they looked cheesy as hell. They were short, snug at the waist, and flared slightly at the hips. One in particular caught my eye—a deep burgundy piece with puffed shoulders and intricate silver trim along the lapels.

I almost chuckled out loud.

It was the kind of thing I’d expect to see in a painting of courtly nobility. Colombus would have worn something like that when meeting the kings, or something.

Behind me, Lariel chuckled softly, still wrapped in the blankets. “They’ve outdone themselves,” she teased. “You’ll look like a prince.”

I held up a green tunic, examining its wide sleeves and carefully stitched neckline. “Or a jester,” I said dryly. “What’s with the puffed shoulders?”

“Fashion,” she said, amused. “Humans always have such odd ideas about it.”

I gave her a mock glare before grabbing a plain white linen shift and slipping it over my head. The fabric clung to my skin for a moment before settling comfortably. Next, I reached for a pair of breeches, their dark woolen fabric feeling coarse but warm in my hands. As I pulled them on, I couldn’t help but notice how well they fit—snug around the thighs and tapering down to the calves, leaving room for the tall leather boots that waited nearby.

“Not bad,” Lariel said, her eyes sparkling with playful approval as she leaned against the headboard.

“Don’t get used to it,” I said, grinning as I grabbed the burgundy jacket. The fabric was heavier than it looked, and it took me a moment to fasten the buttons running down the front. Once it was on, I turned to Lariel with a flourish. “Well? Do I look ridiculous?”

She tilted her head, pretending to consider. “You look... distinguished,” she said at last, though her grin betrayed her mischief. “Like a human nobleman about to duel someone over an insult.”

“Perfect,” I said, strapping on the wide leather belt that came with the outfit. A small pouch dangled from it, empty for now but useful in a pinch. The final touch was a dark green cloak that I draped over my shoulders. The heavy wool settled around me like a protective shield, its golden clasp shaped like a soaring eagle.

Maybe this was stupid. But they’d worn stuff like that in court.

As I adjusted the cloak, Lariel slipped out of bed, her movements as fluid as water. She selected a pale blue gown from the cupboard. The silver embroidery along the neckline caught the light as she dressed.

“Ready?” she asked, fastening a thin belt around her waist. Her golden hair was already braided loosely down her back. She looked regal. Man, I hit the jackpot with this woman.

“Yup,” I said, stepping into my boots and lacing them up tightly. The leather creaked as I tested the fit, but they were surprisingly comfortable. I’d had people measure my soles as soon as we arrived. They even got my size right.

We exchanged a quick nod and left the room, stepping into the bustling hallways of Lord Kent’s estate. Servants hurried past, their arms laden with trays and linens.

But a quiet tension hung in my heart. I could tell Lariel felt it too.

By the time we reached the courtroom doors, my nerves were wound tight. A pair of guards pushed the doors open, and we stepped into the grand hall, where Lord Kent and his advisors awaited. Their faces were grim, their murmured conversations stopping abruptly as we entered.

Kent rose from his seat at the head of the long table, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at us. “Lord Connor, Lady Lariel,” he said, his voice measured. “Thank you for coming so swiftly. We have much to discuss.”

His tone sent a shiver down my spine. Whatever news had reached us from the city, it wasn’t good.